|
Once again, Hui Kong sets his staff spinning in the air and all around him, as he quickly closes the distance to the foe, the staff lengthening as he does so.
When he's in position, he transfers the momentum of the swing into an overhead strike just as he mutters a spell, causing vicious claws to emerge at the end of his staff.
+
◆ Stride
◆◆ Spellstrike
|
Hui Kong moves up and smashes the last combatant into the ground.
You are out of combat.
In the distance you see a pair of homunculi and a diminutive prairie drake familiar rise from the bushes. As the homunculi carry the prairie drake away, he calls out to the grove. “We’ll get that stargun!” he shrieks, wriggling furiously in the homunculi’s grasp. “It’s ours, and you can’t keep it forever! Suhko is the one who deserves it! She’s smart and none of you can compare!”
He continues to shout threats and protestations even as his voice fades into the distant trees.
Whiirii wastes 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 15 skill checks: Crafting, Arcana, or Lore (any topic relating to smithing).
A different party member must attempt each of the three checks.
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.
|
|
You successfully help Whiirii repair Hatahasi
“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.
"How far is the town?" the Moon Bear asks.
|
|
Since you choose to rest for the night, you remove any negative conditions incurred in your journey, and you gain 5 temporary Hit Points. These temporary Hit Points last for 24 hours or until depleted.
When the party does leave, Whiirii insists on holding onto Hatahasi for safekeeping. “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.
In the early morning light, 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.
Everyone except Nanoc realizes that these travelers are heading toward Niishan on foot.
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.”
Purple gets the jump on you and moves forward to attack the Sun Bear
◆ Stride
◆ Strike
◆ Second Strike
Nasty Ink (poison) A scrit’s fingers are perpetually covered in smeared ink from the writing it’s destroyed. This ink mixes with its skin oils to create a disgusting, sticky poison.
Saving Throw DC 14 Fortitude;
Maximum Duration 4 rounds;
Stage 1 1d4 poison damage and sickened 1 (1 round).
Bold may act
Purple
The Moon Bear , ,
Suhko
Nanoc Evitceted ,
Yellow
Green
Blue
Hui Kong ,
Hasvi' ,
Flory Buntzer ,
Whiirii, and Tsimaan
The Moon Bear gives a hand signal to his companion while the bear shakes off the effects of the inky creature. He moves over and punches the imp while the bear tears into it.
|
|
The Moon Bear and Sun Bear team up to smack Purple out of existence.
Suhko snarls. Remember, you did this to these people.
◆ Step
◆◆ Cast Chill touch on the Traveller
The Traveller saves but still takes half damage.
Bold may act
Purple ,
The Moon Bear ,
Suhko
Nanoc Evitceted ,
Yellow
Green
Blue
Hui Kong ,
Hasvi' ,
Flory Buntzer ,
Whiirii, and Tsimaan
|
|
Nanoc carefully draws his shortbow and devises a stratagem against his lead, Sukho.
"Too risky," he tells himself and chooses to shoot Blue after moving to a nice position.
piercing damage
"Can somebody tell those travellers to get away and find a secure place?" he asks the others.
◆ Interact to draw weapon
◇ Devise a Stratagem (◇ Recall Knowledge from Known Weaknesses feat)
◆ Stride
◆ Strike
|
|
Yellow moves up to attack.
◆ Stride
◆ Strike the Sun Bear
◆ Second Strike
Green moves up to attack.
◆ Stride
◆ Strike the Moon Bear
◆ Second Strike
Yellow misses the Sun Bear but Green hits the Moon Bear twice.
Blue flies to the side of the party, lands and launches a dark ball of energy at the are near Nanoc. Nanoc, Flory and Havi will be impacted.
◆ Fly
◆◆ Shadow Breath [two-actions] (arcane, cold, evocation, shadow) A shadow drake spits a ball of black liquid that explodes into a cloud of frigid black shadow. This attack has a range of 40 feet and explodes in a 5-foot-radius burst. Creatures within the burst take 3d6–4 cold damage (DC 16 basic Reflex save). The explosion of shadow also snuffs out mundane light sources the size of a torch, lantern, or smaller, and attempts to counteract magical light with a +10 counteract modifier.
Bold may act
Purple ,
The Moon Bear
Suhko
Nanoc Evitceted , ,
Yellow
Green
Blue
Hui Kong ,
Hasvi' , ,
Flory Buntzer , ,
Whiirii, and Tsimaan
|
”Ah, the familiar refrain of the bully”, says Flory. ”Inciting violence, while denying responsibility for it”
She stares in Sukho’s direction.
”I would offer a third option”, she continues. ”We slaughter your minions where they stand, slice your belly open in front of these nice people you’re bothering, and let you slowly bleed to death”
Then she stares at the travelers.
”Unless, of course, you’d rather be somewhere else”
”Sir Miles?”
The spider advances on the shadow drake who attacked his charge.
P +
|
|
Once again, Hui Kong starts spinning his staff rapidly in the air, turning his attention to Sukho.
To slay the snake, first you take off its head.
He moves towards the leader, allowing his staff to lengthen as he chants a spell. Electricty crackles down its length as he brings it down on his foe.
+
◆ Stride
◆◆ Spellstrike
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Hui Kong moves up, casts a spell and hits Suhko with a devastating blow from his staff with the spell attached. Suhko drops to the ground twitching from the electricity.
Tsimaan hustles Whiirii off behind a building.
Bold may act
Purple ,
The Moon Bear ,
Suhko ,
Nanoc Evitceted , ,
Yellow
Green ,
Blue
Hui Kong ,
Hasvi' ,
Flory Buntzer ,
Whiirii, and Tsimaan
|
|
"Brr, that was cold." he complains. He then strategies again an attack to his lead, which he just found now gone. He devises against Yellow instead.
The shivering he feels seems to distract his mind. He chooses to attack other enemy, Blue.
piercing damage
piercing damage
◆ Devise a Stratagem
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
Apparently gaining a tolerance to the various venoms on this continent after his repeated exposures in the earlier days, the Moon Bear weathers the black venom.
The masked warrior makes a hand sign to his companion bear. The sun bear moves into position and readies to pounce while the Moon Bear tries to pummel the inky imp.
+
+
|
|
Enraged by the death of Suhko, the Drake flies into the middle of the largest group from your party and attacks with Draconic Frenzy
◆ Fly
◆◆ Draconic Frenzy
And the Drake misses with all strikes.
Bold may act
Purple ,
The Moon Bear ,
Suhko ,
Nanoc Evitceted ,
Yellow ,
Green ,
Blue
Hui Kong ,
Hasvi' ,
Flory Buntzer ,
Whiirii, and Tsimaan
The Moon Bear gives another signal to the bear at his side, and then he begins to assault the drake in tandem with the bear.
|
|
Hasvi and the Moon Bear proceed to shred the Drake.
You are out of combat.
Once the fighting ends, the outcome of the battle becomes apparent. The surviving travelers begin to clean up their campsite. The head of the group thanks you profusely and declares that they’ll forever be in your debt, and will then depart for Niishan.
In the aftermath, Sukho’s familiar whimpers nearby. ”Sukho weak. Runt alone now. Runt go with you?”
"What do you know of Aslynn and her plans for the star gun?" the Moon Bear asks the unbound familiar.
”You can come with me,” the Moon Bear says. ”You may find a better master in the Society, and there are others who would surely have interest in meeting and studying a sentient sample of the local beasts.”
"It could do plenty of harm," the Moon Bear says, "if it was able and desired to do so, but it could probably do it more effectively without us watching it, though."