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Marcie's eyebrows waggle a bit as she sees the spread of fine meats Now this is a place that heads straight to my heart! Momentarily distracted from their actual purpose here. "Quite a fine spread you got here Bearjaw. Whatcha recommend for a fine travelin' Lady such as myself?" She bats her eyelashes and smiles.
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Bearjaw makes wraps the bacon in some waxed paper and hands the bundle to Karayan, pleased to have paying customer show him courtesy when consulting him about his knowledge of the hobgoblin menace.
"I've tried to bury my past and accept life as a civilian, but it seems that's not possible," sighs the gnome. "Before I earned the moniker 'Bearjaw,' I was corporal Bastrojo Qualimger, a scout during the Goblinblood Wars."
Bearjaw waves his hand in a beckoning gesture and explains in a low voice, "I was the one who found those survivors of that raid and led them safely back here, but it wasn’t an easy journey."
"Them hobgoblin raiders weren’t like the main bunch, and that’s why the convoy didn’t make it. See, them hobgoblins didn’t attack from the woods like all the rest. This group, they came out of the hills and hit that convoy hard and fast. If you want to find where they came from, and where they went after, you’ll need to look in those mountains."
He pauses, "If you're interested, you might want to take a look in the Umok Archives. They got some Eagle Knight records and such."
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"The Archives are open to the public, and they keep a sharp eye out, lest a visitor try to pocket anything." Bearjaw steps outside with you and points to the building housing Umok's records. "I'll have your turkey ready for you when you come back."
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Inside the Umok archive, there is a security presence observing anyone perusing the records, but each visitor is on his or her own, when trying to find something of interest. You find a wealth of Eagle Knight maps and documents recovered at the end of the Goblinblood Wars, listing out a number of raids, their general locations, and estimates of when the raids occurred.
You work together, poring over the maps, documents, and other records to determine a probable location of the erstwhile hobgoblin base.
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Serge gets to work inside the archive, flipping through several volumes of Eagle Knights' history. He was intrigued about the Andoran military. Were they simply hired by the state and doing their jobs, or did they act to serve the downtrodden and unfortunate out of their own beliefs? He wanted to think so.
"Ah, perhaps I have stumbled upon something here..."
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Torgrim rolls around in the room and then grows into a tall elven figure, "To help me reach the tall shelves better." Then starts sifting through texts.
As a cloud of dust rises Torgrim suddenly sneezes violently, sending the texts in his hands flying around. "Ah for Torag's sake! I should leave this to my brighter friends."
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With a lizard's keen eye and help from her friends, Shikaree stumbles upon some useful clues among the maps, journals, and reports.
While most historical documents indicate the hobgoblin raids originated from the Chitterwood, these raiders attacked from the foothills of the Aspodell Mountains. This
information, combined with Bearjaw’s recollections, suggests that the base’s location must be east of Umok in the foothills of the Aspodell Mountains. You estimate it will take about a day to travel to the likely location of the base.
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The hobgoblins were very careful about covering their tracks, and it has been 20 years since they used the trail. You begin your search for the pathway.
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"Thiss is a nice day. Isn't this a nice day?" Shikaree says cheerfully the next day once they've set out. Somewhere en route, Shikaree hunts the sight of some old battle between the hobgoblins and the locals-- they can certainly continue to do their daily communing with the spirits just among themselves, sparring, but Shikaree is fascinated by trying to make contact with the old spirits of the original wars. Once again, the nagaji coaxes the others through a ritual to contact the dead of this blood-soaked former warground, where Eagle Knights clashed with savage raiders.
Back on the trail, the nagaji hunts any sign, once again relying on good vision.
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Once again, the bright-eyed nagaji leads the way, but only after conducting another seance.
The path to the base proves a difficult climb. The hobgoblins must have chosen the route to deter pursuit and employing druidic magic to modify the terrain, creating drop-offs and eliminating smooth trails.
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Marcie collects her turkey before heading back to the inn with the others to share it, keeping some leftovers for the next day's lunch and supper.
Once they're at the path she looks up "Wow, these guys liked to climb they did! Let's see what we see shall we?" She starts looking around, same as the others. However, she doesn't fare so well.
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With Torgrin's aid, Makoa finds a safe route up the mountainside.
Somewhere along the path, Kifah's sensitive nose picks up a suspicious scent. Torgrin and Makoa take a look, and the oozemorph notices that the trail shows some signs of passage by a large reptilian creature within the last hour.
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The trail ends at a large boulder in front of a tunnel leading deeper inside the mountain. When you peer inside, the cave is dark, the walls are stone, and the tunnel's ceiling is ten feet high. Those with darkvision observe that beyond the narrow entrance, the tunnel widens inside.
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Serge found it awkward to climb or jump with his super heavy armor, so he was glad Makoa found a route more appropriate for his encumbrance.
Inside the cave, Serge takes out a torch and hands it to hopefully someone who does not need two hands to use a weapon the way he does.
"What do you see ahead? I'm afraid my vision pales in comparison to yours," he says with a glance at pretty much everyone. "I'd imagine we could use one of those Unseen Servants right now, if it were possible."
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Marcie straightens her buckler and adjusts her drum. She draws out her sap and nods "Best we move quietly, maybe there's hobs in there, or maybe a giant lizard. Hun you best go first." She nods at Serge, her gazing lingering a bit with a smile. Bet he's even got abs under that armor! Dwarves never have abs!
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The passage turns south, serving as the only entrance and exit for a wide chamber that spirals down to a stone table ten feet below. Bones and refuse litter the floor, and debris is gathered into a nest alongside the table.
Coiled within the nest is a medium-sized serpentine creature with the head of a ferocious dragon and two relatively small forearms that end in tiny claws. The beast roars as you enter its lair!
Marcie
Serge
Torgrin
Karayan
Makoa & Kifah
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??
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Shikaree
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Karayan recognizes that the creature's a tatzlwyrm, a medium-sized dragon that speaks only Draconic. He recalls that they're immune to paralysis and sleep.
Marcie starts beating her drum and begins marching down the spiral path toward the wyrm at the bottom.
Marcie
Serge
Torgrin
Karayan
Makoa & Kifah
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Tatzlwyrm
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Shikaree
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Torgrin oozes on over to the southeastern lip of the pit, while Makoa consults his spirits and god before heading down the spiral ramp, moving just past Marcie, Kifah at his master's heels.
Now that the rest of the party has acted, Karayan considers what to do...
Marcie
Serge
Torgrin
Karayan
Makoa & Kifah
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Tatzlwyrm
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Shikaree
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Karayan follows his companions, staying close to Marcie, Makoa and Kifah.
Observing the intruders moving toward its nest, the tatzlwyrm moves to intercept them first. It moves across the base of the pit and barely slows down, as it climbs up one short, but almost vertical, wall. Its long, wicked claws twitch, clenching and unclenching, as if daring you to come closer.
The base of the pit looks to be only about ten feet below where you entered the cavern.
Marcie
Serge
Torgrin
Karayan
Makoa & Kifah
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Tatzlwyrm
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Shikaree
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Though Serge can't see it in the lead, Shikaree smiles gratefully. "Thank you, Serge. Yours is an honorable spirit."
Hurrying forward, the nagaji takes a shot at the NOT-a-snake.
As far as opening arrows go, it's a good one. Shikaree beams! Perhaps the ancestral bow is actually worthwhile after all!
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Greatsword held high, Serge charges at the tatzlwyrm. The dragon opens and snaps shut its maw, its fangs piercing the paladin's armor like a dozen daggers.
Serge manages to avoid the vice-like grip of the tatzlwyrm's jaws, and he cleaves the dragon's head from its shoulders!
Serge
Searching the creature’s nest reveals a mace made entirely of cold iron with a pentagram inscribed on the head and tarnished silver wire loosely wrapped around the hilt, revealing an inscription in Infernal along the handle.
The table was used for maps and planning. Close inspection uncovers a hidden compartment containing a journal written in Common, a wand, and a scroll.
The journal once belonged to a cunning hobgoblin named Malgrin, leader of a band of raiders. The journal details Malgrin’s strategies and victories. It describes his use of the foothills to lose pursuit and how he employed the druid medics under his service to conceal their tracks and modify the terrain for better camouflage.
Reading the journal, you learn that unlike the majority of the goblinoid leaders from tribes based in the Chitterwood, Malgrin had set up a small base of operations in the Aspodell mountain range southeast of Umok. The mace was hidden in Malgrin’s base, a symbol of his victory. In order to protect his secret base and stolen treasures, Malgrin employed two druids who used their magic to reshape the terrain, hiding his base of operations and covering the tracks of his raiders. When the Eagle Knights, Hellknights, and Druman mercenaries drove the goblinoid hordes back into the Chitterwood and set it aflame, Malgrin’s band was caught returning to their base by an Eagle Knight force that scattered the band and slew Malgrin.
The massive conflagration in the Chitterwood attracted the attention of the draconic creatures from the volcanic region near Droskar’s Crag to the southeast. One such creature, the tatzlwyrm, discovered the base hidden in the mountains and took up residence. For the last two decades it had survived by hunting game on the mountains and the forest’s outskirts.
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Serge rubs the bruise on his arm as he reads the journal. "It is fascinating that a hobgoblin possesses the foresight and tactical knowledge to be able to hide a base like this. I do suppose they are a little more advanced than an ordinary goblin." He passes the journal along. "Does anyone else want to have a look? I may have missed something."
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Marcie glances over the book quickly "Yup, seems about you covered it Hun. Tricky bastards those hobgobs are compared to regular gobbies. Regulars just feel like blowing everything this up or burning it down, not much else."
She then takes a looky at the scroll, casting a spell to have a read. "This scroll says: Doth summonz a cloud of fog. Sounds a bit hoity toity ta me."
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With the defeat of the dragon, you're able to claim the mace and return to Umok.
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Your return to Venture-Captain Brackett in Eledir is uneventful. Brackett is pleased, "This mace is quite remarkable, made of pure cold iron." He runs his finger along the script engraved on its haft, "More importantly, this inscription in Infernal surely provides another part of the devil’s true name."
Then the venture-captain flips through the journal. "Malgrin's journal represents an insight into the opposition during the Goblinblood Wars. The journal details not only the battles, but also Malgrin’s thoughts on the war’s direction and his concerns about new forces entering the field. He outlines new tactics to counter the new arrivals. Indeed, this is an unexpected, extraordinary find."
For retrieving the journal, Venture-Captain Brackett awards you with a scroll of heroism.
Having accomplished what you could in Eledir, you make the return journey to Almas.
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You've collected most of the fragments spelling out the devil’s true name from various Irrica family heirlooms, but the final piece remains.
As you're about to enter Almas, a dusty courier bustles up just outside the city, fishing a wax sealed package from his satchel. "Pathfinders, I’ve been holding this message for you," he says, handing over the envelope. "The venture-captain advises urgency. Someone else hunts the prize you’re after."
The package contains a letter from Venture-Captain Brackett. Enclosed in that letter is another, a letter from an Irrica patriarch to his son, Dremlut Irrica, enlisted with the Hellknights, describing an artifact that might be key to solving the puzzle of the devil’s name.
Having delivered the missives, the courier adds, "Venture-Captain Brackett urges you to be on your way into the Chitterwood to the ruins of the Hellknight's Outpost Buckler."
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Following the captain’s map allows you to avoid any significant hazards and arrive at Outpost Buckler after a few days of traveling on unkempt, overgrown trails through the scarred, wild reaches of the Chitterwood.
Outpost Buckler fell into ruin during an attack by a hobgoblin company that ended with the nearly absolute destruction of both the defending Hellknights (who fought to the last person) and the attacking goblinoids. All of the buildings save one have mostly collapsed.
A half-collapsed wall emerges from the trees winding around a long forgotten encampment. The Hellknight outpost was breached long ago, and decades of growth have begun to reclaim the interior courtyard. A few walls still stand, and undergrowth covers the ground in a dense carpet. A single building in the southeastern end seems to be whole, its entrance blocked with a crude piece of wood.
Searching the area around the courtyard, you discover a number of scattered humanoid skeletal remains.