"I guess they're ready," Orlaelia says as Jig takes off into the garden. Although the goblin is able to find the cat and squeezes under the branches of the bush, the cat spies him and slips away.
"Oh! Good try!" Marcos says and throws the goblin an encouraging thumb's up.
Rhenie, the ysoki, begins creeping toward the corner of the garden where Mephisto ran toward. The ratfolk moves so slowly, you begin to wonder if they will reach the cat before the sun sets. They disappear around a bush and a short moment later, Rhenie comes running out with a yowling, flailing, biting Mephisto clutched in both other their hands. "Ow! Ow! Ow!"
The ysoki tosses the cat into the pet carrier and hastily shuts the door.
"Well done, Rhenie," Orlaelia compliments her student.
"Ah..." Marcos clears his throat and points at the carrier. Rhenie neglected to latch the door, and Mephisto will need to be captured again. "Next?"
|
Grammy walks over to a branch with a berry and casts goodberry on it, then walks over to the last place anyone saw the cat.
Using wild empathy, she'll talk directly to the cat (though she still is using nature, the skill.)
"Oh, come out here deary. This berry, I know you don't like berries but listen-this berry tastes like cream and will heal up any scratches you got from hiding out under the bush. C'mon little one, grammy will take care of you."
Grammy coaxes the cat out from hiding with her wildsong and snatches Mephisto up before he can realize the berries are not as tasty as he would have wished. She shoves him into the pet carrier and makes certain to latch the door.
"Good work, Thistledown!" Marcos congratulates her. "That's using your unique talents to your advantage."
Orlaelia nods. "Yes. The Sarkorian druids and godcallers were invaluable in helping to quell the corrupted wildlife during the Crusade."
The gnome swordlord starts giggling.
"What is it, Thisnabel?" Orlaelia asks.
The gnome points toward the pet carrier. Though Grammy knows that she latched the carrier, the door now stands wide open with the cat once more somehow having escaped into the garden without anyone noticing.
"Then do not simply stand there giggling, go get the cat," Orlaelia orders her student.
"You bet!" the golden haired gnome says, and he jogs into the garden. He disappears almost as quickly and quietly as the cat, which is quite the feat considering how fidgety he is. A minute later, you hear a loud hiss and yowling followed by a frantic crashing through the bushes.
Thisnabel bursts out of a bush, chased by a hissing Mephisto, with the back side of his britches torn. He scrambles to the doorway, and the cat runs back into the garden. "Ha ha. Uh. He's tougher than he looks!"
"Hmm." Orlaelia grunts and levels a solid stare at her student.
Marcos laughs and pats the gnome on the shoulder. "Always watch your flank. Now! Who's next?"
Kanbashii locates and creeps quietly toward Mephisto until the catfolk is able to grab the cat. The orange haired tabby yowls and protests as Bashii returns to place him in the pet carrier.
"Yeah! Good job!" Marcos cheers.
Orlaelie nods her head and says, "That was skillfully done."
Noise explodes from the pet carrier as Mephisto throws a fit. With a great deal of yowling, hissing, and growling and quite a bit of banging, the cat causes the carrier to fall over and bounce, which springs the clasp. As soon as the door begins to open, Mephisto is out and into the garden once more.
"I've got this!" Dura says, giving Gwendolyn a wink before she heads into the garden. The half-orc throws herself onto the bush where the cat is hiding.
Marcos winces, "The gardeners could have salvaged that..."
There is an excessive amount of thrashing, but Dura returns with the tabby tightly secured within her arms. Marcos sets the carrier right and steps back as Dura shoves the cat into the carrier and clasps the door. She slaps her hand down on the top of the carrier and smiles pridefully, "There!"
The slap jostles the clasp, and the cat is back in the garden.
"Oh my. He is resilient," Marcos notes of the cat. "Next?"
|
Gwen gives Dura a sly smile and watches the half-orc wrangle the cat impressively. She gives a slightly bow of her head towards Dura and a short acknowledging applause.
When Marcos turns to see who else might try their hand, Gwen hops up enthusiastically and turns to blow a kiss towards the cat. "Now, you cutey, how about a little snuggle and an ear rub?" She kneels down and holds her hand out.
While Buzz sneaks into the garden, Gwendolyn uses her magic to the solve the problem. Mephisto comes out from under a bush and trots right up to the changeling. He rubs against her leg and purrs, allowing her to pick him up and place him in the cat carrier. The tabby turns around several times within the carrier, yawns, and then lays down for a nap.
"Goo--!" Marcos begins to shout. He then looks askance at the pet carrier and whispers, "Good work!"
"Yes. Efficient application of magic and a good way to calm an ally who has been overtaken by the enemy," Orlaelia says.
Harlan looks a little disappointed that he did not get to make an attempt.
"Now it is time for a break," Orlaelia says. "The final challenge will be non-lethal combat, and it will take some time to prepare the arena." At that, there is a knock at the door. "Perfect timing."
Marcos opens the door to a pair of delivery workers carrying baskets covered with towels. Two other men, both wizards, stand behind them. "I took the liberty to order food, Marcos, since your lodge is currently understaffed," the swordlord says.
"Great! I'm sure our teams are hungry. They rarely get to eat on a mission. Always too busy chasing the next lead," Marcos says. "And the ritualists are here to prepare the arena! Excellent!"
The delivery workers set the baskets down in the dusty dining area and begin laying out plates, utensils, cups, and bowls. Out of the baskets come still steaming hot bread, vegetable soup, and sausages.
"Let's eat!" Marcos says with gusto.
Each of the students politely takes a space along one side of the long table and waits for you to take your seats before sitting.
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Gwen twirls and half-dances her way over to sit near Dura. She slides next to her. "Hi, cutie. I'm Gwen." She helps herself to a small portion of soup with the hot crusty bread. But when the sausages come, she eyes them with a more feral gaze.
As she eats, she alternates between civilized portions of the soup and bread, then hungry and chomping bites of the meat, grease dripping down her chin. She dabs her chin quickly, giggling. "Sorry, I must be hungry!"
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Granny will walk alongside the gnome swordlord.
"Now, whoever undid the latch on the cat carrier must feel pretty foolish right about now. Not only did their ruse not accomplish anything, but now they have to live with the guilt of cheating . . . knowing that they couldn't win in a fair fight and instead of accepting that loss, and learning from it, they resorted to skullduggery. I almost pity them . . . Wonder who it was. . ." and casts a sideways glance to the gnome before finding a seat.
Jig dives right into the meal. Buzz literally dives into the food.
Bashii is beginning his conversation with Thisnabel when Grammy makes her insinuation. "Wha--?" the gnome stops midsentence. "I didn't cheat!"
There is a loud bang as Harlan slaps his hand down on the table and stands. "None of us would cheat! That is an insult to our school!"
Dura stops her subtle flirting with Gwendolyn, her smile slowly fading. She whispers, "Sorry," before turning her attention to the other end of the table. "We wouldn't cheat."
Orlaelia makes a curt gesture pointing at Harlan and then downward while leveling a stern gaze at him. The young man sits without another word and stares at his plate. "I apologize for the outburst, Marcos," she says to the weapon master.
"No worries," Marcos says with a slightly strained grin. "Place a bunch of passionate people in the same room and an argument is bound to erupt. Happens all the time at the Grand Lodge."
Marcos and Orlaelia attempt to bring some lightheartedness and engagement back to the table, exchanging stories of their own adventures and personal challenges. Each trying to one-up the other with each story, but the levity is lost. The Aldori students each in quiet solidarity with Thisnabel and barely make eye contact with the Pathfinders.
About an hour after the beginning of the feast, Orlaelia stands and claps her hands once to get everyone’s attention. With a rather somber expression, she says, "Now that the food has had a chance to settle, and everyone has had a chance to rest a bit, we should move to your final challenge." She looks to Marcos.
The Master of Blades nods, and he takes over what is obviously a rehearsed speech. "Aldori students, Pathfinders, both of you have demonstrated skill and creativity, but there’s no test like a real fight. And so, that’s what the last challenge will be."
Orlaelia then again takes the lead. "Of course, a combat where you had to hold back would hardly be a fair assessment, so we’ve had a special ritual cast over the combat arena. Fight to your hearts content, for none of the damage or injuries suffered therein can be lasting or lethal. Your test will be a fight, one group against the other. Defeat only comes when all on your team are unable or unwilling to continue. Show us what we’ve taught you!"
Her students are surprised, and their nerves show through briefly before they quickly compose themselves. Noticing this, Orlaelia adds "I know you were expecting single combat, but if you only ever fight the same fight, you’ll never grow."
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During Dinner
"Oh, dear me, I didn't say YOU left the latch open m'dear. Just that someone did. Oh my is that a guilty concience I detect? I was only musing out loud."
As Granny is escorted into the arena she shoulders off her cloak and cracks her back, standing upright for the first time, revealing that she is strangely quite still muscled for a woman her age. She then picks up her club/cane and gives it a few practice swings as a cudgel.
"Oh fine, if this ol' warhorse has to get into combat again. . . ."
Marcos and Orlaelie lead each of their teams into the sparring hall. They both stay in the doorway after you enter and direct you to your starting points along the respective wall.
Orlaelia draws her sword swiftly and shouts, "Fight!"
Grizelda, for whatever the reason, gets the drop on everyone despite her (strapping) elderly appearance.
The Swordlord’s Challenge. Round 1.Bold may act.
Grammy
. . .
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"Oh, but I would..." Gwen whispers to herself before remembering the VC's admonition. She just sighs as the tension in the room heightened.
When the combat is announced, Gwen smiles. Then she tosses Dura a smoldering look. "Oh, so we can go all out without hurting each other." The changeling gives a small laugh and a wink to the half-orc.
As they line up against each other, she begins to get fidgety. Her eyes shine in anticipation of the coming violence.
Dura grins and winks back at Gwendolyn before remembering she is supposed to be offended on behalf of her team and goes back to a nervous glower. This is probably why Grammy is able to finish enchanting her staff and raise her shield before Dura can act.
Thisnabel looks to Harlan. Harlan says, "Dura, go!"
Dura dashes across the yard toward Bashii, but she veers slightly at the last moment to perform a sweep with her leg, that tosses Grammy Thistledown off of her feet.
"Good form!" Orlaelia shouts at Dura.
Marcos shouts, "Keep your center of gravity lower!"
Thisnabel is right behind Dura. The gold-haired gnome stabs the half-orc in the back of her shoulder while she's on the ground.
Marcos winces. "Ouch."
Harlan follows not far behind and slashes a stinging line across Grammy's thigh.
Marcos winces again. Orlaelia looks at him and then back to the fight. "Well coordinated, Harlan! But remember that they outnumber you."
The Swordlord’s Challenge. Round 1.Bold may act.
Grammy (13/26 hp) (shield up) (shillelagh)
Dura
Thisnabel
Harlan
Bashii
Buzz
Jig
Rhenei
Gwen
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Buzz grabs some bombs from the side of his satchel and quickly tosses them out at Thisnabel and Dura.
+ Persistent Fire +1 Splash damage
+ Persistent Fire +1 Splash damage
HP 14/14
AC 18
Hero Point 2/3
Infused Alchemical Items 5/5
1x Lesser Acid Flask 2/2
2x Lesser Alchemist's Fire (Signature Item) 4/6
1x Lesser Blight Bomb (Signature Item) 3/3
1x Minor Elixir of Life 2/2
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Jig shakes his head and the skullhat slides around. "You would stab an old Granny?! I think that will weigh against you."
The goblin scuttles up to Thisnabel and scoops a claw in the enemy's direction, tugging on the naughty soul.
Cast somatic, verbal
Range touch; Targets 1 living creature that has a soul
Your touch disrupts the connection between body and soul, possibly forcing the soul out of the body altogether. The target must attempt a Fortitude save. You can allow allies to choose the degree of success instead of rolling a saving throw.
Success The target is unaffected.
Failure The target is stunned 1 as its soul briefly loses its connection to its body.
Critical Failure The target’s soul exits its body for 1 round. The target’s body becomes stunned. While its body is stunned in this way, the target remains fully aware in soul form; it simply can’t consciously move its body (though the body makes basic instinctual defensive movements). The target’s soul has the incorporeal trait, is invisible, and has a fly Speed of 60 feet. It can’t attack, cast spells, or attempt any skill checks that require a physical body, and it must always maintain line of effect to its body. When the target’s body ceases being stunned, the target’s soul instantly returns to its body as the target wakes.
Heightened (+3) If a willing ally chooses to critically fail, it can stay in soul form for 1 additional round.
As Bashii moves around Dura, the half-orc takes the opportunity to slash at his legs. The blade stings as it strikes. "Watch out for that!" Marcos advises. The amurrun gives better than he received as he strikes Dura across the face. "Way to go!" Marocs cheers.
Buzz throws flasks after flask. The first hits poor Thisnabel and sets his clothes on fire. The second is knocked out of the air and harmlessly into the sand in the middle of the room by Dura .
"Don't cluster too close together," Orlaelia warns her students.
Dura resists Jig's attempt to eject her soul . However, the goblin manages to bite her painfully. "Ow!"
From across the hall, Rhenei chants and then tosses a heavy ball of water into the back of Bashii's head. Painfully. The ysoki then raises his sword defensively.
The Swordlord’s Challenge. Round 1-2.Bold may act.
Dura (-15 hp)
Thisnabel (-3 hp) (1 persistent fire)
Harlan
Bashii (3/17 hp)
Buzz
Jig
Rhenei (parry)
Gwen
–2–
Grammy (13/26 hp) (shield up) (shillelagh) (prone)
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Gwen sighs when she sees Dura in the thick of the fight. "Well there goes getting her to stand back." As the violence breaks out thought, she smiles with hunger and starts to get excited.
Gwen steps up to Dura. "Sorry, sweetheart. I had hoped to keep you on the sidelines." She gives a kiss into her hand and then flings them out and color washes over the three Aldori, but also catching Grammy.
Success The creature is dazzled for 1 round.
Failure The creature is stunned 1, blinded for 1 round, and dazzled for 1 minute.
Critical Failure The creature is stunned for 1 round and blinded for 1 minute.
Gwen releases a wave of color. Dura and Thisnabel are stunned and blinded. Harlan and Grammy manage to shield their eyes enough to only be dazzled by the light.
"Great use of that spell!" Marcos shouts. "Though you could have aimed it a little more sparingly."
As Grammy rolls to place her shield above her and stands, Harlan takes advantage and stings her across the top of her head with his sword. If it were not for her shield, that would have been much more painful. She then squints and levels her can at Dura, knocking the half-orc out.
Thisnabel, still a bit sluggish and blind, manages to strike Grammy with a glancing blow. The flames on the gnome's clothes sputter out. They raise their sword in defense.
Harlan squints as he swings his sword at Bashii, trying to finish the catfolk off. His blade lands, stinging painfully, but somehow Bashii retains consciousness. Harland squints and swings again, but the blurry image of Bashii foils him.
The Swordlord’s Challenge. Round 1-2.Bold may act.
Thisnabel (-4 hp) (parry)
Harlan
Bashii (1/17 hp)
Buzz
Jig
Rhenei (parry)
Gwen
–2–
Grammy (10/26 hp) (shield up) (shillelagh)
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Buzz tosses bomb after bob at Harlan and Thisnabel. "Buzz off!"
+ 1 Persistent Fire
+ 1 Persistent Fire
+ 1 Persistent Fire
HP 14/14
AC 18
Hero Point 2/3
Infused Alchemical Items 5/5
1x Lesser Acid Flask 2/2
2x Lesser Alchemist's Fire (Signature Item) 1/6
1x Lesser Blight Bomb (Signature Item) 3/3
1x Minor Elixir of Life 2/2
Buzz lands his flaming flask on Harlan's head and sets his clothes on fire. "Ah!" the swordlord loses his composure due to the pain.
While the next flask lands at Thisnabel's feet, the one after that explodes on their chest. The poor gnome collapses in a heap, overcome by the pain.
Even Marcos winces in sympathy.
The Swordlord’s Challenge. Round 2.Bold may act.
Harlan (-6 hp) (1 persistent fire)
Bashii (1/17 hp)
Buzz
Jig
Rhenei (parry)
Gwen
–2–
Grammy (10/26 hp) (shield up) (shillelagh)
Jig's grim patron restores Bashii's vigor. The reenergized amurrun scratches Harlan's face before stepping away.
"Great teamwork!" Marcos cheers you onward.
"Rhenei! Take out the injured before the cleric can heal them," Orlaelia advises.
The ysoki scurries over to get closer to the fight and then tosses a spinning sphere of water at Grammy. It splashes over the shield with palpable but ultimately harmless force.
The Swordlord’s Challenge. Round 2-3.Bold may act.
Harlan (-10 hp) (1 persistent fire)
Bashii (13/17 hp)
Buzz
Jig (shield spell)
Rhenei
Gwen
–3–
Grammy (10/26 hp) (shield up) (shillelagh)
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"Oh Rhenei, honey, that may not have been the best choice. No matter what Orlaelia said." Gwen gives the yoski a sharp, hungry smile as she twirls away from Harlan, and then lets her arms spin out. Lightning crackles between her hands as she spins and then arcs out towards both the Aldori.
A throaty laugh comes from Gwen rather than her normal giggle. You see that she's pulled at her scarf and there are deep scars across her neck.
Quite improbably, the two student swordlords each manage to dodge some of the power Gwendolyn's spell.
The Swordlord’s Challenge. Round 3.Bold may act.
Harlan (-13 hp) (1 persistent fire)
Bashii (13/17 hp)
Buzz
Jig (shield spell)
Rhenei (-3 hp)
Gwen
–3–
Grammy (10/26 hp) (shield up) (shillelagh)
Harlan darts over to the wall.
"Good use of the environment!" Oraelia encourages him.
He strikes out with his dueling sword. The blow shatters the half-orc's shield and nearly knocks her out as the blade knocks her on the scalp. The swordlord then raises his blade in defense.
The Swordlord’s Challenge. Round 4.Bold may act.
Harlan (-14 hp) (1 persistent fire) (parry)
Bashii (13/17 hp)
Buzz
Jig
Rhenei (-3 hp)
Gwen
–3–
Grammy (3/26 hp) (shield -7 hp, broken) (shillelagh)
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Buzz turns his focus towards Harlan. "One of each for you!" He tosses both bombs at the same time.
+ 1 Persistent Fire
HP 14/14
AC 18
Hero Point 2/3
Infused Alchemical Items 5/5
1x Lesser Acid Flask 1/2
2x Lesser Alchemist's Fire (Signature Item) 0/6
1x Lesser Blight Bomb (Signature Item) 3/3
1x Minor Elixir of Life 2/2
Buzz's aim is a little off. The burning oil does splatter Harlan with his coat already on fire.
The Swordlord’s Challenge. Round 4.Bold may act.
Harlan (-16 hp) (1 persistent fire) (parry)
Bashii (13/17 hp)
Buzz
Jig
Rhenei (-3 hp)
Gwen
–3–
Grammy (3/26 hp) (shield -7 hp, broken) (shillelagh)
Bashii knocks Rhenei out with his first scratch.
Jig tries to daze Harlan, but the remaining swordlord resists it .
The Swordlord’s Challenge. Round 4.Bold may act.
Harlan (-17 hp) (1 persistent fire) (parry)
Bashii (13/17 hp)
Buzz
Jig
Gwen
–3–
Grammy (3/26 hp) (shield -7 hp, broken) (shillelagh)
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Gwen gives a satisfied growl as she sees Rhenei go down. She moves to get a clear view of Harlan. "Be a dear and join your friends!" It's almost a snarl from the petite and previously endearing girl. She snaps her fingers and green fire erupts around her hand. Then she hurls it at the remaining Aldori.