Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch glances out a window as the last wisps of twilight fade over the Fenwall Mountains. Turning from the sight, she runs her hand along the rustic cabin’s wall and stands beside an occupied wooden bed before addressing you.
“This,” the venture captain says, gesturing to the man thrashing around violently, straining against the bonds that lash him securely to the bed, “is our colleague, Kalkamedes. Every night for several weeks now, he has fallen into a deep slumber and tried to sleepwalk right out of his cottage. If not restrained, he marches straight north, eventually falling off a cliff or into a bog as if trying to get himself killed in an attempt to reach an unknown goal.” As though he were expressing disagreement, the man tied to the bed suddenly begins pumping his limbs even harder, the violent spasms threatening to smash the bed into splinters.
“There are those who have recently criticized the Pathfinders for our indifference to the plight of our fellow field agents. It’s time to show that’s not true. I want you to help Kalkamedes, whether he wants it or not. Several of our best spellcasters have attempted an extensive list of magical cures, but whatever sleepwalking curse or effect he’s under tenaciously resists our efforts. All we can do is keep him safe.” Heidmarch pats him with a degree of professional affection, and Kalkamedes rewards her by trying to swat her with his head.
“Kalkamedes’s friends are at their wits’ end, so we are going to attempt the only thing that we have not tried: we’re going to let him go tonight. That’s where you come in. I want you to follow him and keep him safe and in one piece. Let him get to wherever his addled brain thinks he needs to go so badly. Maybe, just maybe, if he gets there, you can find a way to help him. Maybe you can determine who or what did this to him and find a way to undo it.” Heidmarch pulls out a serrated knife. “Now before I cut him free, does anyone have any questions or last minute preparations?”
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Deaglan stands listening to the Venture Captain, his beard a bristly red. He is well outfitted with weaponry, you see a crossbow, a dwarven longhammer and a dwarven waraxe. His armor shows signs of battle, although it is well maintained.
The dwarf responds to the question
"I would like to perform my own divinations, if that is alright with you."
Not waiting for an answer Deaglan casts a few cantrips and consults his wayfinder. He also checks the man's pulse and feels his forehead for signs of illness.
After this has been done he looks up again
"Can you tell us if there is anything of note due North? If that is where we are going, we might as well be prepared."
The dwarf rumages in his pouch and retrieves a pipe, that he starts to fill. "Also, did Kalkamedes follow the exact same path each time he was allowed to leave the lodge?"
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I felt an irresistible calling once before myself though I can't say it ever put me into spasms.
Kaurak is a tall broad half-orc with grey skin and black hair. His prominent tusks seem out of place on a face that seems to be perpetually smiling. A wicked great-axe sits on his heavily muscled shoulder; a light crossbow sits on his back. His armor looks like it has spent most of its long life on a stand only recently taken down and fitted to him.
How far from home has he made it on his longest trip?
Sheila steps back and allows Deaglan go about his work and then begins responding to your questions, We are sitting at the bottom of Varasia so anything could be to the North. As for how far he made it and the path he took, we do not know. I have sent pathfinders North while keeping him bound here several times but they found nothing. This is the first time we have sent anyone with him."
respect him for his many prior accomplishments.
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"I hope we can help find what's tugging at him. Do you have any maps, maybe, that you could lend us? I'm not familiar with this area at all." He purses his lips in thought before continuing "And what are we likely to find out there in the night? Are we at risk of rousing a hive of goblins or devils or anything? ... water hazards or thorny brambles, environmental challenges? ... No lich tower, I hope... heh..."
including your colleagues, I suspect, but years ago, Kalkamedes was once a paladin. He strayed from the path of grace but since then he has always done his utmost to stand up for the innocent. It may be time for Kalkamedes to return back to the fold. Lend him aid—however you can—and keep him safe. Afterward extend our invitation: if he is willing, the Silver Crusade will send one of our members to help him atone and return to paladinhood. The order has need of men such as he.
you can look into a matter we have been trying to review discreetly. A new band of highwaymen known as the Gorgon’s Privateers has expanded into that area. Normally this is a small matter, but the reports suggest the bandits are conscripting young boys into their ranks by force. Is this press ganging a prelude to organized slavery? We intend to look into this. If you can find one of these Gorgon’s Privateers, get us the name of his leader. We’ll take it from there.
us proud, but while you are there, perhaps you could also assist the empire with something more worthwhile. Kalkamedes has a magic sword—a broken one, if I recall correctly—but the blade is sentient. The blade is also part of a family of truly magnificent swords made by a handful of legendary craftsmen in Varisia. If you can uncover the location of where the blade was first forged and the name of the smith, we could later seek out the foundry where its brethren were first enchanted. Empires are built on legends and perhaps it is time we arrange the forging of a new generation of legendary blades for the glory of Taldor.
The captain smiles at Deaglan, "No, they are not to the north." turning to Degwyn she says, "I doubt a lich is involved but if you do encounter one, don't engage it. It would be suicidal to do so. As for a map I can lend you this," she hands you a map of the southern corner of Varasia. "One more thing before you go, you must finish your task by sunrise. When the sun rises Kalkamedes will awaken from his slumber, and will be useless to discover what is going on. Good luck pathfinders." She cuts the man free from his bed. Immediately he rises and walks out the door, heading north.
IT is a clear and beautiful night. The crescent moon shines in the sky, and stars glitter in the blackness. After following for only a few moments, it is clear that Kal has no sense of self-preservation. He trips and stumbles over everything, and gets scraps on his hands and knees. After thirty minuets of following he begins walking strangely.
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Not quite catching the sarcasm, Degwyn stumbles over his response blushing heavily. "Good sir, I'll have you know I do not take such things lightly. What I am suggesting is not that we limit this man's conscious free will or freedom. I simply mean we could take measures to further the safety of our fellow Mr. Kalkamedes while he is in this state."
He looks around to the others in the group.
"For his safety, that's all. You understand, right? Forget my suggestion, it's clearly been misunderstood."
He continues muttering under his breath "Damn it, why do I open my mouth sometimes. That's not what I meant at all. Misrepresenting the good people of Andoran. Damn it. Just be quiet and stick to what you know, fool."
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Kaurak takes the rear guard position behind Kaklamedes keeping his eyes open for any trouble from the surrounding countryside.
I just hope he can get to where he is going by morning. While he is determined he isn't setting a hard pace and there is no guarantee his destination is within one night's stroll.
Back at home we used to keep children on leader strings until they were old enough not to hurt themselves. It might not be a bad idea. It gives as much freedom as can be given while keeping them safe.
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Ser Willem nods as he continues to monitor the path ahead. "In that case, that might just be a good idea. As a matter of fact," he says nonchalantly, "I'm going to take his sword too, just in case this force has control of all of his actions."
Before continuing on the path, Willem reaches to take Kal's sword from its sheath.
"Unfortunately my rope is with my horse in the stables.."
You march for another hour with the rope around his neck and it seems to help, but after said hour you run into a large patch of thorns.
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Great. Not now. Ser Willem seems to shudder a moment and then collects himself as he notices the thorns ahead.
"Let's not walk into these shall we?," he says as he looks for a way around the thorns.
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"Almighty Trudd, please aid me in helping this human overcome his nightly endeavours."
"These thorns are called"razor Bramble" and will shred the skin on our legs to pieces if we try and go through them. Unfortunately this seems to be a wide and deep patch. Seems like we need to do some gardening here, unless one of you has a better idea."
You are able to cut through them, but the more you cut, the deeper you realize it is. It goes for well more than 10 feet into the ground. Kalkamdes continues to try and march on into the bramble, but Kaurak is able to hold him back.