This is the storyline for Kassius and Alohan

By noon the next day, Kassius has already gotten his precious cargo of dangerous animals loaded onto a barge and ready to head upstream towards the location of his new 'dangerous critter ranch'. He also packs the half dozen rhagodessa eggs into a case with as much gloop as he can get from their nest and prays they will survive the trip. As Kassius also takes a team of workers with him, if all of this works out his business is going to be off to a flying start.

Since Alohan has not had the opportunity to see beyond the city walls yet, the native decides to come with Kassius - and this means that the long suffering Remmi must also accompany them. The royal manservant does so with a feeling of foreboding. If life in Shadowshore was rough then surely living out in the jungle would be intolerable.

It takes a couple of days to push against the current and get to the jungle clearing which is about a day's ride from the city. There isn't much to see yet, but in Kassius' mind it is all clear... the animal pens, the stables, the reptarium, the ranchsted...

The next week is spent in the back breaking work of creating a makeshift camp, gathering building materials and then setting in the strong foundations needed to keep the buildings safe and dry in the damp jungle environment

OOC: Kassius, you get a free week's work from Alohan and Remmi. Unfortunately, you are not able to contribute to the labour at all yourself - see below.

It immediately becomes clear that something is up with Kassius. The hunter is hardly able to get out of bed at the start of the week, and by the third day Remmi has to take over the task of organising the work teams. By that point the hunter is looking dishevelled and exhausted - much more 'Strider' than 'Aragon'.

Kassius knows what is wrong, but isn't able to do anything to fix it. He struggles to find peace in bed despite being so tired, and when he does manage to eventually find slumber his dreams are haunted by terrible nightmares that he can only remember snippets of when he awakens - terrible demonic fish with many eyes, being trapped in a huge standing wave of water where he can't breath... but can never manage to drown either. If only Celene was here to cast a sleep spell on him!

Kibeti's reponse to all this is unusual. He watches Kassius from his normal spot at the foot of the bed with a mixture of concern and... suspicion? When Kassius wakes on the seventh day from a particularly vivid night terror of falling through a hole into a underground city of fungus, he finds the great cat is gone.

The hunter drags himself out to the campfire where Alohan is cheerfully making a morning brew and Remmi is trying to shake out insects from his sleeping cloak. Kassius sees a strange pile of things just outside the camp circle, with his animal companion standing over them. Mildly poisonous toads, a collection of fungus with hallucinogenic properties, centipedes... as a proper child of the jungle he knows what they can be used for... making Ayahuasca, the mildly nacotig and hallucinogenic drink which has been used since ancient Olman times. In fact, he had cooked up some small brews a few times as a teenager. But all these ingredients at once? It would be the mother of all Ayahuasca batches.

Kibeti growls and nods towards the pot over the campfire where Alohan's tea is just beginning to simmer. It is clear what he is suggesting.

OOC: Time for your totem guide to guide you...
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:30, Mon 25 Jan 2016.

Kassius moans in a combination of exhaustion and pain. His head aches, his eyes are bleary, and his muscles sore. Really, he should have taken a break a day ago, but this project has consumed him, and he's determined not to let the ranch fail. He'd worked hard to get the respect and current semi-equal footing he has with his grandfather, and he's not going to let it all go to waste due to some bad dreams.

However, the latest dream, coupled with Kibeti's odd behavior, makes it clear that this is more than just stress. Something is wrong, and apparently he needs to make a batch of Ayahuasca.

Before he does that, he turns to his friend and companion. "Alohan, my good friend, I may be out of it for a while. Please make sure nothing goes wrong with the ranch."

Then, taking the ingredients, Kassius begins the process or brewing the most potent batch of Ayahuasca he had ever heard of. Ten minutes later, the finished mug steams ominously. Kassius looks over at Kibeti, as if confirming that he's really supposed to do this. "Well, here goes nothing. Well, nothing besides whatever tenuous grip on sanity I still have."
Kassius says, and then, drains the entire cup down his throat.

The Nuari islands were -by no means- a bastion of civilization but Alohan found himself intimidated by the rainforest around Sasserine. His home boasted newer growth, an emerald gem of tropical flora still within the first decades of their life. What Alohan found himself working in was ancient, thick -even intimidating. He only suspected the creatures were somehow older, wiser, and a hell of alot more deadly. Again, the Nuari islands had their share of deadly monsters but he felt horribly outclassed. Even with his fancy new belt -one Remmi had successfully found and purchased for him- Alohan found himself warily glancing at the tree line.

...but he got used to it. In fact, when Kassius was left incapacitated Alohan and Remmi (mostly Remmi) were looked upon to to help get the ranch started. The business of managing their makeshift workforce, prioritizing duties, and ensuring Kassius's curious cargo was kept alive forced Alohan to focus. He no longer had a care about the rainforest around him. It was good practice, after all -if he couldn't ensure Kassius's ranch had a strong foundation, how the hell could he lead a nation?

------------
[Language unknown: "M Esunng, olie les ticthuundred"] he scolded, stirring the tea dwelling over the fire. He glanced over at his friends futile efforts. [Language unknown: "cealhi prhe masi ac at was! Avele rut ng li ca hiswhieauous om st ionessoul onsoustra."] He chuckled at his own joke. [Language unknown: "Ionwitstitra ri saai nt ev bepe Leswhilin Tetopo? T ntioli adwest erio issepa era enansa ssmi manhasoul m nceerswitiou ble eranti setwhipre er! Ha mi weti lat verain'forintess vorsi a mitock."]

Upon the emergence of Kassius, Alohan stood up and smiled. "Ya majesty!" he hollered cheerfully. Alohan listen patiently to Kassius's request, nodding in compliance. As Kassius went about preparing his strange brew, Alohan sipped at his tea. He gave a sidelong look to Remmi and shrugged without a clue as to what was going on.

Remmi scowled. [Language unknown: "Er oulhershenot enno inetiohat io moreic int ut foronsoul ou any mi onedinand us ca whsti be not ioupe us eruril, ca!"]



[Language unknown: "Onare be aracerom liisndpr toss, oulthufor triv her but sa naomin omwa i andtheart, isad se din witic mipota u ncethahat ilfori lesstiome thiundica wa loatwa ntol enul hasastany oulithlinoer oman trpr siesnt p untres forconundortanyate M withisrat."]



Kassius didn't seem to be in the mood for chatting.



From Alohan's point of view, Kassius has made a strange brew out of a collection of stuff his cat had assembled in a pile... and then drunk it.

The young man's pupils dilate and then the half-orc falls back onto his ass with a thump, staring out into the jungle without focusing. Remmi runs forwards and catches him before he falls backwards and the hunter offers no resistance as the manservant gently lowers him to the ground.

[Language unknown: "Nt sti ri dayic int ri mo astris!"] Remmi exclaims, bending down to checks the man's breathing and then sniffing the empty mug in his hand. "Damn! Sire! It smells like an apothecary's toilet."

After a couple of minutes it is obvious that the hunter isn't getting up soon - he is totally phased out and dribbling at the mouth. Not sure what else to do, the two islanders move him into his tent so he can rest of his cot, then return to the campfire.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:07, Tue 26 Jan 2016.

Several hours later, Macutotnal, hero of his nation, hammer of the other-worlders who would invade the mighty Olman nation, and most importantly, champion Ollamaliztli player - awoke in his luxury apartment. He stretched lethargically to shake of the effects of last night's revery. What a night it had been! Just last week he had smashed the last of the evil invaders using his mighty bow, a gift from the gods themselves, and then yesterday he had won the Ollamaliztli cup. Truly he was the greatest man of the 1,000 year Olman empire - men wanted him in there team and the girls just wanted him in them.

He jumped to his feet and looked around for his clothed. There was no time to rest! He was due at the holy festival of the new moon in Thanaclan in a day's time and he didn't want to miss it. There would be games, women, food, music, ritual sacrifices of slaves atop the central ziggurat, yes, a great time would be had by all! [1].

His half-orc manservant was there at his side. "Sire, I have your garments ready," said Kibeti cordially. Good old Kibeti! Always prepared, reliable and waiting patiently at home when Macutotnal was out having fun.

OOC: Congrats, your new character is called Macutotnal and is a great Olman hero. The Olman empire is a combination of every Aztec cliché you have ever encountered. When you describe you actions, please do it twice - first what he sees and then what is actually happening in the real world. Keep in mind that Kassius is on a mind bending Ayahuasca trip, so everything he sees is a little psychedelic, technocolour over the top.

First order of business, please explain how you escape from the tent without Alohan or Remmi noticing.


Footnotes
[1] Except for the slaves. For them this festival was gunna suck.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:08, Tue 26 Jan 2016.

Macutotnal springs up from the bed, stretching dramatically and grinning as his back cracks delightfully. His head aches from the vast quantities of octli he had drunk the night before, but that's ok, he's quite used to the sensation. He attends most of his Ollamaliztli practices either drunk or hung-over, and is fairly certain that he'd play far worse sober. His muscle-memory was all developed with at least a mild buzz.

Seeing the clothes, Macutotnal greats his faithful servant with his typical exuberance. "This is fantastic Kibeti! An excellent selection, as always!" Macutotnal dresses quickly, and then strides out of his tent. Seeing Kibeti approach, Macutotnal groans. The servant was helpful, but always whining about Macutotnal not doing things properly. He doesn't have time for the fancy breakfast the man no doubt prepared, and eating on a hangover just makes him sick. "Bah, cease your simpering worries and off with you! I just don't have time right now, I have a long trip today!"

---

Kassius jumps up suddenly, sending the tea cup flying with his abrupt motion, landing on the floor and shattering. He stretches dramatically, and rubs his head slightly, stumbling slightly as if intoxicated. "This is fantastic Kibeti! An excellent selection, as always!" He announces abruptly, before jerking around, grasping as if at invisible items and pulling them around.

As this incredibly uncharacteristic behavior continues, Kassius ignores all questions and comments from Alohan and Remmi before abruptly interrupting them, "Bah, cease your simpering worries and off with you! I just don't have time right now, I have a long trip today!"

It was midday and Alohan was assisting in the felling of nearby trees for lumber. It was difficult, tiresome work but he found himself enjoying the hours spent chipping away at the jungle around him. Fueled by his new leathered, metal shackled belt, Alohan felt himself felling trees with a force he hadn't known was in him. Remmi reassured him it was the magics of the belt but Alohan prefered to think it was his own enhanced prowess. He knew it was the belt but any opportunity to knock Remmi down a peg was never passed up. Alohan almost felt like it was his royal duty to tease his friend -the gods placed him on this planet to make Remmi's life one spiteful existence.

He paused to wipe the sweat from his brow when he noticed Kassius emerge from his tent. He heaved the axe into the tree he was attempting to fell before trotting over to join him and Remmi. "aloha me fri...." When Kassius told him to cease talking, he did so but he glanced questioningly at Remmi. His half-orc friend was really growing into his new found noble position.

"Great! Where we be going den?" he asked, curious as to where Kassius was in such a rush to get to.

It is at that point that a dark skinned young lady in riding leathers and with a long bow hanging over her back moves out of the jungle line and into the camp clearing. She jogs over to Kassius and with a mocking smile does a deep curtsey in front of him. "Your grace!" she says with a laugh. Kassius pushes past her without a hint of recognition. "Hey! Squirt!" she calls out after him. No response.

"What the frac? What is up with him?" she asks no-one in particular. "He asked me to come here for frac's sake."

"Sir, we really must be getting on if we are going to make the festival."

---

"Yawl, yawl, rrrrah, growl."

OOC: Well this is turning out to be quite weird...

Macutotnal nods agreeably at Kibeti. He speaks ebulliently, his hands gesticulating wildly to show his excitement.  "Yes, yes, I know Kibeti. I am hurrying. It would be most disheartening to be late for the festival. Why, just think how sad everyone would be to miss me!"
With that, Kassius hurries off down the road, following Kibeti.

---

Kassius nods, and starts speaking at Kibeti, his hands gesticulating wildly, still ignoring Alohan and Penny. After his brief conversation with the cat, Kassius hurriedly starts walking of of the ranch.

Getting weird? I'm pretty sure it started weird! I have no idea where you're going with this, but it seems ... intriguing.

"What? Are you fracing serious Kassius? Hey you two native guys, what is going on?!"

---

The next day is spent in frantic but fruitless attempts to bring Kassius back to his senses. The hunter and his cat continue pushing through the jungle at a furious pace, with Penny and Alohan almost unable to keep up.

OOC: Both Kassius and Alohan must make 4 survival checks at DC15 as they travel southwards. For each check that Kassius makes he recalls an interesting piece of information about his former life. For each check that Alohan fails, he and Penny arrive another round late to the big fight.

Kassius/Macutotnal make excellent progress through the thick woods. Even as Kassius continues to ignore his companions, he easily maneuvers through the jungle, stepping lithely and avoiding all but the most carefully concealed hazards. He is no longer ebulliently chatting, but concentrates on moving steadily and quickly, determined to get to his mysterious destination.

15:58, Today: Kassius rolled 20,11,19,19 using 1d20+9,1d20+9,1d20+9,1d20+9.  survival checks.

At first, Alohan and Penny had a difficult time keeping sight of Kassius. They fell behind of the half-orc and his cat but the space between them was just enough to lose sight of him for long periods of time. For Alohan, it had been awhile -he hadn't tracked through a jungle thicket in quite some time (ignoring the route the took to get to the critter ranch). Penny seemed to be a natural but lacked any significant training to refine her abilities. Thus, she defaulted to Alohan's judgement.

Over the course of the day, Alohan began to predict and eventually grow comfortable with Kassius's movements. He was able to close the distance quite easily -within jogging distance- but still remained far enough behind to give his obviously mentally unstable friend the distance he needed. "Dis be one strange moon's turn..." he mumbled to Penny. To make it even more shocking, Alohan hadn't even propositioned his female companion to stop off for a quickie!

---

15:17, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 9,14,20,17 using 1d20+4,1d20+4,1d20+4,1d20+4 ((5,10,16,13)). Survival checks.
Note: looks like 2 failures (barely missed one) and 2 successes -Can Penny do an aid another for a possible +2? (and thus a third success?)

OOC: OK, four pieces of information then. Please keep in mind that the below is influenced by Macutotnal self-aggrandising nature and absolute certainty that he is the centre of existence.

WARNING: Ridiculous wall of text approaching.

#1 - Macutotnal and the War from Beyond

Macutotnal moves through the forest with the speed and grace of the jaguar warrior that he is, his faithful Kibeti keeping pace by his side like always. The Olman hero thinks back, all the way to the beginning of their relationship. He had bought the half-orc midway through his fifth Ollamaliztli season with the intention of offering him up for sacrifice after the finals just like he had done to a slave each year previously... but that year had turned out very differently. Macutotnal was already noted as the greatest handball player of the epoch, and was  chasing a record breaking fifth victory, but then the michin, the 'fish' had pierced the boundary between their space and the dimension the Olmans lived in. The war was vast -> the greatest empire in human history at its zenith, an empire stretching across a quarter of the globe, vesus an immensely powerful force from another plan of existence.

The handball player couldn't pretend to understand where the giant three-eyed goldfish had come from, but he understood the terrible havoc that they and their minions wrought on the Olman empire. Great cities were wiped out as mega-volcanoes sprung up in their midst. Inter-dimensional portals were located and torn apart by giant whirlpools summoned by the Olman priests. Legions of jaguar warriors faced off against endless swarms of creatures from the nightmare dimensions.

The Olmen Empire was a powerful civilization, perhaps the must powerful grouping that humankind would ever create, but within 24 months only one of its great cities remained and its people were dead or scattered. The last city was Thanaclan, 'City of Pearl', and Macutotnal's home town.

The high priests of the empire discovered an answer. The problem was that very few of the evil michin were ever caught and killed, but a method was found with powerful magics to pull the fish's capital into the real world. This would be done deep in the earth so the city could be crushed and destroyed.

Macutotnal, by that point a renowned war veteran and expect archer, volunteered to travel into *beyond* and trigger the great 'Taloc's Tear' - the device that would rip reality apart and reshape it.

#2 - Macutotnal and the Nimbus Bow
A throng of slaves were slaughtered and the Olman gods beseeched - and they answered with the mightiest weapon of the eon. A bow of such power that every outsider trembled in its presence, and no creature from beyond could resist an arrow first from its bowstring. Mighty Quentzalcoatl, in his cloak with a spray of stars, granted the power of a comet from the firmament. Fiery Tonatiuh, the his presence of his avatar blistering the marble into a bubbling goo, imbibed the power of the sun into the weapon. And subtle Tezcatlipoca, the smoking mirror, wove a moonbeam into the bowstring. When the were finished, the Nimbus Bow, the greatest artefact ever created stood hovering in the air before Macutotnal. So he took it.


The Nimbus Bow - the closest thing D&D 3.5 had to an ICBM launcher

#3 - Macutotnal wins by losing everything
The Olmans dug deep; deep down into the earth where it was hot and unstable. Macutotnal was honoured to lead the mission and trigger the device three miles below the surface of Thanaclan. The host of men he was leading disappeared from the world they knew, and reappeared in the middle of an underwater hell - Golismorga, the living city of the fish.

He and his men were immediately attacked by countless waves of the aquatic creatures from beyond, and they lay down their lives without hesitation to protect Taloc's device while it recharged. And finally, when his men were down to the last couple of dozen, it happened and the whole city and its inhabitants were pulled back into the real world.

Taloc, the Olman god of rains, was not exactly known as a kind deity, but what befell Macutotnal and his friends next lead to them re-evaluating Taloc entirely. Sure enough, they were pulled back and all the water pushed out of the city like a giant sponge being squeezed out - but the Olman warriors were pushed along to and trapped in a giant wall of water. The 'fish' and their minions were left behind and flopped about helplessly, but the Olmans fared little better - they were trapped in a standing wall of water.

One by one, as their water-breathing magics expired, the Olman jaguar warriors gave up their lives. Macutotnal and Kibeti were one of the last. But, the second after the world's greatest ball player convulsed in his death spasm he was back - 'Taloc's Tear' was powered by the souls of the Olman warriors who had sacrificed themselves for it and they were trapped by it forever.

OOC: Please note, I did not make up this crazy convoluted story line (although I am reading between the lines a bit). What were these Paizo guy's smoking on the day they wrote this?!

#4 - Macutotnal loses after all
Macutotnal raged and writhed by he was trapped there with the souls of several dozen of his men and Kibeti. But worst was to come. In the years that followed the 'victory' over the 'fish', a new evil moved into the now mad Golismorga. And it destroyed the last Olman city above with a great tide of savagery in ONE DAY. The greatest hero of Olman civilisation had sacrificed his life and soul in vain.

OOC. OK, crazy and epic enough for you? Back to reality and things that actually make sense tomorrow, I promise.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:32, Sun 31 Jan 2016.

Alohan's assessment of Penny is perhaps a little unfair - she is an experienced ranger and well versed in travelling through these jungles. It is just that Kassius moves with unnatural grace and endurance, the pair of them are doing all they can to keep him in sight.

"Frac! What was in that witch's brew you gave him?" asks Penny.



It is doubtful that Penny would be in the mood, even with Alohan's impressive physic being shown off to best advantage under a thick layer of glistening sweat. She is becoming increasingly worried by the route that Kassius is taking and then finally exclaims. "Frac, frac and FRAAAAC! He's heading into the Magalarve." Seeing Alohan's blank look, she continues. "The City of Scales. The old Olman ruins that now serve as the centre of the Bullywug religion - the place will be crawling with them!"




OOC: No, she is too busy looking after herself to help out. You will enter the combat two rounds after Kassius.


The Magalarve is bottom and a little left of centre
This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Mon 01 Feb 2016.

There is nothing that can be done to stop Kassius and his cat though, and they continue their relentless run into the heartlands of the Bullywug. Alohan starts seeing evidence of the amphibious humanoids - primitive fetishes hung from branches, animal bones crudely nailed to trees, animal carcasses ritually carved up and left on display.

Finally, after almost six hours of journey almost due south, they come to the top of a rise and look down on a jungle clearing hacked out of the dense foliage. In the middle is a small ziggurat with half a dozen of the green skinned bullywugs wandering close by - the seem to be aimlessly walking around the area -  a bit like they are drugged or sleepwalking.

"Frac," curses Penny. "Bullwugs. I hate these guys."

Kassius is already on his way down. Right into the middle of them.

After a pleasant run Macutotnal finds himself at the entry to the festival grounds. Below him is one of the ceremonial ziggurats with a few high priests tending to their duties.

"Sir, do you see what they have on the top of the ziggurat?" Kibeti asks in a surprised tone.



Kassius sees it. It is the large grooved disc that commemorates his fifth season victory. And they have taken it from him. He notices for the first time that the high priests are also holding large paper mache models of lizard people. Apparently it was practice time...

OOC: Kassius, you can choose to enter at any point on the map. The jungle is all difficult terrain, but there is a mud slip to the NE providing more easy access, but no cover. The jungle is soft cover.

You need to get to the middle and get out with the grooved disc. If you spend too many rounds joining it the bullywug high priest will turn up and give you a nasty curse or two.

Macutotnal surveys the scene from the jungle, near the mudslip. His well trained eyes picks out the foes, and his mind makes a plan. He needs to be fast. Faster than the priests, faster than normal people. He calls out loudly on the power of the gods, and they respond, causing Macutotnal to feel their power flowing through his very blood. He starts moving with almost inhuman speed. "Here is Macutotnal, the greatest Olman hero. Come and get me, if you can!" He boasts to the priests. Kibeti, by his side, groans at his master's lack of stealth.

---

Kassius
Macutotnal enters the map at N1.
Kassius enters Swift Action: Animal Focus (Tiger)
Standard Action: Cast Expeditious Retreat on Self
Free Action: Taunt
Move Action: Draw Longbow

---

HP: 21/21  AC 18, Saves+4/+8(+9)/+4
Spells Slots: 1st: 3/4;  Animal Focus Minutes Left: 2/3, Door Sight 6/6
Current Buffs: Animal Focus: Tiger (+2 Dex), round 1/10, Expeditious Retreat (+30 speed), 3 minutes

---

Kibeti
Kibeti enters at O1
Full Round Action: total defense

---

HP: 19/19 AC 19(24), Saves+4/+7(+8)/+3
Current Animal Focus: Tiger(+2 Dex)
Current Buffs:

The Bullywugs stop and turn, their mouths showing surprise at this bizarre interloper appearing in the middle of their most holy ritual. With roars they stumble towards the great Macutotnal - but their movements are uncoordinated and halting.

OOC. They all have the 'staggered' condition for some reason.


Hang on! Are you just delaying so that you minimize the rounds you have to fight alone?!