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Being an urban man, Kai has little to contribute. Instead, he nods appreciatively at his team mates who are more trained in the arts of the wilderness. "I admit that I see little here, but I trust your judgement on this. Let's move to the next location then. I suggest the abandoned town? The giant's camp does fill me with some trepidation."
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"I disagree, outfitting an army is expensive. and it is common knowledge to never invade Ustlav in winter. You might as well as get involved with an Taldane when death is on the line. The spring can be a huge boon for an army."
Wiem Weems wants to know how big an areas this is? How many unites can be stationed in the warm area?
Wiem takes to the skies for a little scouting but sees nothing of danger in sight.
Wiem thinks it could reasonable hold a couple of squads of soldiers. About 100 tops.
The agents head towards the abandoned border town. Twelve dilapidated, wooden buildings huddle around what once was a crossroad. The structures creak in protest as the wind howls through their empty window frames.
Knowledge Engineering or Survival
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" This town has a well that with a little maintenance could provide water. The buildings, though old, would be strong and sturdy enough to withstand the elements with minor repairs."
"There’s no evidence pointing to why the town was abandoned. Ancient tables remain set as if for dinner, the cupboards still house the threadbare remains of clothing, and there are no signs of looting or animal habitation."
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"Is being just next to the Worldwound not 'evidence' enough?" Kali scoffs slightly. There's places like this all along its borders. The erection of the Wardstones was a great effort, and it took more than the soldiers, mages, and artificers; it took farmers, merchants, and tradesmen of all sorts to see to their needs and wants, and places like this were the homes of such folk...until the work was done, of course. After that, what sane soul would want to stay here???"
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Torean grunts. "Fresh water and a decent start to some permanent structures. The state it was left in is troubling, but unless we find evidence of a haunt or demon infestation, it's nothing to stop us. Seems like a decent choice."
The unsaid possibly lurks in Torean's mind of some mind controlling magic having taken affect. He searches each building with a detect magic spell.
The agents continue to look around the town and find nothing worth salvaging. They also do not find any haunts or demons in the structures.
With nothing else to search they rest for the night, in the solid buildings.
At next morning light they head out to the final sight.
This leg of the trek is uneventful as it was for the previous sights. During the trek...
As the PC's continue their trek, Wiem scouts ahead and finds that they are not alone. Approximately 300 feet ahead are a group of three warriors. The leader is obvious, a giant of a man, with a large, preserved bear’s claw to the stump of what remains of his left arm.
He barks some instructions in hallit and you see the two move to either side of the PC's as the mountain of a man approaches, he then shouts again, seeming to hail the PC's.
The first order was Surround them. The second thing he shouted was challenging you as to why you entered the Red Winter's land.
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When Kai sees the warriors approaching, he quickly gulps down the contents of an extract, then immediately pour the contents of the potion that Zey handed to him earlier. After a quicky swish in his mouth, he spits the contents back into the vial.
He then slips the potion to Jorciel in case someone else needs to jump in.
He whispers a quick translation to the rest of the team. Turning back to the warriors, he nods and smiles at the two who are circling around them, showing that while he is not intimidated by them, neither is he hostile towards them either.
He then finally turns to the leader. Keeping both empty hands up in front openly in view, Kai speaks. "My name is Kai, Lin Kai, from the built up city of Absalom far to the South. We come on behalf of the Pathfinder Society, seeking to ally with all the brave warriors of this region against the most vile demon invaders."
"You speak our tongue. Good. You wish allies. I do not speak for our people, you need to speak to out tribal elders." The giant of a man says, signalling he men to stand down.
[ooc]Good job Lin.Any questions for the man
Lin translates the question, "Yes, we are the Red Winter tribe, and you have came into our lands. I thought you outsiders were smart." He continues not turning around, "Our people have been attacked yes, but we fought them off each time."
The bear of a man leads them back to the Red Winter camp. The tribe is currently on the move, tailing a migratory herd of elk across the Thunder Steppes. Dorok easily finds his way back by following a series of cleverly placed markers and employing his knowledge of the ungulates’ migratory patterns. So long as Dorok accompanies the PCs, the tribe welcomes them but still keeps them at arm’s length due to their ingrained suspicion of foreigners.
The camp is little more than a handful of yurts set up in a vaguely circular yet defensible arrangement partially surrounded by a crude palisade. A few open spaces create communal work areas where two large animal carcasses lie ready for butchering. Nearly everything in the camp is derived from the local megafauna, from the yurts’ woolen felt to the cooking meat to the bones used to create various tools, supports, and decorations.
A group of warriors are around two aurochs, they smile and celebrate their trophy as the skin and clean the carcass. They notice the scouting party and the PC's come back. Two of them break away from the group and motion for the PC's to join them in the largest tent. The structure is modest, containing only a few wooden and earthenware containers, a neatly folded stack of bedding, and a few furs that serve as seats
The man is in his early thirties and is a battle toughened warrior. He greets the PC's and shakes Lin Kai's hand and surprisingly enough welcomes him in Tien. "It is odd for Dorok to bring back outsiders alive and not just scalps."
The other is a middle aged woman dressed in furs and wears an elaborate, elbow-length gauntlet threaded with spiritual talismans and terminating in a trio of sharpened ivory spikes on her left arm. She speaks in common, "Thanock speaks the truth. He is not known for his mercy. So you must have something important to tell us if he brought you all back here."
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Kai shakes the hand back firmly, although his eyes open wide in surprise. "您说天话？如果不冒犯的话，恳请您怎样学会的？"
In response to the woman, he first gathers his thoughts. "My name is Kai, Lin Kai. And I am pleased to we could have this chance to speak with you and the rest of the elders. I would not beat around the bush. We come on behalf of the Pathfinder Society for one purpose and purpose alone. Both of us have a common enemy, the demons pouring out of the World Wound. For that, we seek allies, brave warriors that we can battle together with, allies that could provide a staging ground where we could take the battle to the demons from."
Thanock responds to Lin Kai in Tien, "When I was a child my father's tribe came across a Tien merchant caravan crossing the crown of the world. He impressed my father so that my he was invited into the tribe. Over the years and many conversations, I picked up the language."
Velka translates Lin Kai's speech to Thanock so he can understand. He frowns at first but then breaks into a conversation with Velka. Velka then talks to the group as a whole. "I agree with Thanock. Sharing our lands in unappealing and sharing it with a society that has not yet proven their strengths in a not going to stand well with the other families. If the this Society sent you all this far North on your own, you must be great warriors. We will allow you to share our lands if you are able to slay a great beast and bring back proof of your victory. Does this sound like a fair agreement?" Velka ask extending her hand.
Thanock crosses his arm, looking at Velka's hand and to the group.
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Ha! Wiem Weems peeps. "Before my tribe's elders would aid the Pathfinder Society, they had to do a similar task the grippli holds up the primitive starknife, complete with the giant teeth of a dinosaur for blades. Recover the eggs of a T rex."
"The agents excelled, so much that I eventually joined their ranks.
Velka answers. “Two types of demon threaten our lands. The first and lesser of the two we have come to know as the corruptors—beast demons. They spread their taint through the animals, twisting their spirits. We have put down many a corrupted calf and the wild herds grow thin. These beast demons walk on the legs of a horse, and attack with claw and barbed tail, but most frightening of all are the human faces between their pincers. The second and far more powerful is a floating, disease-ridden ball of fat and filth. Where the beast demons corrupts, the filth demon kills, spreading disease and infecting the land. You need only bring us proof that you have killed one of these.”
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"From your descriptions, the filth beast sounds like a Gibrileth Demon. Unfortunately, I know little more than its name."
Kai turns to his team and lowers his voice. "I would suggest we take the prudent tasks first of defeating what sounds to be the less challenging demon for now. The alliance rests on our success here. After that, if we are not incapacitated, we could look at Wiem's suggestion."
Thanock answers as interpreted by Velka. “The beast demons range not far from hrungara, often crossing the border to corrupt healthy herds. We know how to identify signs of their passage and can show what to look for. As for the filth demon, we know one lairs in the remains of an ancient burial ground two days’ journey from here.”
Velka continues, "You need only slay one demon" She then smiles, "but if you are feeling adventurous, we will not stop you."
The two leaders bid you farewell, the rest of the tribe stare as you leave the cave.
In the middle of the second day, the trail you were following leads to a crumbling ruin, built on the edge of a shallow crater. Noxious fumes billow up from several vents at the base of the crater.
Stepping around the building is the thing you have been tracking.
Initiative
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Mutagen (Str)
Resinous skin
Alchemical allocation, followed by potion of heroism
Barksin
Enlarge person
Shield
Oil of bless weapon
The enlarged Kai wields his similarly enlarged longspear moves forward, studying the demon carefully, readying to strike when it comes within range.
Kali approaches.
Lin moves across the field, anxious to confront the demon. He does not realize the blister until it ruptures. It sends a geiser of fire into the air.
Torean begins to buff the group.
Wiem flies high over the party and rain down magic on the demon. His magic barely gets through the resistance.
Jorciel moves forward.
The demon moves towards the party, it seems to be walking on air. The demon looks up and see the flying bird. He gestures towards it. [ooc]Wiem I need your animal companion to make a DC 15 will save vs enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting] or it is paralyzed.
Malek unleases a trio of arrows at the demon. The second arrow hits, but does minimal damage.
Bold May Act
Lin
Wiem-Companion need will save
Jorcel
Torean
Kali
Demon
Malek
Demon: 104/115