Madness at Brightmore Abbey IC

[Amnestic]

Some 35 years ago, Duskwood was afflicted by a terrible curse and has since been blanketed in darkness, apparently never to see the light of the sun again. The once verdant forests and bright farms are now gnarled and twisted, with ash-black bark and twisted thorny plants. It is a dangerous land, where monsters lurk in the darkened woods – enormous spiders the size of a man, worgen packs can tear through an armoured regiment in moments, and the restless undead eternally hungering for the living. It is a perilous place, but one in which the people continue to live.

Despite your group's eclectic mix, the relative peace between the Alliance and Horde has allowed groups of adventurers that pull from across the world to come together and travel in search of fame, fortune, and fun. You're traveling down the northern route towards Darkshire, the only remaining settlement in the area. The roads are well worn, but noticeably more dilapidated than the roads you passed before entering the nocturnal land.

It is, thankfully, a short journey between the northern edge of night and the safety of the town - at least in comparison to the alternative route. No lanterns exist to light the way, though the flickering light of your own torches helps to keep the darkness at bay. In the distance you hear the rustling of trees and the occasional lupine howl, but they're far off, and you are mercifully unimpeded on your travel. Judging time is difficult in Duskwood – there is no sun in the sky with which to track your progress, but considering how many meals you've had and the requirements for sleep, it's likely been roughly two or three days since you crossed the border.

It's the first other source of light and life you've seen since entering the cursed land, and doubtless a welcome one. In total the town is large enough to host perhaps a few thousand, though they are not all in the town itself, with some scattered to nearby farms in an attempt to grow food suitable for maintaining their homes – difficult though that may be. It's a well known truth that Duskwood has essentially been abandoned by Stormwind for years, even now, and mostly is forced to fend for themselves. It's made them hard, but also created a deeply tight-knit community.

Two figures flank the gate to the town, each highlighted by torches set in sconces that burn with flickering flames. They're dressed in entirely practical scale mail with blades at their belts and crossbows slung across their back. Horns hang round the necks of both and their only notable decoration is a small brooch on each of their breasts – an eye set into the flame of a blazing torch, the symbol of the Night Watch Militia. To no great surprise, the gate is shut.

The pair are notable opposites in their tenure. One, a grizzled man of perhaps 50 years with dark skin, a shaved head and a trimmed white beard. A network of scars crisscross his scalp. The other looks barely old enough to hold a sword, perhaps a scant 15 years at most, but he's clearly seen some combat; his right eye is missing, with three massive claw marks raking across his otherwise youthful features. He can't even grow stubble yet, nevermind a beard to match his fellow gate-guard. A one-eyed watchman might not be ideal, but clearly the militia can't be choosers.

When they see your torchlight approaching, the old man raises a directional lantern to highlight you each in turn, which gives a brief moment of blindness as the bright light hinders your vision, though he sets it aside just as quickly and beckons you forwards. His eyes are stern, but not unkind. 5 years ago, you'd likely receive an order to leave at the end of a sword; times have changed, albeit perhaps not so much for Duskwood itself. “Adventurers, are you?” He calls out in a hoarse voice. It's a fair guess, given your party. “Staying or just passing through?”
“Sure you can trust 'em Dodds?” The youth interjects, apparently not caring that you could hear him. He eyes Jok'lek and Kha'draz with notably more suspicion than the others of your group. A hand rests threateningly on the blade in its scabbard.
“No." He pauses, to let the word sink in - for you and his companion both. “But we're not in a position to turn away helping hands.” The young man gives a quiet "hmph" in response but doesn't say more, leaving Dodds free to continue addressing you directly. ““I'm sure the Commander has some funds stashed away, if you are looking for work. And if you're looking to spend or stay, I can give directions.”

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Disguise Self
Concentration: -

A bit further back in the group, Emilia pulls her cowl into her face even harder. She does prepare for a somewhat hostile welcoming with her own magic. Shadows envelop her skeletal features, making her suddenly look lively and almost welcoming. Yet, she did not approach the guard for closer inspection, enjoying the cover of darkness and bad human eyesight in this dark wood.

Shadows aid me in this negotiation. she puts her hand on her ornate dagger sheathed on her hips stylized with an eye and a tentacle shaped finger guard. We are mercenaries, and work for coin, not for a faction. If you can pay us well, or show us to treasure, we will aid you regardless of our race. Emilia includes herself in the claim readily, even though on a surface level she seems as human as the others. The dark magic of the Guardian has left this area in ruin, and Stormwind did not help, but abandon you. You are right to be wary, but listen to your superior.

If we are allowed to stay, we will gladly use the abode you command us to use.

Persuasion[roll0] + [roll1]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png

[Xihirli]

"Oooh, I love these trees!" Jade said as they went through the gnarled forest. "Think we'll get attacked by a giant spider? I've always wanted a giant spider's venom sacs... well, I want them now, anyway! Ooh! Jok'lek! Did you ever fight a giant spider? How big was it? I want to carve my way through the middle of the biggest thing anyone's ever fought!"

As the lantern shone, Jade covered her eyes. "Ah! My eyes!" She shook her head and stepped up to Dodds. "Hi, I am Jade. This is Kha'draz, he's exploring! That's Emilia, she likes to be nice in terrifying ways. That big guy is Jok'lek, watch out for him, he's almost as strong as me. This is Skipsy, from the explorer's league. She knows how to use a gun! Like, almost as well as a goblin! And I'm just happy to be here."
Jade flashed them her winning smile.

"I will pay you THIS MUCH money," Jade reached into her coin purse and pulled out a handful of gold coins, "If you can tell us where the Deck of Many Things is. Half as much money for information on the Deck of a Few Things, and I'm not interested in the Deck of One Thing. We already have that one. Oh! Oh! Oh!" Jade jumped just to make sure everyone knew she was excited. "You said mister Commander would hire us? What for? I'm really good at killing things! Ask any of the things I've killed!"

[Kushina43]

"I've killed my fair share of giant spiders, but mostly ones that be living in caves instead of the trees." Jok'lek shares with Jade before the approach. "Though venom sacs are hard to come by, fragile things that take time to carve out. Ah, looks like there's a human village." He shields his eyes from their lantern briefly, his anger flaring up in a balled fist before immediately calming down to join the conversation.

"Indeed, we are adventurers. I am Jok'lek, Darkspear warrior. Hir'eek's guidance upon you." He puts a hand to his chest, then raises his fist in a respectful salute. (https://forum.playboundless.com/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3d80422436bd083d1ce8684ef2eebf58060f1ff9.gif) Jade and Emilia make their introductions and offers, and the troll follows up. "We are indeed looking for a magical item last heard was here, to make sure no one terrible gets their hands on it. As my friends have expressed so far, we are more than willing to stay where you decide, and to help around town while we're here, so long as we can get that information."

[Khosan]

Skipsy and Ox, her mechanical battle chicken, travel at a brisk jog/waddle to keep up with the others. "Duskwood's spiders - huff - are pretty notorious - hoo - for their size, - huh - temperament, and high reproductive rate!" She wheezes. trying to maintain her pace, "You can see - hnng - their webs and eggs just - hah - about everywhere. Some very brave people - gulp - make trips out here to - cough - gather things like silk, - eugh - meat, and, yes Jade, - eugh - poison glands." She takes one last deep breath as she finishes her explanation, "For clothes, bandages and antivenom!"

Skipsy waves excitedly at the guards, and starts positively beaming at their suggestion that she, grouped with the others, is an adventurer, "Sure are!" The notion seems to have given her a second wind, "Skipsy, Skipsy Turncrank, archaeologist in good standing with the Explorer's League!" She salutes alongside Jok'lek, barely taller than the troll's knee.

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Disguise Self
Concentration: -

Emilia's eyes glare daggers in the backsides of her friends. With a smile, she then continues. I am sure these fine men are not interested in our alchemical and culinary expeditions.

Against all odds, the guards were pretty open, and her new group would test their chances by rambling about spiders for a solid three minutes. Like the Horde's finest assortment weren't looking dangerous enough, they were already talking about poison, spider meat and sacs. She sighs, though through her ruined lungs the raspy sigh sounds more like wind chilling through an abandoned house.

We would be delighted to get some directions.

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png

[Amnestic]

Though the youth briefly looks interested in the offer of gold, Dodds waves it away before any can change hands, his face remaining impassively stoic as he does so. “Militia pays us well enough, can't take extra." He's not quite quoting a regulation at you, but his tone isn't far off. “Don't know about this 'Deck' you talked about." He casts an eye to his partner in stopping crime, but the youth shakes his head too. “But could be someone else in town does." He thumbs a hand to the gate behind him, still shut. “Keep following this road straight, it'll take you to the town square, can't miss it. Most people pass through there every day, could be a good place to start asking around. Scarlet Raven Tavern's there too if you need a place to stay, and the Town Hall's nearby - it's got a big clocktower. Chances are you'll find the Commander there, if she's not on patrol." Whether used to adventurer quirks or simply too professional, he doesn't engage with the talk of spiders.

He pauses and gives your group one more look over, scrutinising you each in turn. “One last thing then. Everyone gets the same warning: Cause trouble, and you leave town. Cause a lot of trouble, we'll hang you - if you're lucky. Duskwood has enough problems, we aren't looking to add more. Keep your weapons stowed. Welcome to Darkshire. Light guard you." It's delivered in the same stoic tone as before, there's no malice in the 'threat', merely making you aware of the facts. Dodds reaches back a hand and knocks twice on the gate, the dull thump of gauntlet on wood reverberating through it. A moment passes and then it squeaks open on its wooden hinges. Two more guards stand on the other side, and you're waved through into the town proper.


Giving a chance for any more questions/destinations you're concerned with before moving along.

[Xihirli]

"Weapons! I have a really cool one!" Jade almost reached for her battle-ax, then frowned and gripped her hands together.
"No weapons," she repeated to herself like a mantra. "No weapons." She started running into the gates, but stopped in her tracks and pulled from the bag at her waist a journal and ink pen. The journal was titled List of Friends. Jade scrawled down
Dodds
Grumpy kid
Then she stuffed the journal away and resumed heading inside.

[Kushina43]

"Scarlet Raven Tavern, and the commander may be at the town hall which got the clock tower," Jok'lek repeats aloud to be certain he heard right, then nods his head affirmatively. "And of course, no trouble. Not a problem. We appreciate your help." He makes sure his weapons are secure and glances at everyone but Jade, who's already gone ahead as expected, to make sure any questions or concerns are addressed before they head in.

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Disguise Self
Concentration: -

Emilia approaches the older guard. Are there any unsavory types we should avoid? I don't want to be pulled into a fight, and then reprimanded for defending myself. she says with an almost sincere smile. I don't care about your underworld here. We need a base of operations, we are not here to start something. She looks around.

There are far more lucrative townships around. she says with a weak smile.

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png

[Amnestic]

Dodds' frown deepens, the furrow in his brow creasing at the question. "Darkshire's a good village. 'Unsavoury types' don't stick around. We make sure of that." A look of curiosity crosses his face and he leans in towards Emilia, his gaze scrutinising her further as he inhales through his nose. "So make sure you don't become one, if you want to stay."


I'll move along to town centre later today, last chance for questions but seems like you're good for now.

[Amnestic]

Darkshire's buildings are mostly wooden, though they're interspersed with some of stone. While certainly more well lit than the woods at large and the path you took here, pockets of darkness are regular and the flickering of lantern and torch make shadows leap and twist in the corners of your eyes. It would be easy to hide in this place, in the darkened gaps between lights, but the cobblestone road you walk to the centre of town is at least generally well lit, and you can abandon own lighting. Those you pass on the road give you a wide berth, eyeing you with suspicion, curiosity and - in the case of Kha'draz - barely concealed disdain. Orcish history in the area is one of cooperation with humans.

The town centre is only a short walk away and it's immediately clear when you enter it. A wider space, its core is dominated by an ornate stone fountain, a far cry from the otherwise practical town that heralds back to a time before the curse wreathed the land in shadow. The clocktower spoken of is here, of course, attached to the largest building in sight. Its entryway is guarded, but the door is open, with light streaming out into the square. A glance up at the clocktower tells you it's late afternoon, or perhaps early morning. More likely the former, in your case. The timing would explain the number of people. Even the quiet, gloom-swept town needs to function and there's a number of vendors selling goods from small carts or stalls.

Perhaps most visually notable is a Night Elf, her age indeterminate as all elves are, selling flowers. A stark contrast to the rest of the town, their colours are bright and vibrant, catching the flickering torchlight in reds, yellows, purples and greens that seem to defy the decay that otherwise defines the area. Her wares seem relatively popular, and there's a steady stream of people who greet her warmly, buying a flower here, a bouquet there while sharing a pleasant conversation. Other stalls have more expected fare - clothing, tools, trinkets carved of wood and forged from metal. Some are in the shapes of protective talismans, though chances are that faith is the shield that offer, rather than tangible magic if the craftsmanship and price tags are any indication.

The majority of those you see are human, to no great surprise, but there are a few dwarves and gnomes among them.

Not far off is another building from which you can hear carousing and good cheer, as well as smell roasted meats. The hanging sign outside its door bears the faded image of a blood-red bird, and the worn letters of Scarlet Raven Tavern. Further away, just outside of the square, you can hear the rythmic hammering of metal on metal, and a plume of smoke steadily rising tells you they're probably the local smith. A larger building (though not quite the size of the town hall), they are probably the only one that services the entire town.


Feel free to split up if you want to cover more ground in a shorter time period for searching out information, I'm happy to run multiple scenes at once.

[Xihirli]

Jade was intrigued by the idea of a guy paying her to kill things, and ran off to the town hall to find Mr. Commander.
She pushed on the doors of the Town Hall with her powerful goblin muscles.

"Hello, I'm Jade!" She introduced herself. "I'm looking for Mr. Commander, I'm really good at killing things!"

[Kushina43]

The place was quite nice for its location, at least as far as human towns go. Peaceful, though the number of guards was not lost on Jok'lek, and neither were the wary eyes they and some townsfolk gave him, and the sheer number started raising his temper. He shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath to let his anger flow out, like he was taught during the Pandaria expeditions, and opens his eyes to find Jade has run off to the town hall, likely to talk about killing things, and he facepalms. He'd grown to love the little goblin, as he did most of the group, but he'd gotten careless and should've expected this from the get-go.

"For the love of- I'm goin' ahead to the town hall to make sure she doesn't accidentally get us kicked out. Get us situated in the tavern, while I try and sort this out-" he starts explaining his idea as he starts for the town hall, rushing while shouting the final suggestion. "But if anyone wants to help, please feel free!"

He makes it to the Town Hall, the doors already pushed open by the eager goblin, and steps behind her to stay close - whatever Jade said a moment ago, it didn't seem to be winning over anyone in here at a glance.

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Disguise Self
Concentration: -

Oh, for Light's sake. Jade, get back here! Emilia does not sound but exclaim as loud as a worried mother would. Putting her hand onto the head of the goblin, Jade can feel the bony claw. Emilia tries to pull the head of the strong goblin to her face, but her weak undead frame would be too weak to really force her. One: The commander is a woman. Two: We don't go around bragging how good we are at murdering. I can tell you are excited to get your fighting on, but we have to behave a bit. That being said, Emilia rises once again.

As my little friend said, we would like to meet the Nightwatch commander. We are mercenaries in search of work.

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png

[Amnestic]

The people pushed past by Jade, and in pursuit of her, are a mix of clerks dressed in neat finery and more Night Watch militia in the same scale mail you'd seen before. A few put their hands to their blades, though none draw them. The expression on their faces say they're quite willing to do so, however, should the need come to it, but you're not blocked from your passage. A short journey through a winding passage brings you to the main room of the town hall proper, a long chamber dotted with tables, chairs, desks, a lectern for speeches and rows upon rows of books upon shelves that line the walls. To your left, a group of militia stood clustered around a drafting table with a map of Darkshire, quietly talking. To your right, a small group of officials clustered in hushed words while a scribe took notes to their side. "Commander." A militiawoman who had quietly, and almost invisibly, slipped into step behind you makes herself known, calling to the group at the maptable. "These...mercenaries wish to speak with you."

A black-haired woman stands back from the table, before nodding to the others with her, who disperse immediately leaving you free to approach. She bears no markings or signifiers that she holds rank over any of the other militia, no medals pinned to a chest, no ornate cloak or fancy armour. She wears the same that the rest do, complete with dents from battle. This is no noble who leads from the safety of the keep, that is certian. Perhaps in her mid-30s at most, her stance and presence are that of a veteran soldier. Even if she's not the oldest member of the Watch, she holds herself as a leader, and the air of authority about her is clear. "Thank you, Paige." The soft-stepped soldier salutes, before moving away. "Commander Althea Ebonlocke, Night's Watch Militia." She has the same crisp professionalism that Dodds has - if anything she's more abrupt and to the point. "Looking for work? There's plenty to go around. Can you scout?"

[Xihirli]

"Mercenaries? We're not mercenaries. We're just a band of travelers with no particular loyalty to any one place willing to fight in exchange for compensation."
Jade frowned. "Wait."

But her existential crisis could wait. She pulled out her List of Friends and added Commander Althea Ebonlocke.
"Can I scout? Absolutely! The wilderness is where I thrive! Why, every winter my mother would put me in the snow pile to guard the house. 'Now don't come back in,' she'd say. And there I'd stay, living off the land! I learned how to make a warmish place to live! Out of ICE and SNOW! It was great! Question though: When you say 'scout,' do you want us to go out, find danger, come back and warn you about it? Or go out, find danger, and eliminate it before it has a chance to bother you? I confess I have more experience with the other one!"

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Disguise Self
Concentration: -

Of course we can scout. And we are capable to keep ourselves alive even if we would be caught- Emilia says. Her smile becomes overwide, almost as if she was waiting for this. And we can interrogate as well, if you need us to. Pry information from loose minds. the priest sends telepathically to the commander. Do not be distressed. I will not use the powers granted to me on anyone here. She pauses for a second, and then adds. There is something private I would want only you to 'hear' so to speak. Do you accept? She offers a hand to grab for the commander.

The commander feels not a warm human hand but a skeletal hand in her own. It reverberates in her mind.I am a dead woman, Commander Ebonlocke. I died during the Scourge, and this is but a phantasm to calm your men and townsfolk. I want to help you, because just as Stormwind and Dalaran abandoned us, they also left you.

And I do not want to start our work relation with a lie.

The priest then bows as courteously as she can.

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png

[Khosan]

Skipsy waves to everyone running off to meet the commander, "Let me know if we're getting kicked out of town! I'll get us a spot at the tavern!" She strolls over to the tavern, thankful for the chance to walk instead of jog, with Ox jerkily waddling behind. The smithy was of some interest to her, poor guy was probably overworked and could use a pair of helping gnomish hands, but there'd be time for that later. For now, rooms.

Dodging through legs both human and chair, Skipsy approaches the bar and, using Ox as a temporary footstool, clambers up on to a barstool. She waves to get the barkeep's attention (then for a few seconds after as an excessively friendly 'hello'), "Heya! My friends and I just got in, they'll be here soon." Taking a deep breath, she prepares to order for the group, "Could I get a glass of wine, a mug of spiced apple cider, two mugs of ale, a loaf of bread, a wedge of whatever cheese you have on offer, and a few cuts of that delicious smelling creature over the fire?" She smiles broadly, before a thought occurs and she claps her hands excitedly, "Oh! If you have it, can we get two spider sausages? I think Jade'd like those."

[Amnestic]

Town Hall

Commander Ebonlocke takes a step back from Emilia's hand with martial precision. "Anything you have to say can be said aloud. Enter my mind again unbidden and you will be arrested." You might have expected a raised voice or anger in her response, but it's in the same measured tone as her previous statements. Flat and punctual, a simple statement of boundaries - nothing more or less. She moves past it swiftly, letting no awkwardness hang in the air as she shifts to explaining the task. "Travelers moving along the central road in Duskwood have been coming under more attacks than usual as of late. Some who survived report gnolls, perhaps moved south from Elwynn. Lord Ebonlocke believes these to be a nuisance, but ultimately no great concern. I disagree." She gestures to a point on the map east of the Twilight Grove, on the close side of the mountains. At a guess, it's likely two or three days hike away if you travel there as the crow flies. "Brightmore Abbey has been abandoned by humanity for generations and all manner of creature has taken up residence over the years. While they kept to themselves this wasn't an issue, but if the gnolls are raiding I can't leave it alone. Find out how many there are, what defenses they have, and then report back. 600 gold coins in payment." She pauses to allow the information to sink in, then adds: "Questions?"

Tavern

The inside of the tavern is warm as expected, with one wall dominated by an enormous fireplace and its roaring hearth. They clearly have no fear of the fire spreading though, as much of the building and furniture are carved from wood. The smell of meat, beer and sweat permeate the air, though thankfully more the former than the latter. Ambient chatter punctuated with laughs and cheers surrounds you, and no one gives Skipsy any particular notice.

There's only one person at the bar at the moment, a woman perhaps in her mid 20s, with brown skin and shining amber eyes. There's no sense of melancholy or sadness within, though that could just be how she is while she works - a perfectly sculpted mask of hospitality. Or maybe she's just as positive as she seems. She listens to Skipsy's order, carefully scribing a note into a wax tablet as she nods along, with no objections raised to any of the requests. "Aye, can do love, can do. I'll start a tab for you and yours, yeah? Grab a table that's free, we'll bring it to you when it's ready." The slight twang to her accent indicates she's spent time in dwarven lands, though not much more. The inn is alive with activity around you as the barkeep slides one of the tablets behind her to the kitchen at her back. Most of those clustered around the spacious tavern floor look to be labourers, wearing the heavy duty clothing of those who till the fields or move goods. Most seem local, and likely of little import to you.

There's a few that catch the eye scattered around however - a draenei woman wearing pristine white robes is sat alone, cradling a goblet of wine in one hand as reads a thin book clasped in the other, a man whose build is that of a labourer, but his age and clothing mark him as one retired from that life though his aged eyes still hold a keen and discerning gaze, and a young woman in traveling gear sat alone in the darkest corner in the room, nursing an ale as her eyes flicker between those who enter with a manic energy.

[Kushina43]

"Jok'lek, of the Darkspear," the troll introduces himself to Commander Ebonlocke, stepping aside from Jade and a step toward her to converse properly. "Straight to the point, I like that... Aye, scouting's within our skillset. There anything in particular you lookin' for? Duskwood clearly be a dangerous place, but you ask rather quickly for someone so experienced in the matter." He tries to clarify their task, almost certain this has something to do with their goal of the Deck, even if she wasn't aware or it's something tangential as new bandit camps.

He listens as the Commander explains the reports of gnoll attacks on travelers and nods along. "Gnoll attacks.. Alright, we can look into that. Gnolls be quite nasty, don't need more in a place already dangerous. Not sure they'd..." his last sentence much quieter and trails off into silent thought, studying the map. "Two day trip.. perhaps three, and back. May need some time to rest after our travel, but we'll go the moment we're ready. One question, though- have there been any notable details about these gnoll attacks, aside from the frequency?"

[Amnestic]

Her answer is as prim and precise as always, with no hesitation on recalling details. "Make whatever preparations you need. Herble Baubbletump runs a general store nearby if you need additional supplies and Morg is the head smith if you need weapons or armour fitting. Information from the attacks are scattered and unclear, but two reports said the gnolls stopped chasing after the people dumped what they were carrying. Their pack leader might be more interested in coin than killing. Make no mistake though - they're still killers. This job is just to scout, but no one in Darkshire will complain if you put some down along the way."

[Xihirli]

Automatically, Jade divided 600 by 5. "Hey, a nice even one-twenty for each of us. Isn't that great, Jok'lek?" Jade jumped up on his shoulder and climbed until she could sit down pretty comfortably.
"My question, related to this task, is if there happens to be a bounty out on gnolls. 'Cuz if we're going to where they are anyway, and I could bring back like four gnoll heads, do you think I could turn that in for additional money? You know, I'm already making a trip, hoping to get in some hunting, right?"
Jade flashed her new friend her winning smile.

[Amnestic]

"Until I know what I'm dealing with, I can't authorise any bounties. Discretionary funds are limited." She doesn't shy away from this fact, there's no embarrassment in her bluntness that they simply might not be able to pay if you arrived with too many gnolls killed. "For now, you're being paid to scout and report, that's all. The situation might change depending on what you find out."

[Xihirli]

"Got it!" Jade said. "I have no more questions, then! Into the wilderness! After sleeping!"
Jade leaned next to Jok'lek's ear and whispered, which for her was quite a lot like yelling. "Hey, we should buy a lot of salt. That way we can bring a bunch of gnoll meat back and the town can have a biiiiiig feast! But shh! It's a surprise!"

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Disguise Self
Concentration: -

Emilia lowers her hand clutching it in her own feeling the bony structure underneath. She was a fraud, a thin veil of humanity between her and being a monster. She pauses for a few moments before responding. Maybe we exchange more information once we trust each other more.

Yes, I have an easy question for you. We are new to these parts. Aside from gnolls and our group's extensive encounters with spiders, what are other threats of the area? I have heard of feral worgen, of undead and even demons. What of it is true?


https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png

[Amnestic]

"Not counting the gnolls the primary threats in Duskwood are the restless undead, feral worgen packs, roaming beasts such as wolves or giant spiders, and ogres - in that order." She gestures again to the map for your attention. "Undead tend to congregate around Raven Hill and Tranquil Garden, you're unlikely to face many if you travel only between Brightmore and back. Likewise, the ogres stick mostly to their mound unless provoked. Worgen and beast packs lurk in the woods; they'll likely be most of what you find on the route west. Demons are a rarity. For a time the Twilight Grove spawned creatures of nightmare, but it has been dormant for a number of years, I wouldn't expect to face any such creatures, though Brightmore's proximity may have had unusual effects." It didn't seem in her nature to shrug, and she doesn't, but if she were someone else, they might have done at this point. "Hopefully the scouting will tell you more."

[Kushina43]

Jok'lek was plenty used to the goblin perching on occasion at this point, but it didn't make it less comfortable long term. "You got it, Commander Ebonlocke. We'll reconvene at the tavern and we'll go once we're prepared" He walks out, Jade still perched on his shoulder, and when her offer comes in he gives it some thought, replying quietly in kind. "Gnoll meat or not, salt is definitely worth getting.. But I am tempted by the idea. Ya don't think they'd find it weird to eat gnoll?" Once the pair arrive at the tavern, he's getting sore and lets Jade back down, opening the door for the both of them and looking for the Skipsy and Kha'draz.

[Khosan]

"Excellent! Thank you, we'll be right over there," Skipsy hops off the stool, bouncing off Ox, and quickly making her way over to an empty table near the entrance. Climbing up on to a chair (again with Ox's help), she places her bag on the table, picks up her oh-so-helpful mechanical friend and places him neatly in her lap. Retrieving her tinker's tools, she places a few coins on the table and, with a little arcane fiddling, quickly enchants them, creating a tune familiar to some, though much tinnier (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LngnhyTmO2U).

Content with the ambience the music provides, Skipsy (humming along with the tune) takes a look around the tavern. She squints at the draenei, trying to identify the book in her hand, but makes no move to draw the woman's attention away from her reading. After Skipsy shares a brief glance with the woman in the corner, she waves enthusiastically to her.

[Amnestic]

A 4lb bag of salt is quickly acquired for the low price of two silver coins from the general store that the Commander directs you to - the balding gnome shopkeep seems only mildly interested in what adventurers would need with such vast quantities of salts, but doesn't press the issue, and soon enough the party rejoins to its full strength of four inside the tavern. You do get some curious looks, but most of the patrons stick to themselves - there's no need to sour the ale by causing trouble, after all.

A glance at the book in the draenei's hands tells Skipsy the title is likely "Gilnean Nights."


Gilnean Nights is the third book in the so-called 'Romance of the Seven Kingdoms' series (a sequel to the first 'Red Mask Rebellion' and the second 'Kul Tyranny'), a collection of adventure-romance novels centred around a young Dalaranian mage pushed into a position far beyond her talents (or so she thinks) due to a twist of fate, as she is forced to navigate a twisting maze of sinister plots and romantic interest in both her childhood friend - an archer from Southshore with not a drop of magic in his body - and an exceedingly charming elven noble whose power entices and scares the protagonist in equal measure. Its ease of reading has made it a popular series sold the world over, and though some scenes can be steamy they never cross the line into full adult content.

The goblin author insists that it's based on dramatised true stories, and its popularity eventually forced Dalaran's Kirin Tor to denounce that as a falsehood, though whether they're telling the truth remains a hot button issue among fans, with most believing that at least some of what is written is true.


When Skipsy waves to the other young woman in the darkened corner, she gives a slight jump and looks away swiftly, pointedly keeping her eyes averted. Not long afterwards, a waitress arrives at the table and lays out the requested food and drinks. "If you need anythin', just holler." She says, before moving on to others, and you're left to talk over your next steps in peace.

[Xihirli]

"Could I have some milk?" Jade requested, leaving the alcoholic drinks alone.

"Right. So we got this crazy good job. Six hundred gold coins, one-fifty apiece. We go scout out how many gnolls are in this place, come back with information. Then a SURPRISE GNOLL FEAST!" Jade grinned at Jok'lek.
"I think they'll like gnoll meat! I assume it's like a mix between dog meat and cat meat? Since gnolls are like hyenas, which are like... cats who look like dogs. So everyone will love it!" Jade took a long drink of milk.

"Like, of course we keep looking for the deck, but I don't think we should ask around for it just yet. Well, more than we have. I don't mean to surprise you all, but I don't think the people around here trust us. I say we do the gnoll thing, everyone likes us, and then start asking around. Asking about it now only increases the chance that some other group hears we're after it, then they get to it first."

[Khosan]

Skipsy blushes, realizing what the draenei is reading, whispering, "Oh my," to herself before shaking her head and moving on. And following the other woman's response to her wave, Skipsy shrugs, thanks the waitress, and sips her cider, waiting for the others to arrive.

With an enthusiastic wave, Skipsy directs everyone over to the table, "Hey guys! I got dinner. Emilia, wine for you, Jok'lek, an ale, cider for me. Jade! I got you some spider sausage, give it a try. It's like crab meat, but...tangier." The gnome merrily munches away on a slice of bread with a bit of Stormwind brie. "What's the word from the commander? Any leads?"

[Kushina43]

Jok'lek accepts the ale, taking a hearty swig and nearly slamming it into the table. "Ooh, thanks, I needed that.. " He gestures to Jade as she explains their basic job description and pay, then tacks on "As for the deck, no leads I can tell. The gnolls seem to be after coin and belongings more than life, which seems a bit unusual, but nothing unheard of. Could be a band of mercs instead of a proper pack from the north like she thinks, and if they're mercs, could be a boss."

He takes another sip of his ale, more gentle about putting it down this time, and speaks a bit more quietly. "Still not 100% on if the alliance like gnoll meat, but I know tauren occasionally eat it, so it can't be too unusual, no?"

[Xihirli]

Jade happily chowed down on spider sausage. "Ah, delicious! Really brings out the spidery crunch!"
She sat back and hummed along to a tune exclusively in her head.
"Alright, let's get a room or seven, then go gnoll-hunting in the morning!" Jade said happily. "And we'll come back a hundred fifty gold richer apiece!"

[Khosan]

"Shame about no leads, but we'll pick something up." Skipsy jabs a cut of meat with her fork, "Gnoll meat? Can't say I know any recipes," she waves the piece of boar in front of her nose, hoping to jog her memory, "They have recipes for us, I'm certain. All meat is meat to a gnoll. The Alliance doesn't share that view. A lot of Night Elves especially - vegetarians." She takes a bite, "There's a couple reasons, but the big one: sentience. Eating anything with strong opinions about the world generally doesn't go over well."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Disguise Self
Concentration: -

Not trying her luck further, Emilia leaves the town hall and reapplies the magic in a corner anew. This town was weird, but they were weirder. As she entered the inn for the social gathering she was met with an entirely useless glass of wine. A nice gesture for sure, but more or less pointless. Listening to the ramblings about meat, Emilia finds a slower point in the discussion and interjects. Remember to leave some body alive for my mind magic. We want to know why they do it, not hunt them all ourselves.

Sitting at the corner position, Emilia then falls silent and watches the inn until her magic almost fails. She then excuses herself to join their room as her illusion falls and her forsaken self is revealed.

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png

[Amnestic]

After feasting and drinking to your heart's content (to a total cost – including the stay – for 2 gold each, or eight gold total) you retire to bed, keen in the knowledge that there will be no sunrise to greet you in the morning, just more dark. The rooms are, at least, comfortable and their beds soft. There's a few others staying, but they give you a wide berth as necessary.

Sure enough, the morning is dark. You're awoken by the clocktower bell chiming, at the early hour of 6AM, calling both yourselves – and those others in town – to stir. After a brief breakfast washed down with a moderate amount of alcohol, you pack your gear, make any final purchases for traveling supplies, and leave the same way you came, before abruptly turning west. There are no roads to Brightmore Abbey, not anymore, and it didn't appear on any maps of note. Having been long-abandoned, detailing its location would only draw fool treasure hunters; or adventurers.

It's slow going through the dense forest, moving by torchlight. Every flicker of the torch, every shifting motion, sends shadows dancing around you, ones that seem to creep ever closer before jumping away again, pushed back by the light that you cluster towards.

A few hours outside of town, your nose is assaulted by the permeating smell of rot and blood, of death unburied and uncared for. It seems to surround you, but as you continue forward on your path you spot the source – two bodies, eviscerated by claw and tooth. They've been dead for days at least, and no doubt they are no longer suitable as a meal for the animals, just the trees. They're dressed in traveling clothes, though they're torn apart by this point, and it looks like they might have died holding hands. Beneath one of the bodies is a traveling pack that still bulges with secrets, untouched by whatever monsters tore their lives asunder.


It's not just rot – there's something else wrong with the bodies beneath the stench, and it's likely disease. Being near to and/or moving the bodies could risk infection.

[Kushina43]

Jok'lek is among the first prepared to leave - waking early was required of him while in Pandaria and it just became a habit. He took the lead walking through the forest, and once he got one too many shudders from these moving shadows, he calls for a quick stop. Pulling out a hooded lantern engraved with bat-shaped markings and filling it with oil, he raises it high and says a prayer aloud. "Hir'eek guide me through this land - with this blessed tool, grant me clarity of sight, that it may come close to how your great sound so clearly perceives all of this world. I beseech you for your divine protection from the dark!" He opens the hood and ignites the lantern, dispelling the darkness immediately around them.

When they get to the bodies, he places the lantern on the ground. Even if Ebonlocke said they didn't frequent this area, he wasn't going to mess with bodies directly when undead were a potential threat. Instead, he pulls out his greataxe, debating whether to prod the bodies away to get to the traveling pack, turning to the group for sugestions. "Think this is worth checking out? I'm unsure when the undead be roamin' these forests."

[Xihirli]

"You babies!" Jade hopped over to the corpses. "You're acting like you've never seen a dead body – one of us IS one! Look, we're scouts. Note down that a couple here needs a proper burial and Missus Commander will pick them up later."
Jade hopped over and opened up the pack. "Let's take a look – I promise, no stealing money from the dead!" She acknowledged. "Unless we killed them for any of the various reasons we kill people." She looked inside to see what was in there, but was serious about not looting them for money – Missus Commander had a better chance of finding their family than any of them did.

[Khosan]

Skipsy is one of the last to rise. Gnomish arms and armor need far more maintenance, as one might expect. With most of her time taken up with that surprisingly intricate task, her breakfast is especially brief, barely more than a slice of toast with jam mashed into her mouth on the way out the door.

The sight of the bodies gives Skipsy a jump, eliciting an audible gasp from the gnome. Taking a moment to compose herself with a deep, focusing breath, she approaches them (plugging her nose all the while) and inspects them. Their clothing calls to mind the woman in the corner from the night before, "I wonder if she knew them..."

[Amnestic]

It takes a few tugs for Jade to pull out the pack from beneath the body. Blood has soaked into it from above, which has ruined some of the contents - the rations especially are no good anymore and there looks to have been at least two letters or scrolls that disintegrate when you touch them, making their contents a mystery forever. Coins hold up better however, and you find loose coinage totaling 18 gold pieces, alongside a sealed potion of healing (helpfully labelled!). With a bit of cleaning they'll be just as usable as ever.

Now closer to the bodies, Skipsy can see that though they were both humans (given their size and builds), their bodies are both subtly different from each other and from humans in general. The fingers of one of them end in razor sharp claws, while in the other's case a small, hairy tail like that of a monkey protrudes from their lower back. Around the wrist of the clawed one is a small bracelet marked with a stylised flower carved from a gemstone. Such pendants were usually used as gifts for loved ones and contain a minor magical enchantment.


Skipsy and Jade both need to roll a DC12 constitution save; the effects of a success/failure will not become clear immediately so continue on regardless!

[Xihirli]

Jade left the money in the pouch but pulled out the healing potion.
"Ta da!" She shouted, and hopped back to the others. "And that's five hundred times I've hopped instead of stepping today!" She said, resuming normal walking. "Come on, we are losing daylight!"

[roll0]
I cannot fail this CON save. I literally just have to roll a 6 or higher on a d20. What are the chances of rolling a 1-5? Zero, it must be. Impossible.

[Khosan]

Skipsy tilts her head, lifting up the clawed hand, "Are they Worgen? No. That tail should be...fluffier." She respectfully places a hand on each of the bodies' heads and bows her head, "I'm not much of a priest, but this'll have to do. Light keep you." Her attention turns to the ring, which she, with as much respect as she can muster looting the recently deceased, plucks from the corpse, "Hopefully someone in town will be able to identify this."

[roll0]

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Disguise Self
Concentration: -

Emilia hated her undead appearance, but in a way it was relieving to be accepted and not needing to hide behind phantasms outside of towns. Food did not give her any satisfaction though the ritual itself of sitting down with friends was still a thing for her. Her thoughts kept her distracted while the very much alive members of the party prodded and tugged at the very much bloated and diseased corpse. I would get away from that if I were you. You...you looted it already, did you? Then just burn the corpses, will you? A burial is too dangerous.

Now that locket however might be a small boon for us. Ironic that something meant to protect them is now protecting their grave robbers. With little regard to the health of her comrades - after all they didn't get themselves killed on their own, and she recently started enjoying having more undead minions around - Emilia presses on towards the Abbey.

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png

[Amnestic]

However you deal with the bodies - whether you leave them to rot, burn, or bury them, you continue on through the dense woods. At one point you notice a pack of wolves, 4 in total - one for each of you - is keeping pace at your back. Too far away to strike through the trees, but neither do they approach. After another hour they drop away and seem to give up the 'chase' in favour of prey that perhaps wields a bit less fire and steel. Eventually you reach the end of your first day of travel and are unable to push forwards any more without putting yourselves at risk, and after a delightful supper of trail rations you retire to sleep between watches.

When Jade awakens, the effect of her reckless approach of the bodies makes itself clear, as her fingers have elongated and spaghettified themselves. Though they can still grip objects (and more importantly weapons) well enough, the unusual feeling means her dexterity with matters requiring a fine hand are far more limited. Otherwise she feels...surprisingly fine. No fever, no coughing. Just awkwardly long and unwieldy fingers,


Jade has disadvantage on all sleight of hand checks until her disease is cured.



Wondrous Item (Amulet), Common
These pendants are often sold to couples to commemorate an engagement or major anniversary milestones. As an action you can use the amulet's power to cast Protection from Good and Evil on yourself. Once the amulet's power has been used, it cannot be used again for 1d4 days.



With the incubation period established along with seeing a third symptom, you can deduce the disease as "Farr'do'Arcana", or 'Magic Flux', to take its more Common translation from the original elvish.

Caused by a magical anomaly that bonds with a more common disease (frequently the common cold) it can cause rapid mutations in the subject. Some can be beneficial (such as growing functional gills), some harmful (like the aforementioned spaghetti fingers - or in some cases losing your eyes entirely), and some useless (such as a skin colour change). When exposed to the disease, you make a DC12 Constitution save. On a fail, you gain a mutation at the end of your next long rest.

At the end of each subsequent long rest, you roll another saving throw, with the save DC increasing by +1 each time, to a maximum of DC20. On each fail, you gain another mutation. You continue to make saving throws even after maxing out the save DC. This disease cannot be overpowered by the body alone, and a successful save merely delays the worst. It must be purged with magic such as Lesser Restoration or Dispel Magic.

Without proper precautions, by traveling with Jade you risk the disease spreading to the rest of the group.

[Xihirli]

"Ha!" Jade guffawed. She wiggled her hands and smacked them into each other to make the spaghetti appendages bounce off of each other.
"That’s hilarious! Hey Jok’lek! Look at this! I’ve got octopus hands! But with ten fingers! I’ve got decapus hands!" Jade whipped her hands around some more.
"This is great! Let’s keep going without putting even a little thought into this!"

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Disguise Self
Concentration: -

The forsaken priest sighs a raspy sigh. If she could roll her eyes to any visual effect, they would probably do a proper turn now. Jade. You stay away from the others. I have not planned for any stupid little infections today. Your cure will have to wait for tomorrow. Until then, everyone else avoid her like the scourge. There is a certain sharpness in her voice, almost akin to hostility. Diseases, magical or mundane were a delicate point for the human killed by the magical disease introduced to this world by the agents of the Burning Legion.

This thing however she raises the pendant between her spindly fingers. protects from all kinds of otherworldly threats. Any takers? If not, I shall take it.

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png

[Xihirli]

Jade sulked, but walked a distance from the others."Fine, fine. Let's finish this and get back to town!"
She pulled out her axe, and practiced swinging it with her weird fingers.

[Amnestic]

With Jade sequestered off to one side - within sight distance but not coming close enough to risk infection - you continue on your path westwards, towards what you hope is the Abbey. The flames from your torches and lanterns keep wandering monsters at bay, and perhaps the wolves can smell the disease on Jade, as even they keep a wide berth from her. After a long day of travel through the dense woods, you eventually spot pinpricks of light on the horizon, casting the world around them into silhouette. Unless there's a second abbey complex that happened to be 2-3 days journey west of Darkshire, it seems likely you're now observing Brightmore, as much as you can in the dark of Duskwood.

A few bonfires inside the raised grounds give you some idea of what you're looking at though, even at this distance, but more than that the area seems bathed in a sickly purple glow - likely not enough to affect your sight in close proximity, but when layered at a distance it clearly stands out. The abbey grounds cover most of a hillside, sequestered in the shadow of the mountain range that surrounds the Twilight Grove. There was likely a path to it, once, but if so it's overgrown through decades of neglect and cursed plantgrowth. You can vaguely make out the shape of a gate in your path, and to either side stretches a curtain wall supported by occasional towers and buttresses. Far above the wall, at the peak of the hill, is a caved-in temple that somehow still stands proudly.

Turning towards the south, the wall extends towards a tall watch tower, though if your eyes are not mistaken there may be a gap in the stonework in which the overgrown nature has filled with twisted plantlife. To the north, the wall stretches around the northern side of the hill out of sight, but it could be scalable with some effort. From what you can tell at this far off distance the walls are unmanned - certainly there's no lights atop them - but whether that means you're invisible is another matter.

From behind the walls, the hill rises up, and a village stretches around a road that curves up and around the hill, nestled in the shadow of the shattered temple atop the hilltop. It is among the silhouettes of sagging roofs and toppled wrecks of houses that rest the bonfires - the first and only real sign (at this distance, at least) of occupation. Dominating the village's horizon is a squat, square tower that appears to still be intact, and on the south side of the keep - near the gate - is what is likely the stone keep that housed the defensive forces, once upon a time. Further south is a tangled expansse of forest sprawling over the hillside, with a few crumbling structures such as a belltower poking through the treetops.

Observing from afar only does so much for you, however, and the distance towards the abbey still stretches before you - in addition to deciding on how you plan to bypass the outer perimiter, there is the matter of when to do so - you could push on today, but could risk being forced to make camp inside the Abbey's walls, or rest in the 'safety' outside of it, and spend an extra day (and long rest) with Jade's infection.

[Kushina43]

After some consideration, Jok'lek decides to take a torch from his pack and light it up, using some of his oil to burn the bodies. As they trek on, he lets his lantern die out over the next few hours, content to go on with just the torch as nothing unnatural happened. The wolves were a concern, but the open flames the group's torches probably helped keep them at bay more easily than Hir'eek's lantern.

Upon waking the next day and seeing Jade's condition for himself, he initially laughs with her at how silly the noodle fingers look, but is quite concerned that she caught an unnatural disease from the corpses - he's very glad he burned them now. Emilia's advice to keep away from the goblin is taken, though he moves to the back of the group for the rest of the trip, constantly looking back to make sure she's still with them. When they look upon what is presumably Brightmore, he finds himself blinking as if to clear the purple away, until it becomes clear that's just.. there, for some reason. The visible temple at the hill's peak does not help matters.
"Spooky." he states plainly.

He moves back towards the front to investigate and identifies the possible entry points on the north and south parts of the wall. He gives it some thought personally, then turns to the group, speaking more loudly to include the further Jade. "I see two places we can get in, but I think we should rest first. Emilia, you said you could cure Jade tomorrow, yes? An extra day to make sure we're all prepared and healthy shouldn't be a problem for Ebonlocke, long as we stay far enough out of sight."

[Xihirli]

Jade waved at the others and chuckled at what her fingers looked like. She couldn't hear them, but through a series of jumps, kicks, and dance moves that none of them had been unfortunate enough to see before, she tried to convey that she would maintain this distance and follow their lead.

I don't think Jade can get a vote here without either yelling I got a four! or going closer, so she'll follow.

[Khosan]

Skipsy removes her gloves to inspect her own fingers once Jade's issue becomes apparent. She wiggles her digits, all four of them, and nods, satisfied. It seems to escape her attention that she has tools to potentially deal with the goblin's predicament.

Later that evening, as they're scouting the abbey itself, Jok'lek jogs her memory, "Oh yeah! Don't worry, Emilia, I got this one! Probably! I stock a loooot of healing stuff and I got something that might do the trick." With an oft-seen enthusiasm, Skipsy reaches into her bag and removes her Gnomish army knife, flipping out one of the more inscrutable tools and rushing over to poke Jade in the back of the neck with it. A light on the omni-tool flashes and produces a loud BZZZT when contact is made.

"I say we go in. Fortune favors the bold!"

Skipsy casts Lesser Restoration on Jade, kind of just hoping it'll work, despite not knowing the exact cause.

[Xihirli]

"Ah!" Jade brought up her shield and raised her ax as she stared down Skipsy.
"You stabbed me! Does that mean you're a traitor? Are we fighting now?"
And as her little green fingies settled back into their proper shape, Jade understood.
"Aw, thanks Skipsy!" She stepped up and gave the gnome a big hug. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier... you're just as good with a gun as a goblin!"
Now able to approach the campsite, Jade pulled out of her bag of holding ten hunting traps.
"If we want to make camp, I can make it SAFE!" She showed off one of her ten hunting traps.
"But I agree with Skipsy, and not just because she stabbed me with her healing shiv. If we go in now, we can go back to the town sooner, so they'll have more time to plan their next move."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Disguise Self
Concentration: -

Emilia tries to smile but her warped visage only appears to show more jagged teeth. Gnomish ingenuity excited me as a kid. There was this gyrocopter that crashed in our town. The rider saved itself with a failsafe mechanism made of a large cloth. Thought to be perfectly honest, I thought healing was more a thing for elves and devout humans. There was no concealed racism in her voice. Just an old woman reminiscing about old days.

Staring at the "Abbey town" and the outliers, she finally says: Even I do need rest, and some of you wear armor they need to remove to sleep, so I think the smarter way would be to slow down to make this in two trips. I can maybe try to scout out the perimeter tomorrow evening. Emilia refers to her ability to hide well, and even meld with the shadows akin to a night elf.

Rest, here, travel down there next day, scout the next day, rest at the outskirts, then start dungeonabbeycrawling.

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png

[Khosan]

"It used to be!" With a twirling flourish, Skipsy slides the army knife into a belt pouch, "The cataclysm changed more than just the landscape, you know! After us gnomes reclaimed Gnomeregan (or at least part of it) and the subsequent cataclysm, we realized we couldn't rely on our allies for everything. We've invested more in frontline mechano-tanks, medics and medical technology in the years since, to shore up our already impressive ranged fire support and reconnaissance teams. You'll even see some real deal gnomish priests of the Light sometimes! Skipsy is absolutely beaming with gnomish pride, but her tone quickly becomes hushed and conspiratorial, leaning in towards Emilia, "Shadow too, but you don't hear from those guys too much."

[Xihirli]

Seeing that the party wasn't starting to move, Jade shrugged and set up a perimeter of hunting traps.
"I guess it's better to wait until morning after all," she admitted. "Just wake me up before you leave this ring, I'm gonna hide these."
And with loose earth, a few brambles, and the odd weed, Jade hid the hunting traps to spring if ever anyone wanted to sneak up on the party.

[Amnestic]

With a disease cured, traps laid, and another watch order set, you settle in for another night of huddling around a campfire for warmth, light, and protection from the beasts that howl. Time passes slowly in Duskwood. It's a dripfeed of steady cloud movement against an unlit sky, with naught to mark the passing but the wind in the trees and the beat of your own hearts - except in Emilia's case. Those on watch see no real changes in the lighting in the abbey. The fires may dim, but others spring up to replace them, and it seems unlikely that the occupants that you can 'see' ever really sleep. With no day/night cycle to track, there doesn't seem much point.

Eventually your hearts have beaten enough times to mark your resting as completed, and you collect your things together to face the Abbey proper. It can't be put off any longer, you need to decide how you're going to approach.

[Xihirli]

Jade rolled over to the traps and started gathering them up.
"Alright, hoping to have caught a few gnolls in the night but we can't always get what we want."
Jade looked at their entrances and pointed to the climbing one. "We're all pretty strong. I think the climbing one's good because it gives us the high ground to look at them from. That way we can see the whole camp and if they come at us we'll be able to shoot at them before they get to us. Plus after we're done we can race to the bottom!"

[Kushina43]

"I think the climbing one's good because it gives us the high ground to look at them from. That way we can see the whole camp and if they come at us we'll be able to shoot at them before they get to us. Plus after we're done we can race to the bottom!"

"Hmm, tempting, but the high ground isn't worth as much without cover - we can only fall back behind the wall or forward toward the enemy, or else stand there exposed if they got any bows or stones." Jok'lek considers. "Also, I only got me two axes to throw, after that I'd have to charge 'em." He looks at the other entrance he saw, the overgrown hole in the wall. "But the other option I can see is even less stealthy than that, whether burning away the brush or hacking it with blades over and over. So I suppose I'd rather take my chances climbing the wall."

[Khosan]

Skipsy pulls at her armor, forcing a number of cogs and gizmos into their correct positions, "First things first!" She extends another, different attachment from her army knife, this one looking like a 3-pronged fork with a tiny plasma ball at the tip of each prong. Pressing a button, the attachment spins up, one by one she points the device at Emilia, Jok'lek, and finally Jade, each time pressing the button again and firing a bolt of blue light, leaving each with a 'healthy' blue glow. "Right! I also routed power back to the cloaking device, so if we wanna sneak someone in first, I can make that happen!"

Skipsy casts Aid on Emilia, Jok'lek and Jade. Each of you gain 5 max HP and 5 temp HP for the next 8 hours.

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Aid (5tHP, 8 hours)
Concentration: -

To Tipsy:
Oh please. The World Tree's ashes weren't even cold yet and your people added demonology as an official research topic to your portfolio. Curiosity should know some bounds. I would know, I tread them daily. The end of every shadow priest is the same. You either die, or you are consumed by the Void. May I remind you of Master Summoner Fizzlebang's fate?



The next day:
Your efforts are welcome, but I think I have the best chances to scout myself. If you want to go straight ahead, be my guest. Just don't be alarmed when I leave your idiot corpses to die. This was idle chatter of course. Emilia wanted to keep some air of stereotypical evil, not showing how much she already cared for this bunch of absolute numbskulls.

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png

[Xihirli]

Jade's eyes got wide and sad. "That hurts my feelings," she said. "My corpse is a genius!"
She huffed. "Anyway, we should all go. That way if something goes wrong we're all together. And if we're high up and the gnolls come after us, we should have an easy escape just by jumping down! Look, I'll just follow whoever goes anyway, so let's quit wasting time and climb up there. Maybe we'll need someone to scout closer after we get up there, and that's where your invisible-ness can help."
Since no one else had offered and alternate route, Jade went for the tower to the south. "We'll be able to see more from up here, then we can make an informed decision!" Grabbing a vine, she got to work climbing.

[Amnestic]

It takes the better part of a day's travel to curve around the hill at range and enter into the thicker overgrowth of the forest that leads up to the broken walls. It wasn't visible in the dark at a distance, but as you pick through the clump of trees, you see greenery for the first time since entering Duskwood. Greenery that by all rights should not be able to survive in this land stripped of light, and yet somehow it only grows denser and thicker as you pick your way through. You see flowers in bloom, trees with a full complement of leaves, and vibrant grass. It is still all of it cast in the flickering shadows of your torchlight, its colours muted by the darkness that crowds down from above, but somehow life has found a way to blossom in this place.

Not far from the walls you note that the trees are lined with the thick interwoven webs of spiders, webs larger enough that you expect the spiders are 'giant' rather than 'not-giant'. Eyes glancing all around, you pick your way through step by step, avoiding touching any of the webs lest they trap you in their sticky hold. Just as Jade is passing one web though, an enormous 8 legged beast appears seemingly from nowhere, its carapace shimmering with blue light as it phases into your eyeline. It leaps to strike down on Jade, but her reactions are just marginally faster.

The moment the spider appears, the Comet card, nestled safely in Skipsy's possession, begins to glow. The light spills out from her belongings and a facsimile of the card's shape appears before her, glimmering with ethereal light. The magic radiating off it tingles the skin, beckoning people to make use of it.


When you are stood in the card's location you can use your bonus action to 'Mark' a target you can see. The next time you hit the marked target with an attack roll, you gain 10 temporary HP. The Comet token then moves underneath the Marked target. You may only Mark one target at a time, and using your bonus action to mark a new target removes the previous mark.



https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/991278950875676692/unknown.png

I didn't see a portrait on Jok'lek's sheet so I found one that seemed vaguely correct, but let me know if you have one you'd prefer to use instead.

In case it's not clear, the Comet card's square is the one south-west of Skipsy. Rather than using a unique token for each card, I'm using a 'generic' one using the Deck of Many Things symbol instead.

Moving onto any squares that have a webby appearance on the map provokes a DC10 strength save or be enwebbed, setting your speed to 0, can break out by using your action on a DC10 athletics check. An ally can make the check for you with their action instead.

Initiative Order:
Jade->Enemies->Everyone

Any questions let me know.

[Xihirli]

"YAAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHH!" Jade screamed, and pulled out her battleaxe. She charged the spider, swinging her ax with reckless abandon, not thinking of where to hit the spider as she simply chopped as powerfully as she could, basically in heaven.

Normal rage, not going to frenzy against only one opponent.

Battleaxe RAGE! RECKLESS! POWER ATTACK!
[roll0]/[roll1]; [roll2]
[roll3]/[roll4]; [roll5]

And I make a 21 strength save to avoid getting snatched up by the web.

[Amnestic]

Jade's battleaxe slams down on the spider, halting its advance in a moment as she cleaves off two legs and then buries the blade in the creature's face. It flops limp into the web it emerged from, but before you can catch your breath two more spiders phase into your vision and leap at Jade and Jok'lek, but their venomous fangs are deflected and blocked from sinking into flesh, finding nought but air and metal instead.



https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/991452798862508162/unknown.png

Jade kills off one spider; was kind of expecting it to last a little longer than that but it is what it is :P

Two more appear! They then miss Jade and Jok'lek with their bites.

Everyone's up.

[Khosan]

"Ah! Spider! Ah! Glowing! Why's it glowing! Is that the card? Why's it projecting! Ah! More spiders!" Skipsy jumps at each new thing happening, but does at least seem more focused on the card in her possession. She pulls it out, lowers her goggles, and inspects the card more closely.

Ox, meanwhile, designed for combat, clucks and immediately maneuvers around the spiders to stand between them, beating its metal wings as it runs. Skipsy looks up long enough from the card to point and shout, "Get 'em, Oxy!" The chicken clucks aggressively and sends a mighty mechanical peck to the arachnid's face.

HP: 42/42
AC: 19

Action: Skipsy attempts to identify the effects of the card again, [roll0]
Bonus Action: Skipsy commands Ox to use his Force-Empowered Rend on the spider closest to her, [roll1] for [roll2]

Additionally, as a Reaction, if one of the spiders that Ox is adjacent to attacks a target that isn't him, he'll use his Deflect Attack reaction so they do it at disadvantage.

[Xihirli]

When another spider magically appeared in her face, Jade didn’t ask any questions, because she already knew everything important about these teleporting spiders:
If you hit them hard enough with an axe, they died.
Jade moved a little further away from the web, then jumped at the spider’s face, hacking and slashing with her battleaxe.
So everything was going pretty well.



Battleaxe RAGE! RECKLESS! POWER ATTACK!
[roll0]/[roll1]; [roll2]
[roll3]/[roll4]; [roll5]

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 37/37
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Aid (5tHP, 8 hours)
Concentration: -

Emilia sees any sense of strategy go out of the window, and her motivation to protect her protectors with it. She interrupts her prayer to the Forces Beyond and instead invokes a simple necromancy to pull the life from the injured spider. The eye in her dagger's hilt opens and blood slowly oozes from it.

Wisdom Save Toll the Dead[roll0] (plus whatever bonus the spider might have) or take [roll1] damage. This damage ignores resistance to necrotic but not immunity.

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png

[Amnestic]

Jade slams her axe into her second assailant, but this one seems a touch more resilient than the first as her second blow skitters across its chitinous exterior. It gives as good as it gets though, its lengthy limbs grabbing at the goblin before it sinks its venomous fangs down into her shoulder. There's a surge of fiery pain as the poison seeps into Jade's blood, but it could definitely be worse.

Almost unusually quiet, Jok'lek seems to suss out the magic of the floating ephemeral card vision and circles around to grab at at it, the image flowing into their arm when they reach out for it. Enhancement in hand, they add their own blows to Ox's peck, slamming their maul down into the spider twice with particular vigor, almost downing it as swiftly as Jade did with their first strike. As quickly as the card seemed to empower Jok'lek the magic is gone, moved on to hover above the spider. Still, they hold a measure of the power still.

Whether it be ambient magic in the air or a particularly hardy spider, they manage to shrug off the necrotic energy of Emilia that tugs around them, instead trying to bite down on the tiny bird-like "creature" in front of them. Ox's armoured plating guards itself against the piercing fangs though, and the spider finds no purchase. Though they too tried to take advantage of the card's power, perhaps out of instinct, when their fangs fail to deal any damage the card likewise does not respond to them, and they do not receive the same boon that Jok'lek did.


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/992832643722915960/unknown.png

Jade hits once for 20, misses with the other attack.
Spider makes their save vs. Emilia's Toll the Dead.
Ox hits for 4 force damage.
Auto-piloted Jok'lek makes their arcana check (untrained, even) and judges the card's worth. They grab it and then proceed to smash the spider for a total of 26 damage over one hit and one crit. They gain 10 temporary hit points as a result.

North spider crits Jade with a bite for a total of 9 piercing damage and 14 poison damage (after save, before resistances).
South spider marks Ox with the card but misses, so they gain no temp HP, and the card remains underneath them for now.

Everyone's up again. Spider's almost dead, but who knows, maybe they'll roll another crit or two :P

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 37/37
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Aid (5tHP, 8 hours), Surrender to Madness (DC 10 Wis save or take 18 damage)
Concentration: -

Flabbergasted and annoyed by the spider's mental resistance, Emilia shifts into darkness. Her form is enveloped by a shroud of black vapor, and she steps in between the spiders. She raises her blade and explodes in light.

Using Surrender to Madness to maximize my damage Casting Holy Nova Word of Radiance [roll0] or each creature takes 12 radiant damage.
Wis save to resist ending Surrender to Madness early with damage: [roll]1d20+8[/roll ] vs DC 10.

https://i.imgur.com/hTFgRHd.png

[Kushina43]

Spiders this big need to be squashed, and Jok'lek's maul found purchase in one thanks to the help of the magical comet card and he became further empowered as a result. He briefly wondered just how strong the other cards were, only for the spider to remain alive and strike at Ox, even attempting to access the comet's power to strike but failing. Not wanting to give it another opportunity, Jok'lek strikes with his mighty weapon twice again at the offending arachnid.

Edit: Really, forum? Rolling in OOC

[Xihirli]

"Do you think I’m afraid of venom? Half my blood is made of the stuff!" Jade shouted in the spider’s face and leapt at it, ax coming down at its face.


Still fighting the northern spider, unless it dies in which case, next down the line!

Battleaxe RAGE! RECKLESS! POWER ATTACK!
[roll0]/[roll1]; [roll2]
[roll3]/[roll4]; [roll5]

[Khosan]

"What?! How'd you-Whatsit-" Skipsy stares in shock as Jok'lek nabs the card from her. Before she really has time to process that she still doesn't know what's going on, she's distracted by the spider daring to bite at her baby, her tone becoming suddenly sinister as her eyes narrow and she purposefully draws her pistol, "Later! The gnome levels her gun, aiming right between its dozen or so eyes and gives the command to Ox to attack, then takes fire herself. BANG!

HP: 42/42
AC: 19

Ox's HP: 36/36
Ox's AC: 15

Action: Skipsy attacks the southern spider, taking -3 to hit for +6 to damage, [roll0] for [roll1]
Bonus Action: Force-Empowered Peck to the same spider, [roll2] for [roll3]

[Amnestic]

The spiders were already weakened and the party gives them no quarter as they unleash magical and martial might against them. Before they can raise their dripping mandibles to take another bite, you cut them down into chunks, leaving scattered spider parts dripping with lightly glowing green ichor oozing out. Quiet falls back over the grove, punctuated with the sound of birdsong and squirrel chirps; sounds that seem utterly alien to Duskwood usually, especially since the sky is still dark. At the very least however, three spiders seems to be all the threat that they posed to you.

With the danger passed you get a moment to look around, and find the remains of another individual covered in webs. The body is ancient, with what few bones remain being little more than dusty fragments locked inside ruined plate armour decades of elemental exposure past any use. Clutched in the remains of a steel gauntlet is a longsword that, somehow, has managed to stand the test of time and shirked off any rust, dirt, or grime, and its blade remains as sharp as ever. Along the blade are old runes in Common, spelling out Hrom, Fourth Hope of Gardmore. Should one of you pick it up, it immediately begins to shed the Light of a paladin, helping to dispel the darkness that clings around you, adding to the torches and lanterns.


Decide if you want to short rest or not, share notes on the card magic, tomorrow I'll move along.

The blade is a slight variation of a Moon-Touched Sword:

Hrom's Sword
Weapon (longsword), common
In darkness, the unsheathed blade of this sword sheds warm Holy Light, creating bright light in a 15-foot radius and dim light for an additional 15 feet.

[Xihirli]

Jade chopped off the heads of the spider corpses and stuffed them in her bag if holding.
"Nice job, everyone! Let’s keep going!" She looked at the decayed body for a spell.
"He’s so old, he couldn’t have died in these webs… webs don’t last that long. So what did kill him?"

Jade’s the only one who was injured, right? I say no short rest, we can do that later on.

[Khosan]

Skipsy stuffs her pistol back in its holster, takes a deep breath in...and out. She kneels down to check Ox, pulling his wings out one at a time to inspect both them and the area beneath, then flips open a panel to inspect a small diagnostic screen. "Hmm, little bit of paint scratched, but all major systems functioning optimally." She gives the mechanical chicken a quick pat on the head, stands up and turns her attention to Jade, "Jade, are you alright? I saw that spider get you, and I got some juice for a healing injector at the ready if you need it."

With their goblin friend taken care of (or not), the gnome turns to Jok'lek, "Jok'lek...what'd the card do there? I couldn't make heads or tails of it."

[Xihirli]

Jade dismissed that with a wave of her hand. "I'm still harder to put down than you or Emilia right now. Maybe later, though."

[Kushina43]

With their goblin friend taken care of (or not), the gnome turns to Jok'lek, "Jok'lek...what'd the card do there? I couldn't make heads or tails of it."

"Hard to describe, but it let me choose one of the spiders, and then bolstered me when I struck it, almost like a magical shield. Then the card moved to the spider, as ya saw, which tried to do the same thing and missed, and the card didn't move that time." He looks at his arm, still feeling it tingling as it had with the glow of the comet card's empowerment. "Would be bad news if a foe used it successfully, too."

Looking at the condition of the party, with Skipsy being the only one injured and willing to press on, he agrees. But not before inspecting the body found wrapped in these webs. Nothing of note, mainly due to age, except for the oddly pristine sword. Such an ancient corpse would have lost much any malady afflicting it, and so he was more comfortable reaching in and pulling out the sword in its hand. He was caught by surprise when the Light began emanating from it, shielding his eyes with his free hand. "Well, now, this is a find!
A sword of Light in the land of dark. I trust Hir'eek's blessing more than the Light, but I think I'll take this if no one else wishes." He puts the weapon on his back with the others.

[Amnestic]

With Jade as your only injured happy to continue pressing on, you continue without rest through the dense greenery, eventually breaking past the pervasive webs until you arrive at the shattered stone wall that once served as a defense of Brightmore.

Climbing the wall itself would have proven a challenge even with climbing gear, but ruined gap provides you an adequate incline that you can pick your way over the stones wrapped in vibrant vines without fear of falling. The watchtower itself is only a short walk away along the wall but what is immediately obvious is how untouched it is by time and the pervasive greenery that surrounds you. It stands clean, as if recently cleaned, and with no indication of disrepair or damage. A wooden door banded with wrought iron bands serves as an entryway but when you reach for one of the metal bands that serve as handles you find they are frozen in place, as if made of diamond. No matter how much you push or pull, they react not a whit, and the door doesn't shake or squeak at all. Though it appears to be made of wood and iron, the feel of it beneath your fingers is like a fixed feature of space - more immutable than stone, with an absence of texture or temperature that would mark it as a natural material.


The exterior features of the tower are only a magical echo. They no longer exist physically, as if the interior has been offset from reality by some warping magic.


From a higher vantage point, the remains of other structures are visible amid the trees, though they seem in danger of submerging beneath the vibrant green sea that swamps the southern side of the hill. A bell tower lifts its head above the canopy a short distance down the slope from the temple. The remains of a small cottage lie near the outer wall toward the northern edge of the grove. And a small stone building - a shrine or tomb, perhaps - stands in a small clearing near the south end of the forest.



From your vantage point on the south side you've got a few more points of interest to be aware of, so probably about time I fill in a map:

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/993611472615768134/unknown.png

The gnoll fires were definitely centred around the village, on the more north-eastern side of the hill. You are currently outside the Watchtower on the south side. I'm not saying you have to leave the watchtower mind you, just making you aware of your options.

[Xihirli]

"I’ve got it!" Jade announced. "The door is an illusion! If we don’t believe it, we can go right through!"
Jade charged the door face-first, disbelieving with all her might.
CRACK
She hit the ground.
"I might need more of a running start."
She sat up and shook her head.

"Now that we’re closer, I think it’s a good time for the invisible-scouting plan," Jade said.
"Since now we could be close enough to help."

[Khosan]

Skipsy scratches her head, pushing on the door that Jade ran headlong into, "Huh. Weird! Not sure what's causing that!" She gives the surface a tap with a knuckle, unsatisfied with that answer but unable to come up with anything more thorough. "Welp, we could stand here for a couple while I power up the ol' ultra-spectropic detection goggles, she suggests, tugging at the goggles holding her hair back, "We could get some more answers from them. Or we could check out that shrine. We're not getting in here anyway."

[Amnestic]

To no great surprise, there's a certain amount of ambient magic all around you, seemingly of every School in a chaotic swirl of arcane. The tower itself lights up as a beacon of magic, swaddled in the stuff. It isn't illusion, as Jade 'hypothesised', but rather appears to be primarily Conjuration and Transmutation (more the former than the latter).

[Kushina43]

Jok'lek winced upon Jade ramming the door at full speed, while Skipsy attempts to analyze it. He instead decides to survey from their position upon the wall, less useful than a watchtower but still a better vantage point than before. He considers their words, deep in thought. "The smoke was about northeast.. The shrine is on the way, followed by.. a cottage then keep, by the gate. Perhaps we hit each location to sneak up on them, avoid open ground as much as possible. The less chances they have to see us, the better."

[Xihirli]

Jade shook it off and stood.
"Yeah, securing one location at a time is probably the best. That way we can all stay together. This weird door is odd, but it doesn’t really change anything about our mission. Let’s go deeper in, try to see if we can get eyes on the gnoll camp." She strapped her shield on and took out her battle axe.
"And if any of them want to surprise us, I’ve got a bag of salt with their name on it!"

[Khosan]

"Ooh! A little bit of everything, everywhere, all at once!" Skipsy looks around, watching patterns and currents of magic in the air, only visible through her technomagical eyewear. She turns back to the tower, and adjusts some dials as she speaks "But this is...very bright, just gotta adjust the sensitivity...Aaaand, there! Very potent magic, I had to set the minimums real high before it registered as anything other than 'blindingly white.' Anyway! Predominantly conjuration. Some transmutation. The transmutation is probably what's making this so hard," she elbows the door, "The conjuration, I don't know! Could be portals, could be filled with magic fogs! Who knows."

"Let's get on to the little shrine thing. We should be able to get there without drawing too much attention."

[Xihirli]

Jade nodded and, weapons in hand, led the way to the shrine.

[Amnestic]

Leaving the Watchtower, for now at least, you head back along the wall before making your descent back into the sea of green, picking your way up the hill that slopes upwards. At times, lightly. At times, forcing you to your hands and knees to scramble up the roots of a tree or over a patch of ground rather than searching for a path around. After a scant hour or so, the ground levels out and you enter into the clearing on which the shrine rests. A font bubbles in the centre, its water sparkling with a silvery light. Encircling its broad base is a mosaic depicting a human, perhaps, in battle against dragons and monsters bristling with tentacles and claws. Along the mosaic's perimeter, toppled walls form a broken stone shell bounding what once must have been some manner of shrine. A host of elves - those of Silvermoon, rather than Kalimdor - camp amid the fallen walls, their clothes and weapons marking them as no mere scholars.

One who may be their leader - tall, with a single green-eye and a mane of red hair braided tightly - scowls as you approach. One hand rests on the longsword on his belt, and some of the others stand and move to have weapons at the ready, though none knock arrows or draw steel. "A goblin, a troll, a gnome, and an undead." He remarks, in a lilting voice of distrust. "Are you here to plunder, like so many others?"



Humans do love killing dragons, don't they?



The art doesn't depict a human at all, but rather a Titan or one of their keepers. The dragon they're fighting is not a true dragon, but rather one of the protodragons of old. The tentacled creatures are servants of the Old Gods; the battle depicted predates humanity's very existence.


The Titan keeper is Tyr, and the mosaic depicts his life (battling the great protodragon Galakrond) and death (at the hands of the Old Gods). Tyr's sacrifice inspired what would become humanity in a myriad of ways, not least being the Silver Hand paladins, who derive their name from his famous weapon.

Tirisfal Glades, where the Forsaken reside, likewise derives its name from his legacy as an evolution of the title Tyr's Fall, the name originally given to the land.

This shrine is clearly dedicated to him specifically.




You guys really did just go ahead and pick the route that has the most talking and least fighting to start with, I promise there'll be more smashing going forwards.

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 37/37
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Aid (5tHP, 8 hours), Surrender to Madness (DC 10 Wis save or take 18 damage)
Concentration: -

We are kindred spirits, you and I. Our great nations destroyed by the swathe of the Scourge, driven to madness, our heritages destroyed. We do not seek a fight, but we would pick up artifacts if we found any. My friends are exotic, but mostly harmless unless you provoke them. As am I.

Emilia gets closer, though she feels uneasy at the calm levelheadedness that they were approached with. These people are either powerful, of desperate. What brings you here? Many of your kin travelled through the Portal following the Prince, and most others try to rebuild Silvermoon. You seem to be neither. Emilia omits the moniker of "traitor" prince, not wanting to spark a debate.

Persuasion to convince them they are harmless. [roll0] If anyone wants to help my action, you are very welcome.

[roll1]

[Amnestic]

The elf 'hmphs' and drops the hand from his sword, though you note his companions do not. "Berrian Velfarren, of Quel'thalas. Our business is our own, for now. I won't share it with those here just to rob graves." It's perhaps a trick of the light, but you might think he turns up his nose, ever so slightly, at you. There's a rustle of the leaves around you, despite no wind blowing, and Berrian's eye darts towards the darkened tree line. "But...perhaps we can help each other. This land is a danger. Gnolls, ogres, and worse infest the grounds, and our own searches have been...hindered of late. My sister, Analastra, has vanished and so far my scouts haven't found her. Her penchant for roaming on her own has may have gone too far this time." He sniffs with frustration. "If you find her and send her back here, I would be willing to share what we know of the Abbey, perhaps let you rest with us." He speaks methodically, ruminating over the words as he gives each of them lightly, without committing too hard to any one course - yet.

[Xihirli]

"Hey, nice!" Jade said. "That’s exactly what we’re after. Especially if you have the gnoll numbers! I was worried about you for a second there, Barry, but you’re alright! I’m adding you right to my list of friends!" She put her weapon away and took out her book.
"What does your sister look like?"

[Amnestic]

The look on Berrian's face says he quite clearly does not view you as 'friends' just yet, but he also seems to want to avoid the headache of correcting Jade. Discretion being the better part of valour, he moves on. "About so-tall," he gestures - about five feet, maybe slightly more. "long blonde hair, turquoise eyes, wearing the same gear as us." That being leathers and dark traveling clothes marked with elven flair. "We always travel in groups of two at minimum...except Analastra." He concedes with a sigh. "So she'll be the only lone-elf you find. So far as I know we're the only elves in the Abbey right now."

[Khosan]

Skipsy gasps dramatically at the scenes on the walls of the shrine, barely taking notice of the elves already there. Face full of wonder, she practically squeals with delight at each of the mosaics, "Ooooh! Depictions of Tyr, the Titanic Keeper! Fighting Galakrond, the betrayal of Loken, and his death at the tentacles of the Old Gods! You know, there's a theory that the protodrakes he fought with here were actually the original Dragon Aspects!"

Oh! I should copy these down. The League will be thrilled to have some ! Skipsy reaches into her bag and pulls out a fistful of parchment, quills and a bottle of ink. She backs up towards the central fountain, only to bump into one of the aforementioned elves, "Whoop! Sorr-Whoa! How long have they been here? Elves sure can be sneaky sometimes. I'm Skipsy, Skipsy Turncrank, archaeologist in good standing with the Explorer's League!" She salutes, slapping herself in the face with her parchment by accident, "Well - phth - I can assure you we're not here to rob graves. I mean, aside from archaeology technically being a field of research that frequently revolves around stealing from the dead. But I'm not on a mission from the League! I am keeping an eye out for dangerous artifacts though, those I am obligated to try and recover."

[Xihirli]

"That’s a good point. Your sister doesn’t know who we are. How can we convince her to not hide from us, or let her know we’re with you after we find her? She might refuse to come with us!"
Though the thought was really unthinkable.

[Amnestic]

"My name should be sufficient," Berrian ruminates, "But if she still seems suspicious, tell her Hope is a Phoenix. That should be sufficient." From his expression, he doesn't seem to want to explain that saying any further.

[Xihirli]

"Got it!" Jade said. "We should follow the elf-xample..." she chuckled for a second, "and split into two teams of two to cover more ground. One frontliner and one whatever-you-two-do per team." She pointed to herself and Skipsy. "We'll be 'Team Fun-Size.'" And she pointed to Emilia and Jok'lek. "And you can be 'Team Not-as-Cool-as-Team-Fun-Size.' Me and Skipsy will check the belltower and then those buildings in the middle, Jok'lek and Emilia, you check the cottage then the big gate near it. Then we can meet up at that faraway tower," Jade gave as a suggested search pattern.
"Sound good, everyone?"

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 37/37
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Aid (5tHP, 8 hours), Surrender to Madness (DC 10 Wis save or take 18 damage)
Concentration: -

Spreading up in a foreign area seems like a bad idea, when an experienced elven tracker got lost on her own. Emilia states the obvious. I appreciate your plan to speed up this errand, but we just walked beside a warped magic tower and are not familiar with the area. The best we can do is to sacrifice a bit mana to send out a scout into an uncertain situation. She locks eyes with Jade.Preferrably one that can talk to your mind.

I am terribly sorry to hound you with more questions but what are Analastra's particular skills? I wouldn't want to try and find her and step into a trap set up by your friend.

[Kushina43]

Jok'lek studied the mosaic with interest - most of the history he knew immediately was wrapped up in troll wars, but he recognized the tale as that of the Titan Keeper Tyr, mostly by all the dragons. Life that was native to Azeroth was something he was once keen to learn about prior to becoming a warrior, more than once running into ancient dragon lore theories making connections he didn't have context for, and this matched one of the stories near perfectly. Makes sense for a human settlement to have.. he thinks to himself as they approach the broken walls, with camps made by elves.

With history on the brain, he immediately thought back to the Troll Wars, but shook his head briefly - the gripes of Amani weren't relevant to him or the situation, these were potential allies. Taking in the conversation, he finally speaks up. "That sounds agreeable to me, Velfarren - we're looking for information on the gnolls especially, and I for one would be happy to help locate Analastra - I too have a sibling who roams too much for their own good. Which way was she last known to be, or be headed towards?" He then realizes he forgot to introduce himself and takes a small bow. "Whoop, sorry, my name be Jok'lek, of the Darkspear tribe."

Edited for name introduction, we both forgot lmao

[Amnestic]

"She knows how to set traps - we all do - but moves around too much to bother with them usually. She's a Farstrider through and through, favours the bow over the blade." Berrian offers to Emilia. "Unfortunately," He adds to Jok'lek, a slight bite to his tone - though it seems more directed as his sister than you. "She didn't say when she slipped away, and left no trail. I'm not expecting you to track her - if we could do that, my scouts would have already found her - just to keep your eyes open for any sign of her as you...explore, and if you do stumble over her, send her back here."



Seems the conversation with Berrian is either closed or soon to be closed, depending on if any more questions. Gotta choose your next destination. You are currently at the Font of Tyr, so the closest destinations are the "?" unknown, the belltower(?) and the cottage(?).

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/995644401026080798/unknown.png

I've also added the Abbey Map to the first post in the OOC thread.

[Xihirli]

Jade shifted from one foot to the other, getting antsy. "Fine, we'll stick together, let's just go!" She insisted. She nodded to the cottage. "There first, come on!" And she started towards it.

[Khosan]

Skipsy finishes sketching the mosaics into her notes, "Aw, I like Team Fun Size. Last time we did it, I got to pilot a goblin shredder! Good times." The gnome stares wistfully into the distance, remembering better times. She shakes herself out of it, "Cottage! Right. We should go there. We'll keep an eye out for your sister, mister Elf. But also!" Skipsy takes out her army knife once more, extending a ball made of some kind of hard foam on a long stick, and holding it up to Berrian's waist (about as high as she can reach), "Could you say 'Hope is a Phoenix' again? Just for some extra insurance. If she really doesn't trust us we'll have a recording of your voice!"

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Emilia is glad they see reason for once. Need I remind you it blew up because goblins do not lightly to stealing their equipment? She rises her eyebrows. You know her face was unable to smile but people more familiar with Emilia could sense her amusement.

Emilia pauses. Don't you blood elves have a magical aura? I mean you have the sunwell to drink from. You should have a magical aura. Skipsy? Adjust your goggles. Emilia prepares her magical sight as well.

[Amnestic]

Berrian looks for a moment like he might swat the tool from Skipsy's hand, but with remarkable restraint holds himself back, once again uttering "Hope is a phoenix." into the item before turning away. "We do not drink from the Sunwell," he replies to Emilia, his voice scornful. "Its magic surrounds and empowers us, our connection unbreakable no matter how far we step from its shores." Pride, or arrogance, wells in his voice. "Do not expect any such aura, the Sunwell's magic is ambient, not directed."

With any final words exchanged, your group moves on towards the cottage. It's further than you'd have thought from the watchtower, and by the time the overgrown cobblestone path reveals the shell of an old fieldstone cottage it's starting to feel like it's time to rest. The dilapidated roof of the building is punctured by an oak tree which grows up through the middle of the structure and spreads its broad branches like a canopy over the frame. Shutters and a door hang open, forced from their hinges by the wild growth. Beyond the cottage, strangely lifelike hedge-animals have grown up from where they were originally trimmed, all while remarkably retaining their shape.

As you approach the dim entrance to the cottage you spot a massive feathered beast the size and shape of a bear, though possessing the head of a bird with antlers; a wildkin. A creature not native to this part of the world. Its short curved beak rests upon another of its kind, and you see that one of the two is opening its great golden eyes and sniffing the air in curiosity. There is no sign of any elf, or any blood or scraps that you can see to indicate she was here and now no longer is.


Combat not started yet, but may do if you stick around.



Believed by many to be the creation of Elune, Wildkin (also called moonkin) are often found protecting Elune's sacred places, such as moonwells. Due to this they are found almost exclusively on Kalimdor.


Though not naturally hostile originally, as Wildkin spread across the world some fell away from Elune's light and became more bestial as a result. Though they retain enough intelligence to perform tool usage and have their own cultures, many become violent when approached, ruthlessly using their bear strength to keep interlopers away, their original purpose of protection perverted.



Some wildkin can make use of magic, invoking Elune's power to sear their enemies. Their feathers often hold magical energy, and are often prized by arrow fletchers.

[Xihirli]

Jade looked around for a moonwell. She gripped her battleax, eager to use it, but sighed.
"I say we keep our distance and find a campsite on the way to that belltower. If the gnolls come around here maybe it'll kill one or two."

[Kushina43]

Jok'lek nodded his agreement with his goblin friend and searched for a moonwell as well, so that they may avoid disturbing the two wildkin's area any further, and replied quietly. "Agreed, could be useful and we have no reason to fight them. Get behind me." Whether he's found the well or not, he attempts to lead the group a short way back and circle around, avoiding the wildkin and especially the moonwell if sighted. He quietly cursed for not bringing quieter armor, but also knew if anyone were to be spotted, he hoped it'd be himself - tough as she was and long as she could still go on fighting, Jade was still hurt, and while Ox was decently tough, he trusted his own steel to protect his less durable comrades more than a construct. He muttered a soft prayer to Hir'eek and pressed on.

[Khosan]

Skipsy stifles a gasp, just gobsmacked that she gets to see not one but two wildkin, possibly even a mated pair! She squeezes her bag, desperately wanting to take notes but not wanting to tempt the magical might of the two, she speaks in an urgent but hushed whisper, "Oh, I wish we could stay here! Look at how cute they are! But Jade's right, we should go. Wildkin can be magical, via their connection to Elune, and it'd be safer for us to just pass them by."

[Xihirli]

Jade took one last tempted look at the wildkin, but shook her head and followed Jok'lek toward the bell tower.
"Team Fun Size would have been cool," she "whispered" to Skipsy. "Hey, I still have a Rocket Jump left over. Maybe we can launch off the bell tower and see how far we get."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

I am NOT healing you if you drop from a bell tower. Emilia says with an equally loud whisper. Sightseeing is over, we can take these two, but I don't want to pull their ire, or that of the elves. The cleric has a basic understanding that blood elves have little to do with night elves and Elune. But there are enough people who claim to be wildkeepers, and she was not sure the blood elves weren't rangers on their own.

The bell tower should make a good place to rest. she agrees.

[Amnestic]

You back away from the cottage and the wildkin, leaving them to their shelter in peace, and the stirring one doesn't seem to follow - either it fell back to slumber or considered you not worth the effort of following. Either way, you skirt away from the ruined building no worse for wear, a mental note of its 'occupants' now lodged in your minds. There's no moonwell to be spotted in the area, no telltale silver-blue glow of its enchanted waters bubbling up at-or-beyond the treeline. It seems they truly are creatures out of place.

The path continues to wind and wend up the hill towards the belltower you've chosen as your next destination, and as you get closer you can see that the building is in a similar state of disrepair to the cottage - the walls crumbling (though still standing) and the eponymous bell has fallen from the tower, now half-buried in overgrown grass.

A pale, slender figure with long blonde hair breaks through the trees ahead of you, her desperate footfalls barely making a whisper. Behind her, two large reptilian monsters pursue her in eerie silence, their purple-and-green scales thoroughly alien to you, but hard to focus on. One lashes out with a claw, raking the woman across the back who drops with an agonized shriek. A buzzing at the top of the belltower emerges the moment blood hits the air and you see a nest of insects begin to stir.



https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/997077918188589076/unknown.png


Initiative order:
Jok'lek/Jade->Enemies->Everyone.

Please note that the warp stalkers have a Displacement trait; attacks against them have disadvantage until they take damage, at which point they're attacked normally until their next turn. As such please roll all attacks with disadvantage to save me doing it, and I will adjust based off of when they get hit.

The Comet card is once again in play.
When you are stood in the card's location you can use your bonus action to 'Mark' a target you can see. The next time you hit the marked target with an attack roll, you gain 10 temporary HP. The Comet token then moves underneath the Marked target. You may only Mark one target at a time, and using your bonus action to mark a new target removes the previous mark.





These reptilian predators are alien to Azeroth. Beyond that, you don't know much.



They were originally native to Draenor, the orcish homeworld. Originally their abilities were more akin to chameleons, granting them camouflage to strike stealthily. Since the magical destruction of Draenor turning it into Outland, their abilities have evolved, and their shifting skin patterns now safeguard against attacks.



Some warp stalkers can phase into and out of dimensions entirely, and when they return to reality their strikes seem especially devastating against spellcasters, causing their spells to fizzle.

[Xihirli]

Jade knew those things!
And hey, that elf was probably who they were looking for! What luck!
Well, they had to kill some things but that was like the main thing Jade did, so no big deal.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAA!" She declared as she sprinted into place, swinging her ax and trying to make herself the target of the beast. "Go! Now! Run!" Jade shouted to the elf as she swung again, showing a slight variance in tactics as she seemed less interested in hitting hard than just hitting it at all, aiming right for the middle of the thing and swinging fast.

40 feet of movement lets me get in the nearest monster's face.

Frenzy Rage.

I will reckless my attacks to negate the disadvantage, so I'll only roll the advantage on the later one. I've Frenzied, so on the next few rounds I'll have three attacks.

Battleaxe RAGE! RECKLESS!
[roll0]; 14 slashing damage rolled ooc
[roll1]/[roll2]; [roll3]

[Kushina43]

Warp Stalkers!? Jok'lek immediately knew the threats ahead as the alien lizards, for they matched the description some of the Outland veterans gave.. as well as some who were deployed to Vash'jir during the Cataclysm, strangely enough. Jade charged forward first despite his misgivings, as expected, but she took care to strike the shifting beasts true more than hard, and he thought to do the same - trusting Jade to distract that stalker, he focused on the second. He then stomped the ground and let his blood boil, letting his rage quickly suffuse his body before exploding outward with a dash, and with that same movement he planned to cleave into the second further warp stalker with his greataxe before it caused Jade or anyone else problems. In his rage, he failed to notice the buzzing from the tower.

Hoping I can reach the second stalker with a Dash, but if not I'll rewrite attacking the same as Jade. The ruling also says I can make an attack if I move 20ft in a line, assuming I'm reading it correctly. Not an attack action, though, so just the one strike. No action surging just yet
Bonus Action: Warrior Rage: 3 RP
Action: Spend 2 RP for Charge: Dash and subsequent attack w/adv, which is cancelled out.
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] slashing

Current Warrior Rage: 1 RP
Edit: Misread rage reserve, fixed

[Amnestic]

Jade and Jok'lek both leap forwards, bringing their respective weapons down upon the shifting scaled creatures. Despite their shifting scales that seem to dart in and out of sight, both the stalwart fighters manage to take chunks out of their beastial foes. They hiss in response, lashing back with tooth and claw. Though both Jade and Jok'lek manage to deflect some of the blows, some of them still cut through, and draw blood, light as it may be.

At the same time, the blood raised finally attracts the attention of the hive. Two large insects descend from the hive to and attach themselves to Analastra, going to suck her blood and move the elven woman yet closer to death. The hive bristles with more to come, yet for now only two have emerged.


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/997633572393455716/unknown.png

Jade hits on both attacks for 24 total.
Jok'lek hits for 6 on their target.

Jade gets hit once twice, once for 5 slashing and once for 8 piercing.
Jok'lek gets hit once for 8 slashing damage.

Damage numbers are given without including resistances.

Two bugboys attach themselves to Analastra. I forgot to mark the hive on the map, but it's inside the belltower, too high to reach from melee range.


Everyone's up!

[Khosan]

Skipsy gasps, pointing at the warpstalkers and shouting, "Oh no! Weird dogs!" The shame of uttering something like that as a scholar hits her a full second later, she winces as if she's been punched in the gut, "Uh, well, painting targets!" She aims her army knife into the air, launching a small firework that explodes over the warpstalkers, coating them (and much of the surrounding area) in a shiny, pink powder. Skipsy starts closing towards the elf, but her stubby little legs can only carry her so far. Ox scrambles over to the elf woman, flapping his metal wings to gain just a little bit more speed. Once at her feet, the battle chicken hops up, pecking at the bugs trying to latch on to her.

Skipsy's HP: 42/42
Ox's HP: 36/36

Actions:
Action - Skipsy casts Faerie Fire, targeting an area near the warpstalkers so both of them get hit.
Move - Skipsy moves towards the elf, as far as she can.
Bonus Action - Force-Empowered Peck [roll0] for [roll1] against one of the bugs attacking the elf lady.

Reaction - Ox will use his reaction to Deflect Attacks made against the elf.

[Xihirli]

"Gah! I like it!" Jade shouted as she was clawed. "This one's mine!" She announced, pointing her ax at the monster in her face. "Leave it be!" And she jumped at the monster, ax swinging rapidly as she let loose a wicked cackle.
"Gahaahaha! Wahaahahg! Ha!"


Longsword/Battleaxe RAGE! RECKLESS!
[roll0]; [roll1]
[roll2]/[roll3]; [roll4]
[roll5]/[roll6]; [roll7]

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

A quick light shines upon Analastra and then a barrier around her person appears. Can you walk? THEN RUN! Warpstalkers disrupt my magic. I cannot do more! Emilia shouts.

Power Word: Shield for 11 temporary HP, Flash Heal (Healing Word) for [roll0] HP.
Since Words of Power are technically no spells, both should be possible in the same turn. Emilia stays put, unwilling to let her magic be disrupted.

[Kushina43]

His charging strike hits true, but it's on the shallow end, and the lizard swipes back with its claws. That wound is equally shallow thanks to his armor - His rage makes him unable to see that he received no true damage through the card's vigor - and he redoubles his efforts and strikes out with his weapon in retaliation. The pink powder that now coats the creature thanks to Skipsy's firework serves to help him aim for lethal strikes.

Takes 5 damage due to HAM, unless the strikes are magical
Attack 1: [roll0] Faerie Adv: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Attack 2: [roll3] Faerie Adv: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]


The buzzing still escapes his notice, this foe's life the only thing he sees through his rage, and Jade's target blocking his direct view regardless.

Current Warrior Rage: 3 RP? Misread the displacement trait, +1 per hit

[Amnestic]

Jade and Jok'lek continue their melee assault on the large reptiles, smashing into them with their strikes. Jade's target especially seems to suffer greatly, and is bleeding heavily, though it seems possessed by a bloodlust that refuses to allow it to flee. It does at least manage to dodge away from the pink powder, though its companion is less lucky.

Emilia's spell restores some light and life to the bleeding elf's visage, though she doesn't awaken, and you may wonder if the warp stalker's wound may itself be inhibiting the healing magic. Nevertheless, it has certainly moved her a step away from the death that the bloodsuckers have been edging her towards, and the defensive shield likewise protects her from further harm.

Ox's peck skitters wide of the target bug, but it gets it attention. Threatened, it detaches from the elf and makes to pierce Ox's defences, though its prong skitters across the metallic shell. Ox's master is less lucky; the Warp Stalker that Jade has laid into sniffs the magic on the air and retaliates, phasing past Jade to attack the small gnome in her place. It lashes out with its maw and claws. Skipsy manages to avoid becoming a fresh meal, but the razorshap claws draw blood, and she feels the magic disruption surge up through her trying to end her attention on the coat of powder she unleashed.

Another bloodsucker descends from the hive and moves straight towards the bleeding elf, though Ox's disruptive force keeps it from attaching to her, and the remaining bug deals no additional damage to the elf due to Emilia's glowing shield.



https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/998328297253511198/unknown.png

Top left failed their save vs. Faerie Fire, bottom one made it.
Emilia healed Analastra and shielded her.
Jade hit thrice (46 total).
Jok'lek hits twice (25 total)

Top one phases behind Jok'lek, hits them for 7 and 7 slashing damage over two different hits.
Bottom one (the more injured of the two) phases behind Skipsy, crits her for 8 slashing and hits for 7 slashing over two hits, so two different concentration checks on Faerie Fire. I didn't roll them, and these are made with disadvantage as a result of the Warp Stalker's magicfizzlepowers.

One of the bugs detach from Analastra and tries to hit Ox, misses.
Another bug flies down, is prevented from attaching to Analastra by Ox.
The remaining attached bug is unable to move her closer to death due to Power Word Shield...for now.

[Xihirli]

Jade turns on her heel as the monster phases through her. "Hey! No fair! Just when I was going one on one with you!"
She leaps to the defense of the other member of Team Fun-Size, ax swinging at the creature's spine. "I'm bringing it down! RIGHT NOW! Nobody breaks up Team Fun-Size!"


Battleaxe RAGE! RECKLESS!
[roll0]; [roll1]
[roll2]/[roll3]; [roll4]
[roll5]/[roll6]; [roll7]

[Khosan]

For the briefest of moments, Skipsy looks very pleased with her handiwork, smugly smiling at the pinkened warpstalkers. Then one turns to face her, "Oh, scrap." The little gnome tries to put her shield up to stop the beast, but only manages to just deflect its mouth, leaving herself open to its claws in the process, "Oh, fiddleglitch!" As charming as Gnomish swears can be, the raking scratches along her shield arm are quite serious, and the pink powder, though still pink, loses its luminous magical glow. Skipsy groans, but nods in thanks to Jade for smashing up the offending stalker, "Thanks Jadey-oooh, bits, that smarts." Safe, she grabs her gun, aiming at the remaining warpstalker and unloading on it, shouting to the others, "Anyone have any magic to take care of that bug nest?"

Ox continues pecking at the bug now attacking him.

Skipsy's HP: 27 / 42
Ox's HP: 36 / 36

Action: Skipsy attacks the remaining warpstalker, remembering that I have Extra Attack this time:
[roll0] / [roll1], for [roll2]
[roll3] / [roll4], for [roll5]
Bonus Action: Ox force-empowered pecks the bug attacking him
[roll6], for [roll7]

[Kushina43]

Jade brings down the other warp stalker in his periphery, and Jok'lek finally sees the scout being attacked by the swarm. This distraction allows the beast to phase right through him and get off two slashes on his back. He feels the scrape of the claws on his armor, all but certain he was injured, and turns around to strike in furious retaliation. With a mighty roar, his axe arcs from his left to right in a powerful swing, then he carries that momentum via spin into a second sweeping strike. Not satisfied with just those two attacks, he spins into a third diagonal upwards sweep, then stomps the ground hard to end with a downward cleave directly for its skull.

Disregard damage numbers, rolling in OOC to fix

Using Rampage! With FF off the stalkers, this should negate the disadvantage for the turn anyway. And +5 temp hp afterwards
Attack 1: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] slashing
Attack 2: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3] slashing

Action Surge!
Attack 3: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5] slashing
Attack 4: [roll6]
Damage: [roll7] slashing

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Surrender to Madness
Concentration: -

Panic and fear pushes Emilia into a shadow induced frenzy, but this time she tries to retain control.

bonus action: Surrender to Madness [roll0] save vs damage
Using Human Resolve to give myself advantage on the attack roll [roll1]+9 on the closer Warpstalker
Casting Void Strike as 2nd level spell for maximized 36 necrotic damage.

[Amnestic]

Before the warp stalkers can bring any more of their clawed strikes to bear, the party collapses them with vengeance. Jade's blows rain down on the injured one, extinguishing the last of its life and halting its assault on Skipsy, meanwhile Jok'lek and Skipsy slice and cut at its sides to keep it in one place, allowing Emilia a chance to crash down her shadowy spell upon the creature, ending its life. Ox's peck finds its mark this time, ending the life of its target, but its attempt to stop the others from harming the elf falls short. The magic shield that had wrapped around Analastra is now gone, its light dimmed and diminished into nothingness as the three attached bloodbugs continue to drain the life out of their dying victim.


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/999330774174154792/unknown.png

Jade finishes off the south Warpstalker, Jok'lek, Skipsy and Emilia finish off the other. Ox kills one bloodbug.

Also I reread Surrender to Madness and its self-damage isn't dodged by combat ending; make sure you're making the saves post-fight with scaling DCs.

Analastra is a hair's breadth from death.

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Surrender to Madness [Turn 2, DC 12]
Concentration: -

In her shadowy frenzy, Emilia approaches the bugs carefully. Her left hand shines in a holy light as she summons a well made of pure light next to Analastra, while her right is infused with shadow attempting to deal with two bugs.

Casting maximized Holy Nova to remove the Blood Bugs (excluding Analastra from the effect), then casting Healing Spirit for her, then for me. 2 heals for thee, 2 heals for me. [roll0]

[Xihirli]

Jade springs at the last bug, shifting her ax in her hand to swing it like a flyswatter instead of like an ax. She swats the bug away and buries her ax in its body twice to make sure.
"Jok'lek, get her away from the hive!" Jade yells at her troll friend.

Alright I'm gonna reckless three attacks. One of them should hit.

Battleaxe RAGE! RECKLESS!
[roll0]/[roll1]; [roll2]
[roll3]/[roll4]; [roll5]
[roll6]/[roll7]; [roll8]

[Khosan]

Skipsy holsters her pistol with a flourish, spinning it across her palm and nearly sliding it back into its place at her side. She glances back at the elf, a look of worry crossing her face, then turns her attention to the source of the problem: the hive. It was never a smart move to use tools in unintended ways, but sometimes (like when your G.L.O.O.P. module is unpowered, a choice she would rectify at the next opportunity) you gotta whack a beehive with a hammer. Or at least get your mechanical battle chicken to do it for you. The gnome points at the hive, shouting, "Ox! Priority target! Draw their attention!" Ox buh-gawks electronically, acknowledging the command and fluttering over to the nest, pecking at it. Skipsy hustles over to the elf, sticking her with a needle loaded with a low grade healing serum, "Sorry, this'll pinch a bit, but I swear I'm here to help!"

Skipsy's HP: 27/42
Ox's HP: 36/36

Action: Skipsy casts a 1st level Cure Wounds on Analastra for [roll0]
Bonus Action: Ox attacks the hive with another Force Empowered Peck [roll1], for [roll2]

[Kushina43]

With the warp stalkers dead, everyone starts toward the fallen scout and attacks the bugs, trying to clear them away. Jade swats two and Skipsy commands Ox to attack the hive itself to stop any more. Jok'lek holsters his weapon and reaches for one of his handaxes, only for Jade to yell that he get Analastra away from the hive. With a quick nod, he darts in toward her and grabs her, lifting her of the ground and then trying to back away from the combat.

Rolling athletics in case its necessary to carry her as explained
Athletics: [roll0]
Warrior Rage is still active for the moment since I attacked last turn
I'll probably trigger an AoO for retreating, since I doubt picking her up would be less than an action, but I can take some of those

6 RP, assuming 3 of my attacks hit last turn

[Amnestic]

Emilia's spell wraps around two of the bugs and dessicates their bodies as the shadow drains the life from them, leaving Jade open to cleave the last one with remarkable precision from the elf's skin. Skipsy and Jok'lek follow up, the former adding some extra light and life to her the elf's features once more, while the troll lugs her up onto his shoulder and carries her away from the hive. Following his master's orders, Ox waddles into the tower, squawking at the bloodbug's hive, but unable to reach it from the ground. Despite the racket, the two that emerge ignore the metallic construct and instead once again seek only food - specifically from the wounded Skipsy. In tandem, they both fly down and attempt to drain her of her delicious lifeblood. One is deflected by the gnome's shield, but the other one manages to latch in with its barbed proboscis and begins draining yet more from her.


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1000804685319508030/unknown.png

Jade and Emilia forcibly remove the three bugs from Analastra, who is healed by Skipsy, and then picked up and carried a short distance by Jok'lek.

Ox attempts to hit the hive, but can't reach because it's above melee range. It menaces the hive, but the bugs ignore the entirely metallic beast in favour of blood, specifically seeking out the injured Skipsy instead. One hits for 4 damage and latches on to her, the other misses.

[Kushina43]

Once Analastra is a little out of the way, Jok'lek gently puts her down in order to rejoin the fray. Looking to the hive, where Ox is unable to reach, he wants to get there before anything else.. Until Skipsy gets attacked, one of the bugs latching onto her. His eyes widen and his rage renews, pulling out his pair of handaxes and running to Skipsy, slashing at the fleeing bug twice, then once to the attached bloodsucker.

Moving to attack the bugs
First the one still flying, attack and extra attack
Attack 1: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] slashing
Attack 2: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3] slashing

Then bonus action to attack the latched one with offhand via TWF
Attack 3: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5] slashing

Now at AC 17 with DW feat, 6 RP

[Xihirli]

"Why’s everybody hating on Team Fun-Size today?!" Jade steps up to Skipsy and holds up her axe.
"I’ll swat ‘em if they come close! You magic people hit the hive!"

Jade will simply step up to be the nearest one to the hive and Ready an Attack.
She has also been wounded and is coated in Warp Monster Blood.
[roll0]; [roll1]

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 32/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Surrender to Madness [Turn 3, DC 13]
Concentration: -

Emilia defends her immortal mind from the assaults beyond the veil while her Lightwell heals Analastra. She rummages in her pockets and throws an acid vial at the hive, missing entirely.

Madness Save [roll0]
Lightwell [roll1]
"Reaper" style Toll the Dead for 12 damage each (uninjured) vs Wis DC 17

[Khosan]

"Aack! Bugs!" Skipsy swats at them, deflecting one but once more leaving herself vulnerable to the other. She looks as though she's about to swat them herself until Jok'lek comes and does it for her, "Thanks!" Her attention returns to Ox, uselessly hopping around beneath the hive, "Why did I think that would work.
Ox, come!" Ox flutters back to her side, "Defend. Momma's got another dumb plan." Skipsy switches back to her pistol, quickly checking that the chamber's clean, aims at the hive and takes two quick shots.

Skipsy's HP: 23/42
Ox's HP: 36/36

Action: Skipsy takes a sharpshooter penalty to hit and fires twice at the hive:
[roll0] for [roll1]
[roll2] for [roll3]

[Kushina43]

With the bugs swatted, all that remains is the hive. Jade sets up to kill any wasps attracted to her blood-soaked body, while Skipsy and Emilia shoot it and throw acid - the latter Jok'lek winced at her missing, until it thankfully sailed past where it could harm Jade. He moves a few feet over, the entrance directly in front of him, and uses the last of his rage lingering from the encounter to sprint forward. Once he's inside, he stops himself short and puts the momentum into a spin with which he hurls his handaxe, the weapon inheriting his momentum and closing in on the hive, a miniature whirlwind of steel death.

Spending 2 RP on Charge and attack with advantage.
Attack 1: [roll0] Adv: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2] slashing

[Amnestic]

Jok'lek dispatches the two remaining insects in your face, and Jade braces for the next that emerges, taking it down in a single strike. Perhaps it's Skipsy's loss of blood that causes her strikes to veer away from the hive, and Emilia's inexperience with tossing not-terribly-aerodynamic acid vials that makes it shatter and sizzle against stone instead of the bug's home, but neither of them find their mark. It's Jok'lek's throwing axe that strikes true, cleaving the residence in twain...and causing all of its remaining occupants to emerge at once, the buzzing growing far louder as it resonates around the ruined belltower.

Analastra still has not awoken, though her wounds have at least knit shut thanks to the consistent healing, but given her distance from the now-ruined hive, you can be assured that she is safe. The rest of you...not so much.


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1001941285277548695/unknown.png

Jok'lek killed the two in your face.
Jade killed the one that emerged.
Skipsy and Emilia both missed the hive.

Jok'lek then took a turn out of order (naughty) but thankfully it kinda works out. The hive splits open and is destroyed, and out of it emerge eight more bugs.

Everyone except Jok'lek gets a turn before the bugs get another round.

[Xihirli]

Jade lifts her ax. "YAAAAAAAAAARHGGGG!" She announces, and dove into the crowd of bugs, swinging her ax around to use the wide blade as a swatter.


Alright, you know how it go.

Battleaxe RAGE! RECKLESS!
[roll0]/[roll1]; [roll2]
[roll3]/[roll4]; [roll5]
[roll6]/[roll7]; [roll8]

[Khosan]

Skipsy shakes her arm, trying to get feeling back in it. She takes a breath, squeezes one eye shut, fires two more shots at the bugs and shouts to her chicken, "Get 'em, Ox!"

Skipsy's HP: 23/42
Ox's HP: 36/36

Action: Skipsy attacks the surviving bugs:
[roll0] for [roll1]
[roll2] for [roll3]
Bonus Action: Skipsy directs Ox to attack the bugs too
[roll4] for [roll5]

[Amnestic]

As the party begins whittling down the emerging bugs that swarm about you, Emilia conjures forth a mass of shadows which spews into the tower and slams into it at a high point. The void energies tumble down from above, engulfing the insects but stopping short of hitting Jade or Jok'lek. Once the darkness recedes, all the bugs drop dead, their forms shrivelled and dessicated as if all the moisture had been drained from their already thin and ephemeral forms.

Analastra's breathing is light but steady and stable. An inspection of the wound shows that the blood has stopped flowing and the skin has knitted back together nicely, though it seems to twitch and twist as you observe it, occasionally rumbling as if something lurks beneath the surface.


The injury she sustained bears similarities to magical poisons or curses, clinging to her despite the superficial damage being cured. She doesn't appear to be worsening, but neither is she improving; presumably if noting is done she would eventually die from dehydration or starvation.

This can be likely cured with a Dispel Magic, Remove Curse, or a Lesser Restoration spell. If cast from a 2nd level spellslot, a successful spellcasting ability check (DC14) is required to successfully purge the magic. No ability check is required if cast from a 3rd level or higher spell slot.

[Xihirli]

"Looks like she needs some rest!" Jade says sagely, and turns to the two warpstalker corpses.
"Meanwhile, I have some meat to get... and I'll also take their hides!" Jade draws her shortswords and begins skinning the warpstalkers and making meat strips to salt.

Survival? [roll0]

[Khosan]

Skipsy sighs, shoving her pistol back in its holster and collapsing backwards into a sitting position as she catches her breath, "Hoo...Anyone else remember Silithus? I remember Silithus. Bugs are the worst." She glances over at the dead warpstalkers, cradling her bloodied shield arm, "And those were just rude." Ox scuttles over and sits next to his master, miraculously unscathed.

Having caught her breath, Skipsy makes her way over to the elf woman, pulling down her goggles and engaging some specific lenses, "Hmm, magical poison? No, curse? Maybe.
Well, in either case, she's not in danger. It's a tough one, so I can't guarantee this'll work, but if it doesn't she'll be fine until we can get her somewhere safe." The gnome pulls out her army knife and, with a little less gusto than when she fixed Jade's fingers the day before, jabs one of its prongs into Analastra's neck *BZZZT* and whispers a little prayer, "Come on, work for me, baby."

Skipsy casts Lesser Restoration with her last 2nd level spell slot to cure Analastra. [roll0]

[Amnestic]

The shocking magic surges into the unconscious elf, running up and down her body and those observing the warping skin around the now-healed wounds on the back see it steadily slow, calm, and normalise until it's smooth and 'pure' once more. With the magic now purged, the elf's eyes flicker open, revealing irises of emerald surrounded by the pools of green light gently emanating from them that is typical of Thalassians from Silvermoon. She groans as she sits up, rubbing at her back and the damaged armour that had been cleaven through. "Oooh, that one really hurt." She mutters to herself, before she finally takes in the image of you all stood around her, and the corpses of the two warpstalkers. Her features flicker between hope and trepidation as she asks you all, "Did...did you save me? Who are you people?" She's not in any particular state to fight back - even ignoring her near death experience whatever weapons she had carried previously (and she had, given the knife sheath and empty quiver on her belt) have been lost; probably when she was running.

[Xihirli]

Jade, still carving up Warp Stalker for dinner, turns her bloody grin toward the elf.
"Oh, you're up! Hoy hoy! That gnome who healed you is Skipsy! She's fun! And might be a medic! The zombie over there is Emilia, she prays so hard that things explode. The troll is Jok'lek, he's really big! And I'm Jade. I'm just happy to be here! You must be Barry's sister. He sent us out to look for you, and now you're found! So once we return you to your people and pack up this warp stalker we'll be good to go!"
Jade glances at Jok'lek apologetically. "I know we planned a gnoll feast, but since the elves are willing to share their maps without us even fighting a gnoll I figure warp stalker will do. Hey, elf! Ya like white meat or dark meat?"

[Kushina43]

Jok'lek immediately regretted his rash tossing of the axe when the swarm began descending, only for relief to wash over him as Emilia's shadows engulf and desiccate them all almost immediately. His rage abates and he waves to Emilia, both in gratitude and apology, and climbs up to get his handaxe before making his way over to the rest. Analastra's condition is worse than he realized, but Skipsy's gadget thankfully gets her cured and sitting upright. Realizing his retrieved axe is still in hand, he puts it away and bolsters Jade's reassurance.

"Ah, yes, I be Jok'lek of the Darkspear, along with my mentioned companions. We ran across Berrian Velfarren who asked us to find you while we were out here. Your brother, yes? You are safe with us - well, safe as one can be guarded in Duskwood - and he wanted us to say Hope is a Phoenix and send you back his way."

With that said, he turns to Jade and nods in understanding. "Eh, warp stalker's probably better than gnoll, I'd wager. And if you're makin' cuts for us all anyway, I prefer dark meat myself."

[Amnestic]

Relief washes over her face when she hear's Berrian's name, along with a little bit of sisterly worry. She even flinches a little. "He's going to be so mad at me. Analastra Velfarren, it's nice to meet you all." She sighs, but the way she carries herself says that she's still very eager to be going back. "I wouldn't want to...to ask anything more, after all you did save my life, but could you guard me back to my brother? I dropped all my weapons when I was running and...I'll be honest, I'm not really sure where I am now. It was a pretty hectic flight. Great story, but only if I actually get to tell it."

[Xihirli]

"Yes, we'd be happy to! But there's no way we'll be finding an elf camp in the night, and we've worn ourselves out. So as soon as we eat, we should set up for the night. We'll look for Barry at first light."
Jade gathers wood for a fire and sticks the cuts of meat she's planning to use on her longsword, holding them over the fire like marshmallows.
"Oh, and I have a few extra weapons. What do you prefer? You can borrow my shortswords or bow or longsword until we find your brother, if you like!"

[Khosan]

Skipsy falls backwards, taking a deep breath. She raises a hand when Jade introduces her, offering up a tired but relieved, "Skipsy, Skipsy Turncrank. Member in good standing with the - hoo boy - Explorer's League." Almost absent-mindedly, still pulling herself together, she retracts the restorative attachment of her army knife and extends a small trumpet which, upon tapping a button on the side, plays the recording of Berrian's irritated repetition of 'Hope is a phoenix.'

"I could do dinner. Just gimme a second, I'll get that going once I get my arm wrapped up," She struggles up to a sitting position, loosening the mechanical armor on her left arm. Reaching into her bag, she pulls out a few strips of cloth, some are used to wipe her arm clean, most are used simply as bandages and the last especially long one as a makeshift sling. The entire time she's doing this, she keeps talking, "I dunno if we need to sleep here though. I mean, yes, I'm nearly dry on magic and I'm scratched to the Nether and back, but Ox is perfectly fine! And ol' shooty here is plenty effective!" Her wounds treated well enough for non-magical field medicine, she pulls a strange box from her bag that, upon the press of another strange button, clunkily expands into a miniature grill, "Alright, bring 'em over. Let's see what we can do."

With her Cook's Utensils, Skipsy attempts to make dinner, [roll0] with [roll1] because Skipsy is hoping to make a good impression.

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

As the quaint little introduction happens in the foreground, Emilia is battling her inner demons, or rather shadows. Clutching her head, she kneels down, praying to the Light of all entities to shield her. The darkness envelops her, but a glowing orb appears around her. It breaks almost instantly but her undead form is not marred too badly. She even takes a few deep breaths she doesn't need before shakily coming to her feet again.

She does come closer a few steps, then stops and adresses Analastra's concern. I expected this request, and I for one would feel bad sending you out unarmed and disoriented. At least to collect the reward. She pauses and smiles her freakish smile. Your brother seemt exasperated, but concerned. I would not worry too much.

I am Emilia Shadowburn, formerly Emilia of Brill. I hope you can excuse my mangled form, but I did suffer under the Scourge as much as your kin did. If you feel safe enough with us, I would do half the night watches. The living death comes with its advantages though I need to meditate to sort my thoughts as well. With these words, rather than partaking in the social gathering of the eatery, Emilia scans the area for a lookout. Eating and socializing reminded her too much of what she had lost.

[Amnestic]

"I'm eager to get back...but I do think a rest might help. I'd happily take a bow, though hopefully we won't need it again." Analastra agrees with a weary, and a slightly embarassed, smile. Still, despite her ordeal and former injuries she acquits herself well in helping out with moving the bug bodies outside of the tower so you can all take refuge inside of it. She even offers to help out with dinner, though in truth Skipsy's unusual utensils leave her lost. The gnome turns out a relatively successful dinner considering the environment you find yourself making it in - tasty, even if not delicious, and filling.

"I can take a watch too, at least if it's not the first one." Analastra offers. She doesn't shy away from Emilia, nor seem perturbed by the undead form. "I stayed in Tranquillien for a time, I know the Forsaken can be...misunderstood." It's said with a smile, but the smile is tinged with the same cloying pity that many offer. Still, she lets Emilia have her distance, and makes no move to engage first, only to respond.

After sitting for dinner, she launches into a short explanation on her story. "I don't know how much my brother told you about why we're here, and I don't want to say more without his approval, but we're searching for someone, or the trace of someone. With the gnolls occupying much of the lower level and monstrosities around the abbey, we had little choice but to make our base at the Font and send out ranging parties from there. We encountered the warp stalkers a few times, but kept our distance since they seemed to have a taste for gnoll meat." She gives a light shrug of shame. "I was out hunting some gnolls myself when they got the drop on me and had to run."


I'm still on holiday (officially) and won't be back on my home PC while Wednesday for my actual notes, so I'm gonna hold off rolling for encounters during the night (if any) til then. Post as much or as little as you like making small talk, but chances are this'll be my last post until back home.

[Xihirli]

Jade passes out cuts of meat to go with Skipsy's food. Dark for her and Jok'lek, white for everyone else.
She starts chowing down.
"I'll take first watch. Gives me time to salt the rest of these warpstalkers. Why don't you take it with me, Emilia?" Jade offers with a grin. "Two pairs of eyes are better than one, and I feel like we never hang out anymore. It's all 'the light has betrayed me' this and 'I hate fun' that. Come onnnn, it'll be fun!"

Jade takes her shortbow and quiver out of the bag of holding and hands them over to Analastra. "I'd have a longbow, but I can't reach the top of it to string it!" the small goblin explains. "But it'll do in a pinch, right? I know all you elves are into the longbows and the double-bladed scimitars nowadays."

[Kushina43]

Jok'lek picks up the neglected Comet Card after the battle, putting it in his bag, then gets back to the group replying "Rest'll do us all good, then we get ya back, no objection here." As he sat down to rest, wiping down his axes of warp stalker blood and bug, he wondered if Ebonlocke might not like the group taking any longer than was specified.. But ultimately, he was more satisfied with doing the good deed in front of him first. Plus, knowing the gnolls infested the lower levels was relevant information. He kept the line about searching for someone in the back of his mind, and instead pressed for the former and the monsters. "While on the topic, you got any idea what a bunch of gnolls might be doin' here in the first place? Warp stalkers are also a little odd for the region, from what I've been told." He puts down his blades as Jade passes him the dark cut of stalker meat, his hunger arriving all at once and taking large bites.

[Amnestic]

The elf takes hold of the bow and gives it a few test pulls, feeling the weight of the string. Experienced archers note that the draw length is a little bit less than her arm can handle but she still nods, apparently choosing not to mention it and instead graciously accepting the borrowed-gift without complaint. Jok'lek's questions make her purse her lips, not out of unwillingness to speak but rather concern. "The warp stalkers I can explain, at least a bit: it's the magic here. I don't know the full story of what happened but over a century or so ago, something happened here which sent the magic all wild. You've probably seen the glow?" She points further up the hill towards the Abbey. "I think the magic 'pulled' them in but it's had other weird effects too. Chaotic. It's why Berrian doesn't like straying too far from the Font for now - it seems to be a bit of a sanctuary against the wild magic."

"The gnolls...I don't really know. They don't talk much in between the laughter and screaming. I thought they just wanted it as a place to live - squatting in an abandoned village with big walls isn't the worst idea, but since they're gathering mercenaries..." She trails off, then shrugs with a sigh. Your guess is as good as hers.

With a watch order decided on, more or less, you settle in for turns of sleep.

The 'Night'

The first few watches pass without bother, just the silence of the forest punctuated with the whistle of wind through the trees, its dark tones heralding the corruption that stalks the Abbey's grounds. During the final watch, with Analastra and Jok'lek, they both feel - and then hear - a shaking. Heavy footfalls of an individual far heavier than any gnoll or warp stalker, no matter how large. The creaking of trees suddenly uprooting and falling reaches your ears but peering through the gloom reveals nothing at first. It's enough notice to give you time to wake the others, however.

Finally the great being comes into a view - a treant. A living tree powered normally by natural magic but, like so much else in this place...different. Its bark is blackened, its 'face' and claws glimmering with a magic that's azure colour sets your teeth on edge. It stomps following your own trail, and as you hold your breath in silence it seems that it might move past and go on its way, but it was too much to hope for, and it turns with a roar towards the tower, bounding towards you directly on earth-shaking feet. Analastra strikes first from her hiding place, loosing an arrow at the monster. Her inexperience with the goblin-sized shortbow seems to make the arrow a little less powerful than hoped though, and it skitters against the thick bark. The monster's response is swift, as it scoops up a great chunk of rock and dirt with one hand without breaking stride and tosses it overarm at the elf. Some of it was deflected by the tower wall she hid behind, but a scattering of stone still strikes at her promising yet more bruises to come.


I'm back home! Joy of joys.

You gain the benefits of a short rest, spend any HD as needed.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1006915658371584010/unknown.png

Initiative only had Analastra going first, then the enemy, so everyone's got a turn now. I'll do Analstra's second turn at the start of the next turn.

Analastra missed (despite advantage) and the treant responded by tossing a rock at her for 18 damage.

Comet card is in effect again.
Comet
When you are stood in the card's location you can use your bonus action to 'Mark' a target you can see. The next time you hit the marked target with an attack roll, you gain 10 temporary HP. The Comet token then moves underneath the Marked target. You may only Mark one target at a time, and using your bonus action to mark a new target removes the previous mark.

[Xihirli]

Jade, who luckily doesn't have armor to put on, rolls to her feet upon hearing the fighting and unsheathes her longsword in two hands, not having the time to strap on her shield. She springs forward, lifting the sword over her head and going in to chop into the tree menace.
"What kind of a tree even are you? I'M greener than you!"


Hey, that's Rotten Applebaum from Hearthstone!

With 40 feet I believe I just barely make it into melee.

Let's be safe and Frenzy, though that won't kick in until next round because bonus action.
Longsword (two-handed) RAGE! RECKLESS! POWER ATTACK!
[roll0]/[roll1]; [roll2]
[roll3]/[roll4]; [roll5]

[Khosan]

"Huh-wha-?" Skipsy grunts groggily, lurching up from her slumber, hair even more of a mess than usual. She dons her armor, half awake and seemingly only half aware of the stomping. At first sight of the treant, she lights right up, almost vibrating with excitement that such a wonderous creature had wandered their way and that she might have an opportunity to explain what they are and their relationship to Night Elven society at length. Until it throws a rock.

The gnome looks as if she's been slapped in the face, utterly shocked and betrayed that the treant would do such a thing, "What! How dare! It takes a moment to sink in that, "...Dangit," this thing means them harm and her gun would be needed. She reluctantly takes aim and fires, "I swear these guys are normally so nice! Ox, get in there!" Ox scrambles into pecking range, diving forward to meet the tree creature's shin.

"'Lastra! Touch this thing here, then shoot the tree!" She jerks her head toward the floating symbol of the Comet card just next to her, "It's a little protective glyph!"

Skipsy's HP: 42 / 42
Ox's HP: 36 / 36

Action: Skipsy attacks the treant, firing twice with her pistol
[roll0] for [roll1]
[roll2] for [roll3]
Bonus Action: Ox likewise runs into melee and attacks the treant
[roll4] for [roll5]

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Emilia interrupted her night shifts with occasional thoughts about the Light. It forsake her, yes. But did she really try to reach for it? Maybe the Scarlet Crusade's teachings were right? Maybe she was an abomination that deserved to die? But he also read about a Alonsus Faol, a great priest in the Second War, now forsaken as her. And he still believes in the light, though he uses the darkness within as well. Maybe that was better than hiding, away from life, and bask in (un)death.

As her shift came to an end the rural priestess laid herself into an indention in the ground, akin to a grave or sarcophagus. Closing her eyes, she crossed her arms like a corpse from Uldum, meditating on her state of unlife between life and death. The darkness beckoned, and yet she resisted. The Lich King beckoned, and yet she resisted.

Creaking bark and unsettling energies awoke her. Rising from the grave, she saw an arrow fly at a tree, no treant, and the Farstrider immediately getting almost killed by an arm full of mud and dirt. By the Light, you are the world's worst elven ranger, you know that?

She steps aside and near the card. Snapping her fingers, she sets the tree aflame in dark energies.

Void Strike: [roll0] Bonus Action card activation.
[roll1] necrotic

[Amnestic]

Rather than waiting for the treant to reach you in melee, the party leaps out to meet it - still covered in the scattered dirt and rocks from the treant's first volley. Taking their blades to it, Jade and Jok'lek hack at its legs while Ox pokes at one of its feet with a magically-enhanced beak. The weapon choice was well made, as the bladed weapons cut into the bark, and though there might have been concern that Skipsy's bullets wouldn't pierce through, the magic behind them seems to push the bullets through to strike the inner tree. Great glowing blue sap 'bleeds' from its wounds, though the glow is quickly obscured when Emilia wreathes the monster in shadowy magic. She's buoyed by the card's magic, but it vanishes after she moves to it and appears amidst the treant's feet.

Analastra frowns at the frankly needlessly rude comment from the forsaken, but doesn't respond and instead focuses on loosing another two arrows at the monster. Once again, the arrowheads skitter against its thick bark and scatter again.

Rearing back, the black-barked treant - whether due to a natural affiliation to the magic, luck, or keen understanding of it (arcanists would probably judge the former as most likely) - also channels the card into itself as it brings its hulking clawed arms down against those who engaged it in close combat. It slams down first on Jade, the card immediately appearing once more next to the goblin, before the tree moves onto Jok'lek, who leaps aside, and Ox, who does not and instead receives the full force of the hefty magic plant.


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1008464552142327809/unknown.png
Jade hits once, misses once.
Skipsy hit once, missed once. Ox hit.
Emilia hit.
I rolled Jok'lek's two attacks - missed once, hit once for 4.

Analastra continued to roll poorly, I'm blaming the goblin-sized shortbow as she missed twice though really it's just swingy dice.

The treant splits its attacks - hit Jade (9) bludgeoning, missed Jok'lek (Ox used its reaction on this, though it wasn't needed), and hit Ox (13 bludgeoning). It also made use of the card, and the effect is now under Jade, since she got hit first.

Everyone's up.

[Kushina43]

Most of the night had been going uneventfully, up until this point on final watch with Analastra. He was thankful to already be armored up for his post, once he heard the massive footfalls, and his eyes widen in shock as the treant comes into full view. Its bark is a dark color with sickening azure magic that makes his hair stand on end, and the feeling only kicks into high gear when it charges forward with intent to kill. Analastra shoots it but misses, and it retaliates with a large thrown rock that Jok'lek has to dive away from to avoid also getting blasted by shrapnel. Analastra isn't as lucky, pelted with chunks of rock, and along with the group he meets the treant and strikes at it. Some damage is dealt, and Emilia hits it with a gout of shadow magic with the Comet card's power backing her, but the treant also uses the card and hits Jade under its effects, its mighty frame bolstered further by the card's magic. It lashes out at him and Ox next, but Jok'lek is able to leap out of the way. He lets loose a battle cry and goes for the attack, a veritable whirlwind of steel as his axe swings for its legs multiple times.

Bonus Action: Warrior Rage, 3 Rage Points
Action: 2 Attacks (see below, apparently)
Rage Points: 3+number of hits

[Xihirli]

Three of Jade’s fangs hit the dirt with a good-sized glob of spittle and blood.
"I’m sure those are going to grow back." Jade spares a glance at Emilia. "Hey, there’s no reason for that. She was beaten into unconsciousness earlier today, after all! We can’t expect her to… oh right I’m fighting."
With both hands, Jade swings at the mark she’d left in the wood, hoping to split the monster in twain.


LongswordRAGE! RECKLESS! POWER ATTACK!
[roll0]/[roll1]; [roll2]
[roll3]/[roll4]; [roll5]
[roll6]/[roll7]; [roll8]

[Kushina43]

Attack 1: [roll0]
Damage 1: [roll1]
Attack 2: [roll2]
Damage 2: [roll3]

[Khosan]

Skipsy gasps as Ox gets smashed, crying out, "Oxy!" The gnome steels herself, firing another two shots, and directs her partially crumpled mechanical pet once more, "Activate self-repair protocol! Keep running interference for the others!" Ox shudders, and momentarily lurches into a kind of T-pose, his head, buried halfway into his neck, pops back out with a metallic clank. Repairs complete, Ox adopts his usual stance, squawking and flapping his wings to distract the treant when it moves to attack.

Skipsy's HP: 42 / 42
Ox's HP: 23 / 36 (plus his pending repair)

Action: Skipsy attacks, taking a gamble to deal some extra damage.
[roll0], [roll1]
[roll2], [roll3]
Bonus Action: Skipsy directs Ox to repair himself (2/3 daily uses remaining) for [roll4]

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

In its weakened state, Emilia prefers to channel her mind into the brain of the aberration.

Mind Flay/Toll the Dead [roll0] Wis save vs DC 17
or take [roll1] necrotic.

[Amnestic]

Skipsy's rage may have channeled itself into her bullets, but she is no warrior, and all her frustration doesn't curve the bullets any better as they skitter past the monster, barely scraping the surface of the bark. Emilia has no better luck, as the great creature's mind resists her spell. It brings its arm up once more to slam down against the party, but Jok'lek and Jade's quick slashes against its legs finally cut through entirely, slicing through and causing it to collapse with a reverberating crash.

Now on its back, it struggles for a moment, trying to right itself and continue its assault, but its turns avail it naught and it falls back as the glowing blue magic sap leaks from where its legs used to be in great spurts and oozes. Finally, it falls still, the glow in its eyes fading and the creature falls still dead.


Was expecting it to stay up another round or so, but it didn't. Combat over!

One more short rest will get you to your requisite sleeptime completed, then presumably back to Berrian?

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Emilia glances at Analastra digging herself out of the dirt with a creepy smile. I hope your elven emotions are not too hurt by nature not only almost knocking you out, but also us destroying a precious treant. Emilia approaches the blue sap and takes a sample. She dumps out a bit of smelling salt from her healing kit and tries to get a clear sample of the sap.

I don't know how many uses of the healing kit you would remove for me dumping a container. But I want a bit of a sample.

[Amnestic]

Even with the threat of combat gone, the young(?) elf purses her lips and poorly hides that she's not exactly thrilled with Emilia's phrasing, but won't or can't say much in return, given her position. "Farstriders do what we have to, we always have and always will." She turns away from the conversation, and instead busies herself trying to get the hang of the goblin bow that perplexed her so during the fight.


One charge for one sample of sap seems reasonable as an exchange rate.

[Xihirli]

Jade, coated in blue magic sap from the spray of the Treant, hops up to Analastra.
"Don't mind her. She's just cranky because everyone she knew and loved died horribly including her. Also you elves like... use wood for things, right? You cut down trees. Anyway I think that one was weird anyway. I bet it planted itself too close to a crazy river that flows with crazy water. My mother always said to me 'Gialtea, you're a failure to goblinkind! Go read a book and stop beating rats to death and eating them! You'll become half-rat if you keep doing that!' So I think this tree drank something crazy and went half-crazy, then drank it again and went full-crazy."
Jade nods sagely. "That's what I think."

[Kushina43]

Jok'lek wipes off his axe's blade of the glowing sap with spare cloth, though he was already splashed by some when the thing fell. "Rat story aside, I think you may be close. A treant being corrupted by dark magic sounds.. plausible, I guess. I know some gnolls use magic, perhaps they're harming the land, and this is a symptom meaning they need to be dealt with." He makes his way back to the tower where they were camped, getting ready to rest again. "I'd say that's my watch done after that scare. A bit longer and we'll head back to your camp, Analastra. Sound good, everyone?"

[Khosan]

Skipsy jogs over to Ox as soon as the treant tumbles, pulling out her army knife, she extends something that looks like a combination screwdriver-microscope and tends to her chicken's injuries, "Poor guy, he really did a number on you, Oxy."

Occupied with her repairs, Skipsy does take a moment to engage with the conversation, "Yeah, I'm with Jade. Likely corrupted." Something sparks in Ox's back, making Skipsy jump, "Yeek! Okay, that's fine, I can fix that! Anyway, yes, corruption. A lot of treants, especially ones more closely associated with the Night Elves, are friendly! Or at least, docile. There's one in Dalaran, Applebough? He sells apples. Lovely guy. Great apples! But in the wild, treants are susceptible to corruption from a variety of sources. They're very sensitive to ambient magical energies in the environment, like in Felwood demonically corrupted treants are the norm. Dunno what got our friend here, but I'll take a look once I finish with Ox."

A few minutes later, after mending Ox, Skipsy kneels next to the treant, pulling her goggles down over her eyes to get a better look, "Did it seem to anyone else like this one was...following us? It came up the same way we did and charged right at the tower before we'd done anything. That could just be bad luck, but I have to put the theory out there that he was after us specifically." She pointedly pats the pocket where she's been keeping the card.

Skipsy casts Mending on Ox for [roll0], if I managed to roll a 2 total she'll cast it again.

Then she'll ritual cast Detect Magic as she looks at the Treant, [roll1]

[Amnestic]

Given the treant's speed, your roundabout path, and most importantly your long hours of sleep Skipsy can judge that it's relatively unlikely that the treant was tracking you specifically; but following your own path back should prove or disprove that hypothesis more than guesswork. However, more notable is that the treant's magic does seem to resonate with or be related to the card you carry. The corruption that seeped into this treant isn't just the duskwood curse that blankets the land. It's something specific to the Abbey, it seems...and connected to the Deck?

Analastra nods along with Jade's...encouragement. It's clear from her expression (Except, perhaps, to the goblin) that she doesn't really understand but that the sentiment is nevertheless appreciated. "I wouldn't mind a bit more time to practice but...well if we're back to my brother then hopefully won't need to use this one again." She agrees with Jok'lek. She doesn't have much in the way of gear to carry, so aside from the slung quiver and too-small bow, she's good to go.


I'm in the office right now so I don't have all my notes, but I'll get another post up later today with a move back to the Font, whether or not there's any posts in the meantime.

[Amnestic]

With your investigations concluded, you proceed back towards the Font, picking your way through the dense tree foliage. Time becomes difficult to track, absent any celestial objects by which to track its passage, and instead you're forced to rely on the pace of your feet and the beats of your heart to tick away the minutes and hours.

Thankfully, your return to the Font is uneventful, and you're not hindered by any more wandering treants, owlbears, or warp stalkers. Analastra breaks the treeline first, and when Berrian spots her he rushes to meet her, embracing her with the relief of a family member rescued. Admonishment, it seems, can wait in favour of joy at their safety. When they separate, he looks to you bringing up the rear, and a quick glance at Analastra confirms that it was you who helped her. "You have done a great kindness by returning Analastra to us," While Berrian's demeanour isn't exactly soft, the edges of his eyes are a certainly less harsh than they were on your first meeting. "And a deed of heroism will doubtless see the Font reward you in turn." He beckons you further into the camp, to sit by the Font's side and bask in the gentle glow given by the enchanted waters.

"We are not keepers of the Font, but our time here has allowed us to understand its magic. For those worthy, drinking from it grants you visions of the past, of moments trapped in time, and they serve as..." He seems to struggle to properly describe it. "divine inspiration, almost, though it must be taken in moderation - drinking it too greedily has the opposite effect." He gestures to a stone cup, humble and crude in its making, that rests in the Font's waters. "It's waters can cleanse as well - one of ours was afflicted by a curse, and bathing them in the Font's water shattered the curse most assuredly as any spellbreaker."

"Finally, I'd offer my own knowledge - that of the Abbey, such as it is, and our cause, though I understand if you'd rather claim the Font's visions first." Analastra, who had disappeared, returns with a fresh elf-sized longbow and elven arrows, along with two blades at her waist. With a nod of thanks, she hands Jade's equipment back. "I didn't give a great showing, but I have been further out than the rest of our rangers; I can give some insight as well."


Anyone and everyone can take a drink from the Font. If you choose to do so, roll a d6.

[Xihirli]

"Surviving by yourself out there is impressive enough!" Jade assures her, tucking her bow and arrows back into place. She then picks up the stone cup and chugs down the water.
"Alright, vision time!"

[roll0] let's goooooo

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Emilia fell silent on the way back. She had things to think about, and her abrasive nature was not able to deflect her own sorrow. She once played under such an oak tree. Her parent's farm had an apple tree with juicy red apples. The treant just reminded her of home and reflected her own person. Once pure and life giving, now a twisted and warped reflection of herself. Once at the ranger camp, she listens intently to the much more cautious ranger Berrian. She nods to his words of guidance and says: I wish to feel the Light again. I have drowned myself in shadows long enough. I do not fear it, but I truly feel the touch of the Light is missing. She pauses, then feels her warped undead form. Her body was mostly intact since the plague itself killed her, not some violent fight with the Scourge. She had not eaten since, not even thought about quaffing potions. I just hope I can keep it down. she adds in a defeated but somewhat ironic tone.

Approaching the font, she drinks a cup, then patiently waits for the others to drink before dousing herself in the waters.

[roll0]
If the font is not arcane but divine, I am going for some sort of "second baptism" RP to have an IC reason to switch priest schools.

[Khosan]

Skipsy stares at the water for a solid minute, her face screwed up, "Someone bathed in this, huh." She continues staring for a long moment after, then finally throws caution to the wind, takes the cup from Emilia and takes a sip herself.

[roll0]

[Kushina43]

At Berrian's thanks, Jok'lek offers a short bow, happy to have assisted. At the offer of the Font, the troll ponders for a minute longer, even after the others have had some to drink. "Visions and inspiration, eh..?" He takes the cup from Skipsy and mulls it over a minute longer, then says aloud "Great Hir'eek, grant me the insight through which to understand what I see from the Font with your clarity." and drinks the cup fully.

Font Vision: [roll0]

[Amnestic]

"We took the water from the Font, we didn't bathe them in it directly." Berrian hastens to add to Skipsy before she takes a drink.


Vision of Purpose
Your vision brightens as the world falls away and suddenly you're at the top of a tall hill. Looking down, you see the land that would become Duskwood splayed out around you, bathed in sunlight. Behind you, the the shell of a building to be is being constructed from stone around a wooden skeleton. Human labourers sing as they hustle and bustle around you, not seeing you, and time seems to blend together as the Abbey's central temple building takes form before your eyes, impossibly fast.

One use: At no action cost, you gain the ability to not provoke opportunity attacks and increase your movement speed by 30ft. This lasts until the end of the current encounter.



Vision of Enlightenment

The Font and the people around you slowly fade away, replaced by images from what looks like the inside of a church. Humans dressed in robes and other religious vestments sit and pray, then a moment later they are doing gentle woodwork, and a moment later they are sat in a circle engaged in a vigorous philosophical discussion. You don't hear the words, exactly, but intuitively you understand the notions being expressed.

Two uses: At no action cost, you have advantage on an ability check of your choice.



Vision of Heroism

Your eyesight swirls as your surroundings vanish. No longer by the Font, you find yourself in a building you do not recognise, yet one that seems close by. A human knight, bearing symbols of the Light and Tyr's hand, holds aloft a hammer. In front of his, a demon - grey skinned, clad in crimson armour and wielding a wicked blade the size of the man that stands before him. "I may not be able to slay you hear today demon," the knight calls out. "But by my sacrifice I bind you to this place, and ensure you can do no more harm." Light engulfs your vision, and you hear the demon's scream of fury, and even though you do not see him any more, you know, intuitively, that the knight's sacrifice indeed bound the demon.

One use: At no action cost, you gain an additional bonus action on your current and your next turns.



Vision of Past Valour

The Font falls away from you, though your feet remain planted on stone. The next thing you notice is your nose filled with the stench of flame and smoke. Turning, you see you are now on the Abbey walls, not far from where you clambered through the breach before, though the hole in the walls is no longer there - or perhaps, is not there yet. All around you are warriors and priests of Stormwind, mustering to defend the walls, and beyond the stone fortifications, bathing in the sunlight of a land yet to be cursed, is a sea of fury; an army of gnolls clutching crude weaponry, their raucous laughter a cacophony to your ears as they assault the Abbey from all sides in an army you didn't think possible. The defenders stand fast, despite the fear that you taste on the air, and as the vision fades you're left with the melancholic knowledge that they failed.

One use: At no action cost, you gain an additional Action this turn.


Berrian and Analastra remain seated, waiting as you slowly emerge from the visions your saw. How much time has passed? Not a great deal, and yet you feel like you were perhaps in the throes of history for longer than it seemed. Finally, the fairer of the two speaks, unable to contain her eagerness: "Well? What did you see?"

What're the odds that you all roll something on 4d6? 50/50, because it either happened or it didn't.

[Xihirli]

I watched people build a temple and now I can go fast! But only for a little!" Jade explains. "Normally to go fast what I do is I go very high and jump. That makes me go really quick. I also really wish I'd paid more attention in history class."
Jade furrows her eyes. "The Duskwood was founded after... a big fish flopped onto the ocean and they made it out of the fishbones. No? Yes?"

[Khosan]

"A binding ritual?" Skipsy blinks repeatedly as her eyes readjust to the light, "A knight, probably a paladin of some description, maybe Silver Hand? Anyway, he was fighting a demon. Well, specifically, he was losing to the demon. The binding was a last ditch effort to stop...whatever the demon wanted to do. Which, as usual, was probably something bad." She scratches her chin, continuing to think out loud, "Assuming this isn't just a hallucinogen, and we're actually seeing visions of the past, I'd guess mine comes from around the time of the Second War? Silver Hand was formed around then and the Burning Legion would have been active in this area at the time."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

The Abbey was once consecrated towards the Light. It would make sense to place a building of worship where a demon was felled. Or bound. Still, I feel something must have went wrong with the binding if the darkness can seep into the lands. I know little of the shadow I serve, but I know I am not in league with demons. So there might be something else that corrupts the lands.

Despite the dark words coming from her undead lips, Emilia's mood brightens considerably. If the Light can be blotted out in Darkshire, but still produce visions this clearly, then there is a spark of hope. For this land, and for us.

This whole thing makes me wonder whether or not Emilia counts as undead for the purposes of holy water.

[Amnestic]

Berrian and Analastra look at each other when Jade reports her 'vision'. "You...might have had too much, but no, I don't believe Duskwood was formed from a giant fish." Berrian offers, while his sister merely shakes her head. "The abbey's been mostly abandoned for over a hundred years, humans have kept their distance from it for a while, but it's not out of the question that there might have been one here during the Second War, perhaps on a quest of some sort."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Excuse my friend, Berrian. She is an idiot, but she means well. We were told to investigate the Abbey and gnolls as travellers and merchants have been going missing along these lands. Do you know anything more of that? Past revelations is good and all, but our main concern is in the now.

Alas, I am surprised the holy water did not burn me. This font might be arcane, or it might be not as pure as you thought.

[Xihirli]

Jade lights up. "Awww! You're my friend too, Emilia!"
She refocuses. "Anyway yeah, if you've scouted this place out we're really looking mostly for location and number of gnolls."

[Kushina43]

Jok'lek staggers back a bit, the vision unexpected in scale, and when he's back in his own time he takes a moment to compose himself. Listening to the others mention bulding the place up and the Light around it's creation, Jok'lek's vision seemed almost counter. "..What I saw was not any of those. Not creation, not Light.. Instead I saw the Abbey fall. Soldiers and priests of Stormwind defended this place, valiantly to the bitter end, falling to an uncountable army of gnolls. So, so many gnolls.. But this also happened before the land was cursed, so perhaps that curse drove those numbers out, and they're only now coming back... if they amass like that again, we stand no chance."

[Amnestic]

"What you saw was probably the fall of the Abbey," Berrian nods at Jok'lek, his face grim. "It happened some 150 years ago, the Abbey came under attack by a massive force of gnolls, aided by giants, trolls and some reports even suggested demons. The defenders might have been able to exhaust the defenders, except one of them lost their faith. They instead turned to a bound artifact they'd recovered - a magical deck of cards - and tried to use it to save themself, but the wards they'd placed on the artifact caused the magic to react...poorly. Instead it summoned up great monsters that began attacking both sides, leaving the Abbey in ruins." He casts a hand out to the forests around you, though clearly he's gesturing much further than you can see.

"Our father was there, during the fall of the Abbey, fighting alongside the humans, but then he vanished. It took us years to find out he was still alive, and longer still to track him to here, but the mages we hired couldn't figure out anything more so we're doing this the old fashioned way." Analastra sighs. If Analastra drew a connection between the magic card you held and the deck mentioned, she doesn't show it - she might simply not have noticed.

"I wouldn't concern yourself overmuch with the holiness of the water - if you were unworthy it would burn you, of this I have no doubt. You earned the right to partake of the Font, and so it did you no harm." You can't tell, exactly, if Berrian knows this or simply believes it. Regardless, his conviction is clearly palpable.

Analastra pulls out a map of the abbey she's sketched and slowly goes over what she knows, and what she doesn't know. "The gnoll leadership are in the Keep, with guards. There's an ettin out front, where at least one of its heads is always awake while the other sleeps. That actual abbey village itself...it must have at least a hundred and fifty gnolls and mercenaries, possibly up to double that if they're using the houses, that's just what we saw on the outside."

"There are some dryads in the forest but we kept our distance from them - they seemed more playful than malicious but the way Duskwood is we didn't want to take any chances. We did some scouting at the top of the hill but didn't go in any of the buildings - the southern building looked like some barracks or living quarters for monks, and it had some...creatures inside I didn't recognise. They looked dangerous though, like worms on legs that could burrow through the ground. The west building had some giant spiders inside, and the north building - a gatehouse down to the rest of the village - had some earth elementals that seemed to be eating metal."

"We left the Abbey's main temple building untouched. I didn't see any creatures there which made me steer well clear. Things I can see I can fight or run from, but for nothing to be in the biggest building?" She shakes her head, her blonde hair waving about. "Definitely not going there alone."


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1012324379880869928/unknown.png

[Xihirli]

Jade tilts her head and thinks about their mission.

Brightmore Abbey has been abandoned by humanity for generations and all manner of creature has taken up residence over the years. While they kept to themselves this wasn't an issue, but if the gnolls are raiding I can't leave it alone. Find out how many there are, what defenses they have, and then report back. 600 gold coins in payment.

"Alright, we've found out their numbers, now we just need to find out their defenses. So the gnolls are in this keep and this village... Emilia, if you want to do your invisibility thing, I think it's best done in those two locations. The rest of us could stay at the belltower so you have a secure-ish location to retreat to?" Jade suggests. "Or maybe better to be within sprinting distance of the keep."
She then turns to Skipsy.
"If things are invisible or in a different layer of the world like those popping spiders, do you think you could rig up a way to see them?"

Jade points to the garrison. "You haven't been here yet?" She asks the elves.

[Amnestic]

Analastra humms and hahs a little. "Yes and no, but mostly no. I took a look but couldn't get too close due to how many gnolls were around, but even if I wanted to it seemed sealed up, the gnolls kept their distance and it didn't seem like anyone ever came or went from it. I'm guessing it's some sort of magic lock, since I can't imagine any metal would keep them out for long if they really wanted inside."

[Khosan]

"A hundred years?!" Skipsy's jaw drops, "That means they predated the founding of the Silver Hand by at least seventy years! Ooh, the League'll like this one. We don't have records of any orders of human paladins from before the Silver Hand, so if there's relics of one here? With very similar foundations? That's the good stuff!"

Skipsy keeps her mouth firmly shut as their new elven friends discuss magical cards, but watches with great interest as Analastra goes over her map, "If you haven't been by the watchtower, just south of here, it's pretty neat! Tons of magical energy just floating around! Nothing dangerous - at least as far as we could tell, we couldn't even get the door to budge even a little - but very neat!" She pauses as the gnoll numbers are discussed, "A hundred and fifty to three hundred gnolls, plus their leaders and an ettin, huh? Think that could be enough for the Commander? I'd like to stay for archaeological reasons, that entire plateau sounds very interesting, but I dunno if we can risk it with that many gnolls within spitting distance."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Emilia ruminates on the discoveries. It WAS disconcerting to hear, and she noticed Jade mentioning her job. As much as my nature screams against it, we have not found out their defenses. We have a second-hand account of what was their defenses. I do trust Berrian's account, but if anything changed we are to blame for Darkshire's losses. Additionally we do not know fully what they have in store. The worms are not categorized, and for all we know there could be a pit fiend hiding in the desecrated church.

The priest shrugs. No, I feel we have to take the cover of darkness and do some exploration still. And I may be able to cover myself in shadows and communicate my findings with you via your minds if you are allowing me to take point, as silly as it is to have the priest do that.

[Xihirli]

Jade gives her a hug. "We'll stay close. Don't die, okay?"
Then a thought occurs to her. "Might want to disguise your scent if you can manage it. Those big ol' snoots aren't just cosmetic, like they are on humans."

[Kushina43]

'The Deck was here!' Jok'lek thinks, eyes widening in immediate realization. His thoughts race as the conversation continues, considering bringing up their own card, but ultimately decides against it for the moment - the gnolls probably had the rest, if it even was here, and he agreed that they need more information before doing anything further, even just returning to Darkshire.

"The belltower, yes.. That is sensible. The dryads will be in our path, but I'm not worried. The rest of their forces make other paths less doable or slower than we want." Emilia's suggestion of taking point through melding shadows and mind communication makes sense, but he's still visibly concerned. "That sounds fine to me, but please take caution - I'd take your place if my armor weren't a hindrance. In fact, before I forget." He reaches into his pack and takes out two smaller bags of differing items, handing them both to Emilia. "Caltrops and ball bearings. In case you're found or need to hinder foes for any reason where we can't reach ya."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Emilia takes the doodads, but she somehow doubts she will draw attention to her position by dropping traps. Thanks. But I feel if I am discovered I will have to rely on my innate spells. With that she makes off through the dryad area towards the belltower. If the coast is clear, her heart is set on investigating the cathedral however. She will cast her cloak of invisibility sooner rather than later to avoid suspicion.


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

[Amnestic]

Berrian and Analastra see you off with agreeable nods, and Emilia strikes ahead to scout first, heading towards where the dryads were supposedly located. After a few hours, soft music drifts over the air, its strains combining happiness and melancholy. Beautiful and otherworldly voices accompany the melody, singing of golden summers passed and the bitter loss of winter. The music seems to light the boughs above with the golden fire of autumn, though upon blinking it's clear that's not the case. Ahead, five women dressed in gowns of autumn leaves sing beside a clear pond, their hair a cascade of vines, their upper torsos appearing similar to night elves, while their lower half is equine. They giggle and whisper to one another between songs, quietly enjoying their own company and that of the "day".

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Not revealing her position, Emilia intrudes the mind of one of the dryads. I whisper from the shadows. Are you friend or foe to the gnolls? Simultaneously she probes her victim's mind.

Detect Thoughts [roll0] wisdom save to learn surface thoughts. Emilia will use the second turn to probe deeper into the mind. Contested Int check (why the heck that?) [roll1]

[Xihirli]

Jade tries not to let Emilia get too far ahead, though of course can't actually see her. She walks next to Skipsy and smiles with her fang-filled grin to the gnome.
"Sorry about Ox getting hurt. Does he uh... feel pain?"

[Khosan]

"You know, I'm not sure! I sure hope not!" Skipsy pats Ox on the head, who clucks contentedly, "He's been fully smashed to bits a few times now, and I rebuild him every time. That'd be pretty traumatic for the little guy!" Ox locks eyes with Jade, his beady black pupils briefly flash red and his comb transforms into its sharpened combat form, all of which escapes Skipsy's notice and vanish as quickly as they appeared.

Skipsy maintains a respectful distance from the dryads, but does have her notebook out and a pen in hand to take notes regarding their behavior.

[Amnestic]

One of the dryads holds their song when Emilia speaks to them, raising a hand to her ear and seeking the sound, before continuing to sing.

"Sisters, sisters, a voice in my head,
Raspy and cold, and filled with dread."
The other dryads quiet themselves, looking around, before the first sings again, louder,

"Not friend, not foe,
The laughing ones bring us no woe,
And in return we leave them to their jokes,
their japes, their freedom sought from yokes.
Now it's your turn to answer true,
Are you one or are you few?"

[Xihirli]

Jade grips her sword as Ox looks ready to throw down, but keeps it sheathed. She checks the strap on her shield, though.
I think he feels pain… and anger.
She just nods to the gnome, though. "Got it. Uh, Jok’lek, what was your favorite thing we've fought so far? I think mine was the warp stalkers. They tasted good and fought good, too!"

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Their carelessness was disconcerting to Emilia. Singing songs and prancing about was dryads thing but she expected Darkshire's fey to be more...dark.

We are half a dozen, and we would like to pass your trees without a fight. Are you game?

[Amnestic]

The dryad sings in return to Emilia's continued telepathy.

"Leave us in peace and we'll leave you in turn,
But stay a while, if you wish to learn.
A secret for a secret is the game that we play.
Your heart's deepest past to keep the darkness at bay.
Only a true secret, never shared, can satisfy.
No use have we for second hand truths, or those that lie."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

I shall accept your game then. Let me fetch the others. she says as she slinks back to get the rest. So the dryads let us past, if we dont fight them. If we tell them a secret, we might even get more information. And I might just have the thing they want. An evil smirk covers Emilia's broken jaw, and she beckons the others forth.

I was planning on passing the dryads to check the abbey on my invisbility spell, but I want to give you a chance to interact.

[Xihirli]

Jade shrugs. "I don't know any secrets, but I want to meet some Dryads! If we get along well maybe we can call this a place to retreat to."
Jade meets Emilia's evil smile with her own feral one. "Let's go!" And she hops up to Emilia.

[Amnestic]

As the party approaches from the bushes the dryads hop and giggle, their be-worded melody turning to a light hum.

"A secret for a secret, this is the game.
Knowledge you might need if this land is to be tame.
But nothing comes for free, everything has a price.
Speak clear, speak true, for we will not speak twice."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Emilia steps forth, her hands behind her back. She is not only not ready to cast a spell, in fact she faces the dryads like a convict would face a judge. After I died, after the scourge rolled over the lands, the Lich King resonated in my head. His incredible power urged me to submit. Until the Battle of Icecrown weakened his grip on us slowly. I was among one of the first ones to break free, yet I followed his command for far longer. Truth be told, I wanted the living to die. To suffer how I had suffered. To be left by their own like I have been left alone. On this power, the shadows I serve have been nourished.

She steps a bit closer to her group, now with a shining face. I thought the dark was giving me unholy strength, but it was weakness to cower in the shade. You, you lot gave me the strength to realize that. The elves just sealed the deal. Yet I will not fully renounce the evil. It has bored itself into my conscious, into my very self. As such I want to bask in the light, fully knowing there will be shadows close by.

For I am Emilia of Brill; born in the Light, commanding the Void. I will see through that this scarred land will regain its former glory. Maybe it will never see the Light again. But it will seize its destiny.

I hope that suffices.

[Xihirli]

Jade blushes hard.
"Awwww!" She steps up and gives Emilia a hug. "Come here, ya big softie! I love you, too!"
She glances at the Dryads. "No one has ever told me a secret, and I have never kept one." She strokes her chin. "Maybe they’re connected somehow."

[Kushina43]

The group keeps back at first when they approach the dryads, Emilia probing first in stealth, and Jok'lek tries to banter with the remaining party.


"Got it. Uh, Jok’lek, what was your favorite thing we've fought so far? I think mine was the warp stalkers. They tasted good and fought good, too!"

"While we've been together? Definitely the warp stalkers, for the same reason. Though nothing can quite match getting into a scuffle with a swarm of mantids, that was a.. messy time."
Soon, the group emerge to interact with the dryads, unexpected to him, but the prospect of more information they really needed was enticing. They only needed bear themselves true, something the troll was only recently coming to terms with. And Emilia was the first to offer, speaking of her relation with the ways of the holy Light and its opposite shadow, how being with the group helped her out of the shadows entire and welcome back the Light as part of herself once more. Jok'lek clapped his hands once out as a show of support. "I am happy for ya, Emilia, for being open about that. I, too, have something to share."

He steps forth afterwards and kneels in respect, for both his new friends and the dryads. "Garrosh's reign as Warchief was not pleasant. Yet when the military came looking for troops, I answered the call. Eventually I turned and joined Warchief Vol'jin's rebellion, but I used Pandaria as an outlet for my rage before that point." He pulls out his magical lantern, blessed by the loa Hir'eek, and places it in front of himself. "I used to think I did not know myself, but in truth I relished in the power I was given, ignoring the atrocities being committed. I killed to further Garrosh's reign, was given the honor of joining his Kor'kron, and stuck there for longer than most of my peers expected for a non-orc. Ultimately I helped the madman, fought the Shado-Pan and the Alliance, all the way through the Vale. It was only that far in, when the heart of an Old God was dumped into its pools and the land utterly blighted by the Sha, that I realized his depravity... and my own, for getting that far so unthinkingly."

He stares into the lantern, into the eyes of the carved bat loa. "That's when I left the Kor'kron. I joined Vol'jin's rebellion, and we know how that went. But I was still lost for a long time, unable to come to terms with how I'd let myself go so far down. I was lucky enough to have a helpful, forgiving sister, and with her aid I found clarity starting with worship of Hir'eek. Despite my rage, I try to adopt his outlook as protector." He stands up and picks up the lantern, turning to the party while feeling renewed after letting this out. "That is my secret, my story up until now, and it's one that I will keep writing with the loa's guidance behind me. And, I hope, with all your help as well."

[Khosan]

Skipsy stumbles into the glade with the dryads, a big smile plastered across her face, "Hello! Uh, I hope we don't have to rhyme. I don't think I have the time!" She pumps her fist and whispers, "Nailed it!"

Her jaw drops at at Emilia's, then further at Jok'lek's secrets, "You guys! You didn't have to tell us! You coulda just whispered them. I'm proud of you guys though! And glad you trust us." The gnome steeples her fingers and thinks for a good minute. She frowns, sighs, and shrugs, "I don't think I have any secrets you'd accept! I've got some doozies that these guys haven't heard. I did some, uh...clandestine work, but I had bosses who knew what I was up to and worked with other agents all the time." Skipsy turns to face the others, offering up an explanation before one is even asked for, "This was about twenty to thirty years ago? Just before the Third War, before Mekkatorque was elected High Tinker. There were concerns about the dangers a new Horde posed, so teams were formed and deployed to observe, report, and sometimes respond to potential rising threats. Then the War started, the Burning Legion showed up, Thermaplugg irradiated Gnomeregan, and things got messy. We were on our own for a while, I think some other cells joined up with the Venture Company, but we stuck as close to the mission as we could. I don't wanna get into too many specifics, it's not...not a proud time in my life. Especially now, knowing all of you."

[Xihirli]

Jade laughs at Skipsy's little rhyme, but mostly listens close.
"Aw, I love all of you! Come on, group hug! Right now!"
She smiles apologetically at the dryads. "Like I said though, I don't have any secrets. I say everything that comes to my mind! And this is my inside voice!" She shouts.
"What you see is what you get, a goblin who likes to kill things and hang out with her friends."

[Amnestic]

"A woman of death, for death,
Bereft not of hope, but solely of breath.

Here is the secret you have earned:
The Abbey holds the Light, turned.
Guardians corrupted in ages passed.
Only their deaths will see you past.
Seek not their redemption, for it will not be found.
Not above, or below, this once sacred mound.

"To the warrior of rage,
Seeking not to rewrite, but a new page.

Here is the secret you have earned,
to see the darkness overturned.
A card of power, a card of void.
Guarded still by a mage destroyed.
Sought he to safeguard this place.
Yet all he found was himself debased.
Free him from his tower of torment if you seek the reward,
Of yet another card to add to your hoard."

"To the gnome of spycraft, of deception, deceit
Who nevertheless sought honesty and not to cheat.

Here is the secret you have earned,
And know that you shall not be spurned.
You are not alone in your quest,
This much you have have guessed.
Others yet seek the cards.
And their own do they jealously guard.
Mayhap they be friend, mayhap they be foes.
But as sure as you hear us now: You will come to blows."

"Alas to the goblin whose honesty is true,
We traffic only in secrets, only they may earn a clue.
Yet hold fast to that truth in your heart and mind.
For many others will repay it in kind."

Their trade completed, the dryads giggle to themselves, their song complete. Impromptu and a bit a-lyrical though it may have been, but the message has nevertheless been delivered and the transaction - such as it was - completed. They spring to their cloven hooves and dart away, laughing as they vanish into the treeline beyond your light, leaving you to digest the information you received.


I will never rhyme again. Gonna give time for the party to chat before moving further up the hill.

[Khosan]

"That counted?!" Skipsy whips around to look at the dryads, dumbfounded, "Uh, alright then! Bye!" She gives a little wave to the dryads as they leave, nervously kicks a rock, then turns back to the others, "So...I know I just outed myself as a former spy, but I hope you guys still trust me! As long as I've been with you guys, I've been exactly who I said I was: an archaeologist in good standing with the Explorer's League."

[Xihirli]

Jade has a few "witticisms" to add to some of the Dryads' poems.
to see the darkness overturned.
A card of power, a card of void.
"Ah yes, darkness's only weakness... void!"

You are not alone in your quest,
This much you have have guessed.

"Yeah, she's part of team fun-sized. Also whatever our team is called."

Yet hold fast to that truth in your heart and mind.
For many others will repay it in kind.

"Aw, you're all so sweet! Wanna join our party?" She asks the Dryads, flashing her best winning smile.

When Skipsy tries to explain herself, Jade hugs her right away. "Don't worry, Skipsy, I'm not worried you're a spy. As has been established, I know no secrets for a spy to take! Now let's keep going, and keep a stiff upper lip and a song in our hearts."

[Kushina43]

"To the warrior of rage,
Seeking not to rewrite, but a new page.

Here is the secret you have earned,
to see the darkness overturned.
A card of power, a card of void.
Guarded still by a mage destroyed.
Sought he to safeguard this place.
Yet all he found was himself debased.
Free him from his tower of torment if you seek the reward,
Of yet another card to add to your hoard."


"Tower of torment.. Would that be the weird watchtower we saw earlier? Perhaps that illusion or whatever got erected to protect them from the monsters he accidentally summoned. I'd wonder how the mage could still be around, but I'd guess magic, as with anything weird going on here." When Skipsy expresses doubt about their ability to trust her, Jok'lek is just as quick to assure her as Jade. "In my eyes, spy work doesn't detract from you being worth trusting. You've shown to be sincere far as I can tell, and that's good enough for me."

The secrets exchanged for Skipsy and Emilia gives him a little pause for different reasons. Emilia's seems a bit simple, though absolutely useful - "Guess we got some corrupted guardians that need slaying at some point." While Skipsy's sounds like outside betrayal waiting to happen. "If the dryads speak true as we expect, maybe we should avoid telling Berrian's group any more about the cards - they're the only other group we know is here. Analastra must have seen ours during the battle with the treant, so if they're looking for the deck too, they already know we have one. Best avoid telling them anything about the mage's card for the time being."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

She pretends to be cold and unfeeling, but the hug, a thing of lives past, still tickles something inside Emilia's soul. Of course she feels the touch of the goblin and her warmth, but the undeath makes it hard to concentrate and keep positive emotions going. But she knew, that is what the Light was. The hope and fervor inside every living thing. She smiled warmly, not the crooked visage she normally uses to portray a smile.

Emilia shrugs at Skipsy. As far as the Alliance and Horde thing goes, I don't really care. You have helped blood elves, you are a gnome, and you wander with a Forsaken, a Troll and a Goblin. Your allegiance is your own. Neither do I care about the conflict nor does it truly hurt me. Alive or dead, it does not matter on the cosmic scale. Your intent is what matters, where your soul is judged once you take your last breath.

Finally she turns to the analytic troll. We know dark energies twisted this place. My guess is either void or fel though I am by far no scholar. It is somehow linked to a world beyond. If that is the Burning Nether or the Void, it is up to us to find out. Mages are about pocket dimensions and otherworldly summons, even if the Kirin Tor just permitted water elementals and smaller pets, other mages have summoned far greater things. The Blood Elf Prince himself summoned a phoenix born of fire.

And your analysis of Berrian may be true, but why should they gives us access to the holy well then? Maybe their goal is for us to remove the dangers inside the abbey and then weakened as we would be, to backstab us and take our prize. We have to be careful.

[Amnestic]

With the dryads having taken their leave, and without any strong cause to change your goal, you continue up the hill, eventually cresting the summit after a few more hours of travel.

The ruined shell of the abbey's glorious template stands forlorn at the top of the hill, a monument to its former majesty. Hints of silver and golden ornamentation still gleam and there through a coat of black soot and dust that covers the entire structure. The archved roof of the temple is half collapsed and its windows shattered, but it still manages to convey something of its original purpose - to remind the viewer of the power and grace of the Light.

The other structures on the hilltop have fared worse than the temple with the passage of years and the devastation of wra. West of the temple is a squat stone building ringed by crumbling columns that must have once suggested grandeur and elegance, but now seems tawdry. To your left stands the ruin of a long, low structure, now little more than heaps of rubble and debris scattered among barely standing walls. Only the gatehouse, guarding the road that runs up from the village to the north, stands more or less intact, though its doors hang from their hinges, open.

Circling the hilltop to the north gives you a better eye on the village, but the eternal darkness of Duskwood makes picking out numbers of gnolls as hard as ever from this distance, forcing you to rely on shadows dancing among flickering bonfires scattered across the village roads. You do see the shadow of a (or 'the') tower to the north, down the hill, though you'd need to pass through the gatehouse and at least part of village to reach it, unless you wished to risk the sheer and steep edges of the hill. Though the tower is in the village, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of fires nearby, perhaps indicating the gnolls are giving it a wide berth.



Reporting the map as you decide on next place to visit. You're near the Abbey building at the top. Heading down to the village from this angle requires either passing through the gatehouse or sliding down a scary steep hill, probably in the dark, which would require ability checks to not faceplant into fall damage.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1012324379880869928/unknown.png

[Xihirli]

"The elves say there was nothing in the temple. I say that's our first place to check out. If they're wrong, then we need to know, and if they're right, we can maybe establish a place of safety inside."
Jade tries to think back to the construction of the temple she saw in her visions. "I might be able to remember the layout. I did watch this place get built... though I suppose it could have been a vision of the future when it's rebuilt..."

[Khosan]

Skipsy, quickly disappointed by their inability to really see the gnolls, turns her attention to the abbey. She cracks open her journal to review the dryad's rhymes, then turns from the abbey to the surrounding buildings, "I think there might be a card here!"

The gnome presses a finger to one of the passages in her journal, reading aloud but not bothering to mimic the dryad's delivery, "The abbey holds the Light turned - I'm guessing that means a card - corrupted guardians, whose deaths will see us past. I don't know how the last two lines are relevant, but no redemption for them, and something about that not being above or below this hill." Skipsy flips a few pages back and continues, "Analastra identified these buildings as containing earth elementals, spiders and some leggy, burrowing worms, but didn't see anything in the abbey itself."

She finally closes her notes and neatly places it in her bag of holding, "I have two theories. One, the abbey contains the corrupted guardians, and if we defeat them the card will be revealed to us somehow. Two, the guardians are one of the creatures in these buildings. Or all of them. So I guess I have three theories!" Skipsy giggles, "I'm with Jade, we should check out the abbey first."

[Amnestic]

Deciding to tackle what is near instead of far, you head to the ruined Abbey building. Though the roof is half collapsed and the building is blackened by soot and decay, some hints of its ancient granduer still shines through in the abbey's great temple. Might columns rise toward the heavens. Smaller pillars of graceful shape and eelegant decoration hint at the template's lost beauty. Alters to several different figures - saints or revered figures, perhaps - surround a towering statue of what is most likely Tyr, depicted as a humanoid figure wearing knightly armour.

As Analastra indicated, all seems quiet as you stand on the threshold, but there is a cold sense of foreboding and otherness that emanates from within.


Giving a brief moment in case you want to make any preparation/buffs before heading inside.

[Xihirli]

Jade takes the lead, her battleaxe and shield ready.
"Everyone stay close," she said in her quieted whisper – which is to say, she shouted.
"We don't want to get separated in here if we're handling scary ghost stuff."

[Khosan]

Skipsy cracks open her pistol, staring down the open pistol through the breech. She nods, satisfied with what she saw, flips the barrel back into place, raises her shield and takes her position as the rearguard.

[Amnestic]

With your loins girded and preparations prepared, you move further into the abbey and approach the massive statue of Tyr. Two shafts of Light, though tinged with an off-colouring, suddenly burst down through the shattered ceiling and from the beams of light materialise two golden winged figures clad in gleaming platemail, radiating energy. An acidic scent fills the air, acrid on your tongues and nose. Both winged creatures wield massive greatswords wreathed in golden fire. Though they appear mostly similar, there are minor differences - the one to your left also bears a spear in their offhand, apparently having no issues hefting their massive greatsword with a single limb. The one to your right appears bound in chains of blackened energy that rattle with the bones of the dead. Though the chains ensnare their torso and limbs, they don't do so in a way that would hold them back from moving.

"JUSTICE," the feminine voice booms from the one to your left.
"VENGEANCE," heralds the deep voiced angel on the right.

The angels move to attack.


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1022106852760236032/unknown.png

Fairly side-initiative this time, despite rolling the two enemies separately.

Initiative:
Jok'lek: [23]

GoAQ: [19]
GoAK: [15]

Jade: [8]
Skipsy: [5]
Emilia: [2]

Jok'lek is up first.

[Kushina43]

The gnoll's numbers weren't quite visible even from the top of the hill, which was disappointing but somewhat expected. That they visibly kept a wide berth from the tower within the village was interesting - that tower must be part of the secret the dryads gave him, then, rather than the first watchtower he initially believed. Getting there would be a task, however, due to either facing the elementals said to be within the gatehouse and/or sheer hill edges. And that's before the potential discovery by gnolls. Before he can think it over, Jade and Skipsy decide it best to check out the Abbey instead - no information was given about it, but Skipsy's secret was about corrupted guardians within, and she surmises a card could lie there as well. With no current plan for the village, he goes along with them into the Abbey.

The Guardians make themselves known surprisingly quickly, falling from the ceiling via beams of radiant light. The large angelic figures wield equally massive weaponry, reeking of what Jok'lek could only think was corruption itself. The troll looks at their massive foes, then at the card right next to himself, and decides to make use of it - he marks the right Guardian, then charges with maul in hand and slams his weapon into it.

Bonus Action: Comet Card Mark- GoAK
Move: 5ft right to use card, 25ft into GoAK melee range
Action: Attack + Extra Attack with Maul
Attack 1: [roll0]
Damage 1: [roll1] bludgeoning
Attack 2: [roll2]
Damage 2: [roll3] bludgeoning

[Amnestic]

The troll warrior's first strike is pulled away from the angel's form by one of the dark chains, but the follow up swing drags the chains with it before slamming into the golden defender of the Light's side. The fire around its blade seems to glow ever more viciously as it swings its own blade down upon Jok'lek. He leaps aside from the first strike, but the shrapnel of stone thrown up blinds him for just long enough that the second strike catches his arm. The blade's tip draws blood, but the radiant light sears the wound shut and cauterizes it just as quickly.

With one occupied, the other angel moves upon the rest of the group, swinging their own blade down at Jade and catching her with it before she can truly prepare for battle. The angel spins its golden spear and stabs it directly into Emilia's chest. She feels no pain, not from the blade nor from the Light, but instead there's a quiet pop and the Forsaken priestess vanishes as the angel banishes her from the battlefield - albeit temporarily.



https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1022508093667549324/unknown.png

Jok'lek misses once, hits on his second attack.

GoAQ misses Jade with one attack, hits with the other for 15 slashing and 7 radiant damage. They then spear Emilia who fails her (DC13) charisma saving throw and is Banished. She can make a new save at the end of each of her turns to end the banishment.
GoaK misses Jok'lek once, hits with the other for 7 slashing and 17 radiant. They notably don't use the card's power, but neither do they move off of it.


Everyone's up, though Emilia's banished.

Initiative:
Jok'lek: [23]

GoAQ: [19]
GoAK: [15]

Jade: [8]
Skipsy: [5]
Emilia: [2]

[Xihirli]

Jade jerks back at the slash. "Hey! Rude!" She shouts, getting mad. "Isn't there supposed to be a grace period before you attack trespassers?" She leaps at the queen angel with her battleaxe, taking note of their armor and deciding not to swing blindly as she is wont to do.
"Hey Skipsy, can you make a teleporter to bring Emilia back real quick? Thanks!"


FRENZIED RAGE!
Battleaxe! RECKLESS!
[roll0]/[roll1]; [roll2]
[roll3]/[roll4]; [roll5]

And maybe I can disrupt its concentration on banishing smite?

[Khosan]

"A teleporter?! Right now?!" Skipsy looks baffled, most of her attention on the guardian nearest them but temporarily distracted by Jade's suggestion, "No, I don't think I can swing that one!" She fires off two rounds at the spear-wielding guardian and whistles for Ox to attack as well, backing away a few steps to keep some comfortable distance.

Skipsy's HP: 42/42
Skipsy's AC: 19
Ox's HP: 36/36
Ox's AC: 15

Action: Skipsy attacks the Guardian of Ancient Queens twice
[roll0], for [roll1] damage
[roll2], for [roll3] damage
Bonus Action: Skipsy directs Ox to attack as well
[roll4], for [roll5] damage
Move: Skipsy moves 10' east

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

You dare banish a priest of the Light? Emilia screams, first muted by her banishment, then shrieking at a volume making a banshee blush as her corporeal self is back again.

[Xihirli]

Noticing that Emilia is back, Jade beams at Skipsy.
"You had me worried for a second there... you jokester, you!"

[Amnestic]

Jade's wicked blows strike true against the angel, tearing through the radiant flames and slamming into the golden plate, causing massive dents in it. The fiery winged creature retaliates, swinging their blade in turn and cutting deep against the goblin. It twirls its spear around, deflecting the bullets from Skipsy's gun, but the motion leaves Ox open to strike it in the side. The creature tips its spear just as Emilia re-appears with a scream, and for a moment points it back at the Forsaken but at the last moment turns and taps Ox with the tip. The mechanical chicken vanishes, just as Emilia had a moment before, with a quiet pop.

Jok'lek to the north focuses on evading the brutal strikes from his opponent. Though the first one goes wide, the second strikes true for severe damage.


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1024765519116644352/unknown.png


No post from Jok'lek, so they'll just take the dodge action.
Jade hits for 25.
Skipsy misses, Ox hits for 11.

Reckless works against Jade - she gets hit for 13 and 8 slashing over two hits, along with 7 and 7 radiant over two hits.
One hit misses Jok'lek, the other hits for 8 slashing and 12 radiant.

Ox is banished! They failed the cha-save. They can try again at the end of their turn.

Everyone's up again.

Initiative:
Jok'lek: [23]

GoAQ: [19]
GoAK: [15]

Jade: [8]
Skipsy: [5]
Emilia: [2]

[Xihirli]

Jade hits the ground for a second, her skin a scalded green-brown around the cuts in her skin. Shaking her head, her long ears flopping with each motion, she stands back up.
"Ya know, it’d be pretty kick-ass to be killed by angels."
Once again she leaps, axe a blur as she strikes thrice without a thought to her own defenses.



Battleaxe RAGE! RECKLESS!
[roll0]/[roll1]; [roll2]
[roll3]/[roll4]; [roll5]
[roll6]/[roll7]; [roll8]

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 29/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Emilia sees her friend almost cut down, though the goblin somewhat bounces over the floor and swiftly back into action. Wait, friend? Did she actually consider this one more than an ally? Yes. YES. YES! The darkness within her swells. If Skipsy was killed in her patronage, her travel towards the light was pointless. If the darkness could not protect her.

Bring the idiots together! she shouts as tendrils of darkness grasp at the female angel.

Arms of Hadar plus Surrender to Madness: Take 12 necrotic damage; [roll0] Str save vs DC 17 or cannot take reactions. If successful, damage is also halved to 6. Will move north of the statue if possible then.

[Kushina43]

The searing blade of the King guardian hits the troll and he staggers back, the pain finally getting through his magical buffers. Rather than shock, however, the troll feels invigorated by the real threat, letting his rage boil over. Yet before he can strike back, Emilia calls out to bring "the idiots" together. 'The guardians?' he wonders, then sees the other one fighting and severely damaging Jade while Ox is nowhere to be found. Eyes wide, the troll wants nothing but to go and help, but his own fight would inevitably get dragged over. In an effort to do both, he spins his maul as startup for focusing one of his heavy strikes on the King's legs to hopefully keep it from following, then with a burst of energy flowing from his rage, he moves away from the King and toward the Queen everyone else is fighting.

Bonus Action: Rage
Action: Attack with Maul, spending 3 RP on Hamstring (on hit, Con save DC 14, 0 speed on failure, half on success until start of Jok'lek's next turn)
Attack 1: [roll0]
Damage 1: [roll1] bludgeoning
Attack 2: [roll2]
Damage 2: [roll3] bludgeoning

Action Surge: Disengage, moving towards the Queen guardian


Current RP: 0

[Khosan]

"Welcome back!" Skipsy shouts with a smile as Emilia reappears, though her good mood vanishes as quickly as Ox does, "Was it bad? You don't look hurt, but they just took Ox, so I wanna be sure!" She fires another two rounds off at the female guardian.

Ox wonders at this new environment he's arrived in, clucking pensively as he floats through an empty void.

Skipsy's HP: 42/42
Skipsy's AC: 19
Ox's HP: 36/36
Ox's AC: 15

Action: Skipsy attacks the Queen guardian twice
[roll0] for [roll1]
[roll2] for [roll3]

Ox makes a [roll4], little guy might be stuck for a while.

[Amnestic]

The shadowy tendrils that burst up from beneath the Guardian of Ancient Queens ensnare the creature, holding it back from striking Emilia as she makes her move out of the melee. It also, helpfully, opens the creature up to receiving massive blows from Jade, and one of Skipsy's pistol shots that rings true against the creature's celestial armour. Though clearly damaged, with gaps in its 'essence', the creature nevertheless maintains their assault, slashing at Jade twice more, though holding its spear back from use - perhaps because Ox is still held by the banishing magic.

Jok'lek's maul tears at the legs and wings of the spirit, but though it deals damage it doesn't leave a lasting impression the way the troll warrior had hoped it would, and the restriction on their movement seems only partially effective.

With Jok'lek no longer within range, and their comrade in radiant arms injured, the Guardian of Ancient Kings floats up on spectral wings to take central position against the room's altar. It thrusts its arms downwards, the chains wrapped around its bracers unravelling to the ground, piercing through it. Rivulets of light snake every which way along the floor, before bursting up beneath the party, seeking to ensnare them and drag them to the ground, in a forced position of kneeling in deference. The party finds themselves drawn down by the searing chains that tear at their bodies, their bodies burning with the corrupted light that they now kneel to. But the chains recede, returning back to their owner. They do not bind you permanently, as they do the ruined spirit of Light.



https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1025743471828553809/unknown.png


Jade hits for 41 total.
Skipsy misses once, hits once for 9. Ox fails his save to reappear.
GOAQ fails their save vs. Arms of Hadar, letting Emilia reposition.
GOAK makes their save vs. Hamstring after the second attack hits for 9.

GOAQ hits Jade twice more for 16 slashing and 2 radiant, and then 15 slashing and 7 radiant.
GOAK moves slightly and uses their Fallen Glory ability. Jade makes their strength save, so takes 13 radiant, though I think they're unconscious at this point. Jok'lek, Skipsy and Emilia all fail their strength save. They all take 26 radiant and are knocked prone (though they can stand up again on their upcoming turn, of course).

Everyone's up again.

Initiative:
Jok'lek: [23]

GoAQ: [19]
GoAK: [15]

Jade: [8]
Skipsy: [5]
Emilia: [2]

[Xihirli]

The tiny goblin, her chest hit by a sword with searing light, falls back and hits the hard ground.
She doesn’t move to get up, though from ragged breaths (and one howling scream when the other angel explodes), all can tell that she is alive.

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 3/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

Searing holy energy envelops the undead and as expected it burns even brighter on her. Jade! her magic shout echoes with radiant energy. Another wave of energy forms a translucent shield around the goblin. The undead woman rises with remarkable cracking of her bones.

Healing Word on Jade. [roll0], plus 11tHP from Power Word Shield.

[Kushina43]

Dragged to the ground by searing chains of light, gasping for air as he struggles for consciousness, Jok'lek figures out pretty quickly he made a tactical error. Unfortunately, being prone right next to the other enemy didn't leave much room for improvement, so he immediately forced himself to his feet. Breathing ragged and on the verge of passing out, he stomps the ground hard to shock his body back into somewhat working order. With the Guardian in front of him noticeably injured where his own opponent had been too resilient for the troll alone, focusing on the target in front of him was the best option he could consider. Seeing Jade's unconscious body on the ground only reinforced that notion - these things were dead meat, and the guardian in front of him well within reach. "You will pay in blood for that, ya damned flying lanterns!! Hir'eek give me strength!!" He spins his maul and charges forward, swinging the blunt instrument at the Guardian Queen with great anger and intensity never seen before.

Bonus Action: Second Wind - Gain [roll0] HP
Action: Attacks on GoAQ
Attack 1: [roll1]
Damage 1: [roll2] bludgeoning
Attack 2: [roll3]
Damage 2: [roll4] bludgeoning

[Xihirli]

Jade, the bits of her flesh that were fried off replaced with spectral light in roughly the same shape, shakily stands up.
She breathes heavily, then stares up at the angel with her deep, red eyes.
"Got another one in ya?" she croaks, and jumps for her throat, ax swinging.
No rage, but Reckless. NO FEAR!

Longsword/Battleaxe RECKLESS!
[roll0]/[roll1]; [roll2]
[roll3]/[roll4]; [roll5]

[Khosan]

Skipsy yelps as the chains pull her down, buckling to a kneel almost instantly. With some effort, she stands back up, shakes off the pain and levels her pistol at the Queen again.

Ox, still trapped, contemplates his existence. Buh-gawk.

Skipsy's HP: 16/42
Skipsy's AC: 19
Ox's HP: 36/36
Ox's AC: 15

Move Action: Skipsy stands back up from prone
Action: Skipsy attacks the Queen twice more.
[roll0] for [roll1]
[roll2] for [roll3]

Ox makes another [roll4]

[Amnestic]

Ganging up on the angelic figure from all sides, and with Emilia's quick heal to bring Jade back to the fore, you manage to tear at her essence and crack her armour. With a scream, the Guardian of Ancient Queens vanishes.

The remaining angelic figure's light is no less diminished for her loss and it presses on, following up with the "fleeing" troll and delivering a massive two handed slash across the warrior's back that splits flesh and armour in a shower of blood across the stone floor. So swift and absolute was the attack that the natural troll regeneration struggles to stem the crimson flow. The follow up slash at Emilia soars over her head, but on barely, and the lingering flames catch on some of her hair, singing the ends.


https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/694162563092578364/1026834692781113344/unknown.png

You finish off the Queen. Ox reappears.

GOAK crits Jok'lek for 48 total. They are unconscious and bleeding out. Near massive damage kill but not quite.
They miss their follow up attack on Emilia.

Everyone's up again. I would note that GOAK has taken very little damage thus far. I'm not going to say you should flee, it's your choice, but given his damage output and your health totals it's something to consider.

Initiative:
Jok'lek: [23]

GoAQ: [19]
GoAK: [15]

Jade: [8]
Skipsy: [5]
Emilia: [2]

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 3/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: Surrender to Madness (+5 AC, reaction for disadv. to 1 attack vs. Emilia)
Concentration: -

Visions of her death, betrayal and general misery wash over Emilia, but she resists the urge to succumb; for now. Another time healing light washes over a group member, this time the Go and retreat, tell the elves you lived. Emilia tolls the bell of the chapel infused with necrotic energy aimed at the holy defender.

Healing Word for [roll0], Toll the Dead for 24 damage, [roll1]

[Khosan]

Skipsy scans over her friends, those chains had taken their toll and the only one in fighting condition was, surprisingly, Ox, while their new friend the King barely had a scratch on him. If there was a time to run that time was now. Skipsy turns to Jade, shouting, "We gotta go! Help Jok'lek get away!" The gnome sprints up to Emilia, grabbing her bag of holding from her belt and widening the mouth. She shoulder checks the back of her forsaken friend's knee, forcing her to fall backwards into the bag, "Sorry, no sacrifices today!" With the King now towering over her, Skipsy peaks her head above the base of the statue, sparing a wave at Jade, "Also, I forgot! I do have a teleporter!" She clicks her heels together, instantly disappearing and reappearing near the door. She cackles gleefully and runs outside.

Skipsy's HP: 16/42
Skipsy's AC: 19
Ox's HP: 36/36
Ox's AC: 15

Move Action: Skipsy moves northwest once, then north twice to get within melee range of Emilia.
Action: Skipsy puts Emilia in her Bag of Holding.
Bonus Action: Skipsy uses her once a day free Misty Step from Fey-Touched to teleport 30 feet south.
Move Action: With 10 feet of movement remaining, Skipsy moves outside.

[Xihirli]

Jade nods. "Right!" She takes out her bag of holding and stuffs Jok'lek in it, elbowing the Troll's limbs and tusks down in there.
"Don't bleed on my stuff!" She orders, and then gapes at Skipsy. "No fair! Come back here and we'll start the race over!" With a burst of speed, Jade follows after the gnome, even gaining on her fellow, but teleporting, friend.

I will use my action to stuff Jok'lek into my bag of holding, and the burst of speed I got from my vision to run 80 feet without provoking opportunity attacks, should end 70 away from the King's Angel.

[Amnestic]

Though awakened by Emilia's spell, Jok'lek is roughly shoved into Jade's bag before the goblin makes their escape alongside Skipsy, the dying Emilia, and Ox. Surprisingly, the Guardian moves to chase only briefly. Though it seems much faster on its wings than you, it does not leave its bound place without good reason, and the retreating party apparently does not suffice, though if they posed an ongoing threat that might change.

As Jade and Skipsy round the corner of the door to leave line of sight and exit the abbey proper, they look back, and see the Guardian of Ancient Kings has given up the chase from the fleeing party. Instead its hand is held outstretched over where its counterpart fell. Wisps of radiant light fall from its hand like golden nectar, pooling to the ground, and though its difficult to tell, it certainly appears as if the light is forming into a pair of greaves that looks suspiciously like those worn by the fallen Guardian, reconstituting it bit by bit after it fell.


Think it's pretty reasonable that between the three of you, you could stabilise Emilia before she dies.

However without any healing she'll take [roll0] hours to wake up and regain 1 hit point naturally.

[Xihirli]

Jade high-fives Skipsy. "Team Fun-sized! Ahhhhh but what a disaster!" She cackles. "They just regenerate each other. We're gonna need to hire some guys if we want to try again!" Jade opens up her bag of holding and sticks her arm in.
"Alright, Jok'lek, come on out!" She hoists out a portable battering ram. "Whoops!" She reaches both arms in and pulls out an armload of shortswords.
"Darn! He's in there somewhere!" A sack of hunting traps, a shovel, and ten books come out as Jade haphazardly throws them over her shoulder.
"Probably under this!" She unwinds 50 feet of rope from her bag and tosses it, then finds two signal whistles. "Ah! I've been looking for these!"
Pitons, a pair of manacles, and a lantern come out. "Wait! I see his tusk!" Jade pulls Jok'lek out at last.
"Hey Jok'lek! Happy to see you! Uh..... can you help me fill this in?"

[Khosan]

Skipsy falls against the wall of the abbey after the high five, taking a deep breath, "Hoo, that was too close." Skipsy, exhausted, opens up her own bag, turns it upside down and gently slides Emilia out with gravity's help. She reaches for her army knife, extends the healing implement once more and jams it into the priest's neck, shocking her back to...not life, but whatever Emilia's approximation of it is.

"Alright! So, good news! I think I'm right on there being a card here! Bad news, my zapper's outta juice, the lady's getting reformed, and we're probably going to have to run back to Darkshire before we can come back in here. Also, we gotta hunker down somewhere and get some rest or we might still die."

Skipsy casts Cure Wounds on Emilia for [roll0]

[Kushina43]

Between being enraged, falling unconscious from a massive wound, being magically resuscitated, and then being shoved into a magic bag before he could stand, Jok'lek is still groggy when Jade pulls him out, hand to his head and vision blurred for a minute. Even so, he gives a smile seeing Jade and Skipsy still up and agrees to help the goblin put everything back in the bag. Once that's done and Emilia has been animated by Skipsy's army knife, he responds. "Too close, much too close.. Agreed on Darkshire, especially if one's getting back up after all we did to it. Need a bit more prep or hands before we get that card." He sits down, leaning back against the wall, which he would regret. "Though I suppose some good news is that the elves or whoever else would not so easily retrieve the card, should the secret come to pass. We come back here stronger later. For now.." he winces and leans forward, the large gash on his back still freshly mending itself. "Rrgh..! L-Let's find a place to rest before we make any big moves."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 6/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

The inky black void covers all. Whispers seem too far. She hears her friends cry out in pain and distress, yet is unable to react. The tendrils, the darkness holds her down. A lightning rips through the dark, jolting and giving life again. Emilia opens her eyes. She takes a bit to know where she is, in the arms of Skipsy. She falls silent, intently listening to the group's musings on the future. I could ... we could take it. After a break. she agrees.

These light spawn are too powerful. We should ambush, divide them. Darkshire seems right. I need to attune myself to the proper magicks. Shaky, but steadily she rises. For now, bring a few miles between us and this chapel.

[Xihirli]

"Alright, back to the font, quickly," Jade says, taking the lead. "Everyone stay close... heh, I really thought we were a bunch of badasses before just now... heck, we got beat bad."

[Amnestic]

After taking a short breather to recover, you slowly pick your way back down the hill towards the Font - thankfully an easier journey than climbing up the steep hill, whether or not you take a real path in the dark. No dryad music catches your ear, nor any wandering treants block your path, and you mercifully make it back to the clearing with the calming glow of magical water without incident. Some of the elves still regard you cautiously or with outright distrust, but Analastra is there, and she breaks any ice with a sincere, yet not particularly concerned, queston: "You look rough. What happened?" The curiosity in her overpowers worry, and you are all alive (or undead, in Emilia's case) so she tells at a glance that none of you perished.

[Xihirli]

"Skipsy invented a teleporter!" Jade answers.
"Oh, and we got beat up by angels! Like real bad. We're hoping to find a nice place to lie down for the night. Y'know, sleep off our internal bleeding."

[Khosan]

Skipsy pats Jade on the shoulder sympathetically, "We sure did, Jade, we sure did." She offers a sagely nod, then looks contemplatively skyward, "I'd classify them as a kind of spectral undead though. Though I guess they could've been constructs..." Skipsy realizes her attention is slipping, shakes herself out of it and continues, "We didn't have time to really investigate as they beat the bits out of us. We're heading back to town to report, rest, and resupply."

[Spore]

https://i.imgur.com/rgNk5Cu.png
Emilia Shadowburn (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2649097)
Forsaken Shadow Priest
AC: 13 HP: 6/32
PP: 18 PIv: 9 PIs: 18
Conditions: -
Concentration: -

The light is still strong in the chapel. But I don't know if these guardians were corrupted or not. They did not wait for us to talk, but then again I am undead, we have a troll and goblin with us. I can understand their hostility. Emilia pauses. This "beating" as Jade put it genuinely put her faith back into the Light. Maybe solitude in Darkness was not as powerful as unity in the Light. We would like to rest with you, that much is true. And if you allow it, I would like to pray next to the well. I was going for the chapel, but it is too heavily guarded.

[Xihirli]

"What you're saying is, they can't be evil, they're also racist," Jade remarks.
"But yeah, we seem to have underestimated the danger here. We should report what we have before we all die and no one ever learns about this place. Thank you so much for sharing your maps with us."

[Amnestic]

Analastra tries in vain to suppress the look of relief that says quite clearly "Glad I didn't go up there", but she's clearly still happy to see you all. When the question comes if you can rest here she glances back to Berrian, who nods to the requests. "It won't be safe, but it'll at least be safer than out there. Hopefully no more wandering treants stamping through." It's an attempt to be reassuring, but clumsily delivered.


Time for a bit of party chat if you want it, otherwise I'll shift along to the return to town...probably tomorrow.

[Xihirli]

"That treant was fun," Jade recalls.
"Hey, Skipsy! How many of those teleporters do you have? Can I have one? If not that's cool, I still have my rocket jump." Jade pulls a tiny, very unsafe looking rocket with a handle on it out of her bag of holding.
"Hey, think there's still time to climb on top of a tower and see how far I can go?"

[Amnestic]

Alas, the question of tower jumping goes unanswered as you settle in for sleep under the watchful eyes of the elves. Though they seem more amenable with Analastra's return the unease that is felt keeps you from ever feeling truly safe. At the very least though it does let you rest without having to set a watch - the elves have that covered, and the night at the Font passes blissfully without interruption.


Take a short rest, burn any hit dice you still have as desired.


The area when you awaken is similar to that as when you slept - some of the faces are different as elven patrols go back and forth, but ultimately you slept in darkness, and woke in darkness. After you say your farewells, temporary though they may be, you continue back down the hill towards the gap in the walls that gave you access in the first place, and out beyond the Abbey's defenses. Thankfully the spiders do not seem to have repopulated in the few days you've been exploring, and you're able to break into the woods without interference.

A few hours from the Abbey walls you hear the link of bone and the clank of metal, and through the underbrush you spot a group of skeletons stood over the unmoving bodies of other skeletons. The movers are working to pick at the fallen's gear - arms and armour - and as you observe they appear to finish their task of equipping themselves. They stand in formation for a moment, before falling to the ground. The now unburdened skeletons then rise, and begin to pick at the equipment of their now-fallen brethren, a grim cycle repeating on itself.

[Khosan]

Skipsy peeks through the bushes, sighs sadly and whispers, "Poor guys. Wonder how long they've been stuck that way." She looks over to her friends, "I dunno if we should, but we could try to put them out of their misery? Or just...leave them to it. They're not hurting anyone."

[Xihirli]

Jade examines them to see if they have ranged weapons.
"If we're going to fight them, we should stay at a distance. I don't think they can do much to us if we're far away."