Aurin draws on the innate ability granted him by his Aasimar blood and casts daylight!
Breeze fails to dispel the darkness, however the natural qualities of Mount Celestia enhances Aurin's minor light turning the entire area into daylight. The high girallon seems to have make a stand, waiting for you to approach in the darkness. The bright light suddenly surprising it.
Round 17
1st: High Girallon 59
2nd: Aurin 58/100, Breeze 72/72, Guo
>all up
Aurin rushes in 50ft and again uses his Stunning Fist, now attempting to fatigue the High Girallon!
,
Aurin then springs back 10ft!
"Shall we stop now creature, or shall we take this to its end?
It appears that the high girallon has had enough, apparently recognizing an even match between man and ape. It stands it's ground but doesn't advance, instead roaring a warning to leave.
"Masta! The portal is closing!", Breeze hears Guo shout back from far away.
Aurin turns and retreats towards the portal!
As you begin an all out dash, the girallon begins to give chase for good measure. Running past the entrance, you see Guo waving violently in the distance, signaling you of his position, "Quick-quick!". The edges of two realities begins to blur and blend like paint on a pallet. You leap through in a swan dive at a patch of fauna, landing safely enough to turn to see the high girallon roar at your escape. Xungis is unconscious in Guo's arms.
>open time
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Breeze lets the magic that has him transformed fade away and take in the area around him before taping in to the energies of positive energy granted to him by his deity hoping its soothing touch will revive the boy.
"I do hope he is alright tend to him and ill see about getting us a place to hold up for the rest of the night.
Breeze then begins rummaging around the area picking up small sticks,a few small rocks,and sand all in all taking him about 10 minutes while muttering quietly to himself. Once done he places the objects he has found in a small clearing and they gently grow and mold themselves into a small cabin. Once finished he says.
"This should be safe for us until morning please make yourself comfortable"
"My thanks friend Breeze. I am in your debt." With that the Monk collapses into a corner and rests, knowing that he and his new companions did well.
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After everyone gets settled in the cabin Breeze takes a seat a a small desk and pulls out the objects he took from the alter and begins to examine them checking in on the boy from time to time before collapsing into one of the beds provided himself. Before sleep overtakes him he says a quiet prayer to his patron and pulses the last remaining energy he can tap into from the connection he has to the divine.
The last of his energy spent he lets the comfort of sleep overtake him...
A gentle rain whispers on the roof of Breeze’s conjured cabin. After hours of rest, you wake to the smell of fresh tea and field rice cakes being made by Guo. ”Ah masta- look, the boy is well and alive.” Xungis sits like one would expect of a boy whose disobeyed and found punishment in the rebellion. After some pouting, explaining, crying and begging to Aurin, Xungis finally accepts his fate that waits for him at the village.
Breeze wakes curled-up next to the items he pilfered from the girallons; a fine cache for any exploration, though slightly disappointing for any Guvner’s idea of a real prize.
SCROLL
arcane (6,200 gp)
Mind Fog (L5, CL9)
Interposing Hand (L5, CL5)
Transmute Mud to Rock (L5, CL5)
divine (3,300 gp)
Wall of Stone (L6, CL 11)
Planar Ally (L6, CL11)
dagger +2 (8,302 gp)
”I guess we found what we were looking for masta”, Guo says, ”But place better left unfounded, no very friendly. And we are out of supplies too, best go with Aurin.” The journey back to Tumbling Pearl takes several hours, arriving as the afternoon turns evening.
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"Well Gou your I think your right we learned two things on this little trip.
Number 1 that place is full of aggressive apes and we probably don't want to go back and number 2 is I need to research a spell that will wipe all semblance of that word from your mind.......Stop calling me master.
After his morning prayers Breeze grabs up his pack and supplies and looks to Guo and hands him the dagger that was found.
" Its a good weapon Guo hopefully you only ever need it to cut food thanks for sticking it out with me in there you were very helpful."
Aurin makes his way to the Tumbling Pearl with Xungis in tow. He hasn't said much to the youth, knowing that his silence alone gives the boy his deserved reprimand.
He approaches Braga's training hall and leads Xungis straight to Vestia. Once he finds her he says, "This boy needs training if he is to battle the darkness that is out there sister. I beg you to teach him what he needs to know, so that one day his body and mind, can support his fierce spirit." He bows to the boy and Vestia and says to both of them, "Until we meet again."
He leaves the training hall and gathers his belongings wasting no more time. He bows to Braga and says, "I leave for the Tournament of the Seven Fortunes. Thank you for your Instruction. Until we meet again my friend."
Aurin leaves the training hall knowing that life pulls him, once again, in the direction he is needed. He moves through the Tumbling Pearl and finds Breeze.
"So my friend, I am off to the Seven Fortunes Tournament to represent the Tumbling Pearl. I didn't want to leave without giving you my thanks. Adversity oftentimes creates some of the deepest friendships, and I would like you to know that I consider you just that...my friend." Aurin extends his hand as a show of gratitude and friendship towards Breeze.
Despite his fervent objections to such an over abundant reward, Guo finally gives into traditional Hotei manners and reverently accepts the gift as if bequeath with a first child. Holding his tongue, Guo squints with effort, "Yes..m, I shall remain in your service", and begins grabbing your gear.
"Farewell, Aurin", Braga says through his feline form, already seeming a distant memory.
With a deep frown and grimace, Xungis looks a disheveled mess as Vestia walks him a few steps onto the porch and begins stripping the boy of dirt and clothes. A water barrel and bucket sits nearby ready to drench the urchin. As Vestia loosens Xungis's belt, something rolls lose from the folds of his tunic and a heavy thud hits the wooden walkway. A small mercurial sphere barely bounces on the wooden planks and rolls to a stop. "What's this?", Vestia looks inquisitively and reaches for it.
Aurin stops Vestia and motions Breeze in to investigate.
Vestia stops reaching and recoils slightly. Xungis yelps, "Hey, I found it, that's mine!", but is held back out of reach, "Give it back!".
Everyone steps in for a closer look, the sphere appears to be perfectly round beyond any normal means, perhaps the work of a great Godman's craftsman. It is obviously metallic in nature, its surface is smooth although strangely not reflective for something so polished.
"Breeze?"
"Hmm..."
Aurin likewise analyzes the sphere trying to recall any and all information he may know, or have come across in his travels concerning such an item.
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Even with Breeze's advanced knowledge, the sphere's origin and function are a mystery, it remains laying on the floor. He can tell it is magical in nature, though seems to possess an impenetrable Non-Detection quality.
"It can't be that dangerous", Braga cuts in, slightly irritated at the sudden chaos overtaking the sentimental goodbyes, "Xungis carried it here, and it didn't even harm a child - you're being too cautious", he add a wise quip and grabs the sphere.
Vestia slightly gasps as it is picked up, the sphere does nothing unusual, "See?, Braga examines the mercurial object, "Hmm,... I expected it to feel cold and light. It's rather pleasantly warm and feels strange in the hand, and weighty like shifting liquid. Here-", he offers it for anyone to take. After a thorough inspection, Breeze determines that it is either an item beyond the scope of arcane knowledge or it is simply a shiny lawn ornament from the Girallon ruins. The discernible clues will require expert knowledge in arcane crafts.
"-Master Suun", both Braga and Breeze says the name almost in unison.
"Who? What?", Vestia asks.
Braga explains, "A renowned master craftsman. His works are of such wonder and excellence that have been made gifts to lords and proxies, and especially sought out by arcanists from abroad. -And as I understand it, he's also a factor of the Fraternity of Order?", he pauses for Breeze's validation, "Master Suun resides in Bishamonten, coincidentally where the Seven Fortunes Tournaments is being held. Aurin is traveling there as our village's representative and competitor - you might find a good road companion in him should you choose to find the truth of this sphere. It would also be a favor for you to take possession of it and make away from this village."
*
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{Kobash}: Your travels and toils and have brought you here, of all the places in the multiverse for a retired-Doomguard, you find yourself in Lunia, the Silver Heaven, the lowest and first layer of the infinitely rising Mount Celestia. Home to beautiful shining cities of white stone upon its shores. It is surrounded by an endless mercurial sea of holy water, the Silvery Sea; filled with sentient aquatic life forms, it also acts as an impenetrable barrier against Evil outsiders. The sky above is perpetually dark, filled with beautiful constellations of silver stars bright enough to illuminate the base of the seven layer mountain. Peace is the substance of Lunia. It is watched over by the archon Barachiel, the patron of trumpet archons, whose Citadel of Stars sits on the shores of the Sea. He is charged with defending Celestia from incursion, a task which, even on this lowest and most accessible layer, he rarely has to act upon. This layer is also the location of many godly realms, including Brihaspati's realm of Nectar of Life and Tyr's secondary realm of The Court .
One such realm is the expansive Shichi Fukujin. Also known as Seven Fortunes; it is home to seven representing deities: Hotei, Jurōjin, Fukurokuju, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Daikokuten, Ebisu; whose domains encompass Abundance, Longevity, Happiness, Warriors, Knowledge, Wealth and Merchants.
Through unique events and circumstances, you have been taken in personally by Master Suun. Although positioned as master and employer, Suun's personal relationship to you is closer to friendship and elder. For many years now, you have served in the House of Anju as one of the grounds keeper, specifically tending to the many gardens from dawn to dusk, your past wrapped away in a crate beneath the floorboard under your cot. Today, Suun finds you at the edge of the property where the weeds grows thick and fast into the flower beds. He is accompanied by a servant carrying a biǎndan, a bamboo yoke with baskets tethered to both ends; one end carry small lunch sacks, the other a bucket of water and ladle.
[PCs up]
Aurin looks to Breeze and Guo and says, "The Universe presents us with more on our next path. Shall we my friends?" He messes Xungini's hair, and gestures to the open road.
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Knee deep in weeds, The Gardener pays no heed to Master Suun's approach. His large fist slowly pulls long reeds free from a rose plant gripped firmly in his other. Sharp thorns press into his palm, but the scar tissue is too tough for them to draw blood.
He wasn't being intentionally rude, and he wasn't ignoring the Master. Before coming to this place he was a man of few words. A few too much at times, which has given him cause to speak even fewer.
Early in his employment as a keeper for the grounds he had let Suun wait for nearly half an hour before offering him advice. "The plants need my eyes and touch. They don't often speak, these less than others, and rarely in a way anyone would need ears to understand. Say what you came to say, Master Suun. I'll hear you."
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Holding his tongue, Guo strains with effort, "Yes mas-, I shall remain in your service", then begins grabbing your gear.
” Farewell, Aurin”, Braga says again with a final bow.
*
The trek to Bishamonten is nothing less than spectacular in the sights and sounds offered by the landscape – fragrant farms and singing rolling hills, broken by the occasional silvery drifting river – always perpetually dark, filled with beautiful constellations of silver stars bright enough to illuminate. As with most terrain on Celestia, it is an upward climb; although only a gentle slope on this first layer, Lunia reflects the most basic embodiment of effort and reward. It is spoken that as one moves through the upper layers, the climb becomes more difficult; in the fifth, a vertical scale for those without wings; in the sixth, just open platinum skies and pure light of the seventh above.
Planar travel responds to the will and to how quickly one desires to arrive. Within a week, Aurin and Breeze begins to feel the change in the air, signaling the movement from one realm to another. A distant thunder can be heard through the first half of the day. More and more travelers joins the road, some walking out of the mist and right onto your same path. Spirits are high and made higher when you recognize that the thunder are actually the sound of drums calling and welcoming. You gaze up upon the self named capital of Bishamonten and a grand and glorious view Seven Fortunes Tournaments
[Aurin and Breeze up]
Aurin is taken aback by the beauty of Bishamonten. He breathes deep, thankful to the Universe for leading him to his new home of Mt. Celestia and it's many wonders. Whether by his celestial blood or the callings of his soul, Aurin knows that Mt. Celestia will forever be his home.
Aurin makes his silent pledge to build a Dojo here one day.
"I believe that I have time to check in. Shall we find Master Suun first Breeze?"
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During the time of their travels Breeze starts relating his religious beliefs to his traveling companions and the Dogma of Desna his patron deity along with the theory of magic. More you think for the benefit of Guo than Aurin,it may seem,for Aurin has already been pulled by the fates to his path.
"So you see...while the laws of the universe are the framework for everything it is the will of the Fates that sets you on the path you are on. Oh be sure you can push and pull on it and decide which way to get there but you will always get to the same place for that is the First law of the universe."
When the capital finally comes into view Breeze steps off the path and takes a few moments to take it all in.
"If I may ask. What exactly is the Seven Fortunes Tournament. Now that we are here. Is it some sort of martial tournament? Do you need to go check in? Please forgive me but I am quite excited to seek audience with Master Suun I have never had reason to seek out someone of his status before."
"I am not entirely sure friend Breeze. Master Braga considered it important enough to send me to represent the Tumbling Pearl. This is my first time here though so I don't really know what to expect.
Too many to count, banners and crests of myriad shapes and colors swim like aquatic creatures above the crowd as the they pass through the main thoroughfare. Here and there you recognize seals of prestigious Houses and Lords, planar sects, distant monasteries, bands of mercenaries and even lone souls from unknown villages such as yourselves. The tournament is an open invitation, entering into the proper tier and event is entirely incumbent on one's belief; as any out of place tiers will surely be revealed and spectacled. You have arrived with a couple of days remaining before the official opening of the tournaments. Bishamonten is a city of more than one-hundred thousand population, a place of steady commerce with great abundance to entice visitors.
Guo assumed that Breeze was speaking to him and so answers, ”Some are martial, some are skills of mind, some are skills of the body; though most celebrated and popular are the martial competitions. Anything from acrobatic gauntlets to hand-to-hand to swords-and-arms. Aurin should register himself as he see fit and then we shall go find lodgings”.
"Indeed."
Aurin walks into the tournament area and begins looking for events he would like to register with.
He scans the area looking for signs of the Governor Faction.
{Gardener}
”There is an aggressive restraint in the manner way you sculpt these patches, as if braving them to grow back, which you know they constantly do, like trying crush smoke… My apologies- I did not mean to disturb you”, Suun says in Tian Common, ”As you know, I find your gardens most pleasing among the others. And as I know, you find compliments uncomfortable.” The aged planar rarely calls you by name, always speaking in pragmatic sentences that avoid the need to use it. Suun’s back hunch slightly from his human years, though still upright and sturdy from his faint but obvious orcan bloodline. He wears simple work robes with his left sleeve rolled up to the elbow, his right sleeve hang off the cuff to reveal a mechanical hand clutching a wooden cane.
”Lord Anju wants to assure that all is in order for the exhibition matches. The house is shorthanded in the preparation for the tournament, as so we’ve been tasked to assist in finalizing the construction of the arena and staging area. The working staff will also be able to view the matches as reward. I need twelve bodies, I think you would like to the thirteenth?”
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The Gardener continues pulling up weeds for a few silent moments before stopping to survey his work. In that brief respite he half-turns to Suun and gives a slow nod of acceptance.
It could have been a nod of thanks for a compliment of his work, or a sign of interest in the tournament, but it was neither. It served as a reply that could serve any subject, but was intended only for one. Suun needed thirteen bodies, and The Gardener had one to spare.
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~Factor Bleakshadow, Wardmaster of Bedlam, addressing a group of desperate planewalkers.
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Bishamonten is alive with excitement and energy from the Seven Fortunes Tournament. The events are scattered throughout the city, some are hosted at historic sites, some at lesser known gymnasiums, some right in the middle of a large enough square. On the way to finding your event, you see crowds cheering and jeering with enthusiasm for their favorites, booing and hissing with even more fervor against the rival. Like any great gathering of competition, plenty of drinking and betting is part of the sport, making it also fair game for thieves and lose pockets. Fortunately, your polite tout Guo leads you in the right direction or out of the wrong areas, "This way masta. You too, Aurin."
You reach the main registry hall which is a broad three story pagoda with decorated corner kois. A pair of sentries at the door seem more interested in the sight of exotic visitors than their actual duties. You pass through without a glance from either. Inside, functional pillars and Tian motif line the walls, the floor matted with sisal mats. The room is filled just beyond capacity with planars and petitioners, leaving only enough room to hold your place in line. Guo brings you into queue behind a rakshasa mage, whose arms folded together waits with a serious countenance. Immediately behind you, a male assimar in light scout gear steps in line.
An hour goes by when your attention is called, "Hoi - you! Blrue boi! You next!". An venerable Tian man calls to you from his seat behind a low table. The man has seen better days, his skin is gaunt, taunt and dark, much like the skewered grilled lizard he's snacking on. Grey robes of monastic traditions states his general neutrality on philosophical matters. He flicks the remains of the garlic treat away. Next to him, seated on several thick books to give height, an white-bearded elderly gnome scowls at the old human taking your information; a small monkey sit stop his skullcap eating a sliver of banana. "Must you be rude to everyone that comes through, they should have kept you in the kitchen. On second thought, keep going, your food would make all the competitors ill like that stupid egg-Fey-young recipe!" The human snidely responds as he looks over, "Hoi empelror - why don't you wipe that monkey poo off yuah nose and wok yauh line!"
Turning back to you, the man points down at several open scrolls, "Put name on this wood chit and plrace it in the rlank you want!"
Archery
Armed Combat
Athletics
Jousting
Horsemanship
Spell-slinging
Unarmed Combat
Aurin places his named chit into the Unarmed Combat category.
"My thanks sirs," Aurin says as he bows low in gratitude. "Nice monkey by the way Master Gnome!"
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Breeze watches Aurin pick his event and spies the spell-slinging event and says.
"What do ya think Guo should we join something just for fun?"
Breeze gives Guo a quick wink and puts his name on a chit and drops it into the spell-slinging pot and urges Guo to pick an event to try.
"I've seen you cast spells, friend Breeze. I would bet on you!"
”See?”, the man says to the gnome, ”Young and lespectahble. –Next!”.
”Not Guo!”, the tout throws up his hands at Breeze’s suggestion as he leaps out of line.
*****
At every Seven Fortunes Festival, one of the six minor houses would take part as host to the ruling house, House Yashi. This season, it is House Anju’s turn and preparations are in full effort throughout the compound. There will be many private events throughout the coming week, including entertainment, hunts, games and competitions. You’ve been laboring for a most of the day, mostly moving logs or driving pylons, doing the work equal to two men. A seven-sided raised platform is being constructed as the centerpiece in the courtyard, each of the sides extending out to the far edges of the perimeter. The houses would take their place in each separate area, watching the final event - a duel between Yashi’s and Anju’s champion.
During your years of stay here at the estate, you have made little friends and mostly remaining to yourself. One of the house maids, Riyoko, had developed an infatuation for you; either giggling with other women as they pass or blushing from afar. While you have taken this attention with no interest of your own, it is hard to tell whether you are simply ill-mannered or purely stoic. Riyoko is normally maid to House Anju’s eldest son, though in the short-staffed efforts, she has been assigned to your group. She is passing out water to the working men, as she hands you the ladle she sheepishly asks, “Master Suun tells me you will be allowed to watch the events. Where will you be sitting?”
The events are scheduled in multiple groups of fourteen competitors that complete through seven matches. The group winners advance to a pool of quarter finals and semi-finals, then ultimately leaving one victor in each tier. Your matches begin tomorrow morning, leaving the day open for preparations or other affairs.