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Each of you receives a letter along with a small cloth pouch containing 100 gp labeled "For Tolls".
Pathfinders,
The time has come for you to prove your worth once more. The dwarven city of Jormurdun, recently liberated
from vile duergar thanks in no small part to the Society, fell under attack three weeks ago. A band of duergar
slavers overwhelmed the city’s outer defenses and captured several dozen soldiers and laborers. By the time the
city’s forces mobilized, the gray dwarves had already fled into the tunnels of Nar-Voth, the upper reaches of the
Darklands.
Jormurdun lacks the numbers to rescue its lost comrades—its forces are stretched too thin as it is. I call
upon you to respond in this hour of need. Our intelligence, gleaned from a captured duergar, reveals that the
gray dwarves make for Hagegraf using the Long Walk, an old trade route swarming with slavers, guards, and
allies of the duergar. If you travel north from Janderhoff, you can intercept the slavers before they reach their
destination. Those who maintain the tunnels of the Darklands charge hefty tolls to travelers, so I have provided
you with some gold to cover those expenses. Once you free the captives, bring them to Janderhoff so that they
can return home by surface routes. I have already sent a request to Janderhoff that they let you through their
gates so that we can aid their kin.
You will need to secure allies in order to confront the duergar forces, which are far too strong for even our best
Pathfinders to take on alone. Before departing Janderhoff, seek out fellow Pathfinder and scholar Sandricaan
Molnworret. He can help you prepare for your mission. Make haste, Pathfinders. Countless lives, and the
reputation of the Society, depend on you.
— Sir Jorsal of Lauterbury, Venture-Captain
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When you reach Janderhoff’s surface entrance, where you also meet the other party members — a pair of massive iron gates emblazoned with the hammer of Torag — the guards are already expecting you. They gruffly welcome you to the city.
Janderhoff’s people — mostly dwarves but also some humans, halflings, and gnomes — bustle about the prosperous mountainside citadel, tending its many forges and bringing in carts of copper, iron, silver, and black marble from the nearby mines. The tall chimneys of its forges let forth a constant stream of gray smoke into the blue sky.
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Las, a darker skinned Garundi and loose fitting cotton, enters through the gates. He tries to get sense of the city.
He sees the half-orc matching the description of one of other agents he was suppose to meet and nods to the half-orc.
"Greetings. I am Las Lajas, at your service. I suppose we should wait to see who else arrives."
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A dwarf, taller than average, in heavy armor walks through the gates and starts to look around.
He strikes up a few conversations, but learns little more than he already knew from his heritage.
Finally noticing the conversation of the half-orc and the human with darker skin, he approaches them.
"Lady Luck's blessing, travellers. I am Grunjar, humble cleric of Desna. Are you the fellow Pathfinders that I am supposed to meet?"
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A rather large and obese Orc approaches the group, and nods in agreement with Father Urzaia "Deez half mang's not real chatty wid Luurg. Must not like fruits much!" And with that he plucks a dangling pear off his belt and chows it down in a manner of seconds, tossing the core carelessly into a passing wagon of ore.
"I'm Luurg, you can call me Luurg." He pronounces his name very deeply and with a very drawn out UUUUuuuurrggg. A dirty, sticky silver breast plate struggles to contain the man's girth as he leans on a spear that still has leaves growing out the side of the staff. A large and ominous axe is strapped to his back for good measure. On either side of that large ax seems to be a semi-concealed pair of butterfly wings under his cloak. He offers up a firm, and sticky handshake to each and everyone, followed quickly by an offer of fruit for snacks.
"You sure? Luurg got lots! Grow n gather best fruits all over!" He smiles, showing off the whitest, most perfect set of orc teeth you've ever seen. Not a bit of damage, yellowing, or even crooked snaggle tooth.
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Luurg nods in agreement with Las Lajas and Urzaia "Dat San-Dri-can guy sounds right. Mebe he know some gud stuffs, get us going the right way ok? Ok." He nods thoughtfully at the statement before eating yet another pear and tossing the remnants to the ground.
"Once we get under the Dark Luurg be a gud guide. Better in da swamps n woods n stuff but dark tunnels not bad place to be.. unless you need sun like Leafy." He shakes the leaf covered spear in his hand and apologizes profusely to the green sapling.
"Mebe Lajas ask deez half mang's where dat San-Dri-can guy's hut is?" He points to the unfriendly looking Dwarves staring at his green skin.
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A man of Taldan stock enters the room breathlessly.
Terribly sorry I'm late...my summons went to the wrong house...went to my brother's instead.
He carries himself lightly, almost stalking. His deadly grace echoes with his choice of weapon, the deadly Taldan falcata.
I am Mykel...or the Cassomir Therinors...nice to meet you all. What did I miss? he says acknowledging each of the other agents.
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"Greetings, Luuuurg. May Lady Luck always guide your way. If you can spare a pear, I'll gladly take one!"
Grunjar shakes Luurg's hand.
While taking bites from the tasty pear, he listens to the others discussing the best way to move forward. Then it dawns on him that the group of Pathfinders is not complete yet.
"Before we go looking for Sandrican, shouldn't we wait for the other human member of our group, Mykel The... something? Sorry, I am not very good with names."
Grunjar shrugs and tosses the remains of the pear to the ground.
"That was delicious! Thank you, Lou ... ahem, Luurg!"
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Five seconds later:
"Ah, there he is!" Grunjar spots the Taldan man right away.
"Lady Luck's blessing, Mykel. I am Grunjar, humble cleric of Desna. These are Luurg, Las Lajas and Father Ur... eh... Urzi? Sorry, I'm really bad with names...", Grunjar shrugs apologetically.
"We just discussed the best way to find Sa..." - he looks at the letter again - "...Sandrican."
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Luurg smiles at Grunjar, always happy to see someone that enjoys fruit. "Got lots more, all kinds!" Luurg pulls his cloak a bit more to the side and indeed, he does have LOTS more. All manner of fruit dangle from his belt, strings, and bandoleers across his barrel chested self. Coconuts dangle from his belt, bananas too. A sack of apples stuffed into his back pack even. Its almost never ending.
"Hey dare My-Kel! Tink fast!" He tosses the man an orange from an inside cloak pocket.
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While the shoppers work on their gear, Luurg sets up camp outside the shop. With a click of his boots he sprouts all manner of fruit trees from the hard packed ground, ties up his hammock and eats himself into a nap. "Lemme know when you done, ok? Ok." Zzzzzzz
The wearer of these boots can, on command three times per day, cause her current square to sprout a thick canopy of fruit-bearing or otherwise edible plants. These plants count as difficult terrain and grant cover to any Medium or smaller creature within the square. They also provide enough food to sustain two Medium creatures for 1 full day. While the plants can grow on surfaces that would not normally support vegetation such as a wooden floor or cave stone, they cannot sprout on surfaces explicitly hostile to vegetation. The plants are usually of a sort common to the terrain or climate of the area in which they were produced. They disappear after 24 hours or when completely harvested, whichever comes first.
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Finding Sandricaan is a simple task for Las, as the wizard spends most of his time in his study pouring over historical texts and examining ancient relics and most of the people in this town know where to find him.
"Welcome, Pathfinders. I've been waiting for your arrival already. Do you have any questions before we depart? Do you have everything you need or do you have to buy some equipment?" Sandricaan asks.
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"Hey Mang, I'mma Luuurg!" Luurg reaches out and greets the wizard, patting him on the back with his sticky hands and smiling. "'Ungry?" Luurg plops down a fresh jack fruit on the man's desk, courtesy of his fruit trees.
"Luurg gotta question ok? Ok. You gut any maps of dis under ground road? Er, also mebe any gud tricks n stuff fer sniggin' past deez check point tings?" The orc smiles, raising an eyebrow.
Luurg gives their Dwarven friend a funny look "Mebe we make you look more like dem under ground mean half mangs... hrm... us orcs live under ground gud, fit right in.. some of you not so much."
Sandrican welcomes you into his study, offering to provide any information that might help you. In response to your questions, he provides the following:
"If my calculations are correct, you should be able to intercept the slavers somewhere near the duergar stronghold of Fellstrok. The duergar there have waged constant war against the mongrelmen in that area. Mongrelmen are a peculiar people, but also the most friendly—well, least unfriendly—folk you are likely to find in all of Nar-Voth. You should be able to come to an enemy-of-my-enemy agreement with them, one way or another."
"Following the Long Walk is the quickest and surest way to intercept the slavers. However, it’s also the easiest way to get yourselves caught before you ever reach your destination. I suggest you follow the side-tunnels near the road. It may take longer, but I’ve factored that into my calculations. If any of you possess a particularly silvered tongue, and you disguise any dwarves among your group, you might brave the Long Walk itself. In any case, it is imperative to move quickly. If you reach your destination too late, you will not have much time to find allies and prepare. And I absolutely recommend against trying to teleport there! Nothing good can ever come of teleporting in the Darklands."
"Nar-Voth’s threats are too many to enumerate. I’ll advise you to bring plenty of food, fresh water, and light, as well as any other supplies you expect to need on the journey. Don’t expect to be able to buy anything else once you have departed from Janderhoff."
"“Duergar are evil, wretched creatures. They are also skilled warriors who possess powerful magic and often ride giant vermin into battle. I’ve pondered why they would have taken dwarves prisoner since learning of the raid, and all I can think is that they have some reason for bringing dwarves to Hagegraf. Whatever it is, it can’t be good. Perhaps you will learn the duergars’ intentions while on your mission."
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Luurg casually munches on his 7th apple as the meeting with the man winds down. He rubs his belly, at least the bit that sticks out from under his breastplate and smiles and nods "Luurg like dat plan real gud Mr Man. We go all sniggy sniggy in dem tunnels and make it to dog men town quick. Find some help dare..." He lets out a ringing belch.
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Las contemplates Sandrican's advice.
"I have some skills of persuasion, but my tongue has on silver properties. Gunjar should be easy enough to disguise...in the open. We simply put false shackles on him and pretend he is our prisoner.."
Turning back to Sandrican,
"Do you posses a map of the side-tunnels? It would be unfortunate if we were to get lost taking the long rouite."
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"I have some skills of persuasion, but my tongue has on silver properties. Gunjar should be easy enough to disguise...in the open. We simply put false shackles on him and pretend he is our prisoner.."
Grunjar thinks a second about it, then he asks:
"Good idea, but how do we go about my weapons, buckler and armor?"
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"Rope werk right? Dunno 'bout weapons and armors... mebe just hide da weapons? Make armor all dirty?" When it comes to dirty armor, Luurg's is about as dirty as it gets. For some reason its pretty sticky and anything and everything seems to stick to it. Mostly just below his mouth...
"A rope would work fine, but hiding my weapons is not so easy."
Grunjar gestures to his warhammer and starknife.
"I do not own a bag of holding... yet."