"A pleasure to meet a resilient soul, Scout Yuto," says Li Shuo in Tien. "I am Li Shuo, a monk of Quain. Why has the departure of the troops made the rest of the garrison so somber?"
The scout sighs heavily. "I don't suppose I can blame the priest. He spoke the truth, after all. We are spreading ourselves thin between this here vigil against the qlippoth rift and regular duties of the military. On the other hand, it is not the decision of any individual soldier to pick their assignment. Orders are orders. They're sad because a lot of their friends left the forst to follow some priest they barely knew. Nobody heard of the deserters since, and we discovered that blight thing recently. It doesn't seem like good news for the ones that left."
"You seem eager to do something to boost morale. How can we help?"
He raises his eyes from the ground with a hint of anticipation. "I mean if you have a way with words, I am attempting to go explore the blighted area, and I have been trying to get someone to join in. Maybe you could convince them? I lack a gifted tongue for such matters."
"Me Stugbu! Stugbu want to help bird guys not be so sad anymore. You want us go check out Blight?" Stugbu looks eager to help out in any way that he can.
"I mean I wouldn't mind if you joined in. More people means a better chance to figure something out. And if those warriors, that you came with, join us, that's a regular platoon to work with!"
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Stugbu heads to find Tai Dan and see if he can convince him to volunteer the Twenty Four Masks to the task of investigating the Blight. "These guys pretty sad. Their friends left with strange priest that nobody know. They worried 'bout Blight thing and want help checking it out. You think your guys be able to help? Me and other guys come too!"
Tai Dan and Shiyo both nod in agreement. "We would. That's why we are here to begin with. To investigate the situation. I believe Scout Yuto meant soldiers from the fort directly. I saw some uninspired faces out there."
"PRECISELY!", a booming voice echoes through the tent. "See commander? This is what I've been telling you about." a surprisingly tall, well-muscled aasimar announces his presence. "These men don't know why are they fighting for. They didn't see their wives and children in months, let alone their home towns. They need to be reminded why they are here. We need to cook them a proper traditional meal. Just like the ones their mothers made them when they were younglings! That should remind them why they are stationed here."
"My name is Fong. I cook here. These soldiers need a proper Taijing meal to keep the spirit up, but I need more people to help with preparation..."
"The kitchen is not a priority right now, Fong. Five-dozen soldiers deserted. Once that situation is sorted out, I will get you some help. We barely have enough men to stand guard as it is.", Commander Xiang intercepts.
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"Yeah, me chop as well if you want. Stugbu just happy to help...but you need more than us four? You want us to talk to other bird guys to get them to help? How many you need?"
Stugbu is starting to get confused as to whether he needs to do something or just go talk to more bird guys. Why they not really talk to and help each other, already?
Fong eyes you top to bottom, unsure. "Does anyone of you have experience in a kitchen?"
"If not, you could help by heading outside of camp to gather some specific herbs for seasoning."
Scout Yuto interrupts - "While some of you work with fong, perhaps the others may attempt to lift the soldiers' spirits up? With a good pep talk, perhaps?"
Tai Dan decides to take a different approach - combat drills. "I will run a proper garrison training in the yard. Perhaps some of the soldiers will join. Some excercise might do them good."
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Stugbu thinks he understands a bit better and decides to go talk to the troops of bird guys to try and cheer them up.
"Hi, guys! Me Stugbu! Me come to talk to you and help you not feel so sad! You miss your friends? You worried they not OK? We here to help! We all work together, me think we stop this Blight thing, we find some of your friends and we all be happy together!" The big half-orc wanders around the troops, introducing himself and smiling his infectious, big-toothed grin. "Me believe in Dawnflower who help people be good and be happy. Me try to be good guy and me think you good guys too! Good guys always win, especially if they be good together!"
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Li Shuo tags along with Stugbu and helps out.
"There is no challenge without," says the monk. "The only challenge is within. Irori teaches that perfection lies within each of us. But perceive your goal and it is already accomplished, with but the doing remaining. There is nothing that ten thousand can accomplish that cannot be done by one hundred. So rise up, men of the fort, and take heart. See your victory and know that it is already accomplished!"
While Tai Dan runs excercises in the yard, Stugbu and Li Shuo run around camp attempting to raise spirits by words of encouragement. This seems to work, as several soldiers stand up to either join in ont he drills or speak with Scout Yuto about the blight investigation mission.
The sun settles on the horizon, and the day draws to an end. Scout Yuto seems satisfied with the amount of men that volunteered to find the deserters, and morale seems to be better in the camp overall. Chak Chak's help in gathering herbs allows Cook Fong to prepare a more traditional Taijing dish, and the garrison seems to be in a much better condition. Commander Gu Xiang joins the soldiers for supper and gives her men a short speech.
"Fellow warriors, the Kirin Path sent us these mercenaries to help with the blight situation.", she gestures towards you and the Masks. "Early tomorrow, the Twenty Four Masks and the Pathfinder agents are leaving to investigate the Kaimuko Wood and the corruption which has settled within. Scout Yuto and some of you will be joining them. I want to thank you for the courage you express with this act, and would like to thank our guests for making it possible." She pauses briefly, and sighs. "Nevertheless - remember that the deserters swayed by the Fei Hengan priest are out there. I know some of you have good friends among their ranks, but I appeal to your sense for duty - these deserters are to be trialed and punished for what they have done. I would like you to keep it in mind. Thank you, and good luck!"
Afterwards, she approaches your table. "I would like to thank you for helping us. Since we lack men, I will allow you to pick some of the extra gear from our armory. Speak to me after the meal, and we can arrange it."
1x masterwork cold iron katana
1x masterwork cold
1x iron short sword
1x oil of bless weapon
1x oil of daylight
2x oil of magic weapon
1x potion of cure serious wounds
1x +1 mirrored light steel shield
Commander Xiang tells one of her men to bring the items from the armory as promised and requested. Before he comes back she invites you, the Tengu sergeants, Tai Dan, and Shiyo to join her and Scout Yuto near the map on one of her tables.
"This is the North Winds Watch fort.", she puts her finger on the map . It points to a small drawing of an encampment. Southwest of a long mountain range, presumably the Kimo Mountains. "Yuto, where exactly did you see this fire?"
Scout Yuto steps forward, and studies the map. "The blight is - or WAS, rather - a few hours to south.", he shows the point of the last sighting. "It might have spread, but last time I saw it was two days ago, and it was the first time, too. I am not sure whether it spreads, but it looks similar to fire. It doesn't produce smoke or heat, however, which means we can't track it from out watchtowers above the treetops. There is one other issue.", he adds as he further leans above the map. "Large animals hunt on the path directly towards the blight. But if we want to circle around, we could lose valuable time. We already lost enough."
Tai Dan, Shiyo and the tengu sergeants observe the map, and nod almost in unison. "I agree. We already lost enough time. The Twenty-Four Masks are not scared of a pack of animals. We'll take them down if need be. We'll be moving through to save time.", Tai Dan indicates a line that is a direct path between the fort and the area blighted area, then looks at you. "Pathfinders?"
After agreeing on the next day's proceedings, the entirety of the tent heads off to their bunks. After making the necessary praparations for the day int he morning, a joint platoon of Pathfinders, Twenty-Four Masks, and Yuto's volunteers head south to investigate the blight. With the morning fog still lingering between the trees, the forest has an eerie feel about it. Dense treetops prevent most of the light from reaching you, and some of the men rely on torches to remain in formation, as it is already hard enough between the tree trunks and the fog.
Sergeant Toko's squad is split and scouting ahead in an extended formation. They still leave marks to follow for the rest of the troops. An hour into the march, brownish stains start appearing on the trees and on the ground, frequently accompanied by whitened bones. Soon after, fresh bones appear, with some tissue still on them. "Recent kills, be on your guard.", scout Yuto points out. "We're in the bear's territory. But this is an unusual amount of prey, even for that one."
The platoon draws their weapons and make some distance from each other for ease of movement. A sudden realisation hits you - the only sound you hear are the twigs cracking under the feet of yourself and your allies. Was it like this twenty minutes ago? Looking around yourself, you realise that many of the troops feel the same way. They carefully observe the fog with eyes wide open, with their hands firmly gripping their weapons. The front row suddenly extends their spears forward.
"Movement!", someone shouts, as you hear someone running towards the platoon. Five tengu warriors wearing the armor of the Twenty-Four Masks emerge running towards the main force, and the aasimar spearmen point their polearms towards the sky to let them pass. Once the tengu scouts are in the main bulk, they point them towards the front again.
"A massive bear, and a few cubs...", one of the scouts reports to Toko, still breathing heavily. She nods, and attempts to give out orders, but the scout stops her with a gesture. After he catches his breath, he continues: "That bear is... Strange. Twisted. Elongated claws and teeth, very large, I think I saw jagged rocks growing from it's shoulders...", before he is able to finish, a monstrous roar can be heard from the front. You move forward to investigate, and the spearmen let you past. As you move out of the formation, you notice a large brown bear walking towards you, sniffing the ground the scouts ran over. Upon sighting you, it roars once more, showcasing its impressive teeth. Several sets of them, as a matter of fact. Bald patches in the bear's fur reveal scale-like rock pebbles on the skin beneath the fur. The claws are indeed elongated, and bloody. But the again, is the bear's mouth and teeth. Jagged rocks, just as the scout reported, do inded grow from the creature's shoulders. And there's something in its eyes. Something malevolent, not protective - despite the two regularly-looking bear cubs emerging from the fog in tow.
Turn 1 - Go if bolded
Status: -
Chak Chak
Tarragon
Stugbu
Mutated Bear
Cubs
Li-Shuo
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"Poor animals sound more like monsters! Some bad monsters can be redeemed and turn good...me not know how to talk to bad bears!" Stugbu seems torn what to do. He draws his weapon and waits to see if the bears move to attack.
"You think maybe we go around 'nother path and not have to fight with sick bears?"
Bump for Tarragon. I'll give you few hrs before I bot.
The cubs catch the scent of food and throw themselves at the dried meat. Momma-bear, however, doesn't seem to be phased. She's out for blood and, roaring, closes in on the nearest living prey. Moves in closer anyway, fangs beared.
The bear's roar sends the surrounding mutated animals into a feeding frenzy, as they attack your aasimar and tengu companions in the back. While they are preoccupied with fighting them off, they can't help you with the apex predator of the Kaimuko wood.
Turn 1+2 - Go if bolded
Status: -
Chak Chak
Tarragon
Stugbu
Mutated Bear - double move
Cubs - dinner
Li-Shuo
The onslaught of slashes, arrows and other strikes angers the bear. She goes into a frenzy and roars once more, even with the eyes bloodied, she follows Chak-Chak with her eyes, but he is quick enough to dodge the claws.
The bear looks like it's fighting on its last breath. Can Stugbu finish the job?
Mutated Dire Bear -71 hp, Hasted
Stugbu attempts to finish off the animal, but the flat of his blade does nothing against the bear's fur. Unfortunately, the bear doesn't return the favor of holding back, and goes all in on the paladin.
With that said and done, the bear bruises and cuts Stugbu pretty badly. In addition, she manages to latch onto the armor and takes a firm hold on the half-orc.
Turn 2+3 - Go if bolded
Status: -
Chak Chak
Tarragon
Stugbu - -46 HP, grappled
Mutated Bear - full attack, grappler
Cubs - dinner
Li-Shuo
Tarragon proves that he has claws of his own, and cuts through the bear's fur. The animal collapsesto the floor, releasing Stugbu from her grasp. One of his legs might be stufk under her weight after the fact. The bear cubs continue to munch on the ratios provided earlier.
With the mutated bear down, the animals attacking your aasimar and tengu allies stop coming in, and they defend themselves from the stampede without greater injuries. The occasional cut and bruise is there, but nothing serious.
t seems like you are not the first people to be attacked by the blighted creatures. Looking around the battlefield, you notice a corpse of a fallen soldier. The body is cleaned to the bone by predators and scavengers, and their armor is torn apart around the body.
he bones of a fallen soldier lie near the edge of the wood. While most of the soldier’s gear has fallen apart, there are two items near the hands. One exceptionally well-looking blade, and a wand.