In Absalom, the Venture-Captains claimed it would be a nice walk in the woods, a pleasant change of pace from the bustle of the city. Obviously they forgot about the brambles, boulders, and biting insects of the Verduran Forest, which turned the journey into an arduous three-day scramble of detours, torn clothes, and near falls. Fortunately, Venture-Captain Dennel Hamshanks made a firm impression before the expedition left Absalom.
The air grew still as Hamshanks rolled into a meeting room deep inside the Pathfinder Lodge in Absalom, his jowls flowing and his enormous axe clanking against his thigh. The man’s black eyes scanned the room. “You lot?” Hamshanks spat. “Well, maybe you’ll surprise me."
“Your boat leaves in an hour, so I’ll be brief. One of the Society’s contacts in Andoran sent us an interesting little nugget this morning. A druid named Hemzel swept into Augustana’s Civic Library last week, demanding his right of research. Our contact learned that Hemzel acquired a lorestone from somewhere in the Verduran Forest. Heard of such a thing?” Hamshanks paused expectantly and spat again. “Of course not. Heard of druids, at least? And their crazy stone circles? Well thank Gorum for that. Lorestones are somehow connected to them—supposedly they can bestow you with all of the knowledge of the druids. We’d like to know how, so we want that stone and you’re going to get it for us."
“Unfortunately, the Society is not a friend to Hemzel. He’s the self-declared protector of the Verduran Forest inside Andoran’s borders and some of our more eager explorers have angered him and his little band of gnomes. He’s sworn a blood feud with the Pathfinders."
“Break out your skills of persuasion and get me that lorestone. Do what you need to—sweep the floors or plant some trees for the old man. Something nice—let him know we’re there to study and not to slash and burn.”
As the sun sets on the third day of travel in the Verduran Forest, the welcome sight of a puffing chimney—Hemzel’s home, according to the map—reveals itself atop a hill.
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"You lot?" Hamshanks spat. "Well, maybe you’ll surprise me."
Goldur grins from his chair, the most cushioned one the room offered. His blond hair and beard are well seasoned with grey, long crow's feet adorn his eyes, and his movements are much slower than they once were. Here is a dwarf who has seen many long years. The two hammers at his belt, like the rest of him, appear well-used. "I've been known to."
He looks at the other inhabitants of the room, his new allies. I wonder how many of them added together have been around as long as I have. "A stone that can bestow knowledge, eh? Sure would save educators some time." He chuckles. "Don't you worry, we'll find it." He heaves himself up from the chair with a groan and leaves the room.
Three long days of travel later, the dwarf is more than relieved to see the house they had been seeking.
That would be a major boon to the Society if we managed to acquire that. No telling what untapped knowledge there could be within it. Let's see if we can change this Hemzel's mind..
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Preferring not to sit during important discussions, Duath rested upon one of the walls. His blonde-streaked brown hair was pulled back tightly into a ponytail, his ebon leathers immaculately clean, and an ornately carved bow strapped to his back. He was silent aside from a audible scoff at the Venture-Captains thoughts on the group.
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"What a pleasant man that Venture-Captain was, I can see why they aren't sending him. I am opposed to menial tasks for a gnome but surely he will understand why I need the lorestone." Duath seethes.
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Xuan is pleasantly surprised at the nature of the mission, nodding gravely.
"The Stones remember much. They exist on a completely different timescale to ordinary mortals. It will be a privilege and a pleasure to undertake this mission."
He then turns to the others.
"That said, do we have anyone here who is actually skilled at wooing with honeyed words?"
I am no slouch when it comes to that...but a master diplomat I am not..
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Seelah adjusts her holy symbol and wipes the sweat from her brow, responding to the Oread, she confirms her ability to speak well in different situations. In service to Iomedae I have learned to speak diplomatically, and my experience has given me an edge to calming hostile feelings.
Hopefully this is an easy negotiation, but if he is already predisposed to not like us we could be in for quite the experience. Did anyone think to bring a gift for Hemzel? I did not in haste to depart.The Paladin asks over the clank of her armor, braids swinging in response to her powerful steps as she approaches the druid's home.
Kyra and Goldur, do you want to help me convince this druid of our pleasant intention, or I can help either of you? Who starts and runs point on the dialogue isn't important, we just need to get him on our side.
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"Oh, I have some practice. I've found that the key to building comeraderie is a good story. I'd be happy to share a few at camp tonight."
Kyra and Goldur, do you want to help me convince this druid of our pleasant intention, or I can help either of you?
"There is a certain magic in helping a friend. And you might say that magic is my specialty."
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I would love to hear some stories! It can be hard pulling together a group who hasn't worked together in the past to gel and form a solid team. Luckily, we're all Pathfinders so we've got that going for us. A little bit about me, I serve Iomedae as a warrior. I prefer to deal with demonic threats which the world faces, but am willing and able to help in whatever way I can. The paladin shares.
I work to accept all goodly people as Iomedae commands, and to aid those who need help in making the 'right' choices in life as much as possible. I see it as my calling to aid those who cannot aid themselves and to uphold my faith at all times. she finishes.
The thing I like the best about being a Pathfinder is that I have the opportunity to travel to many different places, and meet many different people everywhere. These dense forests are like nothing in my homeland, but are, in their own way, very beautifully different.
"There is a certain magic in helping a friend. And you might say that magic is my specialty."
Smiling at the dwarf, Seelah compliments him, It is good to have friends master Dwarf! with a smile.
The sunset just passes while the party discusses how to better convince Hemzel, the thick forest shrouding in shadowy illumination.
Smoke rises lazily from a chimney set atop a small, round wooden hut just over a steep hillside covered in thick vines and brambles. “Too late, too late for Hemzel!” a high voice cackles from behind the hut. “Gire, finish them!”
The voice came from the northeast corner of the hut but you cannot see anything there. Profiting the surprise the creature uses shatter and a rotten log in front of the hut burst in a myriad splinters, freeing a swarm of tiny rats from inside a trunk!
A swarm rat usually spreads disease with their bite. Being a swarm, the tiny creatures can enter a creature square to automatically deal damage and cause distraction (nauseated condition).
As swarms, area effects and splash weapons cause 50% more damage. Unlike smaller swarms, tiny swarms can be attacked with weapons, but only receive half damage.
They enjoy low-light vision.
Surprisingly, the rocky oread is the first one to react to the events.
Hemzel built his home on a steep hill and surrounded it with a thick barricade of vines to guard against unwelcome intruders. Some squares are so dense as to be all but impassable, although maybe they can be slashed open or climbed.
Before the rats can notice, Xuan punches them with a solid stone fist that mops up half the rats in front.
At the northeast back of the hut you hear someone running and breaking through the vines barricade leaving the area.
At the same time you hear someone talking from up the hut "You better flee now before the horrible fate come to you folks! You are still on time to retreat" by the pinch of the voice, it comes from a very small creature.
Whomever is saying this is herself horrified by the violence she describes.
Then a fuzzy ball of fur flies from the roof up to the hut door. Where it lands the ball becomes a tiny nasty rat. The voice up the hut orders "Fuzzy don't let them in!"
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Seelah draws her sword, and squares her shield toward the oncoming vermin horde. Hearing the voice however, she pauses, and yells out,Hold friend! We come here in peace, we seek a meeting with Hemzel! To all of our benefit! Call off your rats that we may parlay and aid each other this eve! We defend ourselves, but wish no harm upon you or those within this place! Ours is a mission of mercy! I know you do not wish harm upon the innocent!
Lower under her battle voice she says to her companions, I think this is how they greet unwanted guests, defend yourselves, but do not be aggressors, maybe that will help?
Hudor Nero moves forward through the path and extends his hands releasing a blizzard of freezing cold shards that obliterate the first group of rats that die frozen. The second and farthest group is better protected by the vines barricade but still suffers considerable casualties.
Seelah and Duath draw their weapons and shout back conciliatory at the voice that came from up the hut's roof.
Before whomever is at the hut's floor answers back though, the rats all but jump over the dead ones and shriek madly while squeezing through the barricade holes moving on a pack over Xuan and Hudor, crawling over their feet and legs and biting crazily.
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A swarm has no clear front or back and no discernable anatomy, so it is not subject to critical hits or flanking. A swarm made up of Tiny creatures takes half damage from slashing and piercing weapons. A swarm composed of Fine or Diminutive creatures is immune to all weapon damage. Reducing a swarm to 0 hit points or less causes it to break up, though damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. Swarms are never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, they cannot be tripped, grappled, or bull rushed, and they cannot grapple an opponent.
Xuan starts punching the other swarm.
Kyra strides forth and slashes at the swarm, hoping to at least clear some of it away.
Xuan keeps up with the rats, but Hudor falls nauseated, unable to do much else but remove the rats crawling on him.
Xuan's stony fists are become deadly as he springs around mopping out the creatures not already dead by Hudor's freezing burst. The few that survive disperse running for their lives.
That gives Kyra an opening, and she moves through the hut's entrance path, walking over dead rats, to reach the one that was thrown from the hut. With a quick slash the Keleshite outright kills the larger rat.
Goldur advances readying his hammer.
"Oh to turn my rats! But they are not mine! And they are no more! Oh Cyflymder is going to be very angry. You better leave now before he finds you, he is going to open you up, and I will have to see all the blood again. Oh oh! It's horrible! Horrible! Kind grass, don't let them in!" the creature adds then some divine words and the vines and grass at your feet animate and start to coil around your legs trying to entangle you "Don't go into the hut, leave before it is too late!"
As the spell takes effect, a miniscule, green-skinned humanoid wielding a needle-thin rapier appears flying over the hut's roof. A pair of dragonfly wings holds the wee creature aloft.
The creature is an atomie, a chaotic neutral diminutive fey. Most of them can talk with animals, turn invisbile and shrink items magically, but others might have different magic.
As many fey, they are resistant to non cold iron weapons (DR 2/cold iron), and their weak saves are Fort.
In lands thick with fey, atomies often serve as border sentries or bodyguards to nymphs, dryads, or other more powerful fey creatures. While atomies prove only passable in their ability to defend such creatures, other fey accept their fealty out of respect and perhaps with a bit of mirth as well. Atomies enjoy their time as honor guards, but often grow bored and leave their posts in search of adventure.
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Seelah is bound by the entangling roots, vines snaring around her armored legs. We are trying to say, we're just here to talk! We merely wish to speak with Hemzel.
Quieter to her comradesI do not know what that thing is, but my patience with this may begin to wear thin. I don't know if we can talk our way into that hut. She says, struggling against the grasping weeds which ensnare her.
We do come in peace...stay your hand..please! Hyra pleads, hoping that the hostilities end.
"But... but... Cyflymder ordered me to not let any humanoid inside Hemzel's house. He says you plan to kill the fey. If I do not follow Cyflymder's orders he will open up myself! I will see my own blood! Oh dear! That is even more horrible, more horrible!" you sense some kind of doubt on the fey's speach, still she seems to think everything will resolve by you simply leaving, so that will allow her to follow her boss orders without having to fight you "You leave, if you leave there will be no blood, leave please, because Cyflymder told me to not let you in. If you leave now I will not have to see more blood"
The weeds in the hut surroundings tense their grasp on the legs of those not quick enough to avoid them.
Just listen to us...at the very least.
Kyra puts her weapon away to show her intentions.
It seems your combined effort to make some sense in the atomie does finally result "You seem truly good-hearted people. I cannot continue with this, it is horrible! Even if that means I have to abandon Cyflymder’s cause"
With a gesture of the diminutive fey, the grass around you stops moving and releases the grasp on your feet and legs "I am Gire. I promise you, I did not know Cyflymder's plans would turn out the way it did. He said Hemzel was dangerous..."
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Greetings Gire, the paladin begins, while sheathing her sword very slowly, My name is Seelah, I'll let my companions introduce themselves, she waves a gauntleted hand toward the party, hopefully so they speak up and continue to de-escalate the situation.
We've come a long way to meet Hemzel, but that's secondary. What do you need, friend Gire? Can we help you in some way? Thank you for releasing us, that was quite an impressive trick, I must say[b] The Paladin smiles, brushing her braids once again back behind her ears.
[b]All of us just want to help, well, and meet Hemzel, if we can. the paladin adds in.
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"Pleasure," Goldur says, brushing off his pants. "I'm Goldur Twinthunders-- owing to these two." He pats the two hammers on his belt fondly. "Not so thunderous in these hands as they once were," he adds with a chuckle, "but there you are!"
"I'd very much like to know more about your master, though, if you wouldn't mind. Nothing we've heard indicates Hemzel is dangerous, just perhaps a bit... set in his ways. How long have you worked for Cyflymder?"
"Ahm! That's fine Seelah and Goldur, and stony man. I know Cyflymder since I was small. I mean younger. He is a great, bold fey. He’s promised to clear the Verduran Forest of the scum who stole our heritage. I think he is cruel—it would be better if you fled on your own, wouldn’t it?" the atomie wings start to flap vigorously and it flies closer to you "Cyflymder said Hemzel was going to lead the humans to destroy the fey! So we pounced and surprised him. Cyflymder and his brutes tore the druid apart. His poor wolf friend too but not before the wolf tore down my brother Pike! So much blood!"
"This is Hemzel's hut" Gire points to the small structure behind.
You think by heritage the atomie means the lorestone.
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Does heritage to you just mean a thing? Or is it more than that? Is it your family, and pride in what your people have done. Is that pride something which can just be taken away? Hemzel probably did not deserve any violence, any more than your brother deserved to die. I weep for the loss of life here, but through talking we can work this out I'm certain. And Cyflymder can negotiate with us if he wants us to leave, and I'm sure he could have talked to Hemzel as well. The paladin tries her best to talk the small fey out of any confrontation and win them over to the party's side.
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The nausea finally fading, he wipes his mouth of any spittle that might have escaped. He then spits onto the ground to clear his mouth some.
He then looks at the one they are negotiating with, "If we can avoid anymore bloodshed, that would be great. We can finish our mission here and then just leave."
We do not plan on killing any fey. You say that this Cyflymder is cruel? do you not deserve a leader who is kind and just? Cruel indicates a sort of dictator...
Giren seems to notice Sheelah understand what they are talking about "The heritage... yes I meant the smooth rock. Cyflymder took it with him after he killed that druid"
She seems pensive but ultimately is won over by the charismatic words of the paladin and the cleric "Cyflymder says the druids only exist to trick us and help humanity steal our treasure. But… but I’m not so sure he’s right... you seem good people, well intended"
"If that is so, I shall help you even if that means being a traitor... you should know that Cyflymder went north to a druid circle so he could destroy the lorestone"
You notice that the smoke is no longer confined to Hemzel’s chimney—the walls of the hut are starting to smolder.
Quickly! Kyra says as she moves inside and scans with her augmented sight.