Each of you received summons to report to the Pathfinder Lodge in Magnimar, and made your way to the City of Monuments. When you arrived, you were ushered into Venture Captain Sheila Heidmarch's lavish personal study, where you find 5 other pathfinder agents awaiting Heidmarch as well.
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In through the shadows, a brown feathered Tengu, more reminiscent of an owl than a raven, steps in and looks around. He is dressed in plain brown robes, and appears to have a darkness surrounding behind him, always matching his footsteps.
He then greets everyone warmly. "Hoo hoo! Hello, my friends! I am Kaepora Gaebora, faithful of Pharasma! I was summoned here by the Heidmarchs, so obviously this is important." He starts browsing the books in the study of Sheila Heidmarch, touching none but seeing every title.
"Also, don't mind the shadow. He is alive." He looks at everyone, blinks, then says "Would you like me to repeat what I said?"
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A young half-orc sits with a greatsword in his lap and a small backpack at his feet. He nods to Kaepora and opens his mouth to reply, but looks to a nearby end table where a dark bird is perched. The bird is pecking at a small pile of seeds and seems not to be paying any mind to the what's going on around them.
"Javon! Hey! Listen!" The half-orc raps his knuckles on the table and rumbles in a low voice. The bird looks startled and suddenly appears to realize others are present. The half-orc sighs. "This is Javon. He...sometimes loses focus. I am his porter, Grax."
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The dark bird stretches to its full height of several inches and fixes the half-orc with a disapproving stare. Suddenly it speaks in an nasally and accented voice. "Lose focus?! Gerald, what a rude thing to say with others present! I do not lose focus! I am a Pathfinder and we never lose focus! We must work on your manners, young man. 'Hey, Listen' indeed! When you were charged with accompanying me to restore my body and mind, it was implied you would show a certain amount of respect to someone of my abilities and station! Gerald, we shall speak of this later."
He turns to look at the others in the room. "Who are these people?" He looks back at the half-orc and then suddenly seems to remember what he had said. "Oh, yes! Shiela sent us a message! It will be so good to see her! You all must be other friends of hers then, yes? Is this a party? It is very good to meet all of you. My name is Javon. I do apologize for my unfortunate state. It seems something terrible happened to me on one of my adventures and I haven't been able to reverse it. My companion, Gerald, is helping me search for an answer. He is a simple porter, but I am hoping to show him the wonders of the world!"
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A well dressed man comes into the room and looks around. Though it appears he is used to the finer things in life, the fierce look on his face and the sword at his side tell you he has seen his fair share of the not so fine things. "Lord Willem Dargerion, of Taldan, if it pleases. " He gives a curt bow and takes a seat at the table.
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Kiaru has been trying for a while to go unnoticed in a shady corner of the inn until everyone has arrived and shown up. At that moment he gets up and slips stealthily dodging gracilemte to the typical drunks who wander around without being seen. "Good morning, my name is Kiaru and I think we have been summoned by Captain Heimdarch",Kiaru is a relatively thin and pale elf for someone of his race with a long white mane and honey-colored eyes. It is not extraordinarily strong but its movements reveal a grace and reflections that are not associated with a conventional warrior or soldier, on his back you can see a spear ready to be used at any time
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A tall swathy elf swaggers in with great grace. His mithral mail softly chimes as he turns and studies his companions to be. He offers a nod of respect to everyone before speaking.
"Greetings to you all! I'm Arakyrial - Follower of the Way of the Pointy Stick!"
He draws one of his rapiers with blinding speed and flips it end over end before catching it, sheathing it and then taking a seat.
The renowned Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch strides into her study. 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 selfsufficient, 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.”
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Javon hops across the table when the VC enters. "Ah, Sheila, this is a wonderful party you've arranged... So good to see you again!" He pauses as the VC begins outlining their mission.
He looks over to Grax, trying to stay quiet. "Gerald, is this not a dinner party? Why didn't you say something?!"
Hearing her declare the mission, he pipes up again. "Ah, yes. Delivering supplies. My Gerald can help with that. And perhaps Ignizi will have more insights to my condition. Druids, Gerald! We have never consulted druids before!"
The Venture Captain heaves a small sigh, and says to Arakyrial,
“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. And of course you’ll be provided with instructions that detail the route. The journey is quite simple, mainly just following a distinctive stream until you reach the valley that Ignizi’s settled.”
She turns to Grax and Javon and says, "Her. Ignizi is a female gnome 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.
. As for the pathfinders helping her, if Ignizi is to believed, they are all totally incompetent idiots. In reality, they are merely inexperienced, you know, the sort that feel the need to question every simple mission. As if the Pathfinder Chronicles are filled with detailed reports of supply missions..."
"As for the fey, my dear witch" she says, turning to Ingrid, "I would always expect some form of trouble when I run into them. But the fey of Sanos Forest tend to be of kindly hearts and goodly spirits. Pranks and mischief should be the extent of any trouble you'll have from them. Surely such seasoned agents as yourselves should be able to handle any encounters with patience and aplomb...I'm certain whatever research Ignizi is up to relies upon good relations with any neighboring fey."
"You'll find your supplies and instructions waiting for you near the kitchen entrance out back. That will be all." And with that obvious dismissal, she sits down and starts reviewing some paperwork as if you have already left.
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Lord Willem grows a small curve on his lips, as if a smile is starting to form, but it quickly goes away as they are dismissed. He had dealt with fae before, and they weren't friendly. He didn't expect these ones to be either. "Fae are notoriously capricious in nature. We don't need to understand their reasoning behind anything. They just... do. Right or wrong." He pauses for a moment gathering his thoughts as they walk through the kitchen to get to the supplies, where Kenra has brought Destrier. He pats the large horse on the nose before dismissing Kenra with a smile and a bow. "It seems our Venture-Captain has some issue with our charge. We should be careful, lest we become the vessel of some sort of retribution." He checks the pack mule and then readies his horse to lead the way.
You march east along the Dry Way—-the trade road along the northern bank of the mighty Yondabakari River toward Korvosa—-for several days. Then Lord Willem spots that distinctive stream, which your instructions indicate you should follow north into the Sanos Forest. Once you enter the woods proper, all signs of humanoid activity abate.
Midway through your first day in the forest, you approach a small vale where you catch a whiff of rotting meat, find several bear tracks, and notice the forest has suddenly gone quiet. According to your instructions, you should be within half a mile of the cottage where Ignizi Dinnelletter lives. As the cottage comes into sight, you see it is under assault, by a couple of very large bears...but these are no ordinary bears: they have the heads of owls! And they seem awfully strong, even for bears...in fact, even as you watch, you see the two owlbears literally rip off parts of the cabin, causing panicked shrieks from inside.
Kaepora advances cautiously, carefully studying one of the strange creatures. One thing is certain: these are not bears...nor owls.
Ingrid is pretty certain they are owlbears...or at least they seem to fit the physical description of owlbears. But something seems off. Perhaps some magical glitter will illuminate the issue. She casts a spell and it is now a very shiny owlbearlike creature. It seems to care not one whit about being a large discoball...
Willem moves forward and attacks the owlbear with the bluish skin, dealing it a strong blow. Surprisingly, it doesn't roar in anger. Instead it moans in pain and turns quickly toward him. Now that he's up close and personal, he can see this creature--while quite animated--is clearly not among the living any more...
Suddenly, from the paddock behind the cottage, another undead creature scrambles forward: the large skeleton of what must have once been a bull-like creature with a long lizard's tail. It sinks its teeth deep into Kiaru's side and rattles its tail in satisfaction.
You see another one of those skeletal bull-lizard thingies come around from the far side of the cottage, its eyes burning with an evil red menace.
The yellow owlbear continues to attack the cottage, while the bluish one turns and attacks its tormentor. For the shambling undead, it sure is attacking fast and furiously. Luckily, Willem's armor deflects most of its attacks, with only its putrid bite able to penetrate his defenses.
Willem and his mount unleash a number of attacks on the zombie owlbear, gashing the beast.
Kaepora's Shadow moves in, and you discover the owlbears do not have reach...but the skeleton bull-lizards do! The greenish bull-lizard attempts to bite K's Shadow. Unfortunately, Koepara had not yet moved forward and cast Mage armor on his shadow, and the creature's bite hits.
Ingrid's hex seems to have no effect on these mindless undead, but Kiaru strikes a mighty blow. While his spear passes between the ribs of the creature, his thrust goes straight through its spine, and it drops to the ground, unmoving.
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Grax eyes the owlbear undead and begins stalking forward. Suddenly he jerks his head up at the sound of a squawk from Javon. He nods wordlessly and moves near Arakyrial to guard the group's flank. He holds his greatsword ready to attack either enemy who comes within striking distance.
Arakyrial moves forward and buckles a mighty swash, running his rapier through its heart, burying the blade all the way to its hilt. When he whips out his blade, the beast slumps to the ground.
The red skeleton bull-lizard charges forward, snaking out its long sinuous skeletal neck, trying to bite Grax, but its efforts are futile.
The remaining zombie owlbear shuffles forward quickly, trying to attack the man on the horse. Its attack is as efficacious as the skeleton's attack.