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by Wade Durant
After the submen uprising, many in Cymril took interest in the tribes of the Manra, due in no small part to Tebo, the Manra who assisted the 7 Kingdoms in the downfall of the false Tirshata. The fascination with their culture and with their shapeshifting ability has taken hold with a large group of wealthy and powerful people of various kingdoms. Whether their interest is purely philanthropic or if there are more menacing reasons is unknown. The military uses for such powers make it easy for one to see why the Manra could draw such intense interest.
The adventurers are hired by a wealthy Cymrilian benefactor (or from any other civilized culture) to escort a caravan of Manra refugees returning to their homeland, along with wagonloads full of food and supplies, donated by various “humanitarians” from the civilized lands. Once they arrive in southern Quan, (This will be no small feat, the Kang know nothing about this caravan and will not look kindly on anyone helping “unfriendlies” back into their empire. Travel through Faradun or by ship along the southern coast will be no easy task either.) they are to remain with the Manra tribes and observe their culture in their natural surroundings. They are told that eventually another representative of the benefactor will join them once they know it is safe for them. The party is to send word when they think it is safe for their boss to join them. One of the party (NPC) is to be the return messenger.
Shortly after their arrival, things go wrong. Animals start showing up dead around the camp. Manra start disappearing. Many tribesmen claim that the dead animals are the lost Manra. Many blame the players, saying that they have brought a curse with them from the Land of the Setting Sun. Could the party have unknowingly caused this? They have been providing the Manra with food, could it have caused one of them to lose their mind? Can the players convince the Manra that they are not responsible for the deaths? Is one of the party actually a spy or assassin hired to foil the plans of their benefactor? Or is one of the party actually working to carry out some secret agenda of their benefactor? Did their benefactor have altruistic goals in mind, or more sinister reasons for this trip? Many of the deaths seem to be cause by vicious animal attacks. Is there a creature roaming the jungle leaving a trail of bodies behind, or could it be that one of the Manra has gone murderously insane after their time spent working for the Tirshata? Could it be the Chana striking out while their enemy is still weak? Can the players solve this mystery without getting killed themselves?
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