The renowned Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch strides into her study at the Magnimar lodge. Her eyes scan the space with habitual vigilance, honed by years of successful adventuring. Satisfied that there's nothing amiss, she stands behind her desk, and turns her blade-like attention to the party before her.
The Pathfinder Society has long been interested in the First World — the otherworldly realm of the fey. By all accounts the fey homeland is dangerous, bizarre, and entirely unpredictable. It's the very type of place sane people avoid, and Pathfinders flock toward.
Countless expeditions and research teams have been dispatched over the years to investigate regions where the boundaries between the First World and our own plane grow threadbare. Sanos Forest, which lies to the east of this very lodge, is one such place. The Pathfinder Society's latest research party is currently stationed there, under the capable direction of the druid Ignizi Dinnelletter.
Dinnelletter doesn't normally work well with others, but this time she's got several newly recruited Pathfinders assisting her. We thought it prudent that she pass on some of her best practices, just in case. After all, we Pathfinders are not known for our longevity. Dinnelletter is entirely self sufficient, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for her five trainees. Consequently, Ignizi's station needs to be resupplied periodically, something the Magnimar lodge has taken responsibility for. You lot have been chosen to make the next supply run to Sanos Forest, and will leave first thing in the morning. It's not a glamorous detail, but the fey forest never lacks for intrigue, and I'm sure you'll make the most of it.
Your mission is simple: Deliver a pack horse loaded with supplies to Dinnelletter's cottage in Sanos. I don't expect any problems, but you never know with the fey. If Ignizi needs any additional help, please assist her in any way possible. And do try to be patient. Ignizi can be a handful.
Any questions? No? Good, then off you go!
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In the shadows at the room's back a tall athletic elf woman scrutinizes the group she has been teamed with.
Perhaps its the just the crowd (which to Shonne is anything more than two people), or perhaps it is the fact that her elders in Kyonin seem to think it important that she prove herself to this fledgeling (barely a century old) organization of scavengers, scoundrels and adventurers ('adventurers' in the ne’er-do-well sense of the word). No, its the fact that she would all-together rather be in the forests places being slowly crushed between human civilizations than here playing caravan guard.
When glanced at, she gives her name: "Shonne" and a very slight bow but not much else.
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Dunia is broadly built, but very short, barely cresting over 4 feet. She has dark brown skin, thick black hair, and remote black eyes. She would nearly look like a particularly squat Mwangi woman if it weren't for the obsidian sheen she gives when light hits her. A slightly wriggling lash of ectoplasm rests at her belt, mirroring the spectral matter that guards the weak points in her armor.
Her expression is sour at the sparse briefing, and her voice is flatly sarcastic as she asks, You don' expect any problems? I s'pose dat's de reason you gather up a crew like dis?
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A strikingly handsome man strides up to the group, or rather floats, his feet never touching the ground. He is of average height and has a slim build to him, yet is perfectly proportioned and in excellent physical shape. It's hard to judge his age as he appears much younger than he seems, having a youthful glow to him. His hair is a light blonde, almost platinum and with a particular sheen to it. Bright blue eyes that almost seem to sparkle like stars in the night sky look over the group gathered. His clothing is modest, similar to a clerics vestments, and impeccably clean, covered by a mithril breastplate. A gleaming morningstar hangs to one side of his belt and a dark wooden shield is strapped to his back, emblazoned with a blue and silver butterfly, the mark of Desna. "Could you tell us any more about this druid Dinnelletter?"
A small fairy like being flitters out of Jorah's pack with its butterfly like wings, and lands on his shoulder. "Fey! They're all crazy if you ask me, but not in a good way. Everyone always thinks I'm a fairy and I have to explain to them I'm an azata, duhhhh."
A burly Shoanti tribesman with a massive earthbreaker strapped to his back strides into the lodge boldly, as if he owns the place. "Venture-Captain Heidmarch, a pleasure to see you again," he barks in a tone which sounds less thrilled than his words would indicate. "And to see Magnimar again. What a joy."
He listens to the brief briefing then inquires, "Is there anything special in this delivery we need to be aware of?"
With a sigh, Venture-Captain Heidmarch replies to Jorah's inquiry. Ignizi is originally from Whistledown, the gnome settlement just to the east of Sanos Forest. She joined the Pathfinders as a young gnome, and was a very capable adventurer in her day — a little difficult to work with, but effective. As she grew older, she returned to her homeland to study the First World's influence on the Material Plane, eventually becoming the preeminent researcher in the field. She still looks young and wide-eyed, but don't be fooled. She knows how to get what she wants.
In the space of a heartbeat, she answers Crowe as well. Dinnelletter's shopping list is always a little eccentric. It consists mostly of alchemical supplies and food — nothing worth stealing. If you run into any trouble on the road, it won't be because of the cargo.
"Well then. Everyone ready to proceed?"
The party marches east along the Dry Way — the trade road along the northern bank of the mighty Yondabakari River toward Korvosa — for several days. On day five, they spot a distinctive stream, which their instructions indicate they should follow north into Sanos Forest. Shortly after entering the woods, all signs of humanoid activity abate.
Midway through the day you spy a small vale up ahead. A whiff of rotting meat hangs thickly in the air, and Shonne notes several bear tracks on the forest floor.
The forest falls hushed, and the instructions indicate that you should be within half a mile of the cottage where Ignizi Dinnelletter lives. A loud crash erupts as you crest a small rise, and you see several owlbears slamming themselves against the cottage, which creaks under the weight of the impacts. Cries of alarm filter out from inside.
Oh, yeah, hey, a MAP would be a good idea, right? >.<
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"I'm ready to go." a tall, bulky man says. With him comes a leopard. "Name's Ragnar and this is Boomer." the man says before following the party to the east.
"Hm, in my opinion there's something strange with the owlbears. They seem to be clumsy, almost lumbering." Ragnar says whispers to the group while watching the owlbears. "What's wrong with them?"
Ragnar can't place quite what's off.
Dunia casts shield and will trigger...
Round 1
Jorah
Dunia
owlbears
Ragnar
Shonne
???
Crowe
The small azata flies up off Jorah's shoulder as combat begins, choosing to stay far away from the action for now, and finds a nice branch to sit on. "Whoa what the heck's wrong with those things. Owlbears are bad enough, why would someone make undead ones? You guys have fun with that."
Jorah's spell seems to have some effect on Red, while Dunia moves forward!
Dunia begins to think better of making herself a target when all three turn on her! It occurs to the party that not only are these not typical zombies, they also appear faster than owlbears who are not undead!
Yellow charges!
Green cannot charge, but comes out to play anyway!
Red claws at its eye sockets, blind for round(s)!
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Ragnar sends Boomer closer to the owlbear with yellow eyes and tells him to attack while Ragnar himself shoots an arrow at the same beast.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Dunia lashes out at both owlbears as they close, hitting each once!
Ragnar sends the kitty in against Yellow while firing a shot! Both he and the leopard hit, though his arrow isn't as effective as he thought it would be!
G 14
"Floaty here says there's something in the brush and you should probably avoid it. I guess I'll see if I can figure out what it is. You're all too heavy for me to lift if you die on me."
Shonne's spear isn't as effective as Dunia's lash or Boomer's bite, but the flames work just fine! There isn't much left of Yellow, but it still stands!
Out of the brush to either side emerge the skeeltons of two vaguely reptillian quadrupeds, with dagger-sharp teeth and spikes up and down where the spine would be! Ragnar notes that at one time they were hodags, legendary forest predators that hunt along the edges of civilization in thick woods. Now, however, it is easy to see that these are skeletal undead creatures, and will need bludgeoning weapons to be effective!
Blue full attacks Ragnar!
And Violet attacks Shonne!
G 14
R
Crowe is not happy to see the undead creatures join in the battle. Not one bit. He charges at violet, his earthbreaker ready for blood.
Crowe's earthbreaker certainly does a big chunk damage to the skeletal quadruped!
Round 2
Jorah
Dunia
zombie owlbears
Ragnar
Shonne
skeletal hodags
Crowe
G 14
R
B
V 19
Dunia drops Yellow with her lash, but Green remains standing!
Green five foots and reaches out for Dunia for her insolence damage!
G 28
R blind (2 more rounds)
B
V 19
Boomer's teeth tear into where the hodag's flesh would be, breaking a few bones here and there! Shonne's spear is less effective!
Blue full attacks Ragnar!
And Violet retalilates on Crowe!
G 28
R blind (2 more rounds)
B
V 30
Crowe is now bleeding profusely but continues to wail away at the bigger undead.
Crowe hits critically with his first blow, felling the bony undead abomination!
G 28
R blind (1 more rounds)
B
Round 3
Jorah
Dunia
zombie owlbears
Ragnar
Shonne
skeletal hodags
Crowe