Sylvia shakes off the rocky feeling she gets as she wracks her brain for anything she might remember about these creatures.
Slyvia then covers much of the battlefield in a stinking cloud, hoping to slow down the lizards' stony gazes.
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Sylvia is certain these are basilisks. If you can see them, their gaze can turn you to stone. The good news is you can bathe a recently petrified victim in freshly-killed basilisk blood to reverse the effect. 3 medium sized people can restored with one dead basilisk.
Basilisks are relatively slow, but they can react by staring at you before you can act. They can also spend time actively staring at you. Closing your eyes, blinding them or diving behind cover can avert their gaze.
Recalling this, Sylvia produces a cloud of noxious gas to block their vision.
Basilisks (Red 10 damage)
Azu (Azu's dino must make 4 Fort Saves DC 20 at the start of their turn)
Itka
Sylvia
Kamil (Fort Save DC 22 or Slowed 1, must make a Fort Save DC 20 at the start of your turn)
Thrass (Crane Stance AC 24)
Celestia (10 damage, Slowed 1)
You are slowed 1.
You turn to stone and are permanently petrified.
Slyvia nervously tries to shout "Basilisks... avert your gaze, or kill them, or close your eyes. Just don't exsanguinate all of them, we need the blood to fleshify victims!"
Caught off-guard, the team draws their weapons, enhances their abilities, and gets in position.
Basilisks (Red 10 damage)
Azu (Prey: Green basilisk)
Itka
Sylvia
Kamil (Hasted, Slowed 1)
Thrass (Crane Stance AC 24)
Celestia (10 damage, Slowed 1)
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"Hmp!" Well, that escalated quickly. Are these her pets? Wishing that she'd prepared different spells today (isn't it always that way?), Itka very nearly steps back to cast Evil Eye on the nearest basilisk before catching herself. Hmp. That would be stupid. Instead, she casts Fear on the red one before averting her gaze so she doesn't become petrified.
Itka decides to not lock eyes with the white-frilled creature and instead frightens it.
Sylvia's toxic gas deters the basilisks.
The Yellow frilled Basilisk crawls through the noxious cloud, eventually stopping in front of Kamil. The Green frilled creature makes it with enough time to take a bite in Azu's general direction.
The lizard with White frills crawl out and tries to bite Thrass twice, not doing much in the process.
The other Basilisks spend their time getting out of the gas and are unable to bite anyone. But their gaze holds strong.
As you move, the basilisks begin staring at you.
Basilisks (Red 10 damage, White Frightened 2, All Sickened 1)
Azu (Prey: Green basilisk, Avert Gaze for +2 bonus)
Itka (Avert Gaze for +2 bonus)
Sylvia
Kamil (Quickened, Slowed 1)
Thrass (Crane Stance AC 24)
Celestia (10 damage, Slowed 1)
Feeling herself beginning to turn to stone Sylvia follows Azu's example and closes her eyes and unleashes a fireball between the buildings.
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Thrass aims his gaze at the ground. He's been lucky so far, but that luck will run dry sometime.
He then unleashes a flurry of crane kicks to White, hopefully putting it out of commission.
With his last action, he starts unhooking his shield from his back, making it ready to raise when needed.
EDIT: No, you know what, third action is going to depend on whether White is still standing. If White drops, grabbing shield. If not, third attack on White.
Azu rallies the team and swings blindly, critically cutting into the Green frilled lizard and knocking it off balance. His follow up attack also hits.
Slyvia notices the monsters have assumed her favorite fireball formation and lets one loose before shutting her eyes.
Kamil drives his blade into the White-frilled beast before unleashing a bolt of lightning across the plaza.
Fresh ozone wafts through the air as two of the creatures are torn apart.
By the time Thrass averts his gaze and prepares himself, he realizes his target isn't moving anymore. So he kicks the Yellow frilled creature and grabs his shield.
Feeling the tide turn, Celestia calls upon the heavens to Bless her allies and guide their aim. Slyvia and Ikta feel her blessing.
Basilisk Green 36 Damage, Flat-footed, Sickened 1
Basilisk Yellow 35 Damage (some Non Lethal), Sickened 1
Basilisk Purple 24 Damage, Sickened 1
Azu (Prey: Green basilisk, Eyes Closed)
Itka (Avert Gaze for +2 bonus)
Sylvia (1 action left, Eyes Closed)
Kamil (Quickened, Slowed 1)
Thrass (Crane Stance AC 24)
Celestia (10 damage, Slowed 1, Bless 5ft)
Sylvia protects herself with a shield spell.
Itka summons tentacles that slam a fragment against the Green Basilisk's nostrils.
The basilisk stares at Celestia before biting once. Sylvia quickly intercedes its jaws with her magical shield.
The basilisk in Yellow stares at Kamil before biting Thrass. His Crane Style training pays and keeps its jaws at bay.
The Purple-frilled basilisk Steps up to bite Thrass, sinking its teeth into his flank.
As you begin moving, the Basilisks react to your every move with a passing glance. You feel your muscles slow down in response.
Basilisk Green 56 Damage
Basilisk Yellow 35 Damage (some Non Lethal)
Basilisk Purple 24 Damage
Azu (Prey: Green basilisk, Eyes Closed)
Itka (Avert Gaze for +2 bonus, Bless)
Sylvia (Eyes Closed, Bless)
Kamil (Quickened via Haste, Slowed 1)
Thrass (15 Damage, Crane Stance AC 24, Avert Gaze for +2 bonus)
Celestia (10 damage, Slowed 1, Bless 5ft)
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Statues of her allies are solidifying all around her, and Itka is both confused and grateful for the fact that the basilisks have largely ignored her so far. Knowing that she can't count on such good luck to last, she conjures more greasy tendrils to grab that frog statue and bash the nearest basilisk in the skull before averting her gaze again. "Hmp! Die already!"
Itka smashes another pile of rubble into the basilisk's Green frills. It seems on the verge of death...
Kamil and Celestia's limbs refuse their minds' commands. They slow down and their perceptions are frozen in time. Their allies see flesh and bone turn to solid marble.
Not wanting to throw another fireball blindly Sylvia opens her eyes and nervously adjusts her glasses, rather than scream she focuses and lets out a stream of soot sprites, trying to topple green and work on the next one.
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Thrass grunts as Purple takes a bite out of him, but he's still ready to attack. He keeps his gaze aimed at the ground for protection, then retaliates with more kicks. He focuses on the one that seems most injured, though it's hard to tell when looking half-away.
With his final action, he puts his shield in between himself and the lizards for extra protection.
Sylvia risks it and fires one missile right into the lizard in front of her, felling it. Five more slam into the Yellow-frilled lizard.
Thrass waits for Azu before unleashing his flurry!
Ako forces their muscles to remain fully active even as the Basilisks stare them down. Azu swings at open air before correcting his swing and hitting. Ako bites down on the purple lizard.
Thrass quickly analyzes the lizard's injuries and decides the Yellow-frilled Basilisk is the most wounded. His first kick definitely cracks bone as it critically strikes. The second swing knocks it right out. Then he raises his shield to defend himself against the final basilisk.
The Basilisk hisses and chooses a new person to petrify. For whatever reason the Basilisks really hate Ako.
The basilisk bites the dinosaur out of further spite.
Sylvia realizes the Basilisk is staring right at her as she begins to act.
Basilisk Purple 44 Damage
Azu (Prey: Purple basilisk, Eyes Closed, Ako 13 damage)
Itka (Avert Gaze for +2 bonus)
Sylvia
Kamil (Petrified)
Thrass (15 Damage, Crane Stance AC 24, Avert Gaze for +2 bonus, Shield Raised AC 26)
Celestia (10 damage, Petrified)
Sylvia knows her allies are counting on her, but force of will is not enough as she begins to slow.
"I hope this is enough." says Sylvia defiantly as she fires an electric arc at the remaining basilisk.
Thrass leaves the creature off balance long enough for Sylvia's electric burst to fell it.
Naturally, the guards arrive just as you slay the final basilisk. "Kesstraka!" The finest dressed guard looks at her, then turns to you. "Greetings, I'm Captain Hazar. I heard a violent hissing noise and got here as soon as I could."
Sylvia adjusts her glasses as her hair continues to get worse and worse. "Exsanguinate them quickly and cover Kesstraka, Celestia and Kamil with the blood."
"Basilisks?" Captain Hazar looks with alarm before pointing to three of his soldiers. "You heard the woman. Gut this one and smear them with its blood. On the double!"
Kamil and Celestia remember a heated battle with blades and magic. Just as they felled two Basilisks, the remaining three locked eyes with them. The world became dizzy...
And now they are covered in basilisk blood, with an iruxi guard quickly backing off.
Kesstraka's demanor breaks for just a moment as she spits out some basilisk blood. "Never a dull moment in this job." She looks at her dress. "This will require several days in the laundry."
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Celestia looks down at her own blood soaked robes. Indeed not m'lady. And I concur . as well as a long soak in the warm waters here.
She also thanks the guards in the native language before extending her Angelic Halo and casting a three action Heal on everyone (3rd level).
Discretely she kicks one of the basilik bodies.
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"Hmp. I'm the official stain-treater." Itka begins casting Prestidigitation on all the bloody people, her brow furrowed into a deep frown. "Hmp. If anyone needs healing when I'm finished, I'll patch them up as best I can." Hopefully her hands aren't as rough as her voice.
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Wh...wha... what happened?! says Kamil as his turns back in flesh and blood. Looking around and seeing himself full of blood, and not his and the corpses of the creatures he quickly realize what was this all about.
Oh! Yes, basilisks. Good riddance and good catch for whoever put blood on us.
With a quick arcane word, Kamil removes all the blood soaking his clothing and turns to Kesstraka with a flourished bow.
Kamil Durus, Pathfinder Agent, at your service! It seems that we've arrived in time. At the sound of the officer's voice, it seems that these beasts are not common in this area. Someone doesn't like you or doesn't want you to meet us.
He turns to the officer that seems in charge and demands Do you need help in your investigation. It seems that these creatures were intended against an ally of our organization. It seems fair that we help you on this matter.
"We'll begin an official investigation of this." Captain Hazar kneels down to look. "Sometimes basilisks are found outside the town gates. We would have hunted a few down had you not stopped them here." He scrapes some of the blood and rubs it against his fingers. "But it may have taken a few days..."
Kesstraka renews her demeanor. "I thank you, Captain. I think things are under control here?"
Captain Hazar nods. "Yes, this isn't my first basilisk rodeo. We'll perform a formal investigation, track down where they came from. But the immediate crisis is resolved." He turns to the other guards. "Alright, let's clean this up!" The guards begin to haul basilisk carcasses away. He bows. "A good day to you all."
Kesstraka pulls up a chair at a large table. "Now that the small talk and entertainment are taken care of..." She motions to the chairs. "Let's get down to business."
Kesstraka pulls up a few chairs and invites you to sit before calling for some snacks and drink.
“You have come a long way to negotiate a trade agreement—and from what I am told, you do not belong to this Vidrian you represent. Why come all this way to speak for another?”
“What is it that you do when you are not working for this society of Pathfinders I am told you represent? What do you do when your time belongs to you and you alone, I wonder?”
She makes smalltalk, trying to get to know you a bit more.
Kesstraka talks about her trips to Droon, the initial confusion with friends of her mother, and her interactions with Vidrian. She seems eager to hear more about your lives, your successes and your failures, beyond your duties as Pathfinders.
b]"Now that the small talk and entertainment are taken care of... Let's get down to business."[/b]
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To Kamil, Thrass says, "Or these things were sent to stop us. Either way, doesn't look good. Someone doesn't want us here, I think."
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Once they've sat down, Thrass unhooks another fish, offers it to everyone around the table, then chomps down on it himself. When Kesstraka asks about his past, he says, "Well, I come from a small tribe of iruxi up in Taldor, much less impressive than this city. Mostly built out of sticks and mud, really. I am truly impressed by your architecture. But out simpler life also offers some advantages. We're all trained for combat, which happened to save our life just now.
"And that is precisely why we're here. We do not represent Vidrian itself, but as Pathfinders, we believe that exchange of information and cultures is important. Had the Pathfinders not come to my little village, I'd still be tanning hides and sleeping on a bunch of straw. We ask that you are in favour of the trade agreement not just for our sake, but for everyone's. That you can learn from our culture and the other way around. Together, we can rise out from the mud into a better future."
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I was sent as part of my diplomatic training to help with this trade agreement, which I believe will not only benefit those directly involved but also other peoples in the area as well - flow on effects for instance
As for what I do when I am not a Pathfinder, I enjoy music and dancing. I am actually hoping to experience some iruxi culture while I am here.
Sylvia adjusts their glasses, clearly nervous about the interaction.
"Well, see.. we... we were sent to try and make arrangements and understand you were of importance and should be spoken too about these things."
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Hmp. Most of us are still in fight-mode. This isn't going as well as we'd thought. Itka muses as she listens to the others. When it comes to her turn, she clears her throat. "<hrgh> Hmp. What do I do in my time off duty? I've been studying with a much more powerful witch than I'll ever live to be, but for some reason she's taken an interest in me. Hmp. She's a harsh one, but fair, in her own way. Hmp. Other times I research and give lectures on the Shadow Plane. It's a fascination I've had since my early days in Pathfinder training. Hmp. Anyway, you're right that we're not from Vidrian, which makes our representation...incomplete, if you will. Having a more local representative with a respected reputation like yours would certainly aid Vidrian's interests."