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Explore and se the world they said Shardul announces as she looks around a tad apprehensively OK I would like to explore somewhere else now she mutters in a lower voice as she looks round to see if anyone she know is nearby. Her steel shield bears a spike and she still carries some darts. Those who may have seen her at an alpaca farm may note she appears to have put on some muscle although the smile is a little less winsome
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"What kind of route from Druma to Absalom goes through Nidal? The Druma lodge must have gotten a useless travel agreement as a part of some deal and they didn't know what to use it for and pushed it to the first unlucky soul who asked for a trip. And now I'm stuck in here for a week", Toavandil Hanustar complains his fate as he walks around shopping.
He notices Shardul, and greets her: "Well hello there fellow alpaca-helper! Did they bless you too with this rather indirect route back home?"
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”Not me” materializing from the ground, our small fungal hero emerges ”Had to discorporate and assimilate a few experiences with the... um...” struggling to find the word in language an “isolate“ would understand ...family. But, after some deliberation, I am back among you now...” he looks around with fresh curiosity, feeling the sensory information wash over his now-singular consciousness like a wave disturbing dry sand during a high tide ”...where are we?”
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As always, Delta just goes here and there, traveling where his feet can bring him. "There you are!" he tells the others after he notices some familiar faces. "Greetings! It is I, Delta..." he tells them. "We're in Nidal. I hope there is something we can do here..." he looks around after he responds to the fungus leshy. "I read somewhere that there are people missing here recently..."
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"Delta," repeats an approaching orc with a nod. He's a bit taller than average, though a little on the thin side--for an orc.
"Yes. I believe we've met, next month." He shakes his head and mutters, "No, that doesn't make sense. Well, we're meeting now. Excuse me. Time can get away from me. I am Rahgat, touched by the divine. My people don't normally really worship... our religious practices are different from most, and I've been traveling to learn more, to try to understand my condition better. The practices here feel strange, though; I don't think being here is helpful.
"But that is long term! Right now this Rannan seeks aid against a monster, and I am inclined to assist."
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As some of you have already read the slides. . .
You have all arrived at the ranch of Rannan Atteran, which is a small town, despite its name. You see a short human man approach. He is wearing riding leathers, and he hammers a piece of parchment onto a post.
Afterward, he lingers nearby, speaking with villagers.
Approaching to examine the parchment you read:
Ranchers and farmhands, beware! Several people have gone missing over the last month, leaving their possessions behind. Locals believe a rampaging monster to be responsible: a haunted scarecrow that roams the fields.
Travel in groups, don’t tarry in dangerous places, and keep your children under constant watch until the creature responsible is found and slain.
Anyone who finds the missing people or kills the beast will get a half-share of profits from the sale of my finest steed when it’s taken to market at the end of the month, or food and supplies of equal value. If you can’t leave the ranch without putting your family at risk, don’t pursue!
—Rannan
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Hyphy takes a moment to analyze Rahgat ”When are you?...” without further elaboration, he introduces himself ”You can call me Hyphy! And yes, it looks as though this scarecrow is causing problems for Rannan” he adds with brash optimism ”I’m sure we can talk it out though - communication is often the solution!”
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Ranner Atteran is a short man, his skin tough from many days and nights out in the sun and rain.
I don’t normally like to deal with strangers, but these are desperate times, I reckon. I just got back from traveling and found out about the situation. In the last 2 weeks, four villagers have gone missing:
a rancher named Nema;
Lieraka and Maredine, a married couple who were abducted from their homes overnight; and
Etendon, a farmer who was taken while working in a pasture just yesterday.
You should probably talk to Teflar, the local priestess of Zon Kuthon, who is searching for the missing people. Just remember, Zon-Kuthon is the patron deity of Nidal, and that you should step carefully around the priestess—your actions in the village could have consequences for everyone who lives there. You can most likely find her tending to the shrine to the Midnight Lord over yonder.
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Delta has a change of emotion from being happy to being sad. "Whoever is doing that, I will tell them it is bad to just abduct people without their consent!" he tells the man. "Let's find them, but seek information with the families of the missing people first, what do you think?" he is now back to his usual grin.
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You know knows the Atteran Ranches act subservient to Nidal’s leadership and Zon-Kuthon, but many shelter followers of Desna, known as Dreamers.
Zon-Kuthon teaches that torment is the ultimate pleasure and sacrament, and that inflicting and enduring pain is the truest strength. Experiencing pain and learning to embrace it allows one to purge the weakness of their body and spirit. After all, much of mortal creatures’ fear is rooted in the struggle to avoid pain in one way or another. If a follower can learn to embrace that pain instead, the chains of fear fall away, becoming a tool to be wielded. Worshippers thus endeavor to inflict as much torture and misery as possible on themselves and others; they look to the cruel outsiders known as velstracs for inspiration, including the use of spiked chains as a primary weapon.
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Delta shares what he knows about Zon-Kuthon. "This place is crazy," he whispers. "Worshipping a god that enjoys torture and misery? Tsk tsk. We should proceed with care on dealing with this priestess. She might want us to be tortured in exchange for information about what is happening here in this place."
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Nobody with Society
You know the Atteran Ranches act subservient to Nidal’s leadership and Zon-Kuthon, but many shelter followers of Desna, known as Dreamers.
You know the Atteran Ranches act subservient to Nidal’s leadership and Zon-Kuthon, but many shelter followers of Desna, known as Dreamers.
You also remember that Kuthite priests (priests of Zon-Kuthon) and mercenary “dream hunters” try to root out these dissidents.
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You arrive at Etendon's parents ranch without incident.
Etendon’s parents are extremely busy, between taking care of the animals on their ranch and their two younger children.
Etendon’s Father, Ernam, says We’ve been looking for Etendon as much as we can, but between caring for our two young children and the animals on our ranch, we can’t go far or spend much time. We can’t stop to talk, but you can borrow some horses and ride along to help with the animals and we can talk on the way.
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Shardul is not the most graceful rider on the planet, but they manage to keep up with Ernam long enough to get some information.
Etendon disappeared a few days ago while he was out tending to some of the animals. We think he was in this area when something happened. All we have found out of the ordinary are these strange single point tracks. I lost the trail in these rocks and I can’t get away to try and pick the trail again further toward the hills.
You have enough information for your group to try to pick up the trail again
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Nema’s husband is helping one of the region’s famed nidarrmar horses when you arrive. Unfortunately, the injured animal sensed his emotional distress and won’t let him get close. Hektril remains too upset to talk as long as the horse remains untreated. Each of you can attempt: a Nature check to Command the Animal to settle; a Medicine check to Treat its Wounds; or a Intimidation check to Coerce Hektril into calming down.
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Coenocytic Hyphae Rapport, Delta Variant and Rahgat all succeed in their efforts to treat the animal and get Hektril's attention.
Hektril finally calms down enough to talk to you.
I was with Teflar, the local Priestess of Zon-Kuthon, when my wife disappeared about a week ago. Teflar started searching for Nema as soon as she heard. She has spent much of her time since disappearance combing the nearby hills. I saw her in town a few days ago, and she told me she found some strange tracks in that area.
Teflar's devotion to Zon-Kuthon is extraordinary. The connection provides special properties to the magic she wields in his name.
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When you arrive at the house of Lieraka and his wife Maredine, Lieraka’s brother Litrial and his wife Ruiha are frantically searching the house. Lieraka and Maredine disappeared from their house in the middle of the night last night, and we’re currently searching the house for clues about the disappearance.
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Delta Variant finds a small paper butterfly with folded wings dotted with black spots tucked away under the bed.
Rahgat, Delta Variant and Hyphy (and any character that worships Desna, if any) realize that butterflies are associated with the Goddess Desna
Litrial and Ruiha suddenly look scared and become very quiet.
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"Are you familiar with this design?" Rahgat asks the couple, "Orc religious practices are pretty different from most people's, and learning about them is the main reason I'm traveling around. I know Desna worship isn't popular around here, but I'm curious--even if your knowledge is second-hand."
He leans heavily, seeming, for just a moment, much older than he otherwise is. "I'm no priest. My connection to the gods seems to be fate. I want to learn more about them to understand my own... gifts, or curse, better."