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The moment Rose spots someone sneaking away, she instantly pulls out her gun and shoots a feet higher than the small humanoid was
Boom!
Then her hand goes behind her and she pulls a second pistol
"I saw you! That was a warning shot!" she yells and turns towards the others
"I caught a glimpse of a small humanoid, sunset-colored and bearing the feathered head of an eagle, slipping away from the scene. We could chase it ... or stay alert as someone is not wishing us well."
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Something doesn't smell right.
Bangy looks at Mekobin, who somehow how "easily evaded the bison without being harmed" and then advized them to immediately "go help the others with the preparations"... Openly expressing barely-concealed disdain for their presence here in the first place.
Smells like a trap.
But.
Not wanting to wear his welcome, our ysoki here keeps his jaws shut for now. And keeps an eye on Mekobin.
Bangy Piper (55/76 HP) [2☘️]
Arfsnarf Ah'sneeze's (78/78 HP) [2☘️]
Shayla Quickfingers (92/92 HP) [2☘️]
Meadow (53/74 HP) [2☘️]
Silence (52/52 HP)
Horul (63/63 HP) [2☘️]
The leaving figure whom Rose warned about might have freaked out by that shot.
On the other hand, the party returns to the village to help in other preparations, with Bangy suspicious of what has just transpired.
They arrive in an area where there are hot springs. As in many places in Arcadia, hot springs are popular in Niishan, and many townsfolk take the Festival of Fire as an opportunity to relax in the local spring. Among them is Whiirii , a reclusive artisan from an owl-like humanoid ancestry whom Pathfinder agents brought to Niishan during their repatriation of Hatahasi.
When they see them, they invite the party to join them inside.
"Tradition says the first four explorers discovered this hot spring and stopped to cleanse themselves before deciding to spend the night nearby. Legend holds the four had grown frustrated with each other, but their time at the spring gave them a shared sense of purpose and unity again," they explain.
"How about you? Please, join us and reflect on the history of the ceremony! Tell us your stories you have had of working with the Pathfinder Society."
Silence flaps his wings and makes an awful hissing sound.
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"Yeah I know. You don't like to get wet. Look just hang out here on the roof and stand watch. Shout out if you see that eagle-headed guy, okay?"
Meadow turns to Bangy, "Keep an eye on him will you? And if he keeps messing with that ribbon remind him that it will make little Miwa sad if takes it off before the festival is over."
The ranger heads into the hot springs to enjoy a nice hot soak.
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"My experience with the Society has been great. It's let me meet some great people that I like adventuring with. Meadow's great, though she has a tendency for high places..."
Meadow rolls her eyes at her friend's teasing. "I've had sooo much fun in the Society. Silence and I have gotten to go to sooo many places and meet so many people. My favorite was when we went to Razmiran to build a new pathfinder lodge. We were there for a whole month repairing an old fortress to serve as the lodge. The whole village helped. We captured some giant geckos and I hired Sylvina to help me train them. It was great! My friend Matthild made me this cloak with an owl and a lizard on it so I would never forget them. I organized a big party once we finished setting up the lodge and everyone was there. Even Mask Narsin. It was so much fun!" She smiles at the memory then sighs. "I miss my geckos."
Whirriii enjoys listening to their tales. The also share that their experiences with the Pathfinder Society led them to spend more time in Niishan, deepening their relationship with Mayor Deyahi. Their trips to the Pathfinder Society Grand Lodge in Absalom have also softened their demeanor, though they still tend to be straight-forward, even blunt or curt in their statements. Suddenly, a chill wind slices through the structure, prompting a cry of dismay from Whiirii! "Why suddenly so cold?!"
Meanwhile, Bangy also feels the sudden chill of the wind outside. Weird.
Shayla: 1 PP
Meadow: 1 PP
Horul: 0 PP
Rose: 0 PP
Bangy: 0 PP
Thanks to Rose and Bangy, they are quick to return the cover cloth to its place to prevent more chilly winds from entering the structure. Once settled, they continue to enjoy the warmth of hotsprings brings, and they find a measure of unity in the hot spring.
Some of the Pathfinders choose to chase whoever is causing the ruckus on the festival preparations.
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Sniffing out the trail, Bangy follows suit, bolas in hand, party in tow.
He catches up, and is polite nonetheless ”Hey there interloper! I see you hiding there… might as well come out? Are you mad because we are here despoiling your tradition? I haven’t slain a drake, no, but seeing as we don’t know each other, how can we presume to prejudge what merits the other has? Anyway, the others will be here soon, but don’t worry, they are nice. After all, we were sent here for a diplomatic reason, so, let’s talk!”
A small humanoid, sunset-hued and bearing the feathered head of an eagle, yelps in surprise. His eyes are kernels of corn, and he’s clad in garments and a cape woven from corn husks.
"Outsiders are not supposed to be in Niishan, much less take part in the Firewatch!" he exclaims, indignantly flustered.
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Meadow eventually catches up to the group. She is only partially dressed with her shoes and armor stuffed haphazardly into her backpack. "Hey! It's that eagle-headed guy again! The one that tried to kill us earlier." She glares at him as she sits down to put her shoes on.
"Hey! He's a giant poppet! Look! His body is made out of bits of corn and such. He's probably got some sort of local spirit inside of him. What do they call them here...A kami. That's it!" She stands and confronts the kami directly. "We're just here to help with the festival. Why are you trying to kill us?"
"Screech!" Silence descends from the sky and stares at the eagle-headed humanoid.
It seem not all of your neighbors agree. We only came here because we invited! We mean to honor your festival and your lands! Society return Hatahashi to you! Does that earn no trust?
The prairie spirit shakes his head in disbelief.
"Of course, they would say otherwise. The people of Niishani should have known better. I, Anohatsa, a spirit of the prairies, watch over Niishan and keep it safe! And the presence of outsiders like you endangers it!"
Meadow eventually catches up to the group. She is only partially dressed with her shoes and armor stuffed haphazardly into her backpack. "Hey! It's that eagle-headed guy again! The one that tried to kill us earlier." She glares at him as she sits down to put her shoes on.
"And I am not trying to kill you! I am sending you warnings, assuming you will be frightened and leave Niishan. You do not know this, but spirits like me have longer memories than the Niishani—we remember what they have forgotten. When the founders came to this place—the last outsiders to stand in the firelight here—one of them betrayed their companions. Now you are here. But Anohatsa will not let Niishan suffer if the spirits are not properly dealt with tonight."
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"We can help!" Bangy's excitement is contagious - indeed, he hops whenever he speaks with a "!" - "Where I come from, we protect our own, but we also welcome trade from outside. Doesn't mean you gotta change yourself. Some things can be mutually good for both parties!"
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"Yeah. We're totally capable of dealing with spirits. And we won't need to worry about any betrayals." Meadow glances at Shayla and bites her lower lip. "I mean...what are the odds that Shayla gets possessed again and launches a sneak attack against us? It can't be more than 50/50, right?"
"Right?"
Bangy: 1 PP
Meadow: 1 PP
Arfsnarf: 1 PP
Horul:0 PP
Rose: ?
"Alright, alright! I think I can trust you. This is more than just getting possessed and all." Anohatsa says, glancing around before motioning for them to come closer.
"The spirits will not speak of what happened here. But listen carefully to what you see and hear at the fire—you may learn more than you expect." he whispers. "The spirits always offer the same thing each year at the fire. But because you are not Niishani, you may hear an offer that no one has heard since the first explorers came here!" he adds, his tone edged with caution.
"Continue helping with the preparations. And remember—be careful what you agree to at the fire. Some spirits speak the truth, but from the cruelest of us, only lies will spill." His words linger in the air as he vanishes, leaving the Pathfinders behind.
Soon enough, somebody approaches them.
"There you are! What are you all doing here? I have been looking for you all! Come, help us create some talismans! Tsimaan Ayika, by the way!" the elf guide leads them.
While on their way, the elf chats, "You see, the fire often arouses nearby spirits, so many Niishani wear talismans and charms during the Festival of Fire to ward off any lingering dangers during the festival. The creation of such ornaments has become as much a tradition here as the rest of the festival, with townsfolk coming together to swap stories—or tall tales—as they work."
They arrive at the area where a number of townsfolk relax in an earth lodge, surrounded by tables covered with beads, feathers, grass, and hide, alongside metal awls, small knives, and other tools. The sounds of chatter and laughter fill the open room as humans, halflings, and others of all ages swap good-natured stories while they work. A dark-skinned elven woman gestures toward the space near her, and the table of supplies nearby.
“The people of the prairies use these charms for protection from dangerous spirits,” she says. “Even if the charms don’t work, we at least enjoy making them together. Listen closely, and you’ll hear plenty of stories— how Johlon flew alongside a thunderbird, or Satincka outwitted a daqqanoenyent. Just remember, they can’t all be true, but we don’t let that matter when it comes to a good tale. Half the people here will tell you with a straight face that they have outrun a wanikkawi in the dark and lived to tell the tale.” She finishes with a laugh.
"Help in crafting talismans, and tell us some of your stories outside Niishan!" she encourages the Pathfinders.
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Bangy matches whisper with whisper "So... the spirits consider this year to be special? Wow!" flattered, our scroungy hero has already forgotten about being bison'd even before the spirit (or whatever it is) disappears.
Back at camp, Bangy grabs a knife and some cord and beads and begins making a necklace - but really, he works slow, distractedly, and instead runs his mouth "...and I woke up tied to the mast while they were deliberating what to do with me, and so, I chewed my way out of the rope, and scurried up to hide in the crows nest, which worked for a time, until finally I heard one of them coming up after me, and so I panicked and..."
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Rose looks at the spirit and shakes her head "I told you last time to leave us be!" she says it in menacing tone, but it does not really sound like that
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When working on the charms the dwarf tries to get the charm from other crafters
"So, you know, among my people gifting such hand made gift can win you lifelong gratitude"
But she pulls the item by accident and it begins to fall...
she ducks and tries to grab it ...
But it falls to the ground and shatters to pieces "Darn, I am so sorry about that"
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Arfsnarf begins making a talisman that is a necklace with a little cage to hold his “clacky rock.” He then proceeds to tell stories about the times he’s used it and he believes it’s been right in foretelling the success of a mission.
I always tell teammates, consult clacky rock before opening treasure chest!