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Recently, Venture-Captain Nieford Sharrowsmith disappeared on an expedition to explore dwarven ruins in the Bandu Hills. Concerned for his welfare after his prolonged absence, his business associate Aya Allahe dispatched a team of Pathfinders to track the errant Sharrowsmith and provide him support if necessary.
Clues found in the Bandu Hills suggest a powerful guardian lairs within the ruins, yet the dwarves left a powerful weapon capable of disabling the creature in the hands of a nearby grippli tribe known as the Krihirik.
The journey from Fort Bandu to the Kaava Lands is oppressively hot, but it gets easier as the days go on and the terrain transitions from rugged foothills to open grasslands before giving way to dense jungle. Following the directions from Fort Bandu’s garrison captain, it is not difficult to find Krihirik village, which lies approximately ten miles inside the jungle’s border— and twenty feet off the ground. Narrow rope bridges connect a few dozen tree-dwellings overhead, forming a small but secure community. Bright-skinned, bulging-eyed gripplis go about their daily business nearby. Crates and sacks of trade goods litter the jungle floor, and several gripplis busily inspect a bundle of swords, throwing down their spears and nets in favor of freshly forged steel.
A blue-and-brown-skinned grippli in practical traveling clothes bounds forward and holds out his webbed hands in welcome.
“More visitors come to trade with the Krihirik? You are most welcome here, though I fear we have little to offer at this time. Or perhaps there’s some other reason you came all this way?”
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Signaling to the others that is safe to approach, Tophor slings his bow over his shoulder.
Sigh. I never know what to say, when meeting new people. But Brother Shoka says I must work diligently, taking the initiative in these interactions.
He takes the grippil's knobby hand, shaking it in the human fashion. "Greetings, to you – I am Tophor, and these are my friends. Actually, we have come to investigate the disappearance of a colleague. I fear these supplies may be remnants of their passing. Do you know what happened here?" he asks, gesturing to the scattered equipment.
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The shaman follows Tophor, serene in the oppressive heat, his everpresent owl once again in a daytime slumber on his magical cloak, which has been draped with various Kellid beads and fetishes. "And I am Shungur Edge-of-Sky. Greetings and well met, O grippli of the Krihirik. May we ask who else has come this way for trade? It is as Tophor said. A human has disappeared, and we fear he has either been kidnapped, or has been directing kobolds on raids. Either is a concern; we shall either rescue him, or stop him. We would gladly reward you if you know something."
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So it looks like we’ll have a paladin 5, Slayer 3, Zen Archer 3, Neutral Cleric 3, Sleep/Colorspray Shaman 3, Arcanis 3, and Alchemist 3.
I’d guess that Jal (slayer) and Xien (paladin) will share the melee roles, though Jal will gladly defer to the paladin as the “main meat shield" … Jal’s defenses are only okay for the role. He’s more of an opportunistic combatant who has just been filling the role of meat shield since the group really didn’t have one.
Jal and Tophor (zen archer) are both good scouts (Tophor’s perception is ridiculous).
Selena (cleric) is not your traditional healing-wave cleric. Her channels are more for screwing with our opponents’ brains.
So, long story short, I plan to keep playing it by ear. But I’m super glad to have a second strong melee combatant. Eldon was also melee, but he wouldn’t have been as strong a presence as I think the paladin will be, especially considering that we’re effectively playing up. :)
The varisian had spent the trip the way he always does … mostly scouting and sharing drinks with Tophor, with the occasional sarcastic observation or offer to throw dice (not that he was particularly good at the gambling). As the weather had cooled from the oppressive heat of their last venture, he’d reclaimed his usual Varisian traveler look. Utilitarian clothes and gear highlighted here and there with garish flashes of bright colors, especially the kapenia around his neck. The warm weather has him wearing his sleeves rolled up, though, giving you all a look at the myriad of tattoos that seem to cover much of his body.
As they approach the village, Jal looks over at the group’s newcomers. ”So, you ever dealt with frog-folk, cara?” His dark eyes cut over to the grippli, and he smirks, ”Squirrely little guys, aren’t they?”
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"I am called Gwellik, and these fine goods..." he gestures around.
"Are the fruits of some of my recent trading." The little frog looks quite pleased with himself.
"And yet, they are fine trees. They provide home and defences for my poor people, as we are sorely beset. That is why I travelled to Fort Bandu and brought some of your folk from there to here to trade with us. They were hard traders those ...Aspis men. But we got what we needed."
"But enough of me. Why are you here? Many men come to the jungle, and few return. What is it you seek?"
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At the mention of the word Aspis, Misforstått's tail stops wagging. He takes on a serious mein and offers his thoughts to the grippli: "Friend Gwellik, please take care when dealing with the Aspis. We, too encountered them at Fort Bandu. They were openly hostile to us--especially their representative, Amersanus Valascosti. He has a unique appearance with a long scar on his face. Was it this man with whom you spoke?"
That done, the tiefling is eager to speak further with his newfound grippli freinds about more pleasant things: "We came here seeking an artifact related somehow to the Golden Guardian and the dwarves of Ashkurhall." The alchemist smiles.
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"Good Gnomish Brandy.".
"Gnomish brandy, huh?" Jal responds skeptically with a slow shake of his head, "I think I'll pass. I mean, I'm all for drinking on the job, but a guy's gotta have standards." He hikes a thumb over at Brother Tophor, ”Have you had the good brother’s brew? Damn fine stuff.”
Jal also seems to go on-point at mention of the Aspis, and he begins casually inspecting the goods the Krihirik bought.
With the strange tiefling asking after the orb and Tophor after Sharrowsmith, the Varisian stops to quietly watch the grippli’s response, trying to get the measure of the little guy.
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"Good to see your arrival" you hear a hissing voice out of one of the trees "I am happy to count on more Pathfinder colleagues to deal with those vile Aspis"
A large and muscular nagaji appears from behind one of the trees. He is mounting a big lizard-like snake and wears proud a shield with the coat of the Grand Lodge emblazoned within. The spikes in the shield are integrated with another coat of arms.
That is the coat of arms of Nagajor, one of the countries of Tian Xia, and the court of Nalinavity.
The stout nagaji sheaths his trident to the side of his mount as he approaches to Tal, there he dismounts and greets the new comers "My name is Xien, defender of Nagajor in the Grand Lodge, and herald of Nalinavity in the Inner Sea." he offers his hand to Jal and then continues "You should be Jal Vaduva, Brother Tophor, Shungur and Selena, great explorers of the Bandu Hills. Venture-Captain Nieford Sharrowsmith informed me of your shortcomings and your possible arrival." he looks at the other two companions a bit surprised but not judgemental.
Xien updates then the party about his presence with the gripplis "I arrived just a bit before you have done. I was send to track down those Aspis until here and wait for your arrival with further instructions. So here I am. Count my trident and my shield within your assets"
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"... Venture-Captain Nieford Sharrowsmith informed me of your shortcomings and your possible arrival." he looks at the other two companions a bit surprised but not judgemental.
Jal raises his eyebrows at the strange creature, noting his armor, mount and weaponry. "Shortcomings, huh? Does this count as a warm welcome where you come from, fe'ar nathair?"
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"Friend Gwellik, to whom among the Krihirik can we speak about these matters? The orb and the man Sharrowsmith. If you could take us to him or point the way, we would be appreciative." Shungur nods at the grippli solemnly.
He arches an eyebrow at Xien when the nagaji mentions the name 'Sharrowsmith', but chalks it up to some sort of miscommunication.
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Xien shrugs and hisses as he says "Don't know, I guess it is because of the tongue."
He strokes his green scales and says "I try to treat them with with olive oils when I am sent to dry weather. As for the rest just normal cares" he tilts briefly his head and adds "Your long hair seems also very interesting. Is it a luring tool for your human culture?"
And looking to the grippli "What can be that artifact Sharrowsmith referred to?"
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"Ahh, guardian.. you must speak with Krihirik elders about this. The Aspis men sold me good goods. Very good. Expensive but Krihirik must defend ourselves."
He gestures and several smaller frogs lower other rope ladders to allow the pathfinders to climb into the trees. Gwellik himself doesn't seem to require the use of a ladder.
Rickety rope bridges connect half a dozen grippli tree houses to one another, though to the north, many more appear overgrown and abandoned. One dwelling is larger than the others, hangs over a small pond. Inside, three gripplis with mottled gray-brown skin pass a finely crafted short sword back and forth with admiration. Gwellik announces the PCs to the grippli elders, and introduces them.
"This is Mother Bogwynne, our lorekeeper and chief elder; Finyik, the hunt-master; and Diblop, the chief brew-mistress and miracle worker."
Mother Bogwynne, the largest of the gripplis, slowly gets to her feet and hands the sword to the trader. “Thank you Gwellik. You have done well in our time of need, bringing both weapons and travelers from afar to lend aid to the Krihirik.”
She pauses and looks over her guests in the meetinghouse. “So, you seek a weapon to fight against the guardian of the Bandu Hills? Word of our tribe’s secret seems to have reached many ears of late. The Krihirik have such an object, but it is a treasured possession, entrusted to us long ago—one we could not surrender lightly. However...”
She looks to Finyik, the hunt-master, whose old bones creak as he gets to his feet to speak. “We are fewer in number with each season, for we are hemmed in by enemies on all sides. Those who would seek our remaining weapon would do well to bring us one in return, and this is the same opportunity we gave to those who came before you. Travel to Deepblood Ridge, where two beasts of the Kaava Lands reign, and bring back one or more of their eggs. These we can nurture as our own, far
from the hungry talons of the lizardfolk who fear the beasts and would eat their young. Do this while surviving the dangers of our forest home, and you shall have our gratitude and our respect.”
Finyik sits down, and Diblop, by far the oldest and grayest of the
three, speaks. “The great scaled ones are mighty creatures, the king and queen of the Kaava Lands’ many beasts. But the lizardfolk.."
Here is looks slightly worriedly at Xien, but seems to realise there is a differnce between him and the lizard men.
"..may curses haunt their breed to the ends of the jungle— chased them off, leaving the nest vulnerable. Now is the time to strike! Those
who can defy the lizardfolk and aid us now will be most fit to wield the weapon the dwarves gave us so long ago and end the vile guardian’s
threat once and for all.”
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"In that case we don't have time to lose. We will follow your directions to find those eggs" and observing the doubt in the leaders Xien adds "You have to know Xien is a noble servant and will protect those eggs with his life" the nagaji kneels performing his vow to help this people.
He then places himself next to the door ready to go.
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As the half-elf considers the challenge set before them, he looks out the hut's door at the forest below them. "So its a race, and us with a slow start. Nothing like having a deck stacked against you."
He looks back at the grippli elders, "What are the chances you have some horses or something that would help get us where we're going faster?"
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"The eggs are very delicate" the elders all agree. "Carry them in a basket would be best."
"We have no horses..." says Diblop. Behind him you can see Gwellik jumping up and down as quietly as a frog can.
Once the pathfinder take their leave he approaches Jal. "You have symbol of Golden Crown company. They give Gwellik good deal, so I tell you of secret trail...."
The Kaava Lands teem with wildlife, from squawking birds and stinging insects to humongous trees that create a dense canopy above. Vines, roots, and large-leaved plants cover much of the ground. The gripplis’ directions lead northwest through the dark, virtually trackless terrain. The myriad sounds of the jungle grow louder, and the undergrowth grows thicker, as the Krihirik village vanishes into the distance.
The advice of Gwellik is sound, and the group generally finds the going a bit easier than anticipated.
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Jal—who's been pathfinding for the group, following Gwellik's very helpful instruction—chuckles. "No joke. When we get these oversized omelettes back to the village, I'm going to have to share a round of Tophor's ale with that squirrely little guy." He looks over at Tophor, "Assuming we don't drink it all on the way."
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Xien moves over Eidi through the jungle path as directed by Gwellik. He observes to one side and the other, bored some attack can happen over the group.
"Ale" he muses at Jal's comment "I have got used to that beverage since I arrived to your region. I would definitely enjoy to follow you on that. Perhaps I can add some spices to the omelette for the more enjoyment"
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Between the efforts of the group, you make excellent time. Once or twice you spot other recent footprints. Looks like at least half a dozen medium sized humanoids. Oddly there is also a smaller set of footprints - bare footed this time, and with two toes missing from the right foot.
About four miles from the Krihirik village, the terrain suddenly drops off into a deep ravine. The far side of the ravine is sixty feet away, and its craggy faces descend one hundred feet to the ravine floor below. The gap in the jungle allows a glimpse of the sky above, but the trees grow to the very edge of the ravine, and their dense canopy still blocks out much of the light. Several of the trees have massive, shaggy-barked trunks sporting countless twisting limbs. The trees’ strong roots grow deep into the earth and some even dangle over the side of the ravine.
The giant tree’s roots make an ideal climbing aid, but it is a monkey tree, a common but subtle hazard in the Mwangi Expanse, and its bark and roots contain concentrated oils that react upon contact with skin or leather to create an overwhelming, spicy odor.
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The alchemist calls to his allies and points to a tree. "Pathfinders! Be warned: this type of tree has concentrated oils that react upon contact with skin or leather--making a right powerful odor. I suspect that the effect would be similar to skunk musk; we would be smelled by anything with a nose from very far away if we are exposed to it."
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Jal—who had been quiet during their march—stares down at the gulch. "Good to know," he mutters to the strange tiefling.
Then he paces along its edge, looking for any signs or clues as to how the other group bypassed this obstacle.
As he looks, he calls out to the Kellid, "Shungur. Can your little ... blinky-space-jumpy thing get one of us across this? I hate to lose time climbing if we can avoid it."
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Xien looks at the 60 feet wide ravine while pondering his trident "We can try to build a zip-line for those of you who do not like to climb"
The nagaji brings out his climber's kit, full of tools and ropes "Perhaps throwing my trident with a rope is going to be too dangerous, but I can always descend and then climb up"