Talathel nods to Krux.
"Assuming the state this place is in I think you have had plenty of time to reflect on that question. Is it possible for us to free you? We may have use of your wisdom in the future."
Help, with what do you need it?. If you seek to activate the braid of the hundred master, only the master of the monastery would know how it functions. The last master, Li Yao, left the monastery and the braid here many, many years ago.
A petulant student believed he knew better than his master. The student proclaimed that the master unfairly gained power from the Braid of a Hundred Masters, cheapening the path to self-perfection. He challenged the master to remove the braid and compete against him without its power. The master did so and, in the process, defeated the student. Once the master had proven himself to the student, the master left the braid at the student’s feet, then turned away, leaving the monastery, never to return. The master took one student with him that day, the young disciple, Ying Pei, while the remaining students squabbled and fought over the braid. None could call upon the power of the braid and so they left the monastery, one by one, once again seeking their true paths to perfection. Eventually, only the petulant student and the braid remained. Here he stayed, until the day he died, contemplating the significance behind his master’s actions. Perhaps, through searching for the master and his last disciple, you may uncover the answer to the Braid of a Hundred Masters.”
... to be continued in Part II. Now is a good time to roll day jobs, after which I'll write the conclusion and post chronicles
LN Male Hellspawn Tiefling GhostRider Cavalier4 of the Dragon Init +2; AC19 (21 with shield), Touch12, FF17 (19 with shield), CMD16; hp 35/35; Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1 (+3 vs. mind-affecting from demons); Perception: +0 (darkvision 60 ft)
Thank you, Nodded Maldrek.
Already rolled somewhere. Numbers (5gp) are in Handouts
I'll be lagging behind for a while still. But I agree with Salena, although I will not be going to the frontline then. A 5 foot step of an enemy would most likely be enough to immediately get me down.
LN Male Hellspawn Tiefling GhostRider Cavalier4 of the Dragon Init +2; AC19 (21 with shield), Touch12, FF17 (19 with shield), CMD16; hp 35/35; Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1 (+3 vs. mind-affecting from demons); Perception: +0 (darkvision 60 ft)
I'll update my sheet tomorrow, but it's mostly purchase for me. I don't mind playing second part up, but I am 3rd level frontliner (for now).
As well, during the game, I would like to utilize my fighting features, like charge and stuff. Please, consider tactics before rushing to get the enemy. There won't be much help if Maldrek will be running behind party all the time
Male Wayang Samurai 1 / Wizard 4 | HP 40/40 | AC: 18 T: 14 FF: 15 CMD: 18 | F+6 R+5 W+5 (+2 vs shadow spells) | Init +3 | Perception +10
No worries Talathel! I'll make a call for the team to speed thing up then - let's play down and be on the safe side. I promise Hikage will make an effort about those rushing tactics, Maldrek. ;)
To add to this debate: I don't think that you have much of a choice at your current APL: when APL is 3, you play up with four player adjustments. The choice at the previous game was due to the fact that your APL was 2.5, which is where the players get to choose rounding up or down.
----
It’s been three days since parting ways with Venture-Captain Amara Li, and the journey along the Tuunma River has been unusually quiet so far, with the two-masted junk called the Laughing Crow holding up surprisingly well, especially considering its simple design and relatively minute size. The journey has been peaceful so far, the endless processions of sand dunes and clear skies proving remarkably contrary to many of the warnings Amara Li provided during the meeting with her nearly half a week ago.
“No time to rest, Pathfinders!” she exclaimed late one night, barging into the bedroom of the ramshackle tavern in Goka. “I’ve looked into the situation surrounding the relic you found, the Braid of a Hundred Masters. As you may have noticed, the artifact appears to have been dormant for many years now, and in this state it’s essentially worthless to us. Fortunately, it can be reactivated, but only by the descendant of the braid’s last master, who, as you may know, was the master of the Clouded Path Monastery many years ago, a man by the name of Li Yao. I’ve discovered the whereabouts of his final living descendant—a woman by the name of Je Tsuin—but she now resides in the nation of Shokuro to the east, far from where her ancestor taught in his monastery in the Wall of Heaven. In order to reactivate the sacred relic, you’ll need to travel to the village of Nesting Swallow in Shokuro and find Je Tsuin to perform the necessary ritual.
“Unfortunately,” she continued, “we’re not the only group interested in Iroran artifacts. Our operatives claim that Lingshen, the Successor State to the southeast, is after the relic as well. Since Lingshen’s armies have a stranglehold on the overland routes from here to Shokuro, you’ll have to travel by river. Riding the Tuunma is faster anyway, though you might run into some hostile Mutabi-qi or goblinoids along the way. The river empties into the Sea of Eels—cross it and you’re in Shokuro, and from there you can follow the map I’ve provided to reach Nesting Swallow.
“Ah,before I forget, you’ll also need you to make a quick stop along the way. The ritual requires a large amount of rare incense—more than I could easily procure from any of my local suppliers—so I’ve contacted a nomadic tribe in Shaguang, the Jhemulit, and they have agreed to provide you with the prepared herbs. I’ve already paid their shaman, a man named Ogokai, and I’ve marked their approximate location on your map, so it’s simply a matter of picking up the incense on your way to Shokuro.”
You may retroactively ask questions at this point. I'll also need you to appoint a 'driver' for the boat, which requires either K(nature), Prof(Sailor) or high wisdom
Talathel nods, and nods.
"Ah yes I see."
Talathel says as he reaches for his snuff box. He takes a good whiff and places it in his pouch again.
"First thing in the morning then, lads?"
My wisdom is a whopping 10, also neither of the skills. Best if I stay clear of the wheel also :P
LN Male Hellspawn Tiefling GhostRider Cavalier4 of the Dragon Init +2; AC19 (21 with shield), Touch12, FF17 (19 with shield), CMD16; hp 35/35; Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1 (+3 vs. mind-affecting from demons); Perception: +0 (darkvision 60 ft)
Maldrek didn't felt himself comfortable close to water: swimming in armor wasn't his strong feature, but he hold that to himself, quietly nodding to Taicho taking the wheel.
- At least, i have that potion to stop me from drowning if something, - he thought.
Mutabi-qi, that’s what the nomad tribes of Shaguang call themselves. Most are pretty aggressive toward outsiders, but if you can make friendly contact, you’ll find them very hospitable. They travel from oasis to oasis across Shaguang, and frequently make stops along the Tuunma River to water their horses
Amari Li laughs A bill of sale? No, I've already payed the shaman with hides, that should be enough. They have no need for paper anyway.
Layout of the ship (see map):
1. Main Deck: The deck of the Laughing Crow is sun- bleached and worn from weeks of exposure to the harsh mountain winds. The rigging and sails look to be in much better condition, having recently been replaced. A large hatch above the bow leads to the fore cargo hold, while a smaller hatch midship leads to the midship cargo hold.
2. Driving Area: The PC driving the ship must stand in either of the two squares adjacent to the rudder in order to make driving checks.
3. Cabin: This small cabin is plainly appointed. A small cook-stove sits in a niche on the port side of the room, while bunk beds line the a wall. A hatch in the floor on the starboard side of the room leads down to the a cargo hold.
4. A Cargo Hold: This small cargo hold is stocked with more than enough food and water to last the PCs on their journey to Shokuro. It’s sealed apart from the other cargo holds by a watertight bulkhead.
5. Midship Cargo Hold: This cargo hold stores all the mundane supplies the PCs will need to run the ship, such as rope, spare sails, block and tackle, etc. As with the a cargo hold, it’s sealed by a watertight bulkhead.
6. Fore Cargo Hold: This cargo area is set up to stable any mounts or large animals the PCs have that won’t fit abovedeck. As with the a cargo hold, it’s sealed by a watertight bulkhead.
It takes almost two weeks to reach a stretch of river known as the Kogendu Basin, a smooth an easy sail that is hardly challenging to Taicho.
The river slows as it leaves the sandy highlands and winds its way between the rolling hills of this dry, grassy basin. The breeze that blows from the north is dusty and warm, and a thicket of short gnarled trees lines the shore.
DC 15 Perception:
All is not well. The sound of hoofs can be heard ashore.
You may act in the surprise round
Talathel looks around as he stands at the railing of the ship.
"Is that hooves I hear?"
He says to no one in particular. He turns around to see several armed men riding horses on the shore.
"What? Why are they chasing us?"
He calls down to the men below.
"Helloooooooo!"
He sees the angry look on their faces and decides it might be best not to engage them in melee. He takes a step closer to the railing and casts murderous command on the closest rider [white] and calls out to him.
"Good sir, would you consider attacking one of your friends instead of us? It would do me great pleasure!"
Will save DC 16 or he attacks his closest ally.
Murderous command:
You give the target a mental urge to kill its nearest ally, which it obeys to the best of its ability. The target attacks its nearest ally on its next turn with a melee weapon or natural weapon. If necessary, it moves to or charges to the nearest ally in order to make this attack. If it is unable to reach its closest ally on its next turn, the target uses its turn to get as close as possible to the ally.
F Human Fighter/2 (HP 18/18 | AC:20 [+1 when adjacent to a single foe] | T:14 | FF:17 | CMB:6 | CMD:19 [+2 vs. Grapple&Trip] | Fort:+5 | Ref:+4 | Will:+2 [+1 vs. Fear] | Init:+3 | Perc:+3 | Speed:20) PFS#: 115025-8
Perception:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
"That always how you greet strangers?" Salena asks Talathel.
"They may not by hostile," she adds, but with some hesitation in her voice.
Salena moves up next to Talathel while taking her longbow off her back, figuring the horsemen will be hostile no matter their initial intentions now Talathel's cast a spell on one of them.
Male Wayang Samurai 1 / Wizard 4 | HP 40/40 | AC: 18 T: 14 FF: 15 CMD: 18 | F+6 R+5 W+5 (+2 vs shadow spells) | Init +3 | Perception +10
Perception:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Hikage's sharpened senses warn him of the impending danger. He has time to react, casting mirror image before the riders are onto him and his companions.
LN Male Hellspawn Tiefling GhostRider Cavalier4 of the Dragon Init +2; AC19 (21 with shield), Touch12, FF17 (19 with shield), CMD16; hp 35/35; Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1 (+3 vs. mind-affecting from demons); Perception: +0 (darkvision 60 ft)
Maldrek brought his heavy crossbow, waiting for a moment, when someone will actually attack them, ready to respond it with a heavy bolt.
Talathel casts a spell, confusing the closest rider and making him unsure who his allies are. Salena draws her longbow, while Hikage ensures he is well-defended. Krux causes the grassy growth on the shore to extend and tangle up the riders.
Talathel's face turns dark and he starts mumbling under his breath. He raises his arms and is swinging them from left to right while chanting his spell.
LN Male Hellspawn Tiefling GhostRider Cavalier4 of the Dragon Init +2; AC19 (21 with shield), Touch12, FF17 (19 with shield), CMD16; hp 35/35; Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1 (+3 vs. mind-affecting from demons); Perception: +0 (darkvision 60 ft)
Maldrek covers behind the sideboards and reloads his crossbow.
Move, hide, reload; Next round - shot their leader Atk:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13dmg:1d10 ⇒ 8
Talathel starts summoning an eagle, a long incantation that seems to draw out forever. Maldrek reloads, but a jolt of the ship sends his bolt high up in the air. Taicho's timing is better, and he hits the leader straight in the chest, only narrowly missing his heart.
Krux feels vulnerable, and casts a spell to change that, as does Hikage. Salena hits a warrior with a straight shot, knocking him off his horse.
The warriors only manage to move slowly through the mess of vines, but the leader nevertheless returns fire at Taicho, while his troops rains a volley on the ship.
Talathel stops flailing his arms and an eagle appears above one of the riders White. The eagle starts attacking the man below him, before he disappears in a puff of smoke.
While the eagle is harassing the man Talathel starts casting a spell. He holds his hands above each other as if holding an orb and a flame appears in his hand. Produce flame.
HP 22/22 | AC 20 T14 FF15 | Init +3 Perc +8 (+1 Traps) CMB +4 CMD 18 | F+3 R+6 W+0 | NG Tengu | Rogue (Swordmaster, Trapsmith) 2; Fighter (Weapon Master) 1 | Cmp Bow +6; 1d6+2 x3 P (Dueling Sword +6; 1d8+2 19-20x2 S) | sheet
Round 218/22 HP
Taicho steps 5ft to port, hoping the railing will provide some cover. Then he fires his short bow at the leader again ...
Sh Bow:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 for Piercing:1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
LN Male Hellspawn Tiefling GhostRider Cavalier4 of the Dragon Init +2; AC19 (21 with shield), Touch12, FF17 (19 with shield), CMD16; hp 35/35; Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +1 (+3 vs. mind-affecting from demons); Perception: +0 (darkvision 60 ft)
Heavy crossbow requires standart action to reload, means I shoot only in round3. Unless, combat closes to hand to hand, Maldrek keeps on shooting every odd round. He had 10 bolts, so its 8 shots left :)
Talathel's summoned eagle distract the westmost warrior, fluttering around his head and pecking at it. Taicho aims for the leader, but the boat again rocks hard, and the arrow goes wide.
Maldrek finally offloads his bolt (see previous round ;-)), while Krux starts another long incantation.
Salena falls prey to the rocking of the boat as well, with another veering off-course.
