You head onward to find the neophyte agents, catching up to them as they are preparing to ford a calm, shallow stream. "Hail! We're about to cross over to explore this quadrant for a safer path past a fey battalion. You want to come with us?"
Moving to join up and help them get their bearings, Siva seems to hesitate for a moment, requiring additional encouragement from Klatzu to press forward. Once you get closer, Crafty notices that the entire terrain is ephemeral and cloaked in an illusion. The shallow stream is actually a swift moving river!
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“Llusions?” Niklaas cocked his head towards Crafty (assuming Crafty tells us), raising an eyebrow from under his rags, “No foolin’? But… uh... Looks pre-tee shallow ta me… Ya sure it’s dang’rus Methuselah?”
-Honestly, Niklaas had been just about to follow the noobs himself… but hearing the elderly elf’s warning, he considered it for a moment – then shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
Turning to the noobs, Niklaas grinned wickedly from ear to ear. Stepping up and putting his arms around two of the neophytes’ shoulders in an unsettling familiar way, he whispered into their ears, “I-I think we’re good ‘ere, thankz. Why don’t you widdle wambs go on ahead… Heh heh heh… It wuz nice knowin’ ya…”
Stepping back, Niklaas started to walk way - but then paused, slapping himself on the forehead, “Silly me! I knew I fergot sumthin'! Turning back to the noobs, he added, "So - anythin’ you guyz want carved on yer tombstones? ...Jus curious..."
"He seems awfully confident," says one of the Pathfinders.
Another wonders, "Is he just messing with us because we're new?"
"Um. They do sound like they know what they're talking about," one agrees.
They all watch as the branch zips down the stream and an unnatural speed for what their eyes are seeing. "That doesn't seem right. Maybe we'd better follow them back."
The rest of the Pathfinders nod in agreement.
Once you square away the befuddled Pathfinders, you set back out to chart the course. At one point, Khoumrock Blackthane puts a finger to his lips and then speaks quietly. “There’s things here that aren’t what they seem. Some of those fey are real tricky...looking like things they aren’t. Don’t trust your eyes.”
"Keep your wits about you. Be discerning. And if you've got true sight, use it," Khoumrock answers.
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Some time later after you've forded the river, you hear a mournful hooting. The sound becomes more distinct as you climb the trail, and you see in the woods a tiny owl trapped in a snare. It flaps its wings futilely, trying to free its foot.
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Whelp… Conveniently placed helpless owl suuuuure is convenient… Niklaas thinks to himself, remembering many times in the past when he used similar tactics to ambush patsies on the roadside – back in his Sczarni days... Now, I know Jaldan would keel me if ya wuz a REAL owl in distress but… can’t be too careful…
“Well well welly well well… An’ whut do we got ‘ere…” Niklaas whispered under his breath to no one in-particular while glancing about his surroundings cautiously, Ya got any couzinz out ‘ere, Hooty? …An’ by couzinz, I mean palz ready ta shank us?
Drawing Shirley with a metallic SCHING, Niklaas winked sidelong at his allies - then gave his best malicious grin while raising his voice so the ‘owl’ would be sure to hear, “WHUTCHA THINK, BOYZ? THAT POOR WIDDLE OWL - SAD TA SAY, BUT 'E LOOKS LIKE A GONA' TA ME. 'OW 'BOUT WE PUT 'EM OUT 'IS MIS'RY? IT'D BE THA HUMANE THING TA DO!”
Suspecting that something is amiss, Kyra calls upon Sarenrae to lay her blessings upon Klatzu, and then takes cover beside the rocks.
Spooked by Nicklass' threat and anticipating an attack, the little prairie owl explodes into a woman-sized being of vines and flowers, her cruel looking face ringed by a mane of wildflowers. The air around you fills with yellow-green dust as the fey reveals herself and flowers bloom around her feet. The thick cloud of pollen makes your eyes water and your nose congested.
"내 아이들을 일으켜 우리의 적들을 묶으십시오!" she chants, and the ground underneath you sprouts hundreds of flowers that grow with supernatural swiftness and try to wrap around your legs.
She then escapes up the hill. Flowers bloom with each step.
Encounter! Round 1/2. Bold may act.
Flower Woman
Nicklaas (DC 25 Reflex vs. -10 speed (immobilized on a critical fail)
Crafty (DC 25 Reflex vs. -10 speed (immobilized on a critical fail)
Klatzu (heroism: +1 attack, skills, saves, perc)
(Both Klatzu and Siva: DC 22 Fortitude vs. Sickened 2 -> DC 25 Reflex vs. -10 speed (immobilized on a critical fail))
--2--
Kyra (DC 22 Fortitude vs. Sickened 2)
Flame at his master's order go around the blooming area and stride next to the strange woman.
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“THAT’S RIGHT, TWEETY! YA BETTA’ RUN! NOT THAT IT’Z GONNA DO YA ANY GOOD, YA BUSH-FACED FREAK!” Niklaas looked down at his boots and grinned, “Soooooo glad I picked you two up before cummin’ ‘ere!”
Niklaas clicked his heels, muttering under his breath, “There’z no place like bone; there’z no place like bone; there’z no place like bone -” Then he rushed out after the plant-thing, hoping that it had bones – AND that Shirley could break them…
With the cat-like reflexes of a knife-eared assassin, Niklaas swung through the trees, bounded up the boulders, then came leaping down on the plant creature - shouting, "'EEEEEEEEAR'S NIKI!"
The toxins in the pollen begin to make Klatzu sick, but Siva shakes off the effects and hops out of the grasping vines. As you move to surround the blodeuwedd, the plant-like woman nimbly sidesteps each blade.
Kyra manages to avoid the clinging vines and moves around the cliffside. She calls upon Sarenrae to burn the fey, but the lance of flame spirals off course.
The blodeuweed chuckles and transforms into an owl. She flies away to the other side of the river and transforms back into her flowering form. There she laughs at you, taunting.
Encounter! Round 2/3. Bold may act.
Blodeuweed
Nicklaas
Crafty
Klatzu (sickened 2, -10 ft speed)
--3--
Kyra
Klatzu springs from his saddle and raises his blade over his head. He uses his momentum to his advantage and cuts into the fey's vegetative body as he lands. The blodeuwedd recoils with a hiss.
Crafty's flame lands amidst the flowers sprouting where the blodeuwedd has stepped.
"How dare you burn the flowers!" she shrieks.
Blodeuweed (-18 hp)
Nicklaas
Crafty
Klatzu (sickened 2, -10 ft speed)
--3--
Kyra
Kyra slogs through the writhing vines and flowers, finally emerging next to Crafty. She says a quick prayer to Sarenrae.
"You will pay for defiling the jungle!" the blodeuwedd shrieks as she claws at Klatzu's armor. Failing to penetrate his armor, she steps away.
Encounter! Round 3/4. Bold may act.
Blodeuweed (-18 hp)
Nicklaas
Crafty (guidance)
Klatzu (sickened 2, -10 ft speed)
--4--
Kyra
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Racing up after the floral fey, Niklaas hisses, “Time ta die, ya bearded plant freak! Kiss ya bark goodbye!”
Glaring at the fey with the soulless, bloodshot eyes of a demon, Niklaas swings - only for Shirley to go horribly wide of the mark!
“THAT WUZ A WARNIN' SHOT!” Niklaas yelled in frustration at no one in-particular - except for maybe Shirley, “NEXT ONE'S GOIN' IN YER FREAKIN' 'EART!”
The blodeuwedd seems to believe that Niklaas can make good on his threat despite his missed strike and Klatzu's nearly fumbled swing.
"The Thorned Monarch is not worth this trouble!" She transforms into a prairie owl and flies away.
Status
Blodeuweed
Nicklaas
Crafty
Klatzu
Kyra
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“YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT! YA BETTA’ FLY ON ‘OME TA MOMMY – YA WEEDY WUSS!” Niklaas yells up at the fleeing owl, shaking Shirley at it ineffectually. “I'VE ATE FUNGUS TOUGHA' THAN YOU!”
Turning away, he spits at the ground, grumbling to himself. “Whut a freakin’ waste a’ our time… My girl Shirley didn’t even get ta stab it through the throat…”
Sheathing his companion, Niklaas looks to the others, already regaining his trademark, shark-tooth grin. Slapping his hands together, the tiefling exclaims, “Whelp boyz! Time ta see whut all tha fuss iz about! Let’z check out this door thing, eh?”
As the Pathfinders gather near the Door of Seasons, you are instructed to make camp so that you will be fully rested when the Door is unsealed. Medics move through the camps tending to the wounded, the poisoned, and the like.
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The assembled Pathfinders set up camp before the shimmering doorway, the healers among the group offering their magic to heal any remaining wounds and cure any lingering ailments before the company beds down for the evening.
The following morning, Oraiah Tolal addresses the assembled Pathfinders standing beside the portal. ”Well, everyone, this is it. We have reached the Door of Seasons. This crown should allow us to open it. We don’t know exactly what awaits us on the other side, though we do know that it is not of this world. Be prepared for anything. May Alseta guide us through this passageway.” She holds the crown in front of the Door, and the shimmering magic within dissipates.
The demiplane on the other side of the door is green and vibrant, but the plants take on an otherworldly quality. A half-orc man, his age difficult to determine, is bound by vines and flowers. He looks up. His voice is halting and hoarse, as though he had not used it in a long time, “Can it be...Pathfinders?”
After a moment, Oraiah Tolal realizes who he is. “How can this be? Gregaro Voth! You’re still alive!”
The man replies, “It is me. How many years has it been? Wait, there’s no time. That crown! It’s the key to this plane! We’ve got to use it!” As Oraiah Tolal places the crown on Voth’s head, a strange wave emanates from the crown and passes over the assembled Pathfinders. Voth looks hopeful for a moment but then struggles against his bonds, still held fast.
“That would have been too easy. It’s going to take some time to harness the magic to unlock the power of the crown, and Qxal won’t wait long.”
Oraiah Tolal begins to direct the assembled forces. “Pathfinders, it’s time to act! Some of you need to help Voth with the crown. I’m sure we have a ritual to help him attune to it. The rest of you, be on alert! The Thorned Monarch could attack at any time!”
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“SHEEEEEEEEEET…” Niklaas stared dumbfounded at the utter stupidity of the venture captain at the head of the Pathfinder forces. Glancing back at the others, he asked incredulously, “Did - did that ol’ squat jus place tha freakin’ McGuffin on some rando she jus’ met in tha demiplane of an evil FEY – you know, tha things known fer ‘llusions an’ trick’ry? …Heck, we jus’ fought one that could change into a freakin’ owl! WHY DO WE FOLLOW THESE PEOPLE?!?! IT’S FLIPPIN’ KREIGHTON ALL OVA’ AGAIN!!!”
-Fortunately, the venture captain's knee-jerk reaction didn’t get everyone killed… At least, not immediately… So, continuing to swear under his breath, Niklaas drew Shirley and readied his shield.
“Whelp… I’m definitely thinkin’ we’re more suited ta tha guardin’ part – but if’n tha rest a’ you REEEEEEALLY wanna go ‘elp that half-orc ‘Pathfinder’ ova’ yonda, I’m also game fer getting’ betrayed. I mean, why not? It’s jus’ anotha’ day in the Society…”
You gather at your assigned post.
Calisro draws her cutlass and watches the trees carefully. “We’ve got a little time until the Monarch gets here, but I bet they’ve got some scouts. Keep an eye out for their forces.”
Before too long, you spy a feline shape prowling from tree to tree. As it turns its attention toward you, you can see embers of fire flickering within its eyes and the air around it seems warped as if by heated air.
Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.
Crafty
Niklaas
Kyra
Cat
Klatzu
Kyra thinks about the cat and then calls upon Sarenrae to smite the feline with a lance of fire. Her aim is off and so will never know how it would have affected the cat.
Crafty also thinks about the cat but does not think he has read about anything like it. He prepares Flame for a fight. Nicklaas holds his position and waits.
The cat then casts fireball.
The ember cat slinks forward toward you, her tail thrashing behind her in agitation. Suddenly, she bursts into movement and bounds across the bridge to throw herself against Siva. The wolf feels the heat from the cat's mouth as she snaps close to Siva's neck. Then the cat tears its claws across Siva's snout, drawing blood.
Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.
Kyra
Cat
Crafty
Niklaas
Klatzu (Siva 49/60 hp)