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Ranar opens his jacket and points to a cloudy vial of some unknown solution.
"I can take care of myself in regards to the heat, but I will be unable to assist others. It looks like half of us can provide for ourselves, perhaps we allow those without the ability to keep the potions. That should cover two days if we get separated."
With the heat managed through the use of magics, you guys ride hard the rest of the way of the desert, traveling the almost 200 miles by horse arriving around dusk in the Zho Mountains. Drawing out of your packs, you were given the previous Pathfinders team's incomplete maps and notes on the area. They give you a rough place to start to look for their camp.
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Cosmo dismounts from his horse, and dusts himself off. "Whew! That was quite the ride! I'm ready to sleep for the night. After I spend a few hours taking notes, of course."
The professor activates his wayfinder then rummages through Sticky's saddlebags until he pulls out his journal, ink pot and pen. Then he begins repacking his pipe with tobacco before sitting down to chronicle his day's journey.
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Tika will dismount her horse and feed and water the horses and Manuk. "maybe we should look at the maps and start looking for our missing pathfinders? I do hope that we aren't too late and can find their camp quickly"
Tika will begin to look at the maps to try and figure out which way we should go from here.
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"! One heck of a ride! I'd say we all deserve a bit of a celebration!" Xiakai exclaims. She clumsily dismounts.
Not seeing much to distract her, she then deftly sets up a small table with glasses and her tengu drinking jug. "What shall we drink tonight? Plum wine? Sake? I know you'll be wanting something to go with that pipe professor."
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"! Black tea? Professor! Ale is more like it; however, the jug's magic allows for sake or plum wine alone. It will also make tea, however seems a shame to waste a chance to celebrate! . Looking about in the dark seems less ominous after a proper drink - I'm sure Hlifkom agrees!" she exclaims while expectantly looking in Hlifkom's direction.
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"There is certainly merit in both staying to gather our energy, and for setting out to hopefully find our fellow Pathfinders as soon as possible. Maybe we should take a vote? As for the drink, that sounds wonderful. Thank you."
Hlifkom dismounts, tying her horses to a rocky outcropping. Turning to Cosmo and gesturing to his wayfinder, she asks, "Cosmo, can you point your compass towards north for me?"
Sticky with sweat and already travel weary you guys opt to ascend through the switchback of a mountain pass, hoping to find some clues as to the where-about of the previous team of pathfinders current location and perhaps where this supposed mass illusion or mirage might exist.
The trail winds around and over several of the lower peaks, gradually taking the PCs several dozen miles into the Zho Mountains and several thousand feet higher in altitude. Signs of the first groups’ progress vanish as you enter an alpine meadow filled with scrub brush and dry grasses that cling to the thin soil. This arid, milelong mountain cove dead-ends. The moon, beams down providing the only illumination in this otherwise unlit valley. It would appear as though your adventure has run aground. . .or has it?
!
Despite your searching, it really does seem as though this is a dead end and has been a colossal waste of time. Unable to uncover the mystery of the missing Pathfinder team it might be good to set up camp and search the mountains again in tthe morning.
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" Drinks for all - feel free to help yourself!"
Taking a quick gulp from her holy symbol flask, Xiakai looks about. "Now lets see if we can't figure out how to get out of this valley."
Between the heat and the strong sake, Xiakai has become a bit inebriated. She nods knowingly while looking again at the map and tipsily exclaims while making a sweeping gesture with her arm, "Fine, good. Then we go that way!"
Realizing that she's pointing at a deadend, and feeling a bit unsteady, "Perhaps we rest for the night? Manuk must need some rest!"
this heat must be getting to me!
Xiakai begins to unpack for the night.
Xiakai you find a nice even spot with only a few small rocks, would make a good place for a tent!
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"It seems Xiakai has not seen through the illusion. Does anyone else see the village before us, or is it only me?"
Hlifkom walks over to Cosmo, and gestures to the village that she sees before her.
"I know you to be of strong mind, Master Berrythwaite. Surely you can see through this illusion." Hlifkom rests her hand on his shoulder and closes her eyes.
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I must by much more inebriated than I thought!
"Oh, yes - of course! At last we'll be able to have something other than plum wine or sake! Not to complain, but a proper celebration needs ale! Right Professor?!"
Xiakai attempts to casually put her things back into her saddlebags and grab her horses reins to lead them down toward the village.
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Clearly, these smoked goggles are distorting my vision for I see nothing. I probably won't need them in the moonlight.
Ranar lifts his goggles and surveys the indicated area sternly.
"I know there is to be an illusionary wall surrounding our objective, however might it be possible that you are seeing a mirage? If you are certain, perhaps it will be necessary for you to lead the way. Regardless, the truth will soon become apparent. Just let me know if a hazard presents itself, for I am not fond of surprises."
The city, alive with the sounds of industry even in this late hour rests only a hundred or so yards away from where you guys were camped. If the illusion wasn't two-sided you presume your presence would have been noticed by now.
As such you have an opportunity before you, you can try and sneak your way into the town, avoiding the front gates and either finding an alternate entrance or perhaps just scaling the 20ft walls or you can just waltz in through the front gates, they are wide-open, and begin your search for a tavern.
From your vantage point, slightly elevated you can get a pretty good picture of the size of the city.
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Cosmo suddenly enters a deep trance. It doesn't last much more than half a minute.
When he emerges from the trance the professor says, "Ah! This is Crystalcrag! The city was founded twelve centuries ago, and believed to have been lost when the volcanoes Zhonar and Zhobl erupted a millennium ago—remember, I told you about them last week? No one has seen nor even heard from the city since that fateful day of lava and rivers of molten death and carnage."
He thinks for a moment, then grabs his journal and begins writing frantically. "Seeing it in such pristine condition, I know that there is surely an academic paper in it for me. I'm sure to get tenure now! This turns all of the history of the region on its head! This is amazing! Do you all understand what this means? Maybe now I'll even get an office!"
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"Should we sneak in?" Xiakai asks conspiratorially. Somewhat dramatically, she tosses her cloak to cover more of her frame, ties the reins to a ground stake, and begins to tiptoe toward the city wall.
Looking back toward the gang with a grin, she pauses, waiting to see what her fellow Pathfinders might do.
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Hlifkom looks at Xiakai, then looks down at herself.
"I don't think I'll be doing much sneaking, to be honest, and I don't feel right abandoning horses that don't belong to us. I vote for a direct approach. Even if we manage to sneak in, I can't imagine they get many outsiders here. They'd probably identify us the moment we tried to rent a room."
Thinking for a moment, she continues, "That being said, we might not want to mention the fact that we're looking for lost companions right away. We don't know who or what was involved in their disappearance."
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Tiak still does not see the city that everyone else is talking about but having faith in her adventuring companions she will follow along with the rest of the group.
"I dont know how we will check into an inn if there isnt even a city here in the mountains, but if you guys are 100% sure then i guess i will believe you.
Approaching the edge of the illusion those who can see through it notice that while on your side the vale is not well maintained, any signs of a road are long since faded with time however on the otherside of the illusion the side leading to the city the caravan trail is well maintained and clearly visible, clearly the road leading up to the illusion is still well cared for and grated often.
It takes some urging but you are able to convince your companions that without a doubt there is an illusion here and are able to convince them to willing walk through what appears to be a solid rock wall to emerge on the other side, beholding the beauty of the lost city of Crystalcrag.
Strolling up to the open front gates there stands two Red-Skinned men in burnished bronze armor carrying shortswords on their belts. They seem wary as your approach, one of them calls out in an unfamiliar language, resembling the sound of a crackling fire or perhaps burning and popping coals, when you are still about 25 feet from the front gates.
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Cosmo turns to Xiakai, "Ah, Genie-Kin," but he seems to be speaking to himself more than anyone else. "Specifically, these are ifrits, descended from efreet and humans, they obviously have an affinity to fire."
"Ranar, what are they saying?"
I don't think it's such a grand idea that Ranar is our ambassador here. I really want to get past these guards and see the city.
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"He is wondering what we are doing here. Obviously our kind isn't welcome, per say. Don't worry I got this.", Ranar says holding up his hands.
Ranar turns toward the Ifrit. "While you might think we were lost, we actually intended to be here...wherever that is. As far as our business, well we are looking for more like us that disappeared a few weeks back. They'll likely be carrying something like this." Ranars says while point to a Wayfinder. "Past history will dictate that these people have broken something, or took something that doesn't belong to them, or just offended the wrong person. We usually get sent in to recover these fools, which is why we are here. But I digress, have you seen anyone that fits the bill? If so we'll take them off of your hands and be on our way."
Beaming Ranar addresses the group. "I think I'm making some real progress here, 'killing it' as folk say. I should probably do all of the speaking for the group from here on out."
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Returning to the Ifrit, "Once these Pathfinders have invalidated some ancient treaty, spat in the face of some time honored deeply held custom, or killed someone's best slave, everyone seems to get all riled up. It would be best if we could just take them back to be reprimanded for whatever warehouse they burned down or princess they deflowered. I can guarantee they are far more trouble then they are worth and you will be far happier once they are gone."
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Hlifkom focuses on the guards, watching their body language and listening to their words, picking up subtle insight.
Odd... these guards don't seem all that surprised to see us...
Moving closer to Ranar, she whispers to him, "They don't seem that surprised to see us. Maybe we should just inquire whether they have an inn we can rest at?"
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I think he has floundered enough.
Cosmo casts tongues on himself.
"Ranar, please allow me to help." Cosmo turns to the guards, "सज्जनहरु, हामी हाम्रो सहयोगिहरु को एक समूह खोज्न। तिनीहरूले wayfinders लगाएका थियो गरिएका छन्, र सम्भवतः धेरै कम ... यहाँ अरू कसैलाई भन्दा आगोको हुनेछ। तपाईंले तिनीहरूलाई देख्नुभएको छ? भने, हामीले कम्तिमा एक रात गरेको आवासगृह लागि आफ्नो सुन्दर र प्राचीन शहरमा प्रवेश अनुमति हुन सक्छ र शायद केही दृष्टि-देखेर? हामी पहिलो हेर्नुपर्छ तपाईं के लाग्छ?"
The two look to each other and then motion for your group to come forward, the second Ifrit speaks up this time as your group approaches, "अर्को गस्ती तपाईं curfew तपाईं समस्यामा हुनेछु भंग परिहाल्छ, को बारे मा घूमछन छैन रात लागि आफ्नो आवासगृह पाउन। र कुनै पनि समस्या पैदा छैन।"
The Ifrits whisper to each other as you walk past.
As your group walks into the city there is a grand arch made of spun crystal that seemingly infuses the words Crystalcrag as a number of intertwined crystals, as a work of art it is rather beautiful to behold and the craftsmanship is unlike any you've likely seen.
However the arch is quickly outdone as you are led through a large courtyard, some several feet across, by an enormous, 30 ft tall crystal that juts aggressively from the ground, its sides rough and cut, seemingly defiant in nature but still showing a significant level of craftsmanship.
As you approach it closer, there is a golden plate fused to the crystal and its hard to tell without stopping and reading but there may be words etched into the plate, written in unfamiliar language however it has some similarities to Dwarven,
Even in this late hour there are still bodies moving about, however they appear to be humans however they are strong and solidly built, with skin and hair colored stony shades, some have skin that even shines like polished onyx or granite. The walkways are all well lit by hanging lanterns that seem to radiate a heat less flame.
As you guys walk through the courtyard a large building juts out at the end, its a rather stately building with marble columns supporting grand arches and a domed roof, and as you walk past this building there are a number of those stone-skinned men arranged outside with a venerable looking one leading them, hair-thin cracks spiderwebbing his skin, he speaks out to your group in a heavily accented common, "Outsiders, come inside, quickly now, before any Ifrit patrols catch you, my name is Eurdan Stonemantle, I'm sure you are looking for your friends. Tygora captured them. I can help you.
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Cosmo cocks his head slightly as he overhears the two guards, hoping they didn't notice.
The professor casts comprehend languages on himself so he can read the sign. (Tongues doesn't work on written language.) He scribbles something into his journal before continuing on.
"Ah, thank you, Mr. Stonemantle. We accept your hospitality."
Once inside, Cosmo lights his pipe then asks, "Who is this Tygora? I overheard the guards mention that name; they said she was expecting us. How did she know we were coming? What does she want?"
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Overhearing the two Ifrit whispering to each other, Hlifkom will lean towards Cosmo, whispering, "I don't know if I like the sound of that. Apparently someone named Tygora has been expecting us."
Upon meeting the stone-skinned man, Hlifkom sizes him up and nods to her companions. "I think we can trust him. Best to get out from the open."
Hlifkom will follow Eurdan inside.
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Tika will dismount from Manuk and look at the inn keeper, “Do you have a stable for all of our horses and my Manuk?” She reaches up and pats Manuk’s neck. ”Good Manuk! Can you be a good boy and watch all of our horses when you go to the stables?”
Once getting the horses and Manuk all set up in the stables Tika will head inside the inn and order some food and see if her friends have found out anything about this Tygora person and the missing pathfinders.
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"In regards to the comment referencing Tygora, I heard that as well. It is unlikely that we were personally expected, but more that they figured personnel would be sent to recover the first in team."
Ranar strokes his chin thoughtfully, "However it is quite possible that my legend proceeds me, as they say. Its probably not every day that a paragon of knowledge would seek out such a far flung place. Come to think of it that is probably the most likely explanation."
Turning to Cosmo and Hlifkom Ranar nods his head slightly. Cosmo, Hlifkom I thank you for your roles in this sudden ephinany.", ending in a parody of uncomfortable and halfhearted bow.