The Pathfinders take a boat from Absalom up the Iseld river in Cheliax, transfer to a caravan after reaching the Conerica Straits, and finally arrive in Elidir, the capital of Isger. Their contact is a human woman named Karla Wesver, a fellow Pathfinder from Isger and a member of the Horizon Hunters. The team is supposed to meet her at the White Stag Inn, a large and bustling inn on the Conerica River. Traders rub shoulders with merchants and river bargemen as furs and goods are exchanged. A woman sporting an intricate braid and a well‑worn travel outfit waits for them at the door of the inn. Upon seeing them, she waves them over and greets them each with a firm handshake before leading them to a booth in the corner of the taproom.
“Ah, good. You made it. I’m Karla Wesver. Welcome to Elidir, and welcome to the White Stag. It used to be that we Pathfinders had a bit of a strained relationship with the Chelaxian government. It still isn’t all sunshine and roses, but with the opportunity before us, we can now move about in public without fear of conflict or reprisal.
“As you may know, Isger is still a vassal state of Cheliax. The Chelaxians have bled Isger dry for years, but the increased demand for goods like Chelaxian brandy and other luxury items in Molthune and beyond has resulted in Cheliax finally getting off its ass and investing some resources in Isger. Normally these goods go through Druma to reach Molthune, but Druma has been raising import taxes. Cheliax issued an open bounty to explorers the world over: establish a new trail through the Menador Mountains between Isger and Molthune, suitable for pack animals to traverse. So, this presents a rather rare opportunity for us to find a way through the Menador Mountains into Molthune. Calisro Benarry, leader of the Horizon Hunters faction, has a special interest in this bounty. She is hoping you will take to this challenge with gusto. She sent a package ahead for you.”
Karla pats a large brown paper package on the bench next to her before handing over a letter. The package contains a bottle of potent Urglin gin. Once the Pathfinders finish reading the letter, she continues.
“All good then? I’ve arranged for a river barge to take you out to the Menador Mountains and packed some provisions for the journey. Not all of the food you’ll need for the journey, mind—carrying all of that would be too heavy, and likely to attract unwanted attention from the wildlife. You’ll want to forage along the way, if you can. My friend Jasikah Marten will be waiting for you in Canorate. She will help you file your paperwork with the Chelaxian officials, and she’ll also have a warm and comfy bed ready for you.”
Now go out there and make us Horizon Hunters proud. And jealous!
|
A scrawny little goblin immediately dives into the brown paper package (not literally, though it looks like she would fit), eagerly extracting its contents while Karla talks. She sets down her spear and unstoppers the bottle of gin, takes a speculative sniff, then sneezes loudly, politely covering her mouth just in time. “Ho ho! That put hair on chest!” After wiping her hands on her dirty leather armor, she passes the bottle and reads the letter.
“Sound like kablooie first mission,” the goblin says in broken Common, “and super nice Calisro give nice gift. Nice Calisro think of us. Horizon Hunters best nice fun faction, but really not much choice. Me Zooska.” she finally adds as an introduction.
A gnome, still covered in grime from the trip so far looks appreciatively at the goblin's helpful information, nodding along with the briefing until he realizes just how much journey is left to be had.
"Who would have thought that a faction called the Horizon Hunters would be so literal?"
It takes Deosil a moment to realize that the last part of Zooska's rapid-fire statements are an introduction.
"Oh, Hi Zooska. I'm Deosil. I'm also one of the followers of Miss Benarry, but I must admit, when I signed up to ally with a faction after passing The Trials, I'd hoped that they were at least a little metaphorical."
Deosil lazily strums a few sad notes on a stringed instrument that he holds in his hands, letting the sounds linger.
As Kazaleti introduces himself, Deosil perks up quite a bit.
"Oh thank goodness, you look terribly capable for an adventure like this. I was a little worried for a bit that it would just be us small-folk"
|
A small leshy ambles in. It's rather disheveled. Maybe even a bit confused. A small bird seems to be making its nest in the leshy's shoulder. You recognize a bow strung across its back. But, everything else seems... well... disorganized.
"Hi! I'm High. And this is Harold. Say Hello, Harold." The bird cocks its head to the side, then continues to peck at the vines growing from High.
|
|
“Hi Kazaleti! Hi Deosil! Hi High! Hi Harold!” Zooska chirps with friendly ease. “So much hair!” she exclaims excitedly, glancing over the gnome before looking up at the minotaur in particular. “Want cut? Zooska Barber of Brinestump,” the goblin proclaims proudly as she displays a wickedly sharp razor in eager anticipation.
"Were you waiting on a few more?"
Once finished with their preparations, the Pathfinder team are on their way. The trip up the branch of the Conerica river is uneventful. The roads alongside the river called the Conerica Straights are well‑patrolled by Isger’s army, supported with auxiliary troops from Cheliax.
Once the river becomes too narrow for the barge to easily traverse, the party must disembark and continue on foot. Following the river is still the easiest way forward, as it has carved a relatively flat swath of land out of the hills.
After three days of travel, the Pathfinders spot a campfire just as dusk begins to fall. The river flooding during spring snowmelts has kept the terrain relatively free from large growth. No trees or bushes obscure the view. When approaching the campfire, it is clear that five people have set up camp here. If the Pathfinders want to approach the camp stealthily, it is easy, as all five people in the camp are busy with food preparation and setting up the camp for the night. None of them are keeping watch.
There are three young men and two young women in the camp. They wear practical outfits, well‑suited for the rough terrain, but the outfits and the gear all look very new.
After traipsing through mud for days, Deosil is eager to see people who are in good shape. Having no idea who they might be, he tries to look over the camp to see if there are any signs of obvious ill intent, like hog-tied Pathfinders or ritual sacrifices
|
|
“Finally!” Zooska exclaims, eager for something besides mindless travel. “Long trip bor-ring!”
The little goblin dashes ahead and hails the group of people in a sing-song voice. “Hi ho! Welcome welcome! Me Zooska. You clothes and gear shiny and new, much style.” Her broken Common can be hard to decipher, but it sounds like a compliment.
Deosil doesn't see anything too strange. As the Pathfinders approach, the group does not notice them until the last moment. They are startled for a moment, but they calm down quickly, remaining wary. As the party introduces themselves and state why they are here, the group visibly relaxes. The people introduce themselves as Jasper Caperinas (male human), Sarevi Tilernos (female human), Amyas Charthagnion ( male human), Leonie Ciucci (female human), and Dacian Julistarc (male human).
They are all fourth or fifth sons and daughters of Chelaxian noble houses. While their families might not get along, they have known each other for quite some time, since they all attended the same boarding schools and social functions. They have decided to make names for themselves by accomplishing their own great deed.
"Don't you know?" says Dacian incredulously, "About the bounty?" He holds his bow out, conspicuously but not prominently, as though hoping the Pathfinders will notice how expensive and artistically crafted it is.
"I'm sure they know about that!" says Jasper, the youngest, eagerly, "They're explorers! They just don't know that's what we're doing. I guess that makes us rivals, but I hope we can be competitors and not enemies. I've always wanted to be an explorer, like the Pathfinder Society. Do you know them? A few of my family members owe their lives to the Pathfinder Society after a group of agents came to their defense when the city was besieged by fiends.
"I'm ready for this! I'm a real strong swimmer, and look what I got!" He proudly holds out a brand-new book. "It's about identifying footprints!"
"Not that we need it," says Sarevi, who is polite enough but much more melancholy than Jasper, "Leonie is an excellent tracker without it."
"Hm." Leoni barely acknowledges the compliment, turning her head away from the Pathfinders. Zooska notices that Leoni's standoffishness seems directed at them. Her friends try to cover it, but they're clearly surprised by her unfriendly behavior.
Sarevi shrugs apologetically. She wears her family crest prominently displayed as a brooch pinning her cloak together at the shoulder. She explains that this journey for her is an attempt to honor the adventurous spirit of her sister, a Knight of Ozem who was slain when the Whispering Tyrant destroyed the former nation of Lastwall.
Amyas, dressed in an expensive greatcoat dyed scarlet and carrying high-quality hiking gear, seems to be the de facto leader of the group.
Perception check:
If the Pathfinders are feeling generous, or even just... concerned, they could offer some tips on using their expensive new gear.
They could:
• Talk to Jasper about how to identify scat of the most common mountain predators. Identifying tracks helps, but there is more to identifying an animal than just footprints. This is a DC 15 Nature check.
• Talk to Sarevi about how to properly secure climbing gear. Her gear itself is excellent, but the knots she has used are the wrong types and can be dangerous in certain situations. This is a DC 15 Athletics check.
• Talk to Amyas about the rigors of the wild, and how new types of terrain pose different types of dangers. This is a DC 12 Survival or DC 15 Nature check.
• Talk to Leonie about how to spot an unsafe rock wall. Being able to find your way through rough terrain is important, but there are many dangers lurking in this kind of terrain. This is a DC 12 Mountain Lore or DC 15 Survival check.
• Talk to Dacian about how hunting in the wild can be dangerous. The hunter can easily become the hunted. This is a DC 12 Nature check.
After looking over the group of would-be adventurers, Deosil will try his best to talk with Leonie about rough terrain, hoping to get the clammed up Chelaxian to open up.
|
|
Zooska nods enthusiastically in response to both questions. “Yes, yes. Know bounty. Know Pathfinder too. Me Pathfinder.” the goblin explains proudly. “Me Barber of Brinestump too. Nice hair want cut?”
“Ho ho,” Zooska says, noticing Leoni’s unfriendly attitude. “Should Zooska leave? Leoni no want goblin?” she inquires diplomatically in an effort to take the tracker’s feelings into account. But the energetic goblin is quickly distracted by some of the nobles’ gear. Not all of it is of interest—she barely glances at the boring book, or any gear that is of high quality but plain, no matter how expensive it is. What catches her eye are the shiniest objects, like the brooch on Sarevi’s shoulder, or those with colorful or interesting patterns, like the carved designs on Declan’s bow or the multi-colored rope in Sarevi’s climbing kit.
“Fun pretty rope,” she compliments Sarevi, “but knot not exciting. Like you say, honor adventure important, and most important honor is style. Knot need style, like this.” The small green swashbuckler demonstrates by tying some new knots in her rope--knots that might be especially fun and exciting when they come loose.
"Did you say Pathfinders?" Leonie asks sharply, "You are Pathfinders! I knew it! I've never heard anything good about your Society."
Still, she reluctantly listens to Deosil's advice. Once he has her engaged, she warms up a little. She seems a little embarrassed that she hadn't considered rough terrain given her intention of exploring... well, rough terrain.
Sarevi is more polite, but also more perplexed. "But isn't it more important that the knots stay tied?"
With the others moving to help, High in the Mountain also spots the problem. All the shiny new gear has clearly never been used. Whenever Amyas talks about how he's a skilled outdoorsman, the story always seems to take place while hunting near his family's estate. He seems to change the subject whenever expeditions a little farther from home come up.
These young nobles do have some skills, but may be biting off more they can chew skipping right to an expedition like this--they need some medium-level practice first, or at least a helping hand, if they're going to survive out here.
|
|
"But isn't it more important that the knots stay tied?"
Zooska shakes her head with the mild tut-tut of an adult correcting a small child. “Style always most important! But knots stay tied good too. Best do both.” The goblin wanders over to Amyas, hoping for a more receptive audience when she talks about the various dangers she’s encountered in various terrain over her travels.
Kazeleti and Zooska are able to convince Amyas that his preparations and expertise with forests aren't necessarily useful in all areas of the mountainous, rocky terrain that presents different dangers. He doesn't seem to have accounted for any need for climbing.
Nope.
Quick question, do we have a healer/
I'm also trained in medicine and have 2 Soothes prepared for in-combat healing
The young nobles are grateful for the Pathfinders' advice, and invite them to share their camp for the night.
Even should the Pathfinders choose to stay, they're ready to go their own way by morning and bid a polite farewell. After all, the Pathfinders are rivals, of a sort.
After passing through the foothills, the Pathfinders arrive at the feet of the mountains. The lower reaches are covered in dense pine forest and traversing the steep terrain becomes increasingly difficult. Their journey is unremarkable until they come across a swift-flowing mountain stream several days after parting company with Amyas and his friends.
The dense forest opens up to a gently sloping clearing, cut across by a brook.
Some large black birds are nesting in the trees nearby--and their reception is most unkind. They seem agitated to be spurred so easily to aggression, but while that probably isn't the Pathfinders fault they now need to deal with it, and quickly.
The birds swarm, and then swoop as one towards the Pathfinders. They peck and claw at Kazaleti, High, and Zooska... Deosil seems to have avoided them for the moment simply because Kazaleti is such a big target.
All PCs' turns. Map
Initiative:
Unkindness of Ravens (swarm)
Kazaleti (22/22, DC 17 basic Ref vs 3 piercing)
Deosil (18/18)
Zooska (22/22, DC 17 basic Ref vs 3 piercing)
High in the Mountain (34/34, DC 17 basic Ref vs 3 piercing)
|
|
“Bird attack bad juju!” Zooska exclaims as she twists and turns and tumbles and rolls her way out of the swarm, completely avoiding the myriad beaks and talons. With a graceful twirling motion she whirls her spear around her head and sweeps it through the swarm of ravens, trying to knock at least a few of the birds senseless.
Zooska performs admirably, but faces an unfortunate truth--it's difficult to fight a large group of small enemies with a spear. Still, she decreases the population of local birds by several.
Kazaleti, Deosil, and High's turns.
Initiative:
Unkindness of Ravens (-2, swarm)
Kazaleti (22/22, DC 17 basic Ref vs 3 piercing)
Deosil (18/18)
Zooska (22/22, DC 17 basic Ref vs 3 piercing)
High in the Mountain (34/34, DC 17 basic Ref vs 3 piercing)
Kazeti's horns pierce through the center of the swarm--but, as the swarm is composed largely of empty space, they don't hit any actual birds. The sweep of his axe might be more effective.
Deosil and High's turns.
Initiative:
Unkindness of Ravens (-2, swarm)
Kazaleti (19/22)
Deosil (18/18)
Zooska (22/22, DC 17 basic Ref vs 3 piercing)
High in the Mountain (34/34, DC 17 basic Ref vs 3 piercing)
High picks off a few more of the birds.
Deosil's turn. Kazaleti has one action remaining.
Initiative:
Unkindness of Ravens (-5, swarm)
Kazaleti (19/22)
Deosil (18/18)
Zooska (22/22, DC 17 basic Ref vs 3 piercing)
High in the Mountain (31/34
> Harold (18/18)
Deosil will
♦Cast Courageous Anthem
Attempt to make it linger
Not wanting to hurt his allies, he'll refrain from doing area effects.
Instead he'll cast Electric Arc on the Swarm
DC 17
The ravens do not do well at dodging the lightning, which arcs between them. Smoking birds fall upon the pathfinders, and so do the beaks and claws of the ones that remain.
All PCs' turns.
Initiative:
Unkindness of Ravens (-14, bloodied, swarm)
Kazaleti] (18/22, persistent bleed 1, DC 17 Ref vs 3 piercing, DC 17 Ref vs 1 piercing)
Deosil (18/18, DC 17 Ref vs 3 piercing, DC 17 Ref vs 1 piercing, courageous anthem 3 rounds)
Zooska (22/22)
High in the Mountain (31/34, DC 17 Ref vs 3 piercing, DC 17 Ref vs 1 piercing)
> Harold (18/18, DC 17 Ref vs 3 piercing, DC 17 Ref vs 1 piercing)
Zooska knocks a few more birds out of the air. Just as importantly, she distracts them so Kazeleti can slice through a few more. There are a few left, but they begin to scatter.
All seems safe for the moment.
Zooska finds that someone has disturbed the ravens’ nests, destroying some and stealing the eggs. She notices scuff marks on the trees and partial footprints clearly from bipedal Medium humanoids. She deduces that whoever made the tracks were very tall and burly, which could very well be orcs. The ravens have collected several shiny items in their remaining nests. Most are worthless, but some of the shiny stones the birds collected are actually raw gemstones.
The river warrants investigation, as it would pose an obstacle to any trade caravan passing through. It flows swiftly here but is not too broad.
|
|
“Naughty people break nest, steal eggs. Tracks like orcs. Make birds mad. Some shiny shinies too!” Zooska reports to the others after searching amongst the trees and finding the birds’ nests.
When the problem of crossing the river is brought to her attention, she searches the riverside for animal tracks and a good place for a campsite. But this quickly becomes boring, so she finds a long stick and uses it to probe the stream depth and pole jump from boulder to boulder.
Both successes, 1 damage.
Clears up on its own within 1 round.
Two failures, 4 damage.
Clears up on its own within 6 rounds (and likely sooner with help)
Success and failure, 2 damage.
Clears up on its own within 2 rounds.
Success and failure, 2 damage.
Clears up on its own within 8 rounds.
Zooska collects some gemstones. Most of the ravens are dead and the rest have fled, so they make no effort to stop her.
She and Kazaleti both have similar ideas about a safe place near the water. She takes an unintended bath trying to find a place to cross with a caravan, though.
High in the Mountain is a plant who is very knowledgeable about plants. But that doesn't mean she knows every plant, and she's not quite sure about these ones.
She does show Zooska how it's done navigating the river banks, however.