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Thin and wiry, Milord is a young nimble Halfling.
With a sailor's sunburnt skin, long black sleeked-back hair, and a thin swashbuckler's moustache, he seems a happy-go-lucky chap.
He wears a long red coat, with brass buttons, and on his belt you see a shortsword with a basket-hilt like a rapier's, a light mace, and a wayfinder, that has the name Milord engraved on it, below the Glyph of the Open Road.
A pair of red silk bandoliers criss-cross his chest, one with healer's tools, the other with various picks & tools, and a couple vials...
He has a shortbow and large quiver over his shoulder.
And, of course, around his neck, you will rapidly notice a wooden tankard on a leather thong.
He bows deep, and, with a big smile:
"Milord at your service, my dearest comrades!
Let us go together to gather some wild tales to tell, and hopefully make it into the Pathfinder Chronicles!"
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Prelude - Xun
Tien forest.
Why am I in tien forest? I left that place a few months ago
The ground is covered in snow and in the air on the edge of eyesight Xun sees the mist. He sees a young woman running through the forest looking scared. He knows what will happen, he lived through that.
The scene change, he sees young and tall woman fighting with a sword,
Teja (). But then he notices a dark-skinned ranger aiming with his bow.
His name was Anjo, Garundi. Man of few words.
Xun hears sounds of a fight. He sees snow and blood... the tien forest disappears in a mist.
A different forest.
A big animal is walking through the trees, the leaves are falling down. It must be fall and the animal is clearly a stag. Xun does not know where it is and what this animal is about. He notices that in its antlers there are some branches and feathers intertwined. The stag looks in the direction of a small house. A symbol.
The house is a bit blurred, Xun can't focus on its shape or color but through the window, he sees cauldron set on fire, a set of vials and books. A hand resting on a book. Next to all that lies a black bowler hat.
Somewhere in the corner of the room stands a goblin. Baldhead, ears sticking to the sides and a dogslicer in his hand. The figure is smiling and suddenly...changing its shape. The hands thicken, on the head shows black hair and the dogslicer changes into a rapier. But the face is not shown to Xun. The size of the new being is similar to the size of the goblin. It is a Halfling!
A doppelganger? so shape changer? Of all beings why change to Halfling? Thinks to himself.
Xun wakes up and sits on the bed. He rubs his face and drinks some water. He is unsettled, this was clearly a message from Loas. He had them before and knows that he should pack. Whether he likes it or not it is time to move on from this city and head to the closest Pathfinder lodge.
Dark-skinned ranger, a stag, a man with a bowler hat, a goblin changing into a halfling. As always it makes no sense but Xun spoke with spirits enough times to not be surprised by that.
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Khan's a male half-orc in his late twenties. He shows very strong features coming from his orcish ancestry: long teeth, red eyes, brown skin and a massive stature, towering over 6 feet and weighing easily 200 pounds. A bit chubby, it doesn't look like he practices much... actually, despite his stature, he doesn't look like a trained warrior at all. He wears no weapon, and only layers of hide to protect himself. He doesn't even have a backpack, just a sack he carries at his side and a few pockets here and there. He also wears a big wooden holy symbol, the size of a small shield, representing a dripping leaf.
But his most recognisable feature is his enormous headdress. Mostly composed of wood and feathers, intertwined with his long dreadlocks, it crowns its head and is roughly one foot high, forcing him to bend every time he crosses a door. Majestic is not the word who comes to mind when looking at it, weird-looking tribal headdress is more accurate.
Khan nods to Milord when he introduces himself and answers, slowly:
"My name's Khan and I'm a Pathfinder."
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"Delighted to meet you, Master Khan!"
Milord bows on one knee, and swoops his hat down.
"I happen to be a Pathfinder too, so that is very fine and dandy!"
Looking the man over, he wonders: "Maybe you do not eat meat... but you do partake? I mean, you do not frown on fermented berries and other liquor do you?"
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A few moments later a new person enters the room.
He is a rather a tall human, from the color of his skin you can assume that he is somewhere from the Mwangi region as it is almost black. As you look at a bit closer it is very dark green falling into black. His head is bald and he is wearing travel clothes with a couple of leather trinkets. His eyes are almost yellow and his teeth even that white are a bit different then from the other humans. He must have had some Orcish blood in his ancestry.
His belongings are a bit unusual in the way that he carries a dagger on his belt, made of the dark wood drum, a backpack with a tube-shaped wrap tied to it. From the sounds of it, you expect there to be some sort of a bow with arrows.
As the dark-skinned person enters he looks at Khan and his eyes wander to the headdress that he is wearing. The bard freeze for the moment like he would recognize something and then comes closer extends his hand and with a broad smile and a strong accent he says:
"My name is Xun Saburo and I am a storyteller. It seems that we will combine our efforts in whatever the Pathfinder Society requires of us." Then he turns towards Milord and freezes for a second. Xun looks at his weapon and adds:
"Pleasure to meet you."
Xun put his gear on the ground and extend his hand to Milord. While shaking it he uses both hands and Milord can feel a touch of a coin on the backside of his hand.
"No reaction to silver so probably, not a shape-changer" thinks to himself as he hides the coin.
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When Xun entered, Khan greeted him with a large smile, but looked surprised when he stared at his headress: He's used to people being intrigued by it, but that wasn't the look on Xun's face.
He shook his hand while frowning a bit, but seeing that Xun shook a halfling hand with two hands, his attitude shifted completely.
From relaxed, he became more tensed. His position changed, straightening himself, repositioning his feet. Nothing agressive, just more alert. Staring at Xun he says:
"There is more to you than what you tell us, Storyteller."
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"Berries grow old and sweeter and start to get close to rotting and then you can press them and make them--"
Interrupted by the arrival, Milord listens to the newcomer.
Whispering to Khan: "THIS person, for example, needs some fermented berry juice to loosen up. What's with all that freezing he does?!"
"Hello, hello, Xun Saburo!
I love great storytelles.
A nice pint or three, and a good story... the best."
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A tall woman of obviously Kellid ancestory enters the room. Tall, she walks with surprising grace. While her face mostly screams Kellid her dress is Varasian, and her movement is that of a dancer.
While she doesn't bear the traditional heavy weapons of a Kellid, a dagger and rapier hang at her waist. A glance at her hands don't show the calluses of a swordswoman though. Rather they are covered in ink. Stepping back you might even notice her robe is that of a scholar.
"Hello!" she smiles, her accent heavily influenced by her northern upbrining. "Sorry, I had to dash out - a false lead sadly..."
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"There is more to you than what you tell us, Storyteller."
Xun turns towards Khan thinking what to answer. Saved by Teja he turns towards newcomer and smiles broadly.
"Teja, it is good to see you! How was your trip from the Tien country?"
Then looking at Milord
"You mentioned something about fermented berry juice, I would love some! I had a rough night and not that short travel today to get here." says the Bard.
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Teja offers a short bow to Xun. "The trip was long, but I did manage to pick up a smattering of the language. Not enough though. Perhaps I will go back one day." smiles back the tall woman.
She then turns her smile on Khan. "Oh! I love forests. We didn't have much of them up north, too cold. But down here they are so big, and quiet. They kind of remind me of home sometimes, and so full of plants! Why I could walk past more than thirty different species of plants in the space of a few strides." she gushes enthusiastically.
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Another man - clearly with some orc heritage, but with orcish features that are not overly pronounced - arrives. He is a tall, lean man, wearing a well-tailored suit, covered with a distinctive leather coat known among alchemists for providing useful protection against possible chemical spills.
Upon his shoulder sits a thin and very warty neon orange tree frog.
"Good day, good day, my good fellows. This is where we Pathfinders have been summoned, I presume. Doctor Grime Percival Bloodshanks, at your service, available for all of your medical needs, should it come to any unpleasantness." He chuckles. "And it always seems to, does it not? Just was able to make it in, after a dreadful trip out to the River Kingdoms. The mosquitos, I must say, were far worse than I could have imagined. Definitely not a desirable vacation destination. But, please, just call me Doc." He adjusts his thick glasses, almost a pair of goggles, that rest upon his thick nose.
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You are awoken early in the morning by an urgent summons from Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin. As you each arrive you are shown directly into his private office, where he and the Grand Lodge’s head archivist, Zarta Dralneen, are examining a list of items.
Ambrus Valsin seems deep in thought, a common appearance for the stoic Steward of Absalom’s Grand Lodge.
“Most of you know Zarta Dralneen, I assume?” Valsin begins, nodding to the woman. “She’s recently accepted an appointment as head archivist of the Grand Lodge, so you’ll understand her interest in this assignment shortly.”
The venture-captain gestures to a map of Absalom and then the Isle of Kortos hanging on the wall behind his desk. “You’re heading to Otari, along the southern coast between here and Diobel. One of our transport vessels, a barque called Durvin’s Query, foundered just outside the harbor there a few days ago. It was laden with the artifacts collected from a site in the Mwangi Expanse. The Pathfinders returning on the ship collected the most valuable cargo but were forced to leave the rest. They made their way to Otari and sent word of their misfortunes to the Grand Lodge. Based on their report, I need you to go, pick up the material immediately, and bring it back safely to the Grand Lodge.”
Zarta Dralneen smoothly takes up the narrative. “Of course, it’s not quite as simple as that,” she smiles. “The team aboard Durvin’s Query encountered a sequence of extremely… unusual events as they returned home. Bad luck plagued them the entire trip, and they ran into more than the usual number of oceanic hazards. I suspect that something they picked up in the Expanse was the source of their extreme bad luck, and I’m eager to find out just what it is.”
Valsin slides a weather-stained list across his desk. “As you may know, salvage belongs to the finder, and so we couldn’t just leave the items in the shipwreck for anyone to find. I’ve already contacted an old friend in Otari, a former Pathfinder by the name of Khoumrock Blackthane, to be your advance agent. Khoumrock’s team has gone to the wreck site to collect everything that was left behind—here’s the list. By the time you arrive in Otari, he’ll have it fully packed for you. You’ll be sailing there for speed, but given the experience the previous team had at sea, we feel the safest method of transport back is overland, through the Immenwood and along the High Coast Road.”
Valsin’s face turns grim. “Now, I know this might sound like a less-than-glamorous assignment, playing caravan guard for a couple of days, but it’s important. That material came from an important site, and the string of bad luck the original team had means there’s something in there that isn’t what it seems. Be on your guard, and make sure nothing goes missing on the way back. Any questions?”
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Milord bows before their host: "Greetings, Venture-Captain Valsin!"
And salutes Dralta by doffing and waving his plumed hat: "And to you, learned and esteemed Head Archivist Dralneen!"
He then smiles to his comrades: "So, we shall be traveling together.
Pleased to be doing so, I am Milord!"
After having gone over the list, he tunrs back to Valsin: "Who is this Alysandro, if I may ask?"
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Xun Nods to Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin and eyes Zarta Dralneen for few seconds.
"This is one beautiful lady, but there is something dangerous about her." thinks to himself. He still wonders what loas want from him with regard to this mission. It is not common for them to act in such a way.
He gets the list from Khan saying
"Thank you." And now a theory started to grow. The artifacts were from Mwangi expanse, just like himself and the spirits that he still contacts.
Taking a bit longer than others he reads the list carefully and then put it back on the table.
"Can we talk with someone from Durvin's Query? Or other individuals that know those parts?"
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"What were they carrying that could have caused such bad luck"
Zarta answers. “It’s possible that some of the items taken from the site may have residual power that is attracting natural forces. There may be something in the material that carries an unfriendly effect, perhaps even a curse. The team may have done something to anger Gozreh directly. Or it could have been nothing more than coincidence—an extended string of coincidences, all related to the wind and waves, occurring to the same team on their way back from excavating an abandoned Gozren temple.” Zarta’s raised eyebrow indicates what she thinks of the “coincidence” theory.
"Who is this Alysandro, if I may ask?"
Valsin waves it off. "A member of the recovery team that help with the inventory, nothing more."
"Can we talk with someone from Durvin's Query? Or other individuals that know those parts?"
"Wish you could, but they are nowhere near and time is of the essence.
The team stumbled across a Temple of Gozreh while exploring south of the Sodden Lands and the Eye of Abendego. It may be related to a splinter sect of Gozren faith known as the Storm Kindlers. They’ve caused trouble recently in Pridon’s Folly south of Sargava, so we’d like to know more about them.” He shoos you quickly from his office.As you go to leave Valsin’s office, Zarta stands to accompany you. Just outside she silently motions for Xun and Doc to follow her.
“It’s cute to see Ambrus so concerned about your welfare… but he’s right,” Zarta begins. “Dealing with this sort of situation is exactly why the Grand Archive was created. We have to retrieve whatever caused this bad luck, so it can be studied and understood. Normally, Gorm Greathammer would be the one to discuss this with you, but he is rather preoccupied with… well, he’s not able to be here himself. Just make sure you come back with everything from the wreck. We don’t yet know if it’s a single item, or some combination of items, that is the cause. Even if the cause is a single item, the context provided by the other relics, and especially the charts and notes collected by the team, are vital to our understanding of this phenomenon. Make sure everything is brought back here intact.” With this she turns to walk away.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
You each know that the Immenwood’s lumber has helped to make Absalom a major power in its early years. The central forest area around Otari is dense and overgrown, with even the paths covered by an intertwined canopy of branches. The forest often shelters bandits and others who choose to hide from civilization.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
Gozreh is the Wind and the Waves, a dualistic entity that embodies the peaceful breeze as well as nature’s fury. Gozren priests often use the natural environment as weapon or shield, and they summon aquatic monsters to do their bidding.
The Storm Kindlers were a splinter sect of the Gozren faith that all died out when they voyaged too close to the Eye of Abendego a century ago. All of their knowledge was lost.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
Otari is a small port town situated where the road skirts the Immenwood. Situated about halfway between the bustling metropolis of Absalom and the outport of Diobel, it provides access to most modern luxuries without the hustle and bustle of life in Absalom.
Otari is a popular retirement locale for ex-Pathfinders who want to avoid the political machinations of Absalom but remain near their former home. Many businesses are run by retired Pathfinders. The Thirsty Alpaca Tavern on the waterfront can serve as a Pathfinder safe house in time of need.
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Khan seems troubled when hearing that the relics come from an abandonned temple of Gozreh. Once everyone's out of the office, he says to the 3 others:
"I hope they didn't do something bad when retrieving these relics. The god of forests can be mean when you defile his temples. But at least, now, I understand why they called me for this mission."
Khan seems ready to go.
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"Gozreh hunh, As I recall, he is the god of the wind and the waves. His followers go on about the duality of peace and fury. If his followers are involved, we should expect them to weaponize the forest against us and summon aquatic beasts."
Anjo pauses for a moment,
"I should add, there is a safe Society safe-house in Otari called the Thirsty Alpaca."
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Xun comes back to join the team after the private meeting with Doc and Zarta:
"That lady is astonishing but there is something in her that makes me want to run away and never come back. It is hard to explain. "
The bard looks at the gnome and smiles on the mention of the genius but decides to not be rude just when he met the gnome.
"I second that. Let us grab a pint and talk. And maybe secure a cask of finest dwarven gale for the trip on the ship. When we travel back we probably will have to keep up sentries during nights."
"I come from Mwangi expanse and there I was thought a way of a shaman. I speak to loas of that land that sometimes help me in my doings. Before this mission, they shared a vision with me. It shared some signs that are hard to understand, but they match to some extend you. The fact that we are supposed to transport artifacts from Mwangi expanse might explain their interest in what we will be doing." He takes a drink and continous
"According to some believes Gozreh is just a very powerful spirit, according to some it is a god completely different. Truth be told, I am not an expert in haunted artifacts. I don't share my connection with spirits as people usually are quick in their judgments, but hey we will be traveling with coursed items. There are not a lot of things that can surprise compared to that. "
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Khan tries to object:
"But the Venture-Captain was speaking of some urgency..."
Then he follows everyone, a bit annoyed, but quickly tend to forget about it. When Xun makes his presentation, he reacts:
"A shaman! I knew you were more than a storyteller. Why didn't you tell me? I like shamans, they speak to spirits and are wise persons."
And when everyone expects Khan to speak about him, he answers:
"I can tell you my story, but it's a very long one. I'm not sure you want to hear it?"
And considering how slowly he speaks, you think his story will be even longer. And considering how engaging he is when he speaks, it would certainly be a great bedtime story but more of a mood killer in current situation.
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Milord winks at Khan: "I speak to spirits too! But then I drink them up, all kinds of spirits are fine with me."
To Xun he asks: "What is this dwarven gale?"
"Doc is right! Go buy us some bottles, and we'll have a drink while waiting for you!"
Milord fondles the little wooden tankard he carries around his neck.
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"Gale is the best Goldenoak ale. It is a strong ale produced by Goldenoak breweries, a very decent beverage if you ask me. Some says that the name 'gale' was created as most folks with not that strong heads had troubles walking straight after drinking few pints of it. Just like they would walk under the effect of a gales wind. " Says the bard.
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The ship Valsin has booked you on is fast, but is not particularly comfortable. Combined with unusually rough seas, the trip is rather unpleasant for those of you without your sea legs.
Waiting by the dock when you arrive is a salty old sea dog of a dwarf, with a node reddened by years at sea (among other things, perhaps). He looks like he's had very little sleep in the past few days. His armor appears to be a suit of full plate heavily modified and integrated with a mechanical diving suit. When he speaks, it's with an accent somewhere between a south-Absalom brogue and a sailor's worldly clip. "Aye, and you mus’ be Ambrus' team. Come on with me, then, and we'll talk somewhere more comfortable." With that, he turns and strides off toward a nearby pub.
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Once everyone is seated and had a chance for a drink and some food, Khoumrock swirls the dregs of a mug of beer as he tells his tale. “When Ambrus called me, I got a few friends an’ went right out to the wreck. We gathered everythin’ we could find. The storm already dashed the hulk again’ the rocks and broken her open, but most o’ the crates were washed ashore. I dove in to make sure she weren’t leaking any cargo, but the waves were rough and things were movin’ down that weren’t just the water and fishies!” He frowns as he recalls the night’s efforts.
“The sky opened up as soon as we started packin’. The horses were half-mad wit’ the lightnin’ and the wind. It took all o’ night and part o’ the morning to collect everythin’, and we nearly lost the wagon to a big wave what came a-crashin’ onto the shore from out of no’ere. The storm followed us all t’way back to town. So did summat else – as we got t’the town gate, we saw summat long and snakish breakin’ the waves out in the harbor. I didn’t get a good look, ‘cause the watchtower was struck by lightnin’ just then and it blinded me for a tick. When I looked back, it were gone.” Khoumrock looks to the ceiling in thought. “Apparently, we lost a fisherman out towards the docks right thenabouts. Coulda been an accident, but I knows better.” Khoumrock shakes his head again. “Might be time for me to do a little divin’ out thar, clean things out, ya know?”
“Well, the wagon’s all packed and ready to go by t’stable. S’easy enough to drive, or you can hire a teamster, iff’n you’d prefer. Good luck. I’ll be glad to see that wagon roll out o’ town, truth be told.”
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"I love to sail! I am so at home at sea, let me tell you how--"
As Milord turns green: "Sorry..."
Nodding to the Dwarf, Milord remains silent, and follows along, listening.
But wondering why is this room swaying back and forth?
"I can probably lead the wagon if needed... actually, I'd like that.
I love to ride! I am so at home on wagons, let me tell you how... well, later."
"So, Venture Captain, sir, this long and snake-like thing, it remained in the water, not coming out onto land, is that it?
And the fisherman that was lost... was he lost as in never seen again, or lost as in you found his dead body - body that might give clues as to the attacker?"
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Khan's no sailor at all, but he doesn't get sick easily.
During the trip, especially when the weather gets angry, he prays to the Lord of the Waves. He seems pretty serious and tends to ignore most of Millord's pranks from now on.
With the dwarf, he listens silently, not asking any question. Ignoring Millord's "home", he answers.
"I'll handle the cart. May I choose the horses that will pull it? If they have to face the anger of the God of Nature, they will need to be strong-willed."
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Xun enters the ship with some reluctancy. In his homeland, he used fishing boats but on the rivers and lakes. When the bard saw the storm coming he knew that this trip will be bad.
Xun turns pale and spends some time hanging through the side of the ship and later is escorted under the deck. Thanks to that he does not fall off the ship.
At one moment he attempts to approach Khan and ask:
"You mentioned telling your story when we are on board. I like listening to stories they can tell you a lot about the protagonist."
When on the land Xun at most nods and few times he has to leave the inn to get some free air.
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Doc finds his plans to copy some of his new formulas into his formula book ruined by the unpleasant, choppy water ... which, unfortunately, his daily regimen of antiplague doesn't seem particularly helpful in counteracting the effects of seasickness.
Generic: Promotional Vestments
Generic: Promotional Accessory
Generic: Sand Slide
Advanced: None
He listens to Khoumrock and nods, then glances around. "Any of you chaps proficient in the skills of a teamster, by any chance?" He looks back at Khoumrock. "Would you have any suggestions about things to watch for in the Immenwood? Particular dangers or threats we should consider?"