Vriskirsa bids you farewell, offering her consultation services on any other historical finds you might uncover.
You return to Talmandor's Bounty, making it back to the colony by early evening. It seems that some of the colonists have become restless in your absence, though. Rumors swirl that Andvara Jeclair, a wealthy Andoren colonist determined to start a logging company on the island, has gone on a hunger strike in protest of the dangerous living conditions in Talmandor's Bounty. Andvara insists that the people of Talmandor's Bounty are in extreme danger and claims that she will not eat until Ramona Avandth takes more serious measures to protect the colonists from local perils. Andvara has gone as far as to cite the exsanguinated goats, Soran's "near death at sea," and the many dangerous creatures inhabiting the island as proof of her stance.
Andvara Jeclair's cause has drawn a significant number of followers who, stirred by her hunger strike, join their voices in protesting the security of the settlement and demand that the bulk of the colony's workforce be directed to extending the fortified wall to surround the other residences as soon as possible.
Hearing of the problems that have started in their absence, Gideon takes a deep breath, inwardly wondering how many of these little fires are going to have to be put out before people will be satisfied.
After getting Ramona to come with them, Gideon seeks an audience with Andvara, laying out his case. "I understand your concerns here, and believe me, Ramona does as well. It isn't as if we are ignorant to the things that have been happening, but I also think it's important not to have any knee-jerk reactions to the things that have happened since we got to Ancorato."
"Firstly, have their been dangers? Of course there have; when we signed on to this voyage, the Company made it abundantly clear in the charter that there were going to be dangers here. We are the first human presence on this island in millennia, so far as we know; it's unrealistic to think that everything was going to be wonderful and we were going to have no problems. You cite the dangerous creatures here, but there were dangerous creatures back home. I'm sure that when Almas was first founded, the settlers had to beat back the wilderness and local beasts to establish a foothold that eventually grew into that great city."
"Secondly, and don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the man, but Soran's 'near death' was his own fault, not some alien threat in the ocean. He fell asleep on a boat and got washed out to sea. Thankfully he was able to make his way back and was no worse off for the ordeal, but you can't blame that on some monster."
"Thirdly, to this point, not a single human being who came to the island on the Peregrine has been under serious threat of bodily harm aside from the four of us, and Calvin. The five of us know that there are dangers here, and we choose to go out in spite of them and explore and do what we can to help keep all of you safe. I like to think that our efforts have borne fruit in that not only has the colony been relatively safe, but we've even made an alliance and trade agreement with Koloshkora and the tribe of locathah that occupy the island."
"Stirring up resentful sentiments and declaring that you're going on a hunger strike, if you truly did do such a thing...if you can lay out a logical case for how that is going to make the island safer, I will gladly listen to it, Andvara. Many things need to be done to make Talmandor's Bounty truly safe for all of us, and yes, a wall is one of them, but to try and force the hand of all those working here into doing just what you think is most important...forgive me, but I can't see how that is going to help make the colony safer."
"Is it perfect? No. Have things happened that we can't explain yet? Yes. I sincerely doubt you expected any differently when you got off ther Peregrine. I just...I'm asking you now...please, trust us. Trust that we are doing all we can to ensure the safety of Talmandor's Bounty and the people who live here."
Andvara Jeclair initially keeps a haughty attitude when Gideon requests the audience with her. She sits quietly and lets the bard speak his piece, though. The wealthy woman ruminates on his words for a few moments before letting out a heavy sigh.
"Very well. Perhaps I was a bit out of line with my actions. Governor Avandth, I apologize for the disruption I have caused within the colony. I will tell everybody about my change of heart and encourage them to trust in you and your ability to defend the town."
Tobar nods in assent at the decision to return to the colony, and recognizes that it was a good choice once the group returns - internal problems being as important as external ones.
He listens quietly to Gideon's speech, nodding occasionally, well aware that he is not a great speaker and thus has little to contribute.
Gideon smiles, breathing a silent sigh of relief. "Thank you, Lady Jeclair. You are appreciated, and I know that your concerns will be given all consideration." he answers.
Once back outside and out of her earshot, Gideon releases another breath, this one somewhat less silent. "Sheesh...I wish people would stop worryin' so much about stuff. Anything else goin' on that we need to know about, Ramona? We haven't gotten to the end of that trail left by yet, so that's probably gonna be our goal tomorrow. We also found an old Azlanti site with several undead that we took care of." he says, explaining the speaker dais they found.
If he has an opportunity, he brings the same information to Carver, and also shows him the ioun gauntlet that they found in one of the vaults.
Ramona gives Gideon a slightly tired smile. "Perhaps we should give you a new title: Assayer of Worries. Seriously though, thanks for talking to her. Your way with words is really making my job much easier.
"There's nothing else going on here at the moment. It's exciting to hear about your discoveries, though! No doubt the Bountiful Venture Company will be interested in paying top coin for any lore or artifacts you wish to send back to the mainland."
Carver is also very intrigued by what you found in the vaults. He examines the ioun gauntlet with a critical eye. "The Azlanti were really marvels when it came to arcano-magical engineering. We can study this gauntlet together later to try to reverse engineer it and create more of them.
"You've found almost all of the sites that Durvin Gest wrote about in the Chronicles. Only the crystal monument and ancient observatory remain. Once you've found those two places, we should turn our attention to that sea hag the sahuagin were working for. I worry what sort of nefarious plots she might get up to if left unchecked."
"That sounds fine," says Tobar to Carver. "I'm a bit curious about the observatory. I'd like to get a look at the mechanisms used for the spyglasses and orreries and such."
"Thirdly, to this point, not a single human being who came to the island on the Peregrine has been under serious threat of bodily harm aside from the four of us, and Calvin...."
"Who you callin' human, human?" Weyve mutters with a chuckle.
"Seriously, though, it wouldn't hurt to work on a palisade to enclose the other buildings. Mind you, the buildings are foolishly far apart, so it will be a lot of work. Because of that, you could start with some watchtowers at key points and then work from there."
"I too am curious about the observatory."
"It seems we all are," Carver says wryly. "Unfortunately, that's the one place of which the location is unknown. Perhaps you'll find more clues by continuing to follow the trail."
Gideon gives Weyve a jesting elbow and a slight grin. "Yeah, workin' on the wall isn't a bad idea. For all the words I used, it's pretty surprising how many things are that are trying to kill us, so something to make that a bit more difficult is always gonna be good." he answers.
"Sounds like our way forward has been decided!" Gideon answers Carver, a glint of excitement in his eye. "We should spend the night here, I think, just to get good and rested up for the trek to that small island the clues have pointed us to next."
"If it has any more blast shadows I'd like as much rest as I can get." Terana adds, "and maybe some sort of water bucket..."
Being a friendly sort she pitches in on the palisade work before going to bed.
After resting in the colony overnight, you make your way up the coast following the latest set of coordinates from Durvin Gest's travels. You pass by the locathah camp, where Koloshkora and her tribesfolk offer to trade if you are interested. The trail leads to the northwest cape of Ancorato, very close to where the grindylows laired. From there, it's a relatively short swim across the channel to the small island off the coast.
The sun is beginning to set by the time you reach your destination, but the sight that greets you is worth the long day's journey. Here, a settlement of numerous wooden and stone structures is suspended high in the boughs of massive live oaks and pines. All the structures are built around the base of a massive, octagonal tower of glittering blue crystal that reaches into the sky, sparkling in the orange light of sunset.
As you draw near, two winged humanoids fly down and land a short distance away from you. Colorful tattoos adorn their skin, and their feathers are painted in iridescent colors that resemble those of a peacock. Gideon recognizes them as strix. But while they have the black wings and dark gray skin of their eastern cousins found near Cheliax, their features are softer and less influenced by infernal forces.
They call out first in an unfamiliar tongue, but after a moment, they try again in Azlanti. "You approach the village of Sheshkadrann. Who are you, and why have you come here?" They seem curious but mildly wary.
Gideon gives a low whistle as they get closer to the structures, his eyes wide. Though he is quick to point out to the others that the humanoids before them are strix, their language is unknown to him...until, of course, they speak Azlanti.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Gideon swiftly puts away anything he was carrying and lifts both hands, palms flat and out toward the strix, to show that he carries no weapons. "Good evening! We are explorers from the settlement of Talmandor's Bounty, on the southern side of this island, which we call Ancorato. My name is Gideon and these are my companions: Terana, Weyve, and Tobar."
"We intend no harm to you or yours and if you wish us to leave your village, we will honor that without question. Our preference would be show our good will to your people and, ultimately, to have the people of Talmandor's Bounty and the people of Sheshkadrann be friends and allies."
Tobar unloads his crossbow and hangs it from his belt-hook as a sign that he means no hostility. He removes his hat and makes a curt bow to the owl-people.
"Strix! I have heard of your people but have never met one before. It is a pleasure to meet you! As my friend has mentioned, I am Weyve Murkwater."
"I see you speak the tongue of the Azlanti! How long have your people lived here? Were there Strix like yourselves in the old Azlanti Empire?"
The village elder is an older strix who introduces herself as Skalorah. "Welcome, people of Talmandor's Bounty. We are the Akkiti-Skah, the People of the Sea and Sky. We greet you in the name of friendship and goodwill. We noticed your settlement several weeks ago but have not made the time to investigate yet. We know little of your people, but are eager to learn more."
She turns to Weyve. "Our people have dwelled among these islands for thousands of years, but the empire of Azlant was already gone by the time we arrived. Our clan has only settled on this island for about 70 years ago. This village is a satellite community of a larger settlement called Okorishkatra, several hundred miles to the northwest of here. And you, gillman? Are you one of the residents of Bonetown? We have not heard from your people here for several years."
"... And you, gillman? Are you one of the residents of Bonetown? We have not heard from your people here for several years."
"Bonetown? No, we come from across the sea to the east. This Bonetown... is that a town of gillmen?"
"And I have not heard of this Okorishkatra either. What can you tell me of it?"
"It used to be," Skalorah says. "A small group of your people settled along the northern coast of Reshkatara--what you call Acnorato--about twenty years ago. They were whalers who built their homes out of the creatures bones, and they used to trade meat and blubber with us some times. They were a friendly sort--not like those vicious fish-people. But a few years ago they disappeared, and we have not heard from them since.
"Okorishkatra was once my home, but I have lived here on the island of Nikkrashana for decades now, and it has been a long time since I have been back there. While larger than Sheshkadrann, it is much like most of the villages of the Akkiti-Skah. Our people have no central authority or rulership. Each village self-governs, led by the oldest artist of the respective settlement. We are a peaceful people, seeking to master art, music, and poetry."
The strix spreads her hands and her wings. "It is late, and you have journeyed far to get here. Will you join us for a meal and stay in Sheshkadrann tonight? I am sure my people will be eager to meet you and learn more about you."
"It would be our honor and pleasure to join you for a meal, Skalorah! I'm sure that I am not alone when I say that we would love to learn more of your people and customs. I would also be very interested in being taught your native language. I'm a student of archaeology and peoples myself and always seeking to learn as much as I can."
"If there are areas of the island you are unfamiliar with, I'm sure we would be happy to share the things we've learned, and to tell you more about Talmandor's Bounty."
"It is well! Follow me," Skalorah says.
The strix lower rope ladders so that you can ascend to the numerous arboreal structures that make up their village. Bridges of rope connect a few of them, allowing you to move around a bit, though navigation would be much easier if you could fly.
At the heart of Sheshkadrann stand an octagonal crystal tower 170 feet tall, with a jagged top that is clearly indicative of a fracture. Crystal fragments lie scattered throughout the forest to the north of the settlement. The tower is solid all the way through, but fine silver circuitry runs through its interior, reminiscent of the other Azlanti ruin you recently explored.
Over a hundred strix dwell here, all of them friendly and curious about the four of you. They speak in a musical language full of chirps, warbles, and guttural stops. All have gone to great lengths to decorate their bodies with art, from colorful tattoos to painted wings. Others practice more extreme body modifications, such as head binding, lip gauging, and scarification as forms of personal art and expression.
As night falls, the Akkiti-Skah treat you to a fine feast of fish and fruits harvested from the larger island. The food is laid out on the floor of a large hall, and the strix eat seated cross-legged on cushions. Several of the strix perform songs and intricate dances for your enjoyment, none more than impressive than Skalorah herself, who favors deep chants and multivocal harmanoies. The elder is keen to listen to your stories and share information with you.
Among the Akkiti-Skah, none are more curious about you than a young female with milky, clouded eyes. She seems to be the only one besides Skalorah that speaks Azlanti, and she scoots closer to you as you eat. "Greetings, strangers. I am Oorka. We've never had people like you in our homes before. Skalorah says you have traveled across the sea to live here. What is your homeland like? Is it so bad that you wanted to flee so far away? How did you manage to make it here without wings? It must be very tiring to swim across an entire ocean."
Fascinated by the language spoken by the strix, Gideon stops himself from asking time and time again what this or that means, though he still hopes with all sincerity that their hosts will be willing to teach their language to him.
The colorful tattoos are a wonder to behold, and though the body modification is not for him personally, he is fascinated by the various forms of self-expression used by tribe.
The meal thoroughly enjoyable, Gideon makes a point to ask about the preparation of the fish and local spices used, as to his tongue some it had a particularly pleasing zing that he'd love to share with people back home.
After they are greeted by the newcomer, Gideon smiles to her, though with her clouded eyes, he's not certain how defined her vision is. "Hello, Oorka! I am Gideon. My companions are Terana, Weyve, and Tobar. Yes, we did travel from across the sea, from a city called Almas. You're right that we don't have wings, but we didn't swim, either. We came on a large sailing ship, a vessel made of wood that uses large cloth sails to catch the wind and use its power to move through the water. We didn't leave because our homeland was bad, really. I think many of the people who came on the ship were happy there. Many who are of my race, we call ourselves humans, love to learn and explore, to find new places to call 'home' and new peoples to be friends with."
"Oh! A ship!" Oorka ponders the unfamiliar word. "It must be nice to be able to travel to new places all the time. I have never left Sheshkadrann. When I was little, I got very sick and nearly lost all of my sight. But ever since then, I sometimes see things that haven't happened yet. Skalorah says that I have a second sight, and that I glimpse the divine. But she says the world outside our village is too dangerous for me to explore."
The young strix looks sad.
"That's no reason not to explore!" Terana says firmly. "What matters is you and whether you have the courage to leave the village and look around. One of my sisters was born without one of her hands - but she's the best swimmer I know. She decided that she wasn't going to let not having a hand stop her and she learned to swim without it."
Terana offers the young strix her hand, and gently traces the thick scar across her throat with the striz's hand so she can feel it. "I nearly died because of this. But that doesn't mean I'm never going swimming again, never going to fight back against the skum again. What is right isn't always easy, and what is easy is rarely right, which is why we always have to try hard and work for the things we want. If you work hard, practise moving and flying then you will be able to convince Skalorah that you can leave the village - prove yourself to her!"
Terana smiles widely. "I'll help you if you like."
Oorka seemed awed by Terana's speech. "Oh! Yes, please! I want to see the world beyond this little island. I must ask permission from Skalorah, but if she allows it, will you take me under your wing? Um, so to speak!"
Tobar nervously ascends, and it takes some coaxing for him to cross the rope bridges. He seems to fight down his discomfort by focusing on the massive Azlant crystal structure.
"Well...as long as Skalorah gives her assent, then I see no reason why you shouldn't come with us. We will do all we can to keep you safe. I think you're probably right about your visions...there are those where we come from that have similar abilities. We call people gifted with such powers 'oracles'. With enough experience you might be surprised how strong some of those powers can become."
After the feast, Oorka speaks to Skalorah in their native tongue. The conversation is full of excited hoots and whistles, and eventually the older strix comes to speak to you.
"Oorka tells me you have offered to mentor her and guide her outside the village. I think exposure to the world and your culture will be good for her development, but there are many dangers on these islands and she is still a child. I will allow her to accompany you if you promise to let no harm to come to her."
The young strix nearly bounces with excitement. "This is going to be amazing! I can't wait!"
"No harm will come to her. I promise." Terana confirms.
The strix lower rope ladders so that you can ascend to the numerous arboreal structures that make up their village.
As Weyve sees the ropes being dropped down, he nods.
"Of course, flying people would live in such a place. But let's not crowd these ladders, shall we?"
Weyve steps over to where he can see a platform higher up, and with a murmur, smoke seems to pour from his hands and settles to the ground, forming a small disc under his feet. Grinning, he begins to slowly rise into the air.
"Mind you, I haven't figured out how to go sideways yet."
"We call people gifted with such powers 'oracles'. With enough experience you might be surprised how strong some of those powers can become."
"Yes, we do call... 'them'... that, don't we?" Weyve says with a smile. "And yes, they can do lots of interesting things."
Weyve engages the young strix in conversation, trying to learn the extent of her abilities.
"Well, sometimes, I get premonitions of things that are about to happen before they actually happen," Oorka says. "And I can use a little bit of magic, too. Making food and water pure, giving people some guidance, that sort of thing. Oh, and I can heal people."
With a sidelong glance at Weyve, Gideon gives a slight grin. "Hey, that was your show, I didn't wanna steal your thunder." he answers.
Turning his attention back to Skalorah, Gideon addresses her once more. "In truth, we didn't come to this part of the island just looking for new peoples...we were led here by directions left by a member of a group called the Pathfinder Society, explorers and chroniclers of history and culture. One in particular, a Durvin Gest, left a series of clues on the island which eventually lead us here. The markings spoke of a 'crystal monument', which I can only assume was referring to this wondrous crystal formation here. Have your people ever noticed any markings or runes anywhere near the site, or would you mind if we looked for them? There is only one more location we have yet to find that Gest left clues for; an ancient observatory of some kind."
Skalorah shakes her head. "We have not seen any markings like that. But our hunters have flown over much of this island. I shall summon our strongest hunter, Kalikk."
The elder strix whistles, and a tall, lean female obediently approaches. They converse in their native tongue for a few moments before Skalorah turns back to you. "Kalikk knows of what you speak. Atop a great mountain in the center of the island you call Ancorato, there is a lake. At its center, a domed tower rises from a small island. It is of the style that the ancient humans used to study the skies and stars. If you desire, she can guide you there."
"That is excellent news! Yes, a guide to the observatory would be most welcome. There is no particular hurry, though. I would love to spend a bit more time here and learn more about your people and culture; if you're willing, I would love to get some lessons on speaking your native tongue."
"Of course! You are welcome to stay as long as you would like. I will teach you all about the Akkiti-Skah as you teach me about the Andoran!"
You spend the next day at Sheshkadrann as Skalorah tells you more of her people's history. The strix originated in lands much further to the west, on the continent most people refer to as Arcadia, where a mysterious avian race lorded over them. The stories say that they left their home in a great exodus. Several of their number crossed the Arcadian Ocean, eventually arriving on the shores of Cheliax to settle the region now known as Devil's Perch. But the Akkiti-Skah settled in the shattered ruins of Azlant in small, isolated pockets. Some of the old songs and stories indicate that the strix traveled to Azlant from Arcadia prior to Earthfall and may have had limited trading arrangements with the Azlanti.
The strix are eager to open trade relations with Talmandor's Bounty. Kalikk offers to act as an envoy between her people and yours. Skalorah asks a favor of you as well. "There is a band of fish-people who camp on the western shores of the island. You might have encountered them. When our peoples met several years ago, it was not a friendly encounter. A skirmish broke out and one of their hunters was slain. Since then, we have kept our distance, not wanting to risk their wrath. But I believe if we can find a way to put past grudges aside, the same manner of trade agreement between our community and theirs would benefit all of us. Would you be willing to negotiate relations on our behalf?"
Sitting as far as he can from any edges while he listens to the stories of the strix settlements, Tobar soaks in the history, though he doesn't really have Gideon's knack for cataloging it and bringing all of the disparate facts into a useful, organized form in his head.
"We can probably work something out," he says in response to Skalorah's question about arranging a three-way meeting with the locathah. "Things have been going well with them so far, we can at least try to open the conversation."
After making sure it was alright to do so, Gideon spends a lot of their conversation scribbling down notes, keeping his own kind of shorthand, trying not to miss any details of the history being shared with them. "Assuming the race you refer to is the locathah. I think we might be able to help mend that bridge. Can you give any more details on what happened? If we can provide such and explain that it was a misunderstanding, we might be able to convince their leader, Koloshkora, to give it another shot. If they agree, I think it would be best for you and she to meet face to face, in an area of neutral ground. I would certainly love to be there to help."
"We encountered their camp on the island's shore. We did not speak their language, and they did not speak ours. Their appearance and smell unnerved our hunters, and when they refused to lower their weapons and approached us, we opened fire. They scattered quickly, but not before our arrows had found their mark and one of their number lie dead." Skalorah bows her head. "It was likely a misunderstanding, but our hunters did what they thought necessary to protect themselves. I do not know how these 'locathah' will see things."
"If it's alright with my companions, I'd like to go and make this right before going to the observatory. I feel like it's the least we could do, with the hospitality you've shown to us. If I may make a suggestion...if you have anything that you might be willing to send with us as a goodwill token, that couldn't hurt the chances of opening a dialogue."
"Of course. Is there something you think they might need? A few fine hunting spears, perhaps?"
"Hunting spears are a good idea, I think...something that is practical and useful over something for appearances only is never bad. We'd be happy to deliver them and take a message of apology and reconciliation to the locathah. Oorka, would you like to come along? I think it'd be a good first step on your journey into a larger world."
"Yes, please! I am ready to spread my wings!" Oorka says excitedly.
"Well alright, then! Is there anything else or are we ready to head out?" he asks the others.
"Always ready for a swim!" Terana responds, "Beside, I promised Oorka that we'd stick together."
As they leave the village Terana makes sure to stay near the strix, helping her around obstacles and so forth.
"Did you know that you share your name with one of the biggest fish in the ocean?"
"Really? How big is it? Is it blind like me? Does it have magic powers?" Oorka asks.
"No magic sadly," Terana says with a smile. "It's huge, black with white patches and big teeth! It's one of the fastest swimmers in the ocean and no-one gets in its way! It's not blind, but it mostly hears its way around. I'll take you into the ocean one day and see if we can find one, they're beautiful animals."
"It is indeed! But the Orca is also a fish that breathes air, and nurses its young like surface creatures."
"We have had peaceful relations with the Locathah already. So we will visit our friends there first."
"Orca are indeed huge animals. An average adult weighs in at about five tons." Gideon adds, pulling from his bank of useless knowledge.