Radim ignores the smoke, but the smoke does not ignore him. He catches nothing but air as he swings in the Rat's general direction.
Samantha approaches the aquatic shark and cuts into it. She can already feel the wind and rain swirling outside.
"Let's see... carry the one here. Look upon the moon at this phase here..." Lashweather continues to mumble into his book.
The Cinder Rat lives on to continue biting Radim.
The shark goes after Samantha, unable to do much to her.
Wind and Water flow into the lighthouse to form one hawk and one shark. "I think I'm close..." Lashweather mumbles.
Dran'Tilt (14 damage with 1d4 Persistent Fire)
Pre Fix (2 damage, Shield)
Eddie (7 damage)
Rysk
Radim (31 damage with 1d4 Persistent Fire)
Samantha (6 damage)
Cinder Rat Black (34 damage, Frightened 1)
Brine Shark Black (20 damage)
Brine Shark White
Zephyr Hawk
Sod Hounds can burrow through the earth and knockdown their foes using only their teeth.
Zephyr Hawks are fast and agile, able to hit and run.
Brine Sharks come from the Plane of Water. They resist fire damage, but they can hold onto whatever they bite.
Radim extinguishes all flames with his second swing.
Rysk makes a critical error and his emergency healing salve makes Radim's burns even worse. He goes for a more straightforward method to heal him.
The shark fails to bite Samantha and now it knows why: She is the predator and it is the prey. It doesn't survive her critical strike.
Dran'Tilt (14 damage with 1d4 Persistent Fire)
Pre Fix (2 damage, Shield)
Eddie (7 damage)
Rysk
Radim (10 damage)
Samantha (6 damage)
Brine Shark White
Zephyr Hawk
>Map<
Zephyr Hawks are fast and agile, able to hit and run.
Brine Sharks come from the Plane of Water. They resist fire damage, but they can hold onto whatever they bite.
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The dwarf fires towards the bird using the Korlan constellation.
+1 striking Hammer gun:
+1 striking Hammer gun, Korlan:
Damage:
Damage:
Fatal:
So ? damage
Then he reloads (Thoughtful reloads: Recall knowledge and reloads).
And he spends one action to extinguish the fire.
Flat:
And the usual check to extinguish fire.
Flat:
Eddie and Pre Fix are so close, yet so far from their targets. Rysk is able to nail the hawk, but it screeches and begins to fly.
The elemental creatures wane and falter as they break up into their prime components, swirling around Lashweather before he hurls them into the night sky and laughs uncontrollably. "YES! I've done it! I am one with the stars! Bouldstrom said I couldn't do it, but now who's laughing! HAHAHAHA!"
He turns around. "Oh. You're still here. Good news, everyone! The Cho'aatan was a success! I will only need a few hours to compile my results. Then, after a good night's rest, I will join the Pathfinder Society during their trade negotiation. Or, whatever you needed me to to do. Take this reward."
He hands one of you a >diplomat’s badge< as thanks.
"Now, I'll see you tomorrow. Toodles!" He waves you off before turning back to his book and his sky.
Dran'Tilt (14 damage)
Pre Fix (2 damage)
Eddie (7 damage)
Radim (10 damage)
Samantha (6 damage)
As you leave the observatory, you notice a group of athletic iruxi grumbling about themselves. One of them spots you. "Ah, perfect! The outsiders. My name is Leilin, star of the Ekkeshikaar Dunkers. Could you help us practice?"
The locals lead the way to a large building, built from stone at the bottom, but with an enormous glass dome covering the top. Inside is a sophisticated arena with rising stands on the outside surrounding fenced-off pens for standing crowds to watch at ground level, and in the middle a large, muddy oval set to house the main attraction. Today, the crowd is relatively small—only about a quarter of the stands are filled with cheering Iruxi who watch as a number of giant, lumbering lizards are led onto the arena floor.
"Ah, there you are. We could use your help." It doesn't take long for the iruxi spectators to crowd around you. "We need practice against... unorthodox players like you. We must defend ourselves against the Globetrotters." As the athlete mentions the name, the crowd hushes.
"Astrologers believe they travel across Golarion. No, they travel beyond the planes, to new worlds! They have defeated us every time they arrive, staking their claim of absolutely nothing!" The iruxi stamps her foot against the hard earth. "This year, they have challenged us to a game of Exuto, and it is due next week.."
"Exuto is a beloved sport where you ride massive lizards and direct them to knock a ball into your opponent's side of the field. Were this another iruxi team I would crush them easily, but the Globetrotters are so unorthodox. We must think outside the box."
"We need to practice against unorthodox opponents. Like yourselves. Can you participate in a practice game?"
"Thank you. Let me show you how you can help." Some of the teammates enter the arena atop the backs of large lizards. Leilin points to them. "This is an ankylosaurus. Mind the tail and its feet. I've seen too many rookies fall off underneath its feet." She shakes her head. "Stay on for as long as possible."
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Eddie slowly shuffles closer to the group of dinos, doing their best to calm their nerves for everyone besides Samantha, she's too fast. "Did I ever tell you I helped catch babies dinos? It was fun, they were smaller than this, but spunky!"
"Oh they're not as spunky as you think, just don't tug too hard on their face rope."
Eddie mounts the smallest dino, its a slow climb with their short stature. "Go easy, I don't want to fall off."
Eddie looks at the young ankylosaurs and manages to calm them down a bit. They climb the calm dinosaur and almost fall off but manage to keep on.
Samantha, meanwhile decides to play tough and show the ankylosaur who's boss.
Rysk counter balances his center of weight against the dinosaur.
Dran'Tilt
Pre Fix
Eddie 1 (-2)
Rysk 1
Radim
Samantha 1
The team decides to ride, but the anklyosaurs aren't as willing.
Pre Fix gets on the dino and is thrown off immediately. Eddie lasts a bit longer, but not for much longer.
Even worse, the anklyosaurs go into a brief rampage, almost stomping them.
Rysk struggles to maintain his balance but stays on. A simple matter of balance and counter balance.
Dran'Tilt has never ridden a horse this big. He has the time of his life before the anklyosaur throws him off.
The wranglers finally close in and calm the animals down.
Dran'Tilt 2 (23 damage)
Pre Fix 0 (29 damage)
Eddie 1 (19 damage)
Rysk 5
Radim
Samantha 1
Samantha and Radim watch their teammates fall. They also see Rysk make it out alright, but he was so... by the book. Boring. They decide to show how things are done.
Samantha stares at the anklyosaur she rides and makes a critical discovery. It soon realizes she is not to be trifled with, and she rides it across the field. The crowd cheers wildly and Leilin is scribbling down notes.
Not to be outdone, Radim hops on a beast and rides it like a woolly mammoth. But with less hair. His riding is constant as he maintains complete control of the anklyosaur, not missing a beat.
Dran'Tilt 2 (23 damage)
Pre Fix 0 (29 damage)
Eddie 1 (19 damage)
Rysk 5
Radim 5 (0 failures!)
Samantha 5 (with a critical success)
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"Incredible!" Leilin claps as you step off the ankylosauruses. "This will help us greatly against... them. We must reclaim what they've taken from us." She looks solemn. "Absolutely nothing."
She turns back to you. "But as for you... to the winner, take this belt." She presents a belt to Radim. "We call it a >lifting belt<. When you focus, you can lift very heavy objects overhead." She turns to Samantha. "We have a smaller cash reward for you. Spend it during the game and wish us good luck."
"Give a big round of applause for the foreign dignitaries!" Leilin riles the crowd into an excited cheer. Already some of the iruxi are approaching you for autographs, while others have left the stadium to spread word of your escapades.
After a hard day of paperwork, protection, and negotiation, Eras the Needle and Calisro Benarry invite you to a good night's rest. Or a wild party followed by some rest somewhere. The next day, you prepare to visit the Chamber of Stars.
"Hey, hold on to this." Calisro hands you four vials. "They might come in handy during negotiations."
Two of them are marked: >moderate cognitive mutagen<
And the other two are marked: >moderate silvertongue mutagen<
The heart of a sprawling and partially-submerged government building made of glass and stone, this large circular chamber is one of the few parts of the building that extends up above the waterline, giving an only slightly-obscured view of the sky above through the midnight-blue-tinted glass dome that covers the room’s ceiling.
A group of seven iruxi dressed in long blue-black robes trimmed with gold sit at raised pulpits along one side of the room. A long table has been set aside for a handful of representatives from the Vidrian delegation, and additional seating holds crowds of native iruxi, some eager to see the trade deal pass, others to see it halted, and the rest simply excited to watch events unfold. Already, a queue of Ekkeshikaar’s citizens is forming behind a stone lectern set aside for citizens to speak their minds and ask questions on the proceedings.
You are directed to sit beside Calisro, Eras, Mirian Raas, and her iruxi brother Jekka. Mirian is clearly the most out of place, still wearing her exploration clothing, even if it doesn't have traveling gear. You suspect she didn't even pack more formal wear. "Listen up. These negotiations will take hours to finish. We'll need you to speak up during some of the more... pointed debates."
"One moment, please. Mister Barashk?" Eras retrieves a few papers. "According to section 4, paragraph 23, payment is due based on services rendered, not a period of time. I'm not certain if anything is due, since Sargava no longer exists."
The iruxi hisses in disdain but provides no counterargument. Now's your chance to push the point.
"Bouldstrom!" Lashweather lifts his head out of his book and points at the elder. "I've witnessed the Pathfinder's skill and knowledge about the stars. It's like it was yesterday..." He stares up for a long time before Bouldstrom coughs.
"Ah yes, where was I? Right, the Cho'ataan! I taught the Pathfinders here the meaning behind the symbols. They adapted quickly and even defended me against the elemental backlash. And if they could learn this quickly, imagine what the other Vidrians can learn."
The guards escort him out of the crowd and up to the main table, alongside you.
By the time you finish these conversations, you feel you are halfway done with the talks.
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The doctrine of the dissolution of nations and successor states is well established legal precedent. As a Chelaxian colony, Sargava was under the rule of and thereby its contracts were guaranteed by the full faith and credit of Empire of Cheliax. Since, as the successor state, Vidrian has no ties to Cheliax, then they cannot be held responsible for any debts incurred by their former colonizers.
Rysk knows of stars but gives a very dry, scientific overview of stars which don't have anything to do with astrology in the least.
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A circle of smoke moves up.
No, an agreement doesn't fly away because one part change her name. There are the same people on each part. No reason not to sign because of this reason which is a wrong one.
Society:
We are also skilled in stars and paranormal things. Well not each one the same as each one isn't obviously the same skilled at cooking or fighting.
Occultism:
The Society can act to avoid that the last ruler comes back to claim the throne again. Don't ask how, don't even think how. It's how it works.
Occultism, malus:
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Samantha leverages her prowess in the dinoring and one of the silvertongue mutagens before doing her best to make a point about contracts.
"Just because Cheliax's Sargava didn't hold together, doesn't mean Vidrian wouldn't be a good partner."
Calling upon her background with the Sable Tip Tribe
"Lacking in astronomical knowledge? Do we look like monolithic pink sinks. My tribe still holds nature close and can read the stars, and sees success in the future of this endevour."
Finally leaning into her expertise Samantha leans in close, towering over many of the diplomats.
"Strong allies with strong alliances are how set your own destiny. A weak country with no friends is one that gets dragged into wars they do not want."
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Eddie shuffles about before the meeting, a bit nervous. After a bit of a reassuring chat with Toady though they begin to calm down. "Ok, I'm ready. We can help everyone agree on something."
Sitting through the discussions Eddie decides to drink a cognitive mutagen, knowing full well they familiar with this disagreement. Following Rysk's lead they do their best.
"Sargava is Cheliax, Vidrian is not Cheliax. They are not the same, Vidrian only wants to work with their neighbors and live in peace."
---
When the question of the stars comes up, Eddie raises their hand and stands "I know nature. I live in nature. The fungal spirits ARE nature. We know how to read the stars."
---
The final question gets Eddie's fluids hot and bothered. They stand up after Samantha and follow their lead "Yes, what she said!" It doesn't come off very well.
Breach of Contract
The doctrine of the dissolution of nations and successor states is well established legal precedent. As a Chelaxian colony, Sargava was under the rule of and thereby its contracts were guaranteed by the full faith and credit of Empire of Cheliax. Since, as the successor state, Vidrian has no ties to Cheliax, then they cannot be held responsible for any debts incurred by their former colonizers.
Some of the iruxi nod in agreement. Even Barashk, the council member, has to acknowledge Rysk's words.
You don't know the stars
I know nature. I live in nature. The fungal spirits ARE nature. We know how to read the stars.
Bouldstrom pauses and follows Eddie's gesture. "See?" Lashweather points. "Already this fungus has mastered drawing several astrological symbols at once. Just imagine what an entire army of Vidrian fungal spores could do to the night sky! Mwahahahaha!" Bouldstrom grunts and sits back down in defeat. Lashweather returns to his seat and soon falls asleep.
Colonial History
"If only the rest of Vidrian put on a brave face like you three." Shulkuru faces Samantha, Rysk and especially Pre Fix. "Sadly I think you're the only three willing to back up your words with action. Certainly not Vidrian as a whole." Some of the iruxi murmur in agreement.
Jekka turns his head to you. "You should probably mention any kind of export Vidrian has. Might convince Shulkuru that we have something to offer."
As you finish these points, the trade talks come to a close.