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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? My name is Gwellik, and I am a Krihirik trader. 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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Looking up in wonder as he approaches the village, Gunther marvels at the sight, trying to take it all in and make mental notes on just how these "grippli" have constructed their village.
"Greeting, friend. I am Gunther, of the Shoanti, and these are my allies. We are members of a group of scholars and explorers. Perhaps you have heard of the Pathfinder Society? Or rather, perhaps you have heard good things of the Pathfinder Society?. . ."
"We are seeking one of our own that has gone missing in these parts. Nieford Sharrowsmith. We followed his trail to Fort Bandu, where we found that someone was spreading lies and trying to claim he was responsible for nearly inciting a war amongst the locals. We where able to clear his name and reveal the truth, that it was actually the fiends that call themselves the Aspis Consortium, and the locals at the Fort pointed us here. Is there any chance you might have heard of or seen our friend in the last few weeks?"
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Lilia listens to the trader, then walks over to one of the fishermen. "Hello. Have you perhaps seen a man by the name of Nieford Sharrowsmith? He's a Pathfinder and we believe he's recently been here."
"I by the way heard your people been having trouble with lizardfolk. Anything you need help with?"
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The grippli stops moving when Gunther takes the crate from him and stands hand behind his head, confused.
Well, good luck with that, I say. And look around all you want. But in all seriousness, where do I come in?
Sorry lady, we but simple fishy men. We no mean harm. Mean lizards come and eat our babies.. you not can help. They too manies!
The fishermen smile wryly and then continue their work.
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Gwellik seems mildly uncomfortable at Lilia's request.
"The elders only allow visitors if they are being nominated as added value to the tribe by a tribesman and frankly, right now I've got to set priorities, I'm sorry.
I have to get all the weapons I traded with those nice Aspis folk to the guards patrolling the outskirts of the village, I've got food supplies that need to be delivered to families living farther away and.. By Abadar I'm busy!"
He continues piling boxes, smiling apologetically.
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"I'm sorry if we offended you, if you need an extra set of hands I at least would be glad to assist you if you'd have me."
Lynn would move to help pile the boxes. "I know it's a lot to ask of you to trust us, especially since we just arrived, but if you let us know where the food supplies are to be delivered I'm sure me and my companions would be able to help you."
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Seeing that the trader that ran up to them seems to be a bit bipolar, Gunther helps him a bit more then goes to rejoin the other Pathfinders.
"This doesn't seem to be working. Perhaps we can just ask around more and see if we can find anyone that might know or be in need of some help."
(carousing a bit)
"Excuse me. We are trying to find a missing friend, and we believe he came here not long ago before trying to find an ancient dwarven city called Ashkurhall. We have overheard some of your people talking about trouble with Lizardfolk. Perhaps we could help each other out? Maybe we can deal with these lizardfolk and your people could help us track down Ashkurhall, our friend Nieford Sharrowsmith, or find some way to deal with something called the "golden guardian"?
Soon, sounds of hundreds of Kobolds echo through the caves below the stairs and the miners urge you to leave.
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Striking a blow against the kobolds demonstrates Fort Bandu’s ability to defend its territory and reduces the likelihood of future kobold raids. Praetor Sylien is very pleased with the results of your mission, especially with the return of some of the miners. For the Pathfinder Society, though, the victory is incomplete without having found Venture-Captain Nieford Sharrowsmith, whose journal entries confirm he had explored part of Ashkurhall before implying he traveled to the Mwangi Expanse to find the Krihirik. Sylien is amenable to helping you further, and he recognizes that the Krihirik are a tribe of grippli that live in the Kaava Lands just northwest of the Bandu Hills. He further shares that a member of the tribe visits several times a year to barter for good and gems, who left only a yesterday morning. What’s more, Amersanus Valacosti abruptly wrapped up his business at the fort and departed in the same direction only a few hours later.
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The dwarves who inhabited what I now know as Ashkurhall frequently depict a great beast they simply call the “Golden Guardian,” a winged monstrosity that often appears in an antagonistic role yet occasionally accompanies symbolism more befitting a revered figure in dwarven lore. My initial hypothesis is that this guardian was a sacred destroyer and may even be responsible for Ashkurhall’s eventual abandonment. The original occupants of this site put great stock in a curious orb that the carvings suggest shoots beams of light—likely someone in the Grand Lodge better versed in dwarven art could clarify the point—and causes the guardian beast discomfort and forces it to bow to their will (or writhe in pain... cursed erosion). The carving ends with a dwarf delivering this orb to an amphibian people called Krihirik, and the lack of more recent inscriptions suggests this may have been one of the society’s final acts.
I recognize the name Krihirik from my voyage south through the Mwangi Expanse. No doubt old Sylien could help me track it down, but I would rather not impose on him again. This orb seems important for anyone exploring these ruins, and I shall set off for it after completing my survey of a few more structures here.
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Gwellik perks up with interest at the mention of the "Golden guardian".
"I insist you come with me at once! Mother Bogwynne and the Krihirik elders must have something to say on this. Follow me, please!"
He sends several gripplis to lower a tall ladder from the trees to the
jungle floor. The gripplis themselves simply climb or jump into the trees.
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, 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 you and introduces the elders: , the lorekeeper and chief elder; , the hunt-master; and , the chief brew-mistress and miracle worker. Following introductions, 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. If you have any questions we will answer them to the best of our ability.”
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 —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.”
lizardfolk have aggressively expanded their territory in every other direction.
human with terrible scars on his arms leads the explorers. He carries numerous daggers, seems to know his way
around the jungle, and wore a strange metal badge with a snake insignia. His colleagues sometimes referred to him by the nickname Fiveknives.
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Sharimus will try to climb the tree without the ladder, even though he is clearly not the best at it, elf or not.
Once up in the tree, he bows to the grippli elders.
Thank you for receiving us. We know these are troubled times for your people.
Upon hearing of the description of the human, Sharimus ponders aloud...
Hmm...that sounds an awful lot like an Aspis agent to me....this gets more interesting by the minute....
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I'll attempt to climb it, doing so in style, but it seems that his initial impression at the towns natural defenses was correct, and it's not as easy at it seems.
Once he is up, he waits patiently for the elders to finish their discussion before taking a seat on the ground around the small circle and introducing himself as well.
"The guardian is a threat? Also, you mentioned that the dwarves, long ago gave your people this weapon. We are an organization of scholars and historians. I would be most interested if you would share your history, and that of the dwarves of Ashkurhall, my friends."
"We would be more than willing to help your people against these threats, and hopefully earn your trust, if not friendship. But, we must warn you. We have enemies, and if Sharimus is correct, that the Aspis Consortium is here and involved, you must be very careful. They come with promises of power and aid, but many friends I trust have told me of their betrayal, backstabbing and taking what they want from those that trusted them, and forcing them into slavery. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I just ask you be careful around them."
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The nagaji enters and apologies for being late. She is dressed in Tian style armor and carries a naginata and a sansketuokon. I apologize for the tardiness of my arrival. she says with a bow.
"It's fine, friend." says the tall tattooed human as he eyes the reptilian creature before him. It's clear that he has either never seen one before, or at least not up close. "At least you made it, yes."
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Lynn while humbled by her companions and their attempts to climb the trees decided to climb the provided ladder instead, not very confident in her climbing skills.
She bowed deeply to the elders and listened to their every word. "If we are to retrieve an egg, we must know what beast it comes from and what the eggs may look like. I've heard quite a few things about the surrounding lands particularly that we would be better off traveling along the eastern side of the Ravine."
Not wanting to be rude to the elders Lynn glances at the scaled traveler for a moment before bringing her attention back to the elders.
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"The guardian is a threat? Also, you mentioned that the dwarves, long ago gave your people this weapon. We are an organization of scholars and historians. I would be most interested if you would share your history, and that of the dwarves of Ashkurhall, my friends."
"If you prove yourselves worthy, we will tell you of its story and how to use it."
The gripplis are reticent to share anything further about the weapon, for in their dire straits, it is one of the few bargaining chips they have.
"We would be more than willing to help your people against these threats, and hopefully earn your trust, if not friendship. But, we must warn you. We have enemies, and if Sharimus is correct, that the Aspis Consortium is here and involved, you must be very careful. They come with promises of power and aid, but many friends I trust have told me of their betrayal, backstabbing and taking what they want from those that trusted them, and forcing them into slavery. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I just ask you be careful around them."
“They are a small group of explorers Gwellik brought back from a recent trade expedition. They seemed eager to help us with our problem. Who are we to judge their generosity? We Krihirik have suffered much at the claws of the lizardfolk in recent years, and we hear rumors that the guardian of the Bandu Hills is causing trouble and fear that it might come this way. With so few warriors left, we can appreciate a stranger’s help, even if it would not normally be our way. We shall heed your warning, human. But do not expect us to act on it.”
"If we are to retrieve an egg, we must know what beast it comes from and what the eggs may look like. I've heard quite a few things about the surrounding lands particularly that we would be better off traveling along the eastern side of the Ravine."
"Your kind calls them dinosaurs. They are the mightiest creatures for miles in any direction, dangerous and untamable. The lizardfolk must have suffered great losses in chasing them off. About the ravine, It would take far too long to tell you all the possible dangers you might face. Since you say you are worthy of carrying our tribe’s treasured weapon, we assume you are quite capable of handling yourselves out there… and if not, then it was simply not meant to be."
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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 jungle canopy shades the understory during the day, casting the ground in dim light even at noon. Some parts of the wilderness are especially dense with vines, tree trunks, and broad-leafed plants that try to soak up what little light reaches the ground. Other stretches are relatively open thanks to the relative darkness. Thankfully, the Kaava Lands are slightly less humid than other parts of the Mwangi Expanse, reducing the heat.
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Lynn was thankful that she had bought the hot-weather outfit to wear instead of her usual frilled and flamboyant dress. Grabbing onto a vine to catch her breath she sighed, thankful for the greatly reduced heat of this dense jungle.
"Watch your step don't want to fall into any kind of mess here. This really is a different experience in travel compared to anywhere else I have been."
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You quickly make your way through the jungle, in addition you spot tracks left by six medium humanoids and a curious set of smaller tracks left by a barefoot humanoid missing two toes on 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.
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Helping to tie Sharimus off, while also connecting our ropes together, we begin lowering him down the 100ft drop very cautiously. If there is anything solid around, like a sturdy tree, I'll tie the other end of the rope to that, hopefully using just enough that even if he where to fall, he would not hit the ground, then using my hip as a sort of buffer.
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Fallen trees, rocky streams, hanging vines, and other obstacles litter the ravine floor, making travel through this area just as difficult despite the sparser foliage. After several hundred feet, the terrain gives way to a natural trail running through the middle of the ravine. In most places the trail is a mere five feet wide, though it widens to fifteen or even twenty feet in some areas. The ravine walls and the distant canopy still block out most of the natural light along the path. Where the path narrows again, a humanoid corpse—one hand stuck in its vest as though desperately trying to reach for something—lies sprawled in the dirt next to a thick, thorny plant. Countless biting ants swarm over the corpse, making its features difficult to discern.