Half an hour after the exhibition match (during which time you can tend to your injuries), Hao Jin announces the next part of the night’s entertainment. With another flourish of her hand, the quadrants of the courtyard magically transform into different terrain. The northwest quadrant grows into a towering spire of earth, the northeast quadrant collapses into a pool of lava, the southwest quadrant is consumed by a thick layer of ice, and the southeast quadrant sinks into a pit of quicksand. Hao Jin challenges two teams to simultaneously cross the transformed quadrants, one team member per quadrant. The first team to have each team member cross their quadrant wins; if both teams fail to cross all four quadrants, the team that completed the most quadrants wins.
Hao Jin wants a fair competition, so flight and teleportation are not allowed. Of course, the competing teams are permitted to obstruct one another—by combat if desired—so long as the interference is nonlethal.
The Arms of Balance accept the challenge. You have an opportunity to challenge them if you wish to further show off your prowess.
Chkirri looks at the others, and shrugs. He's willing if they are.
"No lava for me, thanks, but I can do any of the others," he says.
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"Huh. Looks like Chkirri landed the next killing blow. Did not bet on that." Luckily neither had anyone else, so she's not out any money.
More importantly, they'd won. In front of Hao Jin, the empress, and every other qualifying team, they'd faced off against the empress's elite bodyguards and won. Handily, at that. Xin bounces on her toes with excitement.
I can't wait to tell Mom and Dad about this.
When the next challenge is presented she eyes the other teams to see if someone else looks eager to volunteer. "It seems a bit rude to not give other teams their chance to show off, but it would be even more rude to not give the empress a good show. So if looks like the Arms of Balance are going unchallenged then I'm in."
After stepping forward to volunteer to compete, you each choose one of the four hazards to try to overcome, taking positions next to the members of Arms of Balance. "Ready? BEGIN!" Hao Jin shouts.
Molten Pool: Large stepping stones float across the surface of this lava pool. The flowing lava causes these stepping stones to sink and bob constantly, making it difficult to keep track of them. A character attempting to cross the lava pool must successfully Seek and then succeed at a DC 34 Athletics check to Leap to the next stone 10 feet away. Every round at the beginning of their turn, the character takes 4d6 fire damage (DC 32 basic Fortitude save; on a failed save, the character becomes enfeebled 1 or increases their enfeebled condition by 1; on a critical failure, enfeebled 2). A character who reaches enfeebled 4 becomes too tired and needs rescuing, failing to overcome this hazard. A character who makes it across the width of the pool (50 feet) successfully completes the challenge.
Quicksand Pit: Crossing the pit of quicksand is a delicate process. A character attempting to do so must succeed at a DC 37 Acrobatics check to Balance across the thick parts of the pit that can support a person’s weight. On a failure, the character begins to sink and must attempt to Swim the rest of the way. Swimming is slightly easier, requiring a DC 34 Athletics check to maneuver. However, the thick sand imposes a –5-foot penalty to a character’s Speed as they Swim through it. If a character can’t make it across the 50-foot pool within 1 minute of falling into the quicksand pit, Hao Jin declares the challenge a failure.
Spire of Heaven: This rocky spire rises 50 feet into the air. Attempting to Climb the spire requires a successful DC 30 Athletics check. Every round, a large rock breaks off from the top of the spire and comes tumbling down on a climber. The climber can avoid the rock with a successful DC 32 Reflex save. On a failure, the character takes 3d10 bludgeoning damage. On a critical failure, the character also falls off, taking the appropriate amount of damage for the fall. Overcoming the Spire of Heaven requires reaching the top. Falling off twice is considered a loss and that hazard can’t be overcome.
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Lazarus walks over to the Spire of Heaven.
So, get to the top?
The Warrior-Monk freely gets into Gorilla stance. He does his usual little show of pounding his chest and whooping loudly!
Got to get the blood moving!
Lazarus then begins climbing the spire like it was a banana tree!
As he is climbing, Lazarus calls down.
Someone say something about rocks fafal....ouch! Nevermind!
The smiling Warrior-Monk continues to climb the remaining 5' to the top.
This time he dodges the falling rock as he crests the top!
I am not seeing a flag!
Shrugging his shoulders, the still smiling Monk jumps off the top of the Spire of Heaven to land cat-like on the ground.
Lazarus then bows to those in attendance before returning to sip his tea.
Chkirri cracks his knuckles and then cocks his head to each side, producing a couple more loud cracks. he boasts, looking for weak spots.
He moves across the ice, sliding over the surface as if he were born to it. More than halfway across, however, there's another sudden, loud crack, but this one isn't Chkirri's intent. he says before landing with a splash in the frozen water, then quickly pulling himself out.
Shivering, he tries to finish in a rush, but the ice breaks again, dunking him a second time. he yells as he falls and climbs out.
Not wanting to risk another dunking, he simply leaps the last five feet to shore, head dropping as cold water freezes on his feathers.
Xin eyes the quicksand with a look of concentration. "Okay, just run over the surface. Easy. I can do that." She confidently steps out onto the surface...and immediately sinks. Spluttering, she flounders about in the thick sand. "Maybe not so easy."
It takes her a few false starts, but eventually she manages to find her swimming stride and make it across the pool. Once she finally climbs out at the other end, she's covered in sand and has a murderous look on her face. "Not. One. Word."
Storm Adder readies himself to lope across the lava.
Cast restoration (Enfeebled 1)
Unfortunately, the heat is too much for the gnoll!
Xin faces off against Ranya Sibhatesh. Both women stumble into the quicksand almost immediately, but Xin proves to be the superior swimmer, making it to the other side before her opponent.
Across the way, Lazarus and the vanara Usvani begin their climb up the rocky spire. The simian Usvani proves quite adept at clambering up the spire, but takes a hit from the falling rocks. Lazarus's special training allows gives him the advantage he needs to edge out the vanara to the top!
Chkirri squares off against Pravan Mishnapti. Both seem evenly matched as they begin, but Chkirri missteps and falls through the ice, significantly slowing his progress. It is Pravan who emerges victorious, crossing the finish line a few seconds before Chkirri is able to do so.
Finally, Esh squares off against the vishkanya Jivati Rovat. The heat and the erratic movements of the lava makes it difficult for both challengers to cross. In the end, both wind up falling into the lava on the final jump! Hao Jin uses her magic to keep them from burning to death, but both are disqualified.
Since you won more challenges than your opponents, Hao Jin declares you the victors. The other teams applaud, Tino's Toughest particularly loud with their whoops. The members of the Arms of Balance are gracious in defeat, offering handshakes and congratulations. Hao Jin rewards your efforts with a set of five greater rings of energy resistance, one each for acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic.
Storm Adder walks gingerly back to the arena, but he's surrounded by a miasma of the smell of burnt fur.
Xin shakes Ranya's hand as soon as the competition is finished, mood significantly improved by their victory. Though there is one thing still bothering her. "I'm going to head back to the suites for a quick bath, if you'd like to join me. That sand got everywhere."
Chkirri sighs as the fact that he lost sinks in, but his mood is quickly restored by the team's victory -- and of course the drink.
"I never doubted us!" he tells the others once they've recovered.
Following the challenge and after an hour-long intermission of conversation over tea and snack cakes, Hao Jin suggests one more entertaining match to bring the night to a close. The Ruby Phoenix first returns the courtyard to its original state as a flat arena, then pits the two top-seeded qualifying teams against each other in a friendly bout with no stakes other than hurt pride. "And so, the Lightkeepers will face off against Victorious Secret!"
The Lightkeepers have stood by in relative peace this entire evening, but they leap at the opportunity to face off against another team in direct combat. "Eh, heh, heh," laughs the white-haired witch, Syu Tak-nwa. "Now this will be a battle worth having. All the other teams we fought in the pre-qualifying round were too easy!" Her familiar, an enormous elephant moth, buzzes its wings in anticipation.
"I've got just the concoctions for the job," says the ysoki, Blue Viper, as he touches the numerous vials adorning his bandolier.
"And if that doesn't work, then I'm gonna squeeze the life out of them!" laughs the frost goblin Ran-To, grinning sadistically.
The last member of the Lightkeepers, Shino Hakusa, says nothing. She merely brandishes her shuriken.
You take your starting positions on the battlefield as Hao Jin raises her fan. "The Lightkeepers versus Victorious Secret. Ready? FIGHT!"
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Lazarus takes an offer elemental ring. The crackling lightning motif emblazon on it making the former wizard smile in memory.
Sipping his tea, the Warrior-Monk nods in acceptance of another exhibition fight.
I may be able to shorten my workout retinue tonight.
The follower of Irori winks, as it is quite obvious that he has never skipped a workout.
Lazarus bows to each member of the Lightkeepers. He smiles at the readied shuriken bouncing easily in Shino's hand.
Looks sharp! Anyone else want to bet who gets stuck first?
"Not me!" Xin is up and running as soon as Hao Jin calls 'Fight'. Ignoring the goblin directly across from her, she heads straight for the witch. "Nice hair. Should have spent less time maintaining it and more time actually preparing for the tournament." She brandishes her new fighting fan with a smirk of her own. "Maybe I can trim it for you? Help get it out of your way."
"I have a bad feeling it will be Xin," Chkirri says as he surveys everyone and tries to make up his mind. "A gold piece for stakes?"
He makes his usual preparations, casting bullhorn and pulling out his bow.
he exclaims as Xin begins the fight.
Xin opens up with a critical strike on Syu Tak-nwa, leaving the witch bleeding and burning!
Ran-to growls and quickly moves to his teammate's defense. The goblin grabs a hold of Xin and then slams her hard to the ground!
Syu Tak-nwa uses the opportunity to back up and cast a spell, creating a field of repulsion around her.
Shino Hakusa rushes at Chkirri, aiming a critical punch at his pressure points!
Meanwhile, Blue Viper dashes forward, swigs a vial of poison, and sprays it out of his mouth at Lazarus and Storm Adder!
Tak-nwa continues to bleed and burn.
Success: The target’s muscles become temporarily weaker. For 1 round, the target is enfeebled 2 and must succeed at a DC 5 flat check when attempting to use actions with the manipulate trait or the action is lost.
Failure: As success, but the duration is 1 minute.
Critical Failure: As success, but the duration is 1 minute, the flat check is DC 11, and the target also takes –10-foot status penalty to their Speed for the duration.
Poison courses through Storm Adders veins!
HP 114/158
AC 33 (34-36, plus physical resistance 3, when inspired)
Fort +22, Ref +23, Will +22 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 2
Focus Points: 3/3
Spells: 1st [][][]; 2nd [][][]; 3rd [][][]; 4th [x][][]; 5th [x][][]; 6th [][][]; 7th [][][]
Effects: inspired (defense), enfeebled 2,d must succeed at a DC 5 flat check when attempting to use actions with the manipulate trait or the action is lost for 1 minute
Chkirri cries out, falling back behind Stormy.
Still, the numbness in his arm -- maybe too sort to cast for the moment -- seems to travel to his voice, and he doesn't do much to inspire his companions. He starts trying to shake it off, and raises his bow, firing his arrow at Shino Hakusa.
"Hang in there, Chkirri!"
Storm Adder walks a hand across Chrirri's arm, pressing key points to relieve the tension.
"Steal your minds against her magic, everyone." Stormy points at the witch. [b]"She's raised a ward of protective magic. It may be difficult to approach." The gnoll shrugs.
The gnoll shrusg, "Actually, that's an excellent idea."
With a wave of his hand, he erects a similar barrier.
"If you stay near me, Chkirri, they shouldn't be able to approach."
It's not difficult to throw Xin to the ground, considering her size. It is difficult to keep her there. "Nice." She leaps back to her feet with a flourish. "Not that it's going to stop me from attacking your friend..." Across the way she hears Storm Adder mention a ward of protective magic. "...Although that might. Guess you and I will just have to keep dancing!" She winks at him. "I'm guessing you weren't invited to many dances, but I can always lead."
"Hey Lazarus! Do you need any help over there or are you good?"
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Lazarus winks at Xin. He then nods to Storm Adder.
Let's find out how many licks it takes to get to the center of our witch-pop!
Lazarus Strides 40' closer to the Witch.
The Warrior-Monk then begins making suggestive pantomimes relating to a tootsie pop.
He then Strikes with his shuriken.
(+2 bonus) 1/minute
Untrained skills +14 plus Ability mod. (1/day +4)
Arcana +18(T), Nature +17(T), Religion +17(T), Society +18(T), Lore: Gladiator +18(T), Occultism +16(U), Crafting +16(U)
Syu Tak-nwa is not impressed by Lazarus's attempt to demoralize her. She does take the shuriken hit, though, wincing in pain. Lazarus does not gain any insight on her when he strikes, though.
Chkirri begins a defensive song and shoots an arrow at Shino Hakusa, scoring a hit.
Storm Adder heals Chkirri and raises a repulsion field to mimic Syu Tak-nwa's.
Xin leaps to her feet, distracts Ran-to with a quip, and slices him with the phoenix fan.
Syu Tak-nwa casts a lenghty spell, attempting to create a temporary duplicate of Xin!
But Xin resists the strange spell, preventing the duplicate from forming!
Ran-to tries to pummel Xin, but thanks to her exemplary finisher, he misses with all of his attacks!
Shino Hakusa tries to move closer to Storm Adder, but his magic keeps her at bay. She turns around and moves to flank Xin instead, delivering a critical sneak attack from behind!
Blue Viper hurls two vials of alchemist's fire at Storm Adder! The first vial is a critical hit, while the second misses but still splashes him and Chkirri!
Tak-nwa stops bleeding but continues to burn. Ran-to bleeds freely.
HP 149/158
AC 33 (34-36, plus physical resistance 3, when inspired)
Fort +22, Ref +23, Will +22 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 2/3
Spells: 1st [][][]; 2nd [][][]; 3rd [][][]; 4th [x][][]; 5th [x][][]; 6th [][][]; 7th [][][]
Effects: inspired (xxx), enfeebled 2, must succeed at a DC 5 flat check when attempting to use actions with the manipulate trait or the action is lost for 9 rounds
Feeling almost as good as new thanks to Stormy (and no thanks to Blue Viper), Chkirri calls out once more, but again, doesn't seem to have his normal effect.
Shaking his head at why no one is listening to him, he decides to try his bow, this time focusing on the ysoki.
"Ouch!" Xin glares over her shoulder at the ninja. "You know what, as tempted as I am to return the favor, I think I'm going to stick to my original partner. It'd be rude to not finish the dance, right?"
She eyes Ran-To for a second, deciding the best place to strike, then slashes at one of the already-bleeding wounds. She feels the fan connect in a blow at least as painful as the one she just received and a smirk returns to her face. "Hey Lazarus! He's gotta be on his last legs, so come over here and take them out from under him!"
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Lazarus' blue eyes dart from the witch back to the goblin. The Warrior-Monk sighs.
Not liking her being able to freely target us. Better make this quick!
Pounding his chest and whooping a bit, Lazarus freely enters his Gorilla stance.
Lazarus (◆)Strides over to Flank with Xin on the goblin.
He then smiles at the goblin, before offering him up a Grievous Blow!
The gnoll shakes off the effect of the poison, but he's definitely holding a grudge.
With Xin and Laz tangling up the melee fighters, Storm Adder attempts to take out the alchemist.
Finally, he tries to spread some salve on the burns from the alchemist fire.
Lazarus moves to flank Ran-to and delivers a critical hit, slowing the goblin! Chkirri shoots Blue Viper with an arrow, landing a glancing hit. Storm Adder momentarily blinds the ysoki before healing himself. Xin lands a critical hit on Ran-to as wel, but the tough goblin still does not fall.
Syu Tak-nwa casts a spell on Lazarus, trying to warp the warrior's mind. Ran-to slowly swings on Xin, still managing to hit her twice.
Shino Hakusa continues to attack Xin from her flanking position. She delivers a critical hit to the swashbuckler, then follows up with another punch that knocks Xin out! The ninja then circles around to flank Lazarus.
Blue Viper shakes off his blindness, then steps up to Storm Adder and stabs with his sword, landing one critical hit!
Ran-to stops bleeding, but both he and Tak-nwa continue to burn.
Xin staggers as the cascade of punches rains down. If this were a regular tournament she'd be tapping out right now. But this isn't a regular tournament. It's an exhibition match in front of Hao Jin, and she's not yet willing to take a dive.
Noticing the bleeding slow, she aims again for Ran-To's arteries. "Lazarus. That slowing punch thing. Do it again." She gasps for air between words. "He's got...to be close."
HP 149/158
AC 33 (34-36, plus physical resistance 3, when inspired)
Fort +22, Ref +23, Will +22 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 2/3
Spells: 1st [][][]; 2nd [][][]; 3rd [][][]; 4th [x][][]; 5th [x][][]; 6th [][][]; 7th [][][]
Effects: inspired (xxx), enfeebled 2, must succeed at a DC 5 flat check when attempting to use actions with the manipulate trait or the action is lost for 8 rounds
Chkirri cries out.
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Lazarus suddenly feels a bit weird! The Warrior-Monk's blue eyes gloss over a bit, as he just stands there waiting for something....
Source Core Rulebook pg. 618 2.0
You don't have your wits about you, and you attack wildly. You are flat-footed, you don't treat anyone as your ally (though they might still treat you as theirs), and you can't Delay, Ready, or use reactions.
You use all your actions to Strike or cast offensive cantrips, though the GM can have you use other actions to facilitate attack, such as draw a weapon, move so that a target is in reach, and so forth. Your targets are determined randomly by the GM. If you have no other viable targets, you target yourself, automatically hitting but not scoring a critical hit. If it's impossible for you to attack or cast spells, you babble incoherently, wasting your actions.
Each time you take damage from an attack or spell, you can attempt a DC 11 flat check to recover from your confusion and end the condition.
Lazarus seems to have really lost his mind up in here; up in here!
"Hang on Xin!" The gnoll unleashes a blast of healing power across the battlefield.
Then, he casts shield with his final action.
Lazarus swings wildly at Ran-to, managing to hit the goblin once. Xin delivers another strike, and finally, the tough goblin goes down!
While Storm Adder heals Xin, Chkirri fires on Shino Hakusa, lightly injuring her.
Shino Hakusa ignores the confused Lazarus and moves between Xin and Syu Tak-nwa, punching the swashbuckler, landing a critical hit and a normal follow-up strike.
Blue Viper moves to flank Xin, trying to finish her off. He stabs her twice, taking her down.
Syu Tak-nwa cackles menacingly as she conjures rubbery black tentacles that grab at Chkirri and Storm Adder! Thanks to Chkirri's heroic performance, the tentacles fail to grab them!
Storm Adder hustles over to Xin and applies pressure to her wounds, hoping to revive her.
The gnoll grows and a rumble of thunder echoes through the arena--followed quickly by a blast of air that batters Syu Tak-nwa and Shino Hakusa.
and
You create a powerful blast of air and a loud peal of thunder, dealing 2d6 bludgeoning damage and 2d6 sonic damage. Each creature in the area must attempt a Fortitude save.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature takes half damage.
Failure The creature takes full damage and is deafened for 1 minute.
Critical Failure The creature takes double damage and is deafened for 1 hour.
Heightened (+2) Increase each type of damage by 2d6 and the area by 5 feet. (6d6 B, 6d6 S)
The goblin is finally down, but the remaining combatants are doing their best to take Xin out. Even with Stormy's healing, she can't keep this up much longer.
She looks at the fighting fan, remembering a particular trick she'd been told about. She hadn't wanted to use it, but she wants to lose even less.
Looking up again, she glares at the assassin. "You are really annoying me right now. Go. Away."
HP 149/158
AC 33 (34-36, plus physical resistance 3, when inspired)
Fort +22, Ref +23, Will +22 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 2/3
Spells: 1st [][][]; 2nd [][][]; 3rd [][][]; 4th [x][][]; 5th [x][][]; 6th [x][][]; 7th [][][]
Effects: inspired (xxx), enfeebled 2, must succeed at a DC 5 flat check when attempting to use actions with the manipulate trait or the action is lost for 6 rounds
Chkirri rushes out of the tentacles, and tries to cast a spell to further help heal Xin -- only to have hand not quite work the way he wants it to and to lose the spell!
Lazarus staggers over to Syu Tak-nwa and punches her twice. Chkirri's spell fails, but Storm Adder's thunderburst wounds and deafens Tak-nwa and Shino Hakusa. The white-haired witch falls to the arena floor, knocked unconscious! Then Shino Hakusa vanishes as Xin banishes her to the maze with the phoenix fighting fan!
Left on his own, Blue Viper desperately stabs at Xin, trying to exacerbate her injuries.
HP 149/158
AC 33 (34-36, plus physical resistance 3, when inspired)
Fort +22, Ref +23, Will +22 (+1 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 1
Focus Points: 2/3
Spells: 1st [][][]; 2nd [][][]; 3rd [][][]; 4th [x][][]; 5th [x][][]; 6th [x][][]; 7th [][][]
Effects: inspired (defense), enfeebled 2, must succeed at a DC 5 flat check when attempting to use actions with the manipulate trait or the action is lost for 5 rounds
Chkirri says as he reverts to his bow, which his injured arm is better able to handle.
"All alone now, little snake!"
Storm Adder activates his gloves to give Xin a little burst of healing, then stares deep into Blue Adder's eyes.
How quickly the tides had turned. One moment Xin was sure they were going to lose their first fight since arriving on Bonmu. Then suddenly the ninja was gone, the witch was down, and only the poisonous Viper remained. Things were looking up.
"Looks like you're the only one left to dance with." She smirks as she feels her fighting fan bite deep into Blue Viper's side. "Unlucky for you. Hey Chkirri? I think there's room in his torso for a couple more arrows."
Lazarus moves in and punches Blue Viper! Unfortunately, in so doing, he exposes himself to the dragon bile poison coating the ysoki's clothes! The critical strike leaves Blue Viper reeling, though. The ysoki dodges Chkirri's arrows, but he takes the full blast of Storm Adder's spell, then Xin's critical hit takes him out of the fight!
Shino Hakusa remains trapped in the fight, leaving you with a moment to catch your breaths. But Lazarus is still confused...
"Lazarus, snap out of it!" The gnoll turns to his other teammates. "There's nothing I can do about him now--just try to stay away from him."
Storm Adder casts heal on Xin and hurries away from the monk.
"Thanks Stormy!" Xin also dashes away from Lazarus, dropping the fighting fan for now as she draws her starknife in preparation for a little ranged combat. "The ninja will come back soon, so be ready."