With a devastating blow, Tygrah opens up the bloated figure in front of her and it collapses into the sand. Ashlion follows up his wife and similarly finishes off the remaining figure. The only things that still move under the dark gray clouds besides the party are the waves and the gulls overhead.
Rain begins to fall as you search through the wreckage of the Colbalt Eye looking to see what is recoverable. After a couple of hours, you find the following:
an intact hunting bow
four potion vials
1,632 gp
22,350 sp
21 pp
six quartz gems
a monkey-shaped bone idol
And probably the most valuable item under the circumstances, the ship's passenger manifest.
You also find in the ship's hold the relatively still-intact cargo of construction supplies. There's probably at least a ton of lumber, canvas, pitch, nails, rope, tools, etc. Materials always useful for a small frontier town.
Is there a salvageable ship’s boat to help with transport?
”Well fought! What were those things? Some kind of undead?” Rory asks Yolar. While discussing, Rory helps prepare the bodies for a respectful burial.
”This cargo could be quite useful for the town,” remarks Rory as they search. ”Perhaps we carry the portable, valuable items with that magic backpack, then send the townsfolk back here to get the heavy cargo now that the undead threat is neutralized.”
Yolar examines the corpses. "I believe so, although I'm not sure what kind exactly. I fear that they might have been from the crew of the ship, but who knows. Let us give them a proper burial...maybe that will put their souls to rest."
You spend some time interring the bodies farther up the beach and speak a few soothing words over their final resting place.
Once that's complete, you gather the portable valuables and return to the rafts that Tizgah is diligently watching. You then set off through the water that's growing even more choppy back to Pridon's Hearth.
The rain is coming down harder and the sun is all but gone from the sky when you arrive at the docks of the village. You take just enough time to store your valuables at the Stone Hall (with Tizgah standing defiantly outside in the rain, refusing to enter the building) before heading off to Adaela's small home.
You're all but soaked when you reach her doorstep and she puts a hand up to conceal a smile and mutters something about 'drowned rats' before bringing you inside and providing towels with which to dry off. The surroundings are cramped and it seems as if the Sheriff's home is still under construction, but the woman's cooking is exceptional and she opens a bottle of quality Eleder whiskey to accompany it.
"I wish to thank you again for rescuing my cousin," she says, partway through the meal. "He's the only family I have left and it would be..." She looks off in the distance. She shakes her head and doesn't continue the thought. "I hope you're settling in here at Pridon's Hearth. It's become a home to me and I think it can become a home to you as well."
Tygrah is grateful to be out of the soaking rain, eagerly wiping off her green skin and dark hair with the towel, and digging into the food and alcohol even more eagerly. "It was no trouble at all. Despite the constant wetness, this place is quite enjoyable! Ashlion and I are looking forward to raising our many babies here!"
"We're bein' followed."
Bavick will wait outside with Tizgah.
He lets her know what is up and tries to duck out of sight to get a better view at the individual trailing the party.
--
In Pai's absence, he responds to their host, "Sheriff Adaela, we have been warmly welcomed here, and we are most gratified to be able to have helped your family. Speaking for myself, I would be happy to make this my home once the current 'troubles' are resolved. I am concerned, however, about the situation with Hamsa Gadd's expedition."
Rory looks around to see if anyone is listening in and notices Bavick's absence. A look of concern crosses his face, and he continues, "Let us wait until Bavick ensures our privacy before speaking further of that matter."
Once the rest of the group moves inside the sheriff's small house, he waits for a few moments before moving away into the falling darkness.
~~~
"Hamsa Gadd..." Adaela repeats the name thoughfully. "Yes, let's wait until your companion returns before we speak more of her."
The woman eyes Rory for a moment as if considering her next words. She looks down at her plate and forks a small piece of meat. "You know," she says, looking back up at the monk with a barely concealed grin. "I didn't realize that you had a guardian angel." Her grin grows wider as she pops the sliver of chicken into her mouth and chews for a bit, seemingly enjoying the man's confusion. "I've been 'instructed' to not send you on any missions that might mar your 'splendid physique'." She raises a single finger. "Her words, not mine."
She turns to Tygrah. "This is harsh country, but for those with the strength - and you seem to have no lack of that - it can be a rewarding place to raise a family."
"Uh, yes, indeed..." sputters Rory as he tries to maintain his composure, but failing utterly. Turning a light shade of red, he attempts to quickly change the subject. "...uh...Quite a nice whiskey, I say," and he takes an over-large sip...
... ...
...exhaling harshly afterwards, but not totally losing it after the strong liquor burns down his throat.
|
She turns to Tygrah. "This is harsh country, but for those with the strength - and you seem to have no lack of that - it can be a rewarding place to raise a family."
"TYGRAH IS THE STRONGEST WOMAN!" Ashlion declares loudly, clearly enjoying both the cooking and the wine. He reaches for his wife's hand in a surprisingly tender gesture even as he declares. "WE WILL HAVE MANY STRONG BABAIES!"
The halfling scout appears at the mention of whiskey.
"Save some for me, Rory. Just a dram."
Bavick handles the whiskey with little trouble and then explains, "One of Blackwell's men followin' us. He waited a bit an' moved on. Blackwell gave me a yarn on the boat about surveyin' mineral potential but that ain't his business here."
Now that Bavick has returned, Rory launches into his tale.
”Thanks in no small part to Bavick and Muhdzuzi, we were able to reach the Song’o village and befriend their leader, Zaahku. After gaining their trust, they told us of the Lizardfolk, whom they call Mireborn.”
Shifting in his seat and taking another fortifying drink, Rory looks around and continues, ”She told us that the storm hitting our village was grossly unnatural. Its presence angered Gozreh; it stings like a personal insult. There’s little doubt in her mind it has something to do with the expedition the Mireborn attacked, as they were disturbing the Storm Kindler ruins.”
"Of the attack itself, she said the Mireborn returned to the area unexpectedly recently, and fell upon our fellow ‘tall-folk’ without mercy. A few of their hunters looked on, but could hardly have turned the tide either way. They said one woman in orange and green escaped, and a handsome young tall-folk began to parlay with the Mireborn’s shaman."
”Of the Storm Kindlers, she told us her grandfather used to tell scary stories of the Storm Kindlers who arrived in the delta when he was still a child — some sort of Gozreh cult as he recalled, but selfish and rude and arrogant. He claims they bred storms like other tall-folk breed dogs. They built a small village nearby, and later constructed a temple in the Jungle of Hungry Trees. The entire cult vanished in an enormous storm before her grandfather had grown his first whisker, though, and she has has upheld his order to let the ruin rest in peace, wherever it may be...”
”She told us that the Storm Kindlers claim to honor Gozreh, but she believes them to be heretical and dangerous. She doesn’t know where the Sky Tempest Temple is located, but she gave us directions to both the Ruined Village and the ambush spot.”
Looking directly at Adaela, Rory concludes, ”I don’t know what game Hamsa is playing at, to accuse the Song’o of the Mireborn’s attack, but we would need proof to credibly accuse her of deception. Such proof might be at the site of the ambush. I wonder, too, who the ‘tall folk negotiator’ is, if he might be working for Blackwell.”
”Or, now that we know where the village is,” he says, ”We could go directly there.”
Somewhat worn out from his exposition, Rory leans back and sighs, ”I wish Pai were here...”
Adaela nods knowingly as Bavick explains who was following you. "This doesn't surprise me. They're trying to determine if you're a threat to their plans or not."
At questioning looks, the sheriff continues. "Are any of you familiar with the Aspis Consortium? It's a ruthless trade organization. Blackwell's a member. I'm not sure what he's he for, though, because Hamsa Gadd is their local eyes and ears. My fear is that they have plans to turn the Count into their puppet - or replace him. The frustrating thing is that there's not really anything I can do - they haven't broken any laws - yet."
"I wish I know what Gadd's expedition was really doing in the jungle. I'm positive there's more too it than what she's said. I thought she was the only survivor, but if the Song'o saw someone else, perhaps more information could be gained from talking to them. Yes, investigating the ambush site might provide more information."
She looks around at all of you, her gaze conspicuously passing by Tizgah. "There's a young man in town by the name of Kanjo Arram. His master was part of the expedition and I'm assuming died along with the others. He's been asking questions about it as well. Perhaps you might talk to him."
"Oh, and there's something else. I know I already gave you a reward for rescuing my cousin, but I really feel ..." She rises from the table and reaches up above the fireplace to pull down a steel shield hanging above the mantle. The Sargavan flag is emblazoned across the face of it and It seems rather heavy. "... that more was needed." She holds out the shield to Ashlion. "I'd like you to have this."
"Adaela, you are too kind. I'm sure we will put the shield to good use--is there a history behind it?"
Later, he adds, "Also, where can we find this Kanjo Arram?"
Rory staggers under the heavy but friendly blow. "Uh, thanks for the support, Ashlion, but monks don't use shields. Maybe Yolar could make good use of it instead?"
"It was borne by a holy warrior of Iomedae," Adaela says in response to Rory's question. Her hands seem to move unconsciously to cover the sword and sunburst tattoos on her forearms. "But that was a long time ago. I think you'll put it to better use than she did."
"Kanjo was staying at the Stone Hall, but I think his money ran out so I'm not sure where he's currently sleeping. I've seen him around so I know that he hasn't left town."
"The cargo left intact from the shipwreck looks like it could be very useful to Pridon's Hearth as it weathers these unnatural storms. We had to leave it behind, as it was too heavy for us to carry, but we dealt with the undead nearby, so townsfolk with boats and strong leadership"--here he looks meaningfully at Adaela again--"could recover it."
Taking a look at the lashing rain outside, Rory continues, "I fear the storms may not let up enough for much recovery, though, and there may be more attacks at the height of the storm like there were last time."
Turning to the cleric of Gozreh, Rory asks "Yolar, what do you make of this storm? Is it another unnatural one sent by the Storm Kindlers? Do we have time to investigate the ambush site or help with the recovery of rebuilding materials, or should we go straight to the ruined village before the storms destroy Pridon's Hearth?"
"It's possible that all of this is tied to the cult. I think we should investigate the ruins first. Maybe we can put a stop to this once and for all..."
"If Hamsa Gadd suspects we are onto her, she can hide the evidence at the ambush site as to what they were doin' there. But if we don't investigate the ruins first, the storms can continue. Tough call."
The current rain isn't on the level of the previous storm and to Yolar's weather eye, it doesn't look like it will reach that level of fury.
It still doesn't seem normal for this time of year, though.
”Sounds like the ruins first thing in the morning, then? What du’shuh think, Tygrah?”
Slurring a bit, Rory adds, ”Okay, maybe not too early in the morning. I need to stop drinking thishh whiskey—it is a bit too good...”
"The ruins sound good to me!"
"I'll send some of my deputies out with a couple of volunteers tomorrow morning to see about bringing back those supplies," Adaela replies to Rory's hint. She smiles. "Thanks for finding the wreckage. If you found the manifest, you should take it over to the Count's estate tomorrow as well. I'm sure he'll reward you for the information."
Once the evening seems to come to a close, the sheriff bids you good evening at the door and sends you off each with a bottle of potent
Sargavan ale.
Tizgah takes her leave as well. "I will not be staying in that 'Stone Hall'," she says to Bavick in Polyglot. "I will not let that woman poison me with her ale or anything else. She says I am after her husband, but why would I want an old man like that?" She spits on the ground. "That is what I think of both of them." She looks off into the rain. "I met another of the folk last night, her name's Heri. She said I could stay with her. She doesn't have a husband and won't try to poison me. I will meet you tomorrow morning at the docks by the rafts, yes?" She then moves off quickly through the downpour.
You then head back to the Stone Hall.
As Rory weaves his way back to the Stone Hall, he mentions to Bavick, ”Yannow, if the Count ish going to pay lotsah gold for the lisht, maybe itsh worth a read-over ‘fore we giveshit over.”
As he settles in his room, Bavick may overhear some ?giggling? and some murmuring about ‘spulendid phushike’...
Bavick would like to accompany Tizgah as far as this Heri's house, try a Sense Motive to get a hunch about Heri, and then go back to the Stone Hall.
It would be most unfortunate if this Heri were associated with Hamsa Gadd, Blackwell, or the Aspis. That's his biggest concern.
"Thanks for taking her in, Heri. No ale for her, 'kay? See ya in the morning by the docks, Tizgah."
At Rory's slurred suggestion, he does take a look over the passenger manifest. He might know a few of the names from Eleder. Whether he does or not, he says a quiet prayer for their souls.
Tizgah shrugs at Bavick's offer to accompany her. "It is your village, Bavick Whiteriver. You may go where you wish." She leads Bavick through the rain to Heri's Conservatorium and knocks on the closed door. After a moment the door's opened by the halfling alchemist.
"Hey Cutie!" she says in wide-eyed wonder. "You came back!" The woman frowns slightly and then reaches out and pokes the girl's arm with an extended finger - almost as if attempting to determine if she's real. Her test seemingly a success, her face lights up again. "Yeah! You came back. Come on in." She steps back out of the way so the two of you can enter the dimly lit shop.
"Thanks for taking her in, Heri. No ale for her, 'kay? See ya in the morning by the docks, Tizgah."
"No worries about that," Heri responds. She scrunches up her face in distaste. "Can't stand the stuff. Us girls are just gonna get to know each other. It'll be like a party! And I've got just the thing." She steps off into rear of the shop and sounds of glass clinking together.
"Thank you for walking me here, Bavick," Tizgah says. "I'll see you in the morning."
A moment later Heri returns from the back room. "Hey Cutie! You came back," she says in surprise. "Bavick! How did you guys get in? I thought I locked that door. Oh well. Are you staying the night?" she asks. "Yes, I am," Tizgah responds with an indulgent smile. "Why don't you show me where I can sleep?" She turns to Bavick, "Goodnight, Bavick."
~~~~
Returning to the Stone Hall, Bavick spends some time going over the the water-damaged manifest. After a bit of time he determines that if there's anything of significance other than the names of the victims then he's not seeing it.
~~~~
5th of Gozran, 4718 ar
A refreshing morning arrives (at least for those that didn't overindulge the night before) with a slight break in the now ever-present rain. The sky is still filled with dark clouds but for some reason the heat seems to have lessened a bit.
You take a quick trip to the Count's estate to present the ship's manifest and Count Narsus seems quite pleased. Pleased enough, in fact, to present you with a pouch holding a hundred platinum coins. "It will be a some comfort for the families of those on the ship to have some closure," he says.
Standing at his side with a rapier on her belt, Hamsa smiles as well. "You'll have to come by some evening for dinner," the attractive woman says. "I'd like to thank you as well for all the work you've done for this village."
~~~~
You then return to the docks where you find Tizgah waiting for you at the rafts. She yawns widely as she helps you push off to begin your journey back up the river.
"Er, not the wine, neither, Heri, 'less ya got some alchemical wonder to make a hangover go away. Sell that to the Caydenites and it'll make ya a few silvers."
---
Bavick offers his thanks to the Count. To Hmasa Gadd, he merely smiles and gives a polite bow.
---
The next morning, Bavick is pleased to see Tizgah in good health.
"I'll go talk to him. I think he likes me," Tygrah says with a toothy grin. "Perhaps I can persuade him into giving me a better deal."
She'll visit the shirtless smith with her husband's coin.
Vethorn seems quite pleased to see Tygrah return to his shop.
"I see that you have left your other suitor behind today and come to me alone." His grin broadens and he puts down the tools he was working with. He grabs a nearby cloth and wipes his face and then his hands.
"So, will it be business or pleasure, beautiful lady?"
~~~~~
"What do you want today?" Mirya barks at Rory as he enters the cluttered building. "If you've come to complain that the magical bag is the wrong color then turn right around and don't let the door hit your ass on the way out."
~~~~~
With Tizgah's assistance, you make good time up the river avoiding any hostile wildlife, and reach Cahshil by nightfall. The Song'o are content to host you for the night and the next morning you set out along one of the other tributaries.
6th of Gozran, 4718 ar
The rain is back with a vengeance and the wind is accompanying it. Following the directions Zaahku gave you, leads you to land at a wide point in the river and set out on foot. An hour later you arrive at the ruins of a village.
The roofs of this circle of timber-and-mortar homes have all collapsed, and once-vibrant paint peels away in long strips. Rampant jungle growth obscures the remains of a well, benches, and a human-shaped statue.
"...have decided to exile Chitauli rather than acknowledge his insight and take the bold steps needed to survive. The Eye is a sign from the Wind and the Waves, and if we wish to truly take control of our destiny, we must master the same energies that birthed it. These conservative old fools are content to wring their hands and wait while Lirgen rots around us, and so the true Storm Kindlers depart for the south. Chitauli has agreed to guide..."
|
|
Ashlion goes with his wife but stays away from the store - although the force of his glowering is probably palpable in the Song'o village...
Apparently keen to prove his worth Ashlion leads a thorough search of the homes and is the first to discover the secret compartment.
"LITTLE KNIFE! AND SHARK FIN!" He declares. "WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?"
"My business is pleasure," Tygrah says, sauntering over to Vethorn and batting her eyelashes. "I am in the market for a big, sharp, axe. The biggest one you've got. Help a woman out?" She jingles the coin pouch enticingly.
Rory smiles at Mirya’s Gruff manner, recalling her instead as the young beauty of the painting with the sea breeze in her hair. Beauty is everywhere, if you know when to look for it...
”No, Mirya, the bag is wonderful, although I am not the one carrying it, at the moment. You wouldn’t happen to have another one, say the size of a pouch with a similar magical ability? Or perhaps a bandolier for my shuriken?”
Rory adds, in a more serious tone, ”Actually, I have come across a bit of coin during our travels, and we now head north to confront the ones who we think are ‘kindling’ the storms against us. I was hoping for something, perhaps magical, that might be of special use against the Lizardfolk. Wands, scrolls, and the like would probably be best.”
”Failing that, perhaps some counter to their possible trickery—scrolls to ferret out invisible creatures and make them visible, to inure us against their storm’s lightning strikes, or maybe help us fly up to meet them if they hover beyond our reach.”
Yolar steps into Heri's..."I rather enjoyed this concoction of yours.", he says to Heri. "Can you tell me what is in it? I might be interested in buying more."
Mirya frowns at Rory's requests. "No one's ever ordered scrolls like that so I'm not sure how long it would take for them to arrive," she says tapping her chin with one finger. "But Cassia and I brought a lot of scrolls with us. Nothing powerful, you understand. Can't afford to invest in expensive inventory."
She walks away and begins moving through the plethora of shelves. "But that also means that Cassia was the one that decided where they went. She ran the front and I ran the back - that was our agreement." There's a clattering of small items falling to the floor. "Dammit! Where would she think to put...? There they are!"
A moment later, the woman appears with numerous scrolls rolled together with ribbons tied around them - each ribbon scribbled with a label in crabbed writing. She begins sorting through them and setting some aside.
"It looks like today is your lucky day," she says with a wrinkled smile. "And not just because you get to deal with my sunny nature, but it looks like I've got all those."
~~~~
"I would gladly help you out," Vethorn says to Tygrah, his voice lowering. "I have just the thing for you," he continues. He steps over to where weapons hang from the wall. Reaching up he pulls down a greataxe. Its twin remains there while he brings this one to Tygrah. "Feel this," he says pressing the haft into her large hands. "I've worked an enchantment into the blade." His hands move up affectionately across the flat of the blade where Ulfen runes are worked into the steel. "Can't you feel it? Feel it throbbing in your hands?"
"For a beautify woman such as yourself, I would let it go for two thousand gold and a kiss."
~~~~
"A concoction of ... mine?" Heri replies with confusion. "Did I sell you one? Sorry, I don't remember. I can sell you another if you'd like. I've got all sorts. I mostly use herbs, fungus, some oils." She giggles. "And a few ingredients that I keep secret," she adds with a wink.
"No predicting what they'll do. I can promise that it'll be a wild ride, though." She turns towards the back room. "Hey! Cutie! Are there any more of those special potions from last night?"
There's no response.
"Dang. Where'd she go," Heri grumbles as she wanders into the back. She returns a few minutes later with a box filled with potion vials. "Not sure where she ran off to. Oh, well."
As Rory counts out the money, he asks "Thank you, Mirya. And perhaps a good sturdy bandoleer with flaps to keep the scrolls dry in this unending rain?"
Mirya provides a leather bandolier that will keep rain off them, but won't help if he goes into the water.
Mirya provides a leather bandolier that will keep rain off them, but won't help if he goes into the water.
”Yolar, what do you make of this amulet Ashlion has found? It appears to have religious significance, but I can’t remember what deity it honors.”
Bavick pokes around the rest of the ruins but doesn't find anything.
Finding nothing else of note , you look over the central vine-covered statue. Clearing some of the vines reveals a hardwood carving, masculine on one side and feminine on the other. Yolar readily identifies the figure as a representation of Gozreh, the god of weather and the sea. There's an inscription in at the statue's base.
"Салхи ба давалгаа биднийг харж болох Нүдэнд өгч, хоёр нүд нь бүтээлийг ширтэн харахын тулд энд аялдаг. 4621 онд байгуулагдсан."
Rory will join Bavick in looking around the ruins.
”Bavick, how I are things going with Tizgah? I am a bit concerned with the way she has been treated in town.”
Then, surprisingly, Rory uncovers an old book in a pile of oiled cloths. ”What do you make of this, Bavick?”
"...have decided to exile Chitauli rather than acknowledge his insight and take the bold steps needed to survive. The Eye is a sign from the Wind and the Waves, and if we wish to truly take control of our destiny, we must master the same energies that birthed it. These conservative old fools are content to wring their hands and wait while Lirgen rots around us, and so the true Storm Kindlers depart for the south. Chitauli has agreed to guide..."
"'bout as well as could be expected, Rory. Folk in Pridon's Hearth ain't that fond of Song'o and the feeling is mutual. Doin' what I can to keep them from botherin' her too much, but I ain't her bodyguard nor babysitter. I tried ta keep her safe and she came along followin' us, so no point in tellin' her what ta do."
"Good eyes there."
Bavick flips through the journal. "Looks like Chitauli led a band of the Storm Kindlers here from the North... dissidents... this must go back to when the Eye of Abendego appeared. More than a hundred years ago."
Rory doesn’t speak Kellish, but he will attempt to make some sense of the inscription using his training in linguistics.