Late one night, Venture-Captain Amara Li barges your room at the ramshackle tavern in Goka where you have been staying since returning from the monastery.
“No time to rest, Pathfinders! I’ve looked into the situation surrounding the relic you brought back, the Braid of a Hundred Masters. As you discovered, the artifact appears to have been dormant for many years now, and in this state it’s essentially worthless to us. Fortunately, it can be reactivated, but only by the descendant of the braid’s last master, Li Yao. I’ve discovered the whereabouts of his final living descendant—a woman by the name of Je Tsuin—but she now resides in the nation of Shokuro to the east, far from where her ancestor taught in his monastery in the Wall of Heaven. In order to reactivate the sacred relic, you’ll need to travel to the village of Nesting Swallow in Shokuro and find Je Tsuin to perform the necessary ritual.
“Unfortunately, we’re not the only group interested in Iroran artifacts. Our operatives claim that Lingshen, the nation to the southeast, is after the relic as well. Since Lingshen’s armies have a stranglehold on the overland routes from here to Shokuro, you’ll have to travel by river. Riding the Tuunma is faster anyway, though you might run into some hostile goblins of the Mutabi-qi tribe along the way. The river empties into the Sea of Eels—cross it and you’re in Shokuro, and from there you can follow the map I’ve provided to reach Nesting Swallow.
“Oh, and you’ll also need to make a quick stop along the way. The ritual requires a large amount of rare incense—more than I could easily procure from any of my local suppliers—so I’ve contacted a nomadic tribe in Shaguang, the Jhemulit, and they have agreed to provide you with the prepared herbs. I’ve already paid their shaman, a man named Ogokai, and I’ve marked their approximate location on your map, so it’s simply a matter of picking up the incense on your way to Shokuro.
Now go! Time is critical!”
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Juno leaps to her feet, axe in hand, and looks around wild-eyed!
"Ugh, it's just you." She grumbles and puts down her axe. "...Lee Yow?, Jay Ta... Ta-soo-in? Show koo-row? Ling..shen? What the...?" Juno grumbles some more. "The only thing I understand out of this whole briefing was worthless, braid, boat, goblins, and incense." She shakes her head. "It's too early for this gibberish! Someone write this junk down!'
Juno gets herself equipped, and spends some time grooming herself. When she's more awake she says aloud, "Bring the braid to Lee Yow's descendant, travel by boat, pick up incense on the way. Got it. I think."
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The small wayang awakens easily, taking in the venture captain with large eyes and a face full of grim determination. After she is finished he raises his hand slightly. ”Uhmm... is it quite as cold there? It was a little chilly at the top of the mountain. “. After getting a response, Jale asks two more followw-up questions. ”Have you chartered a boat down the river for us? Is the captain used to dealing with goblins?” Then Jale begins to pack his bag, preparing for the long journey.
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Brakkik is used to being awoken by sudden bursts of noise and is on his feet within seconds of Amara's entrance. He listens with bright eyes, absentmindedly shifting a vial from cheek to cheek.
"Sho, who are theshe Lingshen?" he asks after she finishes. "And theshe Jhemulit? Alsho, vhat makesh thish inshenshe sho shpeshial?"
”Uhmm... is it quite as cold there? It was a little chilly at the top of the mountain. “.
"No, the weather may be a bit damp, but temperate."
”Have you chartered a boat down the river for us? Is the captain used to dealing with goblins?”
“Can you hold a rudder? Then you can sail the Laughing Crow. She isn’t a particularly difficult ship to handle. There might be a couple stretches of the Tuunma that give you a little trouble, and you’ll be shown how to raise the sails so you can cross the Sea of Eels, but I’m sure you’ll manage.”
"Sho, who are theshe Lingshen?"
“They’ve got the largest and mightiest army in all of Tian Xia, their soldiers fight with fanatical devotion, and they’ll only offer you one chance to surrender—after that, they show no mercy. I’d avoid them if at all possible, but if confronted, your only option might be to fight.”
"And theshe Jhemulit?
"They are a nomadic people who live along the river. They are peaceful, so just approach respectfully and ask to speak to Ogokai."
Alsho, vhat makesh thish inshenshe sho shpeshial?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure - I'm no alchemist or mage. However, what I've been able to uncover about the ritual indicates its use, and in a fairly large quantity."
Gronkh grunts when he hears about the need to travel by boat. "Don't suppose there's room for me horse, Horace, on this boatship thing?"
"It will be tight, but take him along."
Amara Li leads you down to the dock, where she acquaints you with the ship. The Laughing Crow is a 50' long, double masted ship with oars for use in quiet water.
The main deck is sun-bleached and worn from exposure to the harsh mountain winds. The rigging and sails look to be in much better condition, having recently been replaced. A large hatch above the bow leads to the fore cargo hold, while a smaller hatch midship leads to the midship cargo hold.
The rudder stands on the elevated area in the stern, above a small cabin. This cabin is plainly appointed. A small cook-stove sits in a niche on the port side of the room, while bunk beds line the aft wall. A hatch in the floor on the starboard side of the room leads down to the aft cargo hold.
The aft cargo hold is stocked with plenty of provisions to see you on your journey and back, and is sealed from the other holds by a watertight bulkhead.
The midship cargo hold stores all the mundane supplies you will need to run the ship, such as rope, spare sails, block and tackle, etc. As with the aft cargo hold, it’s sealed by a watertight bulkhead.
The fore cargo area is set up to stable large animals, and has a door above the waterline fitted with a ramp to allow entrance. As with the aft cargo hold, it’s sealed by a watertight bulkhead.
Once you get Horace situated and waterseal the door, you climb aboard and get started.
There are no pilots available to send with you, so you are given a crash-course in operating the Laughing Crow and sent on your way.
The ship is actually quite easy to handle, as long as things stay calm. Someone has to be at the rudder at all times unless you drop anchor. You easily take turns guiding the ship down the calm river.
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It’s been four days since parting ways with Amara Li, and travel along the Tuunma River has been straightforward, with the two-masted junk holding up surprisingly well, especially considering its simple design and relatively small size. The journey has been peaceful so far, the endless processions of sand dunes and clear skies proving remarkably contrary to many of the warnings Amara Li provided.
Suddenly, the peace is broken by the sounds of hoofbeats. Looking to starboard, you make out horsemen breaking through the tree line, each with bows raised and ready to fire.
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-----earlier-----
Zelrora takes notes during the briefing and checks her bags to make sure she has everything she needs. Looking at her coin purse she lets out a sigh. She thinks to herself, 'never enough gold for the things I need'.
-----later-----
Zelrora will start up a performance as she inspires her allies to stay strong and vigilant.
Danduun tries to protect Sadaf.
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One of the warriors tries in vain to break free of the tree roots and branches grasping at him. Worse, his horse was not entangled, and he is unable to control it, so it runs out without him.
Zelrora
Sadaf
Gronkh
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Anyone in entangle area save again
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Yellow {horse entangled}
Blue {Entangled; horse free}
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Johnny
Danduun
Brakkik
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Black {entangled; horse entangled}
Green {entangled; horse entangled}
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Juno
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Pink [-6hp] {Entangled, prone}
Pink's riderless horse
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Brakkik tosses a bomb at the clustered riders, and is rewarded with a collection of screams and whinnies as several of them are splashed with fire.
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Jale runs up to the helm and expertly takes control.
The rider in black manages to get himself and his horse free, and he fires once at Brakkik as he runs forward. His attention is clearly elsewhere, as the arrow doesn't even reach the ship.
The rider with the green sash manages to control his mount, and prevents it from running off without him. That occupies his entire attention, and he doesn't fire.
The archer on the ground manages to tear himself loose. He stands up and moves out to a clear patch. His horse, no longer being attacked by the foilage, comes to a well-trained stop and waits.
As Jale keeps the ship on a straight course, he notes some rocks in the river that could have done some serious damage if the ship had veered.
Sadaf completes his spell, and an eagle appears in front of the rider that is nearly out of the entangle. It harries the rider, though it doesn't score a bite.
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Once again, the trees reach out to the riders and their horses, and most of those that had gotten themselves free get caught again.
One of the riders manages to control his horse long enough to take another shot at Jale, hoping to disrupt his control over the ship. He is unsuccessful.
Brakkik tosses another bomb at the entangled riders, hitting one of them on the shoulder.
Seeing the fire and the vines, the lead rider backs away from the eagle in front of him, and calls out to his men to withdraw.
Near the end of the day after the only excitement you’ve seen thus far, you see several horses and goats contentedly grazing about the wide grassy plain on either side of the river, but the fields look as though they have been recently flooded. A half-dozen yurts, drenched from a recent storm, dot the northern shoreline, smoke curling from their rounded roofs. Two small shrines sits a few yards east of the camp, surrounded by wildflowers. As your ship comes around the bend into sight of the camp, a short, middle-aged man with graying hair and a scraggly beard sees you, and waves you toward a spot along the shore where you can anchor the ship.
Once you come ashore, the man says in decent but heavily-accented common, "Greetings. You would seem to be the group I was told to expect from Mistress Amara Li. Yes?"
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Gronkh lifts his head, as if from a nap, and looks around at the carnage his friends have wrought. You'd think that after that last adventure in the tunnel, I'da had the sense to get myself a crossbow or something... Hmph. Muttering to himself, Gronkh goes to check and see how his horse managed the excitement.
As everyone else jumps off the ship, Gronkh takes a quick detour down below. Horace clearly doesn't notice that he missed a raid, but just as clearly is tired of being cooped up in the hold.
On the shore, the old man smiles and nods. "Yes, yes, I am Ogokai of the Jhemulit. Please, join me in private."
He leads you to the village center, where he points to one of the yurts. "It is late, and you are our guests. We have prepared a place for you all to spend the night. You will dine with us, and get some rest off of your boat."
He then takes you to his own yurt, and after seeing that you are all comfortably seated tells you, "I am very sorry to have to tell you this. We have mixed the incense as Mistress Amara requested, but I am afraid we cannot give it to you. As soon as we placed the herbs in the crates that were sent, a terrible storm fell upon us. Many of our horses and goats were scared away by the thunder, and one man was struck by lightning. It is clear—the Sky Spirits are displeased we would give the sacred gifts of the land to outsiders. You may take back the hides that were offered in trade, but you may not have the incense.”
Ogokai is taken aback by Juno's response. "I was told Pathfinders respected the traditions of the people they trade with. Perhaps I should reconsider our relationship."
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Sadaf tries to get a hunch about these people and then steps forward.
”Please ignore the grumpy dwarf. Talk to the empathetic dwarf. We understand your situation. Can we somehow conduct a ritual that can support our claim and fulfill the contract?!“ Sadaf says.
He then takes a look at the sky trying to predict the weather.
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Juno crosses her arms and grumbles to herself, clearly offended that her fellows don't appreciate her masterful diplomacy skills. Besides, this Ogokai was a dishonourable lout! Why else renege on his word? The nerve! Probably just wants more coin or hides or whatever it was the people who lived in this dump needed.
"I'm sure there must be some way that we can help you soothe the Sky Spirits..."
”Can we somehow conduct a ritual that can support our claim and fulfill the contract?!“
Sadaf has a hard time reading Ogokai, given that the man is speaking to you in your language and not his own, but doesn't feel like the man is being dishonest. He does realize that based on conditions now, there probably was a recent heavy storm.
The old man says, "The sky spirits have spoken. Who am I to dispute them? Without their blessing, our lives here could become very difficult."
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Brakkik pops the vial out of his cheek and pipes up. "名誉ある長老、私たちの不安を許してください。 私たちはあなたの村やそれが生み出す香の助けを借りずに儀式を行う他の方法がないことを知っているので、絶望して行動します。 私たちはあなたの許しと忍耐を謙虚に頼み、あなたのおもてなしに感謝します。" He finishes by putting his hands together and lowering his head to the elder.
After Ogokai departs, Brakkik pops his bottle back into his mouth and shrugs at his companions. "I thought it vould be for rah besht to learn rah local language," he says. "Now, do ve have any idea vho or vhat theshe shky shpiritsh might be? Perhapsh the village vould be villing to trade vith ush if they are not vorried about another dishashter."