Months ago, agents of the Blakros Museum in Absalom stole a holy dagger—a relic of the Kellid Twinhorn following and the Shining Crusade from centuries ago. What seemed a simple dagger was key to keeping a powerful villain at bay, and the Pathfinder Society has allied with the Twinhorn following and its bold spiritual leader Medda in order to return the relic, use it to perform a ritual before midnight on the winter solstice, and stem an undead invasion.
“We are only hours away from the stone circle and our encampment,” Medda announces. ”If we are going to make it there by midnight, we need to press on. Once there, we will use Ivvora’s hilt to perform our time-honored ritual and keep evil from our lands.” Medda produces the small hilt of a broken weapon with only a fragment of its black metal blade remaining. “Let us move. There are dangers in these ancient woods: orc raiders, bears that topple trees, and worse. Stay in groups and don’t get lost.”
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Months ago, agents of the Blakros Museum in Absalom stole a holy dagger—a relic of the Kellid Twinhorn following and the Shining Crusade from centuries ago. What seemed a simple dagger was key to keeping a powerful villain at bay, and the Pathfinder Society has allied with the Twinhorn following and its bold spiritual leader Medda in order to return the relic, use it to perform a ritual before midnight on the winter solstice, and stem an undead invasion. “We are only hours away from the stone circle and our encampment,” Medda announces. “If we are going to make it there by midnight, we need to press on. Once there, we will use Ivvora’s hilt to perform our time-honored ritual and keep evil from our lands.” Medda produces the small hilt of a broken weapon with only a fragment of its black metal blade remaining. “Let us move. There are dangers in these ancient woods: orc raiders, bears that topple trees, and worse. Stay in groups and don’t get lost.”
As the Kellids and Pathfinders reach the top of the hill next to the Twinhorn encampment, they notice splashes of blood and the occasional corpse dotting the landscape. Medda raises her voice, calling, “My brethren, our families are under attack! Secure the camp and drive back any who oppose you. Pathfinder allies, join us in defense of our home!” The landscape opens into a burned hillside where blackened trees stand like lifeless sentinels. A crude blockade shields the entrance to a natural cavern.
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On the months-long trek, the team has been accompanied by a rather slight and meek Tien half-elven girl. She has black hair, and is dressed conservatively. She doesn't talk much, but serves tea at all meals for the team. If asked for her name, she is taken back for a moment before weakly replying that she is Hideko Ootaka. She does this in a tone that suggests that she is very confused why anyone is interested in little old her.
If asked why she is accompanying the team, she replies that: "Many Pardons, but the Pathfinder Society wishes for me to make your journey plesent by serving tea and other small edibles. I am terribly sorry if my performance is not up to your standards."
When Medda Announces that the group is 'only hours away' and suggests there might be a fight or trouble, Ootaka seems to disappear from the group, likely lost in the massive throng of other pathfinders.
Later . . .
Ootaka is going to slip away and Transform into her vigilante identity, and shadow the group
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Kimo starts to pull out his gun. "We have to hurry!"
Kimo always dreamed of living the adventures he read about in fairy tales and penny dreadfuls. But such things appeared only in faraway lands, so he aspired to find adventure by following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a shield marshal, protecting Alkenstar from the hostile giants and hideous mutations of the Mana Wastes. He overcame a long series of difficult challenges her father put in his path so he could join the service. When a storm of primal magic sent the dutiful shield marshal to the distant land of Avistan, Kimo found herself in an adventure just like those he’d grown up reading. He now struggles to balance his resurgence of childhood wonder and adult dedication to justice, all while confronting his long-ignored elven blood.
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The blond elven enchantress spends the majority of the time on the road flirting with anyone that looks halfway interesting. When the call to arms sounds, she is chatting up a tall, handsome Ulfen man. "You did what with the chieftain's daughter? Mm, how interesting. I hadn't thought to try it that way--oop! We'll have to pick this up later!"
With a quick peck on the man's bearded cheek, Ansha hustles toward the sounds of combat.
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Throughout the trip, a lithe cat-woman entertains during the evening meals performing tricks, sleights, the occasional flashy acrobatic flip, and acts of minor legerdemaine. She is dressed in a finely made black catsuit and a high-quality crossbow is set up by the performance space (for her more daring stage tricks). Performing alongside her is a tiny lithe woman with delicate butterfly wings surrounded by soflty sparkling lights and gentle rainbow arc. She is also dressed for adventure in a fine leather jerkin. The woman in miniature plays her mandolin each evening, leaving all listeners relaxed and wondrously free of the days fatigue.
The two rogues are accompanied by a large playful black and white spotted dog with a miniature trick riding saddle on its back.
"More performances tonight, acrobatic displays, magic, derring-do! The Scarlet and Poppy Show with Rusty the Wonderdog!" the tiny winged woman calls.
***
Sense Motive - Scarlet
Sense Motive - Poppy
With the evenings show completed, the cat woman and her accomplice use the distraction to isolate the tea-lady in conversation, the cats eyes have lost their joviality and they now look far more calculating, like they are watching a mouse - "You almost had Poppy fooled, but I'm one of Guaril Karela's lot and I know a fake and a forgery when I see one - you are no wandering tea-lady serving up hospitality, you are a taker, but of information or coins - let's find out which; are you an unlucky spy or a wandering cut-purse?" her tail flicks with agitation.
Poppy gazes at the tea lady too, her eyes luminous.
Poppy signals Scarlet a heartbeat later - whether to stay her hand, or tear the throat out of an Aspis spy - who can tell?
***
Perception - Scarlet
Perception - Poppy
"Someone stalks us!" the cat hisses and flexes her claws, Poppy sneers in the direction of the trailing shadowy figure with menace.
Initiative
You see a number of what you think are undead, , up ahead. One appears dry, and wasting, while the other two look like the embodiment of fury, carrying greatswords.
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Leaping out from her hiding spot, a half-elven woman appears, with bright pink hair. She has a mithral chain shirt on, over the top of which is an orange tabard with the picture of a phoenix on it. The rest of her outfit is a series of orange bows with a heart theme. In her hand is an Elven Branched spear with each spear point a heart.
"Your reign of terror ends here!" she shouts. "Your vile dark energies not only threaten the great Taldor, but indeed, all of Golarion itself! In the name of all the innocent people in the world, of the pathfinders, and of Taldor, I will defeat you!" she ends her speech casting a sigil of protection as she Strikes an odd pose that she obviously thinks is cool.
"I . . . am Venture Sovereign, the ELVEN SPEAR!"
Ansha feels very much as though the one with the smoky eyes is a Bodak, and the other two are Ragewights. These are most clearly undead, and corporeal, though she thinks she ought to recall two other details about each.
Immune undead traits
Special Attacks create spawn, energy drain (1 level, DC 17), rage powers (animal fury, intimidating glare, knockback, superstition, unexpected strike)
Bodak
Immune electricity, undead traits
Special Attacks death gaze
Death Gaze (Su) 1d4 negative levels, 30 feet; Fortitude DC 18 negates. The save DC is Charisma-based. A humanoid slain by a bodak's death gaze rises as a bodak 24 hours later. This is a death effect.
The ragewights advance and surround Kimo, moving swiftly, the bodak though is sluggish and can only advance on our heroes.
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From the east, you hear a shrill cry from a voice nearly out of breath.
WAAIIIITTT! as a small gnome wearing goggles and riding what can only be described as a green cat comes rushing towards the rear of the party.
Oh...wow...I thought I ... whew, Whiskers...I thought we missed them.
Wembly and the green cat share glowing gems on their foreheads.
I am sorry...so what are we facing? That looks weird, can't be good I bet.
The gnome casts a spell to create a pit beneath the shambling creature in the back.
The bodak has a bad time of things, first being engulfed in flames, then falling deep into a pit. The ragewight to what will be called the North also has a bad time of things, being pummeled to a fairly consistent paste by Dolamite. The remaining ragewight has chunks torn from him by Kimo's gun, and it is that individual that it seeks to destroy.
The group takes its turn, with very little left for them to do, what with a bodak in a pit and only half a ragewight left.
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Wembly smiles back at Ansha.
I love it when a plan comes together. Well done! Let it cook for awhile down there, I say! Does anyone have marshmallows?
He urges Whiskers forward, seeing if anything else is needed.
It looks like everything is under control....Ouch, that looked painful.
The gnome draws a wand and will try to activate it and tap the gunner.
vs DC20
on Kimo.
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Poppy flies off the ridge and swoops around in a wide arc and into combat, drawing her longspear as she goes.
Scarlet uses the arrival of her companion as the moment to step and strike!
She rakes at the creature with her tough fingernails that crackle with electricity.
Claw
Damage
Claw
Damage
+Debilitating Injury: Hampered (Ex) Foe who takes sneak attack damage has speed halved (and can't 5 ft step) for 1 rd.
"Stay still, it will help make this quick for you" the cat taunts the creature with feline malice.
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Together with the Twinhorns, the assembled Pathfinders manage to fight off the undead attacking the camp and make their way to the ritual site. As Medda and Anok join the group of Pathfinders around the stone circle, she assists them with the binding ritual. Medda thrusts Ivvora’s hilt into the portal, calling on Vildeis for aid. The shadow rift shrinks and closes, releasing a massive shock wave that knocks the Pathfinders, the Twinhorn warriors, and Medda to the ground. A field of dark, rippling energy remains, suspended above the stone altar. As Medda reaches out to pick up Ivvora’s hilt—the already broken blade now spider-webbed with new cracks—a supernatural silence descends. Only the telepathic rage of some unseen menace cuts through the quiet. “You dare to shut me out?” it rages. “I see you, but I do not see her. Where is the dwarf woman, Ivvora, who fought me so long ago? Has her mortal body failed at last? Has the realm of the living at last lost its protector? Know this: when the long shadows reach out again, I will grasp them and claw my way back into your world to see your flesh devoured by my children.”
Sound returns to the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, and Medda cautiously stands. “It seems that Eshimka still lives and has even left this foul scar on our world,” she declares. “If we are to believe its promises, the fiend will attack on the next winter solstice. If we are to survive, we must be ready. Nearly a millennium ago, Ivvora held the key to defeating Eshimka. By following her legends and discovering her fate, we may harness the same holy power that banished this fiend—and together end the beast entirely. When we set out, it would be the privilege of this following to have the Pathfinders at our side. But that is a trial for another day. Tonight, at last, we rest.”
Celebration and preparation have filled the last two days. The Twinhorns are both relieved to have thwarted the villain Eshimka and resolved to help the following’s spiritual leader, Medda, retrace the paladin Ivvora’s millennium-old steps. After hours of considering and retelling ancient stories preserved by oral tradition, Medda gathers the Pathfinders. “The holy warrior Ivvora came to us in pursuit of Eshimka, whom she vanquished and banished with the Twinhorns’ help. However, she would not rest for long, and she insisted on seeking out other evils in the area. At that time, the most fearsome threat was Grathatonhakis, an immense white dragon that lurked in the Tusk Mountains and would strike our camps. Ivvora learned what she could, left her dagger with us, and departed to slay the dragon. She never returned, and neither did the dragon. Exactly what transpired is unclear from our legends.” Medda cradles the fragile remnants of Ivvora’s dagger. “This blade kept Eshimka at bay for so many generations, and now it is ready to fall apart. Ivvora held the key to defeating Eshimka, and by learning her fate or communing with her spirit where she fell, we might harness the same power. Then we shall not just reseal the shadow fiend but destroy it once and for all! From our tales we have learned where the wyrm Grathatonhakis laired. Let us set out together to learn what happened—and who might have taken the caves since.”
The trek is long and cold, taking the group first across the tundra and then into shadow of the frigid Tusk Mountains. As the trail winds around a frozen lake, the snap of a snare echoes over the ice, and a Pathfinder is whipped into air by a cleverly laid trap. Medda scowls and announces, “Pathfinders, we have kobolds. Keep within earshot and spread out. They aren’t just a threat; they may also be our best better to finding the dead dragon’s lair.”
The group comes upon an odd assortment. There is what appears to be a dragon, as well as a group of kobolds that seem to be serving it. One of the kobolds is even mounted on a large amphibian, lending it the look of a knight. Such an odd assortment!