Hey guys, this is a bit of a tough thing to say, but... I think it's time for me to call it quits.

The pace has slowed down a lot lately, and this is my only surviving game of pathfinder, to the point where I find myself having to basically relearn the rules every time I post.

On top of that, my life has gotten busier and more stressful, and I find it difficult to find time to sit down and keep myself going on this.

I've had a blast playing with you guys, but I don't think I can do this anymore.

Thank you for the great game, everyone, and may your future adventures be fruitful!

Shortbow: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Five-foot step back.

"Can it step out of that pool? It might be wise to simply take aim at it from out of each."

Waiting to see the results before I attack.

Mihara steps back, preferring to remain out of reach of such a creature, and fires with her shortbow.

This is the only pathfinder game I'm in at this point and a lot of the rules are escaping me. It's flat-footed because it hasn't acted yet, right?

Shortbow: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Sneak Attack: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 5, 4) = 14

With a lot of our melee power gone, I'm sorely feeling the lack of flankers.

Would like some positioning on the map to get an idea for things before I make my move.

"Oh," Mihara whispers, as the party advances into the dark passage. "It's been a while since I've gotten to use this."

She rummages through her pack and produces a torch. It comes out of the bag already aflame with a bright blue glow. Everburning torch. Never leave home without one.

She halts Aibek as they proceed to the southern passage. [b]"Given our host, we may want to consider this pool before we move on.

Mihara carefully approaches the edge of the pool, looking for anything out of the ordinary. If useful, she will use one of her three castings of Dancing Lights to get a better look into the water.

Mihara follows along calmly, maintaining the utmost silence.

Mihara keeps the potion close at hand, but opts not to drink it yet. She follows Azri closely, keeping her eyes on the cave entrance, ready to Long Step into the cave when the opportunity presented itself. The sooner she could emerge from the water, the better.

Mihara silently led the party towards the entrance, then motioned down towards the underwater cave.

Are we each carrying a water breathing potion? What's the plan with those?

Now that was something Mihara wasn't foolish enough to blunder in by her lonesome... and she doubted foxes routinely dove into caves in search of fish.

Perhaps it was time to return and let the others know of her finding. Making a beeline for the hideout would at least save them some blundering about and give less time for the enemy to notice their approach.

Note that Mihara took the shape of a regular-looking fox before flying over, increasing her fly speed and stealth abilities thanks to the smaller size.

Mihara looks for an inconspicuous spot to make her landing. Assuming that goes well, she goes about attempting to locate any points of interest, keeping her path looking somewhat spontaneous, and generally playing the part of a fox hunting for mice or such prey as best as she can.

That is a risk Mihara is willing to take, if the rest of the party is okay with it.

Um... hello?

Anyone here?

"I'm confident I could sneak by their observers. They expect councilors, certainly, but I believe a simple fox would certainly elude their attention. I would gladly do some reconnaissance while we prepare an incursion."

"Yes, I think first approaching by flight would be a good idea. I could scout out the area for threats."

Mihara made a mental note to confer with Aibek as to some concerns she had towards their apparent distraction. Was something troubling the witchwolf.

Still, there were more pressing matters at hand. She drew the sheathed dagger from her bag and held it out.

"Your help is greatly appreciated. Let us begin." she told Dry Wind in the Leaves, addressing him in Sylvan as, she hoped, a sign of respect and politeness.

Barring any counter-indications, she steps into the pool, reverently carrying the weapon and setting it down at the center point, before making her way back to the edge and stepping out.

"Ahh, yes. Please pardon our ignorance. The Search Pool does seem like what we need to find the lost people. Might you allow us to make use of it?"

Mihara followed suit, having magically changed her garments into a sumptuous floral-patterned sundress, and carrying herself quite proudly.

"I concur with my fellow councilor. We ask that you allow us into the tower to make use of the divining pool, and promise to take the utmost care in not damaging the plant life within."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

"Excellent plan," Mihara nodded along with Aibek's suggestion.

She looked around in confusion at the noise. "... did anyone else hear that?"

"On the other hand, time is of the utmost essence. With the life of my kin on the line, I am loathe to spend time finding such things... Might we have helpful folks gather such presents on our behalf while we make our way to the tower, and promise the Leshy that these presents are on their way?"

Mihara listens carefully, trusting Aibek's knowledge on this. Alas, her knowledge of the creatures native to this continent was rather limited.

"Pardon my ignorance, Nexus, but who are these Leshys you speak of? Some kind of fey, perhaps?"

It was a good thing, Mihara reasoned, that the tongue of the fey and wooden wilds was passed down from the Yao clan's magical ancestors. It may yet come in handy in diplomatic talks.

Mihara opts to pick a dagger belonging to the captain. It would be sturdy enough to survive the search, and distinctive enough, she assumed, to trace down its owner.

"I imagine this should do?" She asks, holding up the sheathed weapon.

"Surely there must be," Mihara nods. "I should be able to dig up something."

Mihara makes her way out of the hold and into the crew quarters, looking for anything she believed belonged to one of the disappeared.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Sorry about the slow replies. I've been a bit down in the dumps and distracted, lately.

Happy hundreth-page-a-versary!

Mihara gives a list of the people she knows to be gone at this point. The list includes, amongst a handful of human sailors, two close cousins from the branch families of the Yao clan, one of whom served as captain of the ship.

"We cannot allow this to stand. Attacking our ship at sea was one thing, but our foe is acting within the city's boundaries. We told the Song that we would not act against their foes... but now, these are our foes as well."

Mihara shuddered at the sight of the room, but appeared somewhat unshaken. "Barbaric."

"I had been thinking of that myself," she replied to Aibek's request. "Let's see..."

Mihara gladly shares any and all information she has about who might have been here. Is anyone missing?

"We should investigate the ship, but I agree with Azri. Let's get them home safely first. I must humbly apologize for these events befalling you."

"Do you recall anything else?" Mihara asks, untying the crewman. "Did you see anyone?"

Having reclaimed human form to force the door open, Mihara rushes to check on the crew. After checking around for potential hidden foes she tries to shake one of them awake.

"Are you well? What happened?"

What fool sets fire on a boat!

Mihara peers about the ship, decks and all, seeking any signs of life.

Mihara opts to sneak in further, using her small size and soft steps to scurry about the ship unseen in search of potential foes. As an added measure of security, she shifts her coloration to that of an ordinary fox, and masks the presence of her additional tails.

After gratefully thanking her informers, Mihara makes her way to the pier where her ship was anchored. Given the risk, she asked her younger sister to remain at home, and, as she approached the ship, bid her eidolon to hide nearby as she approached the vessel to investigate. She opted to approach the vessel in fox shape, on the off-chance that some hostile force remained in the area.

Stealth: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (18) + 28 = 46
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
In fox shape, Mihara has access to the Scent ability.

Going to do a bit of skipping ahead.

After gathering with the party and passing on the information they've acquired, Mihara and her cohorts make their way to the docks. With that being the last time Kara and Dosa were seen, this would be as good a point as any for her to start with. If they were looking to acquire merchandise, then the dockside sailors and merchants would be the ones to ask, and many of those included her own family.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

The morning saw the Yao sisters, with Hanabi walking at their feet, walking through the town in search of further details on the rumor. Who was missing, and when had they last been seen?

First other of priority: check in with their kin. The dockside markets saw a lot of traffic, and the hidden ears of the Kitsune were quite talented at gathering information.

If she was to aspire to the title of Spymaster of Khalharum, Mihara would soon need to have ears in lands belonging to their friends and foes, but for now, she had to satisfy herself with ears all over town.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19

... Uuuh. I'm a bit confused.

"My father sends his best wishes."

Who is writing back? Mihara's younger brother, I assume? The other book is held by Mihara's siblings, so "My father" here would refer to the same father as Mihara's... whose death kicked off her branch of the plot in the first place.

Am I missing something or was there a slip somewhere?

Having tended to the ship's docking and unloading, Mihara excuses herself and sees to the wellbeing of her kin at the town's dockside.

With that out of the way, she seeks her private quarters, specifically her study, where one the magical linked tomes sits, carefully hidden. Though she has been using it simply to exchanged pleasantries with family at home, this time, she has something more specific in mind.

"Kiromu, little brother dearest, I would like to ask a favor of you..."

Her little brother, a musician, was very appreciated of the elders of her clan. If one of her family would best be able to seek out any legends amongst them, it would be him.

"... and so, I would be quite curious to know if this Song is known to the Yao elders of the branch families. Your help is immensely appreciated. Please deliver my greetings to the family as well. I miss you all greatly."

Sorry, I've been a bit busy and distracted by a variety of things. I should finish my level up and get a roleplay post going tomorrow.

And before I forget, my feat this level is Extra Rogue talent, with which I'm picking Underhanded.

A rogue with this talent gains a +4 circumstance bonus on all Sleight of Hand checks made to conceal a weapon. Furthermore, if she makes a sneak attack during the surprise round using a concealed weapon that her opponent didn’t know about, she does not have to roll sneak attack damage, and the sneak attack deals maximum damage. A rogue can only use the underhanded talent a number of times per day equal to her Charisma modifier (minimum 0).

Reminds me I also need to choose a feat. I might wait to see for my item as well.

HP is now 60
BAB increases
Sneak attack 4d6
Fey creature template: New spell like ability (Major Image)

Considering how long it's been since I've drawn up Hanabi's stats, I think it might be best if I stat her back from the beginning, because I'm drawing a blank. All I remember is we'd made her Tiny rather than medium or small. Is that still good with you, Jon?

So, this is my sole game of Pathfinder, and Mihara's level 6 is the last time I leveled up a Pathfinder character. Please let me know if I'm missing something:

1. Add an additional hit die. (Are we taking average?)
2. Increment my BAB and my skill ranks.
3. Gain the level 7 rogue abilities.
4. Saving throws don't increase this level.
5. Gain a new feat as this is an odd-numbered level.

I believe I've made my point.

"Only a fool would blame the horse for the charge of the rider." Mihara replies curtly. "Disgraceful."

"By your own claims, this man of the sea acted as your puppet. He moves and acts strictly by your will. You attacked my kin and my vessel, and now seek to play games with the lives of others. What is there to understand? You would profer yourself a master, and yet your acts are those of a pestilence. One does not barter with sickness, nor can one reason with a swarm of plague flies."

Mihara is attempting to play to what seems to be a significant ego by taunting them into revealing more to appear grandiose.

Bluff or Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23 Not sure which one fits more, but the bonus is the same.

"A word, if I may?" Mihara asks, taking the party aside where the gillmen cannot hear them. She leaves Honoka, along with some armed crew members, to watch over the prisoners.

"Perhaps if we offered them shelter from their foe? It's quite clear to me that these folks are acting under duress. Perhaps we might be able to make allies of them as well if we could see them released from their oppressor? What do you think?"

Mihara silently waved Azri forth, taking a seat and watching intently.

Though she pities the gillmen for toiling under another's control, the threat to her kin was not something she could tolerate.

"I quite agree, Aibek. I'm not keen on any summary punishment, given that it's quite clear they're being forced into another's bidding, and I would much like to know what this was all about."

Mihara disengages from melee and turns to the Gillmen still carrying crewmembers, smirking to herself. Perhaps irony was the best way to go about this.

... what was that family song again... ahh, yes.

Mihara whispers a soft song speaking of 'the fairest maiden in all of Tien'. The sung expunges first on her fair beauty, her pure smile, and her apparent innocence. Then, her voice raises dramatically as the verses turn, boasting of the maiden's quick hands, and the sharpness of her iron fans, and her shocking spilling of the corrupt emperor's blood.

Spell-Like Ability: Deep Slumber affecting as many of the Gillmen as possible, prioritizing the ones still carrying crew.

I'm getting really confused with this combat. How many gillmen are there, and are we in initiative?

Thanks. I need to start using her more.

I'm kicking myself for not having had her out and about on the ship already.

Mihara strikes a swift, clean thrust at one of the gillmen approaching the crew.

Short Sword: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Following this, she touches her fingers to the gem of her diadem, and focuses on the energies within.

"Honoka, I call upon your services."

The wind resounds with the strum of a stringed instrument, and as each creature present blinks, they notice the appearance of a being amongst them: A three tailed white fox at Mihara's heel.

"Wake as many of the crew as you can. They are in danger and need to be able to defend themselves."

Honoka, Mihara's eidolon granted by the Diadem of Yunet will move about and to her best to avoid attacks by the Gillmen, while using her actions to wake up as many of the crew as possible.

Mihara swoops dramatically down from the crow's nest, frustrated at having been had with such a spell. She draws her blades on the way down, and stands between the gillmen and her crew.

"I cannot allow you to harm my people. I do not wish to see you come to harm either. Who is that voice who commands you? I believe we can help you be free."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

If that diplomacy doesn't count as my Standard Action, I'll use it to ready an attack at anyone who approaches aggressively.

Do we recognize the brainvoice?