Mihai allows the General and Nim to speak without interruption, instead focusing on reading their responses and following the words. When they have parted Mihai gives Nim a brief but meaningful press of hand on the shoulder, a wordless affirmation that he shares the same view. To the topic of the guide he nods at Tragershen's wisdom "Indeed, either a whaler or one of the fishermen in the harbor could be easily persuaded with coin I would expect."
"I am not opposed to Nim taking on the task himself, if that is his preference. It certainly would be one of the quickest options."
It is only one possible option. I am admittedly not the best choice for diplomatic contact, but my ability to assume avian form would make reaching Nkechi less of a risk. That is if Nkechi himself is not a risk.
Do we know more about him? Does he hire out as a guide regularly?
My connection with nature would hopefully prove to be beneficial...
Perhaps we take the boat, and from there I can take initiate contact in avian form before everyone joins in.
"The best way to find the mystic’s hermitage, is to approach the Pallid Bluffs from the shore, as his cave cannot be spotted from above."
I am aware it will be hard to find from high above...
What I am suggesting is that I can either fly to the Pallid cliffs, alone from here, and then locate the cave by approaching from just above sea level. Further searching the cliff face for the cave safely, without need of risking a climb of potentially great heights.
Or I can do the same from a boat offshore without risking a swim or climb to search for the cave.
The first option is far faster but carries more risk in that I am alone. The second is slower but we have the strength of our full numbers.
The how is largely irrelevant until we decide if it is a mission for me alone, or the group. If time is not of concern then the second choice is the superior...
Anton speaks up, "I know the Ijo fishermen. I'm sure we could find one willing to take us over, and when we get there, I'm not bad with animals. Especially after this attack, I think we should stick together as much possible."
Anton, you know of several Ijo fishing villages just north of the bluff's. The area is known for excellent fishing and rare pearls. In general the Ijo are friendly to outsiders.
Nkechi does not usually hire himself out as a guide, although there are a couple of rumors that he has led a group before into the jungle when it suited his own goals.
Nkechi has travelled these regions for a long time. He is very knowledgeable, but can be quite temperamental, and like his patron is prone to fits of rage and madness. The holy man lives alone in a cave atop a jagged seaside cliff face several miles north of the city known as the Pallid Bluffs. These great cliffs form the very edge of a long promontory and drop some 300 feet into the angry sea.
The last group he led into the jungle had to perform some type of test, to prove themselves to him and his god...
Your read on the general so far.
He is not a good planner, he usually leaves this to his aides.
He seems to be proficient at soldiering, but isn't the most charismatic of soldiers.
His men respect him, but don't really follow him with their hearts.
He is generally good natured but a stickler for rules and regulations.
His duty is to Sargava.
He comes from a fairly wealthy family but he has obviously spent plenty of time in the jungle, suffering those conditions.
You aren't suggesting we are to travel past the Pallid Bluffs to secure a boat to travel to the Pallid Bluffs are you? Or do you think some of them are in Eleder right now?
Regardless, we are in a port city full of boats. It should not be difficult to secure transit. Ijo fishermen who may be in port. Grateful whaling company employees. Our ally, and benefactor, the government of Sargava. Surely someone can provide us with transport to the cliffs.
Let us leave tomorrow at first light...
Be careful. You never know how he will react even if he is a friend of nature like yourself.
When Nim is ready to go, Tragershen will cast an extended mage armor on him. It will last eight hours. I don't know if that is long enough to make a difference with anything he might encounter, but it is a precaution to help while he is shifted.
Diplomacy
Later, Tragershen will tell the others "I heard he doesn't really hire himself out. He doesn't appear to be motivated by money, as one would expect. But he has served as a jungle guide before when it was to his own benefit. Perhaps the magnitude of what we seek will incite him to sign on?"
Anton tries to help Tragershen with asking around to find out more about Nkechi, but he learns bupkiss.
Diplomacy:
Mihai finds some information about their elusive would be guide and passes it on to the others.
"Jask, we will go to try and enlist the aid of Nkechi. Can you arrange for a government longboat and sailors to take us? We will leave as soon as possible. After the setback with the lost gear at the warehouse, we need to make up as much time as possible."
The boat will be ready in the morning and waiting for you.
You make arrangements with Jask and get directions of where to meet.
The next morning the large longboat and a small crew of 5 are waiting for you. When you tell them where you are going the crew gives each other a look before getting to their business.
The longboat has a mast and a small sail to help the crew skirt the coast. It's about 5 hours up the coast before you get to the area known as the Pallid bluffs. You are a few hundred yards out from the possible area of his cave, do you want to go ahead and sail in or fly over?
Mihai is carefree upon the sail, taking time to center himself before meeting with the guide. He looks to Nim to better dictate the means of their final approach.
Taking note of the looks the sailors give each other, Nim inquires as to the meaning.
Nim looks to the shore to determine the best place to make landing. Are we to just start looking for his cave or can we signal this Nkechi?
The sailors tell you that it will be difficult to go to shore. There is a wide band of reef's here. They can stop and wait at the edge of the reef's and you can walk the remaining 100yards or so to the base of the cliff's. You look at the water and it appears to be no more than 2-3 feet deep.
This was the prefered method of approach? Wading ashore from a couple hundred yards out through who-knows-what infested waters?
Nim looks at the water depth, then to his halfling comrade and to some of the others who may balk at getting wet...
Turning to the sailors he inquires, Are you sure this is close to where the cave is located? Is there somewhere nearby that we can get to shore and then make our way back here on the beach?
Back to his comrades, Any suggestions? Are we all going in together? Or shall I take a look around from the air first?
"I think we should go in together. While an aerial check of the area would be useful, I am concerned that that particular ability of yours may serve us better in other ways."
In preparation for leaving the longboat, Tragershen will cast Mage Armor on himself.
Anton looks at the water dubiously, since it comes up to the top of his head in places. "Well, I suppose if someone were willing to let me ride on his shoulders..." He looks around at the group as if he'd never seen any of them before, then settles on Nim. "Oh hey! You look like a strong enough fellow, I'm sure it wouldn't be any trouble." The halfling winks.
Nim responds to Tragershen, Perhaps...
As Anton singles him out, Nim lets out a quiet sigh before bending a knee to allow the halfling to climb atop his shoulders.
Before hopping out of the boat, Nim asks the others, Do you think he is watching us right now?
Let us assume as such, and act accordingly Aedalis said, looking quite uneasy in the unfamiliar surroundings.
Surprise Round:
vs stealth
The groups hops out of the longboat onto the reef as the sailors moor it to the edge of the reef.
You travel about half way to the cliff face when Anton, Nim, and Aedalis all spot what appears to be two very large crabs trying to stay hidden on the reef, minding their own business at the moment. Your current path will most likely get their attention though as they are close to blocking your way.
You can go the long way round and circumvent them or from their look they don't pose too much of a threat for you. You can probably dispatch them fairly easily and be on your way?
We should go around. We don't need to kill them needlessly. We are the trespassers here.
Nim glances at the cliff face, looking for signs of Nkechi, knowing that he might be watching... or possibly even directing the crabs.
"No doubt Nkechi may take umbrage if we cull life from his home uninvited."
You move around the crabs and make your way to the base of the cliff, the thought of fresh crab meat making your mouth water the entire way.
Jagged seaside cliffs of pale limestone tower over the rocky shore. Gulls weave overhead in the updraft, while from below rise the deafening echoes of the roiling surf as it beats against the rocks.
There is a sizable cave entrance about half way up the cliff.
A couple of you notice a larger creature leap off the top of the cliff. It decends to about 100 feet above you before banking and then gliding into the cave. You are pretty sure it was Grolik, also known to you as the Red Mountain Devil.
High upon a narrow ledge just outside the cave, a dark-skinned man appears.
Dressed in nothing but a loincloth, his wild, knotted hair whips
about in the wind. Shouting above the crashing surf he calls down, Who are you and for what purpose do you seek me?
A figure stands in the shadows behind him...
Nim growls in anger at the sight of the Red Mountain Devil. Why, and how, does this creature dog our every step? Does anything we do ever go unnoticed? he spits. And yet another aspect of this venture is compromised.
Nim turns to the group but looks mostly at Anton. Did any of you share our plans to seek out Nkechi as a guide with him?
His presence here is enough to make me return to Eleder. To hades with this! I don't need a guide this bad!
The devil shows swoopes into his cave and Nkechi challenges us to explain our purpose here?!
Nim ignores Nkechi's call...
There is a cackling laugh from above. He said you were hot headed...good!
Mihai gives Nim a shared look of dismay and sighs a similar acceptance "Aye, I am of the same mind..." before looking again with some finality at the others "My opinion is known and unchanged... go above if you wish... but I shall have no part of it."
"If this pursuit will foster strife amongst us in our long and dangerous mission, I agree that we must do without the potential aid; the cost of it is simply too high. It would appear this errand was for naught."
Nim paces back and forth on the small rocky beach. What is it doing here?! Does it come as a representative of the Pathfinders? To compete for Nkechi's services?
It only just arrived, but it seems they are familiar with each other already. These two must have spoken before... and about us apparently! Why then does Nkechi then ask who we are and what we seek! He obviously already knows the answers! Nim growls again in frustration.
Nim stops his pacing and looks up. Shouting,
Nim looks to Mihai to gauge his reaction to the compromise.
Whispering he adds, We should at least try and figure out what the devil's play is here. If he conspires against us, then better we are aware of it now. We cannot have him interfering with the expedition. He can cause us innumerable problems on the jungle journey.
Because there was no need to. We were the trespassers in their rightful domain. It is not our nature to kill unnecessarily...
Mihai shakes his head "If you wish, but I have no interest in it. The hermit has welcomed the om dat draculai... that is enough for me." before moving to stand physically and symbolically apart from the party.
As it should be! They guard the way to my cave from the sea as well!
Nkechi begins to wonder down the cliff face, making remarkable progress down it's face for an old man. He arrives at the base of the cliff. He is a wizened old man, no taller than 5'2, with a wild look in his eyes. His smell is a little off-setting...
So who are you?
Assuming you make introductions he continues, Well what is it you want?
The creature up there told me you saved his life. We met after he "moved" into the area and started stirring up some concern around the natives. Any time a new predator arrives in the area I try to meet it and make sure it doesn't need to be taken care of.
Shaking his head at the sudden appearance of the RMD, his expression clearly one of frustration and disbelief, Corbius whispers to Nim. I will follow your lead Nim, if for no other reason than to watch your back. But, If this man welcomes that into his home, I have little interest in trusting him to lead us safely through the jungle.
Corbius moves to stand beside Mihai his hand resting on his sword. He alternates between watching the old man and the cave where the RMD disappeared.
Alexander Kilcoyne
Lord oKOyA
