"Accidents, yes. Accidents do happen... and if accidents happen to all of you, it will send a clear message to the Society that we are not to be trifled with!"
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"You're a fool. If we have an accident then it's not going to attributed to foul play, is it? It would be an . It was you set those traps wasn't it? Probably you that set those undead at the temple of Sarenrae too. Oh look, there's more of them." Ikari growls.
"You get one chance to give up and flee. Otherwise your fate will be no accident."
Let's show this idiot real divine power. Ikari channels Daikitsu's might to relieve the skulk's fatigue.
"No matter. If your accidental deaths are only the first of many... I am a patient man," he says, grinning. "Once I've taken care of you, I will simply lie in wait, leaving traps for the next party of six Pathfinder Society agents, leveled three to four, until I feel confident enough to fight Pathfinder Society agents in groups around levels six to seven! It's the perfect plan!"
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"You do realize it's a waste of meat if you don't eat it?" inquires Utara, catching the most important issue at hand. "As for the stick, what is your concern with it?"
"If you want to follow a true god, let me know and I'll help you find your way on the path to Dis."
"Here's the rub, young lady. You give up on this crusade or I will eat you."
"The stick? Ha! There is nothing important about it whatsoever."
"Enough talk. Have at you!"
It is worth noting that, in addition to carrying that heavy pick, Quint is also wearing full plate; both of them are glowing.
Kenta
Utara
Toshiko
Ikari
Green Ghoul
Phidoe
Onna
Red Ghoul
Harvestmaster Quint
Kenta, Utara, Toshiko, Ikari!
Before the green-tinged ghoul can even really gather any momentum, Kenta charges it like a train; the slam with his shoulder pushes it just far back enough for a mighty swing to bisect it at the waist, a foul black mist rolling out of the wound as it crumples to the ground in two separate halves before a holy light rolls over it.
It stops moving instantly.
Kenta
Utara
Toshiko
Ikari
Green Ghoul
Phidoe
Onna
Red Ghoul
Harvestmaster Quint
Utara, Toshiko, Ikari, Phidoe, and Onna! Kenta just knocked out a wall in the initiative block! It's like an open floor plan now!
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"Daikitsu, fill us with the warmth of summer, banish weariness from our limbs that we may better strike down the servants of sloth and indolence!"
Ikari channels Daikitsu's power then strides forward, growing with every step, to dominate the field.
If Quint triggers an AoO, Ikari will first attempt to disarm him. All other AoOs will be stabs with the spear.
Toshiko steps out onto the snow, starknife coming to hand with its usual swiftness, and she readies a toss!
As soon as the ghoul moves a little closer, she throws...
The blade shunks into the ghoul's body, but it keeps moving!
Bzrt. The starknife disappears and reappears at Toshi's belt.
The ghoul, meanwhile, closes the distance with a charge, and slams Toshiko!
...Or tries to, anyway. His swing hits nothing but air!
Meanwhile, on the other side of the fight...
"Hmph-- annoying!" he barks, raising his pick.
"Unholy Zyphus, I shall ripen this harvest for you!"
Onna, you are filled with terror knowing that your lady love has said some very similar phrases before.
He juts his hand out toward Ikari...
Kenta
Utara
Toshiko
Ikari
Green Ghoul
Phidoe
Onna
Red Ghoul (-11)
Harvestmaster Quint
Everyone is up!
Kenta takes a swing, but even undead reflexes are too fast for Kenta's overexcited bladework.
Utara, meanwhile, hesitates a little too long before attempting to chomp into the ghoul; he gets a bit of shoulder... but nothing meaty enough to make a difference!
The ghoul tries to lunge at Utara...
...and bites its own tongue!
Kenta
Utara
Toshiko
Ikari
Green Ghoul
Phidoe
Onna
Red Ghoul (-11)
Harvestmaster Quint
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As the action unfolds, Mama-Onna's eyes are drawn to the Harvestmaster's cruel weapon. That could easily go right through any of us! She reaches in a pouch and feels around for a tiny phial. With practiced ease, the kitsune pulls the stopper out. A few drops of thick oil slide onto her palm. Sealing the container with thumb a forefinger, she pulls her hand out. The bard makes a fist, then slides her fingertips in the viscous substance. All the while, her gaze never drifts from Quint's armament.
Quint lets out a snarl as Ikari's spear finds its mark; most of the leaflike blades don't pierce his armor, but a few find weak spots, and of course, the tip manages to get into his belly... though not quite deep enough to make this a short fight!
Just to make his day worse, his pick slides from his hands!
"Leave it to foxes to make pests of themselves! No matter-- I will make pelts of you all!"
Round 1
GROUP BUFFS: Inspire Courage, Antifatigue
Kenta
Utara
Toshiko
Ikari
Green Ghoul
Phidoe
Onna
Red Ghoul (-11)
Harvestmaster Quint (-17, Disarmed)
Toshiko takes a quick step back, and a starknife goes flying once more!
With a slice and a nasty splat, the ghoul's head hits the snow; its body follows a moment after.
Meanwhile, Quint carries a weird dog that's very good at kicking him in the head.
With one firm kick followed by two kicks that, combined, do as much damage as the first, Harvestmaster Quint shudders, falls to his knees, and collapses in the snow, unconscious.
COMBAT RESOLVED
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Kenta nods as Toshiko drops the ghoul, "Nice throw Toshiko, finally feeling better?"
Hearing the sounds of combat, he rushes around the corner to see the talky dude collapse to the ground, "Oh nice work knocking him out! We can turn him into the authorities for well... something probably. Oh yeah, undead making! That's really bad."
Kenta takes a few seconds to realize that he should probably remove Quint's helmet before trying to apply any aid; once he's finished, Quint'll prrrrrrobably be fine?
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Kenta stands up after the skull face dude has been stabilized, tied up, gagged and relieved of any items. He pats the Asmodean fox on the shoulder, "Good, I'm glad selling your soul is working out well. If you ever start having issues well... I don't know anything about how to break contracts so maybe go ask Onna? She's pretty smart. And she did save the world that one time, a simple soul can't be that hard."
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"Can you boys hold off until we get back down the mountain safely?" I hate being the mom!
The thought brings her mind drifting back to Hiiragi. Aw babe! I miss you so much. I need a warm bath and your firm hands to work the knots out of my muscles. Maybe some candlelight to set the mood. And... She smiles to herself. Okay, I gotta focus. Damn that fox. She's so distracting and she's not even here. How is that even possible?
Onna makes certain to check the area and bodies for magical auras. "Any of you going to consecrate the abominations over there? I mean, they were humans at one point, and probably didn't ask for the fate they received."
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Onna's quite good at being the mama fox.
But those two are going to need Sensei to straighten them out properly.
"It's a long way back down. I'd rather not drag this idiot behind us. But if you take responsibility for him, Brother Kenta, that's okay by me. Just make sure to bind him properly and take all his unholy symbols off him."
An 'accident' would be fitting, but I've no desire to deprive Kenta of his prize.
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Kenta's brow furrows, "Con-seh-krate? What is that? I just hack undead up until they do not move. Seems to work."
He nods to Ikari, "Of course, friend. I will watch over them until turned over to proper authorities."
Though... I do not know who that would be. I do not have a church to turn them in at. Maybe the Venture Captain would know? Oooh, a church of the Dawnflower would work. And then I could tell them about the temple up here!
He seems lost in his thoughts as he cleans his weapons and double checks the rope and gag on the prisoner before they leave.
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Onna's eyes question the stars above as she shakes her head. "Ikari, do you care to sanctify the corpses, or give last rights, or whatever protocol Hiiragi would insist we do?"
She then looks at their bound prisoner. Kenta is gonna take this guy all the way down the mountain, and then what? Maybe I should arrange a little 'accident'. No, shouldn't think like that anymore. Besides, we often take Kenta for granted far too often. We should support him in this...no matter how stupid it may be.
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Ikari frowns. The undead? What Would Hiiragi Do? He thinks for a moment.
"They're just corpses now. Their souls have been released. Best put them in the ground where corpses belong. If the ground is too frozen then we'll need to make a pyre."
Ikari gets out his AnyTool and begins digging. "Skullface ought to help, really. Pry him out of that armour first and give him a plain cloak."
The undead are returned to the earth from whence they once were once nourished (with Skullface's begrudging assistance), and the group makes their way down the mountain without further incident. As soon as they're considered to no longer be on the mountain, they find their way back to Oppara and in Muesello's tackle shop once more.
He raises both eyebrows as you bring in an exhausted-looking Quint, wearing only his smallclothes, a cloak, and as much rope as the group could manage. He waves you into the back quickly enough.
"All right, all right. Did you two learn an important lesson about working together?" he asks Kenta and Utara with a raised eyebrow. "At any rate, you have the scepter, yes?"
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Having shifted back to human form as they approached the village, Utara's dark eyes glint with amusement at the question.
"Certainly. I learned the paladin likes to run and scream when big things attack. However, she makes quick work of the dead."
Glancing towards Kenta, a broad smile crosses his human lips. "I also discovered, I make a prettier Kenta than she does."
"That aside...she has a bit to learn about the ways things should be done and I could likely benefit from her in learning how things could be done."
"All in all, the team managed to somehow work well together..."
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Kenta pulls out the rod. It has a few extra chew marks on it. He glances at the puppy, then at Utara, "Hmmm..." With a shrug the young fox hands it over.
He turns to Utara and puts a claw in his chest, "If you would like to keep working with the pathfinder organization, I'd suggest you stop mis-gendering people. Otherwise, you'll very quickly find no one who will accept you in their groups."
He walks out. His allies usually collect the rewards and count them and that is just tedious. He trusts them to give him the correct share when they meet up later.