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The marble-paved circle at Breachill’s center has become an armed encampment. The tall bronze statue of the city’s founder impassively watches shouting officers of the Steel Falcon readying their formations for battle. Engineers carefully stack ammunition alongside enormous bombards. Nearby, Pathfinder agents hurry to and from Venture-Captain Brackett, preparing for the upcoming struggle.
The venture-captain wipes his brow and drinks from a canteen before addressing your team specifically. “Good morning, Pathfinders! I hope you’re rested. It’s going to be a long day. You might be a bit nervous seeing all the preparations, and I don’t blame you. We’re here to challenge Cheliax and the Hellknights for the town, but you’re still fresh from your confirmations, so I don’t expect you to join directly in the battle.” Brackett produces a hand-drawn map of Breachill with several locations circled in blue ink across Breach Creek to the north. “We’re working with Andoran’s Steel Falcons on this mission. They’ve secured the town south of the creek that divides it. Most Hellknights have retreated to Citadel Altaerein northeast of town, but a few holdouts, fiends, and mercenaries remain in the north half of Breachill. I spoke to Greta Gardania from the town council; they’ve had a tough time under the Hellknight’s occupation, and many townspeople are trapped, short on supplies, or too afraid to get to safety. That’s where you come in. I want you to cross the creek and check the locations I’ve circled on the map: Vusker’s, Lamond’s, and the books company. I’ve already sent other teams to check the others. Help the townspeople and convince them to come back here with you. Prioritize their safety.”
He pauses, looking over the gathered army: the Eagle Knights sharp in their blue uniforms, banners waving and bright, steel gleaming in the sunlight of the cloudless day. “Marvelous, isn’t it? It reminds me of tapestries I’ve seen of the Shining Crusade, brave knights in all their splendor. “ He turns away from the scene. “The machinations of fiends brought us here, but mortals will do the fighting, and on a scale beyond what most of us can imagine. Be careful, Pathfinders. Just get yourselves and the civilians back here alive.” He waves his hand in a circle to indicate that it’s now okay to ask any questions you might have.
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Pusong Bato is a weathered-looking, dark-skinned, middle-aged man. His uncombed wavy black hair falls just past his ears and a line of visible facial hair surrounds his jawline, giving him a rugged profile. A lit cigarette often balances between his lips, with each puff keeping him incredibly calm and hyper-focused. He carries with him is a well-maintained arquebus, ready to be fired when the moment calls for it.
Military. Machines. Guns. Bombs. Pusong feels nostalgic with the scene in front of him. Despite the noise and frantic movements, he manages to listen to the Captain’s instructions and remember the locations encircled in the map.
He gives the captain a small nod and in a steady tone he replies, "Take down the Hellknights and save the civilians. Copy that."
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A young woman with wind-tousled blonde hair and keen eyes steps forward. She adjusts the scarf wrapped around her neck—a traveler’s habit as much as a shield against dust—and takes a steady breath before addressing Venture-Captain Brackett. Her gaze sweeps the preparations around the square
“Nara Zumono, Pathfinder—fresh stripes and all,” she says with a quick bow, the motion fluid and street-taught rather than formal. “Still new to the Society, but I’ve spent most of my life slipping through streets people told me to avoid. Getting across the creek and finding the folks too scared or trapped to move? That, I can do.”
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A human in his early thirties arrives, panting from having run all the way to the meeting point. He hopes he isn't late.
"Jared, at your service. I assume I’m with the right group for this mission?" he says, introducing himself while still catching his breath.
Just in time for the briefing, he listens intently, thinking deeply over what he might ask next.
"Why did Breachill come to this point?" he finally asks, wanting to understand what events led to all this, events the venture-captain had just described.
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"Why did Breachill come to this point?" he finally asks, wanting to understand what events led to all this, events the venture-captain had just described.
Brackett darkens as he answers. ”When Cheliax sent the Hellknight Order of the Rack into Breachill and began publicly executing several innocent citizens, Andoran decided to take a public stand and liberate the town. Andira Marusek, the Supreme Elect of Andoran, reached out to the Pathfinder Society for some on-the-ground assistance. Specifically they want our help getting the civilians to safety. So that’s your task.” He pauses as he looks you over. ”You may need these, though,” he says as he retrieves two minor healing potions from his pack and hands them to SiaoSiao.
As he does so, a studious, impeccably dressed goblin carrying several scrolls and wearing silver jewelry hurries toward the venture-captain. “The Pathfinder Society and Venture-Captain Brackett, yes? Jorsk Hinterclaw said to speak with you My name is Warbal, ambassador for the Bumblebrashers of Citadel Altaerein to Breachill. Most Bumblebrashers fled when the Hellknights came, but Chief Helba and a few others remained behind. With the battle about to start, is there anything you can do to help them?”
Your venture-captain grimaces at the complication. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll ensure my agents know to watch for your people once we’re past the walls. ” He turns to you as you make your final preparations gathering your provisions from a passing Pathfinder Quartermaster. “While you’re out there, keep your ears open for anything that might help the Bumblebrashers,” he instructs you.
Warbal thanks you and Brackett profusely and tells you to say “Cousin Warbal” sent you if you meet Chief Helba or other Bumblebrashers, so that they know the Pathfinders are friends.
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Durgok Bugok stands silently, his heavy shield resting against his shoulder. He ignores the noise and focuses on the mission.
"Civilians first. We save the townsfolk, keep them safe, and bring them back," he mutters, exhaling slowly. His grip tightens on his weapon as the weight of Cheliax’s cruelty settles in his thoughts.
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Pusong seems to be apathetic upon hearing Captain Brackett’s stories. Because of his tragic past, his heart has turned stone cold and buried his emotions in thick layers of ice. Socialization and diplomatic conversations are not his strong points, thus, he prefers not to ask anything and focus on his preparations for the upcoming battle against the Hellknights.
After listening to Warbal and the Captain’s conversation, he inhales his cigarette and speaks, “I’ll be on alert for any useful information during the mission. “Cousin Warbal”, copy that!”
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Jared has spent enough time in and around Avistan to know that Cheliax is an absolute monarchy located on the southwestern coast of the continent, ruled by Queen Abrogail II. The national religion is diabolism, and the country models its government on the bureaucracy of Hell. Similarly, the Hellknights are made up of mercenary companies that model themselves on the order and discipline of Hell. While not exclusively tied to Cheliax, they have a strong connection with the nation.
SiaoSiao doesn’t know much about diabolism or the tenets of Asmodeus.
”You’ve got your mission, so be on your way. Best of luck and stay safe out there,” Captain Braskett says as he dismisses you and turns to see to another much more senior Pathfinder team. ”Cousin Warbal” thanks you again and scurries off in search of other goblins that may have gone astray. You are left in the dust and din of the preparations to come up with a plan.
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Versatile Vials (2+INT): [][][][][][] (Regains 2 vials every 10 minutes during Exploration mode; does not prevent participation in other exploration activities.)
Pathfinder Provision: [] Minor Healing Potion
Jared takes a moment to share what he recalls about Cheliax and the Hellknights before addressing the group.
“I’ve prepared a mix of elixirs for this mission. I’m no proper healer, but I trust these will prove useful.” He opens a satchel and displays the carefully labelled vials before tucking the lesser glue bombs securely away.
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Pusong decides to take one Minor Elixir of Life made by the Alchemist. "I'll take this vial. This might come in handy since I'll be the team's sniper and will probably be out of range from the everyone . I'll also be positioning myself in areas that would provide enough cover to conceal my location but still give me a clear view of the enemy."
Pusong now has one minor healing potion (from the provisions) and one minor elixir of life (crafted by Jared).
As part of his preparations, he attaches a silencer in his newly maintained arquebus, ensuring that his location won't be noticed by the enemies once he fires his gun.
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Past the barricades and Eagle Knight patrols, the town is quieter, as if holding its breath. Signs of skirmishes litter the streets, a few broken pieces of armor here, discarded weapons there. Windows are shuttered, doors barricaded with only the occasional glimpse of people still inside. A few doors are broken open, other buildings gutted with fire. Notices posted by the Hellknights tell of the crimes of the former occupants. The empty gallows in the nearby square casts a long shadow.
A small group of unarmed townspeople stumble through the street, all bruised and beaten. They hesitate before a halfling woman steps forward. “Please, by the Founder’s grace, are you with the Pathfinders? I heard they might be coming to town, and you have the look of travelers and Adventurers. Thieves robbed us when we tried to reach the town hall. They’ve holed up in the abandoned bookstore. I think they have Aaron!”
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”Oh, thank you, miss,” the halfling woman says with a tear in her eye. She turns to the others gathered behind her and after a moment of shared murmurs she replies, ”I’m sorry, miss, but no one really got a good look at them.” The others nod in agreement, hang their heads in shame, or stare vacantly about in shock.
”I’m Iola Chandler, and they took my friend Aaron. All I know is that they’re holed up in the Reliant Book Company. It’s an abandoned bookstore down the street that’s been vacant for some years now. Please rescue Aaron,” she pleads with huge, tear-filled, puppy-dog eyes as she takes Nara’s hand in her own small halfling hands.
You (presumably) follow Iola’s directions and easily find the shop. Three windows are boarded up and the door is locked.
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“We will save him, don’t worry.” Jared tells the halfling, though there is a faint uncertainty in his voice. “Stay here for now and we’ll come back for you and get everyone safely out of here.”
With that, he turns to follow the others toward the bookshop. As someone gets busy to disable the lock, Jared leans in, watching their technique and offering guidance where he can.
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Nara tries a few times and finally gets the tumblers to {click}. The door swings open, surprisingly quietly for the door of an "abandoned" bookstore. The shop interior has three rooms, all visible from the entrance where the only light spills in from the street. The doors connecting the storefront, research room, and bedroom have been either broken open or removed. Crates of stolen food, valuables, and coin are stacked inside precariously. The ceilings of all the rooms are 10 feet high, and with the windows boarded, it is dark inside.
Durgok’s keen eyes pierce the darkness, and he spots something very unusual about the door to the research room. It looks to have a spike trap set on it, but the trap is broken and inactive.
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Pusong gets the trap set up, carefully maintaining control of the trigger himself and pointing the spear towards the door.
Boomer doesn’t find anything of interest except the remains of a recent meal of hardtack and jerky, likely stolen from the city guards in the aftermath of the fighting.
Durgok and Pusong suddenly hear movement and muttering just outside the door before it swings open. Three halflings quickly pile into the room like rats swarming a dropped ham. Just outside the door, a larger (well, larger than a halfling, anyway) beast looms with a bundle over its shoulder. ”Get ‘em, boys,” the beast growls.
The Abandoned Bookstore
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act
Pusong
Durgok
Redhead Halfling
Green Camo Halfling
Blue Hat Halfling
Boomer
Black Fur Wererat
Nara
SiaoSiao
Jared
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The trap set up by Pusong triggers as the bandits enter the bookshop. ”Just as we predicted”, he thinks to himself.
↺ Spear Launcher vs Redhead Halfling
The spear launches and pierces through the RedHead Halfling.
◆ Strike vs Green Camo Halfling
He sees the Green Camo near Durgok. He aims at it and pulls the trigger. The bullet takes off without making any sound.
◆ Covered Reload
He sneakily reloads and then aims at the weakest point of the Black Fur Wererat, this time, a gun shot was heard revealing this location in the bookshop.
◆ Strike vs Black Fur Wererat
HP:
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Pusong triggers the spear trap, and the spear impales the halfling through the chest. She falls straight back with the force of the spear and stops partially upright but totally dead as the speartip gets stuck in the floor.
The sniper fires off two quick and incredibly accurate shots, both right between the eyes of the remaining halflings. With the sounds of a spring, a puff, and a bang, the interior of the room is cleared of halfling bandits. A choked-back cry of astonishment escapes the wererat’s throat as all of his minions drop and he faces the rest of the Pathfinders alone.
The Abandoned Bookstore
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act
Pusong
Durgok
Boomer
Black Fur Wererat
Nara
SiaoSiao
Jared
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Durgok moves to the door and slashes at the wererat who easily dodges out of the way. The fighter then moves back along the wall to allow his allies some fighting space.
Boomer shoots a glob of acid into the doorway,
Which the beast simply sidesteps.
Castus drops the bundle from his shouder which lands with a thump and an ”OW! Oy, ya’ couldda put me down gently, yeah?” from within, which the bandit pointedly ignores. He slinks into the room, surveys the opposition with a quick eye, and swings around behind SiaoSiao. His teeth…
sink into the top of the little goblin’s shoulder and she feels a sense of dread.
The Abandoned Bookstore
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act
Pusong
Durgok
Boomer
Black Fur Wererat
Nara
SiaoSiao
Jared
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Jared activates the Wayfinder dangling on his neck to shine light around him.
◆ Activate Light of Wayfinder
He then one-handedly brews one of his vials, adding ashes to it before throwing it at the wererat.
◆ Quick Bomber w Far Lobber
fire damage, 1 fire splash damage (to target only)
He then raises his dueling cape defensively.
◆ Raise Dueling Cape (+1 circumstance bonus to AC)
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Jared hits the bandit with a vial but it doesn’t do much.
SiaoSiao finds that the bite went deeper than she originally thought and fights off the curse. Her hail of needle darts miss the beast, though, as does Nara’s rapier.
The Abandoned Bookstore
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act
Pusong
Durgok
Boomer
Black Fur Wererat
Nara
SiaoSiao
Jared
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Seeing that it's the only bandit left, Pusong reloads his firearm while hiding behind the door in an attempt of catching the wererat off guard.
He then aims at the wererat’s forehead and pulls the trigger of his arquebus.
After shooting the rat, Pusong once again reloads his firearm while hiding behind the door.