DM PeteZeros Ruby Phoenix Tournament (Inactive)

Game Master Pete who?

He shrugs, "it's just a suspicion."

"Explain."

"Oh, the fight yesterday morning. One were the famous warriors of Xian, and on the other side some hobgoblin band. The warriors were favoured to win, but just collapsed during the fight. Too strange."

"Well, now that is just unfair. Do not they realize cheaters never prosper?."

He shrugs, "they always try." He carefully gets up and takes a deep breath. "Time to head for my tent, enjoy the tournament." and starts to limp down the street.

As you head for the Noodle House you find it less busy then the night before. But during your meal you overhear converations, and word has spread that several contestants have come down with strange maladies from more than just the tainted wine.

Kn Local: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 = 21

Hmmm... no one listens to the Eunuch.

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On Going Effects: Heroism, 90 min;

Ward will ask around and see if anyone will tell him recent news.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

It would appear that his performance today did not make many friends.

Isis listens to the story, trying to put pieces together with what he said as opposed to what she knows to be true.

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28 Know (Local)

"...death and poison. Strange, yes?" Isis says, repeating the under-20 spoiler from above. "It is amazing what my suitors will tell me when they glimpse upon my beauty"

Isis snorks back more boogers with a loud snarf.

Nothing remarkable happens during the night.

The morning of the third day of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament is dismal and rainy. A steady drizzle lasts well into the afternoon, when the rain lets off, though thick, gray cloud cover remains.
During the first match of day three, where you are present, another test of the three towers all three towers topple on a contestant, killing the unlucky competitor and bringing the day’s contests to a sudden halt as the Emissary and his agents investigate the death and clear the ruined towers from the fight stage.

You are selected for an additional exhibition match because of your increasingly impressive performances thus far in the competition. Kiang Zhen approaches you and asks you to select one representative to take part in the traditional “boar and tiger” fight, in which two contestants are tethered to wild animals and pitted against one another with the goal of keeping their respective beasts alive.

Choose your champion, make a coin toss for first pick of animals

"I think we should choose Pad for this. I would love to volunteer, but if they put me up a against a caster I have no way of closing in on my enemies animal before he turns mine into dust."

"I do not know whom to recommend, but I will recommend the partaking of a couple of my extracts and potions."

Gerri offers (in recommended drinking/spiting order)

• an Extract of Alchemical Alocation
  
• Potion of Stoneskin (CL 15)[Spit-back]
  
• an Extract of Absorb Toxicity (CL11)
  
• an Extract of Shield (CL11)
  
• an Extract of Enlarge Person (CL11)
  
• an Extract of Alchemical Alocation (if you have your own potions to drink)[optional]
  
• an Extract of Alchemical Alocation
  
• Potion of Displacement (CL5)[Spit-back]
  

Thinks about what the chubby gnome would look like tethered to a tiger.

"I think Pad might have a good shot at this. If not it will at least be entertaining."

"I am flattered and honored. What a marvelous contest! I am open to suggestions if we get first pick of beasts. Boars are tough but tigers are harder to hit. I wonder if we can inspect the animals before choosing?"

"This sounds like great fun. Pad,you would be excellent ."

diplomacy : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
kn:eng bardic : 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Isis gives Pad an arched eye, wondering what will happen.

You see the animals at the center of the stage - they are a tiger and a dire boar.

"I would rather be tied to something that I consider food, rather than something that considers me food."

"I do not know whom to recommend, but I will recommend the partaking of a couple of my extracts and potions."

Gerri offers (in recommended drinking/spiting order)

• an Extract of Alchemical Alocation
  
• Potion of Stoneskin (CL 15)[Spit-back]
  
• an Extract of Absorb Toxicity (CL11)
  
• an Extract of Shield (CL11)
  

Prebuff

Pad will graciously accept the above extracts and potions from Gerri and drink them before the contest. In addition, he will self buff with the spells below starting with the longest duration to shortest.

Coin flip: "Tails never fails. I will choose the boar as Master Savage suggests. The tiger looks hungry and may confuse me for a piglet."
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Buffs: Improved Invisibility 12 rds, Fly 12 min, Protection from Evil 12 min, Spell Resistance 12 min, Spectral Hand 12 min, Shield 11 min, Mage Armor (12 hr), See Invisibility (2 hr), Resist Energy Fire DR 30 (2 hr), Heroism (2 hr), Absorb Toxicity (110 min), Stoneskin 150/150 hp (2.5 hr), Freedom of Movement (perm)

Gerri heads to the grandstands to get a seat.

This should be fun.

Savage follows Gerri into the stands and orders a smoked herring on a stick to eat, as he eats it he thinks about it and asks Bast if it wants a bite.

Pad tosses the coin:
Tails = 1
Heads = 2
1d2 ⇒ 1

And with this, Pad gets the boar.

For the duration of the match, contestants are not permitted to allow harm to befall their own beasts. Neither can the beasts become unfettered. Contestants win by slaying their opponent’s beast. If a combatant wishes to move more than 15 feet from her tethered animal’s current location, she must make a drag combat maneuver against the animal, and can use the reposition combat maneuver to move her animal without moving herself (both of these maneuvers can be made at range as if the PC had a 15- foot reach).

Initiatives:
Boar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Tiger: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Druid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Pad: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

The tournament starts with a surprise, as both animals react fast - and attack those whom they are attached to.

Boar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 3) + 9 = 15
Tiger: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Tiger: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Tiger: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 4) + 6 = 11
Tiger CMB: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

Druid - 8 damage, grabbed

that's why you choose the boar ;)

Map

Ward cheers from the side lines. "Good choice on the boar Pad. He's in trouble so you should have no problems finishing this."

"Princess Isis, hide your eyes! This cat is toast!" Pad steps 5' east to avoid being threatened by the boar and as a full round action casts intensified maximized fireball for 105 points of damage (15d6+15) with a Reflex DC 25 for half. The fireball is positioned to only harm the tiger. Magical Lineage trait allows Pad to cast it as a 6th level spell. Swift action for performance check. Performance: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 32

With one big fireball the tiger is dead and the fight finished.
Performance: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

For your victory you are awarded a ring of animal friendship.

Immediately after you have completed the boar and tiger fight, Marthysan approaches you in the downtime between matches. The paladin seems quite concerned, "have you encountered anything strange lately or heard any rumors? I try to get everything, but," he gestures to the pavillon, noodle house and surroundings, "this is an impossible task. Maybe there is something that may not have reached my ears while I was focused on the tournament and other business I have to take care off?"

"It's a shame Pad didn't get the tiger. We could have had bacon if he cooked the boar like that."

"Hip hip hooray for Mr Pad! Way to go. Even without the bacon. "

Dora is excited by the skill displayed by her team.

Addressing Marthysan, Dora simply comments...

"There definitely seems to be a lot of side activities outside the arena to tamper with participants. I would have thought there would be better controls in place to keep things fair. I guess it is difficult to watch everywhere."

He nods, "too much, too much, keep eyes and ears open!"

Know anything about a gambling racket. I need to place a bet on us if given time

Savage smiles lettimg tje paladin know he is not serious

"Princess Isis, hide your eyes! This cat is toast!"

Isis shields Bast's eyes, but not all of the cat's sense are similarly dulled and the cat lets out a low hiss of displeasure.

"You know Bast, I agree. There seems to be a fair number of awful people here...those who would pit humans in combat for sport, subject innocent animals for slaughter. The Society has never been one to see about making the world a better place...and their support of this event proves that again."

Isis gives an icy stare to Pad.

Hearing himself summoned back to the Emissary’s side, Marthysan quickly cuts the conversation short ”meet me at 9 p.m. at Yon Loi’s to discuss the situation,” he says, then disappears.
During your brief conversation with Marthysan, Ruby Phoenix monks carry hundreds of buckets of red-hot coals into the arena and spread them across the floor of the fight stage, noticeably raising the Grand Pavilion’s ambient temperature and filling the air with thin gouts of steam as stray raindrops hit the burning ground and vaporize.
The Emissary calls out your team name, summoning you to fight in the battle of the embers. You are instructed to remove any footwear and stand ready to fight atop the smoldering coals. You have the opportunity as they wait to cast spells to preclude fire damage (such as energy resistance or protection from energy), but the tournament officials warn you that the crowd disapproves of such actions, seeing it as taking the easy way out.

"Looks like they put out foot warmers for you Pad. This is going to sting a bit for me though."

"I have seen these acts of devotion amongst members of my culture before. It is said to be a simple matter of mind over matter by those that have mastered the practice. Some claim 'If you do not mind, it does not matter', when asked about the discomfort o the heat."

"I look forward to this challenge," he says as he takes off his sandals.

As part of his preparation, Gerri will drink his Mutagen, an Extract of Alchemical Allocation, a Potion of Heroism and an Extract of Shock Shield.

Does Gerri recall anything about our opponenet for this challenge?
Kn Local: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

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On Going Effects: Mutagen +4 Dex|-2 Wis|+2 NA, 110 min; Heroism, 50 min; Shock Shield, 11 min;

Isis sneers at the coals, rejecting the matter outright, as her strength lies in her flexibility, elusiveness, and magic. "The crowd be damned," Isis murmurs.

Overland Flight still active.

"Wow, how marvelous! I have heard about this coal walking before, but never thought I would get to try it. I wonder if it has any therapeutic benefits? . "

Dora looks at Boots the wolf and decides it would be too much to push her companion to walk on the coals.

"You stay her and cheer for us, boy . "

Preps prot v evil and divine favor before the match .

Savage removes his boots, his calloused gnarled feet look like they can take a little heat damage.

"This looks way easier than fighting that head zombie thing earlier."

Prebuff
HP 86/86
AC 19 (21 vs evil)

Pad will self buff with the spells below starting with the longest duration to shortest. "I have no fear of walking on coals with the proper protections. To do so otherwise is lunacy. It will take at least a week for those blisters to heal!"
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Buffs: Protection from Evil (12 min), Shield (12 min), Mage Armor (12 hr), See Invisibility (2 hr), Resist Energy Fire DR 30 (2 hr), Heroism (2 hr) Freedom of Movement (perm)

Takes off his boots in preparation of the up coming match. Looks over at Isis still flying.

"Perhaps it would be a good idea to check if flying is legal for this match. I only say this because we have made a few mistakes in past matches. If it is indeed not legal for you to fly, I can help you with the coals Isis.

He will also cast divine favor and deadly juggernaut.

You are faced with 4 singers this time.

flying is legal, I need to know who takes damage willingly from the coals
in any adjustments I neeed to know if it's vs evil, outsiders, etc., as you often face non-evil foes

Hazards: Any creature walking unshod on the hot coals takes 1d6 points of fire damage per round (DC 15 Reflex save for half damage). A creature that moves at least 15 feet during its turn receives a +2 bonus on this save. Combatants can kick, shovel, hurl, or otherwise throw coals as a ranged touch attack with a range of 10 feet that deals 1d6 points of fire damage. A prone creature takes 2d6 points of fire damage each round at the start of its turn

Initiatives:
Initiative Dora: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Initiative Gerri: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Initiative Isis: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Initiative Ward: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Initiative Pad: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Initiative Savage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Initiative Chanters: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Everyone goes first, except Gerri

"Wow hot foot! Hot foot!"

Reflex save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

I will assume that we are on the coals. If not Ward will move on to them with a 5 foot step if possible. He will fire a full volley at Chanter 1. If Chanter one goes down remaining shots will go to Chanter 2. He will use Rapid shot -2 to hit, deadly aim -3/+6, many shot, I am guessing they are human +2/+2 and divine favor +3/+3.

Shot 1: 1d20 + 20 - 2 - 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 20 - 2 - 3 + 2 + 3 = 34
damage 1: 2d8 + 6 + 6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 + 6 + 3 + 2 = 19

Rapid shot: 1d20 + 20 - 2 - 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 20 - 2 - 3 + 2 + 3 = 22
damage 2: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 6 + 3 + 2 = 23

Shot 2: 1d20 + 15 - 2 - 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 2 - 3 + 2 + 3 = 34
damage 3: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 6 + 3 + 2 = 20

Shot 3: 1d20 + 10 - 2 - 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 2 - 3 + 2 + 3 = 20
damage 4: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 6 + 3 + 2 = 22

If he goes down then Ward will hold his bow up to try and please the crowd.

Performance: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 4 = 32

"Never deal with a gnome pyromaniac when fire is involved!" Pad uses a full round action to cast intensified maximized fireball for 105 points of damage (15d6+15) with a Reflex DC 25 for half. The fireball is positioned to affect all 4 chanters. Magical Lineage trait allows Pad to cast it as a 6th level spell. The coals do not damage Pad due to his Resist Fire 30, but he is standing on them. Swift action for performance check. Performance: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 32

Chanter 1 goes down.

Ref save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Ref save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Ref save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

End of combat! 1 VP

You get some pats on the back this time.
Shortly after the battle of the embers, the Emissary tasks you with your third test of the competition. He describes to you a scintillating ruby bracelet made of 99 tiny gems, braided together with golden filaments. This bracelet, he explains, is currently in the possession of a guardian named Tsavati in the bamboo forest north of Yun Chumo. He gives you until sundown to locate the bracelet and retrieve it from the guardian.

When Pad casts a full round action, would not the fireball show up right before the beginning of his next turn? Not that I am unhappy with the results. :-)!.

You are referring to a 1 round casting which is common for Summon Monster Spells. Spontaneous casters must use their full round like a full attack when using meta magic feats. Pad will slide into a more supportive roll next combat. ; p

Ah - right, thanks. I am not used to full-round casting coming up, so that threw me. Play on! Nothing to see here. :-)

Gerri looks back-n-forth at his empty extract vials and tournament officials, who just declared a winner after only a couple of seconds.

Hmmm, this will be difficult to increase our victory standing with the crowd this way.

Dora nods in agreement with Gerri.

Her ears perk up at the discussion of the missing bracelet.

"We can try to find the bracelet. What is the significance of the bracelet? Will it help our standing in the tournament?"

Dora will use her loremaster ability (t20+10)=30 for Kn:Local to learn more about the bracelet, and the guardian named Tsavati in the bamboo forest north of Yun.

Isis tries to ferret out what is known of the bamboo forest and the one known as Tsavati.

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28 Know (Local or History)

"In either case, we must hurry to the bamboo forest. It may take us a while to comb it all, depending on how big it is," Isis instructs.

"Into the forest."

Isis has heard of Tsavati before, and knows she is a Nagaji.

It is a bamboo forest, it is dense with tall, thin bamboo stalks standing an average of 50 feet from the forest floor. The 8-inch-diameter shoots are bare of any foliage from the ground to a height of approximately 40 feet, where masses of thick leaves create a translucent canopy

"Dora, does that pup of yours know how to track?