Wu-Tang's page

I'm sure that's a record! Only 7 months..... Good job team! Way to stick it out!!

As my move action I draw my scimitar and prepare a strike on Zheng if he looks to be attacking anyone.

Drop your weapons so we can aid your comrade!

Nice shooting Tex!

Wu-Tang stands his ground and calls forth the bounty of nature with his trusty holly branch he keeps up his sleeve.

Come forth my friends and envelop these fools so no one need be harmed...

A few special flourishes and hopefully an entangle spell goes off. DC14 reflex for partial save. 40 foot radius out to get all of them and I place it so it doesn't get us. Not sure how to designate that on the map.

I step forward and address our previous coworkers.

What my hasty and ever so tactful friend is trying to say is that we have been tasked by Mai Chun to gather this information and these relics. She orchestrated our meeting with each of you. And in meeting the spirit of the princess at the palace even she has desired to accompany the jade scroll case back to Shokuru to meet Mai Chun. I would humbly ask you to step aside and not impede our journey. As pathfinders, the pursuit of knowledge is foremost but close behind is our sense of duty and honor.

If it is possible I know she would be deeply honored to be able to meet with you. She is a keen study of history and to be able to converse directly with you would be very special. Can we escort you? Or do you just go to her directly? I've never talked with a princess before, or a spirit princess.

Honorable Princess. My name is Wu-Tang. I'm also among those who call themselves pathfinders. Let me summarize briefly the history since you've been gone. This is a rough approx. from my study of history. The Successor State of Shokuro was once the breadbasket of Imperial Lung Wa. After the empire's collapse, the leaders of its four provinces fought amongst each other for supremacy, until the land's once fertile fields were destroyed. In its weakened state, the people of Shokuro could not properly defend themselves when Lingshen armies invaded soon thereafter. The victors forced the people back into the fields, inflicting terrible cruelties upon them to keep them in line. They eventually united under a banished Minkaian lord and drove the occupying armies back to Lingshen.

Wu-Tang will stay back with the rest of the group until Slaine signals for us to move forward.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

I've also got my sling ready in case of obvious trouble. I assume Mai Chun didn't warn of us any thing in particular in approaching the palace, right?

Well, everyone seems a bit silent on this as we're not sure what we have learned! We found out that back in the day they used fireworks to signal from point to point with a prior arranged plan of colors meaning certain things. We had a clue to launch green so combining blue and yellow we did indeed get green and a symbol in the air formed words referencing the Dragon Empires Zodiacal symbol of the Dog. We wondered about the stars in the sky and a direction to head towards but not necessarily a start point. Then in exploring your friends dumplings we accomplished a task for her and she let us copy the comb and the details on it but she wasn't sure what they meant either.

Wu-tang looks a little uncomfortable....I didn't mean we explored her dumplings, just that she fed us wonderful dumplings so that's how I think of her now.....Sorry!

So all together we have the map, some directions and comb with pictures on it. Does any of that make sense to you? I'm sure my compatriots will chime in if I forgot anything.

Wu-Tang takes the comb and examines it in detail, taking what notes I can from it.

What a beautiful comb. Is it magical in some way? Can you explain the depictions on the comb, specifically the landmarks around the Imperial palace? Whatever information you're able to give us to pass along to out patron Mai Chun would be of immense help.

With a loud belly rumble he asks, I wonder if we could trouble you for some of those dumplings before we go? Simply amazing....!

Thought I can cancel a learned spell slot and heal with it but I can't! Only summon natures ally! Have to remember I'm not a cleric....

I will admit my friends and I goaded you a bit into this little fracas but we merely wanted to demonstrate how superior the Jade Ogre style is and what a great teacher we've had in Jiang Fei! Now stand down so we can heal your friends! I think 4 to 1 is bad odds for anyone and would certainly not demonstrate the wisdom your noble teacher of the scorpion style imparted to you.

Sorry, the 1 1/2 damage mod. might be +4

Seeing Archibald getting a big wack I move his way. I'm not able to study the yellow guy as well as last time but will still attempt to evade his attacks and deliver some of my own. Will stick with what's working for now, ogre swings the club.

attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 201d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Wu steps forward 5ft after studying the blue opponent across from him and performs an ogre swings the club maneuver hoping to make his new teacher Jiang Fei proud.

attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 161d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

(damage 1d6 +3strength +1studied target times 1 1/2 would make +6. If I did this wrong you can fix it.)

Wow! That ought to do it!

Wu-Tang smiles broadly at the scorpion students and prominently cracks his knuckles in their direction.

I'm sure we'll all do our best and with your fine teaching we'll have no trouble at all. We must beat the Scorpion school in order for you to help Mai Chun. I hope she didn't misplace her trust in us as we are not particularly adept at hand to hand combat....

Wu-Tang attempts to corral a section near the stall or a table and chairs if possible and then tries to catch the proprietors eye. When she's done chatting with her current patrons we'll attempt to introduce ourselves, mentioning that Mai Chun has sent us meet with her. Hopefully we can chat over some lovely dumplings and hot tea!

diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

knowledge: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Knowledge nature and planes are plus 6. Take one away if knowledge geography. Not sure where constellations would fall. Heading in the direction of that constellation would make sense to me. What are everyones thoughts?

I relate the events with the ziggurat thing and the fireworks hidden, etc. and the symbols in the air relaying The words reference the Dragon Empires Zodiacal symbol of the Dog. Just in case he needed to be filled in on any details.

Do your notes reference the symbol of the dog meaning something in the old signal system?

Seeing that his club seemed to work, Wu-Tang swings again after dodging the slam of the flaming critter.

attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 41d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Reading the symbol in the air written in Tien, Wu-Tang mumbles under his breath about the symbol of the dog.

Magical fireworks attacking us was the last thing I expected!

attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 141d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

I charge forward and attack with my club, thinking fireworky spirits might not respond to pokes with a scimitar as much as a woosh thru with a club

Ok, he said, "Directions to the palace are said to be ‘writ in letters of green fire.’", so wondering if we are to shoot off a green firework, but no greens. So two fireworks can be launched at same time, yellow and blue make green. What do you guys think? Shooting them would surely draw attention that we don't really want. Are their any other clues around that maybe impart a magical direction to the physical firework?

Afraid I'm not much help here but will try

strength: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

intelligence: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Ok, whenever we can I think we should head towards the site of the ruins and plan to approach at night. We need to be as ready as we can be for maybe an undead guardian.

Or could bribe someone to deliver some high test booze as a thank you or birthday present or something like that, making them more likely to be asleep when we arrive.

thoughts?

ps. he who sparks the tinder? I have flint and steel and fire spells?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

I attempt to talk with people around town, being subtle about the location and our desires.

I actively look at the papers and try and get Archibald and Diluvious to look as well. My guess is Slaine is keeping an eye on the surroundings leaning up against the well with the brim of his hat tipped down and a big piece of grass hanging from his lip. Just a guess though....would be funnier if he was dancing a jig with one of the merchants wives :)

He said, "To fish where there are no fish is to know wisdom".

Wu-Tang has quick conversation in Tien. Read if you speak Tien.

Cool, got to do a spoiler thing!

What my good friend Mr. Larking is trying to say is, Hello, would you happen to be Yue Xin? We were sent by the honorable Mai Chun to try and help in your research of the Summer Palace.

Wu-Tang looks deep into the well, inspecting it from many angles.

Not to distract you but I'm very curious about fishing in a well. There are fish down there? Do they grow to any size? Any special varieties that are common to wells? Are there no lakes or streams to fish in the surrounding countryside?

The map would be returned to a museum where it can be studied for clues about our great land! Surely you can understand the importance of preserving history and knowledge...a calligraphy school does that exactly, passing along our ancient customs and traditions to a young batch of students like that boy Jianghong.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

It's not my place to speak but I would pass on some observations from my study of nature if you would indulge me. Squirrels will steal nuts from each other as they lay up food for the winter. The mighty lion is fierce when looking to fill its belly. All creatures will do what they must for their survival including things our society might look down on. I expect that boy is bright and wouldn't be here if he wasn't...perhaps he could work off his debt to you, gaining knowledge and thereby creating a debt of gratitude to you, his savior?

knowledge nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Well, well...what do we have here?

I'll tie his hands up with my rope and then empty his pockets so we can see what he's taken.

Want to explain why you've got all this stuff and why you were running from us?

I'll try and perceive his route by observation and then drop an entangle spell in front of him so he has to stop or risk being entangled or slowed down at least.

perception: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 = 21

Oh yeah...

I yell down the stairs, Hey Archie, some guy just jumped out of the upstairs window and is making a break with the map!

Forgot he was downstairs and wouldn't know what was going on.

In liu of movement I watch my target for a sec to gain the studied target feat.

Depending on what is outside I can cast an entangle and maybe stop him in his tracks or use survival skill to follow his tracks.

survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Entangle would be 440 foot range, 40 foot radius and a DC reflex 14 partial.

Archibald, would you want to keep a lookout and Diluvious and I will run up stairs and help make sure the building is empty? I wink a lot at Diluvious and Archibald as I'm saying this in case any locals are still in earshot. Then two of us could run up and try and help if needed or look ostensibly for stragglers but really for the map. Any one with a better idea can speak up. :)

An ember from some cooking fire or chimney has caught some dry bushes on fire! We must get out to safety!

I try and act the bumbling fool a bit to either slow the right people or distract as appropriate to allow Slaine time to look and get out.

I have to get outside to cast the spell on the grounds, not thru a window

I suddenly feel ill, please excuse me as I step outside I say this in amongst the offers of guest lectures and declarations about Chelaxians schools.

bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Then outside I would do a few flare cantrips to distract if needed then a burning hands on the nearby shrubberies to provide distraction.

Hope this works!

Did I see any grassy areas that looked overgrown outside close to the building by chance?

Under his breath I'm mumbling about fire being an integral part of every ecosystems life...not within earshot of the guide.

I assume we have to have the original, right?

Had been wondering about calling in a local critter, charming it and trying to get it to steal what we needed. Don't think a raccoon or squirrel can do the job.

I could set off a small fire outside at the end of our tour that would cause a distraction and allow for maybe Slaine, me and the guide to have to go alert the teachers upstairs to clear out for safety. If Slaine got lost in the confusion he could recon and find the map?

I ask while walking around, Why is the fountain called inkstones? Is that a local reference or am I not understanding something?

I comment closer to the tours finish, What a nice school. Well maintained and looked after. Definitely seems secure. Do you have a lot of trouble with the locals that it would require such security? Or are there important people here? The governors son or the like? Or expensive artwork or weaponry?

What sort of animals are around here? Tropical environment? Monkeys?

My, this is a beautifully drawn map. Do you know its history? I'm sure on your tours people always comment on it.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 to look at the map on silk more closely.

Top to bottom is fine with me

The school of Affinities in Xiwu sounds like as good a place as any to start. As you said, not sure any of us are particularly subtle. Will definitely have to keep Starke quiet!

That sword in the corner might be a useful historical item as well.

With that, I'll gingerly draw the sword and take a look at it. Around here spirits seem to jump out of the oddest things!

Any one good at copying the map onto some paper? I'm sure our friend would like to see the places on the map and I'm sure too big to take with us.

Once we've looked thru the papers we should take them as historical documents.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

If no one can pick the lock for the last door, who's best at breaking the door down? Starke?

I'll try and see if I notice anything funny about the door or lock.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

He points at the Wu-Tang. I like that....may have to keep that up if I survive the with my hide intact!

reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Whatever eyebrows I once had are now gone and I think my clothing is rather more sparse than it was.

Is that another statue at the other end of the hallway? Starke, maybe you should take the lead?

I can do detect magic at will so will check the statue and the weapon rack and anything else that looks funny. I'll briefly see if the sword in the statue comes loose from the statues hands. I also assume we checked the weapon rack on the floor for any useful weapons. If all that is ok then I guess I'll do a perception check on the door leading into the western area.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

I think I need glasses

If nothing obvious on the door, I'll open it and take a peek into the western room.

I once heard of a fearful monster called a beholder....wonder what it would be like to meet one of those..??...

Diluvious, maybe you should look over with me. Need to make sure I'm not missing anything. Do your odd looking eyes give you any advantages as you search? Of course, no disrespect intended; just wondering.

Is the door to the west closed or open? and the door to the north?

Ho, Starke. Wait just a second on bopping that statue. Wait until it tries to bop you first. A peaceful approach to life and the natural world around you will get you far.

I assume the statue is at the bottom of the room and double move across the room to be somewhat flanking Starke.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

I want to examine the room as I go to the other side of it and if seems quiet I'll take a look at the statue.

If we had an hour to kill for repair hopefully we looked thru that outbuilding pretty well for any sign of stuff our benefactor would be looking for. No old stuff to take along and no sign of secret doors? Also, their was nothing on the bear, right?

Ok, should we enter hear on the east side close to the door we are by, or would you guys rather go in the main entrance?

Do I have any idea what the bear just did? Knowledge planes, nature or perception?