You start your adventure at the edge of the nation of Andoran, just outside of an Eagle Knight encampment.
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A plain looking young man of Minkai-jin heritage, perhaps with a little mix of Varisian giving his skin tone some color in contrast to many of his culture. His leathers are littered with buckles, almost as if it were style.
Though he looks a little rough and tumble, Haohji wears an easy smile, and his only weapon seems to be a club that is slung across the small of his back, and rucksack slung over his shoulder.
The young fighter drops his bag with a thud and sits by the fire, Name's Haohji. Anyone know what our mission is today?
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A small human followed by a muscular angel arrives at the scene. They might look opposite of one another by they complement on matters that they both care about, like enacting scenes after their adventurers. Seeing the other agents for the mission, they bow themselves and the man introduces himself and his eidolon. "Good day, I am Charlies, and he is Estes, my angel." he says. "I wonder what our mission will be for today." he tells Haohji who is as curious as him of what their mission actually.
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"Someone mentioned a drink? Now that's what I call a warm welcome. Explore, report, ... drink together, I guess?" a melodious voice fills the room. A lithe figure can now be seen in the doorframe, which you cannot discern well at first because of the sunglare. Three steps as light and graceful as a dancer's and the feminine figure stands before you, yet not with as many colours as the voice might have suggested. The figure comes into view as an ashen-skinned woman, half of her face and body covered with flowing white hair, and dressed in leather armor. Among the profusion of hair on her back, a large elven curved blade engraved with strange signs can be found. The elf - as her ears unmistakenably mark - holds out her hand for you. "I'm Ennoia Rylintar. Well met." she simply says.
She pauses, and waits until her thirst can be sated. "Have you got any ideas what we're in for, brave companions?"
Following the instructions in a missive from Venture-Captain Brackett, you arrive at a camp along the northern border of Andoran. You introduce yourselves to each other as you wait outside an officer's tent.
“Ah! I see the Pathfinders have arrived.” An Eagle Knight officer steps aside from the ranks, doffing his hat jovially. “Pleased to meet you all! Lieutenant Evanno Pratt, at your service. But you can call me Evanno, or Ev.” He smiles as he waves your group over to a table bearing several incomplete maps, labeled as depicting nearby sections of the Candlestone Caverns. “We’ve been dealing with a problem these past few weeks that a bit of collaboration should be able to solve. A group of duergars from the Candlestone Caverns have emerged, raiding the nearby lands for slaves and supplies. We’re not sure if they’re a scouting party, colonists, or something else; frankly, it doesn’t matter to us. They’re abducting Andoren citizens, and that’s not something we can allow to stand.” Evanno’s expression darkens slightly. “We’ve been setting up some barricades in Candlestone, blocking off several passageways. Our plan is to force the duergars into this cavern right here, forming a two-pronged assault to wipe those filthy slavers out before they can escape deeper into the Darklands. The second prong,” he gestures to your group, “is right here in front of me. When my platoon found that journal on a duergar body, I knew that good ol’ Brackett would send some of his finest in exchange for it—and you all certainly seem capable. The placement of barricades is nearly done, and we want you to meet us there through the fastest means necessary; once they realize our trap, we need to act quickly. This map’s incomplete, so feel free to depart from it if you find a faster route. Any questions?”
You may also attempt a secret Diplomacy (Gather Information) or Nature/Underground Lore (Recall Knowledge) check to learn more. If you wish to do so, post your modifier and I will tell you the results of the roll.
Studley knows that the Candlestone Caverns are a gateway between the Darklands and Andoran. Its tunnels can be treacherous, and many an adventurer has either gotten lost in the caves or fallen victim to an unexpected plunge.
"Just get to your position as quickly as possible, and play to your strengths."
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Studley smile, then seems to recall something, and make a noticeable gulp of air. He turns to his newly made friends and mentions.
"Lesser men have been known to die in the Candlestone Caverns and I think some fall to their deaths. Maybe we want to explore cautiously with this bad boy or look at making sure our scout is on a tether."
Studley gestures with his long ranseur (a forked spear) at the words 'bad boy'
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He looks around, and then decides to act decisively. He looks at his new friends and packs up.
"We can double time to the caves and plan along the way. Once we are in the caves, we will be moving cautiously. Dwarves are bada$$es, dark dwarves will be worthy opposition."
He makes a quick salute bringing his ranseur to his left brow and easily slinging it over his back. He is ready to lead at a ground eating trot.
"When we get to the caves, we better put the nimble Graeyson up front."
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Ennoia listens to the Steel Falcon carefully, before risking a question. "What do we know of the tactics these duergar use? Do they have any... uncommon ability?" she wonders aloud.
Nodding to Graeyson, the elf explains. "I'm a scout, stealthy and capable of seeing in complete darkness. I'm no stranger to a bladefight either... I could venture first, ahead of you so that I remain unnnoticed and could report any obstacles to you before we're confronted to them"
Ennoia doesn't recall anything additional.
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A stocky Andoran man of six feet runs up to the clump. He wears simple studded leather that looks to have seen much action. Poking out from his back, behind his head is the haft of a hand and a half sword. At each of his sides is a shortsword and his hands are wrapped with brawlers wraps.
He flips his dark brown, neck length hair out of the way and says with a genial smile, "Hey, sorry I'm late. Apparently Farabellus is not amused by offers to wax his head."
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Charlies quietly listens to them, his head going back and forth as they speak and share their tactics for the mission. As he is not that knowledgeable of tactics, he rests his case by following them. "Whatever is the better approach, I will follow such a plan. Estes can also scout and can see in the dark. We have shared senses so I can see what he sees He will be careful though."
Ah, I am only lvl 1, so, no option for me, I guess.
When the party is ready, Lieutenant Brackett cheerfully directs them to a tunnel leading to the cavern where the duergars are to be cornered. He reminds you that the way there is long, and that time is of the essence to catch the duergars in the pincer maneuver.
After about an hour’s travel down the caverns following the map given, you come across a cave-in blocking the main path forward, but also find a side tunnel that was not marked on Evanno’s map.
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"Dangerous shamgerous!" Jom scoffs playfully. "Besides, we've got an angel with us. That means we can't die, right?" gesturing at Estes. He the turns fully to face Estes, "Speaking of, I'm so curious. Do you have to do any exercise to upkeep that?" he asks pointing at the angel's midsection. "'Cuz if not, that is totally unfair."
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"Well, when we are back at the bar, I don't want to be bragging bout how we took the less dangerous route and missed the ambush!!"
He points to his rope.
"I would recommend the tether so we can always pull you out of trouble, but it is your call. And I think the angel should be about 40 feet ahead of our scout, sorta double skirmish line tactics. And prod that ground before you walk on it, the underground bad guys love their pit traps."
Estes looks blankly at Jomanrhen, not sure if he is joking about being an angel and nobody dies. As for his midsection that is bare and glistening with anyone's source of light, and he isn't sure either how to respond to that. Even Charlies can sense his confusion.
"I find myself as it is when I existed. I believe humans seem there is a need to improve themselves with what they call exercise." he answers the human fighter while looking blankly at Charlies whose frail and small stature juxtaposed against his well-built angelic body seems to make his summoner embarrassed. Estes taps him on the shoulder assuring him that he does not need excersise despite his physical stature.
The Pathfinders remember that Evanno told them to hurry, so they take the more dangerous path.
The tunnel plunges into a steep decline too tall and uneven to simply walk down. Each of you must attempt a skill check for this obstacle. You can attempt as Acrobatics check to Balance as you walk downward, an Athletics check to Climb down the slope, or a slightly harder Survival check to Track where previous denizens safely traversed the path.
Creative solutions may grant a circumstance bonus, but the only fast way down is to fall.
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"Let's make sure a fall stops at the end of this rope. I got ten pitons and I'll hammer them in, double my rope around them, and hammer a new one every 25 feet."
The paladin produces his rope so they can take typical climber precautions. Hammers a piton in with rock and wraps the rope around it so he can recover it later.