The Pathfinder Society is a Globetrotting organization, but the Agents themselves are often between missions. Furthermore, the Call to Adventure can be answered by anyone who can lift a sword, read a scroll, or prepare a spell. And so, our adventure begins in the "Merchant's Haven" that is Eto "along" the Golden Road!
Character Introductions:
When introducing yourselves in your opening post, choose one or more Intro Questions below to answer (first spoiler). Then, at your option, please post your Proficiency and Modifier (plus any relevant Skill Feats) in the following skills that represent your Background Knowledge (second spoiler):
Q) What are you doing in Eto? Business or pleasure? For how long? What do you think of it?
Q) How do you Entertain your friends? Do you have any Special Skills? When do you find yourself doing so?
Q) Has anything been Passed Down to you? By who? For how long? What Significance does it hold to you now?
Q) Do you have any secrets? Do they involve other people? Who? Why? How long have they been Kept? From who?
Q) Describe your approach to Problem-Solving. Is your process more Organized or Loose? What do you do if you get stuck?
Engineering Lore
Eto Lore
Society
Survival
Underworld Lore
If you haven't already, please proceed to Discussion to complete the Check In.
Finally, without further ado, let us get tangled up in the
A great golden orb rises at dawn, as if towed by an immense carriage, looming like an opulent orange sunburst over the sand scorched horizon, the desert chill receding as it's beams slowly caress the millions of tiny grains, as our heroes wake up one by one in the magnificient city...
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Vanvathar wakes up in the inn the Society's provided for him. Still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he goes to the small pillow next to his bed, where a very sickly-looking gecko is in clear distress.
"I'm sorry little buddy, I hadn't expected it to be this hot so early in the morning. Here, I'll make you a pond."
He grabs a small terrarium from his pack and fills it with a few centimetres of water. The gecko gratefully slides in. Vanvathar then starts with his own personal hygiene routine. After half an hour, he comes back to the terrarium, where the water has already been tainted by a black sludge. He refreshes the water and feeds the gecko, which basically consists of convincing the gecko to eat a few grapes and some crickets. The gecko does not seem to enjoy it, but reluctantly eats it anyway.
"Come on, we have some time before we're supposed to meet up. Maybe we can find some medicine for you here. This place has been specifically recommended by others in the Society."
With that, the gecko lethargically crawls up Vanvathar's hand and hides out in the folds of his robes.
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Zendel spreads his toes with satisfaction, taking a moment to prestidigitate his clothing clean. After two weeks of tromping through sand and smelling camel butts, he feels grateful to be back in town, however hot. Why had Brazadig insisted that he follow the caravan routes? The stone roads would have been so much cooler and easier.
Still, his room in the Bent Coin had offered a real bed. While the morning was still bearable, perhaps it was time to eat breakfast, and see if there were any deals to be had. In Zendel's experience, where there's drinking, haggling and opportunity soon follow. He takes a little extra care with his attire, polishes his monacle, and grooms his purple beard.
Dress for success, he tells himself, and then heads downstairs. Looking around at the various caravan owners, he pauses as he sees an elf with a gecko poking out of his sleeve. "Hello, is there room at this table? I'm Zendel of Oprak. Where did you blow in from?"
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Having decided that joining the Pathfinder Society was the more immediate goal, Ignatius made his plans to head to Absalom's Grand Lodge. However, diplomatic snafus made obtaining direct passage from Egorian to the Isle of Kortos a difficult task. So he booked passage to Totra in Osirion. However bad weather forced the ship to dock in Aspenthar in Thuvia. From there Ignatius had to travel by caravan to Lamasara and the cross into Osirion over the Junira. A second caravan has thus far taken him to Eto, but he's run out of coin and needed to find a source of income if he was to make it to Sothis and then onto Absalom. The sooner he could be out of here, the better. He had trained to wear his armor in all sorts of conditions, but Cheliax didn't have deserts. The sand was working itself under all the splints and into the padding, making it uncomfortable in addition to unbearably hot.
He walks into a popular hangout for the merchants and caravans seeking a job opportunity. He needed to fill his belly so even something simple to earn a few silver pieces would be a start.
In one corner, an elven reptilist and a bemonocled gnome strike up a conversation. In another, an unbelievably splint-clad sweating human opens the front door. In a third, by a thick clay wall littered with "want ads" depicting the faces of various missing persons or criminals wanted by the local authorities, a gnome with shocking blue pink hair glances appraisingly at the board before borrowing one of the bar stools to pin up a brand new notice with four bobby pins and a small metal mallet, then sits down at the adjacent bar, and starts tucking into a meal...
...as she does so, several of the bar patrons stir, some squinting their eyes to read distantly without moving, others standing up an walking right over, gawking at the post.
Somebody says "Ehh... that's not a face!" and curses and sits back down. A couple more tilt their head sideways, perhaps trying to imagine a face out of the depiction, then seemingly siding with the vocal dissident, too return to their minding their business.
This antique puzzle box was stolen by a bandit raid on my caravan yesterday. It is a keepsake from my grandmother, and of immense sentimental value to me. I am looking for a few brave souls to confront the bandits and retrieve the puzzle box along with any other clockworks of mine you find with the Wizelboom mark. Adventurers bold, please inquire within!
–Tidbit Wizelboom, of Wizelboom’s Clockwork Creation
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Zendel noticed the fellow gnome right away, and when she puts up the poster, peers at it through his monocle. "By Abadar, it's a case!" Eager to pursue his lead, he turns to the elf. "Would you like to be my assistant?* We could solve the case together! But... We might need to recruit some muscle to help out."
Zendel strides up to the battle oracle in heavy armor. "Hello sir!" he calls up to the human. "My name is Zendel, and my friend and I were wondering if you'd like to join us on a job! We'll need to recover an heirloom from some bandits. Are you up for it?"
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Vanvathar looks up as the Gnome sits as his table. "Huh, oh yeah, go ahead, don't mind me. I'm from Ustalav. I used to be a magical researcher, studying a new excavation. Someone had found a whole bunch of ancient skeletons in their back yard. I was studying them when one skull started floating in the air and spat some goo on the gecko I keep in my office. I still don't know what that goo was, but it made him very sick. I brushed it off with my own hand, and suddenly terrible memories flooded my mind. I can't explain where they came from, but they gave me magical powers. I'm now looking if there's a cure for this, because, as you can see, he isn't doing too well."
With that, he opens his robes a bit to show the gecko. It's clearly supposed to be yellow-orangish, but there's a dull grey tone to it. The gecko moves back into the folds of the robe, but not before coughing up a gunk of brown slime in surprise. Vanvathar wipes it away with his sleeve without a thought. "No one has been able to determine what he's suffering from exactly, and all the remedies I've tried so far have only stopped the symptoms for a while, but didn't get rid of the cause. I'd hoped I could find some wonder cure here, but no luck so far."
He doesn't react as Zendel moves away from the table. When Zendel comes back, Vanvathar shrugs. "Sure. Money's tight anyway, so a lost-and-found sounds like easy coin."
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"Well, uh, sure," the handsome, mustachioed Chelaxian says, the visor of his helm pulled up framing his face in steel. "I could use some money if I'm ever going to make it to Absalom."
He stands up, well over 6 feet tall and offers a hand to the gnome that he likely still has to reach up to meet.
"My name is Ignatius, Ignati... well that doesn't matter, not here anyways."
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Ron Hawthorn is a relatively tall man (just under 6 foot tall) and built with a lot of muscle. He recently finished his training in Absolm to become a member of the society and is just waiting for the bureaucracy to catch up and getting him involved in some missions. In the mean time, one of his mentors in his training told him that if he wants to wear that big heavy armor that he claims to want to wear, he needs to get used to wearing it. So he has taken an excursion to Osirian to wear his chain mail through the dessert to show his mentor that both he can handle the heat and that he can keep his armor in good shape in the harsh sand. That is how he ended up in Eto.
It is a decent way into his travel and is starting to get boring and exhausting. He is staying at the Bent Coin and fell asleep last night thinking of what he can do to help ease the burn out. I joined up with the society because guard duty was so boring and here I am, bored and exhausted just like I was a few years ago.
In the morning, when the gnome tacks the notice up on the board, Ron is busy taking care of his armor in the corner, making it shine. To anyone who is observant, the armor while not new, has clearly never seen combat.
He is clearly too distracted by his polishing to notice the post being made.
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Zendel peers closely at the little magical slime-puking gecko. "You're right. He does not look well at all." The fastidious gnome prestidigitates Vanvathar's sleeve clean.
I hope what he has isn't catching...
Then to distract Vanvathar from his pet's woes, Zendel asks, "What did you name him?"
Zendel adjusts his monocle and shakes the hands of both Vanvathar and Ignatius. "Excellent! Zendel and Associates are on the case!" Then he furrows his brow in thought. "Taking on a group of bandits, perhaps we might need another recruit or two?" He glances around then points at Ron. "What do you think of that big guy over there, polishing his armor? He looks promising."
A gnomish ear perks up at the mention of "group of bandits" coming from another gnome's mouth - the only two in the room, they.
And for the first time this morning, Tidbit Wizelboom notices Ignatius, observing his person in two ways. Firstly, scrutinizing his armor with curiosity. "No evidence of a power source" she thinks to herself, having eaten perhaps half of her meal by this point. The second observation is one of pity "No cooling system either - not even a rudimentary one" and she shrugs here, wondering how he'll fare in the heat of midday just around the corner.
Finishing her meal now, she begins washing it down with a room temperature mug of honeywine...
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Zendel takes a look at the gecko. You can't really put a name to it, his symptoms seem to be all over the place. Based on what Vanvathar told you and what you've observed so far, this creature should have passed away months ago. There also seems to be some kind of black liquid seeping from his pores, Vanvathar's robes are definitely stained with it.
"His name's Iggy. He used to be much more lively, but I guess the illness saps his energy. It's a shame, he's a wonderful little pet. Very clever."
Vanvathar gently strokes Iggy on his head with a finger. Iggy latches on to the finger with his front paws and rubs his head against the finger, as if he's giving a hug.
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"Ignatius the warrior and Iggy the puking gecko," Zendel mutters to himself. "I really hope I don't mix them up..."
Aloud, he gestures to Vanvathar and Ignatius, "Well... let's go talk to that other warrior and invite him to join Zendel and Associates Detective Agency!" Zendel then approaches Ron, and says heartily, "Hello there! I am Zendel. My associates and I are about to pursue a case to recover an heirloom from bandits. Would you like to join us in this venture?"
And then we can go talk to Tidbit Wizelboom and see what details we can gather!
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Ron looks up to the people approaching him. He flashes a nice smile and looks over the group. Good morning to you, Zendel. The name is Ron Hawthorn of Absolm. Are you recruiting anyone or did I look particularly interesting to you? Ron pauses to think about the offer.
Well, I am here for a training session. I am sure a little adventure wouldn't hurt, would it? Ron pauses, Wait, do we know if this job pays?
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"Well met, Ron! I propose that we find out about monetary rewards and other information about our quarry by talking with the merchant who posted a bounty requesting our help. Shall we?"
Zendel searches the Bent Coin until he sees the pink-haired gnome who posted the bounty. "Ah there she is? Shall we go?" Climbing the stairs to the balcony, he bows as he reaches Tidbit Wizelboom. "Greetings, honored Wizelboom, I am Zendel of Oprak and these are my associates. Can you tell us more about your puzzlebox, the bandit raid, and anything you can remember?" He pauses. "We are interested in pursuing your case, but we will need details if we're to have a chance of finding it before the trail goes cold."
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Straight to the point I see.Maybe this will be helpful training for me as well. Ron smiles with a youthfully optimistic look on his face as he dons his freshly polished armor.
He accompanies Zendel for the conversation but does not add anything to the conversation at the moment.
“My, were they surprised when the cart sprouted scimitars and defended itself!” out of her pocket comes a grey box with a big red short-nosed cylinder situated into it's center "Broken now... but if you depress here while it's functional, well..." seeing she is losing most of you "Anyway it wasn't enough, so, here we are!" redepositing the contraption from whence it came.
"Zendel? Tidbit! Wizelboom that is!" she snorts here. Perhaps she doesn't know how to shake hands? Or prefers not to? Or simply forgot the custom?
"I'll admit my grandmother's box looks like it holds jewelry..." realizing she put the cart before the horse at the mostly quizzical looks "I assume you are here about the bounty I posted!" she takes another drink of her honeywine "Yeah well these sand scorpions made off with it" perhaps forgetting again to supply the context "No that's not right. The Sand Scorpions!" she curls two fingers up and over two fists here to change the meaning of the words in reduplicating them "That's right: Bandits!" she points to Ron and winks twice "This one knows!" and elbow's him, then "Anyhow, where was I - OH Right - too many of 'em to take, plus with the scimitar camshaft malfunction... nevermind... the point is, I think I know where their hideout is!" and here she describes an oasis which really could be sufficient to describe any oasis within 30 miles of here!...
...the sheer vaguery of which is confounding!...
...When suddenly the gnome pulls out a map and points a finger "Here!" near a spot that says "Pillars’ Rise". She finally seems to come to rest after asking "So will you take the job!?" but fills the empty space with a motion of polishing off her drink and smacking the mug onto the counter...
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You have heard of the Sand Scorpion bandits... but you are also aware not just of their fame (indeed, they exist) but also of their infamy. You see, the latter was given by the former. Nowadays, any old gang of punks can don the classical black and yellow clothing (their "trademark") and posit as them, and indeed, sometimes the reputation is enough to do the trick!
You are also pretty sure where you could find this Pillar's Rise oasis she describes is - there is a distinctive sphinx-shaped building nearby that have identical bushes which she went into some detail about...
You have heard of the Sand Scorpion bandits. They have been know to terrorize caravans in a particular region, which actually...
...rules out at least half of the 30-mile radius around you in terms of finding the oasis, being that they rarely venture outside of that greater area (even if it has been known to happen)...
...meaning, this Pillar's Rise sounds promising!
You have heard of the Sand Scorpion bandits. Utilizing a uniform of mixed black and yellow rags - yourself knowing the importance of a soldiers uniform as for striking fear into ones enemies - they are robbers and thieves that operate in the area.
There has been a few isolated incidences of imitators, but mostly, they are the real thing.
You have heard of the Sand Scorpion bandits. And yes, many gangs you have heard of utilize oasis's as hideouts!
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Vanvathar coughs. "While reseaching venoms and their antidotes I grabbed the wrong book and stumbled upon an article describing these 'sand scorpions.' They seem to have quite the reputation. With some luck they're just imitators, not the real deal. But we'd best prepare for the worst.
"How many people were you robbed by, exactly? Would be nice to know before we stumble into a whole den of 'em."
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Ron chimes in to the conversation after receiving the additional details. I have also heard of this gang! Luckily I didn't run into them on my travel into town but I did pass a wagon with a few guards traveling the other direction who warned me of the Sand Scorpions. They also warned me to never approach any oasis when traveling alone in the desert. It is a common place for gangs to set up their base of operations.
After Vanvathar asks his question Ron also asks his, And not to be that person, but I am a bit low on funds... how much is this job paying? He flashes a bit of a humble smile.
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"I have spent the past two weeks traveling from Pashow all the way here, and the caravan leaders warned me about a number of local bandits. They mentioned that the Sand Scorpions harry caravans in only a few specific areas." Zandel taps the map lightly with his cane. "Here, here and here. Triangulating from this data, it appears that the Pillar's Rise Oasis would be very likely indeed to be near the bandit's base. Even if they're holed up in nearby caves, they're going to need a regular source of water."
Zendel turns back to Tidbit. "Honored Wiz-- er -- Tidbit, I believe you travel more regularly to Eto than I. Is there a particular purveyer you recommend for the purchase of elixirs? If we're to be fighting bandits, it will be best if we're prepared."
Looking at Vanvathar "Err, it was" she begins counting on her fingers " of 'em plus or minus !"
Tidbit's arithmetic skills once again called into question "After dividing equally between the four of you, or rather, square-rooting, or wait..." she rolls her eyes into the back of her head and after a few awkward moments "4 gold apiece I suppose!"
Then to Zendel "Okay lemme think!" she starts counting a third time with her fingers "Yes there is a man who sells potions - his name is Rextanglin - gotta tent over yonder but I hear he's out of red dye"
You can concur with Wizelboom's recommendation - you have dealt with this Rextanglin before - another gnome in fact!
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Tidbit pipes excitedly!
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Zendel takes notes. "Black and Yellow, you say? That's odd. Wouldn't Black and Yellow be the color of hornets, rather than sand scorpions? Honored -- er -- Tidbit, do you recall how the bandits who attacked you were dressed?"
Then he considers her recommendation. "Ah Rextanglin! I heard about him from the Caravan Master when I traveled here. Excellent reputation, but of course, he's also a gnome!" Zendel smiles. "We tend to be obsessive about the quality of our work. It's a gnome thing."
Then he clears his throat and addresses Tidbit. "Four gold a piece seems like a fair rate indeed. Madame, you have hired yourself a top-notch investigative team."
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Arrived in Eto just a day ago, Matei still drowsy comes out of his room at the Bent Coin, not used to the scorching heat of the lands of the Golden Road. He walks a bit awkwardly into the main room of the tavern with the intent of ordering a breakfast (or lunch? But what time is it?). With him he carries his trusty travel backpack, full of papers and parchments filled with notes from his long journey south.
A journey, that of the young doctor and adventurer, halfway between pleasure and work: in order to deepen his knowledge on the treatments of mental illnesses he decided to take a break from his duties as assistant at the Pathfinder lodge in Caliphas to be able to travel through the lands of Golarion and learn the techniques of foreign medicine directly from the source, rather than from the university books of his native Ustalav.
Having found a place free and a little distant from the hustle and bustle of the club, the young man — who doesn't seem so young, given his silver-white hair — begins to put his notes on the table and read them, correcting sentences and thoughts here and there. He occasionally tries to get a waitress's attention to order something to eat, but with no success.
At a certain point his attention is however captured by some people not very far from him. Hearing about "jobs" and "sand scorpions" he decides to get closer to the group and listen to the topic in progress. After all, a few coins would be useful, and if his memory serves him well, he had read somewhere that the venom of the sand scorpion could be used in the treatment of some symptoms deriving from states of anxiety and problems related to uncontrollable phobias. Maybe he could kill two birds with one stone.
A-er Matei clears his throat to attract the attention of the group, and after a small bow he begins Good morning gentlemen, allow me to introduce myself: my name is Matei Nakayama, a student and practitioner of medicine. If you heard about a possible sand scorpion job, correct? I would be interested in joining the expedition if possible. As a Pathfinder aspirant I can help the cause if you will let me.
"Yeah they were wearing black and yell-" she stops to think here "wull, maybe grey and yell-" her eyes darting between her left and right hands, each holding a number of fingers perhaps corresponding to a color...
...The bartender comes by and addresses the gnome, holding two fat fingers up (she must be a regular here and he must be an attentive server) and smoking a handrolled sticky-looking pinner which with a quick flick of tongue flits to the side of his mouth kiddy-corner of his eye-patch and now pointing itself directly at her "Another, doctor?" to which she first looks around at those gathered here - and at the fifth man walking up now! - and replies with an emphatic "Ok Yes" and he raises his uncovered eyebrow expressively and she says "Ok Fine - Last Time!" and as he grins she pulls out from another pocket another but even smaller grey box with an even smaller red short-nosed cylinder situated into it's center which she depresses with her thumb and...
...the bartender wastes no time leaning in and lighting his skinny weed-wrap drawing the flame gently into the tip and with a great smile, dashes across the behind-bar area of the establishment and in no time at all has broughten a second mug for Tidbit, who by now has stowed this second contraption and looks herself rather quite pleased (and having apparently forgotten about the colors of the bandits...). The smoking man interjects himself a second time, this time addressing the party but looking at Ignatius:
"Couldn't help but bend my ear in hearing about your intended destination to Pillars’ Rise - if'n you are wanting to get, got about two hours before high sun - and the morning ain't getting any younger!" exhaling a wisp of smoke in the rough shape of a winged cat!
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"A medic, you say? And a Pathfinder aspirant? I've done a couple of cases on behalf of the Pathfinder Society. Good people, dependable and they pay well. If you are interested in joining Zendel and Associates on this case, we would love to have you!" Zendel shakes Matei's hand. "Welcome to the team!"
Zendel raises his eyebrows at the contraption that Tidbit produces. At some point, I need to talk to her about her construction process. Fascinating miniaturization.
He offers her a courtly bow. "We must be off, Madame, and take advantage of the cool morning while we can." Turning to the rest of the party, he says gaily, "Ready to travel, gentlemen?"
Ignatius @ ??
Matei @ ??
Ron @ ??
Vanvathar @ ??
Zendel @ Pursuing a Lead
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Vanvathar goes back to his room to tidy up and prepare for the journey. He prepares his spells for the day, goes to clean Iggy for a bit and make sure he doesn't dry out during the trek, then prepares some alchemical potions. He grabs a few dead scales from Iggy's pillow and powders them, mixing the powder with a few of his reagents. The resulting sludge hardens out over the next few minutes into a tiny pebble, which he puts into a small leather pouch.
Back with the group, Vanvathar says, "I've made a little good luck charm that absorbs hostile magic. I'd demonstrate it, but it only works once. Does anyone want to carry it with them?"
During the trip, Vanvathar will hang back and keep his eyes out for any possible landmarks and any oddities he might find useful for him as a chemist.
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Ron nods to the new member of the crew, Well I guess I am not the newest person on the team anymore, looks like you are the low man on the pole and smiles at Matel. The name is Ron Hawthorn, happy to have you on the team!
I am ready to head out when you lot are.
As the group starts traveling, Ron travels with his shield out and ready to be used but keeps his sword drawn for concern of looking too aggressive.
Ignatius @ ??
Matei @ ??
Ron @ Defend
Vanvathar @ Investigate
Zendel @ Pursuing a Lead
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With the information they need, the team heads out, leaving the Bent Coin for the Pillars’ Rise - Tidbit yells out "If you make it back, head to Wizelboom’s Wonders just over the way!" leaning in to ask her bartender without looking at him "So - think they'll make it back?" to which he retorts "If they don't die in the midday heat first, you mean?" sharing a laugh as they spend their early afternoon in the safety of the shade...
...Meanwhile, the party, keeping a solid pace to get ahead of said midday heat, travels under the sun slowly rising to it's zenith, arriving near an oasis that most probably marks the place on the map, finding the two-hour trip a little windier than they had expected, all with Vanvathar and Zendel taking the lead while Ron and Ignatius keeping a lookout for trouble...
...which is what the party finds!
Ignatius is the first to see it - perhaps cursed with momentary foresight of conflict? - two small beige winged creatures sitting upon the "feet" of an abandoned sphinx taking flight to assault the party.
one says to the other which responds with
You are unsure the language of the first creature (but suspect it to be "elemental" as well), but the second language you recognize as Terran:
"Yes my brother! It would be a delight!"
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Vanvathar
Ron
Matei
Zendel
Ignatius
???
Creature One @ elevation +0-feet
Creature Two @ elevation +0-feet
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Failing at their "ambush" - but mostly due to Ignatius's Scouting and Call to Arms (and all despite the wind blowing sand into his visor!)...
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Feeling particularly frail in the desert heat, Vanvathar does not like being caught out in the open. He stands there for a moment, trying to figure out what these things are, exactly.
"Earth Plane? well, there sure is a lot of that around here, but why would they shack up with those Scorpions?"
Vanvathar then moves and takes cover behind the rocks.
Two investigators dive for cover, one scoring a solid hit with his bow...
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Beyond recognizing this as some sort of flying earth elemental, nothing else comes to mind...
Beyond recognizing this as some sort of flying elemental, nothing else comes to mind...
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"Ron, your armor won't slow you down as much. I can take the direct route and you can come around to flank them."
Ignatius trudged slowly through the sand moving to cut off the creatures' advance. With a word a shimmering shield of force appears in front of him.
◆ Stride
◆ Stride
◆ Cast a spell (Shield) - AC 17
In follows Ignatius and Matei, positioning themselves for the incoming aerial assault!
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Vanvathar w/ unarmed @ taking cover
Ron w/ shield
Matei w/ spear
Zendel w/ longbow
Ignatius w/ unarmed @ shield spell
???
Creature Red @ elevation +0-feet @ (-9 shot)
Creature Blue @ elevation +0-feet
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Ron forks, setting himself.
Tiny dust devils whirl into being, lifting the creatures from a seated position, and catching the lift with their wings, they take flight!
The "Red" creature observes Ignatius's long-shafted weapon and flies just out of range (to 15 feet vertical), then whips it's wings and launches another blast of dust - this time mixed with shiny particles that reflect light! - into the rocky area where the rest of the party has taken cover.
◆) Fly
◆◆) Cast a Spell
The "Blue" creature splits off the other direction, as if giving chase to Ron, again flying just out of reach of his melee weapon (to 10 feet vertical), and blasts him alone with the same effect!
◆) Fly
◆◆) Cast a Spell
The arrow stuck in the "Red" creature starts to slowly fall out, and where blood ought to be dripping from the wound, instead, tiny whirls of dust trickle, and actually begin sealing back up the tiny perforation!
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Vanvathar w/ unarmed @ Reflex pending!
Ron w/ shield & longsword @ Reflex pending!
Matei w/ spear @ Reflex pending!
Zendel w/ longbow @ Reflex pending!
Ignatius w/ halberd
Dusty Red @ elevation +15-feet @ (-9 shot, +x dust)
Dusty Blue @ elevation +10-feet
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"Remember Vanvathar, that correlation is not causation! The bandits may be here because of the water, and these earth creatures, if they are earth creatures, might be here to hunt other beasts that come to the oasis. Perhaps they are working with the Sand Scorpions, but they may have their own reasons for being here!"
Zendel easily shakes off the glitter from their spell. He tries again to devise a stratagem for Red.
◈
But Red is wheeling around too much to affect and as Zendel calculates trajectories, he realizes that the wind has picked up too much. Both the creatures are outside of Electric Arc range, so Zendel changes targets and shoots at Blue!
◈
◈
In Terran he calls out,
Two arrows Shkuff Shkuff into the southern creature, but it is Ron's flung rock that explodes it into a Priffff of sand!
Meanwhile, the northern creature sees parts of it's "skin" metamorphosized into glass through intense heat!
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Vanvathar w/ unarmed @ Reflex pending!
Ron w/ shield & unloaded sling @ Dazzled
Matei w/ spear @ Reflex pending!
Zendel w/ longbow
Ignatius w/ halberd
Dusty Red @ elevation +15-feet @ (-9 shot, +x dust, -6 flame)
Dusty Blue @ elevation +10-feet (-8 shot, -8 shot, -8 rock)
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Matei tries to quickly recall any notion related to those creatures (◆), then tries to escape the blinding dust cloud cast by the enemy (◆) and once he's outside the spell zone he he shouts more inspiring words to his allies ( ◆).
Let's do our best, my friends! This is but a small obstacle between us and our objective!
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Vanvathar coughs and splutters, but manages to keep most of the dust particles out of his eyes. He then Strides twice to get close to the infernal creature, but falls just short.
Standing nearly eye-to-eye with the creature, Vanvathar starts to mumble and a palpable feeling of uneasiness emanates from him. He fixes his gaze upon the creature and time seems to stand still for a second.
Momentarily stunned by the strange glare... "ਇਕ ਸ਼ਕਤੀਸ਼ਾਲੀ ਸ਼ਿਕਾਰ!!" the creature mumbles to itself in an unintelligible language, then looks at Zendel and it flits off!
"Very well!"
As the creature flies away (vengeful PCs are welcome to take parting shots as it flies about 100 feet NW from the "X" position ), the party observe a small oasis south of them through a glimmering mirage or trick of the heat, as well as a sphinx-shaped building northwest of them whose entrance is obscured by sand...
...
...
You suspect that the creature flying away now is a transformed human man!
Maybe even a Bandit Magician!!
Possibly a Sand Scorpion!!!
Ignatius w/ halbard @ Scout
Matei w/ spear @ Investigate
Ron w/ shield @ Defend
Vanvathar w/ unarmed @ Investigate
Zendel w/ longbow @ Pursuing a Lead
...