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Hui Kong chants softly under his breath, capturing some of the remnant energy from his last attack, as his staff gets coated in frost.
Hui Kong flows around his party, moving towards the elementals, his staff continuing to spin in the air, and gradually lengthens.
Once in range, he swings his staff in quick succession, slamming first into the mass of whirlwind then into the hawk.
+ + 1 cold
+ + 1 cold
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Slipp looks like she might phase out existence as the Orange Bird strikes her, but remains solid through the Bird's attack.
Hui Kong advances on the enemies with ice coating his staff as he moves. The staff with a thud on the surprisingly solid Whirlwind, but his strike at the Orange Bird misses.
The Whirlwind moves to strike the last two party members that hit it.
◆ Stride
◆ Strike at Mavenee
◆ Strike at Hui Kong
The Whirlwind hits Mavenee and pushes the Eidolon into the open air.
The Whirlwind then misses Hui Kong.
Disperse [reaction] Trigger The living whirlwind takes damage from a hostile action. Effect The living whirlwind disperses. Until the end of the current turn, it can’t be attacked or targeted, doesn’t take up space, and any auras or emanations it has are suppressed. At the end of the turn, the living whirlwind re-forms in any space in which it can fit within 25 feet of where it dispersed, and any auras or emanations it has are restored as long as their duration didn’t run out while it was dispersed.
Bold may act
Luz Lumino
Junior
Nic Blackwillow
Martin Amblecrown ,
Zephyr Hawk Black
Zephyr Hawk Orange
Hui Kong
Living Whirlwind
Slipp
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The fire continues to rage within Slipp. The little gnome, now somewhat battered channels the raging forest fire within the first world, breaching the dimensional boundaries as fire lashes out at the two remaining antagonists.
Then they retreat a bit up the stairs to get a better view of what is happening.
** scorching ray
* stride
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Slipp's ray of fire fired at the Whirlwind hits with the crackling sounds of superheated air. Her attack on the Orange Bird misses.
Mavenee grabs for the edge as they fall though the gap in the fortress. Unfortunately, they miss the edge as they fall out of sight.
Fortunately, Safa's magic is at play and Mavenee drops into the center of the courtyard, somewhat the worse for wear.
Ephemeral gales occasionally tear through Safa’s domain. A gale blows across the fortress buffeting you and filling your ears with giggling laughter. This creates the effects of a gust of wind (DC 18 Fortitude save) in all squares adjacent to the ground.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature can't move against the wind.
Failure The creature is knocked prone. If it was flying, it suffers the effects of critical failure instead.
Critical Failure The creature is pushed 30 feet in the wind's direction, knocked prone, and takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage.
Bold may act
Luz Lumino ,
Junior ,
Nic Blackwillow ,
Martin Amblecrown , ,
Zephyr Hawk Black Dead
Zephyr Hawk Orange
Hui Kong ,
Living Whirlwind
Slipp ,
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Slipp and Nic manage to avoid being knocked over by the wind. Nic tries to attack the Orange Bird but can't get his blade positioned properly. Then he retreats.
Bold may act
Luz Lumino ,
Junior ,
Nic Blackwillow ,
Martin Amblecrown , ,
Zephyr Hawk Black ,
Zephyr Hawk Orange
Hui Kong ,
Living Whirlwind
Slipp ,
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Mavenee deftly twists in the air to lightly land and avoid any damage from the fall. Mavenee easily moves through the wind that knocked Martin off his feet and hits the Black Bird with a hefty blow.
Bold may act
Luz Lumino ,
Junior , ,
Nic Blackwillow ,
Martin Amblecrown ,
Zephyr Hawk Black ,
Zephyr Hawk Orange
Hui Kong ,
Living Whirlwind
Slipp ,
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JR falls in the wind but manages to get back up and hit the Whirlwind with a Javelin. The Whirlwind looks pretty rough but is still in the fight.
Bold may act
Luz Lumino ,
Junior ,
Nic Blackwillow ,
Martin Amblecrown ,
Zephyr Hawk Black ,
Zephyr Hawk Orange
Hui Kong ,
Living Whirlwind
Slipp ,
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Luz struggles with the wind but manages to find the perfect opening to hit the Whirlwind, dispersing it for good this time.
The Orange bird continues the fight
◆ Wing Strike at Mavenee
◆ Move toward Hui Kong
◆ Wing Strike at Hui Kong
The bird misses both strikes
NOTE: Once Slipp has had their turn the third round is over and the wind dies down.
Bold may act
Luz Lumino
Junior
Nic Blackwillow
Martin Amblecrown
Zephyr Hawk Black ,
Zephyr Hawk Orange
Hui Kong ,
Living Whirlwind ,
Slipp ,
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The strong wind brings the smell of a burning forest with it... mostly due to Slipp being upwind of the rest of the group.
The little gnome glares at the whirlwind, elemental fire behind their eyes daring the puny wind to try and blow it out even as flames pour from their fingertips.
** scorching ray
* intimidating glare
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Nic can't get a bead on the final bird, but Mavenee moves in and dispatches it with a fiery claw.
The last enemy falls.
A familiar hateful voice roars over an angry wind.
“How dare you defy me, servant?! You are nothing, and I will make you regret your insubordination. I’ll carve a reminder of your disobedience on your soul, Safa! Return at once!”
The elegant fortress is replaced by the decrepit walls of the lodge. Safa bows, the clinking of her thin golden chains clearly audible in the silent lodge.
“You have done everything and so much more, Pathfinders. I must do his bidding. I have only one gift that is mine to give.”
A whirlwind forms in the genie’s hands before being released across the building, lifting dust and causing heavy, moth-eaten curtains to flap wildly. The wind subsides as abruptly as it arose, but there’s no trace of the djinni. The surrounding lodge appears transformed, gleaming as if untouched by the ravages of time.
A small pile of riches lies a few feet away.
The sleeping figures of the original group of Pathfinders lie nearby, and they start to move as they stir from their torpor. They open their eyes, looking around in confusion.
A middle‑aged Pathfinder with long gray hair stands up, ordering his colleagues around as they awaken one by one.
“Get up! We have to prepare the lodge for the opening ceremony! Vishka, did you...” he stops abruptly, realizing they are not alone in the room.
“Wait, who are you? What’s going on?”
Rewards: Safa rewards you with tiny gems, jewels, and semiprecious stones. Among the rewards, a small figurine made of silver stands out: a finely dressed Qadiran aristocrat with a reddened, angry face and small antlers.
Development: The freed Pathfinders have no recollection of their captivity and seem to have suffered no ill effect from the extended sleep aside from stiff limbs. In fact, their minds are set on only one thing—they’re supposed to prepare the lodge for a grand opening ceremony with several prominent Qadiran citizens, and they haven’t even started yet!
This concludes scenario 3-08, Foundation's Price. I hope you had fun and will continue into the next scenario in the arc, 3-12 Fury's Toll.
I will have chronicle sheets out shortly, and plan to start the next scenario over the weekend, unless someone needs more time.
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The adventure begins with the Sedeq Lodge’s opening celebration already in full swing. You are among the Pathfinders charged with hosting this event by Venture- Captain Esmayl ibn Qaradi, who’s unable to attend due to important business in Katheer. In addition, Fola Barun , leader of the Envoy’s Alliance, sent a letter ahead, requesting that you take special care to make a good impression with a few of the more notable guests.
Laughter, music, and the chattering of dozens of curious voices waft through the wide-open doors of the newest Pathfinder lodge, which have been thrown open to the public in celebration of its grand opening. It feels like half of Sedeq has come to tour the sun-drenched, mudbrick chambers and gauge all that the Society has to offer their city.
The heart of both the building and the party is in the central courtyard. Scores of visitors stand, sit, or lounge on benches as they enjoy the sunshine, the newly-planted gardens, good conversation, and delectable finger foods. Waiters weave between guests, topping off wine goblets, coffee cups, and pots of steaming tea, all to the tune of sweet music drifting from the balconies of the upper floors. To the west, a pair of wooden doors stands open, from which guests drift in and out of a dining room full of tables heavy with food. At the courtyard’s center, a three-tiered marble fountain babbles with fresh water.
Each of you can attempt any one of the following skill checks as you
ask about the prominent people present (relevant lore check, Diplomacy or Society observe the crowd, or provide entertainment in the form of performances or physical feats. (Athletics, Acrobatics Performance check)
Please pick a notable personality you wish to have more information about before your check
Agdal Karga,
Casira bint Meji, or
Khayrat al-Maren
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Slipp eyes up the room. For a moment they are puzzled by all the people... why again were they here? And where was here anyway?
Then the memory comes back, and Slipp takes out their flute. Working their way through the crowd is almost like walking through the forests of the First World. Ducking under branches... ahh, waiters. Skipping behind the trunks of ... guests...
Slipp blinks again and then they are on stage, flute in hand. Spying Sir Agdal they start up a lovely jaunty number that Slipp heard being sung at the Sarenite shrine...
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Slipp's performance impresses the crowd in general and Agdal Karga in particular.
Agdal Karga is the head priest of Sedeq’s largest Sarenite church, the Shrine of the Cleansing Flame.
He’s a long-time correspondent and political ally of Shahiyan Deena al-Parishat and often invokes her name in fiery polemics against the city’s infamous genie-binding trade.
Agdal Karga credits Sarenrae with giving him the second chance of returning to life as a duskwalker, and he has thus dedicated his every waking moment to living up to her ideals.
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After spending his downtime in the city, relaxing and making a little bit of spending money, Junior is happy to get back on the job. Downtime is nice, but the Society pay and opportunity can't be ignored.
Junior makes small talk with the guests, enjoying the expensive food and drink, hoping to pick up some tidbits on Khayrat al-Maren. "How about Slipp and her flute!" He breaks into applause, hoping to break the ice and glean anything useful.
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Hui Kong looks around the crowd and sighs internally a little. He recalls days past when he hosted parties, perhaps more humble, but just as sizable as this. But he has left those days him.
He has a task now though, so he sets those memories aside. Without speaking a word, he lifts up his staff and starts to spin them in the air, first over his head, then behind his back, to his front, to his sides, while he himself spins and twirls round the crowd, the staff a blur in his hands.
Hopefully impressing the crowd sufficiently, he then circulates to asks about the historian Casira bint Meji.
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Khayrat al-Maren is the younger sibling of the Peerless Kendesh al-Maren and a popular attache of the Imperial Court. Party guests note that Khayrat is “bearing his shoulders today,” a tasteful way of communicating that the genderfluid sylph currently presents as a man and uses he/him pronouns.
Playful and charming, Khayrat has won the ear of many influential nobles with his kind smile and good sense of humor, though he has politely rejected all attempted courtships as of yet. Despite being well-liked, he has a deep fear of rejection.
Casira bint Meji is the curator of the Southern Qadiran History Museum and a renowned scholar, having penned four popular tomes on local history.
Her contacts in the academic community would make her an invaluable resource for the Society’s historical excavation projects.
Casira is known to disappear from social events for long periods of time to get a good look at her hosts’ private libraries.
You briefly spot what appears to be a Qadiran human man with spindly brown antlers. He wears aristocratic clothing, and he looks angry. He’s there one moment and gone the next.
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Junior nods to Nic, then does his best to meet with each other member of the Pathfinder team to fill them in on what he knows and saw.
"Khayrat al-Maren is the younger sibling of the Peerless Kendesh al-Maren and a popular attache of the Imperial Court. Party guests note that Khayrat is “bearing his shoulders today,” a tasteful way of communicating that the genderfluid sylph currently presents as a man and uses he/him pronouns.
Playful and charming, Khayrat has won the ear of many influential nobles with his kind smile and good sense of humor, though he has politely rejected all attempted courtships as of yet. Despite being well-liked, he has a deep fear of rejection.
He then adds in "Nic and I also noticed seeing a Qadiran human man with spindly brown antlers. He wears aristocratic clothing, and he looks angry. He’s there one moment and gone the next, so keep an eye out."
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Slipp meets up with the rest of the team quietly, letting them know "Agdal Karga is the head priest of Sedeq’s largest Sarenite church, the Shrine of the Cleansing Flame. I'm guessing they don't get along with Urxehl at all. Not that anyone does."
"Anyway, he’s a long-time correspondent and political ally of Shahiyan Deena al-Parishat and often invokes her name in fiery polemics against the city’s infamous genie-binding trade. Get it... fiery ..."
"So.. Agdal Karga credits Sarenrae with giving him the second chance of returning to life as a duskwalker, and he has thus dedicated his every waking moment to living up to her ideals. I wonder how he died the first time?"
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A delighted gasp rings from the center of the courtyard, drawing the crowd’s collective attention to the fountain. A sweet, fruity scent floods the air as, before the guests’ very eyes, the fountain’s waters shift from clear to a dark red-purple hue.
A round of appreciative applause follows shortly, with a few guests voicing their praise of the magical surprise. Someone dips their goblet into the stream and takes a sip, then dissolves into sputtering laughter—the drink isn’t wine, as they’d all assumed, but non-alcoholic grape juice. “And a lovely vintage, too!” That declaration spreads the laughter to the surrounding guests.
A resounding crack interrupts the merriment. Despite the sheer weight of the marble pieces, the fountain’s tiers have separated and begun spinning at high speed! The guests go from laughing to shrieking as they scatter, the nearest already splattered with juice that has no doubt ruined their fine clothes. More and more of the sweet liquid spews from the fountain while its tiers spin faster and faster, flinging grape juice in all directions!
Description The enchanted fountain spews large quantities of grape juice as its marble tiers spin with increasing speed, flinging juice in all directions.
Disable DC 21 Athletics to Grapple a tier and halt its momentum, followed by DC 19 Crafting or Thievery (while the tier is grabbed) to disable the pump mechanism through the gap that the previous check left open. Grappling a tier requires 1 action. Each Crafting or Thievery check to disable a tier is a 2-action activity.
The fountain has three tiers, and fully disabling the fountain requires 2 successful checks to disable each tier. For each disabled tier, the DCs to Grapple or disable another tier decrease by 2. If a creature critically succeeds at a check to disable a tier, it’s immediately disabled.
NOTE: Each Tier of the Fountain has a Reaction. The heavy, spinning marble has enough sheer force to crush the hands of those trying to stop it. The triggering creature must attempt a DC 18 Fortitude save before it rolls its check to Grapple the fountain.
Initiative
- Tier 1 Status: Unhindered. Reaction Available
- Tier 2 Status:Unhindered. Reaction Available
- Tier 3 Status: Unhindered. Reaction Available
Bold may act
Martin Amblecrown
Luz Lumino
Hui Kong
FAST-SPINNING JUICE FOUNTAIN
Nic Blackwillow
Slipp
Junior
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Martin reinforces Mavenee. Mavenee easily resists the spinning tier of the fountain but can't get a grip on the fountain itself.
- Tier 1 Status: Unhindered. Reaction Used
- Tier 2 Status:Unhindered. Reaction Available
- Tier 3 Status: Unhindered. Reaction Available
Bold may act
Martin Amblecrown
Luz Lumino
Hui Kong
FAST-SPINNING JUICE FOUNTAIN
Nic Blackwillow
Slipp
Junior
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Disable DC 20 Athletics to Grapple a tier and halt its momentum, followed by [/b]a DC 18 Crafting or Thievery (while the tier is grabbed)[/b] to disable the pump mechanism through the gap that the previous check left open. Grappling a tier requires 1 action. Each Crafting or Thievery check to disable a tier is a 2-action activity.
The fountain has three tiers, and fully disabling the fountain requires 2 successful checks to disable each tier. For each disabled tier, the DCs to Grapple or disable another tier decrease by 2. If a creature critically succeeds at a check to disable a tier, it’s immediately disabled.
The fountain accelerates its spinning, spraying juice 10 feet in all directions. Every square where it sprays juice becomes difficult terrain.
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Bold may act
Martin Amblecrown
Hui Kong
FAST-SPINNING JUICE FOUNTAIN
Nic Blackwillow
Slipp
Junior