The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion: “Start where it ll 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 f a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents 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 top of 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, Master Zey, and I all 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 full field operatives. Allow me to introduce you to Janira Gavix,” he says as he motions for an excitable 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 her own Confirmation.”
Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, “Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, 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 again 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 jumps off the table and strolls out of the building while humming to himself.
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A dirty halfling with a wind-tangled nest of hair leans insolently against his leather-barded wolf. In spite of the grime, he has a bright smile and a appealing rustic manner.
"I'm Sum, and this here is me wolf, Grizzle. We're a team. Mess with one of us, and you'll have to deal with both! I've got a knack for de-buff magic, and Grizzle has a mean bite. I'm pretty good at figuring out wands and such magical contraptions. I'll be riding Grizzle, so you needn't worry about us slowing you down."
After the introduction he asks Janira,
Gillmen huh? Me and Grizzle ain't met such critters back home in Varsia. Do you have reasons to think they are up to no good? What are they likely to do if they find us snooping on them? Are we enemies?
"Of course, always good to have another halfling around, but we ain't met you before. What do you do in a scrape, Janira?"
Grizzle sit quietly, tounge hanging out. Her ears swivel as the speakers change, amost as if she is following the conversation.
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A lanky elf with ancient-looking baubles and trinkets hanging from his clothing looks aghast as the Master of Scrolls casually hands them off to a junior Pathfinder, barely out of her own training. He turns towards the others as the door to the Wounded Wisp closes behind master Shane, confusion and indignation flashing across his face. "Uh... Hi... Uh... Illuthion Cinderrain... What in the nine hells just happened?"
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"Uh... Hi... Uh... Illuthion Cinderrain... What in the nine hells just happened?"
The wild halfling laughs at the elf's confusion without a shred of self-consciousness.
"We's in a hi-er-achry now! Did'ya think you was so special that a top dog would hold your hand the whole way? We's at the bottom of the pack!"
He considers a bit and says more seriously.
Meself, I'm used to listening to the Wind-- and nobody else. I don't especially like this new pecking order. But at least I figured it out! He came to let us know we oughta listen sharp to Janira, or he'll growl, but he won't waste more time on us small fry."
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"Not that... You know what, forget it, it's not important." he replies, his face settling on smoldering outrage.
Explore the Kortos Mounts? What next? "Ho hum, I think you should explore the stables of the Grand Lodge, there might be an ancient tomb buried beneath!!!" What b%&!&~%@. he thinks to himself somberly.
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Gilbert stands at just over three feet high. He is clad in Scale mail and carries a variety of weapons including a battle axe a war hammer and a pick on his back but pride of place goes to a light crossbow that fits on holder in front of him. His beard is kept tidy with a wooden beard clasp bearing a golden key.
I am Gilbert Swiftscales, Paladin and merchant of Abadar at your service. Gilbert bows I fear that my short legs and abundance of gear may make our progress a little slower. Is there an excellent road by which we travel there
He nods at Sumac and Grizzle I am sure your talents will help us all but can you please use proper common
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The dark skinned human sits quietly, taking in the interactions of the assembled party. She wore dirty leather armor, obviously not of the highest quality, and carried only a dagger at her side. She had an intense look about her as she listened to the discussions.
"I'm Richelle," she interjected. "What do we know about these particular mountains? I've not heard them discussed at the Lodge. What about the surrounding area?"
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Illuthion is jolted from his simmering anger by the paladin's question. "Huh? Oh, you mean these?" he points at the broken, faded jewelry and small pieces of stone, most likely pieces of grander mosaics or fragments of tablets, that festoon his well-used traveling outfit. "I wouldn't call them valuable. Some of them might have been at some point, probably before Earthfall, but not any more. They are just emotional foci; I use them in conjunction with conduits some others in my line of work call "implements"." he pauses, gesturing at his rough leather gloves, threaded with replicas of ancient looking runes and his sword, which itself looks rather battered and old, but somehow still serviceable. It too has similar-looking runes stamped upon it.
"Although," he adds pensively,"I wouldn't doubt that they would attract ... let's call them "like-minded" objects. So I wouldn't doubt that actual valuables could find their way into my hands." he offers, struggling to offer as best of an explanation he can. He looks satisfied for a moment, before realizing he hasn't really answered the question. "Oh. Coast of Varisia for the most part, mainly north of Magnimar. Some in a village called Sandpoint. Others I bartered off of adventurers coming from the Storval wilds."
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He nods at Sumac and Grizzle I am sure your talents will help us all but can you please use proper common
Sumac looks quizzically at the gnome.
"Huh? Hey, me and you ain't big people. We's got languages of our own-- and better than theirs. So why get all bothered if ol' Sum doesn't speak the human language all pretty and proper? This is the way I learned it."
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A broad shouldered bald headed Dwarf with a thick black beard steps in.
Err... not again! Please excuse me belatedeness. Had a family festivity to attend to! Me great uncle brewed a new brew and wanted everyone to try it. It's named Kudrak Stinkstout! Especially flavoured with deep mushrooms, thick as porridge and nourishing as bread but just as tasty as any other Kundrak Ale! Made specially for the travelling Dwarf who would otherwise have to eat the food of surface people! I brought some samples if any o' you is hungry or thirsty!
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Gilbert looks at the Halfling and mouths the words "Explore, Report Cooperate" to himself before replying
" I apologise Sumac. I have a love of language and I value precise terminology and have a propensity to make polysyllabic utterances but as Brother Anselm frequently admonishes me long words can confuse as easily as contractions and colloquialisms. I shall endeavour to enunciate more straightforwardly from henceforth" he considers what he has just said and rephrases the last part "I will try to speak plainer in future"
"Now Richelle asks a good question. Are the Storval wilds near the Kortos mounts Illuthion? I am beginning to fear there are no decent roads on our journey to these caves"
Gilbert turns to the new arrival "I would love a sample good sir. Is the drink named in your honour?"
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Stonegrin nods to the eloquent Gnome and pulls a small keg as well as a small beerstein from his pack and the pours some of the thick liquid for the Gnome.
Nah...me name be Stonegrin! Stonegrin Strongale. Me family is well known in the five Kings Mountains and beyond for the famous Kundrak Strongale and this one is a very new invention! It was brewed for dwarves but any adventurer might find it's nourishing qualities greatly appreciated on long voyages! Here ye goes!
Hi Sumac, answers Janira We´re not enemies. Gillmen are secretive
but not outright hostile. Society wants you to figure out Why they’re venturing into the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, as the only known permanent surface settlement of the gillmen is in Escadar.
[b]Oh, Richelle. I´m sure you already learn soething in the classes about our surrounding area, don´t you?
At the center of the Isle of Kortos stand the Kortos Mounts, the points on the island.
Entire tribes of centaurs, harpies, and minotaurs constantly vie for territory up and around the Mounts, with harpies being the most common at higher altitudes and centaurs controlling the lower slopes and foothills.
Also known as the Low Azlanti, the gillmen are an amphibious humanoid race believed to be the last descendants of the ancient Azlanti people.
During Earthfall, the Starstone struck Golarion and destroyed the human empires of Thassilon and Azlant. It is said that gillmen’s ancestors survived the cataclysmic event because they received the blessing of an aquatic entity that allowed them to breath underwater.
Most scholars believe the terrifying aboleths were responsible for the gillmen’s transformation. Any alliance between them appears to have fallen apart over the millennia, however, and the gillmen are now an independent people.
No Gilbert, there are no proper roads. Neither you can expect them in your future missions. Surely you learned something about how to cross the wilderness. And if not, this is your opportunity!
“Before we set out, we should all get to know each other and review our plan. After all, the most important factors that determine whether an expedition will be a success are cooperation and preparation!I´ll go first. The she unpacks her backpack showing what she has. have two potions of cure light wounds, so if I fall unconscious you can cure me, a potion of barkskin, and a wand of cure light wounds to use in anyone who need it. A potion of feather step and potion of vanish because sometimetimes exploration is dangerous, scroll of entangle, scroll of gust of wind, scrolls of mage armor, identify, obscuring mist. Wand of burning hands, acid, alchemist’s fire, holy water, to be prepared against swarms and undeads. Smokestick, tanglefoot bags and a thunderstone because always are fun to use. Sunroods to be able to see, antitoxin in case I´m poisoned. An of course, my armor, a hand to hand weapon, my whip, and a distance weapon, my light crossbow.
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No Roads mutters Gilbert before taking a larger than intended swig of Stonegrins ale.
Whoa! That has quite a kick Stonegrin. He raises the beerstein to the dwarf I really like it.
Now myself I am Gilbert Swiftscale Paladin of Abadar. Looking to keep the followers of the Open Road safe as they go exploring. I carry an axe a pick and a hammer because I am told some of these weapons work better on some creatures than others and I do not have the might to batter through such defences. Of course I have my crossbow to defeat my foes before they get too close. Which reminds me He digs out a couple of bolt cases and checks them I will need to get some new bolts for my crossbow before we set out. How long a journey are we talking about here and how long do you expect us to stay there?
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Richelle empties the contents of her bag as well. "I've got quite a collection as well. I don't really need a ranged weapon," she says with a smile as she puts her dagger on the table, gestures with her hand, and it flies, sticking itself in the nearest wall. She turns a bit red from either the exterior or from the embarrassment, as she goes to collect her weapon.
Know. Geography untrained
"Well, I know the mountains of Kortos are located at the center of the island. Other than that, I don't know much."
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Illuthion wrinkles his nose as he thinks back through the classes he took.
"Well, another thing worth mentioning is how wild the Kortos mounts are. Harpies, minotaurs, centaurs... They all vie for territory out there. I'm glad they don't have the stones to come through the cairnlands." he chimes in helpfully, before adding "And no, the Storval wilds are nowhere near."
On to the details of the mission at hand, Janira says with an eager grin. After reviewing my mission reports personally, Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time they entered the caves it was during a full moon, so it is 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 important and what exactly the gillmen are doing in there.
The caves we’ll be travelling 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 gillman are present or have been recently. Keep an eye out for any other clues that might hint at the caves’ significance, too.
The first day going throught the Cairnlands go uneventuful, Janira uses the travel time to instructs you a little about the Cairnlands geography ... That red ruins you can see far there, is the Redbout of Karamoss, place of one of the thoughtests fights for Absalom, and today a Pathfinder training ground! Oh, and there is the fortress where one of my friends was taked captive for a few hours! She looks excited with every piece of information she tells you, as if all and everything she talks aboaut is the most interesting in the world.
As the party progresses deeper into the forest, the trees towering overhead begin to shield most of what remains of the day’s sun and the vegetation beneath grows denser. Janira pauses a moment and pulls out an intricate silver compass emblazoned with the Pathfinder Society logo: the Glyph of the Open Road. I received this wayfinder when I successfully completed my Confirmation. Should we be successful on our journey, you will get your own as well. She flips open the device and holds it in front of her; the initials J. L. are engraved into the inside of the device’s lid. After studying the compass inside for a moment, she remarks, We’re on the right path. We need to keep heading northwest past those large rocks up ahead.
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Since the present mission began, the group of Pathfinders has become acquainted with Mr. Copperpot, an excitable and incredibly paranoid gnome illusionist.
In fact, the gnome had even sent an illusory dwarf, scarred and battle-hardened, along with accompanying voices and sounds, to investigate the group before the gnome had come into the room, apparently satisfied the group did not pose a threat.
"I'm guessing the gillmen are entering the cave to prepare a gauntlet of traps and hazards for the unready," he says.
"Say, is there something hiding behind those large rocks up ahead, Ripley?" the gnome asks. A small, draconic creature perches on the gnome's shoulder. It looks weary, as if it hasn't slept in days. It looks at the rocks to see what the gnome is looking at.
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Doesn't matter. We're going to be going at the speed of the slowest member anyway. And at your speed if you aren't at/near the front, you are going to be wasting a turn or two every combat just moving forward. Not only unfun for you, but those monsters you aren't killing will be hurting us.
So...
* 1) Swiftscales
* 2) Strongale
* 3) Cinderain
* 4) Janira
* 5) Sumac
* 6/7) Alain, Copperpot
what do you all think?
You are missing it´s magical propierties, Illuthion. This, says Janira pointing her wayfinder, can provide you some light, and if you posses an ioun… She suddenly stops talking and scans around.
Have you heard that. It sounds like snakes, lots of them. You also had heard the sound, and you focus your sight on some tree stumps in front of you. There are appearing lots of snakes from the stumps, more every moment it passes until they become a real threat.
Janira looks excited from the perspective. Your first swarm!!! she shouts with cheer in her voice, Now its time to use all you had learned back in the lodge!!!
Combat tab
Bold can act
Richelle
Snakes
Mr. Copperpot
Stonegrin
Janira
Illuthion
Gilbert
Richelle showers the swarm with high speed pebbles, the rocks pass throw the snakes bodies killing dozens of them. The swarm, unworried by the dead of some of its members moves toward the group to attack them, biting the legs of Gilbert, Stonegrim, Richelle and Illuthion.
Can you all deal with a swarm? Ask Janira seeing how many of you are wounded.
All of the bitten must pass a DC 12 Fortitude or be nauseated for 1 round.
Combat tab
Bold can act
Richelle (-5 HP) kills dozens of snakes
Snakes (-9 HP)
Mr. Copperpot
Sumac
Stonegrin (-6 HP)
Janira
Illuthion (-3 HP)
Gilbert (-5 HP)
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Mr. Copperpot, looking like a cornered animal, draws a flask of acid from his bandolier.
"This is not the first time we have been found, Ripley! We know how to deal with the Aspis and their agents!" he says to the draconic creature perched on his shoulder.
Waiting for his new companions to vacate the area , he lobs the vial into the midst of the snakes.
The gnome then backs up.
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"Move away and spread out Pathfinders! Throw oil if you can!" shouts Illuthion as he moves away a bit and reaches in his backpack for a flask of oil before focusing inwards. How dare that creature attack them? How dare it attack his newfound companions. That wretched animal was about to understand the power of Wrath.
Sumac and Copperpot ready some flask vials to throw against the snakes as soon as their friends are not in the middle. Meanwhile Illuthion readies an spell to burn the swarm.
Janira starts declaiming about the grat deeds of previous pathfinders; And it was Selmius Foster’s race against a marid and efreeti on the isle of Jalmeray, which taught us that nothing is truly impossible and every situation can end in victory making you know you´ll too be able to win this situation [ooc]and inspiring courage on you
Gilbert and stonegring are too worried by the numerous snakes crawling along their body to do anything more than moving away.
Combat tab
Bold can act
Illuthion (-3 HP)
Gilbert (-5 HP)
Richelle (-5 HP)
Snakes (-9 HP)
Mr. Copperpot
Sumac
Stonegrin (-6 HP)
Janira is inspiring courage
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Quoting from the rule book
Inspire Courage (Su): A 1st-level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard’s performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
The performance needs to be either audible or visual as decided by the bard at the start. This one is audible