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From behind the party a small voice pipes up. "Oh dear, it seems I'm very late. I knew I should've taken that left turn at Quantium!"
The gnome is dressed in a brightly colored orange and blue outfit, and it's immediately clear that the only way she's managed to avoid notice this far must be due to the distraction caused by the wolves. Particularly given her orange hair, which perfectly (and brightly) matches the outfit.
"Um, maybe I should...help?" Taking an instrument nearly as big as she is off her back, she actually sits down on the desert floor as she begins to pluck the strings. "I call this one 'Don't Die to Wolves!'" And then she begins to sing.
Kill that wolf yes kill it dead
Smash your sword into its head
Your weapon is a part of you
You'll hit your mark, it's what you do...
Which should be distracting, and yet somehow...isn't? If anything it seems to focus everyone's attention on their nearest targets.
Without missing a beat she waves one hand and a nearby rock goes flying.
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"Good job!" squeals the half-elf. *COUGH* "I mean, lets keep it up. Only 2 to go."
With a quick gesture, he sends a wave of energy into the centipede before summoning another shield.
The vermin, feeling invigorated turns to the next wolf and lashes out.
for
for
Giant Centipede Venom (poison) Saving Throw DC
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Gedrim augments his summon, which delivers another 'tender' bite...
...but does it on the wolf's neck, which allows the venom to pump straight into the poor animal's brain, killing it.
Niki then tosses a rock at the remaining wolf, beaning it on the forehead.
Okh (-)
Jasariel (-6)
Hannah (-8)
Farryn (-)
Gedrim (-)
Niki (-)
CW (-21; Persistent Fire 1)
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Jasariel cuts down the final wolf!
After the ambush, nothing remains to be done but to take the wagons and complete the journey to the bridge camp.
When you arrive, you find it bustling with activity. Goblin engineers do their best to guide goblin workers as they build the decking and assemble the piers; the bridge appears simple, but sturdy, and is approximately half complete by this point.
As the wagons are unloaded, Muckmuck shows you to Zig, leader of the bridge camp.
While many of the goblins at the work camp are covered in dirt and sweat, Zig stands tall and straight among them. He pours over maps of the surrounding area before speaking.
“It is good to see you. They call me Zig. I’m glad my father asked you to come here to help.
We have been building a very important bridge. But every night, the big cats attack our camp. We leave out meat for them and they saunter right past it. Instead, they seem bent on filling their bellies with goblin flesh. If we move camp across the river; they cross over it overnight. If we light fires around the camp to scare them away, the goblins workers burn themselves in the flames. It’s a lose-lose situation.
Every few nights, the cats come back to hunt us. Everyone is terrified and that’s bad for business. With all this talk of some saber-toothed whatever coming for us in the night, we’re all too scared to finish our work. If someone doesn’t take these furballs out, I suspect the bridge isn’t ever gonna get built.
These kitties aren’t natural. Whatever you need, you got it. I can give you workers to build fences, although we don't have much spare lumber. But fences alone aren’t going to be enough. You might need to track them down to their lair.
Either the cats go, or this bridge is history. The only other answer is death.”
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Hannah easily follows the tracks; from what she can tell, there are at least two leopards, as well as something with clawed feet and paws, which occasionally walks on its hind legs.
Eventually, you find the entrance to a cave!
The inside is lit by series of sporadic, smoking torches (dim illumination, so low-light works), and the stench of ripe decay wafts out, assaulting your nostrils.
As you enter, and your eyes adjust, somewhat, to the dim lighting, two yowls of anger greet you, as two leopards charge forward to 'greet' you!
Hannah (-)
Okh (-)
Gedrim (-)
L (-, -)
Farryn (-)
Jasariel (-)
Niki (-)
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Right after the fight against the wolves, Okh says with emphasis.
Did you see, Muckmuck ? The longshanks fight well as I told you. And I love roasted meat. Do you like wolf ? Perhaps with a good curry sauce ?
Further, once they meat Zig, the goblin talks as necessary.
Yes, it is a superb bridge you are building. This will be the pride and the proof of the goblin’s knowledge. Who invited the cats then ? Who invented cats by the way ? That was not a good idea. That’s the fact of someone who doesn’t want to see the goblin having achieved such a great and magnificent thing. That’s a conspiracy for sure. We’ll have to find the conspirators.
The goblin glows a bit and once Hannah found the tracks, he says :
You’re a good ranger as well.
And he still says to Zig :
Do you see ? We will follow the tracks and catch the conspirators in their lair ! Hurry up !
When the party meet the leopards , the goblin listens to Hannah to take cover. But where can and should he take cover ? He decides that it is… behind Hannah.
Then he readies a burning spell.
Produce flame:
Damage:
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Hannah steps forward, and prepares to swing her blade.
Okh readies a burning spell.
Gedrim tries to identify the giant cats, but fails (although he knows that they are animals), then wards himself.
Both big cats stalk forward!
Hannah's readied swing cuts into Cyan's flank, but then her back-swing misses.
Similarly, Okh's last of fire goes wide.
Both cats then target Hannah...
...mauling her a bit.
Farryn (-)
Jasariel (-)
Niki (-)
Hannah (-12)
Okh (-)
Gedrim (-)
L (-12, -)
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Seeing his companions seem to have this fight well in hand, he moves away from the opponents. 'I guess they are more capable than I game them credit. If I move farther...it's less likely to attack me than them...'
With a few motions of his hand and an arcane phrase, a sticky vine suddenly springs to life from his outstretched hand. Whipping it forward at the leapord, he smiles. "That should slow it down for you."
Critical Success The target gains the immobilized condition and takes a –10-foot circumstance penalty to its Speeds for 1 round. It can attempt to Escape against your spell DC to remove the penalty and the immobilized condition.
Success The target takes a –10-foot circumstance penalty to its Speeds for 1 round. It can attempt to Escape against your spell DC to remove the penalty.
Failure The target is unaffected.
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Farryn tosses a bomb at Red, but it dodges out of the way.
Hannah takes a vicious swing, hewing into Cyan, but it remains standing, despite the ruinous damage to its flank.
Gedrim then tosses a ball of goo at Red, which is lightly entangled.
Farryn (-)
Jasariel (-)
Niki (-)
Hannah (-12)
Okh (-)
Gedrim (-)
L (-34, -1; -10 Speed for 1 round)
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Jasariel bravely strikes at Red, but, snarling, it dodges out of the way!
Its wounds finally catching up with it, Cyan collapses!
As it does so, there is an angry, wordless roar from deeper within the cave complex...
Farryn (-)
Jasariel (-)
Niki (-)
Hannah (-12)
Okh (-)
Gedrim (-)
L (-1; -10 Speed for 1 round)
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Okh throws a blob of fire, which burns the cat.
Niki starts Inspiring Courage, then throws a rock at the remaining cat.
However, her shot goes well and truly wide.
The remaining cat attempts to savage Jasariel...
...landing a *very* nasty bite!
There is a scrabbling sound from deeper within the cave, then a feral-looking halfling, with the eyes, teeth, and claws of a great cat, launches himself down the corridor, and strikes at Farryn in a frenzy!
Luckily, his claws are turned aside.
Farryn (-)
Jasariel (-19)
Niki (-)
Hannah (-12)
Okh (-)
Gedrim (-)
L (-9)
K (-)
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Hannah gasps at the mutated Halfling's appearance. As it claws at Farryn, she realizes the party is divided.
"Get away from him! It's me you want!"
And to drive home the "point", she draws attention to herself by stabbing at the remaining cat before approaching the feral Halfling.
And if an AoO presents itself:
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"Ah, there's the third one we heard about...looks like it's got something wrong with it."
"I think my friend could help us after all!"
With a few quick motions, another centipede springs to life, lashing out at the foe.
for
for
Saving Throw DC 14 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 6 rounds;
Stage 1 1d6 poison damage (1 round);
Stage 2 1d8 poison damage and flat-footed (1 round)
Stage 3 1d12 poison damage, clumsy 1, and flat-footed (1 round)
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Jasariel grunts in pain as the leopard's last bite slips past her guard, then slashes back in retaliation.
She follows this attack by building up a charge of lightning around her blade and blasting it out at the cat and the halfling.
Feeling the rush of positive energy repairing her wounds, Jasariel calls back, "Thanks, Okh!"
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Farryn throws a molotov cocktail at the 'half-halfling', but it dodges out of the way at the last minute.
Jasariel takes a swing at the cat, but it dodges.
Similarly, it dodges the worst of the subsequent electrical discharge, whilst the halfling-beast yowls in pain!
Hannah takes a swing at the remaining cat (which manages to avoid her powerful swing), before moving forward to engage the other foe.
Okh throws a blast of fire at the cat, scorching it, before healing *most* of Jasariel's wounds.
Gedrim summons another centipede, which chomps down upon the feral halfling...
...who is wholly unimpressed by the venom.
Niki continues to perform, and tosses another rock...
...but it is easily avoided.
The big cat manages to scratch Jasariel a bit...
...whilst the feral halfling continues to be largely ineffective, despite giving Farryn a light scratch.
Farryn (-2)
Jasariel (-12)
Niki (-)
Hannah (-12)
Okh (-)
Gedrim (-)
L (-21)
K (-18)
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Concentrating, Gedrim maintains the form of the centipede as he boosts it's skillset. Moving in to get a better angle, he frowns.
"Careful, this one seems a bit more prepared."
Stepping forward, the summoned beast bites at the retreating foe again.
for
Saving Throw DC 15 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 6 rounds;
Stage 1 1d6 poison damage (1 round);
Stage 2 1d8 poison damage and flat-footed (1 round)
Stage 3 1d12 poison damage, clumsy 1, and flat-footed (1 round)
Giant Centipede Stats --> +1 Status Bonus to AC and all rolls and save DC
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Farryn backs off, and draws his crossbow.
Jasariel continues her battle with the cat; it takes two strikes, but eventually, she drops it!
Hannah then moves over, and smacks the feral halfling around.
Niki continues Inspiring Courage, and moves around to a better position.
The Halfling snarls, showing his sharp teeth, and flails at Hannah...
...but his frantic scrabbling does nothing to her.
Farryn (-2)
Jasariel (-12)
Niki (-)
Hannah (-12)
Okh (-)
Gedrim (-)
K (-31)
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Quickly deciding to keep his brutal insect around a bit longer, the wizard whispers a quick incantation to assault the halfling's mind.
The bug of death lashes out again.
for
for
Saving Throw DC 15 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 6 rounds;
Stage 1 1d6 poison damage (1 round);
Stage 2 1d8 poison damage and flat-footed (1 round)
Stage 3 1d12 poison damage, clumsy 1, and flat-footed (1 round)
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Jasariel charges forward, and manages to deliver a solid blow, causing the feral Halfling to hiss in pain.
Gedrim concentrates upon augmenting his centipede (which misses), then tries to Daze the Halfling...
who shakes his head as if clearing it, and snarls at Gedrim!
Niki continues to Inspire Courage, and throws a rock...
...which beans the Halfling on the forehead.
He goes cross-eyed, and falls to the ground, dead.
The feline’s lair is filled with the bodies of goblins and other creatures that have been killed by the group of felines. A variety of odds and ends can be found among the fallen, including 36 gp in assorted coins.
With the lair cleared out, the bridge is successfully completed, on time, and just *over* budget.
Back in town, Yigrig rewards you with a large bag of gold, promising further work in the future, if similar problems crop up.
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About a week later, you each receive a rather enigmatic note.
You know Urwal by reputation, and some may have worked with him before. He’s one of the newest leaders of the Pathfinder Society, an iruxi stargazer who simply showed up at the Grand Lodge the previous year and made himself at home, correcting labels on Mwangi artifacts, sorting insect collections, and painting murals of the night sky as seen from central Garund. He’s considered odd, even by the flexible standards of the Pathfinders, but he’s clearly committed to the Pathfinder cause, and he and his supporters have proven their worth where the preservation of nature is concerned.
Farryn knows that the Green is the planet of Castrovel, associated with fertility, while the Stranger is one of the constellations of the Cosmic Caravan, associated with ill magic and typically depicted as a single, staring eye. The Child is another name for Golarion, while the Mother is another of the Cosmic Caravan, associated with protection.
Both Gedrim and Okh know that Iobaria’s dominant religion is the worship of various nature spirits, who protect harvests, prevent forest fires, and so forth. Most religious figures are druids.
Gedrim, Jasariel, and Hannah know that Finadar Forest, in western Iobaria, is mostly known for its bruorsivi (or blood pines), a species of pine tree with scarlet needles that burns remarkably well and sparks small wildfires as part of its life cycle. While Finadar’s blood pines make the forest highly susceptible to sudden and intense forest fires, the many druids and centaur shamans who reside there typically keep these fires from growing out of control.
Farryn *also* knows that a few obscure legends hint that the blood pines of Finadar were carefully cultivated in a past age by cyclops conjurers, who used the trees as fuel in rituals to summon immense beings of elemental fire.
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Sprawling on a hilltop overlooking a broad caravansary, the town of Mishkar is an eclectic mix of steeply pitched Varisian houses interspersed with the occasional red-tiled Taldan roof. The scars of the recent fires are still visible if one cares to look, seen in the town’s smoke-darkened rooftops and sooted doorways. Mostly, though, you see evidence of new construction and repairs both finished and in progress; it seems that Mishkar is decidedly in favor of putting the past behind it. Today, it is a city of paint buckets and ladders, of carpenters and surveyors and masons, smelling of sawdust and sounding of workers’ cries.
The caravansary at the foot of the hill is equally bustling. A large caravan of merchants from Brevoy has just arrived, and the building’s yard is crowded with clerks and guards, horses and grooms, with curious children darting between the wagon wheels. Just about everyone seems to be at the caravansary today, except the person you need to meet; Jaldan is nowhere to be found...
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Hannah and Okh don't have any luck, but Jasariel learns from one of the grooms that a teenaged centaur girl was out by the east wall perhaps 20
minutes ago.
Just past the east wall of Miskhar is the peculiar sight of a freckled, teenaged centaur yelling at an apple tree. Upon closer inspection, it is clear that she is actually yelling at a pair of human children who have climbed the tree: a boy and a girl, each about ten years old, with matching red hair and homespun clothes. The girl nonchalantly eats an apple while the boy rifles through a decorated leather satchel.
“You little demons, give that back!” the centaur yells, flicking her tail in profound irritation.
“Hmm. Nope,” the girl in the tree says, munching on the apple.
“Not until you show us how to make those dead squirrel monsters!” the boy calls down.
“Sure, I’ll show you! Come on down, I’ll make two dead monsters! Little devils, with red hair!” the centaur yells, then spots your approach. “... Oh no. You’re… did Urwal send you? Oh no. Um. Can you just... I’m sorry, could you come back in a half hour? Please?”
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"YES!" the centaur says emphatically. "Those little twerps stole my bag! It’s got my books and my tools and my food and it’s got the money I was supposed to give you for travel costs, and... and..." the centaur trails off, then puts her head in her hands and moans. "This is a disaster."
The boy pipes up: "She’s a forest witch, see, and we want her to make us one of those scary squirrel monsters. Or show us how to make a scarecrow walk," stating it matter-of-factly as if it was the most reasonable request in the world. "Then we’ll give it back!"
“We’re not thieves.” The girl adds.