Hissing angrily as Dakon tries to stomp on the shark, one of the strange flowers streaks through the water towards him--they seem to be good swimmers. It attempts to clamp onto one of his legs, but he shakes it off.
The other shark makes for Solveig, twisting and turning and sparkling strangely the light. Like the first, it finishes its dance by bursting from the water for a vicious bite.
Gwendolyn and Solveig's turns. The water is barely ankle deep and normal terrain; spending an action to look into the water will make it infinitely deep for that character, who will then need to swim instead of walk. The sharp metallic trees are difficult and hazardous terrain; make an Acrobatics check if you pass through them.
Disorienting Dance: Siyokoy (gets +2), Dakon, Gwendolyn, Solveig, and Hallow must make DC 17 Will saves or be Off-Guard 1 round; Slowed 1 for 1 round instead on critical failure.
Initiative:
Taiwalei's Advice
Fernán (16/16)
Siyokoy (32/32, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Blue Baby Brine Shark (can't dance for 3 rounds)
Dakon (9/17, courageous anthem, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Orange Hyacinth Lamprey
Red Baby Brine Shark (-6, can't dance for 3 rounds)
Gwendolyn (20/20, Off-Guard until Blue's turn, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Solveig (11/18, Shield Raised, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Green Hyacinth Lamprey
Hallow (17/17, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Selan's Advice
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As pretty as the sharks are, Gwen sprints for the shore. Once her feet are on dry ground, she whirls and the cheerful girl's face is replaced by a look of enraged hunger. She tugs at the scarf around her neck, loosening it to reveal deep scars.
"Not the kind of toys I normally like when having a bath!" It's probably just a trick of the maze, but her teeth look sharp and snap violently. Lightning arcs out of her hands towards one of the sharks and one of the flowers.
The electricity crackles over the surface of the water. Solveig feels a little tingle, and the shark may not have felt much more.
The plant floats on the surface, looking badly fried and doing nothing more threatening than twitching.
"If the sharks are brine sharks," calls Selan, "then they're actually a kind of water elemental. They're not really fish and they can move on land, bu they're much slower!"
Solveig Hallow, Fernán, and Siyokoy's turns. The water is barely ankle deep and normal terrain; spending an action to look into the water will make it infinitely deep for that character, who will then need to swim instead of walk. The sharp metallic trees are difficult and hazardous terrain; make an Acrobatics check if you pass through them.
Disorienting Dance: Siyokoy (gets +2), Dakon, Solveig, and Hallow must make DC 17 Will saves or be Off-Guard 1 round; Slowed 1 for 1 round instead on critical failure.
Initiative:
Taiwalei's Advice
Fernán (16/16)
Siyokoy (32/32, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Blue Baby Brine Shark (can't dance for 3 rounds)
Dakon (9/17, courageous anthem, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Orange Hyacinth Lamprey
Red Baby Brine Shark (-9, can't dance for 3 rounds)
Gwendolyn (20/20, Off-Guard until Red's turn)
Solveig (11/18, Shield Raised, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Hallow (17/17, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Selan's Advice
The shark seems distracted, but the arrows still splash harmlessly into the water.
Hallow presses the remaining flower, destroying it.
Solveig and Siyokoy's turns. The water is barely ankle deep and normal terrain; spending an action to look into the water will make it infinitely deep for that character, who will then need to swim instead of walk. The sharp metallic trees are difficult and hazardous terrain; make an Acrobatics check if you pass through them.
Disorienting Dance: Siyokoy (gets +2), Dakon, Solveig, and Hallow must make DC 17 Will saves or be Off-Guard 1 round; Slowed 1 for 1 round instead on critical failure.
Initiative:
Taiwalei's Advice
Fernán (16/16)
Siyokoy (32/32, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Blue Baby Brine Shark (can't dance for 3 rounds)
Dakon (9/17, courageous anthem, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Red Baby Brine Shark (-9, can't dance for 3 rounds)
Gwendolyn (20/20, Off-Guard until Red's turn)
Solveig (11/18, Shield Raised, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Hallow (17/17, Overdrive)
Selan's Advice
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vs Dance
Siyokoy steels his mind with the tempting dance of the shark. He then intentionally looks down and swims.
With a flair, he shapes the water into pointed icicles and shoots at Blue Baby Brine Shark.
piercing damage
◆ Interact to look down
◆ Swim 30 ft below with Amphibious trait
◇ Weapon Infusion
◆ Elemental Blast
Siyokoy plunges into the depths of water that's still only ankle-deep for everyone else. But this time he did it on purpose, and he's ready for it! The other Pathfinders lose sight of him--unless they'd like to look down. The icicle spike draws a gash across one of the shark-like elementals.
"Most sharks bite out of curiosity or hunger," calls Taiwalei, "Letting them realize you’re not tasty or an easy meal might work out in the long run."
Solveig's turn. The water is barely ankle deep and normal terrain; spending an action to look into the water will make it infinitely deep for that character, who will then need to swim instead of walk. The sharp metallic trees are difficult and hazardous terrain; make an Acrobatics check if you pass through them.
Disorienting Dance: Siyokoy (gets +2), Dakon, Solveig, and Hallow must make DC 17 Will saves or be Off-Guard 1 round; Slowed 1 for 1 round instead on critical failure.
Initiative:
Taiwalei's Advice
Fernán (16/16)
Siyokoy (32/32, underwater)
Blue Baby Brine Shark (-6, can't dance for 3 rounds)
Dakon (9/17, courageous anthem)
Red Baby Brine Shark (-9, can't dance for 3 rounds)
Gwendolyn (20/20, Off-Guard until Red's turn)
Solveig (11/18, Shield Raised, DC 17 Will vs Dance)
Hallow (17/17, Overdrive)
Selan's Advice
The shark backs a few inches away from Solveig, clearly terrified. This doesn't protect it against her axe, which cuts deeply.
The other one still isn't as badly wounded. It seems to lose interest in Dakon, swimming around him. It eagerly moves up to Hallow and bites at them instead, clamping its jaws over their unusual armor with relish.
Dakon's turn. The water is barely ankle deep and normal terrain; spending an action to look into the water will make it infinitely deep for that character, who will then need to swim instead of walk. The sharp metallic trees are difficult and hazardous terrain; make an Acrobatics check if you pass through them.
Initiative:
Taiwalei's Advice
Fernán (16/16)
Siyokoy (32/32, underwater)
Blue Baby Brine Shark (-6, can't dance for 3 rounds)
Dakon (9/17, courageous anthem)
Red Baby Brine Shark (-16, bloodied, Frightened 2, can't dance for 3 rounds)
Gwendolyn (20/20, Off-Guard until Red's turn)
Solveig (11/18, Shield Raised, Off-Guard until Red's turn)
Hallow (10/17, Overdrive)
Selan's Advice
Dakon's first arrow strikes the elemental, and after the second it falls to the side and starts to sink.
Fernán skewers the last of the elementals. With that accomplished, the elemental rifts slowly close, leaving behind only the shallow pool, a line of burnt grass, and the odd-looking trees. Selan and the Venture-Captain hurry over, Taiwalei taking out his medical tools as he inspects the team's injuries.
The Pathfinders have kept Taiwalei away from the Grande Lodge for nearly two hours, which should be enough. They do still have another hour before they'll actually be late, though.
Taiwalei does still have instructions for reaching another two lodges, and if the team elects to visit them as well they find... that the journeys are uneventful, leaving plenty of time to return to the party.
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Cleaning and sheathing his sword, Fernán watches as the elements retreat. "I think we'd best head back to the Grand Lodge now. That party isn't going to wait for us and I'd hate to be sidetracked again and miss the cake. I think we've seen far more than we expected of the sights of the maze, wouldn't you say Taiwalei?"
When the party returns to the Grand Lodge’s Events Hall, they find the ballroom packed full of people who begin clapping and cheering upon seeing Taiwalei. On the far side of the room, a large banner with the words “Congratulations on Your Promotion” hangs off the walls. The first word looks a little crooked and crinkled but does not distract the energy from the hyped-up crowd.
Fola pulls Taiwalei up to the small stage set up before the banner. "“Friends, fellow agents, as you are all aware by now, Taiwalei has now joined the ranks of our excellent venture-captains, in recognition for all he has done in helping us recruit talent from all corners of Golarion. Many would not be here if not for your enthusiasm or charity. You, Taiwalei, have been a compass to many, and we hope to see that passion continue. It is with pride and pleasure, therefore, that I present you with this opportunity: an assignment for as long as you wish at the Woodsedge Lodge, where you will be working on an effort to map out the Maze of the Open Road.”
As Taiwalei jumps in excitement and accepts a token pin bearing the Woodsedge Lodge’s coat of arms, the room erupts into applause. Many shout their congratulations for the venture-captain. A few of the faction leaders look a little less enthusiastic with concern in their eyes but clap sincerely. It’s clear that they are ready to support Taiwalei in his work ahead. Besides, any doubts and reservations they had are quickly swept aside as Taiwalei approaches each of them with drinks and questions on if they have any advice going forward.
The rest of the evening goes swimmingly, full of music, performances, dances, and games. At some point during the party, Fola approaches the party to inquire how the tour went. She expresses delight that the Pathfinders made new friends with Gedun and Yeyacha. It’s uncertain what befriending the duo might bring, but Fola is optimistic.
Taiwalei also finds time to sit down with the team and thank them for the eventful tour. He eagerly invites them to come help out any time on exploring the maze further. He also asks, “So, have any of you worked with Janira Gavix or Rain in Cloudy Day before? What are they like?”
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Hallow joins his fellow party members in a few games, but spends most of the party towards the side tinkering with a few gadgets in his armor.
Taiwalei also finds time to sit down with the team and thank them for the eventful tour. He eagerly invites them to come help out any time on exploring the maze further. He also asks, “So, have any of you worked with Janira Gavix or Rain in Cloudy Day before? What are they like?”
They shake their head. "Can't say I have. I'd be very interested in helping chart more of the maze, though."
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"Did you just mention Rain? A curious mushroom leshy, I should say, a very enthusiastic one, if I may add." Siyokoy tells Taiwalei.
"We rescued him when he got lost during his Confirmation. Consequently, he discovered Azlanti ruins and we helped him gather information about it. He is very happy about the discovery." he adds dreamily.