What a wonderful world
What a hell of… a……
“What?”
Sylva looks at Sir Batman.
“What’s the best part of a cricket steak?” Pause for inquisitive brow-cocking. “The flank!”
Sylva ▶️strides, pauses for Flank Buddiness, and ▶️steeeee-▶️rikes!
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Sir Batman watches the bone-man with a bit of disgust.
There's no bones about it! I already don't like this guy!
The Champion Enters his Stance, Raises his Shield and Strides into his square for the Sylva Flank!
The wight snarls as Sylva pummels him, but the groan quickly turns to laughter. ”Feisty ones! I wonder whether the Bone Sages will keep you as pets or sacrifice you to empower their necromantic experiments? It will be fun either way!”
The jabbering undead begins to sing a haunting funereal dirge before slashing at Sylva with his sword.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature is frightened 1.
Failure The creature is frightened 2.
Critical Failure The creature is frightened 2 and takes a –2 status penalty to saving throws against drain life.
“What about…?”
She stifles the question. After some hesitation she just whispers “sorry and doesn’t seem to know what else to do or say…
• • • • •
Sylva is scared witless!
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! DIE DIE DIEDIEDIEDIEDIE
She kicks and punches and does some kind of jumping knee thing!
Bones crack and withered flesh tears as Sylva swiftly and brutally destroys the wight. It falls in a mangled heap at her feet.
You regroup once more around Alelli and her device. With a lurch, the landscape blinks back into the original jungle clearing, everything as before except the archway— the gate’s interior is now filled with a veil of white mist, through which a simple stone chamber is faintly visible. Above the arch, the gate key sputters and sparks, rusting into dust before your very eyes.
Alleli, sweaty from effort, clings to the telescope with both arms, its beam of light pointing steadily back in its original direction. “Hurry!” she says, gesturing to the rapidly deteriorating key. “I don’t know how long it’ll stay open!” She gives you a weary smile. “And thank you—for everything. We will tell this story for generations...”
The booming sounds of the rushing portal drown out Alleli’s final words.
Sylva warp-steps aboard and looks at Alleli perhaps for the last time. “You’re welcome,” she replies because it’s how to respond to thank you.
(That and she’s a little freaked out by what just happened!)
Being a bit freaked out by what just happened, is still happening, about what may yet to happen, and by What's Happening?, Sir Batman winks at Sylva and jumps aboard the magic carpet ride.....
You leap into the archway, light and color surrounding you as you transport across untold millions of miles across the cosmos on the way back to your home planet...
Part 2: They Watched the Stars
Chapter 1: Escape from Skywatch
The final moments in the interplanetary tunnel between Castrovel and Golarion feel like falling through a tunnel of multicolored light. Then, with a sudden flash, reality snaps back into place. The chamber that appears is large, windowless and circular, its center almost entirely occupied by a massive, mechanical telescope. The telescope’s far end pokes out of a wide, rectangular gap in the domed ceiling, beyond which can be seen hundreds of stars in the night sky. The other end of the telescope tapers down to a raised dais, from which a young woman in heavy winter clothing descends.
“Oh, thank the stars, it worked!” Before she can say more, loud, hard bangs issue from the other side of a barred pair of wooden doors. The girl’s smile turns wry. “As you can see,” she says, “I need help.”
Sylva smiles at the pretty woman, who unlike a bunch of other total strangers, isn’t immediately attacking. But before she can even get out a hi…
Yep.
Her eyes narrow at the rude knocking. But to reassure the apparent new friend, she replies, “You have help.
“Any idea who or what’s on the other side of that door?” Her tiny fists are ready for action!
After landing at the Observatory, the bronze-colored sprite immediately peers at the young woman in heavy winter clothing for a wrench, candelabra, rope, gun, or anything else that could be used for murder.
Your name isn't Mrs. Scarlett, is it?
Hearing the loud, hard bangs issuing from the other side of a barred pair of wooden doors, the Champion of Mazludeh readies his Shield and begins striding in that direction.
Hold that thought. Unless it is...
The girl nods. "Yeah, I've got some idea. I was out exploring the city when some sword-swinging toughs started chasing me through the streets. They wore black armor and terrifying war paint, and they made their violent intentions abundantly clear. I just managed to get into the observatory and bar the double door behind me, but it won't hold much longer!"
The doors shudder under several heavy blows. The girl swallows, then reaches into her pouch. "Here, I found these! Take them if you need them." She hands you four lesser healing potions.
Sylva decides to guzzle hers immediately.
It’s really way more liquid than a tiny person should have to consume, but Sylva is healed completely!
“Thanks.”
Sylva then looks for a place to await the inevitable attack.
Even if the door slams open, the knob will prevent it from squashing me against the wall. Then I dive under and...
“Sir Bat. I’ll be right there. See you in the fray!”
She moves to where she’ll be hidden after the door is forced open.
"Get behind us," Ravenna says, still breathing hard from the string of violent encounters. She raises her jezail to her shoulder, ready for whoever is coming through the door.
As you take your positions, the girl takes cover behind Ravenna. A few moments later, the doors burst open, and four hobgoblin warriors rush in! They hesitate, looking surprised to find you waiting for them!
Sir Batman smiles at the nice (totally not a murder) Observatory-ian. The confident bronze-colored sprite just nods at the disturbance at the door.
Please place yourself in a defensive position amougst the more thicker furniture, ma'am.
He gives her a friendly bronze thumbs up, before turning to face the now busted down door and the rude appearance of the hobgoblins.
Gentlemen! We have been through some real f+#*ed up s!$* really recently! We will not be suffering any fools at this time! Please return at later date!
The Champion of Mazludeh then Enters his Stance, Raises his Shield and attempts to wet the pants of the lead hobgoblin!
Sylva dashes to the enemy nearest the bronze bat! She attempts to wet that same goblin’s pants with blood.
Ravenna smirks at the first of the hobgoblins through the door, then immediately opens fire on the lot of them.
Neither Batman nor Nox rattle the hobgoblins. Ravenna shoots the lead hobgoblin once, then the girl behind her grants Sylva a bit of mystical guidance. This allows the rogue to score two hits and drop the first warrior!
The three remaining foes raise their shields as they attack, staying next to one in another in a fighting formation to bolster their defenses.
Sylva works with her flank buddy, ▶️stepping where she needs to!
“Take—muhHUH, stupid shield—THIS!”
After kicking her opponent’s shin, Sylva waves her fingers, though a couple sore knuckles is the least of her worries…
Sir Batman watches as both he and Sylva get smacked in their sprite faces! The Champion of Mazludeh looks confused as to what to do!
Holy double trouble Bat....errr...s*$#! That was a good one!
The bronze-colored sprite uses his Champion's Liberation Reaction for Sylva!
Smiling at the hobgoblin that just bonked him on his bronze-colored bat-shaped head, Sir Batman winks at him.
Ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?
Thinking that bonk on the head actually did fo something, our weird bat decides to just go with the bat flow.
He Raises his Shield, yells spit in the hobgoblin's face and shield bosses him!
The bronze-colored sprite just looks dejected!
Ravenna falls back from the advancing warriors, firing another shot at the one in the lead.
Sylva is the only one who manages a hit, wounding one of the remaining hobgoblins. All three focus their attacks on the rogue, wounding her severely!
Sylva will step if she must, and if her flank buddy follows.
For now, she is determined to knock out an assailant.
“Haha! Who’s next?” Me. Sylva braces herself for the inevitable vengeance.
Sir Batman frowns at the hostile hobgoblins. The bronze-colored sprite then thinks
Are all hobgoblins hostile? I never ever actually met any hobgoblins, except these particular hostile hobgoblins. Did we leave the stove on?
The Champion of Mazludeh snaps out of his deep thoughts to React to Sylva's plight!
Blue eyes starring daggers at the same hostile hobgoblin (evident in actions, not Ancestry), Sir Batman Raises his Shield, screams spit into his face, before Striking with his Shield!
Ravenna simply keeps firing, trying to punch through the defenses of the hobgoblins.
This time, Batman manages to demoralize his opponent, scoring a hit with his shield. Nox batters the same foe with a projectile, knocking the hobgoblin down. Ravenna opens fire, shooting a third hobgoblin square in the chest before finishing her off with a second bullet. Sylva leaps upon the final foe, his furious assault swiftly dispatching the warrior!
”Phew! You did it!” the girl behind Ravenna cheers. ”We should have a few minutes of respite now, at least. I didn’t have a chance to introduce myself earlier. My name’s Sakuachi. What’s yours?”
Sylva turns to the woman with a broad smile. “Pleased to meet you, Sakuachi. I’m Sylva Belle!”
She takes out her Med Kit to tend to her own wounds.
“Is it true that you were in communication with your stargazing counterpart from a million billion miles away?”
She doesn’t mention Alleli’s name. Yet.
Sakuachi smiles. "You mean Alelli? Yes! She lives on another planet, if you can believe it... Well, she must have been the one to send you here to help me, so I'm sure you can believe it!
"As a girl, I spent many long nights studying constellations, practicing with my astrolabe, and divining omens from the wisps and waves of the aurora. Before I was 5 years old, I'd already learned the names of every star configuration, the positions of the visible planets, and how to predict and interpret the movement of the celestial mantle. By the time I was a teenager, I was my hometown Aaminuit's best astronomer.
"That's why Grandmother--I mean, Elder Seshu--chose me for this holy quest. My guides and I must find a living god in lands to the west in order to save my people from a great evil. Before we left, Elder Seshu marked me with this rune for protection."
Sakuachi pulls down the collar of her parka enough for you to see the mark on the back of her neck. It is the same mark each if you bear--the mark of the Gatewalkers!
Slyva says, “I have the same marking! Uh… full body tattoo. Take my word for it, please.”
And her eyes light up at the mention of Alleli’s name. “She is very nice! How is it you know her name? This is…” The little sprite is awestruck, but while pausing for breath it occurs to her she is prying. “…haha! Sorry. I just think the friendship is very beautiful.
“But finding a living god sounds… well… I mean…” She considers every waking moment of the past five weeks (plus one sleeping moment). “…well honestly, it sounds like how we normally spend our Toildays.” I suppose Nox is our leader and we should wait for him to.. aw, f%@$ it. “Yeah, we’re doing this.” With a guilty look, she turns to Nox. “Uh, right? ‘Cause we don’t have other plans.”
Sir Batman will Lay on Hands if Sylva, as she flirts with the nerd lady.
The bronze-colored sprite just grins. If they have time he will repeat every 10 minutes until everyone is healed and he refocused by grinning at Sylva.
After healing everyone and Refocusing, Sir Batman begins to pace and talk.
So, these hobgoblins are here for you? Sent by whom? You think it has to do with you research? Or do you spend extra time at the gambling dens? Could be relevant. No shame. Only the facts, ma'am. Trust us. We are the professionals.
The bronze-colored bat-shaped sprite looks serious. Or as serious as a 6" bronze-colored bat-shaped sprite can.
|
Nox still a writhing pile of monochromatic tendrils, sprite, and dog looks(maybe) over towards Sylva. "Yes we already were doing something, how could you forget already!?" He scolds Sylva.
"We are looking for Osoyo, the Blackfrost Whale. The stars would be aligned of course if we were actually looking for the same being. I'm still not exactly sure why, but it's probably best this thing doesn't wake up or does wake up or dies i'm not sure on the specifics of the scenario we've found ourselves in."
“Oh.” Sylva shrugs. “Do we know where Osoyo is? It’ll be a very convenient coincidence if he’s out west.”
Sir Batman begins humming the theme from Bonanza....
A minute into the humming, Sir Batman hears the strumming of a banjo. But Sylva’s banjo is still strapped to her back. Other instruments join the musical accompaniment.
"I don't think those hobgoblins are here for me, specifically. We're in a city called Skywatch. We came here to seek help finding our way into the lands to the west, but we found the city strangely abandoned and full of danger. The streets seemed to writhe and twist under our feet, confusing our minds. I came here with four guides, but the strange aura suffusing the city caused us to become separated. And that's when the raiders found me.
"I have not heard the name Osoyo before, but I believe destiny has guided you here for a reason. We bear the same mark! Our fates must be intertwined! We should work together to complete our quests, but first, we must find my missing companions."
As you heal up and prepare to depart, however, three more hobgoblins suddenly appear at the door to the observatory! Two warriors stand in front of an archer with crossbow at the ready. The archer shouts a command, ordering her warriors forward!
The archer fires on Batman while the soldiers move in to attack him as well, raising their shields!
Sylva shouts, “Hey! Do you mind?!”
She moves up to the hobgoblin nearest Sir Bat and awaits her flank buddy before striking!
Sir Batman holds a bronze-colored hand up as the hobgoblins come crashing the lecture.
May I have a bathroom hall pass?
The Champion of Mazludeh Enters his Stance, Strides into the offending hobgoblin's square to set up a Flank, and then Everstand Strikes!
He then--freely--Raises His Shield.
Ravenna wings the lead hobgoblin while Batman bashes him, the hobgoblin blocking with his own shield. Nox's projectile comes up short, while Sylva scores a single hit.
The archer reloads, shoot Batman, and reloads again. The soldiers keep their shields up and attack, hitting the champion once.
Sylva stays right where she is and avenges her protective flank buddy!
“Did you not see the pile of bodies? Sprites are not to be underestimated.
AAAAAAAA… well maybe we’re to be underestimated a little.”
Sir Batman--Reacts--quickly Shield Blocking the entire initial strike! Unfortunately, the Champion of Mazludeh is only 4th level and doesn't receive his 2nd Reaction until 6th.
The bronze-colored sprite then Raises his Shield and attempts to Shield Boss the hobgoblins big hobgoblins nose! Twice!
Sir Batman whooshes, whizzes, whirls, twirls, everything but actually connect.
I'm warning you! A lot!
Ravenna and Batman both miss, but Sylva strikes twice, taking down the wounded soldier. The other hobgoblins shift their focus to the rogue. The archer scores a critical hit with her crossbow while the remaining soldier slashes Sylva with her sword!