At one time, geniekin found peace on Golarion. This all changed, however, with the eruption of the Zhonar and Zhobl volcanoes in the Zho Mountains nearly a thousand years ago. These eruptions triggered terrible rockslides that buried vital mountain passes, opened erratic fissures that swallowed entire communities, and spewed volcanic ejecta that buried what remained near the mountains’ peaks.
Six years ago, a team of Pathfinders received a map of an unexplored area in the Zho Mountains, and ever since they have stayed busy surveying the region and sending updates. Until recently, they had uncovered only a few dozen small sites and a plethora of new plant and animal species, but their most recent update was ... surprising.
Since then, nobody has heard from them.
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Into the room walks a large physically powerful lummox of a Nagaji. His scales are green and all of his equipment is dyed or painted various shades of green. Even his breastplate and huge hammer.
He has what appears to be a cute squirrel the size of a beagle perched on his right shoulder. On his left shoulder sits a mangy, scarred, alley cat.
Ssself told be here. Ssself am here. He stands to the side of the door patently waiting for something to happen.
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A bearded man with a large gut and almost as large a pack stuffed with all manner of items takes a seat. To one side, a sword whose cross-guard formed a face with a single ruby eye stares from its sheath. On the other, a skull gazes out of his pack. He looks around for any food or drink the venture-captain may have provided, stopping to greet Voices and his "pets". "Good to see you three again," he says warmly. "Done anything as interesting as adventure with a talking sword since I last saw you?"
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Following the direction on the summons, Khugron was surprised to find another Nagaji in the room, more so someone that he could look in the eye compared to having to look down on the others as he stood 6' 10"
"Salutojn frato, mi ne renkontis unu el niaj specoj dum ĉiuj miaj vojaĝoj, mi estas Khugron." he said.
Turning his attention to the others in the room, he introduced himself. "Welcome, I am Khugron, I hit thingsss real hard." he said. "Oh, you might need these." he said, pulling out a bundle of ponchos "easier to get blood out of these than your clothesss" he said with a toothy smile.
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"Wahoo!"
There is a loud THUD, as if something had just run headlong into the building at full speed. A few minutes later, a gnome with wild eyes rushes into the room atop a squealing pig. "Whoah there Nord!" the gnome cheers, pulling on the reigns and leaning back so far his back almost touches the saddle. As he spots Voices and Mavaro, a wide grin splits his face. "Oh, it's you again! How you all been doing since that hike?"
"Scree!!" The gnome's mount screeches to a halt in front of the other nagaji, stopping just before touching him. He starts to snuffle and sniff the humanoid's feet with interest.
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A wolf bounds into the chamber just behind the pig, huffing and puffing. He ducks down into the splayed leg pose of all canines ready to play and sniffs and snorts, tail wagging furiously.
"Wait, wait, wait! At least let me get off first!" the halfling mounted in the saddle on his back says as he slides off.
As he walks away from the mayhem that is undoubtedly about to ensue, it is clear that he is not familiar with the task. He ambles with a bowlegged gait and is obviously more comfortable in the saddle than out of it.
"Hey, y'all," he says to both new faces and old. "Ain't that a new pig, Reckum? I feel like I woulda remembered him from our relaxin' little walk, last time."
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While Squirrel and Cat leap and scrabble away to to the top of shelves and coat racks, Voices sits on the floor in front of the pig and begins talking to it in what sounds like the goblin language.
Salam dost doňuz. Dykmak, geçen hepde Seni göreninden has ulaldy. Gnome seni häzir sürmäge rugsat berendigiňe geň galdym. Anotheröne başga bir süýdemdiriji üçin gaty gowy.
...
Then when the wolf comes in, Voices screams (still in goblin), Then he jumps up and tries to tackle the wolf.
From the top shelf Squirrel shouts, Voices No! What are you doing? Rowdy is a friend. Remember when he helped us save the walking man?
From the coat rack Cat hisses at the fray unfolding. It sounds suspiciously like a snigger.
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"Ain't that a new pig, Reckum? I feel like I woulda remembered him from our relaxin' little walk, last time."
"Aye, found him with some goblins 'round Sandpoint and rescued him!" Reckum crosses his arms proudly atop the pig in question. "I reckon the run back from Varisia mighta helped him work out somma his energy, but don't worry - he's still got plenty of spunk left in 'im."
The pig, meanwhile, gleefully turns from sniffing the still nagaji to chasing the moving one around the room - his gnome rider still aboard.
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[b]Last week Self was goblin chief Chuffy Lickwound for almost 2 whole days. Was 3 other chiefs, but Chuffy most important. Hugantic goblin party with games and food. Was fun lots. Chuffy should have won all games. Then bad humans tried to steal truffles. Chuffy stopped them. Chuffy is most-est best-est chief goblins ever have!
"We be Goblins Free" my PFS number is 30504=8
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The door to the meeting room begins to open again, but only a few inches at first. One pale blue green hand reaches inside and feels the door and door frame quickly before being pulled back and the door opening to reveal a strange fellow; strange even for this group.
Allanen's skin is a pastel blue-green in shade and always appears wet. His eyes are slightly over sized and catch the light of the room so well is to almost glow. He wears a breastplate and carries a longspear. a crossbow that is way more complicated than it needs to be is across his back. He regards the room. Oh my. I may be in the wrong meeting room.
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"Well, he's a beaut. Lotsa folks don't think it, but pigs can get real mean. I'll bet he's gonna tear some baddies up for ya," Reggie says as said pig, Voices and Rowdy get into a (mostly) playful scuffle.
He turns toward the man entering the room. "Naw, you ain't in the wrong place. Headin' out to the mountains, right?"
The Pathfinders begin their adventure in the Pathfinder Society Lodge in Katheer, where they meet with Venture-Captain Esmayl ibn Qaradi, who sits behind his immaculately clean desk.
He surveys the veritable zoo in his office, takes a deep breath, and puts his face in his hands, muttering some self-soothing words. After a few moments, he rises and addresses the team.
“Originally, I wasn’t planning on sending a team back out to the Zho Mountains. The risk of losing another team is, frankly, too high. However, following some conversations with fellow agents, I am reminded that all Pathfinders must come home — no matter the cost, no matter the danger. The lessons of the Shadow Lodge still resonate.”
He nods toward a Pathfinder who stands silently in the corner. “In fact, the recent disappearance in the Zho Mountains has brought a surge of monetary support from the onetime disciples of Grandmaster Torch. It was enough to finance your voyage here, and I would happily provide you the remainder if you succeed.”
The venture-captain takes a few steps toward a map of Qadira hanging from his wall. “Six years ago, a team of Pathfinders received a map of an unexplored area in the Zho Mountains, and ever since they have stayed busy surveying the region and sending me updates. Until recently, they had uncovered only a few dozen small sites and a plethora of new plant and animal species, but their most recent update referenced a large illusory barrier. Since then we have not heard from them, and I believe they found something dangerous beyond."
“I ask that you use what notes I have on file to track down these agents and make sure they return safely. Investigating the nature of this illusory... field, barrier, shield... is secondary at best."
Esmayl pauses for a moment before continuing. “If you have any questions, I shall answer them as best I can, though most of what the Society knows about the mountains is in the logbooks of those agents."
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"So...you want us to go out and deal with somethin' bad enough that another group of Pathfinders done got lost dealin' with it? Well, can't say I wouldn't want somebody else to come a huntin' for me so I s'pose I cant' complain 'bout goin' out and huntin' for somebody else," Reggie drawls.
He nods toward the silent pathfinder in the corner. "Who's this fella and what's he got to do with it?"
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”How many folks are we bringing back with us?” Reckum asks, trying to count how many folks are already in the group on one hand. ”How many days traveling we looking at? Nord, stop licking th- drop it, DROP IT NOW!” Whatever other questions the gnome might have had are lost as he proceeds to wrestle with his mount for possession of a fancy throw pillow.
"Who's this fella and what's he got to do with it?"
"He's from the former Shadow Lodge. His name is ..."
The mysterious man just silently shakes his head.
"His name is unimportant."
”How many days traveling we looking at?"
How far is the journey and should we take camels or horses?
"We will loan you some horses. The journey there should take less than a week."
”How many folks are we bringing back with us?”
"What namesss of the missing?"
"Llari, Kerlie, and Moh."
"I would only ask what you know about any threats we might face on the mission?"
Also is there any information on threats in the area like bandits or known dangerous fauna?
The Pathfinders have the opportunity to purchase any other supplies they think they need, as this is the last large settlement they will be in.
An agent leading a dozen horses and wearing a wayfinder meets them, loans them the horses, and offers them luck in the name of the Shadow Lodge.
The Pathfinders' journey to the Zho Mountains is relatively uneventful, and they reach the foothills in a less than a week. The first Pathfinder team’s notes and maps provide an incomplete picture of the mountain range and its myriad pathways.
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"Oh, well, a guy what don't want his name known's sittin' in on our briefing...that always makes me comfortable and not at all suspicious," Reggie says as his question about the identity of the onlooker is bypassed.
He doesn't need a horse, but it's nice to have around and he straps some of his extra gear to one to lighten the load on Rowdy.
Reggie is a chatter and will talk everyone's ear off along the way, telling tales and making jokes.
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Allanen is shy and hesitant to start a conversation or participate in one in a group but one-on-one is engaging and curious about everyone. He is decent with the horses and helps with their care but does not ride all that well.
As the group departs he life links each person in the party, making sure the party understands the connection and the medium range of the connection. During that first day the group realized that Al has added the the menagerie and brings out a hawk to scout for the group. The hawk spends much of each day lazily circling above the party looking out for threats.
While the landlubbers wander aimlessly on the ground, Al's hawk spots a trail that winds around and over several of the lower peaks.
The Pathfinders follow the trail several dozen miles into the Zho Mountains and several thousand feet higher in altitude. Signs of the first groups’ progress vanish as the Pathfinders enter an alpine meadow filled with scrub brush and dry grasses that cling to the thin soil. This arid, milelong mountain cove dead-ends.
Or does it?
Mavaro and Allanen marvel at the sights while encouraging others to disbelieve the illusion.
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Voices flops around on the back of the horse like a sack of potatoes. Constantly seeming to be on the verge of but not quite falling off. Horssse follow Nord. Which, of course, it doesn't do. Placidly following the horse in front of it since Voices isn't even holding the reins. No Self said follow Nord. Nord friend knows where going.
Squirrel chatters incessantly with Allanen. Clearly fascinated with his appearance. How did you get your skin that color? It almost looks like the sky on some days. Does it rub off? I wish I could get my fur that color. I think everyone would like me if I could. Why do you eyes bulge like that? Can you see around corners before you get to them? Oh and what about...
No saves for the horse. But I do need Reggie and Khugron.
With a majority of the team reluctant to walk through the illusory barrier no, solid wall it's an illusory barrier, see I'm walking right through it how are you walking through solid walls area, Mavaro and Allanen have a very hard time convincing them to go through.
After several hours of gently creeping up on the barrier and sending objects through to show it's okay, the team makes it through, but their antics have taken enough time that any guards have likely sounded alarms.
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With its illusory nature finally settled, much of the plant life gradually fades into transparent shadows, and the cliffs at the far end of the vale part to reveal a much larger valley beyond. In the distance, a large wall encircles a humble town of stone structures. An immense castle built of bronze bricks towers over the settlement from its perch just above the base of a nearby mountain.
As the Pathfinders approach the gate, two ifrit guards hail them.