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An unusual surprise came to Osprey Cove the morning after the storm. On an early dawn walk to appraise the storm damage, Elder Johedia found a dying man sprawled at the edge of town. Suffering from exposure, two infected crossbow bolt wounds, and a strange sickness that left rust-red splotches all over his body, the man gasped out an unsettling warning before he died: Iron Harbor... rust... ship... all dead... before... too late...
The man was dressed in rusted armor and clutched an equally rusted religious symbol of Gorum in one hand. This, and his final words, suggested something dreadful had happened in the nearby village of Iron Harbor. Osprey Cove’s youngest leader, Elder Ordwi, quickly organized an
expedition to travel the daylong trip east to Iron Harbor, both to offer help as needed, but also to extend overtures of peace, to bring an end to the yearslong feud that has kept the only two villages of the Kindred Coast at odds. Whether you volunteered or were recruited, your group is
now well on their way along the Old Coast Road as Elder Ordwi’s escorts. What might await your arrival at Iron Harbor this evening?
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Taschewren shivered on the boat, the cold wind blowing off the water causing him to shiver. I’d have much rather say at home, enjoying Sanderson’s The Way of Kingshe thought to himself. He looked around to his companions. At least the company seems…. entertaining.
He looked around at the variety of people crowding the boat, some excited, some nervous, and all chilly, he thought slyly. People watching was one of his favorite pastimes. He couldn’t wait to see what would happen.
Probably nothing. Some dead guys washes ashore, clutching a holy symbol- probably just crazy. Still, it should be good to meet those from the other side of the water. And if I’m good, maybe they’ll elect me to Elder next year!
He slowly approached the group. “So what do you make of this mystery?”he asked. “Nothing, or…. something?”
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Old Coast Road travel! Think upon it, my friends! At any moment an owlbear a bear with an owl's beak may ambush us just for fun! Isn'tthis exciting!
Kwai Chang Caine stops. The Amurrun looks about the group. His blue eyes searching for..something.
Standing 6' and easily 200 pounds, Caine strikes an impressive figure. The fact that he is also a tiger that walks, talks, flips, flops (not the sandle-like footwear because those are uncomfortable), dances and sings notwithstanding.
Caine's whiskers twitch.
Are we not supposed to be enjoying ourselves? My memo must of gotten eaten by my shoonie.
The Catfolk straightens his twin Star knives at each hip before clearing his throat.
Excuse me. Hairball. Pesky and...*cough* enduring things. Anywho, poor sap on the beach, right? Rust and stuff.
A man clad is surprisingly light clothing for the cold ocean breeze stands at the railing, where he’s watching a snow-white ermine clown around standing on its front paws. He looks up to join he conversation. ”A strange way to die. Anyone can take a few crossbow bolts to the gut, but those rust splotches looked unnatural.” At his words, the weasel dramatically falls to the deck and plays dead for a moment before scampering up his master’s leg to hide is a pocket.
A stout dwarf in a breastplate strokes his beard as he speaks.
"Aye, this be a strange phenomenon, this is. Whoever heard of a man rustin' to death? In my professional opinion...
Kazmuk continues to ramble on and on.
Blueberry Peat leans down and looks over the dead body thoroughly. "This is very strange ... Not normal way for humans to die, no?" He takes some samples of the rusty splotches, putting them in a glass vial from his alchemist toolkit and carefully sealing it so it doesn't get on him or anyone else.
"Humans can be quite hardy ... and also quite fragile at the wrong moments. This one seems to have experienced a succession of wrong moments. Normally humans do NOT rust however."
Kazmuk is stumped by the strange condition of the dead man.
"In me professional opinion...this may be beyond me, aye. Aren't we expecting one more person in this here party? The uhhh...snakelady? Hard to miss her absence..."
The dwarf waits around for the last member of this party.
"Humans can be quite hardy ... and also quite fragile at the wrong moments. This one seems to have experienced a succession of wrong moments. Normally humans do NOT rust however."Blueberry Peat leans down and looks over the dead body thoroughly. "This is very strange ... Not normal way for humans to die, no?" He takes some samples of the rusty splotches, putting them in a glass vial from his alchemist toolkit and carefully sealing it so it doesn't get on him or anyone else.
Normally ...
Caine watches his company in deep thought as to the what, why, how, which, gravy, mashed potatoes, and whether or not tomatoes are a fruit or vegetable.
The Swashbuckler's blue eyes shine.
Glad to have so many thinkers on this particular mission, trip, quest. Allows myself the time to not have to think. Nice!
A beautiful but serious-looking young woman whose lower body resembles that of a green snake has finally joined the party. She dons an armor made of corals, with longspear stowed behind her. She silently bows to them. "I am Thalassa." she introduces herself.
She then asks Elder Ordwi. "What other information must we learn?"
Blue eyes focused on the new arrival, the Amurrun sauntered over to the water Nagaji.
We've never met. Count on you live in water and...welll...
The swashbuckler winks.
Caine. I am the muscle, face and comedic relief.
Kazmuk walks alongside Blueberry Peat, offering his own (untrained) opinion on Iron Harbour.
"'Eck if I know, but with a name like Iron 'Arbour they must be 'ave summin tae do with iron, amirite?"
The unpleasant sound of unsolicited advice fills the air...
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As you all think, not much is gained. You all may know much, but it looks like your best best is going to be going to the place the dying man mentioned and learning first hand. So, you head out.
After following only faint traces of the Old Coast Road, the approach to Kindred’s Crossing becomes apparent. Here, the road grows more obvious, with portions even retaining old paving stones as it turns south toward a short, rocky peninsula. To the north, a steep, weather-worn ridge of stone rises thirty feet high into the air, featuring an occasional ledge that appears to provide nesting spots for ospreys. To the east, the road rises up from the shoreline to follow a wide ledge that winds around the peninsula. Ahead, near the peninsula’s tip, the road reaches a cleft in the steep shoreline, over which the remains of an old and incomplete wooden bridge stand. Nearby, what appears to be a freshly wrecked rowboat sits upside down among the tide pools. As you approach you begin to hear small cries for help from near the boat....
Place yourselves on the map, roll perception, and tell me what you do?
"Huh, whuzzat?" Kazmuk hears cries for help up ahead. He moves in to get a better look. He tries to be helpful and aids Blueberry in their own check. If he's allowed to, he lifts Blueberry up onto his shoulders for a better view. Otherwise, he just helps point out interesting stuff.
Thalassa draws out her atlatl and loads it upon hearing some soft cries somewhere. She Searches where the cries are coming from.
Stepping lightly about the loose rocks, shifting dirt and seagulls poop, the Catfolk frowns at what appears to be a freshly wrecked rowboat sits upside down among the tide pools.
Might be more survivors out of Iron Harbor.
The Swashbuckler's hand takes a star knife from his hip, as he approaches.
Or something worse.
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As they wind up and down the long road leading from Osprey Cove to Iron Harbor- yeesh, those people- Taschewren thinks of stories that he was told about the people of Iron Harbor.
He also ponders the life of an adventurer, like one from his books. Plenty of stories of people going out on their own- usually to somewhere grand, awesome, sublime. The stories failed to mention the mosquitoes. Pesky, annoying, and irritatingly persistent, Taschewren spends most of his time swatting at his fair skin- that I spent a fortune in soaps to keep nice, ruined by vermin!
Finally, as they near their destination, desperate sounds are heard, panicked voices calling for a savior to come to their rescue. Of course, a gallant man such as Taschewren would never leave poor citizens to their own demise, so her does the best he can in to help his teammates. One pulls a spear. The cat takes a knife. And the dwarf takes the plant and puts it on his shoulder- maybe he plans to use it as a club? Taschewren, for his part, swings into action.
“Come, my friends,, he yells, pulling out his signet ring, the one his grandfather had told him came from when his family was a proud, noble house. “Come, let us lend our aid to our brethren!
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Blueberry Peat considers how best to proceed, looking around at the terrain and assets at their disposal.
They realize that an immediate assault on the creature might not be prudent, but hopefully realize something they can exploit against it.
Peat moves away from the creature a bit, until they have a better sense on whether a confrontation will be necessary.
Kazmuk is the first to notice the big lobster thing at the back of the boat. His mouth waters as he imagines how good it would taste with beer.
"Ahm comin' for ye, lobster!" Kazmuk yells as he ◆ Rages.
His arms seem to morph and expand as he yells at the monster, growing black, hairy and distended until they resemble those of a gorilla.
Caleb calls up a scathing gust of wind that whips itself at the creaure. "Scrungie, you like shellfish, right?" He mutters to his familiar as the weasel clambers down his arm, hops to the ground, and approaches the enemy.
for
Caine begins dancing as he approaches the crabby monster!
The Swashbuckler's hand seems to move at the same time, bring around his Star knife for distance!
Tastes good with red-hot.
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Taschewren watches as his valiant companions rush towards the evil crab-monster. Monstors are scary, and tough, and it usually takes an act of incredible bravery to take one down. Taschewren, bring neither tough nor brace, opts for the second approach.
“ I’ll find the villagers,” he tells to his companions. He pauses, seeking for sound, the moves to find the source of the sounds.
Jacen seems decidedly unclear if this is about danger or dinner ...
"I guess we don't really know if there is butter anywhere?"
DMG=Piercing
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Kazmuk gets mad, runs up, and INSTANTLY crushes the reefclaw. It slumps into a small pile of meat and you see a small goblinish creature gulp and jump into the surf and run away from this whole mess.
The rowboat next to the small monster has a small stash of
treasure tucked into a waterproof leather bag under the boat. Within are
20 sp, 1 gp, and a potion of water breathing in an airtight bottle. Other than that, you find nothing else here.
Two weatherworn stone statues stand on either side of a fifteen-foot-wide rift in the shore, extending their arms toward one another. A partially completed, partially eroded old stone bridge doesn’t quite cross the gulf. In the water fifteen feet below, the surf crashes on a worn wedge of stone that might have at one time been part of the bridge.
Caine watches the splattering of dinner with a smile.
Well done, Chef!
The Catfolk then waves at the retreating goblinoid, before searching the newly abandoned boat.
Good accidental hull here! Are we now brigands?
The Swashbuckler then proceeds to follow the broken road to the broken bridge.
Someone may need to inform their congress person about the state of affairs about here.
Kazmuk gives Caine a thumbs up.
We're eatin good tonight!
He attempts to stuff the reefclaw meat into his bag for storage. He takes the rest of the loot and shares it out with the party, giving the water breathing potion to whoever wants it.
Now that hostile things are about, Kazmuk takes precautions and walks around with his shield raised.
Upon seeing the broken bridge, Kazmuk gets an idea. He turns to the party and makes a suggestion.
What if - 'ear me out - what if we all jump across the gap!
Thalassa attempts to chase the goblinish creature that is getting away, but she changes her mind. Whatever it is, she hopes to find it again. She quietly takes the loot of coins and the potion, shaking it in front of the others, gesturing for any takers.
When she finds the broken bridge, she simply creates a wave of water and rides on it to cross to the other side of the rift. After that, she communes with the sea to Refocus while waiting for the others to reach her location.
"Sorry, but I can only bring myself on the waves I create," she excuses herself after showing off. "If you want me to do something on this side, let's see what I can do."
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Blueberry Peat replies simply to Kazmuk, "I do not eat. But I will share in the camaraderie and fellowship of mealtime."
At the ravine, Peat listens to Kazmuk and shakes their head, looking at the gulf they'd have to clear. "I do not think I would jump that distance." They hold up their rope. "Perhaps someone could throw this over to her, and she could tie it, to provide a means to climb across?
Peat considers whether the remaining portion of the bridge is structurally sound to be used, or if they should avoid it entirely. Will one of the heavier creatures walking out on the bridge cause further collapse?
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Looking around at the creature, you can tell it might have been the one making the noises. Could have been trying to cause a fight for some entertainment. that said, it bit of WAY more than it bargained for and bolted!
Looking at the stones, they exist, but it will take some serious time to rebuild. You could use telekinesis to pick up individual stones, but that would take weeks to rebuild the bridge. And as for why it fell apart, its basically not maintained. Not many people go out this way and your town isnt going to spend time fixing a place that no one uses. It's just fallen apart like any other forgotten thing.
As for how to get across, jumping works. If you have rope and a strong bow you might be able to make a rope go across as well. What would you like to do.
Kazmuk gets impatient and thinks to himself.
"If I jump across and make it look easy, maybe they'll be inspired to join me in taking a great leap forward!"
Kazmuk takes a deep breath, walks backwards, takes a running start and long jumps across the gap.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" he screams as his tiny little legs propel him into the air and hopefully, across the gap.
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He shakes his head at the bridge. "This is poor infrastructure support, that's what this is. Someone should write a sternly-worded letter to Iron Harbor's mayor."
Blueberry Peat applauds as Kazmuk jumps across, joining Thalassa on the other side. "Very good. Now, one of you catch this rope." He ties the rope around his crowbar. "I will toss this across, then you can grab it, and tie that end of the rope onto the statue. Or hold it. You seem very strong."
Caine will help Blueberry Peat with securing the rope on their end, as Thalassa and Kazmuk do so on theirs.
The swashbuckler then will tightrope walk across.
Balance
This reminds me of sneaking into this girl's dormitory at University.
The Catfolk looks down at the water below.
Except that had a watchful boyfriend.
Thalassa receives the other end of the rope with a crowbar and secures it on something solid so that the others can easily cross the gap.
Caleb clambers across the gap as gracefully as he's able.
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That works! You send the barbarian first, he doesnt die, and then you use him to build a bridge to get across. You all safely cross the gap toward the other side.
Making your way to the other side, you hear a woman yell, Hello! Please wait! I with to join you! This women walks up to the gap and says Can I use your rope? She crawls across, brushes herself off and says, Hello! I am Ordwi and I helped organize the group before, but I just couldn't stay away. May I join you all to the village?
What say you to her? Also roll perception!