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Standing in the corner of the room attempting (unsuccessfully) to be inconspicuous is a dark, tall, strong, half-orc from the wilds of the Mwangi jungles. He has a scythe, longbow, and breastplate. All acquired since he has seen the better weapons available in 'civilized' regions. He might not be as stealthy and intimidating as he thinks he is, but he is making the attempt.
The adventure begins in Sargava during its dry season, which brings a respite from humid rains, but the heat still hangs oppressively across the region. The Eleder Lodge is built for the environment, with wide windows funneling breezes through its halls, but even so, it’s stuffy in this closed-door meeting with Finze Bellaugh, Venture-Captain of Sargava. He paces around his desk, filling glasses with cool iced tea before sitting down, filling his own glass, and pushing aside a velvet cloth filled with pieces of a wayfinder under construction. The sunlight slanting through blinds casts his features in shadow as he takes a swallow of tea.
“Thank you. Those of you who are new to Eleder, I hope you are enjoying my city. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it more upon your return, as your talents are needed inland.
“Ten years ago, an expedition into the Mwangi interior discovered some interesting items from the Age of Anguish: items believed to belong to the King of Biting Ants, abandoned in his defeat by Old-Mage Jatembe. Clearly, these are worthy of study—so much of that period is still half-myth! But we never had the chance. The expedition’s return journey crossed through Mzali territory, and, as I am sure you know, the Mzali despise trespassers. Only one agent made it out alive, and he bears...many scars. Some of a nature it has been impossible to heal.”
“Stuinvolk was an excellent field agent before this. But the trauma of seeing his friends die, from being hunted, tortured, and then barely escaping... upon his return, we tried to find a place for him, but the limited fieldwork we provided showed he hadn’t recovered enough for that type of stress. His moods changed without warning. Anger mingled with icy reserve, throwing himself into needless risk to protect others, or shutting down in a panic mid-fight. We tried to find him other work, but in all cases he had become unsuitable. Even when simply taking reports from other agents, he would break out in a sweat when hearing about experiences even slightly similar to his own.
“We have been trying to find ways to help those who suffer mental distress like this on the Society’s behalf—Stuinvolk is not the first, of course. And, in the past year, he has made some success. He is working with a specialist who has soothed many of the rough patches in his mind. He now understands the deaths of his friends are not his fault. There is one element to his therapy that remains to be seen, though: revisiting what he feels is his greatest failure. At the end of the Mzali hunt, Stuinvolk was alone and unsure if he would survive. He hid the artifacts where the Mzali wouldn’t find them. But they caught him, tortured him, and left him for dead. He would have died if not for a twist of fate. Have any of you heard of a creature called a nuno? Odd, solitary gremlins, mushroom-headed and possessed of an affinity for ants. Stuinvolk was left staked out among this particular nuno’s anthills. While it eventually set him free, it was so outraged by the intrusion that it laid a curse upon Stuinvolk—a curse we have not been able to remove. Stuinvolk managed to return to civilization, but he has lived with the nuno’s mark upon him all this time. And that is how he can undo his greatest regret—those who are cursed by a nuno also have the ability to unerringly locate that nuno again. ”
Bellaugh leans forward on the desk, and his voice lowers to a whisper. “To be clear, this is no mere treasure hunt. As important as the artifacts are, they are trinkets. You are escorting and protecting Stuinvolk because his counselor believes he needs to reach some kind of closure. He is willing to revisit the place of his greatest nightmares and retrieve that which he feels he lost. I would like those artifacts, yes, but my main concern is helping my agent. I have seen too many lost to horror. I am sending you all along to bring him home again. Find the treasures, compel the nuno to lift its curse, but most of all, help Stuinvolk find peace.”
Feel free to ask questions. Also go ahead and make a couple knowledge rolls to see if you already know some information that may be relevant.
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A tall, thin elf, dressed impeccably cared for explorer's outfit, strides into the room.
Upon hearing where the party is going, he frowns.
"This does not sound like a particularly pleasant safari..."
He then waxes didactic.
"Old-Mage Jatembe is a near-mythic figure who is responsible for returning knowledge and control of magic to a devastated world a thousand years after Earthfall.
The King of Biting Ants was a menacing sorcerer from the Age of Anguish, who was defeated by Jatembe and his band of Ten Magic Warriors.
The King of Biting Ants is said to have had a body composed solely of venomous insects."
"Mzali is a xenophobic city-state on the Pasuango River in the Mwangi Expanse. Its people hold a strong ethos of “Mwangi is for the Mwangi only,” rejecting colonialism or trade with outsiders, especially Avistani. They are hostile toward Sargava, and have attacked the city of Kalabuto multiple times. Outsiders are generally not allowed within their borders.
The Mzali people’s distrust of outsiders stems from its ruler, the mummy-god Walkena. In in distant generations, corrupt rulership led to a decline in the city’s fortunes, but in the past century, Walkena’s return has reversed that, making it one of the greatest strongholds of Mwangi culture on the continent, in spite of the child-god’s isolationism."
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Farlen runs his hand through is close cropped hair and lets out a sigh."So we are going into the worst part of the jungle to help an agent with a curse."
He thinks back to his childhood stories of the return of magic.
"It is not known if the king of biting ants was actually killed or just banished through the gateway of the red star." He pauses. "What? I have sisters, three cruel sisters, who threatened to sell me to the king of biting ants whenever I misbehaved."
"Is this nuno actually in Mzali territory or just near it?" "I was kind of hoping we would ride elephants and have porters for our gear and such. But if we are sneaking into this place, then ... all of that is out the window."
"Is there anything we should know about Stuinvolk? If he seizes up, are there things we can do to help him." "He is our only guide to the nuno's location, right?"
"And finally, is there anything else you can give us or tell us to help with this task?"
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Meran sits quietly in the room. "At least it's not religion." she mutters to herself as listens to the briefing.
"Tell me more about traveling in the jungle. Anything special we need to know about the conditions, weather, or hazards? This nuno. I've never heard of such a creature. What can you tell us about them?" She sips her heat and waves a fan in front of her face trying to get the air to move around her.
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"Well, it can't be as bad as all that. Captain Bellaugh said he has greatly recovered with the help of recent therapy. I thought there might be a pill, or some link to his therapist, or maybe some other mental crutch we could use to steady him. That's all."
"I will help see Stuinvolk through the jungle to this Nuno and see if we can't recover the artifacts in the process."
"Are there any important preparations for the jungle we could take. Any maps or such, special local insect repellent for example."
His head spinning at the whirlwind of questions, Finze Bellaugh tries his best to answer them.
"Nunos are fungus gremlins that live in anthills. Nunos are withered, eyeless little creatures having a mushroom cap for a head, and a stringy fungus beards framing their toothless grins. We are sure that this nuno is still alive. If it had died, the curse on Stuinvolk would have lifted. It’s still there. Killing the nuno is another way you can lift the curse, by the way.”
“Before, the team was doing some general surveying on their way back; crossing through Mzali territory was unexpected. Avoiding it entirely is difficult, but hopefully you can skirt the edges. Also, by the time they met the Mzali, the team’s resources were depleted and they couldn’t fight the patrol. If you encounter a patrol and they aren’t willing to negotiate, I trust you have the skills and resources to ensure your—and Stuinvolk’s—survival.”
"What can you expect from Stuinvolk? Well, you’ll meet with him soon. He can be distant, often. His therapist theorizes he keeps himself apart from emotional connections so that he doesn’t suffer if people die. He can help in a fight. He shouldn’t involve himself in hand-to-hand combat, but he’s a good archer; staying at a distance should keep him from overextending himself. He still has mood swings, though they’re less extreme than before. Depending on the day, he might be enthusiastic, or he might be irritable and easily distracted. Please just be patient and remember what this man has given—and is still willing to give—for the Society.”
"The unforgiving sun makes traveling the savanna a hot,dusty experience. Unlike jungle travel, insects and disease are negligible issues during the dry season, but heat might negatively affect you. "
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Farlen upon hearing about the Savanna decides magical protection is the right answer for him.
"I thank you for answering my questions and imparting your insite, Venture Captain. I think I have a few things to get prior to leaving. When will we meet Stuinvolk? Do I have time to shop now?" "When I get back I should be ready to leave."
He waits for the right time then excuses himself to go shop.
The next day, you meet with Stuinvolk at a quiet tavern. Stuinvolk is tall, lean, and handsome. Unfortunately, the nuno’s curse has burdened him with gruesome, hair-covered pustules on his neck and chest. He is resigned to his disfigurement, and in the heat of the Mwangi Expanse, rarely bothers buttoning his shirt to hide it.
Picture of Stuinvolk Hundrakson
He appears to be nursing a mug of ale.
You make your purchases and speak a bit with Stuinvolk. He seems rather reserved, if not downright gruff. But he says he is ready to embark when you are.
After a few days’ travel upriver, the boat transporting you arrives at a makeshift dock on the east bank of the Lake of Vanished Armies.
The captain points out a route marker about half a mile in the distance—a post mounted with a beaten brass sun. “That marks the edge of Mzali territory,” she says, and states that this is as far as her boat goes.
She (and Stuinvolk) say that you should make your way north overland to skirt the Mzali borders as fast as possible. After you finish unloading their gear and arrange a time to meet here for a return trip, the boat weighs anchor and departs.
Stuinvolk’s suggested course of action is to follow the lake and river northeast for 50 miles or so, headed away from Mzali itself. He recalls a ford of the Upper Korir river that should move them further away from Mzali territory—possibly still within the Mzali’s claimed territory, but he would feel more comfortable with another river between the party and Mzali. Once on the other side, they should be safe to start using his “curse compass” more regularly to locate the nuno’s lands. Even still he recommends doing this in a meandering fashion, if necessary, to continue skirting Mzali lands.
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While the group is on the boat, Farlen explains to Stuinvolk that he grew up in and near Eleder and how shocked he was at how things have changed in the 12 or so years he has been away. He mentions much about the geography of the area.
"This is a wonderful land. It is just a shame it is owned by the Shackles and their pirating leaders."
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"That sounds like a good plan. I'd rather wander about than get into Mzali territory."
"Your story is one that isn't often heard. With your permission I'd like to tell it after we are finished here. Good or bad outcome, people should know that working on their trauma is important."
She'll quietly spend time looking for the herbs Stuinvolk needs for the poultice.
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"Hey, Darven, you want to tell Stuinvolk some of your survival tips. You guys could probably compare notes. You have a pretty respectable reputation for getting out of tight spots."
Farlen attempts to team build by including all the pathfinders in a story telling session. And in doing so, He hopes to get to know a little about their charge.
Varian spends some time speaking to Stuinvolk in his native tongue, and it seems to make him a little more at ease. In doing so, he discovers that Stuinvolk desires herbs for a poultice to help step the oozing curse scar.
Giving that information to the others, Meran, Hádanka and Darven are able to secure some of these herbs. Farlen is able to present this gift to Stiunvolk, which does appear to improve his attitude a bit.
Soon after setting out on the path he suggested, however, his mood turns sour. As the sun sets and the party makes camp, he paces the camp’s perimeter, glancing at the campfire with mixed emotions.
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Varian nods.
"Of course. I'll need to take a few minutes to prepare it..."
He then goes through his spellbook, prepares Alarm, and casts it.
Varian then smiles at Farlen.
"If you would like to look over my spellbook, to see if there is anything that you would be interested in scribing, you are most welcome to."
Varian invites Stuinvolk over to the fire, and spends a few hours chatting with him in Skald, trading traditional Ulfen sagas, and then goes to bed.
Farlen continues to try to put Stuinvolk at ease, but something is bothering him. He keeps looking anxiously at the fire.
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Zaldur sits next to Stuinvolk by the fire and speaks calmly to her. "Sometimes the Goddess offers us trials and paths in life that can sometimes seem strange but over time they reveal themselves as incredible missions, although I've known you for a while now. I see you especially uneasy, What is it that torments your spirit? Quiet these among friends
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Farlen will work on transferring the alarm spell into his book while watching occasionally asking Varian a question if needed.
"Thank you for the opportunity, but I just can't seem to concentrate in this heat. My apologies for wasting the chance. I just can't manage now. Perhaps I could try tomorrow?