Each of you has been given orders recently - make haste to Nantambu, in the Mwangi Expanse, and meet up with Aya Allahe in the marketplace outside Sharrowsmith’s Exports. When you arrive, despite the sweltering heat of the midday sun, you find the marketplace bustling with customers. Merchants stand in the shade under colorful awnings behind enticing displays of all manner of goods, from fresh fruits to intricate works of art. In the center of the marketplace, two large, vaguely humanoid statues rise from a fountain. Water pours from their gaping mouths as they stare up at the sun. Sharrowsmith's Exports lies quiet and empty off to the side of the fountain, as it has been since the passing of Venture-Captain Sharrowsmith. A quick glance does not yet reveal the presence of Aya Allahe.
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"Finally...", Kridash mutters to himself as he walks into Nantambu. His guide speaks broken Taldane, but it did work out in the end. He pays the man what he owes him and heads straight over to Sharrowsmith's. He moves past the fountain, and stops by to freshen up a bit. He cups some water with his hands and cleans his face and bald scalp. He tries to open the door, but it doesn't seem to budge. Deciding he won't press it, he puts his backpack on the ground next to the fountain and sits on it. The local sun is probably not good for his pale skin. Fortunately, the sculpture in the fountain provides sufficient shade. He quietly sits, watching the Sharrowsmith's door every now and then, and takes in the smells of the market. For better, or worse.
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A burly fighter walks into the market square. He has a shield and a brand new battle ax slung over his shoulder, along with a travel pack. He has several cooks ribs wrapped in butcher paper in his hands. He eyes Sharrowsmith's Exports, and notices half-orc, watching Sharrowsmith's. He walks up and says:
You a pathfinder? I am. Devin's the name, Try one of these ribs they are delicious
Devin offers a couple of ribs.
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Although the sun likely won't do him any harm, the wayang who darts from shadow to shadow clearly avoids it as much as possible. He sidles into the shade next to the pair. There is something...strange about him. His eyes are too big and bulbous and too far apart, his mouth is too broad, his teeth too big. All-in-all he gives the appearance of an odd humanoid frog...a decidedly carnivorous one.
"I am," he replies to the question Devin addressed to Kridash. "And if you're asking, that probably means you are, as well.
"I'm Essilor."
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Kridash accepts the offer and takes a piece. "Yeah I work with the Society. I've never been properly initiated however, if that's what you are asking. Call me Ash."
He stands up and offers a handshake with his free hand just as Essilor shows up.
"Huh... Guess I'm not the ugly one this time. Nice change o' pace. Howdy., he nods jokingly at the wayang.
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Nantambu, eh? I had best lay in some appropriate supplies.... Before departing, Ilarien calls in a favor from the Dark Archive, obtaining a wand of endure elements.
The sea voyage from Absalom is the usual combination of boredom and terror, and the trip upriver from Bloodcove is more of the same. Eventually, though, the witch reaches Nantambu, one more traveling arcane caster apparently come to visit the Magaambya. Instead of making her way to the great school of magic, she heads for the marketplace.
A slender, pale-haired young woman enters the marketplace and approaches the small crowd near Sharrowsmith's shop after scanning a scrap of paper. Her erect posture makes her appear taller than her actual (not very great) height. She wears a shapeless black long dress, its hem stained with the dust of travel. "If my sources are correct, you three are here for the same reason I am. I'm called Ilarien. According to this we're still missing two, though. I hope they didn't do something foolish like admit to membership in the Society while they were passing through Bloodcove, or something similar. And you are?"
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"Welcome everyone, welcome!", the half orc stands up to greet the new arrivals. Now that he is no longer in the shade, you notice a few features of his visage. Based on the shape, his nose was clearly broken in the past, and his face shows scars from cuts on several places, but he doesn't seem to care.
He gestures towards his backpack perched against the fountain wall. "Come and sit down. We have some nice weather today, a refreshing trinkle from the fountain over here, and some ribs to boot. The good life!"
He offers a handshake to the newcomers. "You can call me Ash.", and points towards the door with the sign 'Sharrowsmith’s Exports' on it. "I checked the door, but didn't want to but it open just yet. Why should I have all the fun alone?"
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"I'm Essilor," the wayang introduces himself all around, shaking hands or nodding acknowledgement to each person.
While he does not seem to be skulking around intentionally, it seems that his natural instinct is to lurk. He rests on the periphery of the group, sitting still and almost fading into the shadows. It is easy to forget he's even there until he speaks up again.
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Sakura is sitting on a proud white horse with barding that walks with strong but slow steps and clearly is combat trained.
A spiny brown Hedgehog is sitting on her shoulder. When the hedgehog sees you it obviously feels threatened, and rolls up into a spiny ball as a defense mechanism.
"Greetings to you all. I am Sakura." says the young woman with a neutral facial expression void of emotion.
Sakura’s whole form has metallic hues. Her silver and golden skin flickers and periodically coruscates with sparkling crystalline dust that has an exotic appeal. Her silver eyes lack any pupils and her hair shines with golden colors.
Her body looks strong but not quite agile. She does not have a natural presence and comes across as cold and distant sometimes.
Her full plate armor and shield as well as the great sword that is attached to her wrist with a very fine chain show that she is a warrior.
Facing you all she bows.
“I am ready to join you Pathfinders.“ she says.
A dark-skinned woman with gold-colored eyes strides toward the group of pathfinders gathered around the fountain, the crowd parting to allow her past. She speaks in hushed tones.
"Greetings, Pathfinders," she says. "I’ve been expecting you. For those of you whom I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting, I am Aya Allahe. There is much to discuss, but here is not the place. Follow me, please." She leads you through the crowd to the immense stone building that houses Sharrowsmith's Exports, decorated with carvings of fierce apes, giants, and reptilian figures. She unlocks the doors and leads them inside.
The heat inside the building is far less stifling than in the market outside. Allahe opens the door to a small, private meeting room. She presses a hidden switch on the wall, revealing a doorway into a well-appointed lounge.
"Welcome to the Nantambu Pathfinder Lodge," she says, gesturing widely with her hands. In contrast to her animated gestures, the expression in her eyes is weary. "As you have probably heard, the local venture-captain, Nieford Sharrowsmith, recently passed away on an expedition. His unexpected passing left behind many loose ends. I’ve done my best to help the Pathfinders with the day-to-day problems, but the current task is beyond my abilities to handle alone."
"Over the last few weeks, the local Ekujae elves have become... " she pauses. "Well, they have become rather violent toward anyone they believe to be connected to Nieford or the Pathfinders. They have ambushed or abducted several travelers who fit that description, but have not yet killed any of them. Instead, they return their victims, beaten and severely bruised, near well-traveled roads. As I have been the Pathfinders’ primary contact in the area lately, these victims have come to me and reported their experiences."
"Mostly they speak of being questioned and threatened. The Ekujae claim that Nieford Sharrowsmith owes them a service, and that if he himself will not settle the debt, then his friends or associates will. I have searched what records I have of Nieford’s, but so far all I have found is a single entry in one of his journals describing a path he once followed to the Ekujae, although there is no mention of any deal. Given his penchant for secrecy and relying upon his own memory, however, I have no doubt there is something he said to the elves to strike a bargain. That the suspicious Ekujae were willing to make a deal with him at all speaks to his strength of character. He was an honorable, trustworthy man, and the Society is poorer for his passing." Allahe pauses for a few moments, bowing her head in remembrance.
When she speaks again, her voice is clear and determined. She hands the PCs a detailed map drawn on a scrap of paper. "Nieford drew this map to help him find his way to an Ekujae village. I ask that you follow this map as best you can and make peaceful contact with the insular elves. If you are not confident of your ability to navigate the jungle, I suggest you hire a guide. Once you arrive in the village, find out what it is that the Ekujae want, and if it is in your power to do so, fulfill Nieford’s bargain. While I doubt the Pathfinders could ever turn the Ekujae into full allies, they are dangerous foes."
Allahe shakes her head, "Let us learn from the Aspis Consortium’s mistakes and not antagonize them."
As you wander the town looking for locals who might know something, you come across a man with the appearance of a ranger at a local bar. His name is Jolan, and he knows quite a bit about the Ekujae elves, though he is hesitant to give the information at first. If you spend at least 5gp to buy him drinks, you may add a +5 circumstance bonus to your Diplomacy check to gather information.
Knowledge of these marks aids the PCs in their interactions with the elves. A PC whose result is at least a 30 on this skill check knows enough about the significance of particular symbols to grant all PCs a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy, Intimidate, and Sense Motive checks against Ekujae elves for the remainder of the scenario.
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"I will ask around town. Maybe some drinks will lead to information!" Sakura says to you and leaves to return after a while.
"Team, I met a man named Jolan who knows the elves. He told me a lot. The elves of the Mwangi Expanse tend to distrust outsiders. They are hesitant at best, and fiercely xenophobic at worst.
Elves make up the largest non-human population within the Expanse and are themselves broken into many tribes. The most well known are the Ekujae tribes of the western Mwangi, the Kallijae of the northwestern jungles, and the Alijae of the northern jungles. Although it’s not clear why, every Ekujae on patrol carries a ceremonial club carved from yellowheart wood.
The Ekujae tribe is divided into several scattered, self-sufficient communities. In times of strife, these groups band together against major threats. Recently, the Ekujae worked together to battle Aspis Consortium slavers operating out of Nightfall Station to the west. Aspis activity has not stopped, however, and rumors of sightings of Aspis agents south of Nantambu persist.
The Ekujae see themselves as guardians of many ruins scattered throughout the jungle. They rarely explain why they guard them to outsiders. The few stories they have shared reveal that some of these places are connected to a “great darkness” that they were able to defeat but not destroy.
Elves of the Ekujae tribes, like most other jungle elves, paint their faces and bodies with various patterns. Some indicate status or role in the tribe, while others are marks of accomplishment and achievement."
Do the Ekujae also speak the same language as the elves of Kyonin? If so, I can talk to them."
Allahe nods her head. "As far as I know, they speak Elven the same as Kyonin elves." Her golden eyes blink expectantly, awaiting any more questions.
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"Well, that's good to know. Is there anything we can get to deal with biting insects? There are supposed to be quite a lot of them in the jungle, after all, and they can carry diseases. Sakura, unless your horse is something unusual it will not have an easy time; the undergrowth on the jungle floor is difficult for most mounts to maintain their footing on. Large predators are known to lurk or lair near natural hazards--much easier, I suppose, to kill and eat something that's just slipped and broken a leg. However, as if to compensate for this abundance of danger, the jungle plants can be quite valuable if you find the right ones."
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Ash observes the shop as they walk in, and watches as Aya opens a secret door. "Clever - been a while since I saw any of those.", he whispers to the pathfinders as they move forward. After the briefing, he listens to the team come up with their knowledge of the place.
"This is my first time in Mwangi, so that could be useful. I'll go ahead and get some supplies from the locals. See you in ... an hour?"
Malik walks out of the shop and starts checking the market for useful wares. He purchases 20 trail rations, an extra waterskin, two vials of each antitoxin and antivenom, and a small tent.
Once he is back, his backpack has some extra luggage attached to it, and he inside with a hearty laugh.
"You won't believe this. So I'm talking to this guy in the market regarding the price of the merchandise, right? And I pull out my pouch and start counting coins. The guy straight up walked into the back of the shop and came back with this girl. Introduced her as his daughter, looking for a husband. Can you believe that? Essilor, even you might have a shot here.", he jests and nudges the wayang with his elbow.
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Knowing the importance of information and the briefing that occurs at the beginning of a mission, Essilor listens carefully as Allahe tells them why they've been gathered.
"It'll be good to sew up one of the debts we owe as an organization," he comments.
Of all the things Essilor knows about, nature is not one of them. His intellectual pursuits are generally more esoteric than physical.
He listens carefully to the others as they spill the information that they know. That information is often as useful as the briefing.
He stays at the lodge as others scatter to gather supplies.
"Ha! Size and strength have their place, Kridash, but don't underestimate the power of force of personality," Essilor replies as the half-orc returns.
"She was probably too tall for me, anyway."
"Well, that's good to know. Is there anything we can get to deal with biting insects?"
Allahe nods. "Most vermin repellent is too short in duration to be of much help during your journey, but some local merchants sell locally made vermin repellent that lasts longer and can help in your travels. It costs 10gp per person, and you'd need a separate dose for your horse, but one dose should be enough to help one person for the entire journey."
"You won't believe this. So I'm talking to this guy in the market regarding the price of the merchandise, right? And I pull out my pouch and start counting coins. The guy straight up walked into the back of the shop and came back with this girl. Introduced her as his daughter, looking for a husband. Can you believe that? "
Allahe frowns at this, and her golden eyes roll quickly in annoyance. "That'll be old man Lefu. He's so desperate for his daughter to make a wealthy match that he practically throws her at anyone with money. Sad really. I've tried to convince him there are better ways to play matchmaker, but he listens not to me."
A very quiet Robert puts his hand up. Erm, excuse me. But, er, but what are the humans in the area like? Are we to be worried about them? What are the main languages?
Allahe tilts her head, seeming to be noticing the quiet man for the first time. "Where you are heading, I doubt you will encounter too many natives other than the elves. Most all humans around here speak Polyglot in addition to Common. There are four human sub-groups, but most around here are the Zenj. I don't foresee you encountering any trouble with them."
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Devin hears Allahe mentioned vermin repellent, stops scratching his big arm, and walks out the door with out hearing the rest of the conversation. He returns a short time later smiling with a bag in hand.
"Anything that can keep the devils from biting is worth the gold too me. Help yourself folks"
The bag contains 7 doses of the stuff.
When you ask Jolan about the possibility of being a guide on your journey, the man (already several drinks in due to your purchased drinks) slurs at you unpleasantly "iss not worf riskin' me skin t' mess with them elvesss... piss off..."
On looking around town more though, you find a few different people willing to be your guide.
Regardless of who you choose as a guide, they all inform you that they expect the journey you describe to take about a week of travel each way, and they all charge the same: 30gp for the full journey. You feel like you might be able to get that price down a little if you negotiate (with a Diplomacy, Profession (merchant), or Survival check). Do not expect guides to help in combat or in any way risk their lives; they are there solely to provide guidance.
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Robert chuckles to himself from the back of the group Well, there's me finking that the either of the other two would get my vote. But I'm Fairly new to this adventuring malarkey. So I will bow to thouse with better knowledge than mine. By the way, does anybody have the requisite medical education to deal with being poisoned? I'm just a cabin boy, so that's not my fortaie
After some deliberation, you agree to hire Mitarat. At first, he was fairly adamant about his 30gp fee; however, the young sailor proves persuasive, and he finally agrees to taking only 15gp. When you have ponied up the 15gp , the stout man quietly nods and picks up his gear to follow as you set out on your journey.
The hot, humid jungle is full of streams, bogs, fallen trees, and thick underbrush. Like clockwork, heavy rains begin at 4 p.m. each day and last until the following morning. Sakura's horse Asb keeps up gamely with the others, but the heavy underbrush slows him significantly . Numerous hills, valleys, and cliffs require you to take a somewhat circuitous route. The journal fragment that Allahe gave you is simple enough to follow, showing a general southeasterly route into the jungle around the major cliffs; however, your guide quickly shows his worth by pointing out several unexpected pitfalls and helping you refrain from getting lost.
Mosquitos, ants, and other biting insects provide constant irritation to all of you, despite the application of the Nantambu Special Bug Repellent; those of you who declined to accept the repellent are particularly miserable.
After about 3 days of travel, you approach an area that is particularly marshy. A soggy, muddy pool of stagnant water cuts right across the trail you have been following. On approach, several of you recognize it for what it really is - quicksand!
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Kridash keeps walking through the underbrush. With his backpack now filled to the brim, he is slower than usual, but keeps up. He occasionally slaps his neck or scalp to kill anything that landed on his skin.
"I honestly don't mind wolves or bears. Those at least take you down quickly. But I feel like I'm experiencing a death by a thousand cuts over here. Sheesh - wonder how it would feel like without the smelly thing."
Once they reach the quicksand, he throws his backpack on the floor and takes out his rope. He puts the rope over his shoulder. "Wait here, I jumped over a few roofs in my time."
He takes a few steps back, and rushes towards the quicksand to jump over. Clears it easily and undoes the rope to toss one end and back at the pathfinders. "So are we gonna talk about the horse? I don't think one rope will do it.", he shouts from the other side.
Ash easily jumps the quicksand and nimbly lands on the other side. After throwing the rope over, and still holding one end in his hands, a fierce buzzing starts.
Three massive insects suddenly charge in toward him. They are a foot long, with a two foot wingspan, a tangle of thin legs, two sets of bat-like wings, and most importantly a nasty looking needle-sharp proboscis, pointing directly at the distracted half-orc.
All three insects make a bee-line right for Ash.
The orange bug's proboscis fails to find purchase, but the remaining two both sink deep in to Ash's skin, and immediately start drinking his blood.
These are stirges, tiny magical beasts that feed on blood. Individually they are pests, but in numbers they are dangerous.
Combat round 1
Bob
Sakura
bugs
Ash - 2 Con damage
Devin
Ilarien
Essilor
The bold may act!
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Knew it. Robert clears his throat and at the top of his lungs, in voice older and somewhat more abused by life that his apprince would suggest he starts to sing.
There were two lofty ships from over yonder came,
Blow high, blow low, and so sailed we;
One was the Prince of Luther, and the other Prince of Wolves,
Cruising down along the coast of the High Barbaree.
The other members of the party start to feel spurred on for what be a long, hot fight.