Vanna is a mammoth rider of great renown. He is an elder, worn by the years, but still proud and mighty. He explains what he knows of the Red Winter tribe: I have seen them fight once—wild beasts, all of them, some fighting with their bare hands alone, tearing demons apart. Even with all of their individual strength though, they are a small and shrinking tribe, struggling to survive along the Thunder Steppes. They were once a proud tribe, roaming the Ginji Mesa until something drove them east and broke their spirit.
Explaining the type of beast likely to be encountered: The great beasts still roam the Thunder Steppes, though their movements are difficult to predict these days. Within the mountains frost giants are common, and along hrungara, anything is possible.
I know little of the history of the abandoned town. It was one a village of farmers, it seems, but why it is now abandoned, I do not know.
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Avelina gives an approving, gracious nod to the Elder.
"You say they can tear demons apart with bare hands? That sounds delightful. Auntie and I could use warriors of such strength and skill. They would certainly be preferable to the murderers, thieves, and rapists they send us from down South."
Avelina gives a broad smile, her eyes brightening.
"If this whole Thunder Steppes thing is not working out for them, maybe they should consider relocating. Why, I know just the place."
The weather is cold, even though it is a mild week for the realm's inhabitants. The chilly cold covers the plains like a blanket, an the ground is hard and barren. Three days of travel pass by slowly, but fortunately the megafauna and giants that Vanna warned off remain nothing but a warning. On the third day, the pathfinders make it to the border town.
Twelve dilapidated, wooden buildings huddle around what once was a crossroad. The structures creak in protest as the wind howls through their empty window frames.
The town has a well that—with a little maintenance—could provide water. The buildings, though old, would be strong and sturdy enough to withstand the elements with minor repairs.
There’s no evidence pointing to why the town was abandoned. Ancient tables remain set as if for dinner, the cupboards still house the threadbare remains of clothing, and there are no signs of looting or animal habitation.
The spring and the caves are each roughly a day's march from here.
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"That looks like one of the communities Mendev built when putting up the Wardstones. Part of the infrastructure for the contruction" He observes, gazing down at the place. He glances over at Avelina to confirm this part of the story.
"The buildings don't look in too bad a shape, given the years. Prebuilt structures certainly would make setting up a post quicker." He adds, thoughtfully. "Especially if it gets any chillier."
Once they get into town, and start looking around, he points out the remnants of the old well.
"There, I think that was the well."
He spends some minutes examining it before confirming that it probably would not take too much to get it operational again.
"A few stout dwarves could have that dug out and flowing in no time! Ha!"
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Avelina nods with approval at Noisy's recitation of the site's history, though the current state of the town weighs upon her.
"Your knowledge of our history is admirable, Dwarf. Though--of course--I expected no less. I have always said that dwarves have a natural tendency towards Righteousness."
Avelina claps her hands decisively.
"Clearly, the Providence of the Inheritor has brought us here to correct a tragedy. This town must once more be filled with brave souls girding themselves for battle against foul demonkind! The Sacrifice of those that built the wardstones here will not have been in-vain!"
Avelina draws her cold iron longsword and holds it aloft.
"I declare that this spot shall be the site of our new camp!"
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Avelina sheathes her sword, the dramatic moment having passed. She rests her hands on her hips, dropping a hip and tapping her finger against her hip bone.
"I suppose we can look at the others if you insist."
She raises her head, eyes closed in self-satisfaction, tapping her pointer finger against her sternum.
"Whatever drove off the people here will stand no chance against the Might of the Inheritor. Why else would the Inheritor's Providence have brought me here?"
The site is completely devoid of anything moving, save for the cold that creeps in the streets.
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Noisy nods at Avelina. "Not so much knowledge of history, as current events nowadays." He says glumly.
To Miyamoto, he responds, "These were all supposed to be temporary when they were built. Once the Wardstone contruction was complete, all the people went elsewhere... That would have been almost 70 years ago."
"Stranger would have been if there were still people here." He chuckles humorlessly. "Given the neighbors... and the failure of the Wardstones."
It is another cold day when the group come upon the next site. Nestled among the foothills along the base of the Tusk Mountains, a large steaming pool of bubbling water warms the nearby area, providing a welcome break from the chill winds that blow across the Thunder Steppes.
Though hot, the spring water is safe and drinkable. It’s likely heated in the same manner as the springs surrounding Tolguth.
Wait, what's this? People have recently visited here, and might still be in the area.
A group of Kellids is approaching the springs, and are currently around 300 feet away
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Voros travels wordlessly with the party. But he likes it this way. Words are often a waste of time. He's relieved the journey goes well this far, though.
When they arrive at the springs, he spends a moment checking the water and concludes that "Friends, the water is good and heated in the same manner as Tolguth's springs."
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Avelina smiles at Noisy as he recollects his past. There's no smug self-satisfaction or patronizing superiority in it. It is the honest, simple smile of genuine respect.
"Few people understand what exactly we are fighting against, how important our work is, trying to keep the world safe. The entire history of Golarion rides upon what we do here. We must honor those few that were willing to sacrifice everything so that the world could be safe." She speaks softly, her words carrying a vulnerability unseen through the rest of the group's travels.
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Immediately after arriving at the next site, Avelina casts Prestidigitation to clean a large rock before taking a seat. She crosses her legs, then pulls out the guilded tome at her hip and begins flipping through it.
"Yes, yes. Quite fine. My opinion remains unchanged."
While the party investigates the hot springs, Avelina finally notices the approach of a group of Kellid warriors, led by a giant of man. Clad in fur, and having the a preserved large claw of a bear attached to the stump of his forearm, the leader instructs his scouts to circle out, surrounding the springs.
Finally, he shouts out a challenge:
Get out here and show us who you are! Why have you trespassed on the lands of the Red Winter?!
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She steps behind Noisy and gives him a slight push towards the Kellid.
"I think you will need to do the talking here, Darling."
She leans down to the dwarf, placing her hand up by her mouth and lowering her voice.
"Please make sure he understands that I am the Favored Soul of Iomedae and Niece of Queen Galfrey, and thus very important."
She pats him on the shoulder, smiling brightly, as though this was a crucial bit of information that would certainly make all the difference.
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Noisy gives Avelina a put-upon glare, before stepping out to talk to the Kellids.
Although he's holding his musket, he keeps it pointed towards the ground in as nonthreatening a fashion as possible. Though ready to change that if negotiations break down.
"We are not here to challenge the Red Winter tribe." He says, with a respectful nod. "Our uh... tribe, the Pathfinders, have sent us here to negotiate an alliance with your people in hopes of strengthening us both."
"My name is Noisy!" He motions back to the others. "And these are my companions."
"We've been stomping around waiting for you to notice us!" he adds with a grin.
An alliance? We should discuss this with the tribe's leaders. If you're not here for a fight, we won't give you one. I am Dorok bear-hand, and I shall guide you to our camp. Follow me.
Another long trudge through the wintery landscape. The tribe is currently on the move, tailing a migratory herd of elk across the Thunder Steppes. Dorok easily finds his way back by following a series of cleverly placed markers and employing his knowledge of the ungulates’ migratory patterns.
The camp is little more than a handful of yurts set up in a vaguely circular yet defensible arrangement partially surrounded by a crude palisade. A few open spaces create communal work areas where two large animal carcasses lie ready for butchering. Nearly everything in the camp is derived from the local megafauna, from the yurts’ woolen felt to the cooking meat to the bones used to create various tools, supports, and decorations.
As the party enters the camp, they see two large aurochs being dismembered and they observe the fierce, scarred hunters break out in smiles, joke about the day’s events, and join the rest of the tribe in carving up the carcasses.
Cautious curiosity replaces mirth in the presence of strangers, and the tribe’s leaders step away from the dead aurochs to meet with visitors. They motion for their guests to join them in the largest yurt and take a moment to clean their hands before speaking. The structure is modest, containing only a few wooden and earthenware containers, a neatly folded stack of bedding, and a few furs that serve as seats.
Thanock Sundered Bear is a tough-looking warrior in his early thirties, while Bloodspeaker Velka is a middle-aged woman. The two discuss among themselves in the presence of the pathfinders, clearly assuming they cannot be understood.
Foreigners? the man says I don't like to see these lands overrun by them and their southerner ways. They will despoil the lands!
The woman disagrees But you know the omens, Thannock, they have become darker and darker. We may yet rely on these warriors!
After their discussion, the two look expectantly at the pathfinders.
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Avelina removes her "helmet," couching it between her arm and flank. She tilts her head up and slightly away as she assumes a statuesque pose.
"'Southerners!?' I was born and raised in the Diamond City, the legions of the Abyss clawing at the gates. My Lord Father and Mother gave their lives in Glorious Battle against the demonic hordes. My aunt, the Queen, lends every moment of her life to campaigns against those beasts of chaos and evil, and I myself, the Favored Soul of the Inheritor, have faced down demonic obscenities by the dozen, slaying them all in the name of my Beautiful, Glorious Iomedae."
She turns to look directly at the man called Thannock, glaring at him with fire in her eyes, and for a moment, there appears to be a shred of truth to her boasts.
"The woman is right, as is usual. Whatever horrors you have faced, my family has fought them twenty times over. You need us."
She suddenly smiles, satisfied that she has made the case for her family's honor.
"Tell us what dark omens we are meant to dispel. You shall be awed at our triumph over them."
Velka Bloodspeaker and Thannock converse, whispering this time. The man seems to frown, but the woman works her convincing.
Hmpf. Thannock says eventually Yes, your help may be appreciated in these times, and the omens are indeed bad - we need all the help we can get. Still, the Red Winter will not welcome a weak Society that cannot share in defending the territory. You must prove your worth, otherwise there will be no deal. Prove to me that you're worthy: venture into the world wound, slay a powerful demon and return with proof of your victory! Only then can you be deemed worthy of the alliance of the red Winter
Velka adds. “Two types of demon threaten our lands. The first and lesser of the two we have come to know as the corruptors—beast demons. They spread their taint through the animals, twisting their spirits. We have put down many a corrupted calf and the wild herds grow thin. These beast demons walk on the legs of a horse, and attack with claw and barbed tail, but most frightening of all are the human faces between their pincers. The second and far more powerful is a floating, disease-ridden ball of fat and filth. Where the beast demons corrupts, the filth demon kills, spreading disease and infecting the land. You need only bring us proof that you have killed one of these.”
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Avelina whole face alights at Thannock's demand.
"Kill demons? You may as well have asked for me to breathe! Consider it done!"
Avelina leans forward like a schoolgirl conspiring to gossip about fashion.
"Now, do you have any preference for what proof of death we bring back, such as scalps or heads? We actually have a list back in Mendev of which body parts count as proof of death for each kind of demon: pincers for glabrezu, wings from a succubus, head of a babau, whatever you can grab of a shadow demon, and so forth. I could make you a copy, if you would like."
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And here we go again... After the siege of the Diamond city I had to fight, here I am, once again in the middle of mere berserkers that only live through blood and blades. What have I done to you, Milani?
Voros nods but doesn't look to be convinced that hunting a demon on his "own" territory is as simple as his companions seem to think it is.
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Responding to Noisy's admonition for caution, Kosuke replies.
"Slaying the spawn of Grandmother Nightmare is a sacred duty bestowed upon me by the Empress of Heaven. Though I do not foolishly seek death, neither do I fear it. I do understand the dangers of the Worldwound as I have braved them before. I pray for our safe return from the mouth of the Abyss. May our blades be sharp enough, our magic be powerful enough, and our will be strong enough to win the battle."
Thanock whispers something to Velka, who then says. “The beast demons range not far from hrungara, often crossing the border to corrupt healthy herds. We know how to identify signs of their passage and can show what to look for. As for the filth demon, we know one lairs in the remains of an ancient burial ground two days’ journey from here.”
It's hard to understand the nature of the demons from the descriptions of the Kellid warriors, though they do sound pretty dangerous. One of them sounds like a kithangian, a pincered, stingered horror, while the other sounds like a gribrileth - a large festering mass of tumorous meat.
Neither of them are particularly pleasant.
The Worldwound is a desolate place. The ground occasionally ripples as if it were convulsing flesh, and every now and then the sickly grasses snatch at ankles. The sky has a brownish, alien hue. Fortunately, no attacks occur on the first day.
Early on the second day, the pathfinder come upon an abandoned battlefield. Gigantic blackened bones protrude from the ground and break up the otherwise monotonous, barren landscape. Giant rib cages lie exposed to the stinging winds, forming strange avenues and tunnels, while enormous mammoth skulls, with tusks still intact, stare vacantly across the open steppe.
As the group traverses the battlefield, several skeletal mammoths rise up, with the spectral remains of Kellid warrior riding them, reliving their last moments...
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Avelina
Voros
Therisah
Kosuke
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Mammoth
Mammoth
Mammoth
Spectre
Spectre
Spectre
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Noisy
Basalte
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Avelina laughs contemptuously at the attackers.
"Our first opponents! Whatever you are, you have chosen the wrong group of heroes to attack!"
Avelina throws out her arm and a magical rod appears in her hand.
She waves points a finger in the air, waving it around in circles, suddenly pointing it directly between two of the mammoths.
"Radiant Dawn of the Inheritor!"
A blinding burst of light fills the area.
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Seeing the undead Kosuke yields ground to allow another to take the front line. He was better off with his divine power against the undead.
"Hold your ground! Let them come to us!"
Kosuke grabs a scroll and reads it. As the magic emanates from a nearby point, the holy power resonates with a case made of polished mahogany upon Kosuke's back.
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Voros downs an extract of Targeted Bomb admixture and gets ready for battle, waiting silently as Kosuke told him to.