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Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir inclines his head in welcome as he opens the door and welcomes everyone into a modest office. “I’m glad you are on time—and with little to spare,” he says as checks outside and then closes the door. “Your ship leaves soon, and I’ve taken care of the details.” He places a neat stack of travel papers on the small desk and sits down.
“I’m pleased that you volunteered to visit the remote monastery of Tar Kuata on the Society’s behalf. As you may already know, the Society seeks pieces of the Sky Key, a strange relic broken into multiple pieces by dwarves long ago. It seems one of the descendants may have found her way to Tar Kuata, and we believe the Ouat monks that also reside there still have a piece of the key. Travel there, meet with them, confirm our intelligence, and barter for the relic as needed. Do aim to be respectful; few Pathfinders have traveled to Tar Kuata, so you’ll need to earn the monks’ goodwill—and perhaps even pave the way for future collaboration. "
“To that end, I am sending you with this.” Balentiir lifts a heavy bag and adds it to the desk. “You may be familiar with bags able to hold more than seems possible, and this one is filled with grain. I understand Tar Kuata has had a poor harvest this year, and this should help you get off on the right foot in negotiations. Any questions?”
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A portly man with a wine skin full of some nasty smelling fermented beverage - well partially full, anyway, greets the introduction with some alarm.
"Poor harvest you say? Are the poor fellows in the midst of some kind of famine? Perhaps we should take two bags. Maybe I should bring extra, just in case."
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Meredith peeks into the bag. "A monastery? Intriguing. I learned about some hand-to-hand fighting techniques, but they are so focused on it, I've heard they can break steel with their bare hands." She makes a fist.
"At the very least we can help them with their harvest. I would also like to find out what's going on, there."
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A blond half-elf woman speaks up from her place leaning against the back wall of the office. "Can you tell us more about the monks? Are they a friendly lot? A group that doesn't trust strangers? Have vows of silence? Anything that might making earning good will more difficult."
She gives Deluge a big smile. "Good to see you my friend. Looks like we're working with yet another organized religion. Let's hope this one is more friendly."
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"Tar Kuata is an isolated monastery village in the Barrier Wall Mountains, in a region commonly called the Footprints of Rovagug. It’s also considered the most important Iroran site in all Osirion.” explains venture captain Norden.
He then explains that "“The Ouat monks are a contemplative order of dwarven monks who renounced their racial identity to focus on self-perfection. Technically, they are distinct from the other monks in Tar Kuata, but the two groups work together so closely that it’s hard to tell
the difference.”
“The monks are austere but polite, and I have already contacted them to let them know representatives are on the way. They’ll be very hospitable, yet earning their respect will no doubt involve proof of your worth. Like most who follow the Iroran faith, the monks of Tar Kuata no doubt value knowledge, discipline, and self-perfection.”
Weeks ago, a priest gave a passionate sermon praising the church of Sarenrae for dismantling an illegal cult of Rovagug. Despite this sermon being old news, many people still talk about it.
The cult referred to itself as the Doomsday Knights, a force of heavily armored warriors wielding divine power. Although Sarenrae’s faithful destroyed much of the cult, some survivors escaped.
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Meran shares what history she knows, "Sothan priest of Irori named Narmek Tar Kuata founded the monastery more than 3,000 years ago. It is among the oldest continuously used schools in Osirion. It's been around a really long time."
"Most people in Tar Kuata are humans of Garundi ancestry, but the monastery also houses the Ouat monks, an order of dwarves that shave their heads and beards and eschew dwarven traditions in favor of
iscovering their own path to perfection. I've never seen a dwarf without their beard. It's going to be interesting to see hairless dwarves.
"Not all citizens of Tar Kuata are monks; pilgrims who fail admission to the monastery often settle in the village and take up everyday occupations. We might be able to assist them and show the monks how helpful we are. They may be running low on supplies, Merchants are refusing to travel into the Footprints of Rovagug. The most recent two caravans to return from there were both attacked by bandits. We can certainly assist with that."
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She gives Deluge a big smile. "Good to see you my friend. Looks like we're working with yet another organized religion. Let's hope this one is more friendly."
"Agreed. Never seen a more self serving bunch of zealots in my life. I guess we just happened to become available at the same time."
"Now shaven dwarves! Can't help but improve their disposition, I say. I'm rather surprised they haven't dealt with the bandits. I wonder if it is a peace-at-all-costs type place."
Sky key, huh! No telling what mischief someone can get into with a sky key. Sounds like some sort of artifact."
"So what is this sky key thing? I've heard some rumors that it has something to do with a flying city or something. Care to enlighten us?"
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In the corner stands a rather gruff looking Kellid human. He is wearing breastplate that is made from the hide that is rather unusual looking. Those more familiar, however, recognises it as dragonhide. Other than that, he carries rather simple looking gear: a scimitar and club hangs from his belt, and a darkwood shield is slung over his back. The only other thing of note is a simple necklace made of leather thong from which hangs a bundle of feathers.
At his feet lies a snow leopard. He is looking rather bored, swishing his tail back and forth. From time to time, he looks up at Garn but seeing nothing much happening, lays his head back to the floor again.
Osiron deserts? Having spent the bulk of his life in the freezing north, this visit would be an interesting one. He frowns somewhat at the mission objective - to play diplomats with the monks. He is not a talkative one, and would have to leave that to the others. But the Great Dreamer has opened up this opportunity to see new lands, and that's not something to let pass.
For now though, he stays silent and listens.
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"I'm glad you asked. The Sky Key is a relic once housed in a dwarven sky citadel the Pathfinder Society rediscovered recently. Exactly what it does is still up for debate, but those who discovered the first piece reported it allowed one to look into the past. Our findings demonstrate the last of the citadel’s rulers broke it into multiple pieces and sent them away with his children, and the Society’s research suggests Logyra, one of the king’s daughters, likely retired in Tar Kuata.”
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After a tiring, many days long journey, the pathfinder team arrives at Tar Kuata in the morning.
At the base of a high mountain valley, the monastery of Tar Kuata perches atop a rocky outcropping that overlooks a tiny village and terraced fields. The steep cliffs to either side shelter the small structures from the wind, and a tall, thin spire towers over the settlement.
As you approach a beardless dwarf comes out to greet you.
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Deluge stocks up on triple (that would be 30 days worth) his normal rations for the trip and loads up his pack goat. He huffs and puffs for most of the tiring trip but keeps up well enough, though he does not don his uncomfortable armor until they get close and the bandits become a significant threat.
During the trip the others will find that Deluge is a bit of a lazy fellow into creature comforts and really into fermented goats milk.
"Hail and well met! We bring help courtesy of the Pathfinder Society."
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Garn keeps his hand resting on the shoulders of Snowball, as he watch the strange sight of a beardless dwarf approaching. He looks the village, embedded deep within the mountains, and despite it being an unfamiliar clime, finds that he likes the place.
He simply nods and waits for the rest of his party to speak.
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With Snowball by his side, Garn spends the afternoon strolling through the village, impressed by how the residents have designed their homes enmeshed within nature.
Although not often a talkative one, he finds a gardener working on the plants, and should gets into a conversation to learn of the local flora and fauna.
A Garundi monk wearing the garb of a different order of Iroran monks enters the monastery and bows respectfully to the Ouat monk at the door.
After the Ouat monk invites him in, he takes off his sandals, and bows in the direction of the monastery's altar. After this, he notices you all, and joins you.
"My name is Sajan. It is an honor to make your acquaintance. I come to help in your quest. May we all find an opportunity to grow."
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Meran spends the afternoon talking to the monks about their sect. She asks if she can write down some of their stories to share in her travels.
She asks them what made them join the monks, what does their family feel about them leaving their homes, and cutting off their beards. She shows a lot if interest in this life choice.
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You pass a pleasing morning, discussing little of import, however over the course of the conversation you get the feeling that Menkha's warming to you a little. But she is a monk. And a dwarf. And an Ouat. So, really, who can tell?
After lunch another monk joins you. "This is Itephta" he is a young man of Garundi extraction.
He offers a brief bow and then asks "How may I help you?"
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Lunch isn't quite over for Deluge when the man arrives, and he returns the bow from a seated position, but he pauses between nibbles from a bag of trail mix to say, "We were hoping to be of mutual benefit to each other. We have heard of a historical key of interest to our society. A 'sky key'? Perhaps you have heard of it?"
Sajan smiles as he sees his fellow Pathfinders mingle with the monks. At an opportune moment when everyone is gathered he shares the contents of the Scarab Sages letter with the group.
"I would be much obliged if you find anything about these jewels. I am... not as well-spoken as some of you. I believe in openly sharing our goals so that each of our strengths shore up our deficiencies. In this case, my own shy disposition and lack of emotional intelligence."
He bows to each of you with respect after saying this.
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"We are in dire need of grain, for the harvest has been poor." he says. turning to Menkha he asks "What of this sky key? And what do you think of these 'Pathfinders'"
She looks at the group with a measured face. "They are not all ill-mannered, which is a pleasant change." she finally confesses. "They key itself.. ties us to the past that we have come here to forego."
Itephta thinks on this before addressing you.
"You seek something we would give freely, but the relic is one heavy with the weight of history. Just as I would not ask a neophyte to lift a boulder before he can lift a stone, I cannot in good conscience burden you with this bauble without knowing your capabilities."
“When our students request greater responsibilities or greater challenges, we first ensure that they have mastered what they have learned before. I propose you experience the same courtesy I would extend to a student by undergoing a small portion of our training. It shall strengthen your body for the return journey and prepare your mind to weather your future trials.”
"Should you attempt these six trials, we will talk again. Is this agreeable?"
He calls over an aged monk. "Aeostep, if you would guide our guests through the challenges?"
“We could deny this challenge; we could bypass it.
But by facing the challenge, we grow.”
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"Yes, that makes sense." Meredith ponders. "Sajan, was it? Can you show me a few pointers for unarmed combat later on? I learned how to grapple and pin quickly but I've seen those from monasteries break steel with their bare hands."
Turning to the monks she nods. "If we pass your tests it sounds like you don't mind parting with the key. Did I get that right?"
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"The challenges we put to those who would be worthy are varied. For surely the path to perfection is rocky and with many switchbacks." says Aeostep.
The monk leads you to one of hte study rooms, which contains several bookshelves, a small table, and a lectern on which there is an open book.
"If you could wait here while the trials are prepared.."
He leaves you alone in the room.
Sajan bows as he hands the precious grain over. To Meredith, he bows as well, "I would be honored to help you learn and improve, if it is within my humble capacity."
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Garn quickly grows restless waiting in the small room, and starts pacing around. He makes a few circuits around the room, before wandering over to the bookshelves. But having little to do with books, he simply skims through some of the spine titles before getting bored again. With little else in the room, he then wanders over to the book and glances at the open page. That also fails to hold his attention for long before he moves to squat beside Snowball in a corner of the room, stroking his fur. The cat gradually falls asleep.
Sajan respectfully stand near the lectern and reads the passages found at the current opened page.
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Sajan recognizes the book as "Unbinding the Fetters" a holy text of Irori.
The book is open to a page that elaborates on complex and subtle metaphors that compare stages of self-perfection to the creation of the world, implying that mortal knowledge is a spark of divinity that spins order out of chaos.
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"Yes, I... inspired a revolt and we managed to defeat our captors." Meredith's face remains neutral. "It turns out I was a terrible leader though- we fell apart into chaos once we were free. I would have lost my way too, had the earth not called out to me."
She flips through the pages, slightly flustered. "Does anyone find these books useful? If they were talking about agriculture I'd be all over this..."