The rain lets up a little, yet its cold sourness remains and the overcast sky shows no effort towards cheering the mood. When Osprey assigned you this venture to Taldor’s wine country, he said the region was pleasant. As usual, his words were misleading. The coast was pleasant, the mires surrounding the Railford Distillery are not.
“This mission is easy,” he said, “All you need to do is travel to Railford, find the son of Iodon Railford and convince him to let the Pathfinders use part of his distillery as a lodge. We have finances, we can protect him, and if nothing else, we can help him honor the work of his father, who afterall, was one of us.”
The path to Railford is hardly an easy one to follow, especially after the spring thaw waters turn the thick clay soil to slough. Only a few crudely scarred trees denote the secluded route as it winds through the syrupy mire of flooded vineyards and vague remnants of rotten trellis with grapevines choked out by prevasive briars and heavy blankets of peat.
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"Alrigh', so we have stuff what can protect 'im, but what do we got t' bring wit' us so we can as prove that? 'cause just sayin', it's not like, y'know, folks just drop in outta th' blue an' say that kinda thing? 't'ain't natural-like?"
Agraic, for those what have not met him before, is a weathered run-over-by-the-cart-of-Life melee combatant that is a paradox of being dumber than a sack of rocks at times, but wise enough to know that documenting enough stuff can still pull a mission through.
He'll also offer a drink from a keg and a toast to the Drunken Hero unless folks would prefer not to.
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If nothing else, I'm sure that there's something we can do for him to prove what we want to do, Kensaku muses, seemingly as much to herself as to Agraic's question.
Kensaku is a young humanoid with pale blue skin and bone white hair, carrying lots of old trinkets attached to her simple clothes and well-maintained breastpate by ties, pockets, and strings, including an elegant book with guilding on the cover with a title that appears to be Vudrani, an ancient sickle with spots of rust, and what appears to be just a regular old stick. She carries an ancient looking naginata that appears very well maintained despite its age and obvious use.
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Darshan says, "A pity the ground is so gummy," he says. "Otherwise, a trip through the countryside might seem quite pleasant. In any event, don't worry; we're making an entirely reasonable proposal, and I'm sure he's not using the whole distillery. He'll see the advantage to it, and everybody will be happy. Then we can head into a city somewhere and enjoy what civilization has to offer. At least we're not mucking about knee-deep in demon dung up in the Worldwound!"
Darshan is a Vudrani man (human) who is quite well dressed. He has a number of piercings in one ear with a chain connecting them, in a manner that reminds you of Wayang jewelry. He wears a rapier and tries to remain dignified.
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I don't know, aren't you excited to go and feel the energy of the distillery? To be washed with both the frustration and elation of those who worked to make the best they could out of what they had and the satisfaction of a hard day's work? Kensaku asks, dreamily looking out towards where the building should be, seeming to not notice the muck the party is treking through.
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Shigeru's face belies his foul mood as he trudges along in the muck. He is an extremely thin half-elf with jet black hair and chocolate brown eyes. Dressed in a plain but sturdy traveling outfit, high topped boots, bright mithral chain, and a thick cloak, he seems almost too small for his clothes. At a glace, one might call him bookish in nature. This is the last time I let Henderson convince me to take over a job for him. Especially if Osprey is involved. he thinks to himself as he slices an apple he is carrying.
"I certainly hope you are correct, Darshan. A trip into town might make this retched trek worthwhile. Reward gained from effort is what truly matters after all. Even an excursion among the dung, as you call it, could prove useful if you can find something of value. Have any of you ever been to Railford? I confess this is my first time in this region of Taldor." A tentacle begins tugging at his arm. "Yes, yes, here you are." he says as he hands off the apple core to his eidolon.
The muck of the road hides the markers set at even intervals, but Agraic 's woodcraft allows him to notice the mud-caked stones standing like lone graves. As the Pathfinders trudge forward, the rain resumes its chill drizzle, darkening the path once more. The creepers and overgrown mosses do little to help block the rain, instead casting strange twisted shadows all about.
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Shigeru grasps one of Chomper's tentacles, pulling them to a halt while peering through the brush and speaking in low tones to his traveling companions. "Hm. So there are. I can't tell from this distance if they are regular travelers or if they are brigands. Perhaps we should be cautious and move up to them with a bit of stealth. Do any of you have any training as a forward scout or ranger? I would prefer we not be waylaid by enemies and need to defend ourselves."
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The somewhat uncultured but eagerly learning meat shield will indicate his observations to the party, making some marks and notes when the rain slows to a faint drizzle, then quickly stowing his writing things when the rain starts to pick up once more.
"Think folks over this way might what have a good place outta th' rain, soun' like a plan?"
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I'm not exactly a Ranger like one of my past lives, but I can scout it out before we drop in on their little camp, just to be sure, Kensaku adds before placing her hand on the book tied to her hip and closing her eyes. Magical energy seeps from her closed lids and coalesses at a small point in front of her that begins moving towards the camp before disappearing entirely from sight.
I'm spending one point of Mental Focus from mu Divination implement to use my Mind Eye power.
Mind Eye (Sp): As a standard action, you can expend 1 point of mental focus to create a mind eye—a magical sensor through which you can see and hear. The mind eye is invisible and its size is Fine, giving it an AC of 18. Any amount of damage to the eye destroys it, but it can be harmed by only spells or magic weapons. The eye moves with a fly speed of 60 feet with perfect maneuverability and can travel up to 1 mile away from you. You must concentrate as a standard action to direct the eye and receive sensory images through it. The mind eye sees as your eyes see, including any additional senses you possess (such as darkvision or see invisibility). The mind eye lasts for 1 minute per occultist level you possess.
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Kensaki frowns at what she sees through the magical sensor, saddened by the information she receives. It appears these men are part of the Taldan Phalanx, which does not inspire confidence in me, she reports to the party while still focusing on the sensor, they tend to be brutes that only follow their commanders from what I understand. And they have dogs with them. I leave how to proceed with the rest of you, but my vote is to venture on towards the distillery.
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Shigeru frowns as he listens to his companions. "I should think that running into the local authorities would be beneficial. They may not be the most hospitable, but we are lawful travelers and they can give us news of the local activities. There could even be some particularly dangerous entities about that we should be made aware of given that it is a full on military patrol here. Oh, that reminds me." He draws a rod out of his bag and waves it through the air above Chomper as he incants, "Blades stop short and arrows fall. To save our lives a forceful wall. Mage Armor!".
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"We're on wutcha'd call a clandestine-like mission, righ'? Dun' think gettin' tangl'd up in wut some local squabble 's what y'd call good practice, gi'en that? Thin' we shoul' avoi' 'em, knownin' that bit. If we mess it up, we c'n talk t' 'em an' set it straight?"
Agraic trusts Kensaku's assessment and knows that effective mercs are an expensive proposition to run into from personal experience.
The Pathfinders begin to pick their way across the swampy terrain, circling wide around the camp. Unfortunately, a sneeze from the near guard brings his gaze towards the group, causing him to leap to his feet. "Intruders!" he cries amid baying hounds as his movement rouses the animals at the guards feet.
22 Shigeru
22 G Guard
17 G Dog
16 Agraic
15 R Dog
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog
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Shigeru grimaces and steps forward, raising a hand, and calling out to the men in attempt to avoid hostilities as he reaches into his spell pouch to pull out a tiny wooden shovel, "Travelers, not intruders! Please hold your dogs!"
Creatures who fall into the pit take falling damage as normal.
The pit’s coarse stone walls have a Climb DC of 25. When the duration of the spell ends after 8 rounds, creatures within the hole rise up with the bottom of the pit until they are standing on the surface over the course of a single round.
"Travelers is intruders, idiot!" the man retorts, readying his bow. The sudden opening of the pit beneath him elicits a surprised curse as he leaps to safety, the guttering campfire falling out of sight. "He's a mage!" the man yells to his companion, loosing an arrow at Shigeru that goes wide in the drizzling rain. The shifting mud at the precipice nearly causes him to lose his footing, but he windmills his arm and manages to remain standing. The first of the dogs begins to bound through the muck, baying loudly.
22 Shigeru
22 G Guard
17 G Dog
16 Agraic
15 R Dog
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog
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Agraic sighs.
"Y'all's bein' dumb now. An' I c'n say that as I ain' th' brightest torch in the hall. Let's take it slow and not be stoopid, a'ight? I'll share m' booze wit' ya, e'en!"
The somewhat uncouth martial sort makes his way out of the mire and back onto the path, guisarme at the ready should something come within range.
"Ah can see he's a mage, m' not blind!" the other guard retorts to his comrade, scrambling away from the yawning pit and gaining his feet, bow at the ready. The closest hound crashes through the mire towards Agraic, taking a nasty slash as it gets in close, spittle flying from its muzzle. "Am' gonna take that booze from ya, after I take yer head!" the man continues, reaching for his arrows.
22 Shigeru
22 G Guard
17 G Dog
16 Agraic
15 R Dog (Damage: 10)
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog
The tentacle smashes the dog flap, a short yelp cutting through the rain. "Damn monster!" the closer guard cries out, eyes wide at the sight.
22 Shigeru
22 G Guard
17 G Dog
16 Agraic
15 R Dog (Damage: 10)
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog
Another of the dogs begins to bound through the muck, moving around the dangerous pit.
22 Shigeru
22 G Guard
17 G Dog
16 Agraic
15 R Dog (Damage: 23)
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog
The last dog springs into action, snarling and snapping in a frenzy as it makes its way past its master.
22 Shigeru
22 G Guard
17 G Dog
16 Agraic
15 R Dog (Damage: 23)
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog
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Shigeru reaches into his pocket and pulls out a shaving of licorice root. "Ticking clocks, how you mock, but unto mine, give extended time. Haste!" he incants as he throws the root into the air above him. It explodes, sending a rippling distortion out in all directions, and the entire party begins to move with greater speed.
The first man looses an arrow at his clearest target, but Agraic is able to narrowly avoid the stinging dart. His hound rushes forward to snap at Chomper, but the eidolons superior reach batters it to the ground before the animal can reach him.
22 Shigeru (Haste7)
22 G Guard
17 G Dog (Damage: 14, Unconscious)
16 Agraic
15 R Dog (Damage: 23, Unconscious)
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog
The guardsman lets loose a cry of pain as the heavy blow strikes home. "Shaddup!" the second man yells, scoring a bullseye on Agraic in return despite his vastly increased mobility.
22 Shigeru (Haste7)
22 G Guard (Damage: 13)
17 G Dog (Damage: 14, Unconscious)
16 Agraic (Damage: 10)
15 R Dog (Damage: 24, Unconscious)
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog
With a yelp, the dog is smashed into the muck and lays still.
22 Shigeru (Haste7)
22 G Guard (Damage: 13)
17 G Dog (Damage: 14, Unconscious)
16 Agraic (Damage: 10)
15 R Dog (Damage: 24, Unconscious)
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog (Damage: 16, Unconscious)
The dog lunges for the Vudran's legs, but cannot find purchase.
22 Shigeru (Haste7)
22 G Guard (Damage: 13)
17 G Dog (Damage: 14, Unconscious)
16 Agraic (Damage: 10)
15 R Dog (Damage: 24, Unconscious)
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog (Damage: 16, Unconscious)
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Kensaku, not wanting to be left out of yhe fight entirely, touches her Naginata haft to her breastplate as an aura of pink energy engulfs her. Before the eyes of all present she doubles in size while sloshing through the mud towards the thugs and dogs.
You really don't want to keep this up, she says as if scolding a child, We can keep this up much longer than you can.
Standard: Size Alteration
Move: Haste Move 40ft
Free: Admonish the Thugs
"She turned into some kind of giant!" one of the guards yells in surprise.
22 Shigeru (Haste6)
22 G Guard (Damage: 13)
17 G Dog (Damage: 14, Unconscious)
16 Agraic (Damage: 10)
15 R Dog (Damage: 24, Unconscious)
12 R Guard
8 Chomper
7 Darshan
5 Y Dog
4 Kensaku
3 B Dog (Damage: 16, Unconscious)