Every Pathfinder’s adventures come to an end eventually, and when an esteemed venture-captain is laid to rest, the Society was unaware of his outstanding debt to the Ekujae elves of the Mwangi Expanse. The elves have not forgotten though, and they expect the Society to make good on the late venture-captain’s promises. It's up to six bold Pathfinders to brave the Mwangi jungle and the dangers within to salvage the Society’s reputation in the region!
Despite the sweltering heat of the midday sun, the marketplace outside Sharrowsmith’s Exports is bustling with customers. Merchants stand in the shade under colorful awnings behind enticing displays of all manner of goods, from fresh fruits to intricate works of art. In the center of the marketplace, two large, vaguely humanoid statues rise from a fountain. Water pours from their gaping mouths as they stare up at the sun. A dark-skinned woman with gold-colored eyes sits on a bench under the fountain surveying the scene. As she catches sight of the newest arrivals, she rises and strides toward the market’s entrance, the crowd parting to allow her past. She speaks in hushed tones.
Greetings, Pathfinders, she says. I’ve been expecting you. For those of you whom I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, I am Aya Allahe. There is much to discuss, but here is not the place. Follow me, please. She leads you through the crowd to an immense stone building decorated with carvings of fierce apes, giants, and reptilian figures.
The heat inside the building is far less stifling than in the market outside. Allahe opens the door to a small, private meeting room. She presses a hidden switch on the wall, revealing a doorway into a well-appointed lounge.
Welcome to the Nantambu Pathfinder Lodge, she says, gesturing widely with her hands. In contrast to her animated gestures, the expression in her eyes is weary. As you have probably heard, the local venture-captain, Nieford Sharrowsmith, recently passed away on an expedition. His unexpected passing left behind many loose ends. I’ve done my best to help the Pathfinders with the day-to-day problems, but the current task is beyond my abilities to handle alone.
Over the last few weeks, the local Ekujae elves have become... she pauses. Well, they have become rather violent toward anyone they believe to be connected to Nieford or the Pathfinders. They have ambushed or abducted several travelers who fit that description, but have not yet killed any of them. Instead, they return their victims, beaten and severely bruised, near well-traveled roads. As I have been the Pathfinders’ primary contact in the area lately, these victims have come to me and reported their experiences.
Mostly they speak of being questioned and threatened. The Ekujae claim that Nieford Sharrowsmith owes them a service, and that if he himself will not settle the debt, then his friends or associates will. I have searched what records I have of Nieford’s, but so far all I have found is a single entry in one of his journals describing a path he once followed to the Ekujae, although there is no mention of any deal. Given his penchant for secrecy and relying upon his own memory, however, I have no doubt there is something he said to the elves to strike a bargain. That the suspicious Ekujae were willing to make a deal with him at all speaks to his strength of character. He was an honorable, trustworthy man, and the Society is poorer for his passing. Allahe pauses for a few moments, bowing her head in remembrance.
When she speaks again, her voice is clear and determined. She hands the you a detailed map drawn on a scrap of paper. Nieford drew this map to help him find his way to an Ekujae village. I ask that you follow this map as best you can and make peaceful contact with the insular elves. If you are not confident of your ability to navigate the jungle, I suggest you hire a guide. Once you arrive in the village, find out what it is that the Ekujae want, and if it is in your power to do so, fulfill Nieford’s bargain. While I doubt the Pathfinders could ever turn the Ekujae into full allies, they are dangerous foes. Allahe shakes her head, Let us learn from the Aspis Consortium’s mistakes and not antagonize them.
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"Kuukuruu comes from Mwangi. So I can act as guide" The little grippli says flicking his tongue out. "The bugs are easy enough. A bit of boomer and they all scatter." He says and demonstrating the explosions with his hands. "The smarter ones wait for you to get yourself in trouble. Like waiting for you to get caught up in quicksand or under growths. Which is why Kuukuruu sticks to the trees."
Moving through the market place you see several people advertising themselves as guides to the area for a fee.
Also for sale one small stall has small pots of insect repellent. If you inquire you are told that they are 10 gold pieces per pot.
The village where Sharrowsmith met with the Ekujae is approximately 100 miles southeast of Nantambu. You set out and the day passes mostly uneventfully. You move through the jungles with the accompaniment of chirps, hoots and the occasional roar. The canopy is alive with movement of birds and monkeys. As the afternoon is moving toward evening of the first day water begins to filter through the foliage overhead as a rain storm begins. Soaked you make camp.
The night passes uneventfully and around dawn the rain stops leaving everything soaked, but at least you don’t have to walk in the rain. The sun rises on day two and the air becomes steamy as the heat of the day comes on.
The trek though the jungle is much the same as the previous day. The animal calls and buzzing insects are constant companions and you move along the now soggy ground. Again, as evening approaches the skies open up and rain begins to fall. You find a place to camp for the night and set-up your resting area.
Crickets chirp through the night and flying night fauna can be heard overhead along with the scurrying of small creatures on the ground. Thunder rolls and there are flashes of lightning throughout the night. The rain eases in the wee hours and is done by the time you are breaking your fast.
Breaking camp you stow your belongings and begin to walk again for a third day. You move through the trees, now becoming used to the multitude of wildlife around you, unseen but definitely heard in the jungle.
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”Not my usual terrain. The flora here is fascinating. Those things that look like onions but smell closer to roses, they’re everywhere. I wonder how they pollinate?”
Seldiir wags his finger at Beaky, ”Hey, hey, avaunt from that! Put that fruit down!”
The hippogriff, nearly twice the size of Seldiir, bows its head and drop a pale pink fruit into the leaf litter on the floor.
The ground ahead if boggy and has become a patch of quicksand, no doubt the result of the rain the past few nights. Fortunately just about everyone in the party knows about this type of thing are were on the look out.
While you look at the quicksand three creatures come out of the undergrowth. They are insectoid with two pairs of bat wings, a tangle of thin legs and a needle sharp proboscis.
Combat Round 1 - Bold May Act
Sadaf
Boomer
Seldiir
Red
Yellow
Kuukuruu
Haze
Blue
Boomer throws a bomb and it explodes on Blue, the Blue enemy drops to the ground in a smouldering heap.
Both Red and Yellow manage to dodge some of the splash.
It doesn't make much difference to Red though as Saldiir slices it in two.
Combat Round 1 - Bold May Act
Sadaf
Boomer
Seldiir
Yellow
Kuukuruu
Haze
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This catsuit sure clings, Arileth gripes to herself as she makes her way through the jungle. Delayed a bit by a dalliance with a handsome Nantambuan man, the blond elven vixen had nonetheless been able to nearly catch up with the other Pathfinders she had heard were assigned to this mission.
If there were any doubt in her mind of that, the rather loud sound of a bomb going off removed it--they were nearby. More than nearby; she was practically on top of them! And they were probably in trouble, too! Unsheathing her longsword, Arileth charges into the undergrowth just in time to see a trio of overgrown insects attacking a very unusual collection of humanoids.
Yellow flies up to Saldiir and tries to latch onto him.
It cannot seem to get its proboscis into Saldiir's skin.
Combat Round 1/2 - Bold May Act
Boomer
Seldiir
Yellow
Kuukuruu
Haze
Haze swings and misses. Thankfully he also misses Saldiir.
Boomer drops the third enemy into the soggy mud.
Two figures emerge from the brush. They have been pushing to catch up to you.
You resume your journey and the next four days and night pass in much the same way as the previous ones. The air is steamy, the nights are rainy and the ground is boggy. You do not encounter any major threats however. Jungle cats are seen once or twice and while they come close to the camp they never enter it and do not attack.
By midday on the eighth day you are nearing the border of the Ekujae territory. You hear a ringing slap as of a hand meeting a face and a voice in common bellows Move, you long eared tree hugger
You move into a clearing to find two humans and a half-elf dragging two elves.
Combat Round 1 - Bold May Act
Kuukuruu
Blue
Arileth
Seldiir
Haze
Red (half-elf)
Therin
Yellow
Boomer
The blue enemy raises his bow, scanning the trees for signs of whoever is speaking.
Combat Round 1 - Bold May Act
Kuukuruu
Blue
Arileth
Seldiir
Haze
Red (half-elf)
Therin
Yellow
Boomer
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Seldiir shakes the latecomers by the hand, "Always good to have the gods on our side. You are most welcome."
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Seldiir commands Beaky to stay back .
Then he moves forward with an arrow nocked but his bow pointed down, prepared to respond to violence in kind but not ready to initiate any violence.
Then he addresses the elves directly, "Are you okay? Who are these men?"
Red says Find whoever that is. We can sell them too and make this a bit more worth our time.
Combat Round 1 - Bold May Act
Kuukuruu
Blue
Arileth
Seldiir
Haze
Red (half-elf)
Therin
Yellow
Boomer
Therin bashes Blue with his morningstar. It makes a solid THUNK sound as it connects with flesh.
Yellow draws and arrow and fires it at Therin.
The arrow bounces off Therin's armour.
Combat Round 1/2 - Bold May Act
Kuukuruu
Blue
Arileth
Seldiir
Haze
Red (half-elf)
Therin
Yellow
Boomer
Kuukuruu takes Blue out.
Combat Round 2 - Bold May Act
Kuukuruu
Arileth
Seldiir
Haze
Red (half-elf)
Therin
Yellow
Boomer
Red begins to mumble and chant, making gestures with his hands.
Suddenly 4 more Red's appear.
Combat Round 2 - Bold May Act
Kuukuruu
Arileth
Seldiir
Haze
Red (half-elf)
Therin
Yellow
Boomer