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With (another) date secured for the post-expedition blow-out party that VC Bennary is sure to host, Cal follows Zak into the forest. He settles the demon mask back down over his face and draws his short-sword ready to ... hack mushrooms?
"I trust ya' on that, but I don't see any of the fey the Cap'n sent us to find."
He goes to take a quick sip from "his" flask and realizes that Cap'n Bennary has already reclaimed her own flask from his pocket without him even noticing. Hehe. I should take me own advice and render proper respect to a senior agent. That and know better than to go borrowin' things from a Pirate!
In the middle of a small pond, a ring of large toadstools glows with a slight magical energy. The ground inside wobbles, appearing almost translucent, as if it were possible to step right through it. Some of you spot it before anyone or anything steps through.
Cal
Harsk (1 Nonlethal damage)
Ikta
Kaz and Zak (7 Nonlethal damage)
Mushroom! Mushroom!
Hairy critter Black
BakBat
Zizarc (4 Nonlethal damage)
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"Hmp." Hmp. Of *course* I didn't prepare Dispel Magic today. Itka grouses as she gives the lone hairy critter the Evil Eye, then conjures her greasy black tendrils to fling a clod of dirt and rocks at the mushroom circle.
The mushroom rings have been disabled! The Thorned Monarch’s tide of reinforcements has slowed.
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Cal suppresses a giggle at Harsk's attempt and resists making a joke about the manacles at the dwarf's expense. Instead he focuses on how to disable the gate.
"Oh, huh. Looks like if ya' dig out that one shroom there, then take a chunk outta that other one, it might be enough to unsettle the gate."
"I think anyway."
Cal, Harsk and Zak approach the ring of mushrooms. Harsk isn't sure what to do with it, while Cal treats it like an oddly-shaped mechanical lock. Kaz sees its logical growth and moves some of the mushrooms around to disable it.
As the team approaches the mushroom ring, the portal ripples and a short, hairy creature emerges holding a club.
As Itka scares them, they retort "What in tarnation?" They bellow. Their voice takes an unearthly quality, forcing their bodies to slow down.
Nontheless, they raise their club and swing at the closest target - Cal.
"Get off mah properay!" The critter hops and fumes.
Within the portal, you notice more hairy creatures pick up their clubs and run towards the portal entrance...
Mushroom! Mushroom! (2 disable successes)
Hairy critter Black (Frightened 1, Evil Eye'd)
BakBat
Zizarc (4 Nonlethal damage)
Cal (16 damage)
Harsk (1 Nonlethal damage)
Ikta (Evil Eye on Black)
Kaz and Zak (7 Nonlethal damage)
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Kaz continues to focus on the mushrooms, as the options seem to be either disabling the portal or battling an endless wave. Still, they need to deal with enemies that are there. Zak moves around Cal's assailant and strikes at him in return. "You just came here through a portal, it's not your property," he says as he lashes out, "Stand down and so will we."
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"Hmp. I suggest a salt water gargle." Itka quips (ironically, considering that her voice sounds like boulders grinding over gravel). She maintains her Evil Eye spell on the hairy creature as she limps around BakBat, shoving aside some overgrown mushrooms in the process. She then casts Guidance on Cal.
Harsk focuses on the mushroom ring, putting just the right items in just the right spot.
Zak bashes and Cal stabs the critter, who angrily replies with a "Rassen'frassen-'
With a loud POP the portal warbles, drawing in the critter. As you watch them fall backwards through the portal and crash into the crowd on the other side, the portal then shrinks and collapses.
Success!
Khoumrock Blackthane puts a finger to his lips and then speaks quietly. “There’s things here that aren’t what they seem. Some of those fey are real tricky...looking like things they aren’t. Don’t trust your eyes.”
You proceed onward through the forest. The raging river dies down enough to where you can use a fallen tree to cross.
You see a prairie owl stuck in a snare trap. It hoots and flutters its wings, but it is stuck fast to the ground.
Qxal’s animal allies have been defeated! The animals that remain may even aid us in battle.
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The Thorned Monarch has enchanted the plants of this area, but they were no match for the Pathfinders! The enchanted plants have been defeated.
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"It's not really our business if an animal is caught in a hunting trap, even if they probably weren't going for an owl," says Kaz, eying the area warily and looking for any sign of additional danger, "and after that warning we were just given..."
He did hate seeing anything trapped like that, though, and he could feel Zak's anxiety.
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Cal tries waggling his head as Itka demonstrates but looks dubiously at the disembodied hand wriggling its fingers. "I'll keep it in mind, darlin'. Didn't want to burn it out quite yet." He rolls his shoulder where she patched him up and thanks her with his best lady-killing smile. "Much better. If'n ya' ever need anythin' from me, just ask." as long as it's not the horizontal polka, he thinks to himself with an internal shudder.
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Thinking this might be a fey in an owl's shape, Cal turns to his friends and gives a surreptitious wink before speaking in a strange tongue.
He keeps a sharp eye on the "owl" to see if it reacts even the slightest to his quip.
"Those hazards were no match for our trailblazers, Pathfinders. The new course has been charted!"
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"Qxal’s forces were tricky, but we came out on top! The shifted forces have been defeated!"
At last, you see an archway of woven vines in the distance, filled with a shimmering pool of magic. Pathfinders, the Door of Seasons is almost within your grasp!
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The owl manages to free itself from the trap and flies away into the forest canopy. You could've sworn this would be a poorly disguised trap, but the Pathfinder Society works quickly.
The assembled Pathfinders set up camp before the shimmering doorway, the healers among the group offering their magic to heal any remaining wounds and cure any lingering ailments before the company beds down for the evening.
The following morning, Oraiah Tolal addresses the assembled Pathfinders standing beside the portal. ”Well, everyone, this is it. We have reached the Door of Seasons. This crown should allow us to open it. We don’t know exactly what awaits us on the other side, though we do know that it is not of this world. Be prepared for anything. May Alseta guide us through this passageway.” She holds the crown in front of the Door, and the shimmering magic within dissipates.
The demiplane on the other side of the door is green and vibrant, but the plants take on an otherworldly quality. A half-orc man, his age difficult to determine, is bound by vines and flowers. He looks up. His voice is halting and hoarse, as though he had not used it in a long time, “Can it be...Pathfinders?”
After a moment, Oraiah Tolal realizes who he is. “How can this be? Gregaro Voth! You’re still alive!”
The man replies, “It is me. How many years has it been? Wait, there’s no time. That crown! It’s the key to this plane! We’ve got to use it!” As Oraiah Tolal places the crown on Voth’s head, a strange wave emanates from the crown and passes over the assembled Pathfinders. Voth looks hopeful for a moment but then struggles against his bonds, still held fast.
“That would have been too easy. It’s going to take some time to harness the magic to unlock the power of the crown, and Qxal won’t wait long.”
Oraiah Tolal begins to direct the assembled forces. “Pathfinders, it’s time to act! Some of you need to help Voth with the crown. I’m sure we have a ritual to help him attune to it. The rest of you, be on alert! The Thorned Monarch could attack at any time!”
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Next to the Door of Seasons, the Pathfinder Society quickly set up tents and campfires to spend the night. Venture-Captain Oraiah Tolal wants the Pathfinders to be fully prepared. Medics heal everyone completely and remove any lingering conditions such as poison or disease.
Overnight you know Oraiah Tolal and Radiant Oath faction leader Valais Durant will carefully study the doorway. Meanwhile, the other leaders keep watch in shifts, starting with Venture-Captain Bjersig Torrsen and his canine companion, Mahki.
---
After dispersing some of the Pathfinders, Oraiah Tolal turns to you. "Alright, we need your help. Either help Voth attune to the crown, or prepare to fight off Qxal's forces."
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The early-risers in the party probably aren't too surprised to see Jolly Joan emerge from Cal's tent with her boots in her hand and sneak off to rejoin her team. Cal himself emerges at the very latest minute looking for coffee and breakfast - in that order if possible.
With a mug of coffee secured and a fresh-baked muffin in the other hand (where did he even find that out here?), he considers Captain Tolal's options.
"We've done pretty well at fightin' the fey so far. And we're all well rested, so maybe start with that?" he proposes to his teammates as he polishes off the muffin and goes to get another from the special catering set aside for the VCs.
Calisro draws her cutlass and watches the trees carefully. “We’ve got a little time until the Monarch gets here, but I bet they’ve got some scouts. Keep an eye out for their forces.”
The Pathfinders fan out into the jungle. Joan seems to be in good spirits as she leads the team off to the west. You head north.
It isn't long until you hear some kind of animal pur, along side excited laughter. The trail leads to an interesting sight: a cat on fire, playfully hopping around a tiny woman flapping her moth wings to and fro.
The woman speaks a strange language while buzzing about. She talks for a bit to the cat, and then looks in your direction. She points excitedly.
The cat hisses, flames and smoke sputtering about.
Kaz and Zak react quickly to the situation.
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"You want to play?" Kaz repeats in Common, before responding in Sylvan.
He moves up a little, while Zak moves over to her, looking focused and ready to attack.
The butterfly woman remains afloat and sprinkles some dust on one of her arrows. Zak notices how much she has to manipulate her dust on the arrows and swings at her. "So close, cutie buns!" She takes aim.
Please make a DC 21 Will Save against the Pixie's Charm spell. You do not get a bonus for the pixie's hostile action.
The cat hisses and stares daggers at Cal. With speed and precision it pounces him as he is caught flat footed!
Even more smoke sizzles off the cat as it stands on its haunches.
Flaming Kitty
Butterfree with a bow (5 feet above the ground)
Harsk
Ikta
Zizarc
Cal (25 damage)
BakBat
Kaz and Zak (Is Zak's AC 21? If so, read above spoiler)
The cat hisses back at Itka, ignoring her magic. That hiss seemed so familiar...
Yesterday, Captain Benarry ordered the rookie team to scrub, clean and cook for Itka and her teammates. Turns out when they aren't walking into a deadly trap and overreacting they are quite amicable.
"I've studied a lot about the fey realm." Olle serves a bowl of soup, carefully cutting mushrooms and rabbit meat. "One creature to look for is a cat called an Elanax. Always on Fire, their teeth burn when they bite."
"Once a day, they can react to danger by turning into a cloud of burning smoke. Then they reform and can strike from hiding. Nasty ambush predators, they are." Olle pours out another mug.
"...Joan is forgetting her duty again. She's talking to your gnomish friend. One moment." Olle stands up to remind her of their duty.
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Cal's not happy. His day started great, but getting gored by a fire-cat wasn't in the plans.
Cal steps into the flank to help Kaz and stabs faster than the eye can track
"Damn! Get out o' the cloud!" he yells in warning as he races to get clear.
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Cal presents his best face. It's quite frightening. The woman with the bow shrieks. "You'll get wrinkles with that kind of frown! Oh no, what if I get wrinkles?"
The cat is quite terrified, but it still ducks under Cal's quickwork. Harsk is another matter.
As soon as his first strike hits, the cat seems to explode in a pile of burning ash. There's nothing else to hit. Itka knows anyone who lingers here is a target.
Eleanax (Frightened 2, 24 damage)
Butterfree with a bow (Frightened 2, 5 feet above the ground)
Harsk (1 action remaining)
Ikta
Zizarc
Cal (25 damage)
BakBat
Kaz and Zak (Zak is Charmed by Butterfree with a bow)
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Oh hey, Kaz, she's nice!
She just shot you in the face, Zak.
Yeah, I think I remember her from when I was here.
You were never here.
No, no when I was here.
When we were planning this mission, you made a point about how just because I'm from Golarion doesn't mean I know every place on the planet.
Yeah, but when I was here!
Since their bond had been forged, Kaz and Zak had been pretty synchronized. Sure, they seemed to bicker a lot, but in a dangerous situation they had always been a team with flawless coordination.
Now Kaz considered the nature of their partnership. While they often said they were bound together, it was really Zak who was bound to him. They drew strength from each other, but Zak was only here at all because Kaz brought him.
Now they were out of sync, because Zak was clearly enchanted. He was only about to act on the world here because Kaz gave him the strength and power to do it.
So he didn't.
Well, he shares enough that they can get out of the ash together. But first he casts a new spell he recently mastered, splitting himself into multiple silvery blue kobolds that scramble over each other as they grab Zak's hand and lead him to safety.
Harsk decides to grin and bear the heat, taking fire damage.
"Oh! I love when this happens!" The tiny flying woman almost claps with glee before gripping her tiny bow.
Itka calls out a warning - the ash reforms into the flaming cat, still bearing wound from Harsk's axe. Bearing an obvious grudge, the cat goes after him with a critical bite.
With Cal so close, the Elenax is unable to shake off its fear of him.
The woman with the bow flutters her wings to maintain flight, rising 10 feet above the ground. "Okay, back to work, back to work. Nighty night..." She sprinkles some more pixie dust and aims her bow at...
Kaz doesn't feel hurt, but he does feel drowsy...
She continues to shudder as Cal's intimidation does its work.