Lost on the Spirit Road begins in northern Minkai, Tian Xia.
You all arrived in Minkai within the past few months. Since then you
have been working with Venture-Captain Amara Li to help lay the groundwork for a lodge in Minkai, performing a variety of tasks that are well-suited to your individual skills.
You all know that Amara Li has been collecting relics from across the world to house in a new museum with a focus on relics from Minkaian history that have been kept in other nations. To this end, she has been traveling all over the nation to pursue leads. These relics have come from a combination of purchases and donations, and she has occasionally called on local Pathfinders to guard the relics. Currently you have been working in Sakakabe, a prosperous city famous for its trade in silver and pearls.
Venture-Captain Li summons you to meet with her in one of the gardens of the Kiniro Kyomai teahouse, a famous teahouse run by geisha. The quality of the Kiniro Kyomai’s tea, food, and samisen music make it a popular destination for locals and travelers alike.
She waits for you to enjoy their tea and chat.
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Tok'Tok arrives dressed in a suit cut in the current style for Absalom. He carries a briefcase, and wears a bracelet and several rings that match his attire. His hair is well groomed, and he looks comfortable in his skin as he takes his seat and begins sipping his tea - perhaps a bit too loud compared to the other clients, but miles away from what one might normally expect from a Goblin.
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In the Minkal working with Venture-Captain Amara Li was an odd figure. Three feet tall just like Tok'Tok and with very similar color of his skin. He usually travels riding on his dog that he speaks to calling her Aergia. It's a bit unusual as goblins are not too fond of dogs in the first place.
The same goblin enters the room. Only his right side of the head has hair on it, and they are a mess. He looks like he would travel through the storm. His second part of the head is hairless and covered in tatoos that are barely visible and messy, a bit like a person doing it would suffer a stroke during his work.
He is dressed in traveling clothes with a leather jacket, his sleeves have different stains and burns indicating that he has worked in it with liquids and fire. He wears a bandolier with bottles in it and a dagger. While walking in he is saying:
"No worries Lizzy, we will do this job for Venture-Captain Li and be heading back to Absalom." His voice is high-pitched. Then he stops and looks at the already present
"It is good to meet you my name is Hopper and this is Lizzy." Pointing to his arm, but there is no one there.
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Adorned in breastplate, dark-haired Varsian man enters and ponies on o we to the table where Amara Li sits.
"Thank you for the invitation, Li." he says, suddenly noticing the presence of the other agents. "I had kind of hoped that it would just be you and me this time, sharing a meal together and maybe more?"
He pauses retrieve a tankard from his pack and place it on the table. "I guess this is a formal meeting? A Society mission, no doubt?"
He makes a quick scan of the room, looking at the contents of the other tables as the adds, "And, is there any chance of getting something a little stronger than tea around here?"
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Sitting in the gardens is a tall, middle-aged human man. His dark hair and beard are streaked with grey and his skin has the leathery appearance of someone who has spent a lot of time in the sun. His hair is unkempt but his beard looks recently trimmed, an odd contrast. He's dressed in leathers and at his feet is a large back of gear and a bow, wrapped for protection. Most notable, perhaps, is the medium-sized, grey-haired dog sitting quietly at his side. Over recent days, you've come to know the man as Anders Bekk and his dog as Snirt.
Anders drinks tea and eats, slipping bits of food to Snirt. He taps his foot idly to the music and waits to hear what work Amari Li has for them next.
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Fadryn smiles at the motley collection of Pathfinders slowly gathering. The concoction-scarred Goblin intrigues him, and he rolls his eyes at the pandering of the Varisian.
"Fadryn Murgenson," he says quickly, standing fluidly and taking a quick bow. "I shall entrance our antagonists, and of course write stirring ballads of our exploits."
The servers are apologetic but firm that they only have tea to serve at this time. A keen eyed observer might just have spotted the tiny shake of the head from Venture-Captain Li when stronger drinks were requested. It seems Valeros' reputation precedes him.
Once everyone has enjoyed some tea she turns the conversation towards more serious matters.
“I fear that misfortune may have struck some of your fellow agents. I hope that you can help them return here to safety, but I fear the task I have to request of you may instead center around recovering what you can from your fallen allies and, if it is safe to do so, completing the mission in their stead.”
Venture-Captain Li pauses, waiting to see if any of you balk at the idea of a recovery mission.
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I’m extremely sorry guys. There has been a family emergency and I won’t be able to post till tomorrow evening AEST.
I am extremely sorry
Venture-Captain Li continues
"“Last year, I received a donation of relics from Taldor. The route is lengthy and complicated, so I will spare you unnecessary details. A caravan carrying the relics safely arrived in Hongal to the north, where it met up with a pair of Pathfinder agents, Lin Po and Ti Lan. These agents inspected the cargo, sent me a missive indicating that all was in order, and joined a second caravan to take the Spirit Road through the Forest of Spirits.
The journey is understandably long, taking over two months to complete. Still, the caravan is late, and I fear that they may have run into trouble along the way. They were supposed to reach Sakakabe two weeks ago.
While it’s possible that they were waylaid in the
northernmost parts of Minkai, I believe it’s far more likely that they ran into trouble in the Forest of Spirits, a mystical place that shelters departed souls and most of the world’s kami.
Kami are spiritual guardians with a deep connection to certain living locations or living things. The locals pay great respect to the kami, never intruding further into the forest than their one coastal road, the Spirit Road, and a number of small settlements built around shrines. This should make tracking the caravan simple, since there’s only a single road along which they should have had to rest or resupply at some point. I need you to check each of the roadside settlements until you find the last one to have seen the caravan, then track it from there and figure out what happened.
Be sure to respect the kami and the local traditions honoring them; I don’t want you to come to harm in your journey. The kami are mostly benevolent, so long as they receive the proper respect, but there are some dangers that might have harried the caravan. Bandits, hobgoblins, and giants, among other creatures, dwell within the forest.
The forest also hosts some aggressive plants and animals, not to mention malign spirits such as the oni, the sworn enemies of the kami. The locals will know more than I of what perils to expect.
Is there anything you feel is unclear or would like further information about? ”
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""Are you able to provide us with a description of any of the missing relics?"
"There is a green silken scarf of some historical significance, an Omamori Amulet, a traditional Paper Lantern, and a Wild Bonsai."
"And a description of the agents if they are equally important as the artifacts."
"Indeed they are, every agent is an invaluable resource to the society. Lin Po and Ti Lan are relatively inexperienced Pathfinder agents though theoretically more than capable of a simple transport mission. Lin Po is a short, heavyset Tian man with a reputation for an irrepressible sense of humor, His partner Ti Lan is an athletic woman who stands a few inches taller than Lin Po, with broad shoulders and a stern demeanor."
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"Sounds like quite the assortment." Valeros says in response. "If these Pathfinder agents, Lin Po and Ti Lan, are inexperienced, are you sure they can be trusted? On more than one occasion, the Society has been known to have included greedy agents with a penchant for thieving. Could they have stolen the items in question?"
"We start where they start, or we go through other side?" asked Tok'Tok.
"I suggest you follow the path they took in the same direction as them as we do not know how far they got. This will also give you the best chance to gather information from areas they passed though if applicable."
"Are you sure they can be trusted?"
"While as it is correct mistakes have been made in recruiting in the past I cannot be absolutely certain I do not have any reason t-o suspect these agents."
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Modifiers too low to take the risk of misinformation.
High pitched voice sounds again:
"I remember now, I met a few travelers claiming to hear legends of incorporeal undead haunting this forest. And they swore on their forefathers of seeing people being possessed by bad spirits and seeing them being murdered. Gruesome thing. We should be prepared."
Hopper eyes every agent like he would be telling a ghost story sitting around the fire.
"I am ready to go. Ghost can't scare off the old Hopper, right Lizzy?"
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"I recall The Forest of Spirits being a dense forest, including its dense populations of kami and mostly benign spirits that can possess living creatures to share memories but exert little control over their hosts," Fadryn says thoughtfully. "However sitting here won't help us find those Pathfinders. Are we ready for the off?"
Amara Li nods "Well if you have no further questions then indeed you should make haste. I have provided you basic provisions including relevant maps and warm clothes. There is a wagon with a pair of horses for your use outside though they must be returned upon your return."
Although Sakakabe is the closest city to the forest of Spirits, it still takes several weeks of travel acrossthe Osogen Grasslands to reach the Forest of Spirits.
Along the way, you cross paths with several groups of travelers heading south into Minkai, as well as the nomadic herders who call the rolling plains home. No one has seen the caravan you are are looking for.
The atmosphere changes as you enter the Forest of Spirits. The forest is cool and damp, and profoundly alive. Snow blankets the ground and clings to branches of towering pine and spruce trees. Birds, rodents, foxes, deer, bears, and numerous other creatures roam through the woods, keeping their distance from the road. The density of the trees suggests that logging is almost unheard of in this forest.
Animals are not the only creatures moving out in the woods; you occasionally see unexplained movement in the trees and rocks or feel like someone is watching them.
Despite visiting several small villages, there is still no news of the caravan. They can find signs of passage from several caravans and groups that traveled on foot, and the remains of campsites right next to the trail but no signs that any of these groups came to harm.
Eventually, you reach a village nestled deeper in the forest’s outskirts that according to your maps is named Basaru
The snow is extremely heavy here making it hard to see and hear. The chill in the air bites at exposed skin and stings your eyes.
What would you like to do?
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Hopper jumps on his dog and uses the horse to carry his belongings.
"Did that Venture-Captain really thought that a Goblin would mount a horse. It's not only that they are nasty and vicious but they stink! What an absurd."
His dog couldn't be more indifferent to what Hopper is doing, slowly walking forward.
When the caravan stops along the road both Hopper and Aergia lay under a cart to get some roof while using blankets to cover themselves from the cold.
As they spot the village Hopper keeps going hoping to find a shelter from this snow.
"I don't like this weather, hear my words the spirits will try to posses and murder us. And when this happens, remember that the old Hopper was warning you about that."
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Anders brushes some snow off Snirt's back and the dog finishes the job by shaking itself.
Seems to me we ought to get outta this cold for a bit if'n we can. Maybe our luck'll turn around 'n' we'll find someone who knows something 'bout this caravan 'sides the warmth.
If no one objects, Anders sets off toward the village.
Through the snow you can see the glow of lights from a large building.
When you get closer you see it is a tea house, a traditional Tian Xia lodging house.
Through the wind you can catch snatches of chatter, music, and laughter.
When you get near a door opens a crack and a voice calls out to you
"ようこそ寒さから抜け出す"
After a pause the speaker adds, "Come in Come in. It is far too cold for me to be holding this door open."
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As the chill sets into his bones, Valeros is pleased when he sees the village. Following the sounds of revelry, he heads toward the establishment, but is somewhat crestfallen when he sees that it is another tea house.
Nevertheless, when offered an open door to enter into the warm room, he heads inside. Brushing off the snow, he lays a few coins down, "I'd like a stiff drink, but will settle for warm."
When his beverage arrives, he adds, "Thanks for the hospitality. Have you seen any caravans come through here lately?"
Can Fadryn please give me a Performance check?
The owner of the tea house is a good judge of character so serves Valeros a cup of strong rice wine and places the bottle on the table next to it.
"You are welcome. Yes all are welcome at my house. Caravans? Yes we see many caravans, that is why I have tea house here." The old Tien man speaks in broken common with a strong accent.
"You looking for gnomes? Some gnomes come through, with the bright coloured hair, very funny little people. They were the most recent. Before them was one man, big man, hairy. Ate much food and tipped staff. Very good customer, I hope he comes back. Do you look for either other them?"
As you look around you also see a side room separated by ornate paper walls. The door has a sign on it in Tien.
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"You looking for gnomes? Some gnomes come through, with the bright coloured hair, very funny little people. They were the most recent. Before them was one man, big man, hairy. Ate much food and tipped staff. Very good customer, I hope he comes back. Do you look for either other them?"
"Not the company I seek." Valeros admits. "Perhaps, they didn't make it this far."