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1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend.
2) Please keep all posts and communication in all channels limited to a PG-13 level and be both positive and inclusive.
3) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.
4) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.
5) Please note that on the following days, my posting can get unpredictable:
Tuesday/Thursdays - all day, as they are the 2 busiest days of my work week
6) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.
7) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.
8) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.
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Nearby, slicking out of a culvert, out crawls a reptilian creature with a corpulent and richly shielded scabrous hide of spurs and spines, pock-marked by vicious stomach acids, encased ironically in rugged leathers, which on the chest, has a belly-dragged scrape of muck and tread down it's center, as if it had spent a majority of it's travels scraping along the ground.
Rising bipedally, it's gait pained somewhat at the uprightedness, it walks casually onto the archeological site "Who called the specialist?" A wickedly barbed heavy-duty crossbow strapped to his back, and a row of simple corked vials across a utility belt.
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His clothing is simple, yet confusing. Dressed in a traveller's robe, the right side of his outfit completely black, and the left white, carrying no other weapon but a staff a sure sign of his devotion to Nethys.
His voice is fairly deep, and he curiously responds to the kobold adventurer, "What kind of specialist might you be?"
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Wulessa Yuul has summoned you to the Jistkan dig site. Though far from any major Katapeshi settlement, the site is a busy bustle of scholars, historians, and merchants hard at work.
As you gather outside her tent, you get to know your companions.
Venture-Captain Wulessa Yuul turns from a series of dig site maps beneath her wide tent. "Pathfinders, I'm glad you've made it. One of our allies — perhaps our most unusual ally at this site — is missing. Star is an automaton with invaluable knowledge of these ancient Jistkan ruins. They're hard to miss, as they are twenty feet tall, resemble a bipedal snapping turtle, and are made of a durable, bronze-colored metal. We haven't heard from them in days. Katydid is my site leader and an expert on Jistkan civilization. She's also good friends with Star. I'll set you up with your mounts; the temple site is on the outskirts of this ruined city. Be careful in the ruins. They contain unknown risks ranging from environmental decay to magical and technological dangers not seen since the era of the Jistka Imperium. Any knowledge you can recover is helpful, just don't become a part of the ruins yourselves."
Wulessa then sends you to to Katydid's tent and tells you to meet at the camp's makeshift stable after Katydid has briefed you.
Katydid's tent is large enough to accommodate her books and tables of relics. Understanding that this must be the team she requested, Katydid is happy to see you. She speaks rapidly, her words interspersed with anxious laughter that becomes more extreme when she discusses Star, as she's worried about her friend's fate.
"Hahaha... I didn't see you there. Pathfinders? Haha, of course. I'm so glad you came. Has Wulessa filled you in on the situation? It concerns my missing friend, Star. A week ago, we were working in the city ruins when Star started walking away. They told me to wait where I was so, naturally, I followed. Star walked for hours, to the city outskirts and a ruined temple my team had only recently unearthed. There was something about the place my mount didn't like. As Star entered, they turned to me and told me to go back. So, of course, I waited. Hours turned into a hahaha—whole day. I didn't have supplies, so I came back. I couldn't even concentrate over the next couple of days, I was so worried—hehehe— about my friend. I asked Wulessa for help and she sent for—haha—you."
"I'll direct you to the temple; it's past the farthest edge of the city. Do all you can to—hehehe—bring Star back, but don't go too deep into the ruin. We don't know what's in there." Katydid pauses for questions from the group.
Brief History of Star
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A leshy that appears to be equal parts bone, fungus, assorted plant matter, and the occasional piece of onyx, strokes a wispy fungal beard, and nods thoughtfully at the woman's extensive verbal diarrhoea.
"I am Hungry Depths of Eternal Night, but you can just call me Depths. I will hopefully be able to assist with any unquiet spirits that we encounter... as well an any denizens of the Tapestry."
To then quest-giver, he adds:
"Any idea what could have triggered Star like that? Also, what sort of deities were typically venerated by the Jistkans?"
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”Gock is renowned Tracker and Killer!” perhaps responding to the worried glances around the camp, he amends somewhat ”Just a tracker for this mission. Yes. Unless killing will be necessary.”
He asks every question (except the last because he doesn’t care) and listens carefully to every answer. Unsatisfied not to learn of some quarry to track - besides Star of course - he slumps his shoulders.
”Okay Gock ready” affixing a potency crystal to his crossbow.
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A pearly athamaru with orange splotches glides en pointe along the path to the tent by the dig, its scales scintillating under the sun. The athamaru's many tiny ballet steps made its arrival from afar seem almost ethereal, yet painfully slow to watch. As it gets closer. And closer. And eventually stops.
"Good day to you, fellow Pathfinders! I am Koi, linguist, and emissary of the East Xidao Sea. I've only just learned how to walk on the tips of my toes. It is not very practical." The athamaru slouches back on its heels, sees its arms outstretching then deliberately places each hand on a hip. "Phew, never again. Please go on."
As Katydid describes the second Jistkan automaton encounter of Koi's limited experience, Koi wonders if this is what it feels like to be a seasoned adventurer. While Katydid answers Gock's many questions, the athamaru listens very carefully to her intonations, trialing the mouthfeel of more complex words with its own maw. But at the mention of lizard mounts it perks up back on tippy-toes. "No problem! Lizards are just morays with legs."
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A towering 7 foot tall wiry Tian man with leathery, almost bark like skin appears, almost as if they had risen up from the ground, in fact it's not entirely obviously where their feet end and the ground begins.
"Greetings fellow Pathfinders. I am the Towering Roots of the Jungle. A protector spirit from the Feywild. Please feel free to call me 'Towering Roots' or just 'Roots' if you prefer. It is a pleasure to meet you all. Keep your eyes open in these ruins though. I suspect whatever hubris leads to the Jistkan's downfall, their lack of respect for nature contributed. Let us not make the same mistakes they did."
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A pale, stern man dressed all in black steps forward and strokes his chin pensively. "Interesting, I wonder what would cause Star to leave like that? It seems as though she wanted her friend to stay behind for safety." He stares at the ceiling as he ponders this question. Eventually he remembers his manners and introduces himself. "Oh. I'm Milo Moritori. By the way."
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RK about Jistkan Imperium
RK about Star
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After talking with Katydid, you meet Wulessa at the stable. The stable contains enough riding lizards for each of you. Wulessa gives anyone who expresses some trepidation a quick lesson on how to mount and ride one. The lizards are tame and easily accept riders, but bonding with the lizards now can prevent some trouble later.
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The athamaru discovers that gravity matters more than grip when riding a lizard. Riding an unbridled moray means hanging on for dear life as it pulls you along, but riding a lizard, you… sit for dear life. Perhaps the excitement comes later. Koi seeks the Guidance of its pendant of the occult. ”Yeehah, Leggsy!”
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Koi and Towering Roots have trouble bonding with their mounts but everyone else doesn't seem to have any trouble.
Wulessa provides one of her maps with the site of the ruined Jistkan temple clearly noted. The trip takes several hours at the lizards' steady pace, but the ride is peaceful.
A low stone structure lies between two dunes. Around a courtyard of weathered pillars, alcoves hold stone statues worn so smooth as to be entirely featureless. A low hum emanating from the structure is barely audible. The lizards are increasingly uncomfortable as they approach the site. Riding becomes difficult as the hum intensifies. Ahead is a temple, half-buried in the sand. There is an entryway large enough to fit through into the ancient ruin.
The hum makes the lizards uneasy and, as a group, they buck and bolt.
CS: The rider dismounts without harm and calms the lizard. Although the lizard still refuses to venture any nearer to the temple, it doesn't retreat very far and can later be ridden back to the stable.
S: The lizard bucks and twists wildly, but the rider dismounts without harm.
F: The rider loses control and is flung free, taking 1d6 bludgeoning damage and landing prone.
CF: The rider loses control and is thrown violently, taking 2d6 bludgeoning damage and landing prone
If you succeeded in the previous Nature check, your success is one step higher.
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The athamaru flops about on the back of its lizard, like a fish on a walker. Koi tries whistling but those old moray tricks don’t seem to apply. It’s almost a relief when the lizard bolts from the buzzing ruins.
As the lizard bucks wildly the athamaru spins through the air like a sardine can key, before landing in a tangle in a drift of soft sand. Koi rises unsteadily to its feet, before bowing to nobody in particular. ”I meant that.”
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Gock and Anji manage to persuade their lizards to stay but the others run off.
You approach the temple. Wulessa mentioned in passing that the upper level of the Jistkan temple was looted centuries ago.
You find yourselves in the courtyard of the temple. Beyond the toppled pillars and weathered statues, three entrances provide access to the structure. The south entrance is blocked by a heavy stone door, while the north and west entrances open into darkness. The west entrance is much wider, and scrapes along its sides indicate that something large and metallic recently passed through.
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The twisting passages in this area are all smooth stone, covered with dust and inset with metal in repeated geometric patterns. For the most part of your exploration, the passages are undamaged. However, as you approach the central hallway, you start noticing scratch marks on the walls and ceiling, indicating that something huge (most likely Star) passed this way.
It is also here where you happen to run into some of the occupants of the area you're in. They aren't exactly happy to see you...
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Special Conditions:
- Red is tiny; token enlarged for visibility
- Blue/White/Yellow are small; token is enlarged for visibility
Tactical Map
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Those with ** may go
**Hungry - AC 14 18/18
**Gock - AC 18 19/19
Red
Anji - AC 16 26/26
Yellow
Milo Moritori - AC 18 24/24
Blue
Towering Roots - AC 17 18/18
Koi Polloi - AC 17 22/22
White
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Blue manages to avoid the worst of the acid but Red gets bathed in the caustic stuff. Both scream as they are burned.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Special Conditions:
- Red is tiny; token enlarged for visibility
- Blue/White/Yellow are small; token is enlarged for visibility
Tactical Map
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Those with ** may go
Hungry - AC 14 18/18
**Gock - AC 18 19/19
Red (-3)
Anji - AC 16 26/26
Yellow
Milo Moritori - AC 18 24/24
Blue (-1)
Towering Roots - AC 17 18/18
Koi Polloi - AC 17 22/22
White
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Gock shoots the one already wounded!
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
◆) Recall Knowledge
↺) On the Hunt
Crafting (*) +5
Lore: Monster (*) +5
Lore: Kobold (*) +5
Medicine (*) +5
Nature (*) +5
Society (*) +5
Survival (*) +5
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Gock shoots Red but the shot misses by a whisker...
Red scampers up to and tries to poke them with its shortsword.
for
The sword breaks the skin but barely makes a mark.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Special Conditions:
- Red is tiny; token enlarged for visibility
- Blue/White/Yellow are small; token is enlarged for visibility
Tactical Map
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Those with ** may go
Hungry - AC 14 18/18
Gock - AC 18 19/19
Red (-3; 14 < AC)
**Anji - AC 16 26/26
Yellow
Milo Moritori - AC 18 24/24
Blue (-1)
Towering Roots - AC 17 17/18
Koi Polloi - AC 17 22/22
White