PbP - PFS ; CORE Game - 8-14 ; To Seal the Shadow ; Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Collins - France

Graff laughs as he points out one thing which seems clear to him.

"To lose is too win. Isn't that it's all about besides are you not a blade of your goddess who likes pretty speeches?"

Having said that he begin to wave and encourage the crowd with show casing of his muscles and beating of his chest!
Attempt to seed, Intimidate 1d20+4=8

"You looked like you were choking." ;) Apollyanna says. "I was once a member of the Junior Lifeguards of Absalom before I left to join the Shelyn Scouts. They said I had to learn how to swim."

...all of you have - edge in Flattery, Red Herring & in one choice by Apollyanna

How about rhetoric? Rhetoric.

"Greetings Bu Lo Dama the bumbling fool, who took out his fishing rod upon seeing the sahuagin! Take the bait they did, eating up most of his crew. Well, today we are not here to fish, or lose more of our comrades, we are here to seal away a dreadful shadow that could destroy all of Minata. An important task. One the wayang can perform, not a merchant only intent on making a fast silver coin to line his silver tongue!"

Thus speaks Eynemb, mocking 'Evarice who bears the mask of Bu Lo Dama'.

"HEY! THAT'S MEAN!!" Shouts Apollyanna waving her mask like a club and pounding the podium with it for emphasis. "YOU CAN'T SAY THAT TO EVA-err, um-BELOW THE MAMA! (I think....) Why don't you go pick on someone your own size, you big-small mean person you?!"

{Grrrr.}

Evarice upped the ante by answering the mockery with flattery, trying to butter the wayang team up.
But, despite the fact that the crowd appreciates the fine use of flattery, Evarice's words were not in the crowd's favor, and they did not cheer her on.
The group's determination was slightly shaken.
Eynemb does not show any emotion, but you know he went with a tactic he knew the crowd has a bias against, thus he started with a "bad move" for his group.
___
.
.
.
___

So, the wayang team but an ante of 1 and set the DC at 18 w. the roll, and Evarice, by answering upped the ante to 2, and then lost by not reaching 18.
Thus you lose 2 and drop from 6 to 4 Determination.
The ball is in your court: one of you can choose to start an new verbal exchange.

______________
Your group as 4 Determination
Khellek - edge in Allegory & Logic
all of you have - edge in Flattery, Red Herring & Rhetoric
the audience already has a positive bias to allegory and a negative bias to mockery
_____________
You need to appear to be attempting to win, so:
• when assigning skills to tactics, you must choose the associated skill with the highest bonus
• you can only use tactics to which you have assigned skills
• you cannot concede the duel
• you must counter exchange openings
• you must counter whenever the current exchange’s ante is 1 or less
•; and no one who has won an exchange can contribute to an exchange unless each other character has won an equal number of exchanges

Khellek almost steps forward to start the next exchange, but he waits, wanting to see how the spirit of Waoxi will react to his use of a Red Herring.

"I... think I did a good job? Or maybe a bad job." Evarice knows the audience didn't side with her, but she's not sure if the goal is correct.

"Khellek, this is all yours."

You can't open with a red herring" whispers Khellek back to Evarice. "But good job, it sounded like you believed what you said, but still didn't counter their underlying premise. That is just the type of thing we need to be able to do."

So, the wayang team but an ante of 1 and set the DC at 18 w. the roll, and Evarice, by answering upped the ante to 2, and then lost by not reaching 18.

Thus you lose 2 and drop from 6 to 4 Determination.
The ball is in your court: one of you can choose to start an new verbal exchange.

Not sure if that's good or not, but since we're not supposed to win I guess it doesn't matter.

"In the parable of the conductor, the conductor goes to Nidal, another land of shadows, where everyone is mopey all time because they can't see in the dark I guess. Anyhow the conductor bears a magical piece of sheet music, but he has no orchestra to play it. He travels to a the town of-of Townsvilleburgton, and everyone in town is mopey because it is dark out this being Nidal and all. Anyhow he says, 'You know we can liven things up by playing some music.' But everyone is like really, really mopey, and the town doesn't have an orchestra even though everyone plays music in their own homes when no one is looking. Then the conductor who has no instruments himself says, 'I brought my air guitar.' And he pantomimes playing an air guitar on her cradled mask. " Apollyanna demonstrates this enthusiastically for some time. Player waits for another character to break Apollyanna out of her groove or she finishes on her knees like Hendricks plucking at her mask. "♬ Go, go! Johnny Go! Johnny B Goode! ♬- Huh? Oh. Anyway one thing leads to another and some of the villagers bring out their musical saws, and triangles, and bagpipes, and cow bells, and a few people could sing or at least hum a bit, one weirdo has a sousaphone, and some people had big boots that they can stomp with, and before you know it the conductor is conducting and they are all enjoying the music together. It's like that here (and not just the shadow thing). Inahiyi is like one of the villagers of Townsville-whatever-I-said, it's using its big boots to stomp around the it's house, the bowl of this volcano. (You know, I never realized how sinister that seemed--living in a volcano.) Inahiyi never gets to enjoy the sound of a cow bells or bagpipes or gets to share the sound of its big boots with those around it. Just think of the beautiful music you are missing out on by staying in this volcano filled with big old boots.... The end.... Thank you...." Apollyanna bows.

knowledge (religion) allegory: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Don't know if the following means anything to the roll above.

the audience already has a positive bias to allegory

19+2 = 21 w. the positive bias, so DC21, and the Ante is 1

The Mayor jumps forward, accepting Apollyanna's challenge, and entering into a verbal joust with her.
Farzhan takes the logical path: "Fellow citizens, I have long studied the arcane arts and I say to Thee: how can a conductor have a parable, and how does he get to Need-All on a parable. Quite illogical, since parables do not travel. Boats travel, goats travel, but moats and parables do not. Ergo he cannot travel to mopey people, or popey meople. Also, no pipes can fit in bags, nor bags in pipes. No, this is all silly rubbish! VOTE FOR ME!"

People applaud.

Knowl' Arcana: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25

the Ante is now 2, and it is back at you, either Apollyanna answers, or accepts defeat, or passes to another to answer.
DC25

Never. Say. Die.

"Psst. Professor. I sorta didn't read the rules, can you 'close' with your red tuna fish-thingy?"

Know that Apollyanna's argument made me laugh out loud and now I need to explain this to my wife.

"Uhhh...." Evarice isn't sure what to make of Apollyanna's display. Someone must have found it beautiful.

Khellek steps forward and clears his throat.

"Indeed boats do travel, and so do shadows. Why we are all travelers - The fine people of the island from the plane of shadow, and me - Whaoxi! We are all traveller's and even the fine people here in our audience - Travelers one and all for have they not traveled here today to hear us? "

He pauses and waits for the audience to nod there agreement.

"And what all travellers need is...." he looks around the room for a moment. "Solid foot-ware! Indeed, it is on the basis of the fine form of their boot that the Taldane legions conquered half the known world!"

oratory: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

He says feeling that he has hopefully done well by the mask.

The edge just gives a reroll doesn't it? No bonus? Given I'd need an 18 to beat that with a red herring... Does the mask feel satisfied that I used a red herring, or disappointed that it failed? In the arena it was clear about success and failure, here it just indicated trying the technique but I may have missed something.

Khellek acts upon Apollyanna's cue, and steps forward, upping the ante and trying to negate Mayor Farzhan's words by his clever retort.
All is going well, and the crowd listens on intently as talks of the planeof shadows, fine people and travels... but he suddenly feels he loses them when he talks of foot-ware and boots.
The shoe-less wayangs, with their long clawed feet, are not very interested in this, and so they stop listening, and the audience stands up, chanting: "Vote Farzhan, vote Farzhan!"

The Mayor, always subtle and demure, prances around the stage, raising his arms in a sign of victory!

You look to one another: who will pursue the duel, launching a new verbal attack?

Khellek feels red in the face, and very hot under the mask... soon realizing it is not from shame, but because the spirit must be happy of the tactics employed: it seems it likes the means, not caring much for the result.

Ante was at 2, you lost, so you drop from 4 to 2 Determination.
The ball is again in your court: one of you can choose to start an new verbal exchange.
And, yes, you could have elected to re-roll, but do not have to, and since you want to lose it makes sense to do as you did and not re-roll.
______________
Your group has 2 Determination
Khellek - edge in Allegory & Logic
all of you have - edge in Flattery, Red Herring & Rhetoric
the audience already has a positive bias to allegory and a negative bias to mockery
_____________
[ooc]You need to appear to be attempting to win, so:
• when assigning skills to tactics, you must choose the associated skill with the highest bonus
• you can only use tactics to which you have assigned skills
• you cannot concede the duel
• you must counter exchange openings
• you must counter whenever the current exchange’s ante is 1 or less
•; and no one who has won an exchange can contribute to an exchange unless each other character has won an equal number of exchanges

"The mayor speaks of logic? Illogical you say? And yet we stand here on this podium debating the merits and flaws of outsiders assisting the wayangs of Inahiyi. Let's focus on the facts. We are outsiders. We stand here assisting do we not? We have assisted in several of the Wayang's glorious ceremonies with joy. As far as we see it is all merits with little to no flaws. The wayang children enjoy Graff do they not?" Nit waves a hand back at Graff a she walks the stage in an attempt to speak logic back to the Mayor. "It seems as if two communities have joined as one if for but a moment."

Logic

Knowledge Nobility or Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

The crowd nods, and goes silent, hanging on, at the end, to Nit's every word.
They look at one another, and seem to agree with everything that has been said.

Then, Unelda, your lodger, comes out and starts out with a heartfelt emotional appeal: "Yes, let the two communities come together, but not join! We left our Shadow Plane and were never able to return, being stuck here in the Material. So let the outsiders remain distinct from us. Let us remain original, who we are. Yes, accept them, cherish their help and thank them for it, but do not blend in with them!"
She tries to tailor this to the crowd's reactions.
But the people do not buy it.
They shake their heads at her, and cheer Nit!

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Eynelda now steps forward, and points to Graff: "Nobali Hohachi, the slightest insult sets you off. Ha! And you come here, beating your chest like some idiotic gorilla. You have no brain. You are only thunder and brash. We do not need the likes of you! Be off, and only come if called upon! Such should it be with outsiders."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Ante was at 2, so your opponents lost 2 Determination.
Then they launched a new verbal exchange: Ante at 1, DC at 21
______________
Your group has 2 Determination
Khellek - edge in Allegory & Logic
all of you have - edge in Flattery, Red Herring & Rhetoric
the audience already has a positive bias to allegory and a negative bias to mockery
_____________
You need to appear to be attempting to win, so:
• when assigning skills to tactics, you must choose the associated skill with the highest bonus
• you can only use tactics to which you have assigned skills
• you cannot concede the duel
• you must counter exchange openings
• you must counter whenever the current exchange’s ante is 1 or less
•; and no one who has won an exchange can contribute to an exchange unless each other character has won an equal number of exchanges

Snicker.

Graff looks up and grins.

Even more Snickers.
He rises and flex his arm as he begins a pose.
"I"
leaning forward as he showcases now an excellent unscarred back ridged with hard muscles.
"AM"
finishing with an impressive and heroic arm muscle pose with his biceps straining........
"NOBALI HOHACH!!!!!!"

Presence, Intimidate 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 Sigh too high....Stupid Graff......Why can't you let me down!

Eynemb steps up, and you, who have spotted his deceit, spot a slight grin on his face, probably happy that Graff is doing great.
But all others probably see the man fighting for his team.
He stares back at Graff, and tries for a witty response: "What? You say you are Hibachi Hobo? Oh, no, an Alibi Honcho? What?"

Linguistics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

But the crowd does not laugh one bit as Eynemb makes his 'jokes'.
Everyone stands up and beats their chests as Graff did before, and all chant: I-am-NO-BA-LI HO-BA-CHI

So, the mayor now steps up, and tries to get back on track.
Facing Graff he prances around even more than before and pretends to beat his own chest, getting down on his knees like a little kid, as if only kids could like this kind of thing.

Perform (comedy): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Ante was at 2, so your opponents lost another 2 Determination: -4
Graff can answer, or someone can step in: DC 22
______________
Your group has 2 Determination
Khellek - edge in Allegory & Logic
all of you have - edge in Flattery, Red Herring & Rhetoric
the audience already has a positive bias to allegory and a negative bias to mockery

I think we have all gone now?
Khellek steps in again, the warm feeling in his mask giving him a youthful step.

"Medic!" he calls.

"It would appear that the mayor is having a fit! We need a priest"

oratory(red herring): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

"THAT'S SMACKING THEM WITH THE OLD CRIMSON CODFISH!" shouts Apollyanna in anticipation of victory. Then she pauses and pulls out volume III of the debate rules.

Is the edge the bonus thingy or the re-roll thingy? Apollyanna is confused.

We have got to lose this!...Wait.....Right.

As Khellek calls out the mayor's antics, the crowd hesitates for a second, growing silent, as if pondering the validity of this, the mayor's lunacy.

Then a kid cries out: "But he gives us squids on sticks!"
And the crowd applauds.
They like their mayor.

You feel that the outsiders have lost their appeal with the crowd, and that the local team won the hears of the wayangs.
You can guess that Eynemb is unhappy, but you lost and he and his won.

The crowd gives a thunderous round of applause for the wayang team, and Eynemb, though he isn’t particularly happy with the outcome, hides it behind smiles and expressions of thanks to well-wishers.
The crowd smiles and claps for you too, for you put on a nice show and display of words.
You feel that the locals are trusting you more and more.

Mayor Farzhan comes up to you, and, making a "crazy face"... starts laughing: "I might need a medic, but you are worthy of a gift, my dear friends", and he bows deep in front of you, presenting you with a small sandalwood box, filled with a few tea leaves.

As the crowd comes out, entering the arena, all the kids dance around Graff, hugging his legs, beating their chests, crying out: "I am Nobali Hobachi!"

Eynelda smiles at you: "The final part of ritual is at midnight, on the beach overlooking the volcano, Mount Shibotai".

Tell me if you wish to do anything before midnight...

Graff grins as he begins lifting each of the children and giving them a brief ride on his broad shoulders before eventually tiring out.

Looking at the sandalwood box and its contents, he scratches his chin.
"So what are we to do with these leaves? I'm not really a tea drinker."

Khellek spends some time overlooking the volcano an enacting an old ritual he has heard about, one that will help connect the Dark Archives to this ancient power.

"I wonder if these tea leaves will help us divine what is going on here? It is almost as if the mayor is hoping our participation won't work. But the people seem to like us. "

He thinks a bit more.

"It also seems odd that the invitation arrived with so little time for preparation, even with teleportation magic, we only just made it in time. As if once again, the reenactment was not supposed to go according to script... and someone was hoping the volcano would reawake, or the creature bound in there would."

"We lost! We lost!" Evarice cheers happily. "That means we won, right?'
Evarice bows to the mayor. "Thank you, Mayor. It seems like the townspeople like squids on sticks."

She accepts the leaves and waits for the mayor to exit. "This is a good point, Khellek. Be ready for anything at midnight. If anyone has a question to ask the tea leaves, go ahead and drink it. I think the interloper will have to reveal themselves tonight."

Sorry I wasn't able to do much there, the opportunities to start an exchange were a bit quick.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

"This whole affair is taking strange turns," Zephyr concurs with the others. He scans the box for magic and divines its function. "You are right, we can glean a bit of future knowledge with this tea. We have time, that would be a good idea if we can think of a simple enough question to ask." Sometime later, if nobody else has thought of a better query, the half-elf brews the tea with them and asks: "Interference with the ceremony of any kind, will it bring weal or woe?"

I believe this has a 73% chance of a correct answer, to be rolled secretly.

"I'm so conflicted. I wanted to win to get back at that Eynemb for what he said about Evarice but he looks like he wanted us to win."

Mayor Farzhan comes up to you, and, making a "crazy face"... starts laughing: "I might need a medic, but you are worthy of a gift, my dear friends", and he bows deep in front of you, presenting you with a small sandalwood box, filled with a few tea leaves.

"That's a cool looking box, though it probably would have been nicer if you had cleaned the yard waste out of it." Apollyanna says. She makes ready to dump out, and then clean the box until someone mentions that the leaves might be useful.

"Given the efforts that have been put into trying to stop us, knowing that a good or bad effect will result from interrupting the ceremony is perhaps not as helpful a piece of knowledge as we could wish for.." suggests Khellek to Zephyr.

"While we are both somewhat resistant to the effects of heat from our trip south, I doubt that protection will extend to a volcano erupting beneath our feet. I'm curious about the mayor. Is he an active agent working against us, or is he also a pawn, or somehow controlled?"

"Graff is confused. The big guy doesn't exactly chooses us for brain power but mostly arm power. Can we just go that the mayor is somehow not our friend for this round?" Graff asks trying to avoid thinking so much as his head begins to heat up.

"It makes it simpler and if the bound creature bursts out, I'll just smash it."

Evarice bows to the mayor and thanks him, and, just before exiting, the Mayor removes a little package wrapped in black silk from his robes, and hands it to her.

In the package you find engraved sandal-wood flasks containing two potions of potions of cure moderate wounds, a potion of mage armor, and a potion of remove fear.

As you talk, you look at the leaves, which are used as Zephyr correctly guessed: are you to use them... or not?

Sorry Zephyr, did not want to cut you out at all. Events just bounced back and forth.

Evarice clutches the potions. "If the mayor is against us, he's doing a bad job at it."

"Eynemb seemed to want to sabotage the debate by losing intentionally. Is this wayang friend or foe? Did he turn the mock battle into a bloodbath? Maybe we should ask the leaves if trusting him is a good idea."

No problem, I just think this part probably better done F2F. That's the way it goes.

"There's a much better choice, now that I think on it," Zephyr notes as he brews the tea. "I don't think the Mayor is against us, though he's acting strange, it might be normal, at least when outsiders are concerned. Could it be a double-bluff...? No, before I get myself thinking like that, perhaps we should just ask our question."

I'm liking Evarice's question. Unless anyone is opposed...?

"I think that is an excellent question. I don't understand him at all. First he tries to throw the debate, and then he offers us things to help is ... almost as if he expects things to go badly in the next ceremony."

"Ask the leaves then though it seems strange to be posing questions to a bunch of leaves."

Khellek brews the tea, drinks it and then pokes at the leaves.

"Is Trusting Eynemb a good idea?"

Graf looks around, making sure no wayang kids are around: last thing he wants is for them to run around beating their chests AND asking leaves about life!

Khellek enjoys the tea, a slight cinnamon taste... then he pokes around the leaves.
They move around a bit, and end up spelling the letters: O N.
Khellek raises an eyebrow: ON? Trusting Eynemb is 'on'?

But, from his opposite side of the cup, Graff sees the letters spelling: N O.
No it is not a good idea trusting Eynemb.

"Perhaps he is the one mind controlling those Wayangs during the mock battle as well. They didn't seem to remember much afterwards." Nit thinks to himself. "Either way we should confront him."

"I see. Let's keep ourselves aware of what Eynemb is doing. We should at least find his current whereabouts."

"Hmm I think the leaves said 'No' but it could mean something else.....I mean the big guy wasn't really into this kind of thing. Just point and smash or go there smash or simply just smash....." Graff attempts to reason it out but fails....

"Well, if the tea can be trusted..." sighs Khellek. "which, given it was provided by the mayor, who knows, it sounds like we should be keeping a close eye on him. But if he can't be trusted, why give us these gifts? To put us at our ease?"

Graf looks around, making sure no wayang kids are around: last thing he wants is for them to run around beating their chests AND asking leaves about life!

Khellek enjoys the tea, a slight cinnamon taste... then he pokes around the leaves.
They move around a bit, and end up spelling the letters: O N.
Khellek raises an eyebrow: ON? Trusting Eynemb is 'on'?

But, from his opposite side of the cup, Graff sees the letters spelling: N O.

From beside the cup Apollyanna sees the word 'OZ'!

Apollyanna realizes that the squids on sticks are like little OZs.
The O being the head of the squid, and the Z being all those little tentacles.
Yes, there might be some link there...

If you look for Eynemb, you will be told that he has secluded himself, preparing for the last part of the ritual, and that he cannot be approached right now.

Feel free to state other actions or attempts.

As midnight approaches, you are directed to a location just outside Inahiyi, on a large stretch of beach that overlooks the former location of the volcano, Mount Shibotai.
A number of small bonfires are lit all along the shore, providing dim light in the majority of the area, through which wayang children frolic and caper beating their chests and calling out that they are Nobali Hohachi!

The fires also give off a pleasant scent of sandalwood, and their smoke seems to be quickly whisked out to sea.
The entire population of the town is gathered on the beach, but they reverently make way for you as you approach.

Most of the food vendors have relocated to the outskirts of this clearing, though they are now giving away what remains of their stock. Yes, squids on sticks for free!

Harjandi and Mayor Farzhan come to greet you, and direct you over to a set of pavilions at the center of the gathering.

Harjandi explains: "You need to participate in this final ritual, that strengthens the bindings on the otherworldly presence entrapped by us wayangs. This ritual takes the form of a shadow puppet show that retells the story of the original wayangs and Minatan heroes you have been emulating."

Farzhan finishes shaking hands with onlookers, and turns to you: "Once the play begins, the distant bull’s-eye lantern magically projects the images across the dark waters north of the beach. I will be over there adjusting the light from afar. For it is the most important part of the ritual. And I am modestly the most important person here." Farzhan quickly departs, waving to the crowd.

Harjandi says: "I will remain with you to direct your actions. And to hint at what figures of your respective Minatan heroes would be nice to portray."
She leads you towards a large, tent-covered stage that is set up between two sets of rocks, facing the nearby waters.
The bull’s-eye lantern Farzhan is going to is positioned several hundred feet south of the stage, shedding light onto the stage and beyond.
A number of two-dimensional cutouts of humanoid figures lay scattered on the sand near the pavilion, with hundreds more stacked in a second tent to the northwest.
The smaller red tent is also filled with additional puppet props and ritual items, from incense sticks to pale-hued banners.
The southern tent is the site of the final ritual.

You all approach from the northwest with Harjandi - You can place your images on the new slide - who says: "Eynemb, the one you debated against, will soon arrive to handle the puppetry of the wayang portion of the play. As for the Minatan portion of the play, you will handle that, play-acting actions that the characters your masks represent did, but you must play-act this by using the Minatan puppets."
She goes on to explain what you need to do, while glancing around, looking for someone or something.

You feel the crowd growing quiet as midnight arrives.

__________________

To accomplish this final part of the ritual, your group must succeed at six skill checks. These checks can be attempted by any one of you from within the southern pavilion, though only one of you can make these checks in a round, as you will then be controlling the Minatan puppets.
Up to two allies can assist the one performing the ritual and using the puppets, making an aid another action as appropriate.
Besides, since you did very well so far and your masks are very happy, you can allocate five +2 bonuses (basically: you get a +2 to all but one of the six checks).
You can perform the ritual by using either broad or refined skills.
Broad skills include Acrobatics to move around the stage to best display the shadows, Bluff to make it look like the you know what your doing, Intimidate to put on terrifying performances, and Sleight of Hand to create elaborate hand puppets. (remember: you get a +2 to 5 out of 6 checks, and two people can try to assist).
Refined skills include Knowledge (planes) to understand the underlying cosmic principles of the ritual, Perform (act) to operate the shadow puppets effectively, and Perform (oratory) to tell the story to the onlookers.
Succeeding at six skill checks, regardless of any failed attempts in between, completes the ritual.

Evarice puts on her ostentatious ostrich hat with the huge feather. "Alright, let's make some smiles. And pay attention to Eynemb's shadows."

Is there a limit on the number of times any particular skill can be used?

Khellek pulls himself up to his full (not very) height. "I think this may be something I can do my share of. While bashing Wayangs is others speciality - telling stories and understanding cosmic implications... that I can handle well."

No false modesty from this scholar!

He pulls on his Wayang mask, noting the approval he sense from it, and accepting it as his due.

"I also suspect that our opponent may not settle for using mere puppets to stop us, and some of the rest of you may be better poised to protect me."

It does not prohibit this, so you can repeat the rolls w. the same skill. It'd be nice to at least vary a little bit.
I will let others post if they wish, and give Harjandi's go ahead tomorrow.

"If those shadows are infused with unlife, I will use my divine gifts to purge them." Evarice smiles. "And Apollyanna will smite them. No worries, you have the servants of Shelyn to protect you."

"We'll keep you safe, that shouldn't be a problem," Zephyr agrees. "Most of this isn't my specialty, but I can probably help with the cosmic themes. Until then, you shan't come to any harm at my watch."

Harjandi keeps on mutterring to herself, “Where is Eynemb? He is supposed to be here for this...”.
She motions you all towards the stage, since midnight is nearly here, and you should start to perform.
There is a sudden gasp from the few surrounding wayang stragglers. You wonder what you did wrong? But, no, it is not you: it is because a shadowy shape moves within the western tent.
At the same time, Eynemb darts between the set of large rocks to the east of the stage, his shadow taking on a life of its own as it glides toward the pavilion housing the stage!
“Fools! You’ve been slaves to tradition for far too long. Cease this nonsense this instant or I will be forced to stop you myself!”, Eynemb shouts.
Harjandi replies: “Don’t do this, Eynemb! If we don’t strengthen the bindings, the shadow will escape!”
“Then you leave me no choice", Eynemb answers.

Initiative!
You are all on the map, as Harjandi is leading you to the stage: it is midnight, time to have you perform the actions of the ritual.
Eynemb is to the East, among the rocks.
There is this shadow up at the tent to the west.
Time to go grab the shadow-puppets and get the ritual under way... but what will Eynemb do? And what is that shadow?

Khellek tries to understand the significance of the events unfolding.

know(planes): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

"Once upon a time, a fine people, living in he plane of shadow passed through a massive rift..." he starts, his well trained voice echoing through the crowd as a shadow might ripple on the waters.

Khellek moves to the stage, and, taking the puppets, starts the play, moving the puppets around: "Once upon a time..."
The crowd smiles, focusing their attention on the puppets.

Can you move your mini to the stage (the tent at the bottom)?
If someone takes over the ritual, for next turn, they take the puppets from Khellek on the stage (that is all "free": getting the puppets).

_____________________
Round 1 Bold is up
Khellek
Evarice
Eynemb
Nit
Zephyr
Graff
Apo'
(1/6 ritual checks done)

Khellek takes center stage, his voice clear and strong.

If someone(s) has a decent score in one of those other skills we totally could blitz this shadow play in a couple of rounds...

It is 1 skill roll per round. The idea being that one of you spends the round handling the Minatan puppets, for the enjoyment of the crowd.
Remember: Harjandi can give you a +2 for 5 rolls (good to start using them)
And: you can have up to 2 people do Aid Anothers