Suddenly, there is a gasp from the few surrounding wayang stragglers as a shadowy shape moves within the western tent. Meanwhile, Eynemb darts between set of large rocks to the east of the stage, his shadow taking on a life of its own as it glides toward the pavilion housing the stage.
“Fools! You’ve been slaves to tradition for far too long. Cease this nonsense this instant or I will be forced to stop you myself!” Eynemb shouts.
Harjandi replies, “Don’t do this, Eynemb! If we don’t strengthen
the bindings, the shadow will escape!” “Then you leave me no choice.”
His shadow takes control of the monster puppets, struggling to overcome the heroes, while Eynemb's form shifts and splits into multiple images.
Controlling the puppets correctly requires a skill check each round. Once you have made six skill checks, the ritual will be complete.
There are two types of skill checks.
Broad Skills: DC20 These include Acrobatics to move around the stage to best display the shadows, Bluff to make it look like the PCs know what she’s doing, Intimidate to put on terrifying performances, and Sleight of Hand to create elaborate hand puppets.
Refined Skills: DC16 These include Knowledge (planes) to understand the underlying cosmic principles of the ritual, Perform (act) to operate the shadow puppets effectively, and Perform (oratory) to tell the story to the onlookers.
One PC must lead the show each round and a maximum of two PCs can aid in the performance each round.
Because you have done everything rightly and properly, Harjandi will give you her full support, granting a +2 to every skill check in the performance.
|AC 15, T 11, FF 14|HP: 21/21|F +2, R +2, W +7 (+2 vs disease/MA, -1 vs attribute loss, +4 vs reading/writing)|Init +1, Perc +4|CMB +5 CMD 16|3/3 dooms 1/1 Guiding Spirit, 3/3 Sense Bond, 6/6 Manifestation, 1/1 ES
Will save:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14+2 if it's mind-affecting (among other modifiers)
Female NG Nagaji Gray Paladin 3 | HP 29/29 | AC 19, T 12, FF 17+2 | CMB +6, CMD 18 | Fort +6 (+12 vs poison, +10 vs. disease), Ref +3+1, Will +5 (+7 vs. mind-affecting) | Init +2 | Perception +6, Sense Motive -1 | Lay on Hands: 4/4 | Speed 30ft (20 ft w/ armor) | Active conditions: none
Will DC 15:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13(+2 more vs. mind affecting)
If Eka can take normal actions:
Sensing that something is going awry and that Yulau is trying to salvage the ceremony, Eka angles her puppet to cause its shadow to reinforce Yulau's ploy.
Bluff (aid Yulau):1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Instead, it looks like Eka's puppet is picking its nose, and going wrist deep to do so.
|AC 15, T 11, FF 14|HP: 21/21|F +2, R +2, W +7 (+2 vs disease/MA, -1 vs attribute loss, +4 vs reading/writing)|Init +1, Perc +4|CMB +5 CMD 16|3/3 dooms 1/1 Guiding Spirit, 3/3 Sense Bond, 6/6 Manifestation, 1/1 ES
GM Elberion wrote:
Lydia Stillbourne wrote:
[dice=Will save]1d20+7 +2 if it's mind-affecting (among other modifiers)
What other modifiers?
+2 versus disease, -1 versus effects that damage, drain, or reduce physical ability scores, +4 versus written magical effects (such as glyphs, runes, sigils, and symbols) and any effect of any sort caused by reading any form of writing
And a shadow lengthens and leaps around Eka.
Eka, please attempt a DC14 Will Save
If you pass...:
you are shaken for one round: A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
If you fail...:
You are frightened for this many rounds:
duration:1d4 ⇒ 3
Frightened: A frightened creature flees from the source of its fear as best it can. If unable to flee, it may fight. A frightened creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. A frightened creature can use special abilities, including spells, to f lee; indeed, the creature must use such means if they are the only way to escape.
The spider scuttles forward and tries to bite the nearest hero, Miseria.
attack, charge:1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 2 = 21 damage:1d6 ⇒ 3 If it hits, you need to roll a DC14 fortitude save.
Can I tell if my attempt at controlling my puppet last round did anything? Or should I just focus on helping the group against the attack?
You do not get penalised for failing to meet the DC but Harjandi makes it clear that the show must go on. I suppose that means your round is gone. It would take two successful aid another checks to make that a success.
Once you have, as a group, made 6 successful checks then you can end the show early without spoiling the ritual.
Female NG Nagaji Gray Paladin 3 | HP 29/29 | AC 19, T 12, FF 17+2 | CMB +6, CMD 18 | Fort +6 (+12 vs poison, +10 vs. disease), Ref +3+1, Will +5 (+7 vs. mind-affecting) | Init +2 | Perception +6, Sense Motive -1 | Lay on Hands: 4/4 | Speed 30ft (20 ft w/ armor) | Active conditions: none
Will DC 14:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21additional +2 vs. mind-affecting
I'm assuming I can't aid Yulau again, so here goes:
Eka's had enough of this. She saw that underhanded troublemaker cast some sort of spell at her, and now she feels shaken to her core. Since she's so bad at the shadow puppets' performance, she decides to do what she generally does much better: spill blood and gore. Unhitching her bardiche, which she had tied awkwardly to her back out of her stubborn refusal to leave it behind, she strides swiftly around to get a clear swing at the spider that just attacked Miseria with a vicious, teeth-baring hiss: "Sssssssssss!"
Okaze lacking the dexterity to easily control the puppets he moves to intervene any more spiders.
Ride (Mount):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6Move Action.
"I will keep the spiders busy while you continue the show! As a Wayang I will intervene so the ritual continues." he says as he steers Lucentis into the middle of the group. Standard to Move.
"It's SHOWTIME!!!" Hisses Fomalhaut with a certain glee as the greater shadow manipulates the lesser shadows with a level of intimacy and grace most mortals could scarcely fathom...
|AC 15, T 11, FF 14|HP: 21/21|F +2, R +2, W +7 (+2 vs disease/MA, -1 vs attribute loss, +4 vs reading/writing)|Init +1, Perc +4|CMB +5 CMD 16|3/3 dooms 1/1 Guiding Spirit, 3/3 Sense Bond, 6/6 Manifestation, 1/1 ES
...while Lydia, seeing the show well in hand for the moment, attempts to send the obnoxious Wayang nationalist a good punch-to-the-mind.
Female NG Nagaji Gray Paladin 3 | HP 29/29 | AC 19, T 12, FF 17+2 | CMB +6, CMD 18 | Fort +6 (+12 vs poison, +10 vs. disease), Ref +3+1, Will +5 (+7 vs. mind-affecting) | Init +2 | Perception +6, Sense Motive -1 | Lay on Hands: 4/4 | Speed 30ft (20 ft w/ armor) | Active conditions: none
With no spider to kill (Dang!) Eka doggedly returns to helping Yulau with the puppet show. A part of her hopes that she is so terrible at it that everyone asks her to sit this one out so she doesn't have to feel so ridiculous, but duty is duty. She owes certain Pathfinders her life, so she will never shirk her duties to the Society.
|AC 15, T 11, FF 14|HP: 21/21|F +2, R +2, W +7 (+2 vs disease/MA, -1 vs attribute loss, +4 vs reading/writing)|Init +1, Perc +4|CMB +5 CMD 16|3/3 dooms 1/1 Guiding Spirit, 3/3 Sense Bond, 6/6 Manifestation, 1/1 ES
Lydia advances on the insufferable Eynemb, wildly swinging her fearsome scythe...
Somehow both gradually and suddenly, torchlight and moonlight begin to fray at the edges. The color drains out of the area, and incorporeal black tentacles snake out from behind the stage. In a muffled and discordant cry, remaining wayangs flee from the beach back toward the city.
The shadowy tentacles coalesce in the centre of the staging area as a huge dark wolf that growls a low, threatening growl of hunger and violence.
Harjandi calls out, "No! Eynemb, your puppets are not playing their part. The ritual is collapsing!"
Eynemb boggles, tears rim his eyes, he mutters to himself, "No, this cannot be. I was right. No. Was I wrong? How?"
To Seal the Shadow Round 3 wrote:
Eynemb (shaken, no action this round)
Spider Spider
Miseria (-1)
Yulau Eka
Shadow Dire Wolf
Okaze
Lydia
Bold may act!
Even as all of this happens, you feel a presence within you, a strength, a force...
Everyone feels empowered by the blessings of the Minartan heroes. You get enhancement bonuses to your weapons and armour, to distribute as you see fit. You can either make one item +2 or make two items +1. The exception is Formalhaut, who only gets a single +1 to spend. Blame Khoda. These are enhancement bonuses.
Yulau Takes the +2 to her tunic, making her AC 15.
She hopes the others can hold off the wolf, as for some reason these dumb wayang and their ways seems to dictate that the show must go on. She continues to make her puppet appear huge and strong to distract the others.
Female NG Nagaji Gray Paladin 3 | HP 29/29 | AC 19, T 12, FF 17+2 | CMB +6, CMD 18 | Fort +6 (+12 vs poison, +10 vs. disease), Ref +3+1, Will +5 (+7 vs. mind-affecting) | Init +2 | Perception +6, Sense Motive -1 | Lay on Hands: 4/4 | Speed 30ft (20 ft w/ armor) | Active conditions: none
Since she's over there, Eka does her level best to make her puppets respond with courage and power to the shadow of the wolf.
Perform (act):1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Huh. I think I'm getting the hang of thiss. She steals a glance over her shoulder to assess whether or not her next move should be to attack the shadow.
Eka will split the boon between her armor and bardiche. Her AC is now 20
Miseria's weapon crashes into Eynemb, seriously injuring him.
Eka, I've perhaps been unclear. Your party can only make one perform check each round. Yulau already nailed it. If you want to, I'll let you retcon another action.
Swaying woozily in its movements, the creature moves toward Yulau and Eka.
Eynemb shakes in pain and fear, the injury somehow removing him from his reverie, "What have I done? What have I done!" He staggers back from Miseria into the tent 5ft step and directs his shadow puppeteers to play their parts correctly. They sway in motion with the heroes' puppets and the deep shadow around the shore begins to soften, as though the light of the torches is better able to get through.
Yulau hopes the others can hold off the wolf, as for some reason these dumb wayang and their ways seems to dictate that the show must go on. She continues to make her puppet appear huge and strong to distract the others.
Bluff 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12+2 from Harjandi
I think I need an aid this round if someone can spare an action.
Female NG Nagaji Gray Paladin 3 | HP 29/29 | AC 19, T 12, FF 17+2 | CMB +6, CMD 18 | Fort +6 (+12 vs poison, +10 vs. disease), Ref +3+1, Will +5 (+7 vs. mind-affecting) | Init +2 | Perception +6, Sense Motive -1 | Lay on Hands: 4/4 | Speed 30ft (20 ft w/ armor) | Active conditions: none
GM Elberion wrote:
If you want to, I'll let you retcon another action.
Oh, I thought that since Yulau was using Bluff (Broad Skills, DC 20), that I could use Perform (act) (Refined Skills, DC 16). Reading the description again, it's clear that I was incorrect.
Instead, I propose that we use that excellent Performance roll Eka had for this round (an Aid action wouldn't get Yulau's 14 up to a 20), and just say that for the last round Eka stood guard to make sure the monster didn't attack Yulau (it wasn't threatening us then). Thoughts?
If the suggestion above stands:
The shadow monster upon them Eka must decide in a flash whether to attack or play with puppets. Realizing the importance of the ritual, however bizzare, in maintaining the balance and good will of the wayang people, she drops her bardiche and hooks a puppet with her foot, tossing it up to her waiting hands. She then puts on the performance of her lifetime, with an over-sized shadow wolf looming over her.
Yulau's puppetry finally lags after a great start. Eka picks up the baton and now the 'enemy' puppets are acting in harmony to create a tremendous show, flashing across the waters in the mayor's magic lantern light.
