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Crios enters the chamber and casually looks around for familiar faces. Joyfully he finds several, and with a relaxed wave he motions for Kivuli, Ranalus and Anduris to join him.
"Well met my friends." he begins with a wide smile and genuine happiness in his voice as the others come close.
"I know we have been here before, but this time something feels different, as if somehow there is a greater sense of... finality." as he says the last word, his expression seems to darken ever so slightly.
His eyes quickly relax and calmly shift to look past his friends as he spies two new Pathfinders moving toward the group. "And it seems we have the rest of our team arriving. I imagine this will be quite an intriguing mission."
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Slaine ambles into the society meeting chamber. Although his face remains impassive as he chews on a wooden pick, his eyes dart quickly to each of the others in the room. He leans his tall, lanky frame against the wall next to the entrance and rests his double-barreled musket against the wall. You can see a large silver key embossed on the stock of the gun.
Folding his arms up as he leans against the wall, his leathery and scarred face relaxes a bit in the comfort of the room. His trail-stained leather coat rests over a very fine, but worn mithril chain shirt. He mumbles to himself: Durn, if'n it ain't a buncha weirdos agin.
In his mind, he thinks: Cain't tell where they from er what they do. Not a straight-up fighter amongst the whole lot. I miss the good ole days when ye could 'spect to find some guy wit a sword and some weaseling rogue ter pick a lock when ye needed. Even one o' them wizards was alright ter get ye out of a pinch. Ah well, I got a job ter do and the boss wants it done, so I'm gittin it done.
After he muses, he glances up at Crios when he speaks and grunts, not in an unkind way: Howdy. with a nod of his greying head.
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The meeting chamber is a well-worn tent set up in a traveling encampment. Around the tent are some familiar faces that have worked together on this journey before, and a few new faces assigned by the powers that be to your team. As you assemble, you reflect on your long journey that got you to this point.
It all started when the Pathfinder Society received a call for help from the Blakros Museum, where intruders tripped the many defenses and barricaded themselves inside the building. Upon overcoming these safeguards, you encountered Medda and her Twinhorn warriors. Medda was willing to discuss the Kellids’ reason for attacking. Venture Captain Valsin was angered to learn that the museum agents resorted to theft to gain relics. In particular, a sacred hilt from a broken dagger that the hero Ivvora used to seal one of the dread lich, Tar-Baphon's, lieutenants. The nightwalkers known as Eshimka, was trapped on the Negative Energy Plane. And the hilt was the key to keep it that way. Vaslin promised Medda that Pathfinders would accompany them back to the Tusk Mountains to return the hilt and keep Eshimka sealed away from the material plane.
The Pathfinders secured passage for their convoy through the Hold of Belkzen and fought off renegade orc tribes’ raiders.
However, when you arrived on the solstice at the Twinhorn encampment, it was 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, you learned that the attack left an extraplanar scar. Expecting an even greater invasion the next solstice, you 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 and you find yourself on the verge of the area where the battle occur.
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The half-elf wears dark clothing and a rune-covered cloak that blends in with its surroundings. He carries a holy symbol of an eye with a crescent-moon pupil. He glances at the gunslinger and speaks quietly.
"May you walk safely in the dark places. I am Ranalus, servant of Count Ranalc."
He turns to the others.
"Kivuli, Crios, Anduris; it is good to see you again."
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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.
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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 only way forward is through the gnarly brambles and it won't be easy.
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Perception/Survival
Initiative
After moving through the brambles you find 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.
Round 1
Map
Noldoli
Slaine
Anduris
Crios
Ranalus
Monsters
Kivuli
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By Abadar's scales, what've we gotten inter? I kin barely see nothin' in this light. Any a ye got a light to help me kill these durn creatures 'afore they make a snack out o' us all? I'll unload both ' these barrels on the firs' one that shows it's ugly face.
Slaine scurries forward and readies an attack as soon as a monster clears the dense growth and is within 30ft.
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Crios navigates the brambles with only a few minor scrapes and scratches on his clothes for his efforts, just managing to avoid any debilitating wounds.
Completely at a loss for what they face, Crios opts for a defensive posture and drops a slender wand to his waiting hand, quickly activating it's magic.
"I could try reasoning with whatever is out there. Perhaps they are simply afraid of us..." the aasimar says calmly, knowing the likely danger they face. "But it is best to be safe none the less."
Knowing his friends well, Crios waits a brief moment for any spells they might cast before moving away.
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Noldoli calls out a greeting and moves up and is greet back with a guttural roar. Ggarrr! Noldoli nears the thicket and the overgrowth seems to have a mind of it's own and begins to entangle Noldoli, as vines wrap around arms and legs.
An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.
Slaine moves up and readies his musket.
Crios casts shield and moves into thicket.
Ranalus activates his feyskinned.
Round 1
Map
Noldoli Need DC17 reflex
Slaine
Anduris
Crios
Ranalus
Monsters
Kivuli
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The creatures, three, advance quickly on the party, moving through the thicket with great pace. These creature are a mix of different animals fused together, with a bear’s torso and head, clawed ape legs, and a furred tentacle arm. Two of them stick to the thick overgrowth; while the third comes straight at Noldoli moving into the open. Slaine gets off his shots scoring to hits that seem to not be quite as effective as he was expecting, but hurting the creature nonetheless.
The creature lashes out at the Paladin with a tentacle. But the tentacle can't best the holy warriors armor.
Kivuli recognizes them as they advance, yaoguai!
Round 1
Map
Monsters
Yellow 17 dmg
Kivuli
Round 2
Noldoli Need DC17 reflex
Slaine
Anduris May take 2 turns worth of actions.
Crios
Ranalus
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(plus any adjacent allies)
Noldoli steps up to attack the creature:
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What in Sam Hill?!? These here beasties 'av got hide thicker 'an a mule's backside. My bullet's ain't hittin' like I'd expect 'em ter.
Slaine slides 5 feet over to take careful aim at Yellow and uses his Gunslinger Deed: Dead Shot to try and overcome the thick skin of the monsters.
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Summary: make full attack, damage is xd12+7, where x=number of hits. Apply total damage as one hit for purposes of DR (assuming that's what this is). Cost = 1 grit point
Gunslinger Deed: Dead Shot (7th level)
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Crios swiftly focuses a portion of his magic to enhance his staff, causing it to spark and then casts a spell with his free hand that further powers the arching magic. He the surges forward, looking to engage the exposed beast.
Slipping past Ranalus, he calmly wonders, Are the creature's reflexes good enough to react to both Nidoli and myself?
No sooner does that thought cross his mind than he finds himself executing a powerful, if somewhat wild, spell enhanced strike.
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Kivuli knows that yaoguai can have different special abilities; judging from this one's tentacles, Kivuli guesses it likely has the ability to grab and constrict; and also Kivuli knows that yaoguai are immune to polymorph effects but the attempt to alter its shape causes it great pain and possibly other damaging effects.
Kivuli promptly extends his arms. He then steps toward the thicket, the vines reach out and try to grab him.
Niodoli steps forward and gets a couple longsword swings in the beast that has approached. The first misses, and the second...
Slaine fires off a deadly dead shot...
Ranalus adds to his defenses.
Crios closes in on the beast, it bites at the Aasimar on his appraoch. But the magical energy shield buffets him from the attack.
Crios electrified attack misses the mark.
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Anduris bravely stumbles and bumbles through the near impervious forest. Lagging behind he tells his friends "Yah be go'en ahead there boys and let me get me sec'nd wind. Seems I be out'ah sorts here in this forsaken place." Anduris tries to keep up with the rest of the party but finds the forest daunting and soon he lags behind. The forest takes its toll and he suffers from the poison inherent in the fauna.
As he catches up to the party he sees that they are engaged in battle with three yaoguai. He quickly responds by stepping forward to help his friend. He enhances his weapon with the keen and bane quality against these creatures. He then uses him focus power Mind over gravity to give himself flight for 7 mins (60 movement).
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Slaine's bullet hits and takes a big chunk out of the creature, as Noldoli's long sword hits as well, but doesn't seem to do full damage.
Anduris lagging behind, as he struggles through the brambles, feels an odd sensation that dwarves rarely know, a sick stomach. He moves up and enhances a fellow Pathfinder's weapon, then takes to the air flying above the ground cover.
The creatures on the outside advance on Slaine and Kivuli attacking both with their tentacles. While Kivuli is missed, Slaine is hit by the tentacle, it wraps around the gunslinger and starts to squeeze him. The yaoguai that is front and center tries to attack all three Pathfinders within its reach. The bite misses Crios; the tentacle misses Ranalus; and the claw also misses Noldoli. Some of its wounds seem to heal right before your eyes.
Round 2
Map
Yaoguai, Yellow 41 dmg
Red
Blue
Kivuli
Round 3
Noldoli
Slaine Grappled - 11 dmg
Anduris sickened
Crios
Ranalus
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Ranalus casts Liberating Command on Slaine as an immediate action as soon as he is grappled.
Shadowy tendrils creep out from the cleric's holy symbol to pry away the creature's tentacle.
Slaine gets an immediate action Escape Artist check with a +18 competence bonus.
Then he channels to heal.
"The night restores."
Waves of shadow heal all within 30' for 7 points of healing and also grant Darkvision for 1 round.
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Slaine smirks to himself as he sees Yellow take a massive blow and begins to reload, unfortunately, he doesn't hear the Yaoguai behind him and is suddenly scooped up by a thick tentacle. Just as he feels the crushing power of the creature, its grip suddenly relaxes and Slaine attempts a quick get away.
By Abadar's generosity, I'm free! Slipping easily away, he slides out of reach of both blue and red when he suddenly feels a wave of healing wash over him. When he looks up, he can now clearly see the creatures. His eyes widen. Great golden key! Them's th' ugliest things I ain't never seen! No sense with fancy trick shots, I'll just fill this beastie up with so much lead, he kin't even move.
Just as he starts to unload his musket into BLUE, he feels the magical music inspire him from the other group.
On Blue:
Unfortunately in his haste to escape the Yaoguai, Slaine misloads the first barrel and the musket starts to misfire and jam. Just as it does so, the key emblem on his musket glows with a golden light.
First barrel reroll:
Slaine's fingers shake and fumble at the sight of the Yaoguai and he poorly loads the firearm for the second shot and the gun jams. Git it tergether Slainy old boy. Ye's got a bunch a strangers watchin' yeh and they won't be thinkin' yeh know which way ter point yer gun..
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Ranalus liberates Slaine who slides free of the yaoguai. Ranalus then provides healing that also provides darkvision. Kivuli enhanced by Anduris gets a crushing hit in on one of the yaoguais.
Noldoli lands another solid blow.
Slaine freshly escaped, takes a step back and begins firing. His one barrel gives him trouble. He gets his first round of shots off and hits, the second barrel finds the mark a second time, but the first barrel misfires! But that second shot from the second barrel drops the first of the yaogaui!
Round 2 +2 Inspire Courage / Darkvision, free 5' step
Map
Yaoguai, Yellow 43 dmg
Red
Blue DEAD 89 dmg
Kivuli
Round 3
Noldoli
Slaine 4 dmg
Anduris sickened
Crios
Ranalus
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Gripping his staff in both hands now, Crios spins his weapon and aims for the enemy creature's exposed weak spots with two rapid blows. He adds just a hint of arcane strength to his attacks and at least one of the blows connects. When it does connect, the staff erupts with brilliant arcs of blue and white lightning, scorching the creature deeply.