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"Firey for me, though pain and poison could both be possibilities- it is the fire I would brave first"
Kal lets out a small burp, from his swallowed fiery blast, in the form of slim black vapors.
"How many years has this contest been going on? And we were the ones to defeat this dragon... have all the others failed? Or has no one else been asked to try?"
"The Emissary does not issue that particular challenge every tournament. And, because the tournament is only every 10 years and Huyanwo came about 170 years ago, there have only been 17 chances. But, then, not every contestant has waited for the challenge. Many have made the attempt before you but all have failed, giving the Ridge of Graves it's name," one of the monks replies to Kal'Ryon.
The Pathfinders start to get in the boxes, each volunteering for their own preferred trial and tribulation, except Svetlana and Rassmussin, that is.
Daedin begins by being put into a cast iron maiden that is blackened and charred. The whole thing is then lifted up and placed over a burning pyre.
Needless to say, the heat is extreme. For some reason, those near the test get a sudden craving for pulled pork.
When Kal'Ryon's turn comes he doesn't even break a sweat.
But while he's waiting for his turn, he takes a turn in the Pain Trial.
After he is locked in his maiden, the monks shove foot long, thick needles into holes scattered all across its surface. Or, at least, they try to. Each stops when it hits Kal'Ryon's skin, unable to penetrate the damage resistant flesh.
Diazepane begins with the Drowning Trial, having to climb into his rusty maiden from above and then having the top screwed on tight. One of the spell casters on hand then magically fills it with water. The Alchemist is easily able to breath, of course and simply has ten minutes of profound peace and quiet in darkness.
His next Trial is a little more challenging, and when he climbs in, the Maiden is already filled with an acrid, cloying stench. Once he's in place, a small hatch is opened and smoking incense is shoved in. As its smoke fills the small space, reality begins to slip through Diazepane's grasp.
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Daedîn will strip down to his skivvies, tie a scarf around his nose and mouth, and enter the box; he’ll try to hold his breath in increments to protect his lungs from the super-heated air…
…and although he sweats profusely, he withstands the pain as best he can…
When he emerges, he looks at the ones who were cooking him and painfully smirks. ”I said medium rare, not well done,” he quips…
”Might as well bring on winter…”
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Svetlana plays checkers with Rasmussen a pleasant distraction from the concern that her companions could be trapped in torture devices on an island of treachery. Whilst her checker-challenger seems to have a less black and white view of law and order she at least appreciates his dedication to goodness.
"Good game"
Diazepane is easily able to resist the insanity inducing effects of the mist. The monks are careful to turn their faces away as they open the idol and release the dank vapor.
Daedin decides to cool off after heating up, though he weathered the heat easily enough.
The idol he climbs into next is sealed up then lowered into a massive vat filled with a mix of ice and water.
Kiang Zhen is there to provide them their rewards from succeeding at the trial of each idol.
Drowning Idol - Potion of water breathing
Fiery Idol - Potion of protection from energy, fire
Pain Idol - Potion of bear’s endurance
Poison Idol - Potion of neutralize poison
Winter Idol - Potion of protection from energy, cold
After sundown, the Emissary offers another night of festivities at the Grand Pavilion, featuring highwire acrobatics performances, fireworks, a tengu swordsmanship show, comedy skits, and elaborate puppet shows. Commoners and eliminated contestants join the festivities, but Marthysan is noticeably absent.
A fact the Emissary becomes aware of at a somewhat inopportune moment.
"I will now call forth our current champion for the next exhibition..." he says.
"Marthysan? Marthysan, please come forward!"
Even the wise Emissary seems surprised at his absence, though he quickly covers his confusion by finding another volunteer.
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Drowning Idol - Potion of water breathing
Fiery Idol - Potion of protection from energy, fire
Pain Idol - Potion of bear’s endurance
Poison Idol - Potion of neutralize poison
Winter Idol - Potion of protection from energy, cold
Diazepane will gladly take the potions - he can use alchemical allocation to share with others.
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Diazepane will gladly tap Daedin with his wand of cure light wounds to save on Rasmussen's healing. He has 24 charges remaining, and can probably buy another one pretty cheaply.
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"Let's fan out and look for clues as to his whereabouts."
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Following his checkers game with Svetlana, Rassmussen had briefly wandered off to watch an anthill. It looks like he's trying to count the ants, and trying to remember which one is which as they go in and out of the ground.
When he hears Daedin call out to him, he snaps back into the moment and hobbles over to the archer. "Sorry man, I was distracted by the glories of Nature." he says with a gleam in his eye and a little flourish of his hands up by his head, as if this explains everything as to why he was paying so little attention to the trials of his fellow Pathfinders.
He reapplies the Life-Link to Daedin, then begins to heal.
When Marthysan doesn't appear, the oracle quickly agrees to join the search for him. "Ummm, do we know where he was staying? Maybe we should check there first and see if he fell asleep or something?"
Someone reminds Rassmussen that they're sharing Marthysan's suite with him per the man's insistence. When they return, they find the paladin’s quarters in New Harbor have been ransacked and see evidence of a struggle, including the dead body of a Tian woman covered in distinctive Xun tattoos. A search of her body reveals a folded piece of paper with Marthysan’s face sketched on it, the name of the inn, and the words “New Harbor docks, Aspis handoff.”
The docks are currently empty, as the New Harbor locals and docked ships’ crews and passengers are all at the Grand Pavilion participating in tonight’s festivities. The narrow wooden piers of New Harbor form a series
of horizontal ladders from the shore to a semicircle of anchored boats. Rising 2 feet off the surface of the water, foot-wide pylons support the network of equally narrow crossbeams, whose waterlogged surfaces require a DC 7 Acrobatics check each round to move along at half speed, and anyone balancing in such a way is considered flatfooted.
Despite the calm elsewhere, there is activity on one of the boats, the scramble that takes place as a crew prepares to depart in a hurry.
But they're not the only ones here. Risha Coaltongue balances almost casually on the dock. A trio of others are arrayed around the docks, as well.
"Well, I guess our match is going to happen a little before schedule. I'm almost sorry that there's not a crowd here to watch us kill you," Risha says with a cruel smile.
The lady in red gets the jump on everyone else and a writhing mass of Black Tentacles spring up to grab at Kal'Ryon and Rassmussen.
Daedin lands an impressively accurate shot on the man in white armor carrying a greataxe.
Rassmussen does a head count and does not see Gomwai.
After the arrow, Diazepane's bomb is enough to take the man in white out of the fight.
The Half-Orc in Green begins marching toward Svetlana.
He casts a spell and a multicolored explosion of leaping, ricocheting energy forms around her and Rassmussen.
It is particularly effective against Svetlana, disrupting her very lawful nature.
Kal'Ryon easily wrestles his way out of the tentacles and moves out of their reach.
The woman in red moves a bit closer then hurls a couple rays of scorching energy at Svetlana.
One of which comes very near to doing some serious damage.
Risha moves into a flanking position against Sveltana, treading across the water as easily as the docks.
Daedin's first shot of two arrows is enough to take the Green combatant. He directs his remaining shots at the red combatant and Diazepane follows it up with a bomb.
Rassmussen feels others' pain, but only for a few moments before dispelling it completely.
Kal'Ryon makes a splash, fortunately, though the ground falls away quickly from the shore, he's only waist deep where he is. Going further means that he'll have to swim.
Svetlana convinces Risha to surrender the hard way and permanently.
Red sees the way things are going and takes to her heels...or more accurately to the sky, flying out over the harbor.
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Seeing the caster try to escape, Daedîn murmurs, ”Not so fast…outfly this, if you can,” as he unleashes another volley at her…
”Oops, my bad,” he murmurs, not hearing Diazepane till it was too late. ”Since they looked to be in a hurry to leave, I’d assume Marthysan is on the boat?”
Daedîn warily moves to checkout the only boat that had any activity on it…
Daedin brings down the last Aspsis agent, causing her to splash into the water.
The sailors on the ship surrender immediately upon Daedin approaching them.
"We don't want a fight! We were just doing what we were paid to do!"
Marthysan is in the hold, bound and unconscious.
The sailors do nothing to attack or otherwise hinder you as you retrieve him.
"We'll be leaving, now," the captain says, hopefully.
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"Ahhh question time, my favourite" the Hellknight pipes up "You can either answer the questions for my friends, or we can have some alone time and I will show you how the Hellknights earned their reputation "
"Umm, let's ensure Marthysan is elsewhere when he wakes up, he might be a bit squeamish about all this questioning business"
/Casts discern lies.
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Kal leaves a series of wet footprints across the deck of the ship, as he makes his way down to the hold- helping to lift Marthysan and get him above deck- but lacking the ability to heal him
"I have a wand, but it makes most people a little queasy. I bet Rass has some better options"
Seeing his task come to completion, he moves on to the crew being questioned by the Hell Knight.
"I think your better option might be to talk to me, I cant ensure what will happen if responsibility for getting the answers falls to Svetlana here.."
"None of that will be necessary, I assure you," the captain is quick to reply.
"Those two, Risha and Darys," he says, pointing to the figure you know and the one in white armor, "hired us to take them and this fellow to the mainland.
"They said they were part of some sort of consortium that was trying to get in good with the Golden League and that taking this guy out of the tournament was going to help.
"And that's all I know. Honest!"
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Daedîn shrugs as he turns to his companions. ”He has no reason to lie; just like the Aspis to operate this way to ingratiate themselves to others,” he mutters with contempt in his voice, before looking back at the captain. ”Once our healer has taken care of Marthysan enough that we can safely move him, you may go…”
Marthysan awakens with a gasp and swinging after the quick healing.
He calms somewhat after the situation is explained to him. And, being a forgiving man, makes no protest about releasing the sailors.
"Clearly, there is more afoot in this tourney than even I previously though," he says when you're back on dry ground. "You must remain vigilant tomorrow. It is the last day and if anyone is going to make their final moves that is when it will happen."
Fortunately, the night passes without further incident and Marthysan gets settled back into his room after the mess (including a dead body) is dealt with.
The final day of the tournament is bright and sunny, with a clear sky and a crisp breeze on the air. The island is abuzz with talk of the events of last night—the battle on New Harbor’s piers and the resulting disqualification (via death) of Risha’s team. The crowds are larger
today than they have been all week, and everyone is excited to see the semifinal and final rounds and the naming of the next Ruby Phoenix Champion.
Despite his ordeal last night, Marthysan sits at the Emissary’s side, opposite Kiang Zhen. While he looks worse for the wear, the paladin is
smiling and excited to pass his title on to another lucky competitor this afternoon.
The fight stage is clear of obstacles, the field of battle left open for a true test of skill unhindered by terrain or other obstructions. The crowd roars in anticipation of the day’s battles between the most skilled combatants of the tournament.
The Emissary rises and speaks. "As you all are aware, the Pathfinders were slated to face the Aspis Consortium team responsible
for Marthysan’s kidnapping last night. Since the competitors are no longer in the running for the championship due to their treachery and subsequent punishment at the Pathfinders hands, they would normally receive a bye. However, clauses 14-19 in Section 2 and 27, 28 and 31 in Section 16, when referenced with those in paragraph 3 of clause 8 of Section 1 of the tournament procedures clearly indicate that no one can get into the championship round on a technicality. As such, the opponent the Aspis Consortium team defeated yesterday, Seishuku, in the quarterfinals is officially reinstated for the bout as if he had won.
"Proceed."
The ninja rushes forward, reaching into a secret pocket of his outfit and pulling out a vial. He tosses it at Rassmussen.
Acid (and not the fun kind) covers the healer and splashes onto Kal'Ryon, Daedin and Diazepane.
Then he disappears.
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Blindsense: Blindsense lets a creature notice things it cannot see, but without the precision of blindsight. The creature with blindsense usually does not need to make Perception checks to notice and locate creatures within range of its blindsense ability, provided that it has line of effect to that creature. Any opponent that cannot be seen has total concealment (50% miss chance) against a creature with blindsense, and the blindsensing creature still has the normal miss chance when attacking foes that have concealment. Visibility still affects the movement of a creature with blindsense. A creature with blindsense is still denied its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class against attacks from creatures it cannot see.
Blind-fight: In melee, every time you miss because of concealment (see Combat), you can reroll your miss chance percentile roll one time to see if you actually hit.
An invisible attacker gets no advantages related to hitting you in melee. That is, you don’t lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class, and the attacker doesn’t get the usual +2 bonus for being invisible. The invisible attacker’s bonuses do still apply for ranged attacks, however.
You do not need to make Acrobatics skill checks to move at full speed while blinded.
The Ganzi peers across the battlefield, eyes closed and hands held out in front of him, as though concentrating.