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I am Zadim, I serve the Dawnflower. The Qadiran gives a small bow.
I'm sworn to root out evil and spread Sarenrae’s light throughout these foreign lands, cloaked in the darkness of ignorance. The Pathfinder Society helps make this possible. This need is great in Dtang Ma, I gather.
He seems confident and wears twin kukri blades.
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Nice to meet you Zadim!
You see a pepper-haired, middle-aged man walk with a plethora of vials of several different colors hanging from his belt and crisscrossing bandoliers. He shows signs of different scars and burns that were most likely from failed experiments.
Hello everyone! I am Zalkar. I enjoy learning new things especially discovering new concoctions. It seems that we are needed in Dtang Ma so I am ready and willing to help especially when discovering ancient knowledge!
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A thin, blue-tinged skin man flows around the room, barely stopping for long before drifting to a different location. His eyes wander around taking in what he sees. Even when he stops for a brief moment, his stark white hair seems to waft slowly as though lighter than the air around him. He almost seems surprised to find others in the room as he speaks up.
Oh! Other Pathfinders! How nice, I was afraid that I was here all alone. I am Cizish Windwalker and I'm delighted to be a part or your party. I am so pleased to be in Tian Xia as this is all new to me. And to find ourselves going to a rare Provence such as Dtang Ma is quite thrilling. I too am interested in new discoveries, Zalkar. Whether they are ancient or not is less important to me though, I simply find the expected or the familiar to be quite mundane and tiresome. Meeting with this Old Pak fellow should lead us to some new and unexpected experiences, I'm sure! If we have need of any further assistance, I am happy to have some of my friends join us. I simply call upon them and within a few moments, they appear and will aid us in our times of need.
His speech tumbles from his mouth with much breathiness and reminds you of a sudden breeze that spins through the branches of a tree on a cool summer afternoon.
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You have some more time to get acquainted, as you travel to Dtang Ma’s capital of Ramparassad to meet with Old Pak.
Bells tinkle and chime as the door to “Pak’s Tobacco and Spice” opens. Shelves on the walls are full of jars and pouches, and a collection of masks adorns the wall opposite to the entrance. An old Tian-Dtang man sitting behind the counter wakes up mid-snore, rubs his eyes, and exclaims in a raspy but exuberant voice.
“Yes, come in, come in! Ah, you must be the Pathfinders Ms. Amara sent! Where are my manners! I am Pak! Tea, anyone?”
Before anyone can answer, Pak flicks one end of his metal smoking pipe, snags a teakettle, and plants it atop a small brazier with smoldering coals.
Pak exchanges a few more pleasantries with you as he is serving the tea, How was your travel? He then lights his pipe with vanilla-scented tobacco. Just then one of the masks on the wall animates and floats toward toward you.
That's Tanbaru, a spirit oni. Pak explains with a chuckle, as the mask lazily glides among you. Although it is a horror to behold, more resembling a fanged fiend! Its facial expressions are exaggerated, and it speaks in a hollow, mysterious voice.
“Long ago, I was a kami who lived near a temple of Yamatsumi in the Kullan Dei mountains. But centuries ago, the temple and I were magically transported into an extraplanar place called the Hao Jin Tapestry. For hundreds of years, I languished in a broken temple surrounded by tyrannical conquerors who encouraged my cruelest habits, and I turned into what I am now—an oni. It wasn’t until a group of Pathfinders found me and showed me mercy that I was able to see past my own selfishness and spite. I have been working for the Pathfinder Society ever since, both in Absalom and in Tian Xia.”
Pak then runs a hand across his partly shaved head and explains the opportunity at hand.
“I’ll get straight to the point. I would appreciate your to traveling to the Kullan Dei mountains in southern Dtang Ma and exploring what is left of the temple of Yamatsumi near which Tanbaru once lived. You see, the ancient sorceress Hao Jin was able to transport only the lower, front half of the original temple into her tapestry. I know little about the broken temple other than its haunted reputation, but Tanbaru here says that the temple’s secluded location high up in the mountains may well have kept its historical secrets and hidden treasures safe from vandals and looters, relics that should be valuable to the Pathfinder Society."
“I want Tanbaru to accompany you. Although his transformation into an oni made his memories somewhat frayed, he still instinctively knows the way there. You should know that when Tanbaru was a kami, the Pilgrim’s Path—the trail that leads up to the temple—was his sacred ward. His presence may have unpredictable consequences, so please keep him safe.”
Old Pak takes a deep puff of his pipe and blows out a large smoke ring that waifs toward the floating mask, the spirit oni baubles through the middle of the ring and a silence momentarily fills the room.
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As the floating mask comes towards the group, Zalkar initially steps back but then his overwhelming curiosity comes to the forefront and he starts firing off questions to learn more.
Oh my. How interesting. So you were an oni and now a kami? What's the difference? What is a kami? How did you change? What does being a ward mean? Who or what is Yamatsumi? Oh, excuse me as this just makes me so excited I forget my manners. You can answer my crazy questions as you wish unless they offend you in which case I apologize!
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I don't believe I've ever seen a floating fang head that wants to lead me. My excitement for this land has now at least doubled! I would indeed love to help escort you back to your temple and former ward, and will take the time on the way to learn all about your memories so we can be prepared for anything that may come across our path. Can you give us any ideas of what foes we may come across or benign creatures we might meet? I feel I'll be at home in your forests, I expect they are much like my home forests in the west.
Just to clarify honorable Tanbaru and noble Mr. Pak, half of the temple in question was magically ported into a tapestry and the other half is still standing in the forest/on the mountain slopes?
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When the mask comes off the wall, Cizish's eyes bulge out and his mouth drops open. As soon as Zalkar starts firing off his questions, Cizish begins asking questions in a nearly breathless stream of vocalization. Not intentionally rude, nor meaning to interrupt, Cizish's curiosity matches Zalkar's and he simply cannot contain his excitement.
Oh, by heaven's heights! A talking mask! An oni? A kami? What delightfully sounding words. Oni! Kami! What do they mean Mr Pak, or maybe I'm asking you Mr Tanbaru? Have you always been just a head or did you used to have a body when you were a kami? Will you go crazy when you get to your ancestral ward or will things attack us because you are there? Unpredictable consequences sound delightfully dangerous and novel! What does the air smell like on your mountain? How does it feel on your skin? I find altitude air to have a certain light sweetness that is almost intoxicating. I'm sure you'll be glad to feel it again and we would be honored to help you return. Any information about this pilgrim's path or the tapestry may be helpful.
Cizish suddenly pulls up short and stops talking as he notices the others in the room looking at him questioningly.
Oh! Was I rambling again? I do tend to interrupt more than I should, but the flow of my thoughts is directly connected with my voice and once air has a voice, it cannot be contained! I merely wish to know more about the pilgrim's path, the tapestry and what incredibly wonderful creatures are Oni and Kami?!?
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The silence is broken by Zalkar's enthusiasm, and soon Cizish joins the cacophony of questions. Olli joins in with a few as well. Old Pak does his best to answer some of the questions.
Yes, that's right Hao Jin teleport half into the tapestry and half remains on the mountain.
Kami are guardian spirits present in things both living and inanimate. That frog you saw leaping across the street? That teaspoon you’re holding? There might be a kami in it, so treat it with respect! Our friend Tanbaru was once a dosojin kami, a guardian of paths and roads. But no more!” Pak exclaims.
Then continues, “Oni's on the other hand are depraved spirits that take on a fleshly form so they can indulge in hedonism. They see the world only as a playground for their cruel games. Oni and kami are like fire and water— their hatred is strong and mutual. When a kami fails her ward or becomes estranged from it, she may fall to evil and devolve into an oni, and that is what happened to our friend Tanbaru. He has, however, learned to control his urges and is a valued friend of our organization.”
"As for Yamatsumi? He is the Mountain Lord, a mighty but inscrutable god whose faith has spread from Minkai to many countries in Tian Xia. It is he who makes volcanoes rain fire upon living things, but from the ashes, new life grows. It is his frozen breath that brings the winter, but when the ice thaws, rivers flow wild again. That is Yamatsumi!”
Tanbaru looks to Cizish, I don't remember those things, I'm sad to say.
Olli and Cizish both know a few things about the area. Kullan Dei is a 2,500-mile long mountain range that winds its way through Nagajor and into the dragon kingdom of Xa Hoi. The northernmost stretch of the mountain range extends into southern Dtang Ma. The nearest summit is just a few hours’ hike from the busy streets of the sprawling capital Ramparassad. The mountain range is volcanically active. In fact, Mount Pho-Yim, which looms over Ramparassad, often exudes ominous smoke. Seismic activity is common in the mountains, sometimes causing earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions. Many species of birds and snakes are endemic to the Kullan Dei Mountains. Some develop a spiritual attachment to important sites, defending those areas as guardians or watching over them as auspicious sentinels. Dragons, Ogres, and various types of kami and oni are also relatively common in the region.
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I would love to get going and start making our way towards the remains of the temple. We'll bring Tanbaru along with us and aid him in any way we can. Mr. Pak, I assume our goal is gather information and report back to you? You don't have anything else you want delivered or any specific equipment you think we'll need?
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Old Pak replies Study it, bring back anything of significance. Here I have these for you.
Pak hands you two large backpacks full of rice and a camping cooker that needs only twigs for fuel.
The terrain is rough and that taking pack animals into the mountains would be unwise. So your the pack animals. He grins.
I have two climber's kits I can lend you; if you think you'll need more you might want to purchase some here in Ramparassad.
Tanbaru speaks also, I'll do my best to assist you. One of you may wear me if you wish, to see what I see too.
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As the oni moves closer, Cizish is obviously barely able to contain his excitement. Oh yes, oh yes! If you would allow me to wear you, we could be quite fearsome! I wonder what it would feel like if you did take over my brain. Quite possibly amazing, but terrifying. What do you think, Zalkar? Would you like to have this oni mask sit on your head. Quite fun, don't you think? We could draw lots? High wins!
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The Oni settles itself on Cizish face, it's surprisingly comfortable and Cizish does notice subtle differences in the world around him, the colors seem brighter and things seem to contrast with more clarity.
Soon after, you depart Ramparassad and the weather is sweltering hot. After a walk past rice fields that extend a few miles outside the city and a hike through a bamboo forest, you find a mountain trail that leads them south, deep into the Kullan Dei range. Up in the mountains, the weather is pleasantly cool. The air is thin, but the days you spend in the mountains are enough to become acclimated. After a week of hiking, you arrive at a set of stone pillars with inscriptions that read “The Pilgrim’s Path” in several languages including common.
The mist-shrouded outline of a broken temple is visible in the distance, perhaps 5 miles away.
Falkar recognizes that the stone pillars not only mark the beginning of the Pilgrim’s Path but also a transition from profane to sacred, which means that travelers should show proper reverence to tradition and the rules of the trail. One of the stone pillars lists these rules in several languages it would appear. In Common, you note:
Do not obstruct paths! Leave no trace! Stay on the marked trail!
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As the Oni settles on Cizish's face, Zalkar recalls a few things about Spirit Oni and his face lights up!
Oh silly me! I just remembered that Oni has the following characteristics.
Zalkar goes on about Oni Special Attacks, Defenses (DR, Resistances, SR), Vulnerabilities, and any other useful information.
Oh my. Fellow adventurers, we are in Tien and they take their customs and rules very seriously so we need to pay strict attention to follow them whenever possible! Sully, please help me remember these as sometimes I get a little scatterbrained.
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Ooo! How intriguing, I'm seeing things like never before! The clouds have so many shades of white, it is rather remarkable.
After arriving at the pillars, Cizish darts around chatting with Zalkar about the interesting script and runes written upon the stones. He will use his newly enhanced senses to see if there is anything more of interest around the area too.
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Zalkar relays that Spirit Oni's like Tanburu are know to gore enemies in combat, injecting them with poison that cause a severe skin reaction. They don't have in particular defenses or vulnerabilities, but are fast healers. Tanburu seems to take no notice to this discussion of his characteristics.
At the pillars, Zalkar and his tumor also note that the instructions are written in Tien and Nagaji, as well as a 4th language. The Tien and Nagaji versions contain more details than the basic common tongue warnings.
“Do not obstruct paths! Don’t pitch your tent or leave your equipment on the trail. Be courteous and mindful of others using the trail. Leave no trace!Take your trash with you. Don’t make fires outside designated areas. Don’t leave any other trace of your passage. Stay on the marked trail! Nature is sacred and fragile; do not tread on it. Don’t harm animals unless you must defend yourself.”
Tanburu affirms what is written, I remember these, yes, I will help you to stay on the path.
Olli notes that the path has seen little use of late, perhaps even years and doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary in the area around the pillars. As you move on he is careful to make sure Cizish doesn't stray off the path.
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A little further on, the narrow trail winds along the base of a steep ridge, and large, jagged rocks have fallen from the cliff face here, blocking the path. At least a score of dark birds with white throats reside here, sitting atop nests built into the cliff face. The bird nests are still attached to the cliff face and are not among the rubble blocking the path.
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As the group comes upon the landslide, Zalkar ponders the previous warnings.
Well now, we seem to have a conundrum here! We are supposed to stay on the path but seems it is blocked. I wonder if we might be able to clear the path without bothering the birds? It seems that the nests are not among the rubble at least.
Zalkar breaks out his trusty Traveler's Any-tool and attempts to identify the best way of clearing the path, if possible.
Zalkar's eyes light up and he says
I know! Cizish could cast Enlarge Person on one of the strong guys and I bet it would be gone in no time!
He keeps digging as he feels good with himself for coming up with a way to get by the rubble.
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Cizish stares at the rubble for a moment and a hint of sadness comes over his face.
How sad to see things fall to the ground. I am always saddened by the effects of gravity. Unfortunately Zalkar, the winds have not taught me how to make persons large, that is not the way the gales work. But I can see that the path is blocked and we must pass by. However, nature is not always a clear and easy path. The passage of time has caused this mountain to come down and block our man-made path. Time is part of nature and the natural way is change. Perhaps we are not meant to change what we see before us?
He then turns his attention to the birds. Hmm, dark birds. White throats. Let me think if I've seen those before. They certainly are interesting specimens.
Also, Mr Oni, can you read my thoughts or must I speak with you out loud? I certainly do not mind speaking, but how marvelous would it be if I could merely think and have you know! If you can hear me, do you remember this rock pile? He then calls up to the birds: I say, my good creatures can you tell us what happened here? We do not mean to trespass upon your restful state, but we must pass by.
If the oni doesn't answer Cizish's thoughts, then he will ask him out loud. If he can't recall anything interesting about the birds and if they are unable to understand him, Cizish will cast Speak with Animals to ask them more about the rock slide and anything else of interest.
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Cizish and Zalkar identify the birds as cliff-nesting martins endemic to the Kullan Dei mountains. They are timid creatures and likely to abandon
their young if disturbed. Zalkar further knows that the locals consider the birds an auspicious sign, and never kill them or eat their eggs.
Much to Cizish's disappointment the oni can't read minds, so he has to settle for conversation. I do not recall these rocks here.
Then Cizish turns his attention on the birds, casting his spell. The birds seem a bit reluctant to speak, but finally reply. The rocks drop, fly away we did. Some nests build, build, build.
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Speaking respectfully to the birds: Good creatures! We are going to clear a path through these rocks, for we do not possess your mighty skills of flight. We do not mean to disturb you. If we do, please let me know and we will do what we can to leave you in peace.
He then floats over and tries to lend the others a hand. I’m really not so good at this manual labor business. I prefer to observe and watch the natural course of things. I say! Do you think I should ask Bruce the Dog to join us? He is really quite strong and could push and pull much better than I.
Cizish casts a spell and a very powerful looking dog suddenly appears and begins digging and pushing rubble away.
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RP=12
Olli and Cizish efforts to befriend the birds doesn't go well, the birds hop around their nests clearly nervous about the efforts going on below them. Nevertheless they don't flee.
As Zadim stands guard, the others get to work on clearing the rubble. While it's strenuous work, you are able move enough of the larger rocks to restore the path.
You move along the winding trail and after a time notice a wayside shrine in the distance along the path.
Once you reach it, you find a shallow cave in the mountainside bears a carving that depicts an erupting, snow-capped volcano. Two timeworn stone statues flank the entrance to the cave. Near the cave, there is a stone fire ring with a long, semicircular stone bench around it.
You thought for sure you saw three statues from a distance, but now up close only two.
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As the group comes upon the shallow cave and the statues, Zalkar looks around and tries to recall anything that might be useful.
What an interesting shrine and these statues look very old. And look at this stone fire ring. I bet this would be a good place to set up camp. I wonder if anyone has been here as of late. What do you think Sully? See anything of interest as well?
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Zalkar has a look around at the statues. One of the statues depicts a female monk holding an old, pitted bronze gong in her hands. A small bronze mallet hangs on a chain from the statue. Zalkar realize that gongs are a connection between mortals and the supernatural world, and sounding a wayside gong symbolizes announcing one’s arrival .
The other statue depicts a monk with a bowl in his hands. Zalkar realizes that pilgrims in Dtang Ma often leave votive offerings for the kami and you remember that rice is a favored food of the kami.
Zalkar notices that the fire ring has not been used in at least 2 months .
Sully doesn't have any particular observations.
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Wonderful idea, Zalkar. I’m not much of a musician or cook, but I do have flint and steel as well as my cooking pot. Perhaps I can give it a try? I forage well and may be able to create a dish that is honorable. Mr Tanbaru, can you give me any advice on cooking up a lovely dish? I will use the fire pit very carefully and ensure the flames are well contained. For wood and fuel, I will only use what has already fallen to the ground or naturally died. I’ll make some spiced rice and will rely on you, Mr Tanbaru, for suggestions of flavor and safe preparation!
Looking carefully around for wood/fuel that will not disturb the environment, as well as anything else interesting, Cizish begins his preparations. He will consider his knowledge of nature for any spices or flavorings that might be found in the area.
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As I was approaching I thought for sure I saw 3 statues but now that we are here I only see two. Keep a sharp lookout my friends, I feel something is afoot.
I look for any herbs I might suggest adding to the rice to make it tase better or maybe a local flavor that is commonly used. I can maybe chat with the oni about any memories he has of rice and flavor and maybe if Zalkars idea of ringing gong after meal is prepared is a good one.
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What? There were 3 statues and now there are 2? How intriguing! Not sure how I missed that before as I am usually pretty astute! Oh, well! Glad to have you along Olli! Sully, do you see any extra tracks or other things that might help point to where it went?
I'll try to help cook up some rice and put a little extra flavoring that I came across in some other parts of Tien during my travels
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RP=14
Other searches around the area come to the same conclusion Zadim reached, no sign of the third statue.
As the group scurries about the task of cooking some rice, Tanbaru observes I kind of remember this shrine, these statues look oddly familiar. When queried by Cizish about the rice, he responds with a slightly agitated I don’t remember!
The team collaborates on the rice dish and in the end you are all satisfied that you've made it tasty, as you provide it as an offering. Following the rice, Zalkar rings the gong, it's slightly quiet, not a resounding sound, and it seems off key. It's hard to say whether to could be heard at the temple and if so whether the hearers would appreciate the note.
After a short rest you move on toward the temple.
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After a few more hours of a tough hike up a narrow trail along the face of the mountain, the Pilgrim’s Path suddenly ends. A cylindrical portion of the mountainous landscape—one hundred and fifty feet in diameter—is simply missing. An old milestone still points southwest toward the strangely symmetrical crater, but an arrow engraved in the cliff face points west toward a series of water-slicked steps carved into the unnatural cliff.
Tanbaru detaches from Cizish and begins quietly wailing, his tiny body shaking in disgust as he sees what is left of his former ward. It was here! This is the place where my ward, my path, was sundered.
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As the group comes upon the missing path, Zalkar looks around and tries to recall anything that might be useful.
What happened here? Oh, Tanbaru, I'm sorry this happened to your ward! How should we go about getting across? I have a climbing kit and grappling hook but I'm not very acrobatic and would rather someone else did that part!