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Snarlfist pokes the Baron and does damage. More burbling threats come out of the Baron's mouth as the merfolk hit him with cold water. Rangi treads water and sends a loose rock at the Red shark. The Red shark takes the hit on its snout but does not die. The shark is badly injured but has enough energy to try to bite its tormentor.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 3
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
[one-action] Merfolk: The draconic merfolk deal 2d6 cold damage to a single target with a torrent of chilled water.
[one-action] Medic: The medic uses Battlefield Medicine, healing 2d8 Hit Points and making the PC immune to Battlefield Medicine for 1 hour.
[one-action] Monks: The undine monks churn the waters to deal 2d6 bludgeoning damage to one target, with a DC 20 basic Reflex save.
Terrain: Need to spend 1 action to swim/tread water or sink (FF)
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
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Those with may go
Creature
Snarlfist - AC 22, 57/68 (Immune to Battlefield Medicine)
Rangi - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 45/56 (Frightened 1; Battle Medicine - Rangi)
Red Shark (-17)
**Sunshine - AC 21 (22 w/shield), 56/56 (Frightened 1)
Baron Utomo (-41; Frightened 1)
Rannarix - AC 21, 46/50 (Frightened 1); Mr Snappers AC 19, 21/34
Elsha Ustosh - AC 20, 42/48 (Frightened 1)
Smell of the Pines - AC 16, 49/49 (Frightened 1); Resinosa AC 19
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CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
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CS: no effect
S: Frightened 1
F: Frightened 2
CF: Frightened 3
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Sunshine drifts over to the remaining shark and reduces it to a cloud of chum.
Baron Utomo turns and stabs Snarlfist with his lance, burbling threats as he desperately pokes at his tormentor.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 3
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
[one-action] Merfolk: The draconic merfolk deal 2d6 cold damage to a single target with a torrent of chilled water.
[one-action] Medic: The medic uses Battlefield Medicine, healing 2d8 Hit Points and making the PC immune to Battlefield Medicine for 1 hour.
[one-action] Monks: The undine monks churn the waters to deal 2d6 bludgeoning damage to one target, with a DC 20 basic Reflex save.
Terrain: Need to spend 1 action to swim/tread water or sink (FF)
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
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Those with may go
Creature
Snarlfist - AC 22, 44/68 (Immune to Battlefield Medicine)
Rangi - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 45/56 (Frightened 1; Battle Medicine - Rangi)
Sunshine - AC 21 (22 w/shield), 56/56
Baron Utomo (-41; Frightened 1)
**Rannarix - AC 21, 46/50 (Frightened 1); Mr Snappers AC 19, 21/34
**Elsha Ustosh - AC 20, 42/48 (Frightened 1)
**Smell of the Pines - AC 16, 49/49 (Frightened 1); Resinosa AC 19
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Rannarix and Mr Snappers eagerly close with the Baron and bite/sting him. Baron Utomo looks like he's on his last legs and is bleeding from numerous wounds.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 3
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
[one-action] Merfolk: The draconic merfolk deal 2d6 cold damage to a single target with a torrent of chilled water.
[one-action] Medic: The medic uses Battlefield Medicine, healing 2d8 Hit Points and making the PC immune to Battlefield Medicine for 1 hour.
[one-action] Monks: The undine monks churn the waters to deal 2d6 bludgeoning damage to one target, with a DC 20 basic Reflex save.
Terrain: Need to spend 1 action to swim/tread water or sink (FF)
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
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Those with may go
Creature
Snarlfist - AC 22, 44/68 (Immune to Battlefield Medicine)
Rangi - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 45/56 (Frightened 1; Battle Medicine - Rangi)
Sunshine - AC 21 (22 w/shield), 56/56
Baron Utomo (-57; Frightened 1)
Rannarix - AC 21, 46/50; Mr Snappers AC 19, 21/34
**Elsha Ustosh - AC 20, 42/48 (Frightened 1)
**Smell of the Pines - AC 16, 49/49 (Frightened 1); Resinosa AC 19
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Smell of the Pines empowers Resinosa again, who swims forward and stabs at Baron Utomo. Unfortunately, this time, the Baron manages to avoid the hits.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 3
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
[one-action] Merfolk: The draconic merfolk deal 2d6 cold damage to a single target with a torrent of chilled water.
[one-action] Medic: The medic uses Battlefield Medicine, healing 2d8 Hit Points and making the PC immune to Battlefield Medicine for 1 hour.
[one-action] Monks: The undine monks churn the waters to deal 2d6 bludgeoning damage to one target, with a DC 20 basic Reflex save.
Terrain: Need to spend 1 action to swim/tread water or sink (FF)
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
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Those with may go
Creature
Snarlfist - AC 22, 44/68 (Immune to Battlefield Medicine)
Rangi - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 45/56 (Frightened 1; Battle Medicine - Rangi)
Sunshine - AC 21 (22 w/shield), 56/56
Baron Utomo (-57; Frightened 1)
Rannarix - AC 21, 46/50; Mr Snappers AC 19, 21/34
**Elsha Ustosh - AC 20, 42/48 (Frightened 1)
Smell of the Pines - AC 16, 49/49 (Frightened 1); Resinosa AC 19
Elsha treads water, keeping himself steady. He then pulls out a blight bomb and hurls it at the Baron, limiting the splash to both the Baron and his mount.
He then has the monks churn the waters at the Baron's mount.
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Elsha's bomb misses the Baron but the residual poison in the water is enough to end the Baron's existence.
The Baron's mount takes some damage but avoids most of it. The large creature then tries to take revenge on
But is unsuccessful.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 4
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
[one-action] Merfolk: The draconic merfolk deal 2d6 cold damage to a single target with a torrent of chilled water.
[one-action] Medic: The medic uses Battlefield Medicine, healing 2d8 Hit Points and making the PC immune to Battlefield Medicine for 1 hour.
[one-action] Monks: The undine monks churn the waters to deal 2d6 bludgeoning damage to one target, with a DC 20 basic Reflex save.
Terrain: Need to spend 1 action to swim/tread water or sink (FF)
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
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Those with may go
Creature (-3)
**Snarlfist - AC 22, 44/68 (Immune to Battlefield Medicine)
**Rangi - AC 21 (23 w/shield), 45/56 (Frightened 1; Battle Medicine - Rangi)
**Sunshine - AC 21 (22 w/shield), 56/56
**Rannarix - AC 21, 46/50; Mr Snappers AC 19, 21/34
**Elsha Ustosh - AC 20, 42/48
**Smell of the Pines - AC 16, 49/49; Resinosa AC 19
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Elsha has the merfolk hammer the Baron's mount with cold water before offering it some more alchemical bombs. Both bombs hit and scare the creature. Snarlfist's spear enters the creature's eye, pierces its brain and comes out the other side of its head, killing it.
With the defeat of Baron Utomo, the remaining sea devils are easily routed and their front lines collapse. You are invited to a celebration once the wounded are tended to and the casualties are laid to rest. They meet in the great hall with the allies they saved during the battles, as well as with Rirzik, Zulfibha, Melipdra, Meleeka, and Grandmaster Remendi.
Grandmaster Remendi describes the history of the Monastery of Unbreaking Waves.
"Early in the year 4718 AR, the Pathfinder Society discovered the ruins of a fourth monastery, the Monastery of Unbreaking Waves, which had long been believed to have been destroyed in a tsunami. After defeating several guardians and an undead menace, the Pathfinders helped the undines who lived near the island known as Wavebreak Haven restore the monastery and revive its martial tradition. The Monastery of Unbreaking Waves has flourished in the time since, and even sent representatives to the Challenge of Sky and Heaven later that year. Unfortunately, one of their champions attempted a technique for which she had the power but not the skill, and in a brutal melee against the champions of the other three monasteries, accidentally unleashed a torrent of seawater that swept all four participants out of the ring, resulting in disqualification. However, the undine martial artists have continued to train diligently in the time since."
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1-23: Star-Crossed Court
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Some of you arrived in Ekkeshikaar after sailing the high seas with Calisro Benarry and Eras the Needle. The voyage, put together by Mirian Raas, saw you nearly shipwrecked after a battle at sea against marauding sea devils. During the emergency stop at the small coastal iruxi village of Kihirat, you learned that a centuries-old gargoyle named Paravaax had been troubling the iruxi with kidnappings for sustenance (a.k.a. compulsory "snackrafices"). Additionally, when hibernating the gargoyle's stone form had powerful, wide-ranging magnetic effects that hindered your ability to continue navigation. You visited Oldstar tower in the jungle to contend with and ultimately defeat the gargoyle. Resuming navigation at sea, you have arrived at Ekkeshikaar, your destination.
The others of you came in a later voyage to bolster the team for... well you're not quite sure yet. Mirian Raas made an additional call for Pathfinders, apparently over-anxious about the Society's relations with the iruxi.
Your mission: to re-establish ancient trade routes between the nation of Vidrian (formerly Sargava) and the iruxi of Ekkeshikaar.
Mirian’s taste is more for adventure and exploration than for negotiating trade deals, and so her attention has mostly been focused elsewhere since arriving in Ekkeshikaar, leaving Calisro and Eras to lead the diplomatic efforts. These two leaders have summoned all of you to a small conference room located in the embassy suite that their iruxi hosts have graciously granted to the expedition during their stay.
And Elsha the reticent alchemist? He came along just because he doesn't like being left behind. Of course he'll be hanging back with Calisro Benarry and Eras the Needle in the suite, performing alchemical research tasks and surveying possible next missions for the group. During the briefing he can be seen shuffling through papers and consuming many cups of hot coffee continuously. If asked, he goes on at length about the intricate and efficient brewing techniques of Nex.
“As you know,” Venture-Captain Eras begins, idly fidgeting with some paperwork in front of him as he talks, “our audience with the city’s ruling council to discuss the possibility of reopening trade is tomorrow, and it’s important that we make a good impression. It seems that there are some here who feel that Ekkeshikaar has nothing to gain by trading with us–“
“Backwards isolationists! Everywhere has at least a few,” interjects Calisro with a snort, taking a swig of a colorful drink that nonetheless smells strongly of liquor.
“Yes, well.” Eras clears his throat. “In any case, this... reclusive sentiment is certainly not shared by all of Ekkeshikaar’s citizens, but it has a grip on enough of them that we feel some additional preparation is in order. To that end, we’d like you to take on a few tasks that will help give us an edge when the time comes tomorrow.
First and foremost, we need you to recover some documents from the city’s Hall of Records. We’ve already identified the documents we need, which outline some of the finer points of local law, as well as the details of the original trade agreement with the people of Vidrian. We put in a request for the documents days ago, but we have continued to be met with red tape and bureaucratic delays.”
“He means they’re stalling, and don’t want to give them to us.” Calisro chimes in cheerfully, with a wry smirk.
“A tactic my colleague here is very familiar with,” Eras retorts good-naturedly. “Sadly, I’m beginning to think she’s correct. And without these documents, we’re essentially going into the negotiations blind. So, we’d like you to head down in person and sort these ‘irregularities’ out yourselves. How you do this is ultimately up to you, but by happenstance, we’ve already agreed to send a stack of Pathfinder Chronicles to the Hall of Records to be transcribed. These particular chronicles come with a rather complex index written in Hallit, which is not a language known here. Someone will be spending a fair deal of time assisting the clerks in translating, organizing, and otherwise sorting through the chronicles. If it’s you, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know these bureaucrats—and perhaps learn a bit about the iruxi yourselves.”
“Or,” interjects the half-orc captain, producing a small wooden box, stamped with a Taldan coat of arms and labeled ‘Voinarum Glade Winery: 4700 ar’ “I’ve never known a bureaucrat who would say no to a good bottle of wine. Just offer it as a thank you gift for ‘expediting our request,’ and try not to wink or nudge them with your elbow as you do it. That way, you don’t have to spend the whole afternoon sorting papers.”
Eras sighs. “As much as I’d prefer we not start our relationship with Ekkeshikaar with bribery, it’s true that time is at a premium here. We do have other tasks we’d like you to attend to after this is done. I’ll leave how to handle the situation to your discretion, but please hurry back either way: Calisro and I will need as much time as possible to look over those documents, and you’ll need as much time as possible to complete the other things that need doing.”
While they are eager to see you off on this task, they are willing to answer any questions that you have.
Knowledge! Things that you might already know...
Society or Iruxi Lore (Recall Knowledge) You might know more information about iruxi culture and society...
Iruxi or Mercantile Lore (Recall Knowledge) You might know more information about Vidrian’s trade history and the iruxi nations to the south...
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Merian gets the missive, and foregoes the boat in order to swim out to Ekkeshikaar. The journey is long, circling around the Eye, but gives her the opportunity to visit her family in the Arcadian Ocean.
She gives her almost-namebuddy a webbed hand high-five, and then climbs on board the ship.
"Hai hai. I'm Merian. Not Mirian."
She pauses to haul up a 30-gallon barrel of seawater.
"It's my bath," she says, as if that were all the explanation that was necessary. "It's always nice to have a nice Arcandian bath. The Inner Sea water is tastes so fruity." She goes on to describe the subtle aftertaste that's unique to the Arcandian Ocean.
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Rose is tall, for a dwarf. She was wearing a long coat, that she replaced for a thinner one as they traveled to a warmer climate. She carries a thick leather belt with holster holding her clan pistol. If you spend enough time around her you must have noticed a second holster behind her back holding another pistol. Her eyes are keen and hands fast, but above all she is friendly and chatty.
"Hey Merian, why do you carry a barrel when we are still on the ship? Are you planning to work on the documents from inside the barrel?" she wonders
During the briefing she listens carefully and then shares what she knows of Iruxi
"Although they are referred to as 'lizardfolk' by most other humanoids, the name they use for themselves is iruxi. The simple villages that most outsiders associate with iruxi are the homes of migrants in outlying regions. In true centers of iruxi civilization, such as Ekkeshikaar, they build impressive complexes of glass and stone. It is rumored that a vast empire of dinosaur-riding iruxi, known as Droon, dominates southern Garund, in territory beyond any maps common to the Inner Sea region."
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Merian brightens up at the suggestion. "That sounds like a great idea!"
She adds to Rose's explanation, "Various forms of divination, but especially astrology, are of vital importance in iruxi culture. However, while they often have one eye on the future, they are patient and cautious, with strong ties to tradition that occasionally make them seem slow to act."
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The huge scorpion prods the snoring kobold with the tip of a claw. The kobold rolls over and pulls his old scrap of blanket over his head. Sighing, the scorpion raps the kobold's skull with a slightly harder tap.
"Hey!" says Rannarix, rolling up into a sitting position and yawning.
"Are we on a boat? Why are we on a boat?" Scorpions can't roll their eyes, but Mister Snappers slumps his body slightly, giving the same impression.
"Were we shanghaied?" Rannarix asks. "And when's breakfast?" The scorpion responds by pointing a claw to the knot of Pathfinders standing on deck not far away.
"Riiiight," says Rannarix, still trying to work out why he is where he is.
He wanders over to Merian and Rose. "Who're we talking about? It's dwarves, right? Sounds like dwarves."
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A grey furred Ysoki in a thick cloak is hunched over a staff that they seem to be gnawing on, eventually they look up and you can see little starfields where their pupils should be.
"Yes... yes.." they pause to sniff at their fellow pathfinders, balancing their staff for a moment as they rub their front paws together before regripping it.
"Hello. yesss... hello fellow Pathfinders. Tarki... yes Tarkii is here."
Looking around at their companions with furtive glances Tarkii continues "Yes.. yes.. I believe we can help with this task, an impression that is good is one that we can make..."
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Smell of the Pines is a leshy made up of mostly roots, with a big potato making up most of his body. It wears some kind of heavy clothing, that makes its shape look more humanoid; its padded clothing has some light burn marks on them. As many pathfinders, it has a backpack and a couple of simple weapons, they do not seem to have seen much use. It is glad to be back in the Mwangi. The place is vibrant with life. It has its danger but which place doesn’t.
It listens carefully at the briefing, not convinced the pathfinders should impose their presence if this people wants to be left alone.
It nods to Merian, Rannarix and his giant scorpion, glad to see familiar faces.
To Tarkii and Rose it says “Glad to meet you, I’m Smell of the Pines.”
Behind him a creature looking like a big red pine tree, similar to those from the Finadar forest, seems to be listening. It shares a light green rune on its forehead with the leshy. As Smell of the Pines presents itself, she does the same, only saying “I am Resinosa.”.
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A woman of medium height hurries to join the group.
"Am I late? I apologize. The inn I stayed wouldn't let me leave even though I promised I'd be back! Shayna Quickfingers, at your service. If you're ever in Absalom, I run the Quickfingers Equipment Emporium. We're just outside the Grand Bazaar." Shayna starts handing out leaflets. "When you get back, come visit us. We've got the best wares. Present that coupon I handed you and get 2 gp off special sale items! Ignore the date on the bottom. It will be honored!"
Shayna is dressed in leathers and has various short weapons at her belt. She carries a flute in a case slung on her back, denoting that she is a bard by trade.
Calisro and Eras look at the group expectantly for questions or action!
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The little copper-colored kobold takes Shayna's coupon and hands it to the big scorpion. "I just bite the people we don't like," says Rannarix. "Mister Snappers does most of the actual, whaddyacallit, planning. So.. go see some people and go get some papers so the Society can make some money. Seems easy enough!"
"If we can't get the documents we need while asking politely ... can we be impolite?"
Calriso chuckles as Eras' eyes light up.
Don't do anything that will tarnish our reputation and set back our relations! he pleads.
----
The Ekkeshikaar Hall of Records is an imposing stone building with a massive central dome made of blue-green glass. Surrounding the main building are a number of tall, spiraling minarets that transition at the highest levels from smooth stone to gleaming glass. The interior is no less impressive, with the glass-filtered sunlight creating beautiful patterns on the stone floors, themselves engraved with different patterns, that complement and seem to change with the light as it moves across the floor with the time of day.
It doesn’t take long for you to find the particular bureaucrat you need, following signs to the relevant office, you come to Narsha, female iruxi bureaucrat.
She seems courteous and professional, but certainly terse and not at all warm.
Can I help you?
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Tarkii gnaws on their staff and looks up "Yes... yes we are helping you can help. We are from the Pathfinder Society. We... we don't want to be unpleasant but we have been waiting for some time. We understand your office is busy but were hoping we might be able to lighten you burden enough that you could find time."
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"Hai hai! We're just here to pick up some documents."
Merian sets a large barrel of seawater on the floor.
"Just a nice, refreshing bath. Y'know, for reading documents. Ever read in the bath? It's the best place to read!"
Merian hops into the barrel and pretends she's reading documents.
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, yes, very interesting, mm-hmm ..."
Narsha's eyes narrow in her gaze leveled at you, smirking as she responses to Tarkii's suggestion.
Yes, I think I recall the documents that you're referring to. Do you even know the significance of them or are you just running errands for Eras? Never mind... It is true that you could lighten my load which will otherwise free me up to gather the legal documents requested. Do any of you happen to speak or write in Hallit?
When none of you can offer up proficiency in Hallit, Narsha dispatches a messenger to summon Mirian Raas and her adopted brother Jekka, who is an iruxi explorer.
You help as offered with the sorting and chronicling of documents with the aid of the translator. It is tedious and takes several hours to complete, but it seems you've gotten a little on Narsha's good side. After completion, she sends you on your way with the documents Eras desired.
You also learn a few things about iruxi society that you otherwise wouldn’t have.
However, you sense the delay may leave you at a disadvantage in your next undertaking, as Eras had emphasized timeliness.
----
When you return to the Embassy with the documents, Eras and Calisro gratefully take the papers off your hands. You notice that they don't ask you which tactic you ended up using to get the documents...
“Wonderful,” exclaims Eras as he sets the papers aside after a quick glance through them. “I’m sure these will be invaluable tomorrow. But our work is far from over. There is a visiting diplomat of some renown, known as Kesstraka, who is visiting on business from further south. If we could convince her to help represent Vidrian’s interests, or at least argue in favor of the trade deal, her words would certainly carry a great deal of weight during the negotiations.
As luck would have it, she’s staying here in the same embassy building we are. She’s asked to meet with you in her garden quarters just outside.”
Calisro speaks up, waving a drink in the air as she speaks to underscore her point. “If you ask me, your best bet is the old ‘stick and carrot’ approach: talk some big talk about the last guys who didn’t want to trade, maybe drop a few hints that Vidrian’s navy is a bit bigger than it really is, and get her to agree to help out. You can always smooth things over later by holding a couple minor trade concessions up your sleeve.”
“Alternatively,” Eras interjects, mildly frustrated, “if you don’t want to risk starting an international incident, you could simply tell her a few tales of derring-do and adventure, and once she’s warmed up to you a bit, broach the topic of her aid then.”
“The important thing,” says Calisro, lounging back and taking a long sip of her drink, “is to get her on our side and come right back here, because there’s still one more job we have for you today.”
They seem eager for you to hurry off, you sense because they'd like time to go over the documents you brought them. However, they are willing to answers a few questions before you part.
Questions?
Tarkii is unsure whether Calisro correctly took his meaning, but she certainly perks up at his question and projects her own meaning into it.
She laughs uproariously, “Oh, you’re straight after my own heart, aren’t you? One major difference between a bureaucrat and a diplomat is bribes: an honest diplomat knows that no bribe she gets will be worth the concessions to her people, and a corrupt diplomat knows how much their help is worth, and just plain costs too much, or too much for this little expedition, at least. Feel free to give her the wine, if you still have it, but don’t expect it to do your work for you. And you can rest assured we already sent her a few gifts when we arranged the meeting.”
Eras shakes his head violently and rubs his temples in response to Calriso. He quickly turns to Rose to move onto her question.
“You could say that Kesstraka is the daughter of a famous diplomat, but that wouldn’t quite do the matter justice. You see, some iruxi are apparently born parthenogenically—she is, essentially, a clone of her late mother. Apparently, they both served as ambassadors from Ekkeshikaar to Droon, a large iruxi empire even further South.”
Thinking on her suggestion, he gets a bit of a nervous look.
“It's... possible she could have some task for you that would advance her own diplomacy but who knows how long that could even take and we're already behind on time. If it's even available, I would consider it a last resort and certainly don't go offering such help unless you absolutely, positively fail to win her over by other means.”
He looks back at Rose and smirks, catching her gaze. “I believe in your collective abilities to win her over quickly.”
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Hey everyone! I've b-b-been trying different combinations of my reagents with the local c-coffee and found a way to completely isolate the acids during the brewing p-process! The resulting coffee is completely devoid of b-bitterness! Who wants some? The usually reticent alchemist is suddenly electric with energy and bursting with excitement.
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DON'T DISTRACT THEM!!! Eras yells, more vigorously rubbing his temples now as Calriso begins to crack up, laughing in the corner. She is now in an uncontrolled belly-laugh, devoid of her prior social nuances.
Eras reconsiders very briefly and whispers to Elsha while shooing him away. I'll take a cup.
He looks back to all of you for any final questions, but nervously eyes the door. By now you take his meaning fully crystal clear.
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Rose looks at the outburst and raises her eyebrow then she approaches Elsha "I would gladly try that coffee of yours, although I like bitterness in that beverage."
She looks at Eras "Thanks for the explanation, I think I am ready to go."
Rose takes a sip and looks into the horizon thinking about something in great details "It is good"