Billy's eyes dart back and forth as his companions launch their weapons at the creature. One by one they all miss, each weapon flying through it's form phasing out just in time to "dodge." Ghardak's attempt to intimidate seems to have no effect as well.
After their chaos subsides, he simply raises his gun hand and fires directly into it.
Thevenin provides a useful blessing for Yuan Wu and Ghardak for their next move (or perhaps... self defense).
The creature starts to phase in and out more rapidly and begins to appear in different places around the room! It appears behind Eltis and immediately lashes out with a tail slap!
◆Stride
◆Stride
and Grab
------------------
Thankfully it completely misses the party kobold!
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 3 -> 4
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
The bold may go
------------------
Round 3
------------------
Ghardak (guidance)
Billy
------------------
Round 4
------------------
Yuan Wu (guidance)
Eltis
Thevenin (Stupefied 1)
------------------
BLUE -36
Eltis can't seem to aim at it with his divine lance, but his crossbow lodges a bolt in the strange creature. This distracts it just enough for Ghadrak's bum rush at it to succeed. His hammer further damages it. Each strike seems to cause it to crackle with electricity.
------------------
The creature reacts swiftly but doesn't seem to fully move out of the way of the arc. Its form, dancing in the air, catches about half of the jolt but seems to absorb it rather than be bothered by it.
|
As the creature attempts to move, Yuan Wu almost instinctively brings up his weapon, guided by the connection he has forged to it, the slash across its tail.
He then races after the fleeing creature, cornering it as once again, he swings his weapon at it.
Then almost mirroring Ghardak, Yuan Wu similarly shields himself, although this is drawn from his inner qi force, creating a faint simmering barrier in front of him.
Before...
As it retreats to the corner of the room, Yuan Wu takes a sizable chunk out of its tail. It emits a screech, but it's not clear from where.
Now...
The creature desperately dodges Billy's shot. Yuan Wu approaches and boxes it in.
In a final desperate effort, it releases waves of chaos at the nearby aggressors.
------------------
Filaments of energy gather around Yuan Wu, wrapping tightly around his legs.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 4 -> 5
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
The bold may go
------------------
Round 4
------------------
Ghardak
Billy
------------------
Round 5
------------------
Yuan Wu (Immobilized)
Eltis
Thevenin (Stupefied 1)
------------------
BLUE -60
The final flurry of attacks does more than just what is necessary to destroy this creature.
It recedes through the “ripple” and relinquishes its hold over Thandmere.
|
|
A large bed covered in fine linens is the centerpiece of this well-furnished room, and a sturdy table surrounded by three chairs sits in its northeast corner. Several eye-catching curios rest on top of the room’s chest of draws, including a mirror with a gilded frame, a mother-of-pearl box holding talcum powder, and a polished lodestone more than a foot in diameter. Two lamps in wall sconces light the room and a thick carpet woven with a wayfinder pattern lays on the floor.
"Wait, there it is! The lodestone! On the chest of draws!" Yuan Wu races to the item.
"Now, to get the students to take it, and conduct the ritual. And we might finally bring an end to this madness."
Is it safe?
The little kobold slowly inches into the room, still carrying the pitcher.
Tels likewise inches in with the shield.
Yeah, seems fine now!
Noticing the messages from the Pathfinder team, they gesture for Hari to enter the room and grab the lodestone.
The components of the Material Failsafe are gathered. In unison all three speak the activate word.
Narven.
Narven.
Narven
With a low thrum and a slight pressure change felt, you return to the same “phase” as the students.
Our chaperones! We knew it was you all along. Thanks for helping fix the lodge!
Moments later, Thandmere awakes slowly but surely. He is clearly in the groggy state and taking in his surroundings.
Hrm. Ah. Oh! It worked! Everyone accompany me to the Main Hall!
The dwarven professor leads the Pathfinders and all of the students downstairs to the entry room.
Upon returning to the main hall, the students and Pathfinders discover that the lodge’s staff have reappeared.
Venture-Captain Armeline Jirneau addresses you and the visiting students.
Thank you. You know, I was able to observe all of you the whole time from the phase of reality that I was trapped in. Truly, I commend all of you for resolving the issues.
She smiles warmly and gives Geltra, Hari, Tels, and Vim an approving look.
Truly well done.
She gives Alec a stern look.
Oh... you saw. Why do you keep all of those dumb romance novels around the lodge anyway?!
The VC fails to fight back a deep laugh and does not answer the young student's question.
Thandmere seems to be laughing along with her, clearly sharing some understanding.
After several moments his expression turns to solemn regret. He abashedly explains.
I... made a deal with the pelagastr to try to liven up my teaching, but realized that I had gotten more than I bargained for when reality fractured around Woodsedge Lodge. After its magic overwhelmed me, the protean kept me unconscious so it could experience the chaos that it had caused. I... sense that activating the Material Failsafe has shunted the creature back to the Maelstrom, and I don't think it will be much of a problem in the future—returning to pester the Society wouldn’t be much of a new experience, after all.
He laughs sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck in a sort of distracting fidget as he avoids looking at Armeline.
I won't be making any such deal like that again. Lesson learned...
She is definitely glaring at him over the entire duration of the explanation. However, it seems she would rather save the rest of this discussion for later, perhaps out of view of the students.
After making sure everyone is safe, Armeline prepares the group to return to Absalom so her staff can deal with the aftermath of the incident.
There is a brief pause that allows for any questions from the party!
|
|
Much as he tries to maintain his composure, Yuan Wu paces uneasily as the students activates the ritual, unsure if it was indeed harmless. He lets out a deep sigh of relief when reality shifts. Excited, he capers around hugging each of the students in turn. If they let them.
"Whew," he sighs, turning to the dwarf. "Yes, let's not do that again." At least not with kids involved.
|
The young gunslinger glowers at Thandmere. Ya know, the next time you want to test students or other Pathfinders, maybe you don't make deals with extra planar beings or things that you know, cause a lot of harm? I have half a mind to take you over my knee and give you the whippin of your life... he says and then walks away shakin his head.
Thandmere is stunned by Billy's threat, however serious it is or isn't. He awkwardly turns away and heads for the door.
The VC laughs out loud during his swift exit.
Don't worry, I think he's learned his lesson. I'll be discuss this with him in more detail later on. I don't want to in front of the students... not very professional.
The Maze of the Open Road transports everyone safely. When they arrive back at the Grand Lodge, J asks all of you how the mission went and asks to check the students’ assignments.
As the students' assignments are complete, he declares that the students will have a party day at the Academy, and you are invited as guests.
As a thank you gift, Thandmere pulls several signed copies of one of the Pathfinder Chronicles from his bag and presses them on all of you before departing for the academy. The chronicle deals with Pathfinder Society expeditions in the Five Kings Mountains. Thandmere wrote a short appendix for it.
Two days later, you also receive thank you gift baskets containing notes and small presents from the students.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES - SUCCESS the students activate the Material Failsafe and normal reality is restored.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES - SUCCESS the students complete all four parts of their assignment or you stop Alec Gracekin from breaking into the restricted section of the library (helping Armeline Jirneau avoid some unpleasant conversations with the school’s administrators). Technically either accomplishment completes this objective, but you got both.