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"To mark them... Does the glutterdust work on them?
Bee shrugs - which looks a bit strange while he is laying on the floor. "The glitterdust would probably show where they are. You would know better than I would how much area that would cover though. I can kinda see where they are from here. I can guide you through if needed."
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"Oh shoot, I can't see them. There's so many of them, in the air! Can you guide me through?"
"I'll help, Bitty. Follow Cath's rope for the general path. Slowly."
Bee watches as she starts out. "Good. Other side of the rope now. Take that corner a bit wide, I think the rope got pulled too tight. Nice and steady."
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As Konbu and Ashun start casting their spells to mark the spores, Sorinna stops them.
"It’s wise to consider that your opponents may take advantage of hazards to spring an ambush. Your spells are excellent tools for pinpointing the exact location of hidden threats or even searching a location that you fear may contain an invisible enemy. You're somewhat on the right track but there may be repercussions to what you're trying to do"
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Ashun stops the glyph midway through and pouts, but more curious than annoyed, trying to understand what repercussions drawing on the mushrooms or throwing glitter on them might do.
Seemingly enjoying the tests, "This is my favourite trial out of the three I did so far."
But after Konbu passes through the invisible fungi room, the changeling looks at Sorinna, awaiting for the next briefing.
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Sorrinna smiles as Konbu spots the spores and crosses the room. "Well done! Yes, you could have used the alchemist fire to burn them out as well.
"For your third challenge, remember that you don’t always have to fight your enemies. Sometimes it’s much, much wiser to sneak past them. Just be quiet as you cross the chamber of the slumbering dragon."
A smiling Sorrina leads you to an antechamber off the main hall. Lying on the floor and occupying most of the hallway is a large, plush, stuffed dragon. Sorrina speaks in a stage whisper, clearly enjoying describing the challenge.
"You need to cross the hallway without waking the dragon. If he wakes, you need to appease him or he will devour you all with his stuffed, satin, pillow-like teeth."
"All kidding aside, though, if the dragon attacks you, you fail. The creature will have abilities like a real dragon so plan your tactics accordingly."
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"Ooh! It is so adorable! Do you think I could create earmuffs and a sleep mask for the dragon?". he draws the largest earmuff he can and plops it into existance, looking at it and trying to measure if it would fit the dragon.
"I may be wrong to assume the others are not as agile, but I think that only Bee and Bitty can sneak past the dragon that easy..." sighs "I definitely should train my nimbleness more."
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"Egg wants me to tell you that won't work." Bitty takes the scroll of Sleep from Konbu, and then stuffs it gently back in Konbu's bag. "Sleep on a dragon? Grandpa Ifekube ate the last adventurer who tried casting sleep on him."
"Since these need to be invested, only one of us can use them," Bitty hands the cloak and boots to someone else. "I will sneak without them. Go ahead. I'll go last with Ashun because I speak Draconic."
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Konbu tiptoes across the room. He accidentally hits a small side table with an expensive looking ceramic urn on top. It rocks and is about to drop. At the other end of the hallway, Bitty, Loompecker and Bee hold their breaths. Luckily, Konbu manages to grab both items and keep them from falling. Taking a deep breath, the leshy manages to cross the room without further incident.
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Cath tiptoes across. With all his friends across, Ashun joins them.
"Well done!"
Before returning you to the main hallway, Sorrinna allows you to walk up to the dragon and pet it.
As you arrive at the main hall, the Venture-Captain of the Grand Lodge approaches with a smile on his face.
"Excellent work, everyone. You’ve all earned your rest after those trials of body and mind. Fortunately, local Pathfinder by the name of Solvatar Caryg has offered to treat you to a fine dinner as well as to put you up for the night in his lavish guest rooms. I’ve got a coach ready to take you to his estate. Enjoy your evening. The deans will give you your scores tomorrow morning."
The promised coach waits outside and takes you to Caryg Manor, a walled mansion in the Petal District. Once you arrive, Solvatar Caryg emerges and greets them with wide arms and a smile. He ushers them personally into his manor home, where his servants present an extravagant five-course meal while he regales you with longwinded tales from his past missions.
During dessert, a servant rushes in and whispers in Solvatar’s ear. He grows visibly upset and excuses himself, explaining,
"This is an urgent matter, I’m afraid—though nothing you need to trouble yourselves with. Please relax and enjoy your stay"
He doesn’t appear for the rest of the evening, and after dinner, a valet escorts the PCs to their rooms. The night passes uneventfully and you all get 8 hours of sleep. The morning arrives and you are all sitting in the dining room enjoying a lovely breakfast (whatever daily preparations you have, you may make them now).
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"That is very nice of Mister Caryg to do that for us. I will reluctantly accept it, it does indeed make me feel a bit guilty, but it would be a disservice to their good intentions to deny their invitation."
After reaching the manor and being greeted by Solvatar, Ashun bows, showing his thanks, "It is an honour to be invited to your mansion, Mister Caryg Sir." he says with a gentle smile.
"This is an urgent matter, I’m afraid—though nothing you need to trouble yourselves with. Please relax and enjoy your stay"
Ashun silently nods in acknowledgement, trying to demonstrate that they need not to worry about them.
Feeling the need to show his thanks to the people whom helped create the impressive dinner from the night before, Ashun wakes up a bit earlier and goes to insist in trying to help the servants with the breakfast, even if it's just the scrambled eggs. To make absolutely sure he does not screw up the breakfast, he draws a glyph that tattoos his palms before starting the cooking.
And finally, after bothering the others in the kitchen, he joins the rest of the party, taking out his alchemist kit to continue working on his concoctions.
"So, how did you all sleep today? It is my first time inside a mansion." he looks around, impressed. "I could get used to this in the far future if I am able to retire someday..." pondering a bit, "It is a shame Mister Caryg could not join us. But I do understand that someone as prestigious as he is may have his own affairs to attend to."
After the breakfast, if nothing happens in between, he offers to help clean the dishes too.
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Cath enjoys Solvatar Coryg's hospitality, including the feast at the end of the day. Eating her fill of the meal, she bids Master Coryg a fair evening as he leaves. "Hopefully what has you troubled sir, can be rectified easily, enough so you can enjoy the rest of your evening. Again, I thank you for the hospitality you are showing us."
Cath wakes up and makes the bed she slept in presentable, though not as nicely as it was when she was shown, and begins her morning stretching before getting ready. Examining her gear for a few minutes, she then don her armor before packing every thing away, and heads into the common room.
"The beds here are quite comfortable. Much more so than those at the lodge proper. Having a place like this would be nice for a base of operations. Perhaps in the future?" she mutters to herself after breakfast before listening to Ashun's talk about crafting. Shaking her head and waving a hand she smiles at the changeling, "Oh, I'm not good at crafting things of my own. I would rather the experts be in charge of that, though I might be able to dabble in being a merchant when or if I retire. Traveling and meeting other people sounds quite enjoyable, and even better so if I can easily fund the trips."
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Bee spends some time talking to and cuddling the plush dragon.
He thoroughly enjoys the dinner. He is less impressed by the mansion, he doesn't see the point of collecting walls. Some of the stuff on display is worth looking at though.
In the morning, he gets up and goes through his morning stretches and warm-ups. Then cleans himself up and goes to meet the others in waiting anxiously for their scores.
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As you finish a scrumptious breakfast, one of the valets comes over and informs you that the carriages that will take you back to the Grand Lodge have arrived. As you pass through the front hallway of the manor, you hear a scream from one of the sitting rooms. Rushing into the room, you see a servant on the floor, covered in blood, being dragged underneath a large overstuffed chair with teeth...
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before your Turn:
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Those with ** may go
**Thull Ashun - AC 14, 14/14
**Cath - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 19/19
**Konbu - AC 15, 17/17
Chair
Corabee - AC 18 (20 parry), 14/19
Bitty Blue - AC 17, 17/17
Loompecker - AC 18, 21/21
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Ashun sends a mental jolt at the creature. Then improves the power of Cath's blows.
"Oh you're so tender and juicy Marcello!" Marcello screams as blood fountains out from under the chair.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before your Turn:
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Those with ** may go
Thull Ashun - AC 14, 14/14
**Cath - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 19/19 (+2 Damage)
**Konbu - AC 15, 17/17
Chair (-2)
Corabee - AC 18 (20 parry), 14/19
Bitty Blue - AC 17, 17/17
Loompecker - AC 18, 21/21
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Cath charges forward and swings her meteor hammer at the chair. The hammer slams into a cushion and splits. However, Cath realizes to her horror that her hammer has become stuck to the cushion.
"OHO! A nice hammer. I can use this to crack Marcello's bones and get at the goodness inside!" The chair seems to be enjoying itself.
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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before your Turn: DC 23 Athletics to release weapon
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Those with ** may go
Thull Ashun - AC 14, 14/14
Cath - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 19/19 (+2 Damage; Hammer Stuck)
**Konbu - AC 15, 17/17
Chair (-12)
Corabee - AC 18 (20 parry), 14/19
Bitty Blue - AC 17, 17/17
Loompecker - AC 18, 21/21