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Rivani calls on strange powers and focuses his will her, calling to her mind to "Fall!", but she is able to push her own will back and resists, just as Andruss gives her the dirty look most husbands convince their wives that dread, and her will, this time, gives in, and she thinks, "Why do you hate me!".
The other ninja further south sees the threat he is in, grabs his naginata and charges in.
ROUND 3:
Seinaru (), Eric (), Jorah (), & Victoria (-33)
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Ninja 1 (-5, cursed: -2 saves, roll twice) & Ninja 2 ()
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Rivani (-11) & Andruss ()
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Ninja 3 ()
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Rivani's, as well as Victoria's hidden wounds begin to close and seal, though in her case, not completely.
ROUND 3:
Seinaru (), Eric (), Jorah (), & Victoria (-22)
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Ninja 1 (-5, cursed: -2 saves, roll twice) & Ninja 2 ()
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Rivani () & Andruss ()
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Ninja 3 ()
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Just after Seinaru heals the close group, Eric charges at the ninja closest to himself on the roof, grabbing his Kukri, but as he get's closer, she takes a defensive stance, and rolls out of the way at the last moment. Down below, not liking being in such close combat, Jorah takes a step back and grabs his crossbow from his belt, but grasps it wrongly, and nearly drops it as he takes aim and fires.
The two ninja's up on the roof act quickly, the one nearest Eric stabs with her naginata at Eric while the other, rushes and leaps down into a soft roll on the ground and thrusts his blade at Rivani. Neither of them connect, though.
ROUND 3:
Seinaru (), Eric (), Jorah (), & Victoria (-22)
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Ninja 1 (-5, cursed: -2 saves, roll twice) & Ninja 2 ()
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Rivani () & Andruss ()
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Ninja 3 ()
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Rivani takes another step back out of immediate danger while Andruss moves in a bit closer and chuckles, much to the consternation of the afflicted ninja. Seinaru grabs some air while grabbing his longspear, ascending to avoid the ninja on the ground being able to get in a lucky strike as he moves by, but then descending to help flank the other Ninja with Eric, but misses his thrust.
Eric likewise sees a brief opening and strikes, but becomes increasingly flustered as the ninja, mostly luck, avoids another blow.
Down below, however, Jorah's sting does not, as he reloads and sends another bolt flying, and catching the Ninja in the back of the shoulder, just missing the patella which might have destroyed her ability to continue to fight with that arm. Unseen, Victoria arms herself and gets into position.
The pair of Ninja, knowing they can not flee nor surrender in their task, go all out, one focusing on Eric and the other charging at Andruss, seeing him as the easier target.
ROUND 5:
Rivani (), Andruss (-5), Seinaru (), Eric (), Jorah (), & Victoria (-22)
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Ninja 1 (-5, cursed: -2 saves, roll twice) & Ninja 2 (-2)
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You make short work of the two remaining threats, and do so without either VC Bakten or his little friend, Twig being injured or killed.
VC Bakten descends to greet you, seemingly indifferent to the attack upon his life. At 250 years old, Bakten is an emaciated, hairless man with translucent blue-white skin. His legs have withered from years of meditation. Despite his frailty, Bakten is a forceful personality, and he sizes you up almost instantly. But, as he does so, it's almost like a magically sentient, but emotionless golem. His eyes betray nothing of his thoughts, nor does his facial expression or even body language change. He simply looks, and then stops, having found what he needed and not caring beyond that. Finally, without giving any indication of his approval or views of you or your actions, he raises his head up slightly, looking off into the distance, and says “My veiled life; my only failing. For decades, I have communed with my own past lives, in preparation for my passage to the Great Beyond, for only a soul in perfect balance with karma may transcend. Yet this shadow incarnation is silent, and it vexes me. I wonder now, did these assassins know of some slight of which I, myself, am ignorant? Is that even possible. Me?"
"Friends, indulge an old man’s curiosity. If you can travel to the loci of my lives before and after, then two relics there may point toward the mystery and lift the veil. I am too frail to travel, but I have an item here that may allow you to show me those relics from afar.”
“One is the skull of an elven daimyo, Haraka Sorin. He died alongside Malash, he who was reborn as my veiled self. The skull now rests in the Haraka family shrine, in the Court of the Ancestral Sky in Ayajinbo. The other is a cradle that once held Malikeen, my most recent incarnation. It is on display in the village of Dallo, in western Wanshou.”
Seeing you all looking at the VC with more tan a little confusion, Twig helps out with "And just how are they going to show you those relics from afar", Bakten friend?"
For the first time, you notice the faintest look of irritation on VC Bakten's otherwise emotionless face, but he replies, still coldly, monotonely, "Ah yes," taking a small candle out of one of his pouches to show as he speaks, "with this. I will perform a small ritual. I'm certain that, while it is minor, is far beyond your abilities, which will allow you to travel through my past lives. And also with THIS, . . ." as he hands over a piece of paper. It appears to be a hand written timeline, cataloging his deeds and defects over the past 2,000 years, calling it “It is a single soul’s journey, whose history puts your Pathfinder Chronicles to shame. You must keep it with you for all that is to come.”
Twig again speaks up on your behalf, "Master. It's possible that the agents might have questions for you about their mission."
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After cleaning himself and his weapons off after the battle with the ninjas, Jorah bows slightly to Baktan before adressing him, "Do you have any idea who sent these assassins? Have there been previous attempts on your life? It's almost as if they knew we would be coming."
With very little delay, almost as though he was anticipating this question, “They have watched me from afar for two lifetimes. Several times, I chased them away, but they always came back eventually, and hid better. Never until now have they sought my life. If you learn more of their motives on your quest, I would be keen to hear of it.”
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"We salute you, wise Bakten. It's an honor for us help you."
Andruss was suspicious about a man with so much experience like Bakten, just didn't know why he was attacked so constantly.
"Well, it seems that we'll travel a bit. So, once we get the skull of Haraka Sorin, how we get back to here, or travel to your another 'past life'?", asked the witch.
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Victoria digs through her haversack, and after pulling out a myriad of items, combs, cosmetics, with a smile she pulls out a prize...a ball of twine.
"Well, I found this...not exactly rope. But maybe we can double or triple it up? Hmm, ok maybe not. What about these guys. Can we use their own belts or clothes to bind them?
Turning to Bakten.
It must really be annoying to have these men in black pajamas chasing you every day. Do you have something they want perhaps?"
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It must really be annoying to have these men in black pajamas chasing you every day. Do you have something they want perhaps?"
"As I said, they have been a part of many of my lives. I believe they seek something from what I call my Veiled Life. For my kind, we do not have the gift of faith. We know, without doubt that when we die, we will be reincarnated, for we remember our past selves. Normally. Two incarnations ago, there is a life I do not fully remember, and it is during this period that I believe these noble warriors in, as you outsiders so disrespectfully say, "in black pajamas" hold something against me. I do not know what."
"This is my final incarnation. When I die, all of my past deeds, throughout all incarnations shall be measured and balanced. That time of Enlightenment is nearing for me. I suspect that my Veiled Life is somehow, . . . I am not sure how to explain it that you would understand? I think there may be something I do not know, even about myself."
The psychic will give a respectful bow to the old man. I would love to read the history of your life, Grandfather.
He returns the bow before adding, "If you do as I ask, you will have the opportunity to experience some of it in a much more personal manner. Now, please, if there is nothing else, I am not certain how much time we all have. I'm not entirely sure what would happen to you should this last incarnation pass on with your own mortal souls linked to me via the magic of the candle, and if you will help me to understand this, there is much to be done."
As you bind the ninja would-be assassins,
for branches.
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This ritual sounds interesting. If it gives access to memories of past experiences, count me in..." Victoria chimes in without hesitation.
Then looking down at the few injuries she has, she decides to pull out a cure wand to heal herself before the next ordeal.
Are any of you proficient with these? I am always hit and miss for some reason
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Bakten takes you all to a small meditation room, giving you some time to rest and relax as he makes the final preparations for the ritual.
Once he returns, he asks you to have a seat in a circle, while he lays down the bone white candle and conducts an elaborate ritual taking well over an hour. The ritual that culminates with lighting the candle. Once alight, the candle functions as a Continual Flame. "This can only be extinguished if one or more of you, or myself, dies, or departs the plane that is my past life's memories. Finally, if all of you, now bound to the flame, and to me, mentally agree to end the effect, the flame will vanish, ad you shall return here, to me."
As the ritual completes, a soft green flame springs to life from the candle, offering no warmth, but powerful light.
Handing the candle over to Victoria (I presume she would be the best choice to hold it), you all feel a strange power, and a binding sensation course through you. You can hear, and feel, and even in some other new sense know each others heart beats, as you do.
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With the ritual complete, your own souls bound to the candle, and thus to both Baket and each other, you seem to fade away, reappearing in a totally different place, on a road. Again, you seem to know without knowing that you are on the way to Jinin and travel approximately 300 miles through dense forest. This journey shall takes about 16 days on foot. Fortunately, Jinin is a peaceful land, and the journey proceeds without incident. Along the way, you do have the opportunity to ask other travelers a few questions, and possibly find out:
striking a mirror and granting good luck to any who behold it.
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"We salute you, wise Bakten. It's an honor for us help you."
Andruss was suspicious about a man with so much experience like Bakten, just didn't know why he was attacked so constantly.
"Well, it seems that we'll travel a bit. So, once we get the skull of Haraka Sorin, how we get back to here, or travel to your another 'past life'?", asked the witch.