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Torean looks up at Jorciel chasing the demon into the sky. He moves to cast a spell, but then decides better. He grabs the sling off his belt, already with a sling bullet wrapped inside. He twirls it high over his head, faster and faster. Then he unleashes the Father of Creation's fury, focused into a single stone.
Torean's sling stone impacts the vrock with more force than one would expect.
Wiem's tongue touches the Vrock but can not get past its SR.
Kali chucks a javelin at it, but misses.
Malek gets one arrow on target, however, it does not seem to phase it.
Bold May go
Jorciel
Malek
Lin
Vrock
Torean
kali
Wiem Weems
Vrock: 19/112
The vrock lets off a sudden screech.
Bold May go
Jorciel
Malek
Lin
Vrock
Torean
kali
Wiem Weems
The Vrock fails to out position the pathfinders and they converge on it. The paladin delivers the final blow, taking its head off in a clean swing. The body of the beast plummets to the ground landing next to the dino.
As the flying agents lands to rejoin the rest. A group of four kellid warriors emerge from the wooded area and make there way to the agents. Tall, lean, and muscular, the Kellids are a menacing group; the countless scars exposed beneath their piecemeal hide armor only add to their intimidating presence. You see the spears they carry match those that are imbedded in the dinosaurs hide.
A female in the group steps forward and looks at the beheaded Vrock and the dinosaur. She takes her spear and drives it into the throat of the dino, and turns back to group and with spear in hand, "Who are you?"
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Kai drifts back down to the ground and waits for Jorciel to speak first, as it seems that they were particularly impressed by taking down the demon. "My name is Kai, also from the Pathfinder Society. We mean no intrusion, but we are glad that we could do what we can to put down that evil creature. In that, at the very least, it seems that we are in alliance."
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Wiem Weems marches towards the Kellids, stops and salutes. "Wiem Weems Finyik, Jumper 1st Grade GCAP and Agent PFS." Standing at attention is he nearly two feet tall, or knee-high to a Kellid. His purple skin is a warning sign to the predators of the jungle, but that doesn't mean he hasn't earned his own intimidating scars. "Commander Jorciel, Weilder of Daybringer," he says by way of introduction.
Wiem Weems will defer to the ranking paladin. Hoping his forth right soldierly introduction might work well with the Kellids.
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"I am Jorciel the Just, chosen of The Inheritor. We are Pathfinders on a mission of peace, justice, succor. We are well aware that we have stepped into your lands. I swear that we will comport ourselves in accordance with your ways. Our mission is to secure permission for extended passage through your lands. Might you be able to entreat with us?"
"I am called Denur. Usually warriors come to land is bad." She looks back to the Vrock and Dino. "I can not give passage through lands. Follow me, take you to elders."
Denur approaches Jorciel and Lin, "You good hunters. You kill beast, beast is yours. Bring back to Tolguth. Elders like hunters and give them gifts"
Whether or not you follow, Denur, the rest of the trek to Tulgoth is uneventful.
High walls, constructed from timber, stone, and earth surround Tolguth. The Kellids have cut away the foliage surrounding the settlement, providing an unobstructed view for several hundred feet from the walls. Three bipedal dinosaur carcasses, each with rounded dome-like heads, lie crumpled and pressed up against the fortifications—a clear indication of the need for such defensive measures.
Tolguth is a large settlement of several thousand, and many of the inhabitants speak and understand Common. The buildings inside the walls are evenly divided between permanent structures of wood and moveable yurts more common on the steppe. Warriors at the gate into the settlement inquire about the PCs’ business, but except in exceptional cases, they don’t prevent the PCs from entering. The PCs are shown to a larger building to await their meeting before being led to the elders later that day.
Diplomacy (gather information) or Knowledge (local)
While the PCs are waiting, they have an opportunity to learn more about the leaders that they’re about to meet.
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"Very strange, these dometops are not carnivorous. Back in the Mwangi, they are difficult to aggrivate unless you threaten their young. Very peaceful, animals really." Wiem Weems throat exands as he thinks for a moment. "Pachycephalosaurs, is your word for them."
"Ahh," the grippli says. "Mutations. These have the taint of fiends upon them."
"Why not build in the trees? He says in his peeping native tongue. "There would be less to cut down if they just built higher?
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"Kali Altzairu. Disciple of the Prince of Pain," Kali adds to the sudden impromptu roll-call, tightening her heavy barbed chains around her as if in demonstration of her devotion and strength.
"We come bearing the gifts of...solidarity." It's all she can do to refrain from what would probably be an imprudent reference to 'civilization'.
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Kai turns to look at Jerciel, bemused. A born and bred city person, he looks completely lost at how to collect a trophy from a dinosaur. Or even what part would be appropriate. "The head?" He tries to imagine himself lugging a large dinosaur head through the jungle, trailing blood behind and quickly dispels that thought. Instead, he elects to cut out a number of its claws and teeth, trying not to make too much of a mess in the process. Turning to the Kellids, he asks uncertainly, "Um, would your tribe have any use for the rest of the body? If so, please accept it as a gift from the Pathfinders."
Once he enters the settlement, as if in his elements, Kai starts mingling around and chatting up people, much as he would have done back in Absalom as a city watchman. Soon people starting opening up to him.
"We might need to prepare some gifts for the elders. I wonder if these claws and teeth would be appropriate? Anyway, from what I've gathered, I think Bloodspeaker Olovon might prove decisive for the Pathfinders to establish a liaison with the Kellids here."
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Torean nods and pulls out two adamantine weapon blanches. "I can add these if you want to keep some of yours."
"Perhaps allowing the Society free passage will strike the right balance between action and defense for Tolguth to consider. And yes, I think the Bloodspeaker could serve as an excellent liaison."
The PCs may use any goods that they do not trade, and they may give away their own possessions as gifts so long as the gift has a market value of at least 750 gp
When it’s time for the meeting, several Kellids lead the PCs to a larger stone and wood building. The three leaders are waiting for the PCs.
The older male is the first to speak, you you believe is Traros,"Please sit and tell us why you are here."
The other two sit on each side. You see a male on the right, with a wooden amulet, which depicts a woman on an elk. A female on the left sits, seeming uninterested in the matter.
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Jorciel makes sure to do his best to match the body language and tenor of the others. "We are here with specific purpose, and appreciate your time. We have twin missions which take us to Worldwound and to Sky Citadel Jormurdun. The missions are frought with danger. In order to better stage these missions we seek your permission to build a base camp in your lands. We seek your blessing and recommendation. This is good for both of us, as we are prepared to spill blood to defend kith from demon."
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"That dangers that come from the Worldwound do not just endanger the Mendev crusaders. Your people will be in demons' path as well. On our way here, we found a vrock demon, dangerous creature that could decimate a village. If you allow us passage and your permission to erect a small camp, the Society can help defend against and encroachment by the demonic forces."
"Thank you for the gifts you have presented." The older male says.
“You wish to explore hrungara, where even the mammoths dare not go?You are either very brave or very foolish, foreigners,” Traros begins, “But no matter how reckless or insane, any enemy of the Worldwound is of value to Tolguth.”
He smiles broadly before continuing, “We know of a few locations that may serve as a campground for you; Vanna has used them in the past. The first is a small cave network among the lower reaches of the Tusk Mountains. The caves would provide shelter against the weather and the height provides a good view of the surroundings. The second is an isolated hot spring, located among the foothills at the base of the Tusk Mountains, much like the springs that heat Tolguth. The third is an abandoned town, built by foreigners generations ago. Vanna can tell you more about each, but before you set out, I have one warning.
“The Red Winter tribe still ekes out an existence on the Thunder Steppes and foothills of the Tusk Mountains. They lay claim to those lands and have often challenged Vanna and her raiders, thankfully without resorting to violence. I doubt they would be as accommodating to foreigners.”
Vanna then stands and moves around the table and gives you all directions, updating any maps you provide with locations and markings in the margin.
She looks at Jorciel and Lin, "Denur has told me of your skill in slaying the demon and the beast. A gift to show others how good of a hunter you are." With this she offers you a spear from a weapon rack and a smilodon pelt. "This has served many of our finest warriors in battle and hunts."
“I have seen them fight once—wild beasts, all of them, some fighting with their bare hands alone, tearing demons apart. Even with all of their individual strength though, they are a small and shrinking tribe, struggling to survive along the Thunder Steppes. They were once a proud tribe, roaming the Ginji Mesa until something drove them east and broke their spirit.”
“The great beasts still roam the Thunder Steppes, though their movements are difficult to predict these days. Within the mountains, frost giants are common, and along hrungara, anything is possible.”
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Kai bows deeply as he receives the spear. "We thank you for this most precious gift. It will be put to good use against the accursed demons."
"Hmm, with regards to the Red Winter Tribe, would you have any advice on how win them to our side?"
"Is there anything you can tell us that would be of help?"
Vanna grins at Malek's question, "I suggest you hit them hard before they hit you harder" She then begins to chuckle at her own joke.
The older man answers Torean, "We do not much about their leaders. I assume that they are like us and have an elder council."
Nestled among the foothills along the base of the Tusk Mountains, a large steaming pool of bubbling water warms the nearby area, providing a welcome break from the chill winds that blow across the Thunder Steppes.
Survival