GM Ladile's TL;DR: A Pathfinder Society Campaign

Game Master Lady Ladile

Sense Motive v Hep's Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Holan-Ji peers over the top of Hep's head at the text, resting one big hand on her thin shoulder.

"Hmm... Uh huh. Nicely done, Hep," he congratulates he. Though less on "reading" the text than tricking Zith.

"Transcribe it? Why not just take it? This is a library. Just get Ms. Boring upstairs to sign it out to ya'."

Maria interjects, "We were very specifically told we could not take anything with us. I think transcribing would be ideal. I'll begin working on it and translate it at the same time, if I can."

She sits on the floor with two new journals and begins her work, not waiting for Hepsubia to finish her attempt. After all, there is plenty of space to work, even if there is no desk.

Linguistics + Inspiration: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 8 + (5) = 14

Shrugging, she gives up her attempt to translate and focuses on copying the book word for word and symbol for symbol.

"Er..." Effie bites her lip, a discomfiting thought occurring to her.

"Have we got time for that Maria? It's a pretty hefty looking tome. Maybe... maybe the librarian doesn't actually know about this place? And if she doesn't know about it, she can't really say that we can't... well... check things out from here. Right? I really don't think the azata is Concordance. I think this is just a convenient bolt-hole.

Besides, they stole from us first. And we can return the book and anything else we borrow once we've done with our mission, no problem."

Effie looks at her colleagues for approval.

Come on Zith... sometimes you gotta be pragmatic.

Slowly the Grandfrogger approaches, one hand leaning heavily on his walking stick while the other holds a smooth piece of pinewood. Leaning over Maria’s shoulder, he squints at the tome. Slowly he shakes his head, then licks the wand. “Ah.”

Perception vs DC 21: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

“That one.” The tip of the walking stick points at a page, stopping Maria from turning to the next one. “The Primordial Key of Ilyralene, this page references. In the Azure Hall of the Cobalt Library, kept it is. Theories of freeing this elemental lord, we may find within.”

Using a charge from his wand of comprehend languages.

Maria snorts, "Oh Effie, that's hilarious. This is a library, we have all the time in the world."

She glances at the odd super hidden secret room they are in and a small frown touches her face, "probably."

But the elf continues copying the tome, "We did promise the nice librarian we wouldn't take anything out of here and I don't like breaking my promises. Just because it is a secret chamber within the library does not mean it is not library property."

"We've got a thief to catch, Maria. Nobody might disturb us here, but if you copy that whole book out the trail's going to get cold.

Anyway, it sounds like The Grandfrogger's spotted a clue there. We can go. But I'd like to see what's in the other alcoves first. Maybe we'll learn something important about the Concordance."

Effie will drop the remaining barriers, or ask her friends with the jewels very nicely ;)

Ladile summarized all the barriers coming down. This was the only significant thing we found.

"That makes more sense," Zithembe says to Grandfrogger. He glances at Hepsubia with an inscrutable expression. "The we need to find this reference in the Azure Hall."

Maria sighs and makes a note of what the Grandfrogger discovered, ”Well, I was looking forward to copying this text, but I guess we don’t have a couple days. I’ll come back later to do it.”

She stands and puts the book back, caressing the binding.

Packing her gear up she moves to the exit, ”What is our plan to gain access to a closed library again? If I recall it was going to be unusable for several weeks. Or did we have a different lead on Jamilla? I wasn’t paying much attention to what else you all found.”

She glances over at the rubble, wondering what could have caused it.

"Perhaps if we return to Jairo's home to think, he may have a suggestion on who we could speak to," Zithembe wonddrs.

Now having found information pointing you to yet another location in the city, you spend a short bit of time discussing the ethics of simply taking the Codex with you versus taking the time to copy down all of the information it contains.

During this time, those of you with little interest in such discussions notice one last thing in the rubble - a smashed chest. Picking through the pieces you discover a rather nice-looking chain shirt and a stoppered vial.

As you finish up here within this Fundamental Chamber, you now have to decide what to do next. While the location seems clear, wasn't most of the Azure Hall supposed to be closed for at least another week or more? How would you even get in? Zithembe suggests that perhaps your host might have some ideas - or perhaps you can try seeing if you can talk or sneak your way inside.
______________

Admittedly this is a little more of a 'flavor' post but I do want to get an idea of how you guys would like to proceed before I nudge things along.

Vial: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Hepsubia tests the vial's content, and gives the information to Maria, who is always happy with more information anyway

Having gotten bored while Maria sat down to copy an entire book, and then everyone started discussing whether there was time to copy an entire book (versus just asking nicely if they could take it) Holan-Ji wanders around the various chambers picking through the items and detritus. Eventually, he gets so bored that he starts shadow boxing and doing calisthenics. I mean, you gotta burn off all those calories somehow so you don't scare the girlies away.

When Maria returns the book to the shelf, he too returns to the group and seconds Zithembe's suggestion to return to Jairo's. "As much as I like these fancy duds, we probably ought to give 'em back. Ooh, and maybe he's got some of that candied gooseberry, and that mint tea."

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

"I can sense abjuration and enchantment in the chainmail, but I cannot discern if it provides more than an enhanced defense," Zithembe says in regards to the uncovered armor.

Though a few of you may have yet to inspect the magical items found within the rubble, it does seem as though returning to Jairo's residence to ponder your next move might be prudent.

But things are sadly never quite that easy for Pathfinders. You hear the sound of footsteps from up above and then see four bronze-skinned women dressed in chain shirts and brightly colored tabards descending the stairs. Tall and muscular, each carries a heavy looking sap in their hands.

"You there, you are Pathfinders, are you not?" one of them queries. "A group matching your description and carrying the title of Pathfinder was seen earlier today at the Grand Symposium Gala. You are wanted for questioning regarding the theft several jewels from one Fairuza Bereket. Please, come with us."

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

"Fairuza? That was the one eyein' us as we left, yeah?" Holan-Ji asks quietly. "Either way, we're not goin' with 'em, right?"

Suspecting that a certain law-abiding shabti is, in fact, just gonna go with them, Holan-Ji moves to the bottom of the stairs, hoping that he's wrong and that he'll get to crack some bronze heads.

"I ain't beat on anything since we've gotten here. I'm bored, restless, and even just finished warmin' up. Please make this difficult. For yer'selves, of course," he says with a toothy grin.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

The elf gets flustered, "Well that can't be true at all! We most certainly didn't steal anything."

She regains her composure though, knowing most laws follow similar principles and asks, "Are you placing us under arrest if we do not come in for questioning?"

Poor naïve Effie can't hit that DC

"We didn't steal any jewels from anyone, and who are you to be asking anyway? Lawful authorities would identify themselves first."

I might roll a natural 20...
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"We certainly did not steal anything from Fairuza," Zithembe begins confidently, but he does glance toward Hepsubia momentarily at the end of his assertion. He attempts to plead their case on the spot. "I am certain that if you test us, we will prove innocent. We are, in fact, only here because Fairuza suggested that this place might prove helpful in our research. Not being versed in the specifics of legal procedure in Armun Kelisk, what can we do to demonstrate our forthrightness and innocence in this matter?"

He does take the time to search the souls of the guards for evil, even though he realizes that those working for an evil regime may not be, themselves, inherently evil.

Diplomacy (Improve Attitude), for whatever it's worth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 Oh. Apparently less than nothing...

Perception vs DC 24: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

The Grandfrogger blinks slowly. "Dressed in a hurry, I see. Made you run straight from bed to investigate a crime, your superiors did? Care not for your appearance compared with all the other guards, did they?" A wizened grey hand rests calmly on the polished wood of his walking stick. "Unprofessional, it is - unless guarding the city, your profession is not." From beneath the hooded cloak, large red eyes measure the strangers' response.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

"We serve Sultan Zafer XXXVIII, the divine and munificent ruler of Armun Kelisk," the leader replies to Effie. "The victim herself has stated that she spoke with several of you at the gala and there are other eyewitness accounts to corroborate this. All we ask is that you come with us for questioning so that we can get to the bottom of this matter."

The four seem quite at ease and confident and Zithembe detects no aura of evil about any of them. However, the Grandfrogger rather astutely points out their hurried state of dress, strongly implying that they aren't who they appear to be. There's a pause as they glance at each other, then the leader sighs. "I told them they'd be too smart to fall for this. Time to do things the hard way!"

As the four raise their saps, it becomes apparent that Holan-Ji's gonna get his wish after all.

Round 1

Hepsubia
==============
Red
Yellow
Blue
Green
==============
Zithembe
Grandfrogger
Effie
Holan-Ji
Maria

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: None

Hepsubia is UP!

The Fundamental Chamber

Know Local: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 16

Those bad boys are Sulis, a mix of human and a jann of any one of the four elements. But they always forgot something. The Fifth element.

Dramatic pause.

The element of surprise!

With these words, Hep darts into action.. but with more haste than accuracy

attack on Red FF: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
dmg, SA: 1d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (6) = 10

"Are you for real?" Red Leader queries with a shake of her head before attempting to strike back at Hepsubia with a sap.

Red vs. Hepsubia (Sap): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

But apparently she can't do any better as the weapon whizzes past Hepsubia's noggin. "Bah! Come on, lend me a hand!" Red calls over her shoulder before taking a step to the north, clearing a path at the bottom of the stairs for her allies. Yellow eagerly steps up and attempts to do what her leader couldn't...

Yellow vs. Hepsubia (Sap): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

...but apparently these guys got up on the wrong side of the bed or something, because Yellow also misses!

Blue rushes down the stairs and past Holan-Ji and Hepsubia in a blur of movement - quite literally, actually - and stops adjacent to Zithembe. Odd...the blurring of his movements only seemed to occur while he was moving along; it ceases the moment he comes to a stop.

Holan-Ji & Hepsubia may take AoOs against Blue as he moves. The strange blurring effect that happens as Blue moves grants him Concealment so there's a 20% Miss Chance to strike him.

"Sorry, but orders are orders," Blue remarks apologetically as he takes a swing at the shabti...

Blue vs. Zithembe (Sap): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

...and misses!

"...Seriously?" gawps Green at his allies' incompetence. "Do I have to do everything?" Green also comes barreling down the stairs, past Holan-Ji and Hepsubia, to stand between Blue and Yellow. As before, his movements while actually moving are blurred but the blurring ceases when he skids to a stop.

Holan-Ji & Hepsubia may also take AoOs against Green as he moves to his current position. Same as Blue, Green has Concealment during his movement and so there's a 20% Miss Chance to your AoOs.

This one sets his sights on Holan-Ji...

Green vs. Holan-Ji (Sap): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

...and, to the surprise of no one, misses.

These guys would be stormtroopers if this were Star Wars...
______________

Round 1/Round 2

Hepsubia (Pending AoO vs. Blue, Green)
==============
Red
Yellow
Blue
Green
==============
Zithembe
Grandfrogger
Effie
Holan-Ji (Pending AoO vs. Blue, Green)
Maria

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: None

Zithembe, Grandfrogger, Effie, Holan-Ji, Maria are UP at the bottom of Round 1 and Hepsubia is UP at the top of Round 2!

The Fundamental Chamber

Maria pipes up to her allies, ”Easy now, they don’t want us dead. I think we should give them the same courtesy, especially since they aren’t competent. I’d almost feel bad killing them.”

This is one of Maria’s rare lies. She would MOST DEFINITELY feel bad if these people died.

I’ll post my actions when I get to a computer.

No AoO for me. No Combat Reflexes and hadn't acted yet.

The sulis slip cleanly past Homan-Ji, who was quite startled by their speed and the whole blurry-while-moving thing.

"Heh, that's a neat trick. But check this out," he says as his form begins to transform....

... into the full-sized tiger that his friends last saw in the VC's office.

"Hehe, thanks for letting me have some fun."

Standard to wild shape which does not provoke. Swift to also apply Minor Form. No move action. Flanking Green with Hep. Could flank Blue with Zith if he moves 5' left (West?) Although Large, only has 5' reach.

I think Maria may be right - those are saps they're carrying. But we can't just let them arrest us.

"I'm prepared to give them a chance to surrender, Maria Wasp. Before our feline friend decides to eat them."

Reluctant to use her pistol, Effie conjures a slick of grease under the suli.

Cast Grease, yellow square marked on map. Ref DC15

Zithembe's copper eyes transform into rubies. The memories of soaring through the endless sky of the Plane of Air as a zephyr hawk and hunting spark bats and dissipating air memhits with your claws as a belker seep into your minds. He steps to the side and draws his emerald-pommeled longsword. "Maria is right. We have no reason to kill them," he says as he strikes with the flat of his blade. "They are not evil."

Spiritual Invocation (chamption) [free], Draw Weapon, 5 ft Step, Attack

+1 Longsword, non-lethal, Champion, flanking vs, Blue: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 2 + 1 + 2 = 25
Slashing, magic, non-lethal: Champion, Séance: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 14

+2 non-spell damage to allies within 30 ft of Zithembe (space should be small enough to to not need me to draw the circle)

Maria nods at Zithembe, ”Thank you.” She glances at Effie, “I doubt they will surrender but if we put enough of a beat down on them they’ll have to.”

She pulls her bow and a blunt arrow, carefully aiming at the solar plexus of a standing threat, ”You may think you have an advantage here in this plane, but my friend channels the raw essence and memories of creatures more pure than you could imagine.”

Move to draw, Standard to shoot at Whichever enemy is still standing between blue, green or yellow.

Wasp + PBS - NL: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 - 4 = 23 for Magic/NL/Bludgeoning + Focused Shot + PBS + Zith: 1d8 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 4 + 1 + 2 = 15

AoO on Blue, NL: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 4 = 17
Nl Dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

AoO on Green, NL: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 4 = 15
Nl Dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

No problem with not killing anyone.

Hepsubia nods, and counter attack way more efficiently than she attacked

"Foolish." The Grandfrogger's eyes flash with cold light before a long tongue coated with ice lashes out at the closest suli.

Touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Nonlethal Cold damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Casting frostbite and attacking Blue. If the attack hits (and deals damage), the target is fatigued until they recover from the nonlethal damage.

Hepsubia vs. Concealment (20% Miss, Low Misses): 1d100 ⇒ 84

Hepsubia manages to thump Blue on the back of his head as he moves past, though only just!

Though a bit surprised by the speed at which the suli move, Holan-Ji isn't worried. Inclined to show off a bit, he changes into his FINAL FORM (or is it?), shifting into a ferocious dire tiger!

Sensing no real malice from the suli Effie opts for a less violent approach than her gun, conjuring a pool of grease underneath Blue, Green and Red.

Green manages to keep his feet! Blue immediately slips and falls on his face and Red flails about comically for a moment and almost manages to keep her balance...but then she too loses her footing and falls. Taking advantage of their predicament, Zithembe taps into the spirits of the Plane of Air and proceeds to clock Blue in the back of the head using the flat of his blade.

With Blue prone on the ground Maria fires a blunt arrow at the next closest standing target, which is Green. Her arrow hits him square in the chest, winding him a bit from the force of it!

Shaking his head, the Grandfrogger lashes an ice-coated tongue at the prone Blue, easily connecting! Blue gasps with surprise as the spell saps his energy...but the Grandfrogger notices that it doesn't actually seem to do quite as much damage as he'd have expected.

Psst...Hep! You still need to actually take your turn :P
______________

Round 2

Hepsubia
==============
Red (Prone)
Yellow
Blue (21 NL; Prone)
Green (15 NL)
==============
Zithembe
Grandfrogger
Effie
Holan-Ji (Major & Minor Form)
Maria

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: None

Hepsubia is UP!

The Fundamental Chamber

NL attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 4 = 0
NL dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

It is noted that you shouldn't be able to hurt your own foot while trying to hit some foe in the back of the head with the flat of your blade.

But, hey, this is Lil" Hep, the Great Purveyor of Chaos, the Randomizer of Reality, The Spanker of all Logical, Loyal and ThereFore Boring Things and People, the DispLacer of uppERcasE, the Nemesis of Routine, the Great Eater of Morning Pancakes, the Virtuosa of the Unexpected and sometimes Uncalled for.

So accident like that were bound to happen.

Or not.

Now she's hoping on one foot while holding the other.

Of course she's not holding the right foot.

Hey, what did you expect?

Hepsubia tries to be nice and only beat the nearest of the suli senseless rather than actually hurt them but only manages to thump her own foot in the process.

"Lady Luck guide my strikes!" cries Red as she takes a risk and struggles to her feet (provoking an AoO from Hepsubia). She takes a swing at the elf...

Red vs. Hepsubia (Sap; AL): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11

...but seems like luck isn't on her side after all.

Yellow steps away from the Very Large Tiger and adopts a defensive position as she begins casting...

Yellow Cast Defensively (DC 17): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

...but she can't maintain her concentration and the spell fizzles!

Still on the ground, Blue glances up at Green and they nod at each other before suddenly their weapons become shrouded in green light! They then try to swing at the Very Large Tiger...

Blue vs. Holan-Ji (Sap; EA, Prone): 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 4 = 16

Green vs. Holan-Ji (Sap; EA: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

...to no avail. Green then attempts to move out of the grease puddle...

Acrobatics (DC 10): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

...and succeeds, though it leaves him open to attack from Holan-Ji.
______________

Round 2/Round 3

Hepsubia (Pending AoO vs. Red)
==============
Red (AL)
Yellow
Blue (21 NL; EA, Prone)
Green (15 NL; EA)
==============
Zithembe
Grandfrogger
Effie
Holan-Ji (Major & Minor Form; Pending AoO vs. Green)
Maria

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: None

Everyone is UP!

The Fundamental Chamber

The jade shabti brings the flat of his blade down toward the suli on the ground in the grease. "You can surrender!" he states imperatively.

+1 longsword, non-lethal, champion, flanking: 1d20 - 4 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) - 4 + 7 + 1 + 2 = 21
non-lethal, magic, slashing, champion, séance: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 13

"Hey, now we know what saps look like!" Effie quips as she draws her pistol and sends it twisting up and over her head.

"Seriously though, don't make me shoot you. Give up while you can."

Being Inspire Courage (+1) and combat juggling (quick draw pistol).

NL AoO, IC: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 4 = 5
Dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

It seems Desna has taken some holydays (cause a day off for a goddess is an holy-day, of course), as Hepsubia fails to connect with her sword

At least, she doesn't injure herself either!

"Hey, where ya' goin'?" Holan-Ji laughs as Green tries to scurry away. He plays at following her, taking a short step into where she was as he nips at her butt.

AoO vs Green, NL : 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 12 - 4 = 13
Damage, B/P/S: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (1, 2) + 7 = 10

"Yeah, run away. That's fine. I've got others here to play with," he calls out as his (careful) attempt to bite her presumably misses.

He goes to bite Blue who is still rolling around on the floor, and is very very careful about it...

Bite, NL, flank, IC : 1d20 + 12 - 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 12 - 4 + 2 + 1 = 31
Damage, NL, seance: 2d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2, 6) + 7 + 2 = 17

Bite, NL, flank, IC, crit confirm? : 1d20 + 12 - 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 4 + 2 + 1 = 13
Extra Damage if Confirm, NL, seance: 2d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5, 1) + 7 + 2 = 15

32 Non-lethal! That may be too much. Oopsie.

He then puts a claw into whomever is still up, before....

Claw 1, NL, IC, flank?: 1d20 + 12 - 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 - 4 + 1 + 2 = 31
Damage, NL, seance: 2d4 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 7 + 2 = 15

Crit confirm? Claw 1, NL, flank?, IC: 1d20 + 12 - 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 12 - 4 + 2 + 1 = 14
Extra Damage if Confirm, NL, seance: 2d4 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1) + 7 + 2 = 12

"Aww, sorry. I'm tryin' to be careful here. Really," he says, fully expecting "someone" to chide him for being too rough with the guards.

"Hey, you! No spells," he growls (playfully) to the one in Yellow. Wait, were her robes yellow when she got here, or is that new?

Claw 2 vs Yellow, NL, IC: 1d20 + 12 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 12 - 4 + 1 = 17
Damage, NL, seance: 2d4 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 7 + 2 = 14

Grapple (Grab), Improved Grapple : 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38

Either way, he smacks her with a huge paw and tries to drag her to the ground and hold her in place.

If Blue dropped, he switches second attack to Red and loses flanking bonus on the Crit Confirm roll. Third attack and the Grapple is on Yellow to prevent casting and because that's the one farthest away from everyone else.

Did HJ need a reflex save for the grease if he 5' stepped and is only 1/4 of the way in?

That is what I was waiting for, Holan-Ji to unleash heck (thanks for trying NL though, if it matters). Maria will wait to see the results of the string of attacks before taking her actions.

Hepsubia once again fails to strike Red as Red gets up, but at least Red can't hit anything either!

Zithembe easily reaches down and thwocks the prone Blue, knocking him out but also actually doing some real damage this time as well.

Hoping to help her comrades finish the job more quickly, Effie starts up a rousing little performance as she draws her pistol.

Holan-Ji tries to swat Green as Green moves out of the grease puddle. He then means to go for Blue but finds that Zithembe has already taken care of that one...

Going to shift your attacks to Red since she's also right there. Neither crit confirms but these guys don't have a lot of HP.

...so instead, he goes for Red, giving her a painful *CRONCH* on the arm, though he does try his best to pull his punches with his teeth. He then rakes her with a claw, which puts her down and unconscious - albeit bleeding just a bit. The Very Large Tiger then moves on to Yellow, swatting her down and grappling her. This, combined with watching Red and Blue be pummeled senseless, is finally enough to break Yellow's will.

"Stop, stop, stop! Stand down, Olvys, stand down!" she screams. "We surrender!"

Green seems to weigh his options...and then drops his sap before slowly raising his hands into the air.

Combat Over!

"It would have been wiser to never have started this battle," Zithembe says with a sigh as the power of the spirits leave him and leave his body drained. "Do you serve Hshurha or the Concordance or both?"

Still gripping Yellow with one huge paw, Holan-Ji sits down on his haunches and curls his fuzzy tail around his feet.

"Answer the nice jade man," he encourages his new chew toy prisoner.

"You...don't know anything," Yellow pants. "Jamila warned us about you. You and your friends...the Pathfinder Society...you want to release the Duke of Thunder from his prison. It will upset the balance that has existed across the elemental planes for millennia, unravel them..."

She twists her head around to look at Zithembe. "We...the Concordance...have no love for Hshurha. But please, in the name of balance, you must stop your research! Better to leave the goodly lords imprisoned if it means that stability will be maintained!"

"Psshaw!" Effie snorts angrily.

"Preserve tyranny for the sake of a quiet life? Is that what the Concordance stands for?! What you 'concord' with is evil and oppression. Acquiescence to evil is an evil itself. You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

"I agree with Effie," Zithembe says. "Actively working to maintain the ruling tyranny is not a neutral or balanced position. The question we have now is what to do with our prisoners? I do not suppose you would be willing to take us to speak with Jamila? She is the one we are pursuing."

Maria snorts, ”How can there be ANY balance with one side having total power? That’s just insane. You may have some sort of order, but balance, not at all.”

No reason to fear us. Or anything else. Don't be paranoid, or I won't trust you. Keeping things as they are might be cosy, but that's not how you can evolve, and get better. Break the status quo, and see what happens, just out of curiosity! Beside, I guess trying to keep on the good side of the Big Bad Ol"Guy just make you accomplices of whatever cruelty he chooses to inflict. Or did I get something wrong? I didn't listen that much at the briefing. What are we supposed to do, in fact?

The Grandfrogger watches unblinking.

"I won't be shamed by the likes of you," Yellow responds quietly, the anger in her voice palpable. "It's always the same. Shrill, self-righteous outsiders barging into matters that don't concern you, declaring that you know what's best for people and places that you don't belong to and have no connection with. How dare you think you have the right to make that decision for us and for the denizens of these planes!"

Yellow glares at all of you and it seems unlikely that you'll be able to get anything further out of her. Green, on the other hand, is a slightly different story.

"They only tell us what we need to know," he finally speaks, with a heavy sigh. "We're not high up enough in the organization to know what Jamila is doing or where she's going next. All we were told was to stop you from continuing your research - preferably in a peaceful manner but with force if it came down to it."

"Given your last statement, what do we do with you now?" he asks the suli. "I have no desire to risk my companions by letting you go only to have you ambush us once more and perhaps with more lethal intent."

You do realise you were no match for us, and that we could have killed you easily, if we really wanted? But we aren't bloodthirsty, as you can witness. Shame if you try to attack us again, and we don't show as much restrain than the first time, no? So why don't you lay low, while we finish our business here, without any more interference from you? If we were that dangerous for the inhabitants of the planes, we would have killed you without remorse, no? So give us the benefit of the doubt, and believe we would keep the greater good of all in mind in all our actions.

Thre is an unknown dangerous edge in Hepsubia's words, which doesn't even need the traditional "or else.." at the end of her rant

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21