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The Pathfinders are awoken early in the morning by an urgent summons from Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin. As they arrive they are shown directly into his private office, where he and the Grand Lodge’s head archivist, Zarta Dralneen, are examining a list of items.
But before we get to that, why don't you introduce yourselves?
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A small figure remains hunched off to the side, decked in heavy clothing from head to toe, a cloth pulled over their face, leaving no inch of skin visible. They seem to be surveying everything they can, constantly as though always on edge, their gloved hands never straying far from the handle of a strange gun slung over their shoulder. The way the light wavers across the bright green scales of the weapon makes it seem almost alive.. The person's clothing and general size and shape appears to be that of a young male goblin.
Eventually, a soft voice filters out of the pile of twitchy clothing, "' Don't think I know any of ya... So how should 'dress ya?"
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A dark-skinned half-elf arrives, heavily clad in multiple layers of blue-colored linen. His robe is marked with gold trimmings. He carries a scimitar on his belt, and sports several pouches and cross-body bags. He wears a holy sybmol of the Dawnflower as a necklace.
"Good day! I am Orion Oneiros, and I am a servant of Sarenrae. How may I be of service?"
Ambrus Valsin seems deep in thought, a common appearance for the stoic Steward of Absalom’s Grand Lodge.
“Most of you know Zarta Dralneen, I assume?” Valsin begins, nodding to the woman. “She’s recently accepted an appointment as head archivist of the Grand Lodge, so you’ll understand her interest in this assignment shortly.”
The venture-captain gestures to a map of Absalom and then the Isle of Kortos hanging on the wall behind his desk. “You’re heading to Otari, along the southern coast between here and Diobel. One of our transport vessels, a barque called Durvin’s Query, foundered just outside the harbor there a few days ago. It was laden with the artifacts collected from a site in the Mwangi Expanse. The Pathfinders returning on the ship collected the most valuable cargo but were forced to leave the rest. They made their way to Otari and sent word of their misfortunes to the Grand Lodge. Based on their report, I need you to go, pick up the material immediately, and bring it back safely to the Grand Lodge.”
Zarta Dralneen smoothly takes up the narrative. “Of course, it’s not quite as simple as that,” she smiles. “The team aboard Durvin’s Query encountered a sequence of extremely… unusual events as they returned home. Bad luck plagued them the entire trip, and they ran into more than the usual number of oceanic hazards. I suspect that something they picked up in the Expanse was the source of their extreme bad luck, and I’m eager to find out just what it is.”
Valsin slides a weather-stained list across his desk. “As you may know, salvage belongs to the finder, and so we couldn’t just leave the items in the shipwreck for anyone to find. I’ve already contacted an old friend in Otari, a former Pathfinder by the name of Khoumrock Blackthane, to be your advance agent. Khoumrock’s team has gone to the wreck site to collect everything that was left behind—here’s the list. By the time you arrive in Otari, he’ll have it fully packed for you. You’ll be sailing there for speed, but given the experience the previous team had at sea, we feel the safest method of transport back is overland, through the Immenwood and along the High Coast Road.”
Valsin’s face turns grim. “Now, I know this might sound like a less-than-glamorous assignment, playing caravan guard for a couple of days, but it’s important. That material came from an important site, and the string of bad luck the original team had means there’s something in there that isn’t what it seems. Be on your guard, and make sure nothing goes missing on the way back. Any questions?”
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The clothes will address Jong for a moment. "Beggin' yer patience, ma'am... I not being used ta talkin' ta others... Mostly they jus' scream 'n either run 'way... Or charge at... Neither good fer practicin' me speakin'"
He listens closely to the story of their mission. "I see... Jus' one more protectin' job fer a cursed caravan... I be seein why I was picked fer th' job."
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Some of this is definitely too heavy to carry. Have you been told whether it will be one wagon, two or more? Also, you mentioned us as guards but not drivers. Do we need to drive the wagon(s) as well?. Also, if we get in a jam and determine some of the items we are carrying could be useful, can we use them?
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He looks to Gorliche and says "I'll remember what you've said about the bandolier. If we get into a fight, you shouldn't stay too close to me then. I may have to heal in a burst." He looks at him with no emotion, understanding perfectly the implications of Gorliche's request.
Orion takes a look at the list, and tries to commit to memory its' contents.
Ambrus scratches his head. "Some of those questions would probably be better answered by Khoumrock Blackthane when you seem him. Certainly he'll have the cargo loaded for you in some means of transport. I'd say you can safely expect something like an animal-drawn covered wagon. And you're our team for delivering the cargo, so you'll have to drive it, yes."
Looking seriously at Jong he answers, "Feel free to examine the cargo, and use anything you can identify. Just remember that something in there seems to be cursed, and be careful."
"I'll see you out," says Zarta Dralneen with a smile.
Zarta accompanies the Pathfinders as they leave Valsin’s office. She asks to speak to them privately, and then explains more about the faction’s interest in this particular mission. “It’s cute to see Ambrus so concerned about your welfare… but he’s right,” Zarta begins. “Dealing with this sort of situation is exactly why the Grand Archive was created. We have to retrieve whatever caused this bad luck, so it can be studied and understood. Normally, Gorm Greathammer would be the one to discuss this with you, but he is rather preoccupied with… well, he’s not able to be here himself. Just make sure you come back with everything from the wreck. We don’t yet know if it’s a single item, or some combination of items, that is the cause. Even if the cause is a single item, the context provided by the other relics, and especially the charts and notes collected by the team, are vital to our understanding of this phenomenon. Make sure everything is brought back
here intact.”
Gorliche and Falendral agree that the Immenwood's lumber helped to make Absalom a major power in its early years. The central forest area around Otari is dense and overgrown, with even the paths covered by an intertwined canopy of branches. The forest often shelters bandits and others who choose to hide from civilization.
Orion knows that Gozreh is the Wind and the Waves, a dualistic entity that embodies the peaceful breeze as well as nature's fury. Gozren priests often use the natural environment as weapon or shield, and they summon aquatic monsters to do their bidding.
Falendral concurs, and further adds that the Storm Kindlers sought to create more storms like the Eye of Abendego, creating artifacts to concentrate the natural power of the weather to intense levels. Any of their artifacts are likely related to the sea or sea creatures.
Jong knows that Otari is a small port town situated where the road skirts the Immenwood. Situated about halfway between the bustling metropolis of Absalom and the outport of Diobel, it provides access to most modern luxuries without the hustle and bustle of life in Absalom.
Zarta shrugs apologetically. "Nothing like that on hand, I'm afraid. The best we can do are the sacks."
The journey to Otari takes the better part of the day, in part due to the rough seas and strong winds blowing in toward shore. The rough sea might leave some feeling a little queasy .
Waiting for them at the dock is Khoumrock Blackthane, who leads them to the Thirsty Alpaca Tavern to talk.
Khoumrock is a salty old sea dog with a nose reddened by years at sea (and perhaps a drink too many) who looks like he’s had little sleep in the past few days. His armor appears to be a suit of full plate heavily modified and integrated with a mechanical diving suit. Despite retiring several years ago, he still actively supports the Society and helps his friend Ambrus Valsin on request. Khoumrock speaks with an accent somewhere between a south-Absalom brogue and a sailor’s worldly clip.
Khoumrock swirls the dregs of a mug of beer as he tells his tale. “When Ambrus called me, I got a few friends an’ went right out to the wreck. We gathered everythin’ we could find. The storm already dashed the hulk again’ the rocks and broken her open, but most o’ the crates were washed ashore. I dove in to make sure she weren’t leaking any cargo, but the waves were rough and things were movin’ down that weren’t just the water and fishies!” He frowns as he recalls
the night’s efforts.
“The sky opened up as soon as we started packin’. The horses were half-mad wit’ the lightnin’ and the wind. It took all o’ night and part o’ the morning to collect everythin’, and we nearly lost the wagon to a big wave what came a-crashin’ onto the shore from out of no’ere. The storm followed us all t’way back to town. So did summat else – as we got t’the town gate, we saw summat long and snakish breakin’ the waves out in the harbor. I didn’t get a good look, ‘cause the watchtower was struck by lightnin’ just then and it blinded me for a tick. When I looked back, it were gone.” Khoumrock looks to the ceiling in thought. “Apparently, we lost a fisherman out towards the docks right thenabouts. Coulda been an accident, but I knows better.” Khoumrock shakes his head again. “Might be time for me to do a little divin’ out thar, clean things out, ya know?
“Well, the wagon’s all packed and ready to go by t’stable. S’easy enough to drive, or you can hire a teamster, iff’n you’d prefer. Good luck. I’ll be glad to see that wagon roll out o’ town, truth be told."
The wagon is made of wood with a canvas cover over the cargo compartment and has room in front for two people to sit (one of whom being the driver). It's about 10 feet long and nearly as wide, and is drawn by two riding horses who are both harnessed tightly close together in front of the wagon. The wagon’s cargo is enclosed by a canvas cover, and can be accessed only by those who enter the wagon itself.
It's still raining as Khoumrock shows the party to the stable where the wagon has been prepared for them and loaded. The horses seem a little agitated, a do some frogs splashing in the puddles.
"Any questions for me?" he asks, "Or any preparations you have in mind I can help with?"
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The rough seas don't seem to effect Gorliche Turnlocke in the slightest, as though this is no different than any other day.
He listens closely to the tale and then speaks up again from whatever shadowy corner he plopped himself into. "We took some time ta get 'here... Has th' weather been bad 'since ya 'rived?" Just trying to confirm the curse, instead of simple bad luck.
Seems like people don't like talking to weird piles of clothing that refuse to look them eye-to-eye.
Gorliche will elect to climb into the cargo itself, and open a flap out the front of it for him to watch out of, while nice and hidden in the contents.
EDIT:
"Rain hasn't let up completely in days, no. Hasn't been stormy the whole time, but it's ranged from this drizzle and up.
[b]"Well, that depends on if you want to run through the night or stop to rest," Khoumrock answers Duncan, "Though either way you should get through the woods by tomorrow."
As Orion readies the cart, he sees that there really are quite a lot of frogs around.
"Er, I think I heard a rumor there was one about here somewhere," says Kroumrock doubtfully, "but I haven't heard of him around recently. Think he's a bit of a nomad, no temple or anything."
There is indeed magic that can be sensed near the wagon.
And also frogs!
With a plop, a frog lands on the ground near Orion's feet. Some of them seem to be jumping down from a higher vantage point. One slaps directly into Gorliche's face. He slips and falls into the mud. It doesn't really hurt him, but it's clear they're starting to become a nuisance. Croaking from all sides. They seem to be congregating, trying to jump onto the wagon.
From out of nowhere--off of one of the nearby roofs??--a frog lands on one of the horses' backs. He whinnies and bucks slightly, shaking the little animal off.
They're harmless, but if they spook the horses it might very suddenly become a real problem...
Of course, somebody could probably just sweep them away if they had the right tool.
Before the Pathfinders can react, the swarming frogs are already hopping all over the wagon, all of Orion on the driver's bench--and all over the horses. Orion finds them unpleasant, distracting, and potentially hindering as they get in his way. One of the horses handles it well, but the other seems terrified--and it's scaring the first one. They're both seconds from bolting, but all appearances...
All PCs' turns.
Initiative:
Frog Swarm
Jong (22/22)
Gorliche (33/33)
Orion (17/17, DC 13 Will or be Stunned)
Duncan (21/21)
Falendral (28/28)
Folmyr (34/34)
Wagon Horses (Frightened 2 and Frightened 1; ready to bolt! DC 16 Nature to regain control)
Whap! A frog lands directly in Orion's face as he's trying to speak and calm the horses. Through spectacular heroic effort he manages to ignore their distraction despite this wildly bad luck and he soon has the horses similarly calmed. Though they're still twitchy and clearly desperate to be rid of their riders.
All PCs' turns.
Initiative:
Frog Swarm
Jong (22/22)
Gorliche (33/33)
Orion (17/17, one action used)
Duncan (21/21)
Falendral (28/28)
Folmyr (34/34)
Wagon Horses (Frightened 2 and Frightened 1)
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Uncertain how he wound up in the mud soo far from the wagon after having climbed into it earlier. Gorliche decides these must be magic frogs, and draws his Drake Rifle as a free action using his Gunslinger's Way. Then, not trusting magic frogs with a curse around. "I dun' seen swarms of bad turn ta worse... Not 'avin' it."
He aims on the swarm on the cart, and fires, shooting a bolt of acidic spittle into it. (As a swarm I assume it is immune to precision so won't worry about rolling that.)
He then reloads and fires again.
Gorliche's shots send frogs scattering, much of the swarm (those that aren't sizzling), hopping away while croaking feebly).
Jong, Orion, Duncan, Falendral, and Folmyr's turns.
Initiative:
Frog Swarm (-14, 1d4+1, bloodied)
Jong (22/22)
Gorliche (33/33)
Orion (17/17, one action used)
Duncan (21/21)
Falendral (28/28)
Folmyr (34/34)
Wagon Horses (Frightened 2 and Frightened 1)