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 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.
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Though the other Pathfinders are already sitting at the inn, one halfling Pathfinder arrives late.
The blonde-headed male enters the inn like a prize fighter entering the ring.
"Yeah! WOOOOO!!!!! I'm here...we can get started now! WoooooOOOOOO!!!" the halfling moves around the table giving high-fives to everyone, though if any fail to return his offering, he simply ignores the slight or fist-bump's the offender's shoulder.
"YEAH!!!" he says again as he takes his seat. "I'm Hood! But you already knew that, I'm sure!" he says.
"Hope I didn't miss anything."
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Boderus nods as the mission gets explained. Suddenly a halfling rushes in and starts giving people high fives whilst yelling. He holds up his razer sharp claw and grins widely as he comes closer.
"You very sure you want to do that?"
He turns back to the briefing after the encounter.
"Head in, document, investigate and get out. Sounds easy enough."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Boderus is one that Hood skips as he moves around the table, but seems unphased.
"With great claws comes great responsibility, my friend. I expect to see some spectacular things out of those claws on this adventure, but I can see why you are passing on the high five! Claws! How cool is THAT!" he says, sitting in place for just a moment, then jumping back up to pace the floor.
When Theadric shows up Janira laughs. She gives him a high five. "You're energetic! Good!"
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!"
"My name is Janira Gavix, and I joined the Pathfinders about four years ago when I came of age. I grew up in Eastgate, and I'm the oldest of seven. I signed up with the Society to travel the world and taste all the fine foods it had to offer, but I quickly took to the Scrolls and its focus on learning and preserving knowledge. I'm hoping to get published in the Pathfinder Chronicles someday, and become a Pathfinder Chronicler."
"Although I've mostly worked with Master Shaine, I've picked up some tricks from the Master of Swords and the Master of Spells as well. I hope I can pass on a little bit of what they've taught me to you as well! Guess you never grow out of being the biggest sister, huh?" she jokes, straightening her posture to stand at her full height of two feet ten inches. "In any case, I've been on quite a few missions since my own Confirmation, but this is the first time I've been in charge of leading one."
"What about all of you? What made you want to join the Pathfinder Society?" she asks, her eyes kind and expectant as she looks around the would-be Pathfinders before her.
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At the question, S'arkee smiles and points to the symbol of the Sihidron hanging around his neck.
"I wish to spread the word of Lissala and the seven virtues of true rule that had brought civilisation and power, not seen since ancient Azlant." he states quite proudly "I wish to also learn from any Azlanti ruins and purify areas of worship for use in the future to the great mistress of runes."
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Hood continues pacing around the table, though intermittently he takes a random seat before beginning to pace again.
"I'm sure you already know who I am, but I'll say it anyway. I'm Hood, the famous stunt man. He pauses to let it sink in.
"I wanted to join the Pathfinders so that I could show the world what I'm capable of...and, you know...report, cooperate and stuff. I really want to see spectacular, adrenaline-pumping displays from everyone, though!" he says with a broad smile.
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"They offered me to join their ranks, a better spot compared to what I was used to. I joined them so I could lead a bit of a better life, although the skills of my trade are still very useful."
He grins maliciously as he says the last part, his tail swinging from side to side behind him.
He looks at the other two in the group waiting for their responses.
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Xien looks at the halfling and talks directly to her only when tasked to do so.
"I am the second son of a Nagajor defenders family. I was send here to die along with another group of Nagaji as repayment of the Society help back in Tian Xia." Xien gives a complicious look to Hskori "I was told to fulfil my destiny while waiting for that day I will rejoin with Nalinivati."
"There's nothing I know from that place."
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Silas'ra bows to the group of Pathfinders and says, "Honor to your houses. I have traveled from Nagajor to join the Pathfinders on behalf of my lord, Lady Nix'sa."
His red-gold eyes quickly meet the other Nagaji in the room and he continues, "I am surprised but pleased to see so many of my countrymen in attendance. Through sacrifice such as ours will Nagajor remain strong."
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"Hrmm, good questions Xien. I am curious about the number of gillmen seen and the interval between their sightings...why would only one venture forth and why a month between?"
Silas'ra is silent for a moment and then asks Janira, "How many days have passed since your last sighting - are we close to another month since?"
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Hood nods off at the questioning, literally falling asleep on his feet for a moment.
Shaking his head vigorously, he slaps his face to stay awake.
"Why are we still here? Come ON guys...we have an EPIC opportunity to go and do some amazing things!!! What are we WAITING for!?! Let's GO!!!" he says, disappointed in all the chatter.
He starts bouncing up and down on the balls of his small feet, then starts punching the air like a pugilist.
"You're Hskori, aren't you?" Janira asks the late arrival after checking a list. "Want to share something about yourself to the group? Have you been an initiate for the full three years, or did you join the Society through other means like some of your fellow initiates here?"
When asked about the gillmen, Janira seems excited to explain about them. "The gillmen are a humanoid race much like humans save for the three piscine gills on both sides of their necks. They’re a little secretive but not outright hostile. Most live in or near the water. The only known permanent surface settlement of the gillmen is in Escadar. Why they’re venturing into the foothills of the Kortos Mounts is a mystery. That’s exactly what you are being asked to find out. I've only seen a gillman appear there twice, on the occasions I mentioned earlier. Meaning my last sighting was about five months ago."
"Which brings us 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."
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"Wooo!!! Yeah!!! Explore the cave! Got it! We're ON this!!! Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Hood shouts, running in circles around the table now.
S'arkee smiles at the energetic halfling.
"Patience is a virtue, yoing halfling." he states with a smile as he finds him quite amusing. "I do agree, however, that we should make our way and figure out what is going on in this cave. If we're lucky it may be somekind of new home for them, but if not we may uncover something terrible that could threaten the society or possibly the citizens. I do not know much about these Gillmen, but it would be wise not to let our guard down."|
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"I HAVE been patient," Hood responds to S'arkee. "We've been here...what?...five minutes already! Five minutes we could have been exploring caves! Doing stunts! Making things fun!"
He looks at Silas'ra. "See, this guy is ready! Nice swords, by the way! I expect some really awesome displays of martial prowess with those bad boys!"
He moves behind the samurai and starts to push him out the door. "See, he's leaving...what are the rest of you waiting for!?!" he asks.
One obviously doesn't like to talk, and one talks perhaps a bit too much... Ah well!
"Yes, the inhabitants of the local area," Janira explains to Xien. "Centaurs control the lowlands and surrounding wilderness of the Kortos Mounts. The areas farther up the Mounts are controlled by minotaurs, and the icy peaks are home to tribes of harpies. They’re always vying for territory, but with any luck, we should be able to avoid them and reach the caves without conflict."
"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."
"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. Like I said, we should be as prepared as possible."
"Do you have the common adventuring gear such as rope, a light source, food, a way to make fire, and sources of healing? Additionally, you may want to make sure you have a few other handy items like alchemist’s fire and antitoxins, if you have the gold to spare."
Janira looks around, jumps up, and takes it upon herself to check your gear. "Oh dear... I strongly recommend you go over the items I just mentioned. Especially the alchemist's fire, or perhaps some acid flasks?"
"Okay, let's do some last minute shopping!" Janira leads you west out of Absalom and through the Cairnlands, picking up any last-minute purchases on the way out of the city.
From the Cairnlands, you travel along a well-worn path that leads toward Diobel, through the wilderness surrounding the Kortos Mounts. The journey is mostly uneventful, but while walking Janira takes her time to discuss Master Shane’s class on the history of Absalom.
As the party progresses deeper into the forest, the trees towering overhead begin to shield most of what remains of the day’s 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. 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."
Most of the trees in this section of the forest have trunks that are too big for any creatures to share their space. Sporadic patches of light undergrowth provide areas for creatures to hide while restricting movement for those passing through. A large rock outcropping to the east rises nearly 20 feet above the forest floor, and a small sinkhole to the northwest drops off sharply, descending to the ground 10 feet below.
Before you can get moving again, a tree nearby falls. Two spider swarms emerge, scared out of hiding by the fallen tree. As they flee from the cacophonous noise, they proceed toward you.
Janira notices the swarm before they move, and takes her distance. She starts telling about her previous experiences with swarm to inspire courage into you.
One of the swarms then moves onto Boderus, Hskori, Silas'ra and Theadric. They're all left hurt, and two of them poisoned. Boderus feels his stomach twist, and has trouble moving.
Turn progression - round 1:
Janira
Spider swarm (Blue)
Silas'ra: 9/13HP
Hskori: 5/9HP; -1STR; Poisoned
Boderus: 13/19HP; -1STR; Poisoned; Nauseated for 1 round
Xien
S'arkee
Spider Swarm (Red)
Theadric: 7/13HP