Dot here and we will get rolling in a day or 2 once people are settled.
dot.
So what do people want to build?
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First to arrive is a strapping, striking young woman with fine clothes, heavy leather armor, a bevy of nasty weapons, and strange ophidian features. Her every motion appears near-perfectly controlled, and there is an unmistakable aristocratic swagger in her step...as well as a matching pair of strange, puckered scars in both checks, making her look a bit like a life-sized version of some twisted child's doll.
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Hadza enters the Pig's Paunch without fanfare. His dark hair, coarse features, and tribal scars identify his descent from a Mammoth Lord clan, but he wears more civilized steel armor and carries a spike and hammer-headed pole-arm--a Taldan weapon--over his shoulder. He sets the pole-arm against the wall and lowers a small pack onto the floor.
"Is there anyone else here waiting for their confirmation?" he asks. His voice projects clearly across the pub, but it is not overly loud as some Kellids--especially newly arrived ones--tend to use.
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He smiles at the ophidian woman. The warmth of the expression at odds with the coolness of his pale blue eyes. "If they're not Pathfinders, then they won't know what a confirmation is, will they?" he asks as he arrives at Zahira's table. "We're not secret in Absalom, are we?"
He offers the woman his hand, a hand that lacks the warmth a vishkanya might expect to feel when touching a human. "Hadza. Hadza Icebone.
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A richly dressed woman approaches the table and nods politely. "You are also waiting on the Pathfinders? Do you mind if we join you? I'm Rose." Her clothing is covered in embroidery and beadwork in Varisian patterns, and the gold earrings in her pointed ears and opal ring on her finger are of the latest fashion in Absalom.
The dwarf stomps in, boots still covered in mud. He'll nod at the other people present, but doesn't seem chatty.
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Gnome in a dark purple armor comes on sound of talking about Pathfinders. His skin has a weird blue-gray color, he is completely bald (even without eyebrows and eyelashes) and very eared. Over his shoulder sticks out the hilt of the greatsword.
He gives everyone a hard look, continuing to look up even on sitting guys, and then nods.
'I consider myself a Pathfinder, since I've done one job for them... hmm... for us. However I'm here anyway.'
Sighs.
'Binkilink Zilmorn... at your service'
The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion: “Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig’s Paunch one hour before dawn.” The Pig’s Paunch is a run-down building with a faded sign of a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents of human sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food. In the center of the room, surrounded by inebriates sleeping off their revelries, a familiar elven man stands high upon top of a large round table.
Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat! With that, Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls, nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the table before looking about the tavern with a sense of reverent wonder.
Can you believe it? It all started here years ago—well, over four hundred of them at least. Under this very roof the Pathfinder Society was born.
But today! Today you will begin your Confirmation! Master Farabellus, Master Zey, and I all agree you each have shown your worth and dedication to the Society, so there’s no better time to see if you can handle becoming full field operatives. Allow me to introduce you to Janira Gavix he says as he motions for an excitable halfling woman to approach. She wears a large backpack and carries all manner of tools, pouches, and scroll cases around her waist.
Shaine continues, saying, Janira here will be going with you on your Confirmation. She was one of my brightest pupils and will no doubt be an invaluable resource on your journey, for she discovered the caves you are about to explore during her own Confirmation.
Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, I witnessed a lone gillman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave again a month later as my Confirmation stretched on. A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered the cave system, but was unable to find the gillmen.
Master Shaine hops to his feet.
Initiates, for your Confirmation, you will travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages. Additionally, and most importantly, you are to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and you need to come back alive as well.
With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls jumps off the table and strolls out of the building while humming to himself. Once the door has closed behind him Janira looks to you. Does anyone have any questions?
"I'm always ready." says the dwarf as he downs his pint. "Time's a-wasting."
Janira looks around the group.
Before we set out, everyone make a check of your supplies. The society motto is "Explore, Report, Cooperate" so make sure you have supplies to keep accurate records. Also things like rope, something to make fire, a light source, food, sources of healing. Also things like antitoxins and alchemist's fire can be useful to a field agent, but they are costly too.
The hooded figure nods and follows Rose closely.
"Then what are we all waiting around for. He'll stand and start heading out."
Janira reminds you all that she has cheap paper and charcoal pencils should anyone want to take notes for their reports.
Janira takes a brief moment to go over the plan before you all set out.
“Now, on to the details of the mission at hand,” Janira says with an eager grin. “After reviewing my mission reports personally, Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time they entered the caves it was during a full moon, so it is also no coincidence that you have been called here now, just a day before the moon is full again. We both believe that tomorrow night is our best chance to find out why these caves are important and what exactly the gillmen are doing in there.
“The caves we’ll be travelling to lie under the base of the Kortos Mounts. We’ll need to spend every minute of daylight possible to reach the caves by foot, crossing over the Cairnlands, taking the paths to Diobel, and finally making our way through the wilderness. With any luck we won’t run into any of the local inhabitants. Once in the caves, we’ll need to work together to explore and determine whether any gillman are present or have been recently. Keep an eye out for any other clues that might hint at the caves’ significance, too.”
Finishing up her explanation Janira stands up, settles her tab and leads you to the door.
The first part of your journey takes you through Absolom itself and Janira takes great joy in pointing out landmarks and other things of note as the group travels along. Just after noon you leave the city and begin to travel through the countryside. The first day and night pass uneventfully with Janira regaling you with tales of the glory of the Pathfinder Society.
Over breakfast Janira talks about the day ahead. ”The area we’re heading to is controlled by a large centaur tribe. If we cross paths with any of them, they’ll see the horses as an affront and might become dangerously unfriendly. Our mission is to explore the caves and investigate the gillmen activity, not fight the local populace.”
As mid-afternoon passes and the party progresses deeper into the forest, the trees towering overhead begin to shield most of what remains of the day’s sun and the vegetation beneath grows denser. Janira pauses a moment and pulls out an intricate silver compass emblazoned with the Pathfinder Society logo: the Glyph of the Open Road. “I received this wayfinder when I successfully completed my Confirmation. Should we be successful on our journey, you will get your own as well.”
She flips open the device and holds it in front of her; the initials J. L. are engraved into the inside of the device’s lid. After studying the compass inside for a moment, she remarks, “We’re on the right path. We need to keep heading northwest past those large rocks up ahead.”
But before you can start moving again, a large tree falls to the forest floor, startling all sorts of creatures. In their fear, some start to attack your party.
If you roll 21 or higher, you may ask for more information.
Round 1 Bold may act
Drallin
Green Enemy
Janira
Binkilink
Rose
Reaper
Red Enemy
Zahira
Hadza
Auraea
Dralin moves 30' towards the beast to the east. As he does so, he unwraps the chain from his waist. He growls a challenge and stands ready to defend the others.
Seeing one of the group rush forward the green enemy moves to attack Drallin.
Drillin swings and connects with creature damaging it. As it lunges to retaliate he strikes again and slays the creature.
Janira begins to speak infusing you all with courage.
“Let us remember the sacrifice of the fabled Yasmin bint Faroud, favored of the Ten, who gave her life distracting Zythrustianax, draconic scourge of the Society, so dozens of junior agents could survive. Her act of benevolence is the epitome of cooperation within the Society.”
Round 1 Bold may act
Drallin
Janira
Binkilink
Rose
Reaper
Red Enemy
Zahira
Hadza
Auraea
Asael steps forward beside Rose and readies its scythe.
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"Hey! That's a hippogriffs! They are..." -
"wow, Drallin... That was bloody awesome!" - gnome looks fascinated at dwarfs mighty swings and what he did with a monster.
"Ok, it's my turn to play that song, HA!" - with this words he moves forward pulling out his gratesword. "Come at me, pathetic creature!". You see some kind of a barely noticeable dark aura around him. His face distorted with anger.
-Posted with Wayfinder
he shouts with triumphant glee.
The red hippogriff moves toward the closest members of the party. As it approaches Reaper swings his scythe but is too hasty and misses. The hippogriff slashes back with its claws.
Missing with both.
Round 1 Bold may act
Drallin
Janira
Binkilink
Rose
Reaper
Red Hippogriff (-1)
Zahira
Hadza
Auraea
Hadza and Zahira both attempt to damage the creature, but are unsuccessful.
Round 2 Bold may act
Drallin
Janira [/b]
Binkilink
Rose
Reaper
Red Hippogriff (-1)
Zahira
Hadza
Auraea
Janira continues her tale and shouts encouragement to you all. Work together, that's the way. Cooperate!!!
Dralin charges up swinging his chain between Rose and Asael. "Coming through!" he warns as this comes past.
Dralin slashes at the hippogriff, but since he is slashing past Rose and Reaper the enemy manages to avoid any damage from the strike.
Round 2 Bold may act
Drallin
Janira
Binkilink
Rose
Reaper
Red Hippogriff (-1)
Zahira
Hadza
Auraea
Asael steps to one side and brings its scythe down for another blow.