GM Blake's Fist of the Ruby Phoenix Campaign

Game Master Blake's Tiger

Rakka snaps an arrow of force at the rust-colored demon. As it flies, he draws a dark-tipped arrow from a small quiver and sends it after the first, wreathed in a spectral claw.

◆Cast force fang conflux spell (recharges spellstrike)

Force damage: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 1) + 4 = 9

◆◆Spellstrike with gouging claw using a cold-iron arrow.

+2 greater striking composite shortbow: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (5) + 28 = 33
Cold-iron Piercing Damage: 3d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 3, 5) + 7 = 21
Deadly 2d10 if needed: 2d10 ⇒ (2, 9) = 11

Magical slashing damage: 9d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 2, 1, 6, 6, 4, 3) = 32
Plus 9 persistent bleed, if it's subject to that.

----------

Spellstrike uncharged at end of turn.

The force arrow strikes without fail. Unfortunately, the bespelled arrow passes harmlessly through a shadow not part of the actual beast (miss).

Breaking away from Kyrie and Humble, the other ankou flies toward Lord Unmar in an effort to trap him with the other. The fey assassin rips a bloody gash in the merchant lord's shoulder. Unmar cries out in pain before running back toward the ginkgo tree and your protection.

Shadow Assassins! Round 2-3. Bold may act.

Environment: Ignore the terrain except that south off of the cliff is a fatal fall.

Effects: - -

Recall Knowledge: Nature

Battle Map

Red Demon (-53 hp) (hunted)
General Hida (-30 hp)
Rakka (186/186 hp)
Blue Demon (-50 hp) (hunted)
Lord Unmar (-26 hp)
Humble (158/158)
Kyrie (233/233)
↫ Round 3 ↬
Kioko (231/231) (cold iron katana)

Kioko has to really run to keep up. She gets a couple of swipes on Red.

Stridex2, Twin Takedown

+2 Greater Striking Extending Ghost Touch Katana: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (2) + 28 = 30
ouch!: 3d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2, 2) + 8 = 15 Slashing, Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, versatile P
deadly if a crit: 1d8 ⇒ 8

+3 greater striking flaming silver fighting fan: 1d20 + 29 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 29 - 2 = 42
ouch!: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 3, 4) + 8 = 19 Slashing, Agile, Deadly d6, Finesse, Uncommon, Backstabber plus fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2
deadly if a crit: 1d6 ⇒ 2 plus 1d10 persistent fire

The vaguely corvid fey of shadow and iron dances warily to avoid the dangerous cold iron sword. Then it shrieks in pain as Kioko's flaming fan rips across its body.

Shadow Assassins! Round 2-3. Bold may act.

Environment: Ignore the terrain except that south off of the cliff is a fatal fall.

Effects: - -

Recall Knowledge: Nature

Battle Map

Red Demon (-74 hp) (hunted)
General Hida (-30 hp)
Rakka (186/186 hp)
Blue Demon (-50 hp) (hunted)
Lord Unmar (-26 hp)
Humble (158/158)
Kyrie (233/233)
↫ Round 3 ↬
Kioko (231/231) (cold iron katana)

Drop to your knees and beg forgiveness.

Humble commends the demons to fall prone. 5th level command w/reach

Kyrie rushes up to the front with Kioko and adds her own blows to the melee.

Shield Strike: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (14) + 26 = 40
Shield Damage: 3d8 + 12 ⇒ (4, 2, 8) + 12 = 26

Everstand Strike (map1): 1d20 + 26 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 26 - 5 = 40
Everstand Damage: 3d8 + 12 ⇒ (7, 5, 6) + 12 = 30

Stride, strike, everstand strike

The fey assassins ignore Humble's command. Kyrie slams her shield into the smoky creature in front of her as it turns to chase after General Hida (movement may trigger reactions). There the creature lashes out before the mercenary captain can escape, nearly ripping his arm off. General Hida's sleeve is quickly seeped in red.

Hida scrambles precariously along the edge of the cliff in his effort to get away from those wicked claws.

Shadow Assassins! Round 3-4. Bold may act.

Environment: Ignore the terrain except that south off of the cliff is a fatal fall.

Effects: - -

Recall Knowledge: Nature

Battle Map

Red Demon (-130 hp) (hunted)
General Hida (-90 hp)
Rakka (186/186 hp)
Blue Demon (-50 hp) (hunted)
Lord Unmar (-26 hp)
Humble (158/158)
Kyrie (233/233)
↫ Round 4 ↬
Kioko (231/231) (cold iron katana)

Rakka moves to interpose himself between the demons and General Hilda as best he can, snapping off another spectral arrow at the red-tinted demon as his bow begins to glow again.

Stride, Stride, Cast force fang conflux spell (recharges Spellstrike).

Force damage vs. red: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 1) + 4 = 12

Spellstrike: charged at end of turn

Rakka repositions and fires an arrow of force through the rust-stained ankou. The energy tears away strands of shadow, but the creature pays it no mind.

The other ankou continues to ignore you and corners General Hida. The fey assassin snatches at the mercenary leader, bloodying his scalp.

Shadow Assassins! Round 3-4. Bold may act.

Environment: Ignore the terrain except that south off of the cliff is a fatal fall.

Effects: - -

Recall Knowledge: Nature

Battle Map

Red Demon (-142 hp) (hunted)
General Hida (-120 hp)
Rakka (186/186 hp)
Blue Demon (-50 hp) (hunted)
Lord Unmar (-26 hp)
Humble (158/158)
Kyrie (233/233)
↫ Round 4 ↬
Kioko (231/231) (cold iron katana)

Humble heals the general, halo flashing, then moves back.

2-Action Heal Font, Healing Hands: 8d10 + 66 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 9, 5, 6, 2, 7, 2, 9) + 66 + (1) = 108

Kioko darts over to try to take out Red before it can flank the General against the cliff.

+2 Greater Striking Extending Ghost Touch Katana: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (7) + 28 = 35
ouch!: 3d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1, 4) + 8 = 17 Slashing, Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, versatile P
deadly if a crit: 1d8 ⇒ 3

+3 greater striking flaming silver fighting fan: 1d20 + 29 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 29 - 2 = 47
ouch!: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 2, 4) + 8 = 16 Slashing, Agile, Deadly d6, Finesse, Uncommon, Backstabber plus fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2
deadly if a crit: 1d6 ⇒ 2 plus 1d10 persistent fire

+3 greater striking flaming silver fighting fan: 1d20 + 29 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 29 - 4 = 44
ouch!: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (1, 2, 2) + 8 = 13 Slashing, Agile, Deadly d6, Finesse, Uncommon, Backstabber plus fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4
deadly if a crit: 1d6 ⇒ 6 plus 1d10 persistent fire

Stride, Twin Takedown, Strike

Kyrie rushes down to help protect the general.

Shield Strike 1: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (19) + 26 = 45
Shield Damage 1: 3d8 + 12 ⇒ (8, 1, 1) + 12 = 22

Everstand Strike (map1): 1d20 + 26 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 26 - 5 = 29
Everstand Damage: 3d8 + 12 ⇒ (3, 8, 3) + 12 = 26

She will try to save retributive strike to protect the general

Stride, strike, everstand strike

Lord Unmar hurries over to stand behind Humble as the assassins seem to ignore the Kalistocrat. Humble restores a great deal of Hida's vigor and most of the wounds heal pristinely.

Kioko strikes at the most injured of the ankou. The shifting shadows around the fey trick her, and her katana feels no resistance as it slices through tendrils of darkness (miss). The Ruby Phoenix fan strikes true and deep, however (crit). Despite the internal flames shining through the ankou's mouth and ribs, it has no protection from the phoenix flames that begin to burn away the shadowy flesh. The fey shrieks telepathically through everyone's minds. She slices with the fan again, drawing more fey blood and, finally, the assassin's attention.

Meanwhile, Kyrie has run to General Hida's defense. Her first strike lands solidly and clearly hurt (hit), but the shadow fey continues to focus on its prey.

Shadows rip away from the burning ankou to surround Kioko. Three more ankou rise up from the shadows and pounce upon the tengu warrior. Kioko twists, ducks, spins, and raises her sword in desperate parries. For her effort, she only suffers two--albeit savagely deep--wounds front the onslaught.

General Hida scrambles to join Lord Unmar in hiding behind Humble. "I tried to--," he begins to say to the merchant lord.

"I know," Unmar interrupts.

Shadow Assassins! Round 4-5. Bold may act.

Environment: Ignore the terrain except that south off of the cliff is a fatal fall.

Effects: - -

Recall Knowledge: Nature

Battle Map

Red Demon (-211 hp) (hunted, persistent d10 fire)
>Dash Red
>Dot Red
>Dash-Dot Red
General Hida (-12 hp)
Rakka (186/186 hp)
Blue Demon (-72 hp) (hunted)
Lord Unmar (-26 hp)
Humble (93/158)
Kyrie (233/233)
↫ Round 5 ↬
Kioko (231/231) (cold iron katana)

Rakka's eyes go wide as three more of the creatures suddenly appear. He shakes his head, as if to clear his thoughts, then fires a glowing arrow past them, at Kioko's original target.

◆◆Spellstrike vs. OG Red w/gouging claw using a cold iron arrow, ◆Recharge Spellstrike

+2 greater striking composite shortbow: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (5) + 28 = 33
Cold Iron Piercing Damage: 3d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 4, 5) + 7 = 19
Deadly 2d10 if needed: 2d10 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

Magical Slashing: 9d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 1, 1, 5, 3, 4, 6) = 26
Plus 9 persistent bleed, if subject to that

Spellstrike charged at end of turn

The situation becomes even more tense as Rakka's arrow flies wide of his target, dragging the spectral claws away with it.

Charging toward Humble, the other ankou remains fixed on its prey. The fey of shadow, iron, and flame makes as if to slash at the cleric, but it is a feint and reaches past for General Hida. Fortunately, its claws are tangles in the overhanging branch of the ginkgo tree.

Lord Unmar moves over and takes cover behind the trunk.

Shadow Assassins! Round 4-5. Bold may act.

Environment: Ignore the terrain except that south off of the cliff is a fatal fall.

Effects: - -

Recall Knowledge: Nature

Battle Map

Red Demon (-211 hp) (hunted, persistent d10 fire)
>Dash Red
>Dot Red
>Dash-Dot Red
General Hida (-12 hp)
Rakka (186/186 hp)
Blue Demon (-72 hp) (hunted)
Lord Unmar (-26 hp) (taking cover)
Humble (93/158)
Kyrie (233/233)
↫ Round 5 ↬
Kioko (231/231) (cold iron katana)

Kioko, glad to have the red demon engaged, lashes out once with her sword and twice with the fan, finishing with a defensive posture.

+2 Greater Striking Extending Ghost Touch Katana: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (10) + 28 = 38
ouch!: 3d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 3, 3) + 8 = 15 Slashing, Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, versatile P
deadly if a crit: 1d8 ⇒ 8

+3 greater striking flaming silver fighting fan: 1d20 + 29 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 29 - 2 = 35
ouch!: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 4, 1) + 8 = 17 Slashing, Agile, Deadly d6, Finesse, Uncommon, Backstabber plus fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2
deadly if a crit: 1d6 ⇒ 3 plus 1d10 persistent fire

+3 greater striking flaming silver fighting fan: 1d20 + 29 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 29 - 4 = 42
ouch!: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 3, 4) + 8 = 19 Slashing, Agile, Deadly d6, Finesse, Uncommon, Backstabber plus fire: 1d6 ⇒ 1
deadly if a crit: 1d6 ⇒ 4 plus 1d10 persistent fire

Twin Takedown, Strike, Twin Parry

Humble doesn't like what he sees with Kioko. Praying to Abadar for his guidance he summons a dense cloud of lightning that glitters like platinum coin. Bolts shock Kioko's system, invigorating her and quickening her flesh while hiding her against the new foes surrounding her. His halo glitters like gold, for good measure.

Healing, Halo: 8d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 2, 3, 8) + (3) = 25
Quickened for 1 min, hidden until end of your next turn.
In addition, Kiuoko can cast 5th-rank thunderous strike as an innate spell at will, using Humble's spell DC.

https://2e.aonprd.com/Spells.aspx?ID=1320

Kioko can take an extra action.

Kioko strikes one more time.

+3 greater striking flaming silver fighting fan: 1d20 + 29 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 29 - 4 = 30
ouch!: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (1, 2, 2) + 8 = 13 Slashing, Agile, Deadly d6, Finesse, Uncommon, Backstabber plus fire: 1d6 ⇒ 3
deadly if a crit: 1d6 ⇒ 4 plus 1d10 persistent fire

Kyrie-bot trusts Kioko to care for herself and charges to protect the civilians. She slams her shield at the ankou. Her first swing is too short, but the second one strikes with a satisfying thunk. She uses the rebounding force to raise her shield into a defensive position.

On the other side of the cliff, the badly wounded ankou concentrates while it burns. The three shadow clones tear at the tengu within the obscuring shadows. Despite what should have been a fatal onslaught, Kioko's flesh is only torn twice. Battered as she may be, she still has plenty of fight left in her.

Shadow Assassins! Round 5-6. Bold may act.

Environment: Ignore the terrain except that south off of the cliff is a fatal fall.

Effects: - -

Recall Knowledge: Nature

Battle Map

Red Demon (-261 hp) (hunted, persistent d10 fire)
>Dash Red
>Dot Red
>Dash-Dot Red
General Hida (-12 hp) (taking cover)
Rakka (186/186 hp)
Blue Demon (-94 hp) (hunted)
Lord Unmar (-26 hp) (taking cover)
Humble (93/158)
Kyrie (233/233)
↫ Round 6 ↬
Kioko (114/231) (cold iron katana) (quickened 1, innate thunderous strike, hidden)

Rakka takes aim at the red-hued demon assaulting Kioko, hoping he can finish off and change the odds here. Targeting the original attacking Kioko.

+2 greater striking composite shortbow: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (1) + 28 = 29
Cold Iron Piercing Damage: 3d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 5, 1) + 7 = 16
Deadly 2d10 if needed: 2d10 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

Magical Slashing: 9d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 4, 1, 5, 6, 1, 2, 2) = 28

◆◆Spellstrike w/gouging claw using a cold-iron arrow, ◆Recharge Spellstrike

---------

Spellstrike charged at end of turn

A gust of wind drives Rakka's arrow wide.

The other ankou ignores Humble and Kyrie to pursue his prey, stalking past the knight. The strange fey tears at Lord Unmar with its bloody claws. Kyrie manages to shield the civilian and strike at the ankou in the same opportunity. The shield passes through ephemeral wings of shadow, though. The ginkgo tree takes the full force of the second strike.

Shadow Assassins! Round 5-6. Bold may act.

Environment: Ignore the terrain except that south off of the cliff is a fatal fall.

Effects: - -

Recall Knowledge: Nature

Battle Map

Red Demon (-261 hp) (hunted, persistent d10 fire)
>Dash Red
>Dot Red
>Dash-Dot Red
General Hida (-12 hp) (taking cover)
Rakka (186/186 hp)
Blue Demon (-94 hp) (hunted)
Lord Unmar (-47 hp) (taking cover)
Humble (93/158)
Kyrie (233/233)
↫ Round 6 ↬
Kioko (114/231) (cold iron katana) (quickened 1, innate thunderous strike, hidden)

Kioko takes advantage of Humble's help to sneakily attack the Red Demon.

+2 Greater Striking Extending Ghost Touch Katana: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (15) + 28 = 43
ouch!: 3d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 3, 4) + 8 = 19 Slashing, Deadly d8, Two-Hand d10, versatile P
deadly if a crit: 1d8 ⇒ 4

+3 greater striking flaming silver fighting fan: 1d20 + 29 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 29 - 2 = 46
ouch!: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 4, 3) + 8 = 17 Slashing, Agile, Deadly d6, Finesse, Uncommon, Backstabber plus fire: 1d6 ⇒ 6
deadly if a crit: 1d6 ⇒ 1 plus 1d10 persistent fire

+3 greater striking flaming silver fighting fan: 1d20 + 29 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 29 - 2 - 4 = 29
ouch!: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 4, 2) + 8 = 18 Slashing, Agile, Deadly d6, Finesse, Uncommon, Backstabber plus fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2
deadly if a crit: 1d6 ⇒ 5 plus 1d10 persistent fire

+3 greater striking flaming silver fighting fan: 1d20 + 29 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 29 - 2 - 4 = 41
ouch!: 3d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 3, 3) + 8 = 18 Slashing, Agile, Deadly d6, Finesse, Uncommon, Backstabber plus fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4
deadly if a crit: 1d6 ⇒ 1 plus 1d10 persistent fire

She keeps her sword and fan in a defensive posture as she is no longer hidden.

Twin Takedown, Strike, Strike, Twin Parry

Humble once again sends Abadar's grace from afar, reaching the surrounded Kioko:

2-Action Heal Font, Healing Hands: 8d10 + 66 ⇒ (6, 3, 9, 8, 8, 3, 8, 8) + 66 = 119

Kioko retaliates against her assailant. Her sword and the blazing fan strike in tandem to tear the ankou in half. A dirty, moth-eaten funeral cloak and a pile of bird bones fall to the ground. Flames still burn at the edges of the cloak. A single gold coin is stuck inside the orbit of the bird's skull. The rest of the ankou surrounding Kioko vanish in that same instant.

Humble reaches out to restore the ranger's vitality.

Shadow Assassins! Round 5-6. Bold may act.

Environment: Ignore the terrain except that south off of the cliff is a fatal fall.

Effects: - -

Recall Knowledge: Nature

Battle Map

Blue Demon (-94 hp) (hunted)
Lord Unmar (-30 hp)
Humble (93/158)
Kyrie (233/233)
↫ Round 6 ↬
Kioko (231/231) (cold iron katana) (quickened 1, innate thunderous strike, hidden)
General Hida (-12 hp) (taking cover)
Rakka (186/186 hp)

Rakka immediately pivots, gathering a spectral claw around the tip of an arrow as he looses it toward the remaining demon!

+2 greater striking composite shortbow: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (17) + 28 = 45
Cold Iron Piercing Damage: 3d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 1, 4) + 7 = 16
Deadly 2d10 if needed: 2d10 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7

Magical Slashing: 9d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3) = 24

◆◆Spellstrike w/gouging claw using a cold-iron arrow, ◆Recharge Spellstrike

---------

Spellstrike charged at end of turn

Kioko spends the rest of her turn running into a flank with Kyrie.

2d20 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

Kyrie steikes qnd steikes, but ger footing is uncertain. She raises her shield…

Kyrie struggles to strike the ankou. However, with only the one left to carry out their mission, the four of you can eventually defeat it. This one disintegrates in the same manner as the first: the body collapses into a pile of bird bones and a tattered black robe. The remains here also hide a single coin.

"Thank you," Lord Unmar says. He looks pale and shaken from the experience. "You undoubtedly saved our lives."

"General" Kaso makes a bow to you. "Yes. Indeed you did. Do you have any idea what those things were? They seemed to be targeting Aldanar and me. But why?"

The cleric returns the gesture with all formalities due a Lord and "General" as his magical hands begin healing any remaining wounds.

Ankou; assassins of the First World. Typically, ones such as these are contracted in service of a greater fey lord or demigod. Have you made powerful enemies of late?

Humble then carefully inspects the coin detect magic rank 4

Lord Unmar shakes his head. "Not I, certainly!"

Hida thinks for a moment before answering. "Not that I would expect. My engagements have all been of the mortal variety. I suppose someone could have contracted with such a power, but that seems less than likely."

The coins are tarnished silver. They are essentially identical, bearing a pagoda tower on both side and with a square perforation in the center.

"What?" Lord Unmar says when he notices Humble eyeing him. "Truth! I'm a merchant. We settle our differences by driving our enemies out of business." He chuckles nervously.

You can move on to another location if you are finished with your interactions.

Options for Day 2
Gather Information on an opposing team or a potential patron.
Explore Goka:
A. Icefang Aerie - stable of winter drakes
B. Five Pillars Academy - wizarding school
C. Lantern Lodge Gallery - a museum housed within a Pathfinder lodge
D. Empress Yin Opera House
E. Shelyn's Comb - an overlook of Goka's famous basalt cliffs
F. Neverending Market - an extremely large marketplace

Humble is interested in the marketplace, naturally.

Marketplace sounds good!

Lord Unmar and General Kaso escort you--or you escort them--back along the path. The guards each brought are standing vigilant where they were left. Clearly, the ankou were stealthy and clever enough to bypass the guards' notice.

"Thank you again for protecting us," Lord Unmar says. "May the rest of your day--and mind--be less exciting."

General Kaso chuckles. "At least less dangerous since we want to see you in the exhibition. Take care. I'm sure I'll see you around this week."

----

The Neverending Market of Goka is renowned for its busy, crowded streets and the ability to find anything in Golarion with enough effort. On your way there, as you turn down a less busy street, a strikingly attractive Tian-Shu woman and two cloaked figures move toward you.

"Good day, contenders," the woman asks with a smile. "Pause a moment to speak with me."

Kioko and Rakka note that the only weapons between the three are one dagger on the belts of each of the two cloaked figures.

"Of course. How can we help you?"

The woman smiles and surreptitiously brushes the edge of her robe with two fingers, briefly revealing a metal pin underneath. Humble immediately recognizes the symbol on the pin as belonging to the Golden League (see spoiler below). It takes Rakka and Kyrie a few moments longer to remember it.

"My name is Kas Xi Rai, an enthusiast of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament," she says with a pleasant smile (artwork does not match written descriptions). "What do you think of the competition?"

Humble gives an appropriate greeting to someone who is likely a member a powerful syndicate family. He gives a noncommittal response, holding his cards close but always interested in potential alliances. The competition is living up to its reputation. The white-robed kalistocrat pivots. I am flattered you've heard of Summary Judgement. Truly you must be an enthusiast indeed, spotting us by chance among the thousands of souls in this bustling monument to mercantilism. The golden scales tip in our favor at times. But it is up to us to maximize the benefits of such moments. His golden halo glitters.

Humble's Diplomacy (M) make impression: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (13) + 28 = 41

"Not so difficult to spot a Avistani knight, an otherworldly Kalistocrat, and two tengu traveling together if an enthusiast such as myself has memorized the roster," Kas Xi Rai says with a light and playful laugh. "As to the chance, we make our own fortune, which is it important to maximize, do you not agree?"