Friends,
Invaders from Lingshen stole a distinctive map from Shokuro and kept it as spoils of war. The map is painted onto orange silk and highly detailed with clues to locate the Summer Palace. I understand the map now rests in a calligraphy school in Xiwu called the School of Affinities. The School of Affinities does not understand the cultural significance of the map and has refused to even engage in discussions about returning it to its rightful country of origin. Please bring this map home. This task requires subtlety, discretion, and likely light fingers.
– Mai Chun
Constellation Handout:
Allies,
A correspondent of mine, a minor bureaucrat in Po Li named Yue Xin, implies that he has identified where to find some valuable information to locate the Summer Palace. Although he attempts to obscure the truth with his cryptic responses, I believe Yue Xin is fearful of searching out the information himself, so there may be some danger. I have written to him of your capabilities, and he is eager to meet you. Travel to Changdo, the capital of Po Li, and find Yue Xin at his habitual fishing hole outside the city gates. He will direct you from there.
– Mai Chun
Teahouse Handout:
Associates,
The summer palace is lost, but not all who served there disappeared. I have a correspondent in Quain whose ancestor once lived in the palace. Travel to Lanming, that nation’s capital, and seek out the martial arts master Jiang Fei of the School of the Jade Ogre, who has been told to expect you. The young woman has a favor to ask of you in exchange for her family’s lore about the palace’s location.
– Mai Chun
Two of the soldiers, who look rather young compared to the rest, look at Kita Doe-eyed before looking back to a gruff looking man in armor that has seen considerably more wear.
With a furrowed brow, he looks up at Kita's position on his horse.
"Hmm. I didn't think we were due for inspection for another month at least. The bureaucrats from Changdo are generally very timely. That's fine. Show your inspector's badge, and I'll gladly take you in. Otherwise, I can't let you past the perimeter."
The two 'recruits', obviously crestfallen at this information, look hopefully up at Kita.
Male Human (Tian-Shu) Samurai 2/Fighter (Dragoon) 1 | HP 30/30 | AC 21 T 13 FF 19 | Fort 7 Ref 2 Will 0 | CMB +6 CMD 18 | Init +2 Perc +6
"Excellent, Sergeant or insert correct rank here! You passed that test splendidly.
Please give me your name so that I commend you personally.
The full inspection will come later. I will simply be riding around the perimeter to examine the position of your patrols and the readiness of the fortifications.
You are free to send an escort with me, but it is not required. I will retrieve an engineer that I left up the road and return presently."
Who wants to go for a ride? Someone with a decent perception to add a second set of eyes would be nice.
male gnome aerokineticist 2 | HP 21/21 | AC 18, T 14, FF 15 (20% miss chance vs. ranged physical) | F +7, R +6, W +1 (+2 vs. illusion) | CMB -1, CMD 12 | Spd 20' | Perc +8 | Init +3
Skaf pipes up. "I will join you. Perhaps my small stature will make me less suspect."
At the mention of an 'Escort' the two recruits immediately look directly at the grizzled old man.
"We could be the Escort Sarge! We won't let them in the perimeter!"
"It's about time you did something useful." Looking at Kita directly, the sergeant speaks up. "We will wait here for you to return, then you can take these two around the perimeter. They can be pretty talkative, so don't let it get to you too much."
After picking up Skaf, the two New Recruits are practically glowing with responsibility.
Sense Motive DC 15:
These two recruits seem very excited by your presence, and are trying their best to look Official. Even so, they seem to be a little timid around the actual ruins.
Perception DC 15:
The Patrols are fairly regular, and well spaced out. You can see a few places where they could camp in the evening, and suspect that they might make camp a distance off in the evening.
Perception DC 25:
Atop the stone crumbling tower are some sort of round chimneys. It's tough to determine what they might be used for this far away.
male gnome aerokineticist 2 | HP 21/21 | AC 18, T 14, FF 15 (20% miss chance vs. ranged physical) | F +7, R +6, W +1 (+2 vs. illusion) | CMB -1, CMD 12 | Spd 20' | Perc +8 | Init +3
Where they have previously been quiet, the two immediately begin to gush when Kita addresses them. "It's an Honor to be escorting you sir! My name is Feng, and my Brother here is Bao. We've been doing this for a few weeks now, but we never get to do anything Exciting! It's just the same paths, with the same shoddy buildings. It really is an honor to meet a warrior of the Daimyo!"
After a full parade around the perimeter, with Feng and Bao gushing praise and looking for Tips on how to become a Samurai like you, you can see a few paths that could work well for access. Unfortunately, those are the primary paths that the guards themselves take. Between what you have seen on this patrol, and what the two have told you themselves, the patrols make camp a few miles away, letting the Haunted reputation of these ruins keep people out while they eat and relax.
"Sir, do you have any advice for how WE could become strong and powerful warriors like you?"
Male Human (Tian-Shu) Samurai 2/Fighter (Dragoon) 1 | HP 30/30 | AC 21 T 13 FF 19 | Fort 7 Ref 2 Will 0 | CMB +6 CMD 18 | Init +2 Perc +6
"If you overesteem great men, people become powerless.
If you overvalue possessions, people begin to steal.
The Master leads by emptying people's minds and filling their cores,
by weakening their ambition, and toughening their resolve.
He helps people lose everything they know, everything they desire,
and creates confusion in those who think that they know.
Practice not-doing, and everything will fall into place."
Kita pauses for a few moments after the recitation, until it appears that one of the brothers will ask a question. Before they get to speak, he will continue.
"At the most basic level, being a Samurai is no different than being a soldier. I, too, started out as a common soldier patrolling the walls of the city.
Follow orders, but not blindly. Be ready to sacrifice yourself and your honor if needed to complete the mission, but make sure that sacrifice will not be in vain.
Moreover, a Samurai must possess knowledge and art. Hone your calligraphy and poetry. Study history and tactics. Be able to recognize your nobility from a distance. These will set you apart from common soldiers.
Yet, even so, attaining rank requires diplomacy. Your superiors must be able to rely on you without thought. Your subordinates must believe in your knowledge. Your peers must respect you above all others.
This last is very tough to earn. Try too hard and they will lose respect. Try too little and they will lose respect. Make it seem as if you are trying and they will lose respect. Try to fit in above all. Perhaps I might be able to help in this regard, but I must have your Sergeant's permission. Let us see when we return."
Of course, your family must also have status and connections, but that is hardly information that will be helpful right now.
male gnome aerokineticist 2 | HP 21/21 | AC 18, T 14, FF 15 (20% miss chance vs. ranged physical) | F +7, R +6, W +1 (+2 vs. illusion) | CMB -1, CMD 12 | Spd 20' | Perc +8 | Init +3
Skaf is soaking in all the instruction from Kita along with the brothers. "This samurai knows of what he speaks. I have seen his ability both in combat and also in diplomacy. You would do well to follow his example," he tells the recruits.
With a skeptical glare, the sergeant eyes up Kita. "I very well can't have these two leave while on duty." After pulling a reddish brown water skin from his belt, he thinks for a moment, and tosses it to Bao. "I have a report that needs to be filed with the Quartermaster back in Changdo. 'A lord in the Daimyo's service offered to help with a requisition order. Make it the good stuff this time. He's paying, afterall.' You got that?" With a fervent nod, shaking the slightly too large helmet, Bao begins to grin widely. With a stern glare, the sergeant barks back, "Get a move on! You need to be back before we head back to camp!" Bao and Feng jump about a foot, and immediately sprint off down the road toward Changdo.
Male Human (Tian-Shu) Samurai 2/Fighter (Dragoon) 1 | HP 30/30 | AC 21 T 13 FF 19 | Fort 7 Ref 2 Will 0 | CMB +6 CMD 18 | Init +2 Perc +6
With a smile and a bow of his head, Kita turns and rides back to find where the others have set up camp.
With Skaf, he relays the obvious access points and confirms that tonight, especially, the patrols should be more lax.
As there is no point to taking a horse on a mission of Stealth (though his Stealth roll is probably better than mine), Kita sets Okane up to eat and rest, making sure that he won't wander.
male gnome aerokineticist 2 | HP 21/21 | AC 18, T 14, FF 15 (20% miss chance vs. ranged physical) | F +7, R +6, W +1 (+2 vs. illusion) | CMB -1, CMD 12 | Spd 20' | Perc +8 | Init +3
"Yes the level of formality and subtlety in this land continues to amaze me. Kita is evidently a master of these customs." The gnome soon curls up in a shady spot to wait for nightfall.
Halfling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade, Noble Fencer) 1 | HP 13/13 | AC 19 | T 15 | FF 15 | CMD 14 | F +3 | R +7 | W +2 | +2 vs. fear | Init +4 | Perc +2 | Sense Motive +0 | Panache 3/3 | Reroll 0/1 | Active Spells: None
Hrm, I'm so used to making casters that I forgot about light.
Yidric thinks about nightfall. "Anyone got a spell to make me glow when the times comes?"
Just after Nightfall, the path to the ruins lay clear, with an eerie silence falling across the trail. The stars shine bright in the cloudless sky, barely lighting up the ruins with in an otherworldly appearance. Crumbling buildings make up this empty area, and upon entering the wind dies away to nothing.
In the center courtyard is an elevated stone platform, with stones stairs reaching up to it from every direction. Atop the platform is an outdoor hearth with twin chimneys rising into the sky. While most of the buildings are crumbling and broken, these seem to have stood the test of time.
Halfling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade, Noble Fencer) 1 | HP 13/13 | AC 19 | T 15 | FF 15 | CMD 14 | F +3 | R +7 | W +2 | +2 vs. fear | Init +4 | Perc +2 | Sense Motive +0 | Panache 3/3 | Reroll 0/1 | Active Spells: None
Ascending the stairs is a trivial task, and from your higher vantage point, you can see that you are the only group here. A few miles off, a bit of smoke lazily curls from above the forest to the north. From what Kita gathered, that is probably the Guard Camp.
On the cobblestone platform, there is one stone that is slightly larger than the rest, and completely square. The stone itself is set into a recessed alcove, inside which are a variety of fireworks, with labels in a neat tien script.
Halfling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade, Noble Fencer) 1 | HP 13/13 | AC 19 | T 15 | FF 15 | CMD 14 | F +3 | R +7 | W +2 | +2 vs. fear | Init +4 | Perc +2 | Sense Motive +0 | Panache 3/3 | Reroll 0/1 | Active Spells: None
Yidric walks up at Myth's directions and inspects the fireworks. "Hrm. Fireworks. I've never liked fireworks."
male gnome aerokineticist 2 | HP 21/21 | AC 18, T 14, FF 15 (20% miss chance vs. ranged physical) | F +7, R +6, W +1 (+2 vs. illusion) | CMB -1, CMD 12 | Spd 20' | Perc +8 | Init +3
"Are we supposed to light these fireworks? That sounds noisy."
The fanciful writing simply states a color. Twelve fireworks, (two of each in the colors of Red, Blue, Orange, Yellow, White and Violet) are all that the cache contains.
Knowledge (engineering), Knowledge (history), or Intelligence DC 12:
The chimneys on the outdoor hearth have a set of spiraling grooves, an they point ever so slightly toward each other. If you put a firework in each chimney, it looks like the wicks would hang down into the hearth below, so they could safely be lit at the same time!
Animal Deinonychus 3 | AC 21 | T 15 | FF 17 | HP: 25/25 | CMD 16 | Fort +6 | Ref +7ev | Will +2* | Perception +5 scent|
Male Human Druid (Saurian Shaman) 3 | AC 15 | T 11 | FF 14 | HP: 27/27 | CMD 17 | Fort +6 | Ref +2 | Will +6 | Init +4 | Perception +8 | Totem Transformation 3/3
kn History:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
"Hmm. Notice those grooves in the chimneys of the outdoor hearth? I think if you put a firework in each chimney they could be lit safely and simultaneously."
Halfling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade, Noble Fencer) 1 | HP 13/13 | AC 19 | T 15 | FF 15 | CMD 14 | F +3 | R +7 | W +2 | +2 vs. fear | Init +4 | Perc +2 | Sense Motive +0 | Panache 3/3 | Reroll 0/1 | Active Spells: None
"Do we have a green one?" Yidric looks. "Perhaps not."
Halfling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade, Noble Fencer) 1 | HP 13/13 | AC 19 | T 15 | FF 15 | CMD 14 | F +3 | R +7 | W +2 | +2 vs. fear | Init +4 | Perc +2 | Sense Motive +0 | Panache 3/3 | Reroll 0/1 | Active Spells: None
Myth shrugs again...he takes a yellow and blue firework and puts one in each chimney and simultaneously lights 'em up...and waits to see what happens...
Moments after the rockets are lit, they shoot out of the top of the hearth, until they collide in midair and begin to spiral together, shooting ever upward. with a loud BANG, they explode into fiery green tien characters.
Tien:
They seem to be references to the Year of the Dog in the Tien Zodiac.
As the symbols begin to fade in in the sky, two of the Larger ones seem to burn just as bright as they begin to fall to the ground. With a crash, the symbols crash to the low stone stairs. With a furious roar, the fiery beasts stare your way
Halfling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade, Noble Fencer) 1 | HP 13/13 | AC 19 | T 15 | FF 15 | CMD 14 | F +3 | R +7 | W +2 | +2 vs. fear | Init +4 | Perc +2 | Sense Motive +0 | Panache 3/3 | Reroll 0/1 | Active Spells: None
"The flame attacks. Did not expect that from fireworks."
Move Action
Yidric strides down, pulling out his rapier on the way.
Standard Action
He attacks the flame. Targeting the one on the right side closer to most of the party. Rapier Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 Rapier Damage:1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
The first one to attack Yidric:
Yidric tries to fend off the flame.
Parry Attempt:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17- If this exceeds the flame's attack roll, Yidric gets to attack back. Attack for that given below. Otherwise, it still needs to hit Yidric's AC to score a hit.
Animal Deinonychus 3 | AC 21 | T 15 | FF 17 | HP: 25/25 | CMD 16 | Fort +6 | Ref +7ev | Will +2* | Perception +5 scent|
Male Human Druid (Saurian Shaman) 3 | AC 15 | T 11 | FF 14 | HP: 27/27 | CMD 17 | Fort +6 | Ref +2 | Will +6 | Init +4 | Perception +8 | Totem Transformation 3/3
"With a furious roar, the fiery beasts stare your way" Nope. Though if you want to Boolar will cese fire unti they attack. Assuming any of them are alive/unalive.
Halfling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade, Noble Fencer) 1 | HP 13/13 | AC 19 | T 15 | FF 15 | CMD 14 | F +3 | R +7 | W +2 | +2 vs. fear | Init +4 | Perc +2 | Sense Motive +0 | Panache 3/3 | Reroll 0/1 | Active Spells: None
"They're just fire beings."Yidric with his Western morals. :p
