Ikko:

Insight:  13

Seeing the dead cultists at the feet of the adventurers, Ikko calls out, "Have you dealt with the intruders?  Are there more?"

Clad in simple travelers clothes and cloak in shades of beige, Ikko looks like any other wandering ascetic except for the faint scent of ozone and tickle of static electricity that accompanies his presence. Obviously of eastern descent and manner, he rushes forward with light steps and maneuvers easily along the path, his deeply tanned skin evidencing many days spent under the hot sun. Angular features and the barest hint of a repeating scaled pattern on his bronzed skin give the observant watcher clues to a heritage more than just human, while those directly meeting Ikko's gaze discover deep gray eyes that seem to crackle with the energy of an oncoming storm.

Having rushed forward, Ikko looks around alertly, sparks flickering around his hands and staff.

Brazzak, you slice this last cultist head off. Combat is finished! You all can relax for a moment. As you all begin to gather, someone comes running around the corner (Ikko please describe yourself). 

Ikko, you see weapons laying all about, and these people laying dead are not the monks from the monastery. You think this was a fight between two hostiles and not a slaughter. 

Heilamin responds eyeing the approaching warlock warily, "Are there more intruders? This lot has been dealt with, though, something tells me we haven't seen the last of these Jaguar cultists. Seems everywhere we've gone lately, we run into them.  You don't happen to sport a Jaguar tattoo, do you?" Heilamin then glances back to make sure that Janelle is ok and safe as she is "the map", "the journal", "the key" to where they need to go next.

Jannell is safe, more shocked and sad by the death of one of the monks more than anything. But she stands back quietly and let's you introduce yourself to this warlock.

Ikko:

"I was...meditating...when I heard sounds of battle; I have seen no other cultists on my way from the garden to here, but I suppose there could be more elsewhere," the slender martial artist says as his battle stance relaxes and he listens intently for more sounds of combat.  Assuming he hears none, Ikko adds as he spreads his arms out non-threateningly to expose more of his skin, "As for tattoos, I either have none or many, depending on your perspective."  A network of faint imprints resembling the edges of many scales shows on all of his exposed bronze skin, but it seems more of a natural pigmentation than any artful tattoo.

"My name is Ikko Ikki, and I am a traveling martial artist and acolyte of the way of the Bronze Dragon.  Thank you for defending the Monastery of the Glass Hand, as they have been gracious hosts these past ten days.  Who might you be?" Ikko responds with curiosity. 

Persuasion to make a good first impression?  21

“Heh. Heh. Bronze dragon? Purty nice.”

Ikko:

His eyes settling on the Bronze Dragonborn, Ikko stops cold and kneels, saying, "Are you one of the dragon masters, my lord? Perhaps you can tell me the meaning of my visions."

Insight:  8

“I ain’t no master and I ain’t no lord. I never made it past private. If’n yes havin’ vision, maybe ya should see a cleric. But I’d be happy to listen, provided there’s a decent sandwich ‘round here summeres.”

Ikko:

Somewhat abashedly, Ikko gets to his feet and bows slightly to the Dragonborn saying, "Forgive my error, Private.  I have seen the priests, the mages, the scholars, and now the monks since these visions started ten years ago, and they have not lessened in intensity--indeed, my most recent one was quite disturbing."  Taking a deep breath, he looks to the first speaker and adds, "It seems my time for meditation is over with this attack.  You spoke of cultists with Jaguar tattoos--I assume these are behind the attack on the Monastery.  What will you do now?  Do you seek to find and punish those responsible for this attack?"

"We've come from Knotside..." And Heilamin relates to Ikko the encounter at the tavern with Moop and the Hooded Cultists there. He shows him the medallion of the lost city of Hearth, and then shows the tattoo of the jaguar on the back of one of the dead cultists. Heilamin relates their journey to the Arrow's Oddities and how we met Mackenzie and Renee. He also describes that the cultists ransacked Arrow Diamond's home and the discovery that the journal had been shipped to Janelle here at the Monastery of the Glass Hand. "Janelle is now the only receptacle that contains the information that might help us solve the mystery of this Lost City of Hearth. We do not yet know who these cultists are, nor where they are coming from. We do not know why they are after the medallion -- whether they do so as protectors or to obtain some treasure for themselves or their patron/diety. Some of them do appear to have Druidic abilities to beast-shape into lycanthropic jaguars. You don't have the ability to speak with one of them once dead, do you? I've heard Warlock's have some 'interesting' capabilities. Regardless, I believe our next destination was a Well of Secrets somewhere far to the south just outside a desert -- an oasis perhaps. Would you care to join us?

Ikko:

”A pleasure to meet you, Master Heilamin,” says Ikko, bowing  and listening intently to his tale.  “For my own part, I am convinced that a great evil seeks to escape into our world and I seek to stop it.  Every vision grows more dire, and the divine beings holding back the darkness weaken.”

Considering for a moment, the martial artist replies, “Your mission sounds like it may play a part in resisting the encroaching darkness.  I will join you if you will have me, but I have no magical capability to communicate with the dead.  My skills lie more in the application of the power of the Bronze Dragon to more martial pursuits.”

"Very well, welcome Ikko. I regret that I have no insight into your visions, but I am certainly a fan of holding back the darkness." Heilamin returns Ikko's bow. "Janelle, I believe Cap'n Andy should still have the ship available. I suppose you can give him the directions to where we must head? Follow me. Renee, would you mind looking for any valuables that our jaguar friends were carrying that they no longer need?" With that Heilamin escorts Janelle back to the ship to introduce her to Cap'n Andy. 

Ikko:

The young martial artist observes the proceedings in silence unless he is further engaged, then follows Heilamin to the ship.

Wiping his halberd on the cultists clothes, Mackenzie pauses long enough to grab his boots before following the others towards the boat, commenting as he goes "How did they manage to land without alarm, I hope Captain Andy hasn't been attacked on the way through"

Jannell says a quick prayer to The Glass Hand for the fallen monk. She looks to you all and thanks you. "If you wouldn't have been here....more would have died." She then follows the group. 

You all check the bodies and only find 25GP. There is nothing else on these bodies, but they are definitely Smoking Mirror cultists. 

Renee looks to you all....she explains that she feels peace here, more than anywhere she has ever been. Her killing of these cultists felt like torture, and she drops her weapons and her gear. Renee has decided to stay at the monastery and become a monk of the Glass Hand. Jannell wishes her blessings, and Renee leaves the group to help the monks kill up the blood from the bodies. Someone from the group can add her Bag of Tricks (I can't remember the color) to their inventory as a parting gift. 

You all stand at the edge of the monastery, and off in the far distance you see another ship. This one is much smaller than The Flying Elbow, big enough for a small crew. You see it pull up anchor, drop sail, and head south. Once you all climb down the ladder, you find another row boat docked and the two sailors who rowed you in are missing (likely dead by the cultist). 

You row back to the The Flying Elbow, after a quick vigil for the fallen sailors, Captain Andy prepares the crew to set sail. All of the sudden, there is a purple void that appears before you all at the middle of the ship. As quickly as the void appears, a humanoid figure flies out of the void onto the deck. The next moment, the purple void disappears and before you stands a tiefling! Heilamin and Brazzak, you recognize this person as Valzes. They are a warlock who helped you in your previous campaign against the orcs. They are a native of Knotside and was a huge help to your party. 

Valzes, could you describe yourself? 

A light blue skin tiefling with black braided hair drop to one side on her shoulder. She is wearing a outlandish green black trench vestment.

"Woo! Never get used to this think." She adjusts her hair and clothes as she dropped out from the portal. Then she looks up and shouts at the sky. "Next time, at least give me a heads up! Alright?" 

She looks at the party with her grey pupil less eyes. "Oh hey! Greeting adventurers!" She waves at the party. "I am Valzes. You can call me Val. And I most likely also call you this way... And I was sent here to help."

Ikko:

Taking a defensive stance when the magic teleportation effect manifests, Ikko watches as the new arrival announces herself and asks warily, "Who sent you now?  And how exactly do you plan to help?"

"Hmm." Valzes thinks for a moment. "Let’s say she is someone who want to prevent some kind of evil in the city of Hearth to come out. And she think it is necessary for me to help you. As for how would I help..."

She raises her hand up. A Scimitar appears in her hand. The blade is light blue which matches her skin and the handle is pit black like raven feathers. The whole sword is emitting black smoke while she is holding it. The whole sword color palette is strange to look at. "...I got a sword. It will help." The scimitar then disappears from her hand. "So are we going to Hearth?" She looks at the party with a smile. 

"Valzes, well look who decided to drop in? Finally sobered up after the celebration at Knotside, I see. Perhaps more milk and less ale, next time, eh? You and your mysterious patron. Good to know that she has our back yet. We could use the extra assistance, especially as our rogue has developed a conscience. I'm guessing she's dropped you here with as little debriefing as usual. Let me bring you up to speed." At which point, Heilamin relates the highlights of what has brought us to the Glass Hand and introduces Ikko to Valzes. 

"Valzes, this is Ikko. We've also just met. If the shiftiness of his skin is any indicator, I'm excited to see what he can do. He says his strengths are in the martial arts. Your patron, Valzes, she wouldn't know anything about a massive impending doom and gloom event, would she? Ikko says he's been having visions for the last 10 years -- they keep getting worse?" Heilamin leans in just so Valzes can hear, "I'm thinking that usually means it's time to talk to someone and get some help. But, I can't say that,  Brazzak could say that and get away with it, but not me."

Valzes gives out a wide smile as she sees Heilamin. "Hey! It’s you. Greeting Hei! She says I’m going to me some old friends but she didn’t tell me who." She turns to Ikko and waves at him as Heilamin introducing him. "Nice to me you, Ikko."

"And you’re right. All I know is there is an evil in Hearth and I need to help you stop them."