Dot here.
Is that everyone?
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 over its corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scent 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 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 and I both 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 field operatives. Allow me to introduce you to Janira Gavix," he says as he motions for an excitable-looking 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 your own Confirmation."
Janira speaks up in a cheerful and enthusiastic voice. "Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mountains, 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 mouth 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 hops off the table and strolls out of the building, humming to himself.
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A tall Tian man walks over to Janira and gives a polite bow before extending his hands for a handshake. "Greetings, Janira. I'm honored to have you join us in our Confirmation. My name is Mao Asaka, from the Bachuan District of Tian Xa. Though our district forbids religion, I have been influenced by followers of Irori to practice the principles of their deity. You have our fists, fellow Pathfinder."
The bard looks up with a quizzical look as the half orc tried to give her his lute.
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Cloudia looks a little nervous. Fresh out of training with her head in the clouds, she is a bit intimidated by the thought of going out on an actual mission.
"Is this a long mission? Will we be travelling to a dangerous place like the world wound?"
Her voice has a slight quaver to it. She looks equal parts scared out of her wits and intrigued. She has nothing with her that would be considered suitable for an adventure, still wearing normal city attire and carrying absolutely no weapons or supplies.
I would take it that comedy is not your speciality Uldar. replies the Halfling.
Oh no, nothing like the World Wound. I think that most of us would be cut to pieces in a matter of seconds if we would try to brave that land. she replie to Cloudia's query.
She ignores the half orc and looks around to see if everyone has arrived.
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"Is this a long mission? Will we be travelling to a dangerous place like the world wound?"
"As I understand it we won't even leave the island of Kortos, where we're currenly are already. We are going to the place Janira stakes out for days on her own. As there is strengh in numbers, I think we'll be safer with the 6 to 8 of us than she was on her own."
Uldar takes out a notepad and starts writing things down:
"Ok, so we have:
If there's noone else I suggest we go!"
We might need to get food BUT I would recommend not riding any animals in, especially horses. The centaurs who frequent the area are not known for their liking people who ride horses. We might also run into other animals, magical beasts, vermins. So if you need to get anything, now is probably the best way to go and get what you need. Chance favors the prepared mind. the halfling replie.s
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A large, broad half-elf enters the Pig's Paunch at a jog, looking about the place with a look of half-bemusement, half-panic. Seeing a knot of diverse characters with heavy packs and gear, he sidles over, a look of visible relief crossing his face as he picks out Kreighton.
"Aurus Goldson, yer heavy for this trip," he says as he goes around with an amiable handshake for everyone. "Real sorry 'bout showin' up late, last assignment was up in the River Kingdoms and I guess I don't rank high enough for pigeon forwardin' like I keep asking about, so went from the docks to the lodge and then had to run here. Anything a big ol' mook like myself should be thinkin' of askin'?"
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A large, broad half-elf enters the Pig's Paunch at a jog, looking about the place with a look of half-bemusement, half-panic. Seeing a knot of diverse characters with heavy packs and gear, he sidles over, a look of visible relief crossing his face as he picks out Kreighton.
"Aurus Goldson, yer heavy for this trip," he says as he goes around with an amiable handshake for everyone. "Real sorry 'bout showin' up late, last assignment was up in the River Kingdoms and I guess I don't rank high enough for pigeon forwardin' like I keep asking about, so went from the docks to the lodge and then had to run here. Anything a big ol' mook like myself should be thinkin' of askin'?"
Wow, it looks like you haven't had time to heal up it seems! Uldar remarks as he sees several not fully healed wounds on Aurus' body.
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"It's nice to meet you Aurus. You travel much?" she asks with wide bright eyes.
"Only when I'm asked," he says, "But the Society's been asking for me more an' more - guess I'm a hot commodity," throwing in a cheeky wink.
Wow, it looks like you haven't had time to heal up it seems! Uldar remarks as he sees several not fully healed wounds on Aurus' body.
Aurus looks at the wounds, shrugging in a resigned sort of way. "Right, keep forgettin' about those - Razmirans get real tetchy when you point out that their god's not as godly as some of the others. Nothin' that a good rest and a hot bath won't fix." He looks at everyone's bags already packed and deflates visibly. "...but I'm guessing there's no time for that bath," he says despondently.
The halfling says Now that we are all here, what skills does everyone have. It is important for people in a group to know so that they you can best learn to cooperate.
We shouldnt be gone for more than a 4 days.
“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.”
Finishing up her explanation Janira stands up, settles her tab and leads you to the door.
The first part of your journey takes you through Absolom itself and Janira takes great joy in pointing out landmarks and other things of note as the group travels along. Just after noon you leave the city and begin to travel through the countryside. The first day and night pass uneventfully with Janira regaling you with tales of the glory of the Pathfinder Society.
Over breakfast Janira talks about the day ahead. ”The area we’re heading to is controlled by a large centaur tribe. If we cross paths with any of them, they’ll see the horses as an affront and might become dangerously unfriendly. Our mission is to explore the caves and investigate the gillmen activity, not fight the local populace.”
Comic relief is supposed to be funny,, the halfling mutters beneath her breath,.
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"I'm a 'walk-up-and-hit-a-guy' kinda guy," says Aurus, absentmindedly stretching his arms as he talks. "Best against evil things - demons, devils, the bad sort of dragons - cuz I got Apsu in my corner." He gives a confident grin. "Took down a river dragon last time. You know the River Kingdoms have dragons just living in their rivers?"
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"I'm quick with a bow," says Travail shyly. "And, well, I learned a few things about breaking into places I wasn't supposed to be, when I was younger and reckless."
"I'm always happy to scout ahead, if it seems helpful. Although since these woods rightfully belong to the centaurs we ought to simply pay them their respects if we see any. I hear they like music, perhaps Uldar's lute will come in handy."
Janira takes a brief moment to go over the plan before you all set out.
“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.” [/b]
Finishing up her explanation Janira stands up, settles her tab and leads you to the door.
The first part of your journey takes you through Absolom itself and Janira takes great joy in pointing out landmarks and other things of note as the group travels along. Just after noon you leave the city and begin to travel through the countryside. The first day and night pass uneventfully with Janira regaling you with tales of the glory of the Pathfinder Society.
Over breakfast Janira talks about the day ahead. ”The area we’re heading to is controlled by a large centaur tribe. If we cross paths with any of them, they’ll see the horses as an affront and might become dangerously unfriendly. Our mission is to explore the caves and investigate the gillmen activity, not fight the local populace.”
As mid-afternoon passes and 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.”
But before you can start moving again, a large tree falls to the forest floor, startling all sorts of creatures. In their fear, some start to attack your party.
Rolling her eyes Mine she responds to the half orc.