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Toral is a young Dwarf from a Osiriani merchant family that always felt the pull of the heavens and stars. He embraces the lessons of the past as the heavens have watched over this world since the beginning of time but it is clear that these spiritual interest are competing with his greed to become a successful merchant.
"Again ... again one of these missions! The Exchange sometimes forgets that I have a business to run! A business! The only reason for dragging my body to these Pathfinder events is the good pay ... and obviously the contacts and relationships ... ha ha ha!" he suddenly starts laughing.
"Well, I should complain less and work harder to get back to my enterprise ASAP!"
He is a stoic negotiator but has an empathic approach. He is very perceptive and understands people's motives which is very important as a merchant.
He typically walks around in his full plate and during battle usually tries not to attack but use spells and hexes instead.
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Dwight is a stocky halfing. Due to a clerical error he is a free halfing born in Cheliax. His existence is an insult to everything Cheliax stands for. For this reason he has had to prove himself his whole life. As if to make the point that he can follow the rules better then most humans he join the military and served flawlessly often embarassing his larger allies with his family odd style of cavalry.
Dwight rides a Chelaxian bird, a human sized heron named Heron, providing him unprecedented mounted maneuverability. As a good Chelaxian he does his homework and studies the weaknesses of his enemies. He senses have been sharpened in battle and social situations through years of training and navigating social interactions.
"It is a good day to prove ourselves. What will out mission be?"
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The Venture-Captain Amara Li bows to each of you gracefully as you enter her office. "Greetings, and welcome. Before we begin, please join me to partake in some tea. These have come all the way from Laining province up in the footfills of the Qiang Tian in northern Goka. Please." After you have taken your seats around the table, Amara proceeds to commence with the exquisite tea ceremony before finally laying a small cup of steaming aromatic tea, beside a small piece of jasmine cake. "Please, enjoy."
As you sip into your tea, she starts the briefing. "Before I explain the mission, I would need to bring you up to date with some of the history of Shokuro, one of the kingdoms in Tian Xia. Forgive me if this is already known to you."
"For nearly 500 years, Imperial Lung Wa united and ruled an immense portion of Tian Xia. With the death of Aroden, the empire fractured into the competing Successor States, with Lingshen, Po Li, and Quain at the shattered empire’s heart. So far, none of the three have managed to recapture the fallen empire’s glory and influence, resulting in a tense stalemate. Agents from each nation keep an eye out for anything they might use as a symbol of legitimacy as the empire’s worthiest successor."
"Lingshen has the strongest military of all the Successor States. Shortly after Lung Wa’s fall, it annexed the fertile land to the east (now known as Shokuro) and compelled the peasants to labor on Lingshen’s behalf. Over several decades, Lingshen turned its attention elsewhere, convinced that the subjected territory would serve without complaint. When a Minkaian samurai named Toriaka witnessed the cruel serfdom, however, he rallied the peasants and helped the territory secede as an independent nation. With a well-trained militia and an equitable trading policy with Lingshen that placates the larger nation’s need for food imports, Shokuro enjoys some stability in this post-imperial age. Even so, the Sun Shogun Shokuro Toriaka recognizes that to the three stronger Successor States, Shokuro remains a prospective chess piece in their future ambitions. For the nation to gain the standing to fend off expansionist neighbors, it must acquire some of the same political currency — namely, symbols of old imperial authority."
"One of the first rebels to answer Toriaka’s call was Mai Chun, then a young woman who had lost several friends and family in a Lingshenese invasion to root out prospective dissidents. After serving in Toriaka’s new government for several years, Mai stepped down, returned to her rural community as a folk hero, and set herself to chronicling Shokuro’s new statehood. Now 40 years later, Mai Chun is a tough grandmother who’s still strong enough to knock out a bandit. She keeps an eye out for historical treasures. And as a result, the Pathfinder Society have often found ourselves allied with her, and indeed, had to seek her help a number of times for our work in that region."
"This time, however, she sent a request to our Society through me for help. It seems that word has come her way of an imperial ruin in the nearby hills. A few locals she tasked to check it out apparently barely returned with their lives. Just based on their preliminary findings, the ruins seemed legitimate and she is eager to uncover any relics of the old imperial empire to bolster Shokuro in its endless political bickering in the region. In return, she has agreed to let the Society study whatever she recovers. I received the highest recommendations of the six of you, and thus have summoned you to help."
Amara lifs up the delicate porcelain teapot and refills your cups.
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At first, one could believe that Yama's kabuto is almost a perfect representation of an Oni until he starts speaking with a thundering voice and people understand that the mask is instead his own face.
Tall and well built, Yama wears a full plate armor and a Tetsubo as well as a symbol representing a snow-capped erupting volcano.
With a thick local accent, he speaks May the tenacity of the Mountain, the fury of Thunder and the unavoidable power of Magma be upon you friend san. An honor to meet you again Amara Li sama. I'm Yama no Oni, humble servant of Yamatsumi. My Tetsubo is at your service.
Bowing deeply, a young woman of Garundi heritage, carrying proudly a holy symbol of the dawnflower and armed with a scimitar arrives.
"I apologise, there has been some problems with the ship.
May the dawnflower bless all of your journeys. My name is Kyra, and I am a devoted daughter of Sarenrae."
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”... At least I assume that we can keep everything we find that you do not need, right? I will certainly be able to sell such prized royal items!“
Amara replies with an almost self-mocking smile, "Certainly, hasn't that always been a tenet of the Society? Besides, Mai Chun still wields great influence in the Shokuron Court, so who knows what rewards she can line up?" Then turning more serious, she continues, "But of course, it goes without saying but please render to them whatever imperial relics they deem of necessary political heritage."
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After several weeks of overland travel, you arrive in the town of Ashima ok Shokuro to meet your contact, Mai Chun.
The screen door opens on an unassuming house tucked in the small town. Filling the doorway is an elderly woman of regal bearing who wears a lopsided smile. Long white hair meets her waist over colorful robes that would not be out of place in the salons of Tian Xia’s largest cities. The grandmotherly woman speaks with a deep, rich voice.
"What fates and fickle winds bring blooming lilies to our forest island.
With such winds does history ebb and flow."
Having introduced herself with this couplet, she bows and adds, "Yes, yes you’ll do perfectly. I hope you’re fond of bears." She grins and steps aside, raising a welcoming arm. "Quickly, come in. And off with your shoes!"
Inside, Mai Chun’s house is delightfully cluttered. Papers and parchments are stacked perilously high, piles of books lean against disorderly shelves, and swords and shields are displayed on every wall. From your research prior to living Absalom, you know that Mai Chun is a writer of some renown in the region; she has chronicled the history she helped forge in a series of articles, books, and even poems about the fall of Lung Wa and the revolution that created Shokuro. What appears to be drafts of her own texts clutter her tables. Out of place amid the chaos is an orderly circle of concentrically arranged cushions around a chalkboard. Mai Chun has converted this part of her home into a classroom. Mai Chun invites you to sit in her “classroom”
"Thank you for answering my call. I believe Lady Amara Li has given you the gist of it and I am uncertain I have much more to add. I would like you to enter the nearby Li Sho forest and explore a ruined estate. From some ancient text I recovered, I believe that it was an old estate for military officers during the days of Imperial Lung Wa. If so, it might contain relics or information about Lung Wa that Shokuro can use to enhance its reputation among the Successor States." Although the forest is dense, Mai Chun provides specific directions to the ruined estate. "What else would you like to know?" she asks, looking at you in anticipation, much like how a teacher would.
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During your travel it is quite clear that the heavy armor that Toral is wearing is incredibly heavy for him and that he can only walk around with it due to a Dwarf's unique physique ... especially his own heavy physique.
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After Mai Chun's introductions Toral is very amused by the ancient Tian lady.
"Ha, ha! You are a poet! Great for you! But many poets have issues finding a job! Become a merchant in your next life! Or better an engineer ... pays well!" he says laughing.
"Yes, yes, we go there and kill the bear. We look at everything and take everything with us so you can look at it and the things you do not need, we can keep, right? Right? What exactly are you looking for by the way?" he asks.
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Inira bows, clearly comfortable with Tien traditions and mannerisms, despite her not looking the part. She tries to respond in kind to offer the highest of compliments to their host.
"I am honored, to be sure. It is pleasant to be back in these lands of beauty and wonder."
She listens to the rest of the details quiet, but showing nothing but interest. "Our journey has been long, but I believe we should start right away. Discovered sights often attract all sorts of interests, and I would hate to find the place looted before we get a chance to see it. Thank you for you hospitality"
Inira is packed and ready to go.
Kyra will add a few polite sentences and inform her that she is ready to depart.
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Mai Chun bows to Yama and returns a few gracious words to the others, before answering your questions.
"Ha, ha! You are a poet! Great for you! But many poets have issues finding a job! Become a merchant in your next life! Or better an engineer ... pays well!"
"Is that the case in Absalom? For I never had a problem with that here," Mai Chun quips with a twinkle in her eye.
"Yes, yes, we go there and kill the bear. We look at everything and take everything with us so you can look at it and the things you do not need, we can keep, right? Right? What exactly are you looking for by the way?" he asks.
"Yes, any non-related treasure you find, you are free to keep. What I am looking for exactly, sadly I can’t give specifics, as I don’t know exactly what’s there. Shizuru curse any looters that may have already gotten to it. But, if anything remains, I’m looking specifically for documents. Maps, letters, scrolls, things of that sort. Other than that, any treasure could be significant. If it’s shiny and not bolted down, pick it up. If it is bolted down, I have pliers." Again, that amused grin.
"I see you are ready to be off? That is good. The villagers I initially sent to scout the estate report seeing a dire bear prowling the courtyard. They fled, which is exactly what I would’ve wanted them to do. Who would make the harvest festival stew if Wu got his head bitten off? No one, that’s who. You lot, though? You look like you can handle a big bear if you had to."
As the Pathfinders take their leave shortly after, Mai Chun sees you off with a poetic benediction.
"Daylight spends like merchant’s coin, but so much slower in old Li Sho.
Where old dreams have died, ours may yet grow."
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The Li Sho Forest is a surprisingly dense forest that thwarts easy travel. Mai Chun’s directions lead to a narrow path that was once a wide road. The forest has reclaimed most of it, with only a few paving stones peeking up from the soil. The landmarks that Mai Chun mentioned are easy to spot: corroded lantern poles overgrown with ivy, an empty hunter’s shack, and an old military watchtower. The journey from Ashima to the ruined estate in the Li Sho Forest takes about 6 hours.
Gaps in the forest canopy allow shafts of light to fall on the ruins of a onceopulent manor. The manor’s facade is covered in leafy vines,
and the once-neatly manicured shrubberies of the courtyard now wildly overspill their bounds. An acrid stench assaults the senses as corpses of humanoids and beasts alike litter the grounds. What would once have been grand double doors leading into the estate grounds now lie rotten on the ground. You enter cautiously.
The grounds of the ruined estate contain a few crumbled statues, overgrown hedges, and an empty pool that is now little more than a pit filled with decades of leaves, sticks, and mud. Bones litter the grounds, evidence of the past meals of the estate’s only living occupant. As soon as you enter, you hear a loud rustling coming from the overgrowth near the entrance. Sure enough as warned, a large bear burst forth and moves to attack!
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Dwight strikes out with a Spiked Gauntlet before taking to the sky.
I think riding falls in the within your space clause as the sentence would read "An ally who also has this feat provokes no attacks of opportunity for moving [] within your space." If you disagree I will of course not argue and move away anyway.
Kyra quickly casts bless.
While Toral runs towards the nearest open door into the manor, Dwight takes the opportunity of the slumbering bear to dive in a charge at it. His lance pierces deep into the bear, awakening the beast who roars in fury at the attack. However, the wound is deep and Dwight clearly hit something critical as the mighty animal stumbles trying to get up on its feet.
Kyra moves closer but keeps the distance, as it seems Dwight has everything under control.
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While Toral decides to flee into the building for cover, the rest of the team continues their attacks on the very vulnerable bear. In a flurry of attacks, both lethal and otherwise, the already badly injured beast goes down.
Just as its life force leaves the body, the visage of the animal reverts to a more peaceful state, just as a ghostly figure rises from its form. The "ghost" is that of a scowling Tian-Shu man wearing ceremonial armor and holding a long-bladed sword. It scowls at the lot of you, gestures his sword to wave them away, before dissipating.
The Pathfinders stand guard cautiously for a while, waiting to see if the ghostly figure remanifests or if it sends other hazards your way. However, only a rather unnatural silence greets you. You then cautiously make your way towards the manor. Scattered across the grounds at random corpses of humanoids and animals, clearly ravaged by the possessed bear, victims of unwitting trespassing.
Although the main structure is still standing, the main building is largely a ruin. The main entrance and the side servant entrances are open to the elements, their doors long rotted away. Much of the estate’s interior is simply a malodorous ruin bearing the hallmarks of having been a bear’s den for years. The rooms are scattered with shattered porcelain, ruined furniture, and torn remnants of banners and flags whose meanings have long since been consigned to history.
Only the southeastern section of the building remains largely intact. You come to the hallway of the only firmly closed door in the building. A tattered rug adorns the floor of this short, forlorn hall. Pieces of a broken weapon rack lie on the floor in front of a statue of a stern Tian-Shu man wearing ceremonial armor and holding a long-bladed sword above his head.