Xin rushes over to attack Troff, but the hobgoblin monk parries his strike. Hotcha drops down behind the monk, though, delivering a flurry of strikes to the back of his knees, stunning him! Yog’Moi uses his magic to both heal himself and harm Troff!
Meanwhile, Esh lashes our to trip both Urnak and Huldrin. As he gets to his feet, they lash out at him. He dodges Urnak’s axe, but Huldrin hits with her flaming trident.
Urnak and Huldrin get back to their feet and attack Esh again. Each lands one hit.
Juspix moves away from the melee, then he unleashes his own chain lightning spell!
Troff shakes off his stun and attacks Yog’Moi again, landing one gouging strike.
The flaming skulls fly off away from the battle again, but the floor beneath Xin, Yog, and Troff turns icy!
Of course the lightning can find an invisible fairy—
—but even lightning can’t touch her!
Her voice rings out, “Xin, my magic can help Esh!”
After Xin makes his call, unless ordered otherwise, Hotcha will zip over to help Esh by dropping a Ki storm—from a few feet in the air (to avoid the tiles)!
Blasted in so many ways, the hobgoblin bobs and weaves in a futile attempt to avoid the worst of it. A fist, crackling lightning (I know how to avoid that one!), and then a blast of frigid cold leave Yog'Moi wondering why he isn't frothing at the mouth yet with divine anger. Perhaps that bastard upstairs is loving seeing one of his priests being pummelled silly.
"Hey, big guy! Mind giving me a hand? Or do me one better, how about a sword?!"
And as requested, a gigantic crackling nine-ring sword appears out of nowhere and starts whacking at Troff.
Xin lands another hit on Troff, taking down the hobgoblin monk! The crowd cheers loudly, chanting the rogue's name!
Hotcha flies forward and unleashes a blast of wrathful energy! Huldrin avoids the worst of it, and protects Urnak with her shield, warding off some of the blast. Juspix takes its full brunt, blunted slightly by his energy aegis, but he retaliates with a spell to try to blind Hotcha with her fury!
Esh retrieves his sword, dodging both attacks of opportunity aimed his way. He slices Urnak before quickly stepping away.
Yog'Moi raises a shield and sends a spiritual weapon after Urnak, landing a critical hit!
Despite his injuries, Urnak moves to keep the pressure on Esh. Huldrin follows at his side, both warriors attacking the elf. The shield maiden lands a hit with her burning trident.
Juspix moves closer to Urnak and casts a spell to heal the warrior.
The arena's traps go off without hitting anybody.
As Xin sprints forward, he yells out "Esh, stay on Urnak. Yog'Moi and Hotcha, target Juspix and take her down!"
He runs up to put Urnak in a flank for Esh's benefit, then stabs Juspix and calls out a tactical cadence.
“Hey, no ogling when I’m invisible!”
Hotcha falls from her flight and Ki-flurries!
She follows with her new move!
With the tide of battle swinging their way, Yog'Moi reverts his offensive course and attempts to stabilize their efforts by healing Esh. Meanwhile, Hei Feng's divine anger continues to slash and whack at their foes.
Xin moves in to stab Huldrin, and while she uses her shield to block some of the damage, she is still injured and slowed.
Hotcha unleashes a flurry of blows on Juspix, knocking the halfling out!
Esh attacks Urnak, and as he lands a hit, Xin stabs the half-orc in the back. The warrior falls! The elf switches targets, taking a long stride to flank Huldrin and slicing the shield maiden!
Yog'Moi heals Esh before directing his spiritual weapon to strike Huldrin.
The last woman standing, Huldrin puts up a valiant effort to fight back, but at this point, the outcome is inevitable. Tagada Emmi dramatizing her last stand as you quickly overwhelm and take down the shield maiden, to the crowd's delight!
"And that's it, ladies and gentlemen! Three Men and a Fairy wins!" Emmi declares. The crowd roars your names as you bask in your victory!
Once healed back to consciousness, the members of Winter's Roar offer respectful congratulations to you. "Well fought," says Urnak.
Hotcha reappears the instant the battle is won. She is unscathed, but drained of her Ki.
While still energized, she flies up to Yan Fei’s level and curtsies. “I hope you enjoyed the show, Your Majesty.” (As said to Yan Fei in private, Hotcha will address her by title publicly.) She smiles lovingly at the empress, and also bows to Lady Qiu. ”And you as well, Lady Qiu.” (If the sprites are there, she addresses each by name with a bow as well.)
With only about half a minute of magical flight left, Hotcha flutters down before she falls down. She is, as always, a gracious winner. Almost every team she faced has taken their losses well.
“It was an honor to face you guys, and a joy!” She turns to the halfling. “Haha! Especially when you surprised me with that magic that kinda messed with my head. I thought you couldn’t see me, and suddenly you blinked outta my sight!” (She stops herself from saying ‘when I knocked you out,’ in the interest of not rubbing it in.)
Yog'Moi barks out his characteristic loud harsh laugh and smacks his tummy. Lightning dances on his fingertips and, after downing a drink in one mighty swig, it explodes and overwhelms all those around him. The crackle heals wounds and reinvigorates spirits and its Yog'Moi's parting gift to the Northerners. "You made sure no one here," and he eyes the arena, only now realizing just how many people are cheering them on, which causes him to pause for a couple of seconds. "Well, you made sure no one present today will ever forget you."
The other sprites' glow helps Hotcha pick them out from the crowd. They whoop and holler as she bows to them. "Amazing!" "Spectacular!" "Splendiferous!" they cheer.
After you've had time to recover from your bout, you can spectate the second match of the day: Speakers to the Winds versus the Biting Roses. The group of attendants from the Magaambya are able to secure victory against the trio from Arcadia. Speakers to the Winds advance in the winners' bracket while the Biting Roses join Winter's Roar in the losers' bracket.
Following the second match, you are free to get some rest or explore Goka some more. You will participate in an exhibition match tomorrow before the rest of the teams fight in their first tournament match.
Xin will keenly watch the second match, gleaning anything he can about the fighting techniques involved.
Xin is able to pick up on the other teams' general tactics. The leader of the Speakers of the Winds, Mafika Ayuwari, hangs back and uses powerful magic to attack his opponents, accompanied by the two gnoll wizards Hummingbird and Phuthi. The halfling Akila transforms into a leopard to fight foes in melee. The gnome Surji attacks at range with his bow, while the elf Umbasi supports the team with bardic spells and storytelling.
As for the Biting Roses, team leader Yarrika Mulandez is a summoner who uses her magic to support her spiritual eidolon, which resembles a mantis. The half-elf Artus fires arrows of pure light from his bow, while the wyrwood Lantondo uses occult magic and hurls mystically empowered Harrow cards at opponents.
Because sprites don’t need much space, Hotcha sits with Raq. “I meant to thank you about the other day. Knowing my parents are immortal and I’m not… this may sound funny to you, but it makes things easier to know that.
“Easier to understand why my parents left me with mortals, and easier to ummmm…” Hotcha’s glow starts to brighten and become pink. “…be with mortals.” Realizing her own words can be taken the wrong way, and THEN realizing the wrong way is in fact the RIGHT way, she says, “Not like… well, no, yes, exactly like, but……… not mortals plural.”
She tries to save herself from blabbering by pointing to the fight. “Oh… a leopard guy.”
Raq giggles. "You're welcome! Any time, Hotcha." She elbows the blushing sprites. "So, you got some hanky-panky, eh? Good for you! You deserve it!"
Relieved that she doesn’t have to say who it is, she smiles. “I was thinking I might wanna look up my parents someday. Not until the tournament’s over, and not to like… y’know, give ’em any grief.
“I wouldn’t be here if my life was any different. I want them to know I’m grateful for them giving me life, and yeah, leaving me with mortals that were good to me and taught me well.” She thinks about how much her attitude has changed in the weeks leading up to this tournament. “I used to imagine myself forgiving my parents. Now, I just wanna thank them.”
The fight ends, and Hotcha says, “Hmm… might hafta face leopard guy.”
The night passes uneventfully, and the next day, you return to the jam-packed stadium for your first exhibition match. Your opponents for this match are the Arms of Balance. This traditional exhibition has been modified with the assistance of Hao Jin. Each team must choose a member to be polymorphed into a powerful boar or a tiger with some special benefits. The rest of that team is connected to their polymorphed teammate by one of two 15‑foot-long chains, with their polymorphed teammate in the center. Each team member is chained to one or two others; the polymorphed person's belt is a harness in the center, and that person must be chained to two others. The teams then fight one another in a standard combat bout with all the usual rules for tournament fights, with only one key difference: the first team to knock out the other team’s polymorphed team member wins. A team loses when their polymorphed teammate loses consciousness or changes form, or when any member of their team intentionally breaks or releases a chain.
The arena has been specially reconfigured for this exhibition match: Hao Jin has shaped the arena into a circle and placed a magical moat around it. The moat is filled with 5 feet of water. Beyond simply making the battlefield more dynamic and perilous, there’s no special match penalty or loss condition for falling into the water.
Before the match begins, the two competing teams are asked to play a simple game of mace-shield-arrow to determine which team gets to pick their animal form. The other team must pick the other animal form.
The Arms of Balance win the game. They choose the vanara Usvani to be their polymorphed contender, and they choose the tiger form, leaving the boar for you.
• 30 temporary Hit Points.
• Low-light vision and scent (imprecise) 30 feet.
• Athletics modifier of +26 unless yours is better.
• Speed 40 feet
• Melee [one-action] tusk +25, Damage 3d10+16 piercing
• Chained Charge [two-actions] You Stride and then make a tusk Strike at the end of your movement. If you move farther than 15 feet from your chained allies, you pull them along into the nearest open space 15 feet behind you. The creature you hit must succeed at a DC 35 Reflex save or fall prone.
• Reposition Chains [one-action] You pull on the chains, moving a willing chained ally up to 10 feet to a space within your reach.
"Well," says Xin, "it can't be Yog'Moi. We need him to cast spells. Any volunteers?"
"It should almost certainly be either Hotcha or I," I say, considering.
"While I am not unskilled in unarmed combat, Hotcha does specialize in it, which would translate better into her polymorphed form than my abilities would. On the other hand, she's the most mobile member of the team. If I'm polymorphed, and you two" I nod towards Yog and Xin, "Are connected to me, it will be trivial for her to flank and harass our opponents. Hmmm..."
I hum, then shrug.
"Ultimately, I don't think it particularly matters. It's roughly equivalent. I'm fine either way."
“A boar??? Me?!” Hotcha imagines herself being the biggest and strongest on the team. Her luminous skin flickers orange as goosebumps line her arm. She laughs, “THREE MEN AND A PIGGIE! That is anything but boring!”
She thinks…
Flurry of Tusks? YES!
One-millimeter Head Butt? THAT will be so strong, I should call it TWO-millimeter Headbutt!!
Jellypig Stance? She tries to picture a pig being limber, but all she comes up with is a sow rolling in mud and being swarmed by sucklings. HEY! Those aren’t mine, she internally screams at her imagination.
“Okay, Esh… I can do this if you’d rather not.” She says to Yog’Moi, “I might need back-up though. I always come outta fights unscathed because I can usually self-heal. I’ll be a big fat target that tigers find tasty.”
Hao Jin casts a powerful polymorph spell, and Hotcha finds herself swelling in size and weight. Her gear melds into her new form as she swiftly becomes a hulking boar! Though she retains her mind, her body is all pig, and she can only communicate in shorts and squeals!
Hao Jin polymorphs Usvani into a roaring tiger, then chains are placed on you as both teams take their positions in the arena. Tagada Emmi flies overhead, whipping the crowd into the frenzy. "Boar or tiger? Which beast will reign supreme! Let's find out! Ready? FIGHT!"
Xin and Yog let out furious battle cries, setting two members of the Arms of Balance aback!
Hotcha considers Esh’s point about mobility, and says, y’know, on second thought, maybe Esh should…
But she only says it in her mind. Her mouth contorts involuntary as the world slowly shrinks before her very eyes. She falls to her hands and knees as people shrink smaller than herself. Her teeth grow stupidly disproportionate. And there’s a breeze behind her she’s not used to.
She snorts and oinks and doesn’t glow! The battle starts!
Yog'Moi smacks his tummy with both hands which causes a set of tattooed runes to come live. His meaty mittens bounce right off his spherical gut and fly on up, only to meet again above his head. The result is a thunderous clap which causes lightning to come crashing from the sky.
Luckily for Yog'Moi and friends, it strikes only their foes and not them.
Usvani the tiger and Ranya take the full brunt of Yog'Moi's lightning, while Pravan and the vishkanya Rivati avoid some of it.
Hotcha makes ready to attack, but the Arms of Balance keep their distance. Usvani moves forward and readies to strike anybody that draws near. Both Ranya and Rivati enter the stance of the flowing winds, punching the air to send waves of energy crashing at Hotcha. Pravan moves up a bit more, still limited by the chains tying him to Usvani. The monk takes a deep breath and exhales a cone of icy winds that wash over all of you!
Success: The creature takes 23 cold damage and takes a –5- foot status penalty to its Speeds.
Failure: The creature takes 46 cold damage and takes a –15-foot status penalty to its Speeds.
Critical Failure: The creature takes 92 cold damage and is immobilized.
The Speed penalty or immobilized condition caused by this ability persist until a creature either Breaks Open the ice or Escapes (DC 37 in either case), or if the creature takes at least 30 fire damage.
Hotcha evades the ice attack easily and gives a derisive snort. ▶️ She presses forward. The chains don’t stop her from reaching her foe.
The divine shield fends off the worst the monk's breath has to offer, and Yog'Moi manages to dodge what gets past the shield with remarkable grace. He then grabs a flask, smashes it between the palms of his hands, and hastily incants a spell. The alcohol evaporates into a thick purplish mist and drift towards Hotcha's wounds, causing them to heal.
But unlike Yog'Moi's other healing spells, the alcoholic mist continues to cling to Hotcha.
plus bleed plus debilitations.
Esh evades the icy breath. He rages and moves to attack Rivati, but misses with a wild swing.
Xin moves in to stab Rivati. Then Hotcha trundles up and lashes out with her tusks, scoring a hit! Taking advantage of the opening, Xin stabs the vishkanya again, this time landing a critical hit! Hotcha yanks Yog’Moi closer, who grants her regeneration before raising a magic shield.
”Focus on the boar! We win if we take her down!” Pravan shouts. Usvani the tiger continues to hang back, moving a bit and yanking the chains to reposition his allies in between himself and Hotcha. The other three members of the Arms of Balance attack Hotcha with their fists!
*SNORT?!*
Hotcha hears the opponents’ plan (and feels it), but has a different idea. She communicates it by clobbering the weakest foe. The unconscious can’t pummel her while the tiger cowers.
Knowing that keeping Hotcha is the way to win this tug-of-war, Yog'Moi cracks open a rare and expensive miniature casket of Brevoyan vodka. The spell he then casts both heals and protects the boary.
Esh strikes Rivati twice, then Xin stabs the vishkanya and exhorts Esh to attack again. The elf lands another blow, and Rivati falls!
Yog’Moi heals Hotcha, who turns her focus to Ranya, delivering a powerful headbutt. The monk grunts but doesn’t give ground. Fortunately, that allows Xin to backstab Ranya, wounding and enfeebling her!
With one ally down, Usvani the tiger finally joins the fray, leaping at Hotcha. His teeth clamp around her throat as he lands a critical hit and grabs her!
This seems to be the rallying act the Arms of Balance need, as both Pravan and Ranya unleash a devastating flurry of punches to Hotcha the boar!
Hotcha immediately regrets her tactical error when the cowardly tiger pounces and the monks beat her down!
This OW body OW is OW too OW bi…
The world is dark and sideways and blurry.
Hotcha hits the ground, and Emmi calls the match! ”Ouch! There’s your answer, ladies and gentlemen—tiger beats boar! The Arms of Balance win!”
The crowd applauds and cheers as the healers rouse Hotcha. Hao Jin dismisses the polymorph spells, then offers both teams a reward of 2,000 gp for participating in the exhibition match. The Arms of Balance also receive four tusk and fang chains for their victory.
The monks all bow respectfully to you. ”A valiant effort, friends. Good fight,” Pravan says.
Hotcha hangs her head as she rises in pig form, but the cheers raise her spirits enough she can hold her head up.
Hotcha smiles at the opponents’ kind words and returns the bow. In the interest of making her humiliating defeat kinda fun, she gives her take on what happened:
“If you ever wondered why bacon and wieners come from pigs, not tigers, mystery solved.”
As much as she could use a drink, she’s not about to let a loss that’s totally her fault stop her from flying to Yan Fei.
She activates her wings and bows to the sweet empress and her lady-in-waiting. “Thank you for coming, Your Highness.” And to Lady Qiu, “Sorry for my less-than-stellar performance.”
Yan Fei inclines her head to Hotcha. "It is a pleasure, as always, to watch you fight, Lady Fairy. Even when you are transformed into a large pig."
Lady Qiu hides her smile behind her fan. "No need to apologize. I only hope that you return to your usual winning ways in the next tournament match."
***
After the exhibition match, you are able to spectate the day's two main matches, which feature the remaining four teams that did not compete on day one. The Arms of Balance go up against the Steps of the Sun, but the latter team wins handily, sending the Arms of Balance to the losers' bracket. Watching the fight, you see that the battle dancers Amihan and Maalya work together to keep their opponents off-guard, drumming their shields with their scimitars and making threatening dances before striking with burning blades. The catfolk Halspin the Stung bolsters the pair with bardic magic, while the samsaran Joon-Seo attacks at range with blasts of sound and occult magic.
In the second match, Tino's Toughest goes up against the Lightkeepers. Unfortunately, it is clear from the start that Tino's team is outmatched. The Lightkeepers mercilessly trounce the tournament's underdogs, securing their place in the winner's bracket.
The second day comes to a close, and you return to the Ruby Village to rest. Tomorrow you will be facing the Magaambyan team, the Speakers to the Winds. Later in the day, every team will be participating in a unique exhibition match--a race around Goka's harbor using drake-drawn flying chariots.
More than that.
As the next tourney match approaches, Hotcha requests a day out to Shelyn’s Comb. She never did set foot in the temple, and given her means of impressing Yan Fei, she realizes that changing her faith has left her feeling empty.
She walks up to the temple, taking in the sight. Ooh… cliffside view to the west! Pretty!
Hotcha's arrival at the temple quickly creates a minor hubbub, as she has quickly established herself as a celebrity here in Goka. Acolytes and parishioners alike point and murmur at the famous sprite, offering her bows of honor.
The high priest himself offers her a deep bow. "We are honored by your visit, Hotcha Twinkletoes. We have been following your progress in the tournament!"
Hotcha gives a deep curtsy in return. She wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome.
“Haha… thanks. But I didn’t mean to come as a kinda celebrity. I spent my childhood in a Shelynite convent.” She pats her silver cup. “I trained to fight under a Cayden monk, and so I became one. But I never lost my love for dance. Nor for Shelyn.”
"Shelyn's love is everlasting," the priest says with a nod. "She would be happy to hear that you still hold her dear to your heart."
Hotcha believes this is true, but…
“I owe Her.” She holds up a loose end of her hip scarf. “Any chance we can do something about this? I wear red because it’s a hot color. Hot for Hotcha, y’know? But next fight, I want to wear Shelyn’s colors… though I still kinda think pink belongs in the rainbow. But I’m a dancer, so what do I know?”
She certainly isn’t going to ditch her expensive outfit, and she doesn’t think red can be dyed easily. What she’s wondering is if there’s an Shelynite artist that can help her restyle her scarves. Can it be done magically?
“I wouldn’t come here asking a favor without doing something to earn it. If there’s someone who can help me restyle my outfit—or even if there isn’t—is there something I can do for this temple?” She smiles. “This is how I wanna train today. I’m Shelyn’s servant for the next…” She almost says 24 hours, but a fighter needs proper sleep! “…16 hours…” And she’s gotta eat! “…lunch and bathroom breaks included.”
The high priest smiles. "Of course. A magical restyling of your clothes would be an easy miracle to perform. And we would welcome your service to the temple in the meantime." He gestures to the cliff. "At the base of Shelyn's Comb grows a fibrous seaweed. Clams eat the seaweed, and our weavers process it to create valuable red iridescent silk used for engagements and weddings. If you are a strong swimmer, I would ask that you spend some time diving down there to collect the clams."
Hotcha giggles! “You know how Cayden nuns are! We drink like fish and swim like them too! Is someone going to join me, or come later? I can carry a clam—“ She flexes an arm that is considerably narrower than a baby’s finger. “—and I can leave them in a bucket or something if one of you big people would kindly carry it over. I love swimming and the color red! You don’t even need to say please—serving Shelyn is so fun!”
She almost bolts, but remembers to wait in case a big priest or priestess will come with.
The priest assigns one of the female acolytes to accompany Hotcha to base of the cliffs to help carry the clams back up.
***
Hotcha is relieved a woman is sent. She will swim as the Pearl Divers do! Of course, instead of a loin cloth or sash at the waist, Hotcha will wear her swimming ring! She removes her dance scarves and decides it best to keep her hands wrapped, in case she needs to punch a fish in the uvula.
”Thanks for accompanying me! I can hold my breath for like, twenty minutes, so don’t worry about me if I go deep!” She gives her skin a phosphorus glow. “This’ll help me find the clams easily, and you can see me. Feel free to tell me your name and why you follow Shelyn and stuff whenever I come up.” She dives in for the first clam!
The acolyte marvels at Hotcha as the glowing fairy swims through the water like a fish, bringing the clams up one by one. In between dives, she speaks to Hotcha. "My name is Bingyin. When I was young, my parents already encouraged me to pursue art and music. So, I was naturally drawn to the worship of The Lady of Chrysanthemums. Here in the temple, I am surrounded by fellow artists with whom I can collaborate and give praise to the goddess."
Hotcha smiles at Bingyin’s story. After getting the next clam she asks, “I’m a dancer. Soloist. I couldn’t really dance as part of the troupe because, y’know, how can I be noticed when I’m up to the next girl’s ankles?”
As she’s about to take a breath, she looks back. “You do art and music? I’m interested! What kind?—When I’m back up!” Hotcha dives, giving Bingyin ample time to think of what to share.
Hotcha sees several clams clustered together. She needs to make several quick drop-offs, so she guesses Bingyin’s talent each time she pops up for air!
”Do you sing?”
“Paint?”
“Play an instrument?”
Each time, she makes a charming smile, takes a deep breath, and goes back under. The next clam comes with a next guess:
”Fashionista!”
“Dancer? I can’t believe I guessed that fifth…”
“Art model!”
Hotcha side-sits in the sand and poses.
”Gahh—I made it weird! Back to work!”
She slaps some sand off her hip and dives back in. Next time up, she gives the poor acolyte a chance to get a word in.
Bingyin can't help but giggle at Hotcha's antics. "I paint and do calligraphy. I also play the samisen."
”Calligraphy. That woulda been my 42nd guess," Hotcha says. She dives in, but when she pops back up, she doesn’t joke: “I’d like to see your artwork at the temple. If you play the samisen, I can dance… or just listen. Your pick!”
As Hotcha swims, her glow is one of seven colors. (Indigo is among them and pink is not.) She changes the hue of her luminous skin with each new delivery.
"Your grace and poise have already become legendary here in Goka," Bignyin says. "I would be honored if you would dance to one of my songs!"
“I’d be honored too!” Hotcha does her best not to miss any clams. When she thinks she’s done this task, she says to Bingyin, “I’m not terribly observant. Let’s do a final check. I guess… you can make a splash if you see me bypass a clam obliviously?” For the final check, Hotcha makes her glow amber, thinking that might provide the best lighting for Bingyin.
"It looks like you've got them all! Well done!" Bingyin calls.
“Yay!” Hotcha dons her dancing scarves and is curious to know what Bingyin will do with the clams.
***
Hefting the bucket full of clams, Bingyin carries them back up to the temple and places them on a cart, to be wheeled off to the weavers.
Afterwards, the acolytes of Shelyn gather in the temple's courtyard. Bingyin sits down on a stage and begins to play a song on her samisen for Hotcha to dance to.
Hotcha thinks of her earlier conversation with Bingyin: How can I be noticed when I’m up to the next girl’s ankles?
Then is hits her! Hotcha moves slowly, gracefully, letting her loose scarves flutter like smoke, holding high kicks… first, at the edge of the stage.
Then she continues on dancing among those seated. She dances at their feet, leaps by when a leap fits, flits from lap to lap.
Later in the song, she glows the color of fire, flies about—disappears—launches a single sprite spark straight up.
The fire fades twenty feet above center stage, just as Bingyin starts the final measure of her song.
When she strums the final note, Hotcha appears between Bingyin’s feet—easily noticed by her phosphorus glow.
Though the acolytes exalt Hotcha with praise, she ends her dance humbled, Bingyin towering over her like a goddess of beauty.
Hotcha steps three paces forward, curtsies to the audience, then bows to Bingyin, truly admiring the acolyte’s performance.
She holds the bow for a few seconds then rushes up to Bingyin, hugging the narrowest part of her leg, just above the ankle!
Her fairy arms can’t even wrap around, but it’s the image she truly wants to represent her return to Shelyn.
Not a distant bow. A warm hug. (And now her glow becomes pink.)
Amid the applause, Bingyin kneels down and returns Hotcha's hug. (Carefully, so she doesn't squish the sprite!) Hotcha feels Shelyn's love washing over her.
The third day of the tournament has begun! You wake early, and after preparing for your match, you head to the Ruby Arena. The crowd is as amped up as ever, eager to see you clash against the Speakers to the Winds.
You take your place on the field of battle, and the team from the Magaambya lines up across from you. Professor Mafika Ayuwari raises his staff in salute to you. "May best team win!" he calls. Beside him, the halfling Akila Stormheel toys with her leopard mask before settling it over her face, polymorphing into a big cat. The gnolls Boundless Hummingbird and Phuthi Nuware double-check their spell component pouches, while gonme Surjit Hamelan readies his bow. Behind them all, the elf Umbasi clears their throat as they prepare to recite an inspiring tale.
Tagada Emmi flies overhead, whipping the crowd into a frenzy with her fiery speech. "Here we go, ladies and gentlemen! It's time for the first match of the winner's bracket! Who will bask in the glory of victory today? It's time to clash! Three Men and a Fairy versus the Speakers to the Wind! Ready? FIGHT!"
Xin and Yog'Moi set Mafika and Akila back a bit with their fierce battle cries!
Hm. Outnumbered. What to do…
They seem to focus heavily on range. Need to negate that advantage. I pull the hood of my cloak up and activate it’s magic, becoming invisible, then dart to the side. Even if some of them have magic that might pierce my cloaks illusion, surely not all of them do.
As Esh disappears from sight, the Magaambyans spring into action. Boundless Hummingbird casts haste upon the entire team, while Phuthi casts unfettered pack, allowing the team to ignore difficult terrain. Both gnolls raise a shield of force as well.
Umbasi casts zealous conviction on the team, then begins to inspire defense in their allies. Surjit moves forward and closes his eyes in concentration. He then opens them, shouts "There!", and fires at Esh! Luckily, his arrows miss their mark.
Following Surjit's pointing finger, Akila rushes forward and leaps on Esh. Her jaws find the invisible elf, biting into his thigh.
Mafika moves up a bit and casts a powerful spell. "Winds, punish them!" he cries, and a cyclone springs into existence, swirling around everybody but Esh!
Hotcha tries to yell something! She can’t even hear herself! She sees Xin point and yell! She tries to point and yell okay but her arms are busy keeping her dance scarves from whipping her face!
With acrobatic grace, she flops to the floor! With gymnastic awesomeness, she gets caught in a whirlwind and spins in place! With pixyish prowess, she cartwheel-tumble-skinsknee-desperatecrawl-dances out of the danger zone!
She somehow ends up behind Esh’s foe, and strikes!
Yog'Moi bursts out into laughter which is then torn apart by the vicious winds. He uncorks a jug and offers its content to the winds. Those who have seen him fight before know what is to come, but still, the crack in the air as lightning lashes out might still catch them by surprise and cause them to jump up from their seats.
I pry the leopard's fangs out of my thigh, the pain making my fire flare up. I hope my cloak will keep it from being obvious. I need to focus on the head mage. My assumption is (and given the power of the spell he just cast I hope I'm right) that he's the strongest of the group, being the teacher and all. If we can take him out first, the rest should be easier.
Xin rushes up to support Esh and Hotcha, menacing the enemy and giving Esh a chance to attack.
Debilitations Priorities: 1) Enfeebled 1; 2) -10 ft. movement; 3) increase bleed damage to 3d6.
Yog'Moi's lightning crackles through the Speakers of the Wind. Akila avoids some of it, but Phuthi takes the full blast. The gnome Surjit is caught off-guard and takes twice as much damage, but Mafika reacts by expending some of his spell energy to shield the gnome from some of the electricity. Mafika then nimbly evades the lightning, grounding the bolt and ending the chain.
Esh sneaks up on Mafika and attacks, slicing into the Magaambyan teacher. Xin moves through the winds and shouts for the elf to strike again, allowing the barbarian to land a critical hit! Mafika cries out in pain as the crowd cheers! Xin takes the opportunity to stab Mafika as well.
Hotcha struggles to get free of the swirling winds. She has just enough in her to get to the leopard, but is unable to attack yet.
Hummingbird and Phuthi heal Mafika!
Umbasi maintains their performance and casts true target on Esh, guiding their allies' aim.
Surjit fires on the elf, landing several powerful hits!
Akila pounces on Esh. She hits with her jaws but misses with her follow up claw strikes.
Mafika invokes the power of his Magaambya training! He first casts a polar ray, blasting Esh with ice. He then unleashes another spell, surrounding the elf with a swirling storm. He finishes up with a swing of his staff that narrowly misses! He bleeds where Xin stabbed him.