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Tasaria had heard of the River Kingdoms before but this was her first visit. "Humid, bug-infested, and entirely too unstable," she thinks to herself while walking through the streets of Tymon. This moderately tall, svelte human strides with confidence. "This is a city of gladiators, doesn't pay to look too meek or too confrontational, is my guess."
Dressed for travelling, wearing studded leather armour and a well-packed bandolier, Tasaria has her Wayfinder tucked out of sight. A steel shield and handy scimitar indicate she is not unfamiliar with martial activities. She tosses back her light-sand coloured hair while subtly scanning for other Pathfinders who may also be making their way toward the smithy where they are to meet. Her dark, golden tanned skin glows with health in contrast to many on the streets who look like they would benefit from her healing services.
Tasaria's thoughts wander to the close proximity of Razmiran, "Whatever it is, I hope this assignment takes us further away, I am not keen to deal with that lot yet. Who am I kidding, I'm not sure what I am ready for but I should trust the leadership to send me where I can be of use."
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The figure disembarking in Tymon is an odd one. The woman is obvious a khellid. Her size and colouration give that away. However rather than being clan in furs, she wears the robe of a scholar. Her face too is one of contradictions. Fine cheekbones speak to her obvious ancestry, however anyone getting close enough to look at her eyes would see they are almost golden...certainly a colour that you don't see among the barbaric northern tribes.
Her movements too are odd, gliding down the street like a trained dancer, rather than shouldering her way through like a warrior, or calling for a palanquin as you might expect a rich visitor from the southlands. She glides with the assurance of one who knows where she is and where she is going. Sooner rather than later the figure arrives at the weaponworks. Before she announcers herself, the woman spends a minute or two examining the goods for sale.
"Teja, here to see Holgarin Smine." she says to a hard working apprentice.
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Upon first sight, the woman called Helène Yolescu strikes an immaculate picture. Her features are decidedly Varisian, but her style isn't as abundant as that worn in her home region. For travel she wears a loose divided skirt, high-fitting white shirt with billowing sleeves and a snug waistcoat, all in shades of brown and red. The outfit is proper and stylish, but also somewhat old-fashioned. She wears a silver necklace with Abadar's key as a pendant, but no other jewelry. Unarmored and with apparently only a dagger for defense, she still strides through Tymon with a casual confidence. She joins Teja in inspecting the smithy's wares, tapping one of the blades to listen to its ring. "Excellent quality," she remarks. "Let's see what Smine has for us. I'm ready to talk shop," she adds in a brisk tone that means business.
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On the journey to the River Kingdoms, her fellow Pathfinder have gotten to know Helène as decent company. She's well-mannered, easy-going if meticulous and versed in a variety of topics for conversation. She's brought a few books, which she's happy to share. Helène is keenly interested in other people's stories and isn't too shy to inquire after them. When the topic comes on everyone's motivation to join the Pathfinder Society, she willingly shares her tale.
"I came to Absalom and joined because I felt I had a debt to society. And to the Society. I have a cousin who's been a Pathfinder for a few years, Cornil. He's not really prolific, but you might have seen him around the Grand Lodge. Thin as rails, boxer-type, he's mostly sent along missions as the muscle. His skin has the tendency to turn to stone under stress. No? Anyway, that's part of what got me here... I used to be involved with the family business, Yolescu Alchemicals. We make good things, but there was a lot of shady stuff going on as well. Yes, I'm afraid the prejudices against the Sczarni are true in this case." She shrugs. "My cousins did experiments with... occult and monstrous essences, trying to create ever-stronger mutagens. And Cornil was used as a guinea pig, to field-test the prototypes." She decides to leave out the particulars at this point. "One day I'd just had enough. I quit and burned those bridges. I went to Absalom to visit Cornil, stuck around and decided to join the Society to see what good I could do for him and his colleagues. Our colleagues..."
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Phineas reeks of beer.
It's in his hair, which is currently the light purple of a bruise or a nasty sunset, and in his clothes, which look put together by a mad circus clown with color blindness, and in his smile, which is strangely friendly and welcoming.
"I came here because I like to help people. It makes me feel needed in a way I never felt before. I started slinging drinks at the Wounded Wisp and I guess the society just sort of absorbed me! But I guess I believe pretty strongly in getting the word out about history and mythology and the wonders of the world, so it never bothered me! I'm Phineas Hatt. Folks call me Phin."
The din of ringing steel and the simmering heat of the forge makes Smine's Weaponworks easy to find, beyond even its sterling reputation and its well painted sign. An open sliding door leads into a work area filled with apprentices, each toiling to fuel the ceaseless demands for weapons to feed the city's famed Arena of Aroden.
There are currently only two finished weapons in the front display case, but they seem to be quite well made. One is a dueling sword of the type favored in this area, while the other is a mace with a design in the head. You expect anything struck by the mace would have an imprint from the design.
In response to Teja’s query one of the workers, a grim-faced halfling woman barely taller than her own anvil, flashes a smile and points to a narrow staircase at the back of the smithy. “Head up there.” She then returns to her work at the forge.
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Max appears at first glance to a typical scholar wearing typical scholars garb. If you look a bit longer you'll notice a few things out of place for a simple scribe or sage. His clothing, though cut like a scholars is made of heavier cloth and has a sturdy practicality about it. His boots are rugged and worn but fit for all manner of out-door work. His Taldan features are tanned and windswept.
"There is so much to learn in the world, and if you aren't out there in the thick of it, you are just learning someone else's version of the truth. I am here to further my studies and to leave the places I go at least a bit better than I found them"
As Max follows quietly behind the other Pathfinders, he stops for a moment to sketch the design on the mace and the sword.
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Tasaria notices a couple of people ahead of her enter Smine's Weaponworks as she approaches. One, a scholarly looking chap, seems to be taking notes or sketching something as he looks at the weapons on display but then he enters.
As Tasaria follows them in, a wave of heat hits her and the tang of hot metal and soot tickles her nose, while the din and clamour of the work in progress assaults her ears. She notes the nod and gesture of halfling, dressed like the others in a heavy leather apron, whose brief smile is somewhat reassuring.
Tasaria ascends the indicated stairs eager to learn more of this assignment.
The Pathfinder Lodge above the smithy resembles an adventurer's boarding house, providing an excellent cover for the comings and goings of the Society's agents. A door to a kitchen opens, and a soot-smudged dwarf dressed in a leather apron steps out: Venture-Captain Holgarin Smine.
The dwarf gestures brusquely to a table within the kitchen, his hands wiped passably clean of the ash and grease of his trade. An assortment of bread, cheese, and cider has been set out on the table for refreshments, as is a bizarre doll made of dried wheat stalks.
“Hope the journey went well.” Smine greets. “Dangerous these days. More dangerous further west, so suppose I shouldn't complain.” His short sentences almost matching the staccato cadence of the forges below.
“Won't waste your time. Ever heard of the Mosquito Witch?”
Smine grins and leans across the table, picking up the grotesque doll. Beady, painted red eyes and a needle-like snout is barely visible through shaggy wheat-stalk hair, and six handless arms are clutched to the doll's chest.
“Local legend. Ugly thing.” He turns the doll over in his calloused hands.
“People claim it lives near a town out here called Shimmerford. Hunters have been trying to catch it for over fifty years. No one has managed to. Villagers sell the failed hunters dolls and souvenirs instead. Fun for all.”
He frowns and hands the doll to Chug, gesturing for them to pass it around.
“Not now, though. Mosquitoes and bloodseekers started plaguing the villagers. Killing livestock. Swarming people outside. Getting into food. Been happening for a year or so. People are starting to leave the town entirely. ”
“They blame the Mosquito Witch. I don't.” Shaking his head, he grimly adds “Doesn't matter. It's a problem either way. ”
Looking around at the assembled group, he proclaims “You're going to stop it.”
“Pests.” Smine spits out.
“Look like a giant mosquito. Some people call them stirges. Can usually smash them with a good whack from a hammer.” He mimes pounding something into the table. You can tell he knows exactly what it feels like to swing a hammer that way. “Don't get careless, though. They're big enough to drain someone dry.”
Leaning on the table, he answers Chug’s other question. “Been fifty years since people spotted the witch. Plenty of time to do something like this. It hasn't. Just sticks to the forest, scares people, gives omens. Doesn't send things into the town.”
With a non-committal shrug, he admits “Maybe something riled it up.”
With a wry grin, he then says “More likely it's a Ghlaunder worshipper. Something similar, anyway. Probably heard stories about the witch. Took advantage of them to cause trouble.”
Nodding in reply to Tasaria, Smine straightens up as he says “Never been there myself. Small town. Cheery place. Tourist attraction. Sells Mosquito Witch dolls, masks, bread. See them in the markets here sometimes. Hold a big festival for the witch once a year.”
Wiping his hands on his leather apron, he explains “I've never gotten to go. Too busy.”
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Helène seats herself at the table in the room above the smithy and helps herself to some bread and cheese while she listens to The Venture-Captain. She takes an instant liking to him, impressed by his way to get the message across in just a few words.
The Varisian woman carefully turns the doll over in her hands when it's her turn and finds that she has a few questions for Smine as well. "You say this has been going on for over a year. What have the townsfolk tried to far? Anyone there who could fill us in on the details?"
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When there is another pause in the conversation Tasaria adds, "Festival? Please tell us more. When is it? What does it involve? When did it start? Why did it start?"
"You also mentioned cultists, is there any specific evidence they are involved?"
To herself, she chides "Give the poor man a chance to answer. Also, see what the others have to say and ask. They seem intelligent enough so far."
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Teja listens to the bustle of conversation, and takes out a notebook to record some of the information.
"What can you tell us of fifty years ago? Who last saw the witch? Was she feared by the locals, or a help to them? I know far too many woman out there who have been branded a witch by the local clergy to try and stop them practising their herbcraft.."
She too takes a turn looking at the doll. "Why the six arms? And also no hands? Did the original witch have some deformities?"
Looking to Helène, Smine replies “Find a gnome woman named Galia. Not a Pathfinder. Knows me, though. Knows we fix problems. She's the one who sent a letter about the situation. Would have a better idea of the situation on the ground. After that, find what's causing the problem. Stop it. Report back.”
Looking towards Tasaria, he says “Never been to festival. Sell dolls and food. Ask Galia about it.”
“Ghlaunder cultists seen from time to time. They like the River Kingdoms. Lots of water. Lots of places to hide. Don't know about Shimmerford specifically.”
Looking to Teja and Phin he says “Not sure ever was witch. Lots of stories, not enough facts.”
Pointing towards the doll, he adds “Mosquitoes have six legs. Missing the wings, though folks disagree about that piece. People claimed to see it a while back. Some claim they saw it more recently. No one's proved it. No one's caught it. No one's sure what it is.”
“Would be exciting if we found out.” Smine smiles wryly. “Don't expect us to.”
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Max sits and sips casually at his cider taking note of his peers’ questions, Smine’s answers and studies the doll carefully. He notes it’s texture, scent, and heft, he sketches it quickly in his notes.
Fascinating, likely you are correct some unrelated force is using this local folklore to scare people and work toward its own ends. Think of how interesting it would be if it was the witch though. Certainly worthy of an article or two. What can you tell us of thebother threats in the region? Bloodseekers, hit with hammer. Anything more complicated to worry about?
“All kinds of things. Trolls. Goblins. Tatzlwyrms. Kobolds. Giant insects. Cyclops. Undead cyclops. The fey folk are common around here.”
Smine shrugs, and adds, “River Kingdoms get dangerous. Makes selling weapons good business.”
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Something in Smine's words rub the wrong way with Helène. She stews in silence for a moment before speaking up, more forcefully then before. "Listen, this is probably all a hoax, but I don't like this talk of 'catching' the mosquito witch. If she's responsible for terrorizing the village, we'll deal with it. But if this creature has been living in peace for 50 years and isn't involved with any of this, who are we to try and catch it? What would we do, kill it to mount on the Grand Lodge walls, or take it alive and set it up in a zoo?!" She bites down on her cheese, hard, and realizes she spoke in anger. "Apologies... I know we're all on the same page here, but it's just... let's get to the facts first."
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Tasaria looks toward Helene, "Agreed, though I don't think anyone was actually suggesting we harass the witch, should she exist, rather that there is a definitive problem that needs to be addressed. Locals may attribute it to the witch but if we can show it is unrelated they will hopefully go back to enjoying their festivals and honour their traditions. If the witch or someone else is directly responsible then they need to be held accountable. Possibly something set this in motion that can be addressed and a peaceful solution found."
“I want the facts, and the problem in Shimmerford resolved. Not one to insist on it being done a certain way.”
Looking towards Max, he says “If you want to go by horse, that is your choice. This is River Kingdoms, more traffic by boat than road.”
““I hired you a boat. Good ship. Good crew. They'll take you down the river to Shimmerford. I'd stay inside while traveling, though. Clouds of mosquitoes are hanging by the shore and above the water. Doesn't sound pleasant.”
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"Good thinking Max" notes Teja.
"Up north we don't have much trouble with insects. Too cold. These lands though... they seem to be everywhere. I think I'll pick some up too. ".
She eyes the six armed doll with disgust. "Odd it has six arms and another two legs though. Guess they are trying to blend that stirge form with a human. Speaking of which, can you give us any recommendations about fighting stirges?"
Her eyes go back to the well made mace, and she takes out a book to sketch was an imprint of it might look like... on a six legged long nosed flying ...thing.
“Kill them at range. Work together. Don’t let them attach and drain your blood.”
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Helène finishes her bread and cheese. "I'm not sure whether I'll be up for 'Bug Juice' when this is all over, Phineas. But I'll hold you to that drink."
She leans back, indicating that she's about ready to go. "Thank you for chartering the ship. Just two last questions. What's it called, and where do we board?"
“Captain Luffy of the Straw Hat will be taking you to Shimmerford, leaves an hour after sunrise tomorrow.”
Gesturing towards the bunks, he adds “Can stay here today. Buy what you need before you go. Can keep the doll.”
“Anything else?”
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Tasaria looks through her equipment and then at the others, "We should probably check that as a group we have most basic supplies covered. Things like rope, pitons, grappling hook, probably some alchemist bombs, healing potions (though I will do what I can, of course). What about light sources? Who needs them and what do we have? I have a Wayfinder. I should also think about what spells to prepare."
Looking to at Smine she asks, "Are there any good bug repellents that you know of?"
She thoughtfully reaches out and picks up the doll, looking it over again before putting it with her gear.
Looking to at Smine she asks, "Are there any good bug repellents that you know of?"
“No.”
Maximilian and Teja spend some more time looking over the doll and talking about the Mosquito Witch. Maximilian recalls a tale from almost 60 years ago. A group of mostly teens were in a forested area now known as Witchtop Hill and claimed to have spotted the Mosquito Witch. He can not recall any further details.
The next morning you gather your equipment, grab a quick breakfast, and make your way to the docks.
The Straw Hat is a flat bottom barge with a good sized cabin in the center. It is designed for river travel. Captain Luffy greets you at the docks and makes sure everyone gets aboard without issue. He explains it will only take a few hours to reach Shimmerford along the East Sellen River.
The trip starts out pleasant enough. The sun is out, there is a gentle breeze and you can just float down the river with the current.
As you get closer to your destination the trip becomes less pleasant. At first there are just an occasional mosquito, then there are a few dozen flitting around. Soon you see dense clouds of them along the bank -- thick enough that they obscure vision. Sections of the river bank are covered with writing black masses of flying insects.
By the time you reach the town, you are thankful that there was a cabin on the Straw Hat.
When you arrive in Shimmerford you find a town with empty streets. There are no signs of a festival, nor anyone on the street. As you disembark from the Straw Hat, a gnome with blueberry hair and copper skin emerges from a tiny house that has wax and cloth crammed into every crack and seam.
"Oh, thank goodness! Oh, thank goodness! You actually came!" she shouts out excitedly. She rushes over to you. "Smine actually sent someone! You must be them, right? No one comes here a-anymore unless they're planning to help! Do you want to talk inside? My house is mostly mosquito-free! Can I get you anything? My beet juice is also mostly mosquito-free!" She has to pause to spit out a mosquito that got in her mouth in the midst of talking.
She urges you towards the tiny house she came from, swatting at a couple of mosquitos bothering her. Although you don't see any of the thick clouds of them right now, there are several of the tiny pests trying to land on each of you.
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"I think I've made a terrible mistake." Phineas mutters as he sees the masses of flying bugs. He swats and swats, but the buggers won't leave him alone. He murmurs a word of an ancient tongue and casts produce flame. He uses it to scorch any insect that gets too close.
"Smine sends his regrets that he himself couldn't come. But we're somewhat competent, so hopefully we can clear up this witch business right away."
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The next morning, Helène has swapped her divided skirt for more practical trousers. She also wears a pair of worn but well-tended for boots. She wears a bandolier over her waistcoat, filled with a few darts and two ceramic flasks. She looks at Tasaria as she pats one of them. "Apparantly this is Master Shane's idea of a bug repellant. Alchemist's Fire," she explains laughing.
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Helène looks grim by the time they depart from the Straw Hat. She makes it a point to thank Captain Luffy. "Will you stay here to take us back?" She swats away some of the pests around her as she follows Phineas. "Galia, I presume? We'd be most grateful if you could bring us inside, somewhere." She swats at the mosquitos again. "Anywhere..."
Shaking his head, Luffy says “Sadly no, I have cargo for other locations on the river. I can stop back in about three days, check how you are doing.”
He swats at some of the mosquitoes trying to feed off him. “It seems it would be rather uncomfortable at the moment, staying here.” He swats at a couple more, then says “Best of luck to you!” before retreating to the boat’s cabin. You can see him through the windows spend some time trying to kill the mosquitoes that followed him into the cabin.
The gnome quickly responds “Yes, I am Galia! Follow me into my shop! Duck your head as you enter!”
She hurries back into the house you saw her come out of, closing the door behind her to minimize the number of mosquitoes following her in.
The shop has what many of you would consider a very low ceiling. It has only 5’ clearance, requiring some of your group to bend down in order to fit. You see a barber’s chair with the tools on a nearby counter — strap for sharpening razors, razors, scissors, some jars that most likely hold creams, soaps and perfumes.
There are three waiting chairs in the area as well.
There is a simple curtain that divides the barber shop from the rest of the home. Seeing how many of you there are, Galia quickly draws the curtain open and gets some chairs from a small dining table for you to sit in.
“My house is mostly mosquito-free! Can I get you anything? My beet juice is also mostly mosquito-free!” She gestures to the waiting and dining chairs, asking “Would you like to sit down?” Gesturing to the barber chair, she offers “A fresh haircut, maybe? Oh, thank goodness you're here!”
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I'll go ahead and declare my alchemist items too, 2 batches of elixir of life, so 4 elixirs.
Hmm, yes now that you mention it, I could use a trim. Please tell us what has happened, spare no detail?
Casting a jealous looking glance at Phineas, Max moves somewhat uncomfortably toward the barber chair and gestures to the party to see if anyone would like to go first, if not he studies himself in the mirror and takes a seat eager for a good cut and shave.
Galia seems delighted that Max has asked for a shave.
She quickly gets out a cloth and wraps it around his neck. Then she goes into the kitchen and pours some water over a small towel. She takes the towel and puts it over Max’s face and then leaves it there as she taps her foot.
While she is doing all of this, she starts to answer the questions.
“No one knows anything for sure about the Mosquito Witch! It's a thing that shows up outside of town sometimes, b-but I've never heard of it causing this much harm! I even think the little dolls people make of it are k-kind of cute. We used to throw a festival every year for it. Anna always made the best witchbread for the festival…”
She stops tapping her foot and pulls the cloth off Max’s face. She lightly pulls at his cheek, evidently testing something, then sets the towel aside. Taking out a large razor, she quickly scraps it against the strap a couple of times before getting up on a stool next to the chair.
“Some people find it helpful to close their eyes.” she tells Max. After waiting about three seconds, she begins to carefully and skillfully shave him. She gently moves his face as needed while working.
“As for happenings, w-well, you probably noticed the mosquitoes. There've been a lot of bloodseekers, too. Those are mosquitoes that are as big as your heads! The little ones are bad enough, but the big ones have been driving people out of the town. One even carried off poor Mrs. McClairby's cat, and some of them killed all of Mr. Rujat's prize cattle. It's been really, really, really awful around here!”
She continues to shave Max as she talks.
Pursing her lips in thought for a moment, the razor away from Max’s face, she thinks. Then Galia shakes her head saying “I think that I covered most everything.” Then she cleans the razor and scraps the strap with it again.
“Anna Marmazine. She is the local baker.”
She then gives directions to the baker’s house.
“As for who to blame, well we really aren’t sure.” As she talks, she does some fine trimming under the nose and around the ears.
“Most people think it's…” Galia lowers her voice to a whisper. “…the witch. I thought that maybe it could have been a c-cultist of Ghlaunder, but that turned out to be wrong, so I don't know what else it could be.”
She inspects Max’s face, then puts the razor away and gets out a mirror. She offers the mirror to Max so he can inspect her work, She seems to be a talented barber, there isn’t a single nick anywhere and even the fine hairs look to be shaved away.
As Max is doing that, she starts cleaning her tools. Looking up towards Max, she asks “Would you like some face cream? Your skin is smooth enough that I don’t think it is needed, but some like it anyways.”
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Helène has no trouble ducking down low to clear the door frame, but she's quite surprised to find the ceiling so low in the barbershop. There's enough small folk in town to run a gnome-sized barber shop? She tries bending down for a while, but eventually settles for sitting back on her haunches. She politely declines the haircut and listens attentively, storing information and trying to form a picture of what happened.
"Why do you say that it wasn't a cultist of Ghlaunder?" she asks when there's a break in Galia's story. "And when did the trouble start in earnest? Can you recall anything else that happened around that time? Strangers in town, perhaps? Unexplained phenomenon? Anything out of the ordinary"