The sorcerer Hao Jin has returned to Tian Xia to host her decennial international fighting tournament, and contestants from all over the world have arrived to try their chance at winning a prize from her vault of incredible treasures. Before they can compete in the tournament, however, fighters must first complete a series of qualifying challenges on the uninhabited tropical island of Bonmu, where wild dinosaurs roam amid the ancient ruins of a lost civilization. Can the heroes defend their island stronghold, outlast their many ruthless rivals, and survive the perils of so-called Danger Island? Let the competitors decide!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Amid the fantastic rumors surrounding Hao Jin, her Ruby Phoenix Tournament, as well as the mysterious location of the Qualifying Round, one way or another, the party is able to learn the following Rules of Engagement.
◆) The Command of the Emissary is to be obeyed at all times, and his word is final.
◆◆) The Emissary's Command extends through his Enforcers, who may, at any time, declare unique Challenges.
◆◆◆) To Qualify for the Ruby Phoenix Tournament, a Team must collect a total of 10 Silver Feathers during the Qualifying Round.
◆◆◆◆) All Teams, at all times, must bear their full collection of Silver Feathers, that the Emissary, his Enforcers, and Rival Teams may observe them plainly.
◆◆◆◆◆) During the Qualifying Round, no team may leave exit Island of Bonmu. At the end of three days time, all Teams are to report to Mount Haminabu to present their Silver Feathers.
1) Which Major City (Goka? Kasai? Absalom?) are you traveling by Ship from?
2) How long does your Journey by Sea take? How are you occupying yourself during this Journey by Sea?
3) On the day you arrive, based on what you have learned about the Rules of Engagement, what Daily Preparations are you making?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Oh! Oh! Dolphins!" The strix leans starboard off the ship and points. "This group is tired after a long day of swimming. Maybe because of a predator, or the seas were too toxic for them." She traces them along the shore. Some express interest, some don't, but doesn't matter to Cirri. She's having too much fun recording the local sea life.
The only thing Cirri likes more than recording old civilizations is scanning the sea for flora and fauna. Anyone who wants a story gets to hear of the various ruins she explored, the history of the civilizations she found, and all of the time-proof traps she had to get around.
And she loves talking. She almost forgot about the salty, dirty smells of Absalom's port. Feels like it was months ago. Cirri does flip through her journal to count off the 3 months of travel.
She waves goodbye to the crew as she disembarks for the last time. Folding her golden wings behind her back she looks around Bonmu. "Hmm. No leaving the island?" She scans the horizon and the ocean. "Well, there's plenty of animals to observe here."
Cirri takes an opportunity to >Survey Wildlife< at port, hoping the noise from the city doesn't distract her.
Once all of that works out, she listens to the sea and prepares her magical spells for the day.
She then applies a Wand of >Longstrider< to help her traveling speed.
"Okay, time to pay the entry fee and- wait, registration started yesterday?" Cirri realizes she overslept. Again!
"They always seem to be having fun" a prominent chest tattoo on a prominent bust signifies the allegiance of this Tian-Shu man, three-quarters of it showing through a tunic with an open "vee", simultaneously demonstrating his excellent physique. His tone is... wistful?
Still looking at the dolphins, he turns his body towards Cirri "They run in pods you know?" pausing here to consider the strix with a pensive expression, as if looking around for her "pod"...
"Yeah, they always do." Cirri watches the dolphins swimming in sync. "The leader shows down to make sure the young and the old can keep up. Gotta stick together." Her wings twitch.
"But Parent told me at some point, you have to leave the roost. Er, pod, in this case. Gotta find your own way. Your own identity. If they didn't leave their nest, they never would have met Dad. So, it's time to meet my..." Cirri blushes. "I mean, it's time to meet my destiny. These Hao Jin treasures are too rare to pass up, even if I don't want to fight."
Tino suppresses a blush, if it were within his capacity, beginning and abruptly stopping with "I have taken an Oath..." in response.
Changing the subject "You see that warrior over there?" with an upward nod, indicating a one-eyed stern-looking tengu with opal plumage and an impressive bladed fan of sorts hanging in a correspondingly-elaborate scabbard "TakaTorra, Swordmaster. We have been friends since as far back as I can remember. We've met a lot of people on our adventures, but there is always more to learn" he touches his hand to his chest tattoo momentarily, then withdraws it "We see our invitation to the Ruby Phoenix Tournament as an opportunity to test our strength against worthy opponents. As such, I imagine our paths will cross under different circumstances once we reach Bonmu. I look forward to our fight!" he smiles here, a genuine smile, which doesn't seem to communicate ego or arrogance, rather it's opposite; the smile is strangely comradely given the context of it's words.
Then, with almost mischievous curiosity "What do you know of Hao Jin's vault?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Slick was visiting his parents in Goka when he received the news that he and his team had been invited to this year's Ruby Phoenix Tournament. He had been expecting the invitation, but still felt a wave of elation crest over him as he clutched the notice in his hand. He told his parents and they were happy for him; they knew how painful his humiliating elimination from the last tournament had been and how hard he'd trained since to prepare for the next one. His elven mother was nevertheless concerned for her son. "You will be careful, won't you Soseki. Whatever happens, I want you to come back to us in one piece... preferably still breathing." Slick smiled at his mother's humor. His parents were pretty much the only ones who still called him by his real name; the name they had given him. The rest of the world knew him as Slick or Silvertongue.
The next morning he dons his armor and gathers his equipment. He knows that from here on out, he will be wearing his suit of platemail during his every waking moment. Good thing it had been custom made to his fit his frame by the expert Taldan armorers of New Oppara and was so comfortable that half the time he almost didn't notice he was wearing it. Bidding his parents goodbye, he makes his way down to the Goka docks, the place where he had spent most of his youth listening in rapt attention to stories of adventure from the foreigners that passed through. He smiles at the happy memories.
Finding his ship, he boards and greets the captain and crew in his usual affable manner. He'd sailed with this crew before and they knew him well. It would be a long journey along the southern coast of Tian Xia to reach Minata and its remote southeastern island of Bonmu. It was the same journey that he'd taken there and back ten years ago and he knew it well. The ship would keep the shore in sight the whole way to avoid the worst of the many dangers to be found in the Valashmai Sea. On an average day, Slick could be found standing at the bow of the ship, his uncovered head poking out of his brightly polished suit of armor. The crew had learned not to look at him too closely in case a fleeting reflection of the sun blinded them.
He was a handsome man. His short cropped black hair in the latest Goka style matched the piercing dark eyes that seemed to bore into you. His facial features tended to the pretty rather than the rugged, which when combined with his impressive height and slightly pointed ears, declared his half-elven ancestry. His massive well-muscled body though was all human and a reflection of the many years of continuous training he had subjected himself to. His formidable height and build was both imposing and intimidating, and when he was wearing his armor and wielding his huge greatsword, bordered on the terrifying. He knew full well the effect that his appearance had on others and he often made use of this to get what he wanted from both the men he challenged, as well as the women he wooed.
Fortunately, the trip was relatively uneventful with only the odd storm and easily repelled sea-creature attacks to break the monotony. Slick helped the crew when his great strength could be put to good use, but otherwise played the marine, keeping the crew in line and the ship safe from attack. The long voyage took the best part of two months and he was overjoyed to wake up one morning and finally see Bonmu appear on the horizon. On this final morning aboard, he goes through his normal morning routine as the crew prepares to dock. Soon, he would put to the test the last ten years of training and preparation. This time he vowed not to be so easily defeated.
Don his full plate armor.
Invest the following items:
(1) Bracelets of Dashing
(2) Lifting Belt
(3) Demon Mask
(4) Handwraps of Mighty Blows
Combat Flexibility: Pick one fighter feat of 8th level or lower (default: Knockdown)
Cast Longstrider (L2) on self from Magic Wand
a hissing sound from behind the half-elven hero "Or shall I call you Sslick?" a forked tongue flicking with self-satisfied sibilate laughter "NewSs of your exploitSs travelSs far" the creature bows before him and introduces itself "I am called Yabin the JuSst" a nagaji with metallic-brassy scales and ophidian eyes, shouldering a carved and runed wooden bo staff across his back "What makeSs you think thiSs year will be any different than ten yearSs ago?" his words and intonation seemingly designed to attempt to get under the skin, as if to deliberately rouse a reaction!
...
(□) Aoibhean
(□) Billy
(□) Cirri
(☑) Slick
(□) Yagon Suel
Tino suppresses a blush, if it were within his capacity, beginning and abruptly stopping with "I have taken an Oath..." in response.
Awkward pause for the two of them. Humans always found something to say about her wings and it they want to see her fly like it's so easy. Cirri breaks her concentration so she can listen to Tino. "Oh right, yes. You and your friend, we'll fight then. I mean, I wish we could all win, but then it wouldn't be much of a contest, you know?"
Then, with almost mischievous curiosity "What do you know of Hao Jin's vault?"
Cirri ponders a bit more. "Right. Well, I met one curious Ysoki. He said his grandparents once lived in an underground dimension Hao Jin had sealed them in. It was a way to protect them from... he wasn't sure, some kind of disaster. I'm guessing a huge cave in." Cirri forms her hands into a ball and tries to guess the size of the cavern.
"Anyway, that got me thinking about Hao Jin, her many journeys to multiple dimensions, and all the wisdom she must have picked up along the way. She must have visited so many diverse locations. So many diverse civilizations! We could learn so much from just one of those lands."
"So I assume she has a bunch of gifts from those lands, all extremely rare, that's she's offering as prizes. If I win I can take a gander at them, do some research, and teach about another civilization." She shrugs. "Also, the money will easily be worth the pay. The Blakros Museum pays for this stuff in platinum. It should fund my journeys for decades."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Strumming his lute on the upper deck of the Second Wind, a well-dressed golden-skinned halfling wearing a cyan fedora was enjoying the ocean voyage south from Goku. Hailing from Tianjing on the east coast of Tian Xia, Billy Bardy was overjoyed to be seeing the world, so that more could enjoy his varied talents.
"♫ From Tianjing, my family farm.
To a voyage across the sea.
Bonmu waits with all her charm.
And nearly enchanting as me. ♫"
Billy wasn't always as confident.
Long ago, an Aphorite emissary from the plane of Axis settled in Tianjang, where a small group of halflings lived among the aasimars. Not only does his gold metallic skin indicate his aphorite heritage, but his family has told him stories of Axis as long as he can remember.
Being somewhat of an outcast, a blond 4' tall golden-skinned halfling living among aasimars, he could either let himself be ridiculed or embrace it. At an early age, he did everything he could to be the center of attention. If they were gonna stare, let them stare on his terms. That was the plan. Fortunately, strategizing such a plan was in his blood. Everything about him, right down to his appearance, is always perfect and orderly.
He was told bedtime stories of the fabulous Hao Jin, creator of an amazing tapestry, who spent years on the wonderful plane of Axis. Now that she has returned, he simply had to find her and impress her with his considerable talent.
During the 2-month voyage, Billy would often play music to inspire the crew. Many days, he could be found on the bow chatting with Slick, who invited him to be part of a tournament team. This was his big chance to meet Hao Jin. No doubt she would be as impressed with his considerable ability as he was!
o Short prayer to Abadar
o Feed his goldfish familiar (named "Axis") and tuck him safely away
o Focus Points reset
o Don his chain shirt over his fine clothing and adjust a cyan fedora partially covering his golden locks
o Invest in the following:
1) Bracers of Dashing
2) Choker of Elocution
3) Diplomat's Badge
4) Goggles of Night
5) Hat (Fedora) of the Magi
6) Healer's Gloves (greater)
7) Lifting Belt
8) Pendant of the Occult
9) +2 Resilient Chain Shirt
o Cast Prestidigitation, muttering "dress for success", to clean his clothing making sure he's presentable
o Cast Lucky Number, chanting "luck struck", recalling his halfling mother's words: "One can never have enough luck, dear."
There are always lots of people staring at the handsome halfling - especially when he is playing his music - but something isn't right. Just outside of his perception, or rather, perhaps just inside of it, he gets the sensation of being... watched.
You are welcome to make an open Perception check to actively seek out the source of Billy's... discomfort?
...
(□) Aoibhean
(☑) Billy
(□) Cirri
(☑) Slick
(□) Yagon Suel
Anyone on the Second Wind
When he's playing, Billy feels like he's being watched. Which, to be fair, he very much likes.
Still, something seems odd...
Slick stops when he hears his sobriquet spoken so sibilantly behind him. He sighs. He'd scarcely stepped off the gangplank and already the trash talking had started. The speaker's words have little effect on him. Ten years ago those same words would have sent him into a fury that would have robbed him of the control needed to fight effectively. But those days were long gone. If anyone was going to be goading others into rash acts with clever words, it would be him.
He turns to face his interlocutor and sees that it is a nagaji spellcaster with metallic scales. With a look on his face suggesting that he is not impressed by what he sees, Slick replies, "Yabin the JuSSsst is it?" He emphasizes the creature's lisp mockingly. "I don't make a habit of remembering the names of those I crush in battle, Yabin. There's only so much room in one's noggin for such useless information." He taps the side of his head for emphasis. He then takes a menacing step towards Yabin and gives him a look that would freeze a volcano in mid eruption. "I don't know if this year will turn out any differently than the last, but I do know that it won't be a wannabe dragon and his pointed stick that'll be sending me home. Now run along; I'm too tired to deal with the likes of you today; I'll take care of you later; that's a promise."
Put on his full plate armor.
Invest the following items:
(1) Bracelets of Dashing
(2) Lifting Belt
(3) Demon Mask
(4) +1 Striking Handwraps of Mighty Blows
(5) +2 Striking Ghost Touch Greatsword
(6) +1 Striking Crushing Meteor Hammer
(7) +2 Resilient Full Plate
Combat Flexibility: Pick one fighter feat of 8th level or lower (default: Knockdown)
Cast Longstrider (L2) on self from Magic Wand
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
It was a long journey. Having spent most of the last decade recuperating and training in Corentyn, Yagon Suel made the trek across the Acadian Ocean to Kasai. Weeks have gone by since the journey by sea began. The real journey began 10 years ago when his previous attempt in the tournament ended in death. He stood on the deck watching the ocean, especially at night when he could observe the stars. He never dared venture outside his cabin without donning his armor. Though dangerously heavy, he had to always be on guard. There were plenty of reasons people might fear him and fear could make someone reckless. If you could see his head beneath the great helm he wears his bald pate and face bear many scars. His skin is pale, partially drained of life to become a vessel of unlife. (Image)
Invest Items
Armbands of Athleticism
Prepare Spells
Cantrips: Ray of Frost, Divine Lance, Light, Shield, Stabilize
1st: True Strike x3
2nd: Death Knell, Faerie Fire, Restoration
3rd: Agonizing Despair, Fear, Impending Doom
4th: Resist Energy, Sanguine Mist, Warrior's Regret
5th: Crushing Despair, Inevitable Disaster, See Invisibility
6th: Blade Barrier, Vampiric Exsanguination
Divine Font (6th): Harm x5
"Relax, Master Silvertongue" the human interposes himself between Yabin the Just and Slick "And save the theatrics for when it counts!" the nagaji relaxes noticeably as his companion "saves" him from the imposing visage of the tall half-elf "My name is Tino, and these are my Toughest" he looks around here, searching the dock for a fourth person, currently unable to be seen, then, on a hunch, calls out "Come on out, Ji-Yook!"
As the group comes together - Cirri, Slick, Billy, Yagon Suel, as well as Tino, Takatorra, and Yabin the Just - Tino tries to make peace "You'll forgive our attempt to scout you out, having the luck of being on the same ship together - you seem a formidable team, the four of you - Let us reset, shall we?" he, too, is a very persuasive man "Surely you have questions about the upcoming tournament - a lot has changed since the last one! - and my team and I have been studying it fervently" it seems suddenly that Tino recognizes the dhampir in the back "Wait - you - Yagon Suel! I thought you had perished!" a collective gasp aerates from (minus one)...
You see... a fox lurking above hiding among the various ropes of the foremast!
(□) Aoibhean w/ ?? @ ??
(☑) Billy w/ Performance @ 36, Success
(☑) Cirri w/ Performance @ 30, Success
(☑) Slick w/ Intimidation @ 38, Critical Success
(□) Yagon Suel w/ ?? @ ??
...
(□) Aoibhean
(☑) Billy
(☑) Cirri
(☑) Slick
(□) Yagon Suel
(□) Aoibhean
(☑) Billy
(□) Cirri
(☑) Slick
(☑) Yagon Suel
"Whoa, whoa, who's fighting whom?" Cirri notices Slick starting another fight. "Tino's Toughest? That's a cool name! We're... still working on ours." The team gives her a look (except for Yagon... he never looks at her. Or she never looks at Yagon. He's... ugh)
Cantrips, at Will
- Healing Plaster
- Know Direction
- Light
- Spout
- Stabilize
Spell List 1, 3 per day
- Air Bubble
- Feather Fall
- Hydraulic Push
Spell List 2, 3 per day
- Animal Form
- Animal Form
- Barkskin
Spell List 3, 3 per day
- Crashing Wave
- Haste
- Wall of Water
Spell List 4, 3 per day
- Fey Form
- Freedom of Movement
- Soothing Spring (Cast time: 1 minute)
Spell List 5, 3 per day
- Animal Form (H+3)
- Vital Beacon (H+1)
- Wall of Ice
Spell List 6, 2 per day
- Stoneskin (H+2)
- Dragon Form
Used Wand of Longstrider
Puts 6 points into her Staff of Healing
Invested in:
- +2 Handwraps of Mighty Blows, Striking
- +1 Resilient Invisibility Leather Armor
Sensing something odd, Billy spies what looks like a fox, lurking high in the mast of the Second Wind. Billy turns to Tino and indicates the fox, "One of your company, Sir?" Billy addresses the creature directly, "You there. Foxy. No need to be shy in the presence of talent. Come on down, and I'll gladly provide you with an autograph." The bard smiles, happy to already have a new fan here in Bonmu.
As the fox is climbing down, Billy studies Tino's team gathering around. "Okay, fine. The rest of you too. But please form a single orderly line." Billy digs through his belongings for 8x10 headshots to hand out.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Staff: Staff of Evocation (Greater), 6 charges
Spells Prepared
Cantrips (level 6): Electric Arc, Gouging Claw, Produce Flame, Tanglefoot, Shield
1st: True Strike, True Strike
3rd: Haste, Slow
5th: Scorching Ray, Shocking Grasp
6th: Disintegrate, Vampiric Exsanguination
Invested Items
1. armbands of athleticism
2. bracelets of dashing
3. healer's gloves
4. ring of wizardry (type i)
5. +1 striking handwraps of mighty blows
6. +1 resilient breastplate
I'll also use my wand of 2nd-level longstrider for a total speed of 40.
"Can you wait for me to get off the damn boat first?" Aoibhean calls out, last to disembark. Despite the harsh words, the woman is all smiles as she comes to a halt, her staff punctuating her arrival with a solid thunk on the dock's wooden planks. She brushes a lock of flame-red hair behind her ears to get a better look at the assembled warriors.
"'Tino's Toughest,' huh?" she muses, reaching to her hip for a small notebook. She opens it, stops, then pats herself down for a second before producing a pencil from another pocket and scribbling furiously with it. "Not particularly evocative, but I am a sucker for alliteration, and the rhythm is right. What were your names, again?"
A casual observer, focused on her hands, might have missed the moment where she released her staff and yet it stayed upright. Someone with keener eyes might notice that it had failed to fall, but one would have to be keen-eyed and bold to the point of rudeness to look for the feathered tail that crept out from underneath Aoibhean's long skirt to wrap itself around the staff, stabilizing it.
A person who caught sight of this most unusual feature might suddenly notice other aspects of her appearance that they may have missed or unconsciously rationalized. The blue and green feathers tucked into her hair were no mere adornment, nor were they tucked in; they seemed to grow directly from her scalp. Similarly, the patches of iridescent color on her cheeks and hands were no makeup; they were scales, reminiscent of some tropical snake. Even her eyes were unusual: one eye was such a light blue as to be almost gray, while the other was violet so vibrant that it seemed to glow with its own light.
"Well?" Aoibhean asks again, impatience creeping in to her voice. "Your names?"
Slick backs down as soon as Tino shows up on the scene. He'd made his point. Yabin over there would think twice if they ever crossed paths in the arena, and that would give Slick and his team an edge.
"Tino's Toughest? That's a cool name! We're... still working on ours." The team gives her a look...
Slick grumbles a little under his breath. He'd picked out a great name for the team, but was still trying to convince the rest the group to go along. "Yeah well, whatever name we come up with, we're going to be kicking ass... and taking names. You remember that, Yabin. How do you spell that, by the way?"
"There's an idea," Aoibhean says, grinning at Slick. "We see a name whose name we like, we just kick their asses and take it."
"There's an idea," Aoibhean says, grinning at Slick. "We see a name whose name we like, we just kick their asses and take it."
Slick brightens up. "That's exactly right, Aoibhean. Because we're Ass Kickers ... and Name Takers. Am I right?" He raises his hand for a high-five, but quickly realizes that his gauntlet would probably smash her hand to powder, assuming she could even reach it, so he lowers it sheepishly.
With a graceful leap, a fox leaps off of the foremasts from on high, and while momentarily suspended midair, transforms into a fully grown humanoid figure with vulpine features. She rushes to the front of the "line" and can barely stifle her excitement "Billy Bardy!" almost squealing "Yes please sign here" she produces her own hand-drawn likeness of him, and a wet quill pen, and indicates just precisely the place for him to sign "Shame we'll probably have to fight you - wouldn't want ol' Tino here to ruin that beautiful face!"
"Glad you decided to join us, Ji-Yook"
"And hello - you must be the fifth Ass Kicker? My name is Tino, and this is Takatorra and Yabin the Just..." while Tino continues to talk and make small talk, behind him, Yabin just glowers at Slick, flicking his tongue here and again "...and that is how we decided to team up for this competition!" the Tien man finishes his story about other tournaments around the continent.
The rest of the trip to Bonmu is relatively uneventful, and after perhaps a day or two, Tino's Toughest break off somewhat with socializing with the Party, instead focusing on their own training regimen, drills, and morning stretches, all in preparation for the Big Day!
Having met with Tino's Toughest, during the remaining days of the voyage, it's possible some of the other more notable teams are also on this boat!
1) Arms of Balance
2) Biting Roses
3) Lightkeepers
4) Speakers to the Winds
5) Steps of the Sun
6) The Name Takers
7) Winter's Roar
8) GM's choice
...
Two humans, a vishkanya, and a vanara. There does not appear to be a leader. They seem to correspond to the four elements.
Human, half-elf, and wyrwood, led by the former, and guided by the latter. Stoic, but approachable, if strange.
Two humans, a ysoki, and a hobgoblin, led by the white-haired human. They look to be a really tight-knit group, only somewhat approachable.
A human, halfling, gnoll, gnome, and elf. The human is their leader. They spend much of their time sitting in circles and talking. Easily approachable.
This group has two leaders, both humans, and a catfolk and samsaran, the former two dancers, the latter two singers. Easily approachable.
All goblin team! And the only team not practicing special techniques. Unclear who is in charge. They look hostile.
Half-orc leader over a halfling, human, and hobgoblin. They seem to be somewhat reclusive, looking very much out of their element, only somewhat approachable.
One evening, Yagon notices a few other passengers observing the night sky.
He looks up for several minutes observing their celestial dance.
"Beautiful... The stars are warm tonight. Don't you agree?"
"Oh!" Cirri watches Yi-Joon appear and get a signature. "Wow, your tail is beautiful. How do you keep it so well groomed?" Cirri wants to gab about transformations, and foxes, and how does it feel to be in different forms? She even uses Animal Form to take a vulpine form and get tips on the varieties of foxes.
Cirri is glad to speak pleasantries and keep talking about the creatures of the sea. Eventually she waves them goodbye. "Good luck! I know you'll win- wait! I mean, we're going to win, but you'll come close."
"Oh, hello. I'm Cirri! I think you're the... Lightkeepers?" She waves to them all. "I'm part of the..." she grumbles "Ass Kickers and Name Takers" her wings twitch. "It's a work in progress. Anyway!"
As she talks, she starts fiddling with her tools. "Now, the Lost Vaults of Cadavra were... not as scary as I thought. A lot of their traps used pressure plates, which isn't a problem for me. But there was this giant boulder, and it started rolling at me, so I stepped on one plate on purpose to trigger a roof to cave in behind me and stop the rock."
"Too bad the key was behind there. I turned into a mouse to crawl through the cracks. Anyway, did you explore any interesting tombs or temples?"
Ji-Yook takes the compliment "Your plumage is lovely!" and returns one of her own. She pauses to look at Tino, then shrugs "I can show you a few of my tricks!" obliging the implied request, she offers to give a couple lessons in Natural Transmutation over the remaining weeks, after she practices with her team first, of course...
...
Teams
Biting Roses
Lightkeepers
Tino's Toughest
Players
(□□) Aoibhean
(□□) Billy
(☑□) Cirri to Impress w/ Lightkeepers (Failure, pending)
(□□) Slick
(☑□) Yagon Suel to Impress w/ Biting Roses (Failure, pending)
...
That is a failure with Astrology Lore - are you keeping that result?
That is a failure with Thievery - are you keeping that result?
The DC for these checks is in the neighborhood of 28 (for 11th level), adjusted up or down a little bit for each team!
Billy smiles brightly when Ji-Yook cuts to the front of the, ever-growing, line. He's even more impressed when she presents a hand-drawn picture. "You are quite the artist. You really captured that essence that is me." Billy take her offered pen, dips it into a small golden inkwell, and signs his name with a flourish.
When Ji-Yook mentions the tournament, Billy nods solemnly. "We wish you the best of luck ... against your other opponents." He smiles and turns to the rest of Tino's Toughest. "Next!"
While aboard the Second Wind, Billy notices a group with a fellow halfling. He cautiously approaches and, in the halfling tongue, says "Greetings! May I join you?" He approaches, bows to the group, and switching to Common, observes, "You look far from home. But you're certainly dressed appropriately! A well-prepared group like you should fare well in the tournament." He smiles cordially and continues, "You are here for the tournament, yes? Me too. Several of my team are onboard? Not sure where they are now, though. Probably holed up in one of their cabins considering team names. If I may, what do you call yourselves?" With their permission, he continues to pass the time with them.
Three of the four frown as Billy Bardy invites himself into their group - the halfling, spoken to in his native tongue, sees his proverbial ice melted by the hot charm of the bard, and smiles against his will, looking toward his leader with an asking tone "Shall we permit this traveler to sit with us?"
Their leader, a half-orc man, seems to be taken completely off-guard - and Billy senses a special kinship between him and the halfling - putting him rightly into a situation where he cannot decline despite himself. And so with great reluctance, the request is granted "My name is Urnak Lostwind of The Realm of the Mammoth Lords" he makes a gruff gesture, lifting his torso with a sense of pride, and slowly fanning out a strong arm to say "And this to whom you have introduced yourself to is Juspix Rammel of Irrisen".
The human woman speaks for herself and the hobgoblin man - in the two of them Billy senses another special bond - her voice is at once proud yet somehow forlorn "And I am Huldrin Skolsdottir of The Land of the Linnorm Kings, and my companion is Troff Frostknuckles also of The Land of the Linnorm Kings" she returns question with question "And who are you, traveler?" when she says that last word, it sounds like an insult!
Cirri and Ji-Yook spend time together.
Cirri learns that Ji-Yook practices springing around the training area quickly tossing shuriken with high precision , as well as teasingly using them to stick her allies' clothes to surfaces with well-aimed throws , keeping herself warded with abjurative magic , and using her natural elemental gifts to suppliment her unarmed strikes.
Her transformative magic, it seems, is mostly separate from combat abilities, but she does spend most of her time in her fox form, and glad to have company!
...
Teams
Biting Roses @ Indifferent
Lightkeepers @ Unfriendly
Tino's Toughest @ Friendly @ 2 Scout Points
Winter's Roar @ Unfriendly > Friendly
Players
(□□) Aoibhean
(☑□) Billy to Impress w/ Winter's Roar (41 @ Critical Success)
(☑☑) Cirri to Impress w/ Lightkeepers (27 @ Failure), to Scout w/ Tino's Toughest (30 @ Critical Success)
(□□) Slick
(☑□) Yagon Suel to Impress w/ Biting Roses (22 @ Failure, pending)
...
(□) Aoibhean w/ ?? @ ??
(☑) Billy w/ Performance @ 36, Success
(☑) Cirri w/ Performance @ 30, Success
(☑) Slick w/ Intimidation @ 38, Critical Success
(□) Yagon Suel w/ ?? @ ??
When the other teams appears to ignore Yagon, he just goes to watching them from afar.
"They seem nice," Aoibhean says as Tino's Toughest take their leave. "But you, Cirri, you're downright kind! Paying our entrance fees, giving out compliments left and right, I think we'll get on just fine. If anybody gives you trouble," she adds, leaning in to whisper, "let me know. I'll set em straight."
As she says this last word, her tail whips around and slams against the wall of a dockside stall, setting its contents rattling with a loud boom. Laughing, she sets off in search of trouble. She quickly finds it, coming across another quartet who are clearly from a colder climate.
"More travelers from Avistan, eh? Did you sail here, or were you strong enough to cross the Crown of the World?"
Billy senses distrust, but attempts to put the group at ease. He nods to each of them as they introduce themselves. "Oh dear. My manners. I'm Billy. Billy Bardy. Of Tianjing." He formally bows to Urnak and quickly continues, "I'm quite well-known. Surely you've heard of me?" After getting blank stares, he continues undeterred. "Ahh, to be fair, The Land of the Linnorm Kings is a good distance off. I hope to visit one day." He sighs wistfully.
Turning to Juspix, Billy says in halfling, "Thank you for inviting me", even if he was not actually invited. He nods to the human and half-orc, and says in Common, "Well met, madam Huldrin and sir Troff." At her traveler remark, Billy responds, "While I like to consider myself a world traveler, you're most observant, dear lady. I have yet to leave Tian Xia. My dream is to visit Axis, where the fabulous Hao Jin herself spent so many years." He gives a dreamy look to the sky.
When Aoibhean asks if they were "strong enough to cross the Crown of the World" they don't even dignify the question with a response - indeed it becomes clear that they did...
Nevertheless, Winter's Roar continues to listen to Billy Bardy talk and talk and talk, their mild distrust turning to mild indifference turning to mild amusement... most likely, whenever Billy pauses in conversation, seeing none of them leap to fill the "void" (perhaps enjoying the silence), he continues with another story of this or that... while they all simply listen...
...
Rival Teams
Biting Roses @ Indifferent
Lightkeepers @ Unfriendly
Tino's Toughest @ Friendly @ 2 Scout Points
Winter's Roar @ Unfriendly > Friendly @ 1 Scout Point
Players
(☑☑) Aoibhean Impress w/ Winter's Roar (27+2 @ Failure), to Scout w/ Winter's Roar (28+2 @ Success)
(☑□) Billy to Impress w/ Winter's Roar (41+2 @ Critical Success)
(☑☑) Cirri to Impress w/ Lightkeepers (27 @ Failure), to Scout w/ Tino's Toughest (30 @ Critical Success)
(□□) Slick
(☑☑) Yagon Suel to Impress w/ Biting Roses (22 @ Failure, pending), to Scout w/ ?? (39+ @ Critical Success)
...
(☑) Aoibhean w/ Diplomacy @ 23, Failure
(☑) Billy w/ Performance @ 36, Success
(☑) Cirri w/ Performance @ 30, Success
(☑) Slick w/ Intimidation @ 38, Critical Success
(□) Yagon Suel w/ ?? @ ??
...
"They seem nice," Aoibhean says as Tino's Toughest take their leave. "But you, Cirri, you're downright kind! Paying our entrance fees, giving out compliments left and right, I think we'll get on just fine. If anybody gives you trouble," she adds, leaning in to whisper, "let me know. I'll set em straight."
Cirri giggles. "It's always fun to talk to people. You learn so much just with a good chat. Ji-Yook loves showing off her pinpoint accuracy, it's so cool. She also taught me a variety of fox cries. So much fun. I taught her a bunch of bird cries."
"Don't worry about the entree fee. Everyone... even Yagon is welcome here. We'll win this tournament and we'll see much more."
As she says this last word, her tail whips around and slams against the wall of a dockside stall, setting its contents rattling with a loud boom. Laughing, she sets off in search of trouble.
It's a shiny tail. Reminds her of merfolk warriors, and how good they are at tail whipping rocks around the ocean. Cirri makes a mental note to swim around the ship when the seas are calm.
"Hello, Tino! I just wanted to say your team looks great. What makes your team click together? What are your strategies? You must have a lot of synergy."
Cirri figures she and Tino should talk about leadership. She has no idea who will lead her team. The more she learns about Tian-Shu culture, the better.
Slick considers which team he should try to grace with his presence.
He heads over to where Winter's Roar is camped "Yo! What's up? Wow. Nice furs you have there. Are we expecting a snow storm to come through soon, 'cause all I brought with me is this." He indicates his shiny plate armor. He puffs up his chest and lifts his arms to flex his biceps so as to show it off to best effect.
Once he's suitably impressed these visitors from the north, he looks about and sees...
Yagon talking to the Biting Roses. Not wanting to disturb their super important night sky viewing and astrological discussions, he decides to scout them from a distance.
Yagon nods to the one who recognized him from Tino's Toughest.
"You think that would be enough to stop me? My victory is inevitable! It has been foretold in the stars! If DEATH couldn't defeat me, then what chance do you think your team has? Perhaps you'd best concede defeat now and save the embarrassment."
The affable bard continues to regale Winter's Roar with stories of the fabulous Hao Jin. "So as I was saying, Urnak, this tapestry of hers is the stuff of legend. In fact, I'm guessing civilizations from your own northern Saga Lands are represented within." Still giddy, he continues, almost without stopping to breathe, "And can you believe it? She's returned to host the tournament!" Billy finally pauses, ever so briefly, before asking, "Are you all as excited to meet her as I am?" He looks around wide-eyed.
Tino shares a story about how he and Takatorra grew up together, and how they always protected eachother, and how in dedicating himself to Irori, he keeps his team together by using her divine power to protect them by punishing their assailants and healing their wounds . True to his gods style, and seeing sparring with Cirri in alignment with his unending quest for self-betterment, he demonstrates great unarmed speed as well as mystical power , enunciating loudly with either execution of prowess!
Turning towards Aoibhean, Huldrin Skolsdottir decides to break her silence - whether or not Billy Bardy creates a "space" for her to occupy in the "conversation" - standing up, hefting her monstrous shield , and tapping her ember-colored trident onto the hull to create a spark of light "You have a magical glow, traveler, but also you look like you could handle yourself in a fight in warmer climates" pairing a diss with a compliment so casually, Aoibhean notices this time "traveler" is spoken in a way that doesn't sound like an insult - she further boasts "I bet you whatever your might is, my shield could easily blunt it" she continues the boast "And if you tried to get close to my Troff, I would cut you down!" and she continues "For I have survived much, and my guard is never down!" the tone of the boast both serious and light-hearted - it seems this is her way of sharing a bonding experience with a "traveller"!
"Words" Urnak Lostwind begins "Are your strong suit" he let's that hang in the air for Billy to digest "But this is a tournament of Fighting - Come - let us try our hand at something more physical - Do you Throw?" assuming Billy and Slick goes along with the challenge, the exercise involves throwing very large objects as far as possible using good posture and raw strength. So as to accommodate for his relative size, Billy is advised by Juspix (of similar size) and instructed to throw heavy objects that correspond to their size accordingly. Similarly, Troff wordlessly helps adjust Slick's form by touching certain muscles here of there with varying levels of pressure so as to indicate an increase or decrease in tension or relaxation, all towards improving his throwing technique. After a week or two of Billy's and Slick's improvement, Urnak praises "Now you are ready to meet Hao Jin herself!"
Meanwhile...
Yabin the Just whispers under his breath when Yagon Suel makes grandoise verbal threats "There are worSse thingSs than Death!" brooding to himself - Tino, however, acknowledges the feat "You have a tenacious soul, Yagon Suel, and I admire your Will to Persist! I only hope my own Consciousness can Transcend the Bounds of my Mortal Coil altogether!" trying to find a common ground of sorts "For what it's worth, I expect to test my own Mettle against your very Inevitability when the Time comes!" an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object?
...
Rival Teams
Biting Roses @ Indifferent @ 2 Scout Points
Lightkeepers @ Unfriendly
Tino's Toughest @ Friendly @ 2 Scout Points
Winter's Roar @ Unfriendly > Helpful @ 1 Scout Point
Player Characters
(☑☑) Aoibhean Impress w/ Winter's Roar (27+4 @ Success), to Scout w/ Winter's Roar (28+4 @ Success)
(☑☑) Billy to Impress w/ Winter's Roar (41+4 @ Critical Success), to Impress w/ Winter's Roar (32+4 @ Success)
(☑☑) Cirri to Impress w/ Lightkeepers (27 @ Failure), to Scout w/ Tino's Toughest (30 @ Critical Success)
(☑☑) Slick to Impress w/ Winter's Roar (25+4, Failure), to Scout w/ Biting Roses (32, Success)
(☑☑) Yagon Suel to Impress w/ Biting Roses (22 @ Failure, pending), to Scout w/ Biting Roses (39+ @ Critical Success)
...
(☑) Aoibhean w/ Diplomacy @ 23, Failure
(☑) Billy w/ Performance @ 36, Success
(☑) Cirri w/ Performance @ 30, Success
(☑) Slick w/ Intimidation @ 38, Critical Success
(☑) Yagon Suel w/ Intimidation @ Success
...
The day before the Second Wind arrives on Bonmu, Tino pays one more visit to Slick "Take these. Consider it a wager. And, at any time of your Team's choosing, consider this a . You may be the Team to Beat, and I want you to survive. We Toughest spend the next 24 hours in meditation, and cannot be disturbed. I will see you at the Opening Ceremony" he pauses here to bow cordially, excusing himself thusly.
Yagon watches the Biting Roses, snooping in on the human and wyrwood as they are together.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Slick - which person from the Biting Roses do you want to Scout?
Slick takes the wager from Tino. He's not entirely sure what the paladin was rabbiting on about though, but the part seemed clear enough. "Thanks Tino. Very generous of you, mate. With a little luck we'll run into each other again real soon." "Yeah, good luck for us and bad luck for you."
Slick finds his way back to the group bivouac on the ship and shows them the loot that Tino had given him. "Sounds like he wants to make sure we stay alive long enough to face him and his Toughest in the competition."
He then frowns as he remembers something. "Hey guys, it turns out there's a bunch of goblins that are calling themselves the The Name Takers! Who do they think they are to take part of our team name for themselves like that? Outrageous. Anyway, I guess that means we'll just have to shorten our team name to Ass Kickers eh? Probably better that way; short, descriptive and menacing is always best for team names, am I right?" He automatically starts lifting his hand for a high-five, but catches himself.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Aoibhean can't help but smile at Huldrin's bravado and self-confidence.
"Your defenses seem top notch! I'd love to see how I can get through or around them, so you'd better last long enough for us to face each other!"
"The Name Takers...took part of our name?" Aoibhean asks, a quizzical look on her face. After a moment she sighs. "I honestly can't tell if you're messing with us or not, Slick. At any rate, nice gear. Did you check to make sure they're not cursed? I'm sure Tino would knowingly never do that, but he seems more nice than smart. Then again, I've never been a very good judge of someone's character. Probably explains why I hang out with you."
When Slick aborts his high-five mid gesture, she rolls her eyes, grabs his wrist, and high-fives him herself.
"Have some self-confidence, ya goof! If you're gonna go for a high-five, you gotta go for it, y'know? Commit!"
Out of the corner of her eye, she catches her tail snaking up to wrap around Slick's other arm.
"Stop that, Slick is our friend!" she whispers, slapping it away with her free hand.