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The Pig’s Paunch is a run-down building with a faded sign of a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents 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 top of 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, Master Zey, and I all 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 full field operatives. Allow me to introduce you to Janira Gavix,” he says as he motions for an excitable 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 her own Confirmation.”
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As Shaine greets his students, he is met with a rather familiar sight.
Specifically, his eyes meet his own, a whole second Kreighton Shaine walking at the head of the group, overflowing scrolls sticking out of the pack at his waist and a look of wonder in his eyes.
Paying no notice to the "other" Shaine, the newly-arrived Shaine clears his throat.
"Future Pathfinders! The Grand Masters of the Lodge have asked me to gather you here today as thanks for your interest in joining. Before we leave on what is sure to be a grand adventure, please know that I, Kreighton Shaine, will be personally paying for all of the daikitzushi and kitsune udon you can eat!"
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Shaine seems extremely interested in his newlyfound doppleganger, "Amazing! Is it magic, or possibly some kind of illusion in my mind. Or perhaps I'm an illusion in all of your minds and even I'm not aware of it. Hmm...well in any case, good luck on your mission Janira and Mr. Kreighton Shaine." he says as he leaves the tavern.
Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, “Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders...and uhh, other Kreighton Shaine! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, 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 again 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.”
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Earlier in the morning an empty carriage pulled up to the side of the Pig's Paunch. The coachman steps off and starts the process of unhooking the two horses and escorting them to the stables. After paying the stable hand for two days, promising any extra if longer than that, he returns to the carriage and grabs a pack from the luggage area and heads inside.
Seeing the two Kreighton's he just blinks back and forth at the two until one leaves. He muses, mostly to himself, "Huh... that's uh odd. I had a slave friend who did impersonation tricks like that. I wonder what happened to him when I got liberated?"
He steps up to Janira and the remaining Shane, hand out for a handshake, "Good Morning, my name is Kenta. I was told to meet here for my first pathfinder mission?"
Before you is an obvious Kitsune, fur and all. Dressed in a basic traveling outfit, you can see studded leather armor poking out from under his shirt. He is heavily armed as strapped to his back is a four foot long 2-handed sword and at his waist are a long and short sword. The only other thing of note is an obviously visible brand on his forearm with the word "FREEDOM" tattooed over it.
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"Farewell, and have a safe journey, Mr. Kreighton Shaine!" waves the elf. Striding to the counter, he offers a kind smile. "The food and drink of the Pathfinders I've just spoken to shall be placed on my tab. Please get a few plates of daikitzushi, kitsune udon, and any fried tofu dishes you may have ready... or, should you not carry tofu in this establishment, chicken will do nicely."
Smiling, the Master of Scrolls returns to the table. "Pleased to meet you, Kenta. May Daikitsu bless our meeting... and watch over your friend, wherever he may be."
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An old, disheveled man leans heavily on his staff as shuffles into the pub. Pathfinders, clearly. Found it easy enough. The newcomer has thick grey hair that composes his full-beard and mid-back length hair. He has a clean, white sash tightly bound over his right eye. After appraising the people in the room, he stands up straight and stretches a little. "Itami," he says to the room before sitting down to listen to what Janira has to say about the mission.
Daikitsu? Haven't heard that one before.
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A tall, wiry Tien male looks up from his hearty breakfast of sausage and eggs at the mention of 'Daikitsu.'
"Kitsune no josei ga anata ni kenkō, tomi, soshite kōfuku o ataete kureru yō ni."
"I did not know that you were familiar with Daikitsun blessings, Master Shaine. A pleasant surprise. I arrived early and ordered breakfast. I would be most pleased if you would add it to your tab. I am called Ikari. I am here to undertake my Confirmation."
Ikari stands and bows. He wears tien-style leather armour and travelling clothes, but carries elven weapons: a branched spear, a rapier, and a shortbow.
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“Master Shaine” bows respectfully,
He then whirls to see the drunk who complained about the volume. ”Yes, yes, of course! Never would I stop one from dreaming if I could help it, save for when my own thoughts go rambling in the dead of night and I’ve a bunk mate to confer with. Please, return to your slumber—or join us, if you find that sleep eludes you!”
He considers the aged newcomer as well a moment. ”Pleased to meet you, Itami! Magic flows strong in those with experience, does it not?”
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Already sitting at one of the tables was a keenly dressed human wearing a ebony fox mask with only one eye and matching Taldan fineries. You also notice him playing with a small spider from time to time as the odd exchange between the two Masters of Scrolls. He rises and slowly walks over to the others.
"What a wonderful gathering of Pathfinders they have brought for this...adventure, I believe that is what it was called." he says with an air of nobility as he takes off his mask and his pet crawls into his jacket.
What is revealed is the face of a kitsune with a marbled black-white coat. His garments are now obviously tailored to soften his Kitsune form.
"Jūzō Mitsumata...of Taldan. My apologies for not speaking proper Tien but I was sent away as a fledgling. From the courts of nobility to the Pig's Paunch. I will never ask for a change of pace again." he begins to chuckle at the turn of fate but turns his attention back to Janira to not be rude.
He does whisper to Toshiko though.
"I can help you sleep through nearly anything, you need only ask." his smile widening.
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Itami grunts. "Age had nothing to do with it," he responds evenly to the remaining Shaine, absentmindedly moving a hand to his wrapped eye. Just hubris and a penchant for following orders. "Halfling, what information do you have for us?" he asks, clearly uncomfortable being the center of even that much attention.
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Shaine gives his hands an excited clap as Itami asks the halfling to divulge her information, not seeming to notice if Toshiko winces in pain at the sudden sound.
"Right-- what a gathering! So, for those of us who were late in arriving, we'll be headed to the Kortos Mounts, where Miss Janira Gavix here saw a gillman enter a cave! Janira, was there anything else you wanted to tell us about this?" he asks, rather suddenly leaning a little too closely to the halfling.
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****Bar Tender****
The bar tender nods as he takes the orders, "Sorry, don't have any, watcha'callit, dakit zushi? But, sure, I got chicken and some soup." he then turns around and puts in the orders, before turning yelling to the tavern, "Sounds like Master Shaine is putting everyone on his tab tonight, drink up!"
****Jainra****
Jaina speaks up as she gets caught up in the excitment, "For your Confirmation, you will travel to the caves I went to, explore them and document its many passages. We also need to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and we all need to come back alive as well.”
Janira looks to the gathered group of soon-to-be pathfinders, "So, any questions or can we get started right now? Oh, oh, or maybe we should start with introductions!? Preparation is key you know and it helps to know who you are going to be working with!" she says with a genuine smile of excitement.
At the center of the Isle of Kortos stand the Kortos Mounts, the points on the island.
Entire tribes of centaurs, harpies, and minotaurs constantly vie for territory up and around the Mounts, with harpies being the most common at higher altitudes and centaurs controlling the lower slopes and foothills.
Also known as the Low Azlanti, the gillmen are an amphibious humanoid race believed to be the last descendants of the ancient Azlanti people.
During Earthfall, the Starstone struck Golarion and destroyed the human empires of Thassilon and Azlant. It is said that gillmen’s ancestors survived the cataclysmic event because they received the blessing of an aquatic entity that allowed them to breath underwater.
Most scholars believe the terrifying aboleths were responsible for the gillmen’s transformation. Any alliance between them appears to have fallen apart over the millennia, however, and the gillmen are now an independent people.
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"Oh questions aplenty. I have not heard any murmurings of this place and you surely have information to share with your new compatriots, no?" Jūzō says turning on his charm.
"Rarely do the courts turn into outright bloodshed so what makes you bring up coming back alive so explicitly? Are the gillmen a threat or are there others in that area? Please do share all you know, Janira." he requests of the halfling.
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Jainra looks excited you have questions, but a little disappointed that she doesn't have many answers, "All I can really tell you is that the caves are extensive and I didn't manage to find the gillman. There's always the chance we may run into bandits along the way, and there are dozens of kinds of predators in that forest. That’s why we should always be as prepared as possible. Centaurs control the lowlands and surrounding wilderness of the Kortos Mounts. The areas farther up the Mounts are controlled by minotaurs, and the icy peaks are home to tribes of harpies. They’re always vying for territory, but with any luck, we should be able to avoid them and reach the caves without conflict."
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"What do you wish to know Janira? I am a disciple of Daikitsu: once a rice armer, now an itinerant warrior. I joined the Pathfinder Society in order to travel and spread the good word; to show an example of what can be achieved by effort and hard work."
Ikari glares ever-so-briefly at Hiiragi.
"These creatures in the wilderness, do they have any weaknesses that can be exploited?"
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"I am a disciple of Daikitsu: once a rice armer, now an itinerant warrior. I joined the Pathfinder Society in order to travel and spread the good word; to show an example of what can be achieved by effort and hard work."
Master Shaine offers a quick bow of respect. "A noble pursuit; may your Lady's virtues spread to those who need them most," he offers. There is, of course, more "he" would like to say... but not while in this form.
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"I joined the Society to travel," Itami explains. Constant travel is the easiest way to remain hard to track...
"Contested territory, should be easy to slip by," he points out. Doesn't sound like there will be any official government or guardsmen, as Janira said, it appears chance is the only thing we are working against.
________
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"Let's see... a potion of barkskin, two potions of cure light wounds, a potion of feather step, a potion of vanish, a scroll of entangle, a scroll of gust of wind, a scroll of identify, a sandwich...make that three.., a scroll of mage armor, a scroll of obscuring mist, a wand of burning hands with a couple uses left, a wand of cure light wounds with a handful of charges, some trail rations, an acid, two alchemist’s fires, one holy water, a smokestick, two tanglefoot bags, one thunderstone, an antitoxin, two sunrods, and about thirty bolts." she finally looks up after going through her backpack and blushes a little, "Always be prepared you know..." she says with a sly smile.
"I suggest something to deal with undead of all kinds, like holy water, something to deal with swarms, boy do I hate those things, like acids or alchemist fires, and probably some camping supplies like rations and fire starting gear." she says as she hands out paper and writing utensils. "Oh, and here, take these! Taking notes is extremely important!"
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“On to the details of the mission at hand,” Janira says with an eager grin.
“After reviewing my mission reports personally, umm...one of the Master Shaine's 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."
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"All information is useful, Toshiko. Make sure to make maps of the caves for us!" she says smiling at her.
The first phase of your Confirmation takes you through Absalom, leads across the Cairnlands, along a well-worn path that leads toward Diobel, through the wilderness surrounding the Kortos Mounts, and culminates at the cave entrance noted in Janira’s Confirmation report.
The journey through the City at the Center of the World is swift and without incident, and the long trek across the Cairnlands has Janira giving you a thorough history lesson on the city. Other than her history lesson, most of the journey is uneventful, although Janira might point out landmarks such as siege towers, distant mountains, or distinct flora and fauna along the journey from time to time.
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As 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."
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Master Shaine gives a broad smile, bowing respectfully to the group.
"Have a happy Confirmation!"
With that, he heads in the opposite direction.
It's a few minutes later that a human woman approaches the group from behind, seeming a bit out of breath as she jogs.
"Pleased to meet you all!" she chimes, "Given how well-equipped this is, I assume this is the Soon-To-Be Pathfinder group? I am Hiiragi, and I am meant to join you. My name should be on the roster?" she half-says, half-asks.
The woman has a farmer's build, but is wearing the unmistakable outfit of a miko, and her face is painted exactly like a traditional kitsune mask.
"I am a priestess of Daikitsu," she explains, "and I come bearing my Lady's warmth... if not always her grace." She grins, looking suddenly a little sheepish at that last admittance.
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"MY Janira, you have either been working for some time or have the favor of nobles yourself. Myself had the displeasure of being sent off with but a single coin pouch. Apparently they do not fund distractions." the kitsune digresses as they talk about supplies.
Hmm, this adventuring thing may require more action oriented preparation.
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"What an enjoyable hike. I expected to be set upon by wolves and...harpies was it?" he muses from the back.
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Kenta takes frontguard for the group, though he has to take guidance on the correct path. He seems confused about the Master Shane leaving, pretty sure the elf was going to be with their group but says nothing.
When the second Kitsune shows their fur, he can’t avoid exclaiming, ”wow, never seen so many of us in one place. Three Kitsunes!!!”
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An awful, scuttling mass of legs and mandibles scrambles forward out of the darkness. The crawl over the leaves, logs, grass, and head straight for you before splitting into two groups.
Is that +9 accurate?
Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Map Slide
Sionnach
Kenta
Juzo
Hiiragi
Janira
Ikari
Toshiko
Spiders
Itami
Janira spends a standard action to Inspire Courage and a move action to pull out her wand of burning hands.
"Look alive! Oh! Oh! This reminds me of the story of Selmius Foster’s race against a marid and efreeti on the isle of Jalmeray, which taught us that nothing is truly impossible and every situation can end in victory." she says in a rousing tone.
Universal Bonus:
An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
This is a spider swarm.
The sight of a carpet of swarming spiders is unsettling indeed—particularly when the swarm is made up of spiders each the size of a gold coin and possessing blade-like mandibles capable of lacerating flesh with sickening ease. A swarm of spiders is a colonial mass of arachnids that relies on overwhelming much larger prey with sheer numbers rather than catching smaller snacks. While spider swarms spin webs, these webs are incapable of catching larger prey and typically serve the swarm as a lair rather than a method of capturing dinner.
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"I am not sure what those are, but I feel as if we should not let them get close," frowns the priestess.
Hiiragi considers her options for a moment. On the one hand, splashing the oncoming swarm with a dropped gallon of water might break them apart. Bugs did tend to drown in water.
On the other hand, if it didn't work, she might just be insulating them against the rest of the party's efforts to burn them.
"...May Daikitsu guide your hands," she settles on.
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Jūzō shivers when he sees the mass of insects and begins shaking his head.
"That is disgusting..."
"...I had heard people talk about how swarms of spiders would congregate in the wilds but never thought it would be like this. My skin will be crawling for weeks. Don't let it overwhelm you."
He pulls out his rapier realizing he made no preparations for a swarm and he can't charm a bunch of bugs.