You have received a summons from Venture-Captain Adril Hestram. You are to meet at the Grand Lodge in Absalom, but dress for sunshine--and a funeral.
"One of our number has fallen.” Venture-Captain Adril Hestram declares as you meet before him in the Grand Lodge. He lets the grave words hang in the air before continuing. It’s difficult to imagine a large man like Adril defeated, but in light of this grim news his shoulders slump; he is a man who suffered a loss.
“Targos Min-Katheer, esteemed venture-captain, is dead. His last wishes are simple: he wants his mortal remains to take one last trip along the Silken Way to his home city of Katheer, there to rest with his ancestors. He was one of our finest and we aim to honor his request. It is for this reason I’ve called you all together.”
Adril points one sausage-thick finger at the map on the table, tracing a line from Absalom to the mouth of the Pashman River, then snaking up the river to the oasis city of Lopul. “Here is where you can gather up his remains and join the silken caravan, one of the only caravans daring the harsh journey across the desert from Lopul to Katheer. This mission is simple, joyride really, but we insist you give it the attention it deserves. A few weeks in the sun, seeing the sights of the desert. A dream assignment.”
Adril has a way of making every assignment sound like a sweet deal, but the last few weeks traveling by boat up the Pashman River and then hiking the short distance to the oasis city have been grueling to the extreme. A poisonous river snake claimed one of your guides; you remember his last gasps well, and how his face bloated to twice its usual size within seconds of the bite.
Before you departed, you each received a missive.
One for Kolris Isimlothe;
One for Triix;
One for Zim Alula;
One for Arbiscar; and,
One for Ebonfeather the Shadow.
Before you now lies Lopul, the great caravan city, erected around the crystal life-giving waters of the Pool of Sihbon, the largest oasis for over one hundred miles. Mud brick houses baking in the sun and great canvas tents crowd the central copse of palm and date trees. Lopul is a caravan-city ruled by the Sheikh Samraf AlHadari, humble servant to the padishah emperor of Kelesh. The settlement’s population fluctuates wildly with the comings and goings of trade caravans, but usually has at least a thousand locals and travelers in residence at any one time. Most of the city is comprised of tents and temporary dwellings erected by merchants and caravan masters, with only about a quarter of the city’s structures being permanently built around the Pool of Sihbon itself. Among these permanent structures are a half dozen caravanserai, the fortress of the sheikh, and two score domed dwellings constructed of mud brick.
One such dwelling is the former residence of Targos Min-Katheer. All that remains is to collect his body and join the silken caravan.
Also, please fill out the information requested on this Slide.
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Triix had turned up in what looked like her typical stage magician outfit, but this one was in all black. Even the ever-present hat was black which made her look more like a witch than a sorceress. The only colour on her outfit was her cyan arcane mark on the hat and over on the left side of her skirt on the chest.
I am the Grrrreat and Powerful Trrrriix she announced as she stepped into the room amid a shower of magical pyrotechnics. She did have a reputation as a stage magician. Although sometimes it is more the Abashed and Apologetic as she approached the group.
Stage magician, illusionist and a Starsoul Sorceress ... as well as very knowledgeable about the night sky ... although at the moment I am a stranger in a very strange land.
She looks like an elf but .... somewhat different, a bit shorter for a start.
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The haggard-looking elf was polite enough on the long river journey. He never engaged anyone on his own, but chatted anyone up who started a conversation. While he didn't seem like he'd ever be the life of the party--quite the contrary, he'd be the one in the corner for sure--you also suspect he'd likely be the last to leave the party. His conversation was often grumbly, but he could talk about anything it seemed. By now, everyone knew everyone's name on this trip, and this elf's name was Kolris.
He seems to get right to business on disembarking, stopping the first person he sees to ask for directions.
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A stout dwarf of large shiny eyes, like purple gems, steps to the front. His skin is tanned and bright, like the mountains themselves. He wears a full plate engraved with dwarven runes, while one of the largest hammers you have ever seen hangs from his back. The weapon reflects the light as it is made of well polished silver. A necklace with a golden key swings over his breast when he steps forward "My name is Arbiscar" his void is calm and clean of any remorse "And it will be a honor to me to carry the corpse of the fallen Venture-Captain. We dwarves know how to pay homage to our ancestors and the Society is my home now. Count with my hammer" he kneels in front of the Venture-Captain and makes a solemn promise to see the last wish of Targos Min-Katheer fulfilled.
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The trip passes with a few days of continual oratory in the goodness of civilization and the respect of the law. The dwarf ensures the group signs a contract of mutual-help, in the name of which he would be allowed to offer Abadar's services without extra charge to the party.
Arbiscar is eager to help Kolris on finding the old Venture-Captain home. The dwarf stops the first person with a vivid stare he spots "Hey, desert dweller. We were told Targos Min-Katheer lived somewhere around here once. Would you be able to demonstrate Qadira's hospitality and point us to the proper address?"
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Preening his feathers to help keep the sand from getting to his skin, Ebonfeather kept watch over the group as they traveled. Most of the group had some adventuring under their belts, even if two of them were a bit green still. It looked like Kolris and him were the front liners with the two preachers and the magician in the back. Great. He could tolerate those that follow Abadar but sometimes they are not kind to those in his profession, even if he was a merchant. With the contract, he was so tempted to write up one of his own, for his "particular" services but thought better and signed a few days ago.
Reading the letter that he received, the Tengu was not happy. If what it said was true, then he will carry it out as quickly as possible. Sighing, he tucked it back into his pack and joined the other in locating the former home of Targos Min-Katheer.
Here in Lopul, the gates to the fortress of the sheikh, one of the plinth stones that mark the boundary of the Pool of Sihbon, and the gates of one of the prominent caravanserai each provide a suitable place to post any documents for public viewing, including any possibly subversive decrees. Most other locations are simply too out of the way or busy to be noticed in all the hustle and bustle of the oasis town.
[ooc]Attempting to nail a decree to the gates of the sheikh’s fortress
may attempt a Stealth check. Those seeking to attach one to a plinth or caravanserai gate may attempt a Sleight of Hand check if the attempt is during the day or a Stealth check if the attempt is made at night.
He seems to get right to business on disembarking, stopping the first person he sees to ask for directions.
The individual notes an unexpected charm from the elf and readily provides directions to a small mud-brick, domed dwelling that lies at the end of a humble, sandy street in the heart of the caravan city.
Sighing, he tucked it back into his pack and joined the other in locating the former home of Targos Min-Katheer.
The directions provided comport with the tengu's assessment of the likely location of the fallen Pathfinder's home.
Even outside the dwelling, the scent of the nearby oasis still reaches you, and a hive of bees, attracted by the nearby water, hangs from a date palm next to the house. The wails of mourners and cries of women and children reach your ears, and you can see a small crowd gathered outside the house’s single door, its members crying and tearing their garments. Whether professionally hired mourners or sorrow-filled residents outpouring legitimate grief for the loss of a local hero is unclear, but the emotion seems genuine enough.
Under the circumstances, one might conclude that a document placed upon the lintel of Venture-Captain Targos Min-Katheer’s house would also be readily viewed and, likely read, by many in the town.
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The gaudy dressed tiefling spent a great deal of time on the trip grumbling about this and that, especially the amount of hiking required. ”Another fine mess Zarta has gotten me into. Any other mission would have to be better than this! Maybe we can get some rest idling escort with the corpse, if nothing else,” he said with a growl.
As the group located the home, Molos ignored the wails of pain by the mourners and focused on the nearby bees. ”Be careful. Last I need is one of you getting me stung by this stupid beehive…”
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The halfling with beet-red hair nods solemnly as their mission is revealed, and despite the gravity of the situation, Balbo is excited to see the desert. Growing up in the lush jungles of Mwangi, he is used to the heat (though it's a steamy sort of heat) and dangerous animals - but then, the halfling is very much used to the latter...
As they venture forth, Balbo introduces himself and Chompy to the others - the former being a halfling archer and devoted to Erastil as his Huntsmaster, while the latter is a a ferocious, bipedal lizard with enormous jaws that looks as though they could crush a man's head like a melon. The bond between the unlikely pair seems solid though, and the halfling speaks of his 'dinosaur farm' back home - where he raises them from egg to juvenile before selling the creatures to those that collect exotic pets and mounts. In fact, Balbo rides atop Chompy like a knight rides his charger - and a more formidable mount couldn't be imagined.
Balbo is more than willing to chat up anyone that shows an interest in either archery or his dinosaur companion - if they are not put off by his own rather savage demeanor (when compared to most halflings, at any rate.) He is intrigued by Ebonfeather, having never encountered a tengu in his travels, and he secretly wonders if there are other bird-people that might resemble the colorful parrots of his homeland. If the tengu seems willing to talk, he might well ask him that very question!
The halfling seems only mildly concerned by the death throes of their snake-bitten guide (he has seen serpents just as dangerous in his own homeland, after all), but after a time the halfling grows weary of the oppressive heat of the desert. There certainly aren't enough trees to shade oneself from the sun! He follows the others to the Venture-Captain's residence, enjoying the exclamations of the passers-by who take note of the fierce Chompy that he rides upon through the streets of Lopul. Taking note of the mourners, Balbo comments aloud. "Wow, he was certainly well-liked! His body must be inside, eh? Hey, how are we supposed to carry him along, do you think? Seems kind of... well, rude to just drag him along in a stretcher - though Chompy here could easily do that if we need."
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Arbiscar smells the tree and it takes an instant for him to notice the mourns, hypnotized by the bees flight. Balbo's question bring him back to reality "I was under the impression the caravan will carry the body, we only need to escort it. But I am sure Chompy can do a good job it they do not have a proper wagon"
Then, rasping his throat to get the attention of the mourners, he looks around to figure out if someone is at charge "Who is the responsible for the rites or the representative of the family?"
Provided the group finds someone, he provides him with whatever documents Adril Hestram gave the group "We are the group supposed to help Targos Min-Katheer fulfill his will of taking one last trip along the Silken Way to his home city of Katheer. Where is the body?"
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The last, late arrival at the pre-travel briefing , a seemingly young woman enters and speaks to no one as she listens. She has completely black hair that would disappear into the inky black void that the stars fill. Her skin is a very light red, almost pink as if a red gel had been placed over a lantern as it shined on typical light skin. There are a couple of random places on her body where deep blue veins show through, including on her face. In a few other places she has tattoos of blue-stemmed roses to match and mask those veins. To top all that off are deep red eyes and dark brown horns that betray her Div heritage. Given that her appearance is too extraordinary to pass as anything remotely non-tiefling, she does not bother coiling up or otherwise hiding her tail, that is tipped with barbs. Despite all of these features which make her stand out, she is attractive in face and form.
She listens intently, seemingly not moved by the death. Internally however, she is comforted by a return to lands near her birthplace. She similarly keeps to herself on their trip over water, mostly curling up on a bench near the rear of the boat and watching things disappear behind. Once in Lopul, she follows behind the party quietly, taking in familiar sights on their way to locating the residence of the deceased.
Nilah perks up when party members start to try to get the attention of mourners inside the house, or discern the local funeral rites.
We should take care and not interrupt or disrespect their grieving. I'm sure our task will be obvious once they secure the late Venture-Captain on their caravan. I suspect the caravan leader will become obvious then.
She stands back waiting for this obvious transition.
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Nilah is wrenched out of her observant focus by the sudden question and turns to Triix. Her confused expression slowly fades as she ponders the question.
Planet...? In fact, I am from this country, Qadira. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that this mission would bring us here.
She thinks back some more, frowning for a moment.
I fled a horrible situation here, but all the same I have an affection for the bright sun, dry air, and warm breeze of these lands. Looser clothing is good for natural body movement.
Looking back up at Triix she smiles slightly.
I suspect what you're really asking is what sort of origin or ancestry causes me to appear this way. The source is in fact much further than mere planets...
And she stops, leaving it at that.
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Triix just nods. Planes then .... mmmhm. She pauses for a bit Bright sun, warm breeze .. yes ... just like where I came from .. but the air is a bit more moister than this. I miss the warm waters of home
But, if we are both strangers in a strange land, at least I know I am .... at least I hope we can be friends. And our compatriots are correct. We should wait until whatever ritual is going on has concluded
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Balbo glances at Triix when she speaks. "My own homeland in Mwangi sounds similar to your own. Is your home in the jungle as well? I miss it sometimes, but I wanted to see the world, so here I am! Or, here WE are, anyway." The halfling grins and strokes Chompy's scaled muzzle as those more inclined to speak with folk arrange to get the corpse of the Venture-Captain.
You find yourselves outside the small mud-brick, domed dwelling that lies at the end of a humble, sandy street here in the heart of the caravan city.
The scent of the nearby oasis still reaches you, and a hive of bees, attracted by the nearby water, hangs from a date palm next to the house.
The wails of mourners and cries of women and children reach your ears, and you can see a small crowd gathered outside the house’s single door, its members crying and tearing their garments. Whether professionally hired mourners or sorrow-filled residents outpouring legitimate grief for the loss of a local hero is unclear, but the emotion seems genuine enough.
Ebonfeather the Shadow knows that such an assembly of persons wailing and tearing of garments is consistent with local customs. Targos was known for his generosity to the poor and afflicted, so such a large gathering of people is not unexpected as one would expect those who benefited from his generosity and kindness to be in attendance. Upon joining such a gathering, it would be customary to knock at the front door to announce one's arrival and offer condolences.
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After being informed of the local customs, Arbiscar does just that, he knocks at the door and when someone opens he vows "I offer my condolences for the dead one, a great one for gathering such a mass of mourning people"
"We are the group supposed to help Targos Min-Katheer fulfill his will of taking one last trip along the Silken Way to his home city of Katheer. How can we help?"
After being informed of the local customs, Arbiscar does just that, he knocks at the door and when someone opens he vows "I offer my condolences for the dead one, a great one for gathering such a mass of mourning people"
Knocking at the front door brings an answer in the form of a man in sackcloth with ashes poured over his freshly shaved head. His face is sickly pale under the coating of ashes, and part of one ear if missing. His hands are wrapped in dirty bandages
"We are the group supposed to help Targos Min-Katheer fulfill his will of taking one last trip along the Silken Way to his home city of Katheer. How can we help?"
The man in sackcloth says nothing, but in response he respectfully moves out of the way to give you entrance into the house and to avoid any accidental contact.
The front room of the house holds more leper mourners, and a curtained doorway blocks access to the house’s lone bedroom.
Shortly thereafter, a man wearing priestly robes and a black jackal death mask emerges from behind the curtain.
His voice muffled by the mask, the man introduces himself. "I am Ben-Garri. I am one of the local priests. The body of the honored venture-captain is receiving its funeral preparations. The process can be lengthy, but is necessary. The desert sun and sands are unrelenting. You will need to return at nightfall. You may claim the body then."
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Balbo eyes Kolris after the elf speaks, wondering if he's just been offered insult. He finally shrugs and decides to ignore the slight - if one was even intended. After all, the halfling is eager to see the inside of the exotic dwelling, and as well to gaze on the body of the fallen Venture-Captain. He must have truly been an amazing man to have garnered this much attention after his death. Sliding off the back of Chompy, the halfling secures him somewhere away from where curious hands might provide the dinosaur with an unintended snack (though in truth, his companion is trained enough not to hurt anyone except at Balbo's orders or in self-defense) and enters the place.
Giving the man in the sackcloth a courteous nod as he moves into the room, he glances around with keen interest. He is just about to investigate the curtain, figuring it isn't like it's a locked door or anything, when a masked man pushes the cloth aside and enters. Balbo's head cocks curiously as he takes in the figure as he speaks, and then he responds in a piping voice. "Hey, what's with all the lepers in this place anyway? No offense, as I can see you're afflicted too, but it just seems kinda unusual to me. Something to do with Lamashtu? That's her mask you're wearing, right?" He asks Ben-Garri in a curious tone, completely oblivious to the fact he's probably being quite offensive, despite his words. "I know most folk are scared of her and all, but heck I ride a dinosaur, so not much scares me. Oh, and what sort of preparations are you doing to the body? Oooh! Are you mummifying him? I've heard that mummies roam around in the desert sometimes, after breaking out of their buried tombs. Is that true? Do mummies worship Lamashtu?" Apparently, the insatiable curiosity of halflings does not spare the rather wild ones born in the Mwangi...
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Nilah says nothing as the priest explains the situation, and scowls to herself when Balbo launches into his observations. She does however, perk up at the question of what led to the Venture-Captain's death.
As the party retreats from the house, she mutters to the rest of them We should probably be... more careful with direct observations of their customs here.
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"I know most folk are scared of her and all, but heck I ride a dinosaur, so not much scares me. Oh, and what sort of preparations are you doing to the body? Oooh! Are you mummifying him? I've heard that mummies roam around in the desert sometimes, after breaking out of their buried tombs. Is that true? Do mummies worship Lamashtu?"
"You ask a lot of questions, halfling...," the priests responds with suspicion.
"Have you determined what was the reason of the death?" Arbiscar looks for any signs of leprosy in the dead body of the Venture-Captain.
Behind the curtain, before it was drawn by the priest as he entered into the front room of the house, Abiscar could see a pair of lepers wrapping
the body in winding cloth for immediate transport."Hello Ben-Garri. Is there something we can do to help?"
"You need only go and allow us to complete our preparations," the priest responds.
Abiscar notes an unusual urgency in the masked priest's voice and suspects deception lurks among the priest's words.
She does however, perk up at the question of what led to the Venture-Captain's death.
Nilah senses the deception, too.
The front room remains filled with mourners, including several lepers.
Map of the home now revealed on Slides.
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DISPUTED PROBATE! - Surprise Round Begins!
Molos
Ebonfeather
Triix
Arbiscar
Lepers
Ben-Garri
Kolris
Nilah
Balbo
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"There is something fishy in here, and that mask of Lamashtu does not herald anything good" Arbiscar pushes away Ben-Garri while he is still flat-footed, trying to open his way into the body's room for examination "Move away immediately, let me see the body of the Venture-Captain"
Arbiscar pushes away Ben-Garri while he is still flat-footed, trying to open his way into the body's room for examination "Move away immediately, let me see the body of the Venture-Captain"
The dwarf shoves his way past the priest, who falls to the ground, and barges through the curtain.
On the other side, Arbiscar finds additional lepers wrapping the body in winding cloth for immediate transport.
"The jig is up!" Ben-Garri cries from the ground. Angered, he casts a spell upon himself. He then barks the order, "Attack!"
DISPUTED PROBATE! - Surprise Round Cont'd/First Full Round of Combat Begins!!
Nilah
Molos
Ebonfeather
Triix
Arbiscar
Lepers
Ben-Garri
Kolris
Nilah
Balbo
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Arbiscar is surprised by the sudden violence triggered after him, but so far he focuses on the body "You lepers, stay away of the Venture Captain, keep your hands away!"
He then breaks the bandages around the corpse's head in order to make sure this is the body of the Venture Captain and trying to understand what is this group of people doing to him.
The dwarf holds his earthbreaker with both hands decidedly for defense against anyone trying to stop his search.
Ebonfeather quickly caught wind that the lepers were up to no good with the body and proceeded to slash at Ben-Garri.
The tengu's quick and efficient actions quickly remove Ben-Garri from all consciousness and the third strike renders the priest dying.
Molos tries to hit the leader with a magic missile.
At the sudden outbreak of battle drives, all the mourners and many of the sick outside the bedroom flee the house entirely, but those that remain behind look with anger upon the fallen priest and appear ready to fight to the death!
Triix carefully removes the wasp nest and uses a mage hand to carefully carry it.
Which window do I put it in? she asks.
He then breaks the bandages around the corpse's head in order to make sure this is the body of the Venture Captain and trying to understand what is this group of people doing to him.
The dwarf holds his earthbreaker with both hands decidedly for defense against anyone trying to stop his search.
Arbiscar cannot discern any more information as to what plans the bandaged foes may have had for the venture-captain's body.
DISPUTED PROBATE! - First Full Round of Combat Cont'd!!
Molos
Ebonfeather
Triix
Arbiscar
Lepers
Ben-Garri -
Kolris
Nilah
Balbo
Molos' missiles murder one of the mock mourners !
The remaining cultists attack en masse.
One of them attempts to tangle with the tengu.
His partner does the same.
A third aims at the halfling.
Those surrounding Arbiscar also bring their fists to bear.
They are soon joined by another.
And then yet another .
DISPUTED PROBATE! - First Full Round of Combat Cont'd/Round Two Begins!
Kolris
Nilah
Balbo -3 HP
Molos
Ebonfeather -2 HP
Triix
Arbiscar
Lepers
-black
-blue
-green
-orange
-purple
-red
-yellow
-white -10 HP