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The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion: "Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig's Paunch one hour before dawn."
The Pig's Paunch is a run-down building with a faded sign of a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded over its corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of human sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food. In the center of the room, surrounded by inebriates sleeping off their revelries, a familiar elven man stands high upon a large, round table.
"Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat." With that, Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Society's Master of Scrolls, nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the table before looking about the tavern with a sense of reverent wonder. "Can you believe it? It all started here years ago--well, over four hundred of them, at least. Under this very roof the Pathfinder Society was born.
"But today! Today you will begin your Confirmation! Master Farabellus and I both agree you each have shown your worth and dedication to the Society, so there's no better time to see if you can handle becoming field operatives. Allow me to introduce you to Janira Gavix," he says as he motions for an excitable-looking halfling woman to approach. She wears a large backpack and carries all manner of tools, pouches, and scroll cases around her waist. Shaine continues, saying, "Janira here will be going with you on your Confirmation. She was one of my brightest pupils and will no doubt be an invaluable resource on your journey, for she discovered the caves you are about to explore during your own Confirmation."
Janira speaks up in a cheerful and enthusiastic voice. "Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mountains, I witnessed a lone gillman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave mouth a month later as my Confirmation stretched on. A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered the cave system, but was unable to find the gillmen."
Master Shaine hops to his feet. "Initiates, for your Confirmation, you will travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages. Additionally, and most importantly, you are to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and you need to come back alive as well." With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls hops off the table and strolls out of the building, humming to himself.
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A Chelish man, who's meticulously groomed hair and beard stands in stark contrast to the practical nature of the clothes and equipment he is bearing, listens intently to the Master of Scroll's briefing. After Kreighton Shane strolls out of the inn, the reaches out to shake Janira's hand.
"Nice to meet you! My name is Gratus Casca, and here because the Paracountess deemed that I'd be more useful as a fully fledged agent, instead of a mere researcher."
Trailing behind her is another woman, apparently the first's aide.
"This is the place Ma'am, but I don't think I am allowed to accompany you on your Confirmation."
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A young man, slightly flustered, rushes up, with a pack and assorted other gear clanging and rattling around his slight frame. He looks over the other assembled Pathfinders and smiles nervously. "Ah, I d-did not realize we'd h-have such a d-d-distinguished group." he says. He seems annoyed with his own stuttering. "G-G-Gunter Buxtehude is the name." he pauses for a heartbeat as if waiting for a reaction. "The famous Sp-piritualist? No? It's been years since my heyday as 'The G-ghost Boy' I suppose, never mind. T-taking a shot at the P-pathfindering since recent events have m... m...ade the Spiritualism more complicated."
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Janira chuckles slightly. "No, no, we're all Pathfinders--well, would-be Pathfinders--here! Nice to meet you, Gratus, Gunter, and...I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you're Bennybeck and Lady Rosenvelt?" She pulls out a scrap of note paper, skimming it quickly. "That's funny, I thought there were going to be at least a couple more of you..."
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A towering Ulfen man arrives in the pub with a heavy step. "Lunk here to help with finishing of con... con..... finishing school to be Pathfinder." Dressed mostly in furs, with a well balanced scythe on his hands, the man looked tired with drooping eyes and slow, awkward movements. "Is Lhunk in right place?"
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Slightly flustered by the influx of exotic prospective Pathfinders, Gratus loses the train of thought he had concerning the Gillmen.
Get it together Casca... Your colleges are only going to get weirder from now on...
Examining the new arrivals, he realizes something.
"Am I mistaken, or are we missing someone? I hope they're of a divine persuasion, since it would seem like we have all other specializations covered."
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Janira grins at Lhunk. "Not your teacher, Lhunk, so don't worry! Just another Pathfinder along for the ride." She peers around. "I really had thought there was someone else coming, but it looks like not...I guess we'll just have to go ahead with the folks we've got here! If they can't be bothered to show up to their own Confirmation..." She trails off with a shrug. "The Society can't wait on every social occasion!"
Janira pulls out a large, leather-bound journal and opens it on the table. "Before we set out, we should all get to know each other--already started on that--and review our plan. After all, the most important factors that determine whether an expedition will be a success are cooperation and preparation! Let me tell you all a bit more about me! I'm 24, first in my family to come of age, and I enlisted with the Society right after my twentieth birthday! Initially I was planning to travel and see the world, but I, uh...got a little bit too into the work that Master Shaine and the Scrolls were doing, and I've mostly ended up working as a researcher and a scholar. I've trained with Farabellus and Zey too, so don't worry! And I've been on several missions since my own Confirmation, but," she grins, "this is my first time leading a mission! You guys are so lucky!"
"On to the mission at hand...After reviewing my mission reports personally, Master Shaine believes it was no coincidence that each time the gillmen entered the caves, it was during a full moon. So it's also no coincidence that you have been called here now, just a day before the moon is full again! We both believe that tomorrow night is our best chance to find out why these caves are so important and just what exactly the gillmen are doing in there.
"The caves we'll be traveling to lie under the base of the Kortos Mounts. We'll need to spend every minute of daylight possible to reach the caves by foot, crossing over the Cairnlands, taking the paths to Diobel, and finally making our way through the wilderness. With any luck we won't run into any of the local inhabitants. Once in the caves, we'll need to work together to explore and determine whether any gillmen are present or have been there recently. Keep an eye out for any other clues that might hint at the caves' significance, too."
She pauses, eyeing the group eagerly. "Any questions?"
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Gunter leans against the table and looks around at the others. "Ah as I said, I'm G-G-Gunter, and I am a Spiritualist. You c-could say it's a calling..." he says with a sly smile, but he stops abruptly and continues. "Practically sp...peaking I have unlocked some eerie psychic abilities through my practices..." his head jerks to the left and he whimpers. "And... m...my natural connection with the sp-pirits has allowed me to c-contact a particular lost soul, who follows me." He reaches out a hand, the palm of which has a lotus-shaped birthmark, and a blue mist coalesces around the space in the air over the table. Materializing in the mist is a hazy figure of a young woman with short hair.
The spirit gazes with hollow eyes at the Pathfinders before wailing softly and diving down and through the table and vanishing back into Gunter's body.
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The tall man stares at Gunter for a long moment before taking a bite of the apple provided to him before speaking, a few apple bits flying from his mouth, "Lhunk not like magic or ghosts. That looks like magic ghost, but seems nice to friends. This is good apple small one, thank you." Bending over, he pats Bennybeck's head.
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Janira smiles at the introductions, though she jumps slightly, startled, by Rhea's appearance. When Francis addresses her, she comes back to her senses and turns to him. "Ahem! No. Not really. Like many gillmen, the clans that live near the Isle of Kortos are secretive but not overly hostile. Their only permanent surface settlement--only one we know of, that is--is in Escadar, on the Isle of Errin. Why they're heading into a cave in the Kortos Mounts, I have no idea; that's for you to find out!"
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Janira grimaces at Thaia's tone, but nods her agreement. "Yeah, that sounds more like grippli--very different. Think just...people. Only with gills!" When Francis suggests rope, she nods vigorously. "Rope's a must, yes, as is several days' worth of food--it's a full two days' journey to the caves I found. We should also make sure we have some sort of light source, something to make a fire with, some healing...and to be honest, I never think it's a bad idea to have things like alchemist's fire, acid, and antitoxin on hand. 'Expect the unexpected,' as Master Farabellos always says!
"Oh, and you should take these." Rummaging in her own backpack, she passes each of you a small leather notebook with an attached bit of pencil. "It's very important to keep accurate notes and records during your Confirmation--or on any mission, for that matter!" She hoists her backpack onto her back. "Why don't we head out, and we can stop and buy anything you guys need in town on our way to the gate?"
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As the party makes their way out of the inn, a lean Halfling with platinum blonde hair swoops down from the sky on the back of a Roc. She pats the massive bird on the neck as she looks the party over in a very no-nonsense fashion.
"Finally. Too much time spent planning. Don't you know the only good plan is the one you make in the face of the enemy?" She shakes her head and falls in line.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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As the party makes their way out of the inn, a lean Halfling with platinum blonde hair swoops down from the sky on the back of a Roc.
Excellent, another trophy waiting to happen. At least this one doesn't have a frog on it's back....
"Brilliant, we can just air-lift my things then, and if it crashes there's always squab for dinner. Tell me child, how does that thing handle in flooded underground tunnels?"
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The halfling goes over to the Chelaxian lady Listen toots, you need to stop treating us like we are your servants and your slaves, being Chelaxian, well I guess you can't help being a biggoted ninny. If we are going to work together, that is what it means TOGETHER, not you telling us what to do. You need to get over yourself lady because you know what, we already have. and walks away to go talk to the new halfling lady and to try to pet her roc.
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Gunter trudges along with the others, his gear jingling. He seems a little winded already. "W...We are all pretty new to the P-Pathfinders." he says. "I myself have merely p-participated in a few freelance m...missions before getting an in...nvitation to join." he says with a diplomatic smile before looking to Bennybeck. "How about you?" he asks.
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Me too! I have fought a few things, poked and jabbed them here with my spear, the last thing I did was go into some sewers and stop a gang of goblins and their theives guild from attacking a city. It was gross, especially since I don't wear shoes showing his unshod feet and wiggling his toes at the Spiritualist.
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"Ah, there's our last would-be Pathfinder!" Janira exclaims as Lissaya appears. She seems remarkably unfazed by the roc carrying a halfling. "Lissaya, I presume? I'll fill you in on the plan as we go, but don't worry--it's pretty simple!"
Janira leads you all through the slowly awakening city of Absalom (taking time to stop and make any purchases you need to), listening to your stories of heroism. "Wow! A lot of field commissions, it sounds like. I'm jealous--I didn't get to do much with the Society until after I'd been in training for three years. Loooooong years, let me tell ya!" As the sun is rising at your backs, you head out of the western gates of Absalom on the road to Diobel.
The first day passes without much incident; you march on the road (or fly above it), cheerfully led by Janira, who keeps up a near-constant stream of chatter and narration as you walk slowly west. The first leg of the journey takes you through the Cairnlands, the waste of failed siege engines and leavings from various armies that have failed to conquer Absalom over the centuries, and Janira points out several landmarks: the Red Redoubt of Karamoss, the Fallen Fortress, and others still more obscure. By mid-afternoon, you've left the wasteland behind and entered the wooded foothills of the Kortos Mounts, and you make camp in a shady clearing just off the road that night.
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The next day, you wake refreshed and continue on the road. After not too long, though, Janira pauses, pulling a small compass-like device out of her pocket and studying it. "Yep, this is where we leave the road behind! Should be that-a-way." She points off to the right, marking out a trail slightly northwest of the main road. Following her lead, you plunge into the forest. The trees grow thicker, blocking out most of the day's sun, and the undergrowth becomes denser. As you make your way through the forest, Janira pulls the device you saw earlier out of her pocket and consults it repeatedly. Its cover is emblazoned with the symbol of the Pathfinder Society: the Glyph of the Open Road. "I was given this wayfinder when I completed my Confirmation," she comments. "Should we be successful on our journey, you will get your own as well!" After peering at the compass for a moment, she says, "We're on the right path. We need to keep heading northwest past those large rocks up ahead."
Just as she points to them, the sharper-eyed among you spot movement at the top of the rocks: suddenly, a brown, horse-like creature the size of a large dog but with a hawk's wings, talons, and hooked beak, bursts over the top of the rock and launches itself into the air, flying straight toward you!
It plows into the ground just five feet away, snapping at Lhunk with its hooked beak, but the big Ulfen man manages to avoid its snapping bite. Another creature, similar to the first, appears from the west, flying out from behind the other rock formation and banking hard to land near Janira! The startled halfling darts back out of reach of its beak. "Ah! Hippogriffs!" she cries. "Young ones, it looks like--meat-eaters, but it shouldn't be hard to drive them off! Just remember what Master Farabellos always says: with teamwork and cooperation, all great feats lie within the realm of mortal possibility!"
Initiative
Janira (26)
Lissaya (16)
Thaia (15.5)
Gratus (15)
Lhunk (12)
Benny (11)
Gunter (9)
Hippogriffs... (7)
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"Ah! The wildlife is trying to kill us! I'll summon some help!"
A resplendid eagle pops into existence behind the hippogriff that attacked Lhunk and attacks it.
hp 7 (1d8+3)
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +2
SR 5
Resist cold 5, acid 5, electricity 5
CMD 13