Parallel Shadows (3.5 Mythos IC)

[r2d2go]

Those who reside in the country of Ardom know to fear the forests. Every dark, twisting branch reminds those who reside that what little life within is twisted and dark - werewolves, aberrations, other monsters usually reserved for stories of horror. However, the influence of the forests are not limited to within. The entire country often finds children born suffering, marred to be monstrous, corrupted by dark magic or influenced by shadowy whispers. The different, the ugly, and the frightening are cast out, sent to the edges of the forests to try to carve a living out of the infertile ground.

Your group has come from these settlements of outcasts, with what could be called a noble goal in mind - ending the prejudice, and perhaps finding more suitable land to settle. With help from some of the longest-lived storytellers, and a few auguries from the local priestess (or witch, to some), you have found that there is potential for fertile lands and ancient treasures within the forests, perhaps even unknown seas and lost tunnels that could lead far, far from this cursed ground. Gathering the strongest, you have prepared to set off, in search of whatever you can to help your cause.

Now, you have gathered at the edge of the forest. A faint trail of less underbrush, from alleged days when there were more who were brave enough to enter this dark wild, marks the path that you are to take. With the hopes and wishes of luck from the village backing you, enter.

Time for introductions and such! You'll be moving down the path soon, once you're done.

[Zarthrax]

Oszen watches the underbrush warily, not letting Javok get too far away from him as the duo walked closer.

Oszen finally breaks the silence between the two.

"Pants don't ever work like that, Javok. Not even remotely."

[EdroGrimshell]

Javok looks at Oszen with a confused tilt to his head, "a little levity for the moment?" he asked. It was often surprising how intelligent the half-orc was, when not in one of his furies, especially given his social ineptitude up until recently. Clearly the pants thing was a joke. Or was he just playing it off?

[Yasahiro]

Ramiel Faust sighed. Or at least, he would have sighed, if he didn't retreat into his core, which had a piece of thread going through one of the holes in it. This made it easy to turn him into an inconspicuous yet odd necklace.

His assistant, Aelita, the first of the race he himself created, the Soinights, currently rode a giant yellow bird, Tori, that sort of could resemble an older chick. Tori was another of Ramiel's creations, this time for convenience on Aelita's side. After all, when in his necklace form, he did not have to walk himself, leaving him in a calm state to contemplate various happenings around him. However, being worn by his assistant and subjecting her and her not so durable organic body to such exhaustion was not proper behavior, which is why he created Tori.

They traveled in what one might consider silence, Tori clearly enjoying the travel itself, while Aelita smiled upon feeling the happiness coming from the animal. She turned her thoughts towards Ramiel.

'Is something the matter, Doctor Faust?' she asked, her thoughts bypassing any need for physical hearing as they reached Ramiel's mind. He thought for a moment before responding in the same way.

'No. I am just pondering the chances of the people that would join us on this quest would actually provide any meaningful skills.'

Aelita just sighed herself before shaking her head with a small smile. That was just the way Ramiel is before he actually meets a person.

They continued travelling towards the meeting place for their group

[Jacior]

Selenite walks silently through the relative quiet of the day. Their goal wasn't necessarily a grand one, but it was a step in the right direction. The world needed to be purged of the darkness that was growing stronger by the very day. That both he and Heliolite had forgotten their duty for so long was only a greater mark of the darkness inside the very earth. Such thought were troubling, near the full moon. He should have been much less introspective at this point.

It was just an important day, that was all. Selenite looks at Heliolite walking beside him. His far larger counterpart was far more enthused about the meeting with the rest of the group that was going to search for something better in the forests.

[Regalus]

The day had been a long and dreary one as the pair forged through the tired and beaten roads; long since forgotten by those to fearful to travel so close to the treacherous woodlands. The lack of friendly travelers was to be expected to be sure as they weren't visiting any old fairy grove on that day; yet his companion's silence was troubling to the jolly giant, having long since expected his brother to comment on the eerie wilderness a single toss away form them.

Especially given it was that time of the month again.

Needless to say, Heliolite was rather concerned by his kin's actions, and had hoped Selenite would speak his mind; but it was not long before his own patience had finally run out. Taking a deep breath, the man suddenly changed his pace, closing the distance between the two as he tried to sweep his arm across the smaller mans shoulder's into a half hug. "Why so glum Ol' Chum?" Heliolite questioned with an inquisitive smile, shattering the peace and tranquility that settled around the forest border, "Don't tell me you've got the jitters already! Why, we haven't even met our fellows; or perhaps they're the reason your so rueful today?"

[r2d2go]

Ok, good 'nuff :smalltongue: if there's anything left you'd like to say before we leave, just mark it in your post as "Before Leaving", then the rest as "After Leaving". Anything without a marking is assumed to be after leaving.

The group proceeds down the path, attempting to follow the rather faint trail. Crunching through the light underbrush for at least an hour, you meander through the forest, the sky darkening from both a more dense canopy and from the setting sun. At the same time, a chilling breeze blows through the trees, causing leaves to rustle and perhaps warmer cloaks to be donned.

At some point, you notice the road below seems to be paved with purpose, flat rocks creating what almost looks like an overgrown road. Strangely enough, the "road" leads in the opposite direction of the path just as the path bends, creating a T. In fact, the path seems slightly clearer if anything, leading away from the rocky ground.

You hear a very faint rustle from in front of you (the direction with no path or road).

You notice a glint of yellow from ahead (where there is neither path nor road) - as if a ray of sunlight just glanced a reflective surface. If you look closer without going off the path, you can't see what caused this, but you're sure you saw something.
You manage to make out a small piece of gold colored crystal, floating midair. Looking down, you see that a small funnel of nearly invisible wind has cleared the ground beneath it, which is probably why you heard a faint rustle, but can no longer hear anything. Also, it's giving off light.

The mindsight shows you a mental presence ahead (where there is neither path nor rod).

Javok: Listen [roll0] Spot [roll1]
Oszen: Listen [roll2] Spot [roll3]
Ramiel: Listen [roll4] Spot [roll5]
Heliolite: Listen [roll6] Spot [roll7]
Selenite: Listen [roll8] Spot [roll9]

Did you guys know you all have max ranks in Spot and Listen? :smalleek: I'm not sneaking anything by, am I...

Nothing to be concerned about :smalltongue:
[roll10]
[roll11]
[roll12]
[roll13]
[roll14]

[EdroGrimshell]

Javok tilts his head, and almost makes a hissing noise, like a cat, but manages to hold back, he'd learned enough to know people weren't supposed to react that way. "Something living ahead," he says, "it's a floating crystal, but it's... alive."

[Yasahiro]

Ramiel thought about what the other member of the group said, as told to him by his assistant's thoughts. He sent her back an answer to say, followed by a question.

Aelita covered herself and the red spike on her chest a bit more, through the white hooded cloak she wore. She patted Tori on its neck to signal it to slow down.

"It might be a Psionic Crystal, like the ones that belong to psions. Or a Crysmal. Maybe something else..." she said, with her melodious voice. No need to reveal the telepathy yet. "Or it could be the same as the two of those in our group. Maybe they should investigate?" she asked in a hopeful tone.

[r2d2go]

As if understanding Javok, the wind surrounding the crystal condenses into a whirling mass, which then swoops into the air, buffeting Javok as it flies past. From behind him, another whirling mass smashes into him as he reels from the first attack, its wispy fist striking with surprising force.

This is a surprise round, with Javok and Ramiel unsurprised. Success on one of the perception checks grants +2 circumstance to the subsequent init check.

Elementals are currently 80 feet away, 30 feet in the air. The trees heavily obscure them, and they're already hard to see, so they have Total Concealment (though you know where they are).

Javok takes 7 damage, then 11 damage.

Javok: [roll0]
Oszen: [roll1]
Ramiel: [roll2]
Heliolite: [roll3]
Selenite: [roll4] +4
Air Elementals: [roll5]

Init Order (after Surprise): Selenite, Elementals, Ramiel, Javok, Oszen, Heliolite.


[roll6], [roll7]
[roll8], [roll9], [roll10], [roll11]

[EdroGrimshell]

One of the few things that annoyed Javok was flying opponents, but he could at least make it harder for them to fight back, with that, he took in a breath, and roared at the elementals.

Intimidate: [roll0] +4 if they're medium, +8 if they're small, +0 if they're large.

Don't think this will do much, since I need to be in melee range by the rules, but Javok has no ranged weapons and not enough reach, so this is a logical choice for him, trying to scare them off.

Readied Action to punch an elemental if it comes into range (I have a 10ft range thanks to one of my mythos)

[Zarthrax]

Oszen stays close to Javok as they meandered into the woods, distracted as he tries to watch everything at once.

Finally rousing himself from trying to keep everything in sight at Javok's roar, his eyes widen as he ducks behind his friend, afraid of whatever the new thing might be, unfamiliar as it is to his ears.

Witchlight starts to limn him, even as he cowers behind his strange compatriot...

Standard Action to activate Witchlight (from Ghostwalk). No additional effect yet, other than a DC 16 Calm Emotions felt by everyone that sees the faint blue light.

[Yasahiro]

'Oh? Elementals?' was mostly Ramiel's reaction, curiosity. These shouldn't just straight up attack for no reason, so perhaps something about their group agitated them... Or something had done so beforehand and this is why the panic-attacked? 'Aelita, could you try to calm them down? If they get too close, I will appear...'

Aelita was just about to nod, just before Javok's roar shook her to the core. She took a deep breath and steadied herself, taking off her Ramiel-necklace and letting it rest in her palm, if he decided to act. She started speaking to the elementals through her telepathy once they get into the range, if they turned back. Along with it, she concentrated, opening her mind to the surroundings. This is what Ramiel created her for. To be able to feel their needs, their drives, the emotions. Fear, pain, rage and hatred. Uncertainty, curiosity and friendliness and more.

'Oh, powerful elementals, why do you seek to harm our group? What have we done that received such retribution from you?' was the content of her message.


Aelita uses swift action to take me off, free action to talk, standard action to use empathy and it will remain as long as she concentrates... Dunno what action is using Sense Motive in this case but it is what I am doing, through her asking.

Ramiel is readying an action to form his body if proper communication with the elementals is impossible.


Sense Motive check(Hunch): [roll0]

[r2d2go]

You get no response. Your hunch is that these things are under some sort of compulsion - perhaps part of a summoning, or maybe more like Control Undead, but, y'know, for elementals.

The surprise round just ended. I'll count your action on your turn, if you'd like.

Selenite is up.
Elementals are next.
Then is everyone except Selenite.

[Jacior]

Selenite watches the elementals with some interest. Servants of the Omphalos shouldn't just attack like that. Especially not with Selenite there! Even Heliolite should be enough to curb that. It wasn't natural... They had to have been being controlled by something. The crystal seemed the obvious focal point.

Unfortunately they weren't within his range. With a step, he leans into a battle stance, ready for one to present itself to him.

Readying an action to attack the first elemental he can see within 60 feet.

[r2d2go]

Unaware of Selenite preparing to strike, the elementals fly by yet again, seemingly undeterred by Javok's ferocious roar. They attempt to strike twice again, this time without success.

No hits. Selenite gets to take the readied action, then everyone's turn. They are 80 feet away.

[roll0], [roll1]
[roll2], [roll3]

[Yasahiro]

Upon realizing that there would be no way to communicate with these elementals peacefully, Ramiel narrowed his internal eyes, before his core started shaking. Taking the hint, Aelita threw him into the sky, rolling her eyes slightly at his antics.

The white and black patterns on the gem started moving, stretching past the gem's form before slowly taking form of a humanoid creature, looking as if it was wrapped in white and black bandages. However, after a moment, said bandages cracked and revealed Ramiel in all his glory, with his cloak, red eyes and the wings from his personal modifications he made in his spare time. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, after which they became covered in swirling vortexes of air. If anything, he will try to at least disrupt their forms... However, the time required for him to create his body made him unable to act when his companions were yet again attacked by the creatures of air.

He lowered himself to be just above his assistant, as she stepped off Tori.

'Master, do you require my assistance?'

He mentally shook his head. 'No, it is just two air elementals. It should not be that hard.'

Aelita nodded and just prepared to defend herself against any future attacks, keeping her mind clear to detect if anything else approaches the group.

Ramiel, in turn, prepared himself. He had to be ready to attack, should the ocassion appear.

Body manifestation was previous turns readied action. Ramiel is taking a readied action now to attack any elemental that comes nearby. Aelita is taking Total Defense action.

[Regalus]

"HOU! Such ruffians infesting these woods! It's no wonder we've been called here! Such crass behavior demands swift discipline! How fortunate that they have willing teachers!" Heliolite proclaimed with a hearty laugh as he both his hands slammed against his chest before erupting in a fiery flare of light from where his gem lay. A moment later the mountain of the man tightened his hand into fists and pulled back, pulling the flames along as they formed into twin batons formed from solar flames which lit up the space around him like torches.

"Friend Javok! I recommend you guard yourself and keep behind us until they get close; these are a rowdy bunch!" the omphalion cautioned, inching closer to Javok as he readied himself for the elemental's next assault.


Swift Action: Element-Forged Geomach arsenal: Generate a pair of Saps (Or as Heliolite calls them, Sun Rods) with the following stats: 3d6 Nonlethal or Fire damage, Crit 19-20 x2 and can be Thrown at a range of 15ft
Standard Action: Readied Action (Toss a Sun Rod at the first elemental to come within range to attack the party)

Also, if any of them come within melee range of Heliolite (i.e. they move through squares he threatens); I will AoA them with my remaining Sun Rod.

[r2d2go]

The elementals charge again, flitting through to attack who they've already injured. One manages to strike Javok another time, while the other is just barely deflected, though in the chaos the elementals are unharmed.

Javok takes 10.

Apologies for the slow response, I was on a plane for around twenty hours total.

Javok, Selenite and Oszen are up.

Yas brought it to my attention that readied actions could kill the things before they even get to attack, so...

[roll0], [roll1]
Crit: [roll2], [roll3]

[roll4], [roll5]
[roll6], [roll7]

[roll8], [roll9]
Crit [roll10], [roll11]
[roll12], [roll13]
Crit [roll14], [roll15]

[EdroGrimshell]

Javok takes the hit with a loud grunt, he was at a nasty point, he had been hammered by the elementals so far, and he needed to make a change, so he pulled a flask from his belt, and readies himself to pull the cord when one of the elementals gets in range.

Readied Action to use a Screaming Flask when the elementals come into range.


Screaming Flask: This container is made from thick leather with a cap sewn on tight and fitted with a ripcord. Pulling the cord rips open the flask and activates the alchemical substance within. The flask emits a high-pitched shriek in a 15-foot cone. Anything in the cone takes 1d8 points of sonic damage and is deafened for 1 minute (Fortitude DC 15 negates).

[Zarthrax]

Oszen continues to cower behind Javok, hoping the creatures will stop attacking.

OOC- Still projecting Witchlight via Concentration. (DC 16 Will save if they see me, or be Fascinated.)

[Jacior]

Selenite, feeling the energy from Heliolite, combined with the moon's influence on his personality bursts out in much the same way as Heliolite does. "Accosted by the servants of the very Omphalos we serve, such a hypocrisy cannot unpunished." The small, slender omphalion dashes forwards at the elementals and comes up short, planting a foot into the ground with an unnatural amount of force. Twisting around he rips up two massive chunks of earth and hurls them bodily at the closer of the elementals.

Charging Snap Kick Attacks

Gonna try and get as close as I need to to avoid range increment penalties. But no closer than that.

Attack 1: [roll0]
Damage 1: [roll1] Bludgeoning Damage

Attack 2: [roll2]
Damage 2: [roll3] Bludgeoning Damage

Free Action: Target the closest Elemental with My Defensive Metered Step.

[r2d2go]

[roll0], [roll1]
[roll2], [roll3]
[roll4], [roll5]
[roll6], [roll7]

Seleinte severely injures one elemental, but the elementals fly in unfazed. One is stopped in its tracks as Oszen's witchlight causes it to freeze, but the other resists and flies at Javok. It winces as the sonic blast hits it, but continues in to strike Javok with terrifying force before flitting away.

Javok takes 18 damage. I'll put more in when I get back in an hour or two.

Ramiel and Heliolite are up.

[EdroGrimshell]

And Javok drops like a sack of bricks, unconscious.

[roll0]

[Yasahiro]

Ramiel Faust

He didn't stop looking at the elementals, awaiting them to pass his group again, planning to strike them.

He and his assistant didn't even need to talk, she knew that it was her job here to stitch the dying one back to the point of usefulness. But in this combat situation? That won't do. Aelita opened her robe, revealing her bare midriff, moments before a line split it vertically, opening into what appeared to be a gate of some sort, letting those who looked in see an operating table, green curtains, basically a clean environment that just gave off the feeling of being made for surgery. Within was a robed figure that was organizing and sorting various surgical tools, its body covered up completely except for its eyes, having that same calming appearance as those belonging to Aelita. It seemed like a being a person could trust.

"I will be taking care of healing, do not worry." Aelita said to the group, before lifting Javok up, piercing his chest a bit with her own chest-spike in order to release a bit of the pain-numbing poison into his body, to at least make his suffering lessen. After that, she shoved him through the doorway into the operating-room stomach, letting him be picked up by the nurse before the doorway closed, yet the air was supplied by the actual mouth that Aelita possessed instead.


After the gateway closed, the nurse unceremonially put him on the operating table, after which she strapped him to it. Her movements seemed odd, as if she was floating, making sure that the patient only seen her from one side. And after Javok was restrained, if he could still see anything, still hanging onto bits of consiousness, he would see the nurse moving with less care now, revealing a cord that attached her to the ceiling of the room. The surgical mask was taken off, revealing lack of mouth, nose or any such feature. The walls, objects, even the operating table... It was as if the reality had some sort of interruption, as they seemed to spasm out, showing to be made out of some dark black and red meat-like substance, like a hellish environment of some sort. A static like noise would be heard by anyone inside, if they were conscious, mixed with sounds of beating heart. And then, it went back to normal, but which environment was the real one? This puppet, controlled by Aelita as extension of herself within herself, proceeded to do what she wanted to accomplish. Her arms grabbed the surgical tools, approaching him. The first thing to do is to stabilize the patient, and then? Then they would see...[


Ramiel: Ready action to hit elementals as they pass again.
Aelita: She pricked Javok with her chest spike as standard action. Then she put him into her stomach, I think it would be move action, since he is helpless and it is Entryway stomach-mouth so it has no throat, it's just like an open door. If you allow it, have the Nurse-Aelita do heal check for stabilization.

OOC: I hope you allow Aelita to do minimal damage with her anesthesia spike, since it seems I forgot to take the Syringe feat... Sorry. If you won't allow it, just have her not use the anesthesia, have him suffer. And about stabilization... to be fair, it can wait another turn if you don't allow it to happen now. I just wanted to have it be out of the way. I also think that while helpless, it would be no problem to administer anesthesia to Javok, unless he is unwilling.

Also, sorry for not responding. Complete lack of Wi-Fi other than when being at friend's house.

Rolls:
Appealing Puppet: DC 15
Stabilization Heal Check: [roll0]

[r2d2go]

Aelita... eats Javok, apparently to heal him, and gets to work.

Seeing as AFAIK, the numbing is just for Javok's comfort, all of that should work fine.

[Zarthrax]

Oszen, shaking in fear as Javok is knocked out and almost killed, stops maintaining his Witchlight in the hopes of calming everyone down and points a shaky finger at the culprit responsible. A thin bolt of cold blue lances at the elemental!

Attack- [roll0]
Damage-[roll1]

[Regalus]

"Stand strong my friends, the battle is not yet over!" Heliolite proclaimed as he tightened his grasp over the remaining sun rod; waiting for his chance to reach out and grab on of the passing air elementals by their central gems.


Ready Action: Grapple one of the Elementals as it closes in on us once more; preferably the weakest looking one.
Grapple Rules ENganged!
Melee Touch attack against AIr elemental: [roll0]
Grapple Check: [roll1]
Damage: 12; roleld in OOC
*Elemental is at a -4 penalty on it's check to resist the grapple due to it's size.
*I do not provoke AoO's by grapling.

[r2d2go]

As the most damaged elemental passes, Heliolite rips out its gem, dispersing it in a blast of wind. The remaining one attempts to avenge it's fallen ally, but seems somewhat weakened by the loss if it's partner, and fails to inflict injury.

[roll0], [roll1]

[Yasahiro]

Ramiel Faust & Aelita

Ramiel cursed as he missed once more. He will have to make better grafts for fighting than just melee. He once again prepared to strike as last remaining elemental passed.

Meanwhile Aelita remained seemingly motionless as she, as the nurse puppet, started working on fixing Javok's wounds, doing her best to restrain urge to do anything else. She lacked Ramiel's permission for more...


Ramiel readies Standard action to strike.

Aelita begins healing. 1 minute. DC 15. Any point beyond 15 is 1 hp restored. [roll0]

[Regalus]

Heliolite looses a victorious cry as he falls into position once more; eagerly awaiting the passage of the final elemental. For a brief moment wondered what exactly the crystal had been, whether it was their anchor or something else; but such thoughts were swiftly put aside for the moment.


Ready Action: Grapple the elemental
Melee Touch attack against AIr elemental: [roll0]
Grapple Check: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
*Elemental is at a -4 penalty on it's check to resist the grapple due to it's size.
*I do not provoke AoO's by grappling.

[Zarthrax]

Oszen, trying to present as small a target as possible, shoots another thin ray at the elemental.

Attack-[roll0]
Damage-[roll1]

[Jacior]

Selenite charges towards the remaining elemental much like the last one, before stopping and swinging his arms around in a ludicrously fast circular motion. "By thine own structure be undone!" A pair of nigh invisible wind blasts launch from his hands and towards the elemental

Charging Snap Kick Attacks

Gonna try and get as close as I need to to avoid range increment penalties. But no closer than that.

Attack 1: [roll0]
Damage 1: [roll1] Piercing Damage

Attack 2: [roll2]
Damage 2: [roll3] Piercing Damage

Free Action: Target the Elemental with My Defensive Metered Step.

[r2d2go]

Only Oszen manages to strike the creature, but that is enough to leave it significantly wounded. It flies by and swipes at Heliolite, but as before, fails to do more than irritate him.

[roll0], [roll1], [roll2], [roll3]

[Yasahiro]

Ramiel Faust

He cursed. He really needed to work on his aim.

He tried, once more, to hit and finish off the elemental as it is passing him by.

Aelita keeps doing the healing as it requires a minute to finish.


Repeat action from last turn from Ramiel, as for Aelita, she continues her thing.

[Regalus]

Heliolite remained silent, not even bothering to comment on the last exchange; simply standing his ground as he waited for his next opportunity.

Ready Action: Grapple the elemental
Melee Touch attack against AIr elemental: [roll0]
Grapple Check: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
*Elemental is at a -4 penalty on it's check to resist the grapple due to it's size.
*I do not provoke AoO's by grappling.

[Jacior]

Selenite frowns at the pair of wild misses and rips up the earth with little care for the sanctity of the ground, he hurls it with force at the elemental, aiming for the gem with a certain gusto and a couple of forward steps.

Charging normal attack

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] Bludgeoning

Crit: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3] Bludgeoning

[r2d2go]

[roll0] [roll1]
[roll2] [roll3]

Ramiel stabs the elemental as it passes, causing it to dissolve into wind. The crystal drops... but lands on Ramiel's weapon, as if magnetized.

You feel more alert.

[Yasahiro]

Ramiel Faust & Aelita

As Aelita is continuing her work to fix injuries of one known as Javok, Ramiel himself inspected the gem that landed on his weapon, before bowing politely to his companions.

"Greetings, my name is Ramiel Faust, good Doctor of who's assistant Aelita is. It is my pleasure to be doing business with you."


Knowledge(Arcana): untrained [roll0]
Knowledge(The Planes): untrained [roll1]

[r2d2go]

A minute later, Javok is healed and Aelita releases him from her... maw. The party is left with two paths, still.

[EdroGrimshell]

"That's one way to wake up, let's not make that a habit," Javok says in a mumble as he's spat out of Aelita's gullet. He didn't look his best, who would after being pummeled by living air creatures.

[Jacior]

Selenite straightens up and looks where the remnants of the elementals would be and frowns. "Well... that was supremely odd! That shouldn't have happened, especially not with me around. Heliolite... Maybe... But that's more cause he's annoying. They really shouldn't have just attacked like that. An inauspicious start to our task if ever there was one!" Whatever foul mood had plagued the moonstone omphalion seemed to have faded away. "Now, which path to take? Should we flip a coin?"

[EdroGrimshell]

Javok decides to start noting signs in the area, tracks of animals and the like that would use safer paths.

Survival: [roll0]

Not trying to track anything, just using the skill to see if I can spot which direction is safer, seems like something Javok would know.

[r2d2go]

Javok takes some time to look around the area, and it seems there is much less animal activity towards the side of the paved road. In fact, while searching, he gets a shiver down his spine, a feeling of animalistic fear, respect and awe, for something unseen in that direction.

[EdroGrimshell]

Javok's head suddenly snaps up in the direction he got the chill from and a primal growl echoes from his throat, his pupils dilated to a high level, making his eyes almost black, Oszen would recognize that as a bad sign. A very bad sign.

[Yasahiro]

Ramiel Faust & Aelita

Ramiel was about to revert to his gem form, storing the gem from elementals in his pack before that, but as he was about to do that, Javok's reaction caught his eye. He looked towards Aelita and nodded.

Aelita noticed Ramiel's gesture and simply moved back on Tori's back, allowing Ramiel to take a sit and ride, with her as passenger. She knew him long enough to recognize when he needs to be ready for a battle as opposed to resting as a gem...

Ramiel took a seat and, holding Tori's reins in his hands, awaited decision of others

[Zarthrax]

Oszen freezes for a moment, then lights back up and jumps into Javok's line of sight.

"No, Javok! Look at me, not the woods!"

(Calm Emotions via Witchlight, DC 14....lol)

[r2d2go]

You can always intentionally fail the save, I think.

Javok feels the chill fade as Oszen's magic takes effect, and his ears stop ringing - he hadn't even noticed they were. However, a voice, seemingly from nowhere, whispers in his ear. "Not yet, but soon."

[EdroGrimshell]

Javok's breathing settled, and his eyes returned to normal, but the edge was still there for several moments before he stood back up, "...something is following us, something dangerous," he says slowly, and Oszen can hear his apprehension when he says the next line, "and it seems to have made me its target. We keep off the paved roads," he says simply, hoping to avoid whatever had taken such an interest in him.

[Jacior]

Selenite merely smirked. "If danger comes for us, we simply turn and face it! We are stronger than anything that could find us."

[r2d2go]

I'm just going to move this along...

After some minor discussion, the group heeds Javok's instincts and continues down the unpaved path. It seems fairly quiet, and before long, the group finds where it ends - a small clearing, with a tiny hut of wood and woven vines in the center, the size of a small room. The path seems to go straight through the hut, and what looks like the door to the hut matches with the approximate lines of the path.

[EdroGrimshell]

Javok's eyes narrow, the call of the Nightmare making itself known, going into the shack was a scary thought; what was in it? Was it built as a way house or a trap? What set it up? However, that left leaving it behind, which was just as, if not more, scary a thought; what if something was inside waiting to trail them? Would it follow them? Would it kill them?

But then reality caught up to him, it was small, unlikely to house anything big or overly dangerous, but still, if something within decided to follow them... "makes you wonder, doesn't it?" he asked.

[Regalus]

"Then let us banish this mystery, and see who dwells here among the woods. It may easily be an innocent from whom we can learn more of the forest, or it shall be on less threat for us to fret over once all things are settled," stated the copper giant confidently, "Might any of you have away to perceive beyond sight or sense the flow in this region?"

[Jacior]

Selenite stands next to his brother and looks at the shack with some apprehension and only slightly boredness. "Why should we just not knock on the door? Certainly that can't cause any harm."

[EdroGrimshell]

"Ever hear of an impact triggered pitfall?" Javok asks, "blade inside the door next to a cord that links to a trap door just under the dirt, it opens when the cord is cut and you go falling into a pit full of spikes, acid, or a chute to a ravenous beast." Paranoia, they name is Javok.

[Regalus]

"Then we can simply prod it open with a large enough stick," he counters as he looks at the nearby trees for a suitably long and sturdy looking branch.

[Jacior]

Selenite frowns at Javok. "I could just break it then. Or tear up the earth." He looks over at Heliolite. "Fine, go find your stick. Not that it really matters."

[Regalus]

"Wait...ofcourse! How silly I am! We don't need sticks! We have the earth at our feet and the wind! Heliolite starts with a boisterous laughter, "Brother! Bend the earth to your wind and nudge open the hut, and use stones to test its surroundigns for traps! That should satisfy our needs quite nicely!"

[Zarthrax]

Oszen brings up the rear, cautiously peering around Javok in case something bad is about to happen.

[Yasahiro]

Ramiel Faust & Aelita

He simply follows everyone on Tori, with Aelita sitting at the back, holding him to not fall off.

"Let me put it this way. We can either enter the hut to make sure it is or is not related to our quest, or we can just leave it alone and wander around the woods, with hope that we will eventually find what we look for."

[r2d2go]

Following the plan, Selenite throws a large chunk of earth into the hut, only for it to pass completely through. The hut fizzles into nothingness, though an aura of blue light fills the clearing. It soon passes, and a old but clear voice says "Such pure hearts, in this forest? Please, come in." It seems to come from... below? Looking down, you see a sort of trap door build into the forest floor.

[EdroGrimshell]

Javok nearly knocks Oszen over when he jumps at the voice, clearly, despite his obvious paranoia, he was not expecting that, "damn ninja voices," he mutters to himself.

[Jacior]

Selenite looks at the door. "This is either a very obvious trap or a very poor attempt to be friendly. Either way, let's not keep the mysterious voice waiting."

[Regalus]

"Agreed! Let us see what our Host expects of us," he declared before opening the door for the group.

[r2d2go]

Lifting up the trapdoor, Heliolite finds steps down into a fairly well carved stone tunnel. Walking in, a man appears to be standing about thirty feet down the tunnel, wearing a heavy cloak with a hood that conceals most of his face, and carrying a walking stick with a small lantern hooked on the end. His posture is hunched, and as he takes off his hood to look at the party, you see that his face is something like that of a dragon, yet shows signs of age through his white scales, his skin sagging and his eyes weary. You notice that he stands in front of something like a line in the dust, and he gestures towards you with his lantern. "Greetings. I hope you are something of heroes? The wards did not detect any evil from within you, and if you have survived this forest... In any case. I offer an opportunity for great wealth, if you will accept."

Pausing for a moment, he continues so long as nobody interrupts. "Me and my brothers, other Dragonspawn of the five true colors, have been placed here to guard a portion of a dragon's hoard. The dragon has long gone, but we are tired of our forced existence, never eating, never sleeping, always trapped." He prods the line with his staff, and a ripple of force appears in a disk, closing off the tunnel before fading. "We cannot leave, and any that enter we are forced to slay. But perhaps you can grant us rest. If you do, the dragon's treasure is yours." Here, he pauses again, waiting for a response.

[roll0][roll1][roll2][roll3][roll4][roll5][roll6][roll7][roll8][roll9][roll10][roll11]

[Yasahiro]

Ramiel Faust & Aelita

After telling Tori to wait near the trapdoor, both Ramiel and Aelita went downstairs.

First thing they do, of course, is to make sure the Dragonspawn is telling the truth.


Aelita Sense Motive [roll0]
Ramiel Sense Motive [roll1]

[EdroGrimshell]

Javok looks on, "How far in before you're forced to try and kill us?" he asks.

Sense Motive: [roll0]

[r2d2go]

He gestures again with his staff, thunking against the force barrier. "This barrier."

He's quite sincere.
He's probably sincere.

[EdroGrimshell]

Javok nods, and tilted his head slightly, then looks at the others, "I'm willing to," he says, crouched low.