GM Fuzzfoot's CORE 6-08 The Segang Expedition (Inactive)

Game Master PJP

Welcome all, and enjoy your voyage to the isle of Jalmeray! Come see the wonders of the Segang Jungle! Perhaps you will even get to see Trader Sam...

The adventure begins with all of you in Absalom, when you are summoned to meet with Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin.

“Ah, Falroun, these are the agents I was telling you about,” Ambrus Valsin says. “Pathfinders, welcome! May I introduce Count Falroun Matsanda of Alkenstar.” He gestures across his desk to a tall Garundi man with short black hair and goldrimmed spectacles.

Valsin’s guest stands and offers his hand in greeting as he speaks. “It is a true pleasure to meet you. I have purchased several antiquities from your Society in the past, and I have always wondered about the people who acquire such treasures. I must say, you do not disappoint!”

Valsin smiles at the compliment before continuing, “Agents, your next mission will take you to the island of Jalmeray. We’ve received reports that the ruins of a previously unknown temple have been found in a part of the Segang Jungle known as the Urapangi Lowlands. From its location, I think this temple could be one of those abandoned by the legendary Maharaja Khiben-Sald when he left Jalmeray over four thousand years ago. A temple untouched since Khiben-Sald’s time would be a major find for the Society. Of course, getting to Jalmeray on such short notice poses some difficulties.”

“I believe that’s where I come in,” the count interjects. “I’m arranging a hunting expedition to Jalmeray for myself and my new father-in-law, Baron Bomande Rudyahm. Bomande was quite the sportsman in his day. However, some years ago he was wounded during a tiger hunt in the Segang Jungle. He’s been grumbling about getting revenge on the beast for so long
that I thought taking him on a trip back to Segang might earn me some credit with the old man.”

Ambrus Valsin continues: “Falroun has graciously offered to provide transport to and from Jalmeray and to outfit us with everything we need for our journey into the jungle. In exchange, you’re going to help his father-in-law, the baron, with this tiger hunt and make sure he gets the better of the beast this time around, as it were. You’ll have time to discuss the details of the hunt during your voyage to Jalmeray.”

“A voyage for which I must make some final arrangements,” adds Falroun, “I’m afraid I must depart. Once again, it is a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to our journey together.” With a nod, he exits the room. As the count’s footsteps recede down the hall, Ambrus Valsin’s smile fades from his face. “Ordinarily, the Society would cover the costs of an expedition like this. However, our resources are stretched thin at the moment thanks to our campaigns in Varisia and the Worldwound. Until such time as those ventures pay off, we’re going to have to rely on people like Count Matsanda to cover some of our operating expenses. I’m trusting you with the Society’s reputation on this mission. Fulfill our end of this bargain by helping the baron bag his tiger, and try to make nice with at least one of these nobles. Now, unless you have any questions about this temple, go get your affairs in order. Your ship sails in the morning.”

A tall and regal looking elf sits quietly in a chair and listens to the briefing sipping tea. "Fascinating..." is all he says as the briefing is going on.

Once the VC is done the elf puts his tea in his mage hand and asks "You mentioned a temple. Do we know for what purpose this temple was built?" He picks some lint off of his robes as he asks another question "Having never been to Jalmeray so what is the weather like there? The terrain? The culture?" and then he grabs his tea from his mage hand and continues sipping awaiting answers.

"The Segang Jungle is a dense tropical forest. The deciduous trees that comprise it are green all year round thanks to the wet coastal climate. You will be arriving in Jalmeray at the height of its warmer season, and the air is hot and sticky under the jungle canopy."

You will not need anything special such as endure elements, however.

The chair creeks under Stolka's weight as he shifts forward and back. He tilts his head at the sound, and start fidgeting to make a cacophony of sound which from the expression on his face he seems to enjoy.

"So, lighke, which ghohd was this temple fohr?"

He looks at his companions.

"Oh, right, Ima Stolka... Stolka van Veld. Ima lighke a monk that hits thinghs, but Ima also lighke a druid that hits thinghs..."

Happy to make your acquaintance, lad. I’m Akter Phruse.

The voice of the Human comes calm. He’s leaning by a nearby wall, and coughs briefly as he pulls the hair off his face. He had no idea of what Stolka was, but was starting to get used enough with the strangeness of the world. He didn’t particularly liked jungles or the dangers of the Pathfinder life, but gold was gold.

I’m also curious about this... temple.

A cheerful Halfling bounces softly in his seat during the briefing. "Travel! To far away places! Perfect!" He seems genuinely excited about the prospect of a long journey to a steamy jungle. "Oh, my name's Celewen. Glad to meet you all! I've never been to Segang Jungle, but I've heard about it in stories. I'm sure we'll all have a great time. I promise to do my best to keep things running smoothly and you all alive."

Stolka turns to regard Celewen.

"Ah, don't worry little guy! I'll protect you from all of the thinghs that're gonna try to eat you."

A metaphorical light bulb goes off over Stolka's head. He raises his hand but does not wait for Venture-Captain Valsin to call on him.

"Ah, Venture-Captain? Ima lighke supposed to ask you if you have thinghs you can give us to lighke, make it better for us? That would be very nice."

"Are you going to prattle on like this the entire time?" Laeowynne asks the little man.

Stolka looks at Leowynne.

"Ah, come on Mr. Pointyears! The little fella's just intro-ducing him-self."

Stolka shrugs his shoulders.

"Sounds like a hot, wet, and sticky adventure in a strange jungle. Well I guess we'll need oil to keep our tools working right." quipped a woman of amazonian height and build sitting in a corner of the room.

While drinking from a well used bronze tankard she grinned slightly at the others gathered around, the slight tusks protruding from her lips and her somewhat pointed ears the only signs of her orcish heritage. "Greetings to you all, I am Keldra Cailean, a Warrior born and blooded."

She paused to run her free hand through her shoulder length obsidian hair, before letting it come to rest on a double bit greataxe. " I am a fury who cuts through things in battle and a woman who enjoys good drinks and good times."

“Who or what is this lost temple dedicated to? One of the Vudran deities, certainly, but beyond that we don’t know. My contacts tell me the locals have several superstitions about monkeys. If that represents some leftover remnants of the temple’s faith, it could be dedicated to one of the monkey-faced deities, Ragdya and Lahkgya, or to Chamidu, the goddess of wild animals.”

“Segang is hot and muggy this time of year. It’s a jungle, so expect dangerous plants and animals, venomous creatures, and disease. You may also encounter some looters at the temple, if you don’t get there fast enough.”

To Stolka, he replies "Unfortunately, the Society’s recent campaigns in Varisia and the Worldwound have drained much of its discretionary budget. To mount an expedition to Jalmeray on such short notice, the Society was pressed to find an alternate source of funding. Luckily, as I said before, Falroun has graciously offered to provide transport to and from Jalmeray and to outfit you with everything you will need for your journey into the jungle. Good? Good."

Celewen will buy a bottle of anti-toxin before we head out.

The little man turns a few shades paler at the thought of being eaten. "Oh dear. That would truly be unpleasant. Yes. Yes, I would like to avoid becoming something's supper."

He misses the elf's comment, assuming it was directed at someone else, until Stolka mentions a 'little fella'. He looks around confused, "Wait! What? Who, me? Prattle? I'm sure I don't know what you mean, sir. Good conversation makes the miles go by pleasantly. Gosh, I couldn't imagine going on a long journey where no one spoke to each other. That would be ghastly. Strolling along a peaceful road with nothing but the sound of your own feet hitting the mud? Thump. Thump. Thump. Like your heart beating in your ears in the middle of the night when unpleasant things are creeping around under your comfy bed!" He startles himself but quickly recovers. "No no no, that would make for a woeful adventure. How can you expect to enjoy the shade from the clouds overhead and the greenness of the trees and grass or even the simple blue sky with no one to share it with?" His expression is a bit dismayed and even a little confused. "I'll bet you find travel quite a bother. Rushing to get to the end and not taking the time to look at the world around you!" His eyes grow wide as he stares at the elf. "Oh you poor man! Resolve creeps into his eyes as he crosses his arms and assumes a no-nonsense posture. "We're going to have to fix that." He nods to himself, gaining momentum, "Yep, yep, yep! We must fix that. An attitude like that is as bad as an open wound." Without warning, he raises his hand into the air and slams it onto his chest with a loud slap, "As Desna is my witness, I will make it my personal duty to show you the way. To open your eyes to the beauty around you. Open your ears to the sweet harmony of of life as it buzzes around you. Fill your nose with the plethora of new scents that the open road offers. And food, we must sample the local cuisine at every opportunity. And" If someone doesn't thump him on the head, he continues endlessly

-- edit
LOL, that was fun. But I'm all out of breath now, just thinking about him talking and talking and talking!

Before they leave, Celewen heads to his favorite apothecary in the market and buys one bottle of antitoxin and one bottle of antiplague. He thinks about buying some sooth syrup for the elf, in case he gets seasick, but decides against it. Why rob him of the full joy of travel?

"Now I know what you're thinking," he says, looking up at the elf. "'We are going to spend the whole trip stuffed in a tiny hole in the belly of the ship. There will be nothing to see but the wood of the ship walls in the darkness. Nothing to hear but the creaking of the wood. Nothing to smell but each other's stench!' But that is not so. Not by far! For one, we will be allowed out on deck sometimes. And of course, just like any place on land, a ship is completely different at night than it is during the day. Did you know that if you are far enough from the coast, there are no biting insects at night? And the smell of the sea winds change at night and even by where you are. Plus before and after a storm. Oh, I hope we have a few good storms! Sailors talk about seeing the wildest things during storms. Ewww, Ewwww, maybe we'll even get to see a sea serpant or a giant octapus or a giant sea turtle! There are fish that fly above the water. I've heard that sometimes the whole ocean glows with an eerie light."

"Ahh, but now I'm talking like you have to be hanging over the railing of the ship to see any of the good stuff. Even below decks there are sights and sounds you've likely never experienced. FOOD! You have no idea how much food they cram down there. It makes you feel really tiny. And water! Who would ever think you would need to carry your own water on a boat? Well, you wouldn't if the boat was only travelling up and down a river. You can drink that water, but I've heard that drinking sea water will kill you. It is not that when you reach down to scoop some up a big'ole tentacle reaches out and pulls you under or something. The water in the sea is salty. It is the water itself that kills you, like poison."

Just remember that you need chronicle access to antiplague and soothe syrup, as this is core.

Stolka nods and nods as Celewen keeps talking, though he doesn't interject at all, and instead seems to be staring at Keldra.

"Hallo there, pretty lady!"

He flexes his rocky muscles.

Charisma check: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (9) - 3 = 6

Oops! I forgot! Just the antitoxin then. Thanks!

In the meeting room with the Venture-Captain:

Kyra is the silent type but her attire shows that she is a cleric of the sunflower.

"I usually travel with my fellow group of adventurers but am very happy that I can be of assistance to the society. Let me tell you a little about myself as knowing each other is the first step to bond and fight together!" she says with a stern look.

Kyra tells you a little about her recent adventures and it is quite clear that she is possessed of a fierce will and pride in her faith and skills with the scimitar.

Now that you mention it, I just bought an ioun torch. That is not core either. (look at all the money I have now, LOL) Is there a core equivalent, with respect to fending off baddies who cast darkness at us?

Crud! and a masterwork backpack!

The young bard Lem drums a tune on the table and smiles.
Well then off to explore in the djungle. Mosquitos and heat, Olee!"

”I have personally never been to this jungle but I can imagine that it might be very dangerous for our patron. How should we act if the people accompanying us are too weak or too dumb to be able to protect themselves?!“

Listening to the discussion on the ancient site.

”Am I correct that the only mission we have is to get this tiger for the old man and then get out as fast as possible? Why do we need to look into this ancient site?“

Now that you mention it, I just bought an ioun torch. That is not core either. (look at all the money I have now, LOL) Is there a core equivalent, with respect to fending off baddies who cast darkness at us?

An ioun torch is just an ioun stone with light cast on it, so a wayfinder is just as effective.

Stolka looks at Kyra.

"So, lighke we'hre just sorta helpin' this noble guys out 'cause thehre givin' us a ride to the place. We'hre goin' to the place 'cause itsa lighke old and lost and stuff."

Stolka nods and nods as Celewen keeps talking, though he doesn't interject at all, and instead seems to be staring at Keldra.

"Hallo there, pretty lady!"

He flexes his rocky muscles.

Surprised, Keldra briefly snorts ale through her nose and swiftly sets her tankard down on the table in front of her.

Quickly recovering her composure, she looks at Stolka and manages a slight grin replying

"Thank you Master Van Veld. But I bet you say that to all the women your meet".

Pausing briefly Keldra nods to the incoming Priestess of The EverLight as she enters before turning her attention back to Stolka.

"Yes, those are mighty muscles. Maybe we should arm wrestle sometime?" she adds before taking another drink from her tankard.

”Am I correct that the only mission we have is to get this tiger for the old man and then get out as fast as possible? Why do we need to look into this ancient site?“

"No, of course not. This is a Pathfinder mission, after all! Your primary goal is to explore the temple and report back, hopefully with some useful information. But seeing as our friends are hosting the expedition for us, yes, please also make sure the man bags his tiger and survives to tell about it. And put your best foot forward! If he survives the hunt, but hates us despite the help... well, let's just say I would not consider that a success."

So one bottle of anti-toxin. Anything else? Shall we move on to morning and the voyage?

Once aboard, you are introduced to Baron Bomande Rudyahm, a handsome, dark-skinned Garundi gentleman of advancing years, with a thick black mustache and graying hair at his temples. He walks with a prominent limp, and carries a finely crafted walking cane to help him amble about. The baron invites you to dinner the first night
of the voyage.

At dinner, the baron and the count make pleasant conversation. Rudyahm asks if any of you have ever been to Jalmeray before. Matsanda asks each of you about your most recent adventure.

Stolka responds to Keldra.

"Oh, I'ma not a Master, I'ma just Stolka. But my mamma says that my pappa was a Surtova, so I guess I'ma sorta Master..." He trails off in thought.

"Yeah, let's do that arm-wrestle sometime!"

at dinner

"No, sir, I'va never been there be-fore. Last time I went on a mission for the Pathfinder Society it was to the Blak-ros Museum. There were a bunch of shadows and stuff, and lighke a big machine that was some sort of Con-vention, at least that's what my friends said. And some pretty ladies. It was very nice."

"Well this is my first assignment. But no worries, I won´t be a burden. And after the end, I will make a nice little epic out of it!"
With a winning smile Lem reassures the others that he won´t hold them down.

Laeowynne uses pasts of his sealing wax and fashions crude ear plugs out of them to drown out the wee folks attempt at conversation. He nods occasionally as he reads his tome as if listening to the hairfoot.

Sorry, but I cannot keep up that chatter, it is exhausting

Celewen is quite polite and friendly. He admits he has never been to the jungle but that he has heard about it and expresses his excitement about going there. He tries to coax a few jungle stories out of the Baron for the elf's sake.

When asked about his most recent adventure, he becomes quite animated, hopping up on the table and asking Helikon for some background music suitable for an adventureous tale. Unfortunately, the little guy is not very good at telling stories and rambles erratically, revealing parts of the story out of order and going off on tangents.

”Oh no Sir! I have never been there but my friends once visited this island and they were amazed!“ she says smiling.

”Well, on my last missions I hunted down a murdering fey and then cleared out a long-forgotten dungeon with lots of undead! It was like a bad dream ...“

Diplomacy : 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Akter isn’t the most charismatic of the rangers, so he keeps mostly to himself, trying to absorb the details and focus on the mission. He had been in a few missions, so far, and feels the reality of the Socitey is still quite lethal to him.

The noble elf listens to the others recant their tales and then finally joins in when the motor mouth is done speaking. "My most recent assignment was a difficult one. At the behest of the church of Pharasma, I descended into the sealed lower levels of the Godsmouth Ossuary with a group of Pathfinders. We had to contend with ancient Thassilonian guardians and traps, undead creatures risen from the corpses buried there, as well as other recent threats. We made our way through the strange dungeon where we eventually encountered an ex Pharmasian lunatic and his army of alchemically created skeletons and zombies. We defeated the heretical alchemist and his zombie army to stop the theft of bodies from the Godsmouth Ossuary. It was not a mission for the weak or feint of heart."

oh, if we need rolls.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

At dinner, Keldra raises her tankard to the Barron in salute. "Thank you Baron for this meal, may Cayden Cailean bless you and the fine drink on this table!" When asked if she has been to the jungle she answers, "No, I can't say that I have Baron, but I look forward to seeing what challenges can be found."

When the other relate their stories she listens intently. When it is her turn, she swallows a final mouthful from her ever present tankard before beginning. "Honestly Count this is my first great adventure for the Society. However on the way here I came to a small farming village which had been under repeated attack from a troop of 'vicious' goblins. With some early misgivings the villagers asked me for help. After I entered the goblins' caves the truth became clear. You see, the goblins and their families had been starving before they and their evil leader found and began raiding the bountiful village. After I took the head of the evil leader and bashed some kindness into two or three stupid human heads, I got the two groups to respect each other and work together. The fresh food was tasty and the heady beer flowed freely as we all celebrated on the night before I left. By Cayden's good graces I was blessed with a clear head on the morrow."

The nobles nods and make brief comments as you relate your stories, and you can see that they are interested in a good yarn. At some point, the topic of the hunt comes up, and Baron Rudyahm’s face grows stern as he recalls bygone events.

“There were four of us on that trip, plus a half dozen porters or so. It was our seventh day in the bush. We’d had a bad day hunting on the trail, so we split off to the west to follow a little stream deeper into the jungle. The tiger came for us that night, despite our campfires. He must have been young to be so bold. I never saw most of the carnage. All I could hear were screams, gunshots, and men begging for help in the darkness.

“With the gun smoke and the darkness, I could barely see the end of my musket. Something took a right nasty bite out of my leg, but I wheeled and unloaded my gun in its direction. I must have only clipped it, yet that was enough to startle the beast. The only glimpse I caught was its striped haunch and tail bleeding as it ran off into the darkness. I managed to limp my way out of the jungle on my one good leg, and that was the end of it. Ah, but we’re going to catch that stripey bastard this time, eh? We’ll give him what for this time around.”

"What a sad tail. So many good souls being taken that night. Please tell me you were not the only survivor!" (Is anyone else thinking lycanthrope?)

"Are there any other details you can remember? How are you hoping to encounter this particular beast again?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

"I am sure you will, Mylord, I am sure you will!"
Diplo: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"Yah, I was the only one to survive that day. Lost some good men, and some decent porters. But you know, tigers are territorial. If we find our way back to its hunting grounds, there’s a good chance we’ll run across it before too long.”

Talking as you are (and having some good diplomacy checks), the Baron warms up to you throughout dinner, and by the end seems somewhat friendly.

The rest of your journey is uneventful, and you finally make your way off the ship and to the hunting lodge, where Count Matsanda hires an elephant, a mahout (elephant driver), and a dozen porters. The elephant seems well past its prime, but it’s the only suitable mount available at the lodge, so Matsanda takes it.

You can ask around (gather info) and buy mundane survival gear here.

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4
Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17 Untrained max result 10

Akter was a decent survivalist and tracker, but terrible at the social business. He kept the shadows for himself, and hoped the others were more successful.

Taking 10 for diplo --> 18.
Lem will tell the others what he knows.

Lem tells the others what he knows and Laeowynne mutters "...monkeys..."

He looks at the others "Any of you martial or woodland folk recommend us to bring anything that might be useful on this venture?"

Aid Another Lem (S9 Sovereign Court FJC reward Practiced Diplomat, minimum result of 10): 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0 successful aid another.

Stolka looks at Laeowynne and scratches his head.

"Aren't elves supposed to be, lighke, woodsy and stuff?"

"I am more of the magic academic elf stereotype."

Stolka shrugs his shoulders.

"You might want to buy, lighke, nice clothes that would be good out there. And lighke water and food and stuff, but I can lighke make water from magic, which is very nice."

He scratches his chin.

"And lighke rope and grappling hooks and stuff..."

Can Celewen buy a Speak With Animals scroll and chat with the elephant? See if it knows anything about the tiger. It is old and they never forget......

speak with animals is a bard/druid/ranger spell, so without UMD you couldn't use it.

Yep. Also, I don't think you could buy a scroll here at this point, because it is a hunting lodge not really near a town or larger. Bonus points for the idea though!

Anything else? Or are you ready for the hunt?

The hunting trail is just wide enough to accommodate the passage of an elephant (15 feet), and the areas of underbrush on either side of the trail count as difficult terrain.

Count Matsanda and Baron Rudyahm ride in a howdah on the elephant’s back, accompanied by their mahout. The howdah is an elaborate wooden affair that can
hold three occupants and one driver.

Game is scarce on the first day of the safari. The baron explains, "Animals are skittish this close to the hunting lodge. Don't worry, though... the real trophies are to be found deeper in the jungle."

At the end of the first day the hunting party sets up camp in a clearing atop a low rise.

Evening preparations?

Lem will play for the hunters to pass the time and entertain them.
He will go to bed early to be ready for the next day, but will insist on being part of the nightwatch.

Stolka will take whatever watch is assigned to him.

"So lighke, I can see in the dark and stuff, so..."