GM Dot.
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 gill men.”
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.
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!”
"I joined the society four years ago…I had simply wanted to see the world and sample all of the fine food it has to offer, but I became fascinated with the idea of learning and preserving all of the knowledge that is out there waiting to be discovered!.
"OK…that's me…who is next?"
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Castien is tall and lithe, with fair skin and white hair, and wears a chain shirt and buckler. His finely-crafted bow is made from darkwood, and he wears a longsword at his side.
He watches the Master of Scrolls leave the room, then moves toward the door himself when Janira's voice pulls his attention back. He turns toward the rest of the group and forces himself to speak. "M-my name is C-C-Castien. I, too, want to p-p-protect and p-preserve knowledge for the P-P-Pathfinder Society."
Damnable voice betrays me every time. He blushes furiously and moves to stand in the doorway, ready to leave as soon as this pointless exercise is complete.
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A broad dwarf with black hair and a solid helmet on his head wearing armor covered in spikes looks around the room.
"So I am to go next? I be Caith. Caith Skullcrusher. Named that way (at this points he raps his knuckles against his helmet) because I crush things with me skull."
Caith grins
"I set out to sow my raw oats and see a bit of the world. See if I can't make a place in it somewhere for me selves."
"I ain't so good at mapping, or anything to do with papers..but I do tend to be decent when it comes to caves."
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A smallish gnome with wild hair stands in the back.
"Well hello everyone. I am Wembletonian Horatio Aurturillo Templeton. But my friends, you can call me Wembly. I hail from the Sanos forest. Although I did not quite fit in there and traveled here to see if I could become a Pathfinder. I have a cat that has followed me from Sanos. Although I do not think he is really from the forest but beyond the First World. I call him "Whiskers"
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A cloaked individual is next to step forward. As he pulls back his hood, his slightly-pointed ears give him away as a half-elf. With a slight Taldan accent, he says to the group "Greetings, fellow intiates. My name is Aramil and I hail from the glorious city of Oppara, capital of my homeland. I look forward to traveling with you all in the coming days."
"Splendid everyone...spendid! Now...on 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.”
“Now, before we head out I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have. We should also take a moment to go through your gear and make sure nothing important gets left out. No one ever forgets their weapons, but other things can easily save your life; a length of rope, a light source, food, a way to make fire, any sources of healing, and other essentials." She pulls a few small bottles from her backpack. "This is alchemist's fire...a much more potent weapon against a swarm of rats than any broadsword could hope to be. This is an antitoxin that you can drink to help you in a pinch if you're exposed to poison. It is important not to get these two bottles confused."
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Wembly is just excited to get started, he blurts out without thinking...
"Awesome plan. Everything is awesome when we work as part of a team!"
Did I say that out loud? Oh boy. I need to concentrate...I do not want to drink that alchemist fire instead of the antitoxin. Which was...oh pay attention silly noggin!
The first phase of the Confirmation will take you through Absalom, across the Cairnlands, along a well-worn path that leads toward Diobel, through the wilderness surrounding the Kortos Mounts, and culminates at the cave entrance noted in Janira’s Confirmation report. The journey through the City at the Center of the World is swift and without incident, and the long trek across the Cairnlands provides a great opportunity to discuss Master Shane’s class on the history of Absalom. The first day of the journey is uneventful, and Janira points out landmarks such as siege towers, distant mountains, or distinct flora and fauna along the journey.
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.
Two wolves work in tandem to surround the party.
Round 1
Brown Wolf
Aramil
Caith
Benelvolence
Janira
Castien
Wembly
Grey Wolf
The lead wolf charges at Benevolence, his teeth futility attempting to pierce the Paladin's armor as Janira begins to inspire you with the tales of brave Pathfinders who have come before you.
,
A 1st level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard’s performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
After its ferocious attack falls short the lead wolf is eviscerated by Caith and Aramil.
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Wembly looks at bit worried with the appearance of two wolves. As the first is dispatched, he is less concerned.
"Whiskers, lets see if we can help with the other.
He will be riding the planar cat (Eidolon) west 15' SW ( and shoots his crossbow at the wolf.
The cat will ready to attack if wolf approach within reach.
for
"I guess I need more practice."
The wolf lets out a whimper and scurries away as best as it can with a well placed arrow sticking out of its flank. "Well done, well done!" Janira exclaims. "I barely had enough time to get through my tale of Seamus Foster! Oh well..I think I'll have plenty of opportunity to finish that story."
Janira suggests that you move on in order to reach the caves by dusk. As the group continues to travel through the wilderness, you find trails blocked by fallen objects, shortcuts overgrown, and other minor delays that cost some time.
The dense forest opens to a wide clearing at the base of a sheer cliff. Thick vines cover the surface of the cliff stretching 30 feet overhead. “Here! The cave entrance is behind those vines,” Janira says with a broad smile as she walks to the cliff’s face. She pulls back several layers of vegetation to reveal a narrow crack in the cliff’s surface. “This is where I saw the gillmen enter.”
As she motions toward the aperture, the surrounding woods come alive with the sound of small animals fleeing some unseen danger and a large creature crashing through the undergrowth. The halfling worriedly remarks, “Quick, take cover before whatever it is spots us!” As if she’d summoned the creature with her words, a massive horned monstrosity emerges from the trees. Standing eight feet tall on a pair of cloven hooves and wielding a tremendous axe, the bull-headed creature roars with unbridled anger when it spots the group.
Wisely assessing that a minotaur is beyond her charges’ capabilities, Janira screams, “A minotaur! There’s little chance we can stand against it. Take this bag,” she continues, pulling off her backpack, “and head deeper into the caves. Finish your mission. I’ll lead it away from the caves, lose it in the forest, and join you as soon as I can. Now go! GO!” She heaves her backpack into the cave, casts a spell, and darts off toward the minotaur before turning to lure it away.
8-D
As you rush into the cave you see the minotaur chase Janira through the trees, fighting to overcome the dense undergrowth. Caith grabs the backpack along the way and opens it once everyone is safely inside.
potion of barkskin
potions of cure light wounds (2)
potion of feather step
potion of vanish
scroll of entangle
scroll of gust of wind
scroll of identify
scroll of mage armor
scroll of obscuring mist
wand of burning hands
wand of cure light wounds
acid
alchemist’s fire (2)
holy water
smokestick
tanglefoot bag
thunderstone
antitoxin
sunrods (2)
The tunnels in this area are between 3 and 10 feet wide and vary equally in height, though most are a comfortable 7 or more feet wide in each dimension. The caves are damp, the water dripping from stalactites and the distant rushing of underground streams creates an eerie backdrop. The caves’ walls are patterned with blue-green luminescent fungi that provide dim light. Petroglyphs—most depicting marine animals or spiral shapes—periodically decorate the tunnels’ walls.
The narrow tunnel twists and turns for several hundred feet before slowly opening to a wider passage. A large hole spans the cave’s width and stretches ten feet down the path. At the bottom of the flooded pit lies a small bundle of cloth.
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Caith going through the backpack
" 'bout the only thing not in here be a piece of rope, plenty of other stuff though."
While some of the others are busy with climbing down Caith will make sure the scrolls and wands end up with someone who will be able to use them
I guess those will get divided between Benovolence and Wembly
As Aramil lowers himself into the pit, Castien leaps the length of the pit and finds long, 3-foot-wide wooden plank that rests against the cave’s wall. He lowers it to create amake shift bridge for the others to cross as Aramil returns with the bundle.
The tunnels continue on, leading deeper beneath the Kortos Mounts until they eventually open into a large cavern. What must have once been beautifully carved reliefs and inscriptions have since weathered heavily, their features dulled and softened to the point that it is hard to distinguish what each once depicted. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls.