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 retched 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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A tall bald half elf bows before the Master of Scrolls. He is wearing is traveling robs of Orsion colors, and has mace on his left side. He smelll of earthly desert with a hint a chai. He stands about 6 foot and is lean, there is a sense of awkardness about him that puts others off.
Master Shaine it will be honor to do this Kyrdon says to Master Shaine.
Really gillman I can't wait to see how they breathe
Kyroden thinks to himself, the mad curisoity of seeing how the gillman breath makes him smile.
Kyroden waits patiently for others to speak, he does this so that others don't think him mad.
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A slim half elf nods to Janira and Master Shaine. "Well, it sounds like an interesting prospect. It'd be interesting to see the finer points of Gillman culture."
He looks around to the others. "I suppose we should know each other as well. Professor Dario Westone. Actually former Professor, now I believe." He stands in brown breeches and a leather jacket. A rapier hangs at his hip and you can see the handle of a dagger in his belt.
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A tall woman with striking blue gemlike eyes, crystalline skin and short cropped white hair approaches your group. Brightly polished scale mail showing recently repaired dents framed by a thick red cloak indicates she is no novice to warfare. A large sword is strapped to her back, pommel and worn two handed grip peaks over her left shoulder.
"I am Caikahn, Paladin to Ragathiel.
Bowing her head slightly she follows her greeting with a quiet yet firm prayer
"May his vengeance be swift and just."
Raising her head she gazes over each of you apparently gauging your mettle...
"We are to travel together."
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A stocky half-orc with broad shoulders that has been sitting in a corner closes the book he had been reading with a clap and gets up. His face is marred by large tattoos and scars run down his arms. He's dressed in worn and weathered studded leather armor beneath loose-fitting robes. He carries a longsword on his belt and a crossbow slung across his back.
He pauses for a moment to take in the group, then nods his head and in a deep growling voice offers his greetings: "Well met indeed. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am called Kraggan and I hope to be of help here."
Shooting a glance at the back of Kreighton Shaine he adds: "Looks like that's it for instructions. Do any of you know anything about those caves?"
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"We should probably find out at least something about the gillmen and the geology of Kortos. Maybe also something about the predominant fungi in those caves..." He breaks off into mumbling, jotting down notes in a small book.
After a few seconds he looks up remembering again where he is.
"I'm sorry, I was trying to recall which Chronicle detailed some of that information." Turning to Janira, he contorts his face into a tattoo-marred smile: "Kreighton said you've already been there. Is there anything we should be aware of?"
Mounts, the points on the island.
constantly vie for territory up and around the Mounts, with harpies being the most common at higher altitudes and centaurs controlling the lower slopes and foothills.
The halfling woman looks up from her large backpack.
"Good to see you all, and yes I have been to the caves we are going back to. I actually was there for my own confirmation, so this will be exciting to see the area again, helping you all with YOUR confirmations."
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! So please, tell me a little about yourselves. What kind of talents do you bring to the society?"
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Kyroden listens to the question and then begins.
I bring wide range of talent to the society. I have fascination without how things work in the realms of the natural. I have also been "gifted" by dead wife. That lives in my mace with powers that I can use to heal. I look forward to my travels and experiences. he says all this in a very enthusiastic voice.
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"As a scholar, I am versed in many topics of note. For instance, I know the Kortos Mount stands at the center of the Isle of Kortos and that its territory is often contested by various bands of harpies, centaurs, and minotaurs. It's likely we'll encounter some of these if we venture there. The centaurs tend to control the foothills and the harpies the peaks, while the minotaurs stand somewhere between them."
"I have also picked up some skills in battle, though I doubt as devastating as a Paladin. I also have some minor magical abilities too."
"Very good. Sounds like you all have a lot to offer to the Society. Now down to business."
“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 traveling 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, we should take a moment to go through your gear and make sure nothing important gets left out. You should all have something for light, something to start a fire, rope, rations, and any healing items that you can bring. Oh and alchemist fire and the like are always handy."
Janira looks around to the group, inspecting equipment and ready to answer any questions that may come up.
"Well we will make due with what we have on hand." Janira says with an enthusiastic smile. "Remember even the most famous Pathfinders started off just like you. Oh and I don't believe the gillman are particularly vulnerable to any one type of material or weapon. Though they do need to stay near water."
"Now since this mission is for your confirmation, I can not stress enough the importance of taking accurate notes. Remember the Pathfinder's duty, 'Explore, Report, Cooperate'. Janira reaches into one of the many bulging pouches and pulls out several sheets of parchment, ink pens, and ink pots. "Now please, take these and make sure to record anything that might be important."
Janira hands out the parchment and writing utensils before leading the way out of Absalom and through the Cairnlands, picking up any last-minute purchases on the way out of the city.
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Kyroden looks at supplies the Janira has given him. He hopes Master Shaine will accept him into the Scrolls after the mission. Kyroden is a to happy write stuff down about his upcoming adventure. Kyroden stops each night and to make whatever extracts and bombs he needs. He also stops to talk to his mace as well. He also take notes about all the things he sees along the way. Along the way he speaks with the Westone about some of his studies.
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Dario take the opportunity to take an extra inkpot, pen and many sheaves of parchment. As he opens his bag, you can see he already has some of those items. He shrugs and says "A scholar, or a Pathfinder perhaps, can never have too many items on which to note their findings, yes?"
As they walk, the Professor chats with his new associates. "Since leaving the University, I've started a new work. I want to catalog all of Golorion's religions, major and minor, their temples, rites, worshipers, et cetera. It might seem like a massive undertaking, but it would be seen as a knowledge standard throughout the civilized world. Honestly, it's one of the reasons I'm joining the Pathfinder Society. Not only can I use their funding, but also their contacts for finding and observing various 'closed' practices."
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Kraggan also adds some of Janira's writing supplies to his own. "They might come in handy if there's a lot to report on." He then checks his equipment and follows his new companions.
Listening to the Professor he adds in "Such a catalog will certainly be useful to the Society. It is a good project."
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The Professor merely shrugs. "I was a religious scholar at the University. But evidently Cheliax frowns upon religious texts and papers written about the pre-Thrune era. Suddenly, my research was taken away and I was asked to take an indefinite sabbatical."
He sighs. "I suppose I was foolish back then, not to see the reality. Of course, they would take action. So I moved to Osirion to continue my studies privately in a more conducive atmosphere. This is endeavor will be the culmination of it all."
"But enough about me. We have a task ahead of us, yes? We should prepare for finding and entering these caves."
Just before the group is ready to leave the city, a gray skinned halfling comes up to the group offering Janira a note. Quickly looking the note over she nods before turning to the rest assembled.
"Looks like we have a late comer, Naomi here will be joining us. I hope you have everything that you may need Naomi, we were just on our way out."
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Janira leads the group through the Cairnlands, along a well-worn path that leads toward Diobel, and through the wilderness surrounding the Kortos Mounts. As you travel, she points out various landmarks such as siege towers, distant mountains, and even distinct flora and fauna along the way. Many of these topics remind you of Master Shane's class on the history of Absalom.
The day's travel is uneventful and you find a suitable place to setup camp and rest for the night.
"Tomorrow we get into territory that is a bit more dangerous." Janira warns as you sit around a small fire eating and conversing. "So make sure you are all prepared tomorrow."
Janira smiles and nods as you all work together to setup camp and figure out watches. You see her pull out her own parchment and make a few notes before putting everything away.
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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.
"Yes, let us continue on." Janira stats as she flips her Wayfinder closed.
As she does the sound of a tree falling echoes through the area, scaring much of the wildlife. Emerging from the underbrush, a trio of dog-sized fleas move about on long, gangly legs. With a choir of clacks from their mandibles they move in to attack you.
Janira begins to recite a story of a famous Pathfinder. "Let us remember the sacrifice of the fabled Yasmin bint Faroud, favored of the Ten, who gave her life distracting Zythrustianax, draconic scourge of the Society, so dozens of junior agents could survive. Her act of benevolence is the epitome of cooperation within the Society."
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StandardKyroden digs in his pockets for his catayslt that he made before the group broke camp. Where did I put that vial at? I really need to organize myself. Kyroden starts to panic till he finds the vial, it orange and swirly. Kyroden realizes he needs his casing materials to complete it. Now where is that stupid thing at, I can see my notebooks and other extracts. Ugh! oh there it Kyroden with a smile assembles his bomb!
Professor Dario takes his shot, but it veers wide of the flea. While Kraggan takes his own shot and hits, but the flea doesn't seem to be affected by the arrow.
The fleas all chitter and clack their mandables as the move in toward the group.
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Dario sees the arrow from Kraggan hit the flea, but it doesn't even slow it down. The sight jogs something in his memory. "Cut them! Dr. Lavanter was always muttering about his vermin experiments. Fleas like this almost have armor. You need to cut them with a sharp edge!"
The half elf drops his bow, draws his dagger and slashes at the one before him.
Dario slashes at the flea in front of him, his dagger biting into the things jaw as it tries to bite him. The dagger's sharpened edge cuts through the fleas armor and it falls to the ground twitching.
Kyroden manages to land a blow against the flea assaulting him and Caikahn, but the blow seems to have no effect on the vermin.