Previously...
"Beautiful... The stars are warm tonight. Don't you agree?"
The trio stop talking among themselves and just look at Yagon Suel, exerting no effort to answer his question, nor bothering to look up into the sky. The awkwardness of the moment grows as it seems like they are waiting him out, again not saying a word. As the dhampir eventually turns to leave, they resume whatever conversation they had been engaged in before being interrupted...
...Later on, struck by curiosity, Yagon Suel and Slick endeavor to discover just what is so mysterious about the strange trio:
The Human Spiritualist seems to be the leader, and seems to share a special bond with the Wyrwood Spirit Guardian. And too, they seem to both practice the same stoic Martial Art , practicing in tandem so as to create openings for eachother by focusing on offense . That is where their similarities end, however. The Human Spiritualist is also a master of the Occult arts and can combine them with quick mantis strikes . Conversely, the Wyrwood Spirit Guardian can jump and strike in quick succession , and can draw upon the shadow plane to weaponize it's energy . They seem to do best when fighting side by side!
The Half-elf Soul Archer seems to work to harry any attackers of the primary duo with arrows made of some strange light energy that seems to come from his own bright essence which, it seems, he is not only lightning fast on the draw , but can guide the path of his arrows with the power of his spirit ! When pressed, he also wields an impressive sword that looks ancestral in origin . He too seems to share a special, but quite different, bond with the Human Spiritualist, perhaps equally as strong.
About a day before the arriving, Juspix Rammel approaches Billy and says "I noticed your thick-skulled friend was carrying around some Runestones - it would be a shame not to have these etched onto your implements before arriving on Bonmu - I have the Tools and can show you how to Transfer them if you like?"
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With a single day left before arriving to Bonmu, the party decides upon any last minute preparations they can make before docking!
...
Rival Teams
Biting Roses @ Indifferent @ 3 Scout Points
Lightkeepers @ Unfriendly
Tino's Toughest @ Helpful (Slick) @ 2 Scout Points
Winter's Roar @ Helpful (Billy + Aoibhean) @ 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)
...
A new day means Cirri gets to prepare new spells. She will gladly let Urnak inscribe a rune of Ghost Touch onto her handwraps. She hates fighting ghosts! They're almost as creepy as Yagon.
Invest in
- +1 Resilient Invisibility Leather Armor
- +2 Handwraps of Mighty Blows, Striking (Ghost Touch)
Add 6 points to the Staff of Healing
Uses Longstrider (2nd level) on self
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
- Barkskin
- Darkvision
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
"Do we have time to speak to anyone else? Ji-Yook said Tino wants to do a 24 hour pow-wow, so they're busy."
"Oh! We should finalize a team name. Now, I know some of you like to kick butt and write names down. But hear me out: Sentinels of Butt Kicking."
"Oh! Maybe we can do our own team chant. I'm certain Billy has a million ideas, half of them good."
Slick is not impressed. "Sentinels of Butt Kicking? Really?" He frowns. "Look, if half of you are going to be clutching your pearls every time you hear the word ass, then I guess we can go with Butt Kickers instead. But, pleeeease, can we drop the whole silly sentinel thing? It makes us sound like puss..., uh, like wimps."
Staff: Staff of Evocation (Greater), 6 charges, disrupting rune.
Spells Prepared
Cantrips (level 6): Chill Touch, Gouging Claw, Produce Flame, Ray of Frost, Shield
1st: True Strike, True Strike
3rd: Haste, Slow
5th: Crushing Despair, Scorching Ray
6th: Disintegrate, Shocking Grasp
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.
Like Cirri, Aoibhean is more than happy to have her handwraps enhanced with a ghost touch rune. She studies her spellbook with greater intensity than usual that day, thinking hard on how sure everyone seems to be that they'll be fighting undead in addition to the other teams. Or both at once, she thinks, as Yagon passes by her cabin.
She snaps the book shut, returns it to her hip, and heads for the door, emerging into the fresh sea air. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, enjoying the moment before a snippet of conversation is carried to her on the wind.
"...pleeeease, can we drop the whole silly sentinel thing? It makes us sound like puss..., uh, like wimps."
The moment ruined, Aoibhean turns for the bow of the ship, where she finds Cirri and Slick in the midst of conversation. A thump of her tail announces her presence.
"Slick," she says, her voice artificially sweet, "I normally find your puerile antics to be quite charming. But there are limits."
"On the subject of team names," Aoibhean pivots, her disposition suddenly sunny again, "I had an idea. Considering that we are all here by Cirri's generosity, and taking more than a little inspiration from Tino's Toughest, what about 'Cirri's Corsairs'? Pirates are scary, right? And even the pirates of The Shackles know better than to cross blades with the Gray Corsairs."
At the talk of a team name, Billy brightens when he hears Aoibhean's suggestion. "Cirri's Corsairs ... I like it!" He looks to the others.
When Cirri mentions Billy has a million ideas, half of them good, the bard laughs. "It's true, Cirri. My philosophy is quantity over quality! After all, why say in a few words when many can suffice?" He grins. "Hmm...do you suppose that's that a bad strategy when suggesting ideas?" If he remembers, he'll give it some thought.
In the meantime, up on deck, Billy is chatting with his fellow halfling about the tournament. Those nearby hear him say, "Most generous, Juspix. I'd be grateful to learn more about rune transferring." He rummages through his pack for his Superb Repair Kit. "I have some training with this toolkit." He sits cross-legged on the deck eager to learn.
With the runes and handwraps laid out in front of him, and with the group's permission, he sets to work.
"Cirri's... Corsairs... yeah, okay, I can go for that. We sail across the seas and if you mess with us, we'll kick your... ass... and take what we want. In self-defense, of course." Cirri gulps. Just because she can turn into a dinosaur doesn't mean she wants to chomp everyone in half. Dinosaurs are really cool, though. Some of them have feathers? Kind of controversial.
Billy drags her out of the stone age. "Oh no, Billy. Think up as many ideas as you like! Dad and Uncle were always trying to build something. Half of their stuff would blow up. But the other half was pretty cool."
"Okay, I have an idea. Our team name is Cirri's Corsairs. Our motto? We'll kick your ass and take your names!" Cirri's wings flutter. "How does that sound?"
"A name? Yeah whatever, knock yourself out. I may not be much of a corsair, and I don't really need to know the names of those I defeat. As long as we win I couldn't care less."
"'Take what you can, give nothing back!'" Aoibhean quotes, grinning. "Yagon, you'd know better than me, but I'm sure Groetus likes pirates. They ruin plans, destroy stuff at random, that sort of thing."
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Slick is about to give his opinion of Aoibhean's new team name suggestion, but before he can, Billy, and then Cirri concur enthusiastically, followed by Yagon's tepid approval. Lost for words, he's left spluttering in indignation. He gives his friend a death stare. "Et tu, Billy?" Then turning to Aoibhean, he says, "Cirri's Corsairs?" He points to his armor with both hands and cocks his head. "Do I look like a pirate to you?" He turns from face to face looking for support but finds none. A good warrior knows when he's beaten, and though it rankled him, he had to admit that this was one of those moments.
He throws his hands in the air in resignation, then a little petulantly, he adds, "Fine! Have it your way. I can do a pirate voice as well as the next guy. Arrr! Me hearties. We be pirates now. Let's raise the Jolly Roger and go kick some landlubber butt. See?"
Cirri giggles and falls over as Slick's voice takes to the seas. "I knew you'd enjoy the name."
"Yagon, we'll talk about the moon and the tides tonight, alright? It's a full moon, I think." She calls out to the armored masked stranger of her team. Of all the people she paid for, Yagon was the most questionable. Never one to chat, never one to dance or sing, and he never took that helmet off. Very creepy... unless he spoke about the moon. His stories weren't comforting, but she could talk about the moon's pull on the tides for quite a while. It was a strange comfort.
On the final evening of the voyage, the night sky is dotted by Light Clouds with High Visibility, where Billy and Juspex have each taken the day to transfer the gifted runestones onto Cirri's and Aoibhean's handwraps, dissolving the stones upon completion, imbuing their limbs with the power of incorporeality. And the following morning, about an hour or so before the Second Wind docks on the island of Bonmu, the party make their Daily Preparations for the day to come!
The island itself is beautiful!
Oblong but averaging a 4-mile diameter, surrounded on all sides by Open Water, several Mountains gather in two major clusters, the coastline alternating between low elevation Beaches and higher elevation Forests, the center a patchwork of Plains, Hills, and Swamp.
Soon the Docks come into view, where several ships have already arrived, and a long line of people - the Tournament's Competitors! - form a snaking mass waiting for entrance into the gate. Some of the finest warriors on the entire planet!
"Oh man, I am so ready." Cirri is jittery. She checks her staff, her slingshot, her wings and her arms.
Cirri scribbles some more notes as the island comes into view. "Wooow...the coastlines are incredible. I can already tell there's little fishing going on. Once we get on the island, I'd love a few minutes to scope out the wildlife. Uh, so we know what we're getting into."
And not for just writing stuff down, of course. Oh, what cool animals and plants are on this island?
Cirri can spend 10 minutes in the wilderness to make a Survival check. On a success, she can try a Recall Knowledge check with a -2 penalty check. She can learn more about the creatures from these signs.
"Well, looks like we need to wait a bit. I can tell you everything about this coastline..."
"Ah, there you all are - I had anticipated your arrival sooner"
A human woman of Tian-Sing decent smiles at the party as they disembark from the Second Wind - she is dressed in high ceremonial garb of contrasting cherry red and sky blue robes, but underneath, she wears a monk's handwraps that cover most of her long limbs in the color of ivory white. Her face is firm and thin, but not severe, and adorned with golden piercings that bring out her hair. She walks with simple purpose and intention, stopping just before the plank, and continues "It would be a show of dishonor to be late to Opening Ceremony. I trust you have your effects. Come!"
And before you even have a moment to lose your sea legs, you all find yourself keeping astride with this total stranger - she talks as she walks "So. Tell me. What do you know of Hao Jin and the Ruby Phoenix Tournament?"
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Slick stomps off to have a good sulk about being railroaded into the whole Cirri's Corsairs thing. But the more he turns it over in his mind, the more he begins to like the sound of it. Many of the stories he'd heard as a boy on the docks in Goka had been about high-sea adventures with pirates, storms and sea monsters. For a while there he'd considered becoming a sailor, but his father said to forget it; Slick was way too young, and regardless, was destined to become a swordsman just like his father. No whining and complaining from Slick about the unfairness of life managed to change his father's mind.
Now he had the chance to be a pirate, even if only in name. But... were corsairs really pirates? He vaguely remembered there being a technical difference between the two, but he wasn't sure what it was anymore. And anyway, as long as he got to talk like a pirate, that's all he cared about. "Hold on a minute!" Talking like a pirate wasn't going to be enough; he'd have to look the part as well. Slick shoots off to go talk to the crew of the ship. After a little arm-twisting (both literally and figuratively) and a few coppers, he manages to get his hands on a cool black tricorne hat, which he immediately slaps onto his head. "Arrr!"
The next morning, he does his usual daily preparations, which now include putting on his new hat. He then joins his companions on the deck. The sight of Slick in his mirror-like full platemail suit with a pirate hat on his head is a sight to behold. "Arrr, me hearties. How do I look? Just like a pirate, right?" He preens and models his new hat for them. Their stunned gazes confirm in his mind that he's managed to pull off the whole dress-like-a-pirate thing.
Looking over the railing, Slick watches the island go by. He'd picked up some basic navigational skills on the docks and during his subsequent long years of training and he now makes mental notes of the different features of the island that strike him as interesting.
As the ship docks and they see the already long line of teams waiting to get into the gate, Slick casts a trained eye over the teams that had arrived earlier. Was that group of goblins over there The Name Takers? When he got the chance, he'd definitely have to go over there and have a few words with them about their taking part of his team's name. But then he remembered that they weren't Ass Kickers... and Name Takers anymore; they were pirates now! "Arrr!"
When Ingdani meets them on the docks, Slick is suitably impressed. He wonders if it would be bad form to hit on the woman and decides to wait and see for the time being. At her question, Slick puffs up a little to try and impress her. "I was in the last tournament. Unfortunately I was eliminated due to an epic streak of bad luck and have returned to finish what I started. So I know the basics. I take it that you are one of the emissary's agents?"
□ Aoibhean
☑ Cirri @ Success
☑ Slick @ Success
□ Yagon Suel
"Oh my!" she looks positively embarrassed "In all my haste, I have forgotten to introduce myself" the brisk pace suddenly stops, and she breathes in to enjoy the moment and give to you her full attention, composing herself with excellent posture "My name is , and I will be your Tournament Escort as selected by the honorable Emissary Nuo himself. After the ceremony, I will escort you to your residence location at an abandoned temple of Irori. We do have a couple of minutes I suppose..."
"We are honored by your service," Aoibhean says, bowing slightly to Ingdani. "I've competed in the tournament before as well, though I was a mere child at the time. Other than Hao Jin gracing us with her presence, do you know of any major changes to the tournament proceedings since then?" She follows the question with her very best smile.
Soon after, when Ingdani's attention is not upon them, she leans over to whisper conspiratorially in Slick's ear.
"The hat is really working for you, good choice."
Soon after, when Ingdani's attention is not upon them, she leans over to whisper conspiratorially in Slick's ear.
"The hat is really working for you, good choice."
Slick beams and nodding eagerly in agreement, gives Aoibhean a thumbs up. "I know! It's so cool looking. I can't wait to try it with my demon mask."
When he sees Slick emerge on deck, Billy nods approvingly, "Nice hat!" He then snaps his fingers and says, "patch to match!" casting Prestidigitation to create a matching black eyepatch. Holding it out, he whispers to his friend, "Pro tip: Don't put it over your good eye." He grins and waits to disembark.
On the docks after Ingdani introduces herself, Billy, with his lute in hand, strums a chord and greets her in song:
"♫ Golden piercings ... most divine! The pleasure, madam, is all mine.
Let the tourney now begin. We cannot wait to meet Hao Jin!
I'm her biggest fan you see. And her wondrous tapestry.
So lead the way! Let them stare. The team to beat: Cirri's Corsairs. ♫"
☑ Aoibhean @ Success
☑ Cirri @ Success
☑ Slick @ Success
□ Yagon Suel
...
☑ Aoibhean @ Critical Success
☑ Billy @ Success
□ Cirri
□ Slick
□ Yagon Suel
...
"We are honored by your service," Aoibhean says, bowing slightly to Ingdani. "I've competed in the tournament before as well, though I was a mere child at the time. Other than Hao Jin gracing us with her presence, do you know of any major changes to the tournament proceedings since then?" She follows the question with her very best smile.
"This is the first year that there will be a qualifying round" she begins "Over 100 years ago there was a tsunami that struck the western coast of Arcadia, pulling much of the ocean away, and creating temporary land bridges across which Kaiju and other large land creatures migrated to this island. My family was among those that fled back then. To this day, the ecosystem here remains changed. Concordantly, I believe Hao Jin herself chose these modifications to the Tournament based on this unique opportunity to set her champions against the Megafauna of Bonmu!"
"♫ Golden piercings ... most divine! The pleasure, madam, is all mine.
Let the tourney now begin. We cannot wait to meet Hao Jin!
I'm her biggest fan you see. And her wondrous tapestry.
So lead the way! Let them stare. The team to beat: Cirri's Corsairs. ♫"
"Oh My!" a big smile crests over her face "You'll be popular indeed if you make The Cut" she listens to the lyrics "Cirri's Corsairs, that must be your team name. I will make sure it is recorded as such" she turns to Slick "And don't you look the part!"
Ingdani seems to realize how much time has passed when her transition is sudden and abrupt "Oh my! We must get going. Come!" and resumes the brisk pace walking towards the gates - which are now opening! - some of the greatest warriors on the planet beginning to slowly file inside!
Cirri relaxes her wings as they leave the docks. "Slick, you are such a cool pirate. Or corsair. There was a band I sailed with for a few months. They claimed to be pirates but they never really did anything... piratey. I think they just wanted to be cool!"
"Oh! Hi! I'm Cirri Merryweather. Good to meet you Ingdani Budisuma. I didn't think up the name, but I guess I paid for the entry fee." She giggles. "This is my first time participating in this tournament, and I'm honored to make it this far."
"But now comes the hard part: the qualifying round. I think we need... 10 silver feathers to qualify. So we'll have to find other teams, challenge them and claim their feathers as our own, I guess."
"... she turns to Slick "And don't you look the part!"
Like a lighthouse, Slick turns his beaming countenance toward Ingdani. This was the opening he'd been looking for. "How kind of you to notice. Isn't it quite fetching? I'm hoping to make it a symbol of dread for the other teams. As my friend Billy here might say, When you see the tricorne loom, best prepare to meet your doom! Snappy rhyme, no?" His demeanor then changes almost imperceptibly and he gives her a slightly more sultry look. "Sooo, will you be joining our little piratical party for the tournament? I'm sure we could make room for someone of your obvious talents."
Like a lighthouse, Slick turns his beaming countenance toward Ingdani. This was the opening he'd been looking for. "How kind of you to notice. Isn't it quite fetching? I'm hoping to make it a symbol of dread for the other teams. As my friend Billy here might say, When you see the tricorne loom, best prepare to meet your doom! Snappy rhyme, no?" His demeanor then changes almost imperceptibly and he gives her a slightly more sultry look. "Sooo, will you be joining our little piratical party for the tournament? I'm sure we could make room for someone of your obvious talents."
Ingdani politely corrects Slick's phrasing with the gentlest rebuff "I will be chaperoning your little piratical party for the tournament" unbroken in her stride, she seizes the opportunity to put a little glory on her own name as well "My rank is "Master of Winter" in my martial art - and though I am forbidden from lending my hand to your run, I am not forbidden from defending myself" she makes sure to turn her head towards the confident gladiator in enunciating that last line, so as to drive the point, which seems sufficiently vague in communicating whether it was a tease, a promise, or a threat - or perhaps all three...
She is a higher "rank" than anyone in this party, but not by much...
"Oh! Hi! I'm Cirri Merryweather. Good to meet you Ingdani Budisuma. I didn't think up the name, but I guess I paid for the entry fee." She giggles. "This is my first time participating in this tournament, and I'm honored to make it this far."
"But now comes the hard part: the qualifying round. I think we need... 10 silver feathers to qualify. So we'll have to find other teams, challenge them and claim their feathers as our own, I guess."
"That is correct - not only a test of survival and exploration" her pace undampened by talking this time "not only a test of your mettle as a warrior" continuing "but also a test on your ability to negotiate and wager with your competition" arriving at the gates.
The gate opens, leading to a larger, perhaps more exclusive, dock, where a ship about a whole and a half larger than the Second Wind berths.
The line of contestants - all 32 teams! - file in one by one, collecting by an open area into a natural circle, high ceremony and respect falling automatically over the crowd, a slow propagating hush as a man steps upon the disembarking plank, old and wizened, with long white eyebrows that form two geometric arcs over his soft brown eyes, a matching brushing mustache on either side of a tiny bald spot on his upper lip, and a thin but long beard that flows from a circular patch of hair on his chin, he wears a golden hat with a ruby phoenix glyph, taking his time to speak until the last voice in the crowd falls utterly silent - even the very waves of the ocean seem to fall into a similar calm!
"I am Sifu Xho Nuo - Emissary of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament and guardian of the legacy of Hao Jin, the immortal sorcerer in whose name you are gathered today. Know that in simply receiving an invitation to qualify for this tournament, you have already earned a place among the greatest fighters Golarion has ever known. However, only eight teams may continue on to the tournament proper, and that is why we gather at these docks. Welcome to the Island of Bonmu, or, as dubbed by Lady Hao Jin, "Danger Island". This will be your home for the next few days, and it is here that you will earn your right to enter the tournament"
"Vast is Bonmu, a place of ancient ruins and sites left untouched by the centuries. Lady Hao Jin has reclaimed this place and picked out a suitable location for each team to reside during their stay. Of course, nothing is given freely at the Ruby Phoenix Tournament! Each team has been assigned a specific location on the island, but many of these sites are filled with dangerous creatures... or worse! It thereby falls to you to make your sire safe. Within your residence you will find the and three . Your mission here is to acquire and keep seven more!"
The crowd starts to murmur here, and Xho Nuo cuts in with "Silence!" to which the murmuring immediately dies down "Without further delay, I leave you to the whims of Bonmu. The pre-qualifier begins at Sunrise, tomorrow. May the worthiest win!"
At that, the crowd splits into two patterns - half fall back into murmuring with increased volume as the first time - the other half immediately begin retracing their way out from this enclosed docks and into the wild of Bonmu island. And it is here that Ingdani Budisuma turns to you and says...
"Alright Cirri's Corsairs: "
Cirri listens to the waves calm down. Sifu Xho Nuo must have worked long and hard to achieve his position. Danger Island is a fun name, Hao Jin must have had a lot of fun naming it.
"Um... where is our home base? We should get there as soon as we can. I wanna see if we're on the coast or deep in the forest."
Slick is quite impressed to learn Ingdani's rank and dips his head in a short bow. "I for one am honored to meet a Master of Winter, and am doubly pleased that you are our new friend and not one of our opponents. Perhaps when we have some free time you can show me some of your advanced moves; I think you'll find me an eager student."
When Cirri suggests that we go to our home base, Slick concurs. "Yes, I agree. The sooner we get to our monster-infested ancient ruin, the sooner we can exterminate the resident vermin and convert it into our headquarters."
Adjusting his cyan fedora over his golden locks, Billy wants to look his best in front of Sifu Xho Nuo. When the emissary mentions Lady Hao Jin, Billy's heart flutters. He knows it's only a matter of time before he gets to impress the gifted sorceress.
Billy agrees with Cirri and Slick, adding, "Yes, while other teams are murmuring about the rules, let's get a head start and find our camp." With lute in hand, Billy follows Ingdani toward our designated site.
"It is good to see you again Ingdani. I see you have kept your training regimen up these past 10 years. This time the tournament will end differently for me."
"I suppose it would be wise to learn what creatures dwell within our section of the island and prepare for them. As many of us have magical ability we should coordinate our strengths and cover our weaknesses."
"Speaking of magic, when I focus my divine gifts, I am granted the ability to tear small holes in space. That hole can pull you in from about 8 paces. If it grabs hold of you it can tear you apart, so be alert."
"Also, as I have joined the ranks of the half-dead, healing of a divine or primal nature is bane to me. Occult and natural ways of treating wounds does not so wound me. But worry about others first if I am wounded. I have the means to heal myself. Groetus provides."
Yagon gives a muted harrumph at that last thought.
"Groetus provides. The irony of it all. To extend a life as had been done unto me would be anathema to him. All should perish according to his teachings. So either the god of the end times is bending his own rules or some other entity tugs upon the strings of fate. This realization is not lost on me."
Cirri's shiver loosens some of her feathers. Yagon has a point: Why would a god dedicated to the end times keep him alive? Maybe there's a bigger purpose in store for him? The half-dead stuff... ugh. She had to put down too many cursed guardians of one ruin or another. She wonders if Yagon is guarding something...
"Well, if you give me a few minutes I can try to figure out what animals are around here." Once the team gets a bit away from these large disruptive crowds, Cirri squats and begins looking for footprints, scales, feathers and... yes, and scat too.
"Finally," Aoibhean says, grinning, once the ceremonies are over and the teams are sent on their merry ways. "I've been preparing for this moment for ten years. Whatever's waiting out there, it's never seen anything quite like us."
"You are a "lucky" team indeed" Ingdani says "For only a quarter mile away lies the : Your designated Home Base" something about the way she said "lucky" signifies that her intended meaning may have a second or nuanced connotation... either way, leaving the Docks, in a few short minutes, she points out the site: a single story, nestled just inside this lightly forested Home Base Hex.
"There are three other points of interest however, observe:" pointing in two opposite directions, as well as indicating beyond the Temple itself.
A looks to be repurposed as an arena - Ingdani explains that if you wanted to Initiate or Accept any Challenges before (or after) securing the Temple, this would be the closest suitable location. It is within the same hex as the Temple, not a quarter mile apart.
A of stacked rock - Ingdani explains that there are Enforcers on site that guard these One-Way Portals which can be used by Competitors to access the Marketplaces all the back on Goka! It is within the same hex as the Temple and Ruins, as if marking the three vertices of a scalene triangle.
A also made of ornate stonework that juts into the sky - Ingdani gives a short history lesson explaining that the native Taumatan inhabitants of the island - before The Great Tsunami - made an attempt to connect multiple islands of the archipelago, but their magic fell short, and instead the four other "Transport Towers" instead constitute a still-functioning network within the single island of Bonmu. This particular Tower is one hex NE from here.
Having shared these points of interest, she turns to you "So. Let me know if you have any questions, otherwise, I will follow you to the Temple!"
"Wow..." Cirri writes things down. "So, if we had to buy something from Goka- or we just wanted to window shop- we could use those portals, right? That wouldn't disqualify us for technically leaving the island?"
Once Cirri gets her answer, she looks at the tower and stonehenge before realigning herself. "Let's go to the temple and clean things up first. Before wanderlust consumes me."
When Cirri suggests securing the temple first, Slick nods and with his pirate voice, says, "Yarr! Captain." Turning to the others he adds, "Avast, there me hearties. Let's go board this temple and send the bilge-suckers to Davy Jones' Locker." Then, leaning over to Billy and nudging him with an elbow, he whispers. "Not bad eh? Pretty soon you won't be able to tell that I'm not a real pirate."
Aoibhean considers the cost of the portals to Goka, doing a bit of mental math and arriving at a staggering number. "All that, to enable shopping trips for the pre-qualifiers," she says, astounded. "We already knew this, but Hao Jin is amazing."
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Billy positively beams when Ingdani suggests they are lucky. As if he's personally receiving a compliment. "Thank you for noticing! It's in my halfling nature." He smiles and steps a little more lively the rest of the way to the temple.
Later when Slick is talking like a pirate, Billy grins, "Wait! You're not a real pirate? I had already forgotten." Admiring Slick's slick tri-corn hat, Billy pulls out a mirror to adjust his own cyan fedora. He likes what he sees. He usually does.
Billy's ears perk up when Aoibhean remarks about the amazing Hao Jin. "She is amazing, isn't she? Oh, how she can't wait to meet me." He stammers, "I mean, how I can't wait to meet her." He has a dreamy far-off look in his golden eyes.
Billy positively beams when Ingdani suggests they are lucky. As if he's personally receiving a compliment. "Thank you for noticing! It's in my halfling nature." He smiles and steps a little more lively the rest of the way to the temple.
Building on that "And to supplement your skill and strength, it might just take a little luck to make it past the Qualifier - I will do my best to support you in showing your best face"
"It is good to see you again Ingdani. I see you have kept your training regimen up these past 10 years. This time the tournament will end differently for me."
"And so I imagine will it begin different - for my part, I can't hide a little envy I feel to participate at such the grand scale that you are blessed to undertake" she smiles at the dhampir.
Slick is quite impressed to learn Ingdani's rank and dips his head in a short bow. "I for one am honored to meet a Master of Winter, and am doubly pleased that you are our new friend and not one of our opponents. Perhaps when we have some free time you can show me some of your advanced moves; I think you'll find me an eager student."
"It would be rigorous training, and would command your full attention, but, if you can make time, and are an able and eager student, I am willing to teach you all I know, to the extent that your body serves as an appropriate vessel, and to the extent that your mind is disciplined, and to the extent that your soul is expansive" she smiles here, having elevated her own craft.
Aoibhean considers the cost of the portals to Goka, doing a bit of mental math and arriving at a staggering number. "All that, to enable shopping trips for the pre-qualifiers," she says, astounded. "We already knew this, but Hao Jin is amazing."
"It is said that the wealth contained within the Vault of Hao Jin would be sufficient to purchase an entire continent!" before conceding "...if the stories are to be believed, or at least, the extent to which they are an exaggeration. In either case, I imagine the cost to the great sorcerous to be proportionally small"
"Wow..." Cirri writes things down. "So, if we had to buy something from Goka- or we just wanted to window shop- we could use those portals, right? That wouldn't disqualify us for technically leaving the island?"
"And to that effect, for those vendors participating, any attempt to take advantage of the situation by, say, price-gouging, risk being dismissed from the concord surrounding this Tournament" Ingdani elaborates "Suffice it to say you can still expect a fair price"
Ingdani follows the party to the temple, but stands to wait outside, finding a tree under which to meditate, leaving the party to "fetch" her once their task of clearing the temple is complete.
A simple dirt path leads up to a large pair of wooden doors bearing numerous intricate carvings. Two statues, each of an androgynous human, stand to either side of the doors, though the southern statue has been knocked over and now lies in pieces in the grass. Large webs cover the temple door and the exterior walls to the northeast and southwest. Something massive writhes in the thick webs that cover the northeast wall.
...
...
"Three guesses what's inside," Aoibhean says, twirling her staff in front of her, "and the first two don't count. Shall we?"
"... Perhaps when we have some free time you can show me some of your advanced moves; I think you'll find me an eager student.""It would be rigorous training, and would command your full attention, but, if you can make time, and are an able and eager student, I am willing to teach you all I know, to the extent that your body serves as an appropriate vessel, and to the extent that your mind is disciplined, and to the extent that your soul is expansive" she smiles here, having elevated her own craft.
Slick is a little disappointed that Ingdani had taken his words quite so literally, but all was not lost. He was actually looking forward to training with the woman and expanding his somewhat limited knowledge of the monastic arts.
When the temple comes into view, Slick slides his long greatsword from its back sheath and holds it ready in both hands. He pushes eagerly to the front of the group and leads them toward to the wooden doors. Moving as quietly as his plate armor allows, his head turns left and right to make sure nothing sneaks up on them. "Ugh! Webs. And where there's webs, spiders can't be far behind." Then turning to Aoibhean, he adds, "Do I win a prize?" He nods his head sharply, and the Demon Mask slides into place. "Arrrghh, thar's a storm a brewin."
Aoibhean in Middle w/ Staff of Evocation (1h) to Search @ 20
Billy in ??? w/ ??? to Search @ ??+1
Cirri in ??? w/ ??? to ??? w/ Trapfinder @ ??+1
Slick in Front w/ Greatsword (2h) to Scout @ 40
Yagon Suel in ??? w/ ??? to Search @ ??+1
Still in a reverie involving the amazing Hao Jin, Billy snaps to attention when the group stops at the temple doors. He stares at the webs. "Just making sure ... everyone sees the huge blob moving in these webs, right?" Upon confirmation, he breathes a sigh of relief, "Ah, excellent. Comforting to know that it's not just me." He stands ready, cradling his lute, near the back of the group.
Cirri skirts to the front of the group. "Okay. Lights are usually a luxury in these places."
"Sun of the unseen night! Grant me the power to pierce darkness!" Cirri's eyes quickly adjust to the darkness and she hoots instinctively."Oh, lots of webbing. Okay... um... Slick, hold still for a second."
"Waves of the ocean! Grant this man the power to move past all who would slow him!" She places a hand on his shoulder, and for a moment he feels like his joints are loose, fluid and lubricated.
"Okay Slick, if something tries to hold you down you should be able to escape it."
Cirri pulls out her staff, enters the temple and begins actively searching for traps.
5th: See Invisibility
Attempting to activate the Wand of Longstrider
Yagon stayed alert as he marched close to slick. He carried his flail in his hands as he advanced.
"I see it. I don't know what it is, but I see it."