Khazmia spends long hours on the beach, communing with the her goddess and pondering what the future holds now. Should anyone wish a jaunt to somewhere more... civilized, she is more than willing to take them.
Sekathral spends the next few days utterly out of his skull, getting lost in the jungle for some time before wandering back naked and smeared with lichen and claiming to have been anointed as a prophet by a particularly credulous tribe of phanatons. He has certainly been anointed with something, if 'anointed' is quite the word we're looking for.
Worried by the elf's behavior Linah asks Sekathral if he's feeling OK or if he's in need of medical attention or perhaps some spiritual guidance?
Sekathral scratches his head, dislodging several insects who obviously thought they'd found a home for good.
Did she expect me to be doing ****ing crochet or something?
"I'm alright, thanks, mate - just blowing off a bit of steam now I'm on shore. Nothing amiss that a quick swim and a hair of the dog won't cure. Having said that, when I've found me clothes again, did Khaz say she was going to Absalom?"
Kyson approaches Sekathral during one of his more extreme deprivational trips.
"Uh...Seka...you have lichen up your, uhm...uh...your ass," Kyson says, fumbling for the right word. "Are you okay? Your clothes...uh...you usually wear clothes, right?"
Kyson examines Seka worriedly.
"Yeah, Khaz might be going to Absalom...or maybe Tanaroa or something like that. Once Zstelian has a handle on what we need to sell and buy. Why do you ask? And do you want help getting that lichen out of your...uh...uhm...ass? It's lodged up there...and uh...trailing..."
Kyson rubs the back of his neck, feeling uncomfortable.
Sekathral scratches his head, dislodging several insects who obviously thought they'd found a home for good.
Did she expect me to be doing ****ing crochet or something?
"I'm alright, thanks, mate - just blowing off a bit of steam now I'm on shore. Nothing amiss that a quick swim and a hair of the dog won't cure. Having said that, when I've found me clothes again, did Khaz say she was going to Absalom?"
"Well, as long as you are feeling well I guess that there is nothing to worry about", Linah says without sounding all that confident. "Yes, I believe that Khazmia has offered to take us to Absalom, should we have some business to attend to there."
Kyson approaches Sekathral during one of his more extreme deprivational trips.
"Uh...Seka...you have lichen up your, uhm...uh...your ass," Kyson says, fumbling for the right word. "Are you okay? Your clothes...uh...you usually wear clothes, right?"
Kyson examines Seka worriedly.
"Yeah, Khaz might be going to Absalom...or maybe Tanaroa or something like that. Once Zstelian has a handle on what we need to sell and buy. Why do you ask? And do you want help getting that lichen out of your...uh...uhm...ass? It's lodged up there...and uh...trailing..."
Kyson rubs the back of his neck, feeling uncomfortable.
Sekathral looks surprised.
"Nah, that's one of them grey oozes, I think. I passed out in a cave when I was doing mushrooms with some of the locals and it tried to crawl in. It's dead now. Lend us a stick, will you, and I'll go and have a swim and try to scrub the rest of it off. Pity Khaz broke that staff - would have come in handy"
And with that, he heads towards the water, grabbing a handful of seaweed on the way
Kyson looks down at the mess on Seka's backside.
"Do you...do you maybe want to come lie down inside? Maybe we could talk a bit more...about stuff? Sometimes some people would worry about having festering oozes coming out their backsides?" Kyson asks, trying to place what is wrong, if anything with the elven pirate.
Sense Motive
Khaz, wandering past pauses, almost joining in the conversation. No, nevermind... Kyson will know what to do. Kyson always knows.... Instead, she smiles brightly, her silver tusk caps glinting even with all of their dents... "When you are all ready, I'll be over here. I do think wherever we're going, they would expect clothes, though..."
Kyson looks down at the mess on Seka's backside.
"Do you...do you maybe want to come lie down inside? Maybe we could talk a bit more...about stuff? Sometimes some people would worry about having festering oozes coming out their backsides?" Kyson asks, trying to place what is wrong, if anything with the elven pirate.
1d20+17 Sense Motive
"We can talk all you like, mate, once I've got myself ship-shape", bellows Sekathral, running down to the ocean to start the cleansing process. Once de-oozed and dressed, he will return to Kyson with a cheery grin on his face.
"Alright then, mate; what's up?"
The next week passes mercifully uneventfully and you recover from your ordeals, renew acquaintances in the village and eventually return to Avistan to buy and sell gear, preparing for any further trials that may find you on Farshore.
When you return to the colony, Lavinia greets you, a look of concern on her face. She says she's received a message from Noltus Innersol, a missionary who Kyson once knew who visited Farshore several months before you all arrived. He's been missing ever since he left to bring the word of Sarenrae to the secluded tribes dwelling deep in the isle's interior.
She escorts you to the Farshore Chapel, where you find an Olman man seated in a large chair and clutching an ivory scroll tube. He looks familiar, though it takes a moment to place him ... You quickly realize, though, that he is the man you saved from the cage in the troglodytes' lair.
"Ah, my saviors!" he says in Olman. "Thank you again for delivering me from that cursed cavern. I have spoken with your resident priest here and with your lovely patron as well, and they have highly recommended you for the task my master has set me upon.
"My name is Jakara. I am of the Tiger Clan, yet my people are not those of the Seven Villages. My tribe dwelt in a narrow valley in the mountains west of the central plateau -- at least, until recently. We have long known that there was a darkness atop that taboo place, that our ancestors once dwelt there, and that they angered the gods and made this place what it is today We do not go there. It is not safe. Anf for some time, what dwelt there remained there as well.
"Yet of late, things have changed. The demons who dwell in the City of Broken Idols have turned their attentions outward, and earlier this year, my tribe was slaughtered by men wearing the skins of demon tigers. I alone survived, and long were the nights I contemplated a suicide trek to the taboo heights to avenge my kin. Yet before I fell to such a lure, I met a man from your world. This was Noltus Innersol.
"He had already gathered a flock from the island's other tribes. Lizardfolk and phanaton and Olman alike followed him, and his words were captivating. I found much wisdom in his words, for he too had long fought against the demon host. He seemed particularly taken with my totems, and my focus in opposing the demons. For a time, I traveled with him, and helped him to gather more followers. Noltus had learned of the lost village of Mantru, and his goal was to travel there, atop the central plateau, and rescue the villagers from whatever peril kept them isolated from their kin.
"Yet he was also taken with my skills. He decided he would lead his followers to bring the word of his god to the heights, yet asked me to carry a message to your tribe of Farshore. He also asked me to spread the lore of totems to the people of the Seven Villages -- it has been the wisdom of my tribe to keep such knowledge to ourselves, but I see now that it can serve no purpose if I am the last.
"Before I made it to Farshore, alas, my trail was discovered by the skin-wearing fiends. I hid Noltus' message in the stump of a tree and turned to face my tormentors, but htey proved too much even for me. I defeated them, but not before they stole my mind. It was not long until the troglodytes captured me, and thus my state when you discovered me wretched in their cage. After you freed me, I returned to the site of my failure to find Noltus' message safe. I have brought it here, and your priest and patron have read its contents. They wish you to read as well."
He holds out the scroll tube, which is crafted of ivory and inlaid with gold depicting holy symbols of Sarenrae.
Linah greets Jakara with a warm smile when she enters the hut. Her expression becomes more sombre as the tribesman retells his story. She accepts the scroll tube, opens it and reads the scroll inside.
"Did brother Innersol travel to Mantru by himself? Do you know how long it has been since you last saw him?"
"Noltus? Why does that name seem familiar..." Kyson wonders before finally putting the pieces together. "Linah...do you know Noltus? I think he's one of us."
Kyson listens to Jakara's story with great interest, nodding in joy when it he mentions being saved by a Sarenraen, like himself. Maybe someday I'll be a hero and rescue damsels and maidens too. Someday.
When Kyson has a chance to speak, before even reading the scroll. "What are the powers of your Totems? Can you explain them to me? I would know more."
Kyson waits answers to his and Linah's questions and his own chance to read the scroll.
"No, his lizardfolk followers, and maybe some others, went with him. I do not know for sure how long it has been. I lost some track of time when you found me."
The scroll tube contains a note from Noltus, intended originally for Vesserin, the Farshore priest.
To Vesserin Catherty --
My friend, I write you this letter to inform you of a most terrible discovery. Know first that the man who carries this letter is also a friend, and that his skills and techniques for standing against the demonic host may well serve you and the people of the Seven Villages well in the months to come. Learn from him, for what he has to teach is of great value.
But to the news at hand. I had decided to follow up on the Olman tales of the village of Mantru, that isolated tribe delling in Thanaclan's shadow atop the plateau. I had hoped to contact this village, to bring the Dawnflower's hope to them, for as you will recall, I believe I can use their worship of violent Tonatiuh to my favor. Sarenrae and this savage deity have more in common than my brethren might admit. The Stone of the Sun and the Moon all but proves it. By showing the villagers of Mantru Sarenrae's wisdom, I had hoped to civilize them.
Yet from all appearances, Mantru may be lost. You are well aware of the rumors that something dire has taken up residence in the City of Broken Idols. The Seven Villages call the central plateau taboo for strong and true reasons. Yet what dwells on high is no longer content with the ruins of Thanaclan. The man who brings you this letter is proof of this fear, for his tribe was slaughtered by savage heathens from the central plateau. Men who wear the skins of demons and who kept those they capture alive for unknowable reasons before they return to the lair in the City of Broken Idols.
I have seen evidence of these heathens at work elsewhere, and have even encountered some of their dead. Yet I do not fear them, for no demons can withstand the purity of my convictions. I shall lead my new followers atop the central plateau. We shall deliver the children of Mantru from their oppressors and defeat the fiends. Yet should clouds or the fall of night keep Sarenrae from my side, and should I fall, know that the evil that broods in the City of Broken Idols does not rest. If you should seek to follow in my footsteps, bring with you the Stone of the Sun and the Moon. I have come to believe that it may hold the key to what destroyed Thanaclan so long ago.
I do not fear for my own life. Sarenrae has set me upon this course for a reason. With Bulgan's constant companionship, I am never alone on my quest. But I do fear what these fiends might try if none beyond me take up arms against them. If I do not return, I ask only that you fight as you can, and that this missive be sent on to Lady Gosalar of the Eleder Dawnhouse as my final testament.
Your friend, Noltus Innersol
As you finish examining it, Vesserin shows you a stone disc that he says was recovered by Noltus from a ruined shrine several years ago. The carvings match the style on Olman ruins that you've seen.
He says Noltus was able to discern a few facts about the disc:
* It was created in Thanaclan, as evidenced by the distinctive representation of Quetzalcoatl, god of the air, as a serpent coiled through the firmament.
* The three humanoid figures depicted represent Tezcatlipoca (god of the moon), Tonatiuh (god of the sun), and Quetzalcoatl in human form holding court over the others.
* The fact that the three deities are depicted as working together (strange, since Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca are enemies), their attentions on what appears to be a bow, had long vexed Noltus. He eventually came to believe that the disc was in fact an illustration of a weapon the three deities came together to create, yet he had been unable to discover any legends of such a bow. he suspected that the carving was somehow a map to the location of this ancient weapon.
Khazmia listens, her brow at first furrowing, then smoothing as it goes on. She pays little attention to the details, trusting her spiritual leaders to see what she has seen. Our Lady has set us on this path as well. Surely we must go to the plateau and fight this evil.
"Great. I'll go pack."
;Kn (arc) +19 Kn (his) +15 Kn(pl) +19 Kn(rel) +19 Per +20 Sen Mot +17 Spellcraft +19
"What are the powers of your Totems? Can you explain them to me? I would know more," Kyson asks again. "If your totems were important to Noltus, then they might be helpful to us."
"I remember Tonatiuh! In the Temple of the Jaguar! It gave us weapons! It spoke in the language of High Mass and Angels!" Kyson recalls excitedly. He face clouds over. "But was that guardian a God? An actual god!? But he wasn't violent. Not to us at least."
Know (Religion) -
"What are Thanaclan and Mantru? This is the first we've heard of them."
Sekathral fingers the icons on his new necklace.
"Totems like these, mate? We had something similar in the Expanse - druids were all over them. Means nothing to me, but if it works, it works."
He scowls.
"If we're going to go, let's go, just so long as we don't have to ride ****ing horses."
When Kyson has a chance to speak, before even reading the scroll. "What are the powers of your Totems? Can you explain them to me? I would know more."
"Thanaclan was an incredible city constructed atop the plateau by the ancient Olmans after their war against Golismorga, more than a thousand years ago," Jakara explains to Kyson. "Mantru was a village built on the city's outskirts."
He explains the totems were a belief of his people, a secret kept close, though he supposes there is little reason for that anymore, with his people all but wiped out. The tattoos grant him strength and other powers.
Kyson ponders things and what they might need to do to help.
"Did you want to go today? Or tomorrow? I might be able to scribe some things to help us if we go tomorrow."
Sekathral examines himself for spare skin to which tattoos could be applied.
"Yeah, I could probably squeeze one or two more in, mate. And let's go tomorrow, unless the ****ing world is going to end if we don't. You coming with us?", he asks the Olman.
Kyson nods as if he understands more now than he did minutes ago, but that just leads to more questions.
"Can you tell us more about the men who wear skins of demons? Are they men? Or something else entirely?"
"Noltus? Why does that name seem familiar..." Kyson wonders before finally putting the pieces together. "Linah...do you know Noltus? I think he's one of us."
"I have only heard of him in name and know him to be a highly devoted missionary. Unfortunately I have never had a chance to meet him in person."
Keeping one ear to the conversation Linah studies the disc presented by Vesserin. "If this is a map, do we have some inkling where it starts or the scale?"
Kyson figures out that he was confusing rakshasas and rakastas, which is a totally understandable mistake to make.
"I need to go make preparations," Kyson says quietly, already thinking about what he wants to do in preparation.
Sekathral takes a large leather bottle out of his pocket and sniffs it, before choking and, with tears in his eyes, spluttering out,
"**** me, that's the stuff"
Then produces a large pouch of fragrant plant matter, which he inspects closely before stuffing it back into his britches with a grunt of satisfaction.
"Alright - I'm ready. When do we start?"
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Jakara shakes his head at Sekathral. "This is not a good place to go, this plateau. I shall stay closer to the Seven Villages, and try to teach them what I may, in case the skin wearers come again."
Vesserin shrugs at Linah's question.
"I do not know. Those were Noltus' thoughts, but if it is a map, it is beyond my comprehension. I suspect, though, it's more symbolic than anything else."
Your preparations complete, you all join hands, and Khazmia intones an arcane spell ...
And you find yourself on a high escarpment overlooking the Isle of Terror. Happily, your elevation -- some 3,000 feet up -- means you're much cooler, the environment feeling almost totally different
Vesserin shrugs at Linah's question.
"I do not know. Those were Noltus' thoughts, but if it is a map, it is beyond my comprehension. I suspect, though, it's more symbolic than anything else."
"I think we should take it with us just in case. I would rather have it with us and not use it instead of leaving it here and finding the need for it later."
"I think we should try and follow in Noltus foot steps. Zstelian, do you think you will be able to find the tracks of him and his followers?"
Vesserin nods and hands over the stone disc.
"We should head towards Thanaclan. Perhaps we can find some traces there that can lead us towards Mantru"
Kyson looks over the plateau, trying to get his bearings.
"Yeah, Linah. We need to begin a careful search. Had I thought about it differently, I might have been able to help with a prayer or two. But as it stands now, we'll have to do it with careful searching," Kyson agrees.
Kyson follows Linah to Thanclan, keeping his eyes open.
Perception
Survival (untrained, tracks)
Kyson looks over at Zstelian, wondering why the man is so silent when we could use his tracking abilities, if any.
"I should have brought a map, but I was... busy"
Sekathral stands around with his hands in his pockets, trying to remember something about the area
You set out toward the center of the Central Plateau, miles passing as you cross the savannah.
After a couple hours, you come across a half-dozen massive elk, which stand fully the height of a human at their shoulder and have antlers that stretch over 10 feet across. They eye you warily, snorting and stomping the ground.
"Busy? With what?", Linah asks instinctivly and immedietly regrets it as she's not sure she wants to hear the answer.
"Isn't a there a spell or prayer that allows the user to contact someone through the wind? Kyson or Khaz, have you heard of something like that?"
Kyson shrugs.
"I guess. I don't know a lot of people, but I suppose I could see if someone back in the monastery has any maps of this place."
Kyson surveys the area around them as if trying to judge how lost they were.
"I suppose I could ask Sarenrae to help us find a path tomorrow, too."
Kyson eyes the elk and stops moving. Given the chance, he will slowly back up and go around them.
"Isn't a there a spell or prayer that allows the user to contact someone through the wind? Kyson or Khaz, have you heard of something like that?"
"Not one that I'm aware of, but...." Khazmia cuts off midsentence, her attention taken by the huge elk.
"uhhh... over? Around? 'Port to the other side?"
"Busy? With what?", Linah asks instinctivly and immedietly regrets it as she's not sure she wants to hear the answer.
Sekathral opens his mouth to give a full account of his activities, then sees the elk and stops.
"Bugger me. That's a lot of ****ing chuck steak there"
He keeps his eye on the beast, loosening his pistols as he does so and wondering how many shots he'd be able to get off before it hit him.
Zstelian, a big enough loop should keep you from antagonizing the creatures -- you may lose an hour or two, though, if you really want to make sure you're clear.
Kyson circles around, not worried about pushing it when they are not even sure where they are going.
Happy for the distraction of the elks Linah quickly tries to change the subject.
"During our time in Absalom (that's where we teleported to get stuff before this adventure, right?) I was able to procure a scroll that will allow me to commune with the Dawnflower. If we are are in need of guidence that is an option available to us"
"During our time in Absalom (that's where we teleported to get stuff before this adventure, right?) I was able to procure a scroll that will allow me to commune with the Dawnflower. If we are are in need of guidence that is an option available to us"
Linah's words bring back good memories for Khaz, bringing a smile to her lips. "Our Lady may light our way, if we ask, though perhaps we can find our way clear of these creatures without her help. I would not want to seem frivolous."
"Yeah, let's go around 'em, unless we can spook it; if it runs away it'll save us a walk"
Sekathral looks at Zstelian, raising a questioning eyebrow.
You make your way around the mega-elk and continue north again. Around nightfall, you come across an ancient road running roughly northeast-southwest.
"I think we should make camp here. Despite that time is not on our side we can ill afford to be caught unprepared and tired. It will also be more difficult to find the correct path in the dark."
Kyson sleeps soundly, waking only to take his turn at watch. And he naturally rises before the sun rises so that he might pray to the rising sun.
He prays for Khaz and her mighty snaggle tooth. He prays for Linah and her own connection to the sun. He prays that Sekathral eventually find the sun in his life. He prays for Zstelian, so that he might find peace in his older years.
He prays and thinks, then thinks and prays.
After he finishes his praying, he offers a morning feast to all that would dine under the rising sun of morning.
Then, when everyone has spent an hour eating, Kyson will try to help Zstelian find Thanaclan.