The crowd, in good spirits and already well into their cups, laughs jovially at the impromptu entertainment and asks for a second tune. The bartender has no trouble collecting enough to cover the expense.
A warm meal and six flagons of ale are shortly thereafter served on the house, and the Half Human Company starts thinking of rest. Their room already paid for, they wander down the hall and file into the cozy space. Russ'K is just about to arm-wrestle Florin over who gets which side of the bed when the wall to the next room is suddenly torn away like paper. Through the shredded divider stand three men in dark Kelesh garb!
HIT
HIT
MISS
From this unexpected development come a trio of darts, two finding purchase in half-orc flesh and the third slamming into the solid wall opposite. This last dart falls away, slick with a grim burgundy poison...
Round I -- bold may act!
1. Russ'K (25/31 hp, Fort save!), Radagast (2 Con dmg, 13/27 hp)
2. Assassins
3. Florin, BABS (21/31 hp, Fort save!), Arboreal, Darksid'Ious
Radagast and Russ'K are quick to steel and brutally slay their would-be assassins. The last of them realizes the fight is futile and flees out the window.
BABS feels the muscles in her neck and face stiffen uncomfortably, and soon her breathing is impeded.
There is a loud banging at the door, and moments later the door flies open revealing a dozen armed tengu behind it. They quickly storm into the room, blades drawn. The lead tengu takes in the sight of the bloodied corpses and bows so deep that his beak nearly scratches the worn wooden floor. "Humblest apologies, contestants. I heard a disturbance and gathered help as quickly as I could. It seems, however, that you had matters well in hand, so I will proceed to the reason for my presence here: to inform you that you are to attend an opera tomorrow, at The Dragon's Den Theater in the Foreign Quarter. You will note there is no time listed on your tickets -- you will know when the time is right."
With that, the tengu and his swordsmen withdraw.
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Russ'K wastes no time looting the dead assailants. When the Tengu first appear, he curses under his breath. As the procession explains itself, he curses further.
"Foreign quarter? Opera? Have they seen us?"
Russ'K grabs one of the tickets and stares at it, positioning it above his head against the light.
"Hey, yo, I gots an idea. How 'bout we scalp these? Make a fine bit of coin from this swank."
BABS feels light-headed. Gradually, the poison runs its course.
The first sign of sunlight peek through the cracks in the door to the hall, and a slow dawn gloom seeps into the room full of tangled Pathfinder bodies trying to claim the last few moments of their dreams. Soon, their slumber will be broken and they must face the next contest.
Injured Status
BABS 24/31 hp
Radagast 1 Con dmg
Others hale
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Russ'K eventually wakes up as everyone else begins their day. Tossing on some ill fitting undergarments he groggily stumbles out the door and towards the common room.
Taking up a stool at the bar he flags over a server. "Hey, yo, innkeep! I got ma boi back home makes a mean chorizo an' egg scramble. Drizzles honey on top. An' he gots this sweet red drink, too. Ya got anything like that 'ere?"
The first rays of light creep into the inn’s window, accompanied by a loud knocking at the door. Someone in the hall screeches, “The sun is up! Time to gather your tickets and head to The Opera!”
***
Arriving at the opera, you are greeted by a trio of actors dressed in the garb and makeup of a traditional opera from Lung Wa. They seat you in the first few rows. Looking around you see a few others also in attendance. Strangely, there are no sets and the unlit stage is empty except for three plain wooden chairs. Then Kiang Zhen strides onto the stage and addresses the audience.
“Today I am treating myself to a display of opera, which all of you shall perform for me! Backstage, you shall find traditional costumes that will determine the roles you will portray. You may choose these roles yourself, but be forewarned - you must act within the limits of your role. Your objective is to perform an epic combat against a rival group. However, there must be no bloodshed. Any shows of lethal force will result in your immediate disqualification from the event. The troupe able to force its opponents to yield is the victor. Now go and prepare yourselves for the evening’s performance. It starts in 10 minutes!”
The Half Human Company is led backstage, where an array of costumes and a trio of aasimar assistants await them. There is only one of each costume, so the Pathfinders will have to choose carefully.
There are two leading male roles for the performance, the General and the Monkey King.
The General wears a long beard and fights with a wooden sword (1d8 nonlethal) and armor (treat as splint mail).
The Monkey King wears an elaborate monkey mask. The Monkey King is portrayed as an acrobat and trickster and is permitted to cast spells.
There are two leading female roles, the Warrior Woman and the Wizened Crone.
The Warrior Woman wears full armor (treat as splint mail) and peacock feathers, and fights with a dulled, bladed polearm (1d8 nonlethal).
The Wizened Crone wears long robes and walks with a cane. She is permitted to cast spells.
The Jing role represents a strong and forceful male. The two choices for this performance are the Noble Warrior and the Cruel Bandit.
The Noble Warrior wears red face paint and full armor (treat as splint mail), and wields a large club (1d10 nonlethal).
The Cruel Bandit wears blue face paint and wields a long wooden knife (1d4 nonlethal), specially balanced to allow a capable individual to make nonlethal sneak attacks with it.
These humorous characters are allowed to speak with the audience in order to make jokes at their opponents’ expense. Chou are also permitted to cast spells. Male Chou identify their characters by painting wide white circles around their eyes. Female Chou paint their faces red with black circles about the eyes. Clown costumes do not include weapons; however, Chou can carry and wield a broom or stick (treat as an improvised weapon dealing 1d6 nonlethal damage), claiming it to be whatever weapon they desire for the sake of performance and comedic value. There may be any number of Chou characters.
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"Yo I ain't no monkey, and dude with tha beard look hella whack. I'ma choose that bro wit' tha knife. I like his style. Can I gets two a them sticks instead a one?"
After donning the costume, Russ'K flinches as the paint is applied around his eyes. "Yeah if your offerin', I'll take a hit off that wand myself. I don't trust anything 'bout this."
There are two leading male roles for the performance, the General and the Monkey King.
The General wears a long beard and fights with a wooden sword (1d8 nonlethal) and armor (treat as splint mail).
The Monkey King wears an elaborate monkey mask. The Monkey King is portrayed as an acrobat and trickster and is permitted to cast spells.
There are two leading female roles, the Warrior Woman and the Wizened Crone.
The Warrior Woman wears full armor (treat as splint mail) and peacock feathers, and fights with a dulled, bladed polearm (1d8 nonlethal).
The Wizened Crone wears long robes and walks with a cane. She is permitted to cast spells.
The Jing role represents a strong and forceful male. The two choices for this performance are the Noble Warrior and the Cruel Bandit.
The Noble Warrior wears red face paint and full armor (treat as splint mail), and wields a large club (1d10 nonlethal).
The Cruel Bandit wears blue face paint and wields a long wooden knife (1d4 nonlethal), specially balanced to allow a capable individual to make nonlethal sneak attacks with it.
These humorous characters are allowed to speak with the audience in order to make jokes at their opponents’ expense. Chou are also permitted to cast spells. Male Chou identify their characters by painting wide white circles around their eyes. Female Chou paint their faces red with black circles about the eyes. Clown costumes do not include weapons; however, Chou can carry and wield a broom or stick (treat as an improvised weapon dealing 1d6 nonlethal damage), claiming it to be whatever weapon they desire for the sake of performance and comedic value. There may be any number of Chou characters.
Male Chou
Female Chou
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Bertha will take the role of the red faced noble warrior if one else wants it.
-Posted with Wayfinder
As everyone disrobes and dons the unfamiliar costumes, the three aasimar approach with paintbrushes and powders to apply the traditional make-up. Only a few minutes later, the usher the Half Human Company toward the stage.
The stage is mostly bare, as before. Four chairs are arranged around a small table to one side, and a broom and stick stand against the back wall. Emerging from the opposite side of the stage are a quartet of contestants you've seen in the previous rounds -- participants you strongly suspect to be aligned with the Aspis Consortium.
This is of little consequence to Kiang Zhen, who shouts, "Begin!" almost immediately. The Aspis, dressed as the White-Eyed Clown, the Warrior Woman, the Cruel Bandit, and the Monkey King, ready their supplied weapons.
Round I -- bold may act!
1. Radagast (1 Con dmg), Florin, Arboreal, Darksid'Ious
2. Warrior Woman, Cruel Bandit, White-Eyed Clown, Monkey King
3. BABS, Russ'K
Dressed in Chou gear, Darksid'Ious begins one of his more jovial stanzas to inspire his comrades. The humor is decidedly... dark.
The Warrior Woman grunts at Florin's request, unimpressed. She advances with her long polearm and swings it directly into the warrior wizard's nose.
HIT
With no room for a flank, Radagast moves to cover Florin. He swings hard with the massive club and connects hard with the Aspis woman's costume, sending shards of shattered wood all over the stage. The Cruel Bandit pairs off with the half-orc Cruel Bandit and delivers a clumsy thrust with the knife.
MISS
Behind the melee, a half-orc brandishing a broom approaches and gives a throaty shout of defiance. A wash of doubt creeps into the Half-Human Company.
Even further back, the Monkey King employs her magic to her own benefit.
Round I -- bold may act!
1. Radagast (1 Con dmg), Florin (10 nonlethal), Arboreal, Darksid'Ious
2. Warrior Woman, Cruel Bandit, White-Eyed Clown, Monkey King
3. BABS, Russ'K
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The Cruel Bandit pairs off with the half-orc Cruel Bandit and delivers a clumsy thrust with the knife.
Wooden Knife: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 MISS
"Naw, homie. Lemme show you how it is. Ya gotta get behind 'em like this..."
Russ'K makes an exaggerated show of high-stepping into a flanking position with Bertha.
"...and then ya gotta shank 'em right below the ribcage, like this..."
"...naw'mean?"
SUCCESS
FAIL
SUCCESS
Radagast horrible stroke is thrown even further off-center by the spell. Bertha and Russ'K team up to put down the opposing Bandit before he can apply the half-orc's teachings. Florin knocks aside the small table to thwack the Warrior Woman with her cane as the White-Eyed Clown slips and falls to great comedy.
Darksid'Ious continues to belt out cryptic, sour poetry for the audience's amusement.
The Warrior Woman opts for the shorter end of her stick, driving it into Radagast's gut with the force of an arrow.
HIT
Behind her, the White-Eyed Clown stands carefully, steps away from the grease, and swings a broom for Russ'K but only succeeds in filling the air with straw. In the very back, the Monkey King casts another spell on herself.
MISS
Round II -- bold may act!
1. Radagast (1 Con dmg, 7 nonlethal), Florin (10 nonlethal), Arboreal, Darksid'Ious
2. Warrior Woman (7 nonlethal), White-Eyed Clown, Monkey King
3. BABS, Russ'K