The Shelynites quickly use their divine magic to mend your wounds, taking care to apply negative energy to Khorash. All the while, King Mogaru continues his rampage. Buildings fall and streets buckle as he begins to move more inland, his blazing breath incinerating anything unfortunate enough to get in its path.
You take to the skies once more, and at last, you pinpoint the source of the deafening music that’s attracting Mogaru. Razu, the tengu virtuoso bard you met while courting sponsors, is perched atop the Pathfinder Society’s Lantern Lodge, sliding his bow along his erhu and singing a haunting dirge that borders on droning. Razu spots you as well, and—continuing his enchanting song as much as he is able—takes flight across Goka! You must chase the bard across the city’s skyline to stop his song from attracting Mogaru further inland!
DISAPPEARANCE INTO ECHOES
Razu dodges or teleports out of sight and uses the echoes around the tall buildings to confuse his pursuers.
Storm Adder cocks his head, and his ears swivel to track the music of the disappearing bard.
"This way!" Chkrirri points. "Though he's not making as much noise as he could!"
”That he is. Let’s get after him!”
You quickly pinpoint Razu's location and zero in on him. The tengu flees toward King Mogaru for cover! The kaiju roars as his tail lashes out, leveling a series of towers nearby!
FLYING RUBBLE
Rubble flies through the air as Mogaru levels a series of towers, threatening to knock you to the ground.
Lazarus almost manages to bound off the rubble, but it smacks him back down to the chariot’s floor. Rash puts some distance between himself and you...
Khorash’s quick reflexes allow him to easily weave through the rubble.
"Look out!" Chkirri cries, failing to follow his own advice.
Stormy tries to dodge out of the way, but gets pelted with rocks.
The falling rubble continues to impede your progress as Razu gets further away!
Chkirri is again distracted by falling rubble.
Storm Adder peppers the air with a string of curses as the bard draws further away.
Lazarus finally is able to make some headway, allowing you to get past the rubble and further chase Razu.
WHIPPING CABLES
Tension cables holding up a bridge snap so violently that they lash gouges in the solid stone buildings nearby.
Chkirri remains focused on the singer and echoes, not quite paying attention to what's going on around him.
Despite his efforts, Storm Adder can't maneuver around the cables.
"This way," Khorash yells.
You struggle with the cables for a while as Razu gets further and further away. Finally, Khorash helps everybody get disentangled and you resume your pursuit!
FLIGHT OF FEAR
A flock of upset drakes swarms about looking for some kind of safety from Mogaru, trying out various rookeries and ledges before abandoning them and looking for others.
A veteran of the Drake Races, Chkirri relies on them recognizing his voice (even if it's not magnified as usual right now), as he calls out to them in his distinctive patter.
"And they're going the wrong way, right into trouble. The drakes better get turned around, or they're sure to get eaten by the kaiju!"
Storm Adder growls at the drakes, "That creature's big, but I'm RIGHT HERE! No, scram!"
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FLIGHT OF FEAR
A flock of upset drakes swarms about looking for some kind of safety from Mogaru, trying out various rookeries and ledges before abandoning them and looking for others.
Chase Points 4; Overcome DC 34 Arcana, Nature, or Performance to calm the drakes; DC 36 Diplomacy or Intimidation to guide the chariot drakes to clear a path; DC 38 Intimidation to be scarier than the other dangers nearby and scatter the flock away.
Lazarus begins flapping his arms and crowing like a chicken.
A seasoned but bony hand at bombastic competitions, Khorash easily helps calming the drakes.
You scatter the drakes as you drive the chariot towards Razu, right on his tail! The tengu dives down and flies through the entrance of the Empress Yin Opera House. You land the chariot, leap out, and give chase!
Once inside, you find Razu has taken up position on the central stage. A pair of dragon-like air elementals that have been accompanying the virtuoso and backing him up vocally on chosen lines of the song writhe through the air protectively in front of the tengu. "You are too late!" Razu declares defiantly, his voice echoing thanks to the finely tuned acoustics of the theater. "This city took everything from me! I was born into extreme poverty, having to scavenge to survive until I could get a job as a much-abused servant in the theater houses! My parents struggled and died while the rich carried on as if their lives meant nothing! But now, my voice will bring the city that killed them to its knees! And I will not allow you to stop me!"
Storm Adder darts into battle, then summons many howling spirits to tear into the tengu and his minions.
Seeing Stormy conjure what is, essentially, a howling, healing audience for him, Khorash darts forward, getting to the other side of the dragon and slashing at it with lethal precision.
Storm Adder unleashes a voracious gestalt, wounding both elementals and Razu. Razu backs out of the area of the spirit entity before giving voice to a strange and unnatural song. The elementals attack Storm Adder, one with gusts of wind and the other with blasts of sonic energy! The latter moves a bit as well, interposing itself between you and Razu.
Will:
HP 210/210
AC 37 (38-40, plus physical resistance 4, when inspired), sonic resistance 10
Fort +26, Ref +26, Will +27 (+1-3 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 3
Focus Points: 2/3
Spells: 1st [x][][]; 2nd [][][]; 3rd [][][]; 4th [][][]; 5th [][][]; 6th [][][]; 7th [x][][]; 8th [x][][]; 9th [x][]
Effects: stupefied 4, inspired heroics (+2)
"This is it! What it's all come down to!" Chkirri screams, urging his companions on, even as his brain feels muddled. Not sure if he can manage the right words beyond that, he resorts to his bow instead, targeting the elemental between Razu and Victorious Secret.
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Lazarus winces at the songbird's song!
Level 3
Having faced countless foes and the chaos of battle, you have learned how to stand strong in the face of fear and keep on fighting. Your proficiency rank for Will saves increases to expert. When you roll a success at a Will save against a fear effect, you get a critical success instead. In addition, anytime you gain the frightened condition, reduce its value by 1.
Feat 8
Fighter
Source Advanced Player's Guide pg. 127 2.0
Prerequisites bravery
Even your fears serve as fuel for your fighting spirit. When you critically succeed at a Will save against a foe's ability, you gain a +1 status bonus to saves and a number of temporary Hit Points equal to half your level for 1 minute. These benefits are doubled if you critically succeed against a fear effect.
Feat 1
Uncommon Fortune Human
Source Character Guide pg. 12 2.0
Frequency once per day
Access Vudrani ethnicity
Trigger You roll a critical failure on a saving throw against an emotion effect.
You center yourself and call to mind the Vudrani monastic ideals of mindfulness and self-knowledge. You fail the save against the emotion effect instead of critically failing.
Lazarus flips the Tengu the bird with a smile!
Lazarus (being already Gorilla-ed up) ◆◆Suddenly Charges the Tengu (sweet looking outfit) Bard!
The Martial Artist then screams spit into the bard's face!
◆Gorilla Pound
Sweet outfit, bro!
A chill of fear runs through Storm Adder, but he maintains the howling cloud of spirits around himself before he heals himself a bit. The gnoll swipes at the nearby elemental, then moves to get all of the enemies back in his aura.
for and
Khorash laughs off the unfathomable song. The song, in fact, was very fathomable.
"Nice song, feathers!"
With that, he darts behind the curtain, slinking behind it before bursting out right behind Razu, stabbing at him with his shortsword, "But it's time to end your little ditty."
Chkirri begins a defensive song and fires at the interposing elemental, scoring a hit. Lazarus rushes up to Razu, punching the bard once and demoralizing him with his chest poudning. Khorash gets behind the tengu and delivers a critical sneak attack! Storm Adder swipes his sword through empty air as he moves across the stage.
Stuck between Lazarus and Khorash, Razu steps to avoid being flanked. He then inspires courage in his allies and slashes wildly at Lazarus with the bow of his erhu.
One of the elementals swiftly flies backstage to attack Khorash, while the other stays in place to attack Lazarus.
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Lazarus grins at the Bard, as the Wind bag strikes him.
Your pets tickle!
The Fighter then--freely--◇Strides back into a Flank with Khorash, waving at the boney Rogue.
Lazarus then attempts to deliver a Grievous Blow to the Frightened Bird Man!
The Fighter then attempts to Grab the Bard to avoid any more moving shenanigans!
HP 210/210
AC 37 (38-40, plus physical resistance 4, when inspired), sonic resistance 10
Fort +26, Ref +26, Will +27 (+1-3 to all with inspire defense)
Hero points: 3
Focus Points: 1/3
Spells: 1st [x][][]; 2nd [][][]; 3rd [][][]; 4th [][][]; 5th [][][]; 6th [][][]; 7th [x][x][]; 8th [x][][]; 9th [x][]
Effects:
"You can do it, everyone, you've got this!" Chkirri urges the group on as Razu's spell ends. He casts a quick spell to help them do just that.
Khorash combines his quick feet and quick strikes to step back into a flank while attacking again, slashing twice more (once especially viciously) before letting out a ferocious cackle and saying to Razu, ”If you don’t stop this nonsense, you’ll end up a bag of bones the same as me!”
Stormy continues to concentrate on the swirling cloud of spirits that tear at his enemies. He hastens up to attack the bard, aided by Chkirri's magic and song.
for
for
As Chkirri speeds up the party, Lazarus punches Razu and grabs the bard by the collar! Khorash claws at the tengu, then Storm Adder moves in and delivers the finishing blow! Razu slumps in Lazarus's grasp.
The maestro's defeat causes the two elementals to writhe in the air before suddenly bolting out of the opera house in a huge rush of wind!
With Razu defeated, an eerie silence suddenly settles over Goka. You rush out of the Opera House to see King Mogaru snapping out of the fugue caused by the tengu's intoxicating melody. After confusedly examining his burning surroundings for a moment, the enormous kaiju slowly turns and marches back into the ocean. Cheers rise up around the city!
As the Final King slowly stomps back into Xu Hong Bay, Goka may seem a sorry sight, but the city has withstood disasters before, and the damage was undeniably mitigated by your valiant efforts. Evacuations were prompt and the damage well controlled. Casualties were limited.
Several of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament’s key figures went missing amid Mogaru’s rampage, though: Hao Jin teleported away with no fanfare whatsoever, and the Lightkeepers and Tino’s Toughest are nowhere to be found.
For now, Lady Nan Yai Fei bids you to rest and recover. She will meet you at the palace for a full debriefing tomorrow morning.
Chkirri's rest looks more like another person's party, as he heads out into whatever bar is still standing where people are celebrating being alive instead of mourning their losses and excitedly recounts the battle over and over. Maybe there will be more they have to do tomorrow, but for now, all is well.
The day after the kaiju Mogaru’s rampage, smoke still lingers in the air around the grand arena. What was supposed to be a celebration of technique, ability, and strength has instead become a somber vigil of the destruction wrought in Goka. The other fighting teams show their distress in different ways: the rigid monks of the Arms of Balance stand at the ready, their faces expressionless, while the battle-dancers of the Steps of the Sun shift uneasily from foot to foot. Curiously, two teams have yet to report: the Lightkeepers and Tino’s Toughest. As ash falls from the sky, Empress Nai Yan Fei addresses the remaining contestants.
“Esteemed finalists, I know that today is not what we expected. Mogaru has laid waste to our city. Yet, it is due to your brave actions that we were able to repel the kaiju and defeat Razu, the traitorous bard who lured Mogaru here. On behalf of the people of Goka, I thank you for your selfless actions.
“However. Our grand judge, the lady Hao Jin, has not been seen since yesterday. While we originally suspected she had gone to drive off the Final King, it seems she may have had a different aim, and Razu’s personal journals also indicate as much. My ministers noted a significant glow along the southern horizon last night. We originally suspected it was something to do with Mogaru, but further inquiries suggest it was in fact a massive display of spellcasting by Hao Jin.
“Without our grand judge, we cannot conclude the Ruby Phoenix Tournament. Moreover, as long as Hao Jin is missing, many questions remain and the safety of Goka is uncertain. Though the tournament has yet to conclude, all of you have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication over the last several days. Therefore, I beg of you all, seek out and bring back the Ruby Phoenix!”
The barest of smiles crosses the empress’s composed face. “Of course, that may be easier said than done. She’s an immortal sorcerer who walks between worlds the way you or I walk between rooms. Luckily, we’ve found a way to track her down.” At this, several attendants bring out eight identical glass wind chimes, each tied with a red string. Lady Nai Yan Fei picks one up and holds it aloft, and the ringer moves to the southeast, knocking slightly against the chime, which lets out a silvery trill.
“These plover chimes were created by Hao Jin herself, using axiomite dust smelted with phoenix flames. We had expected to give them to each of the finalists as mementos of participation at the awards ceremony. The chimes yet resonate with lingering traces of her magic, allowing my court scholars to modify them into a tracking device of sorts. They should guide you to her location."
Yan Fei turns to your team. "As you are still one of two finalists of the tournament, you remain entitled to several of the finalists’ regalia—some of the treasures from Hao Jin’s vault—until such time as the tournament formally ends. One item in particular might be especially useful in navigating the Flying Mountains to the south. I’ve sent for it, and its pilot, to meet you back at your residence tonight.”
Storm Adder reflects on the day. "That villain was no match for us, and I'm sure we'll be able to find the sorceress quickly. I wonder what has happened to Tino's Toughest? They don't seem like they'd run from a fight."
Chkirri's jaw drops in surprise and disappointment as he realizes he was thisclose to winning the tournament and now won't be able to. Even he wouldn't have bet on something like this happening.
"No, they're the toughest though maybe not the best, if we're truthful. We should see if we can find them."
Chkirri gestures toward Tino's quarters, sure they have enough time to investigate before they shop.
There is no sign of Tino's Toughest in their quarters. It would seem that they never returned here after pursuing the Lightkeepers at the advent of King Mogaru's attack.
You head into the Neverending Marketplace to look for them. The sounds of a morin khurr played by the catfolk bard Halspin the Stung drift from a wide plaza, where a large crowd has gathered around a massive, steel-gray roc. The bird is clearly entranced by Halspin’s notes and chirps along while bobbing her head to the music. The sisters Amihan and Maalya, as well as the samsaran song-striker Joon-Seo, are leading a chant as the crowd helps them pass bundles of supplies in a bucket line towards a saddle on the roc's back. The members of the Steps of the Sun wave to you as they finish their own preparations for the hunt for Hao Jin.
Storm Adder waves a scarred paw at the Steps of the Sun. "No sign of Tino's Toughest. We can't wait for them any longer--we need to be on our way to see what has happened to Hao Jin."
As you purchase supplies to prepare for the upcoming journey, you see some of the members of Speakers to the Winds haggling for reagants for a complex teleportation ritual. The Arms of Balance are mounting genie-bound horses to ride south, while Winter's Roar prepares to board a longship down by the docks.
The Biting Roses, meanwhile, are having a leisurely meal meal at one of Goka’s countless bridge‑side tea shops. Harrow cards belonging to the wyrwood Lantondo are splayed out over their table. The team's leader, the spiritualist Yarrika Mulandez, laughs and waves as you pass. "You look stressed, friends. Perhaps you should take it easy. I have a feeling you will find yourselves in the right place at the right time." She finishes her tea and spots a single floating tea stalk in her cup. She excitedly mutters to herself, gathers her team, leaves a few coins on the table, and the three members step backward off the bridge... to land in the back of a cargo boat that happened to be passing by. Yarrika cheerily waves goodbye as the boat drifts into the harbor. "Farewell! We will see you on the other shore!"
***
As evening approaches, you return to your residence in the Ruby Village. A massive vessel with two wings—held aloft by an impossibly massive balloon of finest canvas—hovers a foot off the tiles in the courtyard of the Ruby Village. A middle-aged Minkaian man bustles around the ship, checking valves and securing straps, then snaps to attention and gives a tight smile. But his officialdom is broken a second later by effusive, bubbling energy. “Yoh Souran, at your service! I caught you in the finals, and I have to say, what a match! The way your weapons moved! And the spellwork! I haven’t seen such spellwork since Harrah the Painted’s bout in seventy-two-eleven!” He manages to compose himself. “Ahem. I’ll be your pilot for as long as you have need of this ship, so wherever you need to go, just say the word.”