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Action 1: Step
Action 2-3: Burning Hands
Zanderel decides that getting the wagon moving is important, but that the swarm of frogs won't let that happen. He shuffles over to the near side of the wagon, staff in hand.
He whispers several arcane syllables, causing the tip of the staff to explode with a spray of fire!
Cariad knows that's a swarm of frogs, and that if physical violence is necessary squishing them is the way to go.
But as Zanderel demonstrates, area damage is the best way to go to disperse a swarm as he does so in efficient fashion.
The smell of searing frog flesh fills your nostrils as the amphibian assault ends as quickly as it began.
A few odd frogs still jump onto the sides of the wagon sticking to the already damp canvas, but they are no longer frightening the horses or otherwise seeming threatening.
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Zanderel takes a deep breath, both relieved and pleased at the results of his spell. "One thing is clear to me: whatever curse is present, we indeed seem to be at the epicenter. Loathe as I am to leave this mystery unsolved, we should go. I expect to be chased by strange anomalies all the way to Absalom. The sooner we get there, the quicker we can bring additional resources to bear."
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"So be it" Anri reluctantly agrees.
As a consolation, Anri decides that she would like to ride inside the cart, next to Zanderel, with the goal of further studying the cargo without impeding travel. First up: the six human-sized statues (item #6).
Kooky Theory (One):
The Storm Kindlers sought to create more storms like the Eye of Abendego, creating artifacts to concentrate the natural power of the weather to intense levels. Any of their artifacts are likely related to the sea or sea creatures.
...
Anri will focus her Investigation on the Cargo as we travel, sitting in the cabin but facing backwards.
"I'd do it myself, but I'd like to attend to some things up here. Would someone mind covering the rear entrance of the wagon?"
Having double-accounted her original scribings, Anri updates them with Zanderel's Aural Spectra Reports in her Journal, and if he be willing, she will bounce theories off of him as they drive.
"By the way" She reminds her elven colleague "Time-willing, there is an interesting incantation hidden away in this broken box, and I would love to reverse-engineer it's genesis from the scroll upon which it is printed..."
1. Ivory Carving of Lightning Bolt (4 Bulk)
2. Red Mat w/ Colored Portrait of Gozreh?, rolled (1 Bulk)
(7 Bulk) (dull aeon stone)
(1 Bulk)
5. Inlaid silver and turquoise necklace with scales and teeth ornamentation (1 Bulk)
(6 @ 15 Bulk each)
7. Chest containing four carved wooden masks (4 Bulk)
8. 4' x 6' bamboo mat inlaid with shells - possible map? - rolled (2 Bulk)
9. Silver figurine of a sea dragon, packed in crate with coconut fibres (5 Bulk)
10. 6 bags of assorted fragments - pottery, glass, beads, semiprecious stones, ivory (a few Bulk?)
11. 4 tapestries from a temple sanctuary, rolled (4 @ 3 Bulk each)
12. (1 Bulk)
13. (1 Bulk) (scroll of Wall of Wind)
14. Pathfinder drawings, notes, rubbings of carvings, and charts, in 12 tubes (2 Bulk)
15. Ceremonial dagger with turquoise hilt (light Bulk?)
16. Bamboo armor and shield inlaid with semiprecious stones and fish scales (1 Bulk?)
17. Helm made from a large shell, inlaid with semiprecious stones and fish scales (couple Bulk?)
18. Two dozen tjerbute of bone and obsidian in various states of preservation, in barrels (lots of Bulk?)
19. Assorted spears, arrows, clubs, and staves, in barrels (lots of Bulk?)
20. Wooden buckler covered in reptile scale, dragonhide? (couple Bulk?)
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When Anri takes a seat beside him, Zanderel nods. He carefully holds the reins, keeping the horses as calm as he can while the group gets ready. "Unable to resist the lure of study, I presume? I look forward to reading your findings."
You're welcome to ride in the wagon and investigate items further, it'll even be dry but not otherwise comfortable.
Heading out from Otari the road is well maintained and broad with a 15-foot lane of muddy cobblestones lined by 10 feet of cleared area between the road and the tree line. The trees are mostly coniferous, with a tangle of interlocking branches and thick undergrowth making passage through the forest very difficult.
The statues all seem to be similar. They are vaguely fish-like with a tail at one end but a bizarre pointed head at the other with eyes in the very front and no other facial features. Rather than side fins they instead each have a pair of tentacles. There is definitely something unsettling about the statues but despite their aquatic nature they do not seem Gozhrean or related to your current issue.
After about an hour the road narrows a bit and the view of the sky is limited to a narrow strip above the road, lined with the spreading boughs of the Immenwood. Despite the rain having finally abated the road is still slick with mud and thunder still rumbles in the distance. Rather than the pleasant sound of forest wildlife your journey has only been met by a cacophony of hoarse cries, growls, and screams.
The cacophony of distant noises is overwhelmed by over half a dozen ospreys who maddeningly dive towards the wagon.
Isfan
Osprey 1
Zanderel
Pawero
Cariad
Bird 2
Bird 4
Bird 3
Bird 7
Anri
Bird 6
Bird 5
Isfan is up!
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Anri - oblivious to the outside having become "cargo" herself! - rejects her initial theory after determining nothing amiss with the heavy fish-tentacle-people statues (item #6).
She is, frankly, obsessed, ignoring any side-eye she might draw from her comrades.
Methodically, she turns her suspicions now to the following sequence of items, listed in order below (time-permitting!), by handling them, studying them, or re-casting Read Aura upon them, until a "sufficient examination" reveals itself to be fruitless, or, trigger something in her mind to share with her group. All the meanwhile, she continues to take notes, bouncing ideas and theories off Zanderel (willing or un-willing!), and crossing off objects as she deems them "officially uninteresting" in her Journal. As it will be a couple of days travel anyhow, some quick inverse multiplication figures her that spending about an hour on each object can space the Investigation enough to span the entire time, balancing thoroughness with breadth.
6. **Carved stone statues (6 @ 15 Bulk each) (faint abjuration)
4. **Carved Ebony Box with Wax Seal (1 Bulk) (faint transmutation)
2. Red Mat w/ Colored Portrait of Gozreh?, rolled (1 Bulk)
8. 4' x 6' bamboo mat inlaid with shells - possible map? - rolled (2 Bulk)
12. **Bronze medallion of the sun, on beaded necklace (1 Bulk) (faint evocation)
17. Helm made from a large shell, inlaid with semiprecious stones and fish scales (couple Bulk?)
1. Ivory Carving of Lightning Bolt (4 Bulk)
3. **Wooden Chest containing Pottery Shards and Shell Fragments (7 Bulk) (dull aeon stone)
5. Inlaid silver and turquoise necklace with scales and teeth ornamentation (1 Bulk)
7. Chest containing four carved wooden masks (4 Bulk)
9. Silver figurine of a sea dragon, packed in crate with coconut fibres (5 Bulk)
10. 6 bags of assorted fragments - pottery, glass, beads, semiprecious stones, ivory (a few Bulk?)
11. 4 tapestries from a temple sanctuary, rolled (4 @ 3 Bulk each)
13. **27 scroll cases, sealed, and 18 scroll cases, damaged, in box (1 Bulk) (scroll of Wall of Wind)
14. Pathfinder drawings, notes, rubbings of carvings, and charts, in 12 tubes (2 Bulk)
15. Ceremonial dagger with turquoise hilt (light Bulk?)
16. Bamboo armor and shield inlaid with semiprecious stones and fish scales (1 Bulk?)
18. Two dozen tjerbute of bone and obsidian in various states of preservation, in barrels (lots of Bulk?)
19. Assorted spears, arrows, clubs, and staves, in barrels (lots of Bulk?)
20. Wooden buckler covered in reptile scale, dragonhide? (couple Bulk?)
...
To Zanderel "Oh yeah - Hollar at me if we get into trouble!"
Isfan reacts quickly and tries to knock the osprey out of the sky, he hits once but does not down the bird.
One of the ospreys dives at the wagon, clawing at the canvas with its talons.
it begins to poke holes although not yet enough to allow the wind or rain in.
Isfan
Osprey 1
Zanderel
Pawero
Cariad
Bird 2
Bird 4
Bird 3
Bird 7
Anri
Bird 6
Bird 5 (-4)
Canvas (6/8 Hardness 2)
Zanderel, Pawero and Cariad are up!
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Zanderel Action 1-3: Summon Elemental
Mephit Action 1-2: Breath Weapon
"It may be obvious, but consider this my 'holler' to you, Anri."
He then begins a complex spellcasting, drawing a vial of water from his spell component pouch. The liquid drains away as the incantation ends, and with a popping sound a small, winged creature made of water appears!
The creature, a water mephit, looks at Zanderel. The wizard gestures at the nearby osprey, and then at the others. The mephit smirks, and gets to business.
Hailing from the Elemental Plane of Water, the mephit thinks Bloody wizards. This one has summoned me four times now. Does it speak a lick of Aquan? No. Never even asked my name, which is Aenon. Of course I'd never tell it that. Still... What a jerk. And then it exhales a spray of acid on the osprey!
The Osprey dodges the worst of the Mephit's breath while Cariad gets ready for the upcoming avian assault.
Initiative
Isfan
Osprey 1 (-3)
Zanderel
Pawero
Cariad
Bird 2
Bird 4
Bird 3
Bird 7
Anri
Bird 6
Bird 5 (-4)
Canvas (6/8 Hardness 2)
Pawero is up!
Pawero inspires his companions and skewers the wounded bird, knocking it out of the sky.
A bird dives at Cariad pecking and tearing but not finding any flesh.
Charges the wagon, ripping and tearing into the wagon leaving a hole large enough for creatures to squeeze through.
The next pair of birds squeeze through the tear flapping with great ferocity as the enter the wagon and claw at whatever they can get their talons on, attempting to pick them up.
Isfan
Zanderel
Pawero
Cariad
Bird 2
Bird 4
Bird 3
Bird 7
Anri
Bird 6
Bird 5 (-4)
Canvas (4/8 Hardness 2)
Anri is up!
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"Zanderel you may need to get in here!" She calls out as two hideous birds tear through the canvas and swoop in trying to steal Anri's "project". She begins muttering an incantation and cultivates a ball of cool energy, as blue lightning streaks towards one of the flying vermin next to her, then arcs toward the second. She then opens the front-side flap so that he can enter. "Hurry!"
(◆◆) Cast Electric Arc (Basic Reflex DC 19) @ electric
(◆) Interact to Open Flap
Both interior Ospreys stop flapping from the electric arc as they fall down dead. Anri then opens the front flap which blows wildly in the wind.
An Osprey takes advantage on the open flap and dives into the wagon bumping into various boxes, knocking things over and grabbing at various loose fragments.
Isfan's bird pecks and claws at the ranger in front of him as it continues to hover in the air.
Initiative:
Isfan (16/20)
Zanderel
Pawero
Cariad
Bird 2
Bird 4
Anri
Bird 6
Bird 5 (-4)
Canvas (4/8 Hardness 2)
Isfan, Zanderel, Pawero and Cariad are up!
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Zanderel Action 1: Sustain a Spell
Mephit Action 1: Strike (or Fly?)
Mephit Action 2: Strike
Zanderel Action 2-3: Ray of Frost
Sectioning off a part of his mind to concentrate on his connection with the mephit, Zanderel maintains that spell and begins to think about his next spell.
Meanwhile, the mephit continues to fight, all the while thinking, At least they have water in the air. That one time I was summoned in a desert was definitely a cruel joke. Wizards are the worst. He then claws at the osprey.
Seeing a pressing need to deal with the infiltrating avian, Zanderel weaves an incantation and unleashing a ray of icy coldness through the open flap. .
Cariad has no luck in taking down the vicious bird assaulting her.
Zanderel has much better luck as both him and his his mephit take down a bird.
Pawero is up!
Pawero gets his spear briefly stuck on an errant branch at a quite improbable angle. He is however able to get it back out, but the Osprey remains unharmed.
Cariad's bird continues it's maddened assault, biting and clawing at her.
Cariad is left with a bloody wound as the bird flaps and flaps and flaps!
Isfan (16/20)
Zanderel
Pawero
Cariad (15/19)
Bird 2
Anri
Bird 5 (-4)
Canvas (4/8 Hardness 2)
Anri is up!
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Anri - unable to take stock of what's going on outside - reaches through the open flap to grasp her weapon from the seat - before the winged vermin take off with it! - and readies a stance to strike the first creature that flies through either the flap or the tear the other bird made in the fabric - thinking on avian stew for tonight's supper!
(◆) Interact to Grab her Fauchard
(◆◆) Readies a Strike
Trigger: A winged creature flies through a gap into the wagon!
Effect: Swat! (attack, damage, deadly)
Wondering what's taking so long "Zanderel! We've got a problem! Let's get a move!" Oblivious to the fact that his fighting faculties are fully engaged outside, Anri becomes slightly vexed...
Anri readies the give the next bird what-for while Ishan's avian dance partner continues its maddening assault.
Isfan is left with another blood scratch on his cheek from the bird.
The sounds of distant thunder continue to get closer as well.
Isfan (13/20)
Zanderel
Pawero
Cariad (15/19)
Bird 2
Anri
Bird 5 (-4)
Canvas (4/8 Hardness 2)
Isfan, Zanderel, Pawero and Cariad are up!
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Isfan continues in is efforts to subdue the bird without use of excessive force.
[ooc=twin Takedown, Strike, Strike, stopping after the bird is unconcious]
Since I think that was a success.
If the Bird is subdued, isfan is putting a piece of cloth over his head and makes sures to bind its feet to a nearby Branch.
Isfan's first attack misses inexplicably almost as if the wind itself knocked his sword away. The second attack drops the bird however, after which Isfan is able to secure it.
Through some extreme bad luck Cariad and Candela get tangled up, nearly tripping over each over as a rogue branch blows through somehow managing to clip them both.
Despite that Cariad's first swing barely manages to connect and takes down the bird.
The front flap of the wagon is well flapping quite fiercely in the wind.
Also, it's started raining again.
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Anri will take 10 minutes to substitute in a Mending spell (swapping out Jump), then another 10 minutes to cast it.
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Cariad helps Candela disentangle from the branch before it lights on fire.
"Okay, if we're sure there's no kamis, have we checked for Abyssal shards stuck into anything? That can also make nature start attacking us. Also, Pathfinders get attacked by nature a lot. I see why Urwal gave me a field commission."
Anri is able to use magic to fix the rips and tears in the wagon cover.
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When the battle is over isfan returns to the group with the unconcious bird firmly secured.
"I think I have an idea how we may find out which item is responsible for the curse. Before the Osprey wakes up we can spread them out a bit more seperately. Then when the bird comes back to live and he still feels compelled by the curse we can check which item he attacks."
"Of course by then the effect of the curse might be gone from him, but I think its worth a try."
If the party agrees, Isfann will keep a rope attached to the bird to hinder the osprey from just flying off with the item. Then they will try to wake up the bird with the cloth stillover his head, hoping to keep him calm until the cloth is removed. Then Isfan will reove the cloth and watch which item the brid attacks.
Also before all this Isfan drinks his Potion of Minor Healing.
Anri and Isfan nurse their bird awake and investigate their captive's response to various boxes to see if they can narrow down what's causing its madness.
About about an hour or work keeping the bird from scratching either of you too much and watching it trying to scramble away with almost anything it can get it's talons...
Between Anri's knowledge of curses and Isfan's knowledge of birds you are both pretty sure that the sealed box is the key to your current problems, probably.
Meanwhile... Outside, the rain funnels through the thick foliage of the Immenwood, falling in miniature waterfalls from the branches above. The animals seem to have quieted somewhat, with fewer enraged howls and unsettling cries echoing through the canopy.
Both Pawero and Cariad spot some sort of deadfall trap and can stop the wagon just in time. As the horses come to a stop those of you outside the wagon hear the chittering of dozens if not hundreds of squirrels that appear to be trying to chew through some sort of rope contraption...
Initiative:
Isfan
Cariad
SS1
SS2
Zandarel
Pawero
Anri
Isfan and Cariad are up!
[ooc]They are currently observed by Cariad and hidden to Isfan, but Unnoticed by the rest of the party.
No particular insight beyond those look like squirrels.