Niksi is still reeling from the last attack as she is struck by the sonic assault and is unable to avoid it.
She glances to the south and sees herself faced by three xulgaths with no one in the way to protect her. Luckily, they have left just enough space for her to call her dear friend The Brother one last time for the day.
She goes back to singing as her illusory automaton blocks the way to her.
Thkrull stomps on the pteranodon. Rova shoots at a xulgath. (Blue is down, so redirecting to Red.) Niksi invites Brother to the party!
Red tries to attack Brother.
Then Purple tries.
He destroys Brother, then runs up and tries to hit Niksi!
But can't connect.
Initiative
Mukluk, -19 hp, Reflex save needed
Cavnakash, -6 hp
Pteranodon, -7 hp
Rova
Prism, -8 hp
Niksi, -28 hp
Red Warrior, -14 hp
Purple Warrior
Round 3
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Strike.
Reflex
Mukluk, be-spelt and hurt many times, lunges out at purple.
to hit;
cold iron damage
to hit;
cold iron damage
to hit;
cold iron damage
[ dice=ColdyVonPierceFace]1d20+13[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d6+4[/dice] cold iron damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-4[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
ColdyVonPierceFace
AC: 21 +1 with parry action.
Fort/Ref/Will: 10/10/10
HP: 58/58 - 4 drained
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Mukluk takes out the purple warrior with his second hit.
Cavnakash steps forward, mumbles a few words, and tries to smash Mukluk.
plus
Thanks to Niksi's inspired defense, the attack misses!
The pteranodon keeps pecking at Thkrull!
Initiative
Mukluk, -23 hp, Reflex save needed
Cavnakash, -6 hp
Pteranodon, -7 hp
Rova (Thkrull at -5 hp)
Prism, -8 hp
Niksi, -28 hp
Red Warrior, -14 hp
With her injuries, Niksi makes a judgment call and uses up her last healing spell of the day, tying up her wounds.
She keeps singing all the while, trusting in her companions to keep thinning the field.
HP 27/32
AC 19 (20, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +6 (+1 to all when inspired)
Perception +5, Acrobatics +6, Athletics +7, Intimidation +4
Effects: inspired
Thkrull continues killing the stupid bird thing, trumpeting his displeasure, first trying to stomp on it and then stabbing it with his mighty ivory tusks.
HP 54/54
AC 21 (22, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +9 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 2
Battle Medicine: Rova [], Thkrull [], Mukluk [], Prism [x], Niksi []
Arrows used: 14/23; Stones used 2/7
Effects: Hunted prey (red xulgath)
"Hold on, Mukluk," she calls as she splits her attention between Thkrull, Niski, and the dwarf, not sure who to help first. Finally she decides to let Thkrull keep fighting with the dinosaur while she looks to protect Niksi.
She sizes up the injured red-garbed warrior and fires an arrow straight into its chest!
Prism circles around the pillar as she backs up Mukluk. "I got him!"
HP 40/48
AC 21 (AC 23 w/ Shield and Inspire Defense)
Spells: 1st 0/1
Hero Points 2/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Thkrull hits the pteranodon once, while Rova sends an arrow right through the red warrior!
Niksi heals her own injuries and keeps everyone's defenses inspired!
Prism moves in behind the leader and neatly slashes at his back twice!
Initiative
Mukluk, -23 hp, Reflex save needed
Cavnakash, -33 hp
Pteranodon, -15 hp
Rova (Thkrull at -5 hp)
Prism, -8 hp
Niksi, -19 hp
Round 4
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Strike.
Mukluk spins to face the main foe, the one who had been jerking him around with spells. "I don't like your face. Sure, it's not painted so it's not awful, but I don't know why you're such a jerk," he grunts in a haze of anger so much he's not making much sense.
He lashes out with ColdyVonPierceFace in a array of pokes, stabs, and pointies.
to hit;
cold iron damage
to hit;
cold iron damage
to hit;
cold iron damage
[ dice=ColdyVonPierceFace]1d20+13[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d6+4[/dice] cold iron damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-4[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
ColdyVonPierceFace
AC: 21 +1 with parry action.
Fort/Ref/Will: 10/10/10
HP: 58/58 - 4 drained
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
Mukluk connects once.
The xulgath grunts, Steps out of the flank, and tries to channel smite at Mukluk again.
plus
He curses in Undercommon as he misses once again, thanks to Niksi's inspiration.
The pteranodon keeps pecking.
It hits once.
Initiative
Mukluk, -23 hp, Reflex save needed
Cavnakash, -39 hp
Pteranodon, -15 hp
Rova (Thkrull at -10 hp)
Prism, -8 hp
Niksi, -19 hp
Everybody up!
Prism stays right on Cavnakash as she slices at the Xulgath's legs to try and hamper it.
HP 40/48
AC 21 (AC 23 w/ Shield and Inspire Defense)
Spells: 1st 0/1
Hero Points 2/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
HP 54/54
AC 21 (22, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +9 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 2
Battle Medicine: Rova [], Thkrull [], Mukluk [], Prism [x], Niksi []
Arrows used: 15/23; Stones used 2/7
Effects: Hunted prey (xxx); inspired defense
Rova rushes forward to help, shooting at the xulgath as she calls out in encouragement to her elephant friend: "You've got it, Thkrull!"
HP 27/32
AC 19 (20, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +6 (+1 to all when inspired)
Perception +5, Acrobatics +6, Athletics +7, Intimidation +4
Effects: inspired
Thkrull continues stomping and stabbing at the stupid, ugly bird thing.
Round 5
Action 1: Strike.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Strike.
Reflex -
Mukluk lashes out with ColdyVonPierceFace in an array of pokes, stabs, and pointies.
to hit;
cold iron damage
to hit;
cold iron damage
to hit;
cold iron damage
[ dice=ColdyVonPierceFace]1d20+13[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d6+4[/dice] cold iron damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-4[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
[ dice=Poker]1d20+12-8[/dice] to hit;
[ dice=P]1d4+4[/dice] damage
ColdyVonPierceFace
AC: 21 +1 with parry action.
Fort/Ref/Will: 10/10/10
HP: 58/58 - 4 drained
Focus: 1/3
Hero Points: 3
Speed: 20'
Luck? 0/1 used
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Niksi takes a careful step away from the xulgath leader, drawing her whip as she does. She continues her song, a wary eye on the xulgath to the south as well.
Rova tries to shoot at Cavnakash but misses. Thkrull has better luck against the pteranodon.
Prism struggles to hit the xulgath's ankles, while Niksi gets ready with a whip.
Mukluk gets one truly impressive hit against Cavnakash who roars in fury.
Cavnakash grunts as he's hit by the pick and narrows his eyes. He Steps out of the flank and channels his god once again.
plus
The pteranodon keeps pecking.
Initiative
Mukluk, 0 hp, dying 2
Cavnakash, -66 hp
Pteranodon, -23 hp
Rova (Thkrull at -5 hp)
Prism, -8 hp
Niksi, -19 hp
Mukluk drools.
something something check
Niksi curses under her breath as the mighty xulgath drops Mukluk. She quickly stops his bleeding with a swift burst of natural energy, then continues her singing.
HP 54/54
AC 21 (22, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +10, Ref +12, Will +9 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 2
Battle Medicine: Rova [], Thkrull [], Mukluk [], Prism [x], Niksi []
Arrows used: 15/23; Stones used 2/7
Effects: Hunted prey (Cavnakash ); inspired defense, sickened 1
Gagging as the smell suddenly hits her, Rova feels another wave of nausea as she sees her friend drop. She sizes up the xulgath and slams an arrow home into its side, even as she encourages Thkrull to keep fighting.
"Hurry, Thkrull, we need help!"
HP 27/32
AC 19 (20, plus physical resistance 2, when inspired)
Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +6 (+1 to all when inspired)
Perception +5, Acrobatics +6, Athletics +7, Intimidation +4
Effects: inspired
Thkrull, realizing that he's not the only thing standing between Rova and complete defeat, redoubles his efforts vs. the stupid bird thing, glad that it's so big and ungainly and couldn't hit the ground if it fell off one of the trapeze artist's wires.
Prism's stomach can't handle too much more of the stench of this place as she is sick once more. This causes most of her hair to begin turning shades of blue and green, especially as she watches Mukluk get blown away but a powerful blow.
This tosses her into a rage as she strike back quick and hard at Cavnakash.
HP 40/48
AC 21 (AC 23 w/ Shield and Inspire Defense)
Spells: 1st 0/1
Hero Points 2/3
Vibrant Display 1/10 minutes
Rova lets loose with a well-aimed arrow, striking the xulgath leader. Prism, despite heaving at the stench, manages to distract Cavnakash long enough to slice into his heels. Cavnakash buckles and falls to the ground. He strains to get up, but his eyes flutter, and he collapses.
Thkrull stomps on the pteranodon and it too falls.
Niksi casts a spell to stabilize Mukluk. The scene grows quiet.
The aeon orb glows brightly at you, and you each feel a warmth from it, deep in your soul.
HEALING MAGICAL
You regain double the normal number of Hit Points when resting (meaning you regain double your Constitution modifier multiplied by your level). The healing you gain from long-term rest is similarly doubled. In addition, you can focus this healing energy to accelerate your body’s natural healing processes even further.
Activate [two-actions] envision; Frequency once per day; Effect You gain fast healing 3 for 1 minute. This amount of fast healing increases by 1 for every 2 levels you have beyond 5th level.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Prism looks around at all of the bodies and destruction. She drops to her knees as she notices one of their own fallen and not getting back up, no matter how many bandages are applied. "No...Mukmuk." Prismatic tears fall from her cheeks as they strike the ground one after the other. Her chest heaves and shudders as she cries uncontrollably.
As Mukluk's life passes the Aeon Orb glows brighter as Prism feels a warmth enter into her soul. This warmth felt familiar as she feels a small part of Mukluk merge with her. She places a hand to her heart and smiles slightly. "It's okay Mukmuk. Rest easy now."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Niksi sees that her spell does not work. She snaps her fingers and casts it again. Nothing. And once more. When that does nothing, she keeps snapping again and again. She finally walks over to him as she places her hand on his head. She closes his eyes. "I'm sorry, Mukluk. You should have never had to go through this. You just wanted a quiet life. I am sorry that we did not give you that. Wherever you are off to now, I hope you will get the rest you so deserved and desired." Niksi does not feel herself crying yet, but she knows it will come later. Now, she just feels numb. It does not feel quite real yet that he is gone.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rova bows her head as she realizes what happened.
"Oh no, poor Mukluk. I guess he's with Pharasma now. I mean, it's probably going to happen to all of us soon, but still ... it feels strange. I wonder -- he's so close to Groetus now, maybe He will bring him back when he comes to Golarion. But he'd probably be a zombie or something. I don't think he'd like that, or being part of The End."
She rambles as she realizes that he won't be back, won't be there to mishear them anymore. The world feels like it will be a little quieter, which is all the stranger since he couldn't hear most things anyway.
After a few minutes, she starts looking around. Maybe there would be some sign of Groetus or more indication of what was happening here. They could bring it back to the circus with them when they brought Mukluk back.
There isn't much to go on here. Cavnakash was clearly doing something to the aeon orb, but it's hard to tell what. Unfortunately, getting rid of Cavnakash did not seem to fully restore the aeon orb.
Your best lead is from Balenni's notes, where she talked about how Cavnakash worked for more powerful xulgaths in an abandoned temple underneath the city of Escadar called Moonstone Hall.
Cavnakash had a +1 striking maul, wooden religious symbol of Zevgavizeb, scale mail, and a wand of heal (2nd).
"I guess we should go back to the circus and we can lay poor Mukluk to rest with the Thunder," Rova says sadly. "We can tell the mayor and Harlock what happened too."
"I always thought the cannon would have taken him..." Prism sniffles as she helps to gather his things. "Let's head back and let everyone know." She nods solemnly in agreement.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
You head back to the circus. Everyone is sad to hear about Mukluk. The Dwarven Throwers plan a salute to the fallen dwarf for their next act. The kids from the Feather-Fall Five worry about what will happen to Moose, until their parents reassure them that the circus will keep looking after him. Even the frosty Mordaine the Magician seems sad.
However, people don't dally too long in their grief as there is still a show to put on!
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
"The show begins as normal, with Prism in all of her colors engaging people in her obstacle course. The heights of the tent are purposefully left dark, for reasons that will soon become obvious." She flips around and switches to her "surprised" face. "But then! One girl arrives on stage." She holds out an open palm to indicate Rova. "She draws our attentions to the heights where we see a great tarp that is painted to look like Groetus, his angered grimace suddenly glowing. He is slowly descending, threatening to consume us all, but only Rova acknowledges this. She tries to get peoples' attentions to have them understand the end that is coming for us all, but the show just keeps going on and nobody listens. We plant some people in the crowd to be hecklers. Perhaps also some plants to goad the children in the audience into taking Rova's side, as nothing engages a child like knowing something that adults do not. Eliza and Mr. Tickles take the stage next, showing more signs of the apocalypse as animals have grown to outrageous, never-before-seen sizes." She then pats the dwarves on the shoulders. "Our plucky little Rova gets the help of the dwarven throwers to draw peoples' eyes skywards towards the falling moon, invoking the memory of the greatest flying dwarf ever known, one Mukluk, to inspire them to greater heights." She switches to her "scared" face. "And then people finally see it! The horror above! And chaos is unleashed, the world aflame." She bows to the Flamboni Sisters. "But it is all wrong! There is too much conflict and enslavement! It is almost the end and nobody was able to appreciate it! It is then that a mysterious happy instrument saleswoman appears." She throws her arms wide to present herself. "Offering an ocarina that will allow Rova a chance to turn back time. We see "various people" escaping from bondage in astounding ways as time turns back." She gives Mordaine a curt nod of acknowledgment. "And we leave with the promise that maybe the next night will be the proper end of the world. The audience will simply have to come back and see." And Niksi bows to the audience of fellow circus folk.
The crowd is thick for the circus that night. It's not only the promise of entertainment, but the adventures of Niksi, Rova, and Prism, which have spread quickly throughout the town. You have sold out not only every seat, but every bit of standing room.
The Professor turns to Prism. "I think you're on!"
Prism tumbles and flips out into the center stage as she makes her entrance. Her hair the color of deep blue and her heart filled with grief as she sees the dwarven throwers setting up Mukluk's cannon.
A small thin wire is a several feet above the ground as flames ignite below her. Prism begins a short back and forth wavering dance across the wire as she weaves from side to side. As she draws closer to the fire her hair color waves into an orangish hue mixed with the blue.
She successfully makes it to the end where she finds herself in a race against the clock leaping from platform to platform.
The music reaches a rising crescendo and as she reaches the final stone the lights in the tent go out. A brief moment of darkness and silence fill the tent only to be broken by a brilliant and blinding blast of color from Prism's hands and hair as the colors of the rainbow fill the void.
The lights return as she gives a graceful bow, leaving the stage.
"Look!" Rova cries from atop Thkrull, her own face painted to enhance the image. "Groetus comes, and The End comes with him! Take account of your actions, make right with your loved ones, because you never know when the last time you will see them will be!" Her voice cracks slightly at the end, her mind going to the brave dwarf that she thought would be flying through the air at far more shows.
Having Thkrull lift her up, so her face fades into the painted Groetus -- she shivers slightly as she hopes she doesn't anger the Harbinger of Last Days -- she calls out for the remaining cannonballers to draw people's attention, flinching slightly at the deafening sound as they respond.
The crowd cheers loudly for Prism!
The crowd starts murmuring anxiously as the lights dim. They ooh and aaah as Rova suddenly appears in the spotlight with Thkrull!
Elizia and Mr. Tickles take the stage in their own ring. Elizia pretends to be frightened of the giant snake, who raises himself up high towering menacingly over some of the crowd, some of whom can't help but scream.
The two enter a mock fight, Mr. Tickles wrapping around Elizia.
Finally, Elizia pretend to be killed, dramatically falling to the ground as Mr. Tickles wraps her up and carries her off stage. Unfortunately, they stumble over spilled popcorn and candy.
Rova is suddenly surrounded by a quarter of dwarves, who start jumping up on platforms. Mukluk's cannon is present on the stage, and they all get around it and lift.
Despite a few missteps, they heave it into the air! They set it back down, and climb atop it.
Finally, they go into a series of tosses and jumps, culminating in throwing one dwarf across the tent, toward Mukluk's old target.
They stand and salute.
It's time for the big finale!
The Flamboni Sisters light their batons and start tossing them back and forth as the music crescendoes!
The fire seems impossibly hot as the batons go back and forth.
Even the audience can tell that they can't keep this up forever.
They keep tossing and are relieved when the spotlight moves over to Niksi!
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Niksi arrives on the stage with a creepy, friendly mask on, carrying an oversized bundle of luggage overstuffed with instruments on her back. It actualy is nowhere near as heavy as it looks, but she carries off the deception with ease.
She slinks around Rova on the stage, keeping her movements looser than a person's are expected to be, as though she is a marionette on the strings.
"Oh, you've met with a terrible fate, haven't you? But what use is a terrible fate if no one knows of it? Such a shame." She shakes her head. "Luckily for you, little one, this pleasant instrument saleswoman has just the tool for such situations." She produces a bright, slightly oversized ocarina. "This instrument can give you another chance to get it right. To make what should have not happened, not, and what should not have not happened, happen. You just need to play the right notes." She then begins a lonely, haunting tune. The solo continues for several minutes as the spotlight shows various other performers from the previous acts moving slowly in reverse, as if time is rewinding. She stops right before the last note, and then everything suddenly goes back to as it was before she started playing.
She hands the ocarina to Rova. "You may have the song, and I will show you the last note, but I am a saleswoman, after all, and I will need something in return. I will only give it to you if you can prove to me that enough other people want this world of ours to turn back. If you can find any, that is." Niksi's lines are meant to encourage and hint at the audience that they are to shout out in support of young Rova. If they do not on their own, then Rova might plead for help directly.
When the crowd adequately shows their encouragement, she hands over the ocarina and gives her final instructions, then disappears off-stage.
The crowd cheers wildly at Niksi's performance! Mordaine's tank is decorated with scenes of people breaking free of bondage.
She takes a deep breath.
The practiced magician has plenty of air for her routine, though she makes faces to increase the tension as she works the handcuffs.
She frowns a little as she keeps fumbling.
Soon the cuffs fall off, and she rises to the top of her tank with a big smile! The crowd cheers!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rova's brow furrows as Niksi hands her the instrument, which she has no idea how to play. This was what her friend had talked about but now that they were actually doing it...
"This isn't right!" she whispers furiously. "We can't turn back time with a song! If we could, we'd still have Mukluk and the Thunder here!"
She turns away, tears in her eyes, but she knows what her friends would have wanted. Just like they went on after the Thunder died -- no, was killed! -- they had to go on here too.
She calls out to the audience, trying to control the waver in her voice.
"What do you think? Can we turn back time? Should we? What would you do to stop The End from coming, to protect your family and friends? Would you give anything to get the final note and ... and ask Groetus to come back later?"
The crowd holds their breath, unsure how to respond. The other acts look to Rova, and to Niksi and Prism, for a cue.
Niksi laughs out. "Well, if you cannot get even a single person to support you, then I suppose we are done talking." She hams it up as she looks to the audience. "All I need is a simple Yes. Or No."
A few voices start shouting out, "Yes! Yes! Save the people! Stop the End!"
Prism lights up, clapping her hands as she leaps up and down.
The crowd chants along with Prism: YES! YES!"
Niksi throws up her hands. "Well, I suppose the people have spoken." She plays the last note of the song, then places the ocarina in Rova's hand. "Use it well, or else it will use you well." She then vanishes into the darkness with a high-pitched laugh.
Rova looks around at the chanting crowd and strikes a somewhat subdued power chord before following Niksi out of the ring so the rest of the show can go on.
The excitement of the crowd is real as Rova plays the ocarina, even if the notes don't quite make it to the back of the house.
After the show, everyone is satisfied with a job well done. The crowd exited reciting all the exiting moments from the performance: Prism's high wire act, Niksi as the magical merchant, Rova riding Thkrull, and the big Groetus face!
Later that night, the Professor walks around with everyone's takes for the night. "2 gp for each of you; it was a great show! By the way have you given any thought to where we should go next? A town like Abbertown, it can't hold us forever. It seems to me, if we really want to show the Celestial Menagerie who the best circus on Kortos is, we should go to their turf. We should go back to Escadar."