Secrets of the Claelands

General Summary

In continued effort to locate his friend, Necthan decided to take up the quest of venturing into the known dangers of the Claelands in search of the rumored ancient civilization that used to reside there. Brivark Fogdreamer, founder and president of the Pandoran Society of Archeology, was paying handsomely for anyone who could confirm that the ancient etchings he had found were proof of the Claelands being habitable.
Prim, Meako, and Vettius met Necthan at his shop-wagon in Silver City to join him in his efforts. Knowing the Claelands to be a difficult land, they strategized on what supplies they would stock up on. Prim conjured a goodberry bush for them to harvest. Meako was pleased with this but so were Necthan's aurochs, Moose and Mootina. So much so, that they began to fight Meako for the berries. Being the mighty king that he is, Meako asserted his dominance by bull rushing the aurochs back from the berry bush. He then further emphasized his authority by using Moose as his personal escort to Fioritura.
Once arrived in Fioritura, the party found a place to sit (as close to the fireplace as Necthan could move the table), and waited to run into Brivark. Arriving late in the day from his dig site, Meako and Prim confronted Brivark on his recent publications and the rumors he's been creating accusing the Arbour Empire of a double genocide. Brivark asserted that though the details of his Verdant Expanse dig had uncovered some rather suspicious details, he would never publish a formal accusation without proof (despite alluding to just that in his board posts). Changing the subject, Brivark showed the party an etching he was in possession of depicting symbols and artistry indicative of a humanoid society. This etching came from a rock piece located in the Claelands. He needed the party to go back to the location this etching was from and track down any further evidence of habitation.
After a night in the tavern, and a last minute shopping trip for additional supplies, the party headed out through the portals to Trader's Cusp before cutting across the Sandswept Desert to the Claelands.
As all who have ventured into the Claelands do, the party was greeted by Clae the Conquerer, for whom the Claelands are named. He was pleased to see that his subjects had returned to bring him offerings. Prim, knowing how to schmooze the most hostile of creatures, offered Clae bubblegum. Clae had never heard of such a thing but was happy to receive the gift. Swallowing the piece of gum whole he expressed his disappointment at such a simple gift. Prim instructed him on proper gum chewing technique and offered him another piece. This time, Clae was successful in chewing the bubblegum and continued to do so while talking to the party. He recognized the etching they had and offered to guide them to where the people responsible for the symbols lived.
The courtyard that Clae took them too was almost hidden in the curve of the cliffside. There was obviouse evidence of life but everything was the color of the surrounding rock that you might miss it if you weren't paying attention. A cave door was carved into the cliffs and a few tables and chairs were spewn about. A small garden of sorts could be seen. Someone was actively living here in the Claelands (and managed to cultivate the ground!).
Approaching the courtyard, Prim was intentional in conversation so that they were not sneaking up on anyone. But the closer they got, nothing changed. The party looked around for a bit without noticing anything of interest until Meako noticed a pair of eyes peering out at them from inside the cave. When the person behind the eyes realized they had been seen a gust of dust billowed up around the cave door. Thinking the dust cloud would obscure sight of the adventuring party, the individual inside stepped a little outside the cave door, obviously interested in the newcomers. Meako's magic eyes allowed them to see through the dust and he called out a simple, "hello" to them in goblin. The creature hesitated but responded with a word Meako didn't recognize but knew to mean "hello" in return. He pointed the individual out to Prim who also attempted to communicate. Not finding a language they both knew, or could speak via magic, Prim attempted common sign language, which was enough to create a foundation for understanding. Through a comprehend languages spell and common sign language, the party attempted to get to know the stranger. They learned that there was a group of people who lived here in the Claelands and that they worshiped a god known as Kikanuti. The symbols of a feather and talons displayed everywhere seemed to be this god's markings.
At first, the stranger was very hesitent but with patience and kindness, Prim convinced them that they were not a threat. Prim communicated that they would be on their way in the morning and requested that they be able to sleep in the courtyard overnight. The stranger agreed and food and water was brought out to the party but no other attempts at friendship was made.
As the rest of the day continued, the party noticed that they were being watched closely from around the outcroppings of rocks and cliffs. Vettius made sure to wave at each pair of eyes he caught staring at him. All was well until evening when the party was attacked by a giant scorpion. Necthan was hit and took heavy damage, which is when the stranger they had been speaking with appeared and intervened. She was struck by the scorpion's stinger but with a touch from her hand, the scorpion schriveled into dust, leaving its exoskeleton behind. She then proceeded to heal herself and Necthan. Grateful for her intervention but also confused at how her ability to cast magic in the evening in the Claelands, Prim attempted to ask for a reason. The woman called her self "Grand Mother," said she was a "child of Kikanuti," and expected this to explain everything. Prim recognized that there must be something supernatural about her abilities and left it at that. The party returned to sleep and were undisturbed for the rest of the night.
The next morning, more food and water was brought for the party, and Grand Mother offered more healing to Necthan. She presented Prim with a necklace made of stone carved beads and instructed her that should they travel through the Claelands again, they would have friends in her and her people. In turn, Prim left behind some fae trickets: fae bread, seeds of beans and sunflowers, and homemade jewelry. She also took home some artifacts as well (she left behind exact replicas assuming no one would notice).
Back in Fioritura, the party informed Brivark that they encountered a thriving community of people living in the Claelands. They lied to Brivark, pointing out a neighboring hex on the map that Brivark originally provided. They were careful to tell Brivark that the people they found wanted to be left alone. Confident that they had thrown Brivark off the trail, the party took their pay and went their separate ways. Vettius returned shortly to set Brivark straight, ensuring that Brivark was aware of the correct location of the Claeland natives, as that was, in fact, what Vettius was paid to do.
Empire Details
Once split up, the empire rulers set to some tasks of state. Prim recruited more troops to the armies of Draconia(5 resources, level 1 fighters - mix of races). She also invested more time in her community, resulting in an increase of settlers (increase population by 600, 2 resources)
Meako received a formal response from his letter to Eater of Wind: It was agreed that Arbour would put the majority of their armies into reserve, excepting Eater of Wind's squad. They will remain in patrol to ensure continuing peace.

Rewards Granted

Loot:
50 gp
[25,000 gp] ring of x-ray vision [no external clues]
[700 gp] divine scroll of aspect of the stag (CL 7)
[4,500 gp] wand of fog cloud (CL 3)
[300 gp] potion/oil of gentle repose (CL 3)
[50 gp] potion/oil of enlarge person (CL 1)
[1,125 gp] arcane scroll of major creation (CL 9)
[50 gp] potion/oil of sanctuary (CL 1)
[375 gp] divine scroll of dominate animal (CL 5)
[150 gp] divine scroll of flame blade (CL 3)
[300 gp] potion/oil of resist energy, cold (CL 3)

Experience:
Meako(ECL 14): 1750 XP = 350 (Archeologists are Idiots) + 350 (Wyrmling Discovers Bubblegum) + 700 (Grand Mother Chikuk) 350 (Giant Emperor Scorpion)
Prim(ECL 13): 2439 XP = 488 + 488 + 975 + 488
Necthan(ECL 12): 3150 XP = 600 + 600 + 1350 + 600
Vettius(ECL 11): 4125 XP = 825 + 825 + 1650 + 825

Discoveries
New Playable Race: Bhuka (native to Pandora)
New Regional Feat (Claelands): Resist Poison

Report Date

21 Dec 2024

Primary Location

Chaotic Claelands

Related Characters

• Meako
• Necthan
• Prim
• Vettius

Dungeon Master

Evette(ECL 8): 3600xp/2125gp/5dt