The renowned Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch strides into her study at the Magnimar lodge. 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 self sufficient, 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.”
You may ask Venture Captain Heidmarch questions.
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"I am reduced to being a delivery boy to some backwoods outpost. I may need to re-evaluate what it is that this organization does for me." The long suffering Chelaxian noble laments. "However, I have agreed to perform missions, so I shall do as you ask. What can you tell us of the land between here and there?"
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"My fellow... shadow creature has it right! What's the chance we get paid for this? And failing that... what's the chance we find some kind of loo... ahem, of historical heirlooms, worthy of being recovered and studied?" Wolfgang asks sounding extremely interessed to the "reward" part of the mission...
"What's in it for you? You will be compensated appropriately for your time. As for the society, the research that Dinnelletter is performing could be groundbreaking and if she does not get her supplies, it may bring it to a halt." She looks back to Traber, "The Sanos Forest is the heart of Varisia. This area is known for it gnome population and ties to fey creatures. So I would expect some sort form of mischievous tricks to be played on you at some point."
“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.”
“Ignizi is 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 what she is researching, that’s a question I’m keen to learn the answer to myself. Ignizi’s reputation affords her something of a carte blanche when it comes to matters of First World research and we won’t know exactly what she’s up to until she has finally concluded her work. Knowing Ignizi, though, it will likely mean trouble.”
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A dark figure steps out of the shadows, quietly looking about the others seemingly focused on the task at hand. The figure is tall and athletic, deep green hood pulled up, casting his face in deep shadow. Slung on his back is an unstrung bow, several quivers, and a small backpack. On his waist, behind the cloak, is yet another small quiver and the hint of a starknife in the shadow.
Additional movement comes from beside him, and the black gives way to a dark catlike shape stepping up to his side, crouched and alert.
"Isn't the travel itself the value?" a serious, and low, voice speaks.
There is a brief moment of pause before he pulls back his hood revealing a young man, no more than 19 or 20, with a huge smile across his face half holding back a laugh.
"But no, gold is good too. Need to keep Kissan here protected, and that takes coin! The name is Edmund, and I am pleased to be a part of this caravaan. It has been far too long since I was employed as a guide- and I am much looking forward to getting back to it"
He turns his attention the Venture Captain. "Woods, Fey, strange druids. Basically what I am used to- I should be good to go."
Hate when Hooman makes feet go on stone. Soil better
Following her master's lead, she steps out intently to the room- crouched and alert, ready to pounce in a moments notice. Quickly though, his posture changes, body loosening and relaxing.
No threat. Only more hoomans...
She looks about the room, before flopping down on her side atop of Edmund's feet- tail wisping across the cold stone floor.
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"Nothing worth stealing... figures! Knowing this woman's reputation we'll probably get killed over a basket of turnips!"
"Yes, well... I suppose we've better get going then. The sooner we deliver these "goods" to our gnome researcher, the faster the mission will be SAFELY completed, right?"
"Riiiiight..."
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"Let me, guess. Cheliax right? I'd know that mindset anywhere. Did I ever tell you about the time I helped to liberate a city from the 'evil empire'?"
Edmund feigns a smile before returning back to the rest of the party. "This druid isn't gettin' any closer if we ain't moving towards her. I say we're 'bout ready to kick off- soon as Captian Heidmarch here is done with us."
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Eurus of Clan Frostwind is a young average sized young woman with a small frame, but walks with a certain grace. She has creamy skin and very long hair in the colour of rust, falling down almost half her back. Her heritage is only oblivious in the crystal blue orbs she has for eyes and her hair that always seems to be in a breeze.
In battle he wears a simple lamellar leather armor with buckles styled after gearwheels. Her earrings, her sash and the ribbons of her explorer´s outfit are the same crystal blue as her eyes.
She is carrying a brand new crossbow of simple style and a strange dagger like weapon as arment, but booth seem to be unused.
Her voice is a whispery sopran.
"Sorry for being late, I was unsure which ship to take. In the end I opted for the sailing one, because you can trust the wind!"
Listening to the captain she adds."Well, I am sure that we will know more. Is it known what dangers lurk in the sanor forest?"
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The young slyph gets tapped by the Venture captain.
"Wrong room mylady. This is too dangerous for you!"
Instead a samsaran women enters, together with a small snow hare.
"I think I am right here. Let your live be blessed!"
[/url=https://i.pinimg.com/564x/cd/78/61/cd78610224b72e86316e6d11c0ab3a18.jpg]Tarael the Peregin[/url] is a slim average sized young woman. He has light blue skin and very long silver blue hair , with silver orbs for eyes. She usually wears a linen emerald coloured Tunic over a strong leather skirt and soft black boots.
In battle she wears an emerald green coloured leather lamellar armor, and a crossbow.
Her voice is a soft sopran.
She is accompanied by a snow white hare she calls Tamashī no ketsugō.
The party marches east along the Dry Way—the trade road along the northern bank of the mighty Yondabakari River toward Korvosa—for several days. They spot a distinctive stream, which their instructions indicate they should follow north into Sanos Forest. Once they’re in the woods, all signs of humanoid activity abate.
Midway through their first day in the forest, the PCs approach a small vale where they catch a whiff of rotting meat, find several bear tracks, and notice the forest has suddenly gone quiet. According to their instructions, they should be within half a mile of the cottage where Ignizi Dinnelletter lives.
When Ignizi’s cottage comes into view, the PCs find it besieged by forest creatures. Several creatures clumsily slam themselves against the cottage, which creaks under the weight of the impacts. The PCs can hear cries of alarm filter out from inside the cottage.
One looks like an owlbear, but some of its flesh seems to have rotted away.
The other appears to be a hodag, or what remains. It is mostly skeleton now.
Bold May Act
Shawa
Green Owlbear
Red Hodag
Edmund
Traber
Tarael
Yellow Owlbear
Blue Hodag
Wolfgang
Not really caring about being blinded, the undead continue to beat on the tiny hut.
Red seems to have gotten the dust out of its eye, while green still struggles.
Bold May Act
Shawa
Green Owlbear
Red Hodag
Edmund
Traber
Tarael
Yellow Owlbear
Blue Hodag
Wolfgang
The sight of the large, undead creatures initially causes Kissan pause.
Smell wrong. Should not be.
Edmund's whistle kicks snaps her out of her concern, training and loyalty overtaking fear. She prowls forward, placing the building to protect her flank and waiting for an opportune moment, lunges at the throat of the green owlbear.
Traber unleashes a blast of energy and rips aparts some of the undead creatures.
Edmund fires a pair of arrows and one connects.
The small cat lunges at the undead owlbear and lands it's bite. It rips some of its rotting flesh.
Tarael hexes the green owlbear.
The undead continue to assault the hut.
Bold May Act
Shawa
Green Owlbear
Red Hodag
Edmund
Traber
Tarael
Yellow Owlbear
Blue Hodag
Wolfgang
Green Owlbear 15/38-blinded/misfortuned
Red Hodag 33/36
Yellow Owlbear 31/38
Blue Hodag 31/36-blinded
Wolfgang fires a pair of bolts from his crossbow. Both land, tear chunks of meat from the zombie owlbear.
The Green owlbear thrashes around, desperately aiming for the cat, but can not find it.
The skeletal hodag moves around the other undead and attacks the cat from the back. It misses
Traber sends out a blast of positive energy.
Bold May Act
Green Owlbear
Red Hodag
Shawa
Edmund
Traber
Tarael
Blue Hodag
Wolfgang
Green Owlbear 10/38-blinded/misfortuned
Red Hodag 28/36
Blue Hodag 20/36-blinded
Kissan's eyes go wide with fear as the creatures surround her. Nimbly, she dodges their blow- but only just. From her crouch, she sees Edmund's arrows drive into the red creature. Bolstered by the sounds of the arrows landing- she steps up and attacks the owlbear.
Shawa attempts to slumber the beast, but realizes too late that undead are immune to such tricks.
Edmund launches another two arrows at the red skeletal hodag.
Kissan tears into the green zombie owlbear, finally doing enough damage to the body to finish it.
Taraek send a hex at blue.
[/spoiled]
The blue hodag finally realizes something going on behind it and it moves closer to the sounds of combat. And finds something to attack.
Bold May Act
Red Hodag
Shawa
Edmund
Traber
Tarael
Blue Hodag
Wolfgang
[spoiler=GM]
Red Hodag 11 or 14/36
Blue Hodag 20/36-blinded
Wolfgang drops the red skeletal hodag, leaving the solitary undead by itself.
Bold May Act
Shawa
Edmund
Traber
Tarael
Blue Hodag
Wolfgang
Red Hodag 11 or 14/36
Blue Hodag 20/36-blinded
The blood runs over her lips, still curled and teeth barred. The low whistles catches her attention and she snarls- looking first at Edmund and then the creature. She steps forward, between her master and beast, and lunges at the creature.
Edmund, now with the correct ammunition, manages to dismantle the skeletal hodag, leavin Kissan a bone or two to gnaw on.
After a moment moment of calm, one of the boards reinforcing a cottage window is pried open from the inside, and the heavily wrinkled face of a purple-haired gnome woman pokes out of the window. Once she spots the party, she worms her way headfirst out the window, despite a chorus of protests from inside the cottage. Eventually the tiny old gnome wriggles through the gap, landing deftly on her rear end. She bounds to her feet and addresses the party in a rapidfire voice: “Finally! I was getting thirsty in there. Did you bring any wine? Bloody owlbears. You’d think they’d know better than to trifle with me! Is that my packhorse? I’ll settle for grog, if you have it.”
The dishevelled gnome climbs directly over the rotten corpse of an owlbear and starts rummaging through the packhorse’s saddlebags. Meanwhile, a shocked group of young Pathfinders emerge from the cottage, surveying the carnage with horror.
“Been like this for a week, you know. Nothing but undead and southeastern winds. Wretched awful smell. And me without my astrolabe. You should hear these youngsters whinge and complain. One little undead horde and they go all to pot. By the Eldest, I’m thirsty. I’d drink a flask of ink at this point! Bloody zombos did drag off one of the youngsters, though. You should hear them complain: ‘Oooh, we’re all about to die! Oh my, what’s-her-face was abducted by zombos! Oh, I don’t want to be eaten.’ And they call themselves Pathfinders!”
"Aha!” The gnome triumphantly holds up a bottle of dark red wine.
She whirls around, addressing the assembled group, “You youngsters, burn these carcasses. Bloody awful stink. You lot with the weapons, unpack this horse, build a nice fire, and pull some turnips from the garden. Then come have a drink and tell me how fat Sheila’s gotten.”
With that, the renowned researcher Ignizi Dinnelletter scuttles back into the cottage, uncorking her newly acquired wine along the way.
Over a dinner of turnip soup, the researchers confirm that one of their party was dragged off by the undead several days ago and
hasn’t been seen since.
"You lot seem to be decent fighters, how about you go and rescue that youngster that was abducted. I would request she is brought back alive, she has a real way with fungus"
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Turning to Traber. That's a good question - Traber. In some variety of Wayang history, it is said my people used to consume children for fun. The Plane of Shadow is an aweful place, I wouldn't recommend a visit.
Shawa brushes she long white hair as she sits patiently and listens. Who was the child, and where would we find it? as she licks her lips.
One of the researchers answers "The kidnapping victim’s name is Dijjit—a female gnome with short, orange hair. She was tending the garden when a horde of zombies descended upon the cottage and dragged her into the forest. Several of us wanted to chase after Dijjit, but Ignizi knew that, between her advanced age and the neophytes’ inexperience, a rescue mission could only spell disaster. Leona and Narsisco are still bitter about the decision."
Ignizi answers the next question, "When the zombie horde left, they headed north. That’s all we know. Seek out my friend Riddywipple, he may know more."
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Wolfgang scowls as he realizes the mission may prove longer than first expected:"Oh... so we have to save this gnome girl from an HORDE of undeads who captured her. Just a question... well, make it two: first, how do we know the undeads didn't juest eat the little gnome girl. Second and more important... are we going to get paid for this extra work you just unloaded on us or are you asking us to act out of the goodness of our heart?"