GM Frost's S06-05 Silver Bark, Golden Blades (P02) (Inactive)

Game Master Frozen Frost

While Payani goes through the books, Shalosar checks the desks, and finds a magical widget. ”Huh, could be a spellheart”, he says.

thorn triad (Rage of Elements 203)

There are some areas that the Pathfinders might have missed checking.

There are two areas that you might want to check, one pointed by the red arrow, and another with the yellow arrow. Where to go next?

"Let's go up North. The sooner we find such a terrible, cursed weapon, the better. Who knows what kind of mischief the blade could get up to?" Haduo suggests.

To Red, please.

Weapons racks and two well-scarred practice dummies stand in this room. A tengu in a well-worn hat is carefully tending to a particular weapon, a naginata, so absorbed that it murmurs to itself.

"Oh, yes… we will make sure our plans come to fruition."

The muttering ceases as it notices your approach. The tengu tilts its head, dark eyes studying the Pathfinders before it speaks.

"And who might you be? I suppose you are not from here."

It glances aside, addressing no one in particular.

"We shall let them out, they are not familiar faces." A pause follows, its beak clicking softly in thought. "I wonder how they were able to pass through the fog, if they are not from here…"

Dakon blinks, still confused by the goings on here. "We are indeed from outside. Your training dunnies aren't going to attack us are they?"

"He is speaking to a naginata. Perhaps the very one we seek. Can someone tell if it is magical?" Payani whispers to his allies.

He peers at it from across the dojo, trying to match what he sees to what he knows of the legend of the Bloodmoon.

@GM, Would you take an Esoteric/Diverse Lore to RK re: Bloodmoon, or perhaps a Perception to Seek to see if he can tell anything?

Payani, yes, I will allow it. Roll away.

"They are dummies, of course they won’t attack, dummy!" another voice snaps, emanating from somewhere uncomfortably close to the tengu.

"Indeed! These fools have brought themselves to their own demise by coming here," the tengu replies, his attention fixed not on the Pathfinders, but on the naginata in his grasp. He then glances back at them, and if he catches even a flicker of interest in the weapon, his grip tightens. In one swift motion, he pulls it behind him, shielding it from view.

"How dare you look at it! It is mine, not yours!" he snarls, his voice low and edged with something deeply unsettling.

"Perhaps we should cut them down and feast on their flesh. Just like we did to the mayor’s…" The sentence trails off as he casts another lingering, almost affectionate look at the weapon hidden behind his back, and again to the Pathfinders with a menacing smile.

"Sir, I think you need help. Would you mind just putting down the weapon and talking this out?" Haduo naively asks politely.

Shalosar watches the tengu closely, ready to strike if he does anything foolish.

Esoteric/Diverse Lore, Tome: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 1 - 2 = 27

Payani flips open his odd little notebook, thumbing the pages to the spot he'd marked earlier when he'd been researching Bloodmoon. Well, no surprise there, I think....

Payani knows that the naginata with the tengu is indeed the Bloodmoon he knows. Payani knows the weapon is prone to monologuing. He also knows that to counter the blade, they can do so with two successful DC 20 Occultism or Religion, dispel magic (2nd rank; counteract DC 18)
Prone to Monologuing: If a PC uses an action to taunt Bloodmoon with a successful DC 18 Deception, Diplomacy, or Intimidate check, Bloodmoon must spend an action monologuing on the next turn.

"Help?! I don't need help! And who are you to tell me that?!" the tengu says now with bloodshot eyes and then transforms into a bigger form!
And as he does so, a halfling also enters to join the fight!

I will assume you also have your weapons out

⬤ BOSS FIGHT! Round 1 ⬤
Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP

➤ BOLD NAMES CAN ACT; STRIKETHROUGH MEANS ELIMINATED.
➤ Payani (AC 20) (38/38 HP)
➤ Vahrn (AC 21) (50/50 HP)
➤ ⠀⠀⠀Abbadon (AC 21) (44/44 HP)
Black Big Katsu (- HP)
Dakon Mossriver (AC 19) (26/26 HP)
Red Empowered Bloodmoon (Tiny) (- HP) | DC 20 Occultism or Religion to ◆◆ Disable, or ◆◆ Dispel Magic (2nd rank; counteract DC 18); 0/2 Disabled | Prone to Monologuing
Maneki Pemanah (AC 21) (52/52 HP)
Haduo Nue (AC 20) (41/41 HP)
Shalosar (AC 19) (41/41 HP)
Blue Halfling Troublemaker (- HP)

REFERENCES

Vahrn will open hostilities by casting spiritual weapon and attacking the blue halfling troublemaker twice with it.

◆◆Cast Spiritual Weapon + Strike Blue 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13, Force: 2d8 ⇒ (3, 7) = 10
◆ Sustain + Strike Blue 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 5 = 24, Force: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

I just learned that spells with spell attack roll can also be affected by MAP.

Vahrn misses at first, but lands a strike on the second one against the halfling. hit, 6 force damage

Payani is up!

Knowing that Bloodmoon's power can can be temporarily snuffed out, the Guardian of the Roads draws the scroll that he obtained from the friendly Minkain quartermaster back at the lodge. He reads the words as if they are directions on a map, albeit to a strange arcane destination.

Counteract, Scroll Thaumaturgy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

◆ Draw scroll, ◆◆ dispel magic

Payani draws scroll and dispel whatever dark magic the Bloodmoon has. Success

Big Katsu angrily rushes to Haduo and bites him!
Glutton's Rush: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32 crit
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 x2 P damage, plus 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 temp HP from Glutton's Feast for Big Katsu
Glutton's Feast: If Big Katsu damages a living creature with their jaws Strike, they gain 1d4 temporary Hit Points for 1 minute (or 2d4 from Glutton's Rush).

Big Katsu then secures the bite on Haduo.
Athletics to Grab: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 vs Haduo's Fort DC 18 (Success, Grabbed)

⬤ BOSS FIGHT! Round 1 ⬤
Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP

➤ BOLD NAMES CAN ACT; STRIKETHROUGH MEANS ELIMINATED.
Payani (AC 20) (38/38 HP)
Vahrn (AC 21) (50/50 HP)
⠀⠀⠀Abbadon (AC 21) (44/44 HP)
Black Big Katsu (- HP)
➤ Dakon Mossriver (AC 19) (26/26 HP)
Red Empowered Bloodmoon (Tiny) (- HP) | DC 20 Occultism or Religion to ◆◆ Disable, or ◆◆ Dispel Magic (2nd rank; counteract DC 18); 1/2 Disabled | Prone to Monologuing
Maneki Pemanah (AC 21) (52/52 HP)
Haduo Nue (AC 20) (15/41 HP) | Grabbed by Big Katsu
Shalosar (AC 19) (41/41 HP)
Blue Halfling Troublemaker (-6 HP)

REFERENCES

Dakon unleashes his courageous anthem before firing off a shot at the big black armor.

shortbow vs Big Black: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 = 18
piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

If that hits I'll give Maneki +2 damage on their next strike against black.

Dakon then calls out to Bloodmoon "You're right though, we are kinda dummies. Can you at least shed some light on what's going on here for us?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

+1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.

Dakon encourages allies and then sticks an arrow at Big Katsu. hit, 4 P damage He then engages Bloodmoon into a conversation. The weapon replies, "Yes, of course! Last time I checked, I found myself in this Golden League base after falling into the earth with a literal rain of blood when the god of battle died." it says before floating toward Shalosar to cut him, but it is too absorbed in its storytelling.
Naginata (unholy): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 miss

⬤ BOSS FIGHT! Round 1 ⬤
Party Condition(s): COURAGEOUS ANTHEM (1 rd): +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects[b]
[b]Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP

➤ BOLD NAMES CAN ACT; STRIKETHROUGH MEANS ELIMINATED.
Payani (AC 20) (38/38 HP)
Vahrn (AC 21) (50/50 HP)
⠀⠀⠀Abbadon (AC 21) (44/44 HP)
Black Big Katsu (- HP)
Dakon Mossriver (AC 19) (26/26 HP)
Red Empowered Bloodmoon (Tiny) (- HP) | DC 20 Occultism or Religion to ◆◆ Disable, or ◆◆ Dispel Magic (2nd rank; counteract DC 18); 1/2 Disabled | Prone to Monologuing
➤ Maneki Pemanah (AC 21) (52/52 HP)
➤ Haduo Nue (AC 20) (15/41 HP) | Grabbed by Big Katsu
➤ Shalosar (AC 19) (41/41 HP)
Blue Halfling Troublemaker (-6 HP)

REFERENCES

Dakon encourages allies and then sticks an arrow at Big Katsu. hit, 4 P damage He then engages Bloodmoon into a conversation. The weapon replies, "Yes, of course! Last time I checked, I found myself in this Golden League base after falling into the earth with a literal rain of blood when the god of battle died." it says before floating toward Shalosar to cut him, but it is too absorbed in its storytelling.
Naginata (unholy): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 miss

⬤ BOSS FIGHT! Round 1 ⬤
Party Condition(s): COURAGEOUS ANTHEM (1 rd): +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects[b]
[b]Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP

➤ BOLD NAMES CAN ACT; STRIKETHROUGH MEANS ELIMINATED.
Payani (AC 20) (38/38 HP)
Vahrn (AC 21) (50/50 HP)
⠀⠀⠀Abbadon (AC 21) (44/44 HP)
Black Big Katsu (- HP)
Dakon Mossriver (AC 19) (26/26 HP)
Red Empowered Bloodmoon (Tiny) (- HP) | DC 20 Occultism or Religion to ◆◆ Disable, or ◆◆ Dispel Magic (2nd rank; counteract DC 18); 1/2 Disabled | Prone to Monologuing
➤ Maneki Pemanah (AC 21) (52/52 HP)
➤ Haduo Nue (AC 20) (15/41 HP) | Grabbed by Big Katsu
➤ Shalosar (AC 19) (41/41 HP)
Blue Halfling Troublemaker (-6 HP)

REFERENCES

Maneki drops into a combat stance and unleashes three arrows at the halfling.

Flurry
Ranged Attack;Longbow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 for Piercing Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10
Ranged Attack;Longbow, MAP: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 for Piercing Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

Regular Strike
Ranged Attack;Longbow, MAP 2+: 1d20 ⇒ 3 for Piercing Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 7) = 14

'Neki watches, disgruntled, as her arrows hit the opposite wall...

The 16 (17 w/CA) might hit and do 12 or 13 damage. The rest are too lousy to be of any use :)

◆ Monastic Archer
◆ Flurry
◆ Whiff

"Grrr...I could use some healing over here!" Haduo calls out, sap trickling down his body from the grievous wound inflicted on him.

"But first, how DARE you chomp into me. I'll cut you into pieces!" The Exemplar declares as he slashes wildly at the Tengu, the spark in his blades crashing against the enemy.

FSS 1, CA: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 1 = 19

Spirit, CA: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 14

FSS 2, CA: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 1 - 2 = 14

FSS 2, CA, Hero Point: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 1 - 2 = 26

Spirit, Twin, CA: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 16

Total 30 Spirit damage, Spark shifts to his Horn.

A third desperate Strike misses its mark.

Strike, MAP2, CA: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 1 - 10 = 10

◇ Shift to Blades, ◆◆ Flowing Spirit Strike Katsu, ◇ Shift to Horn, ◆ Strike Big Katsu

”Let’s hope this works”. Shalosar mutters.

He grimaces as spiked chains erupt from the back of each wrist. One of them whips past the naginata to slash at the giant tengu.

Then he extends both fists toward his looming foe. The chains wrap around each other in a helix, pointing straight out. Little bolts of electricity crackle between the links, before a massive charge flies out the end.

Channel Elements (free one-action Elemental Blast vs Black)
Cast thunderstrike (attenuator spell) vs Black

Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4S

Ref save DC 18: 2d12 ⇒ (3, 7) = 10Elec +2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2Sonic
+1 each for the Courageous Anthem?

The +2 damage from Dakon is for Black; I'll only add damage from CA. Maneki enters into a stance and sticks an arrow into the halfling's chest. hit, 11 P damage; miss; miss

Haduo calls for healing while he rends his enemy's spirit. hit, 14 spirit damage; hit, 16 spirit damage; hit

Shalosar whips the tengu with chain. crit hit; 8 S damage He then follows it up with lightning and thunder that crackles from his chains. CA will apply only once.
DC 18 basic Reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 vs Thunderstrike (Success, 5 E damage, 1 sonic damage)

The wounded halfling throws his filcher's fork at Shalosar.
Filcher's Fork: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 crit hit
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 P damage x2

The enemy then draws out an egg and throws it at Shalosar too. The egg breaks into a mixture of paint, glitter, and confetti. DC 17 Reflex save or become dazzled for 1 round (or 1 minute on a critical failure).

⬤ BOSS FIGHT! Round 2 ⬤
Party Condition(s): COURAGEOUS ANTHEM (1 rd): +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects
Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP

⚠️ BEFORE YOUR TURN ⚠️
❗ Shalosar : DC 17 Reflex save or become dazzled for 1 round (or 1 minute on a critical failure) ❗

➤ BOLD NAMES CAN ACT; STRIKETHROUGH MEANS ELIMINATED.
➤ Payani [ooc](AC 20) (38/38 HP)
➤ Vahrn (AC 21) (50/50 HP)
➤ ⠀⠀⠀Abbadon (AC 21) (44/44 HP)
Black Big Katsu (-33 HP)
Dakon Mossriver (AC 19) (26/26 HP)
Red Empowered Bloodmoon (Tiny) (- HP) | DC 20 Occultism or Religion to ◆◆ Disable, or ◆◆ Dispel Magic (2nd rank; counteract DC 18); 1/2 Disabled | Prone to Monologuing
Maneki Pemanah (AC 21) (52/52 HP)
Haduo Nue (AC 20) (15/41 HP) | Grabbed by Big Katsu
Shalosar (AC 19) (35/41 HP)
Blue Halfling Troublemaker (-17 HP)

REFERENCES

Unable to find a way through to send Abbadon into the fight, Vahrn simply commands his spirit weapon to strike 3 times at the big Katsu, hoping for a lucky hit in order to get Haduo out of its grip

◆ Sustain (Strike BK)1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 1 = 12, Force: 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (7, 8) + 1 = 16
☘️Hero Point 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 1 = 25
◆ Sustain (Strike BK)1d20 + 10 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 1 - 5 = 25, Force: 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (6, 5) + 1 = 12
◆ Sustain Hail Mary (Strike BK)1d20 + 10 + 1 - 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 1 - 10 = 19, Force: 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (6, 4) + 1 = 11

Ref save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Vahrn continues to attack Big Katsu, bonking and smashing the enemy with much force! hit, 16 force; hit, 12 force; hit, 11 force The last hit cracks Katsu's skull, loosening his bite on Haduo, and he falls dead on the ground.Katsu out

Shalosar easily dodges the egg, falling behind him instead.

⬤ BOSS FIGHT! Round 2 ⬤
Party Condition(s): COURAGEOUS ANTHEM (1 rd): +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects
Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP

➤ BOLD NAMES CAN ACT; STRIKETHROUGH MEANS ELIMINATED.
➤ Payani (AC 20) (38/38 HP)
Vahrn (AC 21) (50/50 HP)
⠀⠀⠀Abbadon (AC 21) (44/44 HP)
Black Big Katsu (-72 HP)
➤ Dakon Mossriver (AC 19) (26/26 HP)
Red Empowered Bloodmoon (Tiny) (- HP) | DC 20 Occultism or Religion to ◆◆ Disable, or ◆◆ Dispel Magic (2nd rank; counteract DC 18); 1/2 Disabled | Prone to Monologuing
Maneki Pemanah (AC 21) (52/52 HP)
Haduo Nue (AC 20) (15/41 HP)
Shalosar (AC 19) (35/41 HP)
Blue Halfling Troublemaker (-17 HP)

REFERENCES

Dakon's anthem lingers thanks to his successful strike last round.

Dakon reaches out with his magic to soothe Haduo's wounds.
Soothe: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Before taking a shot at the halfling troublemaker.

courageous shortbow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 = 10
courageous sniper duo piercing: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8

Courage lingers through this round, but will end at the beginning of Dakon's next turn.

As the big tengu falls to Vahrn's mystical hammer and Dakon heals Haduo, Payani turns his attention first to the halfling. Peering around the centaur's flank, he spots a telltale sign that the troublemaker may suffer from allergies.

Exploit/Esoteric Lore/Diverse Lore, Tome: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 1 = 24
I presume the Halfling has no Weaknesses, but for the Diverse Lore question, what's his Weakest Save?

He rubs a bit of Vudrani nettle on his blade as he throws it at the halfling

Strike, 2nd Increment: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 2 = 14
Damage, CA, Antithesis: 1d4 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 + 1 + 3 = 8

"You fell from the sky when Gorum died? How did the legendary Blade of Fumeiyoshi come to be in the hands of Lord in Iron?" he asks Bloodmoon hoping to get the blade talking.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Dakon provides healing for Haduo, but misses hitting the halfling. miss

Payani can see from the halfling's posture that it might be physically weak. Lowest in Fort save His blade sticks to the wall behind his target. miss

Payani taunts the Bloodmoon into conversation. Success

The weapon continues speaking, somewhat absorbed.

"Huh? No! That is not the point!" it snaps. "What matters is this: I, the Bloodmoon, am destined to rise! But look at Big Katsu, too weak, too small-minded to stand beside me in glory. He dreams of ruling the Forest of Spirits as the most fearsome creature within it." the Bloodmoon chuckles. "How quaint. I am meant for more. I will not be confined to a forest. I will conquer all of Tian Xia!"

With that declaration, it launches into the air and dives at Dakon.
Naginata: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 miss

⬤ BOSS FIGHT! Round 2 ⬤
Party Condition(s): COURAGEOUS ANTHEM (1 rd): +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects
Map Link: ENCOUNTER MAP

➤ BOLD NAMES CAN ACT; STRIKETHROUGH MEANS ELIMINATED.
Payani (AC 20) (38/38 HP)
Vahrn (AC 21) (50/50 HP)
⠀⠀⠀Abbadon (AC 21) (44/44 HP)
Black Big Katsu (-72 HP)
Dakon Mossriver (AC 19) (26/26 HP)
Red Empowered Bloodmoon (Tiny) (- HP) | DC 20 Occultism or Religion to ◆◆ Disable, or ◆◆ Dispel Magic (2nd rank; counteract DC 18); 1/2 Disabled | Prone to Monologuing
➤ Maneki Pemanah (AC 21) (52/52 HP)
➤ Haduo Nue (AC 20) (29/41 HP)
➤ Shalosar (AC 19) (35/41 HP)
Blue Halfling Troublemaker (-17 HP)

REFERENCES

Maneki gazes at Bloodmoon. "While I am not overly religious, I know that you are an abomination and cannot be allowed to continue to exist." she says sternly.

Religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

She sighs. "Well, I tried" she mutters softly.

She lets fly a pair of arrows at the halfling.

Ranged Attack;Longbow: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27 for Piercing Damage: 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1) + 1 = 6

Ranged Attack;Longbow, MAP: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 for Piercing Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

Crit?: 1d10 ⇒ 8

Critical Hit: Double Damage + Deadly

◆◆ Disable attempt
◆ Flurry

"Thanks Dakon! I feel slightly better than I did 6 to 7 seconds ago..." Haduo turns to thank the centaur just in time to see Bloodmoon screech out an angry tirade before flying towards the Centaur's neck.

Religion to Disable: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

"Excuse me! I was talking to my friend here." Haduo glowers at the naginata, his spark shining brighter and more intensely as he monologues. "I am Haduo Nue, the Radiant. I too possess divinity. And I'm bigger than you, so I've got more divinity than you do. Therefore I outrank you in the Celestial Court, so sit down, shut up and I won't utterly unmake you!"

Having properly vented his frustration from being chewed on by Big Katsu by chewing out Bloodmoon, he advances towards the Halfling - swords drawn and murder in his eyes.

◆◆ Disable attempt
◆ Stride

Maneki fixes the floating weapon with her sternest glare, but the Bloodmoon remains utterly unfazed. She then sticks an arrow at the halfling's neck.
Halfling out

Haduo rises to meet the Bloodmoon’s arrogant boasts of conquering Tian Xia, answering not with words alone but with the weight of his divine presence. The Bloodmoon opens its mouth to retort, but the exemplar’s radiance proves too overwhelming. It drops from the air, clanging hard onto the ground below. Crit Success

COMBAT OVER! WELL DONE!

Where to go next?

Maneki moves up to Haduo and has a look at their wounds.

Medicine DC 20: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
Healing: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (8, 1) + 10 = 19
That should take him back to full

She then moves to Shalosar and does the same.

Healing, Assurance: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 5) = 13

"We must secure the blade," Payani says calmly as he lifts Bloodmoon reverently and carefully. In spite of its nature, it is still an artifact of the gods. And one not to be trifled with or left lying around. "Perhaps the Society or the Grand Archives can keep it somewhere safe."

He straps it to his back not intending to use it. He nods to whomever suggests a route to investigate further.

Abstaining from suggesting a direction to go.

Shalosar stares wide-eyed at Haduo, barely reacting as his chains retract. ”That’s some serious mojo you got there!”, he says appreciatively.

He thanks Maneki for unforking him, before checking the door in the chamber. ”Yep, this is where we came in”, he says. ”Wanna clear the other side of the lobby?”

He points at the door across the room.

"I'm sure they'll make a place for it on the vaults" Vahrn responds to Payani.

He then looks at Shalosar and nods at his suggestion as he starts moving to the door.

With folks doing okay and the sword secured Dakon nods at the door across the way.

Now focused on their victory, Dakon stops looking around and instead hums a little victorious whistle.

New exploration: Repeat a Spell:Courageous Anthem (Swapped on tracker)

DC 15 Nature check to Treat Wounds, Natural Medicine, Fresh Ingredients: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 4 = 20

Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 6) = 14

"Hey, thanks! I actually looked cool for a bit there." Haduo digs around in his bag for a bitter herb. "For your mild injuries, just chew on this unprocessed bitter herb." He hands Shalosar some medicinal herbs to chew on.

Haduo starts making his way East to the last unexplored room.

Pathfinders continues to look around and find an unexplored area. The bodies of two young tengu men lie sprawled and broken in the entrance to this room, their black feathers scattered and mixed with a pile of mud, dirt, and broken tiles. In the center of the floor, a tiled mural of the moon has been ripped out and painted black, then splashed with blood.

These tengu men might be Kenji and Daisuke, the missing adult nephews of Mayor Kimi.

Pathfinders continues to look around and find an unexplored area. The bodies of two young tengu men lie sprawled and broken in the entrance to this room, their black feathers scattered and mixed with a pile of mud, dirt, and broken tiles. In the center of the floor, a tiled mural of the moon has been ripped out and painted black, then splashed with blood.

These tengu men might be Kenji and Daisuke, the missing adult nephews of Mayor Kimi.

Medicine(E): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

"Oh my! These men were likely slain by Bloodmoon.

"[b]This murder was committed to desecrate this shrine, turning it to the god Fumeiyoshi by reenacting Fumeiyoshi’s betrayal and murder of his brother Tsukiyo. Because Tsukiyo cares for social outcasts, this shrine had once been his. We should cleanse the shrine and return it to its former purpose."

2nd Religion(T): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

"Fumeiyoshi, the god of the night, was jealous of the attention that his younger brother, the moon god Tsukiyo, got from the sun goddess Shizuru. In a fit of jealous rage, Fumeiyoshi used his naginata to slay Tsukiyo. Shizuru resurrected Tsukiyo and then stripped Fumeiyoshi of all his prior dominions, leaving him to only be a god of graves and envy."

Go ahead and open the spoilers. Instructions are there.

Without waiting, Maneki begins cleaning the shrine.

Acrobatics(E): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 Wheee! Though I wish I rolled like that in combat!

She manages to get to the hardest to reach spaces to get the blood off.

Dakon does his best to speak to the lost souls.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 = 21

Medicine DC 17: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Haduo tries to wrack his head around what killed the adult nephews, but there's so much blood and feathers in the way that he isn't sure. He makes a note to himself to brush up on his medical knowledge after he gets off the clock.

Religion DC 17: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

"This is clearly an unholy sacrifice though. See the symbol of the moon? This shrine was once Tsuikyo's, but the Fumeiyoshi cultists have desecrated it." Haduo explains.

Religion DC 17: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

The Leshy continues to drone on and on, making eye contact with Shalosar before continuing.

"Have you heard of the tragedy of Lord Fumeiyoshi the Envious? It's not a story that the Tsukiyans would tell you. Lord Fumeiyoshi was once a great god of the night, loved by his peers in the Celestial Court. When night turned to day, the sun goddess Shizuru would set him softly to sleep before rising as the dawn, then would whisper in his ear to wake him when she set, and for that he loved her. Unfortunately, Lord Fumeiyoshi was jealous of the attention that his younger brother, the moon god Tsukiyo, got from Lady Shizuru. In a fit of jealous rage, Fumeiyoshi used his naginata to slay Tsukiyo. Lady Shizuru resurrected Tsukiyo and then stripped Fumeiyoshi of all his prior dominions, leaving him to only be a god of graves and envy."

"Ironic. He did everything to get Lady Shizuru to love him, only to receive her censure." He mutters to himself as his blades glow red.

Nature w/ Bloodmoon defeat bonus DC 17: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 2 = 27

Driven by a desire to set things right, Haduo Nue prepares a ritual to bring the space back into the domain of Tsukiyo. He first gently carries the larger bodies out of the premises, before using strong plant-based cleaning agents to scrub the place clean of blood and feathers. Lighting joss sticks in the corner, he prepares the altar to receive supplicants. Finally, to show devotion to Tsukiyo, he brews the traditional winter solstice herbal brew with sweet rice dumplings in the shape of a small hare.

"I hope this works..." He whispers to himself after putting his heart and soul into the preparations.

Payani listens politely to Maneki and Haduo Nue tell him about the history of the blade upon his back. He glances back at Bloodmoon a few times as he listens, but seems unfazed by the story.

He turns his attention to the spirits of Kenji and Daisuke, quietly beseeching them to find peace as he lights an incense stick and wedges it carefully in a crack in the stones of the shrine.

Diplomacy, bonus: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 2 = 21

Religion: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 2 = 27

Shalosar looks over the cleansing that everyone is doing. ”Yin and yang”, he mutters, recalling a teaching from his school days. He twists some blood and feathers into a joss stick of his own, and sets it alight, bringing balance to the area.

Vahrn listens closely at the words from Maneki and Haduo, taking mental notes of how things work in this far away continent.

Medicine DC 17: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Religion DC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Religion DC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

The Pathfinders work in steady coordination, scrubbing away corruption, clearing defiled offerings, and invoking quiet prayers to sanctify the shrine. After some time, the shrine is cleansed at last.

Once the secret base is cleared of bandits and the temple has been cleansed, the Pathfinders return to Silvertree village. As they step into the center of the village, the fog begins to dissipate and the Risuchō leave one by one to deliver the mail from Silvertree to other villages. The villagers cheer as the fog clears.

"The fog has been lifted! We are forgiven by Sakura! What happened? What have you found?" the mayor asks.

"This naginata," the yaksha says as he points to the weapon strapped across his back. "Bloodmoon, it is named. The very blade of Fumeyoshi that slew Tsukiyo." He does not pause to give exposition as everyone in Tian Xia knows the story.

"It was this evil that Sakura sensed and reacted to. As a body seeks to expel disease, so too did our Forest. We have healed the wound, but I fear we cannot raise the dead."

Payani proceeds to break the news of the deaths of the mayor's nephews to her as gently as he can.

Unfortunately, the cursed naginata crumbles to ash in Payani's hand, now that the shrine is cleansed. Forgot to include this details to previous post.

When they heard what happened to the missing tengus, the mood becomes more somber. Mayor Kimi thanks them for helping to cleanse the shrine and set the souls of the two young men to rest. The village invites the Pathfinders to a feast that serves partly as a memorial to the two young men, and partly as a celebration that Silvertree has been cleansed. Before they leave the Forest of Spirits behind them, a Risuchō appears, delivering a single cherry blossom as thanks from Sakura before departing.

By the time the Pathfinders return to the Three Gates Lodge to report back to Amara Li, merchant traffic along the Spirit Road has resumed. Amara Li takes great interest in the history of the former Rahk Lo trading outpost, and wonders if the Rahk Lo might be invited to return to their trading post given all the merchant traffic that now passes through Silvertree. As for the records of criminal activity from the accountant’s office, her eyes gleam as she looks over the document.

“Excellent work, Pathfinders. Studying this document will hopefully provide leads to tracking down some of the other Golden League cells throughout Tian Xia.”

-FIN-