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Krieger swings his sap again at the possessed caravan master, wondering if any of his and his companions' blows are even having an effect.
The caravan master, with that last sap blow, crumples to the ground and is knocked out. Zeverit sees this and is now hurling out more insults.
"You think you can beat me?! You can't even-"
That was all he could say before an arrow flew into the creature and Zahlnos rips him in half. The front half of Zeverit, that was not in the canines jaws, writhes around before crumbling into dust.
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Within the pile of dust is the mangled version of the ring form it once used to manipulate its enemies. One of the caravan men goes up to Arvok and feeds him a potion. Arvok then wakes up and looks around, extremely confused. "What happened... I saw I was wearing a ring and blacked out."
The guard that is helping him up explains how the strange snake spirit inhabited the ring to Arvok. "Well I'll be damned; you managed to get that thing to attack, and didn't kill me in the process." He tips his head in appreciation. "Thank you kindly. You can take the ring. I'll just take Delara's note and we'll be on our merry way." He looks over at the wagon. "Once they get it back up and running."
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“Yes, I believe that this might be a tale best told over some tea.” Dr. Splash says. When they all go into the manor, Dr. Splash says, speaking gently. “Delara, you were correct to get rid of the ring. It was cursed. There was some sort of creature inside — a fiend or a monster.” Then Splash turns to the ghost. “We believe that you did not kill yourself. Instead, we believe both you and your fiance were betrayed by the monster who inhabited this ring. He was not a worthy guardian for your bloodline, which surely deserved better.”
The Amazing Urchin holds up a sign. We kicked his scaly butt for you.
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“When we got to the caravan, the caravan master was wearing the ring. We had thought that odd, and when it was mentioned the creature popped out of it. The creature had some sort of mental control over the caravan master — who fortunately was not very good with weapons.”
“We were able to subdue the caravan master. The creature was returned to where ever it came from.”
Captain Chlorophyll tries to describe the creature, looking for some of the others to fill in any details they miss.
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Delara chimes in. "This creature sounds like a Raktavana Rakshasa. They are devilish creatures who take pleasure in treachery and deceiving others." She lets out a deep sigh. "With one of those monsters lurking around it only helps verify that there were dark dealings involved with the Irrica family lineage."
Amelya quietly listens to this all. After silence fills the room, she says "This deeply saddens me. Yet this cannot take away the happy memories I had with my fiance." She bows gratefully to the gathered Pathfinders, and her lower half begins to fade away.
"Thank you ever so much.", then her top half fades away as well, until only a teardrop falls away into a sparkling glimmer. The sparkle flies to the locket, which then clicks and opens.
Inside the locket, behind the portrait of the couple, likes part of the Irrica Family's Devils name.
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"Oh, and I shot arrows at the caravan master and the beast." adds Zephirine helpfully.
Looking around the room as she tentatively sips the tea...trying not to make a face. 'It's no dandelion wine...that's for sure....'
Fidgetting in her seat, she turns to their hostess and blurts out "CAN WE HAVE SOME MORE OF THAT FROSTING STUFF?'
"I mean..would it be possible to enjoy your company with a little more of that thing which we snacked on last time? It was pleasing."
Her eyes darting to her fellow pathfinders, she hopes 'Was that too forward? Surely they agree....after all, it's proper to ask, right? Yeah. I must have done the right thing here.'
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After the travel back to Elidir and returning to the Short Sorcerer Tavern the party takes some time to relax in the tavern and await the return of Venture Captain Brackett.
Eventually a shipment for the Captain comes in, with the instructions that if he is not around then his associates are permitted to open it.
It is the Portrait of Asmodea Irrica, restored. "Greetings to you. I am Asmodea Irrica, of the Irrica bloodline. Daughter of the Irrica Patriarch Rutillo."
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“Greetings, Asmodea! I am Captain Chlorophyll, Green Knight of Taldor, Protector of Gourd!” they say as they step forth.
“We are researching your family history. Could you help us by telling us more about yourself and your lineage? If you wish, in exchange we could tell you what we found out about Althea.”
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Asmodea then begins to recount the details of the Goblinblood Wars. Most of the details you already learned, such as Almeya's death and the demise of other members of the family. The painting doesn't know what has happened to everyone, but it knows what they were doing last.
Then the painting tells of a detail you did not know of.
"My father, Rutillo Irrica, went to lead a convoy and we lost contact with him after that. The last settlement that knew anything of where him passing was the town of Umok. On his person he always carried the symbol of leadership of the Irrica family; a mace that was the bane of devils."
From the various records that were left here by the Venture Captain, you find that Umok was a station for Eagle Knights, the very faction that gave the Venture Captain the start of information that brought you all to this adventure.
From more of these records you piece together that the Eagle Knights managed to scatter the hobgoblins in that area and archived reports and additional information of the Goblinblood Wars in Umok.
Umok is a gnome town along the northeast of the edge of the Chitterwood. The gnomes here often clash with local goblin tribes.
In order to deter goblin attacks, the town has banned fire within 500 yards of the city. Magic light and alchemical stones replace the need for open flame.
Local animals have been befriended or charmed to help defend the settlement. Though friendly to the gnomes, they fight fiercely to defend Umok and its inhabitants from hostile outsiders.
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Looking to Wertlos and then to Zahnlos, Captain Chlorophyll says “Sounds like they will approve of how you can relate to animals.”
After the painting is done tells no what it knows, Captain Chlorophyll tells it of the creature called a Rak Sha Sah that killed Althea and that the group had helped lay her soul to rest.
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The trip to Umok is not a particularity long one, though the closer you get the more signs of goblin activity is present. Eventually you reach Umok. It is a squat settlement with buildings reaching only slightly over 6 ft tall in some areas. Streets are narrow and artistic with all kinds of bright and patterned colors that mimic the scales of chromatic dragons. It wouldn't be hard to believe that dragons fought above and shed their scales upon the village.
As you enter into town it is very clear that your presence is noticed; animals, both tame and wild, wander around without restraint and look at you with a defensive posture. Gnomes that move around stop to stare, whispering to each other. Some gawk, some whisper to their neighbors, others close their windows but peek out their blinds.
An armored female gnome confidently approaches, accompanied by a seemingly tame badger, and eyes you all intently.
"Welcome to Umok, strangers. My name is trigi Neppo. I am the Peacekeeper and Goblin-watcher. Might I ask what your business in town is?"
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"Greetings, Trigi Neppo. My name is Mishka Krieger. My colleagues and I are pleased to visit your fair city, Umok." He bows and offers to shake the gnome's hand.
"We are conducting geneological research of House Irrica, particularly one Rutillo Irrica. The man led a convoy, and his last known location was the settlement of Umok. On his person, he always carried the symbol of leadership of the Irrica family; a mace that was the bane of devils."
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She bobs and nods her head, shaking hands with Krieger. "I see. That was a long time ago, though some of us remember it better than others. I can recommend you over to the Beartrap." She points down the road. "That is our butcher's shop. Bastrojo Qualimger, or 'Bearjaw' as we call him, may have a few war stories about that time that can help you. He was a scout during those days."
She then points a separate direction. "If you need lodgin', the Badger's Den is set up to accommodate tallfolk." She then bobs her head again, before heading back to presumably her post.
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Talking to Trigg, Ralph says,
"Thank you very much little one!
We'll cause no trouble, as you'll see when the day is done!"
Heading over to the butcher shop, Ralph will say,
"Hello dear esteemed mister Bearjaw!
We've come to inquire about a person you saw.
Rutillo Irrica once traveled here.
If you can tell us about him, we'd gladly share a beer!"
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The Beartrap is an unevenly split two story building; the ground level is distinctly taller than the floor above it. Inside the butcher shop there is a beefy gnome with a massive green beard tucked into his aprons. He turns around and sees the newcomers.
"So, you've come to hear about my old war stories eh? Well, I like your tune, so I can do that." He chuckles as he pulls up a chair and has a seat in front of the fireplace.
"Rutillo Irrica... I was the one who found him, you know. All those survivors of that raid in particular. I led them back here to safety, but the journey was rough. Those hobgoblin raiders, ehhh they weren't like the main bunch." He says as he chucks another log onto the roaring fire.
"They didn't attack from the woods like all the rest did; instead they came out of the Aspodell Mountains and hit the convoy fast and hard. If your hoping to find where those hobgoblins came from, those mountains are the best bet. Maybe they will help shed light on your mystery of the fate of Rutillo Irrica."
Then he looks over to Rhymin Ralph "Now, about that beer.."
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"Is that all you know?" presses the little leshy. "Surely you've got something else under that beard to share with us."
'Hmmm...Maybe I shouldn't press him too much. If he's hooked on the drugs like the rest of his kind, it might just anger the man.'
Flashing her best attempt at a charming smile, she waits patiently for his answer.
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"Rude? No, I don't think so...I think it's just me." she replies quickly, turning towards the captain. "I believe They are better mannered...more experience with the fleshies....err I mean...in social situations."
Batting her eyes at the dwarf, she slowly steps towards the back of the group.
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"I see. You have much to experience as a growing kind." The gnome says, as he visibly loosens. "There isn't much else to tell you. The hobgoblins that raided it came from those mountains. If you really want some other history about the Goblinblood Wars, you will have to go to the Umok Archives. Maybe they have a more defined map of where they were located in the hills."
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As Ralph and Bearjaw travel to the Badger's Den, the rest of the party makes their way to the Archives. It looks like a standard library, albeit designed for gnome heights. A human could potentially reach to the top of the shelves without the aid of the ladder.
The librarian at the counter grants you access without incident into the historical records sections.
With enough information gathered, and after a few hours of searching, you manage to map out where the possible location of the Hobgoblin base must have been in the foothills. Combining the information of where Bearjaw found the raid, you can presume the location of this base to be due east of Umok.
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A day of traveling to the east, following landmarks and your collective skills, the party eventually reaches the Foothills. The span of the area is large and would take some effort to attempt to find the proper trail to the suspected hobgoblin base.
The trail to has been covered up well, and finding it required some effort. Either through the knowledge of the terrain, your own wit and cunning, or tireless fortitude, you manage to uncover the well-hidden trail.
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Suddenly six blossoms sprout, leaving large orange berries in their stead. Trudging along behind the others, Zephirine smiles, plopping one into her mouth. "Oooo sshhmy ffffaaaffforite" she exclaims, through a mouth full of masticated fruit.
Taking a hard swallow, she calls out "There's five more today, help yourself if you'd like."
Looking around, she frowns. "Any one see where we go from here? We didn't take a wrong turn or nothing, did we?"
