The enemy conspirators are beginning to think they should have focussed their attention on Kenji, as the holy warrior steps back and *SMACKS* the side of Jiang Fei’s head with the flat of his sword, like a cricket bat hitting a basketball.
The Quain martial artist drops unconscious, flat on her back -- her limbs askew and her eyes glazed open.
Kenji follows up by *SPANKING* the back of Zheng’s neck, which nearly dislocates a few of the veteran warrior’s vertebrae.
He remains in the fight for now.
Round #2/3:
Brand
Razisus
--
Jianghong (yellow)
Zheng (red)
Jiang Fei
--
Radiarch
--
Yue Xin (blue)
--
Keiko
Kenji
Magdelina
Tis the turn of
Razisus avoids his Mistress’ servant Outsiders for the moment, as Radiarch is stunned by Yue Xin’s noise.
Keiko retaliates by targeting the magician, but fails to land a shot.
Brand double-moves to the east. “Mon grand plan est de héal, monsieur Kenji.”
☤
“Zheng, won’t you pleeeease give it up! I’m ordering you!”
Jianghong delays, as Zheng steps out, draws and drinks a potion. “Unfortunately, I made a promise to your father, Young Master.”
The student keeps *sobbing* as Yue Xin calmly steps up and ✨casts color spray on Kenji.
Round #3/4:
Brand
Razisus
--
Zheng (red)
Jiang Fei
--
Radiarch
--
Yue Xin (blue)
Jianghong (yellow)
--
Keiko
Kenji
Magdelina
bring it!
2 HD or less: The creature is unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. (Only living creatures are knocked unconscious.)
3 or 4 HD: The creature is blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1 round.
5 or more HD: The creature is stunned for 1 round.
Sightless creatures are not affected by color spray.
Kenji demonstrates significant reserves of willpower as he *SLAPS* Yue Xin is the gut with the flat of his greatsword. However, the Po Li bureaucrat likely remains a force in this battle.
Brand decides to heal himself with a CMW spell, and then moves to block Zheng from charging Magdelina and Radiarch, threatening the professional bodyguard with his armor spikes.
Round #3/4:
Brand
Razisus
--
Zheng (red)
Jiang Fei
--
Radiarch
--
Yue Xin (blue)
Jianghong (yellow)
--
Keiko
Kenji
Magdelina
are go!
Zheng succumbs to Magdelina’s hex, while Keiko bowshots miss the annoying Yue Xin.
“This is not personal, Miss. I’m just doing my job. That jade scroll you carry isn’t worth your lives.”
Frustrated by Brand’s blocking action to the Pathfinders in the rear, Zheng decides he is better off trying to get in a lucky hit on Kenji.
Round #4:
Brand
Razisus
--
Zheng (red)
Jiang Fei
--
Radiarch
--
Yue Xin (blue)
Jianghong (yellow)
--
Keiko
Kenji
Magdelina
is up!
Radiarch fires, and a wooden shaft instantly grows out of Zheng’s left bicep. The mercenary *snarls* at nobody in particular and continues to fight.
A whimpering Jianghong finds deeper cover behind a large boulder and falls prone.
Yue Xin moves back 10’ to blast Kenji with another color spray. "Jianghong, you coward! Get up here and help!"
Round #4:
Brand
Razisus
--
Zheng (red)
Jiang Fei
--
Radiarch
--
Yue Xin (blue)
Jianghong (yellow)
--
Keiko
Kenji
Magdelina
are up!
Kenji Yue Xin in the face with his sword-flat, breaking numerous teeth and his nose.
This causes the magician to mispronounce a word or two of his spell which ✨fizzles against Kenji’s holy will.
The naladin follows this up with a vicious chop down to the bone of Zheng’s right thigh, forcing the bodyguard to one knee. Kenji finally fells his opponent with a brutal blow with his greatsword’s pommel to the top of Zheng’s head.
Frustrated that Razisus is a little too far away to reach, Brand shuffles 15 feet and ✨casts CMW on Kenji.
Round #4/5:
Brand
Razisus
--
Zheng (red)
Jiang Fei
--
Radiarch
--
Yue Xin (blue)
Jianghong (yellow)
--
Keiko
Kenji
Magdelina
are up!
|
"Traitor! You have no honor. Face me!"
Keiko will raise her hand above her head and drop her bow so it hangs across her shoulders, then spurs Mairu forward as she draws her lance, but holds it oddly backwards so the blunt handle is facing Yue Xin as her horse and her soar off the high embankment towards the magician.
Challenging a foe requires much of the samurai’s concentration. The samurai takes a –2 penalty to his Armor Class, except against attacks made by the target of his challenge.
The challenge remains in effect until the target is dead or unconscious, or until the combat ends. Each samurai’s challenge also includes another effect, which is listed in the section describing the samurai’s order.
Ronin Challenge: Whenever a ronin is the target of a challenge, a smite, a quarry, or similar effect, and he issues a challenge against that character in return, the ronin receives a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls made against the target of his challenge and a +1 dodge bonus to his AC against attacks made by the target of his challenge. These bonuses increase by +1 for every four class levels the samurai possesses.
Mairu charges forward, the air blowing in his mane as he leaps off the embankment and kicks his feet right into Yue Xin's chest.
Keiko drops her bow, draws her lance and charges the remaining hostile.
Absorbed in his latest spell preparations, Yue Xin looks up to see a determined equestrian lancer mounted on a thundering destrier bearing down on him. Startled, the magician freezes and receives a glancing blow from Keiko’s lance to the side of his head, knocking him to the ground.
Half a minute later, the spell-caster has not moved, and Brand has ✨cast CMW on Razisus, to bring the Death Priest back to consciousness.
Jianghong unfurls a white handkerchief and waves it from behind his boulder. “I give up, I give up! I don’t know what came over Zheng and Jiang Fei. I knew Master Yue was a jerk, but I didn’t think this was going to happen!”
The young student pleads, “Just ... Please! I don’t want to fight! You’ve won. Won't you let me help the survivors?”
If you accept Jianghong’s surrender,
|
"Jiang, I hope that day on campus and especially what's taken place in the last few minutes have helped you finally realize that your actions have consequences. They actually hurt people. This did not need to happen. We accept your surrender, but starting today, you must accept responsibility. Because if you continue this life course, one day... you will not receive such mercy," Radiarch states as he begins pulling his rope out to prepare bonds for their adversaries. He'll also use lay on hands on any who need it.
“Radiarch, you’ve gotta believe me, I had no idea this is what the others had in mind.”
Jiang holds out his arms meekly to be tied, though it’s clear he is unarmed.
“To catch you up, the College used diviners to determine my identity, and I was expelled. My father wasn’t best pleased, but stated he was aware of the mischief I had been getting up to before the night we raided the Admin building, and was planning on bringing me back home to work in the family business at the end of the semester anyway.”
“A few weeks later he told me I was to head a diplomatic ‘Peacekeeping Force’ with members from a number of Successor States who would jointly seek out the Shokuro mission seeking the Jade Scrollcase at the Summer Palace, with the aim of peacefully negotiating a Treaty between ALL Successor States to best use the prophecies contained in the scroll case for the betterment of everyone.”
Jiang sighs. “But clearly Father duped me, as it seems diplomacy was never on the agenda. I can only speculate that as well as being the Party Face and Skill Monkey, if we had met in the Summer Palace, my role was to assure you that our three countries would negotiate in good faith.”
|
|
"Indeed, Jianghong, you have been honorable. Our goal is actually what they lied to you about - we do want to peacefully negotiating a Treaty between ALL Successor States to best use the prophecies contained in the scroll case for the betterment of everyone - and that is also what the ghost of Princess Song Rui wanted as well! She told us 'Persuade the Inheritors of Lung Wa to allow all Her offspring to find their own paths peacefully.' Apparently, Zheng, Yue Xin, & Jiang Fei were acting selfishly for the benefit of only their own country. If you would be willing to work with the Pathfinder Society on this, we would make sure you and your family received honor for doing so." She frowns. "Although I'm not sure your duplicitous father deserves the honor at this point."
Keiko cannot cast healing spells, but if no one else is checking in with Zheng (I think he's the only one who took lethal damage), she will attempt to help with her limited medical skills, or offer use of her CLW wand to anyone that can use it.
|
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Radiarch listened and despite the circumstances Jiang found himself in, chalking it up to previous dealings with this particular man the aasimar still studying his motives carefully as he tied his hands with the rope.
"I am sure the Pathfinder Society can provide you some assist in dealing with your father and whoever else may be involved. I am not familiar with how the law is enforced here, but I imagine your willingness to provide such intelligence can only lessen any disciplinary measures."
“Well the original goal of my mission is in tatters thanks to my treacherous companions.”
Kenji confirms Jiang Fei, Yue Xin and Zheng are all stable.
Jianghong brightens. “But I would certainly be willing to work constructively with the Pathfinder Society to use the prophecies contained in the scroll case for the betterment of all Successor States.”
He is being evasive about how the sudden change in his family’s fortunes came to be. However, this doesn’t directly relate to your current Pathfinder mission.
“Does that mean I get to come back with you to Shokuro to meet your Venture-Kitten? If I could negotiate a Treaty with her or him, the prestige I would receive from my father’s political contacts would more than make up for the shame I brought to my family.”
“Oh and Radiarch, I wouldn’t waste your time trying to bring my ex-companions to justice in Shenmen. The State is an anarchy overrun by monsters. And Shokuro has no jurisdiction over events that transpire outside its borders.”
|
Brand brings Jiang Fei, Zheng and Yue Xin back to consciousness with a combination of his own spells and the multiple healing scrolls the captives carry.
The foreign quartet give you no trouble, apart from the occasional bickering amongst themselves about who is to blame for their failure. Kenji and Radiarch can quickly quieten them before their squabbling turns physical.
In a hidden cove on the east coast of the Sea of Ghosts, the Pathfinders may release their captives, as they reboard Zhang Chunhua’s lugger for the next leg of the journey back to Ashima. Of course the party may decide to bring Jianghong with them to meet Chun Mai, or transport the other three foreign captives with them. It’s entirely up to them.
Zhang Chunhua smiles shyly with an announcement of her own. “You have all inspired me to become a Pathfinder!”
“Lord Radiarch’s faith combining family and the bow intrigues me, and with Mistress Chun’s blessing I am to sail back with you to Absalom to train with your Three Masters and learn more about Old Deadeye!”
🐓
The rest of the return journey is blessedly uneventful and before you know it you find yourselves back in the now-quite-familiar town. As you stride up the path towards Chun Mai's house you can see her outside in the garden, apparently taking a break from whatever scholarly pursuits she's currently engaged in. When she sees you, her face lights up and then seems to flicker between relief and nervous anticipation.
"You return once more!" Chun Mai calls out as she moves to greet you. "And still in one piece, wonderful, wonderful! Did you ... did you find the Summer Palace?"
The next few hours are a blur. Chun Mai is overjoyed when you present her with the jade scroll case as is the entire town. A great celebration is held in the town's temple square in honor of your triumph. This lasts well into the next morning, filled with much drinking, kung-fu dancing, and conversation.
A few days later, you receive an official Envoy of the Sun Shogun from the Capital, who rewards you with 3,000 gold pieces and access to a store of magical talismans. Chun Mai also receives a message from VC Amara Li, congratulating you on your find and the great work you have done establishing diplomatic ties between the Society and Shokuro.
But success breeds further expectations. Perhaps a fortnight after your return to Ashima, Chun Mai receives a second message from VC Li that bids you journey back to Avistan to prepare for a new assignment ...
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Kenji enjoys the last days on his home continent.
“Team, I have learned a lot from you and I will contemplate on the wisdom that you have shared with me! I am not the brightest star in the Pathfinder society but I can assure you that your guidance will help me to take the next step towards perfection!“ he says and especially gives Radiarch a clap on the shoulder before leaving for his next assignment.