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The skinny man, seemingly asleep under the light, raises his hat at the arrival of the newcomer. "Howdy all! Name's Parker, George Parker, pleased to meet ya all." He puts it back and leans on the chair. "I'm a... negotiator, of sorts."
His fingers, rubbing around in the familiar gestures of casting a spell, cease and produce a small piece of ice, which he drops in the glass in front of him and pulls the hat downwards again.
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“Ah, Falroun, these are the agents I was telling you about,”
Ambrus Valsin says. “Pathfinders, welcome! May I introduce
Count Falroun Matsanda of Alkenstar.” He gestures across
his desk to a tall Garundi man with short black hair and goldrimmed
spectacles.
Valsin’s guest stands and offers his hand in greeting as he
speaks. “It is a true pleasure to meet you. I have purchased
several antiquities from your Society in the past, and I have
always wondered about the people who acquire such treasures.
I must say, you do not disappoint!”
Valsin smiles at the compliment before continuing, “Agents,
your next mission will take you to the island of Jalmeray. We’ve
received reports that the ruins of a previously unknown temple
have been found in a part of the Segang Jungle known as the
Urapangi Lowlands. From its location, I think this temple could
be one of those abandoned by the legendary Maharaja Khiben-
Sald when he left Jalmeray over four thousand years ago. A
temple untouched since Khiben-Sald’s time would be a major
find for the Society. Of course, getting to Jalmeray on such short
notice poses some difficulties.”
“I believe that’s where I come in,” the count interjects. “I’m
arranging a hunting expedition to Jalmeray for myself and my
new father-in-law, Baron Bomande Rudyahm. Bomande was
quite the sportsman in his day. However, some years ago he
was wounded during a tiger hunt in the Segang Jungle. He’s
been grumbling about getting revenge on the beast for so long
that I thought taking him on a trip back to Segang might earn me
some credit with the old man.”
Ambrus Valsin continues: “Falroun has graciously offered to
provide transport to and from Jalmeray and to outfit us with
everything we need for our journey into the jungle. In exchange,
you’re going to help his father-in-law, the baron, with this tiger
hunt and make sure he gets the better of the beast this time
around, as it were. You’ll have time to discuss the details of the
hunt during your voyage to Jalmeray.”
“A voyage for which I must make some final arrangements,”
adds Falroun, “I’m afraid I must depart. Once again, it is a pleasure
to meet you. I look forward to our journey together.” With a
nod, he exits the room. As the count’s footsteps recede down
the hall, Ambrus Valsin’s smile fades from his face. “Ordinarily,
the Society would cover the costs of an expedition like
this. However, our resources are stretched thin at the
moment thanks to our campaigns in Varisia and the
Worldwound. Until such time as those ventures
pay off, we’re going to have to rely on people like
Count Matsanda to cover some of our operating
expenses. I’m trusting you with the Society’s
reputation on this mission. Fulfill our end of this
bargain by helping the baron bag his tiger, and
try to make nice with at least one of these nobles.
Now, unless you have any questions about this
temple, go get your affairs in order. Your
ship sails in the morning.”
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Parker grins as he's given the task, putting his hat back on his head and looking at the Venture Captain. "Sounds right by me. Is all y'all Pathfinder folk do is pokin' 'round ancient temples?", he looks at Valsin, before smiling once more. "'Cause, if that's the case, I ain't lookin' back. Just a question, though, is what we need to do guardin' that Baron character, or do we need to go in that there temple too?"
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"“Segang is hot and muggy this time of year. It’s a jungle, so expect dangerous plants and animals, venomous creatures, and disease. You may also encounter some looters at the temple, if you don’t get there fast enough.” responds the captain to Iron Feathers.
Turning to Parker he nods "Yes, ensure the nobles are kept safe, and then get to that temple."
When Myrd starts talking about the nobels, Ambrus fills you in on some more information.
“Baron Bomande Rudyahm received his noble title as a reward for his service in the military. He’s something of a war hero, and was instrumental in defending Alkenstar from invasion by the Gorilla King in 2690 ar. Falroun Matsanda is the youngest son of one of Alkenstar’s wealthiest families, and his marriage to the baron’s daughter bought him a great deal of political support. He’s a serious up-and-comer in Alkenstar politics.”
Asking the VC about the temple he adds "Dedicated to One of the Vudran deities, certainly, but beyond that we don’t know. My contacts tell me the locals have several superstitions about monkeys. If that represents some leftover remnants of the temple’s faith, it could be dedicated to one of the monkey-faced deities, Ragdya and Lahkgya, or to Chamidu, the goddess of wild animals.”
Velinov also knows a bit of the history of the island. The Vudrani occupation of Jalmeray began in 563 ar when the Maharaja Khiben-Sald received the island as a gift from the archmage Nex. Though Khiben- Sald and his entourage occupied Jalmeray for only a decade, they built dozens of palaces, temples, and monuments on the island with the help of their genie servants. Many of these structures remain in use today, preserved by genie magic or by the care and attention of the island’s inhabitants. Others have fallen into disrepair or been swallowed by the island’s jungles.
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Parker sits and glances around the room. "Well, I reckon I could buy one o' them scrolls as well, but I ain't sure I can use it. Speakin' o' buyin' scrolls, I wager we'd do fine by havin' a healin' wand. Or whatever. I heard folk in the lodge talkin' bout how everyone should get one. I think I pulled enough favours, so I can probably squeeze one. Only problem is, I don' really know who can use it."
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Once aboard, they are introduced to Baron Bomande Rudyahm, a handsome, dark-skinned Garundi gentleman of advancing years, with a thick black mustache and graying hair at his temples. He walks with a prominent limp, and carries a finely crafted walking cane to help him amble about. The baron invites you all to dinner the first night of the voyage.
At dinner, Rudyahm asks "Have you ever been to Jalmeray before?"
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Audyn looks right at home at the dinner table aboard the ship, his natural agility translating into effortless sea legs. He reclines at the dinner table, listening to the old man's stories. When he asks his question, Audyn replies, "No, but I'm very much looking forward to it. What can you tell us of the place?"
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"Can't say I have, no. Though, I ain't never seen Absalom before this either, and it's been a trip so far!", says Parker, eyes studying the liquor cabinet. "I'd be lookin' forward to it, though. You've been there before, I heard, huntin' a tiger? What other game have ya hunted?", he says, drinking up.
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"No.. not travelled to Tian Xia at all, as for the island.. Its hot, and its damp. And if the animals don't eat you, the plants may try to. Locals worship monkeys - I kid you not!"..
Baron Rudyahm’s face grows stern as he recalls bygone events.
“There were four of us on that trip, plus a half dozen porters
or so. It was our seventh day in the bush. We’d had a bad
day hunting on the trail, so we split off to the west to follow a
little stream deeper into the jungle. The tiger came for us that night, despite our campfires. He must have been young to be so bold. I never saw most of the carnage. All I could hear were screams, gunshots, and men begging for help in the darkness."
A shudder goes through him.
“With the gun smoke and the darkness, I could barely see the end of my musket. Something took a right nasty bite out of my leg, but I wheeled and unloaded my gun in its direction. I must have only clipped it, yet that was enough to startle the beast. The only glimpse I caught was its striped haunch and tail bleeding as it ran off into the darkness. I managed to limp my way out of the jungle on my one good leg, and that was the end of it. Ah, but we’re going to catch that stripey bastard this time, eh? We’ll give him what for this time around.”
The Baron looks hard at Velinov "Good question young man. Wish the son-in-law had your sense..." it would appear that things are not quite all sweetness and light between your hosts. Count Matsanda looks less than happy.
"Tigers are territorial. If we find our way back to its hunting grounds, there’s a good chance we’ll run across it before too long.”
Count Matsanda looks over at the rest of the team.
"Tell me more about your own recent adventures."
The baron doesn't pay a lot of attention to his son in law, his gaze resting approvingly at Myrd, who must have made a good impression with his words.
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"My last adventure was through the crypts of a Pharasmin temple, beset by strange evils of a lost empire, looters trying to steal the riches of the dead, and animated forms of some undearly departed. It was a trying battle and the claustrophobic chambers only served to keep our senses heightened as my fellow Pathfinders and I defeated the horrors within."
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"Perhaps you have heard of Skelg the Ripper? The famed Ulfen warrior from Irrisen? A group of fellow Pathfinders and I recently broke a freezing curse he fell under due to a vengeful enemy he had made. A strange lantern, linked to a frozen island, apparently brought the chill of that ice prison to his bones. In the end, we had to use it to open a portal to a funerary ship entrapped within and return the lantern to the prow of the ship." Velinov uses his magic to add three dimensional images to illustrate the glacial blue landscape and the battles fought there as he narrates.
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Parker swirls the liquor in his glass, taking a sip. I could definitely get used to that. "Heck. I've been, uh, volunteered to join an expedition o' sorts in the tomb of Kassen. It's a small place 'round my birthplace, Nirmathas." The man's melodic voice fills the room. "Turns out, there's been some folk that been stealin' from the tomb, and disruptin' the dead. So, we needed to take care o' that. I saw more skeletons than I ever wanted to, to be honest with y'all."
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"My last few assignments had to do with a missing Venture Captain in the western regions of Garund. Unfortunately the man was already dead due to a rockslide when we found him but we forged new alliances for the society and set our opposition back a few steps as well."
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Seeing the Baron's jab at Count Matsanda and the others direction, Iron Feathers tries to follow their lead. "My tribe is similar; names are often earned through action just as much by birth. However, the children are often encouraged to follow their parents namessakes, using their elders as an example to live up to. Family is as much an opportunity as it is an identity."
The other tengu looks at the Count and tells another tale. "My first adventure is when I lived up to my birthname. I teamed up with a new group of treasure hunters following notes in a journal that took us all across central Avistan to find a relic known as Silverhex. We finally caught up to the woman who retrieved it, but we were ambushed immediately after making contact. I protected the vulnerable woman with my body, taking several arrows to the chest. However, I remained standing and bought enough time for my allies to subdue the foes. My endurance in the battle earned respect and awe and that is when I honestly believed I lived up to the name my clanmother had bestowed upon me."
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The trip passes pleasantly, with both the count and the baron quite happy with the team and the interesting stories they tell of their own deeds.
The ship eventually puts in to the Segang, where Count Matsanda hires an elephant, a mahout, and a dozen porters at a hunting lodge.
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Entering the lodge, fanning his face with his hat, Parker sits down and grabs a cold beverage. "Now, I been 'round talkin' to the locals, and they've been tellin' me all sorts o' mumbo-jumbo 'bout some magic monkeys in the area. They called the place a 'monkey swamp', t'be exact. That, and folks tell us that that ain't no ordinary tiger we's huntin'. Lots o'folks dissappeared in the region." He holds down a flask of sorts and points towards it. "That here's antitoxin. Costs a pretty penny, but we don't real know what's in there, so it's better safe than sorry."
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You can purchase mounts if you want, but the general conditions make most mounts not especially helpful. Elephants can push through the bush, but there are no more available.
The Segang Jungle is a dense tropical forest. The deciduous trees that comprise it are green and wet. Did I mention it is hot? The expedition is unfortunately timed at the height of the warmer season and the air is HOT and sticky under the jungle canopy.
Count Matsanda and the baron ride on the elephant along with the mahout. There is room for one other person up there with them if you wanted to travel in style.
In general the jungle trail is overgrown and about fifteen feet wide. Further out the going gets difficult
On the first day game is scarese.
"Animals are skittish this close to the hunting lodge, only to be expected." explains Baron Rudyahm.
"The real trophies are to be found deeper in the jungle!"
That night the hunting party sets up tents in clearing atop a low rise.
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Parker sits down in the center of the tents, clearly tired. His hat is hanging on his back, and his shirt is unbuttoned half-way. "I trustcha on that, your Lordship." Leaning on his tent, Parker produces a glass of water, takes a sip, then spits it out. Staring viciously at the glass, he sighs and goes over to the water barrel. Opening the lid, his hand goes over the barrel, conjuring a massive shard of ice that crashes on the bottom, then settles. He scoops some ice with the water, then sits down again, and takes a long sip. "Now, ain't that a hella lot better. Help yaselves.", he gestures to the barrel and everyone around him.
"Say, Your Lordship, It ain't real clear to me what kinda game we're lookin' for 'till we reach there. Is, like, antelopes 'n such? Pardon my lack o' knowledge 'bout those things.", starts Parker, bringing icy waters over to the man, "Also, I'd hate ta ask, but I see there's one more spot ova there on that there movin' mountain. Could I trouble ya ta ask for it? I ain't that good a spotter, but if somethin' comes close, it gonna regret it." He also gestures to the icy waters and the other luxuries his presence may bring.
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@Parker [cough]show-off[/cough]
Myrd casts a minor spell and the scratches and stains on his jacket disappear magically. During the evening he chats with the count while the baron is out of listening distance.
"It must be difficult at times to have to deal with a father-in law like the baron. I admire the way you handle the slights he directs in your direction. Will you tell me where and how you met your wife?"
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"I wouldn't precisely describe the Baron as difficult" says the count. "He and I agree on a number of important items. Especially with regards his daughter. We met at court you know. But with the Baron having such a distinguished career as a solider... Well, I did some patrols as part of my civic duty but nothing like him in the mana wastes. I'm really hoping you'll help me prove myself to him during this trip..."
The group sets up for the night.
Which mostly passes without note, until just a bit before dawn. The group awakes to a loud Crash coming from the counts tent.