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.
Fellow Liberator,
I hear that your mission will return you to our beloved Land of Freedom. Andoran’s pure air always heartens my soul, but now it needs your aid. A party of indomitable timber men, led by a dedicated forester named Thaven Lumberbeard, delved deep into the Verduran Forest two weeks ago, never to return. Now all the loggers fear to enter. Andoran’s treasury grows shallower by the day, and our mission of liberation may be in danger. Discover what you can about Thaven’s fate. He carried a wicked lumberjack’s axe, banded in an intricate pattern of red and yellow wood. I pray you do not fail; the Cause of Freedom depends upon you.
For Freedom,
Captain Colson Maldris
|
Rasil al Kelb al Segheyr, as he introduced himself when you first met back at the Grand Lodge in Absalom, is a tall muscular man, with darker skin, and very strange hair. As you have had time to get a better look at it, you have realized it is not hair at all, but appears more barb-like quills that sweep off towards the back of his head, more like a porcupine than anything else.
It is that feature that sets him apart as not entirely human.
He speaks with a faint Qadiran accent, and you will learn he grew up in Katheer.
Not the most talkative of folks, he does answer questions put to him, though the responses are often short and without a great amount of detail.
|
Cynan nods along with the VC's words, "No worries, chief."
As he leaves the lodge with his companions, he rolls his eyes, "This guy hates pathfinders; go make him your best pal. This is going to be grrreat. I can't even get my neighbours to talk to me."
He walks with a rolling gait, crossbow slung easily over one shoulder.
"Any of you guys know much about druids?"
|
A small, dark haired ratfolk listens intently to the briefing. ”Im not so great at making friends. I’m a bit better at threatening than coddling. But I’ll try,” the little fella says as he looks around at the others.
The uncomfortable trip didn’t make his disposition much better. ”Im Ninnic,” was about all he offered in terms of greetings. He didn’t wear armor or carry much in the line of melee weapons, other than a small spear either. He did have a wand at his belt, however.
|
"Ya...ya..you've got it, Boss!" The rather stout ifrit gets out before leaving the Venture Captain. This guy looks rather odd with a giant cold-iron hammer strapped to his back with a number of glowing vials arranged in a bandolier. To top it off, the rather weathered tome secured to his waist with a strap, makes his seem a bit of an oddity, even for this lot.
"I j...juuust hope we have sssssomething to break."
|
|
White-haired and scarred from battles past, the man known as Wulthur the Bold is clearly pleased to once again be back on the soil of his beloved Andoran despite the fact that woods seems to conspire against him and his fellow Pathfinders. The gentleman farmer, turned warrior has maintained an even temper throughout the journey thus far. Being pleasant and respectful, yet judicious with his words.
Now in the forest, Wulthur seems to treat the mission with greater urgency. Though the armed warrior is not particularly skilled at navigating the forest, he travels ahead of the others, continually scanning the trees.
"These woods are reputed to hold unknown dangers." Wulthur counsels his allies. "Capable of swallowing the most hardy of timbermen and most experienced of foresters. We would do well to remain vigilant."
His greatsword slung over his back, accompanied by a crossbow, the man carries only the map afforded to the party and a folded letter in his calloused hands, each of which he occasionally refers before venturing further.
Upon spying the hovel identified as belonging to the druid, Wulthur cautions, "I am not one for honeyed words nor have I been groomed in any but the most humble of social graces. Yet, I believe that one can be seldom faulted while employing honesty and forthrightness. Though we may be met with disdain by the druid Hemzel, there be no need for us to respond in kind."
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!”
Suddenly, there's a loud crack! as a partially-rotted log within the barricade splits open and a mass of scuttling spiders pours out!
The spiders swarm forth, covering Wulthur and Rasil and biting the two pathfinders furiously.
DC16
DC21
Combat round 1
spiders
Rasil, -6hp
Gire
Cynan
Boomer
Garsite
Ninnic
Wulthur, -2hp
Active conditions: brown squares on the map are a log-and-vine barricade, impassible (unless you are extremely small) but can be climbed or hacked through; green squares are difficult terrain (undergrowth)
The bold may act!
"Oh no! Those are brownback spiders!" a high pitched feminine voice calls out from above. "They can devour a full-grown bear in minutes! Oh, what a horrible way to die!"
Suddenly there's a burst of light and runic patterns, revealing the speaker as her magic causes all of the plant life surrounding you to grow and grab at you! "Oh, I'm so sorry! You should really run. Except that I've entangled you haven't I? Oh dear." The tiny winged sprite darts down to hide amongst the foliage, vanishing from sight again.
DC16
DC21
Combat round 1
spiders
Gire
Rasil, -6hp
Cynan
Boomer
Garsite
Ninnic
Wulthur, -2hp
Active conditions: brown squares on the map are a log-and-vine barricade, impassible (unless you are extremely small) but can be climbed or hacked through; everywhere else is difficult terrain
The bold may act!
Entangled?
Rasil, -6hp, entangled
Cynan, no
Boomer, entangled
Garsite, no
Ninnic, entangled
Wulthur, -2hp, no, 1STR dmg
Poison?
Distraction?
Cynan, Garsite and Wulthur manage to avoid getting entangled, but the rest of you are held fast by the enchanted vines. Even Garsita's magic doesn't allow Ninnic to escape.
But Garsita does manage to back up the pathway and call upon Shelyn's blessing.
Ninnic and Wulthur both ready fire attacks.
Boomer hurls a bomb, but the grasping vines pull at his arm and his aim is off.
The fire catches some of the swarm, but there are huge numbers of spiders remaining.
Cynan manages to throw a flask of alchemists' fire with accuracy. The flames burn away more spiders, but splashes also catch Wulthur and Rasil However, Rasil's tiefling heritage protects him from the flames
Rasilbot tries to get free...
...and pulls clear of the entangling vines. He moves out of the swarm.
But the spiders flow back over the tiefling, biting him and Wulthur again.
"Omigosh, how horrible! Spiders and fire and death ohmy! Why don't you run? It'll only get worse here. It is worse actually."
You here the high pitched feminine voice coming from around the left side of the hut somewhere.
Then you hear a meowling and hissing, and a feral cat appears in front of the hovel door.
Cynan's alchemist's fire finishes burning away the spiders - the remnants of the swarm disperse.
Round 2
spiders, -7hp, burning
Gire
cat
Rasil, -12hp, DC14 Ref save vs bomb
Cynan
Boomer, entangled
Garsite
Ninnic, entangled
Wulthur, -7hp, 1STR dmg, poisoned, DC14 Ref save vs bomb
Active conditions: bless, brown squares on the map are a log-and-vine barricade, impassible (unless you are extremely small) but can be climbed or hacked through; everywhere else is difficult terrain
The bold may act!
|
|
Boomer takes the brunt of the bomb damage and is able to push out of the vines as they singe from the heat. He calls to the others, "I ddddon't think she w...w..wants to be doing this. Maybe sssssomeone can ttt...talk to her. I'll take care of ffffl....uffy." He then attempts to move through up to the cat, but the going to though and he needs to push harder through the brambles. As he passes by Wulthur, he grabs his earth breaker and holds it firm.
Boomer pushes up to the hut, drawing a massive hammer, and deduces that the hidden faerie doesn't have her heart in the fight.
Ninnic also slips free - but for how long?
Cynan levels his crossbow - should he shoot the cat? Or wait for the faerie perhaps?
Wulthur, despite the pain of accidental burns and hundreds of venomous spider bites, confronts the kitty.
Round 2
Gire
cat
Rasil, -12hp
Cynan, ready
Boomer
Garsita
Ninnic
Wulthur, -12hp, 1STR dmg
Rasil and Garsita must attempt a DC13 Ref save on their turn or be Entangled.
Active conditions: bless, brown squares on the map are a log-and-vine barricade, impassible (unless you are extremely small) but can be climbed or hacked through; everywhere else is difficult terrain
The bold may act!
|
|
As the swarms of spiders roll over him, Rasil loses all sense of what's going on around him. Waving a weapon in one hand, trying to brush them off, as he stumbles towards a clear space... only to get caught by the swarm once again!
Of course, then the grasses and flowers and other foliage on the ground start to grow and latch onto his legs, preventing him from moving!
He pays almost no attention to the little fey as she appears, his attention elsewhere.
Boomer's errant bomb throw barely registers, his natural resistances more than adequate to ignore the splashback.
With a great effort, he manages to break free of the vines, getting clear... only to have the spiders chase him down yet again!
Even as he swipes futilely at them once more, a second splash of flame, this time from Cynan, finally burns away enough of them, that Rasil can get himself clear, with a bellow of frustration!
As the feral cat appears in front of him, he just growls at it, and tries to kick it aside... almost as an afterthought as he tries to find the annoying little fey creature.
, for damage.
Rasil gets free of the vines and spiders, and swipes at the cat. The creature hisses and claws at him.
The mean-spirited feline delivers a nasty scratch as it dodges Rasil's boot.
Garsita remains hampered by the magical plant growth, but still manages to invoke Shelyn's guidance on Ninnic.
You hear squeaking and eeeking from the side of the hut, then the faerie speaks again.
"You really should flee whilst you can. If you get inside it'll only be bad."
The cat is joined by a rat, and rather than fight each other the two creatures join forces to attack Rasil.
The two animals bite and scratch and harass poor Rasil!
Round 3
Gire
cat
Rasil -12hp, 4 non-lethal
Cynan
Boomer
Garsita
Ninnic
Wulthur, -12hp, 1STR dmg
Active conditions: bless, brown squares on the map are a log-and-vine barricade, impassible (unless you are extremely small) but can be climbed or hacked through; everywhere else is difficult terrain
The bold may act!
Ninnic flees the scene.
Wulthur wallops the rat, which nips at him in defense.
The warrior's armour protects him, and he whacks the rat which vanishes.
Cynan is stuck in the tangle of vines, but manages to draw a blade.
Boomer swings at the cat with his crushing hammer, but the agile feline easily evades the blow.
Rasil also has trouble landing a blow on the crafty puss.
But eventually Rasil prevails through sheer perseverance. As with the rat, one solid hit causes the cat to vanish.
Garsita tries to pull free...
...succeeding, she moves forwards.
Another rat appears at Boomer's feat. Or rather, a ball of fur is thrown from out of the undergrowth to the site of the hovel, and when it hits the ground it transforms into an angry rat!
Those of you at the front see the little fey that threw the fur ball.
"Can't you take a hint? It's all bad news here! Death! Death and destruction are all that await you!" she calls.
Round 4
Gire
Rat
Rasil -12hp, 4 non-lethal
Cynan, entangled
Boomer
Garsita
Ninnic
Wulthur, -12hp, 1STR dmg, entangled
Everyone NOT currently entangled (except Ninnic who is out of range) must attempt a DC13 Ref save on their turn or become Entangled.
Everyone who IS currently entangled can get free with a DC13 STR check, or Escape Artist check as a Move action on their turn.
Active conditions: bless, entangle, brown squares on the map are a log-and-vine barricade, impassible (unless you are extremely small) but can be climbed or hacked through; everywhere else is difficult terrain
The bold may act!
Ninnic fires bolts of force at the fey...
...but they only seem to tickle her.
Wulthur approaches the diminutive creature's hiding spot.
"Hey I'm tryin' to be nice, but YOU insist on fighting!" she calls.
Garsita protects those nearby with Shelyn's grace.
Round 4
Gire
Rat
Rasil -12hp, 4 non-lethal
Cynan, entangled; standard action available
Boomer
Garsita
Ninnic
Wulthur, -12hp, 1STR dmg
The bold may act
Boomer bashes the rat, which vanishes.
Rasil is up!
|
|
With all the annoying vermin gone, Rasil stomps his way towards the offending fey creature...
Or at least he tries to, but the local flora keeps dragging at his legs and trying to wrap around his arms.
He tries to get close enough to grab hold of the offending creature, before it can fly away to cause havoc from a different location.
"Eeek! get away from me!"
The little fey stabs at Rasil with a tiny sword.
But the needle can't pierce Rasil's armour, and he grabs hold of the faerie!
"I yield!" she cries. "Too much death here already..."
Combat over!
Rasil, -12hp, 4nl
Wulthur, -12hp, 1STR damage
"What weeds? Oh! The growth! Ease off, then, Spiny."
The atomie dismisses the Entangle spell.
"You're too late anyway. 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! So much blood!"