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Torgrin reacts first, clawing the creature, Zeverit, twice. Both blows connect, but the 'serpent' suffers not a scratch.
Marcie sidesteps and bangs her drum, a dramatic rhythm and oddly inspiring.
Zeverit slithers toward Karayan, and the strange tiny serpent tries to sink its fangs into the mesmerist. "I will tassste you yet, Walker-on-Two-Legsss!"
It's a raktavarna rakshasa, a tiny outsider with the native, rakshasa, and shapechanger subtypes. For every 5 you exceed the DC, you may ask one question from this list.
Torgrin
Marcie
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Zeverit
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Shikaree
Makoa & Kifah
Karayan
Serge
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"....that was unexpected," Shikaree says, blinking several times with those nictating eyelids. The agent whips bow into scaled hand.
"Pathfinder Ssserge, I understand your frustration at this deception, but please, 'foul skulking serpent', it is a little... species-centric, yes? And this is not even really a sssnake," Shikaree says a touch mournfully as an arrow flies towards the ring that is barely big enough to fit around it.
"It is actually a raktavarna rakshasa. They are outsiders," Shikaree adds helpfully, pleased that all those years of reading in the Lodge paid off.
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kArAyAn BOT ONLINE
The scurvy lookin' fella stands there helpless as the snake like creature bite at him If only I had a weapon drawn! Blasted snake thing... oh not really a snake... Sure looks like a snake though.
Karayan takes a step back from the creature and draws the sword out of his cane, waving it around defensively "Get back I say, GET BACK!"
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A sap swing and a miss from Marcie, accompanied by a quotable quote from the Gipper.
Zeverit turns his ire against the oozemorph, slithering up close and personal. The rakshasa's fangs sink into Torgrin's thigh, leaving little more than a bruise, but the bite also injects its poison into the dwarf's bloodstream.
"Arvok," Zeverit hisses, "thessse people are banditsss in league with other thievesss. Attack!"
The caravan master loses his charming, dumbstruck look and snatches his weapon from its scabbard. He swings at Serge, but the paladin's armor turns the blade.
The other merchants and the guards can't believe their caravan master is acting this way! "Arok!" they shout, "Have you lost your freakin' mind?!"
Torgrin
Marcie
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Zeverit
Arvok
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Shikaree
Makoa & Kifah
Karayan
Serge
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"Your caravan master has not lost his mind, but he is being swayed by that strange little evil thing he thought was a ring," Shikaree says apologetically. "Do not worry, we will not kill him. This is hardly his fault."
The nagaji takes aim again at the 'ring'.
Alas, the arrows aren't getting much more accurate.
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"He is being influenced by the ring, he doesn't know better!" Serge protests loudly. "Destroy the ring and I'm sure he will come to his senses." As he prepares to strike again at the ring, he looks over at Shikaree. "Oh, and I apologize for the insensitivity of calling this 'outsider' something it is clearly not." He again swings his blade. "Now, be purged, fiend!"
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Torgrin's odd appendage pierces the rakshasa's tough hide. As Zeverit slithers up to him, the oozemorph tries to swipe the creature with a claw, but it evades his blow.
Zeverit gloats with glee, "It'sss ssso niccce to stretch. I haven't enjoyed myssslef ssso much sssince I ssslew Althea Irrica, that sssweet lovessstruck thing."
Having bitten Torgrin, he's quite pleased with himself. "I really ssshould find that other one, a child of the Irrica family who sssurvived the masssacre on the essstate."
Shikaree looses an arrow and is beginning to think the bow might be cursed.
Makoa and Kifah attack the caravan master, Arvok, eliciting cries of dismay from his fellow merchants and the guards. While the half-orc misses, his companion lands a bite, wounding the man, who manages to keep his feet.
From a close but safe distance, Karayan casts an enchantment and charms Arvok. The caravan master halts his aggression, a befuddled expression wiping away his hostility.
Serge urges his companions to focus on the serpent that seems to be controlling the caravan master. He ends the threat permanently with a powerful overhand blow that severs the rakshasa's head from its body, which writhes on the dusty grass for a few moments before becoming still.
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"I wasn't trying to kill him. Best case I was hoping a jolt would snap him out of it, worst case I wanted him out of the way to deal with the creature. Remember Gozreh has rewarded my dedication to mundane healing craft with divine abilities as well", Makoa slaps a hand on Arvok's shoulder. "Be well caravan master"
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Shikaree looks with dismay at the bow passed down from ancestors. The nagaji shakes a scaled head, then looks back up. "What of this 'child' the evil one spoke of? Could there be an heir, running around? This definitely must be told to miss Adnen, yes! Very exciting. Well done, all of you. We are shaping up to be fine agents. Well. All of you are, anyway."
The nagaji offers a bow to Serge. "Thank you for your words, Agent. You are truly honorable."
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Zeverit is no more, and all that's left is a mangled version of its ring form.
"Thank you for showing me mercy," the grateful caravan master says with a sheepish look. "I really should charge Delara a little extra for providing me with cursed goods."
Arvok smiles and retrieves a cloth bundle from beneath the seat in his wagon. Unwrapping it, he hands you a 12-inch iron bar lined with small plates and spikes. "This is called a traveler’s any-tool."
The caravan master demonstrates its functions. "It can be folded, twisted, hinged, and bent, to form almost any known tool. Hammers, shovels, even a block and tackle (without rope) are possible. It can duplicate any tool the wielder can clearly visualize that contains only limited moving parts, such as a pair of scissors, but not a handloom. It cannot be used to replace missing or broken parts of machines or vehicles unless a mundane tool would have done the job just as well. The any-tool counts as a set of masterwork artisan's tools for most Craft or Profession skills (although very specialist crafts such as alchemy still require their own unique toolset). It is an ineffective weapon, always counting as an improvised weapon."
As you leave, you can hear Arvok chastising his fellow merchants and his hired caravan guards for failing to protect him when his life was threatened.
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You return to Delara Adnen's estate and, as Althea had requested, touch the mangled ring to her locket.
Althea Irrica's ghostly image manifests again, troubled and mournful. The tragic young woman looks at what's become of her once-beautiful ruby engagement ring.
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"Ms. Irrica, it appears the ring was cursed," Serge frowns as he looks at the engagement ring. "When we attempted to retrieve it, it transformed into some sort of extraplanar creature. What was it called again, Shikaree? A rakta... something."
"It took hold of the Caravan Master's mind, causing him to attack. However, we quickly dispatched it. Unfortunately, it meant the partial destruction of the ring. I don't suppose there's a way to make it whole again?"
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Marcie graciously, and quickly accepts the group's prize from Arvok "Thank you kind Sir. This looks very useful I'd say!" She walks away messing around with the tool to see what crazy kind of things it can turn into.
Once they arrive at the Estate once again Marcie backs up Serge's story. "A vicious snake from another plane or some such! It even admitted to killing you Miss Althea Irrica! He mentioned something of a child that survived the fire?"
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Althea Irrica looks downcast for a moment. She sighs and speaks,
When Marcie tells her about the true cause of her death, she looks sad for a moment before saying, Then her ghostly image fades away.
With Althea's spirit finally laid to rest, you open the locket and discover a portion of the true name it contains hidden behind the portrait in the locket.
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When you return to the Short Sorcerer Tavern in Elidir, you discover that Venture-Captain Brackett is not there, away tending to other important matters related to your mission.
Delores the innkeeper hands you another missive as you trod up to the reception desk to greet her. "Your master is a busy man. He left early this morning and asked me to pass along this letter to you."
You read Brackett's note, containing information about the hobgoblin raids in the Chitterwood area during the war and potential leads on Rutillo’s mace.
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"Howdy Delores!" Greets Marcie as she takes a quick seat at a table, waiting her turn to read the missive.
"More gobbies? Excellent. The last ones really didn't put up much of a fight, but it was still some fun!" She holds her stomach as it begins to catch some whiffs of food cooking. "Any chance we could get some of that before we head off on our next Irrica goose chase?"
She gives Karayan a nudge on the shoulder "What you don't like my guidin' or somethin'? Those wilds are where its at. With out them this country doesn't have much going for it."
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Some of you might have heard a little about the town of Umok. The rest of you might learn something by asking knowledgeable people around Elidir.
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Being a gabby Old Mature Dwarf, Marcie chats up some of the other patrons in the Inn as she eats lunch. "Whatcha know about Umok? Is it worth the trip or just another logging camp?"
"I didn't SAY loggers aren't worth visiting! Its just... trees are trees right? Gah I gotta go." She heads off to the ladies room. I better kill some time in here.
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After Miss Steeltoe barges of to the outhouse Karayan approaches the loggers "What a figure, can you imagine how it is to have to work with her? Unfortunately our employers thought we would complement each others assets, whatever they might mean by that. Now they'll have us go to Umak as you heard her yell out. Listening is not her strongest skill, but it is one that I can do. Can you tell me what you know about Umak, I will of course repay you for your time"
When Marcie finally gets back from the outhouse he joins the others "The gnomes have banned all open flame in the close vincinity of town, their idea is that it will deter the goblins from attacking"
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Shikaree ambles along in Karayan's wake, smiling toothily and doing a serpentine charm routine.
With the others, the nagaji adds on, "Yess, they have other ways to make light. Also, they are likely to have animals they have charmed into aiding them! We should be careful not to harm any of thessse tame beasssts, yes?
"Now, my friends, before we set out, shall we once again sssee what the sspirits have to teach us...?"
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A solid 20 minutes later Marcie sneaks her way back inside "I see. Well, animals tend to like me, at least somewhat..." She shrugs her shoulders "And of course us Dwarves can see in the darkest of night so that's good too. Let's hope these Gnomes aren't too addled. You never know with them guys." She nods in agreement with Shikaree and heads off for the trip.
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Karayan lets everyone know that the residents of Umok have banned open flame within the town, and Shikaree adds that the residents employ animals to guard the town. Makoa informs his companions that Amok is a gnome town in the nation of Isger, a war-torn country in thrall to the devil-worshiping nation of Cheliax.
Wondering what the nagaji means about spirit-teaching, the party sets out and arrives outside Umok without incident, despite the occasional signs of goblinoid activity en route.
Approaching the city, you notice that the town of Umok looks oddly proportioned. The buildings are squat, and the streets seem too narrow. The walls barely rise six feet high and appear too low for an effective defense. Bright colors abound throughout the town, adorning both the architecture and Umok’s citizens, giving the impression that a fleet of chromatic dragons must have battled in the skies above, raining multicolored scales down upon the city. Wild and domesticated animals wander the streets, seeming perfectly at home amid the bustle of the town.
The party attracts attention as you enter the city of Umok, with animals taking up defensive postures and gnomes gawking at you and whispering to their neighbors.
Before you make it more than a few yards into the city, a female gnome confidently approaches. Armored and accompanied by an apparently tame badger, a fierce looking female gnome eyes your group intently. Finally, a smile cracks her face. "Welcome to Umok, strangers. My name is Trigi Neppo, peacekeeper and goblin-watcher. Might I ask your business in town?"
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Marcie walks up to the front gates, eyes looking around at all the garrish colors and odd designs Yup, definitely gnomes.
She approaches the gnomish greeter with a smile "Hello Miss Trigi, I'm Marcie of the clan Steeltoe. Renown goblin stomper and currently here on business. We're investigating a particular clan of hobgoblins..." She spits on the ground, as she does whenever she speaks of goblins or their kin.
"During the Goblin Blood Wars a group of Eagle Knights dispersed a group of hobgoblins in this area and we're hoping to search through any records your city could have on hand?" She then goes on to introduce the rest of the crew, nudging Karayan and his practiced tongue to continue.
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"It is as miss Steeltoe here just said. We are following the tracks of these hobgoblins since we have reason to believe they stole an item that belonged to the Irrica family. We understood your historians have a great archive on the Goblin Blood Wars and would like to gain entry into that archive. Are you involved with the archive or can you point us to someone who is?"
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"Renown goblin stomper, huh?" Serge smiles at Marcie. "Goblins will know only fear when they see you!"
"Ms. Neppo, as a goblin-watcher, you must have thorough insight into goblin surges in these parts. Might we learn anything from you as far as their tactics or organization goes? We should be as prepared as you," he says to the gnome.
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"My, you lot are some of the friendliest strangers we've seen in Umok in a long time," grins Trigi Neppo.
"I suggest you'll be comfortable at the Badger’s Den while you're in town, which offers furnishing appropriate for human, elves," the Peacekeeper and Goblin-Watcher looks Shikaree up and down, "and other similarly sized folk."
When the subject of goblins, raids, and the war is broached, she suggests, "Head to the town butcher shop, the Beartrap, and talk to the proprietor. Bearjaw knows a thing or two that might answer your questions."
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Trigi’s directions lead to the Beartrap, an unevenly split two story building whose ground level is distinctly taller than the floor above. Inside the butcher shop a beefy gnome with a massive green beard tucked into his apron wipes down a long, bloodied table.
He turns around saying, "Ahh, strangers, how can old Bearjaw help ya?" He spreads his arms wide, indicating his broad selection of meats, "I got bone-in hams, boneless hams, smoked turkeys, smoked pork chops, ham hocks, pork bacon, beef bacon, cottage bacon, sausages, bratwurst, leg of lamb, lamb loin chops, rack of lamb, lamb shank, lamb kabob, ground lamb... " He raises his bushy green eyebrows, waiting for your order.
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"Ah, now that we are here it would be a good idea to stock up on our provisions. Can I have two pounds of pork bacon in thick slices?"
Karayan waits until his order is ready and then continues "Actually we were pointed here by Trigi Neppo, he said you are the most knowledgeable gnome in town with regards to the goblin blood war. We are searching for the hideout of a band of hobgoblins that was defeated by a patrol of eagle knights. Do you know anything that could help us?"