Humble moves back and prays to Abadar for an illusion to slow the beast He creates an illusion of impenetrable, twisted mangroves along the water, hoping to at least slow the beast down.
"I don't suppose you'd like to help?" Rakka calls to the watchers as he snaps an arrow of pure force at the beast before darting away. "Or are you planning to just wait for us to drive the beast off and then challenge us, like cowards?"
Arrows: 124
Kioko slashes at the inside of the beast with her wakizashi.
Slashing, Agile, Deadly d8, Finesse, Uncommon, Versatile P
Slashing, Agile, Deadly d8, Finesse, Uncommon, Versatile P
Kyrie sprints after the retreating beast, not about to let it make off with one of her comrades!
While Kioko struggles within the massive stomach, Kyrie charges forward and slams her shield into the dinosaur's flank. Humble absorbs the damage to Kyrie's body, suffering in her stead. The beast seems confused and flustered by the sudden appearance of mangroves on the water's edge. Rakka's arrow of force sinks into the spinosaurus' shoulder.
The other people simply watch. The only reaction to Rakka's taunt is that the dark haired woman turns and appears to confer with the white haired woman. The end result of which is that the white haired woman makes a curt gesture with her hand, and then all begin to file back into the jungle.
The confused spinosaurus circles around and pounces upon Kyrie, trying to drive her away. She manages to barely raise her shield in time as the teeth clamp down and crunch her shield and shoulder. She does, however, manage to keep her feet under herself.
Dinner and a Show. Round 5-6.
The Grave Beast of Bonmu (-242 hp)
Humble (92/128 hp)
Kioko (98/174 hp) (swallowed: grabbed, slowed 1, holding breath)
Kyrie (161/188 hp; shield -27) (freedom of movement)
Rakka (138/138 hp) (arcane stance)
Kioko keeps lashing out with her knife.
Slashing, Agile, Deadly d8, Finesse, Uncommon, Versatile P
Slashing, Agile, Deadly d8, Finesse, Uncommon, Versatile P
"Stand still, you overgrown gecko!" Rakka dashes forward, skidding to a stop as be wreathes another arrow in a spectral claw.
Arrows: 123
Those around the beast can see Kioko struggling within its belly, but she is not strong enough to cut herself free with her smaller blade. Rakka releases another arrow that sinks into the dinosaur's neck. The magical claws flow after the arrow and rip at vital vessels. Combined with the previous injuries, it is too much for the great beast to endure. The elder spinosaurus topples over where it stands in the surf.
Kioko struggles inside, but with the beast dead, you are able to free her. She is nearly out of breath by the time you pull her out, covered in smelly bile.
Humble (92/128 hp)
Kioko (69/174 hp)
Kyrie (161/188 hp; shield -27)
Rakka (138/138 hp)
After catching her breath, Kioko quietly says, "I should wash off. There's no way I can avoid detection in this state."
Humble steps away from Kioko, emphatically agreeing with her assessment before getting to work on healing up the party with his magical hands.
+16 on crit
+16 on crit
+16 on crit
+16 on crit
+16 on crit
Rakka grins as he looks at the tree line, where the observers have disappeared. "Wonder if I offended them?"
Kyrie gets to repairing her shield while Humble takes to getting everyone healed up. ”I suspect they wanted to see how strong we are. I would not be surprised if they send us a challenge.”
Let us make our way North to that tower. We can then transport back near our base if we need to.
Wounds tended to and bodies cleaned of blood and bile as necessary in the ocean, you turn your travel inward. The jungle becomes thicker and the ground begins to rise steeply as you approach the base of the highest peak on Bonmu. "We are at the foot of Mount Haminabu," Ingdani informs you.
As you explore the base of the mountain, you come across a small shrine worn by the elements past any recognition. Atop it rests a single white candle with a golden wick that is remarkably untouched by the passage of time. A few hundred gold worth of coins and gems are piled upon the remains of an offering box .
Humble detects magic and determines that the candle is the source. He is able to determine that it is a candle of truth.
While crossing the mountainous terrain, you hear the sounds of screaming in the distance. You can vaguely make out the word, "Help," among the panic noise. It seems to be coming from the south, likely several hundred feet out of your way.
Humble stops, and senses motive on the voice.
The voices sound truly panicked, disorganized, and likely human to Humble.
Kyrie is already rushing off forward to go assist the voice, knowing very well it could be a trap.
"Hey Kyrie," Rakka calls out as he digs through his pack, "why don't we take some time to affix that ru--" He looks up, sees her already sprinting away, stopping short. Rolling his eyes, he unslings his bow and chases after.
You follow the screams, which become increasingly hoarse and punctuate the air with increasing intervals between them. Finally, you cut your way into a small clearing where you find four Avistani humans. One looks about to collapse while propping an unconscious companion on one shoulder and dragging a greatsword made from shards with the other arm. Another man lies on the ground panting, and a fourth companion lies at his feet unconscious as well. They all appear to be severely bruised and beaten.
"Heh- help," the man on the ground wheezes. "They're cuh- coming."
The standing fellow looks back over his shoulder and asks, rhetorically, "Huh- how can they keep fuh- finding us?" He then falls to one knee and groans in pain.
Who is coming?
Humble will use his medical training to assess the situation before taking any rash action. He trusts his companions to seek for danger.
If time allows, he will Treat Wounds on the four using Master Ward Medic + Magic Hands. If any are in danger of dropping now he will the prayer beads to cast a 4th-level 3-action Heal.
As Humble tends to injuries, Kioko draws both blades, sneaks into the scenery, and watches for trouble.
"Stu- stone guardians," one of the two conscious warriors answers, panting, as Humble gathers them around to tend to their wounds. "From the tomb." He can tell quickly that while two of them are unconscious, all of them are stable. One of the unconscious warriors wears a ruby necklace with two silver feathers on it.
The sound of snapping branches and rustling foliage signals that their pursuers are quite near and there will be no time to tend to their wounds before they arrive. "Sa- save us, and we'll give you this sword!" the one carrying the ice sword shrieks hoarsely.
Through the jungle, you can make out two giant humanoid forms with glowing runes carved onto their bodies.
Stone Guardians. Round 1.
Rakka (138/138 hp) (cover, concealment, undetected)
Kioko (174/174 hp) (cover, concealment, undetected)
Stone Guardian (round)
Stone Guardian (square)
Humble (128/128 hp)
Kyrie (188/188 hp)
Rakka tries to remember anything he might have learned about Stone Guardians.
He shrugs, unable to recall anything for certain. Maybe they're like those stupid stone golems, and cold will slow them down.
He casts a defensive ward and enter an arcane stance as he waits for them to get a little closer.
Kioko waits in hiding until they draw closer.
The giant stone statues march through the undergrowth, snapping small trunks and tearing vines out of the way.
Stone Guardians. Round 1-2.
Stone Guardian (round)
Stone Guardian (square)
Humble (128/128 hp)
Kyrie (188/188 hp)
Rakka (138/138 hp)
Kioko (174/174 hp)
"Sa- save us, and we'll give you this sword!" the one carrying the ice sword shrieks hoarsely.
Humble is wiling to negotiate. "No. We would take two feathers. Not a sword."
The Aasimar delays until he sees Kyrie inevitably steps up to protect the fallen contestants as he doesn't want to (further) draw her ire.
Shrugging as he's unable to come up with anything about the creatures, Rakka tries to put his theory to the test, sending a frost-rimed arrow at the nearer of the two charging statues.
Arrows: 122
Kyrie moves up to a central front position—one that will allow no way forward except to push past her—and raises her shield, taking her defensive stance. ”I wish golems were smart enough to do banter.”
"No! We can't give up our last feathers," the Avistani fighter wheezes and coughs his response.
Ignoring the negotiation, Kyrie moves forward to stand as a wall against the approaching statues. Humble binds his life force to Kioko's and then moves into the bushes for cover.
The stone guardians show no sign of concern for the arrow that Rakka shoots into the jungle.
Stone Guardians. Round 2.
Stone Guardian (round)
Stone Guardian (square)
Humble (128/128 hp)
Kyrie (188/188 hp) (shield raised)
Rakka (138/138 hp)
Kioko (174/174 hp)
Kioko carefully marks her targets. She steps quietly into the closer cluster of trees.
As Kioko moves into a closer hiding spot, the stone guardians continue their advance. If they notice Kioko, they pay her no mind. They are marching indomitably toward the wounded team of warriors. Only Kyrie stands in their way and threatens their unstoppable nature.
Unfortunately, the stone inevitable proves the greater force and knocks Kyrie out of the way with a thunderous crash of metal against steel. It continues forward, brushing aside one of the unconscious warriors before slamming its fish down toward the shaking warrior with the ice sword. By some twist of fate, the guardian misses the man and creates a crater in the dirt next to the fellow.
The other guardian advances behind the first, slowed by the jungle that it smashes through.
Stone Guardians. Round 2-3.
Stone Guardian (round)
Stone Guardian (square)
Humble (128/128 hp)
Kyrie (160/188 hp) (shield raised)
Rakka (138/138 hp)
Kioko (174/174 hp) (spirit link)
"Let's try this again."
Rakka fires another ice-rimed arrow at the nearer of the two guardians, then quickly gathers in more magic.
Arrows: 121
The ice magic reacts erratically when it strikes the stone guardian. Shards of ice and stone splinter off violently. This catches the animated statue's attention.
Stone Guardians. Round 2-3.
Stone Guardian (round)
Stone Guardian (square) (-27 hp)
Humble (128/128 hp)
Kyrie (160/188 hp) (shield raised)
Rakka (138/138 hp)
Kioko (174/174 hp) (spirit link)
Cursing quietly as they move past her, Kioko darts out to attack the nearest golem.
Slashing, Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, versatile P
Slashing, Agile, Deadly d8, Finesse, Uncommon, Versatile P
She defends.
Slashing, Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, versatile P
Kioko's katana lands in a crack on the ancient statue and cracks away a sizeable chunk of stone. The statue turns its head to give the tengu a stone faced look that seems to say, I'll be with you in a moment.
Her short blade glances off of the timeworn stone.
Stone Guardians. Round 2-3.
Stone Guardian (round) (-39 hp)
Stone Guardian (square) (-27 hp)
Humble (128/128 hp)
Kyrie (160/188 hp) (shield raised)
Rakka (138/138 hp)
Kioko (174/174 hp) (spirit link)
Kyrie rushes towards the poor wounded warriors and bashes at the golem engaged with Kioko.
Humbl delays, waiting for something to do. He continues to barter. One feather, and the sword.
Kyrie gives as good as she received as she charges into the fray and slams her shield against the stone guardian. Her send attempt fails to crack stone, though.
The wounded man with the magical sword spares one furtive glance toward Humble and one pleading glance toward Kioko before the runes on the stone guardian pulse with blue light. Kyrie and Kioko feel time begin to accelerate around them. Then a massive stone fist drives the competitor's head into the dirt.
The giant statue ponderously turns toward Kioko and swings its bloodied fist. She rolls underneath the blow and is unscathed.
Meanwhile, the other statue's runes pulse, and Rakka feels time begin to accelerate around him. Then a stone fist hammers into his chest.
Stone Guardians. Round 3-4.
NPC (dashed line) (dying 1)
Stone Guardian (round) (-69 hp) (2)
Stone Guardian (square) (-27 hp) (3)
Humble (128/128 hp)
Kyrie (160/188 hp) (Fortitude DC 30 vs. Slowed 1)
Rakka (113/138 hp) (Fortitude DC 30 vs. Slowed 1) (if you fail the first, 2nd Fortitude DC 30 vs. Paralyzed 1)
Kioko (174/174 hp) (spirit link) (Fortitude DC 30 vs. Slowed 1)
The wounded man with the magical sword spares one furtive glance toward Humble and one pleading glance toward Kioko before the runes on the stone guardian pulse with blue light. Kyrie and Kioko feel time begin to accelerate around them. Then a massive stone fist drives the competitor's head into the dirt.
Humble raises an eyebrow as the hapless man falls. "A feather lighter or a flattened head? He chose unwisely. Such calamities await all who refuse compromise."
He winces as bruises appear. "I suffer for my wards. Kioko, perhaps you might borrow that man's sword?"
Humble keeps a keen eye on Rakka.
Humble knows the magus is needed at maximum efficiency.
Humble stabilizes the NPC.
Then he steps behind a tree.
"Oof!" Rakka grunts as the air is driven out of his lungs. He quickly fires off another arrow, then scrambles back from the stony creature.
[spoiler=Status]Spellstrike: Uncharged
Arrows: 120
Kioko glances at the fallen sword. "There's not enough time!"
She moves to flank with Kyrie, striking the round golem twice.
Slashing, Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, versatile P
Slashing, Agile, Deadly d8, Finesse, Uncommon, Versatile P
She defends.
Slashing, Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, versatile P
Humble stabilizes the dying man so that he may continue negotiations at a later date. The aasimar then takes cover behind a tree.
Ice and stone rain down over the battlefield when Rakka strikes the golem with another enchanted arrow.
Taking advantage of Kyrie's distraction, Kioko drives her katana into another vulnerable point on the stone guardian, cracking off a substantial piece.
Stone Guardians. Round 3-4.
NPC (dashed line) (unconscious)
Stone Guardian (round) (-96 hp; <50%) (2)
Stone Guardian (square) (-27 hp) (3)
Humble (128/128 hp) (cover)
Kyrie (160/188 hp) (Fortitude DC 30 vs. Slowed 1)
Rakka (113/138 hp)
Kioko (174/174 hp) (spirit link)
Kyrie’s resolve will not abide the slowing magic, and she continues with her flurries of attacks, desperately trying to down the golem and save the competitors.
Resisting the ancient magic, Kyrie slams her shield into the golem over and over. She knocks a pair of stone chunks from the animated statue, leaving her shield at the defensive in the process.
Kyrie endures a blow to her shield and then hops away from an already too short swip. Kioko rolls away from a punch as the golem turns its attention to her.
The other golem knocks aside one of the unconscious warriors as it inexorably follows after Rakka. Catching up to him, it pounds him in the shoulder painfully. He narrowly escapes another blow.
Stone Guardians. Round 4-5.
NPC (dashed line) (unconscious)
Stone Guardian (round) (-118 hp; <50%) (1)
Stone Guardian (square) (-27 hp) (2)
Humble (128/128 hp) (cover)
Kyrie (160/188 hp)
Rakka (85/138 hp)
Kioko (174/174 hp) (spirit link)
Abadar, protect your servant as he thinks tactically.
Humble lays on hands the fleeing tengu — light shines forth!
Then he takes cover once again.
Kioko keeps at the flanked golem.
Slashing, Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, versatile P
Slashing, Agile, Deadly d8, Finesse, Uncommon, Versatile P
Slashing, Agile, Deadly d8, Finesse, Uncommon, Versatile P
She defends.
Slashing, Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, versatile P
"Damn these constructs and their impenetrable hides." She jumps and smashes her shield into the cracked chest of the construct, following up with two more blows.
Rakka feels his pain ease as Abadar lends power to Humble.
Kioko unleashes a flurry of sword strikes upon the stone golem. A handful of small chunks of rock fall to the ground. Kyrie leaps and brings her shield down in a powerful smash that shatters the golem into a pile of rubble. The blue light of the runes slowly fades away.
The knight advances upon the remaining golem and strikes it solidly in the process of placing her shield in a defensive position.
Stone Guardians. Round 4-5.
NPC (dashed line) (unconscious)
Stone Guardian (square) (-33 hp) (2)
Humble (128/128 hp) (cover)
Kyrie (160/188 hp) (shield up)
Rakka (121/138 hp) (+2 AC LoH)
Kioko (174/174 hp) (spirit link)
Rakka retreats further to position Kyrie between himself and the remaining golem, weaving a further defensive ward and meditating briefly over his bow.
Rakka withdraws and wards himself with a magical shield. The golem redirects its attention to it newest assailant. The stone fists hammer against Kyrie's shield, but she remains steadfast and strong.
Stone Guardians. Round 5-6.
NPC (dashed line) (unconscious)
Stone Guardian (square) (-33 hp) (1)
Humble (128/128 hp) (cover)
Kyrie (160/188 hp)
Rakka (121/138 hp)
Kioko (174/174 hp) (spirit link)