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Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng's appearance in the middle of the night is surprising only due to his unfamiliar accomplice, a burly man dressed in full Isgeri military trappings.
"Pardon the intrusion," Drandle says as he juggles the numerous scrolls and writing materials precariously balanced in his arms, "but I have a request that is of utmost importance to ask of all you. I'm afraid we have something of a situation on our hands. It is perhaps well known among the Pathfinder Society that trade is vital to our organization. Not for any monetary gain, of course, but because we rely heavily on overland caravan routes and trading lanes at sea to get important documents, treasures, and personnel from central Avistan to the Inner Sea. When such materials are of particular import, we have even been known to use more illicit modes of transportation, such as caravans operated by the Sczarni organized crime syndicate."
"It appears that a number of such Sczarni caravans, carrying important cargo for delivery to the Pathfinder Society, have recently begun to go missing along their more discreet trade routes from Cheliax to Druma, a little-known path that runs through the Chitterwood in Isger. Of course, the route along the Conerica River would be viable for more legitimate operations, but oftentimes we can't afford to be forestalled with matters such as customs, tariffs, and inspectors, especially when such hindrances could also potentially result in the arrest of our business partners. Alas, I digress. I have agreed to work with the local Sczarni leader, Guaril Karela, in order to reclaim the caravan route through Isger's Chitterwood. That's where you come in. I have made all the arrangements necessary to ship you to Isger in the morning, where you'll meet the caravan you are tasked with escorting through the goblinoid-infested woods. In the meantime, I have summoned the honored Isgeri war hero Gaspar Desime to help answer any questions you might have about your upcoming visit to the Chitterwood. Guaril Karela is also available and can answer any questions you have about the caravan you'll be guarding, though I believe he is currently stationed at his shop in the Docks district."
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Dortlin is a straight backed burly Varisian Human with slightly shoddy clothes. He is wearing odd leather armor and holding a Bardiche upright next to him. He smells faintly like a swamp.
Next to him is a massive frog (medium size) which he introduces as Hibbert. Hibbert smells strongly like a swamp.
"Smugglers. So like pirates for land? Save us some time mister Desime, Start by telling us what you think we should know."
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"Oh, goodness! Please not spiders! Perish the thought!"
The Wayang's mask gives away none of his fear, but his voice betrays it all. It grows stronger as he changes the subject.
"No, I have read many reports of goblins and kobolds, and other pests we may encounter. Are you quite sure it is these pests that we must deal with? To cause this much disruption might be the deliberate act of men.. Has anything been taken on previous trips along this route?"
He reassures his companions not to worry about the mask; he will remove it once we are out of town. "I'm sick of that woman asking me to read and file, read and file, at all hours! I do have a life, you know."
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Gaspar Desime answers some of your questions:
"Isger is currently besieged by numerous threats—the undead roam the lands to the north and south of my beloved homeland, while bandits prey on the weak throughout the countryside. What's worse, the Chitterwood itself is still the home to the scattered remains of goblinoid armies, left over from the Goblinblood Wars. If only for your sake, I hope it's merely bandits behind the caravan attacks."
"You will probably face nothing more than bandits, probably relying on the harrowing stories surrounding the Chitterwood to deceive and waylay travelers. Do not be surprised, though, if you encounter a hobgoblin or bugbear. I hear the city of Logas can still maintain a steady supply of fresh goblin heads for the pikes surrounding their walls, so there are apparently plenty of goblinoids to still be found."
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The PCs should have no difficulty in finding Guaril Karela's store, the Pickled Imp, located in Absalom's seedy Docks district.
Karela's curio store seems dark and cramped, regardless of the time of day. The dirty windows block most outside light, leaving the inside of the store permanently encased in shadow. Rows upon rows of shelves filled with knickknacks, baubles, and trinkets — all of varying levels of quality and authenticity — run the length of the store, leaving little room for people to move about.
From somewhere behind the shelves, Karela, acting as shopkeep, shouts a greeting to potential customers as they enter.
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"Certainly. You will only have one wagon to worry about. We do not normally make use of long wagon trains as those are too difficult to protect and too easily noticed."
"I have sent instructions informing the caravan to meet you a few miles south of Logas where I shall have my associate Kazrin meet you. He should be able to direct you to the rendezvous point. From there, the caravan crew will lead you through the Chitterwood. If you don't slow the caravan down, the journey through the Chitterwood should take just over a week."
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Midnar turns to discuss tactis with the group. "We will be on the road a few days. I usually have some offensive magics prepared, just in case, , but if we think we can solve this non-violently I can change that. what do you guys think?"
I'll also swap in create water to make sure we don't have that issue when travelling.
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Karela, he offers each of you a colorful Varisian scarf. He explains that
the scarf will help his informant at Logas spot them, so they should be sure to wear it when they finally arrive in Isger. The PCs then have several hours to prepare for their journey before they board a ship headed toward Andoran in the early morning.
The journey between Absalom and Isger takes several weeks, first by sea and then by land, until finally ending in front of the gates of the Isgeri city of Logas. The Goblinblood Wars may be over, but the goblinoid threat still lingers, as is made apparent by the rows of fresh goblinoid corpses that hang from pikes along the city's walls. Every now and then, seemingly at random, a trebuchet from behind the city walls hurls a huge boulder into the forest.
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Noticing some of your scarves, a Varisian wanderer named Kazrin, leads the PCs to the caravan rendezvous point, several miles south of Logas.
The caravan includes only one large, covered wagon, pulled by a single horse. Kazrin introduces the PCs to the rest of the caravan crew: two more Varisians — the driver, a middle-aged man named Jandri and a guard, a young woman known as Alik — as well as their halfling passenger, Camon. Kazrin serves as an additional guard.
There is evidence of the war everywhere—discarded and rusted armor and weaponry, numerous displaced trebuchet-hurled boulders, and occasionally the remains of a hunter's trap, only recently triggered by an unfortunate forest animal. Even in the light of day, the blackened trunks of the Chitterwood trees, still bearing the scars of the great fire that marked the end of the Goblinblood Wars, loom menacingly over the narrow forest path. Eventually, the thud and crash of boulders launched from Logas can no longer be heard. Even the sun struggles to penetrate through the canopy at times, leaving dark pools of shadow stretched across the path.
Jandri and Alik say little throughout the day, only speaking when they need to issue an order. Kazrin more than makes up for his companions' somberness, though, telling numerous jokes and the occasional Varisian legend as the caravan winds through the woods.
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This being one of his first experiences in the real outdoors, Midnar doesn't pick up on any of the more subtle messages given.
He enjoys the trip, removing his mask and spending most of the time laughing at the Halfling's jokes and comparing different versions of the legends they've heard.
"Do you play any instruments perchance?" he asks of Kazrin.
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"I never did take up any instrument, and I can't say I know much about goblin tactics either."
As the caravan approaches a crossroads, some skeletal undead who were waiting in ambush burst out of hiding to attack.
The largest of the skeletons rushes out and claws Selethe.
Camon hides in the wagon.
The other skeletons charge forward with broken scimitars, but Hibbert manages to grab one with his tongue before it gets close. One misses Selethe while the other manages to scratch Spark.
BS (charged)
Camon
HS2 (charged)
HS1 (charged, grappled)
HS3 (charged)
<===UP! (Single Action Only)
<===UP! (Single Action Only)
Alik (surprised)
<===UP! (Single Action Only)
Kazrin (surprised)
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The combined attacks of Midnar and Selethe cause the skeleton to crumble.
Camon, hides in the wagon.
The skeleton grappled by Hibbert tries to slash at his captor. It manages a small gash in the frog's hide.
BS
Camon
HS1 (grappled)
<===UP!
<===UP!
HS3 (charged)
Alik (flat-footed)
Kazrin (flat-footed)
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"What are these things?"
Dortlin
Dortlin will take a 5ft step back from enemy #1. Seeing that attacks don't do full damage he will use a swift action to gain Animal Focus: Bull for +2 Str. As his already bulky frame gets a bit more muscular he will attack enemy #1.
Hibbert