Dotting.
The incessant beat of hammer against anvils and weaponry greets entrants into Smine’s Weaponworks, a smithy of great repute in the town of Tymon in the River Kingdoms, along with an oppressive wave of heat and the acrid smell of coal. A broad-shouldered dwarf, face and arms smudged with soot from the furnaces, smiles broadly, proclaiming in a voice harsh with years of yelling, Ah! I was expecting you lot! Step inside my office. I have refreshments. He steps inside a cozy office, gesturing at an eclectic assortment of chairs, ranging from an overstuffed chaise to a sparse and undecorated rocking chair. After rinsing his face in a nearby basin, he pours out several glasses of water, immediately quaffing one for himself before refilling it and sitting down at his
desk.
Venture-Captain Holgarin Smine, at your service. Guessing the Lodge got my message. You don’t look too fresh-faced for this mission. Finishing the rest of his drink, he wipes the corner of his mouth with a clean cloth. I’ll be quick about it. You’ve got a bit of travel ahead of you. One of the mayors of Uringen, Lady Aurelia Ogden, wants the Society’s help with an experiment she’s been doing. The clock tower of Uringen has drawn all sorts of researchers. It hasn’t worked quite right from the get-go. It makes a whole piece of the town disappear. Four clock faces, each with a different way of counting time, each displaying a different time—until now. The mayor thinks that those faces might finally join up. What’s going to happen when it does is anybody’s guess. She doesn’t have the staff she needs to record it properly. That’s where the Society comes in.
Uringen’s alchemical goods are some of the best. In exchange for recording the experiment’s effects, and dealing with unexpected issues, Mayor Ogden will give the Society a discount. But there’s something else that the Society wants. You heard about the mishap with the Sky Key? How it’s not working correctly? Turns out, that clock tower might have something that can fix it. Scholars call that something ‘temporal essence.’ Fetch at least one vial of the stuff. Ogden says the best time to collect it is in the middle of the clock face alignment. I’ve arranged for travel to Embeth Forest. When you get there, you’ll be meeting Jamel Visser. Visser’s the leader of the local forest guides. They call themselves the Embeth Travelers. Don’t dawdle. You’ve got to make it to Uringen before the clock faces align. The boat will get you to Visser in a little over 2 weeks if you don’t run into trouble. The clocks align in 3 weeks.
Any questions...or refills?
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Eloriand is still in wonder at the sites the Society has arranged for him to see. Temporal essence, a clock that makes part of a town disappear.... what next?
Eloriand breaks from his daze and respectfully thanks the Venture Captain for his hospitality and bows slightly.
Eloriand, mostly refreshed and stocked up is ready for the groups next adventure.
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Isador takes the offered drink and takes a few sips as he listens to the dwarves tale. He raises his eyebrows slightly at the mention of the effects on the town during the clock alignment.
At the end of the tale, he speaks to the dwarf. What happens when the town "disappears"? Does it become invisible or does it actually dissolve? What do the inhabitants say happened to them when they return; assuming they return?
Smine listens patiently to the group's inquiries as he continues to hydrate himself after a long day at the forge. He nods to Tarek The tower? Well one of the founders of the town built it. Great piece of work—even if it’s not dwarven[b] he says with a wink. [b]It combines magic and machinery. I’m no wizard; can’t tell you more than that. It causes a piece of the town to disappear and reappear—at least, people in Uringen say that’s what it does. As far as how tall it is? Well, I really can't say. From the descriptions I have heard, likely 3-4 stories to it.
The dwarf downs another cup of water and turns to Isador. Now that, my friend, is the great mystery. I rightly have no idea where that town goes or even if the rumors are true. Above my pay grade I am afraid.
Smime wipes his brow and continues. As far as the essence? Well, again I am not entirely sure how you go about collecting something like that but I am sure Lady Ogden will lend whatever aid she can as long as we hold up our end of the bargain.
Smime puts down his water cup with an audible tap. Any other questions?
Uringen’s alchemists are renowned through the Inner Sea for the effectiveness of their elixirs and potions. The clock tower that stands in the center of Uringen doesn’t tell the same time on all its faces, and one of the faces always spins wildly out of control.
The town of Uringen was founded in 4637 ar by an Ulfen skald name Birji Uringen.
The grig Mather Nithra has made numerous threats on the people of Uringen as well as on travelers through Embeth Forest.
Smine shrugs and gets up to walk the agents out of his shop. Ready to head out? A decisive bunch here, I like it! He wips hsi brow and wishes the Archons good luck and good travel.
As promised, Smine's arranged vessel takes the agents down the Sellen River to their destination neath the Embeth Forest. A sturdy wooden pier stretches over the western bank of the fast-moving river, where a river barge offloads several crates of labeled goods. Nearby, a camp laid out in a rough semicircle bustles with activity, its borders marked off by covered wagons and tarpaulins. Water from a recent downpour collects in the canvas’ folds and in puddles on the ground.
The Archons disembark and are met with two member of the Travelers. They begin to escort the through the thick forest. As they lead the party, the pair seems extra vigilant, often checking the trees and the path before and past. After a few moments, they lead the agents to a man fitting the description of Jamel Visser.
Well met, travelers. Smine sent word of your arrival, expressing the urgency of your journey, but we will have to delay your departure. On our trip here, we ran afoul of that blasted grig’s traps, and we won’t be able to leave until we’ve fixed things up.
The seasoned ranger rests his hands on hips and stares into the deep woods with a far away look and a mild scowl.
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Grig? Is this someone or something we should be concerned about? Tarek follows Jamel's gaze into the forest Would you like us to have a look around? We may be able to aid in clearing any traps or obstacles that may be delaying our departure. We don't want to get behind on our first day of travel. If your group has suffered any injuries then I may be able to aid in patching them up
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Hmm, that name or term I am not familiar with, despite my studies. We do know a thing or two about tearing down traps.
Resting my hand on Ae-Dee Ate, I make a few adjustments to kit, smiling at what a nice additon the mithril shirt is with the obsidian blade at my hip.
SAying to seeminly nobody.. Well Ae-Dee Ate, looks like we got some work to do before achieving our one goal on this adventure.
Jamel nods toward Tarek Yeah. Nithra is a grig, from what I hear. I’ve never actually seen him face to...well face, I guess. Just in passing as he hopped away from putting mistletoe in the stew pot. Some fey might clean your house while you slept at night, and I can tell you, he’s not that kind.
Nithra’s folk like to harass us in and out of the woods. We usually catch most of their tricks, but not this time. I’ve got a few problems, to be honest. Deadfall, pits, whatever snares those twisted fey assembled, and that’s just the start. They’ll all need to be cleared or disabled as we travel through the woods.
Not only the traps, but our mules are sick, probably poisoned, and even some of our hounds have succumbed too. Our healers would be most appreciative if you helped them out.
Hate to put you folks out, but any help you could give us would be much appreciated, and also allow us to get you to Uringen that much quicker. The sturdy ranger gives Tarek and the group hopeful look.
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Tarek nods in agreement to help I will provide assistance with aiding any ill camp members. I am not sure how well I can aid the animals but with Eloriand's help we may be able to ease their symptoms. Tarek looks to Jamel You are our guide to Uringen and it would benefit us all if we put our skills at your disposal
Jamel smiles and clasps Tarek on his shoulder. Thank you Pathfinders. Smine's words about your band were certainly true. Jamel quickly assembles the agents and sets them to work clearing the forrest or aiding the sick.
One of the Travelers leads Tarek and Havelock to their camp not far from the roadway. Upon their arrival, the pair see many rangers and some pack animals in obvious distress. Taking a few moments to speak to the ailing guides, the agents discover that they were poisoned by various traps set by the baleful fey. The first ranger, a young women, is treated by Tarek with Havelock's aid. After about an hour's work, Tarek succeeds at healing the poisoned ranger. The poison was particularly virulent and persistent and it takes the oracle and magus roughly an hour to complete the task. The rest of the camp looks upon the helpful Pathfinders, hoping to receive similar aid.
Jamel asks Kat, Isador and Eloriand to comb the forest for the grig's insidious traps and also suggests Caoilte keep an eye out for hostiles. The Archons begin their task and within the first few moments, Kat discovers a dart rigged to fire on a tripwire at the base of a tree. The dart was well hidden. The trap also seems fairly well made.
Eloriand mentions to Caoilte as they search the forrest that he is aware these woods do contain some benevolent fey, who occasionally assist those who provide them offerings of bread, honey, milk, or alcoholic beverages.
The party gets to work aiding the Travelers to clear and and clean up the mayhem sowed by their fey foe.
Tarek and Havelock tend to the poisoned camp fellows and animals. Both Pathfinders do their best, but are unable to aid their patients when working separately. Realizing they worked better together, the pair team up to treat the remaining victims.
Meanwhile, Kat, Isador and Eloriand work to clear the area of the fey's fiendish traps. Kat and Isador do a thorough job of finding NIthra's nasty surprises. Kat, when trying to disarm a a snare set to drop some heavy logs on unsuspecting travelers, nearly causes the logs to fall on top of the searching pathfinder. Luckily, Isador spotted her attempt and saved them both from a game of dodge the falling log. After conferring with Eloriand, the three are confident that any traps in the area have been disabled.
As the rest of the party continues to aid the Travelers, Caoilte speaks to some of the rangers about any offerings for possible friendly fey in the area. One of the rangers nods as Caoilte makes his request. Yeah, we have thought about trying to see if we could get any of the wee ones to help us with that blasted grig but none of us have been brave enough to actually try. Here, the man takes a skin from his belt and fetches a small cup from his pack. He fills the cup with a bit of wine from the skin This may do the trick. Be careful though. Take it from me, those fey can be downright nasty you get on the wrong side of one. He hands the cup to Caoilte.
Caoilte brings the small cup of wine to Eloriand in an attempt to get the ranger to use it to lure a helpful fey. Elorians, however, is embroiled with clearing the traps from the woods. The woodsman does give Caoilte some points on dealing with the wee ones and tells him he should have no problem getting one of them to take the offering. He leaves the seasoned warrior with the cup in a spot near the beginning of the deep woods.
Havelockk and Tarek try their best to aid the poisoned camp rangers and animals, but the wicked fey's poisons are too much for their skills to overcome. Hopefully, their work has bought the rangers enough time to get their wounded to a place of healing.
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Tarek looks into the forest and then back to Caoilte Let me speak to the inhabitants of the forest and see if I can gain their favor. Hold the cup lightly and I will take it from you in a moment Tarek takes a few steps closer to the trees and begins speaking in the language of the fey
Tarek begins to concentrate on the cup of wine and then levitates it to a flat spot on a log with a gentle, sweeping motion of his hand
Tarek uses their company ranger's knowledge and attempts to entice a friendly fey from the depth of the woods.
As Tarek concentrates on his spell to float the cup onto a nearby log, the cup is quickly snatched from thin air with what seems like a swift wind. Tarek searches the nearby forest for a sign of the cup which he finds turned over near a log. As Tarek approaches, he can hear the sounds of tiny but fairly large gulps coning from the overturned vessel. Tarek bends down and gently lifts the cup up an inch, when another breeze brushes past Traek's hand, sending the cup spinning in the hair. The wind buzzes about Traek like a blur. Suddenly, the blur stops and reveals itself to be a small humanoid looking like creature. The small creature is no bigger than a robin and sports insect like wings. The small fey hiccups, burps loudly, and looks directly at Tarek.
Ah hah! The manling finally gets those gruff gruffs to share their yummies! The feyling buzzes about Tarek's head. You not so bad for a giant. Got any more???
Tarek banters with the fey for a few minutes and is eventually able to convince the little fellow to keep a wary eye our for Nithra and warn the rangers if he is able.
Due in no small part to the party's aid, the Travelers are able to mount the caravan to deliver the Archons to their destination. On the way to Uringen, Jamel thanks the agents profusely for their aid. He informs them that the party has proven themselves worthy and the Travelers are therefore prepared to impart them with a great honor. He goes on to say that each party member will be given an Embeth hound to honor their contribution to the Traveler's cause. Jamel further informs the party that he will hold the canines with him and let them return with the Pathfinders when the return to Uringen. The caravan moves on.
Raising his voice over the jingle of yokes and the rattle of wagon
wheels, Visser booms out, Halt! Dismounting from his horse, he gestures down the road. About half a mile down that road, you’ll be in Uringen. Desna smile upon you in that place.
Before the Archons and Travelers part company, Jamel approaches the group and pulls out an oilskin folio from his pack, handing it to one the Pathfinders. Since you’ve been right useful this trip, I was hoping you could carry these reports to Mayors Mieren and Ogden, since you’ll be in town anyway. I’ll put in a good word for you as well; maybe you’ll get something from them for it.
The agents walk the remaining half mile to Uringen, arriving at the city safely.
The town of Uringen is a flurry of activity. Puffs of multicolored smoke rise from tall stone chimneys that emerge from steeply pitched rooftops, and people dressed sharply in black and white shuffle about the town, preparing for the convergence. The divide between the two halves of the town is stark. A wide street, 20 feet across at its widest, separates the static and unstuck portions of the town. Boarded windows and prominent “closed” signs decorate the static half of the town, whose residents speak in hushed and tense tones. In the unstuck half of the town, excitement and curiosity outweigh fear, and groups of people gather in the streets. Above it all, a four-sided tower looks out upon the town, with an enormous clock face decorating each side at its pinnacle.
In the middle of the street between the two halves, a pair of well-dressed figures appears to be locked in a debate, their words clipped and harsh. Their heated conversation is in a harsh guttural language, with a smattering of words and phrases in Common. The man rests his hand on the hilt of a rapier at hisside, while the woman hooks her thumbs in the wide sash wrapped around her body. A tiny blue-skinned humanoid with iridescent blue butterfly wings flits behind the woman’s head, a miniscule pair of pince-nez glasses perched upon his pert nose.
The Archons, perhaps a bit tired from their journey can only sit and stare at the odd site before them. After a few moments, Kat regains her senses and recalls some of her knowledge of Uringen. She is certain that the man is Knavar Mieren and the woman is Aurelia Ogden, the two mayors of Uringen. The two seem to be caught up in a heated argument and are initially unaware of the group's presence.
Eloriand squints to get a good look at the little blue man. After a moment, he nudges Caoilte, explaining that the little man is indeed a pixie.
As if on cue, the little blue pixie, noticeably annoyed at the two humans' bickering, turns and spies the agents. He flits over to Mayor Ogden, letting loose a high pitched cough getting the Mayor's attention. Ogden looks over and gives the group a wide grin.
Ah! You must be the..er..guests I was expecting. She glances a bit nervously over to Mieren before walking over toward the party. Mieren's face gets redder than it was as he steps in Ogden's path. Don't you mean Pathfinders, Aurelia! I cannot believe you brought them into this. He gives Aurelia a pointed snort, crosses his arms and turns his back to the group.
Aurelia offers the agents an apologetic smile. A woman approaching her middle years, Aurelia Ogden retains some of her youthful good looks, the barest grace of silver among sun-bleached brown hair at her temples and crow’s feet around her brown eyes are the only real sign of her age. She addresses the Archons.
Excellent to see that my message was received and heard by the Society! I’m Mayor Aurelia Ogden, and this is my compatriot, Mayor Knavar Mieren. I trust your journey through the Embeth wasn’t too hazardous?
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Greetings to you Mayors of Uringen, I am Tarek Delrin. Tarek smiles and gives a respectful bow Our journey through the forest had a little fey trouble at the beginning but was uneventful for the remainder of our journey. The fey do enjoy their wine. Tarek then gives a quick look to the pixie and a wink I am not accustom to dealing with two mayors as leaders of a city. Is this due to the strange workings of the clock or is this something that just works best for your society? I mean not to pry but I find these things curious. We were sent word from Mayor Ogden and are here upon her request but we also wish to show no disrespect to you, Mayor Mieren, during our visit while we investigate the alignment of the clock. We do hope we have your permission and blessing to be here to offer our aid? Tarek pauses for a moment I almost forgot. We have some information from Jamel Visser to share with you. Removing the well oiled skin containing the information, Tarek holds it out in the direction of the mayors, not quite sure which should accept it
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Watching the debate with a sense of humor, I reflect at how odd it is to have two mayors for one town, wondering how command and control is ever syncronized, and who makes the tough decisions, that could ultimately decide the fate of everyone; fortunately, the legions of Cheliax solved that prblemd centuries ago.
Mayors Ogden and Mieren, I nod to each politely I am Havelock, and the rest of my comras are, Caoilte, who is poretty good with a Ax and even better with distilled dwarven spirits, Kat, who despite what she tells you, really has a heart of gold and is as nimble as her name, Isador whom is a consumate merchant, Eloriand a master survivalist and woodsmen, and of course Tarek whom you have already met and is a master diplomat. It is a pleasure to meet you both, and I do hope that we can be of assistance to any potential problems you may be having.