And the Quest Begins....

[greyarea]

Trotter smiles at Drez, I've been telling you, you've got to try Owlbear. The meat is so different -- a combination of red and white. Very good. I've heard pegasi is similar but I've never tried it.

Anyway, I'm sure the shrine will have an ample pantry.

[Nuke66]

Morgi comments off hand. "Maybe later I think."

After listening to the old man, Morgi is quick to agree. "Yeah, let's get him out of here." He then walks down the stairs and follows the fat cleric a bit, just enough to casually retrieve the crumpled ball of paper before helping the rest of the group escort the poor plucked birdman from the grips of these foolish villagers.

[Dram]

Xano Good day to you Asdos. Donation you say aint we here to help you? That isn't donation enough. I do like a good roasted Stag.

[Storm11]

Halo will assist the others releasing the bird man.

Before theyeave he will bind the unconscious warriors wounds and lay him comfortably somewhere sheltered. Perhaps under the stage.

so what are these aracoorama? Bird people who live in these parts? Surely the villagers here know of them as bird people and not demons no? I have a good mind to follow that nasty bully boy and pluck HIS feathers! he says indignantly.

thank you Asdos, I could massacre some banana and chocolate pudding!

[GreyWolfVT]

Drez "Eh what was that fish sticks and custard? Such an odd food choice. Best get the birdman outta here I agree to that all this talk of food has me stomach growlin though."

[Hotgoblin]

Wyntar

He sees Morgi retrieve the crumpled parchment and asks about it.
Morgi, what do your eyes decipher from the writing?
He looks to Asdos and the birdman. We must get this wonderful creature inside and find out why he was taken by the village, but first he needs to get his strength back. Asdos, thank you again for the accommodations.

[Nuke66]

"Patience Wyntar, now is now the time. We will take a look once we have gotten out of this town." Morgi replies. He moves to follow the group, watching for any potential issues that may arise.

[GreyWolfVT]

Drez stomach grumbling a bit, holds a hand to his gut "Alright lets just move on then shall we?"

[OGRE MAGE]

The goodly little Paladin feels the need for compassion and pulls the unconscious fighter under the cover of the platform. He has no wounds to bind, but he is developing a nasty palm shaped black bruise across his neck and throat.

Morgi retrieves the parchment discarded by Bernhardt and then helps with the bird man.

After giving half the party very strange looks over their food preferences, Asdos again speaks. I will answer all of your questions on the way to my shrine. He gives Xano a dirty look after she questions his donation, but says nothing else about it.

He motions you towards his wagon and tells you to lay the creature gently in the back. The group is not hindered at all as they make their way out of the village, although they do receive some menacing stares from a few of the townsfolk. The journey passes uneventfully and on the way Asdos tells you what he knows.

Please don't judge the poor villagers or the clergy of the temple. I think that Bernhardt truly believed that this poor creature actually IS a demon. Although I know that not to be true. He is an Aarakocra. (air-a-coke-ra) One of a race of bird men that live and roost in the extreme elevations of the Cloudscapes. They are afraid of conflict and almost never deal with the humans, therefore they are not well known to them.

I don't know how he came to be captured but I'm hoping he can tell us more of his story in the morning, after he is better rested. I know one things for sure, he won't be flying anytime soon. It will take this poor thing a few months to grow his plumage back and until that happens, he will be somewhat vulnerable. The Aarakocra don't do well on the ground you see, but they are a sight to behold in flight. A truly beautiful creature that wouldn't hurt a flea.


You don't pass another traveler on the road the entire day. It is dark by the time you get there and you are all ready for a good meal and a long sleep. The place is a small stone structure with minimal furnishings, but is more comfortable than sleeping outside. You help Asdos bring in the Aarakocra and lay him in a comfortable place before he tends to dinner. The meal is bland and nothing like what you asked for, but it is filling and nourishing despite the lack of flavor.

After your meal, Morgi pulls out the crumpled parchment and shows it to Asdos and the rest of the party.

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Written across the bottom in bold black letters reads the following words:

THE WINGED ONES SHALL RETURN WHEN THE SKY DARKENS AND THE SUN IS BLOTTED OUT.

[GreyWolfVT]

Drez is thankful for the food regardless of the lack of spices and seasoning. "Thanks for the meal, glad to be eating anything at this point. What do you make of the parchment it gives me a chill down me spine. Evil to be sure, but has nothing to do with these birdmen for sure."

[greyarea]

Trotter

I know little of omens or their likelihood of coming true. I do know that we were sent north for a reason. If this prophecy and that reason converge, I will have to ask our Duke who's reading entrails for him and find out how things will go in the West. For now, let us prepare for the worst.

[Storm11]

On the way out of the village Halo will meet every villagers stare and shout shame on you!! to each one of them.

He will keep his eyes open on the journey to the priests shrine and thank him kindly for his hospitality.

He will try and peek at the drawing of the strange flying monkey, and wonder what it's all about.

He will also check on the monks condition after the battle.

Never one to refuse food the chevalier gobbles up what is offered and makes a donation to the priest.

[Scott308]

The monk will donate 1 pp to the temple. Thank you for your hospitality, Asdos. I'm sure this will be helpful to your temple as you nurse this poor soul back to health. Do you recognize the creature pictured on this flyer? I would think Brother Bernhardt was afraid that the gentle Aarakocra was the winged creature mentioned on the flyer and was only doing what he thought best for his village. I bear no ill will towards either him or his champion.

[Dram]

Xano- Thank You Asdos for the fine food and hospitallity. But what can you tell us of flying beast in this picture. These beast are whats has been attacking the caravans.

[Hotgoblin]

Wyntar

Looking at the parchment...What an unsightly winged-creature, it does not look like it could be reasoned with....very deadly, yes very deadly indeed.
To Asdos, Thank you for the sustenance, here's a donation to the wayside shrine. Have you seen or heard of this malevolent creature before?

[Nuke66]

Morgi also chimes in. "I too agree that this creature is not one of the Aarakocra. We will have to see what becomes of this prophesy." The Druid digs into supper, no complaints, but he is a much better cook.

"Thanks you for all of your hospitality Asdos. perhaps with this group here assembled we can right the balance."

[MonkeyWrench]

Thomas walks over to the donation box, bowing his head slightly in a wordless prayer, he then deposits everything but 5 gold to the church. He turns to the Priest, "Thank you for your hospitality, use these donations to keep the temple running and the starving fed." He then looks at the parchment, "It does not matter the foe, all evil will be purged within Joramy's flames." His tone indicates that he does not say it as an idle comment but more of a hard truth that all will accept.

donating 185 gold to the temple.

[OGRE MAGE]

No comments on the authenticity of the crumpled look of the parchment?

Asdos

The old man seems astonished at the generous donations. He gets a twinkle in his eye as though he has just remembered something. He goes to the alter and releases a secret compartment right in front of you. He pulls out a small lockbox and returns to sit with the group....addressing Morgi.

I do indeed agree brother of nature. This creature is definitely not an Aarakocra, but I have no idea what it actually is. This looks as though it was a page torn from a book of some kind but, certainly none that I have ever read.

I know that there is something evil going on in these parts but, alas, I am to old and frail to do anything about it. The sky is dark in many places and it isn't because of any bad weather. I hope that your hardy group will stay and see if you can learn what the menace is that stalks these peaks.

In the morning the bird man is awake and speaks to the party in a high pitched, chirpy voice and in the common tongue.

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Thank you friends, for saving me.

My name is Chewy, my people live in the Cloudscape mountains, soaring on the high winds. All was well with us until the giant came in his castle, turning the clouds black and spitting lightning on our nests. His power is great and we cannot stand alone before the might of his cloud castle.

We normally have no dealings with people, but we must ask you for aid. If we do not, I fear we will all be destroyed. Three of our nests have already been laid to waste and our chicks grow hungry as we speak.

Will you come with me to Tikka-ti-jarra, it is a nesting place and temple for our race high up in the mountains. Our shaman saw you in a vision and sent me to find you. Surely you are the ones of whom he spoke, the ones chosen by the sky gods to save us.

He goes on to mention that the first attacks were about three weeks ago, shortly after the sky begin to darken. The cloud giant in his castle usually attacks at night, and so far, three nests have been destroyed. It is only a matter of time before Tikka-ti-jarra is attacked.

You will have to continue traveling up the road until you get past Fanjyr, a manned way station about half way through the pass. After that, you go off road and take to the mountain trails. It is about a 3 day journey.

[MonkeyWrench]

Thomas rubs his chin in contemplation, "A sky giant? If it is one then I would ask why, Sky giants are the more peaceful ones of their kind. It matters not, this so called giant and his cloud fortress will burn under Joramys flames, all evil will be purged." He then addresses the Aarakocra, "Chewy is it? We accept, take us to this giant and we will purge it's unholy filth from the skies."

[GreyWolfVT]

Drez rubbing what most assume is his chin hard to tell with the beard and all. "Hmm giants aint had much ta deal with them folk afore. Spose there is climbing involved too eh? I shoulda brought me ring of feather falling. Bah too little too late as the holy man here says I'm in. As for thanks it was the monk who gets the credit. I was a mere bystander." he stops to point to the monk.