Aeotsep stretches where he stands, then jumps off, beckoning to Kelumur as he does so.
Well done my friend! A well-trained body guided by a well-honed will - that, is the proper path to enlightenment.
Now, on to your fifth trial
Aeotsep leads you on another hike, taking you back towards the monastery and up a hidden trail, shedding most of your onlookers as you go.
Many years after he began to teach students in these mountains, the wizened monk begins to explain, Narmek Tar Kuata challenged the air spirits for mastery of the winds. They attempted to tear him from the peak, but he struck the mountain and caused a great pillar of stone to rise high into the sky. Acknowledging Narmek Tar Kuata’s superiority, the air spirits granted him the respect he had earned, and have served the monastery ever since. The spire, as we call it, still stands as a reminder of our alliance with these spirits, and our founder’s remains reside in a reliquary at its top. Many of the trials that we take to ascend within our ranks center around this pillar. Climbing the spire is much like walking the same path that led Narmek Tar Kuata to enlightenment. In recent memory, only a single student has attained a level of master and wisdom that could have rivaled the Founder's.
Aeotsep steps out from the covered path and into daylight, where a impossibly tall stone pillar rises from the mountainside. The pillar has no handholds carved into it, but the stone is very rough. This climb is your next trial.
Skivven easily makes the ascent!
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Eirwen, tired of not giving his fullest to the tests, turns back to the rest of the group. He puts his hand into the components pouch and pulls out a living spider in a small glass box. His white mask flares with the flash of divine energy. With the murmur of incantations and the hand gestures, Eirwen briefly touches everybody, one by one.
I will use my bonded mask feature to spontaneously cast one druid spell I know and am able to cast. That will be a communal version of Spider Climb.
With CL6, that'll be 10 minutes to each party member of a climb speed of 20 feet and a +8 racial bonus on Climb skill checks; and not making Climb checks to traverse a vertical or horizontal surface (even upside down).
The druid than strolls towards the column and walks up its surface.
At the top of the pillar, you find Itephta hovering above the spire, accompanied by a slender Garundi woman carrying a long spear, her dark hair woven into a braid. Aeotsep joins you a few moments later, carrying a large bag on his back.
This is your last test, Pathfinders—one I personally requested and insisted on observing, Itephta says without taking his eyes off the wooden case in his hands. The young monk opens the lid, gracefully plucks a wand from inside, and hands the empty box to Aeotsep. Itephta points the wand at the spire, and in a matter of seconds, the narrow summit expands into a broad platform, like an unfolding mushroom.
Irori teaches that inner peace and knowledge are key, but one must be able to defend his values in trial by arms, he explains as the Garundi woman alights on the platform. I ask that you spar with the monastery’s champion, Aramaya. Please make it an honorable fight, for the great Tar Kuata watches us today.
Aeotsep opens his bag to reveal an array of wooden weapons of expert manufacture. There is also a single lesser merciful metamagic rod within the bag, To allow you to battle with both spells and honor, Aeotsep adds with a smile.
Aramaya warms up by whipping her longspear around herself in a dazzling display of precision, then drinks a pair of potions and sets herself in readiness for the trial.
Armamaya bows. Begin.
Skivven
Rhiannon
Kelumur
Kitani
Eirwen
Aramaya
Kali
As Kelumur advances on Aramaya she lashes out at him, swift as a striking serpent! Still, her speed isn't enough to keep his own blade from finding its mark.
Bold may go!
Skivven
Rhiannon
Kelumur 26nl
Kitani
Eirwen
Aramaya 21 nl
Kali
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"GGGGGNNNAAAAA! currsezzzzz! thuurd timz'da charmsz I guezzzz..."
Cursing under his breath at his heavy accent getting in the way of properly pronouncing his wand's command word, Skivven finally manages to activate it and join the fight!
He moves into a flanking position with Kelumur and tries to penetrate Aramaya's defenses with his wooden tailblade to try to disorient her and put her off-balance!
for nonlethal damage.
Aramaya deflects Eirwen's grasp and bats aside Rhiannon's blade, twisting away from the fiery beam into the midst of Kitani's allies.
Skivven, though he takes a ferocious blow, is more successful at piercing Aramaya's guard.
With a fluidity of motion that simply must be seen to be believed, Aramaya glides out from the midst of the Pathfinders, her entire body bunching up behind a single thrust, aimed to knock Kitani from the platform!
Kitani goes limp as the longspear slams into her, carrying her up and over the lip of the platform's edge, but not far into her plummet, her fall is gently arrested - apparently the air spirits here still have some mastery of the winds.
Skivven 33nl
Rhiannon
Kelumur 26nl
Kitani -12, 37nl, unconscious
Eirwen Frigid Touch 5/6
Aramaya 37 nl (No AoO's, -2 Atk, -2 Atk vs. Skivven)
Kali
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"My turn," Announces Kali, seeing she has the champion right where she wants her....
[dice=Ki Flurry, +1 Body Wrap, BOOT TO THE HEAD!]1d20+10[/dice]
It turns out that this whole "don't mutilate your opponents" stricture meshes very poorly with Kuthite training.
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Rhiannon gasps when Kitani is knocked from the platform, but then she sees the sorceress is caught in the gentle winds, floating to the ground and the paladin smiles. A non-lethal test after all. She hopes that her heavy armor won't counteract whatever spell is in action if she too meets a similar fate, and moves around Kali to engage the monk - allowing Kelmur a path to get a flanking position. This time Rhiannon aims a strike at a vital area, though of course the wooden weapon will soften the blow to some degree.
Aramaya is still off balance from Skivven's strike, but she's still able to swat aside Rhiannon's blade and Kali's kick.
Bold may go! (Check the map link at the top for movement and positioning)
Skivven 33nl, Invisible (6)
Rhiannon
Kelumur 26nl
Kitani -12, 37nl, unconscious
Eirwen Frigid Touch 4/6
Aramaya 37 nl (No AoO's, -2 Atk, -2 Atk vs. Skivven)
Kali
Aramaya avoids Kelumur's shenanigans almost without so much as glancing at the speedy half-orc.
Vaulting over Kali and Kelumur, she twists in midair to send her spear thrusting for Rhiannon!
The precisely aimed spear thuds hard against Rhiannon's breastplate, pushing her backwards over the edge!
Skivven 33nl, Invisible (5)
Rhiannon 20nl - falling?!
Kelumur 26nl
Kitani -12, 37nl, unconscious
Eirwen Frigid Touch 4/6
Aramaya 37 nl
Kali
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Without hesitation, Kelumur reacts as the monk jumps over by attempting to force her out of balance. The half orc times to perfectly throw his shield at her feet as she tumbles into position.
Not enough, he rushes in once more to try to create an advantage by attempting to subdue her sights again. He flashes his cloak over her eyes.
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Rhiannon tries to catch the lip of the platform as the monk's blow pushes her backward over the edge, though with her heavy armor and shield in hand there's not much hope of that!
vs DC 15 = Success!
Includes -6 for AC Penalty (full plate and heavy shield - though at least both are magical and it's not -8!)
But in an incredible effort, her shield hand catches the lip of the platform and she heaves her body toward solid ground! Though she strongly suspects the 200' fall wouldn't have proved fatal with the air magic that Kitana has already triggered, still the paladin is grateful she didn't have to test it.
Staggering to her feet, she moves to stay in the combat and slashes again with the wooden sword.
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Skivven curses... the potion will have to wait... he drops it gently to the ground (free action)
Using only his knuckles so not as to shred the monk, Skivven carefully attempts to jab and uppercut the monk.
INVISIBLE:
JAB!
vs. Aramaya's Flat-Footed AC for nonlethal damage.
VISIBLE:
UPPERCUT!
for nonlethal damage;
PULL AT HER EAR WITH TEETH!
for nonlethal damage;
SLAPPADAFACE!!!
for nonlethal damage
-->CONFIRM SLAPPADAFACE CRIT!!!
for nonlethal damage
Skivven then takes a 5-foot step backwards!
Aramaya's footing and stance are impeccable; She merely shifts her balance to keep her feet against Kelumur's shield, and she moves fluidly with even the expert twist of his cloak to keep her eyes clear for Kali's onslaught.
Fortunately, Kali has had time to study Aramaya's form as well, and though her roundhouse doesn't topple Aramaya, it does leave her vulnerable to a nasty shot to the liver that lays her out atop the pedestal.
[ooc]Congratulations! I may be able to put up a progress post later tonight, but if not, I'll be back on tomorrow.
Skivven 33nl, Invisible (5)
Rhiannon 20nl - falling?!
Kelumur 26nl
Kitani -12, 37nl, unconscious
Eirwen Frigid Touch 4/6
Aramaya 64 nl, unconscious
Kali
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Eirwen turns around and readies the metamagic rod only to see that Aramaya is taken out already. "Oh, I am glad it did not go to far."
He kneels down to the ground and touches it for the time long enough for the frigidness in his touch to go away. "I wonder if Aramaya is that one student that has attained a level of mastery and wisdom that could have rivaled Narmek Tar Kuata".
Itephta revives Aramaya shortly, and the champion gives you all a respectful bow of her own. Still visibly working through a good bit of soreness, she begs your leave, After all, I must contemplate my performance today.
Aeotsep is somewhat reticent in his own response to Eirwen's question, Though Aramaya is mighty and skilled, she is not the one of whom I spoke. I have said too much though. Fame invites reverence, and the reverence of others can blunt the desire for self-improvement.
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Kelumur returns the bow, "It was an unfair advantage in numbers. Should we have gone toe to toe, I fear we likely would have lost." The half-orc contemplates his own abilities as the sparring comes to an end.
Turning the Aeotsep, he questions the monk " We desire to prove ourselves, lead us on to the rest of your test." Picking up his shield, he withdraws a plain looking wand and turns to the divine casters. "Care to do the honours?"
Aramaya gives Kelumur a small smile, I did not intend to imply that my performance was shameful. Only that, as in all things, there are lessons to be learned from where I succeeded and where I did not.
You feel a strange tugging as something begins to lift each of you back down to the base of the spire, Itephta using his magic to return the pillar to its original shape as you go.
You are given a room in one of the Pahmet caves for the night, and in the morning you are summoned to the Master's Room.
Though you do not share in our veneration, it is clear that your society encourages many of the same values we seek to perfect here. We believe you would be worthy caretakers of this relic.
But first, we would ask of you a boon. Our monastery is remote and receives little direct aid from Sothis and the great river cities of Osirion, and this distance has made us a target for worshippers of Rovagug who recently became our neighbors. These so-called Doomsday Knights frequently attack caravans and pilgrims, and we have done what we can to protect the trails that lead here with the disciples we have. In fact, one of our own, a respected Ouat named Bertrag, disappeared several days before you arrived. At this point I assume he has perished; the cult is known for sacrificing intelligent creatures.
Irori promotes self-perfection, but I do not confuse that with blind self-reliance when confronted with a true threat. Tar Kuata can guard travelers or strike at the cult’s heart, but it cannot do both. With your assistance, we might rid this land of the Rough Beast’s warriors once and for all.
They are a cult of Rovagug led by Tasutek, a priest granted considerable physical strength by his patron. Most wield divine power in one form or another. The church of Sarenrae warned us of this group, which fled the Dawnflower’s wrath in An and found refuge here.
We have tracked the Doomsday Knights to an abandoned mine located more
than a day’s travel north of here.
I wish you fortune and insight in their upcoming challenges. Aeotsep removes his two rings—a ring of climbing and a ring of jumping—and offers them to you as parting gifts to help combat the enemy cult.
Itephta also provides you with a phylactery of faithfulness and a brick of incense of meditation.
The estimate is correct, and it's more than a day before you arrive at the Merotsi Mines, there's a weathered sign standing by the entrance with something written in Osiriani. Well, you hope it says Merotsi Mines at least...
There's a good deal of steam in the air here; it's acrid, irritating your eyes. There are five horses tethered here, though they don't look well. Their eyes are bloodshot, and they all have rashes in various parts of their body.
As they see you approaching they become clearly agitated, it looks as if they'd kick you if they were close enough, and it certainly won't be long before they start neighing loudly!