Shenendril's arrow cannot penetrate the thick earth skin of the elemental but the eagle can scratch it once.
Ryskovich can really cut into the elemental and stone cracks!
The brown elemental can resist the misfortune effect!
Ash can really grapple the mephit although the small humanoid creature with thin, leathery wings and small horns still has a mischievous smile.
Zandu hits the elemental hard and is even able to push it to fall down the bridge!!
When the elemental hits the ground its body cracks and the creature is dead!
Camina unfortunately misses with both punches!
~
The other elemental hits Ash hard!
~
The grappled mephit suddenly looks at Ash and sprays rocks in his face and the fountain also hits Camina and the the dwarf and her bugs who shout out in pain!
~
Round 3
Mephit, -14, fast healing 2, DR 5/magic
Ash, -10, reflex save
Ryskovich, -3
Agrawgh
Shenendril, -7
Zandu, -3
Camina, -7, reflex save
Ilarien, -7
Earth elemental, brown, -10
Earth elemental, black, dead
BOLD are up!
The celestial eagle maneuvers into a better position before attacking again.
Ryskovich positions himself, Ilarien starts casting and although Shenendril‘s arrow again does not hit, her bird can again scratch the elemental.
|
Ash grunts as the mephit spits rocks and soil into his face. "Oh, I also have something hard for your face." he thinks about what he just said, and pauses. "No, not that. Here. Let me show you."
He decides to return the favour by slamming his fist into the flying bastard twice.
"There's more where that came from, if you want."
The mephit immediately drops to the ground after these impactful punches and it seems to have been killed!
~
Round 3
Mephit, dead
Ash, -13
Ryskovich, -3
Agrawgh
Shenendril, -7
Zandu, -3
Camina, -7, reflex save
Ilarien, -7
Earth elemental, brown, -10
Earth elemental, black, dead
BOLD are up!
Camina throws a flurry of punches and destroys large chunks of rock.
~
The elemental hits Ashh again hard!
~
Round 3
Mephit, dead
Ash, -22
Ryskovich, -3
Shenendril, -7
Zandu, -3
Camina, -7, reflex save
Ilarien, -7
Earth elemental, brown, -27
Earth elemental, black, dead
BOLD are up!
Unfortunately, the arrow does not penetrate the tough elemental skin!
|
Ilarien completes her spell, and some of the cavern's rock coalesces into a small but doughty cousin to the remaining elemental. The witch points at the remaining enemy. In response, her conjured servant strikes at its larger relation.
It holds back at the last second, though, and fails to do any damage.
With nothing else to do to the last elemental, Ilarien takes a step back and heals the wounded dwarf with a touch.
The celestial eagle flies around to assault the remaining elemental, as well.
None of the Pathfinders can connect with the sturdy elemental!
The healed dwarf looks frightened but also appreciatively nods at Ilarien.
Zandu is also unsuccessful!!
Camina finally puts the elemental to rest and the rock crumbles!!
“Thank you, thank you!!“ the dwarven ladies shout.
Nef thanks you profusely, explaining that while marauding elemental gangs are fairly common outside the Vault, they normally work further afield and are too cautious to attack so openly.
The elementals carry a small cache of stolen gems worth 500 gp.
~
The remainder of the journey is uneventful and takes about an hour. When you arrive at the Issawa estate, Nef and Annie begin unloading their cargo.
The bronze- skinned and businesslike Zuhair Issawa, a large male noble shaitan, introduces himself.
“I heard about the ambush. Coincidence?!“ he just says and inspects the contents of the wagon.
After the inspection, Zuhair dismisses you.
“Go now please!“
|
If Shenendril was expecting thanks for saving this man's valuables from being stolen, she's disappointed.
If someone expected her to show that disappointment they would be less disappointed.
"It's just a good thing we Pathfinders were there to protect your goods," she replies to Zuhair, shortly before turning on her heels and marching back towards the Ungrounded's headquarters.
Zuhair Issawa thinks for moment after hearing Shenendril's words.
"Okay, I understood what you wanted to say young lady. You have the wrong element in your veins but you are correct!" he says and thanks you for safely transporting his gems.
He gifts you a silver signet ring bearing the Issawa family crest that is worth 100 gp and functions as a ring of protection.
"Goodbye!" he says as you leave.
You return to the Ungrounded barracks.
To your surprise there is an official summons from General Faiza bint Hanif, the shaitan officer who oversees the Ungrounded and acts as liaison between the mercenaries and the Sultana’s armed forces.
A veteran of both the mercenary company and the Empire’s military, she is a hard but fair woman, and has little patience for nonsense you have heard.
THE HEARING
When you arrive at the location requested, General Faiza bint Hanif and Captain Othis are seated on opposite sides of a mahogany desk in a spacious, immaculate office.
Glass cases along the walls display medals, ceremonial armor and weapons, and framed commendations granted to former and current members of the Ungrounded, including General Hanif herself.
The general begins, "Thank you for coming. I think I met some of you before. And I have heard of you!" she greets you politely but wastes no time on idle chatter before delving into the list of complaints against your unit.
"I can compliment you for moving quickly through basic training, but I see several notes of demerits that your group incurred!"
The general shakes her head. She really resembles a towering human with skin of polished stone and glittering agate eyes.
The general is truly interested in your story. She has no hidden agenda you believe.
“No you may not. I order you to describe your version of the events of your training including the brawl between recruits!“ the general orders.
Captain Othis looks at you. “For each event, General Hanif was provided with the highlights of your failings!“ she says with a snarl.
General Hanif wants to hear from all of you, not just the most charismatic it seems.
Before you present your case, she informs, “I have no interest in hearing the
tale from a truth-spinning silver tongue, and as such, each of you must speak in your group’s defense!!“
|
|
Shenendril fights down the urge to sigh and curse. What is it about this place and their arbitrary rules?
"Honorable General Hanif, I cannot deny that we have not performed up to usual Pathfinder standards and I will not hide behind the excuse of injustice to justify our failures. However, in the interest of justice and honesty I will point out that Captain Othis never intended to give us a fair chance and that, furthermore, she has ulterior motives for denying us that chance."
"We will begin with what should have been a mock combat with dulled weapons to prove our fighting skills. We obeyed all the rules but our opponents were armed with real weapons and one of our number was injured. Further, it became evident that our opponents' weapons were poisoned and that those opponents had been bullied into poisoning them by Othis, despite their protests."
At least the general seems interested in getting to the truth.
The general only looks at the captain with a disapproving look but waits for the group to continue.
The general raises an eyebrow and shakes her head. But this time she does not look at the captain.
“The next one! Continue!“
|
|
Zandu nods along with the other's testimony. As the others wrap up, he chimes in at the end. "Poison wasn't the only thing the captain bullied others into doing. In talking to the dwarf that we fought in the arena match, he said that the captain beat one of their companions until their tortured screams prompted him to agree to not only use poisoned weapons, but also to sabotage the obstacle course. I couldn't believe it at first, but such behavior seems perfectly inline with the other actions the captain has taken since our arrival."
|
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Ilarien produces the Aspis letter. "We also have a letter to the Captain from Cauchemar, a senior agent of the Aspis Consortium. While her membership in that organization isn't an issue by itself--as you know, we're members of the Pathfinder Society--the implication is that she was to sabotage our participation in the Ungrounded. On its face that's something between us and the Aspis Consortium, but as you've seen from the other evidence we've presented she put the reputation of the Ungrounded at risk to pursue their aims."
|
|
Ilarien produces the Aspis letter. "We also have a letter to the Captain from Cauchemar, a senior agent of the Aspis Consortium. While her membership in that organization isn't an issue by itself--as you know, we're members of the Pathfinder Society--the implication is that she was to sabotage our participation in the Ungrounded. On its face that's something between us and the Aspis Consortium, but as you've seen from the other evidence we've presented she put the reputation of the Ungrounded at risk to pursue their aims."
[dice=Diplomacy check, base]1d20 + 1
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Ash stands when it's his time to speak. He tries to look as soldiery as possible, but it's never been one of his qualities.
"Madam, I have personally been talking to the other soldiers in the unit. And while I do not have evidence for these claims, I believe they were reflecting the truth in one way or another. Just before our arrival, or so did some other soldiers say, morale in the unit was not great. After our" he makes air quotes "nonlethal excercise, one of our sparring partners approached us and confessed to us that Captain Othis had quite literally beaten up a soldier in her office, behind closed doors. For not wanting to sabotage the obstacle course for us and use poisoned blades during the sparring training. I admit to not being a great thinker, but there are two possibilities here. Either the Captain is working to sabotage the cooperation and relationship we are trying to foster here - on behalf of this 'Aspis' organisation - or, and bear with me here, since I am not sure about event prior to our arrival, there is a doppleganger, and the actual Captain is locked up somewhere, if not dead. It is my hope the latter is the case. If not, your military was infiltrated by a third party."
He starts to sit down, but stands up again. "The beaten-up soldier was Herma. Or so we've been told. Thank you."
Now he sits down.
|
|
"We also have a note from one 'Slagcrusher'. In addition to referring to him/herself in the third person, this Slagcrusher committed the crime of highway banditry and seems to have conspired with Captain Othis. In a letter to the captain, Slagcrusher thanked her for giving away a 'tasty' gem location. For this reason, we think the ambush we thwarted was arranged with the captain in advance."
Captain Othis suddenly stands up!
"This is outrageous! the Pathfinder Society as a nest of roaches! All of these lies and given the number of incidents surrounding these new recruits, they should be dismissed as a liability!!" she says with a stern look.
The general leaves this uncommented.
After you have successfully presented your pieces of evidence, General Faiza bint Hanif crisply speaks, "Thanks you, for your honesty!" and aims an icy glare at Captain Othis.
Othis wants to begin her rebuttal, but Hanif raises a hand to cut her off, then replies flatly, “Silence, Othis. You will waste no more of my time.”
A pair of shaitan officers moves in to escort Othis out of the office, and the general orders them to secure Othis while she launches a formal investigation.
Once the captain is out of the room, the general look at all of you.
"You have presented evidence that you have collected and you have convinced me that Othis is conducting intentional sabotage. This has raised serious questions in my mind about Othis’s position as a training officer!" she says and is clearly in thought.
|
|
Shenendril's shoulders actually sag with relief at being believed and that Hanif sees reason rather than being entrenched in her politics.
Then, she purposefully stands up straight and squares her shoulders again.
"Despite these issues, I see much that is to be respected in the Ungrounded. One bad actor does not represent a whole group. I hope that your organization and the Pathfinder Society will have closer connections in the future," she says.