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A small girl holding a tiny doll comes over to the sprite. "Hi. I'm Alice. And this is my doll. She's also called Alice."
She gets out a miniature toy tea set. Sits down. Pours some imaginary tea, and says, "Do you want to have tea with us?"
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Unsure what tea is for having, Maruta looks between the girls - one his size, the other utterly gigantic - and walks over to examine the imaginary "kettle".
He places the snowy acorn "inside" so that it "steeps" - the concept, through the mime and play, becoming somewhat coherent to him. But instead of "drinking", he "submerges" himself inside his "mug", staining the "water" with dirt and soot, blackening the infusion, before "climbing" out.
He shakes his tiny, ashen wings, then looks up expressionless as little black flakes encrust the ground around him.
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Aztryx arrives and looks like he ran quite a bit to get here. He's a tall ancient elf wearing plain brown robes. He is wet from sweat.
The plainness of his robes contrasts with the handsomely crafted staff he wields. No jewels or gold adorn it, just a wooden staff finely carved into the shape of a lithe elven maiden.
Atop Aztryx's left should sits a small brown elf owl. It is slightly larger than a fist in size, and it seems to be very irritated - whistling something into his ear.
"I'm sorry I'm late... I am Aztryx! And this noisy thing, is Biscuit!" The elf owl continues to whistle loudly in his ear.
Once the Pathfinders have gathered themselves, they traverse the new portal in the Maze of the Open Road, and they convene again around the massive hearth fire in the center of the fledgling Port Valen lodge. Venture‑Captain Bjersig Torrsen approaches them with his dog Mahki, his scribe interpreter Lirall, and Rahaksenwe.
Venture-Captain Bjersig Torrsen’s oversized gestures convey his excitement. “Welcome to the far side of the map! I don’t know what I was expecting to find here, but it sure wasn’t the hospitality that the locals have shown us. I mean, just look at this new lodge! It’s like we never left home!
“Speaking of leaving home, we’ve worked alongside Rahaksenwe and other Port Valen leaders to link this lodge to the Maze of the Open Road. They helped us set up the portal so that future Pathfinders won’t need to cross monster-infested waters to get here like we had to. That help wasn’t free, though.”
Rahaksenwe nods and explains, “The portal could not have been completed without the blessing of Viltydus, the fey guardian who guides travelers through the Forest of Trials. Viltydus has a keen eye for heroic potential, and their one condition for building and maintaining the portal is that Pathfinder agents must assist them regularly to foster greatness in this region. That’s why you’re here: to hold up your end of that bargain.”
Torrsen jumps back in. “So, wash up, get what you need from the quartermaster, and follow the footpath just outside the town gate right to the stump at the edge of the forest. Viltydus will meet you there—somehow, they can always sense when Pathfinders are on the way! Any questions?”
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If capriciousness wasn’t well within the fey repertoire, one might imagine kind to recognize kind in conversation.
But, Maruta, nary a foot tall, with a back covered in mothen wings, looms uninterested, a creature of a humanoid, if small, male body shape, with cloven feet and inverted horns, all the spectrum of grey with white and black eyes.
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With spritely grace, our tiny hero chooses two among his group, and places upon their effects special trinkets, leaving a small trail of ash in his wake...
"I've a question Venture-Captain Torrsen. What does 'fostering greatness' mean in this instance?"
"Well, share your knowledge to people, show your talents and skills. I am not sure what tasks Viltydus will give you, but I know that they are a crossroads guardian, a fey created to serve a primal purpose. Theirs is to help travelers who are called to Valenhall safely navigate the Forest of Trials. Around here, we deeply respect Viltydus’s work. They have been a mentor and protective spirit for generations of us.”
Rahaksenwe chimes in, “Viltydus will provide details once you meet with them. They care deeply about legendary exploits, so your tasks won’t be chopping wood or other mundane work. I doubt you’d have made it this far if you didn’t have the skills to handle whatever Viltydus needs, though.”
The little girl holds up the doll to her ear, then asks, "What is the 'Forest of Trials'?"
"Glad you asked. The Forest of Trials is the natural barrier in the path of those who pursue the call to Valenhall. The forest is treacherous, populated by monsters and masked from divinations. The crossroads guardian Viltydus has lived there since before Port Valen’s founding. This fey has a primal purpose to guide great heroes through the wood toward Valenhall, a mission they pursue with compassion and zeal. They’ve been known to offer guidance to those who don’t seek Valenhall but who nevertheless deserve favor." Rahaksenwe answers her.
Once the Pathfinders are ready, they travel a short distance beyond Port Valen’s borders toward the forest. A massive stump eight feet in diameter sits at the edge of the wood, and all the surrounding plants and earth seem to direct their focus toward it.
A lithe Mahwek individual stands atop a giant stump, their average height magnified by an awesome presence of personality. Their fingers, lips, ears, eyebrows, and nostrils are richly adorned with dozens of rings, each one made of a different material and etched with varying pictograms and sigils. They speak with a voice like wind in the canopy. “The portal already beckons souls destined for greatness! Welcome, Pathfinders, to the Forest of Trials, a noteworthy juncture in your travels across this vast, beautiful world.”
"'He who has tricks' wizard, Aztryx. Maruta, the sprite sorcerer who helped the goblins finish the their bridge by defeating the ambushers who kills them. Celestia, you helped a farmer solve the mystery on a prized alpaca's murderer. Kaitlyn, you teach hobgoblins the ways of Pathfinders to strengthen them as allies. Khagra, you found the missing fungus leshy, together with your allies, and learn about the Azlanti ruins for the leshy's research. And Alice, you help defeat the malevolent person and frees the genie from his evil grasp." they tell about the Pathfinders.
"I believe everyone is ready. I have four tasks for your group to get accomplished. Follow me." Viltydus turns their back to them, and Viltydus sends them back to the feasting hall. By the time they return, the lodge is packed with layfolk, eagerly distributing and enjoying ales and meads. The floor near the hearth fire has been cleared to provide an impromptu stage, with Viltydus standing at its center.
Viltydus’s eyes flash with genuine joy and playful mischief. “We consume food and drink for our bodies, we consume books and studies for our minds, but we consume tales and stories for our souls. Stories allow us to share our common love of life and remind us why we press on even when our bodies and minds beg us to turn back. Pathfinders gather stories from across the whole world, farther than the sight of a humble villager or even an Arcadian fey. Therefore, I task you to share your most exciting tales with us so that we may for a moment share in your greatest achievements!”
"Please, tell us stories that feature magic and mystery!"
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Deception (*) +10 or +12 to Create a Diversion w/ Figment
Maruta acts out the goblin story, augmenting his dance with tiny illusions of bandits, musical sounds coordinated with notes of striking and parrying, using his fey cantrips. He runs in between the legs of each illusory enemy, who disappears into a puff of smoke!
At it's conclusion, he wriggles his long, gentle fingers, and a swirl of ash surrounds Viltydus, who suddenly feels compelled to chuckle!
The audience watches in amazement as Maruta and the other Pathfinders perform together. Viltydus is amused as well, laughing out loud as the enemies are beaten down! Maruta’s illusions of bandits vanish in puffs of smoke as he dances, while the others add to the spectacle—magical winds swirl around them, and one Pathfinder takes on the role of a dramatic narrator, heightening the emotion of the story. The crowd reacts with laughter and cheers, captivated by the lively performance.
"Please tell us another story, please?" a young goblin from the crowd pleads to them.
Viltydus chimes in. "Why don't we hear another aside from Maruta?"
Celestia shares her story that involves kami or spirits wherein they also saved their Pathfinder allies. Aztryx improves her story with exploding earth here and there when battles ensues in Celestia's story. Maruta also enhances the story with his dancing as a scary kami.
"Tell us more, tells us more! Stories like that are never heard here!" an old man tells the group.
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Before beginning, Alice will cast Bullhorn.
The little girl puts the rag doll on the ground, backs away from it, and waves her hands.
The rag doll opens its eyes. It stands up, and begins walking.
The little girl begins narrating the story of the evil person who had captured a genie...
"The evil human summoned a genie from the plane of fire. He used the genie's powers to enrich himself and gain power. But, time passes, and the evil person forgot about the genie. As intrepid pathfinders, we fought the remnants of the evil person's evil and deadly traps, and freed the genie."
Throughout this narration, the rag doll will mime the actions of the evil person, the genie, and, casting light and shooting things using telekinetic projectile, the pathfinder party, while the little girl makes hand motions as if controlling the rag doll.
Alice makes her voice loud for everyone to hear with her magical bullhorn. She tells her story through her rag doll, which comes to life in front of the audience. The characters, the fighting, and everything that is in the story are performed by her rag doll. Meanwhile, Aztryx contributes by adding a fire special effect to the story while Maruta pretends to be the fire genie in the story.
But how does the audience perceive the performance?
And the audience's reaction is positive. There is awe here and there as they marvel at the lifelike movements of the rag doll, the dramatic bursts of fire, and Maruta's convincing portrayal of the fiery genie, fully immersing them in the magical tale unfolding before their eyes. They give the performer a big round of applause for their job well done.
Viltydus concludes the storytelling event and then motions to the Pathfinders to meet them outside. Once they are out, "Well done to the task! You have kindled the flames in heart and inspired them with your stories that they will for the generations to come. For that," they then draws out something, a pair of goggles of night. "I would like you to have this as a reward." they say and gives their reward.
"Now for your second task. Follow me."
Viltydus leads the Pathfinders to Bronzhelm’s, a revered smithy in Port Valen. Run by the Ulfen master smith Tonfer Bronzhelm, the shop is renowned as the birthplace of most magic weapons and armor in Port Valen. The shop flaunts a metal sign emblazoned with Bronzhelm’s mark—a winged helm perched on the handle of a morningstar— that hangs above the entrance.
Viltydus cracks their knuckles. “Many dream of greatness, but a dream’s legs often buckle without a sturdy tool to support its weight. Any who brave the Forest of Trials must be well equipped, and such instruments of valor are forged here in the song of fire and steel. I task you to assist our esteemed smith with crafting a tool worthy of a hero, one you’d be honored to receive yourself in the coming years, were you to journey to Valenhall.”
"Pathfinders, meet Tonfer Bronzhelm. Tonfer, Pathfinders." they tell them.
"Yes, it is great to meet you all! Viltydus tells me that you can help. I am currently working on a magical item fit to take to Valenhall. I call it Firecutter. It is still mostly unfinished, as I have been putting off the procedure for imbuing the item with magic since that step always seems to go awry.” Tonfer shares with them.
Viltydus chimes in. "By helping Tonfer, you are making your mark on the item alongside Tonfer’s so that a part of your identity may journey into glory with the item’s wielder. "
"A warning though. Crafting magical gear so close to a site of legend is tricky: the forge fire takes on a life of its own, and sometimes spirits of grandeur inhabit the items and try to exert their own will. Be ready to fend off such creatures as you collaborate with me to finish the item." Tonfer warns them and bids everyone to come inside.
He shows them a flaming battleaxe. "This is the Firecutter. Let's get started already!" Tonfer gives them instructions on what to do.