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You receive a letter from Venture-Captain Amara Li:
Pathfinders,
Very few Pathfinders have found their way to Dtang Ma, and there
remain countless ruins and mysteries within the Sikhyeu Rainforest and
along the wintry slopes of the Kullan Dei mountains. The resident expert
and long-time Pathfinder is known endearingly as Old Pak. In collaboration
with another friend of the Society, he has uncovered a very promising lead
regarding a temple of Yamatsumi in the nearby Kullan Dei range that’s sure
to interest your boundless curiosity. I’ve arranged for you to meet him in
Dtang Ma’s capitol Ramparassad.
May your travels bring you fortune,
Venture-Captain Amara Li
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You travel to Ramparassad to meet with Old Pak. The meeting takes place in a spice shop.
Bells tinkle and chime as the door to "Pak’s Tobacco and Spice" opens. Shelves on the walls are full of jars and pouches, and a collection of masks adorns the wall opposite to the entrance. An old Tian-Dtang man sitting behind the counter wakes up mid-snore, rubs his eyes, and exclaims in a raspy but exuberant voice.
"Yes, come in, come in! Ah, you must be the Pathfinders Ms. Amara sent! Where are my manners! I am Pak! Tea, anyone?"
Before anyone can answer, Pak flicks one end of his metal smoking pipe, snags a teakettle, and plants it atop a small brazier with smoldering coals.
While Pak is serving tea and lighting his pipe with vanilla-scented tobacco, one of the masks on the wall animates and floats toward you. "The mask is Tanbaru, a spirit oni. He won't harm you, don't worry." Pak explains.
Tanbaru lazily glides from one to another and briefly relates his history. "Long ago, I was a kami who lived near a temple of Yamatsumi in the Kullan Dei mountains. But centuries ago, the temple and I were magically transported into an extraplanar place called the Hao Jin Tapestry. For hundreds of years, I languished in a broken temple surrounded by tyrannical conquerors who encouraged my cruelest habits, and I turned into what I am now — an oni. It wasn’t until a group of Pathfinders found me and showed me mercy that I was able to see past my own selfishness and spite. I have been working for the Pathfinder Society ever since, both in Absalom and in Tian Xia."
"Nice to meet again."
Pak then runs a hand across his partly shaved head and explains the opportunity at hand. "I’ll get straight to the point. I would appreciate your to traveling to the Kullan Dei mountains in southern Dtang Ma and exploring what is left of the temple of Yamatsumi near which Tanbaru once lived. You see, the ancient sorceress Hao Jin was able to transport only the lower, front half of the original temple into her tapestry. I know little about the broken temple other than its haunted reputation, but Tanbaru here says that the temple’s secluded location high up in the mountains may well have kept its historical secrets and hidden treasures safe from vandals and looters, relics that should be valuable to the Pathfinder Society. I want Tanbaru to accompany you. Although his transformation into an oni made his memories somewhat frayed, he still instinctively knows the way there. You should know that when Tanbaru was a kami, the Pilgrim’s Path — the trail that leads up to the temple — was his sacred ward. His presence may have unpredictable consequences, so please keep him safe."
"I already packed some stuff for you. The terrain is rough and taking pack animals into the mountains would not be wise, they will slow you down." Old Pak hands you two large backpacks full of rice and a camping cooker that needs only twigs for fuel. Pak also has two climber’s kits that he can lend out and advises you to purchase additional climbing equipment as needed. "But I'm sure you know what you need. I mean, you are Pathfinders. Do you have any questions?"
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"Tanbaru, what is the threats that you are guarding the Pilgrim's Path from when you are being mortal?" asks Yoshi.
Yoshi enjoys his tea, sipping with some delicacy, even if there is the occasional slurping sound that detracts from the experience.
I will be buying clothing for mountains, climbing equipment and more rope!" he declares.
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"Many species of birds and snakes are endemic to the Kullan Dei Mountains. Even other kamis and onis may dwelve there. Oni and kami are like fire and water — their hatred is strong and mutual. When a kami fails her ward or becomes estranged from it, she may fall to evil and devolve into an oni. This is what happened to me, but I learned to control my urges." Tanbaru answers.
"Climbing equipment is a good idea, but I don't think you need warm clothes. These mountains are not covered with ice and snow, but the whole mountain range is volcanically active. In the lower parts of the range, the weather will be hot, but once you reach a higher altitude the air will become cooler." Old Pak shares some information about the area.
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A pale lady with golden eyes clearly distantly related to the other Aasimar in the party arrives a bit late. She is dressed in simple robes but a good glance notices a thin layer of elven-style mithril links hugging her skin. Aside from a few daggers and wands and a sling she doesn't appear to be armed. A polished-smooth wooden holy symbol of Calistria is tied around her neck like a choker resting at the base of her throat.
Her voice is sultry, even as she is short of breath having just caught up with you.
"So sorry to be late. I had to take care of a "client" elsewhere in Ramparassad and I suppose I just lost track of the time! I am Sindelle Lifewater, and it's my duty to you all to make sure that you stay nice and healthy during our trek."
To Tanbaru, she smiles and says "Controlling urges is a bore but you are so strong for being able to do it! Are there any dangers you might remember about the roads or paths? Anything out there that might risk us falling to...urges or corruptions?"
After conversation dies down and we are about to depart, Sindelle touches a few of you to get your attention and speak to you quietly.
"In times of great stress, or in the middle of a fight, I'm told that I might not sound like myself...can any of you understand..."
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"I was protecting pilgrims from all threats. Guiding the devout and testing the impious along the higher half of the trail, a notoriously arduous hike up a narrow path along the face of a nearly vertical cliff." Tanbaru answers to Yoshi's question. "Falling rocks and broken stairs are the main threats up there. Also be aware of Nagaji and snakes in the area."
Kullan Dei is a 2,500-mile long mountain range that winds its way through Nagajor and into the dragon kingdom of Xa Hoi. The northernmost stretch of the mountain range extends into southern Dtang Ma. The nearest summit is just a few hours’ hike from the busy streets of the sprawling capital Ramparassad.
The mountain range is volcanically active. In fact, Mount Pho-Yim, which looms over Ramparassad, often exudes ominous smoke. Seismic activity is common in the mountains, sometimes causing earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions.
Many species of birds and snakes are endemic to the Kullan Dei Mountains. Some develop a spiritual attachment to important sites, defending those areas as guardians or watching over them as auspicious sentinels. Dragons, ogres, and various types of kami and oni are also relatively common in the region.
When you leave Ramparassad, the weather is sweltering hot. After a walk past rice fields that extend a few miles outside the city and a hike through a bamboo forest, the yiz find a mountain trail that leads you south, deep into the Kullan Dei range. Up in the mountains, the weather is pleasantly cool. The air is thin, but the days you spend in the mountains are enough to become acclimated. After a week of hiking, you arrive at a set of stone pillars with inscriptions that read "The Pilgrim’s Path" in several languages. The mist-shrouded outline of the broken temple is visible in the distance, some 5 miles away.
The stone pillars do not only mark the beginning of the Pilgrim’s Path but also a transition from profane to sacred, which means that travelers should show proper reverence to tradition and the rules of the trail.
One of the stone pillars has text on it. The most salient points have been translated into Common*, but most of it is in a different language.
* Do not obscure paths! Leave no trace! Stay on the marked trail!
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"That sign is not quite being correctly said in Taldane." mentions Yoshi.
"It is saying to not be camping on or otherwise obstructing the trails. We are only to be making fires in designated fire pits. Leave no ..." he searches for the word. "We are to be making no messes. And even threatening animals are not to be harmed unless they are attacking us first."
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When the PCs leave Ramparassad, the weather is sweltering hot. After a walk past rice fields that extend a few miles outside the city and a hike through a bamboo forest, the PCs find a mountain trail that leads them south, deep into the Kullan Dei range. Up in the mountains, the weather is pleasantly cool. The air is thin, but the days the PCs spend in the mountains are enough to become acclimated. After a week of hiking, the PCs arrive at a set of stone pillars with inscriptions that read "The Pilgrim's Path" in several languages. The mist-shrouded outline of the broken temple is visible in the distance, some 5 miles away.
There is some writing on the pillars. It appears that some of the writing was later translated to Taldane (Common) and carved into the same pillars.
Do not obstruct paths!
Leave no trace!
Stay on the marked trail!
The narrow trail winds along the base of a steep ridge, and large, jagged rocks have fallen from the cliff face here, blocking the path. At least a score of dark birds with white throats reside here, sitting atop nests built into the cliff face.
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Karos manages to clear the rocks from the path.
A shallow cave in the mountainside bears a carving that depicts an erupting, snow-capped volcano. Two timeworn stone statues flank the entrance to the cave. Near the cave, there is a stone fire ring with a long, semicircular stone bench around it.
Tanbaru observes that he vaguely remembers the shrine and that the statues look oddly familiar.