Secret of mana IC thread

[Alhallor]

The fence doesn't seem to radiate any kind of magic, it also doesn't seem to be any different than the houses. Meaning it seems more like it was carefully grown out of the ground then manually cut and placed. It seems that this unlucky fence was just in the way, whatever destroyed the fence seems to have gotten further towards the settlement.

There are more empty houses, it seems they appear slightly often. Sometimes a house is completely obliterated, only splinters remaining, while others are completely unharmed. When you have passed around 10 houses, you see another sight.

It seems there is a bigger building, perhaps like a mess hall, but it's surrounded by thorny moving vines, roughly twelve feet tall. Slightly behind these vines (they must be on a pedestial or something) stand two elves, waving at you and gesturing from farther away to come further.

The only sound you can hear are the ones that you bring here and the moving vines from farther away.

[Aegis013]

"I'm thoroughly apprehensive and suspicious at the scene before my eyes. What do you make of it, Ken, my friend?" Jahn asks, his mouth pulled into a straight line that one might almost be able to reasonably describe as a grimace. "Your invaluable knowledge of the local culture may help shed light on this, for this isn't a common sight among humans and I'm quite cognizant that my gut reaction may just be borne of my own ignorance."

[kinem]

Ken says "I understand your reaction. But it makes sense for elves to recruit plants for defense in a time of danger, which as we just saw, this is. Of course, stay on guard, since evil forces generally don't mind tricking us."

Kens rides a bit closer to the elves to greet them, though he stays away from the vines. "Hello! I am Ken. We are travelers and would like to help. What's going on around here?"

[Toliudar]

Coney

As the group approached the elves, Coney slowed her mount's advance, happy to let Ken take the lead. She keeps her distance from the moving vines, but tries to peer into any windows to see what might be in the large building.

[Aegis013]

Reassured by Ken that this isn't a totally alien sight for elves, Jahn's mouth reveals his pearly white teeth as he shows the elves past the moving thorny vines a flash of his signature sparkling smile.

Still feeling apprehension in his gut, he consumes some of his magic to protect himself (enter Mystic Phoenix stance, using a level 2 spell), disembarks from his magically generated mount and begins leading it forward keeping it between himself and the vines as a shield, following the elves' pantomimed instructions to approach. At the first sign of trouble, Jahn intends to cast Swift Expeditious Retreat and return to the group, sacrificing the horse if necessary, though he hopes it won't come to that.

[WindStruck]

"Seems to make sense, if something attacked or gave them trouble, and perhaps the elves took refuge here, guarded by their vines..."

Larimar does try to maintain a friendly demeanor as the others talk to the elves. Though he does spit out a familiar saying to the elves: "Greetings and well met!" in elvish. Elf?

[Ridai]

Thaum follows, having little to contribute at the moment apart from keeping an eye out for new developments.

[Alhallor]

When you get nearer towards the elves you see that one has pointed his bow at you, probably as a precaution, while the other did let his bow down and whispers at you. It's hard to make his words out, but they speak to you in common though they seem a bit delighted that even a non-elf speaks the elven language.

Spoiler: Coney

Show

You don't understand anything, it's like he isn't talking at all, though you do hear someting a bit later.

Spoiler: Jahn

Show

"Grab" *unintelligible* "Vines" *unintelligible* "get in." and than something different a bit later.

Spoiler: Ken, Thaum

Show

"Greetings, wanderers" *unintelligible* "grab the elf" *unintelligible* "get through the" *unintelligible* "and get in"

Spoiler: Larimar

Show

"Greetings wanderers, we don't have much time we are currently under attack. Grab unto the elf in your company and get through the vines, they won't harm you if you have contact with him. Hurry and get in before we get attacked again."

You have around 10 seconds to talk to one another and then behind you part of a house get's totally obliterated. Wodden splinters flying everywhere. You feel a rumbling in your chest, like something massive is howling but you don't see anything. The two elves begin to shoot in the direction of the destroyed house. The smell of blood seems to be in the air suddenly and one of them screams. "Hurry! Get in!"

Spoiler: Map

Show

Elven hospitality.The house part that got destroyed is 38 T, that you know in relation how far the line of destruction is away from you.

[Aegis013]

"I suspect I don't even want to know what that thing is." Jahn gasps, his smile disappearing from his face as the house seems to explode. Deciding getting back on the mount would take more time than it would save, he slaps it hard on the rump to encourage it to run away.

He turns on his heel and takes off, sprinting towards the vine-covered structure, suddenly unusually appreciative of his comfy pants. He attempts to grab onto the vines and start climbing.

Climb (1d20+3)[11] (would indicate ascent of 10 feet among the vines assuming this would be about like climbing the rigging of a ship)

[WindStruck]

"They say as long as we hold onto Ken the thorns won't hurt us. C'mon!" Larimar says.

[Ridai]

Well, this escalated quickly. Doing as Larimar relays, Thaum puts a hand to Ken's arm while they direct their mounts towards the vines. Better to head to safety and learn what all this is about first before trying to face whatever is out here.

[kinem]

Another invisible monster, maybe? But it didn't seem to leave tracks ... Best to find out more before we fight it, I suppose.

Ken wasn't quite sure what the other elves were trying to say, but Larimar seemed to have the right idea, so he reaches out to the others so the group can pass the vines safely.

"Jahn! Watch out! I don't think you're supposed to do that!" he informs the bard.

[Toliudar]

Coney

Coney guides her mount toward Ken. She looks off to the side as she see Jahn dart away.

"But, um, Jahn! Ken. We need Ken..."

Assuming that the resourceful young man has a plan to take care of himself, Coney refocuses on the swiftly-imploding house. Fascinating. But perhaps they might want to have a few seconds to consider what the heck the thing was.

Weaving her ears together, she engulfs the mashed house and the area around it in sticky fog. Then she reaches out with a surprisingly flexible ear to snag the edge of Ken's coat, the better to follow him away.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Move action: guide the phantom steed to follow Ken wherever he goes.
Standard action: cast Solid Fog, focused on the obliterated building.

[Alhallor]

The elves up the vines begin to shoot blindly in the direction of the exploding house. If one of you should look, they seem to pass harmlessly through the air, but some of them hit something and are flinged away.

The Phantom horse that Jahn slaps doesn't react, it doesn't move an inch, probably because of it's magical nature. The same is the case with the other horses, they don't seem to be frightened at all and just obediently follow they're commands. Any other horse would probably be panicked but the phantom horses don't react at all towards the ensuing chaos.

Jahn try's to reach the vines as soon as he hears the words from his companions and one of the plants seem to lash out towards him.

Spoiler: Attack against Jahn and climb check.

Show

You do get one attack and you can decide if you still want to climb.

Attack: (1d20+20)[37]
Damage: (1d8+4)[10] crushing and additional (1d8+4)[11] piercing.

Should you get hit and get no Damage thanks to DR, you can get the vines up no problem and make another climb check.
Should you get hit and take Damage the vines try to push you away.
Make a strength check against
(1d20+10)[29]
for every 5 points that exceed your roll you get pushed 5 feet away. Should you win, you can get up the vines and make another climb check.

Coney fires her hindering fog spell and catches something in it. Only the faintest outline is visible in the fog but it's enough to make her freeze.

Spoiler: Coney

Show

It kinda reminds you of the Nemesis owl counter that happens when you hit them with a spell.

It's huge, it seems to be bigger than the height of the fog, it seems to be slowed down but not as much as it should be. It has massive 3 or 5 stumbs as legs with things strutting out of it that have the rough body mass of a halfling, or rabite. Everything in your being screams that this is a superior predator. You are shaken till you are in safety and then 5 minutes after.

Somehow the smell of fresh blood lies in the air. When you go towards the vines with Ken in tow they don't seem to move away.

Spoiler: Map

Show

Elven trouble

[Ridai]

In the absence of a better solution, Thaum just... tries to maneuver through the vines? Somehow? I don't know either.

A quick healing spell is sent to Jahn in the form of a droplet.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Cure Minor Wounds on Jahn for 21 HP.

[Aegis013]

Strength (1d20+3)[6]

Jahn, adrenaline pumping barely manages to comprehend the words of his friends as he reaches the vines and attempts to grab them. Only for the vines to slap him away like a pesky gnat, sending him flying halfway back towards where he started where he lands on his tailbone. Even though the vine's attack hit him hard, he's once again particularly thankful for the cushioning provided by the comfy pants.

"Oof." as Thaum heals him, Jahn regains his footing, grabbing onto Ken and his allies "Thanks Thaum, I don't know what I'd do without you."

[Toliudar]

Coney

Twisting on the back of her smoke-horse, Coney's nose twitches furiously, but she otherwise goes frozen, the typical response of a rabbit while sizing up how best to run away from a predator. She manages to force out a few words.

"Big...Big...Killer...Resists magic...Five legs...stumps."

Doing her best both to master her terror and shape the forms as Mana dictates, Coney sends a ball of glitter into the fog, where she hopes it will help pick out the creature's shape.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Standard action: casts Glitterdust, focused on the area where she thinks that the huge creature exists. Will save DC18 or blinded.

Move action: guide the phantom steed to stay next to Ken.

[kinem]

Though eager to face the monster that’s been harassing the elves, Ken’s first priority is to get his companions to safety, so he continues towards the building hoping the vines will part for him.

[WindStruck]

Larimar looks back toward whatever was coming, and whatever was scaring Coney, and he fires 3 arrows. At least with the outline of the glitter dust upon it, and the magical properties of his bow, he shouldn't be missing.

"Go on, guys, get up there! Don't worry about me, I'm a good climber."

[Alhallor]

The vines don't exactly seem to part before Ken but nonetheless he is able to get through them. They do attack the horses of the others but good reflexes let them keep in touch with the elf.

When you get through the vines you all feel a shudder of the earth when something massive rams into the vines. Again you feel a vibration in your stomach, like a mighty roar and you hear the vines lashing out. Some of them get ripped out, but after a little while you feel the vibrations of mighty steps getting less and less.

Spoiler: Coney

Show

it seems your glitterdust doesn't really stick. It doesn't negate the invisibility like usual, but you can see some outlines. In rules term they're would be a 50% miss Chance for ranged and melee attacks and targeted spells. More stuff needs to wait till I have the will save.

The two elves help you out of the vines and smile at you reassuringly. The big building behind the vines seems like a big mess hall. There are some elves who come towards you with a bowl of water, a bit of salt and some small fruits.

"It nearly got you, if you had no elf with you it could have been much worse. Eat a bit and then come in. You have enough time to talk with us when you have rested a bit."

Spoiler: Ken

Show

traditionally elven hospitality gifts, its not needed to give something back. The fruits are less than you are used to but it's probably because of the situation.

[Aegis013]

Jahn flashes his sparkling smile at the elves "Thank you for your hospitality and protection. What even was that thing?"

[Ridai]

First priority is making sure everyone made it inside and is unharmed (and fixing where it is not the case), then turning to the elves with a quick smile. "Thank you for your aid. We had heard trouble was brewing here, and it appears we found it."

[kinem]

Ken tells the other elves “Thank you very much. To be honest what we are mostly hungry for right now is information about all this.”

[Alhallor]

The elves that came out of the building getting inside again now, while talking to you. The other two returning to they're post.

"We don't really know what that thing was."

"It appeared some weeks ago. Some of our most promising hunters and warriors encountered it. Must were seriously hurt, some died."

"Rina Grael was one of them. She came back a bit later but lost again."

"Meanwhile the monster came closer and closer towards us. At least we managed to keep it out for now."

"But Rina came back again and brought a priestess of the Dryad with her, she helped us but Rina has been in the horrible grips of the monster."

They're stop talking and exchange solemn looks.

[WindStruck]

Larimar's whiskers twitch. "What does that mean? Who is this Rina Grael? Is she being controlled or something now?"

[Ridai]

"Do you know where Rina is right now or where she last went? Does the monster hunt anything stepping outside these vines? Does it have periods where it is not waiting outside?"

[Aegis013]

Jahn, for the first time in a little while, keeps his mouth shut and listens. He does however, keep a hand resting on the pommel of his Vicious Longsword to ensure that it is still with him.

[Toliudar]

Coney

Once inside and safe, Coney takes a bit of the salt and fruit that is offered to her, and smiles her appreciation.

"Thank you so much for inviting us in. I hope that we can help in some way.

"Do you happen to recall if anything happened around the time that this creature first appeared? Perhaps if we can learn what drew it here, that might help in figuring out how to send it away."

[Alhallor]

"Oh no, Rina isn't controlled. We think." They're fidgeting around a bit while leading you into the big building. You can hear some whispering, a string of music and other sounds that indicate that there are several people in that building. The elves seem to lead you somewhere and you pass several rooms that are open and gain a quick glance inside.

You can see several elves handling the situation quite differently. They are some struck with fear, blankly staring at a wall (always with someone else who keeps them company.) Other ones who make the best out of the situation and play on an instrument, letting the others forget the horrors outside, you pass at least one room with several adult elves, engaging in a complicated game of hide and seek with several children.

You pass an improvised kitchen where the known conjured sludge is spiced up with some fresh ingredients.

Jahn's sword is still at his side and doesn't seem to leave him on his own nor by unknown elven hands.

"You know one of our more powerful mages try'd to discern this beings nature with a powerful spell."

"I think he called it True Looking?"

"But as soon as he saw it he just died."

"He also didn't came back from the fallen, nor where we able to talk to him after he passed."

"Rina wanted to try it too, at least to give us some information."

"But she was driven mad by the revelation and is currently under a powerful sleep spell, to prevent her from harming others. I think the priestess who watches over her thinks about entering her dreams to gain the information she thinks Rina desperately wanted to tell us."

that last bit comes out almost admiring.

Regarding the beast.

"It appeared several months ago, right as Luna had arisen. We thought it would go to sleep fast but anyone who encountered it, was either killed or barely survived."

"It's really hard finding out something about your target if you can't see and barely hear it. We think it's goal is to hunt us elves, but it could be on the hunt for humanoids in general. It appears to not have hurt any animals."

"Our more powerful wizards and druids have gone out to warn other elves from it and bring them here. They try to find out more about it, but it seems the powers they usually contact about that, also seem to know not that much."

They have brought you towards a small room, when they open the door you see a sparse room, with someone besides who looks kinda small for a normal humanoid with barklike skin, keeping watch over an elven women in the bed.

Spoiler: Ridai, Larimar, Coney

Show

The elf in the bed is Rina. You don't know the other person.

The elf seems to be having a nightmare, the closed eyes move rapidly under the lids, the hands are twitching sometimes and occasionally there is a scared whimper.

[WindStruck]

Larimar rushes over. "Oh! Rina! Of course! To think she came here and then..."

He sighed and shook his head sadly.

"It sounds like these things are the bigger, badder cousins of nemesis owls. Perhaps it's best to not ponder what it is, and just kill the damn thing. I know I smelled blood when I shot it and it rammed into the vines. And it ran away after. I'll tell you one thing though:"

"If it bleeds, we can kill it!"