Welcome to the Ruby Phoenix Tournament

With Ameiko and Sandru held hostage by Prince Batsaikhar, the party had no choice but to agree to the Prince’s “invitation” to serve as his champions in The Ruby Phoenix Tournament, a competition held every 10 years between the finest martial teams from all over Golarion. They were paraded past cheering throngs (with armed soldiers standing by to ensure the enthusiasm of the cheers) to the Temple of Abadar. There the priests arranged them in the center of a teleportation circle, and began to chant …

… and suddenly they found themselves in a similar, but subtly different chamber. The air was noticeably warmer, and carried the tang of the sea. The priests welcomed them to Goka and ushered them outside. As they blinked in the afternoon sun, they found themselves in an city built on steep hillsides overlooking a busy fishing port. They were directed down to the port, where a ferry was waiting to carry them to Xielan Island, site of the Tournament.

The ferry was little more than an oversized fishing boat, crowded with prospective contestants and excited observers. Nicki promptly found a spot on the leeward side and spent the rest of the voyage retching into the sea. The rest of the group sat watching the distant island slowly grow larger, or scoping out their potential opponents.

As Zhustin sat staring off towards the horizon, he became aware of someone sitting next to him. He turned and saw a young woman. She was dressed in local garb, a conical hat and pajama-like trousers and tunic, but she was clearly not Tien; she had auburn hair, blue eyes, and sharp, Chelish features. “Hi, I’m Risha - are you competing in the Tournament?” she asked excitedly. When Zhustin answered in the affirmative, she began to pepper him with questions: where are you from, how’d you hear about the Tournament, have you competed before, how big is your team, and on and on. Zhustin was flattered by her obvious interest at first, but gradually began to wonder just how sincere it was. Bella overheard the stranger chatting up Zhustin, and her alarm bells immediately went off. Hoping to stop Zhustin from saying too much, she came over, sat on his lap, and planted a big kiss on his mouth. This was almost as big a shock to Zhustin as the six-handed bath had been a few days before, but Risha was unfazed. “Oh, are you the team’s whore, or just his?” Bella glared at her, and she responded with a light laugh and a wave. “See you in the arena!” she called over her shoulder as she moved to the other end of the boat.

The ferry docked at New Harbor, a small fishing village that seemed to be the only settlement on the island. As they disembarked, they were directed with the other contestants to a registration desk. When they reached the front of the line, a group of clerics of Abadar clad in orange and red robes took their names and had each of them sign a contract agreeing to follow the rules of the Tournament and the directives of its director, the Emissary. Among the rules, they found that they were forbidden from leaving the island until they were eliminated from the Tournament. They also discovered that no more than four contestants from each team could compete in any given match, although they could change their team makeup between matches. However, during the match, any outside aid or interference was grounds for immediate disqualification, and each team would be isolated for 1 hour before the start of a match. As they registered, they noticed Risha also waiting in the line of contestants; she was in the company of a heavily muscled man, a squat half-orc, and an extremely thin female half-elf, each carrying a large, heavy-looking canvas bag.

Leaving registration, they made their way past rows of friendly townsfolk, who showered them with cherry blossoms and handed out tiny ceramic cups filled with warm, pungent liquor. They soon found themselves at Yon Loi’s Noodle House, which seemed to be the hub of activity. The noodle house was a large, open-air structure centered around a courtyard filled with long, shaded tables for commoners. Smaller round tables filled a roofed balcony surrounding the courtyard, from which wealthier patrons and the tournament elite could look out over the establishment.

The party found seats at a long table, where they were offered bowls of salty noodle soup. As they slurped, they noticed a Tiefling woman, clad in the orange and red robes of the Tournament officials, keeping a watchful eye from the balcony above. They also spotted Risha and her group making their way to a table on the balcony, and Nicki slipped off to go keep an eye on them.

As they dined, an elegant looking half-elf approached them and gave a short bow. “You look like newcomers – welcome to the Ruby Phoenix Tournament. I’m Marthysan the Righteous". He paused for a moment as if expecting some recognition, and when none came, he gave a slight smile. “Do you mind if I join you? I might be able to answer some of your questions about what’s to come.”

The party welcomed his company. As Marthysan talked, they learned that each day there would be a series of official matches that would determine who would advance in the tournament. Opponents were assigned at random, and there was no way to know in advance who you might be facing (although, as you progressed through the Tournament, the pool of possible opponents would shrink quickly). Each team would only have one official match per day, but the Tournament officials also organized a number of unofficial exhibitions each day. While the exhibitions were voluntary, and didn’t have any impact on the outcome of the Tournament, the crowd usually looked unfavorably on teams that refused to participate in them. “In my experience, it’s important to have the crowd on your side,” Marthysan advised. “It can make all the difference in a close match.”

“Do people get hurt in these matches?” Bella asked. Marthysan nodded. “And killed. This is real combat, not staged pretend fights. But there are clerics of Abadar standing by after the matches to offer healing – or more – to help get folks back into shape for the next match. They try to do their best to make sure as few people as possible die or are crippled, and they’re eagle-eyed to enforce the rules.” He nodded his head towards the Tiefling watching from above. “They don’t want the kind of embarrassment they had at the last Tournament.”

“What happened last time?” Marie asked. Marthysan paused. “Well, the last Tournament was the 300^th anniversary of the Tournament, and they had an especially large field. The leader going into the championship match was a sorceress named Wu Dizhen. She and her team were mopping up the competition in all of their matches. They seemed to always have just the right scroll or magic item to counter the other team. And whenever Wu Dizhen would seem to be badly hurt, she’d disappear for an instant and they reappear revitalized.

“Just before the final match, they discovered that she had an identical twin sister, Wu Jufeng, who was sneaking off the island each night to fetch new magical items. She could also travel underground, and would take her sister’s place in the middle of matches with fresh spells and full health. When the officials discovered their cheating, they disqualified the sisters Wu, and I was proclaimed champion by default, without having to face them in the final match.” The group suddenly realized that they were sharing noodles with the previous Ruby Phoenix champion, but Marthysan continued without skipping a beat. “That’s why they brought in the Tiefling, Kiang Zhen. I hear that she’s bound to the Church of Abadar for 100 years to prevent any future cheating.

As they chatted with Marthysan, they were approached by a halfling wearing a stained and scorched leather apron. “Romby Proudfoot’s the name, and buffing parties is me game. You look like quite the impressive group, you do, but trust me – the competition ‘ere at the Ruby Phoenix Tournament is like nothin’ you’ve ever seen before. Best of the best, and wot, am I right? If you’re going to have half a chance against the likes of these lot, you’ll need to be at the top of your game, and that’s where I come in. Have a comprehensive collection of potions and scrolls to give you that little extra edge to take you over the top. All legal and above board! Wouldn’t dream of runnin’ afoul o’ the rules ‘ere!” He casts a fearful look up at the Tiefling watching from the balcony above. “Top quality, and best prices, too! I makes me money on volume, not by cuttin’ corners nor gougin’ the customer. Me wagon’s right out back, if you care to take a gander at me wares.”

Marie, Bella, and Zhustin rose and followed the halfling around to the back of the noodle shop, where a small, brightly painted wagon was set up. After undoing some elaborate locks, he let down the side of the wagon to reveal rows of bottles and cubbies stuffed with scrolls. Romby did, indeed, have a pretty comprehensive collection of potions and scrolls to protect contestants or improve their stats, as well as a full selection of healing. However, after browsing his stock, the three decided that they didn’t need anything at the moment.

“I understand. I’ll be here all week if you change your mind,” Romby said. Then he looked around furtively, and motioned them in closer. “I’ve also got a special item here. One of a kind – first come, first served.”

Seeing their interest was piqued, he continued. “This ain’t my first time at the Tournament. I’ve been comin’ here since I was a lad, and me dad served the contestants before me. I’ll tell you a little tactic that some of the teams like to use. They’ll scout the opposition before their match. Watch them in other matches, follow them around, sometimes even break into their rooms. They’ll try to figure out which of their magic items is what, and then, when they’re facing them in a match … BOOM, they unloads a powerful Dispel Magic on the item what they’s countin’ on the most. Throws the team right off their game, and usually wins the match.”

He turned to Zhustin. “Now you can use Magic Aura to try to disguise your magic, or make something magic look like it ain’t, but we both knows that any apprentice who can cast Identify will see right through that like clear glass. There ain’t never been no good way to really disguise magic on an item. Until now.”

With a flourish, he pulled out a vellum scroll, tied with a multi-colored ribbon. “I went to all the great wizards, posing this problem, until I found one who could create a spell that would solve it. Behold, Phakir’s Foolproof Dweomer! With this, you can take an ordinary or magical item, and make it look like it has any magical properties you want – or none at all. And unlike the low-level Magic Aura, it will hold up to all standard spells, like Identify, Detect Magic, and the like. This is the only one I have – if everyone knew about it, it wouldn’t be much good, would it? You’re the first ones I’ve told about it. If you don’t want it, I’m sure I won’t have any trouble finding a buyer.”

“I’m not sure we’ve got anything we need to use that on,” Marie started, but Bella gave her a sharp jab in the ribs. “Actually,” Bella interjected, “I think this might be just what we need. You know … for a certain prince?” Marie still looked confused, but Zhustin caught on immediately. They pooled their money and scraped together enough to get Romby to part with the scroll. “I’ll be here all week if you decide you need anything else!” he called as they returned to the noodle house. When they told everyone else of their purchase, Sandoval rolled his eyes. “There’s a sucker born every minute,” he groaned. “You don’t really think that scroll’s going to work, do you?”

As the night wore on, the contestants began to head off for their sleeping quarters. The Tournament officials had erected rows of tents for the contestants’ use, but Marthysan (who’d had more than a few cups of potent rice wine by this time) insisted the party stay with him. “As past champion, I’ve got my own suite of rooms. Way more than I need, and you all are such nice folks.” Having learned not to turn down a warm bed when one is offered, the party quickly agreed.

The next morning, it seemed as if all of New Harbor awoke before dawn. Even as the dull orange sun crept slowly over the eastern horizon, the fishermen had already crowded into their boats. They moved swifty, like blackened silhouettes dancing against dawn’s watercolor pallet, eerily silent except for the shuffling of ropes and oars, and the cries of seabirds.

A steady stream of boats carryied contestants and observers who could afford passage across the bay to the seaside arena, but he party chose to make the half-mile hike along with droves of locals, following the coastal path to the pavilion. The Grand Pavilion and surrounding fairgrounds lay at the center of the cove, and featured a massive and elaborate combat arena specifically constructed for the tournament. Scores of colorful tents crammed the grounds spreading from the woods almost to the water. A line of spectators stretched from the Grand Pavilion, waiting to enter the arena, but contestants were given priority, and the eclectic collection of warriors and battlemages were ushered directly into the arena to stand before the Emissary.

When everyone was in place, the Emissary strode to the front of the viewing stand. He was flanked on one side by Marthysan the Righteous, clad this morning in brightly polished armor, and on the other by the menacing looking tiefling, Kiang Zhen. Behind him, like motionless statues, stood no less than a dozen quinggong monks, his mystic disciples and bodyguards. As all watched rapt, the Emissary raised his hands and addressed the crowd. “I am Sifu Xho Nuo — Emissary of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament and guardian of the legacy of Hao Jin, the once-immortal sorceress in whose name you are gathered here to battle. To honor the Grandmaster’s legacy, I stand before you to carry out her final will: the thirty-fist decennial Ruby Phoenix Tournament. Without further delay, we begin our first round of the contest. May the worthiest win!”

Red and orange clad monks began circulating among the contestants, handing each a clay tile with the number of their match on it. To their surprise, the party found that they were to compete in the very first match of the day, and the monks began hustling them to the waiting area to prepare for their match. They had spent a lot of time the night before discussing strategy for which four of them should compete today. Not having any idea who they might be facing (and not knowing anything about the other teams anyway), they couldn’t tailor their team’s composition based on the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, they’d decided not to give away too much in the first round. They fielded a team of fighters: Sawyer, Shinjiro, and Bella, with Sandoval there to provide inspiration and support to the others, as well as his sword. The other party members gave them some of their magic items “just in case”, and cast any long-lasting buffing spells, and then the team settled in to wait.

After the requisite hour had passed, the gate to the arena opened, and the team walked out onto the sand floor, to the cheers of the waiting crowd. On the opposite side of the field was a team of what looked like four monks, clad in only gray robes. Two had monk spades, two-headed axe-like weapons. The third swung a meteor hammer, a pair of iron balls on a 10-foot chain, while the fourth carried an odd sword with many small blades branching off its main blade. All eyes turned to the emissary. After a dramatic pause, he swung his arm in a chopping motion, and the match began!

Bella wasted no time; she dashed out towards the center of the ring, unlimbering her bow as she ran. She skidded to a stop on one knee, and loosed an arrow with the same motion. The shaft struck the meteor monk and sank to the fletching. Bella had drawn first blood and done maximum damage in the process, and the crowd went wild. Sawyer, seeing Bella stirring up the crowd, decided to try to follow suit. He stomped out into the arena and made a big show of trying to intimidate the monks with his muscles. But he was so busy flexing that he lost track of his feet, and stumbled and nearly fell. The fickle crowd’s cheers turned to jeers.

The monks had waited a beat for their opponents to disperse a little, and now they raced across the arena floor, far faster than the party had anticipated. The meteor monk, arrow still embedded in his chest, stopped well out of Bella’s reach and tried to crush her skull with one of his iron balls, but she deftly dodged his blow. The other three surrounded Sawyer, and he found himself scrambling to parry a seemingly unending series of punches and kicks.

Sandoval began singing, and hit one of Sawyer’s foes with an arrow. Shinjiro dashed in and hit another with a Stunning Fist. Caught completely unawares, the monk dropped his sword and stood cross-eyed. As he stood their wobbling, Shinjiro finished him off with a blinding Flurry of Blows. Unfortunately, the crowd didn’t like seeing him battering an opponent who couldn’t fight back, and their mood began to turn ugly.

Hearing the cheers and boos of the mob, the party found themselves focused more on winning their approval than on simply defeating their foes. Bella began to Rage, making her fury obvious to the audience, and then Pounced on the meteor monk, slicing him before dashing away. Unable to hit her, the monk whirled his chain and wrapped the balls around Sawyer’s legs, pulling them out from under him and dropping him to the dirt. But the crowd didn’t like seeing the monks ganging up on Sawyer, and began to boo the monks. Distracted by the crowd’s disapproval, the other monks missed Sawyer repeatedly, even though he was prone.

Sandoval stepped into the breach. He began to dance his Hoka, and the monks found themselves Shaken my his intimidating presence. Bella charged another of the monks harrying Sawyer, and as she slashed him in the back, the crowd roared its approval. Sawyer leaped back to his feet, and began battering the meteor monk, forcing him backwards. Sandoval made a great show of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Sawyer, and finished off the meteor monk with an elaborate flourish, and the crowd leaped to their feet with an ear-splitting cheer. Shinjiro battered one of the two remaining spade monks to within an inch of his life as Bella, screaming with battle-rage, buried both of her blades deep into his mate. As he slumped to the bloody sand, the last surviving monk opened his hands in a gesture of surrender.

As clerics of Abadar rushed in to tend the fallen monks, Sawyer, Bella, Shinjiro, and Sandoval stood, panting, in the center of the arena. The crowd was on its feet, chanting “HONGAL! HONGAL! HONGAL!”. They had won their first match of the Ruby Phoenix Tournament – but the hardest challenges were still ahead of them.

The PCs earned 2,743 XP for the night, putting them at 115,798 XP, with 155,000 required for level 11. We’ll be at Rich and Joette’s next week.