“On behalf of Toshiro and his friends here, I apologize if our presence in the maze has caused any inconvenience. It is in our nature to be mischievous, but we assure you that we mean no harm. Perhaps there is a way for us to find a compromise, so we can all enjoy the maze together. I think I have a solution.” Mimiko responds to Zepth.
“I think a fair contest would be an appropriate solution. As for what that contest should be, there’s only one honorable way to settle the matter!” The other tanuki takes a swig from his mug and echoes Mimiko’s words, “Yes, one way only!”
Mimiko continues, “Never mind him, he is Kenta, by the way. Anyway, and that way is a dance-off!” Kenta nearly chokes on his sake and retorts, “What did you say, Mimiko? A dance-off? I say trial by combat is the only way!” Mimiko looks at Toshiro and his prankster friends, who merely shrug, then at the Pathfinders. “Strangers, looks like it’s up to you to decide. What will it be?”
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"Well, sure a trial by combat is a common way to settle things." Olegaro will say as he drops a hand to his sword, "but ah I've never done a dance off before - could be fun?"
Then he'll look over to Zepth "Might need some intensive team lessons first though - what do you think? Are you up to leading a Pathfinder dancing troupe?"
“The strangers have spoken!” Mimiko beams, and continues, “A dancing contest indeed!” The tanuki crowd starts chanting: “Dance-off, dance-off, dance-off!” and clapping their hands and drumming their bellies, creating a beat to dance to.
A tanuki bard approaches everyone and explains the rules. "Mochi here! Good thing you chose to dance! I am over the moon right now." she tells the Pathfinders. "Have fun because I am the best dancer here." she does a quick freestyle and halts.
"Anyway, the contest has five rounds, each of which involves one of you facing off against one of us to perform a dance style. The dance styles are as follows in order: mysterious dance, warrior dance, courtly dance, acrobatic dance, and freestyle. So who will be dancing what?"
Meanwhile, Toshiro and his friends form a huddle to plan their strategy in hush tones.
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Otani is seen wearing a formal renaissance outfit. The fancy Tengu explains prior to his performance. The Oracle asks the spirits for Guidance as he takes the floor...
Galliard is a more energetic dance with a faster tempo, featuring jumping and skipping steps. Probably best to clear some space
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Moist steps forward to lend his occult expertise to the opening round of the competition!
Audience! Relax. Let go of your troubles. Settle in for the soothing river of... the dream!
Strangely he steps out into the center and does not himself move. Rather, whimsical images of dancing tripkee, tengu, and vanara expand outward from himself and dance in a circle with synchronized movements.
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Looking over at Hanu limbering up for the Freestyle dance, Olegaro grins and says "I guess warrior dance is my pick then, not that it's a great surprise or anything, hah".
Then looking a bit more serious he'll ask Hanu "So Moist said they'd like us to mix it up - what are your plans Hanu? I'll make sure I do something different."
"Alright! Everyone is settled. Let the dancing begin!" Mimiko opens the dancing competition on the stage.
Skills: Arcana DC 17, Occultism DC 17, Thievery DC 17, Performance DC 17
One of the tanuki, Suzu, enters the stage, performing a stylized version of a druidic spring ritual. The movements of this style are slow and deliberate, with the dancer appearing to be in a trance-like state. The hand movements are precise and intricate and may be used to convey hidden messages.
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The entrance!
Moist dons a chefs hat and sits in the center of his position cross-legged. He feigns falling asleep as ethereal and dreamy figures begin to emerge from behind the hat. It seems the audience will witness Moist's dream about dancing creatures!
At first, from opposite ends of his hat emerge a line of vanara waiters, and at the opposite a line of tengu waiters. They approach the audience, producing and displaying over-sized menus, dancing in place as they are read. Once each audience member nods, indicating that they have selected, the waiter disappears in a poof!, leaving behind a blue ghostly flame that returns to the sleeping Moist's chef-hat.
The main course!
Once all of the waiters have disappeared, and their flames return to the chef's hat, three miniature tripkee cooks pop up from behind, along with a small table laid across the top of the hat, and begin preparing various entrees. Their knives strike the surface in rhythmic synchronization, continuing the stompy dance-beat. A variety of dishes float out to various audience members. Each time one is delivered, the beat softens.
Of course all of the food is illusory or dream-stuff, but until someone reaches out for it, they're quite convinced it's real. Each time the audience tries to touch one, it pops and vanishes, a blue ghostly flame retreating to the chef's hat where it fades away.
The finale
The opposing lines of dancing vanara and tengu appear again, this time passing out plates of cake or pie to the audience. After all illusory dancers and items have expired, the three tripkee cooks take a bow and vanish.
Moist "wakes up" and bows.
I hope you found it... MyStErIoUs!
Moist begins his performance by donning a chef’s hat and pretending to fall asleep, setting the stage for a whimsical dream. Vanara and tengu waiters emerge, dancing and presenting menus to the audience before vanishing in ghostly blue flames. The audience are entranced by his entrance.
Tiny tripkee cooks then appear atop the hat, preparing illusory dishes to a rhythmic beat, which fade as they’re "touched." Finally, the waiters return with cakes and pies, and once all vanish, the cooks bow and disappear.
Moist awakens and takes a bow, leaving the audience with a sense of dreamy wonder. The audience bursts into clapping and joyous cheer. Even Suzu who is trying to outdone what Moist is doing, falters on her dance and leaves the stage with awkward dance moves. She is fairly impresses though.
"He is pretty good." one of their teams says.
Mimiko declares Moist as the winner of the mysterious dance battle.
"Mysterious indeed! You win the mysterious dance battle!"
Skills: melee attack against AC 20, Athletics DC 17, Intimidation DC 17, Performance DC 17
The tune now changes into something that has strong and heavy beats. One the tanukis, Tonta, enters the stage performing unarmed kata with mighty leaps and shouts, and consisting of vigorous movements, combat techniques, stamping of the feet, and shouts.
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After watching spell-bound, Olegaro cheers at the end of Moist's amazing performance.
He watches Tonta's performance carefully, sizing up an opponent as he normally would, but also noting the major moves of Tonta's kata.
Entrance!
Olegaro storms onto the stage with a sudden charge, eager to begin the dance. He follows with an abbreviated version of his own morning martial practice, using both sword and shield in a well rehearsed sequence of deflection, dodging, ripostes and slices. The entrance is almost entirely silent apart from Olegaro's carefully controlled breathing.
Main Dance
For the main dance, Olegaro follows the primary beats of Tonta's kata from memory. He weaves a considered defence of each of the tanuki's attacks in with his own thrusts and slices, following the earlier athelete's path around the stage. Each blow is accompanied by a yell.
Conclusion
To bring the dance to a close, Olegaro will sheath his sword and then run through a sequence of sweeps, steps, trips and shoves - a second sequence that the party has often seen as part of Olegaro's morning practice. He will finish with a bow to the audience and exit the stage.
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Entrance
Otani is seen wearing a formal renaissance outfit. The fancy Tengu explains prior to his performance. The Oracle asks the spirits for Guidance as he takes the floor...
Galliard is a more energetic dance with a faster tempo, featuring jumping and skipping steps. Probably best to clear some space.
Round 3 Courtly Dance - Nature DC 16, Religion DC 16, Society DC 16:
Religion(T) DC 16, Guidance 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 = 16
Main Dance
The fancy Tengu waves at the crowd. Otani quickly rushes off stage only to return front and center stage! The fancy Tengu is now wearing a black tuxedo.
This next dance is called a Waltz . Please could someone remove those particularly slippery banana peels from the dance floor. Thanks.
The Oracle asks the spirits for Guidance as he takes the floor...
Conclusion
Perspiration persistent problematic potentially pardonable perhaps possible please.
The Tengu's black-blue feathers seem to be a bit moist (not our cool frog), but he looks determined to concentrate on his conclusion!
Rushing off stage from a few moments, Otani then comes back wearing....well...this audience has never seen anything like it....
This dance was extremely popular back in the "80's"...prepare to get Served!
Otani begins Break Dancing !
The Oracle asks the spirits for Guidance as he takes the floor...
The Tengu finishes on his head, waving at the crowd!
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Entrance – “The Spark Before the Storm”
Zepth bursts into the clearing with a cartwheel, cloak flaring and whip spinning in a dazzling arc. He lands in a bow, eyes gleaming, and spins the whip once more *crack!* just to announce the stage is his.
Main – “The Storm Arrives”
He twirls and flips through the space, whip snapping mid-air before letting it fall between random locations. Every step seems to ramp up his performance, ending this part on a frenetic dance.
Finale – “Back to Serenity”
Slowing, Zepth spirals to a stop, kneeling at the center of the of his stage. The whip coils around his arm like a promise held. He lifts it with purpose, eyes soft.
He then bows to the audience.
After being captivated by Moist's performance, Olegaro applauds enthusiastically. He studies Tonta's kata with a mix of tactical analysis and admiration before taking the stage himself. Bursting into his routine with a silent, disciplined display of sword and shield work, he mimics key elements of Tonta's kata in his main performance.
He adds powerful strikes and spirited yells.
He concludes with a fluid sequence of martial movements from his morning drills, ending with a respectful bow to the audience.
Mimiko declares Olegaro the winner against Tonta.
The rhythm continues but this time changes to romantic tune. The tanuki challenger, Dainiki, performs an owlbear courtship dance.
On the other hand, Otani begins his performance dressed in an elegant renaissance outfit, invoking spiritual Guidance before launching into a lively galliard, full of jumps and skips.
He meets the challenge with poised energy. For the main dance, he surprises the crowd by switching to a sharp black tuxedo and introduces a refined waltz—though not without a comical plea to remove banana peels from the floor. Drawing on divine support once again, he performs gracefully.
In a final twist, Otani returns in a flashy, unexpected costume and breaks into an energetic 1980s-style breakdance routine, finishing upside down on his head and waving to the crowd, feathers damp but spirit unshaken.
The crowd is in awe. "What kind of dances are those? So graceful and fine!" some murmurs. "Haven't seen such that in the 80's. Where have we been those times?" Some react to his breakdancing.
Mimiko declares Otani the winner at this round of dancing.
"Your group is a clear win, but we enjoy dancing with you! How about another round before we bring this to a close?!" Mimiko signals the music and continues with something upbeat and fun.
Kagebashi enters, performing aerial ballet enhanced by air elemental powers! His style is is graceful, elegant, and expressive, featuring intricate footwork and fluid, sweeping movements.
Zepth bursts onto the stage as well with a dramatic cartwheel, his cloak flaring and whip cracking through the air to claim the spotlight.
In the main performance, he whirls and flips across the stage with increasing intensity, his whip dancing through the air in a display of controlled chaos. As the storm of motion subsides, he gradually slows, ending in a graceful spiral and kneel, the whip coiled around his arm like a quiet vow.
With a soft gaze and a final bow, he closes his performance in serene contrast to its fiery beginning.
The crowd cheers as hard and everyone finally joins the stage for the freestyle dance, doing different dance steps as they please to the music!
After everyone has settled, Mimiko approaches the Pathfinders again.
"We had so much fun! We don't expect each of you has a knack for dancing! You can join us sometime here in the Maze!" Mimiko gives them a hearty laugh.
"In behalf of our community, I apologize for any trouble we have caused in the Maze. I hope you don't kick us out here, though. We promise that we will behave, not pull any pranks outside this camp. Is that okay?"
She waits for the answer from the Pathfinders.
Mimiko meets Moist's gaze with a playful smile, challenging him to a staring contest.
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Hearing that they are allowed to stay, Mimiko is happy. The tanukis gather around them, bringing some gifts for the Pathfinders. "I promise, in behalf of our community, that we will not to pull any pranks outside of our own camp here in the Maze. And as our new friends, you are welcome here in the camp, any time!" They give the Pathfinders tea sets and pieces of art from Minkai as gifts, including traditional tanuki food and drink stored in elaborately crafted containers as parting gifts.
There’s nothing more for the Pathfinders to do in the maze, so it’s time to return to the Open Road Lodge and share the news with Sigvard. Back at the lodge, Venture-Captain Sigvard Tornkvist thanks the Pathfinders for their efforts. Upon hearing about the tanuki incursion, she speculates.
"It probably must be related to the Pathfinder Society’s recent expansions of the maze, opening new connections to Tian Xia. Anyway, I am pleased you chose a diplomatic approach to the problem. It means new allies that will make the Society stronger."
Their next mission starts in the Three Gates Lodge within Kayajima, Minkai, not far from the beginning of the Spirit Road. There, Venture-Captain Amara Li offers tea and dumplings as she briefs the Pathfinders on the strange fog blocking all transit to Silvertree.
“I need you to investigate something for me,” Amara Li says as she pours golden buckwheat tea into simple yet elegant cups. “Despite the vast and somewhat dangerous wilderness that surrounds it, the Spirit Road is the lifeblood of trade between Hongal and Minkai, and now it has been inexplicably blocked.” She pauses. “The Forest of Spirits is home to departed souls and kami, the spiritual guardians of the forest. Travelers through this region rarely dare to stray from the road for fear of offending either.”
She passes the cups along the table, and then continues. “Some merchants that I hired to transport goods to Hongal reported that a thick and disorienting fog laid across their route. One woman told me that she heard howling ghosts when she tried to enter, and another was bitten by relentless tiny teeth. The merchants soon found themselves leaving the fog where they had entered. Shaken by this experience, they turned around and reported back here.” Amara Li sighs. “There is another group of merchants who left from Hongal, and have not been seen since, and other merchants coming from Minkai have reported being unable to pass through.
“It is always hard to map a region as ever-changing as the Forest of Spirits,” Amara continues, “but consider this as close an approximation as we can get.” Amara unrolls a delicately painted map. “As you can see, the Spirit Road connects Minkai to Hongal along the peninsula’s southwestern coastline. The largest settlement on the Spirit Road is the village of Ohira, right at the delta of the Bunkatsu river. But crossing the Bunkatsu at this time of year is dangerous, so most merchant caravans take their heavy wagons to the crossing slightly north of the Spirit Road at the bridge that leads to the tiny village of Silvertree.” Amara taps her finger on the dot representing the village.
“There seems something sinister to this strange and persistent fog. We think the source of the fog must be somewhere near one of these two villages and the Bunkatsu river. With so many of my experienced agents dealing with literal fallout of Godsrain, I’m hoping that you can investigate the phenomenon and tell us what we need to do to end it.”
Hmm... the river crossing slightly north of the Spirit Road. Do you suppose it disturbs the local spirits? Perhaps the use of it brought on the fog? Moist wonders.
"The region has long been a rest stop along the Spirit Road for travelers and merchants making the trek between the two nations. Possibly, they may have disturbed the spirits there, but we have no confirmed reports."
After VC Li finishes he'll look a bit confused "What's a kami?"
"They are spiritual guardians of the forest." Amara explains. "The Forest of Spirits is the repository of most of the world’s kami. Every village has its own guardian kami. Talk to them and see if they know anything about this fog phenomenon. All kami are different, and each will have different preferences and needs. I suggest you address them with utter politeness and listen to what they have to say.”
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A statue? Was it there all along, unmoving, quiet? How long? No matter. A stranger not yet accustomed to travel with the company present. It awaits an introduction from Amara Li before sitting before you - the silent grace a palpable "sound" of swift movement by omission, the gently concealed unmistakable smell of rot just a layer beneath the sweet aroma of woodsy preserving oils.
It raises the visor of it's helmet to reveal sunken eyes which meet yours, tiny specks like a nearly-starless night over a too-bright city, signifying some semblance of life within this poor wretched creature, ugly, silent, still; still not unlike death, the miniature unconscious movements of healthy endothermic vitality noticeably absent. His face - you presume the creature to have once had a male sex - wrinkled like an onion, layer upon layer upon layer, dotted with what seems to once have been age spots, now faded and spread, a disease of spoiled flesh encroaching the curves around his jaw, his cheeks, his brow, the holes that might have once been a nose and ears, his neck.
And the rasp! "I am Ghul. You must be the others" The remnants of his thin lips curl into an unnerving smile as he looks at each in turn. To the untrained, this might seem an intentionally malicious gesture, but a closer examination yields an honest expression unfortunately cast upon a face incapable of preventing the skew of any warm sentiment, purposeful or otherwise. "I will keep you alive" the tiny emphasis on the word is somewhat disturbing - the exclusion of self in it's subject nefariously curious.
Then: The table manners, otherwise, of an aristocrat! Ghul waits patiently for his tea to arrive, cups the brew in his withered hands, and sips gently, slowly, the liquid spilling down what you presume to be his throat. If he feels the sense of being watched, he doesn't react.
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Moist looks around.
Wait, where did Hanu go? Just as I was really getting going with some banana-based recipes...
He gives a briefly disappointed look before turning to the newcomer.
Oh, hello Ghul! I wasn't aware we were getting a rotation in this little team. Truth be told, so far we've keep each other alive! You'll get the hang of how we work soon. He smiles sheepishly and licks his left eye.
"Do you have a map of the area? What about how far away are each of these places from one another?"
"This is the best map we have for the area, unfortunately, due to the Forest of Spirits being ever changing." she taps on the delicate painted map. “Travel time from one end, Hongal, of the Spirit Road to the other, Minkai takes a few weeks."
"The problem might have started slightly over three weeks ago. I am providing you with a standard set of provisions for your long journey: a pair of horses, a wagon loaded with food, water, a repair kit. Take this map of Minkai and the Forest of Spirits, including the only settlements along the Spirit Road." she hands the map to Zepth before she bids them farewell for the mission.
The journey from the Three Gates Lodge in Kayajima through the Osogen Grasslands is chilly but scenic, with brisk winds blowing through the swaying plants of the prairie and mountains soaring to either side of the plain. Along the way, friendly nomads and hearty herdsmen wave from a distance, and some locals approach on horseback to warn travelers with rumors that the Spirit Road has been blocked. Finally, the northern city of Hokkōshi comes into view. As the last stop for travelers venturing into the Forest of Spirits, Hokkōshi teems with Spirit Road guides and merchant caravans, all glumly stuck in town.
The Pathfinders continue their journey, and once within the woods, almost all traffic on the Spirit Road dies away, though the sounds of birdsong and skittering wildlife fill the void. Old growth trees enclose the path on both sides, with the occasional break in the trees revealing a view of the azure seawater of the Sapphire Sound. Down below, waves crash against a rocky shore and the air tastes not just of pine but also of finely misted salt spray.
Eventually, one by one, snowy squirrel-like creatures with the twitching long ears of rabbits arrive on the path. The squirrel-rabbits watch the Pathfinders with intelligent eyes, always following at a watchful distance. As the Pathfinders travel onward, more and more squirrel-rabbits arrive, skittering overhead from branch to branch or hopping along the sides of the path.
Everyone senses that these creatures are intelligent and waiting patiently to see what the Pathfinders will do. A light mist gathers, swirling around the trees. A risuchō hops in front of them, waits for half a minute, and then starts hopping slowly away, stopping every few seconds to look behind and check if anyone follows.