EPISODE I
THE PRISONER OF SKULL HILL
Six weeks ago, a team of Pathfinders was gathered at the Sothis Pathfinder Lodge in Osirion and ordered to travel far to the north into the decidedly unfriendly Hold of Belkzen. Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir gave the team two missions: first, to uncover the whereabouts of a Pathfinder delver named Heralt who was last seen working out of a hidden Chelish fort called Skull Hill, and second, to investigate claims in a long-ago published volume of the Pathfinder Chronicles that a lost tomb rests beneath the fort’s timber tower--a tomb that holds the body of Akila, a legendary Osirian sorceress, and her magic ring that was said to have brought death to Skull Hill the day Akila was laid to rest.
After weeks aboard a smelly Katapeshi galley crossing the Inner Sea, winding up the Sellen River, bravely traversing stormy Lake Encarthan, slipping up The Path, and finally docking in Vigil, the Pathfinders then crossed the Belkzen frontier into a region the orcs call the Skittering Mounds, carefully avoiding orcish patrols. Now they stand atop a ridge overlooking a low river valley and stare down at the fort called Skull Hill.
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A Kelish man with rigid posture enters the room. His comportment is not haughty, just self-disciplined. His facial hair and dress are those of a native of Sothis, though he pulls it off well. He wears the trappings of the Dawnflower. They are of fine make, but bear a touch of bleeching from the sun. At his hip is a scimitar held in an old leather scabbard. The scabbard has numerous nicks and stains on it, a strange contrast to the rest of his gear. His armor and shield are polished to a mirror-like finish. When he bows in greeting it is low and genuine. "Greetings and salutations. I am Sareth Manudea, a High Priest of Sarenrae."
The boat travel does little to change Sareth's mood. He spends most of those days getting to know his partymates. He prays daily, practices daily, and polishes his armor daily.
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The Tien man you traveled with looks slightly antsy throughout the journey. However, now that you have arrived at your destination, he relaxes and lets his fur show.
He wears a gleaming chain shirt of quality mithral and a fiery scarf about his waist, seeming to match exactly the orange and whites in his own fur coat. Through his plain breeches, a bushy tail pokes out, almost creating the illusion that the scarf's fire is flowing behind him.
He, too, holds a scimitar at his hip and his eyes gleam at Sareth's introduction.
"I am pleased to see another servant of the Dawnflower with us! I am Quinn Kouniashi, proprieter of the Taldan dance house, the Troubadour's Square in Oppara. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Say, if you should like a sparring partner, I would be most glad of some practice myself."
In practice (as in combat), he is ever on the move, literally dancing past blows and tumbling about.
His battle dances only benefit himself and will be detailed when he uses them so often as I remember.
50 ft move speed while dancing, faster if hasted or using a certain dance.
Doesn't do a lot of damage, but tries his best to distract enough.
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"it is a pleasure to meet you. I'm happy to spar, though I don't know how much of a challenge I can offer. Still, if I score a lucky hit, I promise to patch you up, good as new."
-Posted with Wayfinder
From atop the ridge, the party can see the entirety of the fort, a motte-and-bailey resting on the shores of a small, shallow waterway called the Skittering River. The front gates to both the motte and the bailey appear smashed in, there are scorch marks all along the palisade, and there are three craters--two in the bailey and one at the base of the timber tower atop the motte. There appears to be no sign of movement from the ridge, though a thin wisp of smoke rises from the timber tower’s chimney.
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"Greetings," rumbles a burly orc, inclining his head in introduction. His muscles ripple beneath his tunic as he moves into the room and takes stock of the surroundings. The orc's face is heavily scarred on one side: a deep sword-shaped furrow, hilt up, runs the length of his right cheek, with smaller lines spreading outward from it. His voice is like the rumble of a distant landslide; quiet, but deep and powerful. "I, too, would join with you to practice."
Mrachni spends increasingly more time in prayer and reflection as the group nears Belkzen. Now, as he looks down upon the mysterious fortress, he nods slowly as he considers this place. Finally he grunts, "May the Swordmistress guard us."
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During some down time, Quinn kicks back and contemplates.
"This Heralt we're after. I asked about and found some things out. He is one reason so many people look down on us Pathfinders, barging into the Hold of Belkzen, Druma, and the Lands of the Linnorm Kings.
"He was last seen in Vigil, preparing to travel to the incredibly dangerous region of Belkzen called the Skittering Mounds to seek out a hidden Chelish fort called Skull Hill in hopes of claiming said tomb for the Society. His guise appears to be that of an adventure seeker from some minor house of Cheliax, which there certainly are plenty of. But this is where it gets interesting!
"The last the Society has heard from Heralt, he had arrived at Skull Hill and found not only the crypt, but the very tomb of Akila, an Osiriani sorceress who perished in the Everwar! He mentioned that it would take him some time to gain access, but we have yet to hear back from him. So now it's up to us to find him and bring him home."
Despite his enthusiasm to telling stories, he lets that thought linger. So he sits back once more and grins happily to himself. Perhaps one of the clergy would like to tell a story as well. Best not to take all the limelight.
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"Well met my friends. Skybek, we have many mutual friends, and I've heard much about you. It's a pleasure to work with you and the rest of you. It seems whenever I'm at Skyreach for long, things happen. It'll be good to get back to the field. I'm intrigued at the thought of uncovering an Osirian sorcereress's final rest. I hear that Skull Hill still exists. The Chelish government has kept it secret for centuries and they use the hidden fort to keep tabs on the Belkzen orc tribes. Considering where we are, I'm assuming they're worried about either the dead still in the fort, or Chelish... proclivities leaving the fort held by beings from nether realms."
Sareth looks to the sun for a bit, "I've recently learned some spells not known to any Pathfinders that could be a good fit for this mission. I only wish we knew what to expect when we arrive."
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Omrax appears as a tall, fair haired knight of with obvious elven heritage. He removes his winged helm as he enters the room.
Under his red cloak, he wears a new suit of polished fullplate along with a shield bearing the crest of Iomedae on his arm.
His longsword is well kept and shows signs of recent battles.
Strapped to his back is a longbow and greatsword.
"Greetings and well met. I humbly apologize for my delay. Omrax, sworn servant of the Inheritor reporting for duty."
In the distance at the base of the ridge, Skull Hill’s double gate lies open at the only break in the moat and palisade ring. One door stands half broken off its hinges. A small watchtower sits above the gate, forming a short ten foot tunnel as one enters the bailey--scorch marks mar the gate and the tower. The drawbridge is down and appears to be in good condition.
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"Greetings mae friends! Ahh'm here tae mak sure that yae dannae get tae thirsty. Aye, and Ahh'll swing mae axe if yae find that useful tae."
"Well met my friends. Skybek, we have many mutual friends, and I've heard much about you. It's a pleasure to work with you and the rest of you. It seems whenever I'm at Skyreach for long, things happen. It'll be good to get back to the field.
"Aye, Sareth, Ahh'm pleased tae meetchae. Dannae believe tae much o' what yae heard, it cannae all be true, unless it has tae dae with savin a temple of Cayden Cailean frae nasty wee beasties! Skybek takes a moment longer to look at his companion's beard and finally the dwarf cannot hold his tongue. "Ahh dannae want tae stir up ana bad memories and a', but dae yae care tellin me what happened tae yer beard? It looks awfully wee."
"Greetings and well met. I humbly apologize for my delay. Omrax, sworn servant of the Inheritor reporting for duty."
"Aye, Skybek's the name. Can Ahh offer yae a wee nip o' mae oon brew before we enter intae the wee castle?"
"I am Quinn Kouniashi, proprieter of the Taldan dance house, the Troubadour's Square in Oppara. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Say, if you should like a sparring partner, I would be most glad of some practice myself."
"Aye, a dancin, talkin, fox! Ahh've never met one the likes a' yae! Ahh'm nae much o' a dancer maeself, but Ahh'm happy tae share a drink wid yae if yer ever sae inclined. Skybek's the name." The congenial dwarf offers a firm grip of his hand.
"May the Swordmistress guard us."
"Aye, Ahh'm glad tae hae an extra guard, especially aroond these parts, but who is this mistress with a blade that yer referrin tae? Ahh'm Skybek Odeon at yer service." The dwarf offers the orc a firm gripping handshake as well.
""Come. Let us begin our work."
"Aye, what dae yae hae in mind, mae friend? Ahh could use some convincin that strolling through the front gate is a gud course o' action."
Sareth sees no watchman in the tower. He sees no living creature of any kind, in fact.
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Mrachni moves his dark eyes to Omrax as the other enters, inclining his head as he did when greeting the others. "Brother," he rumbles, extending his sword-arm for clasping.
Turning from the greeting at Skybek's question, he speaks softly. "The Swordmistress is she whose path is that of honor, valor, and justice..." He pauses for a moment, his expression one of reflection, and continues, "... yet who does not hesitate to show mercy when she wills."
The gates of the outer palisade are shattered and broken. A wide, deep moat surrounds the whole outer wall, fed by the Skittering River on the other side of the fort, and broken only by the bridge to the smashed gate. A ladder leans against the palisade to the southeast on the other side of the moat.
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Quinn contemplates the potentiality of swimming across the moat and shudders. "So, my friends, it seems if we are to get there without going over the bridge, that leaves the moat. And... I don't have that great of a history when it comes to water. Beyond it making my fur start smelling. I can try to scout ahead if you wish, sneak through the buildings for any other inhabitants?"
The muddy moat is close on ten feet wide at most points, but the bank on the other side is almost sheer and topped by the wooden wall. The crude ladder leans upon a foot of solid ground below. The murky water makes it difficult to see how deep the moat really is.
Quinn easily makes it across the moat and scrabbles frantically at the palisade on the other side. The wet wood proves slippery, however, and the poor kitsune splashes into the muddy flows below. Scrambling up the bank, the dancer lithely jumps up the rickety ladder to find himself dripping atop the pointy peaks of the timber wall.
Quinn gives the primitive ladder a push. With a splash, it forms a narrow, wet, slippery, rough-hewn 'bridge' across the moat. The daunting palisade may pose an issue for the wee dwarf yet.
Quinn climbs down from the wall and, forgetting that there's really no bank to stand on, descends directly into the water again. Now quite thoroughly wet, the disgruntled kitsune holds on to the ladder as much for a flotation device as to steady it.
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[ooc]still on holiday stuff. Will be back for real tomorrow. If crossing the ladder bridge is acrobatics, I'll take 10 with Guidance for 13.
-Posted with Wayfinder
In the distance at the base of the ridge, Skull Hill’s double gate lies open at the only break in the moat and palisade ring. One door stands half broken off its hinges. A small watchtower sits above the gate, forming a short ten foot tunnel as one enters the bailey--scorch marks mar the gate and the tower. The drawbridge is down and appears to be in good condition.
Omrax downs a potion and flies into the bailey. Sareth gingerly steps onto the makeshift bridge held by Quinn, and promptly slips right into the water.
He too grasps with wooden ladder to keep afloat.
*drip*
*drip*
Omrax circles the immediate area near the gate. From above, he can see a variety of outbuildings nestled around a sizable cornfield, stalks rustling in the light breeze. Atop the motte is a tall timber tower from which a thin wisp of smoke flutters skyward, and a trio of craters mar the surface of the fort. Whatever created the last crater seems to have struck the tower itself and partially collapsed the southeast corner.
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In the distance at the base of the ridge, Skull Hill’s double gate lies open at the only break in the moat and palisade ring. One door stands half broken off its hinges. A small watchtower sits above the gate, forming a short ten foot tunnel as one enters the bailey--scorch marks mar the gate and the tower. The drawbridge is down and appears to be in good condition.