Vatumledor searches through Talaro’s remaining equipment and pulls out a simple scroll—a contract for the excommunication and subsequent assassinations of Vatum, Janna, Ajoran, Yujin, and Suryo. “This assassin’s contract for your deaths is from the Vernai, and it looks authentic. The Vernai sometimes fight among themselves to the point of outright violence and betrayal, but they rarely turn on those below them in the organization. They usually only act like this when there’s about to be a major upheaval among the ranks of the Red Mantis.
“Heading back to the Crimson Citadel won’t be safe for you if a Vernai is sending assassins to kill you. You’re going to need to know which Vernai is after you and have proof of their crimes before you return and confront them. If I were you, I’d fake your deaths here, making it look like you and the other assassins killed each other. Then I’d return to Ilizmagorti and see if you can find any of the traitor’s co-conspirators. Pulling off a deception like this would require having powerful informants in place around Mediogalti Island. Once you know who the traitor is and have the proper proof, bring it to the Vernai and expose the traitor.
“As for me, my assistance will be more valuable to you if we now go our separate ways, for that will allow me to create distractions to turn attentions away from you. I have a target on my back now as well, and if our enemies have to split their resources to look in multiple areas, so much the better.”
The party attempts to seed the false narrative that they have been slain in battle by spending 2 hours pursuing one of the following paths of deceit. Each PC in the party can attempt one of the following checks each time this activity is attempted as a group. These checks earn (or lose) Victory Points (GM Core 184).
Fake Remains Using corpses of other people rendered unidentifiable through disfiguring and violent damage, you attempt to doctor remains and pass them off as yours and those of your fellow party members. Attempt a DC 34 Deception or DC 36 Medicine check, with a –1 penalty for each party member who lacks a corpse of a matching ancestry (–2 if there’s a size difference), or a –4 penalty for each PC who isn’t represented by a tampered-with corpse.
False Rumors Spend the time spreading rumors about the party’s defeat and attempt a DC 32 Deception check. If you do so while not disguised, adjust your rolled result down by one degree of success. You can only spread False Rumors in Ilizmagorti—this isn’t an option in Crownhold.
Magical Manipulation You use magic to create Fake Remains, spread False Rumors, or Manufacture Evidence; describe to the GM what spells and magical methods you’re using, then attempt a DC 34 Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion check as appropriate.
Manufactured Evidence You create evidence to plant at the scene of the crime to stage a convincing battle site where you and your fellow PCs supposedly perished. Attempt a DC 32 Warfare Lore check, a DC 34 Society check, or a DC 36 Crafting check.
——————————————————
Determining Success Total up all of the Victory Points earned by the PCs, then subtract 2 from that total for each previous attempt the PCs made to Fake Deaths. If the PCs earn more Victory Points than there are PCs in the party, reduce their Visibility Points by 3. If the PCs earn as many Victory Points as there are PCs in the party, reduce their Visibility Points by 1. If the PCs earn no Victory Points at all, increase their Visibility Points by 1d4.
Note: due to this happening at Crownhold instead of Ilizmagorti, y’all can’t do False Rumors, BUT the DCs of the checks are 5 lower.[/ooc]
Yujin piles up bodies of relatively the same size and gender as the four of us and sets them on fire in an attempt of obfuscate their identities. Unfortunately, she gets a little too zealous and turns the bodies to ash.
Yujin shrugs her shoulders. "Too much?"
"And when you saw the bodies, though badly burned, you recognised several features of them didn't you? Two human women, a wayang man and a nephilim man. You'd seen the group before so you were quite sure"
As Janna disappears around the corner, the stevador still has a slack-jawed stare, but she knows he'd shake it off and have a tale to tell.
I rarely fully show myself, I just need a figure of roughly the same size to enshroud in a cloak. It will suffice.
Ajoran examines his arm, with the half-buried, blind eyes under the skin. And the finger-like muscles writhing against his skin from the inside. This isn't the first time that the fleshwarp has lamented his physical form, but it's the most mundane sort of regret he's felt over his birth in a long time. It's refreshing, in its own way.
He steels his resolve. In another life, he would have ended up the boogieman of some unfortunate Chelish village. "They'll be smart enough to check for redundant growths. I'm going to need more than one body. At least three. Two if you're all willing to share a few parts."
Jakalyn’s favored make the best of the materials that they have to fake their deaths then rest up. And then, they make their way back home to Mediogalti.
*
*
*
Alright, so. Now we have to talk about Ilizmagorti.
First, it’s a level 13 settlement with the following ability:
Fenced Goods Common items of up to level 15 can be purchased in Ilizmagorti, but those above level 13 (and many below, at the GM’s discretion) are stolen goods which might have powerful owners who are actively seeking their recovery.
Second, Ilizmagorti is 2100 miles from Crownhold, requiring either a single 8th-rank teleport (and being 10 miles off-target) or three castings of 7th-rank teleport (and arriving 1 mile off-target).
Third, entering Ilizmagorti by foot or sea requires paying a tax. Red Mantis agents are exempt from this tax (But that’s not an affiliation y’all can easily levy anymore). The tax is typically 1 so for claimed-citizens and 1 gp for claimed-visitors, but the actual price is basically at the whims of the guard/registrar processing the arrival, and they will try to tax as much as they can get away with; a 100 gp tax for rich-looking people is not unheard of.
Fourth, entering Ilizmagorti via clandestine ways (stealth, invisibility, teleportation) is illegal…if you get caught.
Fifth, the Red Mantis have eyes and ears everywhere. Anyone in Ilizmagorti could be a Red Mantis in disguise, and as official enemies of the church, y’all do not want to be seen when you don’t want to. This is represented by Visibility Points, with the following effects:
Anonymous (0–3 Visibility Points): The Red Mantis believe the PCs aren’t active in Ilizmagorti.
Rumored (4–6 Visibility Points): The Red Mantis suspect the PCs are active in Ilizmagorti. The PCs take a –1 circumstance penalty to checks to Coerce, Cover Tracks, Gather Information, Impersonate, or Make an Impression.
Spotted (7–9 Visibility Points): The Red Mantis know the PCs are active in Ilizmagorti, but haven’t narrowed down their precise location. The PCs take a –2 circumstance penalty to checks to Coerce, Cover Tracks, Gather Information, Impersonate, or Make an Impression.
Hunted (10 or more Visibility Points): The Red Mantis know what the PCs’ likely plans are and can swiftly locate them anywhere in the city. The PCs take a –4 circumstance penalty to checks to Coerce, Cover Tracks, Gather Information, Impersonate, or Make an Impression. The PCs also lack the stability and safety needed to successfully Craft, Earn Income, seek Long-Term Rest, or Retrain in Ilizmagorti unless they secure a suitable safe house.
Y’all have 0 Visibility currently (you had 1, but Faking your Deaths reduced it to 0).
Upon entering Ilizmagorti, and every day you make your daily preparations in Ilizmagorti, the group must attempt a single DC 16 flat check, gaining 1 Visibility on a failure. If the entire group have sufficient disguises that last the entire day (such as a bunch of illusory disguises or a single PC being a master in Deception), then you automatically succeed at this flat check.
Sixth, y’all CAN buy and sell stuff, but to do so without gaining Awareness takes 4 days of downtime, though these days can be taken concurrently (e.g. if all four of you spend a day at the same time, then it’ll all be done immediately).
Suryo looks pointedly at Janna.
Can you get us out of here?
+2 greater striking extending wounding sawtooth saber
Assassin’s skin
Greater mask of the mantis
The assassins teleport across Avistan until they reach the Chelish capital of Egorian, where they buy and sell equipment before proceeding on their journey to Ilizmagorti.
- greater resilient rune (I see one more unclaimed)
The “unclaimed one” is on the assassin’s skin, which Janna claimed.
Gave the greater doubling rings to Yujin and sold her normal doubling rings, so now she has keen on her other saber.
Arbitrarily gave the greater cold-resistant rune to Yujin, since it was just there and is fairly thematic to be resistant to fire and cold.
Transferred pretty much all of the runes from Ordulf’s greataxe to Janna’s saber.
Arbitrarily had y’all transfer the +2 greater striking runes onto the adamantine greatsword, rather than have y’all sell it, since it’s good to have adamantine if you REALLY need it! (took the cost out of the overall party fund rather than an individual person)
Sold off runes and armor no longer to be used since Janna’s changing armor and some others are getting better runes.
I updated my character sheet with the other runes and items. Thanks, GM, for helping sort through them.
If not teleporting directly to Ilizmagorti, I'm sure at this point in our career, we've all likely taken a ship to and from Ilizmagorti, so we should know a port that we can get on a ship from. If not, a lore check to find one? Assassin +18, Labor Lore +18, Society +18. Or any other Lore +16 w/ Clever Improviser.
I would start investigating right on the ship, inquiring with the crew and passengers about news from the city. Diplomacy +20.
The group finished their shopping in Egorian, then teleports to the Chelish coastal city of Corentyn. From there, they secure passage to Ilizmagorti on a sailing ship, taking them 2 weeks to finally arrive.
”I can’t really tell you that, but I know someone who potentially can: Nasha the Gnasher. She’s a gladiator at Ilizmagorti’s Blood Circus, but rumor has it that she also doubles as an information broker. If something happens within Ilizmagorti’s walls, she’s sure to have heard something.”
*
Ilizmagorti: the capital of Mediogalti Island and the public-facing home of the Red Mantis. The group arrives at the docks, and they are just about to make a stealthy retreat when, unfortunately, luck is not on their side.
”You four look new.”
The group is approached by a cantankerous-looking human man in a dockmaster’s uniform and seems to be inexplicably damp. He writes something in a small leather book before slipping it back into a waterproof pocket on his belt pouch. His eyes lock with the disguised assassins as he looks them over.
”Name’s Torvald Kemp. And who might you be? What business do you have in Ilizmagorti?”
If you critically succeed, open the spoiler below
Suryo disguises himself as a similarly-sized gnome in their stops in major cities and their voyage over waters. A bleached gnome is perhaps close enough one from the shadows anyway.
--------------------
Nasha the Gnasher... Suryo repeats the name to himself internally to commit it to memory.
--------------------
Labor Lore +18
Deception +22
Yujin recalls the mannerisms of servants and laborers from her youth and acts accordingly. She looks at the ground and pretends to be unsure of herself. "Torvald, sir. My worthless name is of no importance but you may record Lia in your books. And this is..." Yujin makes up three other names. She takes out a gold coin and puts it in Torvald's palm. "That was the last coin to my name and now it is yours. Our lives were forfeit in Cheliax so we fled to Ilizmagorti and paid for our passage with the promise of labor." Yujin recalls the name of an associate of her father and hopes he isn't dead. "I was told we are to report to the pirate Gorfu Four-Fingers upon arrival. We don't want any trouble."
Yujin makes a mental note of Torvald's ledger and whispers the information to the rest of the party when given an opportunity when Torvald isn't looking. But she doesn't know how she might grab it without drawing attention.
Torvald takes the coin, but leans over to squint at “Lia.”
”Welcome to Ilizmagorti,” he says, his voice dripping with suspicion. ”The city where anyone you come across could be a trained killer that could slice your throat. Everyone here is very good at discerning who is and isn’t hiding something. So, lemme ask again: what is actually your purpose here?”
Yujin will let someone with better Deception pick up the explanation from here.
Suryo notes Yujin's humble approach and prepares to align his own mannerisms with it. A bit of a different voice speaks up from under the hood of his cloak, one less abrasive than his normal one.
We're aware of the prevalent profession on this island. I suspect our forfeiture to Gorfu involved past debts between him and our prior master in Cheliax. The bargaining of our lives was outside of our control. Alas, they do not answer to us and so some of the details of their dealings remain obscured from us. We do not wish to find out what occurs if we do not report in.
Janna keeps her eyes downcast and her posture deferential.
"That wasn't her last coin, begging your pardon sir. She's tighter than the seal on Alchemist's Fire, that's all it was"
She taps one of Yujin's decoy purses to draw a jangle of coins, and returns any looks of shock from her with one of resignation.
"That wasn't her last coin, begging your pardon sir. She's tighter than the seal on Alchemist's Fire, that's all it was"
We're aware of the prevalent profession on this island. I suspect our forfeiture to Gorfu involved past debts between him and our prior master in Cheliax. The bargaining of our lives was outside of our control. Alas, they do not answer to us and so some of the details of their dealings remain obscured from us. We do not wish to find out what occurs if we do not report in.
”Hmm.” Kemp contemplates for a bit, the disguised assassins seeing a look spread across his face as if trying to understand the truth of the lie he caught “Lia” in before sighing. ”Twenty gold coins from each of ya, or you ain’t getting in. Now shove off.”
Once the group pays their “tax,” it seems that Torvald has let down his guard a little too much, as he mutters ”The Vernai might wanna hear of this Gorfu…” under the assumption that he either isn’t going to be heard or that these foreigners won’t know what he’s talking about.
As Torvald watches the group make their way away, he pulls aside a dockworker—who is, of course, a Red Mantis agent in everyday clothes—and says ”Keep an eye on those four; something in my gut feels off ‘bout them.”
*
With only a singular lead—and the Red Mantis’s many eyes around Ilizmagorti—the group heads off to the Blood Circus to arrange a meeting with Nasha the Gnasher.
*
”I’m sorry, I’m afraid Miss Nasha is booked for the next several days. I could probably pencil you in for this coming Starday, though.”
”Oh! My apologies, I was unaware you were her 11 o’clock! Please, follow me!”
The group is led to a private office in the understructure of the gladiatorial arena. The chamber has a rather plain aesthetic compared to the obscenely violent arena décor. Lounging in the room is a well-built iruxi woman, who takes an aggressive bite from the roasted meat of a large leg bone she holds. She chews the meat loudly, open-mouthed so the roast is clearly visible, and stares at the sudden newcomers for a time. She then wipes her lizard-like snout on a napkin and gestures vaguely with the roast. ”What is so important that you’re interrupting my meal?”
Nasha takes another aggressive bite as she waits for the answer.
Suryo stares intently at the leg bone, hoping to determine that it's not humanoid, before his trance is finally broken by Nasha's abrupt question.
He starts in earnest.
We're told nothing occurs in Ilizmagorti without you knowing about it. There is a rumor we've caught wind of that threatens the stability for all on this island. Our knowledge combined, we might be able to avert this cataclysmic shift. We're told that a certain Blood Mistress has obtained enemies among the Vernai, who work in the shadows to supplant her.
"Naturally, Ajoran adds, "we wouldn't assume such information would come for free."
Are there any precautions we can take against the dockworker that might be clocking us?
Yujin turns her head and spits on the ground. Her caustic spittle sizzles slightly. "We can pay in either coin or in blood. Personally, I prefer the latter. I daresay you have no shortage of fights lined up in the arena."
Are there any precautions we can take against the dockworker that might be clocking us?
We're told that a certain Blood Mistress has obtained enemies among the Vernai, who work in the shadows to supplant her.
Nasha goes for another bite when Suryo’s question causes her to stop mid-motion. She raises a quizzical eyebrow—or does the muscle movement, given the iruxi’s lack of actual eyebrows—and slowly puts the roast meat down on a nearby tray.
”Now now. That is a very interesting bit of information that you happen to have.” She leans forward, her rugged persona of a gladiator disappearing into a more approachable mask as an information broker.
”I’ve heard through the grape vine that some elements among the High Killers seek a silent coup of ol’ Jakalyn—though if you lot are speaking of it, then perhaps it’s not as silent as I was led to believe.
“Now, as you mentioned, I don’t give away my intel for nothing. My price varies from transaction to transaction—sometimes it’s coin, sometimes it’s a spectacle in this here arena. For you four, though…I’ll accept my payment in quality of character. You’re asking for something juicier than my lunch, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t biased about making sure an upheaval doesn’t happen.
“But I ain’t just gonna give some destabilizing info to just anyone. I gotta trust you. I gotta trust that you’ll be able to use this information well, can take on whoever might not want you to act, and that’s you’re actually loyal to Miss Jakalyn.”
Before anyone has the time to say anything, Nasha quickly adds ”Individually!” She shifts in her seat. ”If the rest of you could wait outside while I talk to each of you; shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes, 15 tops.”
Suryo lets Nasha lead the conversation and fills in comfortable narrative where appropriate to convince her of strong alignment.
When Yujin is alone in the room with Nasha, she entwines her fingers in front of her forehead and rubs her temples with her thumbs as if she has a bad headache. ”Why couldn’t you have just asked me to kill something. I don’t know how I’m going to prove my loyalty to Jakalyn to you. Thinking is not one of my strengths. But I can tell you that I’ve walked in Jakalyn’s shoes. I’d say I empathize with her but I’m not sure that’s an emotion I’m capable of. You wouldn’t know this, but I have royal blood in my veins. But to anyone where that would matter, they’d rather see me dead than let me return to set foot on my homeland. Just like this sect of Vernai seem set on eliminating Jakalyn while she has stepped off her throne. I owe Jakalyn everything that I am today. When I freed myself as a child by murdering my captor, Jakalyn took me in. Granted it was to become an assassin. However, it was kill or be killed, and I was going to kill anyway. But Jakalyn helped me focus my wrath into something productive…most of the time. For what it’s worth, there is no one in this world that I’d die for, but she is the only one that I’d kill for without question. If you have any concerns about me being able to take on whoever might not want us to act, you needn’t worry. I’m itching for them to try.” To emphasize her point, Yujin lets her aura of fear ooze from her body and locks eyes with Nasha with her own draconian eyes letting Nasha know that she could kill even her with just a glance if she wanted to.
"Do you know I heard that Jakalyn assassinated Aroden once. It's absurd of course, but there was a second there I believed it, and some seconds here and there where I wonder."
Janna's disguise as a bedraggled street-rat suddenly looks quite unconvincing as her piercing eyes focus on Nasha.
"He Who Walks In Blood was among the first Gods forged in the beginning, and not since that time has the great tapestry of creation been without its iron justice, its great equalizer. Jakalyn is his will here on Golarion, and woe betide any who would unbalance the blade"
When Ajoran is alone with her in the room, he slides his robes off of his shoulders and exposes himself from the waist up. The writhing flesh beneath has hands and faces and eyes pressing against his skin, as though several entities that had been stitched together were frozen in the moment just before escaping their prison of skin.
"I am a monster. A product of hubris. By any right, I should have been put down after birth or sent off to spend my final days on a laboratory table. But through Achaekek's blessing and Jakalyn's acceptance, I have been given new purpose. I owe them everything."
"And I would gladly die for either of them. But I serve a greater purpose when I kill for them."
Nasha directs everyone back into the building as she settles in.
”Yeah, there’s definitely whispers of a coup going on within the Vernai, and I’m personally not a fan. I’ve got a bit of a working relationship with Jakalyn—she looks the other way at my side gig, and I give her intel if she needs it. If the leadership were to be disrupted, who knows how things would go for my business—I’d rather deal with the devil I know than the one I don’t.
“That said, whoever is doing this knows what they’re doing—everything is so under the radar that I haven’t heard much of anything. Whoever is orchestrating this coup is someone who knows how to hide their tracks really well—more so than your average Red Mantis.
“Now, all I have is speculation, but there is one person that I think might either an accomplice or knows who is: Dockmaster Torvald Kemp. Kemp and I have never really had the best of relationships to begin with, but the past couple weeks he’s been more distant, like he’s avoiding me.
“Now, I’m not sure if that’s my own conspiratorial thinking or if I’m onto something, but regardless, Kemp is still the person to go to because of his little black book—he is very meticulous and keeps notes on everything, particularly as they relate to the docks. If there is some kind of upheaval going on, he is very likely to have the receipts of the comings and goings of the movers and shakers—whether he knows it or not.”
Suryo expression sinks.
We just lied to Torvald. This will take a new set of disguises. Or maybe just invisibility and sleight-of-hand.
So then ideally we need to get a look at the book without him knowing. Less ideal is that we just relieve him of the book without him knowing it was us, but then that will probably set off an unsavory chain of events that would heighten suspicions, mistrust, and tensions. Surely he sets it down at least at home? Could you point out his abode to us on a map?
Janna gives an slight nod to Nasha's information.
"Your service has been noted" she says without a word of thanks.
She chids Suryo when they're alone. "Have some faith in yourself Suryo. Borrowing a book long enough for us to read it sounds like child's play, especially for you"
Even the compliment sounds like an insult from her.
"Some fresh disguises, surveillance. Then choose our time to go in under the cover of Invisibility, it'll be back before he knows it"
"I agree with Suryo's idea. If we want to maintain a low profile, rather than try anything on the dock, let's wait until he sleeps and take the book then."
Suryo grimaces at the chiding.
I more wish to be supremely cautious. Raising Torvald's awareness would be a kick of the hornets nest. But yes... fresh disguises are in order.
Ajoran sighs. "Back to the dockmaster, then. I'll layer illusions, then. Invisibility as a standard, a magical disguise in case someone can see through that, and careful sneaking under the assumption that the illusions will somehow be bypassed."
He nods. "If we have time to rest and reassign spells, I can better prepare myself for infiltration. Speaking of, we should establish a base of operations. Does anyone happen to have a safe house, or a favor to call in?"
Surely he sets it down at least at home? Could you point out his abode to us on a map?
”Y’know, it’s funny that you mention that, because I don’t actually know where he lives. Over the years I’ve basically gotten intel that he always seems to be at the dock, day and night. It’s like the guy never sleeps and is always on the job.”
"That's unfortunate. I got a gut feeling that his sweat isn't just perspiration. He's likely got an aquatic affinity that'll put as at a disadvantage near the sea. If it does come to a fight, we should try to limit he access to the water. But if we can get that book without a fight, that'd be even better."
"What about forging a replica book of similar appearance and somehow swapping it for the real one? We needn't even keep the book for long. Once we read what we're looking for, he can have the damned thing back."
Suryo sighs, realizing there's not going to be a "safe" way to do this.
I can go invisible and simply pilfer it. We should keep this as simple as possible. Not even all of us approaching him or even coming into view.
"Quite right Suryo. Best if you're never seen. I will shroud you from their perceptions..."
The manifestations when she casts the spell are impressive, the two of them are surrounded by floating fractal lenses and the mind-bending geometry of impossible shapes. When she's finished though, it doesn't seem like anything has changed.
"It will be much harder to pierce your invisibility now, and your mind is shielded from magic as well as I am able. I suggest we all travel with Suryo and hide nearby the docks. If we do not hear from you in 10 minutes, we'll follow to avenge you"
The assassins wait until nightfall, when the docks are to be significantly less crowded. They find Torvald Kemp and tail him for some time, until he turns off and stands at an empty dock, seeming to write in his book.
At this point, Suryo turns invisible and makes his way toward the dockmaster.
As the wayang gets close, Torvald puts the book into a sealed bag attached to his belt pouch, then looks out at the sea, seeming to just take a moment to breathe and decompress.
Critical Failure
Torvald tenses up and is fast enough with his reflexes that he manages to snatch Suryo’s invisible wrist. The dockmaster snaps his head around. ”What do you think you’re doing?! And…why can’t I see you…?”
Kemp releases Suryo’s wrist and dusts himself off, occasionally seeming to glance down at the water. ”Come now, this is no way to converse. If you wish for my attention then let us speak as gentlemen. This is simply so uncouth, hiding from me like this. Let us put aside these magicks in favor of—“
And Kemp’s aura of social niceties shatters as he yells “Asmodeus’s fingernail, why can’t I see you?!”
”To hell with it!” Kemp snaps his fingers and suddenly the water below him begins to churn and roil as a massive sea serpent breaches the surface and hisses in Suryo’s general direction!
Then a second sea serpent likewise breaches to be above the water!
Then a third!
Then a FOURTH?!
”Will you stay STILL!”
Failure —> Success (incapacitation)
”Oh for the LOVE OF—! Fine!” while Torvald’s upper body remains intact, suddenly his lower body splits off, transforming into a strange mesh of tentacles in the vague shape of a ballroom gown!
Round 1
==============
Torvald Kemp <Red>
Ajoran/Janna
Suryo {stunned 1; invisible; Hunted Prey: Torvald}
Yujin
Sea Serpent <Orange>
Sea Serpent <Yellow>
Sea Serpent <Green>
Sea Serpent <Blue>
==============
You are adept at foiling creatures’ special senses and cautious enough to safeguard against them at all times. Whenever you use the Avoid Notice, Hide, or Sneak actions, you are always considered to be taking precautions against special senses (see the Detecting with Other Senses sidebar).
You’re always sneaking unless you choose to be seen, even when there’s nowhere to hide. You can Hide and Sneak even without cover or being concealed. When you employ an exploration tactic other than Avoiding Notice, you also gain the benefits of Avoiding Notice unless you choose not to.
You can move your full Speed when you Sneak. You can use Swift Sneak while Burrowing, Climbing, Flying, or Swimming instead of Striding if you have the corresponding movement type.
--------------------
Suryo nods in thanks to Janna.
Anything that helps conceal my presence is a welcome boon. If the plan falls apart known that I'll be slashing and stabbing from my unseen position.
Suryo skulks around to the other side of Torvald, behind him.
Unseen, he slips his sawtooth sabre out of its sheath...
and slashes at Torvald!
You channel your zeal through a sacred weapon, bringing a foe closer to their demise. Strike a target with the required weapon. On a success, the target becomes doomed 1 or increases the value of their doomed condition by 1 (most living creatures die when they’ve reached doomed 4). Creatures doomed in this way take a status penalty to their saving throws against divine spells equal to their doomed value.
A creature that would become doomed 4 by this Strike can attempt a Will saving throw against your class DC to avoid increasing the value of their doomed condition. When this occurs, this ability gains the incapacitation trait.
You apply one of the following debilitations, which lasts until the end of your next turn.
Debilitation The target takes a –10-foot status penalty to its Speeds.
Debilitation The target becomes enfeebled 1.
Your opportunistic attacks are particularly detrimental. When you use Debilitating Strike, you can apply two debilitations simultaneously; removing one removes both.
Round 1
Ajoran's eyes widen as he witnesses the sudden eruption of sea monsters and the transformation of the dockmaster. He's already flipping through the pages in his book to see what it can tell him.
◇ Tome Adept Recall Knowledge vs Sea Serpent (Orange)
Then, he attempts to fashion an idol of bane for the dockmaster. A fish hook stuck through a coin of fool's gold should do the trick.
◆ Exploit Vulnerability vs Torvald Kemp
With his target marked, Ajoran will hussle towards the battle while drawing a blade in his primary hand. Hopefully, his friend can last long enough!
◆ Stride
◆ Draw Weapon
Yujin casts a spell and lets out a primal scream. Bones snap and her body contorts as she grows to the size of a small house. Her skin over her serpentine form turns to splendid golden scales. A regal crown of horns rings her head and a crimson mane from her neck to the tip of her tail waves wildly like flames. With powerful legs, she thrusts into the air and soars towards the enemy.
Seeing Suryo's invisibility fade, she comes to his aid. She lands onto the dock with a crash, shattering wooden floorboards beneath her massive weight. She knows she'll be drawing many attacks, but at least they won't all be focused on Suryo now.
◆◆Cast dragon form (8th)
◆Fly (up to 120 ft)
Senses: Perception (Wis) (E) +23 (+15 Level, +4 Expert, +2 Wis, +2 Item); Darkvsion 60 ft., Imprecise Scent 60 ft.
Speed 45 ft. (Base 40 ft. +5 Fleet); Fly 120 ft.
===============
DEFENSE
===============
AC (E) 36 (21 + 15 Level)
HP 203 (120 +45 Con, +8 Human, +15 Toughness, +15 Temp)
Immune: Paralysis, Sleep
Resistances: 10 Cold, 10 Fire, 10 Mental
Fort (E) +24 (+15 Level, +4 Expert, +3 Con, +2 Item)
Ref (E) +25 (+15 Level, +4 Expert, +4 Dex, +2 Item)
Will (M) +25 (+15 Level, +6 Master, +2 Wis, +2 Item) (Dragon Blood, Mysterious Resolve)
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OFFENSE
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◆ Jaws +28 (2d12+12 piercing +2d6 mental) (Reach 10 ft.)
◆ Claw +28 (3d10+12 slashing) (Agile) (Reach 10 ft.)
◆ Tail +28 (3d10+12 bludgeoning) (Reach 15 ft.)
◆◆ Dragon Breath (14d6 mental) (Will DC 36)
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Dragon Breath You exhale deadly magical energy in an area, dealing 14d6 mental damage to each creature in the area with a basic Will save against your spell DC. The shape is a 30-foot cone. Once activated, Dragon Breath can't be used again for 1d4 rounds. Dragon Breath has the occult trait.
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SKILLS
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Athletics (Str) (E) +28
Janna gulps as she sees the sea serpents erupt out of the water. She immediately casts her most powerful enhancement spell on herself, and then steps through a kaleidoscopic portal that wasn't there a moment earlier.
◆◆ Cast 6th Rank Heroism
◆ Cast amped Warp Step
Kemp seems to be a gylou—a so-called handmaiden devil. Gylous are masters of diplomacy, deception, and versatility. Anything they can set their mind to is something they can be immediately masterful at.
Ajoran advances to Torvald, and as he is creating his esoterica, he quickly sprinkles a small vial of holy water on his antithetical talisman, as he realizes that Kemp is weak to holy damage.
Janna casts a spell on herself then teleports forward.
Yujin transforms into a dragon and takes flight!
All the sea serpents turn their attention toward the giant dragon!
Blue bites at Yujin!
Then Swims in place to stop from going further into the water.
Green likewise attacks!
Yellow and Orange each Swim in place then spit spouts of water at Janna and Ajoran!
Torvald is extremely surprised to see a dragon suddenly appear! And is…more pleasantly surprised to see one of his serpents devouring the dragon. He shrugs and turns his attention toward the two people fast approaching. Kemp Casts a Spell, and is suddenly stabbed in the back by the invisible Suryo!
Round 2
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Torvald Kemp <Red> (-22 from “1” attacks [before resistances]) {enfeebled 1 & -10 feet to Speed: Round 0 of 1}
Ajoran {Exploiting: Torvald}
Janna {Heroism +2}
Suryo {Hunted Prey: Torvald}
Yujin (-66) {Dragon form: Round 1 of 10; grabbed & slowed 1}
Sea Serpent <Orange>
Sea Serpent <Yellow>
Sea Serpent <Green>
Sea Serpent <Blue>
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Yujin bursts from the sea serpent's chest in an explosion of gore. She lands back on the dock and intimidates all the enemies around her. "Is that the best your pets can do?!" she roars. "I am a force of nature. These beasts won't be able to stop me."
Using Majestic Presence. Everyone within 20 ft. Will DC 36.
...
Suryo pops back into visibility, behind Torvald.
Hello! I still haven't gotten what I wanted. Suryo taunts before attempting to tumble through Torvald's space.
You reach for an opponent’s item as you move past a foe. If you critically succeed at your check to Tumble Through an enemy’s space, you can attempt to Steal something from the enemy as a reaction. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your Thievery check to Steal as your tumbling make it difficult for your enemy to keep track of your movement. You can Steal any immediately accessible item of light or negligible Bulk on the enemy’s person, such as a potion or coin purse hanging from a belt, but not anything inside a container or anything the enemy is holding. The GM has final say on what you can Steal.
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and now I'm here again! he continues taunting.
You distract your opponent with a few choice words or a rude gesture. Choose a target within 30 feet. It’s off-guard against your attacks until the end of your next turn. Depending on the way you describe your distraction, this action gains either the auditory or visual trait.
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You channel your zeal through a sacred weapon, bringing a foe closer to their demise. Strike a target with the required weapon. On a success, the target becomes doomed 1 or increases the value of their doomed condition by 1 (most living creatures die when they’ve reached doomed 4). Creatures doomed in this way take a status penalty to their saving throws against divine spells equal to their doomed value.
A creature that would become doomed 4 by this Strike can attempt a Will saving throw against your class DC to avoid increasing the value of their doomed condition. When this occurs, this ability gains the incapacitation trait.
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You apply one of the following debilitations, which lasts until the end of your next turn.
Debilitation The target takes a –10-foot status penalty to its Speeds.
Debilitation The target becomes enfeebled 1.
Your opportunistic attacks are particularly detrimental. When you use Debilitating Strike, you can apply two debilitations simultaneously; removing one removes both.
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