Master of Jade, Mistress of Iron - a World of Conclave adventure

[Dr Simon]

Using Mal's rope, the group descends to street level, Shem following close to his protector as usual.

It has been a long night of attacks, strange spirits and criminals, and dwan is beginning to show on the far side of the Plaza by the time the dwindling group arrives. The red light touches on the towers of the Temple of Divine Diversity, the domes of the Viceroy's palace and the ornately carved Merchants League headquarters. The night-time traders of dubious wares are packing up to go home and the daytime traders are starting to set out their wares.

The key found on Vaal Zeshon should open a safety deposit box in the League Headquarters, which will hopefully contain more white jade.

[Note: It's supposed to be yellow jade, but Glasseye referred to it as white jade which I think is actually a more evocative name, so white jade it shall be from hereon ]

 

[GlassEye]

Blue is tired. He yawns widely covering his mouth with his hand to prevent the ingress of evil spirits then looks blearily around.

"The Merchant's League headquarters." He points towards the building now agleam with reddish light. "We're nearly there so let's get this done. Then I plan on sleeping the day and night away."

[sblock=OOC]Glad my mistake could be of use. [/sblock][sblock=MiniStats][size=+1]Blue Eye Bellows[/size]
Initiative: +1
AC: 14 (touch 11, flat-footed 13)
HP: 24 Current: 15
CMB: +3 CMD: 14 Fort: +2 Ref: +2 Will: +4
Speed: 30 ft.

Current weapon in hand: spear
Conditions in effect: none

Spirit's Advice: 5/5 remaining
Artificer's Touch: 5/5 remaining

Shaman Spells
1st level: 1/2 per day (DC 13)
animate rope, detect spirits, enlarge person, hunter's howl
0th level: unlimited (DC 12)
create water, guidance, light, spark
[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

"Aye, I'm bushed as well. It's been a day of work; I need a night of rest." A thoughtful look crossed the stony face. I thank you all for indulging my need to follow my Fates. Though it's inconvenient at times, it's of import to me. And as I said, I've ignored them before and suffered for it."
_______________

[sblock=Stat Block]Malachite the Unfettered
Male DaQan Fighter (Archer) 1
CN Medium Outsider (Native)
Init +3; Senses Darkvision; Perception +0
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-Footed 15 (+4 Armor, +3 Dex, +1 Natural)
HP 23 (1d10+1)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee
. . Greataxe +4 (1d12+4/x3) and
. . Dagger +4 (1d4+3/19-20/x2) and
. . Dagger +4 (1d4+3/19-20/x2) and
. . Cestus +4 (1d4+3/19-20/x2)
Ranged
. . Darkwood Thell Longbow (Str +3) +5 (1d10+3/19-20/x2)
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 16, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 17 (18 vs. Bull Rush, 18 vs. Drag)
Feats Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Traits Armor Expert, Rich Parents
Skills Climb +7, Survival +4, Swim +7
Languages Edraldi, Low Imperial, Thell
SQ Stone in the Blood, Treacherous Earth (1 minutes) (1/day)
Combat Gear Darkwood Thell Longbow (Str +3), Greataxe, Dagger, Dagger, Cestus, Arrows (40), Blunt arrows (20), Masterwork Chain shirt; Other Gear Backpack, masterwork (10 @ 23 lbs), Bedroll, Belt pouch (2 @ 1 lbs), Flint and steel, Grappling hook, Hammock, Silk rope, Torch (2), Trail rations (4), Whetstone, Wrist sheath, spring loaded (1 @ 1 lbs), Wrist sheath, spring loaded (1 @ 1 lbs)
--------------------
TRACKED RESOURCES
--------------------
Dagger - 0/1
Dagger - 0/1
Arrows - 0/40
Blunt arrows - 0/20
Torch - 0/2
Trail rations - 0/4
Treacherous Earth (1 minutes) (1/day) - 0/1
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Armor Expert -1 Armor check penalty.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Point Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Precise Shot You don't get -4 to hit when shooting or throwing into combat.
Stone in the Blood Gain fast healing 2 for one round anytime you are subject to acid damage.
Treacherous Earth (1 minutes) (1/day) Transform a 10-ft. radius patch of earth into difficult terrain.
[/sblock]

 

[Voda Vosa]

Hang does not say anything, he simply walks inside the building and starts searching for the locker.

 

[GlassEye]

Blue looks curiously up at the DaQan archer since Blue felt that it was his own self that was imposing his needs upon the group.

Finally Blue shrugs. "Your Fates, my spirits. It seems, for a while at least, that we are being led to the same place." The shaman falls silent wondering just how long they might travel the same path and how Hang and Shem fit into the pattern. He shakes his head to free it of rambling thoughts and follows after the quiet warrior.

[sblock=MiniStats][size=+1]Blue Eye Bellows[/size]
Initiative: +1
AC: 14 (touch 11, flat-footed 13)
HP: 24 Current: 15
CMB: +3 CMD: 14 Fort: +2 Ref: +2 Will: +4
Speed: 30 ft.

Current weapon in hand: spear
Conditions in effect: none

Spirit's Advice: 5/5 remaining
Artificer's Touch: 5/5 remaining

Shaman Spells
1st level: 1/2 per day (DC 13)
animate rope, detect spirits, enlarge person, hunter's howl
0th level: unlimited (DC 12)
create water, guidance, light, spark
[/sblock]

 

[Dr Simon]

There is nothing obvious inside the League building that points towards lockers, but eventually the group is intercepted by a League clerk who, after taking a look at the identifier, disappears into the bowels of the building for a while before returning with a small strongbox, which he places on an ornate hardwood table in front of Hang.

"Your deposit box, sir," he says and retires to a discrete distance.

Hang tries the key found with Vaal Zeshon. The box box opens. Inside: no jade, but instead a yellowing piece of parchment bearing what looks to be some kind of map.

 

[GlassEye]

Blue Eye Bellows, shaman

Blue looks on in eager anticipation as Hang takes the key and opens the lockbox. When the yellowed parchment is revealed Blue is obviously disappointed and sags in weariness. Wild Jade Wolf rages and though no one else can hear it, Blue flinches from the howling anger.

"Well," says Blue clearing his throat. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed but let's take a look, shall we?" Blue examines the map, if that is what it is, looking for symbols that refer to landmarks or writing in any sort of language. "Ah, what do you think?" He looks specifically to Mal and Hang but includes Shem in his question as well.

[sblock=MiniStats][size=+1]Blue Eye Bellows[/size]
Initiative: +1
AC: 14 (touch 11, flat-footed 13)
HP: 24 Current: 15
CMB: +3 CMD: 14 Fort: +2 Ref: +2 Will: +4
Speed: 30 ft.

Current weapon in hand: spear
Conditions in effect: none

Spirit's Advice: 5/5 remaining
Artificer's Touch: 5/5 remaining

Shaman Spells
1st level: 1/2 per day (DC 13)
animate rope, detect spirits, enlarge person, hunter's howl
0th level: unlimited (DC 12)
create water, guidance, light, spark
[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Mal takes the proffered sheet of paper and examines it closely, looking for anything resembling areas of Thell familiar to him.
_______________

[sblock=Stat Block]Malachite the Unfettered
Male DaQan Fighter (Archer) 1
CN Medium Outsider (Native)
Init +3; Senses Darkvision; Perception +0
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-Footed 15 (+4 Armor, +3 Dex, +1 Natural)
HP 23 (1d10+1)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee
. . Greataxe +4 (1d12+4/x3) and
. . Dagger +4 (1d4+3/19-20/x2) and
. . Dagger +4 (1d4+3/19-20/x2) and
. . Cestus +4 (1d4+3/19-20/x2)
Ranged
. . Darkwood Thell Longbow (Str +3) +5 (1d10+3/19-20/x2)
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 16, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 17 (18 vs. Bull Rush, 18 vs. Drag)
Feats Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Traits Armor Expert, Rich Parents
Skills Climb +7, Survival +4, Swim +7
Languages Edraldi, Low Imperial, Thell
SQ Stone in the Blood, Treacherous Earth (1 minutes) (1/day)
Combat Gear Darkwood Thell Longbow (Str +3), Greataxe, Dagger, Dagger, Cestus, Arrows (40), Blunt arrows (20), Masterwork Chain shirt; Other Gear Backpack, masterwork (10 @ 23 lbs), Bedroll, Belt pouch (2 @ 1 lbs), Flint and steel, Grappling hook, Hammock, Silk rope, Torch (2), Trail rations (4), Whetstone, Wrist sheath, spring loaded (1 @ 1 lbs), Wrist sheath, spring loaded (1 @ 1 lbs)
--------------------
TRACKED RESOURCES
--------------------
Dagger - 0/1
Dagger - 0/1
Arrows - 0/40
Blunt arrows - 0/20
Torch - 0/2
Trail rations - 0/4
Treacherous Earth (1 minutes) (1/day) - 0/1
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Armor Expert -1 Armor check penalty.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Point Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Precise Shot You don't get -4 to hit when shooting or throwing into combat.
Stone in the Blood Gain fast healing 2 for one round anytime you are subject to acid damage.
Treacherous Earth (1 minutes) (1/day) Transform a 10-ft. radius patch of earth into difficult terrain.
[/sblock]

 

[Dr Simon]

The maps are highly stylised, more diagrams, but perhaps no less useful for that. They don't depict Thell, but a series of islands. Clearly marked on the map is the "Tuuma Strait", then an "Island of the Smoking Crown". There is then depicted a journey up a river from a "Circular Bay" and a trek inland where the river is shown to fork at twin waterfalls, to a plateau marked with a "Cave of Three Eyes", where is marked "Here I hid the white jade, beneath the stone marked with a [and here is used the High Imperial symbol meaning Danger/Bad]"

[Sblock=OOC]
Knowledge (geography) checks might give you more information about this.

Also, Low Imperial is written using phonemes whereas High Imperial mostly uses pictograms with some markers for grammar. High Imperial pictograms are often included in Low Imperial text, particularly when referring to the name or title of somebody important.
[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

After but a moment of study, Mal hands the map back to Blue. "I'm afraid I'm not very good with areas outside my native country . . . I don't know any of the places on this map. Never-the-less, it does look to show the location of that which we seek."
_______________

[sblock=Stat Block]Malachite the Unfettered
Male DaQan Fighter (Archer) 1
CN Medium Outsider (Native)
Init +3; Senses Darkvision; Perception +0
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-Footed 15 (+4 Armor, +3 Dex, +1 Natural)
HP 23 (1d10+1)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee
. . Greataxe +4 (1d12+4/x3) and
. . Dagger +4 (1d4+3/19-20/x2) and
. . Dagger +4 (1d4+3/19-20/x2) and
. . Cestus +4 (1d4+3/19-20/x2)
Ranged
. . Darkwood Thell Longbow (Str +3) +5 (1d10+3/19-20/x2)
--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 16, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 17 (18 vs. Bull Rush, 18 vs. Drag)
Feats Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
Traits Armor Expert, Rich Parents
Skills Climb +7, Survival +4, Swim +7
Languages Edraldi, Low Imperial, Thell
SQ Stone in the Blood, Treacherous Earth (1 minutes) (1/day)
Combat Gear Darkwood Thell Longbow (Str +3), Greataxe, Dagger, Dagger, Cestus, Arrows (40), Blunt arrows (20), Masterwork Chain shirt; Other Gear Backpack, masterwork (10 @ 23 lbs), Bedroll, Belt pouch (2 @ 1 lbs), Flint and steel, Grappling hook, Hammock, Silk rope, Torch (2), Trail rations (4), Whetstone, Wrist sheath, spring loaded (1 @ 1 lbs), Wrist sheath, spring loaded (1 @ 1 lbs)
--------------------
TRACKED RESOURCES
--------------------
Dagger - 0/1
Dagger - 0/1
Arrows - 0/40
Blunt arrows - 0/20
Torch - 0/2
Trail rations - 0/4
Treacherous Earth (1 minutes) (1/day) - 0/1
--------------------
Special Abilities
--------------------
Armor Expert -1 Armor check penalty.
Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Point Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Precise Shot You don't get -4 to hit when shooting or throwing into combat.
Stone in the Blood Gain fast healing 2 for one round anytime you are subject to acid damage.
Treacherous Earth (1 minutes) (1/day) Transform a 10-ft. radius patch of earth into difficult terrain.
[/sblock]