DM Brainiac's Fists of the Ruby Phoenix: Three Men and a Fairy (COMPLETE)! (Inactive)

Game Master Brainiac

“You mess with Esh, you mess with ME!!”

Hotcha ▶️▶️ soars to the weakened foe!

▶️Ki Flurry: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (20) + 33 = 531d20 + 28 ⇒ (18) + 28 = 46
Crit! S,cold,fire,force: 3d8 + 6 + 6d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 5) + 6 + (1, 5, 2, 5, 3, 6) = 36 x 2 = 72
DC38 Fort or Stun
DC34 Fort or Slow
P.Fire: 2d10 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8
S,cold,fire,force: 3d8 + 6 + 6d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2) + 6 + (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 5) = 30

Bolstered by my friends support, I attack the oni with renewed, though short lived, vigor.

Strike, Strike, Strike

Strike: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (19) + 31 = 50
Damage: 3d10 + 5 + 6 + 16 ⇒ (6, 1, 3) + 5 + 6 + 16 = 37 x2 = 74
Deadly: 3d8 ⇒ (1, 6, 3) = 10

Strike: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (10) + 26 = 36
Strike: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (6) + 21 = 27

1. Strike
2&3. To Battle! on Esh

+2 greater striking greater corrosive wounding rapier and IMS: 1d20 + 29 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 29 + 1 = 463d6 + 7 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 5) + 7 + (2, 2, 2, 2) + (1) = 26 plus 1d6 bleed plus TWO debilitations

Debilitations priorities: 1&2) Enfeebled 1 and -10 ft. movement. 3) increase bleed to 3d6

GM: When a creature within my melee reach is hit by a melee attack from one of my allies, I will use my reaction for Opportune Backstab. If I drop ORANGE, I will use my reaction to use "You're Next" on RED.

____________________________________________________

TO BATTLE! Esh gets a Reaction he can use to make an immediate MAP-less strike.

INSPIRING MARSHAL STANCE: Allies within 10 feet of Xin gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls and saves against mental effects.

Esh To Battle!: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (20) + 31 = 51
Damage: 3d10 + 27 ⇒ (4, 4, 6) + 27 = 413d8 ⇒ (1, 2, 7) = 10

Xin stabs the shadow yai and calls for Esh to strike! The elf does so, landing a critical hit! Xin is unable to land his opportune backstab, but Hotcha flies in to deliver the finishing blows, taking down the first oni!

Yog'Moi heals himself and Esh. The second oni slices the elf as he closes with them.

AoO vs Esh: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (7) + 32 = 393d8 + 14 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 2) + 14 + (2, 4) = 30

The elf delivers a critical hit in response!

Realizing they are outmatched, the oni turns to flee, rushing toward the shadows created by one of the nearby buildings. It leaps into the shadows and vanishes, teleporting away!

Hotcha raises her scrawny arms in triumph.

“We beat up a really big oni! I uh… just knocked her out. Force of habit. Should we tie her up or something? Seems kinda not us to lop her head off, even if she deserves it.

“Think she’ll talk? Not for us, necessarily, but for Hao Jin?”

Noting the music coming from the East, Hotcha cuts her words short. She’ll meditate in a chalice fulla booze if time permits.
Full HP, thanks to Yog’Moi, but I used 2 Ki.

"I don't know that I have any rope strong enough to contain it," I reply, massaging my temples in circles. All this sound is starting to get overwhelming.

"And honestly, we've got more important things to deal with anyway. If we succeed and it's smart, it'll leave, and if we don't, there are going to be bigger problems than one oni anyway. We should hurry," I say, hopping back in the drake-drawn chariot.

"It's an Oni, so there's only the one thing we should do." Yog'Moi readies sword and spell, and if no one complains, will drive it through the creature's heart before blasting an enormous amount of electricity through his blade.

He then hastily patches up Esh before hopping back into the chariot. "Oni are bad news, but when they serve something else, something greater, well, eh, that's worse than bad news."

Battle Medicine vs DC 30: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (8) + 31 = 39
Healing Esh: 2d8 + 30 ⇒ (4, 1) + 30 = 35
Heal lvl 5: 5d8 + 40 + 1d4 ⇒ (7, 6, 6, 7, 6) + 40 + (2) = 74
109 healing for Esh

Hotcha does not object. She does turn away though…

If Hotcha can meditate for 10-20 minutes, she regains 1-2 Ki.

Xin doesn't stop the execution, though he privately laments the chance to pressure the creature for information.

"Come. We've got to find the source of that music."

GM: Does it seem like we could take the time for a rest.

You can take a 10 minute rest but probably shouldn’t delay much longer.

You take a quick rest to recover as 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!

The player characters must begin a chase encounter to catch Razu. This scene uses the same chase subsystem from the Gamemastery Guide as the Drake Race.

DISAPPEARANCE INTO ECHOES

Razu dodges or teleports out of sight and uses the echoes around the tall buildings to confuse his pursuers.

Chase Points 4; Overcome DC 34 Theater Lore or DC 36 Architecture Lore or Performance to know how surrounding buildings produce echoes and deduce where they came from; DC 38 Perception to make sense of the echoes; DC 41 Arcana or Occultism to predict where Razu teleported from the manifestation of the magic

“Bah—here we were blaming the Lightkeepers for everything when these guys were right there by the rift, playing us like a sappy quartet!”

She glares at the escaping tengu. “You ain’t the only one with wings, tweety-bard.” What? “Let’s dance!”
Perform DC36: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (11) + 33 = 44
42, if I can’t apply virtuoso (dance).

Perception vs DC 38: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (10) + 26 = 36
I have no useful applicable skills for this :<

"Ahhhh! My ears can't keep track of all that's going on!!!"

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (17) + 25 = 42

"That way!" says Xin, scrambling after Razu.

Perception: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (20) + 26 = 46

Woo crit success!

Thanks to Hotcha's sharp ears and Xin's and Esh's sharp eyes, 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!

Razu Chase Points: 1d4 ⇒ 2

FLYING RUBBLE

Rubble flies through the air as Mogaru levels a series of towers, threatening to knock you to the ground.

Chase Points 2; Overcome DC 40 Acrobatics or Reflex to weave through the falling rubble, DC 42 Nature or Survival to steer the drake-drawn chariot around it, DC 45 Athletics to bound off the rubble

Athletics: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (14) + 32 = 46

F*+! s$!*

F!@* s!*+

F*$% s!%&

GODSDAMN F@+! S$**!!!

A litany of curses roll on repeat through my head as I dodge out of the way of a chunk of rubble on a collision course with my head, fall out of the chariot, desperately jump off of another larger piece of rubble, then off of the building the rubble came from, before landing back in the chariot.

DC40 Acro: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (18) + 32 = 50
Crit!!

Being tiny, winged, and having legendary acrobatic ability and reflexes makes it easy for Hotcha to dodge falling rocks!

Between Esh's athletics and Hotcha's acrobatics, you easily dodge the falling rubble and close the distance with Razu. The tengu shoots you a look and then gestures with a wing. A pair of dragon-like air elementals that have been accompanying the virtuoso and backing him up vocally on chosen lines of the song fall back to engage you in battle to buy Razu time!

Battle Cry: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (20) + 29 = 491d20 + 28 ⇒ (5) + 28 = 33

Xin's shout greatly demoralizes one of the elementals!

Yog'Moi may act! The creatures are 80 feet away.

Yog'Moi pushes the drakes forward and draws a deep breath to then unleash a scream so loud it might pop your ear drums. Luckily, its magical effect does not affect his allies.

Action 1) Move the drake chariot closer | Actions 2+3) cast Wail of the Banshee
Fort vs DC 37: 8d8 + 9 ⇒ (6, 6, 8, 2, 4, 4, 4, 5) + 9 = 48
Drainage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Fortitude: 1d20 + 24 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 24 - 2 = 341d20 + 24 ⇒ (19) + 24 = 43

Yog'Moi's wail wounds both elementals, draining the frightened one! In retaliation, the creatures blast the hobgoblin with sonic refrains, then unleash subsonic bursts intended to disorient you!

Solid Refrain: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (16) + 30 = 461d20 + 25 ⇒ (18) + 25 = 431d20 + 32 ⇒ (12) + 32 = 441d20 + 27 ⇒ (11) + 27 = 38
Damage: 3d8 + 14 ⇒ (3, 6, 1) + 14 = 243d8 + 14 ⇒ (5, 6, 1) + 14 = 263d8 + 14 ⇒ (6, 8, 4) + 14 = 323d8 + 14 ⇒ (2, 1, 8) + 14 = 25

131 sonic damage to Yog'Moi. Everybody must attempt a DC 34 Fortitude save against Subsonic Burst.

DC34 Fort: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (19) + 27 = 46

Hotcha soars. “Puff the Magic Dragon, get the heck outta here you nerd!”

She moves to argue frightened one’s back. “Xin! Heads or tails! That means flank with me at the back, in case I mixed up our plays!”

She awaits his flankiness and then strikes hard!
▶️Ki Flurry ▶️Atk: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (17) + 32 = 491d20 + 27 ⇒ (19) + 27 = 461d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37
S,cold,fire,force: 3d8 + 6 + 6d6 ⇒ (7, 3, 4) + 6 + (3, 1, 3, 3, 6, 4) = 40 x 2 = 80
DC38 Fort or Stun
DC34 Fort or Slow
P.Fire: 2d10 ⇒ (4, 9) = 13
S,cold,fire,force: 3d8 + 6 + 6d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6) + 6 + (4, 6, 6, 6, 4, 1) = 43 x 2 = 86
DC34 Fort or Slow
S,cold,fire,force: 3d8 + 6 + 3d6 ⇒ (7, 7, 3) + 6 + (5, 5, 4) = 37

216 damage with flank partner. Second hits, third misses without. Hotcha is delaying for a flank partner!

Fort vs DC 34: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (19) + 28 = 47
Actions 1+2) cast Regenerate on self (15 regen for a minute, can't die) | Action 3) cast 'Shield'

Yog'Moi knew it was a bad idea to enter a shouting contest with otherworldly creatures of air and song. He downs a disgusting brew and knows that no matter what, he'll be around for at least another minute.

Since Regenerate says 'you regain 15 hp at the start of your turn', I take it the caster can't get that first tick of healing until his next turn when casting regen on himself? Hrm.

Has we got a map?

No map for this one, the elementals are flying to either side of the chariot. You can reach either one with a single action Fly or steering the chariot toward them.

1. Inspiring Marshal Stance.
2. Fly.
3. Strike.

Xin flies to flank Hotcha's target, then strikes!

"It's 'Spring and...' You know what? 'Heads and Tails' will do fine."

Inspiring Marshal Stance (usually DC 36): 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (7) + 30 = 37

+2 greater striking greater corrosive wounding rapier and IMS (v. Flatfooted?): 1d20 + 29 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 29 + 1 = 453d6 + 7 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 3) + 7 + (2, 1, 3, 3) + (5) = 27 plus 1d6 bleed plus TWO debilitations

Debilitations priorities: 1&2) Enfeebled 1 and -10 ft. movement. 3) increase bleed to 3d6

GM: When a creature within my melee reach is hit by a melee attack from one of my allies, I will use my reaction for Opportune Backstab.

INSPIRING MARSHAL STANCE: Allies within 10 feet of Xin gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls and saves against mental effects.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (18) + 29 = 47

I yell back at the elementals, but their sound easily overwhelms my voice, I can't even hear myself. I grumble and slash out at them.

Demoralize: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (3) + 23 = 26

Strike 1: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (7) + 31 = 38

Strike 2: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (16) + 26 = 42
Damage: 3d10 + 5 + 6 + 16 ⇒ (4, 1, 3) + 5 + 6 + 16 = 35

Xin and Hotcha move to flank the drained elemental. With a flurry of strikes and backstabs, they swiftly destroy it! Yog invokes a spell of regeneration upon himself as Esh lashes out at the other elemental, landing a single hit. It responds by trying to batter the elf with gusts of wind, but it only lands one hit in return.

Wind Gust: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (7) + 32 = 391d20 + 28 ⇒ (2) + 28 = 301d20 + 24 ⇒ (6) + 24 = 30
Damage: 3d10 + 14 ⇒ (7, 4, 7) + 14 = 32

32 bludgeoning damage to Esh. Everybody may act.

Strike 1: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (15) + 31 = 46
Damage: 3d10 + 5 + 6 + 16 ⇒ (1, 5, 5) + 5 + 6 + 16 = 38

Strike 2: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (5) + 26 = 31

Strike 3: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29

"Ha! We got you now! Hei Feng will put you in a bottle and forget about you for all eternity!"

Actions 1+2) Strike | Action 3) Draw Greater Staff of Healing (can pump out some heals with next turn/after combat)
Strike: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (18) + 24 = 42
Damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10
Strike: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24
Damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 7) + 3 = 13
Heal 15 points

Hotcha ▶️flies to the other creature and kicks its tail feathers!
“Summer is here! Winter is coming!” Hotcha’s pretty sure Xin knows she means Spring and Summer, and that she definitely mucked it up on purpose. (This time.)

Flanking, but also sharing a space with the creature’s rear 5ft.sq. for -8 MAP on the 3rd Strike.

▶️Flurry,▶️3rd Strike: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (12) + 32 = 441d20 + 27 ⇒ (5) + 27 = 321d20 + 24 ⇒ (13) + 24 = 37
S.,cold,fire,force: 3d8 + 6 + 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 7) + 6 + (2, 3, 6) = 28

S.,cold,fire,force: 3d8 + 6 + 3d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 3) + 6 + (2, 4, 2) = 24

B.,cold,fire,force: 6d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 6, 4, 5, 4, 5) + 6 = 33

1. Fly.
2. Strike.
3. Strike

+2 greater striking greater corrosive wounding rapier and IMS (v. Flatfooted?): 1d20 + 29 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 29 + 1 = 383d6 + 10 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 1) + 10 + (4, 4, 6, 6) + (4) = 43 plus 1d6 bleed plus TWO debilitations

+2 greater striking dagger and IMS (v. Flatfooted?): 1d20 + 25 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 25 + 1 = 373d4 + 10 + 4d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 2) + 10 + (1, 6, 3, 3) + (6) = 35 plus 1d6 bleed plus TWO debilitations

Debilitations priorities: 1&2) Enfeebled 1 and -10 ft. movement. 3) increase bleed to 3d6

GM: When a creature within my melee reach is hit by a melee attack from one of my allies, I will use my reaction for Opportune Backstab.

INSPIRING MARSHAL STANCE: Allies within 10 feet of Xin gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls and saves against mental effects.

All four of you gang up on the second elemental and finish it off before it can attack again. Razu hasn't managed to get too far! After him! But watch out for Mogaru!

WHIPPING CABLES

Tension cables holding up a bridge snap so violently that they lash gouges in the solid stone buildings nearby!

Chase Points 2; Overcome DC 36 Engineering Lore, DC 38 Crafting, or DC 42 Perception to predict the whipping lines’ trajectory; DC 40 Acrobatics or Reflex save to dodge

Reflex: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (3) + 25 = 28

Unfortunate

DC40 Reflex (success crits): 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (17) + 32 = 49
Hotcha dodges easily!

“Razu! Stop in the name of the dance!”

Reflex vs 40: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (16) + 26 = 42

"Ahhh! Watch out, Esh!!!"

Reflex save (DC 40)(success crits): 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (11) + 31 = 42

Esh can take care of himself. Xin stays on Razu's trail.

While the whipping cables lash Esh, the rest of you nimbly dodge and 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. The shadow yai that escaped earlier is here as well, standing 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!"

Battle Cry: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (5) + 29 = 341d20 + 28 ⇒ (18) + 28 = 46

Your fierce battle cries put Razu slightly aback!

Everybody but Hotcha may act! Map updated!

"Mate, I escaped bloody slavery with a band of Tengus, survived on nothing but spoiled soggy oats and rotten onions, and ..."

Wait a second. If given the chance, Yog'Moi too would blow up the Kaoling warlord's palace and everything and everyone who supports him. No, perhaps now is not the time for reason! Now is the time to make this fool shut up!

"Let Hei Feng taste your anger, friends!" The words, combined with the sacrifice of a jug filled with a sweet-smelling brew, grant Yog and his companions unnatural speed.
Cast 'Haste' on everyone. Cast 'Shield' on self for +1 AC.

I sighed sadly. It hurts, to have to fight those who are disadvantaged. Some are evil not due to their nature, but due to their circumstances. While I couldn't say for sure, it did this poor tengu no favors to be hurt and discriminated against his whole life.

"The sun is crying," I say, pulling as much fire as I can to myself. But I cannot force help upon those who do not wish it.

Incendiary Aura, Rage, Stride

"So now you're going to kill all the other poor people who share in your struggle?" asks Wu Xin. "Oh boo-hoo! Tens of thousands of people in this city face far worse every day with a smile for their neighbors and overcome their problems with hard work. You're just another angry little man who likes to hurt people."

Xin pauses to let his allies move first - his strikes are much stronger if he's fighting with an ally.

The shadow yai plays a discordant note on their instrument, blasting you all with sound!

Sound Burst: 8d10 ⇒ (3, 1, 9, 8, 9, 10, 10, 4) = 54

Then Razu begins to sing. Fleeting notes of a strange and unnatural song fill the air, overtaking your minds!

Everybody must attempt a DC 37 Fortitude save against sound burst (54 sonic damage). Then everybody must attempt a DC 42 Will save against unfathomable song. Everybody may act!

Fortitude: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (20) + 29 = 49
Will: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (10) + 27 = 37
Unfathomable Song: 1d4 ⇒ 3 Stupefied 4 for 1 round

My body is fine, but the music seeps into my mind, and I feel numb and dumb, barely able to think. Fortunately my fire pushes me onwards, dancing back and forth with my blade.

Stride, Strike, Strike, Elf Step

Strike 1: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (11) + 31 = 42
Damage: 3d10 + 5 + 6 + 16 ⇒ (10, 4, 2) + 5 + 6 + 16 = 43
Incendiary Aura: 6d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 2, 1, 2) = 13 Persistent fire damage

Strike 2: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (14) + 26 = 40
Damage: 3d10 + 5 + 6 + 16 ⇒ (3, 6, 2) + 5 + 6 + 16 = 38
Incendiary Aura: 6d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 1, 3, 1) = 9 Ignored, since first is higher and they don't stack

Fort: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (17) + 27 = 44
Will: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (11) + 22 = 33
☀️Will: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42

Unfazed by the musical attack, Hotcha shouts, “Xin’s right! You were the big shot on stage, and here you are throwing a pity-party while you unleash murderous beasts upon the masses! Even if you were wronged, kaijus don’t stomp and death-breath the rich and powerful and corrupt. They - kill - everybody.”

She ▶️ darts at the tengu—zipping past to flank with Esh!

▶️Flurry, ⏩1mm Punch: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (12) + 32 = 441d20 + 27 ⇒ (15) + 27 = 421d20 + 22 ⇒ (18) + 22 = 40
S,cold,fire,force: 3d8 + 6 + 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 5) + 6 + (3, 6, 1) = 28
S,cold,fire,force: 3d8 + 6 + 3d6 ⇒ (7, 5, 3) + 6 + (3, 1, 3) = 28
DC38 fort or Stun
S,cold,fire,force: 5d8 + 6 + 3d6 ⇒ (8, 3, 8, 5, 1) + 6 + (2, 4, 1) = 38
DC38 fort or Shove toward drake’s mouth
S:5’, F:10’, CF:20’

Fort v. Sound Burst (DC 37): 1d10 + 27 ⇒ (8) + 27 = 35 Failure. 54 damage.
Will v. Unfathomable Song (DC 42) (successes are crits): 1d20 + 25 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 25 + 3 = 47

I'm not seeing Esh and Hotcha's icons have moved, so I don't know where they are. Can you guys move your icons before Xin takes his move?

Ah! No chariot, I see. Moved token. Also, @Brainiac, my 3rd strike is 32 damage; no Fort save for the shove. I needed two strides to reach the tengu, so my 3rd strike is a normal attack.

Mine is in the correct place, I strode up to the yai, hit it twice, then backed up.

In that case, I moved north of tengu to:
• flank with Xin
• knock him into the orchestra pic with a 1mm punch

Fort vs 37: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (15) + 27 = 42
Will vs 42 with elfbane for +1: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (15) + 30 = 45
27 damage and no effect from unfathomable, because a will success becomes a crit success.

Yog'Moi offers Xin some hobgoblin 'battle' medicine, but the bottle he offered Xin was empty. Oops! He then strides forwards and attempts to fill the minds of their foes with fear.

Action 1) Battle Medicine on Xin | Bonus Action) Stride | Actions 2+3) cast Fear (lvl3 - Will vs DC 37) on the Oni and Razu
Medicine vs 30: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (1) + 31 = 32
That's a fail. Link to the fear spell: https://2e.aonprd.com/Spells.aspx?ID=110