Ivar kicks the dead gopher-bug, "do you think they would have any treasure in their nest? If not we should probably be on our way."
"I for one don't wish to go looking unless we have to. If it seems we have cleared them all we should get moving."
There's no treasure. Just waiting to see if y'all heal up.
We'll get back on the railroad.
You continue on across the plains the next day. As you proceed a bunch of vultures start to circle overhead hoping one of you croaks for an easy meal.
As dusk approaches, 4 much larger birds join the flock. They (the big ones) screw up enough courage to try to make a meal on their own and begin to swoop down.
Coming from a fair height, you have plenty of warning.
close enough..
Malok casts Barkskin on Shred.. He awaits the birds with a strange, eager look on his face.
"I don't think they are coming to socialize.."
Hearing Malok's comment, Ivar smiles, lifting his sword off of his shoulder, "Well, if any of us would know, I guess it would be you Malok." When one of the birds come near, he swings at it with his greatsword.
Peck takes 1 on init but still beats the critters.
They all swoop down on Ivar since he looks large and tasty
he hits one on the way in. It's very injured, but not dead. Seeing that the meal is more trouble than it is worth, it flies back away.
miss
hit
hit
PCs are up.
Malok and his Dino move up to attack one.. Trying to flank with Ivar if possible.
+2 more if we can flank.
Dino hits, you don't.
Feeling his blade cleave into the first vulture, Ivar exposes his arms and shoulders to the other creatures attack. "Blasted bloody buzzards." Roaring as the birds tear flesh, he begins to rage, shifting the momentum of his sword upwards towards the bird that wounded him last.
You hit. Hard.
Peck? Lalali?
Not hesitating, Lalali tries to roast one of the birds mid-air.
Ivar's target flies away, dripping a lot of blood. It struggles as it withdraws.
The peck stabs one, then Lalali burns it to the ground.
The last two realizing that the meal is far too hazardous to be worth the calories, fly away also.
combat over.
Malok taps Ivar with the cure wand.
"Shall we continue on?"
Watching the birds fly off, Ivar wipes off his dripping sword, nodding th Malok, "Thanks, we may as well." Then resting his sword on his shoulder he proceeds after their guides, keeping a keen eye out.
You get back on track crossing the savannah, and start to approach Kalabuto, which is the furthest east outpost city of Sargava, This involves a few days of travel.
As you approach the city you see a rather odd sight. A tall and leafless boab tree stands alone in a clearing, its wood burnt black. A circle of tiny bones surrounds the tree. Over a dozen human bodies hang from the branches, making grisly silhouettes against the blue sky. More bodies lie on the ground at the base of the tree, frayed ropes still around their necks. A circle of tiny bones surrounds the tree.
Malok narrows his eyes in suspicion on the tree.
Is that thing alive?
It seems to be a normal Boab tree. However you think something unnatural has been done around it.
Knowledge religion for that part.
You're not fully sure what it amiss. Possible some form of curse or desecration has taken place here.
This seems like the site of a cruel ritual. Perhaps some demon worshippers...Be careful and touch nothing!
Looking from Randy to Lalali, "Well, we don't need to go near it right? Can we go into the city and inquire what happened, or do you think were in danger of them doing the same to us?"
"If someone or thing did this it might be prudent of us to stop them."
Ivar shrugs, "Might be, let's go into town and find out what happened." Giving the 'hanging tree' a wide berth, Ivar heads into town, looking for a store to purchase supplies and ask questions.
Ok, you stay well clear of the tree of icky dead things.
Surrounded by pineapple fields and date palm orchards, the city of Kalabuto perches atop a low hill overlooking the River of Lost Tears. An ancient pile of vine-choked, crumbling ruins, Kalabuto existed long before the arrival of the native Kalabuta tribe, whom the Chelish colonists discovered living in the ruins when they reached the Sargavan interior. Finding a settlement seemingly ready- made for them, the colonials took over the city after numerous clashes with the indigenous inhabitants.
As you enter the city, a young native approaches you and offers some trinkets.
"Please, I need food. These are good luck charms—the tribes in the jungle will see them and know you as friends. I only want a copper each. ”
'A city in the jungle, I guess the river put's it on a trade route.' As the young native approaches, Ivar rests his sword on his shoulder, fishing into his pouch, he asks smiling holding up a copper piece, "Would that be all the tribes? Even if not, I will take one, and offer you more."
Then holding up a silver piece he continues "There is a leafless boab tree standing alone in a clearing outside the city. Its wood burnt black. A circle of tiny bones surrounds it, with over a dozen human bodies hang from the branches. What did the people do to get hung on that tree?"
He smiles as innocently as possible, "I do not want to make the same mistake, and it's worth this silver to me to find out."
"There's a tree full of bodies?!? How scary! I don't know. I never leave the city. The jungle is really dangerous. Maybe the rebels got them. " and since you are offering coin she starts handing out the trinkets.
Nice trinkets. Do we have to wear them for good luck? Are you wearing them? Maybe this is a scam, maybe they are cursed, who knows...
"You just have to carry them to ward off the spirits. In a pouch or pocket will do. "
you think she's being a bit evasive
Ward off the spirits mh? You got any problems with spirits around here lately? You sure you don't know about that tree? Or some weird cult?
to get him to talk more.
After handing over the two coins, Ivar fiddles with his trinket while waiting to see if the native opens up more to Lalali's gentle questioning.
"Oh course I don't have trouble with spirits. I'm in the city. I said they were jungle spirits. I still don't know about the tree. I said it was probably rebels. I don't know anything about a cult. "
You are on your way to find the lost city of Savith Ye. You have a hint about finding some outpost of the city, and you are leading a caravan of Pathfinders to that outpost. You are just stopping here since it is some civilization along the way.
|
As I follow the conversation I too am getting a little suspicious.
I'm not sure if I trust everything this young native is telling us.
"Why don't you have trouble with spirits? Did you have trouble in the past and now it is gone? Do you hand out these trinkets to appease the spirits?"
I cast Detect Magic on the trinket looking for anything out of the ordinary.
In case I need it.
Malok watches the convo with the boy, but it overall displeased to be back in civilization..
"Are you deaf? I said there weren't no spirits in the city! I don't leave the city. You strangers really don't get things. "
You detect no magic in the trinkets.
While the others talk to the native girl, Ivar looks at the Halfling, "Well Randy, this looks like a good place to resupply, shall we get a drink before we purchase our sundries?" He then heads off looking for a tavern.
Need perception checks to see if you detect the ambush coming.
"Aye"
The bird follows Ivar.
Ivar nods to Malok and begins to look for someplace to get a drink...