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For a city founded upon bloody combat traditions, Tymon is
surprisingly docile. Weapons are invariably peace-bonded, there
is a lack of muscle-flexing machismo in the streets—even public
disputes are scarcer than in comparably large settlements. Rule
of law here is strong, perhaps, or else violent urges are simply
sated vicariously through the famed Arena of Aroden.
Whatever the cause, little impedes the swift journey to
Smine’s Weaponworks, locally famous as a place of business
but secretly also a Pathfinder lodge. The sound of ringing
steel and the withering heat of the forge through an open
sliding door identify the stone structure as readily as its well-
painted but soot-stained sign. Several apprentices work blades
in various stages of completion, and at the largest work area
toils a smiling dwarf:famed weaponsmith and venture-captain
Holgarin Smine. He glances up under singed eyebrows, never
missing a beat as he says, “Ah. It’s you. A moment.” After putting
some final touches on a spearhead, quenching it in water, and
nodding approvingly after a brief appraisal, he unties his apron
and opens the door into the adjoining building.
Within a few minutes, Smine has set out refreshments such
as bread and cheese in a much cooler kitchen. “Forgive me
for not asking about your journey. Love the details, but those
can wait. Someone’s picking a fight—with us,” he divulges
in broken sentences reminiscent of the staccato clanging
of the adjacent forge. “You might know we’re committed to
supporting Mendev. Important business, that. Worldwound
expanding, wardstones failing. Not good for anyone. So when
we send supplies north and they’re stolen, it gets our attention.
And that’s been happening. Months now. Boat after boat
heading up the Sellen, attacked, looted—always a few days out
of Tymon. Now, River Kingdoms shipping isn’t always chancy;
brigands on the water are nothing new. Not like this, though.
And it isn’t all shipping. Just ours. Someone is targeting us.
“It’s my job to get to the bottom of this, and I have a notion
how. Been told you lot were just what I needed. So here’s what’s
going to happen. We’re not just going to find these pirates;
we’re going to flush ’em out. They want to hit Pathfinders?
Pathfinders can hit, too. They’ll think they’ve got another soft
supply boat, but the cargo will be you. Ready to fight.” He grins
before concluding, “You’re bait. But you’re bait that bites back.”
What do you mean by “bait?”
a Pathfinder barge. They try and rob you. You take them
down. You hunt down their hideout and deal with any
others.”
Where do we get a boat?
you shortly on which. Know a few boat-owners who’ll go
along for the right price. You’ll have a pilot to sail it; you
just need to fight.”
How do you know they’ll attack?
there’s a major shipment headed upriver. Should get their
attention. You can help with that too. Make yourselves
look soft. Hit the taverns. Look like landlubbers. Probably
are, anyway, so it shouldn’t be difficult. Drink hard, and
look like you’re shipping out hung-over. Spread a good
cover story. Make them overconfident.”
Do we take them alive?
‘em and bring ‘em back, they’ll probably wind up naked
in the arena, so your call if that’s mercy. Still, might want
to grab some for questioning.”
What do we need from them?
Take out their entire operation. Anything else you
learn, bring back to me. Who hired them, why
they’re harassing us. That sort of thing.”
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Diplomacy (gather information) or Knowledge
(local) checks
DC 10+
gladiatorial combat, most famously in the city’s Arena of
Aroden, where gladiators have vied for popular acclaim
for over 2,000 years.
15+
experienced gladiators who earned their status after
winning 10 arena combats. Called “bloodied,” these
gladiators have rights and privileges beyond any common
Tymons. They alone are allowed to own property or bear
weapons, and their word carries greater weight in court,
almost placing them above the law. Tymon’s ruler, called
the Champion, earns his place through combat as well.
DC 20+
specialized laws grant some equity to others. The Law
of Grievance allows anyone to challenge someone who
has wronged him to arena combat. This carries across
social ranks; if challenged by a commoner, even one
of the “bloodied” must submit. Even the Champion’s
position is not secure; through the Law of Succession,
any “bloodied” can challenge him for leadership.
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A tiny wayang walks into the room, taps the tiefling on the shoulder and whispers in the man's ear. In short order, the tiefling stands and leaves the room without another word.
The wayang looks at the team and gives a quick wave,"Uh...hi everyone. Names Wisp. I will be joining you instead of the other guy. "
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The next morning, Venture Captain Smine gives you
the dock number where the boat—Tevryn’s Terrapin, a
modified barge is docked. Whereas most barges are current driven
and only travel downriver, the Terrapin is equipped
with a sail and several oars to allow for movement up
and down the waterways. A thickset Taldan woman approaching
middle age sits on the deck. "You must be the Pathfinders that Smine talked about!" she says. I'm Demeliah Sorhenson. Do you know your way around a boat?
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A young woman with bronze skin and red hair that is so fiery it almost seems to lift with heat off of her skin when she moves arrives very late. She wears light armor and has a rapier and a few other weapons about her but nothing even remotely close to being considered "heavy". After catching part of that briefing, she mutters a bit under her breath...
"Allahlar lənətləmək suları və gəmilər yenidən? Nə üçün həmişə lənətə gələn Şəhid sevgilisini suya göndərirlər?" Valsin'in xalçası üzərindəki tortları yenidən qurduqca budurmu? "
You get the sense she'd be more bubbly and fiery if it wasn't for the impending boat ride as she nods to all of you. "Ree Soiel at your service...well at least as long as the society continues to pay my bills at least." She tries a semi-seductive wink to the party members but ends up sneezing, then muttering something about "...allergic to damn water"
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She casts off and the boat continues down the river. "Find some duties for yourselves around the boat. I'll steer" She says smiling.
The droning of frogs, insects, and birds along the riverbanks
creates an atmosphere fit for dozing, even though the sun
is barely past noon. Directly ahead, the river twists to the
east for a bit before rounding a forested hummock. A splash
breaks the monotony of sound as something slides off the
marshy banks and into the water.
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"Uh...okay, so this is happening."
The saying draws a swirling cyclone of energy toward himself before looking it toward the pirates.
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Dylph arrow sinks into one of the pirates but it stands. Wisp's blast misses as the rest of the party waits.
The pirates grit their teeth and keep paddling their rowboat with all their strength.
Demeliah and her men keep the boat steady. "I don't like the look of this!" She cries.
The party is up again!
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Ree will curse at the ranges involved and jog around behind the "walls" of the barge to take cover from the arrows.
"Bastards! Hey gang I'm only really impressive fighting up close and personal, so either let me know when they get close enough for an acrobatic jump across the water or if anyone wants to join me chugging a potion of fly to take the fight to them!"
To Demeliah she gives a wink and a grin. "Just get us close enough for blades and you might be winning yourself an extra boat! ...that's how it works, right? They attack you, lose, and you get their boat?"
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Ree comes out from around the corner to get an idea where the enemy's boat is, then continues to swear as they're still too far away for her to jump the distance...and she is not going in the water especially with a crocodile there.
She will total defense as a standard action to give the pirates something else to shoot at and to try and take the pressure off her teammates who can shoot back!
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The pirates boat pulls closer to the barge. The halfling bends down and touches the crocodile and casts a spell
"Survy..Go get the archer! He killed Moe!"
The croc swims fast towards the boat and tries to bite Dylph.
The croc hits and tries to grab Dylph's leg.
The other pirate tries to throw a grappling hook onto the barge.
and then pulls the barge close to the rowboat.
The barge is next to the rowboat now!
The party is up!