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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 (Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Master of Scrolls) 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.
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.
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A tall, slender elf pushes the cowl of this travel cloak back to reveal long brown hair tied back in a braided pig tail. He has intelligent gray green eyes and wears a slight smile.
"Well met, Forric and Janira." "Giladref the humble traveler, at your service." "I love to explore and find new wonders and am very excited for this opportunity." "It is indeed fascinating to be at the beginning, Master Kreighton, the societies birthplace and birth of our pathfinder endeavors."
He pauses and you think he is through talking and then he continues, "Oh, and I know a little magic."
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An oily looking man introduces himself as Theophilus Flink, entrepeneur while he lazily flicks crumbs and other bits of detritus, waiting for Master Kreighton to get to the good part. But when Kreighton and Janira stop talking
Hey wait a minute, that briefing didn't have the words "treasure," "horde," "loot," or even "shiny!" We're just supposed to map out some caves? Gillmen at least have some sorta notions of property or burying themselves with their treasures or something, right?
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A halfling dressed in brown studded-leather armor looks around at his new companions. He nods at the dwarf, but seems less thrilled at the taller races.
"Great...I'm going to get a kink in my neck looking up at all these longshanks. Anyway, I'm Mouser Lowhill, swashbuckler extraordinaire. I guess you're probably going to want me to do all the hard stuff. Fine."
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A lithe avian-like figure sporting deep purple bell-bottoms that flare out, exposing sharp talons, and a gold and purple leather jacket decorated with golden filigree groggily gets up from amongst the revelers. Taking his time to stretch his arms out and a swig of amber liquid from the closest glass within reach, he scans the room of all the newcomers. "Well, luvs, what was all that about? And who was that wanker that got all high-and-mighty on the table, disturbing my peace?"
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Beaks, I'm all for productive sloth, but you gotta learn the principals around here if you're gonna make best use of your opportunities.
Mr. absent-minded-elfy-pants was Kreighton Shaine, Master of Scrolls. Unless you're normally in the Pig's Paunch before dawn, and if so you might want to turn your life around anyways, you probably got an invite from him.
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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!”
"I love food. One of the reasons I became a pathfinder was to go to exotic places and try the food there! My family still lives here in Absalom, but did runs a delivery business here!"
She pauses, realising she has not said much about her Pathfinder credentials.
"I've trained with all the masters. Mostly with Kreighton Shaine though!"
Looking around the rest of the group she says "Tell me a bit about you."
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Giladref looks around and says, "Well, I am originally from Magnimar where my mother and two sisters live. I trained and work there, but left to see the world."
"For the society, I did some work in Taldor at a library. Plus, I worked here in Absalom most recently stopping an Aspis Consortium drug ring."
"As for why I want the pathfinder life, I like to travel and see new places." Again you think he might be through but he continues. "And the treasure is a nice benefit."
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As if noticing for the first time that their leader for this mission is a fellow halfling, Mouser brightens up.
"It is good to see the Pathfinders value us normal-sized people as much as our over-sized fellows," the halfling says to Janira. "Congratulations on your position and hard work."
He frowns as he discusses his reasons for joining the Pathfinders. "My family has been enslaved in Cheliax for generations. I escaped our oppressive human overlords through skill and daring, and now I am looking for a path to freedom for my family. What better place than the Pathfinders, right?"
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With a sardonic smile I'm an oppressive human overlord who is constantly thwarted by the skill and daring of plucky slips. Nah, I'm no Chel. I'm just a Korvosan dancer with a few more tricks than most. I'd rather hop down a crypt for the treasure than scratch a living off of careless nobs - after all, the crypts usually have better treasure, and fewer upset family members!
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While reorganizing his backpack to accomodate Theophilus' gear, Forric hesitantly offers up some information about himself.
"I hail from Rolgrimmdur in the Five Kings Mountains, though my reason for leaving there is best left unsaid. I eventually ended up in the service of the Taldan noblewoman Lady Gloriana Morilla, and she had me join a group of Pathfinders in testing the security of a Sun Orchid Elixir caravan. The mission was a succes, and now I'm here to earn my full membership in the Pathfinder Society."
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"Well met Mouser and Theo. May I call you Theo? Theophilus sounds so formal. It seems our two remaining team members might be a little shy. Tell me, mister crow, sir, do you really want us to refer to you as 'Beaks'? And you, sir, I don't believe you have said anything at all. Giladref turns to the other tough looking human. "I can't speak for our crow friend, but I assure you I don't bite'
"And you, Mouser, whether we be normal sized or over-sized, we are members of a team. And as a member you have my pledge to help as I can and to share the load." "Although carrying your equipment is not my forte."
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“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.”
She looks around "Any further questions?"
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Beaks, I'm all for productive sloth, but you gotta learn the principals around here if you're gonna make best use of your opportunities.
Mr. absent-minded-elfy-pants was Kreighton Shaine, Master of Scrolls. Unless you're normally in the Pig's Paunch before dawn, and if so you might want to turn your life around anyways, you probably got an invite from him.
"Blimey! I guess logic and perception isn't high on the entry criteria for pathfinders then, is it luv? I've been here all night entertaining the crowd with Scarlet here, waiting for this lot to show," as he holds up his axe and jams a short riff. "But by principles, you mean a bit like yourself here by leaving all those crumblies on your shirt there?"
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"Well met Mouser and Theo. May I call you Theo? Theophilus sounds so formal. It seems our two remaining team members might be a little shy. Tell me, mister crow, sir, do you really want us to refer to you as 'Beaks'? And you, sir, I don't believe you have said anything at all. Giladref turns to the other tough looking human. "I can't speak for our crow friend, but I assure you I don't bite'
"And you, Mouser, whether we be normal sized or over-sized, we are members of a team. And as a member you have my pledge to help as I can and to share the load." "Although carrying your equipment is not my forte."
"No need for formalities. The Black Crow will do. But if you insist, the Legendary Black Crow is just fine," the Black Crow responds dryly.
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"Very funny, Theo." Smiling at Theophilus.
"But I think Gillmen are the least of our worries. The mountains have tribes of centaurs, minotaurs and lots of harpies reported to be living in them."
"Janira, do you know of any such tribal activity in the area?" "Plus, I have dealt with swarming insects and such, but I have never dealt with oozes, can you help with tactics for them?" "Caves could be a likely place for oozes." "Do you have any equipment/weapons you suggest?"
After a pause in which you believe he is finished, he adds, "or spells that are good to prepare."
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Janria looks pleased at the flood of question.
“You are right about the creatures of the moutnains. 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.”
Turning to Theo she adds "Iknow what you’re thinking, but I have no
reason to believe the gillmen activity has anything to do with lycanthropy.”
"As for oozes... I've never met one, but I understand that mind affecting spells like color spray are not too good against them."
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“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.”
She points to Giladref "You raise a good point about swarms. They can be nasty, sometimes it is best to just run away from them. But if you have alchemists fire..." she pulls out a carefully wrapped vial from her pack "You can often disperse them."
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"I have something that'll work a treat on oozes, Giladref. I had an alchemist mix up a concoction I used to use back in my tunnel-fighting days."
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Janira leads you through Absalom and across the Cairlands.
The journey through the City at the Center of the World is swift and without incident. Janirva waves at another halfling with a dog cart piled high with boxes. "My dad!" she says proudly. During the long trek across the Cairnlands she points out a variety of unusual plants and animals
She points out one particular old siege tower "That is the Red Redoubt. We should avoid it, I've heard there are bandits living there."
You set up camp late in the evening at the edge of a forest and have a reasonable nights rest. No rain, no raid, lots of raisins and rest.
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Giladref takes the concoction from Forric, and smells it, dips in a strange piece of paper and examines the result.
"Yes, that is ingenious, using an alkali base to counter the natural acidity of an ooze. This would definitely ruin the day of an ooze (if they were intelligent enough to know what time was)." "It is kind of like using salt on a slug."
Giladref then hands it back to Forric thanking him.
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Theophilus doesn't do any additional prep before their nice woodsy walk, though he does keep up a steady stream of complaints, the only relevant content he mentions is that he's not worried about swarms, After all, except for the very nastiest, I can deal with 'em by just using my head. And some spare objects...
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Janira once again reminds you this is your Confirmation so you are expected to take a lot of notes to write up later. The group then heads into the nearby forest and starts heading upwards. Janira shows off her Wayfinder.
“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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“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.”She points to Giladref "You raise a good point about swarms. They can be nasty, sometimes it is best to just run away from them. But if you have alchemists fire..." she pulls out a carefully wrapped vial from her pack "You can often disperse them."
The Black Crow will purchase 2 flasks of acid before heading out.
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"The wayfinder always points north" says Janira. "And can provide light as well. You wouldn't believe how helpful that can be."
Suddenly you realize the forest has grown quiet around you, nearby there is a sudden howl.
Plus 0 when not underground
Status, bold may post
Stonelance
beasties
Gildref
Mouser
Black Crow
Forric
Theophilus
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Sonelance fires off a quick shot but the wolf dodges it.
From the left one dashes in to try and have a bite of Tengu for breakfast.
But The Black Crow is ready and avoids its jaws.
From the right another wolf charges in, but doesn't have a chance to bite.
Janira starts to tell you all about some historic pathfinders.
“Let us remember the sacrifice of the fabled Yasmin bint Faroud, favored of the Ten, who gave her life distracting Zythrustianax, draconic scourge of the Society, so dozens of junior agents could survive. Her act of benevolence is the epitome of cooperation within
the Society.”
Status, bold may post (inspire courage +1 to hit and damage)
Gildref
Mouser
Black Crow
Forric
Theophilus
Stonelance
beasties
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Giladref knows these are wolves who will try and knock you to the ground if they get near you.
Forric knocks one of their heads clean from the body with his axe. Theo almost does the same, but his wolf is tough and is still up.
Stonelance, Mouser and The crow then calmly drills the wolf with a crossbow bolt, rapier and axe and then all is quiet.
"Well done everyone!" gushes Janira? "Is anyone wounded?"
After assuring her the only casualties where the wolves, the group heads onward.
As you continue to travel through the wilderness, you find trails blocked by fallen objects, shortcuts overgrown, and other minor delays that cost time.