"Sure. How much will it cost us? I doubt this is a free service." Salera continues to admire Whiirii's home. "I love your sense of home decor."
"Ah, you do it for the joy of the craft." Salera keeps Jiggo back as she advances. "Makes sense. I'm always trying to blend dancing and the art of etiquette. Neither are easy, but when you get it just right, it feels great. That sense of accomplishment helps fight off boredom."
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Unless you stop them, Whiirii will take Hatahasi and start to examine them. They have been badly hurt, but I think I can help them.
Once finished being questioned, Whiirii has a few inquiries of their own. “I don’t expect you to have all the answers. To be honest, I don’t expect you to have [u]any[/u] answers. You have a job and you’re doing it, and when you’re done, you’ll get paid. So, why do you do this? What are your motivations, and what do you think the Pathfinder Society wants with Arcadia? What will you do when—not if, but when—one of the Society’s allies disagrees with what you’re doing, or when you’re forced to choose an outcome you don’t like? What will you do when you’re betrayed by those you trust?”
Whiirii eyes each of you in turn. “Again, I don’t expect you to have the answers. I just want you to think about these questions. Reflect on them.”
Now is the time for Diplomacy Checks. You can also try to impress Whiirii with a DC 19 Arcana or Crafting check to demonstrate your knowledge and interest in Arcadian Gunsmithing.
Voron and Clover already have Diplomacy successes, but can attempt the Arcana/Crafting check as well.
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Jiggo watches Whiirii look over the Hatahasi. Like a father looking over his child, but also a woodworker observing his craft.
"Betrayal. Yes." Jiggo pauses and turns to Salera, who simply nods. "My wife and I... well, it hasn't always been golden between us. We first met for maybe a month, but then she left. It was only when a paladin arrived looking for clues that I learned of her abyssal nature. I'm lucky I'm still alive."
"But I held the faith. Sometimes betrayal cuts deep. But sometimes it's not betrayal. It's soul searching. We had something in that month, a bond even the forces of the Abyss could not break. And that brought her back. Even the forces of Elysium recognized her nature and helped reform her."
Salera keeps quiet and observes the insects.
"Believe me, that didn't come easy. I lost the trust of many friends. My family disavowed me once they learned about Salera, deciding I was lost. All I could do was walk the path ahead of me. I've disagreed with the Pathfinder Society many times. I have to walk the path."
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"The motto of the Pathfinder Society is to explore, report, and cooperate. To that end, a big part of our exploration of Arcadia is simply based on the fact that we don't know very much about it. We hear legends and tales, but we have to back it up with evidence.
As for disagreements between the Society and its allies, while I can't speak for others, I can say that the Society has been very gracious about acknowledging the mistakes it has made, and sometimes, continues to make. The Society is not just composed of Avistani with Taldo-centric notions of right and wrong, but a diverse collection of peoples and opinions."
Peter's humanoid features begin to dissolve - his nose elongates, and a large, bushy tail emerges from his trousers.
"I am kitsune, and I travel with the Pathfinder Society because they took me in when my school was razed by the Whispering Tyrant."
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Clover huffs. "Job to get paid? Certainly not! My creator was killed by a strange beast, and I 'popped up' just to stop it. I wasn't quick enough, and more experienced adventures handled it. But I've trained to be the best monster hunter I can, so that when dangerous beasts threaten innocent lives I can help them.
"I travel with the Pathfinder Society because they helped train me, and because they give me the opportunity to travel the world! The missions aren't always exactly what I'm looking for, but they always provide opportunities for field experience and we usually end up saving somone's day, even if I don't get the chance to slay a dragon.
"As for disagreement, well, kind of a broad question, don't you think? My response to 'disagreement' is going to vary from shrugging and moving on to trying to break some bones, depending on the nature of the disagreement. There are things for which the only acceptable response is a violent one, but most things aren't so dire or so important."
She carefully observes the gunsmith's examination, to see how much sense she can make of it.
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Voron sighs. I don't deny that our ranks likely have their share of mercenaries and opportunists. It would be naive to suggest otherwise. However, here in this particular group...
He motions to his assembled companions before continuing.
are drawn by curiosity, wonder, and the energy to help in the world. I myself believe magic itself is a purpose, and a life such as Hatahasi's is a supreme demonstration of that. Those of us from outside Arcadia can perhaps learn to better understand such a life.
He proceeds to elaborate on the arcane energies he observes in Hatahasi's existence.
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Salera flexes a bit and begins a 3 step trot towards the frontline. She simply glares at the creature with a purple mist.
It doesn't seem to care much.
Jiggo looks around. "Does anyone want a >Blazing Armory?< Anyone who uses a weapon? Maybe fire will help."
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Jiggo looks around. "Does anyone want a >Blazing Armory?< Anyone who uses a weapon? Maybe fire will help."
"Wouldn't say 'No,'" says Clover warily, though she's concerned about the "fire" part.
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"Alright, here you go. Ah... er, warhammer will do?" A >+1 Striking Warhammer< appears in Princess Clover's hands.
"Don't worry, it can't burn you or me. Good luck!"
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Martin looks at the Blue creature and realizes it is a Prairie Drake. It is Immune to paralysis and sleep. It also Resists electricity. and has a breath weapon,
Bold may act
Zhamie Zhapp
Voron Keyphyra
Martin and Mavenee ,
Jiggo and Salera
Yellow
Peter Plus-Haut
Pink
Red
Blue
Clover ,
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Voron casts arcs of flames at the enemies.
The arc cast at Blue hits the ground harmlessly nearby.
The arc cast at Yellow hits the center of mass and Yellow explodes into tiny bits flying through the air.
The arc aimed at Blue also hits, but not as solidly as the one that hit Yellow. It does does a significant amount of damage.
Bold may act
Voron Keyphyra
Martin and Mavenee ,
Jiggo and Salera
Yellow ,
Peter Plus-Haut
Zhamie Zhapp
Pink
Red
Blue
Clover ,
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Peter begins singing a song.
♫ Welcome, monsieurs / Sit yourselves down
And meet the best / Gunsmith in town
As for the rest / All of 'em noobs
Looking their best / But clogging the tubes.
Master of the smith / Doling out the charms
Ready to tinker with / Any such firearms ♫
◆ Inspire Courage
◇
Peter will cast shield ◆, and then ◆ Recall Knowledge if it's Occultism (+5) or Religion (+9), or otherwise draw a shortbow.
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Peter manages to nail Purple with an arrow from his shortbow.
Zhamie's Recall Knowledge on the Air Mephit she has targeted succeeds anti-climatically as she drops the second one with a well placed shot.
Red moves forward and somehow breathes Dirt at Martin, Mavenee and Clover
◆ Stride
◆◆ Dirt Breath [two-actions] (arcane, earth, evocation) The creature spits a ball of dirt that explodes into a shower of rocks and mud. The attack has a range of 30 feet and explodes in a 5-foot radius burst. Creatures within the burst take 3d6 bludgeoning damage (DC 16 basic Reflex save).
Blue moves forward to attack Salera
◆ Stride
◆◆ Draconic Frenzy [two-actions] The creature makes one jaws Strike and two wing Strikes in any order.
and Blue misses with all strikes
Bold may act
Voron Keyphyra
Martin and Mavenee , ,
Jiggo and Salera
Yellow ,
Peter Plus-Haut
Zhamie Zhapp
Purple ,
Red
Blue
Clover , ,
"Oh, I'm positively terrified." Salera puts her hands on her hips and stares back at the Blue creature.
She grins as she feels a glimpse of her old self. "Jiggs, boost me."
Jiggo wastes little time enhancing her strength as she dances in front of the Blue tinted creature, her clawed hands streaking across its body.
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Clover takes some damage from the cloud of dust the creature expelled at the party. Then Clover duplicates themselves with the mirror and strikes the creature a solid, but not fatal, blow.
Bold may act
Voron Keyphyra
Martin and Mavenee , ,
Jiggo and Salera
Yellow ,
Peter Plus-Haut
Zhamie Zhapp
Purple ,
Red
Blue , ,
Clover ,
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Martin had Frightened the last creature as it approached allowing Peter to critically hit it with an arrow.
They both struggle with the cloud of dirt that blows into their faces, but Mavenee gets fortified and charges forward to kill the last enemy.
You are out of combat/
When the battle subsides, Tsimaan steps out from behind a tree and helps Whiirii to their feet. They waste no time in checking over Hatahasi, murmuring to the star gun as if it were an injured child. “Did they hurt you? No. Good. You’re hurt enough, my dear. We’ll fix that.” Whiirii turns. “We should head up. We need to get to work immediately.”
Whiirii tightens their grip around Hatahasi and takes to the air, their wings beating in near silence. They alight on one of their many walkways and unravel a rope ladder, which drops dozens of feet to the forest floor. Once the party members and Tsimaan reach the top of the ladder, Whiirii leads you into their smithy. A wide array of tools, both new and familiar, are scattered across numerous worktables, hanging on the walls, and suspended from the ceiling. Several beast guns lie on a counter that is otherwise empty, and another beast gun is disassembled on an adjacent table. It’s clear Whiirii was working on it before you arrived.
Whiirii shoves piles of tools off the nearest table, sending them clattering to the floor in even more disorganized heaps. They lay Hatahasi down with great care and begin directing you on ways to help. The party members may assist Whiirii in repairing the star gun by carrying water and retrieving tools, applying their magical or alchemical knowledge, or tending to the forge to ease the process.
REPAIRING HATAHASI
Completing the Task: Repairing Hatahasi requires the party members to succeed at three DC 18 skill checks: Crafting, Arcana, or Lore (any topic relating to smithing).
A different party member must attempt each of the three checks, but the skills can be repeated.
For Lore skills, reduce the DC by 2. Any remaining party members can attempt any of the allowed skills to Aid the party member making the primary check with that skill.
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"I've never worked on something so sensitive before. With the exception of myself, toys usually don't mind if you make a mistake. You just toss it out and start again."
Voron seems to know what he's doing. Clover pays him close attention.
Oh. Maybe she should be paying closer attention to her own hands.
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Jiggo relaxes a bit. "Who... were those? Maybe they were sent by you-know-who to get you-know-what." Salera struts up to him, full of herself and pats him on the shoulder. She replies "They're dead now. Besides, let's focus on healing Hatahasi."
Jiggo nods and climbs up. Salera follows soon after, but takes the opportunity to spread her wings and leap off the higher platform and enjoy gliding back down. "I never get to use these things."
Jiggo finds himself lost. He's a librarian and scribe by trade. Still, he's willing to help anyone on anything.
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“Star guns were never meant to be used,” Whiirii says as they align two pieces of skymetal. “People know the Crowned Regents made them, but they ignore that the star guns were hardly the only thing they made, and that they never tried to profit from them. They didn’t care for expansion or power. The Star Code exists because the Regents knew outsiders would abuse the gifts they were given and put others in danger. My family understood that each star gun was alive, and that the creation of one was like the birth of a child. That’s why we were entrusted with the knowledge of how to care for them, and we’ve maintained that knowledge for thousands of years.
“Hatahasi isn’t just a gun.” Their voice drips with bitterness and grief. They tap the engraved Chelaxian crest. “The Chelaxians branded a family member. I’m not repairing a damaged object; I’m healing a living being. The disrespect and harm done to star guns may be why they’ve gone into hiding. Too many people saw only what they could take and use, and not enough tried to give back.”
Whiirii leans back from Hatahasi and lifts their gaze. “This... Aslynn? Is willing to do anything to get her hands on Hatahasi. I am willing to do anything to keep them from her.”
Once Hatahasi is repaired, Whiirii offers you a drake rifle (Pathfinder Guns & Gears 154). They have rifles of every elemental type listed in the weapon’s description. “I fully expect a second attempt from Suhko. You may take your pick of any of these rifles, if you want. Rest assured they all work well; I know the extent of my skill.”
We can rest for the night or continue onto Niishan now. I leave that choice to you.
Salera peers at Hatahasi. Her usually silent demeanor drops for a moment. "My House. Er, my former House. We always skirted the line between my Mother's children and my Mother's tools in a war only she knows how to wage."
"This is more than just cultural heritage. This is about us helping someone back home. I'd kill for that." She bites her lip.
"Jiggs isn't too tired from the battle, so I'm good with leaving as soon as we can. But I don't tire easily. Don't know about the rest of you."
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When the party does leave, Whiirii insists on holding onto Hatahasi for safekeeping. “I am coming with you. None of us have earned the privilege to wield Hatahasi,” they say, “and neither has Hatahasi revealed a bond to any of us. Caring for Hatahasi is part of my duty, so I will carry them until we reach Niishan. If this doesn’t sit right with someone… keep it to yourself. This is the only outcome I will accept.”
The group then departs without further issue.
As night falls over the land, you spot a cluster of rocky outcrops in the distance. Firelight bounces off part of the stone and the silhouettes of travelers slowly become visible as they move about the camp.
Jiggo, Salera, Voron, Zhamie, and Peter all realize that these travelers are heading toward Niishan on foot.
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Sukho steps out from behind an outcropping while a small drake lands in front of your party.
“Oh, Pathfinders.” Suhko sneers, petting the diminutive prairie drake in her arms. “I’m sure you know what’s happening here. My mother Aslynn wants that pretty star gun you have there. The gunsmith too, while we’re at it. Might as well collect the one who can fix it, right? Right. Now, there’s a very simple solution to this little conundrum we have—it should be easy enough for your little brains to comprehend. Give me the star gun and the gunsmith and I will get out of your hair like that,” she says with a snap of her fingers.
“If you don’t give me the star gun and the gunsmith,” Suhko continues, “then I will slaughter you where you stand and take both of them anyway. You live or you die, but it’s your decision. Make the wise one, m’kay?” The shadow drake lets out a low, menacing growl. The prairie drake clambers out of Suhko’s arms and onto the ground. Suhko smiles menacingly and looks over her shoulder at the travelers’ camp, then turns back. “Your lives aren’t the only ones on the line.”
Bold may act
Voron Keyphyra
Zhamie Zhapp
Blue
Martin and Mavenee
Jiggo and Salera
Peter Plus-Haut
Suhko
Clover
Drake
Yellow