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When Father Cornelius sees another party member goes down, he says to Gnimish, "Not today, my child. It's not your time." He directs Sarenrae's healing power toward the gnome.
He then turns his attention back to the Couch. Knowing something is amiss with the blood, he attempts to disbelieve the elaborate illusion.
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Gnimish groans as he regains consciousness. He shakes his head (or tries to) to clear the cobwebs but realizes that his head is stuck to the couch. Muttering some words, he calls upon the knowledge of his ancestors and imbues himself with athleticism for a short time.
Gnimish then attempts to break free of the accursed couch.
But realizes he's stuck fast. Grimacing, with nothing to lose, Gnimish tries again.
"Well, this is a bit awkward..."
Cornelius brings Gnimish back to consciousness. Gnimish finds himself in a pickle that he can't escape.
The couch's center portion bends and twists into a circle through which Feno's lightning bolt passes and then untwists . Peter telekinetically flings a rock onto the side of the couch. It didn't seem to bother the couch.
Encounter! Round 3/4. Bold may act.
Chair (-44 hp)
Peter
Feno (guidance 1 rnd, magic weapon; disarmed - weapon stuck on chair that walked away (Athletics DC 23))
Cornelius
--4--
Squish
Gnimish (12/17 hp; grabbed)
Bugtussle (18/20 hp; prone; soothe)
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"Why are you even here?" Bugtussle asks, still stuck head-first to the talking piece of furniture. "Did Solvatar not know he's got a people-eating couch infestation??"
He tries once more to pull himself free...
...but he's still not having any luck. Stuck as he is, he continues flailing and trying to punch the thing...
______________
"Infestation? I should be insulted," the couch grumbles as Bugtussle comes over and punches the couch in the side. "Ow!" This does, however, leave the leshy stuck once more. "I'll get back to you."
The couch produces three tentacles that swiftly braid themselves and then hammer into Squish. It takes two blows to knockout the sturdy fleshwarp. "Like I said..." It then hammers toward Bugtussle, but even stuck to the couch, he manages to evade the strike.
Encounter! Round 4/5. Bold may act.
Chair (-55 hp)
Peter
Feno (guidance 1 rnd, magic weapon; disarmed - weapon stuck on chair that walked away (Athletics DC 23))
Cornelius
--4--
Gnimish (12/17 hp; grabbed)
Bugtussle (18/20 hp; soothe; grabbed)
Squish (0/19 hp; unconscious, prone)
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Studying the blood more carefully, Father Cornelius' eyes widen and he shouts, "The pool of blood. It's an illusion. Yes, my children, the Couch is real enough, but if I'm not mistaken, this is like our non-lethal trial in the arena." He pauses and adds, "Bugtussle, Gnimish, and now Squish ... all critically hit, but not a drop of blood. They were merely unconscious, in no real danger of dying at all."
With his scimitar drawn, Father Cornelius steps towards the Couch. "Now, let's show the masters what we can do!" He slashes into the Couch.
hero point
The warpriest then backs away carefully.
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Feno growls at the couch. "You're a horrible thing, you know that. Eating people, attacking us for no reason. Good, decent people. Stop what you're doing now!"
◆ Intimidate
◆ Interact: draw light mace
◆ Strike
Feno strikes out at the couch and another weapon gets stuck to it!
You free an ally from restraint. If the trigger was an ally taking damage, the ally gains resistance to all damage against the triggering damage equal to 2 + your level. The ally can attempt to break free of effects grabbing, restraining, immobilizing, or paralyzing them. They either attempt a new save against one such effect that allows a save, or attempt to Escape from one effect as a free action. If they can move, the ally can Step as a free action, even if they didn’t need to escape.
Cornelious cuts a line across the side of the couch--much like cutting a line in clay--and manages to yank his blade off of the sticky creature. Gnimish continues to struggle. Peter brings Squish back to consciousness. He then tries to plant an arrow in the couch, but it proves tougher than velvet. Feno draws his mace and slams it into the couch. Unfortunately, he loses his mace to the gluey skin.
The couch is look rather battered now.
Encounter! Round 4/5. Bold may act.
Chair (-67 hp)
Peter
Feno (guidance 1 rnd, magic weapon; disarmed - weapon stuck on chair that walked away (Athletics DC 23))
Cornelius
--4--
Gnimish (12/17 hp; grabbed)
Bugtussle (18/20 hp; soothe; grabbed)
Squish (9/19 hp; soothe; prone)
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"Wait...so are we SUPPOSED to fight the couch or what? Bugtussle is confused," the leshy grumbles in response to Father Cornelius' observations. Having realized that pulling himself free is a tall order, he decides to rely on his own natural weapons - his spines.
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When Bugtussle grumbles his confusion, Father Cornelius nods and calmly explains, "I believe it's part of our initiation. So yes, we should defeat it. Hopefully, we have enough healing to finish the battle." He pauses and continues, "I was just suggesting that, like the arena, it's more a test than a fight to the death." He considers and adds, "Or I could be mistaken. I'm old, you see. And I've been wrong plenty." He shrugs and prepares another attack.
The couch has a surprisingly fortified mind. Bugtussles spines scatter around the room, but none of them manage to harm the carnivorous furniture.
The couch releases Gnimish and waddles toward Cornelius and stretches its fanged cushions toward him where it appears to say something while several tentacles appear from either side of the couch. The two pseudopods crash together with the cleric between them. However, the mimic is flooded with intrusive thoughts that make it reconsider its past and the strikes slow slightly . Not that Cornelius does not have his bell rung pretty hard anyhow, and he is stuck to the pseudopods.
Encounter! Round 5/6. Bold may act.
Chair (-67 hp)
Peter
Feno (magic weapon; disarmed - weapon stuck on chair that walked away (Athletics DC 23))
Cornelius (1/18 hp; grabbed (free Reflex DC 23 save))
--6--
Gnimish (12/17 hp)
Bugtussle (18/20 hp; soothe)
Squish (9/19 hp; soothe; prone)
Peter telekinetically flings a bowl across the room into the couch where it makes a dent and sticks. Bugtussle flings his spines into the couch, which suddenly releases everything adhered to it and gasps dramatically before falling down in a half-melted pile of couch and clay.
"Help! I need help!" cries a masculine voice out in the courtyard.
However quickly you head back to the courtyard, given Cornelius' theory, you find Solvatar Caryg standing there. He begins clapping.
“Well done, fellow Pathfinders! You’ve defeated the threats assaulting my manor. At least, that’s how it appears. In case you haven’t gathered by now, this attack was staged. This manor is ritually warded in a manner akin to the arena that Farabellus had you fighting in earlier, so there was no risk that you or any of the mercenaries you fought today would come to lasting harm. I say this to set your mind at ease, but not to diminish the value of what you have accomplished here. Had this attack been real, you would have saved the lives of many of my staff, and for that, I am grateful. You acted swiftly when a seemingly safe situation turned awry.”
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Assuming the Couch releases him when Solvator calls out, the nearly-dead warpriest stumbles out to join the others. While Caryg explains the situation, Father Cornelius is as surprised as anyone that he guessed correctly. He muses aloud, "Even a blind squirrel occasionally finds a nut." Like Bugtussle, he is curious about the maid seemingly being eaten.
When he sees Gnimish heal himself, Cornelius realizes the shape he's in from the fake fight. Unless Caryg offers healing, Cornelius casts a heal spell on himself.
"I for one would love to see what you’re capable of firsthand," Solvatar says to Feno with a smile. "However, it doesn't seem like it would be sporting."
The couch squeezes its way through the doorway and waddles into the courtyard. "Fake!?" the couch scoffs. "Now I am insulted. Clearly, I did not hit you hard enough in the head." It waddles away to the carriage house.
"The maid was merely a programmed illusion," Solvatar explains. "No people were harmed in the making of this challenge. Besides your bruises, but that's what you sign up for when you join the Society. At least, you hope for nothing worse than bruises. However, I have no doubt that this new generation of Pathfinders will accomplish great things!"
He claps his hands, and several servants emerge, doling out potions of healing to tend to the wounded. Solvatar himself applies his own magics to heal three of you.
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Feno visibly releases the tension in his shoulders. "Was... that a mimic? Working for the Society?". He watches the couch slowly saunter back to the carriage house. "Now I've seen everything!"
"Thank you Solvatar. This experience has been eye opening for me. I look forward to working more with the Pathfinders in the future. Wonder where my first mission will be."
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Father Cornelius thanks Gnimish for his offer of a potion, but hands it back to the gnome. "Thank you, my child, but it looks like our gracious host is on it." Cornelius quaffs one of Solvatar's potions.
When Solvatar explains about the mimic and the illusion, Cornelius takes out his writing pad and jots down a few notes, including a sketch of the Couch. He just stares when the Couch waddles outside claiming to be insulted.
Looking to the group, he says, "It's been a pleasure working with you lads. Thanks for letting an old man tag along." He turns to Peter and says, "I have no doubt we'll hear about your great deeds. Perhaps in your own words. Perhaps from others." He smiles and starts making his way back to the Grand Lodge.
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"Oh...huh. In that case, Bugtussle thanks you for the challenge - and apologizes for calling you a fake!" the leshy calls after the couch as it wanders off towards the carriage house. "Maybe we can have a rematch, once Bugtussle is a little stronger!"
"Wow, the Society has all sorts of peoples and critters working for it, doesn't it? Bugtussle is even more excited to be a part of it now," he remarks as he turns his attention back to the group. "Bugtussle has really enjoyed working with everyone, too. Hopefully we will join forces again in the future!"
Gnimish has a short while to interview the mimic while everyone's wounds are being tended.
When you gather and prepare to leave, the three deans--Kreighton Shaine, Sorrina Westyr, and Marcos Farabellus--come through the gate applauding.
"Well fought!" Marcos bellows.
"Sharp eyes, Cornelius," Sorrina says.
"We are pleased to inform you," Kreighton says, "that you have completed your training mission and passed all of your exams yesterday. Your cooperation and valor in the battle this morning only reinforces our decision."
"Please, do not tell any of the other agents who have not passed these training sessions about this," Solvatar asks sincerely.
You climb into carriages and ride back to the Grand Lodge, escorted by the deans. Once you arrive back at the Grand Lodge, Ambrus Valsin greets you. "Congratulations! You are now fully initiated. Go and relax the rest of the day. Tomorrow, I will have missions--real missions--for you."