Azimuth Outpost

Hex 9.10. Founded by the now defunct Azimuth Corporation decades ago, Azimuth Outpost was once a major population center in the Drippy Downs called Azimuth City. Azimuth Co., a dungeoneering outfit that rivaled the Big Three in its prime, poured astounding amounts of resources to build an entire metropolis. That dream ended when a series of catastrophes across the Mucklands tanked the company, not the least of which being the Battle of Fludderite Mine.

As history has it, the Battle of Fludderite Mine took place beneath Azimuth City amidst a massive deposit of purple crystals, called fludderite, when a sarpathi war party encountered Azimuth Co. miners for the first time. A brutal, three-week tunnel war ensued, which spilled into the city itself. The sarpathi were only defeated with the help of Bulwark and Rainbow Brigade reinforcements, but not before the city was utterly destroyed. The ruins of Azimuth City were abandoned, and it wasn't until decades later that folk returned to build an outpost.

To this day, no one knows exactly why the sarpathi attacked, though old timers speculate that the location of Azimuth holds some importance to their religion.

what's going on

• SARPATHI REAVERS raid the outpost frequently, though none of the attacks are as large as the original, two decades prior.
• Marge Margo will stop at nothing to get her hands on the lost fludderite mine.
• The collective outpost leadership have hired a gang of kobolds to defend the town from SARPATHI REAVERS.

MARGE MARGO

The town appointed leader of Azimuth. She's actually an ex-Azimuth Co. miner who fought in the Battle of Fludderite Mine. Now a political official, she's eager to make Azimuth into a new boom town. Recently, she has hired the infamous Kleo Soothsoul and the Soothsoul Six, a group of kobold WITCHES, to protect the town's interests from the SARPATHI REAVERS.

• Traits: Over-enthusiastic, shares inspirational quotes, delegates everything.
• Motivation: Build the outpost back to its former glory and then some.

sights and sounds

1. A greasy mechanic drags a broken flying machine along the dirt road aimlessly.
2. A large shedded snakeskin, larger than a man, lies in the dirt behind a well.
3. A merchant and their customer cause a scene, arguing over the price of lumber.
4. A broken fludderite crystal falls from a DWEORG'S backpack unnoticed.
5. A shrym hot air balloon slowly descends to the ground, filled with imported goods.
6. A wagon full of spare parts rattles as the driver spits and nods in the PCs direction.

rumors

• The sarpathi are after a lost fludderite mine near Azimuth Outpost and have been for many years.
• Marge Margo wants the fludderite mine found. She promises a treasure map to anyone who locates it.
• Jally Skywise is looking for new apprentices to help her build a massive flying machine.

outbound rumors

• Merchant caravans leaving Azimuth Outpost report BANDIT attacks near Castle Gannish.
• The BANDITS in the Drippy Downs are better equipped and armed than usual. Rumor has it, their hideout was once a secret Felmog armory.

JALLY SKYWISE

A shrym inventor, specialized in sputter mechanics, particularly flying machines. She's set up camp in Azimuth to secure building materials, including the rare fludderite crystals, which liquify under high heat, creating a powerful fuel for shrym flying machines.

• Traits: Inventive, frazzled, head in the clouds.
• Motivation: Complete her flying machine and take to the skies.

KLEO SOOTHSOUL & THE SOOTHSOUL SIX

A gang of kobold WITCHES for hire. Kleo, the leader, is said to be two hundred years old. Her five compatriots are a collective group of warlocks, soothsayers, and blackblades. Kleo does as she pleases in Azimuth, scaring away any riffraff, including the sarpathi. They answer to no one except to their benefactor Margo, and then only as necessary.

• Traits: Brooding, discreet, finish each other's sentences.
• Motivation: Protect the outpost from sarpathi.

quests

FINDING FLUDDERITE

Marge Margo is looking for stouthearted adventurers to relocate the lost fludderite mine, and make sure it's safe. The mine is filled with huge, priceless purple crystals, but was lost during the Battle of Fludderite Mine almost two decades ago. Margo will share a treasure map if you succeed.

• The Fludderite Mine is actually a former sarpathi temple, and the purple crystals are critical to a sarpathi mutation ritual.
• A SARPATHI HIEROPHANT (L5-C), and 3 SARPATHI REAVERS (L5-G), observe the mutation ceremony of another HIEROPHANT. The mutating hierophant is in the process of growing extra limbs through the use of fludderite crystals.
• Margo gives successful PCs a treasure map to an Old Hoard two Hexes west, buried beneath the bones of a WUNGALOPE.

FUEL FOR THE FLYER

Jally Skywise needs the rare, purple fludderite crystals to fuel her flying machine. Get her some and when her vessel is ready, she can take you safely through the clouds on a one way trip to anywhere in the Mucklands.

THE STARFELL DOOR

Jally Skywise needs STARFELL SHARDS, a nigh- invulnerable and lightweight metal. Rumor has it, there's a mysterious solid-starfell iron door in The Starfell Mine. Bring her the door in exchange for 1 pouch of Ancient Coins.

THE SOOTHSOUL SIX

Kleo and her Soothsoul Six have a big problem. In their last encounter with the sarpathi, one of their CURSES backfired, cursing the entire group. Without the aid of a pouch of pixie dust, they'll all be doomed in less than a week. Kleo can't keep the secret any longer. Venture to the northernmost cliffs of Shearwater Bay and procure a pouch of pixie dust from a faerie called Nooma.

• Nooma will happily trade the dust, should the adventures oust the SARPATHI REAVERS in the cliffs below, who kidnap PIXIES to steal their wings.
• The SARPATHI REAVERS are kidnapping magical creatures. One of them is buying a MANTICORE from a DWEORG as the PCs arrive.