Cillian easily finds the boy's tracks in the sand once you are at the back of the estate; the trail begins at a gap under the wall. The investigator also finds a piece of bright fabric sticking out of the sand right where the trail begins...
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Okay, around the outer wall it is, looking for track. Who's best at that?
Cillian easily finds the boy's tracks in the sand once you are at the back of the estate; the trail begins at a gap under the wall. The investigator also finds a piece of bright fabric sticking out of the sand right where the trail begins...
"Golly! We should hurry after him!" says an earnest Jimmothy. "Hey, Lady Ghazali are any of your camels or horses missing?"
He cautiously offers offers to the others, "I believe he went this way."
"Good work Cillian! LET'S GO, EVERYONE!" Jimmothy races off into the sand.
Aayef ’s trail leads three miles east to the sand blasted ruins of a circular building.
Next to you:
A chunk of twisted deadwood rests atop a pile of ashes in the lee of a fallen stone column. Cinders surrounding the driftwood suggest a recent fire.
Further ahead, you see steps ascending the wreckage to a smooth stone dais. Chunks of wall and broken pillars stand as the last testament to what was once a shrine to Sarenrae. A cracked stone shrine stands before the eastern wall. Bones and other detritus litter the floor around the altar. Rubble covers some areas (highlighted in red), creating difficult terrain. The dais (area C2) is not covered in rubble.
More importantly, you also see a giant scorpion which seems to have surprised the young Aayef as he began exploring the site. The beast proved more than a match for the young noble and is about to finish him off when you approach.
Round 1: (bold may go)
Party Is Up!
Aayef
GIANT SCORPION
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The investigator also finds a piece of bright fabric sticking out of the sand right where the trail begins...
Aayef ’s trail leads three miles east to the sand blasted ruins of a circular building.
Next to you:
A chunk of twisted deadwood rests atop a pile of ashes in the lee of a fallen stone column. Cinders surrounding the driftwood suggest a recent fire.
Upon spying the scorpion and the boy, Claremguard rushes forward, drawing his blade. "There!" he shouts. "We have found our missing lad as well as danger!"
cries the magical raptor that appears above the scorpion. It dives out of the sky above the monster, and attacks.
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May Pharasma guide your blade! And fight wisely, this creature is probably poisonous. I do have the skills and equipment to treat poison, but better be cautious. Besides, the boy might need my attention soon. Try to get the scorpion out of my way, if you can, so I can tend to his wounds as soon as possible.
Once again, Mallycorn prays his goddess to help Claremguard, and waits until the scorpion isn't too near of the young boy
The gods’ interference in your life has left you with strange, unpredictable powers dependent on divine whim. Bizarre side effects occur whenever you are affected by a spell from a divine caster—for better or for worse. Once per round, when a creature casts a divine spell including you as a target, roll 1d20 and consult the table below. The effect resulting from this roll begins at the end of that enemy’s turn. This effect targets only you, even if other creatures were included as targets of the triggering spell.
The giant scorpion wheels around to face the incoming (larger) threat.
"Don't run away from me, MONSTER!" screams Aayef, boldly staggering back to his feat and raising the shining sword in the giant scorpion's direction.
"YOUNG MAN! SWING FOR IT'S LITTLE LEGS TO THE RIGHT!" says... the sword?! with a commanding deep voice in an impeccable Taldane accent! "HERE YOUNG MAN! LET ME CLOSE SOME OF THESE WOUNDS!"
You see the sword glowing and a large gash in the young man's torso begins to close!
The teenager swings the beautiful sword at the giant scorpion!
The boy misses horribly.
The scorpion's attention is divided and hesitates who to strike first.
After grabbing the youth and squeezing him in one of his large claws, he discards the young man and heads towards Claremguard, intent on the larger source of meat. Alphatross screaches and scratches the large vermin's head as it departs. The young man squirms in pain as his left arm and half of his back are sliced and crushed to ribbons...
Round 2: (bold may go)
Alphatross: AoO please
Party Is Up!
Aayef
GIANT SCORPION
calls Alphatross as the bird harries the giant scorpion.
Alphatross' beak pierces the (delicious) head shell of the giant scorpion as it departs for Claremguard's location. The bird follows, and avoid the scorpion's giant claw as it dives for its (delicious) head (hole with exposed scorpion brain) once more! the bird misses the hole though, and its beak is frustratingly deflected from the succulent seafood like soft tissue!
Cillian pierces the sides of the beast with his glaive!
Stavarg blasts the creature head on! the creature suddenly sizzles briefly, limbs flailing wildly!
Jain sends a white hot wind towards the beast, whose insides begin to boil! First seared by Stavarg and now roasted by Jain, some of the cooked juices of the beast begin to bubble from its head hole and pierced side... Jimmothy likes that instant cooking goodness, an as the smell of seafood wafts over the battlefield, the young collector encourages Jain to cook it some more as he likes his lobster well done...
Claremguard swings and misses, and steps back, suddenly feeling like a very exposed subject of a giant scorpion's desires... but the creature does smell good at this point, so he doesn't stray too far, foreseeing an instant hyena pack-like adventurer's feast in the near future... one can almost see the warrior eyeing one of the giant claws and licking his lips...
Oh and the boy doesn't seem convinced by Stavarg's words just yet... as if he's just been asked to take the cowardly way out, and stuff...
The sword speaks to Aayef again, glowing some more to provide more healing. "ON YOUR FEET YOUNG MAN! A STRANGE, WELL EQUIPPED STRIKE FORCE APPROACHES YOU, FLYING NO FLAG. ONE OF THEM CLAIMS TO WANT TO TAKE YOU HOME, BUT WE CANNOT BE CERTAIN OF THEIR INTENTIONS!"
Aayef screams at the beast, "MONSTER! I WILL KILL YOU!!". Even though the boy is wincing in pain with injuries, you all note that he fully intends to keep battling the scorpion. You also note that the scorpion has received a few well-placed longsword strikes already from the boy earlier...
dmg.
The boy lands a nasty blow to the giant scorpion, penetrating deep within its abdomen!
Round 3: (bold may go)
Party Is Up!
Aayef HP 12/22
GIANT SCORPION -35
And with Claremguard's mighty downward slash, the fight is indeed finished.
COMBAT OVER!
The young Aayef falls to his knees, finally giving way to exhaustion and pain. He looks at the heroes assembled before him. "...thank you all! whoever you are... I'm guessing mother sent you yes?"
He takes a long drink from his waterskin, waiting for your reply.
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Stavarg grins sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
Okay... how quickly can we bring up that we want the sword?
I admit, you held your own there. A tip for future situations: use numbers to your advantage. There's a reason it's adventuring party. Get yourself a healer at least, maybe a rogue.
He nods at the sword.
And you. Does the name Alcasti ring a bell?
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Stavarg grins sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
Okay... how quickly can we bring up that we want the sword?
I admit, you held your own there. A tip for future situations: use numbers to your advantage. There's a reason it's adventuring party. Get yourself a healer at least, maybe a rogue.
"Or an Alphatross! Right, Alphatross?"
To Stavarg, the boy says, "I just felt like exploring... Mother can be a tad overprotective at times, but I see the wisdom of her ways now... although your way is certainly interesting as well... Still, she should have involved me an an earlier age in the ways of the warrior. She did the best she could without Father, however..."
He then nods at Jimm's comment, agreeing. "Indeed! your eagle was a worthy companion on the battlefield! thank you!"
When Stavarg begins to speak to the jeweled sword, it loudly hails you all with a deep voice and says,
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Let me tend to your wounds, Aayef. I'll check too if there is no trace of poison in your body, if you dont mind. Dont be afraid to ask for your mother's forgiveness for your youthful recklessness, because even in your old age you'll forever be her little boy, but let her see your scars if she wants, so she can witness you are on your path to manhood. She had protected you with all her love, soon you'll be able to protect her with all your love, with dignity, and honor.Learn from the lessons you received today, because you might not always be so lucky.
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Stavarg nods slightly to show some requisite gesture of respect.
The blade knows the noble vanity of the Taldane...
We are agents of the Pathfinder Society, sent to recover you for the family of the same name. She is long past, but her descendant wishes to gather the relics of her glory and restore her status.
He deliberately neglects to name Remaio, though he knows the topic will eventually come up. What was he thinking, selling off such an artifact?
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To Stavarg, the boy says, "I just felt like exploring... Mother can be a tad overprotective at times, but I see the wisdom of her ways now... although your way is certainly interesting as well... Still, she should have involved me an an earlier age in the ways of the warrior. She did the best she could without Father, however..."
"I know what you mean. My mom said 'be careful' when I left when I was 10 all those years ago."
He then nods at Jimm's comment, agreeing. "Indeed! your eagle was a worthy companion on the battlefield! thank you!"
"Sure! Having friends like Alphatross is great!"
When Stavarg begins to speak to the jeweled sword, it loudly hails you all with a deep voice and says,
"OH, WOW! A REAL TALKING SWORD! NEAT!"
After hearing your introductions, or lack thereof, Soldier's Glory says, with a lower voice this time, "A good blade advises and helps, but it is above all a weapon. Weapons are meant to kill, and once a blade deems the swordsman worthy, that decision to draw sword is taken by him or her. Young Aayef has been deemed worthy to carry me in battle, so I will assist him in any endeavor he sees fit. I will hear your allegiances and take the weight of your virtues before serving a new master. While it is true that I served Honaria Alcasti, my services are not exclusive to her bloodline and I have since been shipped off to new lands where I have found need of my assistance in battle!"
Aayef appears a bit deep in thoughts now, and adds, "Mother makes all decisions in our affairs. We shall consult her in this matter, as I understand she was receptive to Mister Alcasti's request a while back... you work for Mister Alcasti, yes? and he needs this sword again? why for?"