As the group makes their way up the new tunnel, they begin to hear the faint sounds of combat and a familiar woman’s voice half-shouting and half-reciting.
“As the legendary Gregaro Voth successfully battled the wild beasts in the deepest reaches of the Mwangi Expanse, so shall I defeat you, foul servant of Lamashtu!” the voice echoes faintly through the caverns.
The light of the surface world above provides a welcome reprieve from the blue and green fungus of the caverns below, and light illuminates a stream whose water is hastened by runoff from a recent storm further up the mountains. A ledge to the west rises up to the nearby forest canopy.
They emerge from the caverns into a 40-foot clearing at the base of the Kortos Mounts. The full moon above casts provides dim light over the entire area, bright enough to illuminate even the shaded leaf litter beneath the trees. These patches of woodland are also filled with underbrush. The trees here are only a few decades old. The stream that runs through the middle of the clearing is about 10 feet wide. A 3-foot-diameter tree truck spans the width of the river, creating an impromptu bridge. The slope to the west gradually rises to a height of 20 feet.
Nearly 100 feet from the cave’s entrance, Janira Gavix is locked in combat with her relentless minotaur foe in a clearing on the southern bank of the stream. She has obviously sustained several serious wounds, yet she shouts, “You vile beast! I know not what drives your black heart, but I shall not fail in my duty. I shall see you driven from this forest, back to the hills from whence you came!”
Kayvan
Kavrick
Midnight
Prax
Demm
Kayvan
Kavrick
Janira
Skithryx
Minotaur
The brave kobolds (most of them, anyway) spring to the rescue. Janira takes a step away from the minotaur and lashes out at his axe with her whip, trying to yank it from his hands.
"You vile beast! I know not what drives your black heart, but I shall not fail in my duty. I shall see you driven from this forest, back to the hills from whence you came!”
It is a dramatically unsuccessful attempt.
It is obvious, from the bloodlust in his eyes that the minotaur is going to follow her and finish her off.
Unless Skithryx can stop him...
Midnight
Prax
Demm
Kayvan
Kavrick
Janira
Skithryx
Minotaur
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No way I'm getting closer to that thing. I'm sure the small fleshy is important and cool or something the tall fleshies like, but I'm not dying for a fleshy. Skithryx pulls his crossbow out and tries to take a shot at the hulking Minotaur. Unfortunately, he accidentally pulls the trigger while bringing it to bear and sinks the bolt deep into the soft ground before him.
________
With the kobolds too far away to do anything, the minotaur moves to finish the job he has started. He brings his axe up and sweeps it down in a vicious arc toward Janira.
He gives her a vicious chop that sends her much smaller body tumbling to the ground, motionless.
Midnight
Prax
Demm
Kayvan
Kavrick
Janira - unconscious
Skithryx
Minotaur
The kobolds very bravely rush toward the Minotaur. But the bull headed humanoid is just as eager to face them as they are him.
"Ha! You little lizards are going to be no more trouble than that child was!" it bellows, stepping closer to Prax and swinging his axe.
And going at him with his horns.
Prax is left hurting but on his feet.
[b]Midnight
Prax -14hp
Demm
Kayvan (2rnds of actions)
Kavrick
Janira - unconscious
Skithryx
Minotaur
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Kayvan runs to the start of the 'bridge' and stops, shocked, as the halfling is struck down with contemptuous ease by the bull-headed creature.
Kayvan moves cautiously across the bridge. Once he is back on a more secure footing he once again begins to play on his strange lute-like instrument.
(As the Sanctuary spell, but personal only)
An attempt to attack Kayvan will require a will save (DC 14).
Success negates the effect; Failure means the attack is lost,
and the attacker will be unable to target attacks at Kayvan.
The bow and crossbowmen have little luck hitting the...bull's eye. An explosive gun proves much more effective.
Prax then puts mud in the Minotaur's eyes, leaving him flailing around blindly.
"Argh! I'm going to hang you from your tails and gut you!" he shouts, swinging with one hand while clearing his eyes with the other.
Despite being blinded, he gets in a lucky shot that takes Prax down.
Midnight
Prax -24hp
Demm
Kayvan (2rnds of actions)
Kavrick
Janira - unconscious
Skithryx
Minotaur -18HP
Despite his bulk, the minotaur manages to twist out of the way of the razor sharp notes that Kayvan hurls at him.
He does not have to twist away from Skithryx's shot. In fact, it's possible Skithryx has the wrong end of the crossbow aimed at the minotaur. At the least, he needs to increase his sacrifices to the mighty god Dai Shrolla.
Demm has better luck against their foe. His arrow sticks in his side, drawing another grunt of pain from him.
Meanwhile, Midnight manages to stop Janira's bleeding.
Midnight
Prax -24hp
Demm
Kayvan
Kavrick
Janira - unconscious
Skithryx
Minotaur -24HP
The minotaur looks around, clearly reeling from his injuries but still out for blood. He clearly knows he is outnumbered but isn't ready to admit defeat at the hands of these little lizards.
He gets to where he can reach the most of them easily, taking a swing at the one that looks the toughest so he can slaughter the others at his leisure.
And another of the bold kobolds is left lying in the dust.
Midnight
Prax -24hp
Demm -12hp
Kayvan
Kavrick
Janira - unconscious
Skithryx
Minotaur -24HP
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Skithryx holds the crossbow out before him in two hands. This is a crossbow right? I didn't catch some cooky brain parasite in that cave? Shouldering the weapon again, he takes aim at the massive creature.
He inhales deeply. 3... 2... 1...
At the same moment his finger begins to draw on the trigger, lightningless thunder cascades across the mountain and he jerks the crossbow up towards the sky. As it was bid, the bolt dutifully disappears into the vast blue. Oh s%*+, oh s%%~, gravity!
Hucking the surely faulty weapon away from him, he flees for the safety of a rocky roof.
________
The minotaur grunts in pain as the little lizard with the strange thunder sling hits him again.
He reels for a moment, half stunned and his eyes following the trajectory of a crossbow bolt rising elegantly into the sky.
He looks back down just in time to see another burst of sharp music coming at him. His eyes widen and he twists just in time to avoid being hit by them.
"Bah...I wasn't in the mood for lizard today, anyway," he grumbles, then turns and flees, crossing the open ground with impressive speed then disappearing into the underbrush.
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From the safety of the cave, Skithryx watches the cow sprint away. See, he understands! No telling where that little thing is going to land! Damn do they hurt too.
Somewhere, tens of yards away, a crossbow bolt pierces a poor woodland creature. A perfect bullseye through the heart.
Never know when it'll land though... He leans around the side of the cave, but never beyond the rocky overhang, to see his companions.
"Hurry! Get the small fleshy and come in! There is no time to lose!" he urges them.
________
With no further threat, those conscious are able to stabilize those less so. A quick search of Janira reveals enough healing potions to get everyone back on their feet for the trek back to Absalom.
When Janira regains consciousness, she jerks up right, eyes wide and clearly looking for the minotaur. When she realizes it has been run off, she thanks the group for saving her life. "But more importantly, what did you find in the caves?"
She listens intently to any descriptions but will do so on the walk back, if the group, understandably, doesn't want to linger.
When they meet with Kreighton Shaine once they're back at the Grand Lodge, he asks the same thing. "Well? Tell me all about your mission, what was in the cave? Did any of you take notes? Let me see them, please. I've found it very important to take notes. Sometimes I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, let alone what I was thinking and experiencing when I was looking at a statue or carving."
He listens closely to their reports and, more eagerly reviews their notes.
"Oh...and in true Pathfinder tradition, you are the experts on that cave and the first explorers, it is your privilege to give it a name."
He then turns to Janira. "A fine job, Agent Gavrix. From everything I've heard it sounds like you kept your cool and gave excellent guidance to these new Pathfinders. There's a bright future for you with us."
"Thank you, Sir," Janira answers a bit breathlessly and obviously blushing.
Three days later, each of the Kobolds is approached by one of the Masters of the Pathfinders -
Master of Swords Marcus Farabellus approaches you with all his usual vivacity. He claps you heartily on the back.
"I caught word of what you did up in the Kortos Mountains. Taking on a minotaur when you're just starting out is impressive enough. Living to tell the tale and beating the thing is even better. Take this, with my compliments," he says, putting an arm around each of your shoulders yet managing to hand them each a Wayfinder.
The now familiar Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine comes to you, a wry smile on his face.
"I should have known you would need these and had them ready when you got back. But even I could not have predicted what success you would have on your confirmation mission. Take these with my compliments. May they serve you well."
He holds out a pair of Wayfinders, one for each of you.
Aram Zey, looking exceptionally harried and busy comes to visit you, briefly. He spares little time.
"Hello. I was informed of your expedition into the Kortos Mountains and was impressed by what you did. I wanted to personally deliver these and tell you that I believe you have a bright future in the Pathfinders in general and in the Spells, in particular."
He hands you each a Wayfinder.
Shaine and Gavrix both listen closely to Skithryx and examine his notes in detail. It takes them much longer for their attention to drift than might be expected.
"I should have known you would need these and had them ready when you got back. But even I could not have predicted what success you would have on your confirmation mission. Take these with my compliments. May they serve you well."
He holds out a pair of Wayfinders.