Guarding the moon
Contents
1. The quest hook[edit]
When the adventurers come close to the stall of Rudi Daan, they see him arguing with. A listen 14 DC check let's them make out only what Licu says. A successful listen 17 DC check let's them hear the whole conversation:
Licu: (slightly angry) "but Rudi, you are in Mal'rock, you don't need me, my tribe does"
Rudi: "What if you get hurt? How will I find my way out of Shaema? You know well not Marco, not Poule, not me, know not our way around Shaema. I can't risk it."
Licu: "You know I will not get hurt, this is my home. My friend needs me, he needs my support and my spear. His father died not a moon ago and..."
Rudi: "I know about your friend, and his father. The greatest hunter of your tribe and still Shaema took him. I can not risk it. Don't make me remind you of our contract.... and the gift I brought for your intended."
2. Talking to Licu di Glasdir[edit]
A successful diplomacy 9 DC check is enough to get Licu talking. His tribe, the Esuli, is semi nomadic. It stays in between the Shanta and Musha where their mud fields prosper, but as Musha slowly spreads, they are forced to move every hundred years or so.
"Before we move though, preparations are needed. My tribe is small and I fear they will need me."
Licu is in Rudi's employ under a verbal contract and is honor bound to stay with Rudi until the Human leaves Shaema.
If Licu thinks he could trust them:
"I believe I can trust you. Plese, be at my village before the moon ripens."
Licu plucks a hair from his head, quickly and smoothly ties it in a knot and wraps it in a piece of cloth. He hands it to you.
"Give this to Aeson di Aesar, my tribe's tyee, so they know I sent you."
3. Directions to the Esuli tribe[edit]
1. part
s = CS(combat speed) X 1(konstanta)km/h
l = 12km
t[hours]=l/s x 3/4(swamp with trail)
"Follow the Si'garos deeper in to the Shaema. There is a trail of some sorts. You will find a Bargeman's hut. Be sure to bring along something to give him. He will take you across the river and show you were to find the Esuli. There are other ways across but they are dangerous for those not of Shaema."
2. part
l = 8km
t[hours]=l/CS x 1.5(swamp) x 1.25 (if night)
"There is no trail on the other side of the Si'garos, go straight south and you should come across some mud field. When you get to the mud field area, the one in front will lift his arm high. Continue on your way like this until someone comes. Unwrap the cloth i gave you and show it to that person. He will lead you to my village."
Skill Challenge
DC 8 Nature (Max 3)/DC 11 Insight (Max 3):4 successes before 3 failures.
Success with no failiure: They find the mud fields, 100 xp reward. Sentry must make a spot/listen (+4) check against the PC's passive hide/sneak.
Success: They come close enough to the village where a sentry spots them them. 75xp reward.
Failiure: They do the challenge again but all DCs are + 2
4. The greeting[edit]
A voice shouts at yoz from near by
"A'te"
????????Knoledge check?????????? In this context "Be still as water"
???????????check if the players see them???????? Succees: the players see all three of the elves:
Failiure: they see only the one that spoke.
Description of the elves: The elves are dressed in crocodile leather over rough cloth. The spiky armor gives the elves a menacing look. They have bows drawn at you. Somehow they conveyed without words the message that if you give any sign of aggression, they will release their arrows.
"Why are you here?"
When the elves are assured the adventurers speak the truth one of them guides them to one of the biggest trees
"Climb."
Says the elf, gesturing toward the tree beside him.
????????????DC 20 Perception: if they look up they find the foliage looks funny, unreal. ??????????
You feel as if your climb is assisted. You seem lighter and wherever your hands and feet land, a knot seems to be there. Only when your eyes levels with the platforms edge do you really recognize it. The platform bottom is covered with a chameleon like lichen that looks exactly like foliage.
The sentry guides you in front of one of the bark and vine huts built around a tree. Most of the others are smaller and hanging. A female elf comes out of the hut, looks at you then turns to the sentry.
"Who are they?"
"Licu sent them."
A light smile flickers on her face.
"Bring them to the hall and then tell Aeson he's to play host."
5. Tribe hall[edit]
You are guided inside the largest building you've seen in this tree village. It's base is made up of 3 thick branches protruding from two different trees. They align so perfectly one would believe they were grown for the job. The building's floor and walls are bark-like but very smooth. 30 woven stools fill the hall in neat rows. In front of the long room a stump with a 1 meter radius protrudes from the floor. It's sides are carved in elven symbols but for a clear 10 cm thick line stretching from top to bottom of the stump.
A DC 15 Insight/knowledge check reveals that the carving are some kind of calendar and history book. The DC is lowered to 10 if the adventurer knows Elven.
Before you even have a chance to settle on the stools 5 elves enter. The one in front walks to the stump and stands on it as if on a dais.
"So, Licu thinks I am in need of help? What has he told you?"
The Elf is Aeson_di_Aesar. He fills the adventurers up with any information they are missing:
"It is time for the Esuli to tread away. We are used to it, abandoning a village and finding another, but still it's a pity. Very fertile mud fields lie close. Mud fields we are to harvest before the track. The truncata_clam here is especially potent, but hard to find under an arm of water, mud and pebble. But the spirits are always kind to the Esuli,"
The other Elves all nod
"and have made a flower grow from the clam. The Moon bloom breaks the surface of the water only a few nights per year, around the first full moon of spring. But other creatures learned to use the sign to find the truncata. The spirits are always kind to the Esuli."
The other Elves nod again
"We hunt and eat those that come to reap our fields. It is never a struggle for the Esuli to protect what is theirs. But Licu was not wrong in sending you. My father, Aesar di Agis a great tyee, died this winter. Now Licu is our best hunter, but he has other obligations. Thus and so, we do not mind you helping. We have not much dealings with coin, but be assured you will be fairly rewarded. Better than fair if your skills prove worthy."
Aeson indicates the two elves standing behind him
"Calanon and Dûrion here will bring you food, drink and whatever else, as guests, you require. But honor their time. All Esuli Hands are valuable when the tribe is so close to moving. And rest. You will be sent for in time."
Calanon and Dûrion follow their leader out and soon come back with a legless table made of smooth bark. They place the table on the ground and arrange the stools around it. A large shell filled with stew is at the center of the table. A smaller shell to serve as a bowl is set in front each of you. Bread of Water grain, smoked fish and a sauce of finely mashed spicy roots surround the stew pot. The two Elves leave without a word.
-Your help will be rewarded. X and Y here will bring you food and be of service to you, just don't take too much of their time, they have other duties.
To the battle field[edit]
Sina si Elenwë enters tha hall.
The sun is still up when a female elf comes inside the hall. She's geared up for the road, a bow across her back.
"I am Sina. I'll lead you to your party's field. It's not the closest one so we better start treading. Is anyone in need of a bow?"
Sina leads you to the same ladder you cam up with. She climbs down last and immediately sets a quick pace North-East. She moves fast on the soft, rotting ground but slows down when she sees how hard some of you follow her.
After 45 minutes you find the mud field.
"You X should be able to deal with some crabs. Do not expect quick assistance if things don't go smooth. You are on your own until an Esuli comes for you. The Garos should be comming from there, you will probably have to get wet."
She points west, to the side of the mud field open to a deeper body of water.
"I can not tell exactly when they will start coming so be ready."
6. The battle[edit]
Map: Mudfield
