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Maudril and the rest of the Pathfinders work together to smash the remaining clockwork dogs.
Combat Over
Ticker or other outlying sites of importance.
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Swayaah uses her earthbreaker like a golf club and slams a mechanical dog against a mushroom trunk. "Fore!"
"Woo!" She shrieks in joy before petting Ilvan. "Good boy. Here's some steak. I'll have you patched up in no time." She releases the rage within her and searches for a wand.
Swayaah took 42 damage.
Ilvan took 27 damage.
Malaika de'Morcaine channelled to heal us for 24 damage.
"Anyone else needs healing?" She looks up for a bit once Ilvan is okay. "Hopefully we helped the military enough. Maybe we can convince their general of the impending disaster, eh?"
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That silly chair warmer won't take action unless the priests tell him to. I would suggest the next place we go is visit the high priests. Perhaps we can convince them to take action. If not, we may have to go to individual community leaders. Though that may cause a panic. Not ideal, but at least some would get out.
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That silly chair warmer won't take action unless the priests tell him to. I would suggest the next place we go is visit the high priests. Perhaps we can convince them to take action. If not, we may have to go to individual community leaders. Though that may cause a panic. Not ideal, but at least some would get out.
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Swayaah points the party out to some ruins. Searching it you find, cauldron of brewingUE, a ring of arcane signetsUE, and a collection of ancient Diguo-Dashu ceramics and currency with a present-day value
of 2,500 gp. The party also finds a grappler’s
maskUE stylized to resemble a rat with draconic features, and
ancient Diguo-Dashu jewelry worth an additional 500 gp.
Malaika is able to make contact with some of the ratfolk farmers who thank the party for dealing with the threat of the clockworks.
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"Oh that's wonderful. Are you preparing an article on our town?" She smiles. "I'm surprised that that you would consider my
small cavern worthy of a Chronicle!" She folds her paws. "I promise to
make arrangements so that the PCs can explore the
Big Ticker, allowing any merchants among you to sample wares
and observe production quality and capacity. You can also talk to our military and use the town library! Whatever you need to show our town in the Chronicles!"
"Alright. If we're done here..." Swayaah muses. "Now we can check to see what the military wants?"
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The journey to the area is uneventful.
A squat stone fort sits atop a small rise a mile east of town. From
the top of this rise the signal lamps at each cavern entrance are
clearly visible, simulating an artificial starry nightscape. Several
soldiers stand stationed along the fort’s roof parapets, observing
the distant pinpricks of light.
There's two ratfolk guards outside.
Can we help you?" they ask. Their whiskers twitch.
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...
Zho Bai initially waves off tales of an impending
cataclysm. "I think you should talk about that with the local priests about such foolish matters." ...
To the group before we get to the fort.
I agree we need to speak with the military. We can maybe get them at least working on plans even if they won't do anything yet. However, he seems to feel the actual decision would be by the priests..
.
.
To the guards, Yes. Your mayor, Zho Bai, suggested we speak with the leadership of your military immediately. Time is of the essence. Please convey us to them as quickly as is seemly.
"My cousin is never around when I need him..." Ogren grumbles to himself.
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Zho Bai asked us to speak with you and assured us of your complete cooperation. He obviously has great respect for the capabilities of your organization. We are making chronicle entries for the wondrous civilization that has developed here. Unfortunately we are also heralds of bad new. The Ancient Sorcerer's magic is finished. The mountain is coming back. Prepare a plan to evacuate the inhabitants in 12 hours time. After we have spoken with you, we will head to the priests to finalize authorization to initiate your plan. It must be ready to implement when that authorization is received.
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Nor Zhen is too busy to see you and directs you to the Quartermaster.
"Hmmm...I can't do anything about the bad magic? Have you talked to the governor?"
"So... we need to talk to you about your evacuation plans. Are you prepared? What if you need to move the population out in a week?"
[dice=Diplomacy(Aid)]1d20+5
Swayaah tries to talk about trade negotiations and slip in hints of evacuation plans.
"Sorry" the quartermaster says "That's above my pay grade. If needed I can get some wagons together!"
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A large body of water fills the Big Ticker’s northern segment.
Scores of ratfolk work the lake, carrying a variety of crustacean
traps back and forth along the dozens of wooden walkways and
platforms that stretch out over the water. On the shore, teams
of engineers manage the flow of water along a series of canals
cut into the cavern floor, which lead towards Zhotan and the
mushroom farms beyond. A bustling fish market sits along the
lake’s shore. The market’s food stalls fill the area with the pleasant
aroma of local shellfish specialty dishes.
You see some ratfolk fisherman unloading their wares and and others cooking in the market. You see a dwarf in the market too near some clams wearing a white hat.
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Seeing a dwarf in the market draws Ogren's attention and he goes to speak with them.
"Greetings! I'm Ogren from the Runeaxe clan. My companions and I are Pathfinders, and have come here to document some of the areas of the Big Ticker. Is there someplace nearby you have found to be of interest that we should look at?"
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Seeing a dwarf in the market draws Ogren's attention and he goes to speak with them.
"Greetings! I'm Ogren from the Runeaxe clan. My companions and I are Pathfinders, and have come here to document some of the areas of the Big Ticker. Is there someplace nearby you have found to be of interest that we should look at?"
The dwarf stands in front of table with a small fire in a large metal bowl. Two pots are warming over the fire.
"Greetings!" he says. "I'm Angelo. I specialize in clams and mussels. I have some fine mussels cooking. Would you like some?" He scratches his head. "Hmm...I'd check the out regions" he points. "That way...I heard there was some commotion last week out there."
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what sort of commotion was it, do you know or if not know someone who does? Maudril asks plainly
[Dice=diplo]1d20+1
"The Army was out there...not sure if the area is safe now. But I'd stay away unless you're in for a fight. Something about undead..." He looks at the mussels and grabs a bowl. "Mussels and wine sauce anyone?"
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"Why, yes; that sounds good."
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"Huh, undead you say?" Swayaah wonders.
"Which regions should we look for?" Swayaah pops a mussel into her mouth and chews for a bit. Tasty!
"I'd check the outlands area out. But then you guys seem well armed! I was never much for adventuring unlike my brother!"
The dwarf passes out more shellfish. "Help yourselves! It will be a 2 silver each!"
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Malaika will try to document any differences he can see between surface/underground with the water craft, method of fishing, and the catch. Be he isn't really an expert on any of those things so he might not catch all of it.
Why thank you, it looks delicious.
We should probably check out the issue over there. It can only help their decision making if we can eliminate any potential distractions.