At the docks of the bustling port of Quantium, semi-retired Pathfinder Khoumrock Blackthane drinks his mug of dark stout.
"Are ye th' lot chasing Selmius Foster?"
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Powerfully built -the type that could handle her own in an Ulfen tavern brawl- the attractive flaxen-haired half-elven woman with blue eyes that glimmer like a glacial pond, gazed out upon the seemingly endless ocean as the sleek caravel made its way south from Absalom towards the nation of Nex. Focusing her thoughts on the upcoming mission, she kept mostly to herself for much of the three week journey, only offering morning prayers to a few faithful passengers.
Gathering her belongings and disembarking when the ship arrives at the dock, Franzine wanders the wharf, taking in the sights and sounds of the grandious cosmopolitan capital of Nex. She finally finds a harbormaster who sends her in the direction of Khoumrock Blackthane.
Upon approaching the gruff dwarf and responding to his question, she replies,
What if we are? with a bit of sass.
I believe we're the Pathfinders you sent for.
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Hopper wakes up and sits down on the chair. He is in some sort of a room, flasks are rolling on the ground, and books are scattered everywhere.
Goblin raises his hands and grabs his head which aches like after a big party. But he does not remember drinking any alcohol, in reality, he does not remember a lot.
He begins to pick up books and looks for his diary, he finds the most recent notes.
"Ok, so I tested new mutagen again. Let me see... promising factors: better cognitive skills, improvement in logical thinking ... drabacks: headache..." He sees the cut-off note there, and things fall into places. It is not the first time, such things happen.
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After a couple of hours, Hopper finds out a letter with the assignment and realize that he was actually on a ship traveling to Nex.
He leaves the ship going first to the hull to pick up his mount. His wolf is lying in the corner sleeping. Hopper puts a saddle on his back and leaves the ship bumping into Franzine and Khoumrock
"Hopper, have more of that beer?" asks intrigued.
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A slight gnome with blue hair and the scent of ale around him nods to the retired Pathfinder. He wears simple clothes, with a walking stick in his hand and a smile on his lips. A wayfinder is attached to his belt with a wooden mug hanging from the other side as a counterbalance.
"Indeed I am! Phineas Hatt, adventurer and barkeep at your service! The winds blew me in, happy to say! Lovely day, is it not?"
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You see an imposing figure standing seven tall. Wearing what appears to be ceremonial armor and a holy symbol of Kurgess the orc stares a bit awkwardly at the former venture captain.
" Sorry if I'm late but the church needed my help. Turns out the normal referee got sick and they needed a replacement," she says with a gutteral but still oddly warm voice.
Looking at the others she says," Hi. My name is Gurka. Been displaced by Tar Barphon and decided to join the society. You helped my tribe in he past and figured you would be a good place for me to fit in. "
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Turning at the approach of the newcomers, Franz raises a brow in surprise, then gives a warm smile.
Greetings, Hopper, Phineas, and Gurka.
She gives them a welcoming salute and then takes an interest in the half-orc's strange weapon.
Gurka, is it? Well met. I am Franzine.
She extends her hand in greeting.
I see you are a woman of faith and strength as well. That is a very interesting weapon you have there.
She eyes the long coiled ball and chain.
That looks very... devastating.
She nods with her eyes wide.
I'm trained in sword and shield combat myself. It will be interesting watching you in combat with such a weapon, Gurka.
She then nods approvingly at everyone.
Well, It is a pleasure to meet you all.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a wolf appears from behind Hopper. It's tail is wagging happily as it approaches Franzine.
Oh, Goodness! How adorable! A wolfie!
The wolf slobbers with happiness as it paws Franzine's leg.
She bends down to give the wolf a good rub behind it's ears.
Who's a good puppers!?! You are! Yes, you are!
*smooches!*
She gives a big smile to Hopper as she rubs the wolf's coat as it squints with pleasure.
I love, love, love wolves!
She scrubs the wolf's thick fur.
Oh, we are going to be a great group together.
Franzine says as she looks up at everyone.
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A rotund wizard shares a bottle of wine with a deckhand. "So last thing I knew, I had passed out after an all-night bender back in Absalom. Woke up on that ship over there--I thought I had been press-ganged! Luckily some of my fellow Pathfinders were there, said we were headed here for a bit of work. Oh, I think I am supposed to talk to that dwarf over there. Keep the rest of the bottle!"
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When the wolf approaches Franzine, Hopper quickly throws
"Be careful! This wolf is very dangerous! He can bite your head off!" says just as the animal begins to show the signs of enthusiasm.
After Franzine begins to pat and rubs his fur, Hopper says in his high pitched voice and mildly irritated
"We already discussed it, furball! You were supposed to play angry with strangers!"
Hopper is a 3 feet tall goblin, his skin is of dark green and his eyes are constantly in motion. Hopper is full of different ticks, his gesticulation is all over the place and he rarely looks other in the eyes as he speaks. Only right half of his head is covered with hair the other side is covered with tattoos of atrocious quality. Different shapes and symbols are hardly straight and asymmetric.
He is wearing leather armor with sleeves wearing burn marks and stains of different colors. On his belt, he carries a bandolier full of bottles.
"Great group? Yes most certainly!"
As the wolf lies down on the ground exposing his belly and having the time of his life as Franzine is stroking his fur. Then suddenly Arlo comes around holding a chicken leg in his hand and first the Wolf turns still, then slowly turns around and on slightly bend paws begins to sneak towards the Wizzard. His ears are high and his eyes are focused on the prize...
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The dwarf mariner speaks in a booming voice, “As ye lot might’ve heard, we’re currently lookin’ into the trail o’ the ole foundin’ members o’ the Pathfinder Society, Selmius Foster. He made loads o’ discoveries before he vanished on an island in the Obari Ocean. We’re pretty sure he died there, but we don’t know the details. Other than some mention of him being killed by some ‘dog-faced people,’ whatever that means. Ambrus Valsin wants ye lot to travel to the jungle isle o’ Bhopan and find out what ye’ can about ole Selmius. There’s supposed to be a city there, but weather’s rough that time of the year, so there’s a decent chance we’ll have to drop ye lot off on the other side o’ the isle. Ye all should prepare for a trek through the jungle. Anyways, yerr smart ones, so if ye can, try to not make a fuss with the locals while there, got me? There’s a good chance Selmius didn’t leave us with the best reputation there, so try to be discreet and tactful.”
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Gurka smiles at the compliment and says," Thanks. I'm sure there won't be no fight that we won't be able to handle together."
Upon hearing the missing briefing she quietly ducks out of the room in an attempt to find a Pathfinder who knows more than her. " Listen were supposed to cooperate right? Can you tell me who Selmius Foster is? Thanks for the help " she says to the closest Pathfinder she finds who just so happens to be carrying books.
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Franzine lets the wolf up when it shows interest in the wizard's aromatic roast chicken.
A jungle trek? I've never traveled through a jungle before. The city you mentioned; is it populated with humans and the like or do the "dog-faced" things live there? Do you know the name of the city?
She turns to her companions.
Do any of you have suggestions on what type of gear or supplies we would need for a jungle trek? I suppose I can ask around a bit as well before we head out.
Diplomacy +7
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A handsome and brash halfling fellow comes rushing up, huffing and puffing. "Sorry to be late - I had some, uh, difficulties that needed... resolving." He glances over his shoulder as he says this, then hurriedly slings his lute on his back, checks his purse to see if it's still empty - it is - and grins at the others. "Oskar I am, and it won't be long before all Golarion is humming one of my ditties. Just gotta write it first. Hope this adventure provides some inspiration, otherwise what's it good for? Less'n ye got rent t' pay, which I does, in which case inspiration, or at least a nice pay day, mehopes. I don't suppose there's any possibility of getting paid in advance...?" he trails off not very hopefully.
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Arlo finishes his mug of wine. His bushy mustache drips with the fruit of the vine as he lets out a very audible "ahhhhhh!" upon finishing the wine.
At first he is protective of his roast fowl, but upon seeing how friendly the wolf is, he is happy to pinch off a good-sized bite to share with the animal.
Responding to the dwarf, Arlo asks, "Yes. I would like to know more about this island. Who lives in this city? Is there anyone there we can ask for that can help put us on the trail to find out more about this Selmius?"
After inquiring at the Nexium House (the Pathfinder Lodge in Quantium), you find several witnesses to corroborate that assessment.
Selmius is most famous for explorations in Vudra, which ultimately led to Vudra opening up its lucrative spice trade to merchants from Absalom. To reward the Pathfinder Society for Selmius’s efforts, the city of Absalom donated an old manor to the Pathfinder Society, where the Society founded the Grand Lodge. The manor, now called the Water Palace, remains on the grounds of the Grand Lodge to this day. The last Pathfinder Chronicle to mention Selmius was written by his assistant, Adolphus, who said that he was killed by “dog-faced people” on Bhopan but didn’t elaborate. After Selmius’s death, Adolphus and his wife, Ganjay, founded the Pathfinder lodge in Quantium.
Arlo is happy to share the tidbits he knows about Selmius.
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Hopper thinks for a moment and looks somewhere on the horizon. Which can't be seen due to walls, but goblin looks like he is watching something.
"I recall hearing a story about Selmius Foster, or maybe was it Felmius Soster? No it was Selmius, and he was an amazing negotiator. He could have sold sand in Osirion and be great in it! The fact that he failed on Bhopan clearly states that whoever is there is hostile." Says Hopper and sits down interested to hear what other have found
The voyage is as rough and stormy as Blackthane feared. They reach the island after several weeks of sailing over the Obari Ocean on Blackthane’s ship, the Unsinkable. However, the turbulent seas prevent the ship from rounding the island to drop the Pathfinders at their intended landing point on the far side, so Blackthane leaves the Pathfinders on a beach to cross the island by land while he waits out the storm, explaining he’ll meet the team on the far side once the weather clears.
The coast of Bhopan is straight and somber and faces a mist-shrouded ocean. Reddish trails of earth are visible through the dark-green foliage of bushes and creepers that trail along the low cliffs. A chain of jutting, jagged rocks stands out from the waves like remnants of a wall breached by the sea, while inland, the vast, primeval jungles cast their shadows toward the eternally toiling waves.
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Hopper spends time on the ship experimenting with different mutagens. A number of times he got in conflict with Blackthane over, using a fire in the sleeping quarters. In the short breaks from doing alchemy Hopper spends his time taking care of his wolf, a game of: find a meal is the most disturbing one. When Hopper hides raw meat somewhere on a ship and the wolf is looking for it.
It goes without saying that a couple of times wolf got into the kitchen and stole a piece of meat not intended for him.
That only made sailors even more relieved to get rid of the Goblin and his mount from the ship.
"I don't know why, but I feel like those sailors did not like me. I think it has to do something with me being a goblin, we are hardly tolerated by the longshanks." squeaks Hopper to no one in particular.
He looks around and asks while mounting his wolf
"So where should we go now?"
As people begin trekking through the jungle, they very quickly notice the red clay earth of Bhopan houses plenty of shallow pools, many of which contain swarms of practically invisible, biting mites.
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Hopper feels the bites on his hands and neck. Almost at the same time, he hears slapping when others try to kill the blood-sucking mosquitos. After a couple of minutes as the situation does not get better, Hopper stops and pulls out his tools.
"I recall some tribes used mud combined with spices and urine to create a stinky substance that would stop insects bites. Let me try."
He craft a couple of 'lotions' that he tries and checks its effectiveness...
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Oskar asks around a bit about Selmius and shares what he's learned with the others. "I hear he made quite a name for himself with his Vudran expeditions. Opened up the spice routes there for Absalom, he did. That's how the Society got the old manor house that was the beginning of the Grand Lodge, as a reward from the city. Still there - I think it's called the Water Palace now." Oskar pauses for a moment, as if contemplating the day when his acclaim will be so renowned that the lords of great cities will give him spare manor houses. "Anyway, shame that it all didn't turn out so well for Selmius. His assistant Adolphus wrote in one of the Chronicles that he was killed by 'dog-faced people' on Bhopan - " Oskar pauses for a moment and looks speculatively at Hopper's wolf, just in case he might possibly know something about the case, before continuing, "Interestingly, that same Adolphus, together with his wife Ganjay, founded the Pathfinder Lodge here in Quantium."
Oskar swats angrily at the mites and other bugs. "As if weeks on that sickening barge weren't enough, now that captain drops us in the midst of swarms of ravenous insects! My next mission damn well better be the tavern kind... There's plenty of work for the Society to do investigating the secret hand signals of bar maids - why do they always send us to gods forsaken places like this one...?!?" Grumbling, he pulls out his healer's tools and works to prevent anyone from getting infected.
Hopper, Arlo, and Phineas manage to craft some bug repellent, and Oskar uses his medicine to heal some of the the wounds.
Franzine tries to heal the bites, but her effort isn't quite good enough.
Gurka tries to lead the group through a patch with seemingly solid ground, but it's even worse than the path they were on.
The party makes it to the other side, but everyone has taken damage.
In addition, Franzine and Gurka were bitten exceptionally ferociously.
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Ugh! I don't know what's worse. These damn biting insects or this treacherous, sweaty jungle. Thank goodness I'm not wearing makeup or my mascara would be a mess by now.
She flails her hands around her face as she tries to swat the bugs away.
And this swampy ground with all the thorny bushes! I'm with you, Oskar. I'd much rather be in civilization. Dungeons aren't even this bad.
"Ouch! These... stupid... thorns."
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Oskar gets his healing kit back out and tries to heal anyone who wishes it though he shrugs helplessly at the deeper wounds suffered by Franzine and Gurka, "Ugh, that looks nasty, not sure what to do about that, I'm afraid."
"How'm I gonna get fame 'n fortune out here in this stinkin' jungle, I ask you that? If the rent weren't already overdue I'd tell that cap'n what to do with his mission..." Oskar grumbles more or less like this throughout his ministrations. He's never been known for his bedside manner.
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"Ugh, that looks nasty, not sure what to do about that, I'm afraid."
Hey, let's take a breather for a few minutes. I need to tend to my wounds. I can handle myself, Oskar. I can assist others, if needed.
Franzine finds a fallen log to sit on, checking for biting ants before sitting. She pulls out her medicine kit and begins patching up the puncture wounds she suffered during the trek so far.
Darn. I'm still hurt. Maybe I could use your medicine expertise, Oskar.
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Hopper Accepts Oskar's offer, the Halfling aided him in healing some of the damage that the flying leeches have made.
"Isn't this a charming place. I wonder how much time would I have to stay here before those bugs would drain me dry."
wonders goblin in his high voice. He looks at his wolf which looks untroubled by this whole fuzz.
"Such fur must be helpful in a situation like this. But you must be sweating like a pig. Let me give you some water as we wait."
Hopper gets his canteen and pours some water into a bowl that he usually use for eating his meal.
"Franzine, may I see your sword for a minute?"
Hopper takes out one of the bottles and pours it on a piece of cloth with which he spreads the sticky maze on the blade of Franzines longsword
"It is a Cytillesh Oil, rather potent poison. Don't harm yourself or any of us."
"Aren't we touchy about our weapons?" frowns Hopper and turns around.
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Franzine looks at Hopper with a puzzled look when he asks for her sword.
What for?...
Poison? Really? How long does it last?
She listens to the various answers to her questions and concerns about the poison. Eventually, she hands her precious sword to the goblin.
She turns to the wolf after their break from traveling.
How ya doing, wolfie.
Franz makes cooing sounds while giving the wolf big scrub behind the ears and a belly rub.
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As the adventurers continue trekking through the jungle, they come across a patch of volcanic terrain. Thousands of tiny shards of obsidian are lodged in the clay ground, covered by leaves and branches.
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Gurka joins in with giving the giant wolf a belly rub along with Frazine. After tossing the wolf a meaty treat she says,"Hopper you've raised a good wolf. I feel better already.'
Upon seeing the volcanic rocks Gurka tries to jump across the obstacles with middling success. Turning to Hopper she adds,"Ok... Maybe I'm still sick but your dog is great company."
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Franzine follows Gurka across the terrain covered in obsidian shards. Watching the half-orc carefully, she tries to copy every move Gurka makes which could help her learn new steps that might help Franzine fight in battle.
You're making... good... on these jumps... and hops. she says, panting.
I hope you're feeling better, Gurka. You don't look as... green. Uh, I mean ill.
Just then, Hopper's wolf quickly moves past Franz and Gurka as it makes leaps and bounds. Franz stops on a clear spot as she watches the wolf in astonishment.
Show off! she calls out in jest.
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Finally out of the swamp and its nasty biting insects, Arlo enjoys a light conversation with Hopper.
"And that, Hopper, is how we know Golarion is indeed banana shaped OWW JUST WHAT IN THE NINE HELLS AM I STEPPING ON!"
Arlo attempts to leap from bare spot to bare spot on his tippy toes, almost seeming as he is attempting some sort of tribal dance.