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Mendev’s Pathfinder lodge in the capital city of Nerosyan is housed within Starrise Spire, a defensive tower in the outer wall whose pinnacle glows with celestial light that shines out like a beacon, simultaneously giving comfort to Nerosyan’s defenders and acting as a warning to any who might wish the city harm.
Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury calls a short meeting on a covered balcony overlooking the city. A middle-aged Mwangi man with greying hair, he closes the door to the spire’s interior and takes a seat in one of the set-up camp chairs, gesturing for his guests to do the same.
“We Pathfinders of Mendev,” he states, making a sweeping hand gesture that encompasses everyone present, “have our own agendas, but these must sometimes give way to the greater need: the protection of this land and its people from the horrors that dwell in the Worldwound.
“We are here by the grace of her majesty, Queen Galfrey of Mendev. Without her support, we would surely be run out of town by Hulrun’s more fervent followers. Our agreement with her states that all Pathfinders are required to volunteer some of their time in the defense of the realm. As relative newcomers, I’ve recommended you to take part in a minor military mission under the command of a veteran crusader named Sir Ilivan of Erages. Although he is not a Pathfinder, you would be wise to follow his advice, as he has been fighting the Abyssal spawn longer than some of you have been alive. I expect you will give him the respect he deserves.”
Venture-Captain Jorsal stands and opens the heavy wooden door leading back into the lodge, revealing a tall half-elven man clad in heavy plate armor, wearing a red tabard typical of the Mendevian Crusaders, and carrying a cavalry helmet in his left hand. He gives a professional nod to Jorsal before striding to the front of the group, surveying everyone with poorly disguised disappointment.
“Pathfinders,” he barks in quick staccato without further preamble, “our mission is simple. The recent attacks on the wardstones have compromised our defenses, and the enemy presses its advantage. We have received word of attacks on Fort Portolmaeus to the north, but the crusader leadership suspects that other parts of the line may have been breached as well. We will proceed to Fort Portolmaeus tomorrow morning on horseback to assess the damage, using the passphrase ‘That the Black Prince might be redeemed’ to permit us entry. On the way there, we will scout for enemy movements and other signs of demon activity. Once we have completed our assessment, we are to return to Nerosyan and you will be relieved of your obligations to the Crown. Do
you have any questions?”
You would be wise to follow my orders. Sir Ilivan states, to which Sir Lauterbury adds Our contract with Queen Galfrey requires you serve faithfully. While this does not explicitly state that you must follow orders to the letter, ensure that you don’t recklessly threaten the mission or the lives of other crusaders with your actions. If you have an objection, voice it; crusaders arrive from all backgrounds, but they are united by a common cause and a faith in good.
Alvin looks slightly displeased at this nuance, but continues on the topic of creatures: Since the last major attack, the demonic armies have retreated into the Worldwound’s interior. We will most likely face minor demons sent to test the current efficacy of the wardstones. Expect dretches, brimoraks, and possibly schirs.
The half-elven soldier was a smuggler on Lake Encarthan before joining the Mendevian Crusades, a fact he is not ashamed to admit. Sir Ilivan rose from the ranks of the enlisted to become an officer and was knighted by Queen Galfrey.
The knight hails from the half-elven settlement of Erages in Kyonin, where he had to endure prejudice and segregation throughout his youth. He later joined Kyonin’s military, but ultimately left his homeland after being discharged from this military for striking an elven officer.
Sir Ilivan has become increasingly distant in the past few years due to the horrors endured by all soldiers who fight in the Mendevian Crusades. His most devastating experience involved killing a number of fellow soldiers while he was demonically possessed.
The Mendevian Crusades began almost a century ago when a rift to the Abyss opened in the barbarian kingdom of Sarkoris. The church of the goddess Iomedae called the First Crusade, and it was largely a success.
The wardstones are magical menhirs of tremendous power first built during the Second Crusade. They project a powerful field capable of destroying all but the most powerful demons. Built near the banks of the West Sellen and Moutray Rivers, they stopped the expansion of the Worldwound until very recently.
Sir Ilivan shakes his head for a moment, and shudders in horror.
They are resistant to most metals, except for cold iron. They each have their Abyssal abilities: striking fear among ranks, rapidly summoning their brethren, to far, far worse horrors.
Dark Archive faction members should keep and eye out for the strengths and weaknesses of Mendev's defences.
Establish one or more underground contacts in Mendev.
After the adventurers have manages to procure their supplies (for some reason cold iron weapons are sold a lot in the city) Sir Ilivan leads the pathfinder patrol out of the city, and along the River Road a normally well-used thoroughfare that follows the eastern bank of the West Sellen River. It remains within sight of the river throughout most of the journey, until it briefly veers inland. It seems the party and Sir Ilivan are the only travelers along this route today.
Sir Ilivan turns off of the River Road onto a small, overgrown path that cuts through drooping evergreens. Up ahead is an abandoned village. The enemy uses it as a staging ground.
He dismounts and ties his mare to a tree. ()
He leads the adventurers as quietly as he can up a nearby hill dotted with gnarled apple trees. Just before reaching the top of the hill, he motions for the party members to drop prone and crawl the rest of the way.
An abandoned village lies at the foot of the hill on the banks of the West Sellen River, its decaying structures slowly melting back into the landscape. Between the hill and the village proper lie flooded fields sectioned off by raised, earthen walkways that converge on a larger, dry area.
A group of six mendevian commoners are here: four of them are standing holding threshes, spades and pitchforks, while two more lie on the floor in obvious pain, beleaguered as they are by the standing villagers. A heap of bodies lie nearly, and as the party looks on, one of them seems to be rising from the dead.
The rising corpse smell of Abyssal influence. A type of demon known as a Vermlek can inhabit corpses, wearing them as bodies.
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A short creature steps forward dressed in a black and grey O-yori complete with a snarling lion face mask. He bows to Sir Ilivan, "They call me Shadow Lion andI was present in Mendev when the wardstones failed. I am prepared to fight the demons once again and it will be an honor to follow you on this mission. I shall fetch my mount as the others equip themselves with the necessary weaponry." As the group prepares to leave the city Shadow Lion rides up on a tan boar his banner with the glyph of the open road flapping in the breeze.
When Sir Ilivan signals to dismount Shadow Lion complies, but does not tie his boar up. He follows along with the crusader and simply squats down instead of crawling given his small stature. Shadow Lion looks over at Sir Ilivan after taking in the scene before him. He whispers, "What should we do sir."
These torturers are probably just evil cultists Sir Ilivan says with a cold stare.
Helping these commoners is not part of our mission, he says with a complete lack of empathy, crawl back down and to the horse, and we'll continue our path.
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Oleander looks aghast.
"We cannot just leave people being tortured to death. This is what the crusade stands against. Even though they are human, they at least deserve a quick and clean death. Otherwise what difference is there between us and the demons?"
<- +1 if he is actually hostile, not that it will make much of a difference.
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As Mordack fires off his spell, Shadow Lion whistles for his boar. He addresses sir Ilivan as he waits for his mount. "I understand that you have a mission to complete and we are to assist you. However our honor will not allow us to leave the helpless to die. I ask you to reconsider your actions for honors sake."
Mordack fires off his magic missile, while Shadow Lion signals for apples. The magic missile hits the recently risen peasant, but dissipates without effect.
Sir Ilivan grumbles. Go ahead, do what you must. he says, but with somewhat less resolve than before.
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Shadow Lion
Apples
Mordack
Jasmine
Oleander
Thaddaeus
Cortica
---
Peasant - Red
Peasant - Orange
Peasant - Blue
Peasant - Purple
Peasant - Black
Peasant - Gray
Definitely not a peasant - Green
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Jasmine lands a crossbow bolt into the newly animated peasant. Though the bolt is a solid hit, it seems to cause only minimal bleeding. Oleander hits the 'undead' peasant as well, but the arrow seems to have no effect at all. Her other arrow is a solid hit, and kills the torturing peasant in one blow.
Corsica's arrow bounces off the peasant - its skin seems unnaturally tough, while Thaddaeus' attack misses altogether.
The peasant cross the swampy land, and move to the same hill as the adventurers.
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Shadow Lion
Apples
Mordack
Jasmine
Oleander
Thaddaeus
Cortica
---
Peasant - Orange
Peasant - Blue
Peasant - Purple
Peasant - Black (prone)
Peasant - Gray (prone)
Definitely not a peasant - Green (1)
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I thought my aim was good, I even saw it hit the thing square in the shoulder. Usually there is more blood when I hit such a area. Hmmm, what the hell is that thing
Jasmine reloads her crossbow, this time with a cold-iron tipped bolt, and takes aim at the "risen" creature again.
I doubt undead are hurt by cold iron, but my normal bolt did squat, here goes nothing, as she lets the bolt fly.
Oleander is bothered by the crosswinds, but Jasmine lands a bolt solidly in the chest of the peasant, and it screams in pain as the cold iron tip embed itself into the flesh of the man.
Shadow Lion rushes into the fray, with Thaddaeus in tow.
Mordack tries another spell, and this time the missiles do have effect: the peasant is thrown back twice on each impact.
One of the peasant hacks with a scythe at Shadow Lion
Two of the peasant move a bit, then halt to send forth a burst of negative energy, covering the advance guard (). The front most peasant in the group persishes in a scream of agony.
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Shadow Lion
Apples
Mordack
Jasmine
Oleander
Thaddaeus
Cortica
---
Peasant - Blue
Peasant - Purple
Peasant - Black (prone)
Peasant - Gray (prone)
Definitely not a peasant - Green (15)
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As the wave of energy rushes forward Shadow quickly shifts something deep inside him, allowing the dark energies to harmlessly wash over him.
Apples attempts the gore the peasant with the scythe before taking a step back.
After Apples opens a gap, Shadow drives his spear at the peasant again focusing on power over accuracy.
The peasant just stepped right in there, ignoring the threat of Shadow Lion's lance. He does so with such determination that Shadow Lion misses the man. Overall, the peasant even seems to heal a bit after the dark energy washed over him.
Apples tries to gore the man, but again he seems oddly resistant, as if his skin is much tougher than usual. There's no defending against Shadow Lion's lance, though, which the wayang drives through the peasant's chest. Shadow Lion knows it should have killed the man, but it didn't.
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Shadow Lion
Apples
Mordack
Jasmine
Oleander
Thaddaeus
Cortica
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Peasant - Blue
Peasant - Purple
Definitely not a peasant - Green (20)
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Oleander fires two arrows at the peasant. The first one - the silver-tipped one - hits the peasant without causing any harm to him, while the second doesn't even penetrate the skin of the peasant.
Mordack launches more missiles, and again his sorcerous might is strong enough to overcome the profane resistance the creature seems to have.
Corsica steps up, trying to impale the risen monster, but her stab goes wide.
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Shadow Lion
Apples
Mordack
Jasmine
Oleander
Thaddaeus
Cortica
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Not a peasant - Blue (8)
Peasant - Purple
Definitely not a peasant - Green (20)
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Jasmine fires two shots at the peasant, who screams both times as the bolt burn their way through his skin. Finally, Thaddaeus slice at the peasant, brings him down, and looks on as the flesh of the peasant is shredded, revealing a worm-like creature inside.
Vermleks Sir Ilivan mutters. Foul demons, they inhabit the bodies of the dead. Still, the crusader does not move.
The risen peasant sheds his skin, eating away most of it, while the other moves to attack Cortica, clumsily.
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Shadow Lion
Apples
Mordack
Jasmine
Oleander
Thaddaeus
Cortica
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Vermlek - Purple
Vermlek - Green (11)
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