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Solstice Scar version D – The story so far
The Pathfinder Society received a call for help from the Blakros Museum, where intruders tripped the many defences and barricaded themselves inside the building. Upon overcoming these safeguards, they encountered Medda and her Twinhorn warriors. Medda was willing to discuss the Kellids’ reason for attacking. Valsin was angered to learn that museum agents resorted to theft to gain relics and promised Medda that Pathfinders would accompany them back to the Tusk Mountains to return the hilt.
The Pathfinders secured passage for their convoy through the Hold of Belkzen and fought off renegade tribes’ raiders.
However, they arrived at the Twinhorn encampment too late; Eshimka’s forces had begun flooding through a portal at the standing stones. The Pathfinders needed to fight back the undead and close the rift. Once sealed, they learned that the attack left an extraplanar scar. Expecting an even greater invasion the next solstice, the Pathfinders must prepare to defeat Eshimka and end the threat forever.
The Society members followed in the footsteps of the paladin Ivvora, seeking the place where she died battling a powerful white dragon. There, Medda hoped to commune with Ivvora in the afterlife, learning how to reforge the broken dagger or create a new weapon to destroy Eshimka. In the process, those present had to fight the new generations of white dragons and their kobold servitors who inhabited the area.
Now preparations are being made to travel to an ancient battlefield where Ivvora and her comrades fought against an overwhelming undead force.
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Teric looks around at his traveling companions. The Society always made for odd circumstances. The Varisian nods to Dortlin as he readies himself and Rambi. It was good to have them with him again, though the mage pitied those who had to rely on weapons. With his own magical power, he never need to doubt his abilities.
He strokes his oiled beard and looks down as Darla slithers her way out of his shirt. "Yes, my dear. We seem to be going dragon-hunting. Perhaps we can scavenge some scales or teeth later to sell at a high price. Stupid adventurers will pay whatever we ask for things like that. We can likely make a profit fifty times over. Luckily the cold is rarely a problem for us." Unlike many of the others in thick furs, the Varisian is dressed in light linens. He has a dagger on his belt, but no one has ever seen him even draw it.
Teric motions and suddenly the air seems to wrinkle slightly. A horse appears before him where there wasn't one before. He mounts it quickly. The small snake slithers back into the man's shirt and you see a stylized tattoo of a snake appear on his chest. He looks back at the others. "Come on! We must fight for the future of the Twinhorn tribe and their honorable spirit." He rolls his eyes.
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Teric sees the young woman's eyes light up at the mention of gold. Despite her decidedly impoverished appearance, Teric can tell that she is healthy and that her incredibly simple robe is none the less made of high quality fabric and stitching.
I have heard. She says sweetly, That mages will pay quiet a sum for blood and other internal organs. Perhaps my friend, you will allow me to assist you in butchering the beast once we've slain it? I will admit that I have little knowledge of draconic anatomy, but I know just who we could sell it to if you would guide me to the various bits to jar and collect...
She stops and then bows.
Forgive me, I took leave of my manners. I am Lailah, Legate of the goddess of song Shelyn.
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Relying on techniques he’d read in an archaic manuscript, Psycho Dread closed his eyes and concentrated, pushing his consciousness beyond his physical body.
A life filled with travel has only heightened Psycho Dread’s wanderlust. Always fixated on the next stop on his journey, he’s kind and friendly, yet avoids deep connections with others. Through all of this, he’s begun to develop his own philosophy, yet knows it will take many more adventures before he’s ready to share it.
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The elf glided through her teammates, listening to the others. She’d a,ways orepeffered her assignments to come when she could sit and consider the ramifications, typically while she was knitting. This time however, she knew the drill all too well.
”Yes, well, I am Tessara. Might as well just call me Tess. It’s a pleasure to meet all you youngsters. Glad to see the future of the Society is in good hands.”. As she speaks, a tiny monkey pokes it’s head out from underneath her robes and chitters in excitement. ”And this is Zeriah,” she smiled.
As the group travelled, she cast Flase Life on herself, gaining Temporary hitpoints for the next 18hours, using her lesser wand of extend spell.
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Teric smiles at Lailah. "Since when does a Shelynite concern herself with profit margins?" He bows. "Trade Prince Teric Cain at your service. The only problem with internal organs is knowing how to harvest them. I admit I lack knowledge of the proper way to harvest a dragon's liver or bile duct. Someone could be hired." He considers it for a moment.
"Alternatively, scales and teeth are much more straightforward. Blood though. I hadn't thought of that. Don't forget that dragon's love to hoard gold too though, me dear." He laughs and smiles.
Seeing Tess, he waves. "Ah, Lailah, come meet Tessara, a master of the arcane herself. Some might say she's more knowledge than I. More talented though, is very debatable!" He winks and chuckles.
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Lailah bows low to Tess.
I must admit, I'm a bit... strange for a follower of my goddess.
She smiles.
My goals, I admit, are simple. A divine weapon exists... a perfection of the craft, both in goodness and in beauty.
She sighs softly, more like a woman talking about a lover than a weapon.
The magnificence of it's craft... to hold it, to wield such a piece of artistic perfection... I can think of no better way to bring myself closer to my goddess than to sing as I hold that weapon and to bath in it's holy light.
She coughs as if recognizing just how intense she was getting.
But, the weapon is rightfully owned, and I have no claim upon it. After much begging, pleading, and singing for days on end, it's owner agreed to sell it to me.
She smiles weakly.
For... well, more gold than many will see in many lifetimes. Less than it is worth, a fair deal, but more than a simple singer on the streets could over hope to achieve. I suspect he had hoped I would give up my hopes at the astronomical sum. But, any work of art worthy of a goddess is worth devoting a life to. So I have devoted myself to the art of commerce, and have earned the title of trade princess myself.
She smiles.
No coin i earn goes towards my own desires of course. Only towards the purchase of that beautiful holy artifact so that I may devote myself ever more fully towards Sheyln's beauty.
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The long journey south from the slopes of the Tusk Mountains to the edge of Fangwood took several weeks, during which many of the Twinhorns and Pathfinders exchanged ancestral stories and tales of daring adventures to pass the time on the relatively uneventful trek. By the time the Fangwood rises ahead in the brisk morning air, both groups are eager to confront whatever lies ahead.
Medda addresses the crowd gathered before her. “South of here lies a battlefield where the paladin Ivvora risked her life in a daring ploy to help her battalion defeat an undead horde. For her selflessness, Ivvora earned a token of Vildeis’s favor: the dagger she used to deal a terrible blow to Eshimka! For all the crusaders’ heroism, I can sense an undead taint lingered here, and that stretch of the Fangwood has expanded in the centuries since to absorb it. It is now our turn to earn Vildeis’s blessing, risking ourselves to end this threat so that in turn we might slay Eshimka once and for all.
“The terrain favors small groups over larger formations, so we shall divide into smaller groups to navigate the forest and identify the corruption’s heart. May Ivvora’s example guide us to victory!” With that, Medda and her phantom Anok turn and enter the Fangwood, followed by Pathfinder and Twinhorn teams that fan out behind her.
Brambles grow wild throughout the edge of the wood where a thick canopy of trees begins to filter out sunlight, turning day into night. The overgrown plant life forbids easy access deeper into the forest and fills the air with the sickly-sweet smell of decay.
The outer edge of the blighted forest is overgrown with poisonous barbed plants, and the thick foliage hides venomous creatures in its nooks and crannies.
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The quiet halfling with serious eyes peaking out from beneath his wide-brimmed hat navigates his way through the wilderness with ease.
He sits astride a wolf that is easily the size of a horse, and he sometimes leans all the way down to duck under branches as she picks her way through the woods at his direction.
An astute observer might notice a pair of rats hiding under his jacket, and a thrush perched in his hat.
The forest floor is blanketed with eerie dark flowers that paint the otherwise lightless woods with their purple incandescence. Disorienting paths cut through the trees, forward-facing paths seem to lead back to where they started, and retracing one’s steps leads to unfamiliar terrain. Glowing eyes glare hungrily from within the impenetrable thickets where the vines slowly curl around anyone who gets too close.
Darkpaw whimpers slightly, a loud sound coming from such a large frame.
The forest floor is blanketed with eerie dark flowers that paint the otherwise lightless woods with their purple incandescence. Disorienting paths cut through the trees, forward-facing paths seem to lead back to where they started, and retracing one’s steps leads to unfamiliar terrain. Glowing eyes glare hungrily from within the impenetrable thickets where the vines slowly curl around anyone who gets too close.
Bold May Go
Psycho
Dortlin
Laliah
Peribras
Teric
GM
Tess
[spoiler=Knowledge Arcana DC 22] It is a Yaoguai. A huge magical beast. You get one peice of information and an additional piece of information per 5 you beat the DC. Follow the link in my tag line for Info you can obtain
Bold May Go
Psycho
Dortlin
Laliah
Peribras
Teric
GM
Tess
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"I'll handle this one."
Dortlin seems to change slightly as he takes on aspects of both Bull and Snake.
And he can't pass up the opportunity so he pulls his Nodachi and has Rambi charge.
Dortlin takes a swing.
If that hits
If it attacks one of us that managed to hit it, it triggers Broken Wing Gambit and provokes aoos from both of us due to Paired Opportunists.
If Rambi's former aoo missed but this one hit.
If enemy is still alive it gets +2 to hit and damage on it's first attack due to Broken Wing Gambit.
If it is attacking one of us that did not hit it yet no aoos occur and it does not get any bonuses.
Rambi will use an immediate action for the Skirmisher trick Vengeance Strike to attack it. This is not an aoo.
If it confirms it provokes an aoo from Dortlin.
The team of Rambi and Dortlin annihilate their opponent. Dropping it instantly.
Bold May Go
Psycho
Dortlin
Laliah
Peribras
Teric
GM
Tess
At a gesture from Peribras, Darkpaw growls and lopes over to the nearer creature, biting at it viciously.
for plus
As Rambi gets a bit too close to the trees, they seem to reach out and hold him.
Dark paw moves up and attempts to bite the creature, but misses. Dark paw feels the trees attempt to capture him. The wolf manages to step out of it.
Peribras sticks an arrow into the beast.
Red misses with both the bite and the claw, but his hit hard with a tentacle. It quickly wraps the wolf around the midsection and constricts.
Yellow moves towards the party, but seems to get hung up on the icey sphere
Bold May Go
Psycho
Dortlin
Laliah
Peribras
Teric
GM
Tess
red: 79/84
yellow: 75/84
Darkpaw emits a sound, part whimper, part growl, as she responds to the creature by biting at it aggressively.
for plus
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Lailah sings the correct song now that her player isn't an idiot, and her enemies now have to make a will save to see Darkpaw.
She steps in front of Teric, pulling her dagger out as she moves.
I would appreciate... she weaves into her song. If the valiant magician would not let the bear thing eat me.
Despite her words she stands steady as she stares down the bear.
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Teric grins a toothy and slightly feral grin at Lailah. "Charmingly valiant, my dear, but nonsense. The beast has been stopped for the moment. My magic will continue to hamper it, without a doubt. Now is the time we confuse it and allow the others to regroup. Stay calm, I'll return."
As the cold fire continues to free the creature, the mage steps out in front of Lailah and heads towards the creature. He stops several feet away and this time uses his will to harness divine power. A dark mist rises around him, enshrouding him, the creature, and Lailah. Through his own power, Teric can still see.
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Dortlin seems surprised at Rambi being caught by plants.
"Look out. These plants must be magical."
Rambi tries to escape.
Success! Dortlin leads him over to the other creature and Dortlin slashes at it.
Since Rambi didn't attack and didn't activate Broken Wing Gambit nothing special happens.
It triggers an aoo from Dortlin. And due to Paired Opportunists from Rambi as well.
If that hits
If that hits
Confirming crit for both of Dotlin's aoos.
Each triggers an aoo from Rambi due to Outflank if they confirm.
If the enemy lives it gets +2 to hit and damage on it's first attack against Dortlin.
Tess hexes Peribras in a good way.
Peribras feeling a bit lucky, sinks two arrows in to the creature.
The wolf manages to bite the beast, and causes him to go down.
Lailah's attempts to muddle the mind of the beast. Unknown if it took effect.
Psycho shoots off a magic missile and it strikes yellow in the chest.
Dortlin moves in on Rambi and slashes at the beast.
Teric finally shrouds the party in mist.
The beast manages to avoid the sphere this time around. It swings wildly in the direction of Dortlin, but fails to land a single blow.
Red keeps hold of Darkpaw and continues to squeeze
Need you all to make a DC 17 reflex save or you are entangled by the surrounding forest. You can free yourselves as a move action with a DC 23 escape artist check or a DC 13 strength check. Alternatively, You can deal 10 points of slashing damage to break free.
Bold May Go
Psycho
Dortlin
Laliah
Peribras
Darkpaw-Grappled
Teric
Red-Grappled+Prone
Yellow-Entangled
Tess
red: 64/84
yellow: 51/84