Years of training have put Vekka in tune with his own body. So when poison begins to course through his veins he knows to strain against it, with meditative breathing that slows the overall flow. It makes him lightheaded for a moment, but he can outlast the poison...
Back to work...
He encourages himself, but he knows he'll only be able to ignore his wounds for so long.
Thank you Sigurd... your diety gives me the vigor to continue.
Realizing that he's going to be at this a bit, Vekka places his other hand to the katana. He's not used to neglecting his spell drums.
With grim determination he lunges and slashes at what he thinks is a week point in its chitinous shell.
Where is that gods-forsaken voice coming from?
”Hmm… I applaud your efforts! Warty! Warty! Proceed with Act Two!”
Practically begging for attention, whoever or whatever speaks from the shadow…
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The scorpion towers over Vekka, heightening its form in an attempt to defy Vekka's lunge. Its pincers snap at the tengu to discourage the strike. That's not what Vekka is really worried about though. The tail hovers above, dripping with venom as it zeroes in for another strike.
I may not make it if this doesn't work.
Tightening his stance he braces the handle of his katana against one shoulder. The scorpion is taken by surprise when he thrusts it forward with both hands, lodging it between two segments of chitinous armor just behind the head.
His focus paid off. It goes in surprisingly easy. But his work is not over. He wrenches the blade downward, dragging it across the breadth of its body. As the blade cuts the soft underbody, steaming black ichor ejects from the top of the wound and splatters on the ceiling.
The bright blade emerges from just behind the near pincer-arm. The whole scorpion falls limp, and as its body settles to the floor its face and the pincer arm separate visibly from the rest. Another pool of black ichor forms on the ground at the front of it. At first it steams but it quickly cools off. The durable, persistent smell lingers though. The kind that makes you think you caught something unsavory in your mouth.
Vekka exhales and begins to look past the massive body for the source of the voice...
Most don't notice a subtle expression of disappointment flash across Vekka's face, as he mutters a penance to himself.
Forgive me Nethys. In the situation I was reduced to mundane means. I endeavor to open paths for the arcane forces to act through me.
A simple nod to Vekka. A fine kill.
What is this voice? Sigurd holds onto his shield and tries to seek the source of the voice.
With the poison coursing through Lan’s veins, Auntie Wu’s assistance gives him a fighting chance!
Sigurd sees Lan is fighting off a scorpion poison. He prepares to cast >Cleanse Affliction< to fight the affliction.
With Lan no longer Restrained, he can burn 1st level Heals on himself.
Sigurd moves forward and uses Shizuru’s light to burn away the poison - Auntie Wu’s assistance brings Lan over the edge - he begins to feel better.
Hearing malicious giggling in the next room, the party decides between taking a short rest and pursuing full speed!
"We don't have much time." Sigurd catches his breath as the scorpion comes to a halt and the "audience" is pleased.
"Give us a moment for intermission." He speaks out. Sheela always framed things in terms of performances. Maybe this fiend will continue to take this as a big joke. At least until justice can be dealt.
"We should recover, quickly."
Once the team has recovered, Sigurd picks up his shield and readies his katana before moving towards the southern most set of doors.
+8 hp for everyone. (Vekka 33/42, Lan 29/40, Sigurd 34/44)
"Let's not dally. Someone out there needs a katana to the face."
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Checking Lan for any sign of lingering poison, Auntie Wu mutters quietly to those close to her: "I feel like we're fish in a barrel. If we stay, they'll wear us down with each 'Act', and then kill us. Slowly."
If Lan can't do his healing flames, Auntie Wu will Treat Wounds on Lan and cast Cornucopia twice.
Auntie Wu strains her ears to locate the source of the voice and stays behind Sigurd.
”Ha HA!” clearly happy to not only be acknowledged at all, but within the context of it’s ’performance’ frame, the voice calls back ”Yes. Intermission! A fine idea. Okay. You have 10 minutes to get ready!”
DC 18
(class)
There have been sightings of Mo Douqiu harboring a which is rumored to have swallowed at least people in the last couple days (while the party was gone...)...
...meanwhile, while most of the party waits to be healed by Auntie Wu, Kazuki (probably) decides not to sit still, and gets a SNEAK PEAK of what's to come!
You may attempt an easy Survival check or hard Stealth check - or both! - GM will roll secretly for you in any case!
Easy?
If you succeed on this Survival check, you begin combat with a Hunt Prey upon the creature Auntie Wu or Lan describe to you. If you fail, you suffer a penalty to -2 penalty to initiative (-4 critical failure) as you mis-identify it's tracks.
Hard?
If you succeed on this Stealth check, you begin combat with Token in any level position in the room. If you fail this check, GM will place your Token in a somewhat uncompromising position (worse on CF) instead. If you critically succeed, you somehow may find an elevated position from which to snipe from at least 30 feet from the creature Auntie Wu or Lan describe to you!
The party takes 10 minutes "intermission"... as does their enemies...
Growing obviously impatient, it implores “This town is the most boring place ever! Everyone’s working day-in, day-out, just to make ends meet. Every single year, doing the same thing over and over again. All that work just to survive. Don’t you want to liven this up too if you see everyone forever mired in the same dreadful routine?”
Wondering, perhaps, if they'll bite...
"Where is the FUN!?"
Vekka thanks his companions profusely as they lessen, and eventually undo his wounds. As they do so he holds his sword out in front of him and blade pointed upward.
He practices breathing techniques and causing arcane energy to flow around him.
Lan climbs up on a table, addressing an unknown crowd (unless Kazuki identifies them).
"The next act," Lan boldly proclaims, "contains mature themes, including violence, sexuality, and brief nudity. Viewer discretion is advised."
While Auntie Wu and Vekka Refocus, and Kazuki pokes around, Lan puts on one of the Noppera-Bo hoods and makes whatever attempts he can to erase his facial features. Lan is not attempting to convince them he is a Noppera-Bo, he is trying to distract them for anything that Kazuki may be trying to do.
Just before the act begins, Lan will press his hands together and make a deep bow. When he does, he'll twist his ventriloquist's ring and throw his voice onto the rafters.
Be quiet! They'll know we're up here!
Sigurd admits Willowshore can get dull. Even this festival seemed so rote. Darius enjoyed it, though, and said it would join the other stories he told. How many stories did he know?
But the pile of bodies, the giant scorpion- the ghost faced fiends rambling about a false reality- this "entertainment" was unwelcome. Anything that threatened the homeland like this needed to be eliminated.
The fiend, Mo Douqiu, has a flare for the dramatic. Maybe it thinks of this as play and it doesn't care how many lives are lost.
As his teammates provide much needed assistance, Sigurd spends his time checking for any problems in the area. Maybe he can locate the source of the voice.
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Also, can she Recall Knowledge on the description of a "large, man-eating toad" to see if she knows anything about what it could be? Nature +10/Religion +11.
"The next act," Lan boldly proclaims, "contains mature themes, including violence, sexuality, and brief nudity. Viewer discretion is advised."
Auntie Wu's eyes go wide. Not *my* nudity! Though that perv out there probably prefers that kind of stuff. <grumble-sigh>
vs Aid DC (15?)
Sigurd's search proves fruitful - there were once, perhaps, several items of great value in here - mostly china - but all seems to have been dashed to pieces.
Following Lan's consult, the party heads in!
(Incredible Initiative, Seasonal Boon)
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
NEW ENTERTAINMENT: ACT TWO
Monster ID: Nature
Monster Info: This Toad has Poisonous Skin and can Swallow Whole!
Terrain: Tables and Barrels are Obstacles, Squares with Black Scuffs are Difficult Terrain, Bar gives Cover
Vekka
Sigurd
Lan @ Sick 1 @ -1 HPs
Large, Warty, Man-Swallowing Toad
Kazuki @ Sick 1
Auntie Wu @ Sick 1
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
Just as the party enters, the Toad seems distracted - a human (?) arm falls out of it's mouth, and it takes a moment to re-swallow it.
"Intermission Over!" quick, excited claps "Warty, meet your Food. Food, meet Warty!" and "Oh, joy!"
What is this thing? A giant toad, yes. Poison and... it can eat people.
Sigurd shuffles forward amongst the mess. He stows his Steel Shield away and conjures a magical Shield to protect himself.
"Come!"
More delays!
Vekka is out of patience, but the martial strategist in him begins to prepare and cautiously approach the toad.
As we carefully navigates the room he looks about for Mo, including over the railing of the steps he approaches as he passes Sigurd.
Turning back to the toad, he gesticulates a bit of arcane energy that shrouds him in a light shimmery mist.
Requirements You have one or more hands free
You infuse magical power into your body or armaments to parry both physical and magical assaults. You raise your guard, gaining a +1 circumstance bonus to AC and to saving throws against spells that target you until the start of your next turn, as long as you continue to meet the requirements.
Appears in Secrets of Magic
"Where is that voice coming from?" he asks his friends. He then calls out to the voice,
"'Fun'? I'll show you some 'fun', you son of a badger!"
(class)
With Lan’s diversion, Kazuki had tracked the Toad into the other room!
Lan immediately sends a barrage of darts at the toad.
◆◆
◆ Glass Shield
Lan's needles pepper a nearby table - Sigurd and Vekka advance and brace for an attack that... never comes!?
Indeed, scanning the field with a slimy, ovular eye for the smallest, most swallowable creature, Warty easily zeroes in on Auntie Wu, who to him, appears as little more than a tasty morsel
Warty
◆) Hop
◆) Tongue Grab
◆) Swallow Whole
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
NEW ENTERTAINMENT: ACT TWO
Monster ID: Nature
Monster Info: This Toad has Poisonous Skin and can Swallow Whole!
Terrain: Tables and Barrels are 3-ft Obstacles, Squares with Black Scuffs are Difficult Terrain, Bar gives Cover
Vekka
Sigurd
Lan @ Sick 1 @ -1 HPs
Warty (Athletics DC 22) @ Swallowed Auntie Wu
Kazuki @ Sick 1 @ Hunting Warty
Auntie Wu @ Sick 1 @ Swallowed by Warty @ -4 HPs @ Slowed 1, Suffocating 1-rnd @ 1x pending Fort save
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
(low-light vision)
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
You are unsure whether Mo Douqiu is anywhere near the steps...
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
The Party is Up!
"Ha HA!" Mo Douqiu glees from wherever he is hiding "That was FUN!"
"Just like all the FUN Mo Douqiu has had recently!" he leaves that hanging in the air, as if he really wants to talk about it...
Lan has little else he can do, but he tries his best as he watches Auntie Wu disappear. He does try to Demoralize the toad, to see if a weakened toad might make it easier for her to escape.
◆
◆◆ vs frightened AC?
Sigurd's fears came to pass. He had hoped to blind the frog and distract it. Or at worst, let it swallow him. He could heal it off.
But Auntie Wu's small stature made her too tempting. At least he is within range.
Sigurd's shield bursts into a blast of bright sunlight, right into the frog's eyes. Hopefully Lan was able to frighten it first.
Then he advances, one hand still on his sword and his shield stowed away.
May Auntie Wu survive. Now he really wishes she could apply more grease!
Lan imitates Toad's natural predator - a racoon! - and it's tummy churns with Auntie Wu inside - a partially-digested arm slaps into her face...
...his needles narrowly miss...
Warty lets out a mothfull as his eyes refract Sigurd's light - he goes Blind!
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
The Party (except Lan and Sigurd) is Up!
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Before she can say "Bob's your uncle", Auntie Wu finds herself inside the belly of the nasty, man-eating toad. The smell is horrendous, and that's the least of her worries.
Terrified, knowing full well that stomachs are plenty acidic and definitely *not* wanting to die this way, she holds her breath and writhes, trying to force her way back up its throat.
Wishing she could gasp with the effort, she laboriously reaches around to draw her dagger.
The swallowing of Aunti-Wu leaves behind a stunned face and incredulous expression on Vekka.
Give our halfling back you filthy bog toad!
He jogs up around Sigurd , hoping to draw its attention to this side. However, instead of lashing out with his blade he draws a few runes in the air with his talon and suddenly appears on the bar behind it!
Then the blade slashes at it...
After his feathers begin to glow lightly.
Vekka draws first blood - green sludge oozes from Warty’s belly… …and is that a finger that falls though the open gash and onto the teahouse floor?
Inside, Auntie Wu prepares to cut her way out, drawing her dagger, the smell of inside turning her stomach inside out…
"Oh no! Auntie!!! Gotta save her!"
With a strange sixth sense, Kazuki manages to mark the giant toad as his prey upon first sighting. He darts to the eastern part of the room and into a niche behind the stairs. He swaps his blade for his bow and sends two arrows at his prey...
SHONK
Kazuki's arrow sticks in Warty's butt - it's leg wriggles a little involuntarily in response.
But Warty is still hungry... and Blind! - Unable to see Vekka, but aware of his position, he rotates his back to expose his fluid-filled pustules, and, tightening his pubococcygeus muscle, releases the horrible substance into a foul, toxic spray, soaking the tengu's feathers - then lashes desperately out with his tongue!
Warty
◆◆) Squirt Acid
◆) Tongue Grab
⬜Ⓜ️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬛⬛⬛⬜
⬜⬛⬛⬜⬜
⬜⬛⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
Inside his belly, Auntie Wu and Mogu are crushed some more!
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
NEW ENTERTAINMENT: ACT TWO
Monster ID: Nature
Monster Info: This Toad has Poisonous Skin and can Swallow Whole!
Terrain: Tables and Barrels are 3-ft Obstacles, Squares with Black Scuffs are Difficult Terrain, Bar gives Cover
Rules: Swallow Whole
Vekka (Cascade) @ 1x pending Reflex
Sigurd
Lan @ Sick 1 @ -1 HPs
Warty (Athletics DC 22, AC 20, -18 HPs, Rupture ?) @ Swallowed Auntie Wu @ Dazzled 1-min, Frightened 1
Kazuki @ Sick 1 @ Hunting Warty
Auntie Wu @ Sick 1 @ Swallowed by Warty @ -4 HPs @ Slowed 1, Suffocating 2-rnd @ -13 crush
Mogu @ -13 crush
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
The Party is Up!
That... isn't what Sigurd expected. But he's flanking now.
He changes the grip on his katana, burns the potency crystal, and swings. "Let her go."
But his swing is wide.
◆◆ vs AC 20
Lan pretends to focus on the toad, but flicks his eyes about, looking for the applauder.
◆ Seek (burst, in the rafters straight above)
Sigurd's slash and Lan's needles hit their mark - more green goo spouts from the perforations - and is that a undigested toe?
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
You are unsure whether Mo Douqiu is anywhere near the rafters...
➤➤➤ ➤➤➤ ➤➤➤
"Ha HA" Mo Douqiu laughs "Looks like Act Two may be wrapping up!" he claps "For Act Three - with ME - there will be no Intermission!" a vague... threat?... "Ha Ha Ha Ha HA HA" maybe he's bluffing?...
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Mogu's filaments tighten on Auntie Wu's head as the belly of the toad contracts around them. Oh, poor Mogu! With renewed determination, she tries to give the toad an awful stomachache in the hopes that he throws her up.
Exerting so much energy makes her dizzy, and it feels like it was woefully ineffective. She pauses for a moment, clutching the mossy stick hung around her neck. She hopes her friends will cut her and Mogu loose before it's too late. Dream of trees... Dream of trees...
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Entertained to see the blind toad lumbering around to face him, the acid squirt takes him by surprise...
The liquid stings the skin beneath his feathers, having coated him. Gritting his beak, he fights through the pain, in fact using it to focus. Throwing the non-sword hand back he beats what he finds to be a still-dry spell-drum. The sigil on it glows as flames gush from his blade...
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Vekka's katana has once more taken on the familiar, midnight-blue sheen that conveys dark sea depths, as if it's a slender portal to such. The edges that emit the flames are white-hot in contrast.
His powerful arms bring the blade down on the Warty's head like a hammer, but to begin cleaving the toad in half. He starts slowly at first, using the fiery heat to push through the beasts head, but then more quickly once he realizes the blade will not reach into its stomach where Auntie Wu is trapped. As the body goes limp, he changes direction with the blade to cut laterally and create a bigger opening.
The toad's eye falls to the ground as the whole situation gets... messy. Its facial structure comes apart with the more recognizable parts falling into a puddle of its acid on the floor.
Now he can safely carve back and along the side, hopping off of the bar as he goes to cut an opening down the right side of Warty. Throwing off the half above the cut, he reveals their halfling, and probably a loathsome mélange of the parts of prior victims. That sight renews some of his anger...
He greets Aunti Wu with a stoic Everything still intact? He gently places a hand on the side of Mogu to steady him atop her head.
"Yes, Auntie Wu? Are you alright?" Sigurd calls out as she escapes the creature's maw. "I tried to distract it, but..."
The "host" begins to call out, impatient. Sigurd frowns. "Looks like we don't get another intermission..."
There is a sound upstairs!
"HEEELP!!!"
It doesn't sound like Mo Douqiu... but... then again... wait...
"Ha HA! You see? It is ME. ACT THREE! Come up now or else HEE HEE!"
Could he be bluffing?
It's probably a ploy, but, is the party willing to take the risk? Were the prisoners on the first floor the only prisoners, or a trick? Who is that screaming for help upstairs? Where even is Mo Douqiu? If the party takes a quick rest, will an innocent person die?...
➤ Level: 5 (base DC 20)
➤ Complexity: 1 round
➤ Timeframe: seconds!
➤ Synergies: None
➤ List of Skills: Sense Motive (difficulty unknown), rolled openly!
You need a simple majority to outwit Mo Douqiu: ☆☆☆
If you win, you call his bluff, and may take a brief rest.
If you lose, you must fight him without resting, for he has tricked you!
This character is vile. They could be bluffing or they could be torturing more victims up there. Either way we'll have to act fast.
Vekka tries to make sense of what he hears as fact or fiction.
At the moment he is too rattled.
I don't think we can afford to wait even a minute...
It appears others in the group will have to make sense of it to slow them down for more rational decisions.