GM Frost's S05-12 Mischief in the Maze [PaizoCon Online 2024 PbP] (Inactive)

Game Master Frozen Frost

"I'd better watch for a while."

Miss Sorbet is not likely to succeed at anything other than freestyle.

You know - if someone can cast up a static ball of water - or a column - I could try dancing in that ... bet that might look rather cool Ami suggests.

In fact I think I’m not good at dancing at all.

Go for it Ami Since she already rolled, we should take her for round 1 then go from there.

Alright, Ami will be the contender for the first round.

Ami goes forward and while doing so, she recall that she might want to dance that goes with nature. Meanwhile, her opponent, Suzu, performs a stylized version of a druidic spring ritual.

Roll an appropriate skill check to see if your dance is better than Suzu.

Ami gives it her best attempt
nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Ami shows better dance moves than Suzu. Success!

"Well done to both of you." Mimiko comments. "Let's go Round 2 for 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."

"Who will represent your group?" she asks while Tonta comes forward dancing with unarmed kata with mighty leaps and shouts.

Darkon bounds forward.

Darkon joins Tonta for the dance showdown.

Tonta continues the same dance moves, as if taunting Darkon to do the same. Or maybe just flexing his dance skills in front of the centaur to embarass.

Society: 1d20 + 0 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 0 + 1 = 7

Dakon shows off his trampling dance.

Athletics: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 = 26

Miss Sorbet cheers loudly for Dakon, who clearly does not have four left feet.

Dakon is impressively good at showing some trampling steps into dance that the other tanuki dancers seem a bit worried about how well the others might be, decreasing the DC of the next dance check by 1. Crit Success!

"You do well for a centaur, I can say." Mimiko compliments Dakon.

"Why don't we call Dainiki, to perform a courtly dance? And to make things interesting, each of you will show off at your entrance, your main dance, and the finale dancing. Exciting, isn't it!"

You make three skill checks: one for entrance, then main dance, and finale. If at least two of the three checks are successful, you win this dance.

Each of us? Ami exclaims, surprised. As in all of us?
society: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"At last, the hours being spun by the one who once accompanied me will come to fruition."

Society, Entrance: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Society, Main Dance: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
Society, Finale: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Each of us? Ami exclaims, surprised. As in all of us?

[dice=society]d20+8

Only those who have not competed yet.

Miss Sorbet takes the opportunity to face off Dainiki on the Courtly Dance. It looks like she has prepared for this moment because her dance moves are better than Dainiki's. Success

"Well done, well done!" Mimiko is impressed again and calls Kagebashi who already starts performing aerial ballet enhanced by air elemental powers for the Acrobatic Dance.

We are left with Ambius, Atlach and Max Titan. Who will dance next?

Max Titan will try the Acrobatic dance society: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Edit coming. As he thought, it is an Acrobatic dance, but knowing he can use stealth has a higher modifier. So he tries to dance as if he was a Rogue sneaking around, adding in some type of comedy. stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

I need two more checks for the main dance and the finale dance for this round.

f.y.i/, Ami's Nature dance was related to the ebb and flow of water. It could be called a Riverdance .... I'll see myself out.

I don't quite understand what we're supposed to be doing mechanically at this point.

Each PC attempts three checks while performing a dance. These three checks represent the entrance, the main part of the performance, and the finale.

The Recall Knowledge check is for knowing what skills can be used for a certain dance, or you can roll Performance instead.

society 2nd check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 society 3rd check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Athletics #2: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 = 21
Athletics #3: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 1 = 17

Dakon wins the hearts of the tanuki crowd with his dance moves and declared winner by Mimiko for the round.

"Even if we win the next two dances, sure enough, your group still wins." Mimiko concedes.

"And for the Dance-Off, I declare the Pathfinders as winners!" the tanuki crowd cheers wildly.

After the tanuki’s challenge, 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. The tanuki honor the agreement, and if the PCs managed to beat them—literally, or at dancing—they accept the terms.

"As agreed, we will leave the Maze." Mimiko tells the group.

"But if you will allow us to stay, we promise not to pull any pranks outside of our camp here. What do you think?" she tries her luck with the group.

I had to admit, I enjoyed the dancing Ami replied. And I would be sad if you left. I'd like to come back and learn some more moves.

She looks over to Suzi.

If you don’t interfere anymore you can stay. Our mission is to ensure the maze is stabilized.

Dakon nods.

"Indeed. It would be an honor to dance with you again, as long as the path remain as they should be."

The tanuki are glad that they are allowed to stay and promise the Pathfinders to not do pranks anymore outside their camp. Before they leave, the tanuki give them tea sets and pieces of art from Minkai as gifts. Additionally, they give them traditional tanuki food and drink stored in elaborately crafted containers as parting gifts.

Back at the lodge, Venture-Captain Sigvard Tornkvist thanks them for their 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 also pleased that they chose a diplomatic approach to the problem—new allies make the Society stronger.

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