You have traveled to mainland Tian Xia to the city of Goka and from there are now traveling to Xielan Island aboard a ferry, which is little more than a large fishing boat crowded with eager contestants, excited spectators, and the native fishermen who call the island home.
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While boarding the ferry to Xielan Island Gregor offers a nod of recognition to Shinkeer. The last time the two of them were on a boat together things did not go well. In fact things have not been going well for Gregor at all lately; between Torch's betrayal and Maldris's shift in focus Gregor has lost all sense of direction. Hopefully a tournament in a far off land will help clear his mind.
As you ride the boat over to the tournament island, a particularly friendly passenger approaches you, tilts back her conical hat and cheerfully introduces herself, "Hello! My name is Risha." Though dressed in the clothing of a Gokan fisherman, the woman is Avistani, with auburn hair and sharp Chelish features. She carries a large pack with her, which she sets down.
"So where do you folks come from? You are competitors, right? What are your specialties... what should I look out for when you hit the ring?"
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"Where I'm from is a question with a...complicated answer. Suffice to say that I keep the majority of my belongings in Absalom; but more often than not I'm travelling." Gregor pauses briefly as if reminiscing before he contines. "We are competitors but I'm not too keen on tipping my hand just yet. Typically when I fight it is for my life; in the past most of my opponents have needed to watch out for head injuries and profuse bleeding. I hope such drastic methods aren't commonplace in the ring."
"Hmm. Head injuries and arrows. So you're the up-front sort of competitors then; no tricks or flashy magic for you guys then. Well, I'm sure it will still prove to be a fantastic show!"
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Desmond looks sheepish at his poor attempt to intimidate those around him. "Aw shucks - I'm just messin' with you guys. Don't get me wrong - Sahrek can be vicious when I need him to be, but he can be a big softy too."
He reaches out a hand to the woman, "Hi there - Desmond's the name, bustin' heads and crackin' wise is my game. And you are..?" He directs this question towards the woman.
The woman raises her eyebrows at Desmond. "Well I suppose we'll just see what happens in the arena then." She then bluntly walks away to another part of the crowded ship.
As you arrive on the island, townsfolk shower you with cherry blossoms and hand out ceramic cuts filled with warm, pungent liquor. The crowd forms a reception that leads to the center of town, where a crowded noodle house, Yon Loi's, serves as the hub of all activity in New Harbor. The noodle house is a large, open-air structure centered around a courtyard filled with long, shaded tables fr commoners. Smaller round tables fill a roofed balcony surrounding the courtyard, from which wealthier patrons and the tournament elite may look over the establishment. The kitchen sits on the ground floor, behind a short partition.
The townsfolk help in seating and serving the newly arriving contestants. Each receives a complimentary bowl of salty noodle soup containing fish and vegetables; beyond this first bowl, each additional serving costs 5 sp.
Many contestants at other tables are challenging each other to arm-wrestling competitions and other displays of flexibility and stamina.
As you eat, a male half-elf approaches your table and sits down. He looks to be from Avistan and introduces himself, "Marthysan the Righteous, the winner of the last Ruby Phoenix Tournament." He wears a holy symbol of Iomedae around his neck. "I notice you are from the Inner Sea as well. I can help acquaint you with the island and tournament before things start tomorrow morning, if you'll accept my help. To be honest, I'm hoping you'll pull ahead in the competition this year, both because I have heard of your martial prowess and because I think you are a likely choice. I'd also like someone worthy to take the title from me. I've got more space than I need in the inn next door so if you'd like a full night's rest tonight, you can use some of my spare rooms."
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Desmond orders multiple bowls of the soup - both for him and his wolf. "This may be the best eating ol' Sahrek's ever had." He hands over 10 gp to the server. "Keep the change," he says between slurps and burps.
As Marthysan introduces himself, Desmond eyes the symbol of Iomedae. "You a paladin, then? Could'a used you on my last assignment for the Society back in Kaer Maga. Some cult of Lissalans or Lamashtuvians or whatever were, *urp*, making these things called sigil wafers. But we put a stop to 'em anyway. Didn't we, boy!?" Desmond reaches down grabs the wolf by the scruff of the neck and rubs noses.
With one last satisfied burp, Desmond leans back in his chair. "You seem alright. I don't mind bunkin' up in your place." He looks around at his companions, "Whaddya say?"
"Yes, I am a paladin of Iomedae," the man smiles at Desmond. "When you are done here I'll show you where you the rooms are and see if I can get you a spare key as well."
As Marthysan the Righteous stands up to leave you to your dinner, another contestant wearing loose-fitting blue pants and no shirt, with only a small patch of hair growing on his otherwise bald head. The hair is long, though, and hangs past his beltline and is braided elaborately. "Chung Po," the man says as he bows to each of you in turn in greeting. [b]"What do you say we get in the spirit of the event a little early. Would one of you like to join me in a one-on-one wrestling match for the general entertainment of the people here? No real damage, we just wrestle until one competitor surrenders or is knocked unconscious.
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Desmond nods his head in the direction of the ones taking an interest, "Sure, why not. Think we could get one of these lovely ladies to join us in? It might make the wrestling more fun." He gives the woman a wink.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Take 10 on Sense Motive
"I'd much rather save my strength and wrestle a pint of ale or two...won't you join us?" Gregor bows to Chung before turning to Risha. "You're more than welcome to join us as well milady. You seem quite interested in learning more about us...perhaps some libations will loosen our tongues for you."
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Shin, who up to now has been quiet and in an apparent meditative trance, accepts a bowl with a nods of thanks. Quietly listening to the righteous man, he peers around the room.
Watching the oni woman out of the corner of his eye, his attention is pulled away at the mention of wrestling. Is it wise to show one's prowess before the tournament commences.....
Risha gets up and moves to the other side of the courtyard. Chung Po smiles and Desmond and says, "Well, if you need no further preparations, let us begin."
He leads the ranger to an open area of the courtyard and adopts a fighting stance.
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Risha gets up and moves to the other side of the courtyard.
"Geesh...was it something I said? I get the impression she doesn't like me all that much." As he watches Risha scurry away Gregor turns his attention to the sparring match. "Dinner, drinks and a floor show? So much more entertaining than your standard fare mission!"
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"Okay, then!" Desmond spots as he rushes at his opponent, trying to grapple him.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Desmond rushes in and tries to grab Chung Po but the monk is too quick and quickly turns Desmond's moment against him and puts the ranger in a headlock.
Chung Po then quickly pins Desmond to the ground and punches the silly Avistani. He then works his knee free and tries to knee Desmond in the gut:
Desmond is just able to break free from Chung Po's grip! The monk then goes for another move!
The crowd is beginning to enjoy the show and even lets out a collective sigh as Desmond goes limp for a few seconds. Chung Po grips the ranger tighter!
Chung Po graciously shakes Desmond's hand (his grip is strong) and bows politely. "Perhaps we will spar again in the arena, yes. I've heard that teams of combatants are often set upon each other during some events."
The crowd applauds the event and Chung Po goes back to a party of monks in the far corner of the courtyard.
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"More than 30 of the 128 entrants in the thirtieth tournament perished in unrelated accidents, or exhibition combats not covered by the tournament’s strictures on ethics, honor, and safety. More than half of these deaths were attributed to the dragon Huyanwo, whose defeat has long been the ambition of Ruby Phoenix contestants hoping to make a name for themselves outside the arena."
"Also a sorceress was disqualified for cheating and swore vengeance on her opponent and tournament victor...our good friend Marthysan. We will have many eyes watching us both in and out of the arena."
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"Whoah, that's kind of crazy. Chicks, man. They don't ever let anything go - do they?" Desmond keeps rubbing his shoulder and winces with the pain. "I guess a good rest will take care of these bruises. Man I'm sore!"
When he gets a chance, Desmond finds the nearest house of healing and purchases a couple of items. "I'll take one wand of cure light wounds and a potion of cure serious wounds. Just add them to the running Sczarni tab."
It seems as if all of New Harbor wakes before dawn. Even as the dull orange sun creeps slowly over the eastern horizon, the fishermen have already crowded into their boats. They move swiftly, like blackened silhouettes dancing against dawn's watercolor pallet, eerily silent except for the shuffling of ropes and oars, and the caws of their trained cormorants.
The paladin Marthysan greets you when you rise and tells you that you need to get going so you won't be late for the opening exhibition.
The Grand Pavilion and surrounding fairgroudns lie deep within the cove, and feature a massive and elaborate combat arena specifically constructed for the tournament. Scores of colorful tents cram the grounds spreading from the wood almost to the water. A line of spectators stretches from the Grand Pavilion, waiting to enter the arena. Contestants are given priority, and red- and orange-clad monks usher the eclectic collection of warriors and battlemages into the arena to stand before the Emissary.
Before you are allowed to enter the Grand Pavilion, however, you must sign an entrance contract before an Abadaran cleric. on the contract, you must write your team name and the name of each member of the team. You must also sign your names to the contests' few simple rules:
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"Sounds good enough." Desmond puts pen to paper, signing and initialing where necessary.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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After signing your contracts, monks escort you to the fight stage, where you find many other contestants already assembled, each waiting patiently, and watching performer acrobats entertain the growing crowd as the audience files into the grandstands.
In the grandstands, a tenuous hush falls upon the immense and eager crowd. Moments later, the curtains part, revealing the Emissary flanked by the oni Kiang Zhen and the previous Ruby Phoenix Champion, the half-elf paladin Marthysan the Righteous. Behind the Emissary, like motionless statues, stand no less than a dozen qinggong monks-his mystic disciples and bodyguards. As all watch rapt, the Emissary rises and addressed the crowd.
"I am Sifu Xho Nuo-Emissary of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament and guardian of the legacy of Hao Jin, the once-immortal sorceress in whose name you are gathered here to battle. To honor the Grandmaster's legacy, I stand before you to carry out her final will: the thirty-first decennial Ruby Phoenix Tournament. Without further delay, we begin our first round of the contests. May the worthiest win!"
Upon his final words, the crowd erupts into clamorous applause, and the contestants scatter for their respective seats or positions throughout the pavilion. You are escorted by a group of silent usher monks and directed to the center of the fight stage to face your first opponents, the most skilled martial artists of the famed Monastery of the Enduring Spirit in Quain. Two of the monks are armed with monk's spades, another with a meteor hammer, and the final one with a seven-branched sword.
(+4 urban)
Desmond puts two arrows into one of the monks before they have the chance to react. The monks then rush forward! The two with monk's spades flank Shin, the one with a meteor hammer goes for Gregor and the one with a sword goes for Faldoc!
red: 28 dmg