As Hinkle, in elaborate and very neat handwriting, writes on the chalkboard, this dispels an illusion concealing a secret door and causes the stone portal behind it to open. The cavern beyond the secret door is made of stone. This cavern is dark but for dim illumination further inside the cavern.
Although the cavern has the aesthetic of a natural cave, you can recognize the walls are not natural; rather, someone cleared this area using stone shape spells.
As you make your way through the natural looking cavern, you make your way to a small chamber. Several desks are arranged along the northern and eastern edges of this small stone alcove. Whereas the stonework leading to this chamber is rough, the walls in the alcove are polished. A single gem rests among the neatly filed papers on the desk, emitting a soft luminescence that brightens the small room.
(no Character Data on Profile)
Geo can decern that the gem on the desk is a cut alexandrite worth a handsome amount, yet it somehow glows with a steady cool light. Enith identifies the paperwork on the desk as a priceless collection of Pathfinder Society lore and information describing dozens of unexplored sites. Most are written in an Azlanti dialect further encrypted using an old cipher employed by the Society centuries ago.
Further examination of the room reveals nothing else of value.
As you gather up your quest findings to bring back to the Grand Lodge, you feel as if you have grown on this requirenment for the Society. Laughing and recounting your exceptional (and not so exceptional) actions during this adventure, your group makes their way back into the shrine of the failed through the secret door.
Enith's sharp eyes pick up 4 cloked figures, black robes draped over their armor. They have reapons and spells prepared for an ambush; but the sharper of initiative of your group allow a quicker action, (for most.) Before you, you see a Blue cloaked Halfelven evoker, a Green-skined Halforc witch, a Red-eyed Elven Ranger, and a Brown-garbed Human swordsman.
Enith & Woolfie
Geo
Hinkle
Ezren
Fillia
Baddies
Eoswulf
You recognize these assassins as Norgorberite Cultists: They
do not speak as they attack, and exactly how they have tracked the PCs is unclear; however, the Norgorberite cultists fight to steal your discovery and destroy it so that their god can keep one more secret.
Enith & Woolfie
Geo - Shoots/misses the Swordsman
Hinkle - Casts bless (Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.)
Ezren
Fillia
Baddies
Eoswulf
Enith & Woolfie - Sling at witch, (hit,-2) bite swordsman (hitx2,-8,-7) & tripx2 (swordsman is now lying on the ground dead.)
Geo - Shoots/misses the Swordsman
Hinkle - Casts bless (Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.)
Ezren - Magic Missle Swordsman (hit,-3)
Fillia - Arrows witch (hit, -6)
Baddies-
Baddies initiative-
The Blue Evoker moves 20' and casts burning hands (DC 13) on Geo for
The Green Witch attempts to cast cause fear (DC 13) on Esowulf, but fails when Fillias arrow plunges into her breast. Her rage flows forth from her eyes, but she speaks not a word.
The Brown Swordsman attempts to get up and provokes an extra attack from the wolf:
and again finds himself flat on his back, this time minus part of his larynx!
The Red Archer draws and fires at Esowulf, but misses
Eoswulf
W=-2-6 (-8)
E=-
S(prone)=-3-8-7 (-18)
A=-
Enith & Woolfie -
Geo -
Hinkle -
Ezren -
Fillia -
Baddies-
Enith & Woolfie - Sling at witch, (hit,-2) bite swordsman (hitx2,-8,-7) & tripx2 (swordsman is now lying on the ground dead.)
Geo - Shoots/misses the Swordsman
Hinkle - Casts bless (Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.)
Ezren - Magic Missle Swordsman (hit,-3)
Fillia - Arrows witch (hit, -6)
Baddies-
The Blue Evoker moves 20' and casts burning hands (DC 13) on Geo for 1d4
The Green Witch attempts to cast cause fear (DC 13) on Esowulf, but fails when Fillias arrow plunges into her breast. Her rage flows forth from her eyes, but she speaks not a word.
The Brown Swordsman attempts to get up and provokes an extra attack from the wolf:
and again finds himself flat on his back, this time minus part of his larynx!
The Red Archer draws and fires at Esowulf, but misses
Eoswulf
Eoswulf moves up, using the pillars to provide some cover, and attacks the Red Archer:
Longsword +8 (1d8+6, 19-20/x2)
sinking his longsword deep in the elf's side!
---------------------------------------------------------------
W=-2-6 (-8)
E=-
S(dead)=-3-8-7 (-18)
A=-10
Enith & Woolfie -
Geo - Shoots at blue, miss
Hinkle - Acid at blue, miss
Ezren - Throws staff at blue, (Hit!,-4)
Fillia -
Baddies-
---------------------------------------------------------------
W=-2-6 (-8)
E=-4
S(dead)=-3-8-7 (-18)
A=-10
Enith & Woolfie - Sling at witch, (hit,-2) bite swordsman (hitx2,-8,-7) & tripx2 (swordsman is now lying on the ground dead.)
Geo - Shoots/misses the Swordsman
Hinkle - Casts bless (Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.)
Ezren - Magic Missle Swordsman (hit,-3)
Fillia - Arrows witch (hit, -6)
Baddies-
The Blue Evoker moves 20' and casts burning hands (DC 13) on Geo for -3 hp.
The Green Witch attempts to cast cause fear (DC 13) on Esowulf, but fails when Fillias arrow plunges into her breast. Her rage flows forth from her eyes, but she speaks not a word.
The Brown Swordsman attempts to get up and provokes an extra attack from the wolf and again finds himself flat on his back, this time minus part of his larynx!
The Red Archer draws and fires at Esowulf, but misses
Eoswulf - Stabs Archer (hit, -10)
---------------------------------------------------------------
W=-2-6 (-8)
E=-
S(dead)=-3-8-7 (-18)
A=-10
Enith & Woolfie -
Geo - Shoots at blue, miss
Hinkle - Acid at blue, miss
Ezren - Throws staff at blue, (Hit!,-4)
Fillia -Shoots at blue, (hit, -3)
Baddies- TBD
Eoswulf - TBD
---------------------------------------------------------------
W=-2-6 (-8)
E=-4-3 (-7)
S(dead)=-3-8-7 (-18)
A=-10
Enith & Woolfie - Sling at witch, (hit,-2) bite swordsman (hitx2,-8,-7) & tripx2 (swordsman is now lying on the ground dead.)
Geo - Shoots/misses the Swordsman
Hinkle - Casts bless (Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.)
Ezren - Magic Missle Swordsman (hit,-3)
Fillia - Arrows witch (hit, -6)
Baddies-
The Blue Evoker moves 20' and casts burning hands (DC 13) on Geo for -3 hp.
The Green Witch attempts to cast cause fear (DC 13) on Esowulf, but fails when Fillias arrow plunges into her breast. Her rage flows forth from her eyes, but she speaks not a word.
The Brown Swordsman attempts to get up and provokes an extra attack from the wolf and again finds himself flat on his back, this time minus part of his larynx!
The Red Archer draws and fires at Esowulf, but misses
Eoswulf - Stabs Archer (hit, -10)
---------------------------------------------------------------
W=-2-6 (-8)
E=-
S(dead)=-3-8-7 (-18)
A=-10
Enith & Woolfie - slings witch (hit, -3) bite & trip witch (hit,-5 + trip) kills witch
Geo - Shoots at blue, miss
Hinkle - Acid at blue, miss
Ezren - Throws staff at blue, (Hit!,-4)
Fillia -Shoots at blue, (hit, -3)
Baddies-
The Blue Evoker attempts to use burning hands again on Geo and Hinkle: , but the blows he receives do not allow him to concentrate so he pulls his dagger and charges the elf rogue...
The red archer drops his bow, pulls his short sword and retaliates against Eoswulf, but the warriors parry skills far outmatch the swordsmanship of the evil archer:
Eoswulf -
---------------------------------------------------------------
W(dying)=-2-6-3-5 (-16)
E=-4-3 (-7)
S(dead)=-3-8-7 (-18)
A=(-10)
|
Ēoswulf steps closer to the archer, then let's out a battle roar as he slashes with his sword and bashes with his armor spikes.
for
for
-Posted with Wayfinder
Eoswulf 's blade slices the air as the injured archer desperately parrys his strike, but this leaves him completely vulnerable to a smash from the warrior's wicked spiked shield that slams deep into his side, taking him out of the picture.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Enith & Woolfie - Sling at witch, (hit,-2) bite swordsman (hitx2,-8,-7) & tripx2 (swordsman is now lying on the ground dead.)
Geo - Shoots/misses the Swordsman
Hinkle - Casts bless (Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.)
Ezren - Magic Missle Swordsman (hit,-3)
Fillia - Arrows witch (hit, -6)
Baddies-
The Blue Evoker moves 20' and casts burning hands (DC 13) on Geo for -3 hp.
The Green Witch attempts to cast cause fear (DC 13) on Esowulf, but fails when Fillias arrow plunges into her breast. Her rage flows forth from her eyes, but she speaks not a word.
The Brown Swordsman attempts to get up and provokes an extra attack from the wolf and again finds himself flat on his back, this time minus part of his larynx!
The Red Archer draws and fires at Esowulf, but misses
Eoswulf - Stabs Archer (hit, -10)
---------------------------------------------------------------
W=-2-6 (-8)
E=-
S(dead)=-3-8-7 (-18)
A=-10
Enith & Woolfie - slings witch (hit, -3) bite & trip witch (hit,-5 + trip) kills witch
Geo - Shoots at blue, miss
Hinkle - Acid at blue, miss
Ezren - Throws staff at blue, (Hit!,-4)
Fillia -Shoots at blue, (hit, -3)
Baddies-
The Blue Evoker attempts to use burning hands again on Geo and Hinkle: but the blows he receives do not allow him to concentrate so he pulls his dagger and charges the elf rogue...
The red archer drops his bow, pulls his short sword and retaliates against Eoswulf, but the warriors parry skills far outmatch the swordsmanship of the evil archer:
Eoswulf - Swipe (miss) + Armored spikes (hit, -9) Archer goes down, hard
---------------------------------------------------------------
W (dead)=-2-6-3-5 (-16)
E=-4-3 (-7)
S(dead)=-3-8-7 (-18)
A (dead)=-10-9 (-19)
Enith & Wolfie -
Geo -
Hinkle -
Ezren -
Fillia -
Baddie - TBD
Eoswulf - TBD
the Blue cloaked evoker shields his eyes and negates the effects of Ezren's spell.
Hinkle strikes the evoker with his hammer and sends him to his god of secrets.
After surviving the ambush, the party is able to leave the Shrine of the Failed and deliver Eylysia’s cache to the Grand Lodge.
The crowd gathered around the Starstone Cathedral has disbanded, and many of the locals are still horrified following Sir Reinhart’s attempt to vault the chasm on horseback, which ended with his fall into oblivion.
Drandle Dreng personally thanks the Pathfinders for their successful investigation, indicating his interest in their future careers as Pathfinders. As the fledgling adventurers have yet to complete their Confirmation, the venture-captain promises to speak with Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine to have the process expedited.
Several days later, each of the PCs receives a missive summarizing some of the Society’s initial findings:
Highest regards,
Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin
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 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.
"Hmm, yah - I heard you broke into a house in addition to the illegal detainment of a priestess... I hope you didn't cause too much more trouble!"
“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.”
Also known as the Low Azlanti, the gillmen are an amphibious humanoid race believed to be the last descendants of the ancient Azlanti people.