The nearest guard ambles over and looks at your paperwor. "Ayuh, you want Arvok. Over there, by the wagon."
Arvok turns out to be the caravan boss, a middle-aged man with a discerning eye. He looks you up and down before reading the letter, pulling a small hand lense out to examine it. He then asks you a few questions about Delara, to ensure you actually know her and didn't just pick this letter up from the hands of a dead courier or something. He seems pretty thorough and possessed of a keen eye.
As you discuss the matter, it dawns on you that Arvok is in fact wearing a ring that matches the description of the Irrica engagement ring on his right pinky.
"Yes, it seems legit. May take a while to find, though, none of the new stuff has been sorted yet. You're welcome to wait while I go look for it." He turns and heads to the back of the covered wagon, and gets inside. You hear the sound of rummaging.
Natula only spots one aura in the covered wagon, a moderate illusion aura. When Arvok returns, it's clear that the aura emanates from the ring on his finger.
Sorry, I don't seem to know where it is right now," he begins. On hearing Juxian's comment, he looks at his hand in surprise. "No I'm n-..."
Suddenly, the ring on Arvok's finger begins to increase rapidly in size, transforming into a three-foot snake-like creature that remains wrapped around his arm.
Initiative order:
(21) Snake
(21) Juxian
(21) Arvok
(19) Junko
(15) Natula
(9) Konnor
(8) Ratesh
Round 1
The snake-like thing hisses at Ratesh, "There are thieves on the far side of the caravan who are stealing the ring, you should go stop them!". It then turns on Arvok. "These curs are in league with the theives! Fight for what is rightfully yours!"
Juxian, you are up! Map is being updated now.
Round 1 (continued)
Junko tries to calm the man, and casts sanctuary.
Arvok's eyes widen as the snake-thing warns him of thieves, and he grabs a halberd leaning up against the wagon. "Thieves, is it?" he growls. "Well, then... let me show you how we treat thieves around here!" He twirls the weapon in a dizzying flourish as his eyes scan the group warily.
The other merchants and guards of the caravan are just noticing that there is something occuring, and you hear one cry of surprise as someone spots the snake-thing, but none of them have reacted yet.
Everyone else is up!
Kalas flutters skyward 20' to get the lay of the surrounding land.
Round 1 (continued)
Junko steps back and casts glitterdust.
The area is coated with glittery metallic particles, but unfortunately neither of the targets appear to be blinded.
Natula unleashes a lightning bolt at the snake-thing!
The lithe thing manages to avoid the worst of the blast, but the wagon behind it isn't so lucky. The entire sideboard shatters under the impact, and the covering erupts into a tower of flames. Cries of alarm echo around the caravan site.
Konnor tries to sunder the halberd but fails.
Ratesh runs off around the caravan to the left, trying to dodge past guards who are now turning to look at the pillar of flame that used to be the pay-wagon.
Initiative order:
(21) Snake (-10hp)
(21) Juxian
(21) Arvok
(19) Junko
(15) Natula
(9) Konnor
(8) Ratesh
Round 2
The snake-thing hisses at the damage it takes, but it turns into a laugh as the wagon explodes. "Exssssellent! Mayhem! I may let you live for a few momentsss as a reward!" It slithers forward and strikes at Junko with its fangs, but misses.
Juxian is up!
(21) Snake (-10hp)
(21) Juxian
(21) Arvok
(19) Junko
(15) Natula
(9) Konnor
(8) Ratesh ensorceled
Round 2 (continued)
Juxian steps back and tries to extinguish the burning wagon.
Arvok whirls his halberd in a dazzling display of prowess. "Thieves only get one thing from me... a quick trip to the Boneyard!" he snarls.
Everyone else is up!
|
Arvok whirls his halberd in a dazzling display of prowess. "Thieves only get one thing from me... a quick trip to the Boneyard!" he snarls.
"OH, SHUT UP!" Natula takes a quick step to back and launches a geyser of water from the palm of her hand that hits Arvok just under the chin.
Round 2 (continued)
Several of the guards have turned to watch the fight with the snake-like thing. One of them calls out, "Boss! That snakey thing is messin' with yer mind!"
Junko tries to stop the chaos, and casts entangle. Those off the road are wrapped up in the long grass, but those on the hardened mud of the road are not affected.
Natula launches a hydraulic torrent at Arvok. Miraculously, he manages to stand his ground, but the fat merchant behind him is blown backwards, rolling over and over in the newly-muddied road.
Konnor slashes the snakey-thing, injuring it badly.
Ratesh runs back into the road, although the guard doesn't seem to react as he passes by. As Ratesh casts a spell, the cook swings his frying pan at Ratesh.
The pan misses, the spell completes, and three people fall unconscious.
Initiative order
----------------
(21) Snake (-20hp)
(21) Juxian (shaken for 2 rounds)
(--) Spots (shaken for 1 round)
(21) Arvok (wet and angry)
(19) Junko (shaken for 1 round)
(15) Natula (shaken for 1 round)
(--) Kalas (shaken for 2 rounds)
(9) Konnor (shaken for 1 round)
(8) Ratesh ensorcelled
Round 3
The snake-thing hisses at Konnor again. "Oh, no, a mortal ssshrieksssss at me! I cower before your presensssse, oh mighty one!" The thing laughs and lashes out again. Konnor tries to parry but fails, and the snake's fangs sink into his arm.
Juxian is up!
Initiative order
----------------
(21) Snake (-20hp)
(21) Juxian (shaken for 2 rounds)
(--) Spots (shaken for 1 round)
(21) Arvok (wet and angry)
(19) Junko (shaken for 1 round)
(15) Natula (shaken for 1 round)
(--) Kalas (shaken for 2 rounds)
(9) Konnor (-2hp; poisoned, -2 Wisdom damage, shaken for 1 round)
(8) Ratesh ensorcelled
Spots lunges forward, tearing into its snake snack.
Spots leaps onto the snake-thing and tears it to pieces. The largest piece reverts back to a battered ring, while the other pieces dissolve into a fetid vapor.
Arvok shakes his head, and lowers his halberd. "What... what happened?"
You manage to diffuse the situation with the remaining members of the caravan, despite having attacked them all and blown one of their wagons to splinters. Combat ends!
Arvok is willing to have you take the ring as per the note from Althea, and further, he offers you a reward for freeing him from the clutches of the creature. You receive a traveler's anytool, a campfire bead, and iron rope, and 450gp.
The merchant whose wagon was obliterated, however, demands compensation for his loss. Between the replacement of the wagon, staff costs for the delay required to get a new wagon and repack everything, and loss of revenue for being delayed from their next stop during a busy time, he presents Natula an invoice for 150gp.
|
Looking on at the chaos they'd unleashed on the caravan, Junko just shakes her head. "Not how I thought this would go. We're lucky nobody was killed." Using mage hand, she pulls the ring up and toward her, where she wraps it in a small cloth and puts it into a pocket.
She also watches in amusement as the merchant tries to present Natula with a bill for damages. Good luck, buddy, she thinks, before turning to Ratesh. "You feeling okay? You got whammied pretty good."
|
|
The merchant whose wagon was obliterated, however, demands compensation for his loss. Between the replacement of the wagon, staff costs for the delay required to get a new wagon and repack everything, and loss of revenue for being delayed from their next stop during a busy time, he presents Natula an invoice for 150gp.
Natula just stares at the man, the magical syllables for an acidball spell coming unbidden into her mind.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"SQUEE!"
"Well, maybe just the cost of the wagon then," the man replies to Natula, clearly intimidated. "But I can't go lower than that. You've destroyed my livelihood! I can't even move this stuff back to town so I can get a new wagon... "
The emrchant adjusts the costs on the invoice and hands it back, with the new total of 100gp. The rest of the caravan begins to mutter angrily about the damage caused.
|
|
Junko sighs and puts on her best smile before walking over to intervene. "I apologize, my comrade is still excited from our battle against the creature. You're certainly owed compensation for your wagon, and it's very generous of you to reduce your invoice in light of our defeating a dangerous monster that was hiding in your caravan and taking possession of a cursed artifact. Thank you for your patience." As she speaks, she hands the merchant a coin pouch containing the requested 100gp, then turns and attempts to guide Natula away and toward the road. Without actually touching the wizard, of course.
Konnor manages to shake off the posion, though his ability damage remains.
The ring is battered and bent, but essentially whole. You return to town and take it back to the manor house. As you hold it near the locket, the ghost of Althea Irrica manifests again.
"Have you brought me my beloved?" she asks hopefully.
|
|
Ratesh turns to address Natula, These folk may have never had trouble with the cursed ring if we hadn’t shown up. It’s not our fault, but we should try to represent the Pathfinders in a positive light. Even if it means enduring never ending insolence...
*Rolls eyes*
"That's why I said we should give it back to them, dæmon and all. And where were you and your sword during the fight anyhow?" Natula says to Ratesh in her angriest fried growl. "I didn't really see you back there in the thick of things. Out representing the Pathfinders I guess. Those hawkers are just a bunch of Shoanti-givers, first they're forking over gold, and magical pipe wrench-thingies, and then what--a bill? That's gratitude for you. That two-copper carnie is lucky he still has hair anywhere on his body. And for that matter nobody had to know we were with the damn Society. For all they know we could have been with the lousy Bellflower Network. They're called 'secret societies' for a reason."
*Stomps off in an static-tinged huff*
The ring is battered and bent, but essentially whole. You return to town and take it back to the manor house. As you hold it near the locket, the ghost of Althea Irrica manifests again.
"Have you brought me my beloved?" she asks hopefully.
*Rolls eyes again*
Natula listens and mutters to herself. "Oh for the love of Apollyon. Pharasma, snuff me now."
As the ring and locket touch, there is an audible sigh as the ghost dissolves one last time. Thank you for reuniting us," she whispers. "And be careful with the word written behind the portrait in this locket... I do not know what it is, only that it is dangerous beyond measure. Farewell."
Lady Darchana is pleased with the resolution of this mystery, and provides you with a fine meal and lodging for the night before you set out to report to the Venture-Captain.
---
Back in Elidir, Venture-Captain Brackett considers your report. "I still haven't located where the fourth item is, but we know the mace was captured by hobgoblins near the gnome town of Umok. Head there and track it down. Hopefully I can determine where the fourth item went before you return."[/b] He turns back to his papers before pausing.
"One more thing. Someone else has been looking into the Irrica family's will and heirs. You may have someone else trying to collect the parts of the true name. That would be bad. So stay on guard."
The walled town of Umok is nestled on the northeastern edge of the Chitterwood. While built for gnomes, it does have a "foreign quarter" of a kind, with inns and shops catering to the big folk. Fully a quarter of the town's population seems to be made up of animals: deer, squirrels, birds of all sorts, and even some wolves and lizards wander the town freely and seem to enjoy the same rights as citizens. These don't appear to be more intelligent than the typical wild animal, but they do seem to know the rules and behave themselves in the town, at least as well as the humans and other big folks do.
Umok does have some unique laws, including one that Natula probably won't like: no fire is permitted inside or within 500 yards of the town walls. The town is lit by permanent dancing lights and faerie fire at night, and all cooking occurs via magic or alchemically-treated heatstones.
During the Goblinblood Wars, Rutillo Irrica, the last patriarch of the Irrica line, was killed by hobgoblin raiders while leading a convoy. The family patriarchs always carried a symbol of leadership, a cold iron mace. Isgeri historians interviewed survivors in the town of Umok. I was able to uncover information from Eagle Knight records that indicates the Eagle Knights scattered these hobgoblins but did not recover the family heirloom. There may also be additional reports and information from Eagle Knights who fought in the Goblinblood War stored in Umok’s archives. Travel to Umok, uncover anyone who communicated with the survivors, and verify any reports or information from the war to track down the hobgoblins’ base."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Umok does have some unique laws, including one that Natula probably won't like: no fire is permitted inside or within 500 yards of the town walls. The town is lit by permanent dancing lights and faerie fire at night, and all cooking occurs via magic or alchemically-treated heatstones.
|
Knowing that most gnome settlements discourage fire, Ratesh spends the morning before arriving at Umok preparing some more gnome-friendly tricks.
As the group enters the village, Ratesh takes time to appreciate the feats of engineering and magic commonplace to these settlements, and keeps his eye out for anything particularly interesting.
I would suspect the best place to find anyone with knowledge of the Eagle Knights activities from the war would be within the governmental leadership. Perhaps they can point us to some records of interest?