KaLang's attacks fail to connect. The fear magic certainly doesn't help, but the fiery creature's agility is even more so as it dodges the weapon swing.
Ra'uf swings at ephemeral spirit at the center of the mass of weapons, but the attacks fail to connect as the spirit deflects the blade away.
Ra'uf
KaLang (6 damage, 1d4 persistent fire, grabbed, frightened 1)
Zendel (8 damage, 1d4 persistent fire, grabbed, frightened 2)
Salaish (8 damage)
Arfsnarf
Zhamie
Cinder Rats
. [blue]
. [red] (6 damage)
Forge Spirit
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Zendel wails as the cuff of his jacket catches fire. "That was bespoke tailoring!"
He also takes some minor fire damage.
Then he considers the Forge Spirit and its whirling blades.
◇
◇
He dislikes what his calculations tell him about fighting it at this time, so he concentrates his energies on the pesky cinder rat who damaged his outfit. "Gah! This is for all the smoke damage you've caused!"
◈
Then he casts a spell on both Cinder Rats. "Your disregard for fine tailoring is shocking, but so is this spell!"
◈◈
At the end of his turn, Zendel's fine tailoring reasserts itself and the flame goes out, and he is feeling slightly less frightened.
Zendel doesn't know much about the spirit at a glance. It seems to be more akin to an wrathful undead than anything else.
A strike from the blade slices into the beast-like element as it digs its hold deeper with Zendel's blow.
They show their speed as the fire rolls away in response the arc of lightning. KaLang's combatant is able to avoid it entirely while the other avoids a major injury.
Zhamie able to land another shot with her gun, the bullet tearing away at the elemental flames. The focused fire accumulating significant damage on the elemental. Still it refuses to release its hold.
Ra'uf
KaLang (6 damage, 1d4 persistent fire, grabbed, frightened 1)
Zendel (9 damage, grabbed, frightened 1)
Salaish (8 damage)
Arfsnarf
Zhamie
Cinder Rats
. [blue]
. [red] (26 damage, FF to Arfsnarf)
Forge Spirit
The pair of elementals dodge the electrical bolt again, but the red flames of the heavily injured cinder rat are waning after the multitude of attacks. It is barely able to keep hold under the constant barrage.
Ra'uf
KaLang (6 damage, 1d4 persistent fire, grabbed, frightened 1)
Zendel (9 damage, grabbed, frightened 1)
Salaish (8 damage)
Arfsnarf
Zhamie
Cinder Rats
. [blue] (16 damage)
. [red] (42 damage, FF to Arfsnarf)
Forge Spirit
◇Lingering Performance
◈ Inspire Courage
Salaish then throws one of the many weapons lying around the room at the still breathing red cinder rat.
◈◈
Salasih's song resonates through the myriad of weapons as it pushes the battle more into the party's favor. Taking the discarded blade, Salaish is able to launch at the injured cinder rat. It cut through the elemental and destroys in a spray of embers.
Zendel is free, but KaLang is still in the grip of the remaining elemental rodent.
Tonfer holds Ashgrip tight as he protects it from being pulled into the whirlwind of weapons. "Keep at it! I'll keep the weapon safe while you deal with these "
Despite the resistance KaLang has to its biting flames, the cinder rat bites again and reaffirms its hold. It then wraps itself round KaLang's leg in an attempt to burn away as much of the magus as possible.
Meanwhile the ethereal whips highlight the spirits form dissipate rendering the spirit invisible once more. Still the turbulent swirl of blades, maces, clubs, and spears continues.
Even out of sight the spirit is clearly present and it launches a bundle of objects straight into Ra'uf.
A blessing upon Ra'uf as the weapons collide with counters and anvils, but no one strikes him.
A club is launched at Arfsnarf as well.
Yet, that is similarly successful as the blow is blocked.
Ra'uf
KaLang (10 damage, 1d4 persistent fire, grabbed, frightened 1, Fort)
Zendel (9 damage, frightened 1)
Salaish (8 damage)
Arfsnarf
Zhamie
Cinder Rats
. [blue] (16 damage)
. [red] (56 damage)
Forge Spirit (invisible)
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Salaish isn't quite sure where the heck that spirit tossing things is, and she also doesn't know if sound will harm it. What she does know is that she can drop a Sound Burst spell down that ought to hit it and the remaining rat without hitting any of her allies. A piercing shriek rips through the workshop.
She then raises her buckler to protect her head from flying blades.
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◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
If he manages to drop Green, one of the actions will be replaced with a ◆ Stride to the north of Blue.
You free an ally from restraint. If the trigger was an ally taking damage, the ally gains resistance to all damage against the triggering damage equal to 2 + your level. The ally can attempt to break free of effects grabbing, restraining, immobilizing, or paralyzing them. They either attempt a new save against one such effect that allows a save, or attempt to Escape from one effect as a free action. If they can move, the ally can Step as a free action, even if they didn’t need to escape.
KaLang has difficulty hitting the small target as it continues to wind around his legs. He comes close to scoring a blow, but is barely off each time.
Salaish might not be able to see the spirit, but is able to fill the shop with a blast of sound that well will hit it despite that.
Both of the spontaneous creatures resist the blow. The mass of metal moves entirely to shield the invisible target from the sonic blast.
Ra'uf swings three times and one manages to connect. The other passes through the air while the other is thrown off by a flying blade. Even still, the blow doesn't connect right as the strike passes through the target. The incorporeal spirit does not take the full blow from the greataxe although it takes most of it.
Ra'uf
KaLang (13 damage, 2 temp hp, 1d4 persistent fire, grabbed, shield)
Zendel (9 damage, frightened 1)
Salaish (8 damage, shield)
Arfsnarf
Zhamie
Cinder Rats
. [blue] (20 damage)
Forge Spirit (15 damage, invisible)
The shot tears through the flames of the remaining cinder rat, but it manages to survive the shot and retain hold of KaLang.
While the bullet might have not been able to finish off, it certainly weakened it enough so Arfsnarf could dispatch it with a flurry of missiles. KaLang might be still slightly on fire, but the creature holding onto him is now gone.
Ra'uf
KaLang (13 damage, 2 temp hp, 1d4 persistent fire, shield)
Zendel (9 damage, frightened 1)
Salaish (8 damage, shield)
Arfsnarf
Zhamie
Cinder Rats
. [blue] (48 damage)
Forge Spirit (15 damage, invisible)
As Zendel closes the distance, the spirit reacts with a sweeping strike from a sword through the air.
Even though Ra'uf's step is able to negate some of the blow, the damage dealt by the swing is significant.
Looking for weak points, Zendel is unable to any vital area to deal a precise blow. Despite that, with the swift delivery of his blade, Zendel is able to strike into the incorporeal creature and deal significant damage.
Grabbing what weapons he can and pulling them out of the air Tonfer commends your work, "keep at it! My weapons can take more a beating then this spirit!"
The spirit once again becomes visible and manifests in full rage to drive you back!
The spirit's image among the myriad of weapons is not as as effective as it was before. The magic fails completely against those that already resisted and only is able to affect KaLang this time.
It focuses on Ra'uf though as it falls back to the corner of the room, where it can be protected by the whirling wall of weapons. It takes one of those spears from its collection and launches it at Ra'uf.
But it just barely misses connecting.
Ra'uf
KaLang (13 damage, 2 temp hp, 1d4 persistent fire, frightened 2)
Zendel (24 damage)
Salaish (8 damage)
Arfsnarf
Zhamie
Forge Spirit (22 damage)
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Zhamie reloads her rifle and attempts to calculate chances on the Spirit. She also tries to remember anything about the creature.
She throws her plan out as it didn't fit anything she had in mind. Stepping forward, she slaps a battle dressing on the wounded Zendel.
Cursing, she pulls out a Throwing Knife.
As KaLang closes the distance the spirt sweeps out with a twirling blade.
The blades cuts into KaLang, but he is able to match the blow for a blow by cutting through the spirit.
Zendel is lock the arc of electricity between two of the metallic weapons. The lightning strikes right through the roaring spirit and is followed by Arfsnarf's volley of missiles.
Ra'uf
KaLang (25 damage, 0 temp hp, 1d4 persistent fire, frightened 2)
Zendel (24 damage)
Salaish (8 damage)
Arfsnarf
Zhamie
Forge Spirit (56? damage)
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Salaish's spell and Ra'uf's first swing hit only the air and bounce of the swirling steel. Ra'uf's second strike though is able to land and rip though the spirit. The roaring wind fades away and echoes into the distance. The weaponry falls to the floor and bounce against the tables as they settle.
Soon the fires attacking KaLang end moments later as well.
Tonfer loosens his hold on Ashgrip as he turns to all with a smile, "I'm grateful for the aid. I believe there is a bit more work that needs to go into Ashgrip, but igniting the magic within is the hardest step. With your aid I believe it will make a glorious weapon."
He offers a sturdy handshake to you all for your work. "If you have need to purchase more steel, I would be proud for you to carry my mark into battle."
Viltydus nods as the side as they note, "your efforts are to be commended and you have accomplished all I have set before you. These actions will lay the groundwork for heroes in the future that I might not even yet know."
With their blessing the crossroads guardian recommends, "I have no more tasks for you, but I may offer you stay here for a short time. You may enjoy your time here without me pressing you forward."
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KaLang looks down and notices the flame. Patting it out, he grunts in amusement that he hadn’t really noticed it during the battle.
Heairing that there will be no more tasks for the day, KaLang offers to help Tonfer clean up the smithy. While doing so, he mentions his interest in learning to craft magical weapons and asks some advice — other than be careful when doing it near legendary sites.
By the time that the shop is cleaned up, he is also healed.
Ra'uf is able to attune to his new weapon and KaLang is directed to the nearby scribe who has a smattering of more assorted items including the magical scroll.
You are able to rest, recuperate and spend several days in Port Valen without need of tasks as you talk to the locals and provide support for the lodge.
With the next evening you are awoken by the rattling of wind at your windows. Viltydus waits outside and grimly declares, "prepare quickly. Meet me at the forest edge. Follow that path and be swift." They direct toward one of the paths into the Forest of Trials. They leave immediately and offer little chance of questions before they are gone.
Night blankets the land, and dim illumination is provided by the moonlight as you follow the path and see Viltydus standing at amid the site of a fearsome battle.
There are broken branches, scuffed tree trunks, and recent spatters of dried blood indicate that lead into the wood.
Viltydus lets out a deep, slow sigh. "My life's purpose is to prepare heroes to enter the forest, to guide them to victory. Sometimes, though, the forest proves too dangerous."
They look worrisome upon the damage evident in the area as they continue.
"For every warrior who finds their way to Valenhall, a dozen others fall before they reach their goal. I sense one has fallen this night."
Directing you toward the trail Viltydus tasks you, "Pathfinders, your task is to recover the one whom the forest has felled. Bring them home alive if they can be saved. Return their remains for final services if they cannot."
"No, my insights are limited to those that stand before me." They linger on the broken branches and scars of battle. "Such revelations would be left to you."
"Passage through the Forest of Trials is not lacking in threats; that is far more true within the shadow. This is far from the first and will likely not be the last."
The signs of battle leave a clear trail through the forest.
Going over the portions of the sight some information is becoming evident. Zendel is able to go over the markings and determine that several gouges in the trees are from feline claw marks.
Not all are typical though and KaLang may have a guess as to why. The positioning of the markings and bipedal prints on the ground indicate a humanoids with animal traits. Combined with the current phase of the moon suggest the attackers may be lycanthropes. Shapechangers that can pass on a terrible curse that comes to a head with the full moon.
Without a body, Zhamie can't be certain, but the marks of battle show this was one traveler against many of the creatures.
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As they move to head down the trail of carnage, Arfsnarf gets an eerie feeling.
Looks like a path setup for ambush by the cat-people! You hear an audible goblin-gulp.
He meekly follows from the back, hoping most of all to not be seen by a cat-person.
Maybe we take advice from the clacky rock before we get into too much trouble...
You follow the trail for close to hour. You can see signs of the attackers breaking off several times only to come back for another furious clash. Each time the sites growing in size.
Managing to keep a decent pace you follow the signs of blood to further and are met with a woman who readies a shortspear as you approach and her other hand ready to cast a spell. She is an adult Mahwek women dressed in clothing unlike those worn by the people of Port Valen. Her clothing favoring darker colors and using hides unlike the furs you have seen.
After looking at you she lowers her weapon and allows herself to relax for moment. She slumps backward and is only barely able to grab ahold of a tree to avoid falling to the ground completely. "You should not be here. This place is far too dangerous."
"I'm sorry you have come this far for me, but I don't want to put your lives in danger for my sake. Head back. I may have enough strength to draw those monsters away from you."
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The shoony rushes over to her to check her wounds. "Yeah, that's not how we do things. The monsters come to us, we thwack them, and we all go home. Including you."
Ra'uf then starts patching her up, mundanely if the opportunity allows, magically if necessary.
When that doesn't work, he moves on the Lay on Hands.
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Zhamie follows Zendel's lead and makes the attack the subject of her investigation.
Zhamie carefully observes the trail for anything out of the ordinary.
Zhamie also lends a hand to Ra'uf if needed.
"Mon Dieu! I'm sorry!"
Zhamie then readies her Jezail, unslinging it and checking that a round is loaded.
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Zhamie checks the trails and finds the group is safe for the moment.
She hakes her head and winces from the sudden movement. "I have already given up on reaching Port Valen. As the night fell I was given a premonition of the 'cat-persons' attacking others by Cihua Couatl. I steps forward to change their fate, to draw the attention away from others so they may pass safely."
Her resolve remains firm despite her showing extreme fatigue. "My body is exhausted as well as my magic. I would be nothing, but a burden to you. I knew the price I might pay and I'm not willing for any of you to take that burden."
[ooc]You each try to convince her to return with you by making skill checks. You can use Cihua Couatl Lore, Diplomacy, Fortune-Telling Lore, Religion, or Society. These are not secret checks. Gossip Lore can be used as well.
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KaLang gives a grunt of annoyance.
“Not your choice. Just as you stepped forward to save others, we are here to save you. It is our decision to make.”
“Your choice is how much of a burden you will be. You can cooperate which increases all of our chances, or waste time and effort trying to do this alone when we are here.”
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"What may we call you?" Zendel sits on the ground next to the woman. "My name is Zendel. I have travelled all the way from across the sea so that I might help Viltydus help those who are on their Hero's Journey. Viltydus woke us up in the middle of the night because he had the vision that you might need help."
He points to the badge that Viltydus gave him. "This was offered to me from Viltydus in honor of helping another hero on her journey, but I would bring shame on it if I were to abandon you now. So... If you are exhausted in mind and body, then rest and we will protect you. You know the price you may pay, well so do we. We are Pathfinders. We are called to explore, cooperate, report. Consider it our oath that we may not abandon you in your time of need."
Zendel looks over at her. "I do not know much about Cihua Couatl, but have you considered that your goddess may have warned you to save you, and that she may have given that vision to Viltydus, so that we may all protect each other?"