Welcome to your DOOM! Or maybe not.
It’s been three days since parting ways with Venture-Captain Amara Li, and the journey along the Tuunma River has been unusually quiet so far, with the two-masted junk called the Laughing Crow holding up surprisingly well, especially considering its simple design and relatively minute size. The journey has been peaceful so far, the endless processions of sand dunes and clear skies proving remarkably contrary to many of the warnings Amara Li provided during the meeting with her nearly half a week ago.
“No time to rest, Pathfinders!” she exclaimed late one night, barging into the bedroom of the ramshackle tavern in Goka. “I’ve looked into the situation surrounding the relic you found, the Braid of a Hundred Masters. As you may have noticed, the artifact appears to have been dormant for many years now, and in this state it’s essentially worthless to us. Fortunately, it can be reactivated, but only by the descendant of the braid’s last master, who, as you may know, was the master of the Clouded Path Monastery many years ago, a man by the name of Li Yao. I’ve discovered the whereabouts of his final living descendant—a woman by the name of Je Tsuin—but she now resides in the nation of Shokuro to the east, far from where her ancestor taught in his monastery in the Wall of Heaven. In order to reactivate the sacred relic, you’ll need to travel to the village of Nesting Swallow in Shokuro and find Je Tsuin to perform the necessary ritual."
“Unfortunately,” she continued, “we’re not the only group interested in Iroran artifacts. Our operatives claim that Lingshen, the Successor State to the southeast, is after the relic as well. Since Lingshen’s armies have a stranglehold on the overland routes from here to Shokuro, you’ll have to travel by river. Riding the Tuunma is faster anyway, though you might run into some hostile Mutabi-qi or goblinoids along the way. The river empties into the Sea of Eels—cross it and you’re in Shokuro, and from there you can follow the map I’ve provided to reach Nesting Swallow."
"Ah, before I forget, you’ll also need you to make a quick stop along the way. The ritual requires a large amount of rare incense—more than I could easily procure from any of my local suppliers—so I’ve contacted a nomadic tribe in Shaguang, the Jhemulit, and they have agreed to provide you with the prepared herbs. I’ve already paid their shaman, a man named Ogokai, and I’ve marked their approximate location on your map, so it’s simply a matter of picking up the incense on your way to Shokuro.”
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All right...I'm up...jeepers...can a dwarf get a little bit pf shut eye around this place? Gimme a couple minutes...I'll be down... a grumpy dwarf says, a little bit perturbed by being woken up from a solid alcohol induced slumber. He rolls out of his bunk and grabs his gears hastily. He heads to the facilities, letting out a huge belch on the way. When he eventually comes out he lights up a huge cigar.
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Now what's all the hubbub about, bub? he says as he motions to the innkeeper for something to drink.
Coffee...hot...thick...and a lot of it... he says as he tosses a few coins on the bar.
Oh...right...introductions...I'm Ander...I put holes in things at high speed. I guess I'm here to fill in for a friend of yours...pale looking fellow...needs some sun... he says with a puff. He sticks his hand in a waxed canvas bag and grabs a chunk of jerky and starts chomping on it. Jerky, anyone? he offers
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Cannoli looks at the dwarf puffing a stogie and talking about an innkeeper. She looks over the railing at the shore drifting lazily by and is slightly concerned about brain damage, it wouldn’t be uncommon among dwarves.
But he has coin and she has a cup of coffee from the galley so…
With a cheerful smile the catfolk trades her cup for coin and smiles sweetly, ”Here ya go Sir Dwarf. You remember our mission briefing a week ago, right? The VC said you would be a good substitute for our vampire wizard. You aren’t scared of boats, are ya?”
The catfolk accepts the offered jerky, maybe the taste will help drown out the stench of smoke. Cannoli’s tiger stripe pattern and coloration are starkly contrasted with the leather and metal studded outfit she wears. Decorative or functional, it’s hard to say. A perfectly fitted breastplate and matte black buckler form most of her armor. Her weapons include a blackened morningstar and silvered dagger. The final striking accoutrement are tall black boots accented with shiny onyx stones, leaving just enough space below her leather skirt to show her striped fur pattern covers her entire body.
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I'm on a boat? he says as he looks over the railing. Nah...not afraid of these at all...
Oh yeah...yer right...my bad...I got a wee bit...tipsy last night...won't happen again...mostly cuz I'm out of the good stuff... he says as he shakes his head clear of cobwebs.
Yeah...I remember...something about a belt...a ritual...some herbs we gotta pick up...
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"D-don't worry, Ander. You really d-did drink a lot! I t-told you not to try to c-compete with Grizzlebin--he's a divine being, you know! B-but I bet your head feels better soon." Jakeric smiles warmly and continues looking out from the prow of the Laughing Crow. "This p-place is so serene," he observes quietly. "I wonder if this is what Sarkoris was like, before the . . . you know."
Jakeric still looks slightly panicked by being awakened in the middle of the night by the Venture Captain storming into the group's sleeping quarters. As she rattles off the details of the mission, he tries hurriedly to jot down as many details as he can, even risking her ire (and Grizzlebin's eye rolls) by asking her to spell the names of people and locations they're supposed to visit. After the briefing, he raises his hand and, when called upon, says: "Um . . . what are M-Mutabi-qi?"
After the briefing, he raises his hand and, when called upon, says: "Um . . . what are M-Mutabi-qi?"
“That’s what the nomad tribes of Shaguang call themselves. Most are pretty aggressive toward outsiders, but if you can make friendly contact, you’ll find them very hospitable. They travel from oasis to oasis across Shaguang, and frequently make stops along the Tuunma River to water their horses.”
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"At least the river water isn't full of salt and extra corrosive to my body plates. The sea will be another matter..."
Guardian remarks, frowning as he looks out over the railing of the tiny ship.
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"Once we get to Nesting Swallow, how long will we have until Lingshen’s armies arrive? Obviously it's best if we work fast!"
"At least the river water isn't full of salt and extra corrosive to my body plates. The sea will be another matter..."
Guardian remarks, frowning as he looks out over the railing of the tiny ship.
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"Once we get to Nesting Swallow, how long will we have until Lingshen’s armies arrive? Obviously it's best if we work fast!"
Amara Li sighs, "I wish I had such powerful divination at my disposal but alas I do not. However your goal to work fast is certainly laudable."
“Lingshen has the largest and mightiest army in all of Tian Xia, their soldiers fight with fanatical devotion, and they’ll only offer you one chance to surrender—after that, they show no mercy. I’d avoid them if at all possible, but if confronted, your only option might be to fight.”
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"It sounds like we will be traveling through a few different states, you mentioned Shaguang and Shokuro, do you know roughly how long the journey is likely to take?" enquires Silvanus during the mission briefing.
"You also mentioned the Jhemulit who we will be picking up the incense from, what can you tell us about them?"
As with the party's previous journey to the monastery Silvanus makes sure to read further passages from his book each morning .
Just prior to the party boarding the boat Olaf pulled out his disguise kit and after some rummaging around retrieved a fancy looking sea captains hat. Having placed the hat on his head he now stalks the deck of the junk like a seasoned sea dog, his glorious beard further adding to his overall look.
"It sounds like we will be traveling through a few different states, you mentioned Shaguang and Shokuro, do you know roughly how long the journey is likely to take?" enquires Silvanus during the mission briefing.
"You also mentioned the Jhemulit who we will be picking up the incense from, what can you tell us about them?"
As with the party's previous journey to the monastery Silvanus makes sure to read further passages from his book each morning .
She replies, "If all goes well about a month. More or less depending on weather and always unforeseen circumstances."
Amara Li answers Silvanus's second question, "The Jhemulit are a tribe of the Mutabi-qi so what I said about Mutabi-qi earlier applies to them."
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Vreekka listens intensely to everything the VC and her fellow pathfinders say. After they had asked all their questions she decides it's time for action.
"Time is of the essence, it seems. Let's go. We can sleep later in our cabins after we got on the ship."
Vreekka packs her belongings and gets ready to board the ship.
The alchemist decides to ignore the height-challenged (and obviously brain damaged) cigar-puffing newcomer and instead addresses the android.
"Don't you have a self-repair mechanism, Guardian? Then maybe you should stay below deck while we cross the sea. But if you are really concerned about water damage, I have this new potion that will help you avoid it in combat. Just remember to imbibe this special extract first, and then spit the potion back into its container so we don't have to buy another..."
When the group approaches the Laughing Crow they find one thing apparently missing - a pilot. Whatever will the group do???
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Vreekka quickly analyzes the ship's construction and engineering, then tries to remember how everything worked the last time she sailed in such kind of vessel.
"Okay, how did they operate that ship? Hm... Ah, yes. One here, another one there and the rest in between. That feels right. Got it!"
Having some kind of epiphany the alchemist speaks up.
"Guardian, Ander, you're on sails duty! Unknot these ropes here and pull those over there tight, then make a simple knot.
Silvanus and Olaf, you take the rudder. Steer us down the river in one piece, please!
Cannoli... uh, I mean, Jakeric and Grizzlebin, go to the front of the ship. Your job is to look out for any trouble the ship might encounter!"
"And Cannoli, you keep up the morale!"
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”Great call First Mate Vreeks!”
She is now wearing a tricorn hat with a very large feather. You aren’t sure where it came from. Probably better not to ask.
She prances around the ship, heels clicking on the deck as she continues to give terrible sailing advice in a very confident and cheerful manner.
1. Main Deck: The deck of the Laughing Crow is sun-bleached and worn from weeks of exposure to the harsh mountain winds. The rigging and sails look to be in much better condition, having recently been replaced. A large hatch above the bow leads to the fore cargo hold, while a smaller hatch midship leads to the midship cargo hold.
2. Driving Area: The PC driving the ship must stand in either of the two squares adjacent to the rudder in order to make driving checks.
3. Cabin: This small cabin is plainly appointed. A small cook-stove sits in a niche on the port side of the room, while bunk beds line the aft wall. A hatch in the floor on the starboard side of the room leads down to the aft cargo hold.
4. Aft Cargo Hold: This small cargo hold is stocked with more than enough food and water to last the PCs on their journey to Shokuro. It’s sealed apart from the other cargo holds by a watertight bulkhead.
5. Midship Cargo Hold: This cargo hold stores all the mundane supplies the PCs will need to run the ship, such as rope, spare sails, block and tackle, etc. As with the aft cargo hold, it’s sealed by a watertight bulkhead.
6. Fore Cargo Hold: This cargo area is set up to stable any mounts or large animals the PCs have that won’t fit abovedeck. As with the aft cargo hold, it’s sealed by a watertight bulkhead.
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Olaf tugs on Silvanus's sleave and after a brief discussion between the two the sorcerer approaches the rest of the party. "Olaf has pointed out that his people are famed for their sailors and mariners and appears to be of the opinion that this makes him an obvious choice to be captain. I'm not sure that would be a good idea as he has none of the skills required, however if we could humor him by letting him stride around the ship looking important, while having no actual role in piloting the vessel, that should be enough to keep him happy."
The crew trembles in fear at the mighty and powerful Captain Olaf!
Grizzlebin shrugs and follows The Brainiac's direction without complaint. He's a divine being and won, but his head still hurts from last night's drinking competition . . .
The river slows as it leaves the sandy highlands and winds its way between the rolling hills of this dry, grassy basin. The breeze that blows from the north is dusty and warm, and a thicket of short gnarled trees lines the shore.
(drkv, 30ft sight)
(low-light)
Everyone but Cannoli, who is distracted by her Admiral duties to maintain morale and readiness, hears what sounds like hoof beats coming from the far side of the hill.
Round 1 - Mutabi Mooks
Vreekka
Ander
Khoqarit
Guardian XI
Cannoli
Silvanus
Mooks
Jakeric
Ander quickly brings his gun up aims at the lead raider.
I'd be thinking about your next step real hard, fella... he says as his cigar idly burns.