"Get away, pink meanie!" Tygrah shouts as she draws her blades. She swings wildly at the critter chewing on her gear.
Bavick drops his bow, draws his sword, and attacks the creature.
Yolar calls down a blessing from Gozreh and Tygrah futilely attempts to swing her blades at the pest that's crawling around on her backpack.
Rory's ghost shuriken impacts the creature clinging to Bavick's hair, producing a burbling screech. Ashlion attempts to come to his wife's aid, but whether fearful of causing her harm or fearful of the harm she'd cause him, his throw goes wide. An arrow from Pai's shortbow finds its mark, however, in the creature atop Bavick.
Taking advantage of the injured creature's distraction, Bavick slashes the thing on his head, causing more blood to soak through to his scalp.
The fight seems to have gone out of the one menacing the halfling and it attempts to take flight. The single remaining monkey-lizard attempting to sink its teeth into the half-orc ranger doesn't seem cowed and continues its assault on her backpack.
Rory wades the rest of the way to the edge of the calm water, just getting in range for his Acid Shuriken. He hurls the green dart at the remaining creature attacking Tygrah.
Bavick stabs at the creature as it flees.
Then he sheathes his sword and picks up his bow.
Tygrah growls and slices at the critter still crawling on her.
Yolar fires an icicle at the remaining creature.
With everyone focused on the single remaining coral capuchin, it doesn't take long to finish it off. It's then that everyone takes note of Pai's cries as she points further down the river where you all now can see Ashlion struggling under the water as he's pushed further downstream.
Yolar pulls rope from his pack and throws it to Ashlion!
Rory performs a quick Kata and uses “Mind over Matter” (Mage Hand) to help direct the end of Yolar’s rope towards Ashlion.
Bavick isn't certain what to do. He knows if you get too close to a drowning swimmer they can pull you under, and Ashlion is a lot bigger and stronger than the halfling is.
He looks for a tree branch to extend.
Yolar pulls rope from his pack and throws it to Ashlion!
The end of Yolar's rope lands a fair distance from the struggling half-orc, but as Rory magically moves the end towards him, he slips under the surface.
As Bavick grabs a dropped branch among the storm debris, you all hear a pattering of feet and see a diminutive figure dash out of the undergrowth on the far side of the river and with nary a splash dives into the water.
Yolar feels a tug on the rope he holds and then a moment later, Tizgah's head pops out of the water.
"Trek hom uit!" she shouts out and you can see she has one hand on the wet rope.
Yolar doesn't need a translation and begins pulling back on the rope.
After a short bit of exertion, a coughing and sputtering Ashlion is sprawled on the small sandy beach. The young halfling spares a short glare at Bavick before muttering to herself and turning her eyes downward as the water drips from her to the sand at her feet.
"Stomme lang bene weet nie eens hoe om te swem nie."
~~~~
Spending an hour searching the storm debris and fallen nests produces a number of things - it seems the coral capuchins were fond of shiny objects. Scattered coins (49 gp, 174 sp, 770 cp), 12 masterwork arrows, a masterwork light pick, a potion of enlarge person, a silver locket containing a tuft of red hair (worth 25 gp), and eight freshwater pearls (worth 5 gp each).
It also produces 29 coral capuchin eggs.
Once things have calmed down a bit, Rory asks Tygrah, ”Should we take all the eggs, or is there a way to hose & protect some so the birds can repopulate?”
Bavick looks at the Song'o halfling and then addresses his companions in a manner that suggests he is trying hard to compose himself and not scream. He speaks in Polyglot, hoping Tizgah understands. Doesn't want to disrespect her by saying things she can't understand.
Her mother is Zaahku, the tribal leader who welcomed us in.
Zaahku may be angry at us for luring her daughter away, even though I tried to dissuade her.
Zaahku would be more more angry if any harm were to befall her daughter.
We cannot let anything happen to Tizgah. She is not ours to command. We cannot take her back against her will. But perhaps if we go back she will follow.
I suggest we delay our mission, go back to Cahsil, and inform Zaahku of the situation. Unless anybody has any better ideas.
I cannot allow Tizgah to come to harm. Though she is her own person and makes her own decisions, I am not absolutely certain that her mother would see it that way, and it is not my place to persuade her. There is at least a small risk that the leader of the Song'o tribe would blame us, and by extension the people of Pridon's Hearth."
Bavick is not happy at all with this and is really hoping somebody has a better idea.
Then his skin begins to itch, peel, and bleed. He lowers himself into some shallow water.
"I think that critter's bite was some sort of poison..."
”Yolar, can you see about Bavick’s wound? He appears to have some kind of poison.”
To Bavick, he speaks in Polyglot:
Yolar examines Bavick...
"Right then, Ashlion, I'll tell her you're her bodyguard. If the lizardfolk attack, we all keep her safe no matter what. I reckon we haveta let her come with us as far as gettin' the cauldron an' bringin' it back ta Cahsil."
Bavick soaks in the water and addresses Tizgah more gently.
"Ek kan vir myself sorg! Ek is nie 'n kind nie," Tizgah responds to Bavick petulantly. He feels there should have been a foot stomp along with that statement, but she restrained herself.
"I also can speak the stupid tongue," she adds in Polyglot.
Yolar's examination of the halfling's condition indicates that it's neither poison nor a disease. At best guess he postulates that it's some form of a curse.
With Tygrah dealing with the eggs and Yolar taking care of Bavick, Rory says, ”Sounds like we are ready to proceed, then. Shall we?”
Rory idly wonders what Annabella would think of the orc power couple’s nightly antics and now Ashlion’s obsession with his “little swimmers”...”Is everything about procreation with this one?” With a wry smile, he says nothing but follows along in their wake.
"I am one of the best swimmers in my village," Tizgah responds to Ashlion in Polyglot with a smile. "You are big and strong, but your swimming is ..." She pauses for a moment as if trying to think of the word. After a bit, she just wrinkles her nose and grins, shaking her head.
With Tizgah's assistance - and some rope - you cross back over the river without incident. You travel eastward down the river for a bit before the halfling points out the stream that will lead you to Guughwa's waterfall.
You travel upstream for the rest of the day and just before nightfall you come across a large pool. The clear and clean body is well over two-hundred feet in diameter. Five breathtaking cascades of water tumble over the twenty-foot-high, vegetation-covered cliffs surrounding the pristine pool. A mist clings to the water's surface, thick with the scent of a dozen flowering plants. A pastel rainbow of eggshells litters one side of the pool.
As you're looking over the eggshells, there's a rippling in the water and a creature rises to the surface. It's about six feet across and looks to be a cross between a turtle and a crab with lots of eyes.
"Ahh ..." it says in a deep gurgling voice. "More simple beings have come to praise my beauty." It turns in the water seemingly to face Tizgah. "You are Song'o. Are you enjoying living on my river? Tell me how much." It's pronunciation of Polyglot leaves a little to be desired, but it's understandable.
Tizgah's face clouds over. "I do not enjoy your river. And you need to give us back our magical cauldron!"
The eyes surrounding the creature's shell blink in surprise. "You are rude and I don't wish to hear from you any more. Perhaps these other supplicants are more respectful to one as powerful and splendorous as I." It turns back to the rest of you. "What say you taller-but-still-simple beings?"
Frantically looking around for Pai, Rory decides to step up and try this diplomacy thing himself.
"Pardon me, magnificent creature. Might you be the revered monarch of the river, Guughwa? I beg your indulgence, but I do not know the proper honorific with which to address you."
"Oh, you are a wise simple-folk, aren't you?" the creature gushes with a sound like bubbles through a straw. "Yes, I am the Magnificent Guughwa - behold my glory." The creature rises just a little out of the water as if putting itself on display. "There is no need to prostrate yourself, though. Please continue to entertain me. That is why you came to bask in my presence, is it not?"
"Great and glorious Guughwa, we have brought you Coral Capuchin eggs. We seek a trade, that you might restore the cauldron to the Song'o tribe in exchange for these eggs."
”Thank you, oh magnificent Guughwa. I have heard tales of your power and beauty, but to behold you in person...it is overwhelming for one so simple as I. You surround yourself with beauty as well—these amazing waterfalls and beautiful decorations. We have indeed come to bask in your presence, offer you a gift, and ask a boon, but if it is entertainment you desire, let me introduce myself in the form of a story.”
Assuming Pai is still around to help, Rory will go through an abbreviated version of his story with the typical magical enhancements. He will extend the tale to include the suffering of the people of Pridon’s Hearth and Cahsil. Emphasizing the simplicity of the people who are in need of inspiration in order to foster cooperation against the Lizardfolk atrocities, Rory ends with a flourish and offers one of the eggs brought with them as a tribute.
(The idea is that the great and wise Guughwa can inspire the people of the area by gifting the cauldron to them to aid in relieving their suffering and fighting against the evil Lizardfolk. Of course, a trade could certainly be discussed if more eggs are desired...)
Guughwa seems quite pleased at the fawning it's receiving. More of the bubbling sound you take as pleasure follows. At the display of the eggs, it rises higher out of the water and moves closer, excitement evident.
"Oh, you have ... you have so, so many of them," the creature says, its claws clicking open and closed as if in anticipation. "I will ... I will trade you the tiny-folks cauldron. Yes, I will trade you the cauldron for ... twenty ... of those?" Its eyes flick from the eggs in your hands to each of you. "You will accept my generous offer, yes?"
Rory looks towards Bavick and inclines his head, smiling slightly, as if to say, ”You offered the trade...it is your show now...”
Yolar is fascinated by the variety of egg shells while the others bargain with Guughwa.
"Yes, Magnificent Guughwa. We accept your generous offer."
Bavick asks Tygrah to hand over the 20 eggs.
Tygrah hands the eggs to the tojanida. "Here you go! I hope they spark joy in your humble home!" the ranger says cheerfully.
The creature seems to be trembling in excitement as it takes the eggs - the precision demonstrated is surprising, giving the size of the claws.
Burbling in joy, Guughwa vanishes under the water only to return a moment later without the eggs, but with a small cast-iron cauldron which is unceremoniously tossed onto the sandy beach.
"There is your pot. Now tell me more about my wonderful self," Guughwa exclaims.
Rory will praise Guughwa’s great inspirational example, saying, ”We must quickly return to the Song’o and the people of Pridon’s Hearth to spread word of your generosity, power, and beauty, oh magnificent one. They desperately need your shining example as inspiration—we must regretfully take our leave now. I have been greatly honored by having met you. Fare well.”
Then he will leave with the rest of the group, as we make our way back to the village.
Having succeeded beyond his expectations at talking to the tojanida without getting eaten, Bavick decides to not press his luck.
He lets Rory do the talking and leaves with the group.
"Oh, you don't want to leave just yet," Guughwa whines. "I'm not tired of your praise. Besides, simple-folk like you shouldn't be travelling through these dangerous lands at night and the sun's almost gone. Stay and continue to tell me how wonderful I am."
Rory turns to address the others, ”It is rather pretty here, and we have been traveling all day...What do you guys think”
"Great and glorious Guughwa, it is overwhelming for mere mortals like us to tarry too long in your presence. We humbly ask your leave."
~~~~~
"I guess if you must leave, you must," the tojanida responds. The creatures disappointment is clear.
Rory is willing to go along with Bavick’s preferences.
"It probably would be safer to wait until morning to travel back. We do have the heir to the Song'o tribe to keep safe...
You bid your farewells to Guughwa and following Tizgah's lead you head off down one of the streams in a westerly direction.
You can move faster along the stream without fighting through the greenery, but the closing darkness counters any speed gains. Rain comes again, although the heavy canopy protects you from the worst of it. The sounds of wildlife change as the light fails and new sounds reach your ears. Sounds of things that prowl the night. Your luck carries you, though, and nothing seems to desire to make a meal of you.
Some time past midnight you arrive at the dark village of Cahshil. As you reach the perimeter of the village, you're accosted by two halflings patrolling. At annoyed words from Tizgah, though, they let you pass. Other then them it seems the village is asleep and the young halfling leads you back to the large hut you occupied before where you bed down to await the dawn. The young halfling joins you there rather than returning to her own small hut.
2nd of Gozran, 4718 ar
You're awakened the next morning by loud arguing in halfling coming from outside the hut. Climbing out and down into the early-morning drizzle, you find Tizgah and Zaahku engaged in a boistrous verbal tussle which ceases the moment you appear.
"You have returned with our village's cauldron I assume," the older woman says in Common as she visibly calms herself. Tizgah looks back and forth between her mother and your group, clearly not understanding the older woman's words. "We are most grateful for returning it as well as my daughter."