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The aspis cleric breaks quiven's arrow from his wound and turns to glare. "That sneakthief's the one that caught a ruby... GET HIM!"
The other moves to take chase as well. "And that half-pint is with him!"
The other cleric grows in stature and the pair begin to close in on Quiven and Little Shins.
Round 7:
Wei Ji
Hiram (Has 1 ruby)
Jin Goro (Has 3 rubies)
Little Shins
Taka (Invisible, has 1 ruby)
Quiven (Has 2 rubies)
Roary
Blue Aspie Cleric (Big, -22)
Green Aspie Cleric (Big)
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Looking around for other potential dangers of the arrival of the law Jin quickly draws a scroll from his pack.
It's time to go everyone, lets not dally with these Aspis, here, I can provide us with some cover so we can just leave them behind
Muttering over the scrolls thick fog begins to roll out from him spreading across the crowds at the door and swirling into the tavern.
Without warning, loud slamming noises echo through the tavern, even over the fray of the combat within. Moments later, the front doors rupture in a shower of splinters. In full battle regalia, a contingent of Absalom’s First Guard rush into the room. Swinging heavy chains and nets, they beat into the brawlers en mass, dragging dozens to the floor. The remainder of the contestants break from their opponents, and the crowd devolves into a raging mob as all race frantically for the nearest exit to avoid arrest.
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Absalom's First Guard rushes into the tavern as you all make your exit under the cover of fog. From the sound of it, the chaos in there will get worse before it gets batter...
At that you all are able to meet up a block away from the tavern, away from the chaos of the contestants and the watch. Time to go find some accomodations for the night.
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"Thank you for the help Wei. It would have been good if they caught up to me."
Shines is a bit disappointed as he admits, "Then went by so quickly, I didn't get any gem." Taka proudly holds out a gemstone before stowing it away in Shins bag.
"If you would like, I have a ship at the docks that we can rest the night at, assuming you all are fine with sleeping on a boat."
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The tengu shrugs.
"I was spotting and pointing them out, and then trying to cover everyone's exit until someone or something yanked me out. Sorry for pulling a 'Janira' there, it seemed like the best way to get folks with the target item out."
He considers the offer then nods.
"Not adverse to sleeping on a vessel, and it's actually a pretty good spot, thinking about it. Easy to secure to the access points, it's not rolling out on the ocean. Don't have to sell me any harder. How much is it per night?"
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Wei ponders as the party is collecting the gems...
"Thinking about it, perhaps we might want to keep the gems separated, both to be able to tell them apart if they really do as advertised?
The other alternative, that they are some form of explosive or curse device being used as a test of wits isn't that unlikely of an option, either?
Separating the gems out to all the party makes it less likely that any one party member is injured in the event they are a harmful item, and also provides for security in the event we are attacked in the middle of the night?"
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The gem held by Taka has a faint aura of evocation and divination.
As for accommodations, the ship is fine. Otherwise there are several inns in the area and with the number of injuries and arrests it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect that a few people who had reserved rooms will fail to check in this evening.
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As they head towards the boat Jin takes a little time to examine the rubies in his possession.
Wei Ji, truly the world is a mysterious place where the notoriously flightless tengu can describe such a glorious arc over the heads of the crowd and through a window..., he winks, I hope it didn't hurt too much...
As they pass a grog shop on the way to the ship Jin pops inside, he returns a moment later with several bottles, can't spend a night on a boat without a few glasses of rum! he says as he pops the bottles into his haversack...but given the Aspis interest we should probably set a watch, in fact it might be an idea to pick up some scrolls of Keep Watch on the way...
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The tengu squints and considers.
"I suspect that it was a pre-test, to see how teams worked together and what sort of tactics to expect. It wouldn't take much to have someone scry on the location as all the fighting and gems were breaking out.
As this was supposed to be a bit of a 'quiet' thing, I imagine that getting out without legal entanglements may have tied into things somehow?
But that's just a random guess. It's what *I* would do if I was trying to winnow down the field a bit? Math-wise? Each gem is a fifty-fifty deal, supposedly. That's independent of any other gems. So the odds are even that all of them are 'good' for what we need them to be, or none of them are."
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"I'm confident we have what we need. I do wish they narrowed it differently; a lot of people got hurt in there for all this."
Shins leads the group to a small merchant vessel with the name "Lucky Charm" painted on the side. There is a small skeleton crew Shins addresses and commands.
"We can either group into my quarters or sleep in unused bunks tonight. The few crew here will help keep watch, but we should still take watch. They wouldn't be able to stand up those like we fought in the tavern."
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You all settle in on the Lucky Charm for the night, and let the waves lull you to sleep.
The night in uneventful, and the next morning you awake, refreshed and ready for the trials ahead. Within your stash of rubies, one of the begins to glow - softly at first and after a bit it slowly brightens up to a full light, casting a red glow throughout the room.
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It seems as though it's nothing more than a simple variant on a light spell set to go off at a particular time. The divination aspects are likely that of some sort of scrying spell. Perhaps a scrying focus? That might make sense because you haven't told anyone where you were headed... and one of the ships crew just ran down to the captains quarters to inform you that you have a visitor.
"Cap'n, there's a tengu here asking to speak with you. Says she's a rep'rsentive of some Phoenix. Should I tell her to scarper off?"
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"Good morning. I am the liaison to the Emissary of the Ruby Phoenix. I am here to inform you that all contestants are to meet at the following location in one hour."
She hands a small scroll showing directions to a a large shipping house near where the Docks meets the sodden district known as the Puddles.
"Bring your glowing ruby, and a team of up to 6 of your finest warriors. You will be competing together for the remainder of the tournament."
She gives a curt bow and makes to leave. "I have more deliveries to make, so I must depart now. I shall see you in one hour."
She speaks quickly and departs just as fast, holding a small pouch containing several similar scrolls to that which was given to you.
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Well, this looks like being an exciting day!
22 Hours Ant Haul
11 Hours Delay Poison
24 Hours Extended Magic Vestment x2 on armour and shield(+1CL)
11 Hours Overland Flight
110 Minutes Heroism cast just before our new arrival, he will recast this if needed
He will cast Deathwatch and Freedom of Movement when we get to the Warehouse unless it is clear we wont be "on" for a while, they will last for 110 minutes
He will also pick up a couple of blood-boiling pills and anointing oils en route and chew down on one of the pills. It lasts for 8 hours.
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The party's tengu has spent a relatively quiet night of contemplation, rest, meditation, and his fair share of taking a watch. In the morning, he pulled out a journal and made several notations in it, the language using characters that are largely foreign to the Inner Sea.
When the other tengu arrives he will give a polite bow, then look to the party.
"While we've been sort of self-contained here, is there anything we need or should be addressed before we go to the meeting? And is anyone adverse to taking a slightly 'roundabout' route? I have a feeling that if we go directly to the spot, we might get ambushed by sore losers from yesterday's pre-qualifier bout."
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The tengu pops her head back in for one more moment. "Erm appologies... The event will begin just past dusk. Meet then."
Your time making final purchases before the big event is without any disruptions, and your travel to the warehouse is uneventful. As you approach you see a large crowd of pathfinders, aspis consortium members, and more assembled and waiting eagerly for the evening's event.
Following the directions given to you by your tengu liaison, you arrive just past dusk at the shipping house. Soon enough, a small crowd of would-be contestants begins to gather.
Approaching the entrance you spot a dishevelled, barefooted man dressed in plain sackcloth leaning in the shallow doorway. As you draw nearer, he slowly raises his head to examine the crowd. Then, grinning a toothy smile, he holds out his hand and asks “Any of you happen to find a ruby?”
The crowd excitedly signals their affirmative response and several glowing rubies are thrust into the air, there is an electric vibe flowing through the assembled host and everyone seems very ready for action.
The man nods and pushes the door open. Then he holds out a sack to collect the rubies of those seeking entry. As the various contestants enter, he directs them towards a flight of stairs near the back of the warehouse. These stairs descend into a wide and shadowy basement converted into a crude, make-shift arena illuminated by a ring of greasy-scented torches. The main floor is cleared of all objects save for a dusting of sand and straw that covers the cold stone floor. An assortment of contestants have already arrived, anxiously scanning the room. Almost all in attendance are recognizable from the previous night’s brawl.
From across the arena floor strides Kiang Zhen, the terrifying creature who represents Sifu Xho Nuo. Clapping her massive, clawed hands, she calls for silence, and with a low growl addresses the entire room as she runs her hands over her gruesome golden horns.
“Bringing defeat upon your perceived adversaries is only part of what it takes to walk the path of a truly great warrior. A true master sees beyond his adversaries; he sees the war and not just the battle. Last night, I watched how all of you were quick and eager to fight one another—therefore today... today I shall see how you fight together! Let’s see how well you can keep each other alive!” As she finishes this exuberant and enigmatic statement, smoke flashes erupt throughout the arena, and several dozen hidden trapdoors suddenly spring open, unleashing a horde of otherworldly beasts!
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From the area directly in front of you, and to the north and south of the arena, a trio of serpentine abberations slither off of makeshift lifts underneath the trapdoors. The doors immediately slam shut as they move off.
Gaze (Su) A gaze special attack takes effect when foes look at the attacking creature's eyes. The attack can have any sort of effect: petrification, death, and charm are common. The typical range is 30 feet, but check the creature's entry for details. The type of saving throw for a gaze attack varies, but it is usually a Will or Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 gazing creature's racial HD + gazing creature's Cha modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature's text). A successful saving throw negates the effect. A monster's gaze attack is described in abbreviated form in its description. Each opponent within range of a gaze attack must attempt a saving throw each round at the beginning of his or her turn in the initiative order. Only looking directly at a creature with a gaze attack leaves an opponent vulnerable. Opponents can avoid the need to make the saving throw by not looking at the creature, in one of two ways.
Averting Eyes: The opponent avoids looking at the creature's face, instead looking at its body, watching its shadow, tracking it in a reflective surface, etc. Each round, the opponent has a 50% chance to avoid having to make a saving throw against the gaze attack. The creature with the gaze attack, however, gains concealment against that opponent.
Wearing a Blindfold: The foe cannot see the creature at all (also possible to achieve by turning one's back on the creature or shutting one's eyes). The creature with the gaze attack gains total concealment against the opponent.
A creature with a gaze attack can actively gaze as an attack action by choosing a target within range. That opponent must attempt a saving throw but can try to avoid this as described above. Thus, it is possible for an opponent to save against a creature's gaze twice during the same round, once before the opponent's action and once during the creature's turn.
Gaze attacks can affect ethereal opponents. A creature is immune to gaze attacks of others of its kind unless otherwise noted. Allies of a creature with a gaze attack might be affected. All the creature's allies are considered to be averting their eyes from the creature with the gaze attack, and have a 50% chance to not need to make a saving throw against the gaze attack each round. The creature can also veil its eyes, thus negating its gaze ability.
Format: gaze; Location: Special Attacks.
Round 1:
Quiven
Hiram
Roary
Wei Ji
Jin Goro
Red Monster
Little Shins
Yellow Monster
Green Monster