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[Dot and delete to add yourselves to the campaign, or just make a post below]
You have all recently arrived in the village of Aaminuit. In Aaminiut’s central square, the leaders of the settlement’s two cultures, the Ulfen merchant Bjorn the Blade and the Erutaki elder Seshu, converse quietly as Bjorn hammers the final nail attaching a scrolled piece of hide to the village’s notice board. Villagers and traders gather around the board to read the scroll, murmuring in concerned interest. When you investigate, they discover the scroll is a bounty posting depicting a draconic head in profile with the following notice in Common, Ulfen, and the local written dialect of Erutaki.
Hunters needed!
Over the past weeks, a creature some of us have come to know as the “Whitefang Wyrm” has been spotted lurking near our settlement, stealing fish from our nets and baskets and leaving nothing but wreckage in its wake. We believe the creature’s lair is somewhere on or across the ice floes of Whitefang Bay. As this creature poses a threat to the survival of all of Aaminiut’s residents, we have prepared a sack of ivory and oosik carvings from the Erutaki and silver bracelets and armbands from the Ulfen, payable to whoever ends the creature’s attacks on our food supply. Proof of the creature’s defeat must be presented to claim this bounty.
-Elder Seshu and Bjorn the Blade
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A bespectacled tien man in heavy winter robes and fur cloak looks up from his tea when the goblin mentions pathfinders. Seeing the group congregating at the notice board he stands and moves to investigate.
"Whitefang wyrm...interesting. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity to earn some coin while simultaneously garnering some respect for the society. If you are all interested of course..."
He pulls at a chain around his neck and removes a wayfinder. He raises an eyebrow as he shows it to the group.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Yuen Wei Jiang."
He bows slightly.
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A wiry man with a thin, gaunt face approaches the notice board. He wears a black cloak with the hood pulled up over his head, but still his wiry long black hair falls out of the front in an unkempt mess. A hefty bastard sword is slung over his back along with a longbow.
Reading the notice he begins to smile. The hunt is on... money is scarcely needed as incentive. But I suppose we don't need to tell the town leaders how much we'll enjoy the thrill.
He grins, looking at his fellow Pathfinders to gauge their reactions.
Not waiting long he responds to Dr. Yuen. Good to meet you, and all of you. I'm Nikma, a ranger. I am fascinated by how creatures live in the wild. So, you can imagine this job interests me greatly.
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A strange goblin makes his act of presence, trying to rise among the others to read the poster nailed to the wall. His skin is greenish and he wears bright colors.
Long-leggedddd let me read that pozter, ummm reward a little gold alwayzzz comezz in handy.
He turns to his companions. "Greetingzz, I am Phozzzporooo"
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"Excellent. We have trackers. Since no-one seems to be volunteering to question the townsfolk I shall begin doing that myself. I will meet the rest of you back here in about 2 hours if that is acceptable."
After excusing himself Dr. Yuen will try to Gather Information about the whitefang wyrm. Sadly his diplomacy is only +3.
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Dr. Yuen bows.
"I would be honored Lord Marcius."
"I see you are not familiar with the traditional naming conventions of Quain. Wei Jiang is my given name. Yuen is my surname. I suppose it can be confusing since we often follow western customs when we travel outside Tien. Also as I spent a great deal of time studying at the University of Lepidstadt I am rather proud of my title of 'Doctor.'"
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Dr Yeen, by asking around, discovers that a witness described the wyrm as having a fin running down its spine, while another notes that it couldn’t have been much larger than the harbour seals swimming nearby
Arcana or Dragon Lore to Recall Knowledge
if they believe it’s in their best interest, particularly if the other party is not obviously weaker than the tatzlwyrm and treats the tatzlwyrm with respect.
likely not a true dragon, but rather a drake or tatzlwyrm— these smaller cousins to dragons lack some of their more powerful cousins’ most terrifying abilities.
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The ranger follows behind those questioning the locals. He's not as good as they at talking with others, but he knows how to piece together clues about creatures.
Hmm, a fin they say. And that sounds much smaller than a supposed "great wyrm."
As soon as they're done talking, he pulls the two aside to discuss his thoughts based on the clues.
A moment if you don't mind. Thank you for getting those locals to talk. The descriptive details they gave really stuck out to me. What we're dealing with is a tatzlwyrm.
He slows down his voice as he utters the name, hinting that they ought to commit it to memory.
They're not true dragons, and certainly nowhere near as smart. They like to sneak about for a good ambush, so we'll need to keep our eyes open when we head to look for it. They have a crude handle on Draconic speech, and aren't above talking themselves out of a situation they can't handle, but even then they still demand respect.
He looks at both of them to see if they got it.
I happen to speak Draconic, so that might help.
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As soon as they're done talking, he pulls the two aside to discuss his thoughts based on the clues.
A moment if you don't mind. Thank you for getting those locals to talk. The descriptive details they gave really stuck out to me. What we're dealing with is a tatzlwyrm.
He slows down his voice as he utters the name, hinting that they ought to commit it to memory.
They're not true dragons, and certainly nowhere near as smart. They like to sneak about for a good ambush, so we'll need to keep our eyes open when we head to look for it. They have a crude handle on Draconic speech, and aren't above talking themselves out of a situation they can't handle, but even then they still demand respect.
He looks at both of them to see if they got it.
I happen to speak Draconic, so that might help.
"That is excellent information. I shall endeavor to utilize it effectively."
Later back at the village square...
"Does anyone have anything else they wish to accomplish before we depart?"
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While shopping, you discover that Bjorn, ever the opportunistic merchant, also mentions that he has dog teams and sleighs capable of transporting up to three of you apiece for rent for 5 sp.
((PCs who don’t have enough cash on hand to pay this rate can convince Bjorn to extend them credit on the team with a successful DC 18 Diplomacy check to Request a Favor from the merchant, but in this case Bjorn increases the price per sled and team to 6 sp and informs the PCs that if someone beats them to the wyrm, he still expects to be repaid.))
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Khagra is able to get the party back on the real tracks. It only takes you four hours to reach the lair.
When you get there, you discover that the tatzlwyrm that has been preying on the food supplies of Aaminiut lives in an icy cavern in the side of a large upthrust of ice in the middle of Whitefang Bay. The cavern’s ceiling is 10 feet tall, and all of the surfaces are made of ice. The northern sun is still high in the sky and rays of light reflect throughout the cavern, making it brightly lit. The tatzlwyrm has not had time to hide and prepare an ambush and is located in the middle of the open area between the ice slicks rather than hidden in the southern alcove.
((Map is up in slides))
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Nikma also notices the decoy. His eyes narrow as he compares the two sets of tracks.
Once they enter the ice cavern, the ranger gives a cocked eyebrow of slight confusion. So much for the ambush. I guess it wasn't expecting visitors.
He draws his sword, but puts the pointed end in the ice floor and leans on it so that, while ready, it isn't immediately threatening. He then motions to Khagra to lower his weapons.
Whispering to his companions, he says I'm going to try to parlay with it. For anyone else who would also like to speak to it, I can translate.
He calls out to the tatzlwyrm, more loudly. However, as soon as he opens his mouth, the party hears an unfamiliar, ancient-sounding tongue.
He gives a moment to see what it has to say for itself.
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Nikma frowns at the tatzlwyrm's initial disposition, but he figured it might feel that way. He proceeds, attempting to win it over.
He looks over at Burny, wincing and turns back to the wyrm.
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That is a Success .. raising the tatzlwyrm attitude from unfriendly to indifferent. Burny, however, got a Critical Success, and the tatzlwyrm looks pleased with the entertainment. Given that, I'm going to allow another diplomacy attempt to Make An Impression.
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Congratulations. Marcius has actually managed to make the tatzlewyrm friendly and Ssalarn, that's his name, agrees to accompany the PCs back to Aaminiut, saying that he will agree to stop raiding the village’s fish if they agree to pay him an appropriate tribute as the village’s “guardian.”
However, Ssalarn then demands you prove your worth in combat first.
Initiatives
Need initiatives from: Nikma, Burny McBurnface, and Khagra. Could you all also place your tokens on the map and please check your statuses - some of you seem to be missing hitpoints. And don't forget your Hero Points - you have one each (unless you have already spent it this scenario)