|
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 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.
|
The elf turns to the halfling guide. "How did you get the job of babysitting the newer initiates? Which Venture Captain did you tick off? " She laughs at her attempt at humor. "But,really, how far did you get in the caves? Find anything other than gillmen there?"
Tess looked over the rest of the collected group. She had been on a few missions before, so he was prepared to watch the rest of the group's back, yielding whatever knowledge she had collected so far.
|
|
Oh, not really far. After all it was just me. Remember the tenants of the Society. Explore, Report, and Cooperate. Well, I didn't have a team and thought it may be wiser to Report first. As far as what else lives down there I don't know. It is a cave so there could be spiders and skeletons and don't minotaurs live in caves?
|
Marika, a human dressed in rather nice but practical trousers, a blue-frilled blouse with a tan vest over it, leans easily against the back wall during the briefing. Although she seems rather grateful when the man is off the table and out of the room. ". . . wouldn't a meeting room at the Lodge have done just as well? We've got to have only a hundred or so." She sighs, flicking a persistent bit of hair out of her eyes. "Well, basics. Afraid I'm not familiar with gillmen." She glances around warily for a moment, but then continues. "And not that I'm not grateful for the help, but aren't Confirmations usually solo affairs? And . . . " The last bit is said in hushed, slightly worried tones. ". . . were any of you followed?"
|
Aetherys is a lithe elven girl bearing long, well-kept blond hair flowing down to her waist. Some of it is braided, with small clasps respresenting the Dawnflower. Her eyes are deep blue, and she hardly ever blinks.
The far-haired elven girl smiles gently.
How thoughtful of Master Shaine to meet us here. This feels right somehow, it makes sense. We can only hope that it bodes well for this very special moment for us all. Well met, Janira, I am Aetherys, servant of the Dawnflower and arcane students under Master Zey's aegis. Can you tell me more about these caves? I'm not familiar with gillmen, what are their origins?
|
|
"Who would be following us?" A Human woman in studded leather armor asks skeptically with her arms crossed, then shrugs a moment later as if the question was merely rhetorical.
"It sounds pretty straightforward to me. Yes, could you fill us in about Gillmen, Janira?" She asks the established Pathfinder in a respectful tone.
|
|
"I'd like to think that I would have spotted any potential ruffian with uncouth designs towards your person, Milady," a young human girl whose features indicate Tien ancestry replies as she closes the door behind her. "Although it was somewhat thoughtless of Milady to run off to a meeting of such import without informing me. You would not believe the number of people I had to talk to before one could be persuaded to tell me where I needed to go..."
She then looks around to smile at the others present and bows slightly but gracefully. "Ah, but I forget my manners. Kageko Nori, at your service."
|
|
Wayne makes his way in to the meeting room, late. "Pologies, darlins fer bein tardy." He tips his hat to all those in attendance.
"Woowee! This here room is filled with purty ladyfolk. This is gonna be the best mission ever." He can't help but grin at the thought.
Wayne himself stands at about 6 feet tall, wearing a fairly dirty duster along with a wide brimmed hat. He also has a pistol holstered at his hip, engraved with an 'S'. He has a permanent 5 o-clock shadow on his face along with dark brown eyes.
"So, uh.. What's the sitch?"
|
|
Tessara all you know of the Gillmen is what your halfling aide has described and that they have a history with Azlanti
...
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 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!”
Within weeks after turning 20 years old, she enlisted with the Pathfinder Society, and although she initially joined to see the world and sample all of the fine food it had to offer, she quickly took to the Scrolls and its focus on learning and preserving knowledge. She now
aspires to have her work published in one of the Pathfinder Chronicles, suspecting that would qualify her to train as a Pathfinder Chronicler. Janira has a life-long love of learning, and she offers sincere praise to those who demonstrate a head for knowledge, facts, and figures. Although she trained most with Kreighton Shaine, she also learned the arts of the whip, blade, and crossbow from Marcos Farabellus and a few spellcasting tricks from Aram Zey, and she looks up to each one as role
model. In fact, she fancies herself an educator and loves inspiring others through motivational lectures and speeches, always taking care that her instincts as an older sister don’t come across as condescendingly protective. She has been on several missions since her Confirmation, but this is the first time that she’s been in charge of leading an expedition.
Shes presses questions such as:
What about you? What made you decide to join the Pathfinder Society?
How long were you an initiate? Was it the full 3 years or did you get a field commission?
Where did you grow up?
Where have you traveled before coming to the Grand Lodge?
Did you have a favorite class, training exercise or teacher?
How do you handle yourself in a fight?
After you are finished being interrogated:
[b]“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.”
What else are we likely to run into on the way?
“Centaurs control the lowlands and surrounding wilderness of the Kortos Mounts. The areas farther up the Mounts are controlled by minotaurs, and the icy peaks are home to tribes of harpies. They’re always vying for territory, but with any luck, we should be able to avoid them and reach the caves without conflict.”
Are there any other threats we might encounter?
“There’s always the chance we may run into bandits along the way, and there are dozens of kinds of predators in that forest. That’s why we should always be as prepared as possible.”
[b]“Now, before we head out, if there aren’t any more questions, we should take a moment to go through your gear and make sure nothing important gets left out.”[b]
|
|
Marika shrugs at the exhortation to talk first. "Well, not so much to tell really. I'm from around Karlsgrad, family reasonably well off. Would have to be to get me here. Of course, there wasn't a lot else for it. Linnorm lands aren't really known for training up a girl who keeps accidentally sparking the house on fire." She shrugs, trying and failing to get her slightly messy hair under control. "We tried the magic academies first, but something about spell patterns just doesn't do it for me. I can get them if they're right in front of me, like a scroll, but. . . eh, well, no big deal. The Society has some decent ways around that, and even a few tricks that they probably don't show you in a university."
She gives Wayne a rather incredulous look. "I'm not against a bit of violence, but minotaurs have something of a reputation and I'm not all that eager to tangle with one if we don't have to."
|
|
Tori joined the Pathfinder Society in order to see the world and help liberate knowledge from those who use it to oppress others. She has a strong faith in Desna.
She was an initiate for the full 3 years.
She grew up on the sea on her uncle's ship as a cabin girl when she was old enough for the responsibility.
Tori has seen much of the Inner Sea region around Andoran.
Archery training was her favorite and she's adopted it as her primary way to fight.
Tori listens carefully as Janira explains the mission, taking the information in with solemn sincerity.
"So, we'll need at least four days of rations. I don't think anyone else is carrying rope, so I'll pick some up on the way out. We might need it in the cave or whatever."
|
|
"That makes one of us darlin'." Wayne looks at Marika. He then considers Janira questions after remembering that she asked them.
"Well I neva had any real goals, other than scrappin' and the ladies." He winks at the entire group present.
"But I'm also an ace shot as well as bein' devilishly handsome. It was my pops that motivated me to do something with my talents. He pulled a string or two and three years later here I am. Surprisingly I grew up in Oppara, but my pops and my momma came from the Mana Wastes. My first mission was to this place called Rahadouin where they don't like the religious folk. Favorite class was anythin' taught by Mr. Farabellus. That man knows how to throw down!" He iterates his point by throwing some mock punches to the air. "As far as fightin' goes, I got old Sara here." He says tapping his pistol with the carved 'S'. "And if they get in my face like a certain mustachioed halfling, I'll bust their lip with my fists."
|
|
I am what your kind calls a "forlorn". In fact, my whose parents were merchants in a far Qadiran satrapi. Seeing my talent for dancing since I was little, they offered me to the cult of Sarenrae, so I was raised by dervishes of the Dawnflower. However, life in a monastery didn't suit me well, and I decided to explore the world.
My journey brought me to the City at the Center of the World, where I found some companions of fortune with whom I explored an old tower in ruins. There, we found a band of troglodytes who had captured an adventurer, who turned out to be member of the Pathfinder Society. His words were honey to my ears so eager for adventure, so he managed to convince me to join the Society. I've taken the three-year apprenticeship under the guidance of Master Zey, who shares with me common origins as well as the love of magic. Here I stand, more ready than ever to embark on a fantastic adventure!
Checking her backback, she add: I must admit my adventuring gear is exactly the same as the one I used in the ruined tower three years ago. I have an alchemist's fire to help against swarms of all kind, my trusted rapier and good armor. I tend to travel light and favor mobility in fights, so I leave the heavy stuff behind.
|
|
"Actually, I never planned on joining the Pathfinders. The only reason I became an initiate was to look after my niece. She was wild and reckless, and I joined to help keep her out of trouble. As much as I hate to admit it, she's actually gotten pretty good at what she does. It's time for me to allow her a bit of room to grow, so I told my superiors that I think it would be a good idea to separate us for a short time, and it looks like they agreed. I'd had a few adventures, but in the grand scheme of the Society, I am still pretty green. I'm a bit of a jinxer and spellcaster, by trade. I've also got a fresh new wand to keep all of us healed up, if we need it."
|
|
"I fear there's little interesting to tell about me," Kageko offers. "I was originally apprenticed by a Pathfinder in Tien before a regretabble but probably inevitable misunderstanding required me to depart that fair land. I'm sure I might even miss it sometime..."
She trails off, then brightens. "In the meantime, however, I'm greatly enjoying the opportunity to explore these new lands with all of you. As for specialties... Where combat is concerned, I've some skill with the blade as well as throwing darts, but by and large I prefer using a kind word or a keen wit to avoid having to fight when possible."
|
|
You make your way through the City at the Center of the World, passing many quarters you have come to know intimately. Absalom is famous for taking all walks of life after all. You pass the alley in which some of you met a mustachioed halfling with anger issues. Leaving the city without incident on a well-worn path towards Diobel.
The journey is uneventful, but Janira talks about Master Shane's class on the history of Absalom and takes time to lecture about certain monuments such as siege towers, distant mountains, and distinct flora and fuana.
Night arrives and you grow tired...
take the time to let me know of any preps you wish to make or spells. Kageko you should be at full health. Marika and Wayne can I trouble you to put your stats in your tagline?
|
|
The night passes without incident, 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.” 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.
|
|
Aetherys feigns a lack of interest for the wayfinder, but her companions and Janira probably can see past her pretense - she's mesmerized by the item, probably struggling between her faith in Sarenrae and her fascination at every bit of her new life. She's so focused on the wayfinder and the future perspective of getting one that she's completely oblivious to her surroundings.