"It looks like he is dead. He sure was talked up a lot considering how quickly he fell. I suppose that tells us the people of the Fort aren't as skilled at destruction as ourselves." Locke sends Zoreck a concered look, "But are you all right?"
Looking toward Locke, Zoreck responds, "I dunno. It's weird. When we first arrived at Argosa, I realized that I was able to... tap into some reserve I didn't know I had. I don't really understand it, but it was there. I tried to tap into it again when we were fighting Shakes... but not only was it not there, I got the worse case of vertigo I've ever experienced. Of course, maybe it's just that lie I told the guard coming back to bite me in the ass..."
He snorts at his own joke, but his heart isn't in the attempt at humor.
"I'm still a little woozy... it feels like the world's spinning a bit, as if I drank too much."
Drancis nods slowly in response to Zoreck's explanation. "That is good to know Zoreck. While I have not tried to tap into my reserves yet, I now know not to do so unless in a dire situation." He gathers his powers in, levitating the manticore's body. "We should take it back as proof we did what we said we would do."
Noticing Rikkan still out of sight he calls out, "Rikkan, are you OK? Did you find anything?"
Rikkan, cautious as possible, slowly makes his onto a cave filled with the stench of death... primarily coming from Shakes' last kill - a freshly slain chag bull. In total, there are another twenty one chag shells lying about the Gash,- whilst, in the cave, six saltwater pearls wrapped in a dusty cloak lie buried among a pile of gnawed bones. Rikkan also finds a chunk of glass etched with lines resembling technological-like schematics...
Rikkan looks closely, then he dismisses his Invisibikity and flags the others over to the cave mouth. ”There’s interesting stuff in here,” he calls out. ”And that thing really hated those funky beetles. There must be two dozen trophies taken in here,” he tells the others.
"To the victors go the spoils. I think this stuff is ours now. And we should bring back the manticore's head as proof that we killed it. Maybe they'll also give us a reward."
Locke joins Rikkan in the cave, "There is certainly something magical about that chunk of glass and the cloak. I will inspect them further."
He focuses on the glass chunk first, using his own arcane powers and knowledge to attempt to identify it.
Dragging them out into the light of the Rythes sun, Locke is able to determine the arcane powers of the cape: A Cloak of Fangs although the purpose of the chunk of glass eludes him...
Rikkan points to the glass. ”Let’s take it back to the town to get it identified. And let’s be sure to tell them about all the carnage that we found here....over 20 trophies had been taken. No telling how many were killed that he didn’t take trophies from. Get what I’m saying,” Rikkan says, trying to convince the others.
Drancis lifts the body of the manticore up off the ground, then uses his telekinetic grip to quickly detach the head from the rest of the corpse. "This should be all the proof we need." Glancing at the pile of chag trophies, he gives a low whistle. "Yes this should help mitigate our actions before when we killed those chags earlier."
"Thanks Drancis, it's definitely best if they don't have to take our word for it." Locke pockets the chunk of glass and starts to head back to Fort Buckle.
Back at Fort Buckle, with the Manticore's head being held aloft by Drancis, the group have no problem gaining access... indeed, at Wuli's tent, they are given a hero's welcome. The erstwhile leader of the small village ensures that plenty of drinks are plied towards the group and, as the sun drops below the horizon and a cool evening sets in, unfamiliar songs fill the air...
Zoreck's odd case of vertigo does not stop him from having a drink or four at the party.
Rikkan grabbed a bit of fur from the manticore, stashing it away for any later study he had a chance to undertake. He also joined in on the festivities, more relieved than joyous, but was confident the group was no longer going to be punished for the chag beetle misunderstanding from earlier.
Drancis smiles happily that the party's efforts are appreciated and tries to take part in the festivities, but impending thoughts of Andretta intrude upon his heart...not to mention the strange tasting beverages are hard for the young man to stomach.
I hope she is OK...I wonder if I will ever see her again...
Locke offers to tell some tales and sing some chants as he joins in with the festivities. He finds this joyous occasion with these odd people so far from his home a welcome experience.
Wuli ensures, by talking up the deeds of the friends and pointing towards the severed head of 'Shakes' - unceremoniously spiked in the centre of the tent, that no one here tonight is unaware of just how important the actions of the group are to the continued survival of Fort Buckle. As the evening wears on, a number of new folks enter Wuli's place... several dust-swathed humans that Wuli points out as Chag herders and a group of towering, muscular humanoids with lizard-like faces. Wuli points out these slightly alien folks to the group and calls them 'Syaandi', "A strange people... nomadic and insular - but their coin's just as good as anyone else's so..."
Drancis glances at his companions when he hears about the Syaandi. They remind me of some of the Shoanti barbarians back home...I wonder...
"Do you think they would be willing to help us out?" Drancis asks his friends, "Especially since we did them a favor? I think in order to find...what we are looking for we will need a guide, at the very least."
”Drancis is right. We don’t know anything about this world. A guide is all that will keep us from walking in circles for days and days. I don’t worry about them being insular...so long as they are trustworthy and not backstabbers.”
Wuli wonders aloud when Rikkan suggests that the group will need assistance if they are to head onwards from Fort Buckle, "A guide? There are maybe some who will help you... but likely not the Syaandi. You've heard them talk? Strange creatures... don't have the same language as the rest of us". Wuli whispers conspiratorially, "...no tongues you see!!!".
"I've seen these around... there's a ring of stones west of here with loads of them scattered around - no-one, least 'round these parts, really knows what they are... and, to be honest, if you can't eat them, burn them or sell them then around here, then there's no point to them. The Monastery of St. Albat in the Barony of Merebec... that's where you'll want to head if you want to know about the ancient technologies of Rythes".
Pouring another tankard of amber ale for the group, Wuli murmurs, "Let me think on options for a guide for you..."
Locke thanks Wuli for his help and latches on to the mention of the Monastery, "This Monastery sounds very interesting. Is it far from here?"
Wuli pours a small pile of salt over the bar and then, using a small finger to mark out a rudimentary map, "You'll have to head over the Seabridge first... and you'll need to prepare for a long trek - it's got to be a good hundred miles or so".
Draining the last of his glass, Zoreck looks over Wuli's shoulder as he sketches the map. He gestures for a refill and remarks, "Huh. That's quite the journey. It would be nice to hire a guide... although if none are willing, we could instead try to get some maps of the area. Wuli, is there a cartographer here at Fort Buckle?"
"I think a guide would be necessary just to be able to find both food and water," Drancis adds, "There is no way we can carry enough supplies with us, unless we can purchase some...pack animals? Or whatever is used as such here."
”Is there some magical means for speeding up travel on this world? Or some speedy animal that has been domesticated to help with crossing vast distances?”
Wuli shakes his head sadly at Zoreck's question, "A cartographer? No... sadly the Barony of Dust contains little that is worth mapping. There are simple maps that you can have... more directions and waypoints than anything else - they'll get you to the Seabridge, and from there you'll be in the Barony of Merebec".
"What you have done for us, in slaying 'Shakes' and protecting the Chag stock, cannot be measured in simple word of thanks... in gratitude for giving Fort Buckle its future back, me and the rest of the traders here will gladly stock you up with supplies, food and tents, and let you take two of our camels. But, as to swift travel, there is no such thing on Rythes... 'least as far as I ever heard".
And so, as the night continues, the prospect of the trek ahead starts to loom heavy in the mind of the friends... until Wuli, crashing a tankard down, exclaims, "Actually!!! There is someone you could do with meeting... in the morning, over near the camel pen, I'll introduce you..."
Rikkan grinned broadly. ”We always enjoy meeting others. Unless they try to kill us of course.”. Rikkan couldn't help but think about whether or not this planet had a breed of camel that was different than hose he had heard of from golarion. He’d have to take a sample, of course.
The night disappears in a blur of song, alcohol and celebration of the demise of 'Shakes' - and as the sun rises once more, having woken in a corner of the tent where exhaustion - and a little inebriation - took their toll, the friends gather themselves in the cold near the camel pen. Large beasts, and entirely identical to their cousins on Golarion, they bad-temperedly stamp around whilst a ratfolk attempts to harness them...
Wuli, yawning heavily as he emerges from his tent, wanders over to a low roofed hut near Maybelle's enclosure - banging on the door, he smiles towards Drancis and his friends, "Sorry, thought they'd be up by now..."
"I can't blame anyone for getting a bit of extra shuteye!" Locke comments with a smile.
- time had taken a strange turn since. amidst the sound of the collapsing ceiling, strange sirens and exploding machinery, the escaping test subjects had fled Garsilt by jumping into the gate device... Solie, Biggun, Globlob - not one of them seems to have survived the terrible tearing sensation that accompanied the leap into the unknown.
Undaunted, and just about surviving the arrival on Rythes... the pair of unwitting adventurers finally made their way to Fort Buckle where, with little focus or hope of return, they had set up camp of sorts... odd jobs, the occasional hunting of chag predators and building maintenance - that was their life until today...
...when a knocking at their hut provides a rude awakening!!!
As Wuli knocks to no answer, Zoreck asks, "So, Wuli, who are these people we're meeting again... and are you sure they're still here?"
And as if if on cue, a rumpled-looking woman opens the door asking to our business.
"Oh, morning, miss!"
Zoreck then looks at Wuli to make an introduction.
Expecting one of the local natives to answer the door here Drancis is caught off guard by the appearance of the woman.
Is...is she a local or did she come through one of the Gates like we did? Is that a....GOBLIN?
Clearing his throat slightly in embarrassment he adds shyly, "Sorry for disturbing you, Miss... but we were...uhhh...wondering if you know your way around these parts?"
”Are you two the guides we are looking for? This place is quite strange, and I’m not sure we could find a spot 100 miles away without getting spun. I’m Rikkan, by the way,” the ratfolk says as he greets the woman.
Wuli suppresses a smile, "Guides? Oh no... no they're about as local as you folks are!!! I just thought, given you're looking to head north and these folks ain't really found their feet since washing upon the beach, maybe you could travel together?"
Locke nods as if having expected the other off-worlders, "Nice to meet you! Companionship is never unwanted. What brings you to this corner of the universe?"
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Rav was hiding in the corner to scare Palo when she woke up, but newcomers more fun
"Already up, Palo." Says a voice from the shadows a few feet away, and a boy, who looks human, steps out. He's wearing a floppy brimmed hat that covers his face, and a long (for him) duster that drags the floor just a bit. Goggles whirr silently under his hat as he moves, lenses sliding in and out of place as his head turns to look at the newcomers. The boy yawns, showing oddly sharp and pointy teeth. As he moves further into the light, a criss-cross bandolier on his chest has bullet after bullet after bullet in place, and his belt also has enough bullets hanging off it to start a minor (or major) war. A big fat cigar is clamped in his mouth, despite his apparent youth, the tip glowing when he breaths in hard and then blows some smoke.
He has a jar two-thirds full of black powder mixed with nails and scrap metal, with a wax seal on top of the powder, and a candle stub in place. It looks like an old mayonaisse jar.
"Rav had damn nightmare again about crazy robot running around making Relas chase bone. Couldn't sleep, got up and made more mayo jar boom booms." The odd boy eyes the group. "Who you? What want? " He glances at Zoreck's sidearm, and tilts his head. "No bad, built better. Too slow to load, too easy boom in hand."
Drancis stares at the newcomer, all thoughts of the woman driven from his mind as his hackles rise.
I thought I saw a goblin there, but I must have been mistaken...this...BOY...he does not look right to me!
Trying to put a smile on his face though he did have to force it quite a bit he responds, "Rav? It is...uhhh...nice to meet you!"
...I think...
"Yes, it is." Rav responds agreeably, his accent odd. "So you no local?" The 'boy' shakes his head. "That too bad, seem nice otherwise." He thumps Palo on the arm. "Make with the Relas coming and hithering. Boring without him, nobody crack jokes with."
Rikkan nodded at the boy, but he was much more interested in the strange jars that he carried. ”You have bombs as well? Are you studied in alchemy as well?”. Rikkan couldn’t help but stare at the boys sharp teeth, which almost resembled fangs.
The little ratfolk took a step back, with his many vials and flasks tinkling as he moved around.
The boy reaches up and scratches his head under his hat, which thunks as it lands back on his head. His nails are rather large and pointy. "Been trying learn, but hard figure out with Palo yelling 'bout blowing up walls and stuff."
"Oh! Hello there," the creature rumbles, its tone friendly. "I'm Relas, Palo's friend!" Relas looks at Palo and Rav, clearly a bit surprised - though not put out - at finding strangers inside the hut.
"You guys didn't tell me last night that we'd be having visitors today! What's the occasion?"
As Palomia begins her ritual...Is she SUMMONING some being? Drancis stares at her trying to determine what she was doing. Being unfamiliar with the specifics of arcane rituals he had still managed to pick up some details from the CypherMages when he had first discovered his own strange powers.
She MUST be from Golarion...I have heard tales of such Summoners...yet we never heard of Lomrick holding one prisoner. She must have escaped from him long before our arrival.
Addressing the intelligent beast he answers, "No special occasion I am afraid Mister Relas. We had heard you were familiar with this world and were seeking guides. We are looking for," he glances back at Wuli, "...something special."
Turning to face Palomia he asks frankly, "You all are from Golarion right?"
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"Hey, when'd you grow wings, claws for brains?" The 'boy' says, and then moves over and begins to tug on the wings. "Palo no tell Rav she putting wings on you. Nice job. Now you can fly mayo jars up and drop them on people. Palo need give you flaming mouth and claws, so you can light candle before dropping. We have Relas Bomber Squadron of 1 then." The 'boy' grins between puffs on his cigar.
"They no Are Ess Vee Pee, well, maybe they Pee, Rav no ask, figure not something to ask on first meeting, but they for sure didn't Are Ess or Vee before coming over." He informs Relas, plucking a black feather off the wing with a quick motion. "Gotta study. It grow back. Don't be big baby." He sticks the feather in his hat, and grins.
Looking back at Drancis, he tilts his head. "Yah, Golarian. Got out of Gar Silt facility, rescue bunch of others, but not see any sign of Biggun, Stupid Gnome Goblin Wannabe girl, Blekk, Caster Woman, Dog People, Gobby Bard, or anyone else since then. Just Palo and Rav and Relas, like always. Rav blow s+$# up, Relas claw s*+~ up, and Palo miss mountain with crossbow bolt."
"I know, right!? I'm really excited to try them out later," Relas replies to Rav with what approximates a toothy grin.
"And yeah, we're from Golarion too! Small, uh...galaxy, I guess," he adds as he turns his attention back to Drancis. "Anyway, what's this special thing that you're looking for?"
Drancis glances back at his companions, then to Wuli, before addressing the intelligent feline. I don't want to let our new hosts know exactly what it is we are looking for just yet...No telling what he would do if he knew it was the ticket off this planet.
"It sounds like you are interested in traveling with us then right Relas? We will tell you more of this once we are underway...assuming your...friends agree as well?"
As he awaits the response he considers the goblin's words carefully. We never ran into any evidence of them while we were also help prisoner back at Garsilt. No records of them existed in Lomricks logs either...but why would they lie to us here? This is a puzzle missing more pieces it seems.
Rikkan’s eyes opened wide at seeing the talking feline stretch his wings. ”Relas, was it? You are most intriguing, indeed. Forgive me if I seem nosy, but where did you come from? I can summon ‘regular’ animals, but I’ve never seen a specimen like yourself, with superior intelligence and extra abilities.”
"Relas comes from Elsewhere." Rav says, waving the felines origins away as if anyone should know that. "Rav & Relas might be interested in travelling, what are you paying? If you're not paying, what is the cut you want split with us? Rav and Relas don't work for free." He eyes Palo, and grins at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, Palo don't work for free either." He teases the woman.