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At mid-afternoon you climbed the steep path to Creagfort's gates in the Bronze Hills. It was a long trip, made longer by how slowly you had to move through the hills with your human and demihuman "cargo" in tow. Fortunately, the environs around Fangsfall are more secure than they used to be and you didn't face too much trouble beyond scaring off opportunistic bandits.
Creagfort is hewn into the sloped side of a tall crag, basically a small keep with a stout curtain wall enclosing a copper mine, barracks for the miners and soldiers, a smithy, a smelter, stables and The Canary- a small inn and general store catering to merchants making the trek here for the copper trade. After a round of questioning from the soldiers on gate duty, your party and the refugees were allowed inside and greeted by Captain Zedaias Black of the Fangsfall Army and Gramdul Stoneheim, the foreman of the copper mine. While the dwarf, Gramdul, grumbled about adding non-Guild miners to his operation, the Captain reminded him that more help is always welcome and it was their moral obligation to take these people in. With that, your task was completed and the refugees gratefully payed your fee- 100 gp in various denominations scrounged together from the group and Captain Black put in a good word for you at the Canary.
You're all enjoying what ale, Fangsfall wine and modest fare are available at the Canary. The soldiers here take their duties seriously, given that the Lady of the keep is a cleric of Corean, so the tavern isn't nearly as rowdy as a Fangsfall establishment.
The Unchained -- a six feet tall, well muscled half-orc barbarian with broken chains hanging from his wrists and neck -- finishes the first tankard of ale and quickly orders another. He then pats his belly and issues a long satisfied belch. "Ah.
He looks the common room over and eyes any potential challengers. An apex predator, The Unchained does not want to be the prey of some other rival.
Surveying the common room, The Unchained sees only a merchant going over her accounts with an assistant and a table of four off-duty soldiers playing a quiet game of cards. Beyond the sidelong glances elicited by his loud belch, little interest is being paid to your party.
Zukhan's tongue flicks back and forth over his goblet of wine and nods approvingly. "Well, that went rather smoothly. For better or worse, those families are now free to toil away in Creagfort's copper mines." The Asaatthi sips his wine. "I have to admit, it was fun scaring away those brigands." Zukhan nods to The Unchained. "I'm fairly certain a few of them will need new small clothes after seeing you emerge from the caravan."
Iliberos broods over his ale having barely touched it but then brooding was like an art form for the Forsaken Elves. Iliberos appears friendlier a then most of his kind from what the group has experienced thus far, though that is not saying much.
"I am inclined to agree with Djal, there is little I am doing here that I could not have done home. Though I suppose my cart came in handy to load the extra refugees..."
Iliberos has never stated it directly but you can all sense how old he is. He moves about a bit slowly and speaks of places in cities he's been to that most of you know, no longer exist. His only current frame of reference is the City of Necromancers but he didn't speak much about that city in the presence of the refugees. Though he did appear to go out of his way to speak with an comfort them, especially those who lost someone.
Zukhan's tongue flicks back and forth over his goblet of wine and nods approvingly. "Well, that went rather smoothly. For better or worse, those families are now free to toil away in Creagfort's copper mines." The Asaatthi sips his wine. "I have to admit, it was fun scaring away those brigands." Zukhan nods to The Unchained. "I'm fairly certain a few of them will need new small clothes after seeing you emerge from the caravan."
The Unchained laughs at the thought of the brigands who got the scare of their lives.
"Hahahahaha They couldn't charge fast enough. In the other direction hahahahaha
As The Unchained perks up, he raises an eyebrow: "Trouble? I see nothing but honest wage makers here..."
"Nothing worth breaking...."
"If you're looking for excitement, you'll find that Creagfort is allergic to it.", says the merchant at the next table, closing her ledger and handing it to her assistant. She's a woman in her mid-30s with straw colored hair and presentable but not ostentatious clothing. There's a mostly full glass of wine on her table alongside the inkwell and pen.
"Sorry to interject but I couldn't help but overhear- in between the glass-rattling belches, of course. You're finding yourselves at loose ends? Do you have business back in Fangsfall or are you looking for something out here on the frontier?", she continues before turning to her assistant. "The map.", she says. The lad starts digging through a saddle bag under the table before producing a scroll case.
Iliberos shrugs and responds, "What do you propose?"
She takes the scroll case and holds it out toward your table.
"Before my father died, he fancied himself an amateur historian- mostly as an excuse to fritter away the profits from the family business to feed his vanity, I suspect. But he did buy one thing that I've been told is genuine: this map."
"I've tried to sell it, but mysterious maps with Titan language on them aren't exactly a hot commodity with reputable folk. And I've certainly no desire to go traipsing off into Devil's March and getting myself killed.... but a bunch of adventurers like yourselves that scare off bandits with a hard glance should be able to manage it."
"So here I am with a map that's not worth anything, here you are at the last settlement in the Bronze Hills close to where the map leads you with nothing to do besides turn back. I can give you the map, all you have to do is promise that if you find anything down there that's worth something you bring it to me in Fangsfall and let me do the selling for you and I'll take a small commission.", she says.
Xar eyes the flowing alcohol hungrily, but decides to get the lay of land before letting down his guard, and drinks only water... for now. At the mention of something else to do, that didn't require him to go back to Fangsfall for a while he sit up straighter and listened, his hand absentmindedly reaching for a half full mug on the table, before realizing what he was doing, and stopping himself.
"It's isolated there right? And it would probably take us a while to work our way back to Fangsfall"?
He looks to the others for confirmation. "I know I'm interested".
Well I am a big fan of treasure maps, though not accustomed to them being on the land and all.
Iliberos' cup slips from his nerveless fingers and smacks onto the table, luckily not spilling, his eyes have a far away look to them, "The language on it is in Titan? May I see it?"
The merchant nods, handing Iliberos the map. He unfurls it on the table and begins to study..
Iliberos (and anyone else that can read Primordial or Titan Speech) can see that the writing in the lower corner is in a debased form of Primordial and reads "Gauntlet of Spiragos in the Devil's March".
Lhienne looks at the map, but she isn't learned. "I've got no objection, worse case scenario we waste a week or two wondering the wilds. Assuming the big guy's got no better plans." Lhienne glances over to the Unchained.
"Got no better plans. But what's the price for this generosity?" The Unchained lets his suspicion drip through his speech.
Zukhan visibly perks up at the offer. "Always interested in new places. You have good contacts in Fangsfall for fencing what we bring back?"
"Got no better plans. But what's the price for this generosity?" The Unchained lets his suspicion drip through his speech.
The merchant takes a sip from her wineglass.
"The price is that you sell any big ticket items you find through my company International Exports, Ltd. in Fangsfall. That way I can make a little off the back end. No one's willing to buy the map, so it's not like it's doing me any good holding onto it."
Zukhan visibly perks up at the offer. "Always interested in new places. You have good contacts in Fangsfall for fencing what we bring back?"
She nods.
"I've dipped my toe in the magic item and antiquities trade. I can move what you find or find someone that can."
Fangsfall and Devil's March
History or Religion
Nature
The Map
History
Arcana or Religion
"The March is not a hospitable place. We need to be well-provisioned. Meaning we double up on everything. That is, if we are all agreed to take this map and go looking for trouble."
"What's your name again?" The Unchained asks the merchant.
Fangsfall & Devils March
Knowledge: Religion
The Map
Knowledge: Religion2
Knowledge: Arcana
Xar looks up at Zukhan before he speaks, when he sees the area to be transversed. "That area was the scene of many bad things during the Titan wars. Mormo along with many Asaatthi sorcerers brought forth much necromantic magic and much Titan Blood was spilt. I wouldn't be shocked to see undead and demonic presence there".
He then steps closer and looks over Iliberos shoulder as he surveys the map.
"That symbol". He points to the eight armed symbol. "It's the symbol of Spiragos. He is... or was a lesser Titan of Ambush. I believe he was slain by Vangal during the war. However I recollect he hoarded many magical trinkets from those he ambushed over the ages.
The Ganjus then steps back to observe the reactions of the others... in particular the merchant.
Insight (On the merchant to see if he seems to be hiding anything.
"From what you just said, this Spiragos character sounds like a mugger?"
[dice=Nature]1d20-1
[dice=History]1d20-1
[dice=Religion]1d20-1
"The March is not a hospitable place. We need to be well-provisioned. Meaning we double up on everything. That is, if we are all agreed to take this map and go looking for trouble."
"What's your name again?" The Unchained asks the merchant.
"Hasdia Meroni- and this is my assistant Laris.", she says, motioning to the young man sitting with her. He nods.
"Well-met Hasdia Meroni and her assistant Laris. I am called The Unchained."
"I believe that our party needs to discuss this opportunity that you present before us among ourselves. Give us some time."
"Seems ominous to follow a mysterious map to a location marked by the symbol of the titan of ambushes, no?" zukhan shrugs. "Still... too exciting to pass up. I'm in."
[dice=Region with Religion]1d20+1
[dice=Region with Nature]1d20-1
[dice=Map with History]1d20-1
[dice=Map with Religion]1d20+1
Djal listens to his companions and comments: "Mmh...I'm not sure I'm comfortable discovering titan artefacts, only to sell them to the highest bidder. These things should be studied then destroyed, no?"
Hasdia leans over.
"Keep your voice down about that, if you please!, she whispers."Of course I have no intention of reselling Titan artifacts! I'm rather partial to my neck, thank you! I'm saying that if you find a statue, jewelry, paintings, a normal magic item that you don't want or anything of the like that tends to find itself in these kinds of places then you give me first refusal."
Laris clears his throat.
"Miss, your meeting-", he begins before Meroni cuts him off.
"Keep what you want, of course. You're taking the risks after all."
Laris gathers up the ledger and saddle bags from their table.
"I have to go pry some copper from a dwarf, I'm afraid. Do with the map what you will- follow it, give it away, burn it if you're allergic to danger. But keep me in mind if you find something worth selling.", Hasdia says, taking a final swig of her wine.
"Good luck and farewell.", she says as she heads toward the door.
Knowledge Religion
Knowledge Nature
Knowledge History
Knowledge Arcana
Iliberos looks to his companions, "Let us take a room and discuss this..."
He appears wholly consumed by the map but reluctant to speak further.
You all retire to the four bunk room that you've rented to discuss what you're going to do. The room is on the spartan side but large enough for four people and fastidiously clean with straw mattresses and pillows covered with sheets.
Inside the room.
"I take it we're going to this place mentioned in the map."
"Anyone have any idea how long we're gonna need to get there and back?
It's roughly 60 miles as the crow flies from Creagfort to the Chasm of Flies- given the terrain, it's likely to be 4-7 days on the road. There aren't roads or even game trails through the hills, so getting Iliberos' wagon through may slow you down- though it will allow you to bring more provisions.
"My new friends, the area indicated on the map is called the Chasm of Flies because, for decades following the Titanswar, huge clouds of black flies swarmed around the opening and into the chasm. As with most creatures corrupted by titan blood, these files grew to monstrosities, raven-sized and deadly. There is more to the area I think but sadly I cannot remember all of it.
During the Divine War that ended nearly two centuries ago. My Gods, has it been so long..."
Iliberos gets the faraway look once more, "The gods Tanil, Denev, and Corean captured the titan Gaurak the Devourer and plucked his monstrous teeth from his maw before entombing him. The titanic fangs crashed down, some as large as mountains, across what is now called the Fangsfall Peninsula; one of the jagged incisors smashed into the ground near the tiny city of Lambport. The people there took to quarrying the fine, hard minerals of the titan’s tooth in order to build their houses and their city wall. They dubbed their city Fangsfall in honor of the gods’ defeat of Gaurak.
The Devil’s March was the site of a great battle in the Divine War, in which the forces of the titanic Hag-Queen, Mormo, and her Asaathi Empire fought against a great human army. In desperation, the generals of the decimated and embattled human forces performed a necromantic True Ritual. All of the dead from both sides of the conflict rose up, shattering the asaatthi armies and wounding Mormo herself. The summoned undead were not all destroyed, and some continue to roam the March to this day.
While humans and asaatthi made up the bulk of the opposing armies, many other races, including demons and other infernal creatures, were also summoned en masse—particularly by asaatthi sorcerers. The land is thus now poisoned by necromantic energies, titan blood, and demonic influence. As Xar had mentioned downstairs.
While this is an opportunity to strike back at the Titans and perhaps get ourselves wealthy in the process it is also dangerous.
Nothing will stand in my way from going. What say the rest of you?"
Zukhan nods. "I can navigate us through there easily. It'll be like the open road." The Asaatthi adds with a wink. "The deal with the human seems straight forward enough. I say we get some rest and head out in the morning."
"On the morrow, I suggest we buy enough provisions for our party to last a month in the wild. As I have said before, the March is no place to live off the land. Further, we should buy some pack animals to carry our gear and to provide meat if it comes to that."
"Zukhan, you do agree with my assessment of the March's barreness?"
"I don't have much to contribute, I'm afraid, aside from our payment I've never had much in the way of gold."
"I have no coin to contribute, but would bring my knowledge, fighting ability, and healing powers as my contribution. As I stated I have little reason to return to Fangsfall anytime soon".
"It seems to me that if this Spiragos was the titan of ambushing, much of what he might have taken from his victims might not be titan tainted".
The Unchained tosses his purse to Lhienne. "I'm not much good with numbers. But Lhienne is a quick study. She can count that out right quick and we can make a plan for the purchase of provisions." The Unchained rubs his chin as he adds, "We'd need two pack animals for a month's worth of supplies. We don't want to overburden an animal that we'd have to put her down less than halfway to our destination."
Iliberos nods, "Perhaps one more ass to carry extra water. If the Chasm is tainted fresh water might be short in supply.
I vote we spend the rest of the day purchasing supplies and then rest in comfortable beds for one more evening. Tomorrow we can set out on this expedition".