Ingolf brought Ebba with him to the meeting; it seemed wrong to leave her outside. After Adriana addressed the count, he stepped forward and added some details.
"We did find a Song'o halfling alive at the fort. Apparently he had been visiting when the lizardfolk attacked; sadly all his companions were killed. We brought him back to Pridon's Hearth with us. We also met a Grippli, who arrived in the aftermath of the attack. She told us that the Mireborn lizardfolk were responsible.
"The priest that attacked here called his group the 'Storm Kindlers'; apparently they worship 'Hshurha', whom he called 'The Duchess of All Winds'."
Ebba entered the council chamber and looked around at the people assembled there. From Ingolf's previous description, she understood that one of these people was in charge (perhaps the older man?). She sat down by the gnome and listened to everyone's words, trying to understand what was happening. It seemed to her that her group was telling the chief what had happened in the last few days.
The old servant runs around like crazy trying to protect the mansion's floors from the hard hooves of the boar. Two other women join with their hands in the head, protecting furniture as the animal walks in, and extending a ragged carpet to avoid scratches and poo.
"So cunning and mischievous. We never had real problems with the lizardfolk or the Song'o before, they rarely approached our territory, there is enough space for everyone. I wonder what might have changed..." Count Lethar Narsus reflects with a worried expression.
"Attending what the... mmm... do you have a name as a group?" asks Sheriff Adaela Praet before continuing "Attending what they have encountered it seems clear the Mireborn lizardfolk are somehow responsible for the storm. I know little of the Mireborn, I have only heard rumors of their presence in the northern jungle"
Old Banker Baldra Sifreth ends drinking a glass of milk to provide the colonial memory "Early scouting expeditions sent by Count Narsus father years ago reported lizardfolk seasonal camps to the northwest, near some Ghol-Gan ruins, and to the northeast, near a bubbling tar pit, but never any farther south"
Count Narsus coughs before speaking up his thoughts while Hamsa Gadd picks up some goat cheese "I... I wish for Pridon's Hearth to grow into a place where hard work can secure any family a legacy and land for generations. We cannot let our neighbors machinations to put that in danger" the man pats softly the table with his fist, a wide smile in his face "I will lead an expedition to the jungle to find out what is going on and reach to an agreement with them!"
Hamsa Gadd nearly chokes with the cheese as she stands up to protest "But Count Narsus. Lethar. That is dangerous, let's leave those drastic actions to professionals"
Banker Baldra and Sheriff Praet nod in agreement with the younger woman. The Sheriff is the first one to speak up "Advisor Gadd is right Count. We cannot ensure both your safety and the safety of the colony" then follows up the Banker "I cannot agree more. The colony cannot remain without leadership. Administration and trade requires you here. I do agree though that someone should investigate this affair. We cannot secure the colony's progress without finding out what is going on and solving this"
All the eyes turn in your direction.
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"well, I would say we still have a bone to pick with those lizards. coming in here, attacking this town. injuring myself and the sheriff. I don't know about these other folk here, but I for one will be happy to help bring the fight to these lizard people. and did we mention they have trained Dinosaurs?! they used one of them as a battering ram in the fort. I am quite keen to get my hands on one of those beauties... of course, to make sure that we succeed we may need some supplies... and funds?
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Name as a group? Would that be allowed?
Splits looked uncomfortable and thought in his own head.
"I am unsure about the next course of action. I am here to study this storm, but as we've learned the lizardfolk may have a hand in this." He explains the situation with the Elemental Lord, "There is also the matter of the lizardfolk who were supposedly attacked by their foes... I wonder if there is something more here."
He hears Jonah's statement about getting his hands on a dinosaur and holds his tongue, Different lives, different respect.
"Do we know of their enemies? Who may have attacked them other than possibly the Song'O?"
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Ingolf replied to the assembled dignitaries, "We could investigate the situation. I also think we should find out the fate of the Cobalt Eye, and assist any survivors."
He wondered if there was any peace possible with the Mireborn, or if warfare was the only option. His experience with lizardfolk up to this point did not give him much cause for hope.
Count Narsus nods approvingly "Well... I am proud you are willing to stand up and be our eyes and shields out there. You have already made enough to deserve a great reward" the Count takes a bunch of credit notes from a desk and soaking the tip of a peacock quill in ink he starts to write your names on it "Ok, so 500 gold pieces to each of you for researching the Fort and saving the town, oh well, you made it so good that we went through almost unscathed... let's make it instead 750 golds for each of you... and let's add another 500 golds stipend each to prepare your expedition... ok a total 1250 golds note for each of you... take it, Banker Sifreth will change it to coin at the Countinghouse"
"As about the Cobalt Eye, I approve that mission too. The poor ship ran aground west of town during the storm. Please, investigate the ship, offer assistance to any survivors, and retrieve a copy of the ship's passenger list so I can notify the families of those who perished" the man produces a feather from his silken trousers "Take this too, it is a bird feather token, you can use it to deliver me or Sheriff Adaela a message in case of an emergency"
Hamsa Gadd nods and follows up Splits' thoughts "I fully agree, we cannot rule out the Song'o involvement in this, or be at least co-conspirators of the lizardfolk. It is probably a good idea to visit the nearby halfling village of Cahshil and demand answer. That halfling you brought with you, you probably can force him to show you the way to the Song'o village"
"Oh, there is something more I would like you to have..." Count Lethar Narsus stands up and goes into a side room while the others bring their hands over the dates and the pork loin. He returns holding a fine chain shirt and a quiver well stocked with arrows and places them over the table along with two potions "Those are my father's hunting supplies, he was fond of them. I hope you can take good care of them and put them to use for the wellness of the colony"
"Finding the Mireborn in the lands surrounding Pridon's Hearth and stopping them or finding out their relation with the strange weather is the utmost priority. You will have a substantial reward if you effectively thwart this menace" the Count proclaims ceremoniously.
"So..." Sheriff Adaela Praet is the last to intervene before the Council is dismissed "It seems there is a lot of work for you and plenty of possibilities open... how do you think you will approach it? What will you face first?"
Adriana coughs a little and almost has to bite down on her fist - that was much more gold than she'd expected to be handed to all of them. Certainly she'd never had such wealth before and had little idea of what to really do with it.
But she catches the last question and before it hangs too long clears her throat and says "Uh... my companions and I were all discussing the Cobalt Eye earlier, I believe that will be first."
The Count smiles as he senses Adriana impressed by the sum of coin "And I was forgetting... here is a deed to a plot of land within the town walls. You have won the right to be permanent residents of the colony"
The map of Pridon's Hearth marks the location of the terrains with a red circle.
According to the small letter the deed remains binding only if you erect a permanent structure on the land provided and either live or run a business there for 2 years.
Sheriff Adaela nods approvingly "Good. I will request a fisherman to help you cross the river by boat"
"One last thing before you go" Count Lethar Narsus interrupts you "Although we have been living here for some years now we have barely explore the lands outside. If during your explorations you are akin to produce cartography of every geographical feature you encounter and write down details of the plants, animals and geological resources, I will pay you 50 gold pieces for each 12 miles of land you map"
With these last words said, the Council is dismissed and you are once again free to pursue your own devices.
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Being washed over with gifts reminded the druid known as Splits the Leaves of a different time. It would be rude to not take what would be helpful in solving this mysterious maelstrom, but he knew that he would have to tithe some to the great seas and winds when he had the next opportunity.
"Thank you for your generous gifts. I do not know how my Magaambyan brothers and sisters might use such a gift but I will do with it what I must."
Listening as Adriana takes the lead, the druid smiles under his mask, "Yes, it is the most pressing. Those people are at the mercy of much where they are." He had nothing more to add, his thoughts currently engaged in what the order would do if placed in a situation.
Changing oneself... It will always be work.
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Jonah is taken aback by the sum of gold being offered, but he quickly bows awkwardly and accepts the payment
well, that's almost worth almost dying out there. this is the kind of guy I should get to know. maybe he'll have more work for me later!
he runs a hand over the magical arrows
this si very nice equipment here, sir. we will surely put this to good use!
Ingolf did some shopping to equip himself and Ebba for the journey ahead. He acquired a well-made Lucerne Hammer and chain shirt (appropriately sized) and bought food for the trip.
He met up with his associates and told them, "I'm ready to go to the shipwreck."
The next day, with all your equipment orders completed and supplies acquired, you met with Sheriff Adaela Praet at the docks. She is with a grizzled fisherman giving him some coin in front of a sizable canoe "Ah, you are here already. Good thing. Early to bed, early to rise, makes a human healthy, wealthy and wise."
The woman smiles and offers you an oar "I managed to rent this canoe for you." she seems a bit hesitant while you load the canoe with your supplies and other belongings. Just when you are up to go she opens to speak it up "There is something personal I would like you to look after while you are out... well some family affairs... My cousin Jheri "One Arm" Praet runs a dika plantation along the marsh northeast of town. Maybe in your way back, or after your return to the town, you can let yourselves drop by and check if he is all right after the storm"
As you set yourselves inside the canoe and start to oar, the fisherman voices up "Take care of it! It is my family way of living!" The Sheriff and a few other onlookers wave you as you start to oar away from Island Town docks.
For the first half an hour you cross path with fishermen every now and then, until you are well inside the Korir river current. From that point on the canoe takes speed, oaring downstream proves easy and fast, and there are not much chances of getting lost. The marsh landscape flows during three hours with jungle patches every now and then. When your belly starts to roar you oar towards the southern bank and secure the canoe at a point where you can safely have lunch and rest a bit before moving forward.
Jonah and Adriana spot a good place with good visibility and easy to defend on a sand formation with a small hill surrounded by reeds.
Your stomachs are roaring after half-day of oaring.
jonah spends some time while they take a break from rowing admiring his upgraded longbow. he tests the draw, enjoying the heftier pull of the bow. he fires a few arrows into trees the adjust himself to the use of the new bow.
Hopefully we won't need weapons to check out this shipwreck, but after the last few days you just can't be too careful! they sure are paying us a lot to do this, and usually if somethign is too good to be true you should avoid it
The rowing is actually fairly soothing for Splits the Leaves, although he finds that he is unable to keep pace with the others for very long. Still though, it was nice to explore the area around and forget the destruction of the other day. Being unfamiliar with the land's layout, he finds that he is having trouble finding a spot that would be suitable for everyone.
Seeing Jonah take a few shots, he was impressed. "It seems that when there is no rain pushing down on you you have excellent eyes and aim."
He thinks for a moment, "I can provide us with food and water or we can do some scavenging if you haven't brought rations. I am willing to help."
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Ingolf looked at different flora and fauna as the group rowed down the Korir river. He replied to Splits the Leaves, "I should have enough supplies for five days, for both Ebba and myself. And I can create water when anyone needs it."
As soon as the group settled on a suitable spot for lunch, he took some feed out of Ebba's saddlebags and fed her. Once she was eating, he retrieved some of his own rations from the handy haversack and ate his own lunch.
Once his hunger had been satisfied, he took out his journal and made some notes about the plants and animals that he had seen in the morning. He drew some quick sketches of the examples he could see at their meal spot.
After a short snack Jonah tests his new bow against a nearby tree. He finds the pull stabs the arrows quite deep.
Meanwhile, Ingolf remains sit on a stone making accurate drawings of the reed, and some close purple loosestrife, a salty water plant that grows in estuaries.
As he is doing so, the gnome notices the plants suddenly shake while the wind is quite. The reed shakes again and approaching and removing the plants with the hand you see what seems a compsognathus with rests of an egg it has likely recently hatched from.
The tiny dinosaur looks at you with curiosity.
"Water is not an issue, as I can also create it. It's almost fitting given where we are." Adriana notes with a touch of bemusement. She hopes that the investigation will not need their weapons, but it's been a strange few days even after the storm.
As the other settle and write, Adriana casually walks what she thinks would be the perimeter of their little camp to stretch and loosen her muscles a little, enjoying the calm while it lasted.
Nodding at Ingolf he give a smile. "I expect nothing less. But should you need assistance I am at the ready." However some moments later, the druid raises an eyebrow when he hears Tonny grab his notes, Something must have caught his attention. Slowly moving over he stands near the half-elf's shoulder.
"And it looks like you found a little friend."
He eyed the dinosaur curiously before noticing something strange about the compsognathus, the colouration was green and blue... The sacred colours of Gozreh. With his interest piqued, the druid looked toward the researcher, "May I try to get a little closer?"
When Splits attempts to get closer, the dinosaur attempts to approach crossing the short stream of water that separates them. The animal touches the water with a leg and at that very moment what seems a lily pad casually floats nearby.
Foes passive Stealth: DC 22
Used to the dangers of the natural world, only Splits realizes of the incoming peril, but the lily pad is faster to react, it floats over the water stream and twists over its flower base opening a central mouth full of spiny jaws to attack the unaware dinosaur!
The maw clacks around the compsagnathus right leg who shouts in pain as it feels the leg to burn.
You recognize this creature is a plant, therefore immune to mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep and stunning.
Also its weakest save is Will, and its strongest Fortitude. They have resist fire 10.
This is in fact a Kawa Akago, plants that were spiritually fertilized by fragments of the restless spirits of drowned children, becoming carnivorous creatures that inhabit marshes and riversides.
Carnivorous and cunning, they hunt riverbanks and waterways for both animals and travelers on which to feed. Kawa akagos' thorn-tipped fangs excrete a pain-inducing sap that mimics the feeling of intense, burning heat .
It's body is rife with pockets it can fill with air and expel as necessary. This network of hollow chambers allows the creature to speak on the rare occasions it wishes to communicate, and is the source of the creature's terrible wail, which is capable of breaking bones and shattering glass . The sound is often described as similar to the simultaneous mournful cries of a dozen children in serious distress.
Jonah hears the shouts of pain and quickly reacts after Splits.
The water stream is shallow in this place, barely 3 feet, you could cross it as difficult terrain.
Seeing the lily pad try to snap up the little dinosaur, the druid begins to cast a spell in hopes of fending it off quickly.
Channeling his magic he calls upon a thundercloud over the plant.
"These rivers are dangerous! Flames will not work well against it!"
Distracted by the deceptive calm of the area, Adriana whips around once the commotion begins, scimitar in hand.
"Flames might not, but steel will." She exclaims as she approaches Splits, unsure of the real danger but prepared for a fight.
A crackling sphere of electricity materializes over the water, discharging lightning over the plant, but the strange creature dives in to get below the dinosaur completely avoiding the cloud.
Jonah does something heroic.
The lily pad attempts to grapple the compsagnathus.
And it successfully snatches the tiny dinosaur from the leg in contact with the water!
The dinosaur shrieks as it attempts to free herself from the attack without managing out.
Ingolf was not going to stand for the plant monster grabbing the tiny dinosaur, which seemed to have some sort of connection with Splits the Leaves. He ordered, "Ebba, attack!", and moved up, trying to get close enough to strike with his new polearm. He spoke a command word to loosen the grip on the dinosaur's leg, and implored, "Tonny, I can reach the monster from where you're standing!"
Heeding her master's command, Ebba jumped into the stream and attacked the plant creature.
Despite Ingolf's magical help, the dinosaur poorly fails to liberate itself.
On a well concerted dance Tony moves away drawing his whip while Ingolf comes by and attacks at a distance. It is difficult though to hit the creature from the land as it exposes only a small part of its body.
Ebba jumps valiantly into the stream to face the evil lily pad. It's gore finds attacking through the water most difficult, but at least the sur-footing on the shallow waters help her hold position without having to swim.
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Jonah is torn by a moment of indecision. should he shoot the plant thing? or get his first dinosaur trophy? in the end he decides the dinosaur wouldn't make that good of a trophy anyways, and is likely not worth the ire of the rest of the party who seem to be tryign to save the little thing.
he moves to a better spot and shoots the plant
he follows that up the next round with two more quick shots at the plant
Seeing the plant snap at the dinosaur, he continues to channel the spell.
With Jonah lining up a shot, the druid moves the cloud away for a moment to give him a clear view.
He does what he can to blast the plant away from the dinosaur, hoping the winds split the two apart.
With his bow already at hand, Jonah turns to see what is going on and shots. Although his first arrow goes wide splashing on the water, the second one strikes true well in the middle of the plant's mouth.
The carnivorous lily pad results well defended against the thundercloud. The little surface exposed makes Splits' wind blast unable to blow away the plant.
Adriana does something heroic.
Successfully maintaining its grapple the lily pad pulls the dinosaur into the water and drags it with the current of the stream!
The compsagnathus shrieks and battles desperately for her life barely managing to keep her head over the water while the plant takes her away!
Ebba pursued the plant creature, trying to take it down.
Ingolf struggled through the undergrowth, trying to catch up with the enemy. He spoke another command word giving the dinosaur a further chance to free itself. "Break free, little one!"
Jonah shoots the plant thing a few more times
"I don't know!" Adriana says as she rushes forward into the water, not exactly sure what she's looking for but moving towards the general struggle, only aware of the water once it floods her boots.
"Gozreh! Gozreh showed me this in a vision!" He shouts back toward the others, a tone that as of right now is quite new. "I asked for a sign and Gozreh provided! I will not squander such divine providence!"
Moving the cloud over he tries to again bolt it.
Although the attack on the escape fails, Ebba sloshes through the water stabbing her gore on the plant supported by Tonny's whip. It seems the gore piercing nature is not impeded by the water combat!
Despite Ingolf's magical help, the tiny dinosaur is too scared trying to survive the water current and fails to free herself.
While Adriana gets into the water, Jonah strikes true with a couple of arrows piercing the plant despite the water's improved cover!
Gozreh seems to finally answer Split's prayers as the thundercloud sparkles with ferocious lightning that fries out the Lily pad!
The remains of the plant split and are taken by the stream, some landing among the reeds while others floating away downriver.
Finally free of the lily pad, the compsagnathus stands up in the water and flees away to firm land, breathing deeply just next to Splits.
Jonah eyes the dinosaur, watching to see if it acts aggressively towards the group. if it were to bite someone Jonah would happily put it down, but he doesn't want to fight with Splits right now so he leaves the critter be
By the time she's able to wade far enough into the water to have an effect, the lily pad thing releases the small dinosaur and vanishes, either dead or driven off. More confused than worried, she scans the riverbank and carefully pokes a couple of closer plants.
"That...that was strange."
Ingolf kept an eye on the injured dinosaur, which seemed to be resting next to Splits the Leaves. He decided not to approach too closely, lest he scare it. "It seems to trust you, Splits."
Finally hearing his prayers answered, he meditated quickly on the idea of how fickle the waves and wind could be, how life could be snatched away so suddenly.
"I thank you for the help, I'm sure our new friend here would say the same as well." He puts a quick hand on its head and channels some magic into it to heal its wounds, "There we go, nice and easy."
"Of course the little one trusts me, you may not believe it but I feel like we were summoned together by Gozreh." He eyed the dinosaur and let it closer, "I have to be nameless but you don't have to be, how about we have a little talk afterwards about something you'd like to be called."
"The waterways here seem to be full of danger, if this was the worst of what we had to deal with I consider it a blessing. Perhaps this is a portent of what is to come if we let our guards down this evening."
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Tonny looks up from the reeds where he is busy collecting the remains of the aggressive lilypad. "Wait, you think there'll be more of these things?" Quickly he begins pressing the largest section of leaf inside one of his books and puts as much of the creature's internal organs into a large bottle. "Does that mean we don't have time for me to make a quick sketch of this thing? But it's a new species!"
Indeed the dinosaur looks scared at the stream of water and Jonah. She takes refuge behind Splits and when the druid heals her, something rare and outstanding happens. Gozreh blesses the meeting, as for the channeled magic both dinosaur and druid are bond together in a deep manner.
Searching around the reeds where the lily pad appeared Tonny searches for evidences of more plants like this. He finds none, but he makes the disturbing finding of a the skeleton of what should have been an abandoned human baby. Perturbed by the discovery the event will hang on Tonny's mind, and years from now, he will discover this plant was a Kawa Akago, plants that were spiritually fertilized by fragments of the restless spirits of drowned children, becoming carnivorous creatures that inhabit marshes and riversides.
Carnivorous and cunning, they hunt riverbanks and waterways for both animals and travelers on which to feed. Kawa akagos' thorn-tipped fangs excrete a pain-inducing sap that mimics the feeling of intense, burning heat (cause sickened on a bite unless successful on Fort DC 14).
It's body is rife with pockets it can fill with air and expel as necessary. This network of hollow chambers allows the creature to speak on the rare occasions it wishes to communicate, and is the source of the creature's terrible wail, which is capable of breaking bones and shattering glass (causes 2d6 sonic damage on those at 20' and deafens, Fort DC 14 to half and negate deafeness). The sound is often described as similar to the simultaneous mournful cries of a dozen children in serious distress.
Jonah is intrigued by the interaction between Splits and the little dinosaur. he absently scratches Rosemary's neck, considering his own bond to his animal. he doesn't say anything but leaves Splits alone with his new companion, moving away and no longer thinking about hunting the critter
Still confused but not wanting to risk another fight Adriana wades back to the shore and empties the water from her boots with a small sigh; so much for dry shoes.
"If it's coming with us, you might want to give it something to identify it. Maybe a name as well."
Ingolf finished off his sketches and note-taking, and then asked everyone, "Ready to continue on? We have a ways to go to reach the Cobalt Eye."
Assuming everyone supports Ingolf proposal, the group embarks back to the canoe and pushes it into the current leaving the lunch place aside. The tiny dinosaur rejects to be left behind and jumps into the canoe next to Splits.
Once more rowing the canoe starts to get some speed as you place it into the center of the flow. The hours flow and you take turns to row in order to avoid getting too tired. After four more hours of navigation you get out into the sea. There things become much more difficult. The easy rowing on the calm current finishes, and you are forced to maneuver against the currents generated by the salty waters clash with the fresh water. With some difficulty you manage to veer your boat towards south, looking for the ship.
During three more hours you look for the ship through the southern coast. You are starting to think the ship make it save to its intended direction, when you spot a wooden barrel floating in the water. Resolved you push forward. The Sun starts to hide in the horizon when you spot the Cobalt Eye broken against a cliff.
It is late, you are tired and hungry from the long day of rowing.
Judging too risky venturing your boat through the rocks, you make the canoe to have a detour and land on a sand area of the beach nearby. Jumping out of the canoe, you spot at least too boats attempted to escape the wreckage.
On the nearest boat, you spot too corpses, they have gruesome wounds.
Approaching the corpses and examining the wounds you find out these two people did not die from a casual hit. Something with claws and jaws killed them and feasted on them while they were trying to land in the sand.
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Tonny does fairly well with the rowing until a sudden cramp hits his legs from sitting cross-legged so he doesn't kick the dinosaur or the boar or the halfling or the scary woman or the druid or the bird or the ranger. Thinking quickly, he puts the offending limb outside the boat.
Hmm, could I use this to help row?
Even if he could, the half-elf does not have time to demonstrate his new rowing technique before the boat lands on the beach. Quickly he jumps out, feet sinking deep into the wet sand as he looks over at the wreckage. "Huh. You know, I'm no sailor, but I don't think that's how a ship's supposed to dock." He squelches over to the nearby boat, peering over the side at the bodies within.
"Oh." Tonny's face goes pale. "Oh dear." He turns back to his companions hurriedly. "Something clawed these two and bit them, probably while they were still alive." He fumbles at his belt, drawing his dagger in preparation for something to jump out of the twilight. "And, uh, there's no reason to think it's not still hanging around here, is there? I mean, whatever it is has food right here, and it's much more logical to guard an existing food source rather than abandon it in search of another, unless of course it's the type of predator that only eats live flesh..." His face gets even more pale as he considers the ramifications.