Asking around the camp, you find Jaldan with a small group of young centaurs. The apprentice shaman is cheerfully telling her friends about her trip with the Pathfinders, embellishing the leshy attack a bit. Just a bit.
"So I tell them, 'Do you smell smoke? Follow me!' And we rushed over there to the clearing. There were like a dozen of them, leshys, all big and scary. And there was the fire, too! It was huge, already it had burned down several trees and the exploded like whoosh! Now, I wasn't nervous, not at all."
"So Mistress Pfeffenpfoffer, the haldling tells me, 'Jaldan, you know powerful magic, right? Come with me!' And we rush to the flames, ducking poisoned fruits and thorned vines. So Master Haaland, he's like the bravest dwarf you've ever met! Well, he walks up all brave like, whips out his shield and puts himself between us and says", and here she tries to create a gruff voice that comes out adorable, "'I'll protect ye both!' And so the leshys start pelting him with bruorsivi sap and he starts to burn horribly, but he doesn't give up! And then he yells at us, 'Nay worry 'bout meh! I kin take it!'"
"So then Master Nazgub starts slinging spells and helping Master Gabros and Hammick and Master Inzo rushes in ridding on Amsu...", she grows quiet and turns a deep shade of red when she notices you arrive.
"Oh, uhm, I was just talking about you. Everyone, these are the heros of Finadar Forest, the Pathfinder!", her voice cracks nervously. "W-Would you like to, uhm, continue telling the story?"
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Hearing the recommendation from Urwal, Inzo will take the time to get amongst the druids. He's looking to do any of the following:
* Entertain folk with his feats of acrobatics, by climbing trees, then doing acrobatics stunts off them
* Find the younger members, and keep them entertained by playing hide and seek with stealth
* If there are any fiddley problems, I could use Thievery to fix locks and the like, or entertain with sleight of hand tricks.
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Gabros bows low apon Urwal's arrival "Well met Urwal. I am Lord Gabros. What we have seen caused me concern for though I have traveled no small amount in the lands near here I have never seen the like of these creatures nor such corruption, even when the taint of dark fey is upon the land."
He starts at Urwal's tale of the monolith. "I have heard this tale first hand as none other than my niece was among the Pathfinders on that mission."
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Gabros smiles at the young centaurs dramatic license. He happily takes over the telling of the tale, storytelling being a common past-time in the noble courts.
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When the story telling is over he will wander the camp, listening to tales of the centaurs, telling his own, and joining in arms practice if any is going on (though he won't try to initiate it)
"The younger lead their elders as they close themselves to opportunities presented." Urwal says cryptically to Gabros.
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"ARGH!"
Inzo and Amsu and anyone else with them barely dodge a badly fire damaged book thrown their way from a nearby tent. Upon returning the book, Inzo finds himself face to face with the elderly male elven druid Cenenviel, poring over a motley and rather fire-damaged collection of old books, scouts’ reports, and scribbled notes. "Thank you", he mutters not really looking at you. A large wolverine enthusiastically plays with a leather cord in a corner of the tent and presents it to the stressed druid. "Not now, Berry-Eater", he says exasperated. "I'm trying to work."
Dispirited, the wolverine presents the cord to you, hopeful for a rousing game of tug-the-cord.
"Don't play with her or she'll follow you all over the camp wanting to play all night", Ceneviel says absentmindedly.
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Orla smiles a wry smile.
"Jaldan is plum lying," Orla begins, ignoring the dropped jaw from the centaur, "you'd think from her story that I was out in front, leading her to the danger. Asmodeus take me, no! This one here is showing us good Pathfinders to shame, racing off into danger to save the forest from goin' right up in blaze!"
She clucks her tongue. "And come off it with me asking you to cast some magic spell - you were already hosing down the fire while I was coughing and wheezin' and catching up to you! Only thing you did tell true was that Bertie took the brunt of the beatdown, both from the fire and them cursed leshy things."
Orla mock-whispers as she jerks her thumb at Jaldan. "This one's a bit more heroic than she lets on, just like I'm a bit shorter than I let on!"
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Dispirited, the wolverine presents the cord to you, hopeful for a rousing game of tug-the-cord.
"Don't play with her or she'll follow you all over the camp wanting to play all night", Ceneviel says absentmindedly.
This is exactly what Inzo was looking for!
Inzo will carefully, and slowly introduce Amsu to the wolverine. If it looks like they'll happily play together, he'll play some tug of war and ball games with the two of them.
While Inzo and Amsu entertain Berry-Eater, the poor harried elf can finally get some work done and concentrate on reading through the scouts' reports.
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Jaldan bathes in the newly-gained respect from her peers, although one of the younger males says, "Always thought you were a wuss. Guess not.", he shrugs.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!", Jaldan whoops as she grabs each of you in turn in her arms, hugs you and twirls you around, her hooves clomping and raising tufts of grass in excitement. "They've always made fun of me because I wasn't a warrior or because Auntie Kaana wouldn't let me get into fights, but I think I showed them I'm no coward, right? Right?"
She canters a bit in her place before rushing off, "Wait here!", she calls back. When she returns she offers you a quail's feather; the feather's shaft has been dipped in gold and bears a single arcane rune. "I made this one myself. I want to give it to you as a thanks, well, for everything! If you rub the shaft and place it on the ground, a holly bush will appear. It can protect you and if you eat the berries, it help with any hurts you might have."
"I bet you've met Urwal, huh. Have you met Auntie Kaana, yet? I'll take you to meet her, but I should warn you, she's in a bad mood."
Jaldan takes you to meet Kaana Korag the Redpines centaurs' chieftain. When you arrive she's overseeing the return of a patrol. She has a fierce mien to her, but greets you politely, nonetheless. She is a centaur beginning middle age, with an oily dark horse half and graying hair tied up in a ponytail. She wears hide armor and a shortsword at her side and composite shortbow on her back. If anything she looks more like a stern mother than a warleader.
"Ah, the Pathfinders. Once again your organization is brought here. Urwal has high hopes that you can help us as you did before.", her tone belies scepticism as she eyes the mess you are in.
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Orla inclines her head.
"Warchief Kaana, I think we've shown our resolute bravery - with the assistance of one of your most brave warriors ---" here, Orla smiles at Jaldan --- "in quelling the right-awful leshys trying to set the forest ablaze, but I can see that you might need more proof that we're not just smart and capable defenders."
Orla unsheathes her starknife, looks about and spies an unattended tree stump, and gestures at it for all to see.
She then casually hurls the Desnan weapon with a flick of her wrist, embedding the blades deep in the bark of the stump.
"How would you have me prove that I ain't just a pretty face?" Orla smiles a cheeky grin.
"One person alone does not make a warband. Impressive nonetheless", Kaana Korag tells Orla. She wheels on Jaldan. "And young filly, what have I told about fighting? You're a shaman, not a warrior, remember, a shaman's place—"
...'is not in the frontline dealing violence, but one of guidance'." Jaldan finishes chastised. "I know that Auntie... uhm, I mean chief!"
Kaana shakes her head and responds Gabros' question.
"Yes, I was here. I imagine you know about the misunderstanding and the raid on Mishkar? Well, they spoke to me and offered to help put out the fires that the goblins started in the first place! But I digress. Although quite a motley crew, they did help broker the peace."
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Uncle Nazgub attempts to use his knowledge of the Occult to help Cenenviel with the records research.
"I've spent much time in the academies of Golarion, seeking out information. Usually about songs, but I'm sure I can be of assistance, if I can just ignore the noise outside..."
Uncle really does not have much to offer in the Kaana conversation ... he doesn't even carry a weapon, relying on his tail in close quarters!
"Your help is appreciated." Ceneviel motions to an empty seat by the table. "Please help me with the reports here regarding traditional tales about the purpose of the cyclopean artifacts."
Kaana eyes Hammick as she would a kindly, old uncle.
"Uhm, yes. The trees are red, Master dwarf. Red. A deep burgundy. As for balance I wouldn't know, I leave that mostly to Ceneviel."
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Inzo can help out by demonstrating his prowess with shuriken. For flavour sake he will throw a whole bunch of shuriken, but you can count one for the roll
"Always keen to show off the ol' Tien stars. Desna bless 'em, they are used by ninja, assassins of their Dragon empire. Pretty cool if you ask me. Plus, you get to throw a whole lot of them!"
"Hmm. It looks you do know your way around weapons, at least", Kaana grudgingly accepts as Inzo's shuriken hit their mark.
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Exploring further Gabros comes across the druid and the efforts there.
"I have travelled somewhat to the west of here. Perhaps I can help put these reports into context.
He loos through the reports but cannot make head nor tails of them.
"Ah... clearly my travels did not bring me close enough for the information to apply to these.
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Embarassed he returns to Kaana in time to see Inzo's display
Gabros draws his rapier. [b]"Have you encountered the Aldori Swordlords from Brevoy, just to your west? While my sword was lost recently I trained in that style."
He attempts to flourish the blade but he was replicating the methods too closely forgetting that he was using a rapier, a shorter and lighter weapon than an Aldori dueling sword, however he finishes with a well executed lunge.
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Orla sees Inzo playing with a large woodland creature of some kind.
"What is that?" she asks with a laugh, noticing the fretful-looking elf out of the corner of her eye.
She ducks her head inside the tent, pointing out valuable sprig poking out of the elf's scalp behind his left ear.
"Uh, excuse me. I'm Orla Pfeffenpfoffer of the Pathfinder Society. You've got a sprig of golden brandywine snagged in your hair, there. They're rare, and mighty valuable to spellcasters, um, sir. I didn't know if you'd need it."
Orla smiles embarrassedly.
With Gabros' dazzling sword display, Kaana opens up enough to share a few of her own tales.
"Seems I was wrong about you after all. Join me for a drink."
After a few drinks, Kaana reminisces about the time she had to kill a hill giant all on her own. "So I told Ronoa, Jaldan's mother to get reinforcements. I was about Jaldan's age back then and eager to prove myself. I was stupid as well. If not for my speed I would have been done for. Took two, TWO quivers worth of arrows to bring that giant down. Thing looked like a porcupine afterwards. Got my first nickname then. Porcupine Slayer Korag.". She sighs.
"I've heard you've faced our leshy problem. The main issue is their poison burst. Ceneviel says it's not spores like mushrooms, but toxic natural energy, which is worrying. Besides telling you to have protection against poison, I'd also be aware of how they move. Most of them are not used to having a physical body, so they do have a tell-tell sign right before they take a step..."
You listen carefully to Kaana's words.
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"Oh? Oh!", Ceneviel says snapping out of his scroll. He glances at Nazgub still hard at work. "Dreadfully sorry about that. It might be valuable, but it'll be worth nothing if this entire forest burns. So you are another of those Pathfinders, you say? You have good schooling, if sloppy at times, says Urwal. Take a seat and see if you can make heads or tails about this information regarding some old cyclopean grave."
Just as Ceneviel mentioned, you do indeed find references to some ancient cyclopean ruins in the area, including the stone in the valley, and an old cyclops grave surrounded by standing cairns. "I wonder", Cenenviel says as he stretches his weary body. "Based on what you've discovered, it would seem as if the cyclopean relics were meant to gather evil energies. Could they be be the cause of all this trouble? If that's the case, the leshys are not at fault, but are seeing things through a distorted lens." Despite it being phrased as a question, Cenenviel tone is that of conviction. He wanders towards the edge of the tent flap and lets fresh air into the stuffy tent. "If you could disable or destroy the relics it might just cause the leshys to return to normal. It's a possibility."
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Before heading to bed, Urwal arrives with several centaur healers who tend to your wounds.
"Rest now, for the stars shall speak and show us the way." Urwal says before heading off.
The following morning, Urwal approaches you before you set out. By his humming you can tell that the iruxi is quietly pleased with how you represented the Society.
"I have cast horoscopes for your mission." Urwal says without preamble, setting a pair of satchels full of traveling supplies by your campsite. "The omens are favorable enough, although the stars carry warning. The spirits of Finadar Forest are sick. Perhaps this is an abscess in nature, and must be lanced with sword and flame. But such a cure is to be mourned, not celebrated", the lizardfolk says, emphasizing each word. "Better for all if a safer salve is found. Yes?"
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Orla poses a question to Ceneviel.
"Did the cyclops speak the language of demons? That's what the leshy folk were speaking - what's the connection between the cyclops and Hell?"
X -- XX -- XX -- XX -- XX -- XX -- XX -- XX -- XX -- XX -- XX -- XX -- XX -- X
"Thank y'all kindly for taking such good care of us. Much obliged," Orla offers before settling to sleep.
Ceneviel shakes his head. "That I would not know exactly, young one. It is known that before the fall of their civilization due to Earthfall, the cyclops empire had already collapsed into cannibalism and bloody rituals to appease gods which were not their own, but further information is beyond my knowledge. The original religion worshipped the sun and the moon, but something happened that made them transfer their worship to something much sinister."
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Gabros wakes, refreshed and determined. As Orla prays he runs through some practice exercises with his sword. Flowing movements reminiscent of a dance though the steps are thrusts and parries.
If the centaurs are interested he smiles and shows them the steps of the practice dance.
"This is a way to train while alone and to ground ones-self. Additionally it helps limber up my aged muscles , I am not as young as I once was and I now feel the strain of combat in the days follow in a manner I did not in yesteryears."
The centaurs are quite impressed by Gabros' display and seek to imitate him...
...but are obviously not as well acquianted with the necessary moves, and almost end up tripping over their hooves until Chief Kaana has them "stop this foolishness" and takes them to practice shooting arrows at a gallop.
Urwal reminds you to seek a peaceful resolution to the situation and only use violence if there is no other option. He then hands out the supplies for your trip further into the forest. It consists of bread, foraged mushrooms, and smoked meat, along with 4 gp and 45 sp. He shrugs if asked about the coins. "For any expenses you might have had."
"You did well aiding the forest. Take this in representation of the primeval forest’s gratitude", he hands over a ring shaped talisman made of dried, interwoven leaves. "It helps you sense the exact location of a hidden attacker" He clicks his tongue and hands over a silver crescent moon pendant. "For your help with Ceneviel and his apprentice. The young star wishes to cast its own light. Did you know she wishes to become a Pathfinder?"
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"Peaceful resolution?" Bert grumbles. "Those leshys weren't bein' all that peaceful. 'ow we gonna communicate with 'em if they just scream foul things in their demonspeak?"
He begins to look thoughtful, tries to tug at his beard, and remembers there's only patchy, burnt bits remaining.
"Then again, mayhaps havin' a peaceful plan to open with ain't so bad. Nazgub, Orla, 'n' Gabros, yer all talkative, charmin' folks. Put yer 'eads together an' think us up a resolution that don't involve battlin' more explosive plants. The rest o' us-" he draws out his battleaxe to test its edge (and scowl at the recent nicks in the blade) "-we gots the backup plan all ready t' go."
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Uncle starts the day, as he always does, with a session of oiling and tuning and repair for the gnomophone. He can't switch up spells or anything so what he's got, he's got... and once he's done with his preparation he's good to go.
He hums merrily as he works, chewing on a rabbit bone and wrapped up in his efforts.
"Deeper in the forest you must go. South and up. Past the mountain weeps to the valley of the dragon's skull abode." Urwal says, gesturing forward past the centaur encampment. As you leave, you can see Jaldan waving goodbye next to Kaana, while Ceneviel scratches a sleepy Berry-Eater's ears. "Safe travels!", Jaldan yells cupping her hands over her mouth to make sure she's heard.
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As you travel over the course of the day, you find the forest becoming gradually quieter. There are more burnt areas here, both old scars from earlier fires and the remnants of more recent blazes sparked by the corrupted leshys. There are fewer animals as well, almost to the point of being frustratingly scarce, making the whole traversal even more eerie. Eventually, you come across a small mountain stream, which matches Urwal’s directions towards the valley.
As you begin crossing the stream, you spot movement up ahead. An enormous scarecrow is busily clearing the collected growth of eons past from an ancient set of cyclopean menhirs that surround what looks to be an altar or grave of some kind, decorated with a sinuous, flowing script. Several small animals have been freshly sacrificed atop the altar, their blood sliding into the grooves of the letters carved into the stone. Near the scarecrow are several large centipedes, much larger than the ones you encountered in Osirion a few weeks ago. They slither and clack their mandibles around the sacrificed animals.
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Bert shudders in horror upon seeing more centipedes. "Ugh...Desna better smile on me this time. Already taken one dirt nap on this trek," he grumbles to himself, voice low in order to avoid Orla's attention at her deity's name.
"Geez, that's a biggun'! Well you know what to do Bert! Just another tree, this time packed with hay"
He forces out a chuckle at Inzo's words: "Right yeh are mate, but I like it when me trees aren't all up 'n movin' about. Much easier to chop when they stand still."
Orla calls upon her goddess' might, the blast of silvery moonlight at her fingertips... only to miss as she sinks a little in the river's mud.
In front of her, she can see Inzo throw his shuriken, the first one striking the giant centipede, it's easily Gabros' height, and pierce its exoskeleton lightly , the second shuriken hits a nearby tree, distracting Amsu as she reaches out to bite the large arthropods, making her miss her mark.
goes the giant centipede in front of Amsu as it rears up towering over her, jaws snapping.
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One of the furthest centipedes wiggles and squirms forward, snapping its jaws... and disappears behind the treeline to the north.
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Bert cleaves into the centipede, its jaws shooting out as soon as he closes the gap, but fail to strike him as its cleanly cut in half by the dwarf's axe!
The scarecrow wades into the fray, walking into the woods unimpeded whatsoever by the trees, almost as if he were one with them. Stepping on the centipede's dead body, it howls something spooky in what Orla recognizes as Abyssal before raising its branchlike claws and swiftly rakes them at Bert!
"Μπερδεμένα! Δεν θα βεβηλώσετε αυτό το δάσος!"
The first claw misses, raking just above Bert's head, while the second one caresses his shield, splinters breaking as it produces a hideous scratching sound when it makes contact. The scarecrow speaks to Bert again, the tongue of the Dark Veil and the Abyss manages to sink into Bert's soul, a calling to surrender his useless resistance to make his end more merciful, yet the dwarf shakes off such absurd proposal.
The centipede wiggles its way through the forest, making its way through roots and uneven ground its circular head peering out of a tree next to Hammick, while the other one takes advantage of Bert dealing with the scarecrow, skittering across the grass, rearing up and snapping its jaws at Bert, but the dwarf's steel shield gets in the way, vexing its attempt on his life!
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Uncle starts by singing a peppy little tune. "This one's for you, Orla."
It's a halfling harvest song and, coincidentally, a tongue-twister. Uncle clearly doesn't speak halfling and has learned it phonetically. His performance is...
...adequate at best, his goblin enthusiasm only partially making up for the lack of accuracy.
The original chorus goes "Bear the berries bravely past the barely berried bear, slink softly past the ursine as he snuffily sniffs the air" but that is not what assaults Orla's ears.
Despite this, the tune puts a spring in everyone's steps.
Almost as an afterthought, Uncle taps once on Gabros' sword with the tip of his tail in time with the music.
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Gabros face, so often passive - keeping his thoughts and feelings muted - sets hard in rage.
"That is ENOUGH! Get gone from these lands! Get away from my companions! I will suffer your foul presence NO longer!"
Striding forward to face the Scarecrow toe to toe he grips he sword tightly with the fire of battle in his veins as it had in days gone.
He attempts to feint to throw the foul creature off balance but the red mist was in his eyes and his desire was too strong to focus on anything else.
Drawing the blade back he thrust it forward with all his might.
With Nazgub singing his peppy little tune, Gabros pierces the scarecrow, hay stuffing emanating from the puncture wound!
One of the forest centipedes , rushes forward towards Inzo, mandibles snapping and going *clack* *clack* in anticipation.
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"Wait a mo Amsu! Food back here!"
Action 1: Command animal to flank with Inzo + strike
Action 2: Hunt prey
Action 3: Hunted shot on the centipede
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Inzo is using his shuriken up close. He thinks it's mad cool, but provokes AoO if the centipede has it.
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(combined for resistance, and if the 9 damage kills the centipede, hunt prey + hunted shot goes on scarecrow)
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Bert grins over the rim of his cracked shield. Barely a scratch so far, and Nazgub's song has given him a pep to his step. Maybe this fight will go better than the last one after all.
"So polite of yeh - yeh weird tree - standin' all still like that," he roars, before swinging again and again with his centipede-bloodied axe, after which he raises his shield in preparation for a conter-attack.