[ACO] PFS2e 05-12 - Mischief in the Maze (P1) (Inactive)

Game Master UncleFroggy

Well if we can make an acrobatic dance, I could make it.

The half elf strokes his chin.

"Ok, dance it is ... I guess" says Jortix with little enthusiasm

"Ready to dance!" Topias says unenthusiastically

"The strangers have spoken!" Mimiko beams, and continues, "A dancing contest shall decide who is right!" 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.

The tanuki bard Mochi eagerly explains the rules to the PCs (as detailed below). She’s over the moon about getting to dance and wishes the PCs to have fun with the challenge. At this point, the PCs only get the descriptions of the dance styles, but it’s not revealed which skills are used until the challenge begins.

A tanuki steps forward. "I am Mochi. I'm soooo happy that I get to dance. I wish you also have fun with the challenge. There are six rounds in this challenge. The first four have a theme but the remaining rounds are freestyle. You need to select one dancer for each style. We will do the same. We each dance and see who does it best. The side with the most number of wins will be victorious! I'd best warn you now, though, I'm the best dancer here, so you won't find it easy to win." she says with a smile.

MYSTERIOUS DANCE
WARRIOR DANCE
COURTLY DANCE
ACROBATIC
FREESTYLE x2

Decide as a group who will dance in which round. You'll only get the skills required when each round starts.

One PC may attempt a DC 20 Deception check to Lie / Perception to seek / Stealth to sneak. Succeeding lets you know which round Mochi will dance

I propose the PCs with the fewest skills choose first - probably Topias and Cindy, and then the rest of us can choose. I'm guessing that Acrobatics, Athletics, and Performance are going to be on many lists. Thevenin has +4 untrained Performance and I'm guessing that's pretty good since I suspect Performance DCs will be low. They're happy to take whatever's left after everyone else chooses.

I can perhaps try the first one.

Is someone going to try to sneak up on the tanuki strategy session? :)

Salera stifles a yawn as Jiggo and his teammates argue about who should dance when. She lost a lot of grace when Heaven reformed her. It's kind of annoying.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Let's see what the tanuki are up to...

For each style, each PC makes three(3) skill checks using the skills listed below. You need 2 successes to win the round.
CS - The tanuki are impressed by your skill and get worried; -1 to the DC for the next round
CF - The tanuki are emboldened by the critical failure; +1 to the DC for the next round

One of the tanuki steps forward. Members of the crowd call words of encouragement. "You got this Suzu! Win this round and we'll get you another incense box."

You remember the incense box you found in the temple with the 4 statues

Suzu steps forward and performs the Mysterious dance. 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.

Skills: DC 16 Arcana/Occultism/Thievery/Performance

"Mochi's dancing during the final round." Salera slinks back to deliver news. "Whoever takes the second Freestyle dance will have stiff competition." She looks at Thevenin and Jortix.

But first, the dances.

"Do you think we can use the incense box to mess with 'em?" She smirks.

The half elf steps forward to give a try to the dance.

Occultism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

I think you can make all three checks. The DC (16) and the number of successes required (2) are all listed.

Occutism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Occutism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Elduin steps forward and manages to beat Suzu at her own game. The Tanuki are impressed that a stiff (to them) half-elf can beat them!

Pathfinders 1 Tanuki 0

WARRIOR DANCE

This performance can be a war dance, weapon dance, or kata, often consisting of vigorous movements, combat techniques, stamping of the feet, and shouts
Skills: DC 16 Athletics/Intimidation/Performance OR Melee attack vs AC 16

Tonta steps forward and performs an ancient haka, sticking his tongue out in a grotesque manner to intimidate his opponents, waving an archaic weapon around and trying to be scary all around.

"Good job Elduin." Jiggo gives a thumbs up.

"Good luck Topias!" Jiggo claps his teammate on.

Thank.you, Jiggo.

The half elf gives an aknowledgement to Suzu for the duel.

In case you didn't know what a haka is... :)

"Thanks Jiggo." Topias nods to his friends and begins dancing exhibiting very graceful movement and swordplay.

Athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Tonta can only gape as Topias impresses the crowd.

COURTLY DANCE
Often used to demonstrate social status, this dance is highly structured and formal like ballroom dances, certain ceremonies, or courtship dances performed by birds and some other animals.

Another tanuki steps out, one you don't recognize. "We're still in this Dainiki! Show them!" Dainiki performs an owlbear courtship dance.

Skills: DC 16 Nature/Religion/Society/Performance

Salera pouts. "Man, I would have loved this..."

Jiggo nudges her with his elbow and she sighs. "Up to you, Cindy."

"Let's see if I remember the steps of that Taldane waltz!"

Society: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Society: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Society: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Cindy glides across the floor, lost in the memory of a long ago ballroom.

Now the tanuki are downright shocked and worried at how well Cinty performed. Watching the gnome glide across the grass like it was a ballroom leaves them speechless.
Skill checks will get a -1 bonus to the DC next round

Pathfinders 3 Tanuki 0

ACROBATIC DANCE
This style is graceful, elegant, and expressive, featuring intricate footwork and fluid, sweeping movements

Another tanuki, one you also don't recognize steps out. He looks worried. The crowd murmurs softly. His companions whisper to him "Kagebashi, it's up to you. Do your best!"

Skills: DC 15 Acrobatics/Deception/Stealth/Performance

"Finally. Salera grins.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
First she slinks along... barely.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Then she stretches her wings as she breaks into a waltz. She thinks.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
She then finishes with a handstand, and almost topples over.

"Wow, that was... embarrassing..."

Thanks for the critical success, there.

Assuming my proposal in Discussion is accepted, Thevenin will go next, and I assume that Freestyle means that any skill is on the table. I'll roll to keep things moving.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Success, I presume.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Failure, I presume. If so, I'll Hero Point it.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Blech.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Success, which I think makes an overall Success, but no crits, sorry, Jortix.

Salera steps out, confident, though maybe a bit too confident. Although she does manage to defeat Kagebashi, the results were closer than she'd like, especially after her near disastrous handstand.

The tanukis shake their heads in dismay at being defeated by the Pathfinders. But wanting to have a good time anyway, request that the two freestyle rounds be performed anyway. Thevenin agrees and steps out.

You can change your rolls if you wish since the freestyle rules are a bit different... (evil grin) :)

FREESTYLE - Rd 1
The performers are free to perform any dance style, but it should be different from the previous four styles.
As an example, a PC might use Crafting to Recall Knowledge about constructs for a "robot dance". In short, be creative

Skills:
DC 16 - any skill as long as it fits AND the skill has not been used in a previous round
DC 20 - skill reused from previous round

Toshiro steps out. He winks at you mischievously, "I led you on a merry chase, didn't I? Now this one I picked up while exploring a strange land. They call it the 'moon walk'." He proceeds to do just that!

Round 1: Arcana/Occultism/Thievery/Performance
Round 2: Athletics/Intimidation/Performance/Melee
Round 3: Nature/Religion/Society/Performance
Round 4: Acrobatics/Deception/Stealth/Performance
Round 5: Diplomacy

Thevenin does interpretive dance around some encouraging lines of spoken word.

"A dance in six parts
To capture tanuki hearts
Strength, wits, even smarts"

Thevenin strikes a respectful bow pose, making a small heart with their hands over their chest.

"Party whimsical
In a clearing musical
Therapeutical"

Thevenin imitates some of the dancing they saw as they walked into the clearing.

"Useful is the Maze
It shortens all of our ways
Pranks in clearing stays?"

Thevenin opens their arms for a hug.

Diplomacy to Request that they limit their pranks if we win the competition. Rolls above (22, 15->12, 23).

Toshiro can only look on in awe as Thevenin wows the audience. Finally Mochi steps forward and with a seemingly shy demeanor and performs what could only be called a Minuet, though she appears to dance with an imaginary partner.

FREESTYLE 2 (MOCHI)
The performers are free to perform any dance style, but it should be different from the previous four styles.
As an example, a PC might use Crafting to Recall Knowledge about constructs for a "robot dance". In short, be creative

Skills:
DC 18 - any skill as long as it fits AND the skill has not been used in a previous round
DC 22 - skill reused from previous round

Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Jortix marks arcane symbols on the ground and pushes magic into them, translucent figures of Salera, Thevenin, Incedia, Topias and Elduin shows up and begin to dance to the same rythm, soon Jortix moves in between and dances with them all, shining bright with magic.

Mochi is flabbergasted as Jortix handily beats her, creating a wonderful ghostly dance with her entire group.

The tanuki, although defeated, cheer. Mimiko honors the agreement, promising not to pull anymore pranks.

"We now consider you our friends. However, we ask that you let us stay in the Maze. We promise we won't pull anymore pranks. What say you?"

You can RP how you'll respond but otherwise, we're done. If you haven't already, go ahead and roll your downtimes if you want them part of your chronicle. Once you decide on whether or not the tanuki stay, you can report back to the lodge and the VC. (and I'll close it out then)

You should be allowed to stay here with the promise you don’t interfere in the maze anymore.

The half elf looks at his companions to see if they agree.

"I don't see why not!" Cindy agrees. "No one else is living here, and it seems that there is plenty of space."

Thevenin focuses on the important things.

"You can stay here as long as you promise to water the hedges. Plants need water and sunlight! And no pee pee on plants! NOT FUNNY."

"No pranks and you may stay in Maze. It seems we have an agreement here." Topias nods

"That makes sense to me." Jiggo nods. "If you can help tend to the garden and maybe turn down the pranks, you can stay here as long as you wish."

Salera moves up. "Hey, Mochi. I could use a few pointers. I used to be a much better dancer..."

Mochi grins and gladly goes off and teaches Salera to dance properly.

Before you leave the tanuki camp, they reward you with tea sets and artworks from Minkai as gifts. In addition, they also give you traditional tanuki food and drink stored in elaborately crafted containers as parting gifts. Back at the lodge, Venture-Captain Sigvard Tornkvist thanks you for your efforts. Upon hearing about the tanuki incursion, she speculates that it must be related to the Pathfinder Society’s recent expansions of the maze, opening new connections to Tian Xia. Sigvard is pleased you chose a diplomatic approach to the problem — new allies make the Society stronger.

FIN

Thanks for playing all!