Collapsing to the ground in relief, Janira smiles up at Vetis.
"Praise all of the gods, I was worried there for a moment!" she says, letting out a small sigh. "Alister is right. We should probably finish the beast off. While I take no pleasure in the business, it is a cruelty itself to leave it here to die slowly."
"Perhaps you could do it, master druid? It seems...right somehow?"
As Narnel makes his way round to the group, she looks up at him and gives off a small laugh, "Here we are with a great victory, and yet we are all so somber!" She gives him a smile, "Narnel is right, you should all be proud of your accomplishment. You can rely on elves to think of the bigger picture!"
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With the minotaur put down, you head back east towards Absalom. Janira is eager to hear about your findings in the cave, but thinks it best to give your full report to Master Kreighton Shaine.
The sun rises slowly as you make your way through the forest, the mountains still looming behind you. The hooting of night owls is soon replaced by the song of morning birds and the smell of jasmine hangs in the air.
It is a quiet journey, and only the sound of birds and insects reminds you that you are not alone in these woods. Nothing crosses your path however and soon the large oaks give way to grassland. Janira remains quiet, no longer filling the silences with stories of Pathfinder legends. She seems shaken from her near fatal encounter with the minotaur.
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You camp out once more under the stars in the ruins of an old siege tower, the same one as on your journey here. Unlike the animal filled forest, no sound of animals reaches this place.
Even here the twinkling lights of Absalom are visible, distant as it may be. There is no sign of the centaurs and in the morning you continue onwards, your half day journey back to the city.
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As you make your way through Westgate, Janira seems to perk up. It is almost as if she was a different person on the journey, but now that she is home her old self has returned.
"We should head to Master Shaine immediately, he will be most interested to hear what you found in the caves! With almost child like glee, she rushes to lead you back through the bustle of the city streets to the Grand Lodge.
Once there she hurriedly talks to a clerk, who arranges for a room. A short while later, after some food arrives, Janira returns with the Master of Scrolls.
"Welcome back, aspiring Pathfinders!" Master Kreighton Shaine exclaims. He seems almost giddy with excitement. "Janira tells me you have quiet the tale to tell. So please, do tell it!"
"What exactly did you find within these caves?" he asks of you all.
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Alister used the time camping to clean up before returning to civilization and finally in the lodge refreshed from his adventures he eagerly speaks upon being asked; "we found an ancient model of Absolam tied to the worahip of Aroden, and by performing various rituals invoked magical benefits. I suggest immediate study with perhaps make whole or divinations and auguries to discover the aspects of Aroden and their cooresponding rituals, and that you might also speak to the last elven priest of Aroden, or you may consult priests or priestess of Iomadae as she took most of Arodens faithful to assist in keeping the place holy and granting the lower of the rituals but know that there are others researching it who consider it holy ground as well who deserve our respect."
Corneleus nods and hoots abd preens for emphasis and gives a bow when finished
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"Yes. there was a gillman priest there as well, still venerating the Dead God, though even he acknowledged that his influence was fading from the cavern. A follow-up team should likely be dispatched soon."
"We also encountered some undead - several zombies - as well as a pair of kobolds. Not exactly uncommon threats from what I've heard, though important to keep in mind for the future. Additionally, reports of minotaurs in the area are...considerably accurate." Vetis adds, wincing at this last bit.
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Note - On the trip back, Narnel, finished his journal entries detailing the fights with the kobolds and big fight against the Minotaur.
Obviously my companions are just hitting the highlights of our expedition. You can read the full details in our journals. He produces his and sets it on the table. However I think there is one thing that was clearly missed in their excitement over the discovery of the sacred caves of Aroden.
This Expedition would not have succeeded without the effort and abilities of each of the team members. From Janira's personal valor in keeping the minotaur occupied while we explored the cave, to Alister and Vetis's work deciphering the ancient hieroglyphs covering the cave walls and Jerry's constant efforts to keep us up and ready for the next challenge, each member contributed individually to help bring this information back.
Yet for all our individual efforts, some challenges were more then we could handle alone. Major accomplishments like the discovery of the rituals around the sacred model and the final fight against the minotaur were both tasks in which everyone contributed together. Without this teamwork none of the knowledge we have obtained would have made it back to be shared with the society, which I think you would agree that would have been a terrible loss.
The Master of Scrolls claps his hands excitedly, "Bravo, and well done to you all!".
"Unfortunately minotaurs do sometimes venture down from the Kortos Mounts, Druid Istul. It pleases me to hear from you all that the spirit of cooperation was kept at heart, and served to help you overcome that which you could not face alone.
"I am glad to see that each of you completed journals and kept records. It is often difficult enough to remember what one had for breakfast yesterday, let alone recall exactly what one was thinking while out in the field."
At Narnel's kind words about his companions, and his mention of Janira, Shaine turns to her and beams a smile, "Well done for providing the group with guidance and assistance, you have done most well."
She blushes, but you can see the delight upon her face at being praised by her mentor.
He pauses for a moment, pondering. Suddenly his eyes light up with inspiration.
"As you all are now the foremost authorities on the gillmen cave and what it contains, perhaps you should be the ones to name it? After all, if the cave has ties to Aroden then "The gillmen cave" isn't a fitting title!"
"So, what would you name this cave?"
Master Shaine gives a small out of place laugh at the suggestion of Hornfall.
"The Cavern of Wonders does have a certain ring about it, does it not. Vetis is right however, the Gillmen certainly have known of this cave for some time. Though they probably have a name for it in their tongue... Aboleth I believe... but that should not stop you from giving it a name in the common tongue."
He stands and shakes each of your hands in turn.
"You have done a great service, not just to the Pathfinder Society but to yourselves. You are hereby given three days of respite, and then are to return here to the Grand Lodge. You will each be sworn in to the Society and become official members. Congratulations!"
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Corneleus shakes wing to hand with each member, giving each a stately bow especially to Janira and the Master of Scrolls while Alister claps Narnel on the back with exuberence and smiles at his induction to the Pathfinders ensuring to ask he be allowed to make a copy of his journal for himself before turning it over
<< | | >>
Three days later you undertake a ceremony alongside many other new graduates to officially join the Society.
While no royal gala, it is certainly a joyous celebration of your inclusion in the ranks of the Pathfinder Society. Each of you in turn is brought before the three Masters.
Master Kreighton Shaine calls forth to Narnel, "As the Master of Scrolls, I welcome you and confirm you as a full Pathfinder field agent."
He bows almost comically low, before rising and presenting you with a personalised wayfinder.
"This wayfinder is not only the symbol of our trade, but also acts as a reminder to our three principal duties: Explore, Report and Cooperate."
Then Aram Zey calls forward Alister. He looks him up and down critically, before finally speaking.
"As the Master of Spells, I welcome you and confirm you as a full Pathfinder field agent."
He does not bow, and merely hands over a wayfinder, you notice it has both your full name and date of graduation. Master Zey is well known for being rather loathsome of students.
"The wayfinder servers as a symbol of the Pathfinder Society, and you should consider it a reminder of the three principal duties. I should not need to remind you of what they are, I hope."
Jerry is called up by the Master of Swords, Marcos Farabellus. He claps him upon the back good humouredly.
"As the Master of Swords I welcome and confirm you as a full Pathfinder field agent! Well deserved, from what Kreighton tells me."
He gives a short bow and hands Jerry an engraved wayfinder.
"Explore. Report. Cooperate. Keeps these principles in your head and your heart. May this wayfinder serve to remind you."
Finally Vetis is called up. Master Kreighton Shaine gives him a smile.
"As the Master of Scrolls, I welcome you and confirm you as a full Pathfinder field agent."
He once more bows so deeply as to almost double over. He produces a personalised wayfinder and hands it almost reverently to Vetis.
"May this wayfinder, a symbol of our trade, remind you of our three principal duties. To explore, to report and to cooperate."
He pauses a moment, looking back across the line of graduates, before adding "Tell the others of your party that Janira seeks to speak with you all before the night is through."
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