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Save for torrential rain alternating with scorching heat, the journey from Fort Bandu to Mount Nakyuk progresses smoothly.
Ancient, crumbling stone buildings choked with vines and adorned with bone fetishes emerge from a patch of thick jungle underbrush. A scattering of bones and discarded tools hints that this location was recently inhabited.
A gaping stairwell yawns behind a blood-spattered altar, descending to the mysterious depths where the Golden Guardian makes its home.
Before heading down, you cast your mind back to what you learned back in Fort Bandu.
Remember, knowledge skills are trained only to get above DC10
According to some rumors, Zaril Namoth takes trophies from the people he tracks down and kills. Some say he needs their heads for dark rituals he learned while held by the Bekyar—a people infamous for kidnapping, cannibalism, and demon worship.
Almost everyone at Fort Bandu knows the legend of the Golden Guardian, but no one seems to know anything substantial.
Since the stories about the local boogeyman have circulated in the region for centuries, most people speculate that the creature is immortal or not a living creature.
Some people believe it is a gold dragon, while others say it is probably a living statue, a golden machine, or a god-like entity. The only thing the locals are unanimous about is that only a special weapon lost to antiquity can defeat the Golden Guardian.
Until recently, the kobolds have largely kept to themselves. Most local people didn’t even know about the kobolds before the incident with Sharrowsmith.
Decades ago, a local boy went missing but returned weeks later with amazing stories about a hidden city protected by cruel traps that he only narrowly escaped. (be specific about letting me know if you hit this level)
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A slender human with golden yellow locks suddenly appears from behind a crumbled stone pillar. He runs up to the others. "Friends, friends, friends! How are you! Vengrim, at your service." He bows to the group and offers several handshakes. "Have you come seeking treasure? Fame? Women, perhaps? Hmm?" He looks over at the bloody altar. "Spooky, I think, and I know very little about this place sans what the Venture-Captain has provided. Something about kobolds..." He mumbles on before cutting himself off. "No matter. I'm just as much of a Pathfinder as you all are, and I think I'd like to Cooperate with you all this day!" He smiles widely, his white teeth quite the contrast to the deep green underbrush.
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You see a tall, stately human woman with fiery blond hair, wearing scale armor and a cold iron scimitar on her belt.
She wears the symbol of Sarenrae clearly visible on a silver chain around her neck.
Well met Vengrim. I am Lasaraleen, devoted priestess of Sarenrae." she says with a formal bow.
Four of us are recently returned from a mission into the jungle to recover a strange heirloom with unknown powers.
We only hope it will help us overcome a guardian and recover clues to the whereabouts of the lost Venture-Captain Sharrowsmith.
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A roguish looking Chel trails the cleric of the Dawnflower, sweat, flies and all manner of filth covering him and what might otherwise be a new set of armor. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I hate this country." He stops and stretches his back, setting his backpack aside for a moment, then wipes his hand on a relatively clean portion of his pants. He slicks his ashen blond hair back before extending it back to shake Vengrim's hand. "Iago Dalamitri, Tomb rob... explorer, Pathfinder agent, late of Cheliax. And what dear Lasaraleen has said is the jist of it. Venture Captain Sharrowsmith did something to infuriate the local kobold tribe as he was investigating these ruins. We're hoping we can come to a resolution without bloodshed. the way things have been going, I'm not going to bank on it, but maybe I'm just a pessimist at this point." he offers with a smile that wants to be dashing, but just comes off as tired.
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Two granite statues of dwarves in full armor stand guard in this entrance hall, flanking the entrance to a corridor to the south. Antelope skull patterns painted in red ochre cover each statue’s face. In the wall to the south are two rust-stained iron doors.
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A powerful heirloom, indeed, Guillaume adds to Lasaraleen's words and where she says heirloom she mean a crusty seal. We are supposed to break it at the right moment. Here's hoping that its magical powers will extend beyond summoning two parts of a broken seal.
Ah, where are my manners. I am Khee-ahm. Of Egorian, Cheliax Guillaume says with a thick Keleshite accent, immediately giving away his Qadiran heritage.
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<crunch> The door opens.
The air in this room smells stale. A pile of rocks sits on the dust covered floor in one corner of the room.
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"Ok, so the rock pile isn't natural, some boot-wearing adventurer made it through here in past couple weeks and the door has been forced open. And we're in a kobold tribe's stronghold. My gut is telling me traps and my less-than-generous side wishes he had an Aspis to throw ahead as a test subject."
Iago sighs and rubs his face. "I'm no trap-smith, but I have a good eye. Should we assume this place is as trapped as the Pharaoh of Frog's tomb? Don't go there by the way, terrible place, that Pharaoh's architects were crazy."
He moves cautiously towards the rock pile to inspect it as he finishes "Well, I don't know about you, but I am. Let's see how trapped this is."
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D'lack is clearly of mwangi heritage. He posses a backpack full of explorer's gear and wears red robes with golden stripes and dragon patterns.
His round beardless face is regal and his golden eyes proof of an ancient heritage
He lets his friends explaining what they found during the course of their exploration deep in the mwangi expanse.
Once in the room, he casts detect magic
Be careful, kobolds are known for their ability with traps.
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Oberon perhaps foolishly starts to move rocks.
But finds no traps. This time.
What he does find is a small satchel. Within are a journal (linked), two wands and two potions.
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D'lack tries to understand what are the wand and potion for.
He was able to identify the two wands and one of the potion and he explains to his comrade what they could be use for and give them to Las.
After reading the notes he says
Seems like one of the Captain Sarrowsmith stash... If he wasn't able to get it back I fear the worst for him.
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"Let me take a look at that other potion."
"That's a cure moderate wounds potion. And I'll just slip that in my pocket here for safe keeping. Hey! Where do you think this door to the south leads?!"
Oberon listens to the southern door.
If he hears something he tells the group. If he doesn't hear anything, he opens it.
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You can go through the door. The roof has slightly caved in, causing the Rockslide.
Entering a rubble-filled square costs 4 squares of movement and requires a successful DC 15 Climb check.
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Iago cranes his neck and looks through the door that has caved inward. "How about this door instead?" he asks pointing at the door he stands next to.
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The doors here are stuck and will need to be bashed open.