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Ai raises an eyebrow at Shane's drunken antics before stepping up for her confirmation speech, determined to drag it out as long as she possibly can. "I'm sure some of us are feeling groggy; after all, it's not every day we see someone of Shane's stature consume something as potent as that, which looks to be from inside the Wounded Wisp's basement. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to hear he's seeing two of me even as I speak. I've stewed all night about what I'd say on this occasion, wasted no time in planning, and I feel no pain about what must be done."
She continues to consult her mental thesaurus for synonyms for drunk as she rambles on. "My favorite thing about this job, so far, has been the under the table payments that we're not required to report. The potions and the scrolls all raise my spirits, and offer much in the way of refreshment while on the job." She pauses and chuckles. "That, at least, is what I wanted to say in my first draft. If you'll indulge me further, the best moment of my career so far was setting 'fire' to a tavern.
Well, I've hammered the point home as much as I can; I can only hope that soon we'll be three sheets to the wind and on our way to our next adventure. I'll put away my notes now and end this speech here." She glances quickly at the onrushing tide of wine to see if it's reached Ambrus's feet.
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Janira leans in when Ai finishes her speech and whispers in her ear. "Would you believe me if I told you he's not drunk! He's like this all the time!"
Kreighton Shane looks up from where he is at his desk and raises an eyebrow at Ollo.
"Only two of you answered my question, why are you leaving?" Ambrus looks almost shocked at the Master of Scrolls. Known for his eccentricities, having a full coherent sentence come from his mouth is a rare event.
Shaine frowns at Narika and Ollo but waves his hands at the rest of the senior Pathfinders and each of them approach the desk and grab an engraved box. They each approach one of the party and hand off the boxes, dripping with wine as the move. Ambrus skirts the growing pool on the floor and hands his box off awkwardly to Talon, Drandle walks straight through the puddle and offers his to Ai, Janira bounds the puddle of wine in a single jump and lands in front of Narika. "Just like the river in the Kortos mountains!" She says with a giggle, and finally Kreighton Shane hands Ollo his box, and pats him on the head. The half elf leans down and whispers in the Dwarfs ear. "Oops!" it's all he says before strutting back to his desk.
Within the boxes are your very own wayfinders, each engraved with your names and todays date. Well, except for Ollo, inside his noticeably lighter box is a small note that explains his wayfinder was broken in transit, but is being remade and will be ready for pickup whenever he wants at a later date.
"Now for your next mission!" The Master of Scrolls stuffs a not into Aarion's hand, winks then starts reading from a scroll. "Take care!"
Ambrus and Dreng both realize what's going on too late. "We haven't told the-" is all you hear as Shaine finishes his incantation the room fades around you. Magical energies pull you in what seems like every direction for a moment and that too fades, as the world comes back into view.
"Welcome to Goka!" You hear a voice say behind you as you're suddenly treated with a gorgeous coastal view from your new position at the edge of a strange city surrounded by some of the tallest mountains you've ever seen. Aarion looks at the note in his hand and finds it blank.
"I'm sure you have many questions, we have been briefed on your mission and can answer them." Continues the voice from behind you, as you turn to greet him you see two Tian men smiling at you, both seem packed for a long trip. " I am Xue Ho and this is Hai Xuan, we will be your guides."
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Aarion takes a moment to regain his equilibrium. Once the dizziness starts to fade, the inquisitor turns to the group, "Well that was a bit rude. I sure hope they popped us somewhere we can provision for this undeclared mission. After looking at these two, I'm assuming we are heading out for a long journey."
After making sure everyone is OK, Aarion turns to the two men and responds to their greeting. "Yes I have some questions, as well as some more questions after you answer the first questions.
"First question, who the hell are you?"
"Second question, where in sarenrae's blight are we?"
"Third question, what is this mission, and how in the nine hells do we get back when we are done?"
Aarion looks down at the blank page in his hand and appears to be getting a bit angry. "Go figure!"
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"Please calm down, Aarion." Ai pats the inquisitor on the back in the most comforting gesture she can think of. "What my friend means to say is that we were just having a wonderful ceremony and now we're...here..." She trails off, enthralled by the view, and is speechless for a moment.
When she recovers, she's able to continue, occasionally stealing more glances. "Um...we know your names are Xue Ho and Hai Xuan, but beyond that we know little. My name is Jain-Wei Ai, so we can start on equal footing. Now, I think the most important questions Aarion asked was "what is Goka?" I also don't know the answer. After that, you could tell us a little about our mission and our method of returning home, and later, a bit about yourselves."
"Personally, I have soooo many questions. Did you know this is like home for me? Well, sort of. My mother said I was in her on the boat-ride over from Amanandar, but I've never been to Tian-Xia before we were whisked away just now. Hey, do you gentlemen have time to listen to the wisdom of the great Picoperi?"
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Talon sways slightly, then tries to blink away his disorientation. The view is beautiful, but forgotten when the voices draw Talon’s attention away.
”Goka,” Talon muses out loud, remembering what he’s read, ”a free city-state on the western coast of Tian Xia. An important port city, too, from what I’ve read.”
He looks uncomfortably between Aarion and the two men, before giving a small wave. ”I’m Talon.” He frowns, ”So, how many of the people we’ll meet here speak Taldan?”
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"Fer tha love of Torag!!" Ollo exclaims, trying to get his feet under him. "I'ma gonna have a talk with that man when we get back! No one tosses a dwarf through time and space!!!" he continues to grumble, holding his head.
Looking up, he sees the welcoming party and growls at them "Ye might start off with what in tha hells we're doing here, lad. Them rock brained idiots back at tha society sent us off wit no warning or mission!"
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Xue Ho and Hai Xuan wait patiently as the party each reacts to their sudden teleportation to Tian Xia. Hai Xuan speaks first.
"We were told that you had been informed that your assignment would follow immediately after your confirmation, and that we were to brief you on the details of that mission. We were also told you would be prepared for travel when you arrived, per the orders you were given. If you would like to abandon your duties to the Society, we could certainly arrange mundane passage to where ever you would like to return to." He smiles as he speaks but you can tell he seems offended.
Xue Ho speaks next. "Calm down Hai Xuan, do you not remember the first time we were teleported to Absalom? You threw up on my shoes, at least these few seem only disoriented and shocked. I would not like to purchase another pair of shoes!"
Xue Ho continues while his companion scowls at him. "To answer your questions, we are members of the Lantern Lodge, the base of operations for Pathfinders in Tian Xia, we are your colleagues. Anything you need to purchase can certainly be found here in Goka if you need to supplement your current wares. And Miss Ai, welcome home, we are always glad to meet a fellow child of Tian Xia."
"As to your mission," interjects Hai Xuan, "The Pathfinder Society has turned its attention to the Ruby Phoenix Tournament—a world-renowned fighting competition, held once every ten years here in the city of Goka. More specifically, the Decemvirate is interested in the incredible prizes available to the tournament’s winner—a choice of treasure from the legendary vaults of Hao Jin, the Ruby Phoenix herself. As part of the preparations for the tournament, agents have been deployed across the Inner Sea and beyond to seek out forgotten lore, allies, and magical items to be used by the Society’s tournament representatives. Venture-Captain Amara Li, has uncovered information about one such item hidden amid the reaches of the Wall of Heaven—an Iroran relic known as the Braid of a Hundred Masters. She intends to send you to the the Clouded Path Monastery where you should be able to recover this relic. The journey should take about two weeks."
The journey toward the base camp that the two Lantern Lodge Agents are escorting you to goes without incident, feel free to make any purchases you need (Goka provides the same level of services as the city of Absalom) and then you can describe your PC's two week journey if you would like. Though there are no fights it is rigorous, particularly for anyone not used to mountain travel.
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Talon spends the majority of the two week journey as he usually does, quietly following along. The nonstop deluge of new experiences draws him a bit out of his usual reservedness, and he’s curious and talkative … about these lands, its people, the threats, and especially about their mission’s goals and locations.
”I’ve heard nobody has seen these Clouded Path monks for years,” he says to the two local men one day. ”And I heard some kind of ice demon. Shang Ku? No, Shang Xu is what they called it. It raids the local farms.” It’s said as a statement, but it’s clear from his curious expression he’s wanting the two local men to explain more on the subject.
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By the end of their journey, Ai's feet ache and she's told every joke in her repertoire to the two Tien Pathfinders. As the party gains elevation, her humor gradually changes to occasional short outbursts, and then into ragged breathing. "I'll...be fine. Just, I think I...need some time...to get used to the...air here."
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As Ollo's head begins to settle and stop spinning, he looks at the two pathfinders greeting them, and grumbles an apology. "I'm sorry fer not being grateful, and yea, they told us we was goin sumwhere after tha meetin, just not when, where, or how we was getting there!"
As Ollo travels up the mountains, he seems more and more content.. obviously, life in the mountains suits him much better than does city life. He jokes and laughs with the companions, rising each morning to breath the fresh mountain air and observe the sun rising on the peaks and valleys. He meditates daily, feeling his new connection to Torag solidify and become more concrete with each day.
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After two weeks of travel the party finally makes it to the assigned base camp. The camp site, only a few hundred feet above the forest line that covers the lower reaches of the Wall of Heaven, offers a panoramic view of the surrounding farmlands, far below. The half-flooded terraced farmlands appear silver and mirrored in the late afternoon light. The camp itself is little more than a trio of unmaintained wooden shacks surrounding the remnants of a large firepit and a fallen wooden corral fence to the east.
You begin to set up camp as your guides once again get into a heated argument about wether or not Narika's claim that Shan Xu is a yeti and not a demon is true. The normally logical and straight forward Hai Xuan refuses to even consider that there may be some natural explanation for the demon. Unfortunately their excited shouting masks a more sinister noise in the camp, and without warning a black and white blur flies toward the smallest of the party, an unfortunately unsuspecting Narika who feels the bite of teeth and claws suddenly draw blood. The attack comes from what seems to be a juvenile snow leopard.
Bold May Post
The Party
Snow Leopard
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Talon binds the helpless snow leopard who, when it wakes, attempts to break it's restraints, but weakly and without success. It makes no noise as it watches it's captors move about camp.
A close inspection of the rest of the area shows no further risk of attack, though it seems your guides are significantly shaken by the experience, despite not having actually been involved.
Xue Ho flat out refuses to continue. "The higher we climb, the more likely we are to be attacked. We have decided to wait here for you, as long as you do not leave that beast with us!"
Hai Xuan nods in agreement. "We can give you maps and some information about the road ahead, but I will not risk my life further. As for that leopard, many a merchant would pay a fine sum for it's coat, perhaps you should just kill it and make the path safer for your return."
They both wait to hear what you will do with the leopard now that you have it captive.
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Talon gives Xue Ho a scowl, but nods. ”So this Braid. How do we find it? What does it look like? And what are we likely to find in the monastery?”
He looks down at the bound wildcat, which has been feeding some of his rations. ”I’ll release it up the trail a bit. Hopefully it will know better than to attack people now.”
Before they leave, Talon takes out his wand, a dark thing that somehow has a menacing aura. He holds it out to Narika, ”This will heal you, though I’ve heard the experience might not be pleasant.” He waits until she agrees to test it out, then uses it on her.
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I don't think it's a stretch if you choose to rest, given that Narika was just savaged, even after healing I imagine some time relaxing would be welcome. Regaining the spell in the morning works just fine, provided the morning is your chosen meditation time.
If you agree to rest for the night] Unfortunately it looks to be resisted.
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Narika walks over to the animal. She looks in its eyes, and sees the desperation she can remember from the bad days. She reaches into her pack and pulls out one trail ration. It contains some dried meat, so she opens any packaging and puts the food onto the ground. Then she uses a stick to push it towards the beast. Narika knows that it's not enough to satiate the beast, but at least they're not going to send it away still weak with hunger.
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[ooc]Retcon, adding in GM's roll. Rereading the spell, though it is language dependant in not going to work. [ooc]
Once the fight is over, Ollo approaches the leopard, and casts Command. "You will leave us, and trouble this camp and these people no more, beast!" However, after staring into the beasts eyes, he can see the spell has no effect. Looking at his companions, he says "I hate ta see a beast cut down fer actin only on its instincts, and hungry to boot. I'd rather just let it go. Perhaps it will take its knocks as a warning.."
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Ollo wakes with the dawn and spends the next hour meditating and praising Torag. He then walks over to their guides. "I think we are going to let the leopard go.. hopefully it will leave us all be, since it has been fed. I cannot kill this captive creature, especially just to give to a merchant.. it was only acting out of desperation."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Aarion walks over to the snow cat, draws out a dagger, and cuts its throat. "This is not a dilemma of conscious. If this thing continues its path, it will likely attack someone way less able then ourselves. Some poor child or mother to be could be its next victim. If we allow it to continue, be it evil or not, their blood is on our hands. I have done the deed, so you may rest easy. I wouldn't want it to weigh heavily on your conscious. My life's lessons have taught me to not hesitate in these matters, besides my soul is already stained. Now lets move on!"
Aarion looks over the group to see if anyone needs healing.
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The young leopard looks up as Aarion approaches, swallowing the last bite of food left for it by Talon and Narika. It looks to the inquisitors hand hoping for more food, but quickly realizes this Pathfinder is more dangerous than the rest. Hoping to placate the man, it purrs softly even as the dagger cuts its flesh.
As the snow leopard breathes it's last Hai Xuan nods his head. "It is unlikely to see another person as this path has not been used for many years, but it will keep Xue Ho and I safe while we wait for you to return. Thank you Aarion."
The two guides set up their sleeping area and take it easy the rest of the night reverting to their native language and keeping to themselves.
In the morning they provide detailed instructions and a few warnings about various natural hazards that the group may discover. It's only about an hour from base camp when you discover your first obstacle.
The valley ends in a high rock wall. A large crack, forty feet up the wall, looks large enough to allow an adult human through. Several small cracks and holes dot the entire surface of the rock wall. A rock overhang, ten feet above the gash, acts as a natural roof, sheltering the immediate area from the elements.
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Narika walks up to Aarion, her eyes blazing. "You son of Asmodeus! I thought you served the goddess of redemption and second chances. What second chance did you give that poor animal? You weren't even the one who almost was lunch. If I can see the animals need for a second chance, how could you miss it?"
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Ai pauses, something clearly on the tip of her tongue, as the cat dies. "I'd just thought of a great feline joke, but it's gone." Another couple of sad moments later and she drifts off to her tent for the night.
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Ai approaches the wall, placing a hand on it and trying to hoist herself up only to slide quickly back down. "I don't know that I have 40 feet in me, to be honest. Would anyone else care to take a shot, or do we need to give up now?"
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Ollo approaches the wall and examines it carefully for a way up.
"Is a trick o' tha muscle, o' a trick o tha mind?" he mutters before muttering a prayer to Torag and stepping back to examine the wall again.
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Aarion looks down at the blood on his hands and takes a moment to reflect on his actions. "I understand your sentiment Narika, and I don't blame you for how you feel. I have become accustom to loathing and can carry that weight. I harbor no ill tidings towards you, despite your contempt. I can assure you that I have earned it in my lifetime."
"As for the lady of redemption, I can see where it is easy to confuse a second chance with redemption. They are not always one in the same. In order for this creature to seek redemption, it has to first acknowledge that it has done something wrong. The cat acted on instinct alone, which drives its motivations. It was starving, a condition that was undoubtedly created by circumstances out of its control. When the beast becomes hungry again, it will once again do what it must in order to fill it's hunger. It wont stop, nor will it reconsider its pray. The animal will just act. It doesn't have the higher thinking ability to realize the impact of its actions. It will kill. It will not consider what it has done before or after the deed, and it will have no regret. A second chance for this creature, is just that. A second chance to kill again. It is not wrong, nor is it evil, but that doesn't change the reality of its nature. It will kill. It has to kill, and I, unfortunately, understand its nature."
"I took this life, to preserve others. Right, wrong, or negligible, it is done. There is no redemption for those unable to seek it out, or accept it. Despise me if you must, but I did what needed to be done."
Aarion pulls out a (50 foot) silk rope and begins to tie knots in it. He makes sure they are spaced fare enough apart to aid anyone trying to climb it. The inquisitor then ties the rope to a grappling hook and attempts to secure it to the ledge.
Once attached, Aarion begins climbing the rope while using the wall as a brace.
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Talon and Ai are unsuccesful in their attempts to climb, but Aarion proves resourceful and secures a grappling hook to the top of the wall and begins his ascent.
Ollo inspects the area while Aarion climbs and discovers a large number of small mountain animal bones littered throughout the area. When he turns his attention upward, toward the rock overhang, he spies a man sized hole and even detects some movement from inside it, unfortunately, before he can let anyone know, he's struck by a string of sticky green filament that pulls him ten feet into the air, toward the chimney in the overhang.
Talon
Ai
Narika
Ollo
???
Aarion
While you aren't able to completely fight whatever is pulling Ollo up yet, we will move into combat actions.
Thanks to Aarion, using the knotted rope, climbing is DC0. You may take -5 to your roll to climb at half of your speed instead of 1/4. Those of you on the ground can see something in the hole, but you can't quite tell what it is, it has improved cover (+8) to AC. I've started Aarion almost all the way up as Ollo's inspection took some time.
Ollo to break free you may attack the filament or attempt a str check.
The map is updated, but might be confusing, let me know if you need clarification.