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A blast of cold wind—the biting chill of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords— rushes into the tent, ruffling scattered papers but not Marcos Farabellus. The Pathfinder Society’s Master of Swords stares intently at a map of the western Worldwound, eyeing wooden playing pieces placed at strategic locations.
“Quite a party we’ve started up here. Did you know they’re calling all this ruckus the Army of the Open Road?” Farabellus asks, never raising his eyes from the map laid out before him. “Well, now it looks like this army is finally ready to move on Jormurdun, the lost Sky Citadel of the dwarves.”
“In case you hadn’t heard, I’ve been appointed warmaster of this growing army of ours. The Decemvirate has politely asked me to knock on Jormurdun’s door and see who answers. The problem is, the walk there is going to take weeks and we know there’re some unwelcome residents already in the region.” Farabellus points to a group of crimson-stained wooden tokens at the north-western edge of the Worldwound that stand opposed to the tokens of the Society’s forces. “It looks like the Society’s latest adversaries, that deceitful cur Tancred Desimire and the two-faced former Venture-Captain Thurl, have assembled an expedition of their own—and positioned it right in our path.”
Slamming his fist down in a sudden movement that cracks the table, Farabellus sends wooden pieces flying about the tent’s interior. “I’m done with these two meddlers. The demonologist and the traitor are to be brought to justice. But first, we must reach Jormurdun before they do. To that end, I need your assistance in rallying our armies and getting us to the entrance of the Sky Citadel. All our senior agents are out in the field tracking Tancred and Thurl, so I’m promoting you to act as field commanders for the battles ahead. Our allies are waiting to meet with us. Any questions?”
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Filios leans back onto two legs in the field chair that he occupies. His arms are crossed, and a smirk appears on his visage. he is tall and well-muscled for an elf, and a finely crafted Elven Curveblade and Composite Longbow are crossed in sheathes on his back.
Seems pretty simple. Lead the troops to the entrance. I'm in, and Master of Swords, thanks for the promotion.
He winks and nods at Marcos Farabellus.
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A halfling in dapper cloth armor and messy dark hair balances a mithral dagger on his finger while leaning against a table off to the side in the tent. "Army of the Open Road?" he sneers, smirking at the name. "You expect me to lead an army? Seems something more suited for my dear brother. Turns out I've made some allies that have made the trip up to Mendev. I'll check in with them and see if they can hear me, even if they have trouble seeing me. Might be that stilts will do the trick...."
The halfling tosses his knife into the air, catches it, and slides it back into its sheath in one ceaseless motion. "Bartholomew Roberts Flaxseed, called 'Black Bart' by my dear loving brothers-I'm the black sheep of the family, you see-but just 'Bart' will do, if you don't mind."
He turns to the Venture-Captain, "Or will it be Commander Bart or Captain Bart or General Bart or something of that ilk after this? Boy, won't that just eat Henry up inside... me, the general of an army..."
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A dark-skinned Qadira woman, familiar to all present, stands in the tend with a look of grim determination painted on her face much like the warpaint painted on a kellid warrior.
Her usual bright orange and blue colors are accented with thick furs appropriate for this northern climate.
"Mas... err, Warmaster Farabellus..."
The woman stumbles a bit with her words, unused to the new title of the Society's master of swords.
"As I am sure you are well aware, I get around with the various agents of the Society and am well acquainted with many of the units outside in the camp."
Kyra takes a step back and pushes the tent open to gaze at the assembled armies.
"However, I am curious why we would need to engage these armies at all. Do we not already know the location at Jormurdun? Would it not be better for a small, elite unit to simply be dispatched to deal with Tancred and Thurl directly versus risk the loss of precious Society lives and the lives of our allies in a needless conflict?"
Kyra fidgets with her holy symbol a bit as she expresses her concern for wading into a needless conflict.
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Kuraishimo nods, his breath icing over as it leaves his mouth.
"Ollysta Zadrian has dispatched me to help and as I always, I will do my best."
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"As I've said, dear girl, our senior agents are already in the field looking for Desimire and the traitor Thurl. We need to wipe their armies that stand between us and Jormurdun - they are trying to beat us to it. Our goal isn't to sent one team of Pathfinders inside the Sky Citadel, but hundreds of teams. We need that access secured, and for that, we need you. Am I clear enough?"
Hoping for a polite silence, Farabellus continues.
"Follow me, the war council is gathering as we speak."
Farabellus brings you to a much larger tent amidst the Society’s encampment. Within stand rows of benches and a massive wooden table adorned with token-strewn maps like those in Farabellus’s tent. Dozens of people already mill about, moving to sit as Farabellus enters. The Master of Swords pays little heed to the other attendants as he gestures for you to take a seat at one of the front-row benches. Once you are all seated, Farabellus addresses the occupants.
“Friends and allies, I thank you all for coming to this most important of war councils. Our forces stand ready to march out from the Realm of the Mammoth Lords and into the treacherous terrain of the Worldwound, in search of Jormurdun. Know that this journey will not be easy, as dangerous enemies rest in our path.”
Warmaster Farabellus moves so all in attendance can see the map in the center of the chamber. Pointing at a group of tokens inscribed with demonic runes situated due east of the Society’s encampment, he continues. “Our first mission is to move out from this encampment and secure the region south of the Wolfcrags, where we know Jormurdun to be located. To ensure we are not flanked, we’ll need to destroy any enemy formations within the region around Silvershore, an abandoned town that the fiends are using as a base of operations.”
Knocking over demon-marked tokens with a wave of his arm, Farabellus haphazardly shoves the various tokens of the Society’s army into the region previously indicated. “With this region obtained, we’ll be well positioned to engage whatever Tancred and Thurl have waiting for us in the Wolfcrags. We’ll use the region around Silvershore as a forward command post and move north towards Jormurdun.”
“To ensure our success, I’m appointing my best agents as field commanders for the engagements to come. They’ll be leading our specialist units in crushing enemy resistance. They’ve not yet had a chance to select what units they’ll be leading directly, but I leave the decision in their hands. Please assist them by answering any questions you have about your formations and capabilities.” With a nod, Farabellus looks over the assembled room, “This is it, everyone. This is the day we find Jormurdun and make Tancred and Thurl pay for their many treacheries.”
With his speech complete, Farabellus walks over to you. "You should meet with the various leaders here, get familiar with them. Ultimately, you'll also have to decide which formation you'll personally lead into battle."
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The lakeside settlement of Silvershore was once a thriving fishing town. Silvershore had the lucrative privilege of supplying a massive, floating pleasure palace known as the House of Reflections that floated near the middle of the lake. Many believe that the House of Reflections has become haunted and extremely dangerous. Scouts report that Silvershore is now fortified and serves as an outpost for demons.
By capturing Silvershore, the Society will not only eliminate an enemy stronghold but also secure a defensible forward camp. It can use this camp for its march on Jormurdun through passes in the Wolfcrags to the north. Cultists and murderers loyal to Tancred Desimire teem throughout the area.
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As each of you takes command of your respective army, a sense of greatness empowers you. A mass of soldiers, wizards, siege weapons specialists ranging from Kyonin to far Rahadoum is amassed at your feet, ready to obey your orders but also looking up to you with impressive faith. Some of you may feel humbled by this, others will revel in this power. However, those personal feelings are short-lived, for you soon need to make a move into the Worldwound, hoping to catch the defenders of Silvershore unawares. The warhorn blows the charge!
Initiative order - Movement phase - day 1
>>>Kuraishimo
Cultists 1, 2, 3 & 4
Filios
Cultists 5
Titus
Cultists 6
Bart & Kyra
Tieflings
Kuraishimo can move his army!
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The cultists sweep across the land with alacrity, eager to dip their war razors with fresh Mendevian blood. However, none manage to reach Kuraishimo's valiant warpriests yet.
Initiative order - Movement phase - day 1
Kuraishimo
Cultists 1, 2, 3 & 4
>>>Filios
Cultists 5
Titus
Cultists 6
Bart & Kyra
Tieflings
Filios can move his army!
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The southernmost cultists head north, ready to meet Filios's troops in battle on the next day unless a mammoth charge halts them there and then.
Initiative order - Movement phase - day 1
Kuraishimo
Cultists 1, 2, 3 & 4
Filios
Cultists 5
>>>Titus
Cultists 6
Bart & Kyra
Tieflings
Titus can move his army!
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Spells are flung from afar, and some cultists fall to the might of the Riftwardens.
Seeing that they're facing impossible odds against experienced spellcasters and huge mammoths, the cultists break ranks and flee! However, before they can get very far and regroup, the Riftwardens wipe them out utterly and completely.
The first day of battle ends with no casualty for the Army of the Open Road, whereas fear is instilled in the cultists' dark hearts.
The first army of cultists, disheartened by the quick defeat of their allies, withdraws to the northeast, seeking to regroup with two other incoming armies.
Day 2, Movement phase
Cultists 1 (NE, NE)
>>>Titus, Filios, Kuraishimo, Bart
Cultists 2, 3, 4, 6
Kyra
Tieflings
Everyone except Kyra can move their army!
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The armies of cultists move forward as well. One of their northern armies engages Bart's Elven Uprooters, whereas one of the southern ones charge the Riftwardens, expecting the spellcasters to meet in battle.
Day 2, Movement phase
Cultists 1
Titus, Filios, Kuraishimo, Bart
Cultists 2, 3, 4, 6
>>>Kyra
Tieflings
Kyra can move her army!
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Kyra, hot off her recent victory alongside Titus, feels the rush of excitement coursing through her veins that no doubt coursed through her Qadiran forebears as they squared off in their repeated battles with Taldor.
"Riftwardens! To the northeast! Keep with the mammoths!"
Marching ahead another day, the Riftwardens crest a hill and charge down it alongside their mammoth-riding friends towards another group of demon-worshipping cultists.
Kyra herself loses herself in the charge, letting loose a Qadiran battlecry as she closes.
"Ayye-yaai-yaai-yeee!"
Kyra, normally one to offer a fleeing foe quarter, is unable to convey her orders to the other Riftwardens, who target the retreating cultists with dozens of magics aimed at the destruction of evil.
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Two battles take place this day: the second cultists' army faces Bart's Elven Uprooters, and the fourth cultists' army faces Kyra's Riftwardens and Titus's Mammoth Riders.
The Riftwarden spells inflict heavy losses on the cultist's side, causing many of them to fall before they even reached melee ranged. However, unlike the day before, the cultists press on to get their revenge on the Riftwardens.
Likewise, the Elven Uprooters manage to bring down many cultists before the swords clang and the battle proper begins.
The cultists all seem to adopt a very offensive move, trying to take their opponent by surprise with sneaky manoeuvers.
Despite the element of surprise, most of the armies under your command remain miraculously unscathed. However, the same cannot be said for the cultists: the Riftwardens banish their dark souls into oblivion, causing the 4th army to fall apart completely. The Elven rangers barely manage to inflict damage in return, and even then, only because the cultists were so reckless in their approach. A volley falls down from the darkened skies, murdering a fair deal of cultists.
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The Elven Uprooters' aim gets much better in the next hour of battle, and their famed marksmanship allows them to wipe their enemy entirely! However this victory costs the ranger many lives.
Another day dawns on the Worldwound border, ripe with promise of bloodshed.
Day 3 - Movement phase
>>>Kuraishimo, Titus, Filios
Cultists 1, 3 & 6
Bart, Kyra
Tieflings
Kuraishimo, Titus and Filios can move their armies!
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Kyra shields her eyes from the sunlight of blessed Sarenrae at the end of the second day before walking over to Titus astride one of the larger mammoths.
"Once again, the armies of good are victorious. Southward?"
As the warrior confirms, Kyra nods solemnly, reveling little in the work she is doing in the 'Wound and relays the command to the Riftwardens, who have proved lucky thus far in the battles.
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The cultists' armies charge into battle. The southernmost army will have to face the victors of the day-Titus and the seemingly invincible Riftwardens-while the northern armies each engage two armies that haven't seen much fighting yet-Filios's dwarves and Kuraishimo's crusaders.
The Sixth cultist army is taken between the proverbial hammer and anvil, charges by mammoth riders as potent spells are flung to them. Enormous balls of flame roast the cultists, leaving only a handful alive for melee combat.
While the Riftwarden assume a defensive position - they don't manage to inflict much damage to their blood-crazed opponents. In fact, the cultists charge through the spellcasters' ranks like a knife in warm butter, hacking and slashing the Riftwarden's throats with their war razors. Luckily, a mighty horn is heard and Titus charges on a gigantic mammoth, followed by the whole Red Winter tribe. The onslaught is brutal, and the cultits are unable to reform ranks to sustain the charge-they're wiped out!
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Filios's pikemen move onto the cultists with various well-chosen (yet ultimately unsubtle) piques, trying to infuriate their enemies.
The elven rangers' opening volley is a complete failure, as the cultists move more quickly than anticipated and are able to raise makeshift shields against the rain of arrows. Seeing Bart's Uprooters retreat, the cultists turn their razor blades to Kuraishimo's Warpriests.
The warpriests empower their great hammers with various spells, and are able to inflict some damage on the first assault.