You have received a letter from Venture-Captain Brackett of the Almas Lodge that explains your mission and has sent you to Bellis on a riverboat.
The Sellen River bears a multicolored blanket of fallen leaves upon its broad surface, but the Freewind’s bow scatters them as it glides towards Bellis. Though the logging season has ended, the town still buzzes with life.
My Fellow Travelers,
Strange weather has taken hold in a part of the Verduran Forest, south of the town of Bellis. Falbin, a gnome herbalist who serves our interests in the region, has reported tropical winds and abundant floral growth. I invite you to explore and record the phenomena to the best of your abilities. I’ve arranged passage for your party on the riverboat Freewind, and sent an operative ahead so Falbin knows to expect you. Falbin can be hard to spot, since he’s shorter than the average gnome, but his voice carries like a church bell. If all else fails, use your nose—I’ve never seen the fellow without a fat satchel of herbs at his side.
Safe Journeys,
Venture-Captain Bracket
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Gorak quickly reads the letter and then passes it to the next pathfinder.
"Right. Off we go lads. Another riverboat passage for the lot of us, including some more peculiarities in the woods."
He quickly checks his top hat and red double-breasted coat (just back from the tailors), ensuring all of this things and trinkets are in their rightful place.
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"Greetings. My friend, Palio, informed me that he had some things to mess with involving a time traveling chalice and that I should fill his place with his group." a male human says as he walks aboard the boat. "My skills are far different than his though; while he uses magic, I simply practice hand to hand combat. When I'm not practicing my styles, I usually am in the library, reading up on a variety of topics, including herbology, which may prove useful here."
On Aldar's belt, you can see two sets of extremely high quality manacles. In various pouches you can hear the clanking and clinking of many more sets of various sized and shaped manacles.
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Vinnie bounces up and down excitedly. "It's exciting to be out on the adventuring path again with you all, my comrades!" He scampers up the gunwale of the boat and peers into the deep river below, before running up the boat's mast and clambering about the sails. "And on a boat, too! This is surely a promising sign of what awaits us. And our mission - to check out the winds and the plants! - what an easy task. I can't imagine that anything could possibly go wrong!"
Bellis is a small but thriving town whose inhabitants produce lumber, honey, beeswax, and mead.
After disembarking, the group sets off on finding the strong smelling gnome to talk to more about the strange happenings.
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Vinnie is disappointed to disembark from the ship, but soon loses himself in the sights and smells of this new town. He is particularly startled to see the vast quantities of lumber and wonders aloud what sort of civilization would massacre all of its trees like this. "Think of their monkeys! Where will they dance and play? We'd best get to the bottom of this!"
He begins to sniff wildly in every direction.
Vinnie gets mixed up with all the smells of fresh products in this town. He does happen to find a vendor who was offering free samples of fresh honey, but alas not the gnome you are looking for.
Jang is quickly able to learn about the short herbalist! The last anyone saw of him was at the Bellis library. Heading there, you find him right away...
Falbin stands on the steps of the Bellis Library, arguing with a stately female humanoid with gold eyes and intricate henna tattoos. A bird with magnificent plumage perches on the woman’s shoulder. You overhear a bit of debate as you approach.
The gnome insists The druids are to blame, I’d bet anything!
The woman he is debating rebuts while shaking her red mane, Think bigger! There’s more to this than your old grudge.
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Jang steps forward and waves hello.
"It is a sweet feeling to finally meet you wise druid Falbin." He turns to the woman and continues, "And we are also glad to make your acquaintance."
"I do not know what you are talking about but we are the Pathfinders that have come to investigate the phenomenon that is affecting these lands."
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Gorak enjoys the hustle and bustle of a new city. The smells and latent empathetic energies swirl about his senses. He often finds himself being it with a wave of emotion, just as others in the party are hit with scents or other senses.
"Top of the morning to you, fine folks. Fabin, I presume. I believe you have anticipated us?"
Gorak provides a rigid bow, before unconsciously straightening and adjusting his tophat and smoothing his jacket.
Once you guys start talking, both of them suspend their argument. The gnome speaks up first, You presume correct, Pathfinders, but I am no druid! I have half a mind to put you to sleep with special herbs for such a comment! He talks with a smile so you know he is mostly joking. I have been waiting for your arrival. He turns to the woman and looks to her to introduce herself.
She looks over the group, not seeing any faces she recognizes. My name is Jamila, a friend of Ashasar . I am here also on behalf of the Pathfinders and Concordance.
You might remember her from that adventure and recognize her as a janni (a race). She would also mention to your character Thank you for helping me lay Venture-Captain Targos to rest. I named my bird companion Targos in his honor. Your work will never be forgotten.
Falbin says, I saw it, clear as my own nose, and felt it on my gooseflesh. About 3 miles south of Bellis—a fine spot to gather pokeroot, even in autumn—everything suddenly gets hot. Summery. I dare say, even tropical! The flora overflows. It’s a jungle out there! I can't speak to the hazards because I had turned and came back to town before I encountered anything.
While Vinnie is out gathering information, he learns: The vast Verduran Forest teems with druids, fey, and treants, many of whom clash with the Andoran-based Lumber Consortium over their clear-cutting practices.
He also learns: One reason for the Verduran’s high population of fey is the thin border between the forest and the First World, a plane of reality where fey can live forever.
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"I am right pleased to make your acquaintance Jamilia. Any friend of Ashasar is one whom I hold in great respect. My name is Gorak and I am honored."
"Is it just localized changes, or has the whole of the weather here been changing? What are the locals saying 'bout it all? Must be some sort of gossip about something this strange. Most will be nonsense, but you never know when one might have a kernel of truth."
Jang picks up some addition information while out on the town! He learns that enclaves of druids perennially cause trouble for loggers in the Verduran Forest. Although the most feared cabal are the Primordial Ones, a feral gang from Briar Henge has been sniffing about the woods to the east, transforming into giants and ambushing loggers.
He also picks up that the forest’s fabled affinity with the First World sometimes attracts those who wish to exploit extraplanar magic. Tales tell of hapless arcanists who open gates to the First World only to unleash more than they bargain for. These gates are often accompanied by sudden and fantastical spurts of growth among the local flora and fauna that planar scholars refer to as blooms.
To Gorak, Falbin responds first. I didn't do a good study on the location, but it seems to be effecting a whole area. I am unsure of if it is spreading or not but clearly it isn't certainly not effecting here!
When asking about what people are talking about, Falbin goes to answer, but Jamila raises a hand to cut him off, We don’t know enough to hazard a guess. That’s why you’re here—although I hope you don’t mind if I accompany you. An extra pair of eyes can’t hurt.
As you get ready to head out of the town, Falbin informs you The changes start about 6 miles south of here. That should be about a 2 hour trip if we get moving.
As you begin the walk, Jamila walks next to Gorak and begins talking. Ashasar wanted to be here in person, says Jamila, watching as her colorful pet bird circles overhead, but his new duties as liaison to the Pathfinder Society find him full of cares. Still, he sent me in particular, partly to sing the virtues of the Concordance to new Pathfinders—and I’d treasure your help with that chore, to be sure.
But there’s more at stake here. Now that the Concordance is settling in on Golarion, Ashasar craves knowledge about the elemental forces that form this world’s atmosphere. To those native to the Elemental Planes, the seasons that are so familiar to you are a symphony of mysteries. This strange region of Falbin’s, with its bizarre weather, promises insight for us, especially if a planar portal is involved.
This mission is a chance to impress Ashasar, she confides, her gold eyes glittering. Anything you can recover pertaining to the four seasons would please him immensely. He’s very hands-on; he prefers physical evidence to mere theories.
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"Elements are mysterious, most certainly. These changes though, they don't sit right with me. Everything has proper balance, mind you. Things that change that balance (or fight to unbalance) run the risk of upsetting everything else. I know of Ashasar, though it is to my detriment that I haven't had a proper opportunity to make his acquaintance. Certainly one like myself wouldn't have much of interest to him, I am sure. Perhaps this might be a change in the winds, as it were. I appreciate your assistance though, I am thinking this might just be the right time to try an leave my mark!"
Thank you for your enthusiasm! I hope you can find what we are looking for!
Courtland checks up to the group before the get too far out of town. He must of been sleeping it off on the boat.
As you move out from Bellis, about two miles, Falbin makes another comment about druids. I hope you guys are ready to deal with these pests... always messing with the natural order of things. I have dealt with them before in this area! Some of your friends came and helped me out with that.
Jamila just smiles and replys I don't think you are right about this one Falbin. This feels more like the work of a portal... maybe a hole in this plane. I can't prove it, but that is what this feels like to me.
Falbin looks disgruntaled this outsider would challenge him about his own region. You want to bet! I’ve tangled with a rank crop of druids from Briar Henge, east of here. It’s just like that rotten lot to go mucking with the seasons! I have 150 gold that says I am right!
Jamila opens her bag to check her money, Well little friend, I think you have a deal! 150 gold to the winner!
Falbin turns back to the group, Hey, you think I am right, right? You know how much trouble those druids can be! Who do you side with?
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"Alcohol destroys the mind and the senses. I see no reason to drink it unless you have a deathwish." Aldar comments to the previous conversation.
"Placing bets? It won't change the outcome, so I have no interest in this. Let us get the information we need and continue." he says to Falbin and Jamila.
Falbin seems agitated that people are disagreeing with him! Ohh, if you want to side with her, maybe you will put your money where your mouth is! You put up 50 gold, if you win, you keep the gold and I will throw in a tangleburn bag. If I win, I get to keep the 50 gold! And if any of you folks do have some brains and side with me, you should bet against her!
Jamila smiles and nods. I can put a scroll of elemental speech up against 50 gold. But you would be wrong to bet against me on this one!
Falbin huffs and says This is my neck of the woods, I know this area better than... than that outsider. You should side with me, I had to deal those nasty those druids when they tried to turn people into beasts with a stupid scrap of magical bark. Don't under estimate them.
When Aldar makes his comment about gambling, Well aren't you a spoilsport! It won't change the outcome, but we can at least have some fun while we work!
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Jang looks at Falbin and raises an eyebrow.
"You do not need to be rude young gnome. This lady seems to be more part of Society than many I have witnessed so calling her an outsider seems inappropriate. Or wait a minute ... in dwarven we have saying 'Was sich liebt das neckt sich!' - is that the case here?!?!" he asks more himself than anybody else.
Teasing is a sign of affection. :-)
"I bet on the lady. Here is my money."
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Vinnie hops up and down with excitement. "Gambling!?! Why, I mean, for real? Gambling? You know it wasn't allowed in the monastery? Not even a bit! I knew that getting out and seeing the world with the pathfinder society was the right idea - and now, here I am, about to place my very first bet! Who could have imagined what a positive influence the society would be...!?!"
He turns to and fro, pondering the arguments of Falbin and the weird outsider. Finally, he turns to Falbin with a vigorous wag of his tail. "Yes, it's well known that druids can be quite troublesome. I think you are probably right. My fifty gold are with you, my friend!"
Aldar continues to refuse to partake in the betting.
Courtland on the hand happily places a bet that the druids are not the problem.
Falbin sneers at Jang. it is all in good fun! She knows she is of a different plane, and she is new member to the society. She wasn't hurt, was she! he pokes at Jamila. You know what isn't fun? You not trusting me!
Gorak also bets against the gnome and he is feeling pretty confident that her is going to walk away as a rich gnome!
Finally, someone agrees with Falbin and he is as happy as can be! It makes me feel better know that at least one of you pathfinders has a good head on your shoulders! Jamila takes Vinnie's money.
After you travel for two miles, the landscape begins to change. Chilly fall winds become balmy zephyrs, and bare trees yield to junglelike growth. Falbin points out a couple plants flourishing that have no business growing in this climate. Although the undergrowth sometimes covers the path, it is still passable.
Falbin notes, This is spreading. Given my calculations, they shouldn't be happening for another mile!