Now of course this society is pretty much moribund because no giant cradle has been seen in centuries but it does still exist.
Tribal elders could be having visions of doom and destruction facing a
cradle (which could be quite a shock if they don't realize the cradle in
danger
was buried centuries before during the Sunstop). They're forced to act to
protect the cradle because their ancestors swore bloody oaths to the giants
(unto the umpteenth generation, yada, yada) so they have to send someone
but since the society doesn't have much power (or relevance) they can afford
to send smucks, err starting PCs.
You can also toss in a Yemalio if you want since many of them (okay at least some of them) are transplanted tribes people, Maybe dad or the local Light Priest has been having bad dreams and sends sonny boy to investigate.
My theory about what happened to the cradle (building on other's suggestions of course) is that when the Sunstop occured the magic protecting
the cradle stopped working. Unfortunately at that very moment it was
passing
by the Five Eyes Temple and a section of river bank that was being shored up
with magic collapsed on it. The defences were down long enough to allow the
cradle to be buried but partially reactivated after it had been buried to
protect
the contents. (Is the baby still alive? Your call. But it's still
stuffed with loot).
Being buried made it impossible for the cradle to "call" for help, but.....
Erosion has been steadily wearing away the bank. Recently part of the
cradle's been exposed and scavengers have been inside eating some of the
protectors. If you're of a cinematic bent I'd suggest having the party ride
over
a hill and see a party of baboons sitting in a circle scratching themselves
and
yelping and dancing about before the exposed cradle and tossing bones up in
the air. (Now what would be some appropriate music to play while all this
is
happening....;->)
Now if you want the baboons can have partially looted the cradle since the damn things were just stuffed with treasure. (The brat's bedding was gold straw for crying out loud!) But all that's up to you.
Enjoy,
Oliver D. Bernuetz
bernuetz.oliver_at_cbsc.ic.gc.ca
www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/realm/5545
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