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.
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Raziq speaks up with a schoolteacher's voice.
"I've found old records stating that there are whispers of the Gillmen making a pact with an unknown being so they'd survive underwater. More insidious rumours name that being as an aboleth, but no one can really be sure anymore. The Gillmen certainly won't tell anyone, especially since they've had a falling out of sorts and the relation between them and their patron seems to have gone sour. But, can anyone tell me who these Gillmen are supposed to be descendants of?"
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Gorrec perks up: "Those Gillmen are descendants from the Azlanti, you know, the same Azlanti the mighty Aroden, he who survived the Age of Darkness. He who became a god after raising the Starstone into it's current place in our beautiful city of Absalom. We know little of the Azlanti as they lived ages ago, and most of their civilization and history was lost during the Age of Darkness, but maybe our friend Raziq has studied them a bit?"
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"I have studied them for a bit, and interesting though they are, I must admit my interests lie more in the animal kingdom. I could tell you a nearly infinite amount of fascinating facts about the flat-beaked purple-striped thrush that only lives in the oases of Rahadoum's desert. I mean, did you know for instance that though they're called 'purple-striped,' it's more of a puce colour, but the fellow who discovered it happened to be colourblind. And that's only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, there's also...."
Raziq goes on and on and you'll probably have tuned him out by now.
Janira looks aprovingly as bits and pieces of information are recalled and shared.
"Very good! Now 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 the Gillmen 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. 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.”
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Araklifest listens to the information Raziq and Gorrec provide, but he already is sure these two can ramble on and on for hours. Thus in stead of listening to every word they speak, he tries to discern the really important parts and stops listening otherwise. It reminds him of his work in the library: when you read an encyclopaedia, you don't want to read it from cover to cover, but only the lemma you're interested in.
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"Let's move people, we have a lot of ground to cover"
"If we were all as fast as Gorrec Wolfseye we would have time a plenty, but alas few are as quick as he was. He claimed he was this fast because he managed to capture the Hawk with the golden wings alive."
"The hawk was a creature blessed by Ketephys, for assisting him during his hunts. It was said that a great blessing would befall on those able to capture the hawk alive, and release it. Many tried, but almost anyone failed, for the hawk is intelligent and an experienced hunter herself"
"Gorrec had decided to try his luck and skills against the magnificent
bird, and travelled to the forest the hawk was last seen. Finding the creature was not that difficult, as such a majestic creature is hard to miss when his wings catch the rays of the sun and redirect it everywhere. Capturing however proved a difficult task, as arrows would harm the bird, and it flew to high and fast to throw a net on it."
"The only solution was to track the animal during the day and find it's nest at night. This took Gorrec two weeks, but he finally managed to find the creature's resting place, atop a small mountain on the edge of the forest."
“Gorrec waited till midnight before slowly and steadily climbing up the mountain, making sure to not make a sound.” It took him almost two hours before he managed to find the nest, as it was hidden inside a small cave. Luckily Gorrec was able, like any other Orc to pierce with his eyes through the darkness. After making sure the bird was in there, he decided to do it the simplest way and wrestle the bird. But when he crawled into the cave, he was attacked by a snake, who apparently had the same idea as our brave hero. The beast was no match for the might of Gorrec, but the struggle awakened the hawk who tried to flee. Gorrec had now to fight both the dangerous snake, and the fleeing hawk at the same time. He managed to grab the bird by one of its claws and with his incredible dexterity, tie the tail of the snake around it, using the snake as the most dangerous lease imaginable.”
“After releasing both the hawk and the snake alive, he was blessed by Ketephys with an incredible stamina and speed, making him the fastest orc alive”
Its a long days walk over the plain, but conbersatiin keeps you entertained. Gorrec knows many a tale, but Janira also knows many.
As night begins to fall, you can see the edge of the forest in the distance. Janira pushes you on, and you make camp in the treeline.
At Janira's advice you make a small, shielded fire and rest your weary feet.
As it is your cinfirmation, Janira lets you divide the watch. She has no problem with taking a watch herself.
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"Indeed Razig, me and Nitoriu will take the midnight watch. We wolfs best hunt under the moon." May Flowers shortly betrays a wicked smile and a gleam in her eye as if showing a feral side of herself. It's gone in few a seconds while she walks along the treeline looking for the perfect camp site spot and kindling for the fire.
The night is quiet. Both Raziq and Araklifest hear hooves in the distance, but they never come close.
The dawn is quiet and damp. Janira makes you all hot porridge. Better to start the day with a good breakfast. "When the morning is good, the day can only get better!"
With camp broken up, you travel further into the forest. The trees
towering overhead begin to shield most of the 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. G. 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.”
Walking deeper in to the dense undergrowth, the normal forest sounds are broken by the splintering and crashing of a tree in the distance. Forest creatures scramble out of the way. In their paninic they bump into you, and they are not friendly...
Round 1
Initiative
May
Raziq
Rico
Araklifest
Hippogriffs
Gorrec
The creatures look like a mix between an eagle and a horse. Knowledge arcana to identify.
Bold may post an action.
You identify these creatures as young hippogriffs.
The hippogriff bears the wings, forelegs, and head of a great raptor bird and the tail and body of a magnificent horse. As horses are a preferred meal for griffons, sages claim some flesh-warping wizard with an ironic sense of humor long ago created this unfortunate fusion of horse and hawk as a joke.
Hippogriffs dont have a lot of special abilities, but their strange anatomy lets them use their beak and talons to attack. They dont have reach, but are fast flyers.
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May Flower retrieves a carnivore feed from her backpack as a full round action and takes a five foot step closer to the Flying Creatures. She yells: "Nitoriu defend, Squeezy people hide behind me, I am strong against flying creatures and will attemp with Rico to lure them away with meat so we might escape peacefully from there territory."
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Raziq chuckles. "Ah yes, of course! One of mankind's cruelest tricks. Rumour has it these were bred by a wizard out of boredom. There's nothing special to them, other than their feisty temperament. Oh, and they're pretty fast as well, so watch out."
Raziq grabs his bardiche and readies an attack of they attack him.
Blue Flies up to Raziq , and tries to bite him.
Its razorsharp beak takes a good chunk out of Raziq's arm.
Red, having a clearer path of approach, charges Araklifest.
It passes Araklifests defenses and leaves a deep gash in his chest.
Round 1
Initiative
May
Raziq
Rico
Araklifest
Hippogriffs
Gorrec
Janira takes off her backpack and starts rummaging around for something. "Good thinking Gorrec, be a more scary predator then they are!"
Round 2
Initiative
May
Raziq 3 damage
Rico
Araklifest 3 damage
Hippogriffs
Gorrec
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Rico moves into the bushes next to Raziq, and whistles towards the Hippogriff.
"I see you're hungry, dear friend. Not to fear, as I, "Honest" Rico Fink are here to sate it. Introducing the Cookie of Infinite Wisdom, holding prophecies whose revelations will stun you! Only at this particular moment can you enjoy a free sample! That, my friend, is a deal you cannot refuse!"
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As Rico tries to placate blue, May Flower go's for red and takes a diagonal step infront of Gorrec and Nitoriu steps into her space. She trows the carnivorous feed as far as she can behind the red Hippogriff hoping that this will placate it, or at least distract it. After this she gets her sickle and shield out.
Raziq: Two misses and a hit, Raziq does get a nice slash in.
Araklifest: With poise and grace, Araklifest darts between the Hippogrifs legs, giving it a deep stab wound.
Rico: The Hippogrif eyes the cookie wearily.
It looks like it doesnt find it appetizing at all.
May Flower: The feed sails over the Hippogrifs head. It follows it with its eyes for a second. But the elf in front of it proves a bigger threat, and it wont be distracted.
Hippogrifs: Having been hurt by Raziqs scimitar, blue goes on the offensive.
Red goes for the same approach: Hurts that which hurt you and attacks Araklifest.
Round 2
Initiative
May
Raziq
Rico
Araklifest
Hippogriffs
Gorrec
Gorrec's turn.
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After Araklifests first attack the hippogrif was still be able to land a second bite attack on him. Fortunately both his claw attacks missed! Although seriously wounded, he feels supported by May Flower and her companion and attacks the hippogrif again, now flanking while the attention from the hippogrif is focused on his new attackers..
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"Is it another of those days that people are trying to cut you up?Are Half-Orcs shouting at you each time that you pass by? A day full of negative experiences? Well, now there is a solution to counter these negative vibes in an instant. Introducing the ultimate comfort food, the Sum Ting Wong. Eating this cream filled cookie instantly lifts the spirit AND... did I hear ZERO CALORIES!?! Order today!"
Gorrec: The dragon roar seems to scare the Hippogriff.
Mayflower and Araklifest: with presicion teamwork, the red Hippogriff bites the dust.
Rico: Again the Hippogrif eyes the cookie wearily.
It gobbles it up, nearly taking one of Rico's fingers too.
Round 3
Raziq: luck is again not with Raziq and both his attacks miss.
Hippogrif: The hippogriff goes for Rico, might be that there are more cookies to be had.
Initiative
May
Raziq
Rico
Araklifest
Hippogriffs
Gorrec
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Rico swats at the Hippogriff for trying to eat his fingers.
"Bad boy, eat the cookie, not the hand that feeds you. No more cookies for you!"
for
Rico then 5ft steps behind Raziq, draws out his wand of CLW, and taps Raziq with it.
"It seems those wounds of you have cut into your accuracy. Here, let me help you."