Knowledge Religion
"This was a truly powerful undead creature. And despite the destruction of the Necropolis Stone, the danger is not yet over. If we fail to completely destroy this armor, it will serve as a catalyst for him to rise again tomorrow."
Panting after his exertion, Mihai looks to Tragershen "Will rending and breaking it's armor suffice? - or are there more powerful requirements to it's ending?"
Tragershen believes you will need to thoroughly damage the armor. Melting it would be best but crushing it or breaking it into pieces should do the job. You also notice a shiny locket laying on the ground near a decayed body of a miner. It is engraved with the initials F. C. and containing a faded portrait of a kindly looking man holding a small child.
The party spends some time tearing the armor apart before checking for magic and evil, finding nothing left. You also eventually open the chest once you go back to the entrance for your mounts and equipment. It contains 500 gp and a bone scroll case with the deed to the mine.
Athyra Crinhouse is named next of kin in the deed.
Anton & Nim spot the savage women you encountered watching you as you exit.
"The deed to the mine? That could carry some value; especially since we've cleared it out now."
Did we find that the mine does indeed go through to the other side of the hills as hoped, allowing us to cut time off our journey?
There is a 10' passageway leading out of this room. When you follow it for several hundred yards it leads to an exit on the other side of this mountain range.
As Nim exits the mine he returns to his natural form. Spying the savage woman he gives her a solemn nod. We have cleared the mines of the foul death walkers. It is no longer haunted. Perhaps you will no longer be haunted either. Nim offers the locket to her. We found this down below. Do you know who this might belong to?
She carefully takes the locket...her hands shake a little as she opens it. Tears come to her eyes when she looks at it, It is my fathers...it is a picture of me as a little girl with him, when I was his little Athyra. Thank you for bringing this to me.
At this point you have made her friendly, if you have any other questions.
Tragershen has a potion of cure light wounds he'll give Nim for Wic if Mihai doesn't have any renewable healing left.
Your name is Athyra? Crinhouse I assume? Then we also have a deed for the mine in your name. It could be quite valuable. Nim retrieves the scroll tube and offers that to her as well.
As you are likely quite familiar with the area, and as we spoke earlier, we are in a hurry to get to Kalabuto, would you have any insights you could share with us to get us there more quickly?
Nim also informs her of the rest of the expedition following them, making sure to explain that they are also merely travelling through on the way to Kalabuto.
What is a deed? When explained to her, How could someone own the land, it belongs to all... she takes the scroll but holds it oddly, merely looking at it. It is obvious she can't read what is on there and is unsure what to do with it.
When you explain what you are going to do Athyra describes a route from the other side of the mine to the main trade route futher up, bypassing several hills the other caravans would have to climb. She also offers to guide your main group through here and over to the route that will eventually lead you to Kalabuto.
Nim offers, Much like you protect your hunting grounds, that piece of paper protects that mine. It tells others that they are not to dig there. It is yours alone to dig or not to dig. It is up to you. You are free to do with it as you wish. I suggest that you could trade it for something valuable you desire. A magic spear perhaps? Ask to speak to Jask when the main group arrives. Explain to him what I have said. He will see that you are treated fairly.
Nim then thanks Athyra and wishes her good fortune before making preparations to get moving again...
When Nim mentions asking for Jask, Tragershen pulls out a piece of parchment and writes a note to Jask. He'll quickly discussion the aid she has given and implore him to act on her behalf so she is not ripped off. He'll give it to her to add into the scroll tube for when the time comes.
"Your offer to guide us is generous. Nim, do you feel comfortable leading us with her directions, or shall we take her up on the offer?"
He'll also lean in and whisper to Nim "We should warn her that others will likely be coming; others who are likely to be hostile, especially if they know she helped us."
Nim agrees to Tragershen's suggestion of a warning, which he passes on to Athyra. You should not engage these other groups, as they are also dangerous. If you can delay them in any way, without risk to yourself, you would have our undying gratitude.
This also prompts Nim to ask, Perhaps we should be asking if any other groups have preceded us by chance?
I have not seen any other groups coming this way. If any other groups than yours comes by...they will find their animals will not easily make their way around here and many will run off at night! she grins.
She gets a description of your larger group and tells you she will keep an eye out from them. She accepts your explanation of the deed and sticks it in her shirt. You have done much to restore my faith in this land, I will help your group if I can.
You do hope that the Mantis don't decide to kill her on the way over...
Mihai is contented to see the grave knight ended with finality and offers Wic some succor from the last of his divine connection...
CLWx2:
...listening as the others deal with the savage girl, he approves of the assistance and is somewhat concerned at the risk she is taking on on their behalf... but does not speak against the arrangement.
Athyra gives Nim and Anton some detailed instructions on the path to follow and then heads down the path the opposite way wishing you luck.
You still have half of the day left. You can continue on or rest here until tomorrow and then continue on?
Wic nuzzles Mihai in thanks and then limps along with them to the surface.
As a devotee of the walker Mihai is always keen to continue to put his feet to task.
The group pushes on, going back through the mine and into the hills beyond. Athyra's directions prove to be useful and you take a small game trail until you connect with the main trail just beyond the hills. You rest here, planning to to identify your new items and equip yourself that night.
The next morning you start out, back on the trail to Kalabuto and beyond.
You emerge from the salt mine at the edge of the M’neri Plains, a broad swath of savanna that stretches to the horizon. The plain extends for
almost 200 miles to the River of Lost Tears.
At this point you are on the trade route between Eleder and Kalabuto and you skirt the northern border of the Laughing Jungle.
You travel for 3 days, encountering little but a few passing caravans until near the end of the day when you spot a wisp of smoke on the horizon. You find out it is coming from a small Zenj village huddling under the jungle’s eaves. When its inhabitants spot you approaching, they quickly attempt to make contact with you, seeming quite eager to trade goods as well as a share their hospitality.
With cheerful greetings in Polyglot and broken Common, the villagers invite you to join them for supper!
You spot two others, obviously not part of the village, who are sitting next to the fire. They eye you warily, but it is obvious that they are looking at the welcome given by the villagers.
Although they seem cheery and happy, you feel an undercurrent of dread in the village...it is not directed at your group or the other strangers in the village, they do seem genuinely happy to see you all.
You have been in the village since yesterday. You know there is something wrong in the village. The village elder wouldn't speak to you but a few of the children have told you the village is cursed. Now a group of strangers with a group of Eleder guards has arrived in the village...you are not sure what to make of it but maybe they can get the Elder to speak with you...if they are helpful and not just a group of colonials.
Sense Motive:
With quiet voice to the others as they approach "There is something ill at work here... be wary" before smiling and greeting the villagers in polyglot.
Tragershen nods solemnly at Mihai's warning. He stays behind the pilgrim of the Walker as he takes the lead with the villagers.
If any children gather nearby, he'll smile at them. He'll place his palms together in front of him (facing the children) and pull them apart, creating a rainbow between them. If they react well to it, he'll close them again, pause, and pull them apart again, creating several floating, shining, spinning diamonds. He will repeat this process numerous times with different fanciful displays to entertain the children. He won't let himself get separated from the others by much, so he'll stop as soon as he has to if the group moves on.
Balani looks sidelong at the newcomers wondering at the exuberant welcome they are receiving. The villagers had been welcoming to her but not nearly as excited and they seemed now.
They were not open about the obvious tension in the village but she had learned a little from the excited babbling of the children. Her curiosity was peaked and she had been hoping to talk to the village elder to find out if they knew of any other villages that may have suffered a similar situation they find themselves in.
Perhaps the village of my father was troubled by the same issue and they were forced to abandon it.
Hopefully the new arrivals wouldn't make things more difficult for her investigation.
Nim is content to let Mihai handle the interactions, mindful of his last attempt at civil conversation. He silently follows the group...
Don't worry about writing out characters...they will be writing themselves out quite soon...although you may have to play both characters in one combat for a short period...lets say it will be an organic leaving so to say.
As you enter the village and get settled in you see an old women stick her head out of a hut and give you an appraising stare. A scowl on her face then appears and she goes back inside her hut.
After asking in general conversation about her you find out she is the village shamen, and generally doesn't like stangers or outsiders.
Tragershen is a big hit with the children and the other villagers offer to trade you food and any other basic items in exchange for money or goods.
Their is an odd discomfort as the two odd groups finally come together around the village fire...
Seeing the old woman stick her head out from the hut and her apparent demeanor, Nim sighs. It seems that being a shaman makes you miserable. We haven't come across one that isn't...
Nim is impatient to get back on the road to Kalabuto and sits silently stroking Wic while the others mingle and interact with the villagers...
Mihai notes the old woman who sneered at them from her hut and is intrigued. He takes his leave of the others and moves to sit crosslegged facing the entrance to the hut - a mere span of a foot before the portal.
Calmly he takes out his harrow cards and begins a silent reading... waiting for the woman to speak first.
You notice a figure sitting at the fire. Obviously not a member of the village she could, non-the-less, pass for a native of the area. Only her clothes and demeanor set her apart from the others. A very keen eye might notice a few traces of a different lineage. She sits quietly at the fire and you get the distinct impression that, without the aid of the firelight, you may not have noticed her at all. A cat is curled up at her feet.
The woman makes no move to greet you as you gather around the fire for the meal but does not seem hostile. When the Shaman pokes her head out of the hut she looks like she might rise but seeing one of the new strangers seat himself at her door she remains at her seat. She then looks to the most senior villager at the fire and moves over to speak quietly to him.
You get the impression that this is not the first time this conversation has taken place.
The cards show great suffering and death in the present and the past as well as great danger in the future.
The old women sticks her head out her thatch door, gives you a foul look before she speaks,
Do you speak our tongue? If not go away. When she finds out the affirmative, So, more stangers...I suppose you won't leave until I tell you what is going on here. Outsiders are cursed in my opinion...but this village is already cursed so I suppose I might as well speak with you.
She invites you into her hut with an odd, almost toothless grin. Are you going to invite any other party members?
Several villagers give Mihai a look of surprise when the old women starts to speak with him.
Mihai responds purely in Polyglot "Strangers purely because we have not met... though strange you may still find us thereafter. I will not force you to speak... but the lay" gesturing to the cards before him "Suggest that death has both walked among you and may return."
"But if you will speak, I will hear it... and if within my power to stand before the danger... then I shall do so."
You notice a figure sitting at the fire. Obviously not a member of the village she could, non-the-less, pass for a native of the area. Only her clothes and demeanor set her apart from the others. A very keen eye might notice a few traces of a different lineage. She sits quietly at the fire and you get the distinct impression that, without the aid of the firelight, you may not have noticed her at all. A cat is curled up at her feet.
The Dwarf beside her looked extremely out of place in this small village. Burly, stocky and muscular far beyond that even of the usual Dwarf warriors, the figure seemed content to scowl at the natives while only conversing quietly with Balani. He had the look of a mercenary about him and his armour was made out of stone rather than the metal that such plate armour is normally made out of. His hair was dark and his face dirty; and his armour was dyed black too, likely in an attempt to make it more intimidating.
Bah. Bet the old hag won't give him a second glance... the warrior muttered, eyes scowling along with his mouth when he was swiftly proved wrong. Eh, Balani, what are they jabbering about?
Bah. Bet the old hag won't give him a second glance... the warrior muttered, eyes scowling along with his mouth when he was swiftly proved wrong. Eh, Balani, what are they jabbering about?
Balani looks up at the woman's words and quickly makes her way to the hut. In passing Kragnir she mutters in common, Perhaps my chance at last. Wait here. I will fill you in after. Best not to annoy her.
Taking the bold stranger's words as an invitation and an opportunity she slips in to the hut.
Tragershen trusts Mihai to learn the situation and speak on behalf of the group. He'll stay outside somewhere that he can see the hut, and hear if Mihai were to call for help. Otherwise, he'll flip through his spellbook, or shoot little (harmless) fireworks illusions at kids.
The hut is quite cramped, only a 10x15 hut. As you settle almost on top of each other the old women grabs some wooden bowls with spoons and pours some kind of slop into them that doesn't smell very tasty.
Here eat this. she says.
You get the impression this is some kind of test, and have the feeling that you probably shouldn't eat the soup.
No peaking...
You put the worst tasting concoction in your mouth you have ever tasted..wow is it foul. The old women cackles then tells you, Get out, if you don't have enough common sense to not drink something that smells that bad from a stranger you don't have the wisdom to help us! She is only speaking to those who eat the soup.
Well, I guess you have more wisdom that I thought you would have, maybe you can help us. You are welcome to my hut stranger.
Nim remains by the fire...
After you. She states, not touching the soup.
Sense Motive:
Mihai takes the soup from the lady with a slight furrowing of brow as he assesses the situation. He then holds it before him and pointedly looks at her "I asked not for a meal... and would not care for it." placing it back down on the ground "If you have words to say, say them... otherwise you merely waste the both of our time."
Balani and Mihai sit in front of the old women for a moment while she settles herself.
I couldn't trust any fool to help us...or get themselves killed. If you would blindly take something like that then I feared for your lives as well as our own.
I am an old woman, and set in my ways. My master taught me long ago that foreigners like yourselves carry curses. But this village suffers
under a curse already, and all my magic has so far failed to lift it. The spirits do not help me and I have nowhere else to turn. Perhaps I have been wrong all these years, and perhaps you are the ones who can help free us from the curse?
When you inquire about the curse but make no immediate commitment she elaborates, The village is plagued by a powerful Chemosit, a
malevolent and cunning ape-bear that delights in human prey, particularly relishing the taste of human brains. The beast has come out of the jungle every night for 2 weeks, stealing into the village in search of victims. Last night was the first night it has not appeared...but it has the taste. I expect it to return as long as their is food...here. Will you help us?
Outside the villagers prepare a nice meal of flatbread, fresh fruit, and a tasty porridge seasoned with sweet tubers for you. It appears that they have some entertainment planned as well for you later.
Balani listens silently to the woman's tale then tells her own.
I am searching for what happened to the people of another village. It appeared to be abandoned, the people gone without a trace. If you or anyone here knows of the people I seek I would hunt this cursed beast in exchange for information. She ponders for a moment then speaks seemingly to herself, Perhaps this creature got its taste for human flesh at my father's village and they left to escape their doom. Louder she addresses the woman again, In any respect, it is the closest thing to a clue I have so my companion and I will happily hunt his creature for any information it may provide.
After the woman speaks Balani asks a few questions. Does the ape-bear kill and eat in the village or drag its prey away? What time does it usually come? Can it speak? Do the people gather in a central area for protection? Is there just the one? Does it always enter the village from the same direction? Can you think of a reason it might not have come last night?
After Balani gets all the information she needs she nods to the woman and exits the hut to relay the salient points of the conversation to Kragnir. She then walks the perimeter of the village looking for the tracks of the Chemosit.
After completing her search Balani accepts some food with a wordless thanks and eats appreciatively.
Kragnir grunted and followed Balani on her search.
Some gribbly to soil my hammer with? Well you know i'm not turning down that offer.
Mihai half opens his mouth to reply... when Balani assumes the mantle of the conversation and barrages the old woman with questions and queries.
Balani listens silently to the woman's tale then tells her own.
I am searching for what happened to the people of another village. It appeared to be abandoned, the people gone without a trace. If you or anyone here knows of the people I seek I would hunt this cursed beast in exchange for information. She ponders for a moment then speaks seemingly to herself, Perhaps this creature got its taste for human flesh at my father's village and they left to escape their doom. Louder she addresses the woman again, In any respect, it is the closest thing to a clue I have so my companion and I will happily hunt his creature for any information it may provide.After the woman speaks Balani asks a few questions. Does the ape-bear kill and eat in the village or drag its prey away? What time does it usually come? Can it speak? Do the people gather in a central area for protection? Is there just the one? Does it always enter the village from the same direction? Can you think of a reason it might not have come last night?
After Balani gets all the information she needs she nods to the woman and exits the hut to relay the salient points of the conversation to Kragnir. She then walks the perimeter of the village looking for the tracks of the Chemosit.
Maybe the newcomers may know more?
[dice=survival to track] 1d20+9+2(track)
[dice=knowledge nature (Chemosit)]1d20+6
After completing her search Balani accepts some food with a wordless thanks and eats appreciatively.
What is the name of your village? Is it close to here? I would be glad for your help but I fear this creature is beyond you and your friend. That is why I waited to speak to you until others came...I consulted my god and the portents lent themselves to waiting. I believe I was waiting for all of you to arrive. she stares at Mihai.
She then continues, As far as you other questions I will tell you what I know...the Chemosit usually takes it's prey with them...into the jungle. Several of our people have already been taken...it will return to take more.
It usually comes in the deep of night, but not at the same time.
They are cunning animals, nothing more.
I don't know if there is more than one...there could be though.
We have hidden in our huts, no one here is a match for the beast, if we huddled together, we would be easier prey.
They are cunning, but I don't know their habits or if they enter the village in the same way but I expect not. Think of the leopard, they stalk and kill from many different angles.
As far as why it didn't come...fate must have provided something else for it to feed on last night, sparing us until you could gather here.
Even in the darkness you can see a few tracks of the creature. You know very little about them. They are Large magical beasts. Chemosits (or Mwangi ape-bears, as northerners sometimes refer to the creatures) are readily identified by their thick and bristly dark-blue fur and broad, stumpy tails. Beneath their fur, coils of muscle stretch across their broad frames, and they move with ferocious confidence.
Chemosits can walk upright or run on all fours, and are able climbers. A chemosit’s face is a mix of simian and ursine features, with a long lower jaw and the sharp, powerful teeth of a dedicated carnivore. Perhaps its most identifiable characteristic, however, is its terrifying roar.
On still nights, its grim echoes roll through the forests, leaving all who hear it sleepless with fright. Strict carnivores, chemosits go through monthly feeding cycles. During the first cycle, they barely eat,
often passing the entire month without feeding. During the second cycle, they emerge as voracious predators. You have heard the terrifying roar of the chemosit unnerves even the bravest souls.
Maybe the newcomers know more???
Mihai listens and takes in what is said before nodding "We are here for the night regardless, and will see what can be done against this chemosit. Whether this changes your thoughts that strangers are beset by devilish influence remains to be seen though." and as a puckish thought takes him Mihai holds a dagger over his breast and presses upon it firmly - trusting in the magics held within his adamantine chain that appears as cloth to prevent him from being harmed. "Oft there is more to us than meets the eye." taking his leave and moving out to Nim.
"They are beset by a beast... a bear that hunts with cunning and skill. We are here for the night and will needs face it regardless so we may as well prepare."
As to a means to lure the beast, Mihai has a thought "The most of us lurk within the huts that ring the central clearing... I will sit, and play the flute in the center. When the beast comes for me... you can claim it."
Nim smiles at Mihai, The desire should prove overwhelming I would guess... stop you from playing I mean. He then grabs Mihai's shoulder in a friends embrace. Are you sure you wish to play the bait?
Mihai shrugs "I have no fear to walk that path. The azlanti gift should gird my form against too much harm and I am best placed to still the bleeding should it come."