The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion:
"Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig’s Paunch one hour before dawn."
The Pig’s Paunch is a run-down building with a faded sign of a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents of human sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food. In the center of the room, surrounded by inebriates sleeping off their revelries, a familiar elven man stands high upon top of a large round table.
"Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat!"
With that, Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls, nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the table before looking about the tavern with a sense of reverent wonder.
"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 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 says as 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, saying, "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 she discovered the caves you are about to explore during her own Confirmation."
Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, "Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, I witnessed a lone gillman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave again a month later as my Confirmation stretched on.
A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered 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 you need to come back alive as well."
With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls jumps off the table and strolls out of the building while humming to himself.
Janira sees him walk off, and turns towards the group.
"So.....anyone have any questions for me?
I'd be happy to answer any i can."
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A creature under a sun-bleached and salt-encrusted blue cloak enters the tavern, quickly removing the hood to reveal an older Tengu with a few blue and grey feathers mixed in with the usual black ones. He carries no weapons but his leather armor is branded with a dark storm cloud and a lighting bolt. He smiles at the Master of Scrolls up on the table.
"Rah-ha, such unrestrained energy." he says listening intently to the speech.
When he hops down to exit the tengu gives a deep bow.
"Hello new ally Janira, many questions are in the roil of my mind but introductions come first. I am Taizen Raizak, navigator of the Squall's Purchase but more presently an ally of the Pathfinder Society...they told me I should come make it official?" he says extending a feathered arm, for her to shake. Then scratching himself under the beak as he thinks of the question from before.
"Hmmm, oh yes! I am from Kwanlai so which is quite far away but what about these Gillmen? Are they inhabitants here that the Society has relations with or are they visitors as well?" he asks, turning his head side to side with interest.
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A tien woman walks into the room followed by a nuch taller and a good 75 pound heavier mass of moving plant mass in the shape of a human. She carries a longspear across her back and wears a set of Tian style armor, and a slightly distrustful scowl. She stalks into the room and gives it a once over before moving to the table with the only face she recognizes. She moves in closer to Krieghton, mentally sighing over his obvious excentricities, but deciding to leave the hatches buried, and instead extending an appropriate greeting. "Master Shane, you seem as well as ever."
Her face brightens some as she sees the new, and excited face of Janira, it's hard to be calloused with someone so genuinely enthusiastic. She extends a hand. "Mugami Ayara, and Ayara is just fine. This lug of twigs and branches is Omeshinando. He's my minder, never tells me why but won't leave me alone if he can help it. Helps he's really good at using a weapon if needs be."
She then sits back and listens not finding much else to comment on.
Janira shakes hands with the ones extending them.
@ Taizen,
"No, the gillmen are a reclusive people. Hardly seen at all, actually.
As such it is such a mystery as to why there would be sightings of them."
She rapidly moves around Omeshinando, observing the great tree creature with great interest.
"At first one would think you a druid, but you're clearly not."
"You must be one of 'that sort', huh?" (big smile)
Oloch is very quite during the explanations of Kreighton Shaine and also looks at the other Pathfinders as if to test if they are worth his attention.
In the brief time that you had before assembling here you gained some insight into his character and he seems to be a quiet, brooding warrior with a disturbing love of violence.
"I do care a little bit about history - especially if it is about war!" Oloch says smiling.
"But I also live in the moment, relishing the red rush of battle and the communion it brings me with my god. I am hoping to find worthy opponents in these caves. But beware that I am scornful of those who pick on weaker opponents. Nonetheless, we have to take it as a given that might makes right. So if our competition, that means others seeking out these caves, goes on our nerves I will cut them down in a similar fashion to the foes that I have encountered in the past." Oloch says with a rumbling voice.
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"At first one would think you a druid, but you're clearly not.""You must be one of 'that sort', huh?" (big smile)
Ayara arches an eyebrow and adds, "I have no idea what you are implying there. Omeshi here is a kami, though one that decided to follow me around for some reason instead of guarding some natural wonder or important landmark."
When the half orc comes in, Ayara gives him a look up and down, before deciding he's probably not worth too much of her time. He proves this not moments later by talking about his 'god.' She gives a loud "Tch!" with her tongue and rolls her eyes but stays silent, instead turning towards Taizen and striking up a conversation. "So you said you're from Kwanlai, right? What's it like at this time of year? I've thought about visiting time or two but haven't saved up enough for a trip there yet."
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A slight young woman enters the room, her bright red hair almost glowing in the light.
Terribly sorry I'm late....was busy studying some new books at the library. I am Carlin...from Katheer. I know...I don't look like a typical Qadiran...I et that all the time... she says. Her appearance is that of one who practices arcane arts.
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"Kwanlai has turbulent weather and turbulent people, so quite nice but it is too crowded for my taste. I stick to the countryside and the seas when possible." Taizen answers as he paces around the kami with interest as well, poking him occasionally with his talons.
Ayara gives a slight smile watching the tengu play around with Omeshi, the first hint of one she's given since stepping into the tavern. She nods some at his words, "I take it turbulence is a theme there? The weather variance from continual storms or something, or is it because of soemthing else."
She then looks over at the new lady, her smile clearly wiped away. "Ah, Qadira. Now there's a place where the weather is almost never turbulent! Just hot. Mugami Ayara, call me Ayara, please."
She pauses and then turns towards Janira, asking, "Wait, we never did get where you are from Janira. It have nice weather most of the year?"
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"It is indeed. Many followers of Hei Feng, myself included. It was the Sunderstorm Covenant of Hei Feng that liberated Kwanlai so now the weather...and the mindset is merely seen as a blessing from him." he answers thoughtfully as he observes Omeshinando.
After sating his curiosity, he offers a deep bow "Thank you for letting me observe you. Meeting a kami is a new experience and having one as an ally even more so!"
Janira: "If you wish to make any last minute purchases, we'll come by a few shops along the way out."
She turns to the door and starts walking.
At the center of the Isle of Kortos stand the Kortos Mounts, the points on the island.
Entire tribes of centaurs, harpies, and minotaurs constantly vie for territory up and around the Mounts, with harpies being the most common at higher altitudes and centaurs controlling the lower slopes and foothills.
Also known as the Low Azlanti, the gillmen are an amphibious humanoid race believed to be the last descendants of the ancient Azlanti people.
During Earthfall, the Starstone struck Golarion and destroyed the human empires of Thassilon and 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.
Most scholars believe the terrifying aboleths were responsible for the gillmen’s transformation. Any alliance between them appears to have fallen apart over the millennia, however, and the gillmen are now an
independent people.
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Not recognizing the name right off the bat, Ayara assumes 'Hei Feng' must have been some famous sorcerer or something like that and picks up her pack and things, handing her spear, pack and crossbow to Omeshi to carry, her armor alone very nearly too heavy for her. "I'm happy to get moving here. Should have all I need for a shorter trip."
Oloch shrugs.
"I don't know much about history. Don't know much about biology."
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Ah, nothing as good as some treasure seeking on an ol" island, by Besmara salty kisses! Name is Evelyn Kellbor, been a few months since my last mission but roarin" to go now.
The young half elf was wearing some sailor clothes, a bandana up her head and a rapier by her side. She ssems lithe and muscular at the same time, and she has some presence. She weights her purse
Maybe I should buy some stuff before we go a-sailin".
I ain't no scholar, but I remember seeing the Kortos Mounts from a boat, beautiful view.. Unfort"natly I ain't no mountaineer.
She turns to the halfling expedition leader
What do gillmen speak, by the way? Pretty sure you'll want to get some information from them, if we meet some, lil" lass, ain't I right?
"They speak aquan, i believe, and some dialect of common, perhaps."
As the party progresses deeper into the forest, the trees towering overhead begin to shield most of what remains of the day’s sun and the vegetation beneath grows denser.
Janira pauses a moment and pulls out an intricate silver compass emblazoned with the Pathfinder Society logo: the Glyph of the Open Road. "I received this wayfinder when I successfully completed my Confirmation. Should we be successful on our journey, you will get your own as well."
She flips open the device and holds it in front of her; the initials J. L. are engraved into the inside of the device’s lid. After studying the compass inside for a moment, she remarks,
"We’re on the right path. We need to keep heading northwest past those large rocks up ahead."
===================================================
At some point near said rocks, there is a soft humming, which turns louder, and louder.....until a cloud of insects emerge from one of the hollow trees further northwest.
Janira points them out.
"Mosquito swarm!"
Mosquitos, round 1
Janira speaks up quickly. "And lo behold! Vermin to swat aside!"
Oloch,
Carli, Taizan, Evelyn
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Mosquito swarm
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Mugami
Oloch takes out his acid and throws it on the swarm!!
Janira quickly adds to Evelyn,
"There is alchemist fire in the left pocket of my backpack, take it."
Having said that, the swarm flies towards Carlin and Taizen.
As it approaches, Carlin and Oloch throw their vials.
Oloch's vial hits, dealing 10 dmg to the insects, many of which are now but molten dots on the forest floor.
Carlin and Taizen now start slowly bleeding from the excessive amount of bites.
==============
Mugami
As she is about to have her eidolon grab a vial of acid from her pack, Janira shakes her head.
"You could hurt your allies. Allow me to do first."
She delays into next round.
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Swarm, round 2
Janira takes a wand from her belt as she moves west.
With a quick activation of the wand, Janira fries the mosquitoes. Whatever was left quickly disperse.
Combat over.
Bleeding before heals.
Janira can do a CLW on one, and provide a potion before another bleed to the other.
"Phew", she says. "Quick work, nice throwing Oloch.", she softly punches him on the shoulder.
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Ayara gives a huff seeing that the swarm covered her companions and stays Omeshi's hand as he reaches for a vial of acid. "Meshi, wait, let's see what happens. Toss it if you get a clear shot though."
She watches all of the spells being cast, idly identifying each one in turn.
She contemplates countering Janira's cure light wounds spell, but only for a second. She takes out a small stick of dried meat and chimps on it as everyone gets ready and patched up. "Well, I'm glad we didn't get hurt too badly there. Now can we get moving before more of those things come and try eating us alive? I swear mosquitos love biting me." She gives a sigh as Omeshi catches one flying around her head, and then lets it go a good ten feet away from her.
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The kami gets a clear look of distress at the idea of hurting the other humans in the group and even seems a bit sick to his stomach at the thought of hurting the mosquitos. His tension visably relaxes as he realizes that he does not have to hurt anything today. Instead going on a mosquito catch and release campaign around Ayara.
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Taizen can't really blush but he appreciates the healing from Janira.
"Such generosity!" he says with a bow before pulling out his journal to doodle in, drawing a cloud of dots and some vials of liquid.
When he thinks no one else is looking, he scoops up some of the charred insects to take with him.
Spellcraft on the wand, not so much needed (if even possbile?), as a gout of flames was the effect. Most magic users would easily ID this as a burning hands.
Oloch laughs.
”That was easy!! Let’s move on!!“
With everyone's wounds having been taken care of, the pathfinders resume their journey.
It comes to your attention, as you progress, that there is less and less a clear path, as rocks, trees and undergrowth density increases.
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”Maybe this way?!“
Oloch finds a way around the needed majority of natural obstacles, quickly followed by his fellow agents.
The dense forest opens to a wide clearing at the base of a sheer cliff. Thick vines cover the surface of the cliff stretching 30 feet overhead.
"Here! The cave entrance is behind those vines," Janira says with a broad smile as she walks to the cliff’s face. She pulls back several layers of vegetation to reveal a narrow crack in the cliff’s surface. "This is where I saw the gillman enter."
As she motions toward the aperture, the surrounding woods come alive with the sound of small animals fleeing some unseen danger and a large creature crashing through the undergrowth.
The halfling worriedly remarks, "Quick, take cover before whatever it is spots us!"
As if she’d summoned the creature with her words, a massive horned monstrosity emerges from the trees. Standing eight feet tall on a pair of cloven hooves and wielding a tremendous axe, the bull-headed creature roars with unbridled anger when it spots the group.
Wisely assessing that a minotaur is beyond her charges’ capabilities, Janira screams, "A minotaur! There’s little chance we can stand against it. Take this bag," she continues, pulling off her backpack, "and head deeper into the caves. Finish your mission. I’ll lead it away from the caves, lose it in the forest, and join you as soon as I can. Now go! GO!"
She heaves her backpack into the cave, casts a spell, and darts off toward the minotaur before turning to lure it away.
“Let us fight and die here!!“ Oloch shouts.
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Ayara scoops up the bag and tosses it to Omeshi... It lands pitifully short but the kami gets the idea. "We're not going to be leaving the cutest member of the group behind with something so ugly! Now people line up and let's handle this beast. Eve, God-fearing one, both of you get up in it's face, Omeshi will back you up. I'll see about giving magical support where I can. Carlin, Taizen shoot when you get the chance and don't hold back. Sound like a plan? Any objections, and no we don't have time to pray to any 'gods' just get out there and kick some butt! "
Carlin Ember
Evelyn Kellbor
Mugami Ayara
Taizen Raizak