Dot in when able.
All of you have been at least somewhat active as members of the Pathfinder Society, but despite having been given assignments (and carrying them out with some degree of success), you have all been feeling a little distant from the other active agents you've worked with--as though there's something that they've been through that you haven't. With that as background, you've all returned to the Grand Lodge in Absalom...some of you from close by, and some from points more distant. After the evening meal at one of the refectories in the Lodge, each of you finds a rather simple invitation awaiting in your rooms:
Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig's Paunch one hour before dawn.
It is signed with an ornate letter K.
The Pig's Paunch is a run-down building with a faded sign outside the door, of a large pig standing on its hind legs, trotters folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents of human sweat, stale tobacco, spilled drink, and leftover food. Most of the common room's occupants are thoroughly unconscious and rather the worse for drink or other intoxicants. In the center of the room, though, a familiar elven man stands high on top of a large round table. He looks frighteningly alert and awake, considering the hour.
"Welcome! Welcome, my students, to this rather unorthodox classroom! Please, have a seat!" With that, Kreighton Shaine, the Society's Master of Scrolls, nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the tabe before looking about the tavern with a sense of reverent wonder at odds with the tawdriness of the surroundings. "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--both in the classroom and in the field--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 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, "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 it was during her Confirmation not long ago that she discovered the caves you are about to explore."
Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice. "Greetings, Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, I witnessed a lone gillman entering a well-concealed cave. I wouldn't have seen the cave if not for the gillman, in fact. I thought little of it at the time--I marked the entrance, but nothing more--but my Confirmation stretched on, and a month later I was in the same area. I saw another gillman enter the same cave. A few days later, after I'd completed my assigned task, I made a preliminary entrance into 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 one other thing--you are to come back alive as well." With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls jumps off the table and strolls out of the building, stepping carefully over snoring bodies while humming to himself.
|
A young, white haired woman, not even in her twenties, pass the old tavern's door
Rowdy taverns were not Desynthia usual abode. Nevertheless, she puts on her brave face, and walks towards Master Shaine, listening to the informations carefully.
She was, of course, in awe with the Master of Scrolls, to the point of awkwardness, even saying, when he hops from the table, "Rise and Shaine"...
Words which are hopefully lost in the drunken noisy background of the Pig's Pauch.
Hopefully.
Strangely, you notice the girl's mane of hair becoming purple, before coming back to her original whiteness, as she calms down, now listening to the talkative halfling.
I'm sorry, I don't know much about geography, or gillmen. Could you enlighten me?
|
A mysterious man stands from the corner of the room. A bow slung over his shoulder and worn hand-me-down pack upon his back betrays his humble beginnings while his face and head are hidden behind dark cloth.
"Aye. In me dealings with them of this world, I've yet to encounter any men with gills. Do tell."
|
|
"What will happen once we've become full-field operatives?" an imposing woman in full armour asks. She hasn't said a word so far, partly because she's intently listening and partly because she finds it hard to breathe in the stench of the alehouse. "Will we have access to more missions? Get a raise?"
Janira looks around at the setting, and at Desynthia's reactions. "Let's start walking, and I'll answer your questions on the way. Gillmen are a humanoid race much like you humans, except that they have gills on their necks--" She indicates the sides of her neck. "--three on each side, and they can live and breathe under water. They're a little secretive but not outright hostile. Most live in or near the water. Which makes seeing them in the Kortos Mounts pretty strange!"
She takes a map from a scroll case on her belt and unrolls it. "We're starting out from Absalom, and we're going to the marked cave. It will take us two days on foot. That will put us at the cave at the night of the full moon."
"Oh, yes--as to what happens when you become full field operatives?" She pauses, considering. "In the case of those of you who received field commissions, not that much on the surface. Once you finish you can, if you choose, get one of these, which I'll be needing once we're out of Absalom." From her belt, she takes out an intricate silver compass emblazoned with the Pathfinder Society logo: the Glyph of the Open Road. "This is my wayfinder. It's a perfectly serviceable compass, and it will glow on command. There's also a niche for an ioun stone, but those are more powerful magic than I can afford right now."
|
A half-elf stays quiet for most of the briefing, watching her allies and the Venture Captain closely. Makes sense to send a more seasoned agent with us, but she has only been at it half a year so we better pull our own weight.
When Janira introduces herself, she puts on a curt smile and does the same to the group, ”Keynala Smith officially, but only my mothers call me that. Nala is what I prefer. I’m more at home on a ship or in the water, but perhaps my prior experiences with gillmen will aid our investigation.”
She carries a heavy wooden shield and slips it on as they leave the city. Sling over her back is a well crafted trident and backpack. Hair and eyes are a sea foam green reflecting a pale complexion.
|
|
On their merry way, Desynthia squeeeze Bobbie in a hug (or at least tries to) and catches up with her.
The white haired girl explains to the other that Bobbie and her did one of their first mission together a while back. Two missions in fact, the first in an old tower, fighting mostly stinking reptile men, the other, way more quiet, in a library, seeking lost historical clues in old books.
You have already encountered gillmen, Nala? How?
|
|
She gives a shrug, "Encountered is a lot stronger of a word than I meant. I've seen a few of them back home and my villages did a bit of minor trading with a local tribe. But that's pretty far away from here, so very likely a different group."
She turns to the hooded and mercenary sounding Azrail, "Yes of course we are well compensated for the risks we take exploring oddities. It's the primary reason I joined the society."
|
|
"Friendly as any intelligent species. Some good, some bad, most just trying to survive and thrive. Probably the kind of thing you gotta figure out when you first meet them."
She glances over at Janira, "Other than the Gillmen, we have a two day walk through... forest? Any possible dangers on the way?"
|
|
The warrior who introduces herself as Bobbie ("Works better when I'm on a job") doesn't speak much other than to converse with Desynthia, asking her what she's been up to since the last time they saw each other.
"Can't say I know much about gillmen," she admits after Nala finishes her explanations. "Do you know if they speak our language?"
Azlant. It is said that gillmen’s ancestors survived the cataclysmic event because they received the blessing of an aquatic entity that allowed them to breath underwater.
Janira pipes up, "The ones who live in Escadar--on the island north of Kortos--speak Common well enough. Now we should all get to know each other better, and review our plan. After all, the most important factors that determine whether an expedition will be a success--at least the most important factors we have any control over--are cooperation and preparation! I'll go first!
"Master Shaine already told you my name. I joined the Pathfinder Society as soon as I came of age, almost four years ago. I grew up in Absalom, and my family still lives in the Eastgate District. So of course I've known about the Society all my life. When I turned twenty I didn't hesitate to join up. Someday, if I survive, I hope to have some of my writings in a Pathfinder Chronicle." She smiles. "Everyone has a dream, right? Now, how about you? Tell me about yourselves, and why you decided to join the Society?"
|
|
I've been a Paffy for less than a year. I joined them because at first, I was afraid of my powers, I didn't understand them. I'm still discovering them, in fact. I mostly can create a kind of armor out of thin air to protect myself, and call some creatures from I don't know where to fight evil. Oh, and I can shoot some rays of light that can either maim or heal you, depends if your heart is black or pure. Of course, I have to hit first, but I'm becoming slightly better at that.
I learned a few things under the tutelage of another sorceress, Calilla Morrover, the "White Lilly". Didn't knew she was one of the fabled Paffies herself. I've heard a little about them, people who did adventures, mostly for the greater good. I wanted to help, to do something useful with my time, so she introduced me to some of her own contacts, and "voila". I had a few adventures myself already, trying to do some good, sometimes working with Bobbie, months ago, sometimes without her. You meet every kind of interesting people in the Paffies, and I like that. A lil" less high on the sword swinging and blood letting thing, I'll admit. I'm not much of a fighter.
|
|
Nala listens intently then pops in, "Nala here if you didn't catch it earlier. I'm bad with names, so I can understand when others are too. Anyway, I grew up pretty much living between a sea elf village and a small fishing village on the coast near-ish to Magnimar. Not close enough to visit the City of Monuments regularly, but we'd go at least once or twice a year to sell salted fish and buy a few things we couldn't get from merchants."
She continues, "Anyway, I've been good at sailing and spear fishing since I was a kid so I trained a bit in how to defend myself. But then the storm hit. It was some sort of magical deal that slammed up against the coast for a full week until a group of pathfinders tracked down the aboleth responsible and took them out. I'm here partly to help repay their service and partly to help earn coin to rebuild my parent's villages; but mostly to stop bad things like that from happening to others."
The half-elf turns to the human with a quizzical look, "So is Paffy a title or an order or your name? I'm a bit confused."
|
|
My name is Desynthia, desynthia Medzen. You know we are "Pathfinder" agents, right? I don't know, the first time I went into a mission, I said "Let's go Paffies!" enthusiastically, "Paffies" for "Pathfinders", you know, and the name stuck, at least for me.
She could have blushed.
Instead, her white hair get a light reddish color.
Janira giggles. "'Paffies.' I like that!" Still smiling, she looks to the others. "And what about you?"
|
|
His mouth still hidden behind scarves, he closes his eyes thoughtfully. After a long moment, he opens them again.
"I was raised in Pangolais, beneath the dark trees." he answers. "and am a merchant by trade."
Pausing a moment, he contemplates what else to share before continuing. "My business interests lead me to deal with Blakros...and then Ms Dralneen. I found she and I share similar interests."
"She taught me to use a bow, and The Midnight Lord's glorious path lead me here. My goal is to gain coin, see the world, and please my lord."
|
|
"I was born in the River Kingdoms," Erica explains. "Joined a Iomedean convent when I was nineteen, and stayed here for seven years, trying to learn some magic..."
She chuckles, as if to a private joke, while stroking pensively a holy symbol of the Goddess that she wears as a necklace.
"It never worked, of course, but I did learn how to become a pretty decent fighter. Eventually, I grew tired of being kept within four walls, and I asked the Reverend Mother for the permission to join the Silver Crusade in honor of the clergy." she shrugs. [b/]"That's it."[/b]
|
|
An older man adorned in priestly robes adorned with a winged eye meets up with the party on the road. A longsword hangs by his side.
"My apologies, Janira. It seems that I erroneously went to the wrong pub. Then, I suppose, one thing led to another..." Astingaire's voice trails off for a moment, before he says, "You no doubt thought me dead. But, then, I have found that most in this world have been quick to pronounce one dead on the most flimsy of pretenses."
The man gives a glance at the holy symbol around Erica's neck and rolls his eyes.
"Now, word is that we are off to survey a cavern frequented by gillmen, correct?" asks the man.
|
|
Erica eyes the newcomer, but holds her tongue when noticing the symbol of the Last Azlanti. Since the holy eyes of Aroden had closed forever, many of his devout followers went down with him in eternal darkness, preferring going blind rather over beholding the death of their beloved God. As wrong as this man was for spurning the compassionate embrace of the Inheritor, there was no point in antagonizing him for his unwavering faith.
The cults of Aroden and Iomedae never were enemies, Erica reasoned, and needed not to fight when they were both mourning the Living God. If they had different ways to process their grief- well,
“We are,” she replies. “The cave is a little less than two days away.”
Janira puts away her notebook with an eager grin. "On to the details of the mission at hand! After reviewing my notes, Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time I saw a gillman enter the cave it was during the middle night of the full moon, and it is also no coincidence tha you have been called here now, on the first night of the full moon. We both believe that tomorrow night is our best chance to find out why these caves are important, and what exactly the gillmen are doing in there.
"The cave entrance we'll be traveling to lies at the base of the Kortos Mounts. We'll need to spend every minute of daylight possible to reach the caves by foot, crossing over the Cairnlands, taking the paths to Diobel, and finally making our way through the wilderness. With any luck we won't run into any of the locals. Once in the caves, we'll need to work together to explore and determine whether any gillmen are present, or have been recently. Keep an eye out for any other clues that might hint at the caves' significance, too.
"I had wanted to try to leave for the caves sooner, but Master Shaine reminded me that the area around the entrance can be dangerous, and that we were best off moving quickly.
"Do all of you have the right gear for the trip? Light sources, rope, camping supplies, food? We can stop on the way out of Absalom to buy anything you need."
"It sounds like most of you are ready for this! Oh, there was one more thing--any alchemist's fire? Those of you who have been in the field know that there are things you can't hurt any other way, right?"
"There's one other thing that's important for you to carry, as members of the Pathfinder Society: writing supplies. I have some extra for you if you don't have any, though. Remember that the second duty of the Pathfinder is to Report! The more you write down about your missions, the more those who come after you can learn."
After a quick side trip to one of the stores that cater to the Society, you're on your way again. The road leads west out of the city and through the Cairnlands, where Astingaire has recently been. (The holy knight sees from afar what might be the fortress where he and his companions fought the troglodytes, but if it is the upper story has finally lost its fight against gravity.) Janira proves a veritable fount of knowledge about the history of the area, pointing out various landmarks such as siege towers, the mountains that are your eventual goal, and tales of the past that involve them. The rest of the day passes uneventfully, and the night is likewise quiet.
The next morning, Janira prepares a simple but tasty breakfast from your supplies, and you set out into forest. The trees soon tower overhead, shading most of what remains of the day's sun, and the brush beneath them grows denser. Janira makes extensive use of her wayfinder to keep you moving in the right direction. (All of you have the opportunity to notice her initials have been engraved onto the inner surface of the lid.) After one such check, she snaps it shut and remarks, "We're still on the right path, but we'll need to detour around those rocks up ahead and then turn back northwest."
Most of the trees in this section of forest have trunks that are several feet in diameter. Sporadic patches of light undergrowth provide areas for creatures to hide, while restricting movement for those passing through. A large rock outcropping to the east rises nearly twenty feet above the forest floor, and a small sinkhole to the northwest drops off sharply, descending around ten feet.
Nala and Janira simultaneously notice that the background noise made by small creatures moving through the forest has died away, and Nala knows that means a predator is likely near. She alerts the party just in time, as a shriek like that of some huge bird of prey rends the air!
Round 1 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Foe-acted
Desynthia
Nala
Astingaire
Azrail
Janira
Erica
Winging through the trees come a pair of creatures that look like flying lions, with hawklike beaks and talons. They dive on Erica and Nala. The fighter's armor saves her from serious damage from the monster's beak, but Nala is not so lucky.
Round 1 (ongoing):
Initiative order
Foe-acted
Desynthia
Nala
Astingaire
Azrail-acted
Janira
Erica
The arrow narrowly misses the enemy.