The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion: “Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig’s Paunch one hour before dawn.”
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.”
Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, “Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! 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.”
Master Shaine hops to his feet. “Initiates, for your Confirmation, you will travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages. Additionally, and most importantly, you are to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and you need to come back alive as well.” With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls jumps off the table and strolls out of the building while humming to himself.
"Me am tolding to be here's, so me am go here'd"
"You're all in the right place," Janira says with a welcoming smile. "And I'm glad to have you. I'm the halfling you'll be working with."
Janira pulls out a large leather-bound journal and opens it on the table. “Before we set out, we should all get to know each other and review our plan. After all, the most important factors that determine whether an expedition will be a success are cooperation and preparation! I’ll go first!”
"I'm Janira Gavix and I joined the Pathfinder Society nearly 4 years ago after my coming of age celebration. I was The oldest of seven children, and I'm the only one to have come of age so far. I grew up in Eastgate, where Pop still works as a porter. He's got a dog cart and old Dilly still tows it around, transporting stuff from ships and shops to folks' homes."
"I was pretty eager to get to the Society and within weeks of turning 20, I enlisted with the Pathfinders Society. I wanted to see the world and sample all of the fine food it had to offer, but I quickly took to the Scrolls and its focus on learning and preserving knowledge. Now, my greatest hope is to have my work published in one of the Pathfinder Chronicles, and maybe go on to become a Pathfinder Chronicler."
"How about you guys? How long were you an initiate? The full 3 years, or did you get a field commission)? Where did you grow up? Are you all from Absalom? Where have you traveled before coming to the Grand Lodge? Did you have a favorite class, training exercise, or teacher, there? How do you handle yourself in a fight?"
Despite the speed with which they need to travel, she seems intent on really getting to know her fellow Pathfinders.
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After doing some math, which takes a while, Demm looks at Janira with new found respect, [color=red]"You ams twenty sevens?!?! You am being strongly Pathfindinger. Tells me the secretings for long living! Me no am knowing any clutch-mate so olden. Me am special though, called by Apsu. Told to serve. Me says 'yesses'. Me comes to Pathfindingers to learn how me serving Apus goodlier."[/color] Convinced that Janira must be one of the most powerful members in the Society, Demm hangs on her every word. Afterall, she may even be a secret Venturing-Captain...or a Decemvirate-or.
Janira cocks her head to the side and purses her lips at Demm's math. "Twenty four, actually," she says, trying to figure where she steered him wrong.
She shrugs. "I can't give you much advice about living a long life, not if you want to be a Pathfinder. It's a dangerous job, though there are smart ways of doing it that keep you relatively safe."
"I'm sorry, I don't speak Draconic. Did you have a question?" she asks Kayvan.
Her brow furrows but she nods to Midnight. "It is good to have a purpose."
“Now, before we head out, if there aren’t any more questions, we should take a moment to go through your gear and make sure nothing important gets left out.”
"Does everyone have rope? I guess you don't really need light sources, since you can all see in the dark. What about food? A way to make fire, you never know when you'll need a fire. Any sources of healing? Alchemist’s fire or acid flasks? Antitoxins?"
"And let's not forget 'Report!' Does everyone have something to keep records with?" She rummages in her pack and pulls out paper and writing utensils for anyone who needs it. "Even if someone else is taking notes, more perspectives equals more information."
"Well, I have some of the sort of gear I'm asking about so I can share it if the time comes," Janira says.
She looks around at the gathered kobolds again and a slow smile breaks on her face and she nods. "Well, if there's nothing else...?" she turns and leads the way out of the tavern.
The first phase of their Confirmation takes the Pathfinders 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 provides a great opportunity to discuss Master Shane’s class on the history of Absalom. Most of the journey is uneventful, but points out landmarks such as siege towers, distant mountains, or distinct flora and fauna along the journey. "That's the 4 Nation Tower of Doom that was launched against Absalom a couple centuries ago. It got that far then hit a hole and collapsed under its own weight....That western peak is said to hold the palace of the Harpy queen. Several expeditions have been sent to find it but with no success. Still, the rumors persist... Oh! A Cairn Bunny! A perfect example of wildlife adapting to its environment.
They're not aggressive but have developed the ability to eat carrion."
Nothing of interest occur during the first day of travel and the group spends a quiet night in the wilderness.
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, the shade making all the kobolds more comfortable. 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.”
Suddenly, an eagle like shriek pierces the air, followed by an answering call from another direction.
Ahead of the Pathfinders, a creature with the body of a horse but the wings, head and talons of an eagle swoops down below the canopy of leaves. Another comes in from their left.
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"Eeek, flying horsey thing! Go hide, Billig!"
The small, purple kobold with wings and a large tail exclaims, in Draconic. He has gold rings in his eyebrow ridges, and his darkleaf cloth armor has the crest of a Taldan visbaron. He wears bandoleers filled with alcemical stuff, and he has two dark wood muskets in holsters on his back.
Midnight hurls a sling stone at one of the flying beasts.
It goes awry.
The two hippogriffs come in hot, one going at Kayvan, the other Kavrik.
Neither is particularly effective. (Kayvan can you put your AC and HP in your header?)
Midnight
Flying Horse Eagles
Kavrik
Kayvan
Demm
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As the party is assaulted, Demm no longer talks. Now he is the silent predator hunting prey. He calls upon his draconic faith to enhance the damage of his weapon.
Somewhere in all the confusion, Janira starts mentioning inspirational tasks that former Pathfinders have undertaken and succeeded at. "...for example, the brave band of Pathfinders who delved into the Gloomspires, facing level after level of malevolent undead to bring back knowledge for the Society..."
The kobolds get some distance to make preparations for using distance weapons and Demm scores a hit with his bow. Midnight keeps back and slings another stone.
This time, the stone bonks off a beak.
Not to be denied their lunch, the two scary horse eagles close the distance and attack.
[spoile=Nothing to see here]
[/dice][/spoiler]
The one with blue pinfeathers attacks Kavrik -
And scores a single hit with a talon.
The one with red pinfeathers goes after Demm.
But only comes close to hitting him.
Midnight
Flying Horse Eagles Red -3 HP; Blue =2HP
Kavrik
Kayvan
Demm
With a boom and a crackle, Kavrik sends a flaming bullet into the blue bird(horse) of unhappiness that's been attacking them.
Between that and the damage it's already taken from Midnight, it lets out a pained shriek then falls to the ground, limp and immobile.
Midnight
Flying Horse Eagles Red -3 HP; Blue down
Kavrik
Kayvan
Demm
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With the peal of thunder still emanating from Kavrik's musket, a flash of white scales emerges from the underbrush. Must be Pathfinders. Not much evidence of tribes in the area... Strong ones, at any rate.
"Pathfinders! I'm here to help," he claims in a formal and precise Draconic with a voice that is deeper than you might expect from a creature so small. "Fleshies tricked me in another tavern, cost me valuable time..." His swaying tail briefly stiffens with anger before releasing again.
Standing before you is a white kobold. Slight of build, even for a kobold, his shield and chain armor nevertheless sit snugly on his frame. Perhaps the only threatening thing about him is the sickle in his left hand.
________
Midnight moves so that she has an unimpeded angle on the beast and hurls another stone.
The stone comes much closer to hitting the white scaled newcomer kobold in the head than what she was aiming at.
The remaining equivian creature keeps up it's assault on Demm.
It flails around rather pointlessly.
Midnight
Flying Horse Eagles Red -3 HP; Blue down
Kavrik
Kayvan
Demm
Silumgar
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"They did," Silumgar admits as he skulks around their flailing foe. Must be a common trick they play on newcomers. I'll make them pay in due time. A little... accident... or two should teach them.
Closing with his prey, he slashes at it's haunches with the hooked blade in his hand. "Together we are strong!"
With the recovery part of his swing, he skips back away from the creature and brings his shield between them. "How did you let the beast find you?" he asks in the same form of Draconic. "Were you sticking to the underbrush and shadows?" Perhaps all tribes don't rely on sneakiness? How would they last against the bigguns if they didn't?
________
Impressively enough, all the kobold Pathfinders who attack hit. Less impressively...they don't manage to take it down.
Midnight takes another shot with her sling.
The stone hits and staggers the eagle horse. It shakes its head to clear the cobwebs and makes a snap at Demm.
He gets in one good shot, then promptly passes out.
"Excellent job, everyone! Here, Demm, let me help with that," Janira says, moving to heal up his wound.
She turns to the two newcomers. "You must be Silumgar and Prax. Sorry about the confusion. Some of the more seasoned agents like to play jokes on the new people. I don't think it's funny but they don't listen to me. Anyway, I would have waited but we're on a clock. Why don't you introduce yourselves on the way?"
Despite...or perhaps because Janira is in a hurry, ss the group continues to travel through the wilderness, the Pathfinders find trails blocked by fallen objects, shortcuts overgrown, and other minor delays that cost them time.
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The white Kobold nods his head when Janira introduces him. "Silumgar Icerender, from the Tusk Mountains," he adds, before switching to a shakier Common. "First take notes, then take sample, next leave."
As promised, he pulls out a small notebook, quickly placing a series of neat characters along the lines. His tail pulls a screw-topped vial from one of the many folds of his cloak while he uses his sickle to guide some blood into it. Stowing it where it came from, he signals he is ready to leave.
In between trying to be helpful in their travels, he asks the other Kobolds many questions in Draconic. "Why have you left your tribe? Where is your tribe now? What did you do for your tribe? What is your favorite food?"
________
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Demm's eyes go wide at being healed by the legend. With quiet awe and near reverence, "Demm thankses you, Lady Janira."
He looks to the newest arrivals, "Demm left to serves the mostest powerful Apsu. Maybes one day Demm goes back to tribe if it am Demm's destiny. Demm like crisp bacon dipped in custard."
He then looks around the forest.
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Kayvan answers Silumgar's questions (also speaking in Draconic)
"I left my tribe to learn from watching the young dragons why played nearby.
My tribe lives in the mountains.
My favourite foods are the strange creatures brought back by explorers who have visited the edge of the world"
He will attempt to assist Demm finding a path through the overgrowth.
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Prax gives a flourish as shimmers with a hue of different colors as the sun hits him in different ways. I am Prax. Of many Colours. I am one of the servant of Messentrel the Purple one od her warrior-caste of defenders of her crystalline womb that births my tribe. I travel and study as my people were drawn into a planar disturbance which wreaked havoc on our homeland until the Concordance of Elements came to save us. I am but their humble envoy here with the Pathfinder Society and I look oh so forward to officially joining your ranks!
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She is a wise and powerful ruler! Her scales are pure amesthysts, rather than clear crystal like mine. Her and her children and us her kobolds rule a massive cavern on the Plane of Earth. Are you from there? If so then maybe! Prax says helpfully to Kavrik.
I don't have money - don't need it! I am a master of my body!
With a little help from Kayvan, Demm manages to find the fastest path and the group arrives at their expected time. Just as the big ball of fire in the sky is being impaled on the top of a distant mountain.
The dense forest opens to a wide clearing at the base of a sheer cliff. Thick vines cover the surface of the cliff stretching 30 feet overhead. “Here! The cave entrance is behind those vines,” Janira says with a broad smile as she walks to the cliff’s face. She pulls back several layers of vegetation to reveal a narrow crack in the cliff’s surface. “This is where I saw the gillmen enter.”
As she motions toward the aperture, the surrounding woods come alive with the sound of small animals fleeing some unseen danger and a large creature crashing through the undergrowth.
The halfling worriedly remarks, “Quick, take cover before whatever it is spots us!” As if she’d summoned the creature with her words, a massive horned monstrosity emerges from the trees. Standing eight feet tall on a pair of cloven hooves and wielding a tremendous axe, the bull-headed creature roars with unbridled anger when it spots the group.
Wisely assessing that a minotaur is beyond her charges’ capabilities, Janira screams, “A minotaur! There’s little chance we can stand against it. Take this bag,” she continues, pulling off her backpack, “and head deeper into the caves. Finish your mission. I’ll lead it away from the caves, lose it in the forest, and join you as soon as I can. Now go! GO!” She heaves her backpack into the cave, casts a spell, and darts off toward the minotaur before turning to lure it away.
Deciding upon the better part of valor, the kobolds take Janira up on her offer. They see the minotaur chasing after Janira through the trees, fighting its way through the dense undergrowth as she bolts into the forest. Soon the cacophony of the chase fades and the sounds of the forest slowly return to normal.
As they explore, they discover this cave system stretches deep below the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, though most of it is accessible only through the narrow keyhole tunnel they came in. All of the tunnels in this area are between 3 and 10 feet wide and vary equally in height, though most are a comfortable 7 or more feet wide in each dimension. The caves are damp, and water dripping from stalactites and the distant rushing of underground streams creates an eerie backdrop as they explore. The caves’ walls are patterned with blue-green luminescent fungi that provide dim light.
They notice that, in one spot, there is a brighter growing area that looks like a simple depiction of a fish. A bit further, another looks like an octopus. Further along is a spiral shape and it becomes apparent these are not random, natural phenomenon. And they become more frequent the deeper the group goes.
Inspecting one reveals it has been carved by someone and the rough surface of the carvings provides a natural platform for the fungi, causing it to grow thicker and making the carvings glow slightly brighter than their surroundings.
The narrow tunnel twists and turns for several hundred feet before slowly opening to a wider passage. A large hole, ten foot deep spans the cave’s width and stretches ten feet down the path. The bottom of the pit is lined with nasty looking spikes. A small bundle of cloth lies snagged on one of these spikes toward the middle.
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What a strange place, who nests here? Silumgar takes a few moments to sketch a few of the fungus figures on the wall.
Peering down to the bottom of the pit, he knocks a nearby pebble down into it. "S%%! trap. Not even covered," he says, sending some spit to follow the pebble. "I'd have done this one right. Hmph."
He drops rope and a grappling hook onto the floor. "Fishing, Kayvan?"