No response to ringing the chimes.
No response.
The door does not budge.
The good news is you start hearing some sounds from the tower and eventually an old Iruxi comes down and peeks open the door.
He looks over the lot of you and waves his hand. "Quit making such a racket and go away I'm busy."
He scrunches and says "Either go away or come in, either way I'm not wasting time talking to you at my door when I have so much to do. And please shut it when you're done instead of trying to bash it down or whatever."
It seems as though every inch of space in this cluttered tower is spoken for. Rising from cramped living quarters on the ground floor, successive floors require navigating a narrow, meandering path between pieces of furniture piled nearly to the ceiling with books and tomes on astrology, astronomy, and weather patterns, both magical and mundane, as well as star charts and the various tools used to make them. Only on the top floor is there any space to speak of, with the various desks and tables all pushed to the edge of the circular room, leaving a large circle in the middle where various constellations have been inlaid into the stone floor in silver.
He goes to his telescope and rather than listen to anything you have to say he explains "I'm currently observing a very rare celestial alignment that will last the next 3 days. I couldn't possibly help you with anything before then."
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Yes Professor Betel says meekly, making sure the door is shut.
Upstairs ...
Oooh ... I think Mother has a telescope like that ... may I have a peek please? And I suspect she too will be observing the same phenomena from Absalom.
She is also very interested in the star charts and and constellations.
I do have some knowledge of the night sky Professor. Would your work go faster if I helped you?
"Help... hmm, yes there is a faster way. The cho’aatan, a dangerous ritual. You all seem committed, so I'm sure you'll say yes, and then I'll be available tomorrow night....
He doesn't seem particularly interested in giving you all details but does share a little."Now, this should take less than a minute. Keep me safe from anything untoward that spawns from the elements, if all goes wellm should be done in less than a minute."
Several of you recognize the constellations on the floor and Welby is certain they are all magical and as they flare with power as Lashweather starts his ritual, you have some idea what some of them might do.
Lashweather begins his chant and two of the runes flare up, as hostile creatures appear. A pair of rats, seemingly made of embers and surrounded by an odor so fetid it obscures sight!
The rats are as big as Shayla and each is surrounded by a 5ft cloud of smoke that generates concealment.
Initiative:
Ritual Round 1
Welby
Drake
Betel 36/42
Solid Cyan Rat
Shayla
Blat Dot Rat
Boltblade 42/61
Welby, Drake and Betel are up!
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Betel wants to finish this quick so she can talk astronomy with the Professor. She uses a Focus Point to create a Pulverising Cascade between the two rats. (120ft range, 10ft burst) basic ref save DC 22.
Assuming that obliterates them, she then moves to the center of the circle - where presumably Cynosure would be located.
Neither rat is great about getting out of the way, but being Shayla sized, they are also closer to Shayla in toughness and are most certainty not obliterated by the cascade.
Ritual Round 1 Initiative:
Welby
Drake
Betel 36/42
Solid Cyan Rat -16
Shayla
Blat Dot Rat -16
Boltblade 42/61
Welby and Drake still up!
Welby and Drake are up!
Having learned their lesson the from the crashing water, the Rats do a better job escaping the lightning.
The Solid Cyan rat bounds forward to Betel, engulfing the Undine in horrible smoke.
But it can't get anywhere near connecting.
Shayla takes advantage of her hidden position and reacts before black dots has a chance.
Stabbing it twice!
Dropping it! As it poofs back to the plane of fire.
Ritual Round 1 Initiative:
Welby
Drake
Betel 36/42
Solid Cyan Rat -19
Shayla
Boltblade 42/61
Boltblade is up!
Boltblade moves up and hits with his first swing, grappling with the rat, but misses the second.
Ripping itself out of the ground on rune 4 is a Dog made entirely of dirt appears on Rune 4, adjacent to Drake and Welby.
Lashweather seem totally enthralled with his research, furiously scrabbling notes, and is totally reliant on you all dealing with the threats.
Ritual Round 2 Initiative:
25 Welby
25 Drake
21 Yellow Dash Earth Dog
21 Betel 36/42
19 Solid Cyan Rat -37 (Off Guard)
18 Shayla
13Boltblade 42/61
Welby and Drake are up!
Welby steps behind the duck, while Drake connects once, but not twice.
The dog made of dirt retaliates, bitting at Drake's legs.
Welby's magic protects them from some of it at least.
The dirt dog latches on and pulls Drake off their feet!
The Dirt Dog then takes another bite.
Getting a nasty bite in on the now prone Drake.
Ritual Round 2 Initiative:
25 Welby 37/58
25 Drake | PRONE
21 Yellow Dash Dirt Dog -9
21 Betel 36/42 FORT 22
19 Solid Cyan Rat -37 (Off Guard)
18 Shayla
13Boltblade 42/61
Betel is up!
(aura, fire) Failure or worse = Sickened 1
Betel is too busy coughing to make an effective blast.
The Rat chases its mortal enemy, the water caster, bitting twice.
But it gets nowhere near a success.
Ritual Round 2 Initiative:
25 Welby 37/58
25 Drake | PRONE
21 Yellow Dash Dirt Dog -9
21 Betel 36/42 Sickened 1
19 Solid Cyan Rat -37
18 Shayla
13 Boltblade 42/61 Fort DC 22
Shayla and Boltblade are up!
On a fail or worse you're sickened 1. (In theory it happens when you enter but for ease of pbp, I decided to just wait till beginning of turn, but now it stepped away from you, so... Saving time now.
Shayla connects once, although it'll take more than that to take down the dog.
Boltblade isn't bothered by the smoke, but still can't connect.
Another flaming rat appears on the 1 rune.
And it bounds onto #12 where good luck seems to enswirl it as it tries to take a pair of bites out of Shayla.
Shayla nimbly dodges the first attack, and barely gets hit by the second, thanks to the flank.
Shayla is also on fire!
27 Purple Dots Rat
25 Welby 37/58
25 Drake | PRONE
21 Yellow Dash Dirt Dog -9
21 Betel 36/42 Sickened 1
19 Solid Cyan Rat -37
18 Shayla 58/62 | 1d4 Persistent Fire
13 Boltblade 42/61 |
Welby and Drake are up!
A crit from Drake, followed by a miss, nearly finishes off the hound.
The dog snaps back at Drake
Twice.
Before burrowing into the stone floor in shame.
27 Purple Dots Rat
25 Welby 37/58
25 Drake |
21 Yellow Dash Dirt Dog -41 | Burrowed
21 Betel 36/42 Sickened 1
19 Solid Cyan Rat -37
18 Shayla 58/62 | 1d4 Persistent Fire
13 Boltblade 42/61 | AoO
Betel is up!
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"Yeow! HOT!" she yelps as her clothes ignite. She flanks Purple Dots with Boltblade () and immediately attempts to poke the rat.
for
for
Crit Specialization, Shortsword (Sword)
Crit Specialization, Main Gauche (Knife)
Betel hits and poofs Cyan this time!
Shayla circles around, not letting the smoke get to her as she steps onto the rune her weapons erupt in flame! (Which is of course no help against the ashen rat!) hits once, and then crits with the second, causing a little bit of smoke to pour out, but no blood!
Nevertheless the Rat then poofs into a ball of smoke and disappears.
A another ashen rat appears, as well as a Hawk seemingly made of clouds.
Ritual Round 4 Initiative:
* Boltblade 42/61 | AoO
27 New Purple Dots Rat
25 Welby 37/58
25 Drake |
21 Yellow Dash Dirt Dog -41 | Burrowed
21 Betel 36/42 Sickened 1
16 Solid Blue Hawk
18 Shayla 58/62 | 1d4 Persistent Fire
BoltBlade is up!
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Boltblade then finds himself next to a weird cloud hawk and tries to spook it before hitting it a couple times.
vs will DC
First a smaller strike to disable it some.
possibly vs frightened
plus off-guard while it stays in my reach.
Then a bigger strike to really knock it out of commission.
possibly vs OG and frightened if previous attack hit
Shayla's fire burns hot, but then burns out.
The hound gets away but Boltblade critically spooks the Hawk.
Whom she then hits twice! Dissipating it!
The rat gnaws at Shayla.
But it can't connect!
* Boltblade 42/61
27 New Purple Dots Rat
25 Welby 37/58
25 Drake |
21 Betel 36/42 Sickened 1
18 Shayla 54/62 |
21 Yellow Dash Dirt Dog -41 | Burrowed
Welby and Drake, Betel and Shayla are up!
Drake avoids both problems from the smoke and hits once!
Betel and Shayla make quick work of the new rat.
With that the Hound declines to reappear and Lashweather finishes up their notes.
"Wonderful! The data is wonderful!" exclaims Lashweather seemingly unconcerned about any wounds you may have taken.
"Yes, I'll be at your meeting tomorrow, for now I need to check over my data and take advantage of the open elemental gates for more research. It'll just take me a few hours, so go away and I'll see you tomorrow."
"Here, take this too, I don't think everybody here is that friendly towards you so you may need it."
At this point it's quite late and Calisro and Eras have gone to bed and have left you a note to make sure to get as good a night's rest as possible before the negotiations.
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In the morning, Calisro hands y'all 4 vials "Don't be afraid to use these to make the difference."
Then you are escorted to the Chamber of Stars...
The heart of a sprawling and partially-submerged government building made of glass and stone, this large circular chamber is one of the few parts of the building that extends up above the waterline, giving an only slightly-obscured view of the sky above through the midnight-blue-tinted glass dome that covers the room’s ceiling.
A group of seven iruxi dressed in long blue-black robes trimmed with gold sit at raised pulpits along one side of the room. A long table has been set aside for a handful of representatives from the Vidrian delegation, and additional seating holds crowds of native iruxi, some eager to see the trade deal pass, others to see it halted, and the rest simply excited to watch events unfold. Already, a queue of Ekkeshikaar’s citizens is forming behind a stone lectern set aside for citizens to speak their minds and ask questions on the proceedings.
You are led up to the table and seated alongside Calisro, Eras, Mirian Raas, and Jekka. Mirian explains that you will be among the delegation members answering questions and arguing their case before the council and the people of Ekkeshikaar.
Possibly much to your relief it quickly becomes clear that Calisro,, Eras, Mirian Raas, and Jekka are quite well prepared and do most of the speaking and do it well. On occasion though you have a good opportunity to make a point or answer a concern that they haven't adequately handled for whatever reason.
Challenge 1 ILL OMENS:
The iruxi argue that they have performed auguries and omens, and that now is not an auspicious time for Ekkeshikaar to begin making new trade deals. The iruxi take these omens very seriously, but perhaps you can offer an alternate interpretation?
Lashweather attends and speaks of alternative readings, helping your cause.
Challenge 2: TARIFFS AND TAXES
The iruxi point out that should trade be resumed, there would be certain tariffs and taxes they would need to put in place, which have arisen since the days of the prior agreement. These fees are steep, and they would certainly reduce the profitability of trade for both sides, if you can’t find a way around them.
Calisro has some interesting legal theories regarding tariffs based on the documents you recovered at the beginning, but it'll take more than that.
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As suspicions are part of the trade of a good athletic performer, Boltblade is quite familiar with the omens and superstitions stemming back home in Katapesh and tries to see if any of those cultural interpretations apply here.
"Well in Katapesh we do have rituals we do for luck and I think this does look like a way to ward off the gremlins, after all."
"Well now hold on I may not be a merchant myself but I come from a big mercantile city and I think there may be some other options in what we could trade including labor forces and various other strike team work that would help to alleviate the pure monetary costs on both sides here."
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"Oh... how wonderful to view these I-iruxi customs..." Welby says.
"Lashwater is w-wise. He understands much about omens and signs. Your race is well-known for their star reading no?" Welby says.
Challenge 2:
"For t-taxes, one must find a balance. Having them too high will just dissuade t-trade. They should be low enough to cater to both sides."
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So, Professor, after the negotiations, would it be possible to learn some Iruxian astronomy? And thank you.
Before leaving, she takes a quick peek through the telescope to see the conjunction.
At the meeting ...
My mother taught me some knowledges about the stars, and I agree with Professor Lashweather - the auguries look pretty good to me as well.
Do the tariffs of the past need to apply to the present? This is a completely new arrangement as far as I see it.
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Shayla pulls out a pouch and scatters its contents on the table in front of her. She enters what could only be described as a mystical trance and speaks in a hollow voice, as if possessed.
"I see the signs!" she intones, "The time to make new treaties is at hand! Strike while the iron is hot!"
With a sideways glance at Betel, she winks.
Shayla picks up one of the documents and pores over it.
"Aha! There's a loophole here in Clause 6 of Paragraph 3 on the third page. The fees can be waived for the first six months of the trade agreement."
Shayla somehow misses the fact that the document is only a page in length!
Challenge 1 ILL OMENS
Boltblade's argument doesn't move the needle, but thanks to Welby's Halfling Luck a disaster is turned into a success. Beter's argument is exceptionally successful and Shayla's deception works as well.
Challenge 2: TARIFFS AND TAXES
Boltblade does better on this, while Welby's arguments aren't convincing. Betel and Shayla are both not successful as well.
Challenge 3: WE TRADE WITH DROON
Opponents of the trade deal argue that Ekkeshikaar is dependent upon Droon, a much larger empire to the South, for many resources. They worry that this trade deal might upset Droon and worsen relations with them, resulting in worse overall economic conditions for Ekkeshikaar.
Kesstraka will help assuage some fears about negative interactions with Droon.
Challenge 4: WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT WE WANT?
The iruxi point out that much of what they used to receive from the people of Vidrian years ago is of little value to the iruxi now. They point out that Ekkeshikaar wants for little and has thrived without any assistance from up north. They ask what exactly Vidrian has to offer them that they would want.
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"What are you so scared of Droon for? I guarantee you we can take care of anything they try to throw at you. They wouldn't dare give an ally of ours any problems." Boltblade says with a teethy grin and a wink.
Botlblade is about to shrug and give up before his helpful gnome manager steps up and makes his own statement. "Oh oh we have many things we can help with. I may be mostly a fight arranger (for very safe and legal profit, I assure you) but I know of a good many things the Pathfinder Society is regularly moving around for others. Artifacts of many kinds, and always with strong and significant protection given by Pathfinder guards."
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"Boltblade's right! Y'all can ask how we dealt with the monsters! We won't let anything happen to you!"
Though Shayla's not quite sure if she made an impression or not...
"There's always something. Betel's right. Better to make friends. Ya can always do trade stuff later"
Shayna should be doing this. She's the merchant! Shayla grumbles to herself...