Storm Adder will restack some of the drake sadddles and harnesses that displaced during the earlier standoff while chatting with the General.
"Have to keep things in order--hoist--or there's going to be a real mess in here."
The general is suitably impressed by Storm Adder's hoisting skills!
***
Later that afternoon, you head to the the Empress Yin Opera House. The opera house features a wide L-shaped stage set before an array of seats, a long table on the main floor, and exclusive balcony seating for those with ample money to spend. The fighting teams, prospective patrons, and Razu’s personnel are the only ones in attendance during the dress rehearsal. Onstage, Razu is accompanied by his two air elemental assistants, called melodies on the wind, who provide sound effects and illusions of other voices and instruments.
The potential patrons in attendance are General Kaso Hida, Lady Qiu May Shai, and Lady Xhai Zhia. Lady Xhai roped General Hida into attending the rehearsal, but the mercenary is more interested in the snacks and tea than the music. Xhai and Qiu, on the other hand, are very much interested in the show, as well as Goka’s music scene in general.
Also in attendance are two other competing teams: Steps of the Sun and the Lightkeepers. While the members of Steps of the Sun actively engage in the mingling, Syu Tak-nwa and her team mostly glower from the sidelines, having already secured their own patronage.
You have about half an hour to chat with the patrons in attendance over lunch before the dress rehearsal starts.
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Lazarus arrives to the Opera House dressed to impress! The Warrior-monk is wearing a new silk shirt (stylized with lotus motif), white silk trousers and a fancy hat.
He enters smiling, while sipping on a freshly made beverage from the concession stand.
Viewing Lady Xhai Zhia seated enjoying a peaceful lunch prior to the rehearsal starting.
He smiles.
Chkirri winces at Lazarus' ... exuberance ... and gestures for the newest member of their team to tone it down. He quickly puts some distance between himself and the Vudran, making his way to Lady Zhia's side.
"It is truly amazing how Razu ascended to the top of his craft," he says. "I can't wait to see him in action. I always say you can't go wrong betting on a tengu. Our luck is as good as our talent! (Most of the time.)"
Storm Adder growls under his breath as he sees the Lightkeepers on the sidelines.
"Those oafs can't appreciate arts." He whispers to Lady Zhia. He shoots a piercing look at the rivals.
Lady Xhai looks askance at Lazarus as the warrior shouts at her, but luckily Chkirri and Storm Adder are on-hand to smooth things over. "Yes, Master Razu is quite the virtuoso!" she says to Chkirr. "And I have seen your own talents, as well. I am confident you will put on quite the show in the Ruby Arena."
She follows Storm Adder's look to the Lightkeepers and whips a fan up over her face to conceal her smile. "Yes, no doubt," she says quietly.
Xin can appreciate a good performance, but opera is not something she has much experience with and she's never heard of Razu. She continues to leave influencing Lady Xhai to those better suited to it and wanders over to the snack bar.
"Ah, General Hida! We meet again." She studies the wide variety of teas available. "Do you have a particular blend you recommend? I'm partial to jasmine, but would like to try out some new flavors while I have the chance."
General Hida is quite happy to speak to Xin at length about tea--something he knows far more about that theater or the arts!
At last, Master Razu indicates he is ready to begin the dress rehearsal. The lights lower as the tengu takes center stage. He draws the bow across his erhu as he begins to play and sing in a strong, commanding voice.
In the middle of Razu’s engaging performance, his melodies on the wind ripple with excitement, just before a bright blue rift opens in the air in center stage! At first, a sudden rush of wind is the only apparent effect of this rift, but the portal’s dangers quickly become apparent when a blast of wind knocks a prop ship onto a stagehand and sprays shrapnel over the audience! Razu squawks in alarm and moves to flee as the patrons cry out!
Xin stares in disbelief as Razu runs away from a portal appearing in midair. "I take it that's not part of the performance?" She watches as the Rift starts throwing shrapnel around. "Definitely not part of the performance, unless Razu likes dead customers."
"Regardless of what this is, it doesn't seem to be friendly." She grins. "Hey General Hida! You said you wanted to watch us in combat. Well watch this!"
She takes off running towards the stage. At the last second she jumps up and uses the unique gravity of the rift to pull her towards a wall. Now running on the walls, (which are the floor as far as she's concerned), she does a final flip through the rift itself and slashes at it with her fan. "Hah! It may not be an enemy, but it's still taking damage, I can feel it! Lazarus, get over here and show this rift who's boss!"
Storm Adder unsheathes his wishblade and points it right at the heart of the rift. A shower of identical swords tear through the disturbance with a thousand cuts!
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Lazarus watches the rift forming along with the rest of the audience. The former wizard frowns.
Now that could be quite dangerous!
Lazarus immediately (◆)Cloud Jumps straight at it! On the way he freely enters his Gorilla Stance by pounding on his chest and roaring at it!
Smiling at Xin's creativity, the Warrior-Monk waves.
Nice trick, Xin!
He then faces the Rift.
Grievous blow
Xin and Lazarus slash and punch the rift, while Storm Adder assaults it with a storm of conjured blades.
Powerful winds blast out of the rift, threatening to hurl everybody against the tables and walls of the opera house!
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Lazarus takes the blasting vortex directly in the face! The Warrior-Monk flips, flounders, falls, fishsticks 40' backwards. On his route he happens to strike his head on every single piece of furniture floating through the air!
The poor former wizard just lies there on the flooring. He seems a bit bruised!
Startled, Xin instinctively crosses her arms in front of her face to block the worst of the wind. When she tentatively lowers her arms she's just in time to see Lazarus fly past and get smashed into a particularly sharp-looking chair. "Oooh, that's gotta sting. Uh, Stormy, I don't think Lazarus is getting back up here anytime soon. Care to lend me a hand?"
With a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure the General is watching, she uses the edge of the stage to launch herself into a somersault over the top of the rift. Once again she uses the unique gravity to stand on the wall while she attacks. (For no particular reason other than she hopes it looks cool.)
◆
◆
+
◆
"Oof!" Storm Adder grunts as he is pushed back, then rushes at the stage and slashes at the rift!"[/b]
for
HP 173/186
AC 35 (36-38, plus physical resistance 4, when inspired), sonic resistance 10
Fort +24, Ref +24, Will +23 (+1-3 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 3
Focus Points: 2/3
Spells: 1st [][][]; 2nd [][][]; 3rd [][][]; 4th [][][]; 5th [][][]; 6th [][][]; 7th [][][]; 8th [][]
Effects: inspired (defense)
"Oh my gods, it pushed him all the way back to Bonmu! It blew him away!" Chkirri cries as he sees Lazarus go flying past. He checks to make sure Razu and the ladies are safe, then takes action.
"Watch out for those tables!" he calls, and then send a chair flying right back at the rift!
You attack the rift with spells and weapons. Lazarus comes up just short of landing a powerful blow. Once more, the rift blasts forth powerful winds, this time slamming you to the ground!
Xin braces herself against another blast to the side, which doesn't help when suddenly the winds shove her to the ground. "Oof. That wasn't pleasant." Pushing herself to her feet, she attacks the rift again. Twice. Which is extremely unusual for her, and likely represents her annoyance at not having any discernable anatomy to focus on. "I think you hit it where it hurts Stormy, do that again!"
The gnolls gets battered by the wind, but holds his ground.
"Take...THIS!" Unleashing his curse, Storm Adder blasts the rift, then, for good measure, slices his resonating blade through the disturbance.
and
for and
Xin slices the rift, then Storm Adder unleashes a burst of thunder before driving his sword into the center of the rift! With the last hit, the rift crackles and disappears. The howling winds abruptly cease as everybody still in the opera house staggers back to their feet.
"That was certainly a memorable performance, but I would re-think the crowd participation elements!" Joking aside, Storm Adder checks over the performer and the patrons to make sure that no one was injured during the hubbub.
Fortunately, nobody was too seriously hurt. Master Razu shakes his head, smoothing his ruffled feathers. "This is most unusual," the tengu says. "Thank you for your assistance. I will alert Hao Jin as to what happened here. Perhaps she can glean more about this strange phenomenon."
The bard calls off the remainder of the rehearsal.
"I'm no expert on these strange happenings, but maybe we can find a clue if we search the theater."
Unfortunately, searching the theater doesn't reveal any information about what might have caused the planar rift to open. For now, it seems, it must remain a mystery!
Checking in with the patrons, you can tell that General Hida was particularly impressed by the teamwork you displayed. He appreciates good coordination on the battlefield, and Xin's tactics seem right up his alley.
Xin looks around to see the patrons' reactions to her performance. Seeing the General smile, she discreetly offers the rest of the team high fives. "Oooh, he liked that. Awesome. Definitely think we're in the running to be his favorite team. Wouldn't it be awesome if we were everyone's favorite team? Imagine the bidding wars!"
Noticing how everyone else seems to be leaving, she gives Chkirri a sympathetic look. "Sorry that we couldn't see the whole rehearsal. Maybe we can come back tomorrow? Or get tickets to the actual show? For tonight though I'd still like to go to the Lantern Lodge if there's time. I want to see the exhibitions and get some more info about the tournament ten years ago. I watched it of course, but there are some things that the audience never gets to know about."
"The Lantern Lodge sounds interesting! Where Pathfinders go, excitement is sure to follow." Storm Adder looks thoughtful. "Or is it 'disaster is sure to follow'? Either way, I'm in."
Chkirri seems a bit subdued but nods at Xin's suggestion. "Yeah, I bet there'll be something interesting there."
He casts a glance back at the stage, hoping they'll have another chance to see Razu.
To promote the Pathfinder Society, Venture-Captain Amara Li has outfitted the Lantern Lodge as a sort of museum gallery for the duration of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament. Agents of the Pathfinder Society won the previous tournament a decade ago while also thwarting the corrupt schemes of the Golden League crime syndicate. This year, Li is eager to expand the Society’s reputation by promoting memories of the last tourney and drawing new visitors to the Pathfinders’ Gokan headquarters.
You arrive at the Lantern Lodge at the same time as Tino's Toughest. Tino and his friends are eager to learn more about Hao Jin’s famous treasures, and Tino and Takatorra in particular gush about their excitement with you. Ji-yook and Yabin, on the other hand, offer respectful silence as they peruse the gallery of relics from the last tournament.
Li has filled the Lantern Lodge with memorabilia from the last decade’s tournament, including the villain Wu Jefeng’s magical adamantine staff and broken pieces of armor that once belonged to the Pathfinder heroes. More importantly, however, she has also included choice excerpts from the Pathfinder Chronicles that describe some of the potential prizes being offered to this year’s Ruby Phoenix Champions. The prizes themselves are all still within Hao Jin’s vast vault of treasures, but the Chronicles describe a few of them in fabulous, tantalizing detail.
All of the tournament's potential patrons are here to view the gallery as well.
The guests can peruse the excerpts from the Chronicles themselves, but Amara Li is happy to expound on the excerpts herself. In particular, the chronicler describes the following five items from the Ruby Phoenix’s collection:
• The Solar Jian is a magical airship of exceptional make, with two parallel hulls and half a dozen wings, said to have been given flight by the spirits of two sacred birds called pengs. Although no one knows who built the original massive flying vehicle, it has spawned a few imitators, including the audaciously named Solar Jian II, built by the Goka-based Souran family and presented at the celebratory parade following each Ruby Phoenix Tournament for the past two centuries.
• Hao Jin’s personal amulet of the planes looks like a jade crescent moon on a chain of ruby beads. It is said to be flawless in accuracy, delivering the wielder unerringly to where they need to be (though not necessarily where they meant to go).
• A clockwork “spell engine” retrieved from the Clicking Caverns under Nagajor has served Hao Jin in a few legendary battles. With enough calibration, the machine is supposedly capable of casting powerful spells all on its own.
• A Mahwek master bowyer from northern Arcadia supposedly crafted the sky-piercing bow to summon rain in times of drought. The legendary longbow can split the sky and let its wielder travel as swiftly as an arrow. Hao Jin won it in a contest when she used a cantrip to split an arrow shot from the bow in midair.
• Hao Jin stole an indestructible shield called the August Dilemma from a centaur hero-god in Iblydos, though she failed to slay its villainous creator, who is hell-bent on reclaiming his relic.
"These are quite impressive," Chkirri murmurs to Lady Xhai. "Imagine traveling the world in that boat, bringin theater across the world. I bet we could even teach those folks in Absalom something!"
His voice pics up excitement as he talks more, getting more and more animated as he describes the possibilities. "Or that amulet? Can you imagine being wherever you need to be at any time? Think of what you could see!"
"Yes, the possibilities are truly exciting," Lady Xhai says. "Of course, in order to claim a prize, you will have to win the Ruby Phoenix Tournament first. But I have the feeling that you and your team have a good chance of doing just that!"
"Some interesting armaments, as well. Have you ever seen their like, General?" Storm Adder raises an eyebrow at the shield and bow.
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Lazarus walks into the Lantern Lodge with an ugly scowl on his normally pleasant (some would even say joyful!) Vudrani face. He stares cold ice blue daggers at every single individual display of the cheating Pathfinder's false trophies from the previous Ruby Pheonix tournament.
He frowns at those showing any show of pleasure at the false idols!
Cheat'n filthy hobbitsis...err....Pathfinders!
The Warrior-monk looks up at the Patrons roaming about the Lodge. Lazarus takes a deep breath and approaches the General.
Sir! Allow me to tell you what actually happened 10 years ago. It all started with my PeanutButter and banana sandwiches poisoned!
The frustrated and angry Lazarus seems to be doing jumping jacks, dropping down for push-ups, bouncing back up for squats and he even seems to include run sprints inbetween sentences!
Xin just talked to General Hida and doesn't want to overstay her welcome, particularly with both Storm Adder and Lazarus already talking to him. Instead she wanders over to Malaika Tao. Lady Xhai may have appreciated her quietness, but it occurs to her that Malaika may have found it rude. "Hello again! Chou Xin, as you may remember." She offers a quick bow. "I apologize for not speaking much during our lunch. I find the Neverending Market hard on the ears."
"The descriptions of these relics are so fascinating. It's hard to believe we'll be able to choose one!" Her tone is completely confident, as if it hasn't even occurred to her that Victorious Secret might lose the competition. "As someone with no magical talent I'm particularly fascinated by the 'spell engine.' Do you think a non-mage could use it?"
”I have seen neither arms nor armor as impressive as these,” General Hida says to Storm Adder. He remains professional and distant in his discourse, despite the gnoll’s best efforts to get him to warm up. The general does seem impressed by Lazarus’s story and vigorous re-enactment.
”No apology needed, Miss Chou. Happy to make your acquaintance!” Malaika Tao says. ”Yes, I believe this spell engine can create magical mayhem all on its own! Perhaps if you prove victorious, like your team name suggests, you may have a chance to try it out for yourself!” The boisterous woman quickly warms to Xin.
After an hour, Venture-Captain Amara Li bows and says, “Esteemed guests of the Pathfinder Society, Hao Jin, the Ruby Phoenix, I hope you have enjoyed our selections from the Pathfinder Chronicles. It is rare that we have an opportunity to meet adventurers as storied as yourselves. Before you leave today, I ask but one favor of you.” Li motions to the small stage and continues, ”If you enjoyed what you have read, I ask that you add your own stories to our records. Please, approach the stage and tell us whatever you like of your life. My chronicler Suen will carefully record the tales of your adventures for posterity. My co-hosts and I hope you will honor us with the choicest regalements before your departure.”
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General Hida and Malaika Tao seems to be a bit bored of this Pathfinder Lodge business. Time to tear this illusion down!
Lazarus jumps at the opportunity to talk s+*@ about (and actually too!) the Lantern Lodge members in attendance.
Salutations from The Impossible Kingdom of Vudra! My name is Lazarus; called the Undying. You see; in my previous reincarnation, I was a magnificent wizard! The spells and magics I controlled caught the attention of another wizard, with whom I duelled. I lost. He stripped me of my arcane ability, during a dark ritual, and I died.
I am now without my arcane magic, but I still possess my mind. I now travel along the Golden Path, seeking recourse for my plight!
I have studied in and throughout the
Padishah Empire of Kelesh ; Qadira; the Gateway to the East. From Katheer; the end of the Golden Path, I took passage to the City at the Center of the World to join the one organization that has the resources (and reach) to allow me to reclaim my powers!
Unfortunately, these Pathfinders ended up being murderhobos! I was assigned to compete in the Ruby Phoenix Tournament 10 years ago, as their representative, but, alas, the turncoats used me as a distraction, while some favored of the Ten ended up winning!
So, now, I am back! Better than ever; and ready to win!
And, if, I can take down some lying, cheating Pathfinders on the way to glory; so much the better!
The Warrior-Monk then takes a sip of his fancy drink with an umbrella in it and slurps it while staring (and grinning) at the Venture-Captain.
Xin coughs into her hand as Lazarus finishes speaking. It was certainly memorable, but she's not certain calling out the Pathfinders in their own Lodge was the best idea. She quickly takes to the stage in the hopes of smoothing over any ruffled feathers.
"I am Chou Xin, daughter of Chou Wen and Phan Tai, both previous competitors in the Ruby Phoenix tournament. Ever since I was a child I knew that one day I would win in their name." She smiles winningly. "While the exploits of Victorious Secret on Bonmu are no doubt worthy of your chronicles, I would like to share with you a lesser-known story from my early days as a competitor. This is how I became the champion of the Cataclysm Coliseum, and solved a years-old mystery in the process."
"As fortune would have it, my partner was an experienced gladiator named Vachek. A crowd favorite, he was as good a friend outside the ring as he was a fierce opponent in battle. I knew that having him by my side would all but guarantee our ascension to the final round. But what then? Could I, young and inexperienced as I was at the time, truly defeat such a powerful fighter?" She pauses dramatically for effect before moving on with the story.
"I sought to learn all about him that I could. As many friends as he had made, it wasn't hard to find out about of his habits. There was one tale told over and over again as evidence of his gregarious nature: after many of his fiercest fights he would take his defeated opponents out for drinks. The Cataclysm Coliseum was no exception. After the last match before the final, (a bout which deserves its own story on another day), he asked the opposing team if they would join him. Yet there was one oddity. Despite having been his teammate for the match, and destined to be his opponent the following day, he did not invite me along. Why? Curious, I secretly followed him to the meeting place."
"At first all seemed normal. The trio drank and laughed with abandon. Vachek was quite charming after all. But our prior opponents seemed to be growing drunker than they should. Barely an hour into the evening Vachek offered to escort them back to their quarters. However, when I followed them, they headed away from the gladiatorial arena, towards a seamy district in Oldtown. The shack they slipped into did not look like anyone's home. Now, as many of you know, I can sometimes be impulsive. Even when it is extremely unwise to be so." Xin laughs at her own self-deprecating joke. "Instead of finding a guard and asking them to investigate, I walked into the shack and demanded answers."
"What I found was an alchemist, two unconscious competitors, and a very startled Vachek. The alchemist, a vile man named Yunxu, insisted they had to kill me. Vachek protested. 'No one is supposed to die,' he said, 'You promised me that. Surely we can convince her to say nothing.' Very irritated at being ignored, I once again demanded answers, and Vachek gave them."
"He had been been working with Yunxu for nearly his entire gladiatorial career. In fact, they had come up with the scheme together. Yunxu had an idea for a potion that could vastly increase one's fighting prowess, but it required an illegal ingredient." Another dramatic pause. "Life force. Yunxu had to drain his victim's life force and distill it in order to create his potion."
"'It's relatively harmless,' Vachek pleaded. 'They wake up in the morning, feeling a little weak yes, but we only drain people who have already lost their battles. They simply think they're tired from a tough bout and perhaps a little hungover. They recover within a few days. No one really gets hurt. Don't tell anyone, and I'll throw the match tomorrow. You'll become a champion, and all the better known for defeating someone so favored by the odds. In fact, you could make a fortune by betting on yourself! Please, I don't want to have to hurt you.' Yunxu said nothing, but I saw him grasp an alchemical bomb. A clear threat."
"What to do? I could pretend to agree and then inform the guard, but I would have no proof. Unwise I might sometimes be, but not stupid. Yunxu would take his equipment elsewhere, and by the time I returned the shack would just be a shack. I would look like I was lying in an attempt to discredit an opponent I did not think I could defeat."
"I could actually agree. Wealth and fame were mine for the taking. The odds were indeed stacked against me, and a few coins could turn into a small fortune. But at what cost?" Xin shakes her head slowly. "No. I would win on my own merits or not win at all. And so I refused Vachek's offer."
"He hung his head low. 'I didn't want to do this,' he whispered. 'You were a good fighter, Chou Xin, and I am sorry. But I've come too far to lose it all now.' And with that, he attacked."
"I immediately dodged around him and slashed at his back. Yunxu threw his bomb, but I whirled to the side and used Vachek himself as a shield from the blast. While Vachek was dazed, I focused my attention on Yunxu. A genius alchemist yes, but he was no fighter. A couple swift blows and he collapsed to his knees, unable to bear the pain. That left just me versus the reigning champion."
"We were in a small shack, and he was far bigger and stronger than I. With nowhere to run I would be easy prey...or so he thought." A slow grin spreads across Xin's face. "I mentioned earlier one of the peculiarities of the Cataclysm Coliseum. The strategy involved in deciding whether or not to show your partner all of your tricks. I had chosen to fight entirely from range in our bouts, throwing my starknife at a distance and running away from any opponents who got too close. But that did not mean that was the only way I could fight. I had been studying him since the tournament began. I knew all of his tricks. His mistake was thinking he knew all of mine."
"He charged me, hoping to end the fight quickly. Had he been able to grab me and wrestle me to the ground, it would have been near impossible to escape him. I did not flinch. Did not run away. I stood my ground until he neared me, then lunged forward and used his shoulders to flip myself over his back. His own momentum worked against him as he stumbled and fell. But he did not give up so easily. He lashed out with his leg, hoping to trip me, but I dodged it and used the opportunity to slice at his back. As he stood he took me off guard with a quick punch to the ribs which fractured several of them." Xin clutches her torso in remembered agony. "The battle was long and hard fought. By the end we both knew we could take no more. The next strike would determine the victor."
"We stood there, facing each other. Vachek was bleeding from a hundred cuts. When I looked down at my left arm I could see bone poking through the skin. Looking back up again I saw him smile. 'It was a good match, Chou Xin. But now it ends.' He charged me once more, knowing that with my injuries I would not be able to repeat my earlier tactic. There was nowhere to dodge. And so I didn't. I waited until he was almost on me and then dropped to the ground. He trampled me as he ran...but I was able to slash at his leg in return. He stopped, staring down as the blood began to run thick and fast. I had hit an artery. 'Oh,' was all he said, and then he collapsed to the ground."
"I slowly got to my feet, clutching my shattered ribs. Staggering over to Vachek, I clumsily bandaged his wound in an attempt to stem the bleeding. I had never killed an opponent before, and I did not want him to be the first. Then I left the shack and finally went looking for the guard to help."
"The aftermath was chaotic, to say the least. An investigation found Yunxu had also been responsible for the deaths of many poor people around Oldtown. To this day Vachek claims he knew nothing of Yunxu's other experiments, and I personally believe him. 'No one is supposed to die,' he said, at a time when he had no reason to lie."
"The booking houses were in an uproar of course. A well-known champion, taking an illegal potion to improve his performance? No one could decide if the bets should be paid out or not. Ultimately the entire Cataclysm Coliseum tournament was determined to be invalid. 'But wait," you might be thinking. 'Didn't you say at the start that this was the story of how you became the champion?'"
Xin bows to the crowd. "'Champion' has many meanings my friends. I championed the other fighters, unfairly defeated by a cheat. I championed Yunxu's unfortunate victims, whose families now have closure. And yes, I championed the honor of the Cataclysm Coliseum, when I refused an easy victory won through dishonest means."
"There is my story for your chronicles. I hope you found it a worthy one."
"A difficult story to follow, Chou Xin! I'll tell less personal, but a bit more recent--our exploits against the inhabitants of Bonmu!"
The gnoll launches into a spirited description of fighting ghost monks, ambushing reptiles, an ferocious giant birds.
"And that is how we tested ourselves against the elements, as well as our competitors."
"Oh, yes, I will tell you the story of how I entered the competition," CHkirri says. He clears his throat once, twice. Then concentrates and mutters a quick spell.
he calls out, his voice magnified like he was again in a challenge fight.
Chkirri holds out his own arms, spinning around his fellow members of Victorious Secret as he uses the whole stage to his advantage.
Though Amara Li scowls at Lazarus's choice of story, his fiery rhetoric seems to win points with Malaika Tao, General Hida, and Lord Unmar.
The patrons all applaud loudly as Xin finishes her tale. Malaika Tao seems particularly impressed, while Lord Unmar slightly less so.
Storm Adder's performance is met with polite applause, but none of the patrons seem too impressed by it.
Chkirri's tale goes over well, though. Lord Unmar seems to enjoy it greatly.
Amara Li and the patrons all thank you for your tales as the event reaches its conclusion. It's late in the evening now. Unless you want to enjoy Goka's night life, it might be best to get some rest before more social events tomorrow.
Storm Adder is happy to head back to rest. "The city is impressive, but I'm getting restless. I wonder what tomorrow will hold?"
Chkirri has spent enough nights out on the town in Goka to know that he could be out until dawn, which probably wouldn't be smart before the tournament. He reluctantly heads back to the competitors' village for a night's sleep.
As you are making your way back to the Ruby Village for the night, you are approached by a striking Tian-Shu woman and two cloaked accomplices. "Good evening! Might I speak with you for a moment? The name's Kas Xi Rai. I'm quite the fan of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament." She grins and flashes a metal pin hidden beneath her robes. The pin bears the sigil of the Golden League, a famous crime syndicate first formed in the distant nation of Minkai with strong ties to the city of Goka.
"So, what do yo uthink of your competition? Think you have what it takes to come out on top this year?"
Storm Adder's pride in his team overcomes his suspicion of the Golden League.
"Well, of course! We've already bested several of them in the qualifiers or in exhibition matches. I have no doubt that everyone will put on a good show for Hao Jin and the Empress, but we'll emerge victorious, in the end."
Chkirri's also a bit leery at first -- he remembers the Golden League interfered in the tournament 10 years ago -- but similarly can't help offering his own thoughts.
"Of course we will," he says. "You can bet on it!"