Eddie drops the mug and tries to pet Shinju.
Takumi feels another protective barrier shatter. He raises another one to protect Shinju. Shinju bares down on the goon with a White Cross and almost pins him to the ground with a critical headbutt. "I-I give up! I'm out of tune today!" He drops his weapons as he's too woozy to continue.
Takumi renews his protection around Shinju when he hears Keryn scream. "Come on! It's time for finale! Best time I sneak in... with catlike tread!"
In fact, it's really loud... His eyes dart to his right as Keryn begins to fade into view atop the barstool, her sap ready to strike him as he's off guard!
"Alright, you're clearly the leader of the band! I challenge you to a duel!" She points dramatically at the sky.
"Yeah! D-d-d-d-d-duel!" The woman with the black helmet begins beatboxing.
Takumi and Shinju (Shield, 36 nonlethal damage)
Eddie
Keryn (11 nonlethal, Courageous Anthem)
Nykor (Holding a stool)
Desmond (Wolf Stance, Raise Shield)
Black Helmet
Landon (11 nonlethal damage, 1 Action remaining, Immune to Guidance)
Desmond heads in and yanks Keryn's legs. She falls face first with an "Oof!"
She grins. "The show must go on, honey." With glee, she catches Desmond's wild swings. "But if you want to join the mosh pit, there's plenty of room!"
Takumi and Shinju (Shield, 36 nonlethal damage)
Eddie
Keryn (11 nonlethal, Courageous Anthem, Prone)
Nykor (Holding a stool)
Desmond (Wolf Stance)
Black Helmet
Landon (11 nonlethal damage, 1 Action remaining, Immune to Guidance)
Nykor climbs up to keep up with Keryn. "Desmond, quickly!" He provides Desmond with some magical Guidance.
The goon raps her free hand upon her Black Helmet.
"We're the C Flats and we're here to say"
"To the talking skull in the back it's time to pay!"
"Keryn's the voice, she's got us ready"
"We got our saps nice and steady!"
"You're gonna lose, it's pretty plain"
"The C Flats are going to bring on the pain!"
While her impromptu rap does rattle Shinju's resolve, it does little to lower his defenses.
Keryn (11 nonlethal, Courageous Anthem, Prone)
Nykor (Holding a stool)
Desmond (Wolf Stance, Guidance)
Black Helmet
Landon (11 nonlethal damage, Immune to Guidance)
Takumi and Shinju (Shield, 36 nonlethal damage, Shinju: Frightened 1)
Eddie
He smashes the barstool on Keryn's back. "Ow! Hey, hands off the lute!"
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Takumi glares the offensive Keryn, but rather than unleash his magic, he ignore Keryn and calmly withdraws, leaving Desmond to manage the hoodlum.
Again, the flow of energy continues from Takumi's body into Shinju, and this time, it flows more naturally.
Meanwhile, a different stream of energy continues its flow to Shinju, keeping up the protection.
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"You look mushy. I'll fix it." Eddie tells Shinju and Takumi, eyes lingering a bit on their unique shared damage link, something Eddie doesn't recognize as 'natural'.
Eddie grabs their bundle of mistletoe around their neck and asks the fungal spirits in the room to heal kitty's wounds, then Toadie gives the kitty some useful guidance moments later.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Keryn calls after Takumi. "Seriously? Not even a disstrack?" Her eyes narrow. "Oh... you must be a manager!" She growls.
Shinju also growls at these poor excuses for a beat and headbutts the woman's Black Helmet. "Hey, we're in band battle! I'd write better lyrics if I had time- what are YOU doing?"
She reacts and hits Landon as he approaches her space. She still gets a bar stool to the back for her troubles. "Man, these guys pack a wallop! Boss, I'm gonna get out of here."
Keryn stands up. "Yeah, don't worry about me. The C Flats will play another day!" She looks down at Desmond. "What's with the stance? Oh, Hungry Like A Wolf? I LOVE that song!"
She breaks into a jig and throws a half-hearted swing at Desmond.
Eddie takes this chance to mend most of Shinju's wounds.
Takumi and Shinju (Shield, 5 nonlethal damage, Shinju: Guidance)
Eddie
Keryn (19 nonlethal, Courageous Anthem)
Nykor (Holding a stool)
Desmond (Wolf Stance, Guidance)
Black Helmet (37 damage, Reacted)
Landon (19 nonlethal damage, Immune to Guidance)
Desmond interrupts Keryn's impromptu jig by knocking her prone and then hitting her twice.
"Going somewhere? Hey, we need the money! Gotta stop those clay faces from- oof!"
Nykor takes this time to grab another stool and bop Keryn over the head with it.
Meanwhile, the woman wearing the Black Helmet looks to the exit and starts running. Landon is quick to react.
Keryn (30 nonlethal, Courageous Anthem)
Nykor (holding a stool)
Desmond (Wolf Stance, Guidance)
Black Helmet (37 damage, Reacted, 25 ft left of the map)
Landon (19 nonlethal damage, Immune to Guidance, Black's movement triggers a Reactive Strike)
Takumi and Shinju (Shield, 5 nonlethal damage, Shinju: Guidance)
Eddie
Takumi stares Keryn dead in the eye and he feels invigorated. "You managers just want a bigger cut of the profits! Well, the C Flats are-"
Shinju decides to shut her up, running across the bar and carefully bonking her without leaving lasting damage. "-not the sharpest..." She collapses on the bar, one of her lute string snaps.
"I-Is it over?" One of the bartenders sticks his neck out from under the table.
Landon
Takumi and Shinju
Gabranaya claps from atop the stage. "Well, thank you for the second act. Now begins the third act: cleaning up the bar." The bar staff sigh and begin aligning tables, sweeping up the floor. "Come on, let's talk." Gabranaya comes down the stairs and tiptoes around the broken furniture. You'd think someone with such a large frame would bump into the tables but she's done this before.
"I guess I should help..." Nykor offers to help clean up the bar. "I'll report our progress so far to the Venture-Captain. Go on ahead without me."
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"Concern over so soon? Too bad, that was fun!" Eddie stows their shield and heads over to Landon with a handful of fermented berries. "You like berry snacks? Fix you up real quick!"
Looks like they worked "See? Its all in the secret sauce." Eddie chuckles while heading over to find a dark corner to refocus with their fungal spirits.
The C Flats are dragged together and Desmond tends to everyone's bruises. No problem.
"Well, how can I help you all?" Gabranaya scans over you as the bar cleans up.
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"Apologies for the disturbance. We would not have wished to cause damage to your property but unfortunately, we were not given any options." Takumi gives Gabranaya a moderately deep bow.
"Indeed, I am curious what could have caused that band to attack us. But I must set aside my personal misgivings and focus on our greater mission at hand." Gesturing to the skull (which has been quite quiet so far), Takumi continues, "We were wondering if you might be acquainted with this rather unusual ... artifact."
Gabranaya moves up to the skull, scratches her head. Zykyryz stares at her for a bit.
"Uh... hmmm... I don't know who this is. Kinda? She reminds me of someone."
"Many girtablilu went to the Conservatorium, but I'm the only one who graduated. It's thanks to my benefactor. We spent time composing an arcane ballad that explored similarities between the magic of souls finding their true selves and the emotions evoked by music. Pretty cool, huh? I don't remember the benefactor directly- probably a magic trick- but I DO remember the song."
The girtablilu sings for you all. The music has a vigorous edge to it. You are infused with spiritual resonance. Your minds are filled with visions of a floating tower in the sky- it feels important for some reason.
"Huh, true soul magic... my brain hurts." Zykyryz grumbles. "But it feels familiar. Did we practice this together?"
Gabranaya tilts her head and curls her tail. "I... maybe? It's kind of fuzzy."
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Landon watches the helmeted thug flee, then turns to Keryn just in time to see her knocked unconscious. He brushes himself off and gratefully accepts the berries from Eddie.
"A lovely establishment. Although I can't say that I'm a fan of the live music," he says, addressing Gabranaya. He examines the broken leg of a stool still held in his hand. "Apologies about the furniture. I would be happy to help with the clean up, of course. Would it be possible to order first? I'm famished from the excitement, and I've heard good things about the...chill-witch, is it?" He raises an eyebrow and waits to see if she shows any reaction.
"A chill-witch?" Gabranaya looks at the skull. "Why didn't you say so? Stop picking up those tables- the staff can take care of that."
She spins around, skitters between the smashed furniture and everyone sits down to enjoy a refreshing drink.
"Look, I haven't met a lot of talking skulls, but something seems familiar about her. Maybe this song will help restore your memory. But she needs more. Someone has to know who she is, even a name would be enough, right?"
After you all get a chance to relax (while the C Flats pick up your cleaning duties), it's time to head to the Sunmist Steele.
Gabranaya gives you directions to a nearby carpet driver. He's on his smoke break, but quickly perks up as you approach.
"Sunmist Steele? Sure thing, I can give you a ride back, too. 1 silver piece from each of ya. As soon as you finish paying we'll be up there before you can say Magic Missile! Badda-bing, badda-boom!"
Once you all pay, he unfurls a large carpet, larger than a dinner table. He waves his hands and the carpet begins to waver and hover above the ground, supporting your weight. The ground gives way as the people, trees and buildings fall beneath you. The ground seems so far away. You look up and one of the towers floating above the city grows closer and closer. You can actually see its height.
"Sunmist Steele!" The driver lands his carpet in a courtyard. "I'll stay here. Call me when you're done, alright?" He pulls out another cigar as soon as you get off and he rolls up the carpet again, leaning against a tree.
The doors to this open air courtyard are open. Its walls sport etchings of enormous humanoid-shaped beings chiseled out of a mountain by thousands of tiny workers. The internal doors each bear an inscription of an eye with diamond‑like facets. The main doors are locked. You could find a way to open the door, or you can go the long way around.
Nykor fidgets with the lock. He hears a distinct snapping noise, that reminds him of his early days, when he was still learning the ropes.
The bad noise.
He pulls out his broken tools and sighs. He does find a rodent to speak to.
Desmond, meanwhile, points Zykyryz at the door. "Huh? What, am I supposed to remember this?" She sighs. "It's not like the password is going to be something like Open Up, the Big Boss Commands! or-"
The doors silently swing open as she speaks. "Um... I meant to do that?" You eventually head deeper within.
A teleportation circle occupies the center of this chamber, its runes providing gentle light to the entire space. Twelve sealed glass cases filled with nearly transparent mist surround it. Floating inside of each is an ancient scroll or tome yellowed with age and barely legible. Attached to the side of each case is a short chain connected to a thin silver rod tipped with a stylized hand, its index finger extended. You can use the chains to manipulate the pages of the tomes and scrolls inside the case.
The doors are closed but both easily opened from this side.
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Takumi studies the magic carpet, glances at Shinju in mutual understanding, before unmanifesting his kami-san and remanisfesting him upon arrival. Whether that was due to weight considerations, or to save the silver piece is unknown.
Takumi walks around the room, studying the scrolls with curiosity but is disappointed at being unable to decipher the words. He turns to the skull, hoping she/it might have some answers.
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Eddie's eyes go wide when the magic carpet ride is an option, pulling out a very hefty bag of coins. They pull out a silver one, mime biting it, then hand it to the carpet driver "Yes, I'll be the first flying fungus.. besides my cousins when the squirrels drop them from the tree tops anyhow."
The entire trip on the carpet is Eddie's shrill voice yelling "EEEEEEEeeee!"
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Eddie finally stops screeching when they land, hopping down off the carpet and taking a moment to steady themselves as they take in the neat surroundings. They finally hustle inside after the broken tools and skull opening up the door. "Nice one Zazzy."
Eddie browses the tomes and scrolls with the odd manipulation device, not because they can read any of the words, but because they're wondering just how good old texts soaked in rain water might taste.
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Landon pauses for only a brief moment before handing his very last coin to the carpet driver. He quickly forgets his financial worries as the group soars above the city, though.
Landon moves around the room reading the ancient texts. He relates the general idea of the texts and is willing to translate specific passages if asked. "It seems like somebody was researching Creation's Forge, the plane of positive energy responsible for the creation of souls. There is a portal to the plane at the heart of this solar system's sun."
Assuming there is time, Landon proceeds to wander around the room casting Detect Magic, and spends some time examining the ritual circle.
Nykor finds a rodent and offers some food. The rat nibbles on the good stuff.
"There are all of these rocks made of stone. They move and act on their own, but they try to not step on us. Kinda nice. Thanks for the food buddy!"
Nykor learns of the many stone statues in the building that sometimes move on their own. They are surprisingly careful not to step on the creatures within.
"What do I think?" She views the books. "I think Landon has the right idea on what the books are about... wait, do I know Empyrean? Wow! I do. And Celestial and Requian, too. But he said everything I would say."
"I don't feel enlightened or anything. So let's look for more clues."
With no other leads, the party ventures forth.
An air of serenity pervades this space. Hundreds of smooth azurite and lapis lazuli pebbles decorate the chamber’s floor. The blue gems harmonize in wavy patterns that catch the light streaming in from above and reflect it into the room, giving the air a misty quality. The walls rise up 60 feet, tapering to a narrow iris. Cabochons strung together on wires sway due to the breezy downdraft, deflecting off one another with a sound akin to lithographic windchimes. Closed doors lead to other parts of the building.
Two large devices catch the eye as the doors open. To the north is a raised platform whose boundary is inlaid with diamonds, its inner rings wrought from pure gold. Several magical foci float above, directing some kind of energy into a glowing globe at its center. The second is a cylindrical apparatus standing nearly 30 feet in height that seems to be channeling sunlight through it. At its base is a large diamond that has been shaped into a prism.
Turning to face the door from in front of the structure is a humanoid figure very clearly not made of living material. His body appears to have been carved from a single block of weathered jasper, bearing dark gray, red, and brown stripes and splotches, with two titanium-tinted sapphires for eyes. A single Empyrean rune has been carved into his forehead.
He wears long, flowing robes and holds a large silver rod with a clenched fist on the end. Despite all this, it’s clear at a glance that this figure’s crafting was incomplete; he has no ears.
A stone statue in the shape of a human woman stands in front of him, her fists clenched.
Zykyryz absentmindedly begins humming Gabranaya's song, and you feel it's a bit easier to communicate.
Vrisk takes a good look at Desmond, but Nykor's critical gestures spark hints of familiarity. He looks to the statue, and she turns to him before stepping aside and returning to the apparatus in the back of the room, maintaining an athletic fighting stance. The other objects in the room seem to relax, squeaking and bobbing to and fro. The golem stands at ease.
"My apologies. There are those who would look down on my kind, and claim we do not have a soul. I was uncertain if you came in peace." He looks at the skull. "Ah. Finally, you have returned. Do you not recognize me? You named me Vrisk." Zykyryz is uncharacteristically quiet. "Let me explain."
In a slow and measured cadence, Vrisk introduces himself and tells you a story of an arclord whose goals in furthering her skills were always to master the interplay between magic and life. Her earliest studies taught her the connection between magic and music. Since then she learned ancient techniques that allowed arcane-forged constructs to house living souls. These “proto-golems” were the oldest example of their kind, originally crafted for protection and study. Over time the creation process had been corrupted through experimentation into the golems known to Golarion today.
After years of trials, she succeeded in creating an apparatus that allowed a living soul, freshly forged in the Cradle of Creation, to enter a host body she prepared, marked with an Empyrean rune on its forehead. After many days of telepathic conversation, he forged an identity and began to study alongside her.
Vrisk studies Zykyryz intently before breaking into a stony smile. "Arclord Alyreha believed herself to be male in her youth, but always felt that she was meant to be something different—something more. We conversed about life, and she reached an epiphany that transitioned to her true self."
"No matter what form my friend takes, I will always recognize her. This skull contains the mind and spirit of Arclord Alyreha Tzonnek. I am your close confidant, Vrisk."