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You begin the adventure late in the morning after several days of travel from Heidmarch Manor in Magnimar to Kaer Maga, on orders from Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch. The City of Strangers and its 80-foot-high walls loom far above them from atop the Storval Rise.
We have an urgent diplomatic mission for you, but not of the traditional sort. The Pathfinder Society has been negotiating for weeks with General Azaersi, leader of the hobgoblin nation of Oprak. Now that she has secured Oprak’s borders, the General has cast far and wide in search of useful allies: including the Society. Despite the General’s central role in the recent bloody conflict known as the Ironfang Invasion and the resulting instability in the region, she is potentially a powerful ally. The resurgent threat of the Whispering Tyrant must not be taken lightly, and an allegiance with Oprak could prove invaluable.
However, General Azaersi’s full intentions are unknown. To further ascertain her motives, the Society has agreed to accept a small squad of hobgoblins into its ranks. You are to meet this group, the Iolite Squad, in Kaer Maga, then escort them to a nearby training ground to conduct a series of joint training exercises. The training ground is near an ancient dwarven dig site that we have identified as an ideal location for these recruits to practice being Pathfinder agents; it is not a place of global significance, but it likely contains some interesting pieces of history.
After your joint exercises, guide the recruits in exploring the site. The hobgoblins are competent soldiers and we do not expect great danger, but you must ensure that they all make it out alive. This is a diplomatic mission, after all. Defer to the hobgoblins when exploring—they must prove themselves capable Pathfinders—but give aid if they request it. With this task complete, escort the Iolite Squad to Korvosa, where all of you are to book passage to Absalom and report to the Grand Lodge.
We have arranged for you to meet the Iolite Squad at the Sorry Excuse, an establishment in the Hospice District. Do not keep the hobgoblins waiting long upon your arrival to Kaer Maga. Most citizens of the City of Strangers will not blink twice at a band of hobgoblins, but the Ironfang Invasion has soured public opinion toward them. Be wary of those who may resent their presence.
From Kaer Maga, follow the river south to Sirathu, then take the southeast road for 30 miles. The training grounds and dig site are in a rock-strewn valley to the northeast of a small wood.
Go with care,
Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch
★ -- ★ -- ★ -- ★
Isaku knows Hobgoblins from Oprak are making headway in improving the reputation of goblinoids throughout the region, but they still face a great deal of prejudice stemming from the bloody Ironfang Invasion and their reputation as monsters and murderers. There are many hobgoblins who still cling to these old ways, but General Azaersi continues her efforts to bring hobgoblins and other so-called “monsters” under her banner of diplomacy.
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Kernal Klank marches along at the head of the line towards the towering wall in the distance. He's definitely not one of those 'chatty' Dwarves you may have encountered in the past, but he's not mute either. He moves at a brisk pace for a Dwarf, especially one decked out in full plate, carrying a pair of steel shields and a number of sized hammers.
"Escorting hobgoblins, not something my ancestors would be a fan of, unless of course it was an escort into the ground. Times change though.. I guess." He looks up at the wall, waiting for the others to make their way to the gates.
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A tall man with blond hair and a neatly trimmed mustache joins the group. He's a bit put out by the mission the Pathfinder Society has given him, but, like a good soldier, he is determined to make the best of the situation.
"Isaku Beru, at your service. I run a detective agency in Absalom. Although the Society pays me well, I'm not sure why they sent me here if it's merely a diplomatic mission."
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"Horses don't seem to like me for some reason. I think they're intimidated by my armor." Klank dismisses the idea, but they do speed up travel he will admit.
He turns to Isaku for a solid handshake "What if we need help finding a lost recruit? Or an unpaid bar tab? Sounds like you'll be important to the mission."
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One of the hobgoblins stands up and salutes as you approach.
"I am Sergeant Drussem, squad leader of Iolite Squad Alpha. You can call me Sergeant. she says in a military voice looking at the six of you
Drussem is slightly taller than the rest of the hobgoblins, her armor is well made, and her equipment—from her cloak to her sword and shield—is utterly unadorned save for the flag of Oprak at her shoulder.
She turns calling sharply to the other hobgoblins to snap to attention as she files through the rank for introductions.
"This is Akrag." A male hobgoblin grins broadly and extends his lanky arm to shake hands with each of the Pathfinders, his belt bristling with small bladed weapons.
"This is Gintka." Their sapper, gives a quick nod as Drussem introduces her before she returns to fidgeting with the metal buckles and sealed vials adorning her gear.
"And finally this is Ozaril." Their veteran scout, who gives a perfect salute, his fingers coming close to the many scars that cross his head.
The squad glances towards the exit, they seem eager to begin as they gather their gear and settle their tab, much to the relief of the bartender.
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Klank flips up his visor and removes a steel gauntlet "I'm Kernal Klank. You can call me Kernal." He looks up at the taller goblinoids as he gives each a solid handshake with direct eye contact. "None of our team leads the other here. We're all equals in this exercise. Some with different skills than others, as you all likely have too." He gestures to his heavy armor, shields, and melee weaponry.
"We can get moving as soon as you're ready Sergeant."
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Sergeant Drussem nods respectfully at each in turn. "We should be off at once. Any sort of delay will make us tardy. Each on my team recently earned special recognition from General Azaersi for their impressive service record in securing allies in the fight against the Whispering Tyrant so you shall not be disappointed."
As you leave the tavern Ozaril takes a look and nods that it is safe. You depart and quickly leave the city without any incident happening.
The journey from Kaer Maga to the training grounds many miles of varied terrain and should take multiple days. During one full day of travel, you have a chance to see how well do Iolite Squad Alpha operates. They set up a camp in no time and set up watches. Sergeant Drussem orders are done without bickering or delay, the wood is collected, a fire set up and meals prepared.
Ozaril usually scouts ahead to learn the lay of the land while the rest set up the perimeter.
The first day passes by, uneventful. But during the second, when Ozaril was scouting ahead, he quickly came back
"There are troubles ahead! Some caravan is set up near an abandoned building and a pack of wolves is threatening to overrun them." Ozaril speaks to Seargeant Drussem who turns towards you.
"It seems that some humans are in a pickle. We could make our perception of ourselves better by helping them. What do you think?"
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The path winds through the rugged, wooded foothills for several miles before opening onto a small ravine. A dilapidated homestead lies in ruin to the south, and a nearby campfire sheds flickering illumination on the surrounding outcroppings as the sun begins to set.
As you stop between two piles of rocks, you see four beasts approaching, three of them are large canines with black fur, the other is white as snow with shining eyes.
Sergeant Drussem yells "We will stop those two coming from the right, you hold the center. We will help you when we can."
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BOLD IS UP!:
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➤ Kernal Klank
➤ Jak
E. Beast (Red)
E. Beast (Green)
E. Beast (Yellow)
Omar Jones
Beast (Pink)
Garad
Isaku Beru
⠀⠀Iolite Squad Alpha
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Kernal Klank hangs back while Jak illuminates the area around him. The trio of larger wolves descend in upon Isaku, pouncing on him and trying to drag him down to the ground.
+ Grab
+ Grab
Isaku is dragged to the ground and mauled nearly to the point of death. You hear a cackle as the wolves begin speaking to one another. "See the easy prey is always in the back."
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Kernal Klank
Jak
Isaku Beru
E. Beast (Red)
E. Beast (Green)
E. Beast (Yellow)
➤ Omar Jones
Beast (Pink)
Garad
⠀⠀Iolite Squad Alpha
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"You're smarter than you look dogs." Klank snaps into action, circling around to get at the pair of wolves in the back. He takes a sweeping strike at the pair with his warhammer.
"Drop it you lousy mutt."
Swipe: Feat 4: Two Actions; Barbarian/Fighter/Flourish
You make a wide, arcing swing. Make a single melee Strike and compare the attack roll result to the ACs of up to two foes, each of whom must be within your melee reach and adjacent to the other. Roll damage only once and apply it to each creature you hit. A Swipe counts as two attacks for your multiple attack penalty. If you're using a weapon with the sweep trait, its modifier applies to all your Swipe attacks.
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Omar circles around, swiping his hammer at the pair of intelligent wolves, crushing into their ribs.
The pair of wolves turn and snap at Kernal Klank's hands. The Kernal quickly raises his shield to defend himself.
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BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Jak
Isaku Beru
E. Beast (Red)
E. Beast (Green)
E. Beast (Yellow)
Kernal Klank
➤ Omar Jones
Beast (Pink)
Garad
⠀⠀Iolite Squad Alpha
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Omar's rapier misses, but as he steps back he gets a better line of sight and sticks a bolt into the wounded beasts ribs. The smaller wolf bounds in, leaping onto Kernal Klank's back.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
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➤ Jak
➤ Isaku Beru
E. Beast (Red)
E. Beast (Green)
E. Beast (Yellow)
Kernal Klank
Omar Jones
Beast (Pink)
➤ Garad
⠀⠀➤ Iolite Squad Alpha
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Garad grows draconic claws as he sends a ball of flames into the unwounded wolf. Seeing trouble the Iolite Squad Alpha pile into the same wolf to try and bring it down as arrows rain down around it. "Don't worry, we have your back."
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Jak
➤ Isaku Beru
E. Beast (Red)
E. Beast (Green)
E. Beast (Yellow)
Kernal Klank
Omar Jones
Beast (Pink)
Garad
⠀⠀Iolite Squad Alpha
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Jak's dagger causes the intelligent wolf to yelp in pain as it sinks into its ribs. Much to the wounded wolf's surprise Isaku stands and ignites the wolf in flames. As he does so the wolf behind him bites at his legs.
The wolf latches onto his leg as the pair circle around to leap onto Omar to try and wrestle the gun from his grasp.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
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Jak
Isaku Beru
E. Beast (Red)
E. Beast (Yellow)
➤ Kernal Klank
➤ Omar Jones
Beast (Pink)
Garad
⠀⠀Iolite Squad Alpha
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Kernal Klank and Omar both strike at the wounded wolf, though Kernal Klank is the only one that manages to get a hit as his hammer crushes one of the paws.
The smaller wolf darts around behind, slamming into Kernal Klank.
Spinning around the wolf slams into the shield, falling back and shaking its head.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Jak
➤ Isaku Beru
E. Beast (Red)
E. Beast (Yellow)
Kernal Klank
Omar Jones
Beast (Pink)
➤ Garad
⠀⠀➤ Iolite Squad Alpha
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Garad tosses some flames into one of the wolves to try and split their attention away from the group.
The Iolite squad rushes in towards the back of the younger looking wolf, a wicked looking blade slicing into its flank. Jak steps in and narrowly misses with his dagger while Isaku's flames spatters across a nearby rock.
The two bigger wolves shift around, aiming for the wounded Isaku and Omar.
Omar drops as the wolf leaps onto his back, its hind legs scrapping and clawing at his skin. As Omar falls the beast turns to Jak. "Will you go down just as easy?" It leaps at the man's throat, powerful jaws clamping tight on his throat.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Jak
Isaku Beru
Omar Jones
E. Beast (Red)
E. Beast (Yellow)
➤ Kernal Klank
Beast (Pink)
Garad
⠀⠀Iolite Squad Alpha
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Still ignoring the smaller pink wolf Klank doesn't budge when she bounces off his shield and armor. He steps behind the large red wolf that Jak has distracted, swinging his warhammer down twice.
Klanks poor luck then turns around into good fortune as his second swing lands square! "Keep your footing Jak, its not over yet."
Reactive Shield: ↺*Trigger: An enemy hits you with a melee Strike*
You can snap your shield into place just as you would take a blow, avoiding the hit at the last second. You immediately use the Raise a Shield action and gain your shield’s bonus to AC. The circumstance bonus from the shield applies to your AC when you’re determining the outcome of the triggering attack.
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The squad line up crossbows and bows as they riddle the remaining wolf, this gives just enough interference for Jak to kneel down and heal Omar. Unfortunately Isaku's flames miss.
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BOLD IS UP!:
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Jak
Isaku Beru
➤ Omar Jones
E. Beast (Yellow)
Kernal Klank
➤ Garad
⠀⠀Iolite Squad Alpha