The Gardener continues his work, giving Riyoko only a minimal reply.
"I'll stand. Over there." He gestures vaguely off to the side, as if the actual spot matters not at all to him.
"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."
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Aurin bows and opens with a Ki Attack!
***
Riyoko looks towards the direction you pointed to where you would be sitting, "...the latrine?..."
"I think he meant the preparations tent", Master Suun had overheard the flirtation and was trying to rescue your embarrassment. Throwing in a spontaneous invitation of privilege to cover, "Yes, he'll be assisting you and me in preparing our champion for the duel! Isn't that right? Now why don't the two of you take fetch this list to the merchants-", his words are interrupted by a servitor.
"Master - there are two visitors for you at the front entrance. One of them says that he is a member of the Fraternity of Order seeking your council."
Suun's eyes raised, "Indeed? Unexpected surprise. Walk with me.", he invites you and Riyoko along.
The main gates are wide open for frequent traffic. Guards snap to attention as Suun approaches and introduced to "I am Suun."
Aurin bows low to Master Suun, and his entourage, with the deepest regard and respect.
"Greetings Master Suun. I am Aurin Saa of the Tumbling Pearl. My Instructor, Braga, suggested that we seek you out for your council and wisdom. You may know my friend Breeze here, and our guide Guo. We have come to Bishamonten for the Seven Fortunes Tournament, as well as for information about a curious artifact we found."
Aurin bows low again in respect for Master Suun's time and attention.
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Though he doesn't show it, The Gardener is thankful for Suun's timely rescue. Women were a mystery to him, and experience had shown it was dangerous to get close to them. Riyoko's smile may have been genuine, or it may have her way to manipulate him, but it didn't matter.
Love. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
The second interruption by Suun's servant was unexpected, but that was not the reason that The Gardener's eyes narrowed.
A Guvner.
He didn't like rules-lawyers from the Fraternity of Order. Their laws, and the loopholes in them, were an affront to his own philosophy.
He observes quietly from a few steps behind Suun, his scarred arms crossed over his big chest, black eyes staring at the blue-skinned man as he makes his introduction. Polite and courteous, he guesses him to be the offending Guvner.
His gaze shifts, passing over the irrelevant guide to the second man gaping around at the festival. He doesn't know what to make of him, and that makes him suspicious.
It was obvious to Suun that the Guvner in the group was the stammering scholar and definitely not the passive assimar. Ever the master of the realm's etiquette, he handles the awkwardness skillfully, ”I cannot tell you how excited I am you’ve come!”, he waves the both of you in and sends the servitor away for refreshments; giving the gardener a nod as he turns to reassure that all was well.
You are led to a nearby pergola that hangs with topical blooms. By the time you are seated at an artisan table and set of benches, a tray of fruits and tea had been brought. ”House Anju is receiving its own guests – I am blessed to receive my own.” Suun begins almost in a stately manner; no introduction is expected for the gardener, the maid or Guo. With odds sights abound on Lunia, two half-orcs standing together while one talk about blessedness definitely qualifies. ”You’re a long way from Sigil. I surely hope you came for the Seven Fortunes Festival?”, he looks inquisitively. Guo for his part cannot stop gawping at Suun's clockwork right arm which starts at the elbow.
"Mmm, yes I see...", Suun nods as he listens to Breeze and Arun.
The Gardener stands quiet, watching Suun stare at the newcomers, wondering not for the first time if the old Master could read minds.
|
"Well actually Aurin here was picked to come to the festival as i understand it and i was coming to watch. Although i did sign up to participate in one event just for fun. But there was another reason for my coming to see you."
Breeze reaches into his pack and produces an orb wrapped in a cloth careful not to touch the orb itself.
"A young boy found this and myself and others have found no way of discerning what it is and we don't know if it is dangerous or not"
Placing the orb on the table
"We were wondering if you could have a look at it for us"
Aurin watches Master Suun's reaction.
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Judging by his countenance, whatever Suun was expecting Breeze to pull out of the bag was probably not was he was expecting to see. Disappointment at first, then recognition, then confusion, then curiosity, then doubt, then perplexed, ”What is it?”, he asks. Guo’s hidden expression answers back the obvious.
”At first I thought it was a reflective glass bauble,” Suun leans over the gleaming orb to visually inspect. ”But I see now that it is metallic, yet has no joining seams. The shape is of a perfect sphere, a mastercraft of some sort, I have never seen anything of its like. –This is quite a find!” he compliments Breeze. ”You felt it could be dangerous yet carried it on a long journey without harm.” He picks up the orb by cradling in the wrapped cloth that it sits in, ”Hmm, heavier than I would have guessed, and shifting in weight like quicksilver. After a dozen more questions on its discovery and a score of Guvner theories, the gardener looks like ready to bleed from the nose and even the assimar had nearly fallen asleep; only Breeze remains fixated in conversation like an apprentice.
”If you will allow, I need some time in my laboratory to inspect this most exquisite prize. Meanwhile, be my guests here at the compound. Tomorrow, Riyoko and… him, will gather supplies in the markets, they can guide you properly to the tournaments.”
In the perpetual moonlit night of Lunia, 'morning' comes quickly. An eternal cusp of twilight dotted by twinkling, silvery stars, the glittery light of Mercuria shining down on the land below and the wonder of Chronias occasionally visible through the shifting clouds; to many, the skies of Lunia are reminiscent of the Astral itself.
Riyoko waits for you by the front gate and leads you skillfully through Bishamonten, pointing out sights of interest and sounds of the unusual. She offers Aurin and Breeze some details on House Anju's history and relationships as Guo quietly tails behind with the gardener.
By mid morning, you arrive at the tournament area for Aurin's match; Breeze's match would be later in the day. Enthusiasm is high once the few locals see who would be next, sizing up the competitor and picking their favorites. The combat area is simple open field with a natural rock cropping in the background. Colorful banners mark the perimeter of one hundred square feet on each side; the crowds spectate just outside of it, cheering and jeering. A single drum crew signals the match to begin!
Initiative:
Breeze is paired up against the rashaksa mage and unleashes his first incantation!
The feral mage answers back!
A squat hill dwarf is paired up against Aurin and charges in to attack!
PCs UP!!!
Aurin attacks!
PCs UP!!! 3 rounds to go.
The Gardener watches the tournament with a thousand yard stare. For one who has survived the Arena, such theater holds little interest to him. His mind keeps turning back to the day before, and the meeting with Suun.
Was it a coincidence that the old man summoned him for that meeting?
He suddenly catches sight of the odd man who arrived with the blue-skinned celestial-spawn. He's seen magic used in combat, and he is almost impressed with the clever application used by him against his opponent. When the man performs a second clever trick of spellcraft he has to admit that at least one of them seems capable.
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Aurin begins to settle into the pacing of the Tournament.
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Round 3 resolution:
Breeze AP: 200-18-18
rashaksa magus AP: X-23-19+4-18
Aurin AP: 156-17-13+18-12
dwarf barbarian AP: X-10
PCs UP!!! 2 rounds to go.
Level Bonus Special
1st +1 Bonus feat, flurry of blows USED, stunning fist, unarmed strike
2nd +2 Bonus feat, evasion
3rd +3 Fast movement, maneuver training USED, still mind
4th +4 Ki pool (magic), slow fall 20 ft.
5th +5 High jump, purity of body
6th +6 Bonus feat, slow fall 30 ft.
7th +7 Ki pool (cold iron/silver), wholeness of body
8th +8 Slow fall 40 ft.
9th +9 Improved evasion
10th +10 Bonus feat, ki pool (lawful), slow fall 50 ft.
11th +11 Diamond body
Aurin attacks!
Aurin attacks again!
PCs UP!!!
Aurin heals!
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Aurin defeats the dwarf!
Breeze defeats the rashaska!
::crowd cheers::
***Tier 2***
PCs UP!!!
As the matches continues, the gardener and Riyoko stand in the midst of the spectators. The crowd press together in excitement, pushing her into his side, but perhaps some on her own efforts. "The visitors are quite skilled, yes?", she looks up.
"Hmm." The Gardener replies to Riyoko. It's not quite an agreement, but it isn't dissent either. "They might not be the berks I thought there were."
To the surging crowd he offers a glare and low growl, protecting his personal space through intimidation.
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