Dot here please.
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.
|
Erôth Earthfist
is a rather average sized young dwarf with a small frame, for a dwarf. He has brown skin and very long hair in the colour of mud, and usually wears an earthen coloured leather breeches and a sandstone coloured Tunic. Many marble beads are woven into his long braided beard.
In battle he wears a leather lamellar armor, and a battleaxe.
His voice is a very deep, rumbly bass.
"I am quite happy to join your little trip. But aren´t you a wee bit young little girl!"
|
Vello is an average size half-elf with very lean muscles. His hair is a sun-bleached platinum blonde and eyes are as blue as the ocean. He is wearing a chain shirt with seal-leather pants. He looks to have very little else on him. Not even a weapon. One item of notice though is a pin on his chain shirt that marks him as a Knight of Taldor.
"Glad to be here Master of Scrolls. After my last mission, I was hoping to go on an official Society confirmation mission."
He welcomes Janira as he listens further to the mission's goals. He then introduces himself to Janira and the rest of those in the exploration party.
"I am Vello Tiskan. I might not seem like much, but I am finely attuned to water and cold energy. I'm sure I will be helpful."
|
Another elf, with similarly light (but white, not platinum) hair steps forward, nervously fidgeting with a sheathed dagger. He hesitantly speaks.
"Hello, I'm Avasir Farisen! I recently took leave of my wizardly studies to see more of the world up close. It went pretty well the first time around so I think I'd like to see more of it before I settle my life back down." He smiles, gaining a bit of confidence at speaking in the group. "I can lend a hand with my spells, and perhaps document the passages that we explore. I should acquire some paper, ink, and a pen before we set out..." He trails off for a moment, thinking of where he can buy them, before re-focusing himself. "Miss Janira, you mentioned not finding the gillmen when you entered the cave. Did you find any trace of them otherwise? Did you observe any evidence that they might know you were tracking them?".
The halfling laughs at the dwarf's comment, I am little but I am not a girl, but thanks for the compliment. she says as she suppresses another giggle.
|
|
The burly half-orc was late. Still working on a tankard of ale that may or may not have been his first of the morning, he wanders over to the briefing just as the Master of Scrolls starts talking and leans against the far wall, eyes half-closed. One stubby tusk juts out from his lower jaw.
His armor (scale mail) is worn but well cared for, and the edges on the enormous axe slung over his shoulder glint in the torchlight. The ratty cloak slung over his shoulders bears the insignia of half a dozen guard companies and mercenary bands. When the time comes for introductions, his eyes snap open and he gives the room an easy smile.
"Hello, all. My friends call me Tusk, because that's my name. I'm a problem solver. Mostly, I solve problems by hitting them until they aren't problems anymore. People seem to find that useful."
|
Following the square-shouldered half-orc is in contrast a petite kitsune female carrying a crossbow on her back and a dagger at her belt. A lightly packed backpack hangs over her tiny frame, further accentuating her lack of physical strength. Silk armor is her only protection, and her attire appears unmarred by any sign of battle.
With an overly jovial tone she follows Tusk's introduction and says, "I'm Myrtella! I'm sooooooo happy to meet you all, like... soooo happy! I can't believe we'll like, adventure with Janira in person... that's sooooo awesome! I dunno... can I... like... just burst into song now? I think I'm gonna cry... this is, man... this is just sooooo awwwwwsom'!!"
Myrtella keeps acting like the center of attention for another long minute, flicking her tail left and right and putting a hand on everyone's shoulder once or twice... perhaps a bit too long in the case of the strong types in the group, as if 'testing the merchandise' or something...
The Halfling responds to the elf, I don't think that they saw me but that doesn't mean that they didn't see me she says.
Are there any other questions before we head out? Do you need to buy anything, scrolls, potions, alchemical things, or the like? she inquires.
|
|
Tusk finishes his beer in one long gulp and wipes the foam from his mouth with the back of his hand.
"I could stand to buy a healing potion, I suppose." Noticing the numerous vials and other containers strapped to the sides of Janira's pack, he considers for a moment, jingling the coins remaining in his pouch. "And maybe a flask of acid, while I'm at it. And some ale for the road."
Let's be off, We need to head off on foot because I don't think that the centaurs that live in the area would be too happy if we walked in to the forest riding horses. And don't get drunk Tusk. she says as she shoulders her pack and heads out, a little itty song she begins to hum.
|
|
"Vello? Vello Tiskan? SIR Vello Tiskan of Taldor??" says Myrtella, fawning over half-elf. "I just sailed here from Oppara and heard about your new knighhood, Sir! Princess Eutropia herself rewarded you and your companions if what I've heard is right, yes? I take it you know Sir Durant Aumarideth and Sir Mohag the Wanderer yes? did you fine knights woo the ladies and receive all kinds of sponsorships in the days that followed that huge party? hey? hey?? Wow!! like, this is, like.. totally an honor to meet you Sir!!"
|
|
Vello is taken slightly aback at Myrtella's enthusiasm but smles back at her. "Ah... Durant and Mohag. Yes, I know them. It was an honor to work with them and hope to do so in the future." Vello chuckles a little bit, "I wouldn't say we wooed the ladies, but more like they swarmed us. I felt more afraid of them than I did the monsters we faced."
Vello taps his chin, "We did receive some benefits for being knighted by Princess Eutropia. Mainly access to noble assistance when we need it."
You are a knight? the halfing inquires. The story, you must share with us she says as she pulls out her notebook and a quill and ink.
|
|
"Well, it is a bit of a long story which I can go into later. But to simplify it we were asked by Remaio Alcasti to restore his family's honor and nobility. He had an ancestor named Honoria who was considered to had lost an important battle through her shoddy leadership skills. Our mission was to find out what truly happened which involved talking to a talking tree, recovering artifacts associated with Honoria from tombs, rescuing a young fool traveling the desert with a magical, intelligent sword egging him on, and collecting letters written by Honoria during that time. We had to finish it by dressing up and talking to several nobles and convincing them that Remaio deserves his nobility back."
Vello grimaces, "I hated that last part. It is not fun attending a party of nobles."
The Halfling makes sure that she has names spelled correctly as she begins to write things down in her journal.
As you continue on your way...
Most of the trees in this section of the forest have trunks that are too big for any creatures to share their space. Sporadic patches of light undergrowth provide areas for creatures to hide while restricting movement for those passing through.
A large rock outcropping to the east rises nearly 20 feet above the forest floor, and a small sinkhole to the northwest drops off sharply, descending to the ground 10 feet below.
You suddenly hear the growls of wolves that seem to have got the best of your and managed to surround the party! What do you do?
Wolf I
Wolf II
[spoiler=Initiative Rolls]
Order
Vello
Mytrella
Wolves
Tusk
Avasir
|
|
Vello watches the wolves as they try to surround us. "Brave little buggers aren't they."
Vello holds his open palm hand out and focuses his energy. Suddenly the air in his palm starts to form ice crystals. He then looks at one of the wolves and the crystalized air suddenly shoots out at the wolf in a ball of energy.
The cold blast misses the wolf who snarls at the half-elf.
|
|
Myrtella begins to sing with a clear voice, hitting notes too high for a human to hit, thanks to her high frequency fox-like yapping voice! It doesn't sound good to all races... but wakes everyone up and appears to make sword arms to swing harder!
[Standard action: inspire courage, +1 competence bonus to atk / dmg]
[dice=Ini]1d20+3
The dwarf follows Vellos example and grabbing two stones from the floor he shoots them into the other wolf.
[DIce=Earth Blast]1d20+4; 1d6+6
Wolf one attacks the half elf who shot ice at him
missing him while the other goes after the dwarf
Both wolves miss.
As mighty as the blow from the ax is, it meets the ground taking out a large chunk of Earth.