The Madness of Men in a World of Monsters (D&D 5e IC)

[Amnestic]

Vargath Hubrecht Half-Orc Rune Knight Fighter AC: 19 HP: 49/49 PP: 13 PIv: 12 PIs: 10 Conditions: Infected (Lycanthropy), -1 INT, Longstrider Concentrating: -- If it wasn't Selissa screaming, wouldn't it be better to leave them to it? Maybe she's dispatched them and needs no assistance and - no, no, that was just his ill mood, not helped much by the weather, talking. In the end, Ignacius was correct, trouble was afoot and he needed to deal with it, and the usual solution to doing so was a well-placed axe. He keeps his eyes low as he breaks from the group and rushes forwards. He couldn't see anything through the rain anyway, so he should focus on ensuring his footing is solid as he navigates the slick stone to reach the fire and help. That and it keeps the worst of the wind and rain from splattering his vision.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move 40' and Dash another 40'.

[Theophilus]

Mal Levistus Tiefling Bard 5 AC: 14 HP: 41/41 PP: 11 PIv: 13 PIs: 11 Spell Slots: 1st - 4/4 2nd - 2/3 3rd - 2/2 Fey Touched: 1st - 0/1 2nd - 1/1 Masquerade Tattoo: 1st - 1/1 Levistus Legacy: Armor of Agathys - 1/1 Darkness - 1/1 Bardic Inspiration: 3/4 Healer's Kit: 20/20 Mal Conditions: Blessed Mal Concentrating: Bless Esai Ancient Companion: Warrior Companion HP: 30/30 Companion AC: 16 Companion PP: 18 PIv: 12 PIs: 12 Warrior’s Protection (Reaction). When a creature within 5 feet of the companion makes a Strength or Dexterity saving throw, the companion imposes itself between the creature and the danger. The creature can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the saving throw Maledictus drew his rapier as he continued toward the flames, while Esai positioned his shield in the direction of the scream. He invoked a blessing in the elven tongue, which infused Ignacius, Set, and himself. He remarked to Vargath,. "Press forward, master-at-arms. We shall follow in your wake." The tiefling felt at home in a cool mist, despite cursing its blinding effects. Something in his blood found kinship within the shroud. Whatever inheritance took solace in fog did not grant any benefit to see through the screen. He held his blade at the ready as water beaded along the smooth steel, sliding down to drip from the ruby pommel. His mind briefly colored the liquid crimson, but then the scholar focused beyond the sweat droplets. Something stirred in the direction where Selissa had disappeared, and his weapon may draw more than condensation this night. Esai maneuvered to screen the tiefling from the woods and the mysterious threat ahead. Screams in the dark did not rattle the stone warrior. They instead reminded him of patrols in the trenches, back when the Hezrou stalked behind his brigade's lines. You could smell them, as well as the fear they invoked. No such stench wafted to the spirit-in-stone's nostrils this night. He glanced at the ward he protected. Likely for the best. This apprentice is not ready for such foes.

Spoiler: OOC

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Draw rapier as part of move forward 30ft.
Cast Bless on Set, Ignacious, and Mal.
BA Bardic Inspiration on Vargath.

Esai auto-takes the Dodge action, moves on Mal's right to afford half cover (+2 AC and +2 to dex saves per RAW) from attacks from the woods.
If Mal must make a Dex or Str save, Esai will react with Warrior's Protection to grant a +1d4 to the save.

If a creature darts past to attack and flees, Esai and Mal will react to make an OA.

Spoiler: Mal's Notes

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Spoiler: Cast and Crew

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Set: outcast exiled princeling of Abydos. Two princess sisters (Sisi and Sythpen Al-Sayyid). Romantic connection for Moira?
Selissa: Blighted or reconstructed wood elf? Purported Scout.
Vargath: Afflicted Lycanthrope seeking to suspend his curse. A Bloodwolf?
Mandaras: Rival to Dr. Fixer.
Dr. Fixer: Moira's lieutenant and cultivates relations with the locals of Vale.
Elder Maus: Seeks to kill Moira. Hired mercenaries who betrayed him.
--Healed to his full 9ft height.
--Disbelieves Moira's insights; seeks to end her directly or indirectly.
--Seeks us to verify the truths of Moira's claims--or stop her by any means necessary.
Maulei: Successor to Elder Maus as elder of Dam'ess.
Uluthando Mikoso "Ulu:" Paladin? of Order. From beyond the Vale. Reacts by gripping her dagger and declaring Tieflings are treated differently...Lawful (N/E?) Order? Calls Mal 'Mdala Ohlonishwayo.' Professes to serve no god, but spirits whose reach may be weaker in the Vale than elsewhere.

Spoiler: Dream of Leng

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Spoiler: In Full

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Mal has had this dream before. He finds himself in the legendary Library of Leng, an ancient home of virtually all worldly and mystical knowledge that burned when the city it was located in was razed nearly nine hundred years ago, half the world away. Still, in his dreams it still existed, and these dreams always played out the same. Hours of dutiful research, referencing and cross referencing sources from multiple tomes, carefully reconstructing ancient languages, until EUREKA! Some devastating and profound arcane truth became evident to him, and the sense of accomplisment and relief normally carried with him for several hours after waking up, even if he could never actually remember anything he learned. But this time is different. Mal is well versed enough in the arcane and divine arts to know that sometimes dreams carry real meaning. And as he stares down at what he has been working on, he instinctively knows this bears some significance. Where normally he would have arcane formulas and theorems, he sees only "The One Who Stalks Behind" scrawled over and over again in his own hand, though the words are manic and look like they were written in distress. He searches the paper for any further omen, and down at the bottom of the page, in the smallest script he could possibly manage, it says Behind you!. Just as he is about to turn, a claw as strong as iron grips the side of his head, snaps his neck to the side, and ends all feeling in the bard's body. But he can still hear the deep throated growls, along with the wet noises of whatever killed him beginning to eat him alive. But he never gets to see it before the dream ends.

The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. RIGHT BEHIND YOU! The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind.

Spoiler: Bence's Secrets

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Spoiler: Bence's Journal

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...is a backwards plane, so far removed from the Prime Material that it has not seen an angel or the work of a god in a millennia. I hear that far to the west they do not even worship the gods. Proper savages, but I must remain vigilant, as their knowledge of the ways of this world is far more educated than most. But it is ripe for my conquest. While my Master was tasked with corrupting Avendor, my home plane, a bastion of good and law, my chore is simply to tip the rat into the bucket of the Abyss as it prowls the rim looking for cheese. This plane is already so flooded with the energies of the Abyss that demons spontaneously emerge, monsters manifest in the dark, and their weak leaders bargain with forces they would be wiser to repulse. It will be child's play to nudge it the last few inches into anarchy and destruction, mostly due to the efforts of Pale Night herself. For thousands of years she has been grasping and clawing at this realm, dragging it further from the light and closer to her realm day by day, inch by inch, soul by soul. While my home plane was beyond my ability to destroy, this place will be my masterpiece. With my death at the hands of the forces of good, a symphony of destruction will play the anthem to my ascension to demonhood. The Pale Mother has promised me that each death will bring me closer to my true form, and each rebirth will increase my power, just as our pact promised. I can't wait to die. When will the heroes arrive? I've been planting and tending the seed of the idea in the old giant's mind for weeks now. When will it bear fruit? When can my dark rise to power begin? (The rest is a combination of burned and Abyssal that becomes impossible to read)

Dam'ess- Mass Quasit Summoning. Magic Mouth to Levy Commands re: Retrieve Mirror of Leng, Scepter of Rulership, And Aniot's Cube. Disperse to Appropriate Parties Per The Plan. Burn The Cabin.

Harumburg- Sending to Lord of Bone re: Portal to the 113th. (Indecipherable Due to Burns) In Accordance with Their Great Alliance.

Falluneer- Sending to Lord of Flesh re: (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Ebon Spear.

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)light: Sending to Lord of Blood re: Assassination of (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Yukkot, Recovery of Blood (More Burns).

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)odge- Sending to Cult of Pale (More Burns) re: Initiate Divining Ritual Sacrifices. FIND THE DAMN ZIGGURAT.

Garrunrow- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Kill the Last Bloodwolf. Recover (More Burns) Key.

Mountain of Smoke- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) crypt. Seize the Ebon (More Burns).

Sussoon- Ensure the Prophecy (Indecipherable Due to Burns)... Pay the Bounty Hunters to Find the Abydossian and the Princesses. re: Sacrifices of The Old Blood

(There is more, but seemingly out of paranoia Bence switched to Abyssal. It is impossible to tell how many lines there are, as the last half of the paper is fully burned away)

Spoiler: Arcane Lore concerning Bence's Notes

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The magic of Contingency is a nearly mythical bit of spell work that was said to be lost when the Library of Leng burned down. It allows a caster to prepare spells in advance for a predetermined event, in this case John Bence's own death, and the spells will automatically cast when the event happens. If Bence is capable of such sorcery, he is likely far more powerful than his flashy death at the party's hands would indicate.

The Mirror of Leng is a artifact of the Library of Leng, said to contain a frozen moment of time where the library was at it's height that a person can temporarily step in to, giving access to the greatest magical library this world has ever seen. Supposedly several mirrors were made, though some are confirmed destroyed after their use led to come calamity of forbidden magics long lost to time. The Scepter of Rulership is said to be an even more powerful version of a Rod of Rulership, a magic item that allows for mass mind manipulation of people to believe that the holder of the Scepter is their rightful ruler. The last time the Scepter was confirmed in play it toppled an entire nation.

Though numbering and organizing the layers of the Abyss is a fool's errand, there are some realms that are constant enough to designate. The one hundred and thirteenth layer is Thanatos, layer of Orcus, the Lord of Death. It is a lifeless frozen landscape where life is snuffed out almost as soon as it arrives, either by the untold legions of undead denizens, the magical aura of the layer itself, or, in the worst cases, by Orcus himself, using his fearsome Wand.

Spoiler: John Bence's Wall Art

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There are no invisible objects in the room, but the entire back wall of the cabin is plastered with profane runes and abyssal scribblings. Where there was nothing to the naked eye, there is an extensive patchwork of spell work, seemingly scribed in the rusted red of blood. More disturbing is the fragments of souls that have been bound to the wall. Faces of people rise and seethe from the wood like a strange and rippling tide, mouths open in anguish. There are not many of them left, presumably due to whatever spell was used here absorbing so much energy, but there is a fine layer of ectoplasm that would indicate that once there were dozens of soul fragments powering this spell. The sight turns Mal's stomach, as the chaotic, destructive magic of the Abyss is written as plainly as news script, but as subtly as any devil could manage.

Spoiler: Monsters

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Barlgura: Demon loosed by summoning ritual on the road to Dam'ess. Slain with its summoned partner by team. (Bless helped with accuracy issues due to invisibility. In the future, layer mind sliver to aid with saves.)
Brazen Hart: Spirit of the wild wood around Dam'ess. Seeks to test the party's mettle by forcing an open fight with the Barlgura.
Horror of Yurl: Shapeshifting kind of monster. Severs limbs, creates euphoria, and slays by consuming the liver. The newest variant flies...

Spoiler: Instrument of the Bards

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Mal needs a translator, the spells, and woodcrafter to create a new relic.

Spoiler: Full Description

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Still, tucked among the primers and amateur books he finds a book that deals with the blending of magic and music. Specifically, it holds the instructions and rituals for a new version of the famed artifacts known as the instruments of the bards. Unfortunately, about a third of the book is in a language Mal does not understand or recognize, including most of the rites and rituals to imbue it with magic. Still, with a translator, appropriate magics, some study, and someone skilled in wood craft, he may be able to produce one of these relics for himself.

Report daily updates to Mistress Moira at last light.

[Awful]

Selissa Betula Wood Elf Scout Rogue AC: 16 HP: 38/38 -> 43/43 PP: 16 Conditions: Aid Concentrating: -- Something had watched the elf all the way to the fire. How, she didn't know - surely it was impossible - her own stealth, combined with the invisibility, should have meant that she was undetectable. Her green eyes raked the rainy sky, the forest, the road, and saw no foe. She crept closer as she approached the two elves, mulling over the best way to introduce herself when the male began to strangle the female. As she screamed, Selissa knew her companions would be soon behind. She stopped fourty feet away., eyes narrowed. The invisible shroud sloughed off her like a shedding skin as she nocked ghostly arrow to bow and let it fly. It flashed through the air right in front of the male elf's throat, close enough it left a bloody red line along the tip of his nose. "<Next one goes through your throat. Let her go.>"

[Riggdgames]

Set Al-Sayyid Changeling Fighter/Hexblade AC: 17 HP: 38/38 PP: 12 PIv: 13 PIs: 9 Conditions: Mal's Bless (1/10 rounds), Mal's Aid (+5 max hp, 8 hrs), Iumenta Pox (-8 max hp) Concentration: Wrathful Smite (1/10 rounds) Set listens attentively as Iceblood's song washes over him, easing the burden of his illness and its treatment. Pain and soreness fade a bit further into the background as Mal lends him the aid of his magics even as Thrice-Blessed attends to Evergreen. Doctor Madaras' ritual seems simple enough at first, but with a final flourish Selissa blinks out of sight, a ghost-like voice sounding off from where she'd been. "Nice trick. Back soon..." Set watches intently for any sign that Selissa has moved, listening closely for the sound of her passing, but he might as well have been listening to a shadow. The only sound is steady rainfall and the breathing of his companions as they stare after her. Turning his gaze to Ignacius, Set raises his eyebrows appraisingly. "A nice trick indeed," Set mutters, wondering how light and shadow could be molded to allow for such a thing. A minute passes in uneasy silence as he tries to peer after Selissa through the gloom. There was no sense in looking for her directly, but at least the open flame could be watched through the pouring rain. When a scream reaches them Set is slow to respond, but the others prompt him to action. A blessing in elf-tongue washes over Set, warming his blood against the cold rain and propelling him silently after the Mighty. A chill remains, however, and Set can't help worrying over what a solitary scream in the darkness might portend. A single word escapes him as he tries in vain to catch up to Vargath, the half-orc bounding forward like a wolf who'd caught the scent of nearby prey. "<Wrath.>" Set's shadow climbs hand over hand up his body and into the silver spear as they sprint forward. Spoiler: OOC Show Move: 30 ft towards fire Action: Dash 30 ft towards fire Bonus Action: Cast Wrathful Smite Seems unlikely, but if any threat comes into melee with Set he'll use his opportunity attack to release Wrathful Smite. Otherwise it just gets held with concentration until next turn. Spoiler: Wrathful Smite Show The next time you hit with a melee weapon attack during this spell’s duration, your attack deals an extra 1d6 psychic damage. Additionally, if the target is a creature, it must make a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of you until the spell ends. As an action, the creature can make a Wisdom check against your spell save DC to steel its resolve and end this spell. Spoiler: Polearm Master Show While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, quarterstaff, or spear, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter the reach you have with that weapon.

[purepolarpanzer]

Near the Top of Mount Beldrin

When most of the party break into a run towards the scream Maus joins them, but he does not move with the same speed. Shouting to the runners, he says "Beware of traps! This would be the perfect place for an ambush!" Ulu seconds this thought by drawing her greatsword and remaining vigilant at the stage coach, looking to the right towards the woods. No snare or teeth rise up to meet any of you in the road, however, and you make your way far closer to the light. The fog, however, grows thicker and thicker as you approach, until it is only possible to see the party members within ten feet of you. You cannot see what is happening but you can hear movement and elvish ahead of you.

As Selissa's arrow leaves it's notch, the victim of the strangulation released the hands around her neck and began to use her reach to strike at the head of her attacker. She doesn't appear to have much muscle or mass behind the blow, she pushes his head back just far enough that the flying missile enters the rear of the male elf's skull and exits from his nostril, sending a spray of blood and brain across the woman's face. His grip on her throat releases, and after a solid second and a half the aggressor falls to the side, crashing down on the left side of the road. The female elf, blinking away the gore on her eyelids, screams again and sits up, beginning to franticly wipe at her face. The frantic wailing echoes through the night, and all at once everything goes silent.

Not a silence of the footsteps, racing towards the scene. Not a silence of heavy breathing. But the silence was far more subtle and profound. Despite the rain, all along the side of the road the sound of summer crickets filling the night with their music in the surrounding forest had been an ever present background hum that didn't even register. Until it was gone. More over, the sound of falling rain simply ceased to be, even as more of the water fell from the sky and impacted the dirt and gravel underneath your feet. As the runners arrive at the fireplace and see the corpse, the elven woman, and Selissa, all of nature goes mute in an instant. You all become intimately familiar with the sounds of the breathing around you, as it suddenly seems thunderously loud in the absence of other sounds. The elvish woman makes a piteous wail that begins quiet and rises to an ear splitting crescendo. "They're coming, they're coming, they're coming!" Tears streaming down her cheeks, she goes into a fetal squat and clutches at herself, sobbing. Maus, standing within sight of Set, opens his mouth and waves his staff as though to cast a spell, but no sound comes out and therefore no magic happens. He blinks in surprise and suddenly looks far more worried.

Spoiler: OOC

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Initiative has been rolled. The order is Ulu, all of you, Maus, Strangulation Victim, and then... something else. Because of the thickness of the fog and the nature of the magic that is partially silencing the area, you cannot see anything greater than 10 feet away from you, or 20 feet if you have darkvision or a light source. For the first round Ulu acts outside all of your vision, Maus attempts a spell but fails to make a save, and the woman (who passed her save, miraculously) wails and cowers. Which reminds me- if you wish to speak, or in any other way make noise with your mouth, you must pass a DC 14 Charisma Save. This includes any spellcasting with vocal components. All of you get one round of preparation. I will let you choose who you start within vision range of, including all of you being visible to each other if you think you would truly run in formation. Personally, I think your enjoyment of the fight will be greater if some of you spread out. Remember as well- the road has generally been 30 feet across, with the left side of the road being a cliff and the right side consisting of thick brush. It is a DC 14 survival or intelligence check to locate an ally who starts outside your vision.

Oh, and while I'm thinking of it, Set passed 1 of 2 needed saves to stave off his pox. Forgot to mention that earlier. No Max HP returned yet, but congrats on your progress.

[Theophilus]

Mal Levistus Tiefling Bard 5 AC: 14 HP: 41/41 THP: 10/10 PP: 11 PIv: 13 PIs: 11 Spell Slots: 1st - 4/4 2nd - 2/3 3rd - 2/2 Fey Touched: 1st - 0/1 2nd - 1/1 Masquerade Tattoo: 1st - 1/1 Levistus Legacy: Armor of Agathys - 0/1 Darkness - 1/1 Bardic Inspiration: 2/4 Healer's Kit: 20/20 Mal Conditions: Blessed; Armor of Agathys: 10 cold damage if struck in melee. Mal Concentrating: Bless Esai Ancient Companion: Warrior Companion HP: 30/30 Companion AC: 16 Companion PP: 18 PIv: 12 PIs: 12 Warrior’s Protection (Reaction). When a creature within 5 feet of the companion makes a Strength or Dexterity saving throw, the companion imposes itself between the creature and the danger. The creature can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the saving throw Maledictus watched as the others receded into the mists. Esai strode beside him, a wall of stone and vigilance. Then came the quiet pierced through with distant panic. The tiefling raised his rapier and drew a droplet from its spiraling crossguard. He warmed his vocal chords, drawing on the fey resilience he had arcanely imbued, to invoke his own inherent power. The mist solidified into a hauberk of frost about his torso while his skin dyed midnight blue. He addressed Esai, "We should maneuver toward the forest to keep the trees near at hand and the cliff edge from underfoot. Brace for ambushers in the mists." Esai nodded at his acolyte, right-faced sharply, and advanced ahead of the tiefling. The stone warrior presented his tower shield and poised his hammer to strike any foe that presented itself in the fog. He tread carefully to ensure he did not leave his ward. He grinned grimly. A fight in this soup with supernatural dampening shall test the boy's mettle. He warned, "Some sorcery or malign presence affects sound. Be prepared to resort to steel." Maledictus presented his rapier and nodded in acknowledgement. The pair waited in the swirl of shadow and mist for what would come.

Spoiler: OOC

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Cha saves: 17 both.
Cast Armor of Agathys: 10 THP to Mal. 10 cold damage to a foe if Mal is struck in melee.
BA direct Esai to ready Spirit Strike for if a foe appears.
Move toward trees.

Esai moves in front of Mal to afford half cover (+2 AC and +2 to dex saves) from attacks from the woods.

If Mal must make a Dex or Str save, Esai will react with Warrior's Protection to grant a +1d4 to the save.
If a creature darts past to attack and flees, Esai and Mal will react to make an OA.

Spoiler: Mal's Notes

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Spoiler: Cast and Crew

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Set: outcast exiled princeling of Abydos. Two princess sisters (Sisi and Sythpen Al-Sayyid). Romantic connection for Moira?
Selissa: Blighted or reconstructed wood elf? Purported Scout.
Vargath: Afflicted Lycanthrope seeking to suspend his curse. A Bloodwolf?
Mandaras: Rival to Dr. Fixer.
Dr. Fixer: Moira's lieutenant and cultivates relations with the locals of Vale.
Elder Maus: Seeks to kill Moira. Hired mercenaries who betrayed him.
--Healed to his full 9ft height.
--Disbelieves Moira's insights; seeks to end her directly or indirectly.
--Seeks us to verify the truths of Moira's claims--or stop her by any means necessary.
Maulei: Successor to Elder Maus as elder of Dam'ess.
Uluthando Mikoso "Ulu:" Paladin? of Order. From beyond the Vale. Reacts by gripping her dagger and declaring Tieflings are treated differently...Lawful (N/E?) Order? Calls Mal 'Mdala Ohlonishwayo.' Professes to serve no god, but spirits whose reach may be weaker in the Vale than elsewhere.

Spoiler: Dream of Leng

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Spoiler: In Full

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Mal has had this dream before. He finds himself in the legendary Library of Leng, an ancient home of virtually all worldly and mystical knowledge that burned when the city it was located in was razed nearly nine hundred years ago, half the world away. Still, in his dreams it still existed, and these dreams always played out the same. Hours of dutiful research, referencing and cross referencing sources from multiple tomes, carefully reconstructing ancient languages, until EUREKA! Some devastating and profound arcane truth became evident to him, and the sense of accomplisment and relief normally carried with him for several hours after waking up, even if he could never actually remember anything he learned. But this time is different. Mal is well versed enough in the arcane and divine arts to know that sometimes dreams carry real meaning. And as he stares down at what he has been working on, he instinctively knows this bears some significance. Where normally he would have arcane formulas and theorems, he sees only "The One Who Stalks Behind" scrawled over and over again in his own hand, though the words are manic and look like they were written in distress. He searches the paper for any further omen, and down at the bottom of the page, in the smallest script he could possibly manage, it says Behind you!. Just as he is about to turn, a claw as strong as iron grips the side of his head, snaps his neck to the side, and ends all feeling in the bard's body. But he can still hear the deep throated growls, along with the wet noises of whatever killed him beginning to eat him alive. But he never gets to see it before the dream ends.

The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. RIGHT BEHIND YOU! The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind.

Spoiler: Bence's Secrets

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Spoiler: Bence's Journal

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...is a backwards plane, so far removed from the Prime Material that it has not seen an angel or the work of a god in a millennia. I hear that far to the west they do not even worship the gods. Proper savages, but I must remain vigilant, as their knowledge of the ways of this world is far more educated than most. But it is ripe for my conquest. While my Master was tasked with corrupting Avendor, my home plane, a bastion of good and law, my chore is simply to tip the rat into the bucket of the Abyss as it prowls the rim looking for cheese. This plane is already so flooded with the energies of the Abyss that demons spontaneously emerge, monsters manifest in the dark, and their weak leaders bargain with forces they would be wiser to repulse. It will be child's play to nudge it the last few inches into anarchy and destruction, mostly due to the efforts of Pale Night herself. For thousands of years she has been grasping and clawing at this realm, dragging it further from the light and closer to her realm day by day, inch by inch, soul by soul. While my home plane was beyond my ability to destroy, this place will be my masterpiece. With my death at the hands of the forces of good, a symphony of destruction will play the anthem to my ascension to demonhood. The Pale Mother has promised me that each death will bring me closer to my true form, and each rebirth will increase my power, just as our pact promised. I can't wait to die. When will the heroes arrive? I've been planting and tending the seed of the idea in the old giant's mind for weeks now. When will it bear fruit? When can my dark rise to power begin? (The rest is a combination of burned and Abyssal that becomes impossible to read)

Dam'ess- Mass Quasit Summoning. Magic Mouth to Levy Commands re: Retrieve Mirror of Leng, Scepter of Rulership, And Aniot's Cube. Disperse to Appropriate Parties Per The Plan. Burn The Cabin.

Harumburg- Sending to Lord of Bone re: Portal to the 113th. (Indecipherable Due to Burns) In Accordance with Their Great Alliance.

Falluneer- Sending to Lord of Flesh re: (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Ebon Spear.

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)light: Sending to Lord of Blood re: Assassination of (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Yukkot, Recovery of Blood (More Burns).

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)odge- Sending to Cult of Pale (More Burns) re: Initiate Divining Ritual Sacrifices. FIND THE DAMN ZIGGURAT.

Garrunrow- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Kill the Last Bloodwolf. Recover (More Burns) Key.

Mountain of Smoke- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) crypt. Seize the Ebon (More Burns).

Sussoon- Ensure the Prophecy (Indecipherable Due to Burns)... Pay the Bounty Hunters to Find the Abydossian and the Princesses. re: Sacrifices of The Old Blood

(There is more, but seemingly out of paranoia Bence switched to Abyssal. It is impossible to tell how many lines there are, as the last half of the paper is fully burned away)

Spoiler: Arcane Lore concerning Bence's Notes

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The magic of Contingency is a nearly mythical bit of spell work that was said to be lost when the Library of Leng burned down. It allows a caster to prepare spells in advance for a predetermined event, in this case John Bence's own death, and the spells will automatically cast when the event happens. If Bence is capable of such sorcery, he is likely far more powerful than his flashy death at the party's hands would indicate.

The Mirror of Leng is a artifact of the Library of Leng, said to contain a frozen moment of time where the library was at it's height that a person can temporarily step in to, giving access to the greatest magical library this world has ever seen. Supposedly several mirrors were made, though some are confirmed destroyed after their use led to come calamity of forbidden magics long lost to time. The Scepter of Rulership is said to be an even more powerful version of a Rod of Rulership, a magic item that allows for mass mind manipulation of people to believe that the holder of the Scepter is their rightful ruler. The last time the Scepter was confirmed in play it toppled an entire nation.

Though numbering and organizing the layers of the Abyss is a fool's errand, there are some realms that are constant enough to designate. The one hundred and thirteenth layer is Thanatos, layer of Orcus, the Lord of Death. It is a lifeless frozen landscape where life is snuffed out almost as soon as it arrives, either by the untold legions of undead denizens, the magical aura of the layer itself, or, in the worst cases, by Orcus himself, using his fearsome Wand.

Spoiler: John Bence's Wall Art

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There are no invisible objects in the room, but the entire back wall of the cabin is plastered with profane runes and abyssal scribblings. Where there was nothing to the naked eye, there is an extensive patchwork of spell work, seemingly scribed in the rusted red of blood. More disturbing is the fragments of souls that have been bound to the wall. Faces of people rise and seethe from the wood like a strange and rippling tide, mouths open in anguish. There are not many of them left, presumably due to whatever spell was used here absorbing so much energy, but there is a fine layer of ectoplasm that would indicate that once there were dozens of soul fragments powering this spell. The sight turns Mal's stomach, as the chaotic, destructive magic of the Abyss is written as plainly as news script, but as subtly as any devil could manage.

Spoiler: Monsters

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Barlgura: Demon loosed by summoning ritual on the road to Dam'ess. Slain with its summoned partner by team. (Bless helped with accuracy issues due to invisibility. In the future, layer mind sliver to aid with saves.)
Brazen Hart: Spirit of the wild wood around Dam'ess. Seeks to test the party's mettle by forcing an open fight with the Barlgura.
Horror of Yurl: Shapeshifting kind of monster. Severs limbs, creates euphoria, and slays by consuming the liver. The newest variant flies...

Spoiler: Instrument of the Bards

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Mal needs a translator, the spells, and woodcrafter to create a new relic.

Spoiler: Full Description

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Still, tucked among the primers and amateur books he finds a book that deals with the blending of magic and music. Specifically, it holds the instructions and rituals for a new version of the famed artifacts known as the instruments of the bards. Unfortunately, about a third of the book is in a language Mal does not understand or recognize, including most of the rites and rituals to imbue it with magic. Still, with a translator, appropriate magics, some study, and someone skilled in wood craft, he may be able to produce one of these relics for himself.

Report daily updates to Mistress Moira at last light.

[Amnestic]

Vargath Hubrecht Half-Orc Rune Knight Fighter AC: 19 HP: 49/49 PP: 13 PIv: 12 PIs: 10 Conditions: Infected (Lycanthropy), -1 INT, Longstrider, Giant's Might Concentrating: -- He didn't need to rely on sound or speech to channel his might. His words were those carved into stone, silver and steel, etched into blood, bone and body. They glow now, in response to his silent call, letting him enlarge and appear as an enormous threat to whatever foe was stalking them in the woods. If Mal was right and there was something hunting them, as opposed to some wild magic occurrence or freak local environmental feature. He has no words for the screaming woman, though quietly he hopes that the screams will attract the monster and bring it closer - close enough for him to kill. Close enough for him to rend with axe and claw an- Claw. He doesn't have claws. He has nails, as any other half-orc, but the thought had come so quickly, just as his belly hungers for blood, figuratively and literally. They were still a few days from the full moon, but the curse's grip was growing stronger and stronger, harder and harder to ignore. Vargath pushes the thoughts from his mind and readies himself for the creature to approach, axe held in preparation to launch it forward.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move: Cross the final distance to reach the fire with the screaming woman.
Bonus Action: Grow large.
Action: Ready Action: Throw his silvered battleaxe at the first enemy that he sees that comes within 40'. If it's moving towards him, he'll wait for it to get to 20' range to negate disadvantage.
(1d20+7)[18](1d20+7)[11] Damage: (1d8+6)[12]+(1d6)[5]

[Riggdgames]

Set Al-Sayyid Changeling Fighter/Hexblade AC: 17 HP: 38/38 PP: 12 PIv: 13 PIs: 9 Conditions: Mal's Bless (2/10 rounds), Mal's Aid (+5 max hp, 8 hrs), Iumenta Pox (-8 max hp) Concentration: Wrathful Smite (2/10 rounds) Set tries to keep up with the Mighty, but even as glowing runes encircle Vargath like a beacon, the fog swallows him regardless. A scream sounds off somewhere ahead of Set, directing him forward, but he slips in the rain just as silence falls. Spear clattering to the ground, Set lets out a grunt of pain as he puts his hands out to catch himself, but neither he nor his spear make a sound. Set wipes the mud from his eyes, looking around in shock as silence envelopes him. Disoriented, Set pulls himself to his feet and tracks down his spear, but he's turned around in fog so thick it feels like he can barely see the spear-tip in front of him. "...they're coming!" A lone voice breaks through the silence, screaming out in terror, but Set catches sight of a giant's silhouette offset from where the voice rings out. Relief washes over him as he starts towards it until he realizes it's Maus instead of the Mighty. The Chief looks to be casting a spell, but anyone able to watch could see that his magics had abandoned him here. Whatever this silence is, Maus is not immune. Impotent anger surges in Set for a moment before he strides over to the giant of a man, the force of his displeasure boiling over as he overcomes the silence muzzling him. "<Ibn el sharmouta.>" Of all the people to have to trust to watch his back, Set would have to put his faith in the Hollow One. The man couldn't be trusted to look after someone he professed to love, but at least he could be counted on to want to save his own skin. That would have to be enough. "Your back against mine," Set snarls without preamble. He should never have let Evergreen get so far ahead. He should've been faster following the Mighty. He should've at least kept Iceblood at his back, or Thrice-Blessed beside him. Where were they? Where were Ulu and Kagiso? Spoiler: OOC Show I like the idea, I'm down to spread out a bit. Not sure exactly where Maus is, but Set's heading that way with the idea that he's the only one currently visible to Set and he's not on top of the fire. Down to have Ignacius join us if he happens in our direction, or just be paired with Maus if Madaras joins Vargath/Selissa/elf-woman instead. Also appreciate the heads up on the Iumenta Pox status; we're making progress Move: Stand from prone and move to Maus Action: Dash the rest of the way as needed Bonus Action: None If any threat comes into melee with Set he'll use his opportunity attack to release Wrathful Smite. Otherwise it just gets held with concentration until next turn. Spoiler: Wrathful Smite Show The next time you hit with a melee weapon attack during this spell’s duration, your attack deals an extra 1d6 psychic damage. Additionally, if the target is a creature, it must make a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of you until the spell ends. As an action, the creature can make a Wisdom check against your spell save DC to steel its resolve and end this spell. Spoiler: Polearm Master Show While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, quarterstaff, or spear, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter the reach you have with that weapon.

[Spore]

Doctor Ignacius Madaras, Medicus Extravagant! Gnome Artificer/Transmuter AC: 18 HP: 32/32 PP: 11 PIv: 17 PIs: 11 Conditions: Aid (8h; 5 mHP) Concentration: Invisibility (Selissa, 1h) Unable to prepare any spells as the oppressive fog and loud silence dampens the gnomish verbosity, Ignacius draws his wand of pyrotechnics in hopes of firing it off through the fog when he finds the source of the screaming. As he locks in on the campsite, some kind of melody from his past distracts him, swaying him away from the elf. Spoiler Show Int check 13, and Cha save of 11. All around a poor showing.

[Awful]

Selissa Betula Wood Elf Scout Rogue AC: 16 HP: 38/38 -> 43/43 PP: 16 Conditions: Aid Concentrating: -- Selissa's eyes widened as the man died. Ah, umbasa - but there was no time to dwell on it. There would be time for self-recrimination later. She slid her rapier silently out its sheath and made her way to the female elf to briefly crouch down next to her. She made a gesture for silence, then tugged at her arm to follow. They needed to get back to the others; safety in numbers. With such low visibility, her main strength as an archer was lost. All the while, she was alert for a monster or worse to come out the mist. Spoiler Show Moves to the female elf and attempts to make her come with Selissa. Takes the dodge action.

[purepolarpanzer]

Near the Top of Mount Beldrin

The elven woman looks up at Selissa with fear in her eyes, but she does shakily get to her feet and follow her, stumbling a bit in the fog and the damp, slick stones. Maus, adjacent to Set, nods firmly and hefts his massive club of a staff, preparing himself for whatever comes. The silence holds for a number of seconds as you all prepare for a fight, and the sound of rapid breathing is all you can hear. It takes a moment to realize that the sounds of breathing does not simply come from around you, but in front of you as well, just beyond your vision in the mist. The breathing changes to pained moans, excruciating cries of sorrow and pain, and the enemy breaks into a charge.

It is Vargath who is approached first, and he barely gets a look at the stumbling, misshapen form before his battle axe is flying at it. The silver battle axe flies true, burying it in the chest of a humanoid shaped foe, who stumbles back for a second as the silvered iron buries itself in the creature's chest. Vargath can just make out a shadow of the humanoid, but he sees it reach out, grab the shaft of the axe, and easily remove the double bitted axe as though it were a dart. It stumbles closer to Vargath, and he gets a good look at this monster for the first time. It is roughly his height, though it's differently sized legs make it lean heavily to one side. It wears sack cloth pants and a shirt, both soaked with a steady flow of blood from it's chest wound. It's arms and face are bare, if you could call them that. It's white, pale flesh reminds the warrior of the flesh of a turnip mottled with field spots and gnarls. The fact that it is mobile as it is definitely points towards some form of foul magic. Despite it's vegetable exterior, it's wound is practically spraying gore, and a wash of it splashes across Vargath's armor even from ten feet away. But it's face is what makes the rune knight's blood chill. A twisted, pained looking mockery of a humanoid face, twisted and gnarled and immobile, like someone frozen in the midst of a seizure. Underneath hooded, rigid lids peer soft, dull, unblinking, mud brown humanoid eyes that complete the freak show appearance, and they appear sad, crying tears of blood. The creature doesn't give Vargath time to react to it's abominable appearance, swinging his own axe at him fast as a seasoned fighter. On instinct Vargath ducks, and the axe flies over his head, swung so hard the creature loses it's grip and the axe is flung through the mist towards the cliff's edge and out of sight. The pained moan it releases grows more aggravated and gargling, as though it's turnip flesh feels the pain of it's wound but is incapable of dying from it.

Another one of these bleeding plant monsters rushes out at Set and Maus, this one armed with a farmer's hoe. It swings it like a child's bat at Set, who raises his spear to block it cross wise. He manages to intercept it, but it strikes with such unnatural force that he is hurled backwards into Maus, who stumbles under Set's weight and falls to one knee. The hoe snaps against the superior construction of Set's spear, but the turnip man doesn't seem phased. He reverses his grip like a skilled warrior and brings it smashing back in at Set, and this time it is too fast for the Abydossian to block. The broken tool catches Set in the top of the head, eliciting stars in his vision and sending him careening to the side. He tumbles end over end, landing ten feet to his right at the feet of Esai and Mal, with blood flowing down from a tear in his scalp.

Set's arrival heralds another turnip monster stumbling forward through the fog, it's strangled moans growing louder as it move in for the kill. It swings as spade at Mal with blinding speed, but Esai intervenes physically, raising his hammer. The iron head of the shovel hits the statue in the arm with enough force to send minute cracks through it's stonework, but Mal is spared any damage. Esai, even with his bulk, is hurled ten feet backwards in the mist, landing ten feet from the edge of the road and nearly out of Mal's vision. The statue out of the way, the vegetable terror with bleeding human eyes takes a swing at Mal, but he easily ducks the second blow.

Selissa and Ignacius can hear the moans of the creatures, as well as the grunts and impacts of combat. Selissa and the elven woman nearly careen into Vargath in his battle with the creature, but succeed in finding allies in the mist. Dr. Madaras, for the moment, is ignored in the mist.

Spoiler: OOC

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Set takes 12 bludgeoning damage. Esai takes 8. Your turns.

[Theophilus]

Mal Levistus Tiefling Bard 5 AC: 14 HP: 41/41 THP: 10/10 PP: 11 PIv: 13 PIs: 11 Spell Slots: 1st - 3/4 2nd - 2/3 3rd - 2/2 Fey Touched: 1st - 0/1 2nd - 1/1 Masquerade Tattoo: 1st - 1/1 Levistus Legacy: Armor of Agathys - 0/1 Darkness - 1/1 Bardic Inspiration: 2/4 Healer's Kit: 20/20 Mal Conditions: Blessed; Armor of Agathys: 10 cold damage if struck in melee. Mal Concentrating: Bless Esai Ancient Companion: Warrior Companion HP: 30/30 Companion AC: 16 Companion PP: 18 PIv: 12 PIs: 12 Warrior’s Protection (Reaction). When a creature within 5 feet of the companion makes a Strength or Dexterity saving throw, the companion imposes itself between the creature and the danger. The creature can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the saving throw Maledictus witnessed his guardian careen through the mists, propelled by the twisted brute as likely as Set had. The scholar did not relish being the solitary warrior on his feet, but managed to nimbly dodge the blow intended for his own scalp. The gnarled and tormented totem set his teeth on edge. He fought the preternatural quietude, invoking a line in infernal meant to unsettle the tuberous foe. He added aloud, "Form up and brace!" Esai arose, advancing with his shield at the fore. He muttered, "Root and rot, these squashlings have the hallmarks of witchcraft. Better blast them than hew with your pig-stickers." The statue set its jaw in grim fury and struck at the foe with his hammer. Energy crackled around the weapon as the spirit concentrated its potency into the blow. He once more took a slightly advanced position in an attempt to draw the ire of the mutant monstrosity.

Spoiler: OOC

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Cha saves: 18 Mal, 12 Esai.
Armor of Agathys in effect: 10 THP to Mal. 10 cold damage to a foe if Mal is struck in melee.

Cast Dissonant Whispers: DC 15 Wis save. Take (3d6)[8] psychic damage on a fail, immediately use its own reaction to move full movement away from Mal. Save and take half damage only. If it fails, Mal will use his reaction to OA: (1d20+5)[25] for (1d8+2)[5] piercing damage. Edit: Crit if OA gets provoked. Rolled a 3 on Discord, for 8 damage total.
BA direct Esai to return and attack with Spirit Strike.


Esai moves back to Mal in an attempt to screen his ward. Esai attacks with Spirit Strike (1d20+7)[11] for (1d8+5)[8] force damage.

If Mal must make a Dex or Str save, Esai will react with Warrior's Protection to grant a +1d4 to the save.
If a creature darts past to attack and flees, Esai will react to make an OA. (1d20+7)[13] for (1d8+5)[6] (Mal's OA would apply to this as well if the creature previously saved against Dissonant Whispers).

Spoiler: Mal's Notes

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Spoiler: Cast and Crew

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Set: outcast exiled princeling of Abydos. Two princess sisters (Sisi and Sythpen Al-Sayyid). Romantic connection for Moira?
Selissa: Blighted or reconstructed wood elf? Purported Scout.
Vargath: Afflicted Lycanthrope seeking to suspend his curse. A Bloodwolf?
Mandaras: Rival to Dr. Fixer.
Dr. Fixer: Moira's lieutenant and cultivates relations with the locals of Vale.
Elder Maus: Seeks to kill Moira. Hired mercenaries who betrayed him.
--Healed to his full 9ft height.
--Disbelieves Moira's insights; seeks to end her directly or indirectly.
--Seeks us to verify the truths of Moira's claims--or stop her by any means necessary.
Maulei: Successor to Elder Maus as elder of Dam'ess.
Uluthando Mikoso "Ulu:" Paladin? of Order. From beyond the Vale. Reacts by gripping her dagger and declaring Tieflings are treated differently...Lawful (N/E?) Order? Calls Mal 'Mdala Ohlonishwayo.' Professes to serve no god, but spirits whose reach may be weaker in the Vale than elsewhere.

Spoiler: Dream of Leng

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Spoiler: In Full

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Mal has had this dream before. He finds himself in the legendary Library of Leng, an ancient home of virtually all worldly and mystical knowledge that burned when the city it was located in was razed nearly nine hundred years ago, half the world away. Still, in his dreams it still existed, and these dreams always played out the same. Hours of dutiful research, referencing and cross referencing sources from multiple tomes, carefully reconstructing ancient languages, until EUREKA! Some devastating and profound arcane truth became evident to him, and the sense of accomplisment and relief normally carried with him for several hours after waking up, even if he could never actually remember anything he learned. But this time is different. Mal is well versed enough in the arcane and divine arts to know that sometimes dreams carry real meaning. And as he stares down at what he has been working on, he instinctively knows this bears some significance. Where normally he would have arcane formulas and theorems, he sees only "The One Who Stalks Behind" scrawled over and over again in his own hand, though the words are manic and look like they were written in distress. He searches the paper for any further omen, and down at the bottom of the page, in the smallest script he could possibly manage, it says Behind you!. Just as he is about to turn, a claw as strong as iron grips the side of his head, snaps his neck to the side, and ends all feeling in the bard's body. But he can still hear the deep throated growls, along with the wet noises of whatever killed him beginning to eat him alive. But he never gets to see it before the dream ends.

The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. RIGHT BEHIND YOU! The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind.

Spoiler: Bence's Secrets

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Spoiler: Bence's Journal

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...is a backwards plane, so far removed from the Prime Material that it has not seen an angel or the work of a god in a millennia. I hear that far to the west they do not even worship the gods. Proper savages, but I must remain vigilant, as their knowledge of the ways of this world is far more educated than most. But it is ripe for my conquest. While my Master was tasked with corrupting Avendor, my home plane, a bastion of good and law, my chore is simply to tip the rat into the bucket of the Abyss as it prowls the rim looking for cheese. This plane is already so flooded with the energies of the Abyss that demons spontaneously emerge, monsters manifest in the dark, and their weak leaders bargain with forces they would be wiser to repulse. It will be child's play to nudge it the last few inches into anarchy and destruction, mostly due to the efforts of Pale Night herself. For thousands of years she has been grasping and clawing at this realm, dragging it further from the light and closer to her realm day by day, inch by inch, soul by soul. While my home plane was beyond my ability to destroy, this place will be my masterpiece. With my death at the hands of the forces of good, a symphony of destruction will play the anthem to my ascension to demonhood. The Pale Mother has promised me that each death will bring me closer to my true form, and each rebirth will increase my power, just as our pact promised. I can't wait to die. When will the heroes arrive? I've been planting and tending the seed of the idea in the old giant's mind for weeks now. When will it bear fruit? When can my dark rise to power begin? (The rest is a combination of burned and Abyssal that becomes impossible to read)

Dam'ess- Mass Quasit Summoning. Magic Mouth to Levy Commands re: Retrieve Mirror of Leng, Scepter of Rulership, And Aniot's Cube. Disperse to Appropriate Parties Per The Plan. Burn The Cabin.

Harumburg- Sending to Lord of Bone re: Portal to the 113th. (Indecipherable Due to Burns) In Accordance with Their Great Alliance.

Falluneer- Sending to Lord of Flesh re: (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Ebon Spear.

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)light: Sending to Lord of Blood re: Assassination of (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Yukkot, Recovery of Blood (More Burns).

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)odge- Sending to Cult of Pale (More Burns) re: Initiate Divining Ritual Sacrifices. FIND THE DAMN ZIGGURAT.

Garrunrow- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Kill the Last Bloodwolf. Recover (More Burns) Key.

Mountain of Smoke- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) crypt. Seize the Ebon (More Burns).

Sussoon- Ensure the Prophecy (Indecipherable Due to Burns)... Pay the Bounty Hunters to Find the Abydossian and the Princesses. re: Sacrifices of The Old Blood

(There is more, but seemingly out of paranoia Bence switched to Abyssal. It is impossible to tell how many lines there are, as the last half of the paper is fully burned away)

Spoiler: Arcane Lore concerning Bence's Notes

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The magic of Contingency is a nearly mythical bit of spell work that was said to be lost when the Library of Leng burned down. It allows a caster to prepare spells in advance for a predetermined event, in this case John Bence's own death, and the spells will automatically cast when the event happens. If Bence is capable of such sorcery, he is likely far more powerful than his flashy death at the party's hands would indicate.

The Mirror of Leng is a artifact of the Library of Leng, said to contain a frozen moment of time where the library was at it's height that a person can temporarily step in to, giving access to the greatest magical library this world has ever seen. Supposedly several mirrors were made, though some are confirmed destroyed after their use led to come calamity of forbidden magics long lost to time. The Scepter of Rulership is said to be an even more powerful version of a Rod of Rulership, a magic item that allows for mass mind manipulation of people to believe that the holder of the Scepter is their rightful ruler. The last time the Scepter was confirmed in play it toppled an entire nation.

Though numbering and organizing the layers of the Abyss is a fool's errand, there are some realms that are constant enough to designate. The one hundred and thirteenth layer is Thanatos, layer of Orcus, the Lord of Death. It is a lifeless frozen landscape where life is snuffed out almost as soon as it arrives, either by the untold legions of undead denizens, the magical aura of the layer itself, or, in the worst cases, by Orcus himself, using his fearsome Wand.

Spoiler: John Bence's Wall Art

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There are no invisible objects in the room, but the entire back wall of the cabin is plastered with profane runes and abyssal scribblings. Where there was nothing to the naked eye, there is an extensive patchwork of spell work, seemingly scribed in the rusted red of blood. More disturbing is the fragments of souls that have been bound to the wall. Faces of people rise and seethe from the wood like a strange and rippling tide, mouths open in anguish. There are not many of them left, presumably due to whatever spell was used here absorbing so much energy, but there is a fine layer of ectoplasm that would indicate that once there were dozens of soul fragments powering this spell. The sight turns Mal's stomach, as the chaotic, destructive magic of the Abyss is written as plainly as news script, but as subtly as any devil could manage.

Spoiler: Monsters

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Barlgura: Demon loosed by summoning ritual on the road to Dam'ess. Slain with its summoned partner by team. (Bless helped with accuracy issues due to invisibility. In the future, layer mind sliver to aid with saves.)
Brazen Hart: Spirit of the wild wood around Dam'ess. Seeks to test the party's mettle by forcing an open fight with the Barlgura.
Horror of Yurl: Shapeshifting kind of monster. Severs limbs, creates euphoria, and slays by consuming the liver. The newest variant flies...

Spoiler: Instrument of the Bards

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Mal needs a translator, the spells, and woodcrafter to create a new relic.

Spoiler: Full Description

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Still, tucked among the primers and amateur books he finds a book that deals with the blending of magic and music. Specifically, it holds the instructions and rituals for a new version of the famed artifacts known as the instruments of the bards. Unfortunately, about a third of the book is in a language Mal does not understand or recognize, including most of the rites and rituals to imbue it with magic. Still, with a translator, appropriate magics, some study, and someone skilled in wood craft, he may be able to produce one of these relics for himself.

Report daily updates to Mistress Moira at last light.

[Riggdgames]

Set Al-Sayyid Changeling Fighter/Hexblade AC: 17 HP: 26/38 PP: 12 PIv: 13 PIs: 9 Conditions: Mal's Bless (3/10 rounds), Mal's Aid (+5 max hp, 8 hrs), Iumenta Pox (-8 max hp) Concentration: Wrathful Smite (3/10 rounds) Set had already mistaken one giant for Vargath. When another approaches out of the mist, there's no mistaking it for the Mighty. An absolutely grotesque figure looms large over Set, tears of blood streaking down its rain-soaked face as it winds up a powerful swing. Set is ready for the first blow, intending to knock it aside before countering with his reach, but Set is the one knocked aside. He falls back under the crushing weight of its strike, keeping on his feet only thanks to Maus. The second blow comes far too quickly for a monster of such size and strength, launching Set like a rag-doll before he can bring his guard back up. "Form up and brace!" A voice pierces the silence. Set blinks away darkness, the shadows shrouding his vision retreating as he groans. Cursing, Set scrapes his spear along muddy earth, pulling it closer and using it for support as he rises unsteadily. "Root and rot, these squashlings have the hallmarks of witchcraft. Better blast them than hew with your pig-stickers." The near-silence was broken, though the sounds of battle were muted even as Esai's hammer falls on the beast. At least whatever sorcery permeated this place could not still Mal's tongue, or Esai's. "Now for wrath," Set growls under his breath, spitting blood and earth. "Now for <ruin.>" Set's spear seems to vibrate, the shadow held dormant within shaking in anticipation and pulling towards their enemy. Set throws his body back into the fray without another word, striking the nearest monstrosity with spear and shadow. Spoiler: OOC Show Move: Stand from prone and step up to squashzilla Bonus Action: Hexblade's Curse my new squashfriend Action: 2H spear attack with Wrathful Smite (1d20+7)[13] plus (1d4)[4] bless Damage: (1d8+4)[7] piercing plus (1d6)[2] psychic + 3 HB curse damage Spoiler: Wrathful Smite Show The next time you hit with a melee weapon attack during this spell’s duration, your attack deals an extra 1d6 psychic damage. Additionally, if the target is a creature, it must make a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of you until the spell ends. As an action, the creature can make a Wisdom check against your spell save DC to steel its resolve and end this spell. Spoiler: Polearm Master Show While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, quarterstaff, or spear, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter the reach you have with that weapon. Spoiler: Hexblade's Curse Show As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The target is cursed for 1 minute. The curse ends early if the target dies, you die, or you are incapacitated. Until the curse ends, you gain the following benefits: You gain a bonus to damage rolls against the cursed target. The bonus equals your proficiency bonus. Any attack roll you make against the cursed target is a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20. If the cursed target dies, you regain hit points equal to your warlock level + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 hit point).

[Spore]

Doctor Ignacius Madaras, Medicus Extravagant! Gnome Artificer/Transmuter AC: 18 HP: 32/32 PP: 11 PIv: 17 PIs: 11 Conditions: Aid (8h; 5 mHP) Concentration: Invisibility (Selissa, 1h) Ignacius finally comes to his senses. This was ordinary fog, this was a creepy, but ordinary ambush. He rushed forward, pinpointing the location of his titanic green protector to find a scared elvish woman being talked at by invisible Selissa. He knew she was probably most successful in that regard, so the gnome stepped forward to tip the scales of fighting this titanic shambling monstrosity. My friend is covered by my spell. She is an elf, trust us. Ignacius says. He snips his fingers, delving into the beast's psyche(s), fraying its intellect by inserting them into a puzzle. He was praying to the Hart, the riddle was difficult enough not only to harm the creature, but also to make resisting other magical attacks more difficult. Spoiler Show Mind Sliver:Int save (1d20)[9] (plus or minus the relevant modifier) or take (2d6)[8] psychic damage and a 1d4 penalty on the first save in the upcoming turn.

[Amnestic]

Vargath Hubrecht Half-Orc Rune Knight Fighter AC: 19 HP: 49/49 PP: 13 PIv: 12 PIs: 10 Conditions: Infected (Lycanthropy), -1 INT, Longstrider, Giant's Might Concentrating: -- He sighs quietly as his axe goes careening over his head into the mist. Hopefully he'd be able to recover it, but if not at least he'd still have the warhammer. Worst comes to worst he could start bludgeoning lycans with his armour. There were worse ideas. Still, these plant...men...things he could carve just as easily with any axe as he could with silver. Maybe even easier. He unhooks his trusted weapon which had served him well for many a month now and crosses the distance into melee. His attack is blisteringly fast - his axe howls through the air as if it were a wolf itself, screaming for blood and carnage. Whether it be man, beast or plant monster made of witchcraft he never gave quarter when a fight truly began. The drizzle from above seems to avoid the spinning orc, pushed away by the sheer force of blow after blow after blow that he rains down upon the creature. The juice it spurted was no blood, despite its appearance, and even as he continues his assault he wants more. More than that though, he wants to kill something that actually bled. That gave him the taste of coppery scarlet in his nose and on his tongue. It makes him angry, that he's forced to 'settle' for these creatures instead of his real target. His real desire.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move: Into melee, draw non-silvered battleaxe.
Bonus Action: None.
Action: Attack: (1d20+7)[12] Edit: Plus 7 from bardic inspiration, for a total of 19 to hit. Damage: (1d8+6)[12]+(1d6)[3]
Extra Attack: Attack: (1d20+7)[16] Damage: (1d8+6)[14]+(1d6)[5]

ACTION SURGE

Action: Attack: (1d20+7)[25] Damage: (1d8+6)[13]+(1d6)[1]
Extra Attack: Attack: (1d20+7)[15] Damage: (1d8+6)[10]+(1d6)[5]


Pre-Emptive Reaction: Invoke Skye to move the attack of one turnip monster to the other, if it successfully hits a person. Sorry Esai, statues aren't people.

[Awful]

Selissa Betula Wood Elf Scout Rogue AC: 16 HP: 38/38 -> 43/43 PP: 16 Conditions: Aid Concentrating: -- Selissa still wasn't able to speak. When she tried, she managed to make little more than a hiss, as her tongue failed to shatter the enchantment - pah. No matter. There - Vargath was battling some kind of evil turnip man. Some kind of twisted victim of a curse, maybe; it was clothed as people, weeping blood. But it was hostile, and there was no room or time for anything but violence. She made a gesture to the female elf she'd pulled with her - stay low - before she let go and moved towards the monster Vargath was fighting. She near phased into the mist before she emerged behind and slightly to the side of the vegetable creature. Her summoned arrow practically touched the rough surface of the monster's skin. There was no room to miss, no room for it to dodge or block, and the wood elf put a magical bolt through its head, angled to not risk striking her party if it pierced clean through. If it died, she immediately went back the way she came to the female elf again. Spoiler Show Hide roll: 18 To hit: 23 Damage: 20 magical Point blank attack to try to fufill the student's bow requirement.

[purepolarpanzer]

Near the Top of Mount Beldrin

As Mal's spell takes effect, the agonized vegetable creature's screams and moans of pain become louder and more panicked. It begins to turn away, and as it does Set's spear, wreathed in shadowy energy, pierces it from the side, sending a disproportionate gout of blood splashing across the warlock, the bard, and the statue, painting all three of them red. The monstrosity begins to flee, and the three warriors harry it's steps with more blows, each one sending a splatter of seemingly endless blood across themselves and the surrounding landscape. The twisted abomination doesn't fall under the assault, hobbling into the woods and out of sight. But before long it's screams of psychic pain become enraged bellowing, and it surges back out of the fog directly at it's tormenter. It wields it's ungainly arms like clubs, but even as it strikes out in rage it cowers before Set, and the one blow that makes contact with Mal is halted by a spike of ice, resulting in no damage to the tiefling and an icicle spear through the offending limb. The monster stares at it's speared arm with grim fascination, a veritable fountain of blood spraying from both punctures.

Vargath's rapid blitz of strikes catches the ungainly creature off guard, and as the axe rains down upon it it does it's best to fend off the blows, but to little avail, sparing itself only one of the four attacks. When Dr. Madaras comes upon the scene, the wailing, pitiful mutant is just getting up to counter attack the rune knight. This is put to a swift end by the instantaneous beam of violet light that connects the gnome and the monster, which instead starts to grip at it's distorted excuse for a skull and sob. It's lamentations are put to an abrupt end when Selissa appears behind it. Her last second decision to turn her arrow slightly away from Vargath spares the half-orc a serious wound, as the magical arrow splits the vegetable man's head like a gourd, leaving a red hot hole the size of a fist punched through and through. The resulting splash of sizzling hot blood washes over Vargath like a wave, and the horrid humanoid drops down, nearly half of it's head cored out by the power of the Student's Bow. As the last of it's putrid animation fails, the body collapses into a pile of filthy, bloody turnips, as though it were never truly the half-formed chimera you all fought so hard to put down.

Shrouded in the mist, barely perceptible in the scramble and exchange of combat, Maus does battle one on one with one of the abominations. With his booming, authoritative voice silenced by magic, none of you can tell if he is winning or losing.

Spoiler: OOC

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Vargath, Selissa, and Dr. M's veggie man explodes into gore and turnips. Mal, Esai, and Set's is still standing, but heavily wounded after getting AoO by all three of them. No one is aware of how Maus' fight is going, or what is going on with Ulu and Kagiso.

[Theophilus]

Mal Levistus Tiefling Bard 5 AC: 14 HP: 41/41 THP: 2/10 PP: 11 PIv: 13 PIs: 11 Spell Slots: 1st - 2/4 2nd - 2/3 3rd - 2/2 Fey Touched: 1st - 0/1 2nd - 1/1 Masquerade Tattoo: 1st - 1/1 Levistus Legacy: Armor of Agathys - 0/1 Darkness - 1/1 Bardic Inspiration: 2/4 Healer's Kit: 20/20 Mal Conditions: Blessed; Armor of Agathys: 10 cold damage if struck in melee. Mal Concentrating: Bless Esai Ancient Companion: Warrior Companion HP: 30/30 Companion AC: 16 Companion PP: 18 PIv: 12 PIs: 12 Warrior’s Protection (Reaction). When a creature within 5 feet of the companion makes a Strength or Dexterity saving throw, the companion imposes itself between the creature and the danger. The creature can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the saving throw "Rinse..." Maledictus inwardly shuddered as this foul creature's blood poured over him. He gritted in anticipation of a blow, which his ancestry consumed in bitter frost. He whistled once more in the infernal undertones, seeking to further unsettle the monster in front of him. He called out to his battle partners, "Repeat!" Esai cursed as he struck out with his hammer, "Let's put these tubers back in the soil. We should regroup with the others." Mal nodded as he continued to bob and weave, interposing his rapier between him and the gushing monstrosity. He did not prefer being the center focus of the foe. With some luck, they could swiftly slay this filth and shift their attention to whatever waylaid the rest in the dark.

Spoiler: OOC

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Armor of Agathys in effect: 2 THP to Mal. 10 cold damage to a foe if Mal is struck in melee.

Cast Dissonant Whispers: DC 15 Wis save. Take (3d6)[14] psychic damage on a fail, immediately use its own reaction to move full movement away from Mal. Save and take half damage only. If it fails, Mal will use his reaction to OA: (1d20+5)[21] for (1d8+2)[5] piercing damage.
BA direct Esai to attack with Spirit Strike.

Esai attempts to screen his ward. Esai attacks with Spirit Strike (1d20+7)[10] for (1d8+5)[9] force damage.

If Mal must make a Dex or Str save, Esai will react with Warrior's Protection to grant a +1d4 to the save.
If a creature darts flees, Esai will react to make an OA. (1d20+7)[27] for (1d8+5)[7] Edit: Crit, 12 force damage (second roll in Discord)
Mal's OA would apply to this as well if the creature previously saved against Dissonant Whispers.

Spoiler: Mal's Notes

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Spoiler: Cast and Crew

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Set: outcast exiled princeling of Abydos. Two princess sisters (Sisi and Sythpen Al-Sayyid). Romantic connection for Moira?
Selissa: Blighted or reconstructed wood elf? Purported Scout.
Vargath: Afflicted Lycanthrope seeking to suspend his curse. A Bloodwolf?
Mandaras: Rival to Dr. Fixer.
Dr. Fixer: Moira's lieutenant and cultivates relations with the locals of Vale.
Elder Maus: Seeks to kill Moira. Hired mercenaries who betrayed him.
--Healed to his full 9ft height.
--Disbelieves Moira's insights; seeks to end her directly or indirectly.
--Seeks us to verify the truths of Moira's claims--or stop her by any means necessary.
Maulei: Successor to Elder Maus as elder of Dam'ess.
Uluthando Mikoso "Ulu:" Paladin? of Order. From beyond the Vale. Reacts by gripping her dagger and declaring Tieflings are treated differently...Lawful (N/E?) Order? Calls Mal 'Mdala Ohlonishwayo.' Professes to serve no god, but spirits whose reach may be weaker in the Vale than elsewhere.

Spoiler: Dream of Leng

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Spoiler: In Full

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Mal has had this dream before. He finds himself in the legendary Library of Leng, an ancient home of virtually all worldly and mystical knowledge that burned when the city it was located in was razed nearly nine hundred years ago, half the world away. Still, in his dreams it still existed, and these dreams always played out the same. Hours of dutiful research, referencing and cross referencing sources from multiple tomes, carefully reconstructing ancient languages, until EUREKA! Some devastating and profound arcane truth became evident to him, and the sense of accomplisment and relief normally carried with him for several hours after waking up, even if he could never actually remember anything he learned. But this time is different. Mal is well versed enough in the arcane and divine arts to know that sometimes dreams carry real meaning. And as he stares down at what he has been working on, he instinctively knows this bears some significance. Where normally he would have arcane formulas and theorems, he sees only "The One Who Stalks Behind" scrawled over and over again in his own hand, though the words are manic and look like they were written in distress. He searches the paper for any further omen, and down at the bottom of the page, in the smallest script he could possibly manage, it says Behind you!. Just as he is about to turn, a claw as strong as iron grips the side of his head, snaps his neck to the side, and ends all feeling in the bard's body. But he can still hear the deep throated growls, along with the wet noises of whatever killed him beginning to eat him alive. But he never gets to see it before the dream ends.

The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. RIGHT BEHIND YOU! The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind.

Spoiler: Bence's Secrets

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Spoiler: Bence's Journal

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...is a backwards plane, so far removed from the Prime Material that it has not seen an angel or the work of a god in a millennia. I hear that far to the west they do not even worship the gods. Proper savages, but I must remain vigilant, as their knowledge of the ways of this world is far more educated than most. But it is ripe for my conquest. While my Master was tasked with corrupting Avendor, my home plane, a bastion of good and law, my chore is simply to tip the rat into the bucket of the Abyss as it prowls the rim looking for cheese. This plane is already so flooded with the energies of the Abyss that demons spontaneously emerge, monsters manifest in the dark, and their weak leaders bargain with forces they would be wiser to repulse. It will be child's play to nudge it the last few inches into anarchy and destruction, mostly due to the efforts of Pale Night herself. For thousands of years she has been grasping and clawing at this realm, dragging it further from the light and closer to her realm day by day, inch by inch, soul by soul. While my home plane was beyond my ability to destroy, this place will be my masterpiece. With my death at the hands of the forces of good, a symphony of destruction will play the anthem to my ascension to demonhood. The Pale Mother has promised me that each death will bring me closer to my true form, and each rebirth will increase my power, just as our pact promised. I can't wait to die. When will the heroes arrive? I've been planting and tending the seed of the idea in the old giant's mind for weeks now. When will it bear fruit? When can my dark rise to power begin? (The rest is a combination of burned and Abyssal that becomes impossible to read)

Dam'ess- Mass Quasit Summoning. Magic Mouth to Levy Commands re: Retrieve Mirror of Leng, Scepter of Rulership, And Aniot's Cube. Disperse to Appropriate Parties Per The Plan. Burn The Cabin.

Harumburg- Sending to Lord of Bone re: Portal to the 113th. (Indecipherable Due to Burns) In Accordance with Their Great Alliance.

Falluneer- Sending to Lord of Flesh re: (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Ebon Spear.

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)light: Sending to Lord of Blood re: Assassination of (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Yukkot, Recovery of Blood (More Burns).

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)odge- Sending to Cult of Pale (More Burns) re: Initiate Divining Ritual Sacrifices. FIND THE DAMN ZIGGURAT.

Garrunrow- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Kill the Last Bloodwolf. Recover (More Burns) Key.

Mountain of Smoke- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) crypt. Seize the Ebon (More Burns).

Sussoon- Ensure the Prophecy (Indecipherable Due to Burns)... Pay the Bounty Hunters to Find the Abydossian and the Princesses. re: Sacrifices of The Old Blood

(There is more, but seemingly out of paranoia Bence switched to Abyssal. It is impossible to tell how many lines there are, as the last half of the paper is fully burned away)

Spoiler: Arcane Lore concerning Bence's Notes

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The magic of Contingency is a nearly mythical bit of spell work that was said to be lost when the Library of Leng burned down. It allows a caster to prepare spells in advance for a predetermined event, in this case John Bence's own death, and the spells will automatically cast when the event happens. If Bence is capable of such sorcery, he is likely far more powerful than his flashy death at the party's hands would indicate.

The Mirror of Leng is a artifact of the Library of Leng, said to contain a frozen moment of time where the library was at it's height that a person can temporarily step in to, giving access to the greatest magical library this world has ever seen. Supposedly several mirrors were made, though some are confirmed destroyed after their use led to come calamity of forbidden magics long lost to time. The Scepter of Rulership is said to be an even more powerful version of a Rod of Rulership, a magic item that allows for mass mind manipulation of people to believe that the holder of the Scepter is their rightful ruler. The last time the Scepter was confirmed in play it toppled an entire nation.

Though numbering and organizing the layers of the Abyss is a fool's errand, there are some realms that are constant enough to designate. The one hundred and thirteenth layer is Thanatos, layer of Orcus, the Lord of Death. It is a lifeless frozen landscape where life is snuffed out almost as soon as it arrives, either by the untold legions of undead denizens, the magical aura of the layer itself, or, in the worst cases, by Orcus himself, using his fearsome Wand.

Spoiler: John Bence's Wall Art

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There are no invisible objects in the room, but the entire back wall of the cabin is plastered with profane runes and abyssal scribblings. Where there was nothing to the naked eye, there is an extensive patchwork of spell work, seemingly scribed in the rusted red of blood. More disturbing is the fragments of souls that have been bound to the wall. Faces of people rise and seethe from the wood like a strange and rippling tide, mouths open in anguish. There are not many of them left, presumably due to whatever spell was used here absorbing so much energy, but there is a fine layer of ectoplasm that would indicate that once there were dozens of soul fragments powering this spell. The sight turns Mal's stomach, as the chaotic, destructive magic of the Abyss is written as plainly as news script, but as subtly as any devil could manage.

Spoiler: Monsters

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Barlgura: Demon loosed by summoning ritual on the road to Dam'ess. Slain with its summoned partner by team. (Bless helped with accuracy issues due to invisibility. In the future, layer mind sliver to aid with saves.)
Brazen Hart: Spirit of the wild wood around Dam'ess. Seeks to test the party's mettle by forcing an open fight with the Barlgura.
Horror of Yurl: Shapeshifting kind of monster. Severs limbs, creates euphoria, and slays by consuming the liver. The newest variant flies...

Spoiler: Instrument of the Bards

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Mal needs a translator, the spells, and woodcrafter to create a new relic.

Spoiler: Full Description

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Still, tucked among the primers and amateur books he finds a book that deals with the blending of magic and music. Specifically, it holds the instructions and rituals for a new version of the famed artifacts known as the instruments of the bards. Unfortunately, about a third of the book is in a language Mal does not understand or recognize, including most of the rites and rituals to imbue it with magic. Still, with a translator, appropriate magics, some study, and someone skilled in wood craft, he may be able to produce one of these relics for himself.

Report daily updates to Mistress Moira at last light.

[Spore]

Doctor Ignacius Madaras, Medicus Extravagant! Gnome Artificer/Transmuter AC: 18 HP: 32/32 PP: 11 PIv: 17 PIs: 11 Conditions: Aid (8h; 5 mHP) Concentration: - The elder might be a formidable foe, but he is old and nothing without his magics. Let us aid them! Ignacius calls to aid the others. Alvis, kindly guide us to the elder! he asks his bird, and follows. Spoiler Show If I reach before double moving, I will put it to the torch via Fire Bolt (1d20+7)[17] (2d10+1)[9]

[Amnestic]

Vargath Hubrecht Half-Orc Rune Knight Fighter AC: 19 HP: 49/49 PP: 13 PIv: 12 PIs: 10 Conditions: Infected (Lycanthropy), -1 INT, Longstrider, Giant's Might Concentrating: -- Cheated out of his kill by the gnome, but the satisfaction of slaughtering a plant was thin to begin with. Even if they were full of juices, the smell was different. Nothing to be done. He spins on his heel and dives back into the fog in search of more prey to hunt, more flesh to rend, more notches to add to his axe, one monster at a time.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move: Into the fog, towards the last spot he knew of Maus.
Then, either, Dash further towards Maus and his foe if he's not in range, or in the unlikely even he finds himself in a melee with his bigness,
Attack: (1d20+7)[19] Damage: (1d8+6)[8]+(1d6)[6]
Extra Attack: (1d20+7)[18] Damage: (1d8+6)[13]+(1d6)[5]

Pre-Emptive Reaction: Invoke Skye to move the attack of one turnip monster to another - or Vargath if no turnip monster in range. Esai still getting skipped from protection :P

[Riggdgames]

Set Al-Sayyid Changeling Fighter/Hexblade AC: 17 HP: 26/38 PP: 12 PIv: 13 PIs: 9 Conditions: Mal's Bless (4/10 rounds), Mal's Aid (+5 max hp, 8 hrs), Iumenta Pox (-8 max hp) Concentration: Wrathful Smite (4/10 rounds) Soaked in the creature's strange blood, Set braces his spear as the monstrosity comes charging back out of the mist, bellowing at the top of whatever passed for its lungs. There's still a distinct lack of sound coming from every other direction, but the creature's rage wouldn't be silenced. Where this monster's brother had thrown him like a ragdoll away from Maus just a few seconds earlier, Set watches the full weight of the creature's blow fall on Iceblood only to see the tiefling stand tall. The very mist seemed to favor him, freezing into a shard of ice and repelling the attack. As the creature stares in fascination at its own wound, Set dives back in silently, aiming low to pair his attack with the fall of Esai's hammer. Spoiler: OOC Show If the turnip-man falls, Set will indicate to Mal and Esai where he last saw Maus. Action: 2H spear attack (1d20+7)[20] plus (1d4)[2] bless Damage: (1d8+4)[9] piercing plus 3 HB curse damage Bonus Action: Polearm master attack (1d20+7)[27] plus (1d4)[3] bless Damage: (1d4+4)[7] bludgeoning plus 3 HB curse plus 3 damage from crit (rolled in Discord) Move: If turnip-man falls before Set's turn is over, move towards where Set last saw Maus Spoiler: Wrathful Smite Show The next time you hit with a melee weapon attack during this spell’s duration, your attack deals an extra 1d6 psychic damage. Additionally, if the target is a creature, it must make a Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of you until the spell ends. As an action, the creature can make a Wisdom check against your spell save DC to steel its resolve and end this spell. Spoiler: Polearm Master Show While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, quarterstaff, or spear, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter the reach you have with that weapon. Spoiler: Hexblade's Curse Show As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The target is cursed for 1 minute. The curse ends early if the target dies, you die, or you are incapacitated. Until the curse ends, you gain the following benefits: You gain a bonus to damage rolls against the cursed target. The bonus equals your proficiency bonus. Any attack roll you make against the cursed target is a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20. If the cursed target dies, you regain hit points equal to your warlock level + your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 hit point).

[Awful]

Selissa Betula Wood Elf Scout Rogue AC: 16 HP: 38/38 -> 43/43 PP: 16 Conditions: Aid Concentrating: -- Back at the female elf, Selissa drew her knife and pushed it into the elf's hands. "<Here,>" she said in elvish, voice sharp and commanding. "<Take it. Follow me. Stay close.>" She took up her bow again and began stalking in the direction Maus had been, casting a glance behind to make sure the nameless woman was following close. She tuned her senses as high as she could, prepared to dodge any vegetable violence that might come her way. Spoiler Show Finally rolled high enough to speak. Giving the elf a knoife (I'm assuming is an action) and heading towards the direction Maus was in, using Cunning action to dodge.

[purepolarpanzer]

Near the Top of Mount Beldrin

As Mal's psionic magics reach into whatever constitutes a mind in the vegetable monster, it's piteous wails grow louder and it clutches at it's skull, the cascading blood from it's eyes increasing in volume. It turns to flee, and when it does that moment of exposed weakness is filled with hammer blows, spear thrusts, and rapier slashes, leaving nothing but a pile of bloody turnips, a fresh coat of gore over Esai, Set, and Mal, and some scattered entrails that threaten to trip the three up. As the monstrosity falls, Vargath, Ignacius, Selissa, and the female elf all move into view, starting a stampede towards the last known position of Maus Moeller that Set joins.

It takes a few moments to realize that natural sounds have returned- all of your breathing, heavy from combat exertion. The rain coming down on the stones and washing away the excessive blood spray of these foul creatures. In the distance you hear a horse neigh nervously, followed by the sound of metallic boot steps coming closer. The fog begins to lift a bit as the party begins the search for Maus, and Ulu appears, similarly coated in arterial spray, her longsword clamped in one hand and the other wrapped around a piece of torn cloth. "Creatures attacked us! I killed one of them, but they grabbed Kagiso and pulled him into the woods! We must follow them and locate him! NOW! Tree elf, begin tracking them!" Worry and anxiety are plain on Ulu's normally stoic face, and her body is shaking slightly. It seems in times of great stress she falls back on issuing orders and expecting them to be followed.

The elven woman, holding Selissa's knife with no particular skill or proficiency, begins pulling on Selissa's arm and speaking in elvish. "More will come! More people will be taken! This is an enemy that threatens your people and mine! Come with me, cleanse our orchard, save our children!" Whether she follows Ulu's order or not, Selissa takes in the scene with a hunter's set of eyes. She notices a large splash of blood, the same deep red that coats the entire party except for her at this point. It seems Maus got in at least one solid blow. Then the earth is upturned in struggle, as though the two wrestled is pure silence. A few feet away, she notices drag marks that follow a trail of blood and two sets of misshapen footprints into the undergrowth, suggesting that pair of these creatures, strong enough to send people flying like playthings, overpowered Maus and dragged him into the forest under the cover of the magical silence. As Selissa's eyes follow the trail, she feels a shift in the weight in her bow hand, and when she looks at it she is holding a long, curved saber, which like the Student's Bow is plain but incredibly well made. It glows slightly in her hand with a the same silvery smoke of her magic arrows, but as soon as she wishes it dimmer the glow shrinks to be barely visible.

Spoiler: OOC

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Survival DC 10 to notice the same things as Selissa, who rolled a 14 survival. A struggling Maus leaves a pretty obvious trail, at least while he can still struggle. Visibility has increased to 20 ft, or 30 ft with darkvision or a light source. Two of your number have been taken. Do you give chase into the unknown?

[Spore]

Doctor Ignacius Madaras, Medicus Extravagant! Gnome Artificer/Transmuter AC: 18 HP: 32/32 PP: 11 PIv: 17 PIs: 11 Conditions: Aid (8h; 5 mHP) Concentration: - Ignacius nods. Urgent action is needed, but we need to stay calm. Selissa, are you okay with another touch of mine? the gnome inquires, not wanting to increase a tense situation further. If anyone else cares to partake in a bit of magical speed, I will indulge them before we give chase and run into a trap. I vote for our newest friend to stay with me. Ignacius smiles at the broken elf. We will see this through, milady. Spoiler Show Longstrider castings are offered. And Invisibility to Selissa.

[Amnestic]

Vargath Hubrecht Half-Orc Rune Knight Fighter AC: 19 HP: 49/49 PP: 13 PIv: 12 PIs: 10 Conditions: Infected (Lycanthropy), -1 INT, Longstrider, Giant's Might Concentrating: -- Vargath spots the same blood trail. Smells it too. Even in what little light there is it gleams to his senses, overpowering the vegetable juices of the monsters that cloud their vision. "They can't have gotten far dragging two." There was no time to chat, no time to dither or discuss. Now was the time for action. Followed or not, he breaks into a run - helped by Ignacius' spell to make his feet a touch lighter - in pursuit of Maus, following the trail as best he can. They'd been gone less than a minute. If Maus was slowing them he'd catch up quickly.

[Riggdgames]

Set Al-Sayyid Changeling Fighter/Hexblade AC: 17 HP: 33/38 PP: 12 PIv: 13 PIs: 9 Conditions: Mal's Aid (+5 max hp, 8 hrs), Iumenta Pox (-8 max hp) Concentration: A shadow slinks out of Set's weapon, crawling back to its proper place and dulling the ache of wounds not yet healed. Set looks from one companion to the next as Ulu seemingly orders them to follow the trail, while a cousin of Evergreen's implores Selissa to save the children of their people. "<One thing at a time,>" Set barks in elvish, harsher than he intends to as the adrenaline still surges through him. "<Two who travelled with us have been taken,>" he says, quickly softening his tone before he looks to Evergreen. Kagiso had seemed a decent enough fellow, and even if the Chief wasn't, Set would see to it that Maus lived long enough to learn the error of his ways. Once the Hollow One saw the truth about vampires in Harumburg, then he would have Set's permission to get himself hauled off by turnip-monsters. "Didn't ask Maus to come," Set says, clipping his speech short and shifting back to common, "but he's here." Set steps closer to Thrice-Blessed, accepting his blessing. "Whether the chase is short or long, I would be grateful for any boon that lends speed." Once the gnome's ritual is complete, Set nods his thanks before turning after the Mighty, quickly picking up speed in the muddy ground until it feels like he's flying after the half-orc. Spoiler: OOC Show Set gains 7 HP back from the target of Hexblade's Curse and he'll happily accept Longstrider if offered.

[Theophilus]

Mal Levistus Tiefling Bard 5 AC: 14 HP: 41/41 THP: 2/10 PP: 11 PIv: 13 PIs: 11 Spell Slots: 1st - 2/4 2nd - 1/3 3rd - 2/2 Fey Touched: 1st - 0/1 2nd - 1/1 Masquerade Tattoo: 1st - 1/1 Levistus Legacy: Armor of Agathys - 0/1 Darkness - 1/1 Bardic Inspiration: 2/4 Healer's Kit: 20/20 Mal Conditions: Armor of Agathys: 10 cold damage if struck in melee. Mal Concentrating: Enhance Ability Esai Ancient Companion: Warrior Companion HP: 30/30 Companion AC: 16 Companion PP: 18 PIv: 12 PIs: 12 Warrior’s Protection (Reaction). When a creature within 5 feet of the companion makes a Strength or Dexterity saving throw, the companion imposes itself between the creature and the danger. The creature can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the saving throw Maledictus embraced the rain as it drained much of the filth from his clothes, though it stirred the mire around his boots. He wandered cautiously at the trail of the group. When the others broke into a frenzy, he tensed his jaw. Dashing in the dark is a great way to learn wingless mortals cannot fly. The tiefling looked around, uncertain what the elf saw. However, his stone guide tapped his hammer against the scholar's boot. Blood pooled where the man had thought water collected. The statue deciphered the scene for him, "Two tuberkin uprooted the half-giant, then dragged him ensorcelled in the silence toward the wood." Mal nodded. He heard the plans underway, and calmly spoke into the fray, "Scouting the way is wise. Selissa, I offer a boon to keep you on the trail of our lost ones." He spoke words in elvish, a line that distilled the night wing's insight and the prowler's awareness. These he transferred with a light touch to the woman's wooden arm. Then the tiefling trailed back to allow the others to press ahead. He said, "We shall guard the rear and ensure none of the tubers catch us from behind."

Spoiler: OOC

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Survival checks: Mal 2, Esai 21.

Armor of Agathys in effect: 2 THP to Mal. 10 cold damage to a foe if Mal is struck in melee.

Cast Enhance Ability (Owl's Wisdom) on Selissa. She has advantage on wisdom [i.e. survival] checks for up to one hour

If Mal must make a Dex or Str save, Esai will react with Warrior's Protection to grant a +1d4 to the save.
If a creature flees their reach, Esai and Mal will react to make an OA.

Spoiler: Mal's Notes

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Spoiler: Cast and Crew

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Set: outcast exiled princeling of Abydos. Two princess sisters (Sisi and Sythpen Al-Sayyid). Romantic connection for Moira?
Selissa: Blighted or reconstructed wood elf? Purported Scout.
Vargath: Afflicted Lycanthrope seeking to suspend his curse. A Bloodwolf?
Mandaras: Rival to Dr. Fixer.
Dr. Fixer: Moira's lieutenant and cultivates relations with the locals of Vale.
Elder Maus: Seeks to kill Moira. Hired mercenaries who betrayed him.
--Healed to his full 9ft height.
--Disbelieves Moira's insights; seeks to end her directly or indirectly.
--Seeks us to verify the truths of Moira's claims--or stop her by any means necessary.
Maulei: Successor to Elder Maus as elder of Dam'ess.
Uluthando Mikoso "Ulu:" Paladin? of Order. From beyond the Vale. Reacts by gripping her dagger and declaring Tieflings are treated differently...Lawful (N/E?) Order? Calls Mal 'Mdala Ohlonishwayo.' Professes to serve no god, but spirits whose reach may be weaker in the Vale than elsewhere.

Spoiler: Dream of Leng

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Spoiler: In Full

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Mal has had this dream before. He finds himself in the legendary Library of Leng, an ancient home of virtually all worldly and mystical knowledge that burned when the city it was located in was razed nearly nine hundred years ago, half the world away. Still, in his dreams it still existed, and these dreams always played out the same. Hours of dutiful research, referencing and cross referencing sources from multiple tomes, carefully reconstructing ancient languages, until EUREKA! Some devastating and profound arcane truth became evident to him, and the sense of accomplisment and relief normally carried with him for several hours after waking up, even if he could never actually remember anything he learned. But this time is different. Mal is well versed enough in the arcane and divine arts to know that sometimes dreams carry real meaning. And as he stares down at what he has been working on, he instinctively knows this bears some significance. Where normally he would have arcane formulas and theorems, he sees only "The One Who Stalks Behind" scrawled over and over again in his own hand, though the words are manic and look like they were written in distress. He searches the paper for any further omen, and down at the bottom of the page, in the smallest script he could possibly manage, it says Behind you!. Just as he is about to turn, a claw as strong as iron grips the side of his head, snaps his neck to the side, and ends all feeling in the bard's body. But he can still hear the deep throated growls, along with the wet noises of whatever killed him beginning to eat him alive. But he never gets to see it before the dream ends.

The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. RIGHT BEHIND YOU! The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind.

Spoiler: Bence's Secrets

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Spoiler: Bence's Journal

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...is a backwards plane, so far removed from the Prime Material that it has not seen an angel or the work of a god in a millennia. I hear that far to the west they do not even worship the gods. Proper savages, but I must remain vigilant, as their knowledge of the ways of this world is far more educated than most. But it is ripe for my conquest. While my Master was tasked with corrupting Avendor, my home plane, a bastion of good and law, my chore is simply to tip the rat into the bucket of the Abyss as it prowls the rim looking for cheese. This plane is already so flooded with the energies of the Abyss that demons spontaneously emerge, monsters manifest in the dark, and their weak leaders bargain with forces they would be wiser to repulse. It will be child's play to nudge it the last few inches into anarchy and destruction, mostly due to the efforts of Pale Night herself. For thousands of years she has been grasping and clawing at this realm, dragging it further from the light and closer to her realm day by day, inch by inch, soul by soul. While my home plane was beyond my ability to destroy, this place will be my masterpiece. With my death at the hands of the forces of good, a symphony of destruction will play the anthem to my ascension to demonhood. The Pale Mother has promised me that each death will bring me closer to my true form, and each rebirth will increase my power, just as our pact promised. I can't wait to die. When will the heroes arrive? I've been planting and tending the seed of the idea in the old giant's mind for weeks now. When will it bear fruit? When can my dark rise to power begin? (The rest is a combination of burned and Abyssal that becomes impossible to read)

Dam'ess- Mass Quasit Summoning. Magic Mouth to Levy Commands re: Retrieve Mirror of Leng, Scepter of Rulership, And Aniot's Cube. Disperse to Appropriate Parties Per The Plan. Burn The Cabin.

Harumburg- Sending to Lord of Bone re: Portal to the 113th. (Indecipherable Due to Burns) In Accordance with Their Great Alliance.

Falluneer- Sending to Lord of Flesh re: (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Ebon Spear.

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)light: Sending to Lord of Blood re: Assassination of (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Yukkot, Recovery of Blood (More Burns).

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)odge- Sending to Cult of Pale (More Burns) re: Initiate Divining Ritual Sacrifices. FIND THE DAMN ZIGGURAT.

Garrunrow- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Kill the Last Bloodwolf. Recover (More Burns) Key.

Mountain of Smoke- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) crypt. Seize the Ebon (More Burns).

Sussoon- Ensure the Prophecy (Indecipherable Due to Burns)... Pay the Bounty Hunters to Find the Abydossian and the Princesses. re: Sacrifices of The Old Blood

(There is more, but seemingly out of paranoia Bence switched to Abyssal. It is impossible to tell how many lines there are, as the last half of the paper is fully burned away)

Spoiler: Arcane Lore concerning Bence's Notes

Show

The magic of Contingency is a nearly mythical bit of spell work that was said to be lost when the Library of Leng burned down. It allows a caster to prepare spells in advance for a predetermined event, in this case John Bence's own death, and the spells will automatically cast when the event happens. If Bence is capable of such sorcery, he is likely far more powerful than his flashy death at the party's hands would indicate.

The Mirror of Leng is a artifact of the Library of Leng, said to contain a frozen moment of time where the library was at it's height that a person can temporarily step in to, giving access to the greatest magical library this world has ever seen. Supposedly several mirrors were made, though some are confirmed destroyed after their use led to come calamity of forbidden magics long lost to time. The Scepter of Rulership is said to be an even more powerful version of a Rod of Rulership, a magic item that allows for mass mind manipulation of people to believe that the holder of the Scepter is their rightful ruler. The last time the Scepter was confirmed in play it toppled an entire nation.

Though numbering and organizing the layers of the Abyss is a fool's errand, there are some realms that are constant enough to designate. The one hundred and thirteenth layer is Thanatos, layer of Orcus, the Lord of Death. It is a lifeless frozen landscape where life is snuffed out almost as soon as it arrives, either by the untold legions of undead denizens, the magical aura of the layer itself, or, in the worst cases, by Orcus himself, using his fearsome Wand.

Spoiler: John Bence's Wall Art

Show

There are no invisible objects in the room, but the entire back wall of the cabin is plastered with profane runes and abyssal scribblings. Where there was nothing to the naked eye, there is an extensive patchwork of spell work, seemingly scribed in the rusted red of blood. More disturbing is the fragments of souls that have been bound to the wall. Faces of people rise and seethe from the wood like a strange and rippling tide, mouths open in anguish. There are not many of them left, presumably due to whatever spell was used here absorbing so much energy, but there is a fine layer of ectoplasm that would indicate that once there were dozens of soul fragments powering this spell. The sight turns Mal's stomach, as the chaotic, destructive magic of the Abyss is written as plainly as news script, but as subtly as any devil could manage.

Spoiler: Monsters

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Barlgura: Demon loosed by summoning ritual on the road to Dam'ess. Slain with its summoned partner by team. (Bless helped with accuracy issues due to invisibility. In the future, layer mind sliver to aid with saves.)
Brazen Hart: Spirit of the wild wood around Dam'ess. Seeks to test the party's mettle by forcing an open fight with the Barlgura.
Horror of Yurl: Shapeshifting kind of monster. Severs limbs, creates euphoria, and slays by consuming the liver. The newest variant flies...

Spoiler: Instrument of the Bards

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Mal needs a translator, the spells, and woodcrafter to create a new relic.

Spoiler: Full Description

Show

Still, tucked among the primers and amateur books he finds a book that deals with the blending of magic and music. Specifically, it holds the instructions and rituals for a new version of the famed artifacts known as the instruments of the bards. Unfortunately, about a third of the book is in a language Mal does not understand or recognize, including most of the rites and rituals to imbue it with magic. Still, with a translator, appropriate magics, some study, and someone skilled in wood craft, he may be able to produce one of these relics for himself.

Report daily updates to Mistress Moira at last light.

[purepolarpanzer]

In The Forest on Top of Mount Beldrin

The party dashed through the thick undergrowth at the side of the road, pushing through brambles and thick grass into the woods beyond and moving quickly in pursuit of their abducted companions. After the initial struggle through the briars, you find the woods to be eerily inviting. You hadn't noticed from the road that the trees were all in near perfect rows, and you find yourselves running along one of them, and to your left and your right entire rows of trees as far as your eyes can see in the fog move past you as one, creating the feeling that you are surrounded while completely alone. Under the canopy you begin to see large, ripe apples, easily as large as any you have previously seen, hanging from the branches of this sculpted forest. Even as you run along, nature's bounty is beckoning, as many of you have not eaten since that morning. But you have more important things on your mind than low hanging fruit. Or do you?

Spoiler: Please roll a DC 14 Wisdom Save

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Spoiler: If You Succeed

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You don't linger. The apples will still be there when Maus and Kagiso are rescued.

Spoiler: If You Fail

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Now that you think of it, that IS the biggest apple you've ever seen. And you simply must have it. You are delayed as you stop to grab an apple, using your weapon, acrobatics, or an athletic jump to snag one or knock it down. You know you don't have time to eat it now, but you will soon, and you're sure you'll enjoy it. Add one Big, Juicy Apple to your inventory. The significance of this delay will become apparent soon. You will be told when you must eat the apple, but you may also choose to at any time before then. If someone chooses to eat it early the consequences may prevent others from suffering as badly as you do. The choice is yours.

With a magically enhanced Vargath in the lead, you traverse the rows of trees at great speed, following the trail of blood on the fallen leaves. The mist stricken forest is too dark and too opaque to make anything out at any great distance away, and Maus' cries in the night are likely obscured by the strange magic that heralded the mutant monsters in farmer's clothes. At least you can hear the rain, and the regular splashing of footsteps through puddles around you, and the sounds of breathing. This is joined, however, by the sound of creaking wood and tearing cloth as the ground underneath your feet opens up without warning.

Spoiler: Please roll a DC 15 Dexterity Saving Throw. You May Add +2 to Your Roll If You Were Delayed Getting An Apple.

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Spoiler: If You Succeed

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You instinctively jump to the side, managing to clutch to a tree branch or trunk as the ground falls out beneath your feet. A 20 ft deep, 40 ft diameter pit has opened up, but you luckily find yourself outside of it.

Spoiler: If You Fail

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You fall, careening forward into the newly formed 20 foot pit beneath you. It seems some amount of engineering went into this, because it held long enough for several of you to get on top of it. You are unhappily greeted by wooden spikes, sharpened and jutting out of the ground at odd angles. Between the sudden fall and the sharp stop, you take 13 Bludgeoning Damage and 13 Piercing Damage.

[Spore]

Doctor Ignacius Madaras, Medicus Extravagant! Gnome Artificer/Transmuter AC: 18 HP: 21/32 PP: 11 PIv: 17 PIs: 11 Conditions: Aid (8h; 5 mHP) Concentration: - The gnome advances right after their swift scout and the massive Vargath. Chasing shadows and following sounds and their instincts for a few moments, the doctor sees a shiny red apple on the side. It is almost the size of his head, and if his past ventures with the phase bees was anything to judge by, this might be another magical ingredient. But at its worst it would be a juicy, delicious apple. He sees the others also following his example and picking up another giant apple. Now to think of it, it was odd such a precious gift was not taken by deer, who especially enjoy the fruit of the harvest season. The gnome stops fully. We should not indulge in these hastily, my friends. I want to check them, as their mere presence is strange. But we should continue our pursuit for now. Their group continues, with Ignacius focussed on the apple. He steps on the ledge as one of the last, and notices too late that the ground gives way to something more sinister. Not letting go of his price just yet, he is too slow to grab a vine and crashes onto its spiked floor with gnomish velocity. One spike narrowly misses his vital internal organs, piercing even his well-made chain mail. A few seconds of silence, and the gnome stands up groaning, amidst two spikes bloodied by his own wounds. The small man stands shakily, and if it weren't for Mal's ministrations, he would be close to passing out. With surgical precision, the doctor knows that he cannot go on like this and tries to mitigate the blood loss and steady his gait. He opens a vial and imbibes round white pellets, after which he uses gracious bandages to steady his own wounds. He then looks around for the others. Spoiler Show BIG RED APPLE GET. Take 26 fall damage. Heal for 15.

[Theophilus]

Mal Levistus Tiefling Bard 5 AC: 14 HP: 41/41 THP: 2/10 PP: 11 PIv: 13 PIs: 11 Spell Slots: 1st - 2/4 2nd - 1/3 3rd - 2/2 Fey Touched: 1st - 0/1 2nd - 1/1 Masquerade Tattoo: 1st - 1/1 Levistus Legacy: Armor of Agathys - 0/1 Darkness - 1/1 Bardic Inspiration: 2/4 Healer's Kit: 20/20 Mal Conditions: Armor of Agathys: 10 cold damage if struck in melee. Mal Concentrating: Enhance Ability Esai Ancient Companion: Warrior Companion HP: 0/30 Companion AC: 16 Companion PP: 18 PIv: 12 PIs: 12 Spirit flees, Statue stays Maledictus followed in the rearguard with Esai. The wood shifted rapidly into an dusky orchard. He noted the apples, lustrous and large. The bard skewered one with his rapier, drawing the ripe fruit to himself as the scholar followed the others. Despite the urgency of the hour, the curious girth of the fruit piqued his curiosity, "These remind me of the stories of the slopes around the library of Leng. The fruit trees there hung heavy laden, dripping with wisdom. A bite could enlighten the mind beyond mortal measure." Esai kept his face fixed on the dangers ahead. He tromped down the lane, heavy boots sinking deep into the soft soil. The statue gave a meaningful glance to his pupil and replied, "One could find many marvels in and around those legendary halls. I shall tell you of my tour of the place when we reclaim your friends." Mal bit into his apple idly, stunned at the revelation. Time seemed to pause as if it poised on a precipice. He glimpsed comradery in the features of the fierce master of battle. Then the statue's face shifted to surprise. The ground beneath his heavy feet gave way, yielding him and the others to the pit. The statue tumbled gracelessly like a discarded memorial cast aside by revolting peasants. Down went Esai, dashed against the sharpened timbers waiting below. The spirit slipped invisibly away as the statue stilled and reverted to the fractured stillness of stone. Mal swallowed hard, choking on the apple and the horror falling out before him. He rasped, "Esai! Ignacious! Vargath! Are you well?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Wis Saves: Mal 13, Esai immune
Dex Saves: Mal 22, Esai 1

Armor of Agathys in effect: 2 THP to Mal. 10 cold damage to a foe if Mal is struck in melee.

Esai departs back to the afterlife due to massive trauma.

Cast Enhance Ability (Owl's Wisdom) on Selissa. She has advantage on wisdom [i.e. survival] checks for up to one hour

If a creature flees their reach, Mal will react to make an OA.

Spoiler: Mal's Notes

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Spoiler: Cast and Crew

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Set: outcast exiled princeling of Abydos. Two princess sisters (Sisi and Sythpen Al-Sayyid). Romantic connection for Moira?
Selissa: Blighted or reconstructed wood elf? Purported Scout.
Vargath: Afflicted Lycanthrope seeking to suspend his curse. A Bloodwolf?
Mandaras: Rival to Dr. Fixer.
Dr. Fixer: Moira's lieutenant and cultivates relations with the locals of Vale.
Elder Maus: Seeks to kill Moira. Hired mercenaries who betrayed him.
--Healed to his full 9ft height.
--Disbelieves Moira's insights; seeks to end her directly or indirectly.
--Seeks us to verify the truths of Moira's claims--or stop her by any means necessary.
Maulei: Successor to Elder Maus as elder of Dam'ess.
Uluthando Mikoso "Ulu:" Paladin? of Order. From beyond the Vale. Reacts by gripping her dagger and declaring Tieflings are treated differently...Lawful (N/E?) Order? Calls Mal 'Mdala Ohlonishwayo.' Professes to serve no god, but spirits whose reach may be weaker in the Vale than elsewhere.

Spoiler: Dream of Leng

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Spoiler: In Full

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Mal has had this dream before. He finds himself in the legendary Library of Leng, an ancient home of virtually all worldly and mystical knowledge that burned when the city it was located in was razed nearly nine hundred years ago, half the world away. Still, in his dreams it still existed, and these dreams always played out the same. Hours of dutiful research, referencing and cross referencing sources from multiple tomes, carefully reconstructing ancient languages, until EUREKA! Some devastating and profound arcane truth became evident to him, and the sense of accomplisment and relief normally carried with him for several hours after waking up, even if he could never actually remember anything he learned. But this time is different. Mal is well versed enough in the arcane and divine arts to know that sometimes dreams carry real meaning. And as he stares down at what he has been working on, he instinctively knows this bears some significance. Where normally he would have arcane formulas and theorems, he sees only "The One Who Stalks Behind" scrawled over and over again in his own hand, though the words are manic and look like they were written in distress. He searches the paper for any further omen, and down at the bottom of the page, in the smallest script he could possibly manage, it says Behind you!. Just as he is about to turn, a claw as strong as iron grips the side of his head, snaps his neck to the side, and ends all feeling in the bard's body. But he can still hear the deep throated growls, along with the wet noises of whatever killed him beginning to eat him alive. But he never gets to see it before the dream ends.

The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. RIGHT BEHIND YOU! The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind. The One Who Stalks Behind.

Spoiler: Bence's Secrets

Show

Spoiler: Bence's Journal

Show

...is a backwards plane, so far removed from the Prime Material that it has not seen an angel or the work of a god in a millennia. I hear that far to the west they do not even worship the gods. Proper savages, but I must remain vigilant, as their knowledge of the ways of this world is far more educated than most. But it is ripe for my conquest. While my Master was tasked with corrupting Avendor, my home plane, a bastion of good and law, my chore is simply to tip the rat into the bucket of the Abyss as it prowls the rim looking for cheese. This plane is already so flooded with the energies of the Abyss that demons spontaneously emerge, monsters manifest in the dark, and their weak leaders bargain with forces they would be wiser to repulse. It will be child's play to nudge it the last few inches into anarchy and destruction, mostly due to the efforts of Pale Night herself. For thousands of years she has been grasping and clawing at this realm, dragging it further from the light and closer to her realm day by day, inch by inch, soul by soul. While my home plane was beyond my ability to destroy, this place will be my masterpiece. With my death at the hands of the forces of good, a symphony of destruction will play the anthem to my ascension to demonhood. The Pale Mother has promised me that each death will bring me closer to my true form, and each rebirth will increase my power, just as our pact promised. I can't wait to die. When will the heroes arrive? I've been planting and tending the seed of the idea in the old giant's mind for weeks now. When will it bear fruit? When can my dark rise to power begin? (The rest is a combination of burned and Abyssal that becomes impossible to read)

Dam'ess- Mass Quasit Summoning. Magic Mouth to Levy Commands re: Retrieve Mirror of Leng, Scepter of Rulership, And Aniot's Cube. Disperse to Appropriate Parties Per The Plan. Burn The Cabin.

Harumburg- Sending to Lord of Bone re: Portal to the 113th. (Indecipherable Due to Burns) In Accordance with Their Great Alliance.

Falluneer- Sending to Lord of Flesh re: (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Ebon Spear.

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)light: Sending to Lord of Blood re: Assassination of (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Yukkot, Recovery of Blood (More Burns).

(Indecipherable Due to Burns)odge- Sending to Cult of Pale (More Burns) re: Initiate Divining Ritual Sacrifices. FIND THE DAMN ZIGGURAT.

Garrunrow- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) Kill the Last Bloodwolf. Recover (More Burns) Key.

Mountain of Smoke- (Indecipherable Due to Burns) crypt. Seize the Ebon (More Burns).

Sussoon- Ensure the Prophecy (Indecipherable Due to Burns)... Pay the Bounty Hunters to Find the Abydossian and the Princesses. re: Sacrifices of The Old Blood

(There is more, but seemingly out of paranoia Bence switched to Abyssal. It is impossible to tell how many lines there are, as the last half of the paper is fully burned away)

Spoiler: Arcane Lore concerning Bence's Notes

Show

The magic of Contingency is a nearly mythical bit of spell work that was said to be lost when the Library of Leng burned down. It allows a caster to prepare spells in advance for a predetermined event, in this case John Bence's own death, and the spells will automatically cast when the event happens. If Bence is capable of such sorcery, he is likely far more powerful than his flashy death at the party's hands would indicate.

The Mirror of Leng is a artifact of the Library of Leng, said to contain a frozen moment of time where the library was at it's height that a person can temporarily step in to, giving access to the greatest magical library this world has ever seen. Supposedly several mirrors were made, though some are confirmed destroyed after their use led to come calamity of forbidden magics long lost to time. The Scepter of Rulership is said to be an even more powerful version of a Rod of Rulership, a magic item that allows for mass mind manipulation of people to believe that the holder of the Scepter is their rightful ruler. The last time the Scepter was confirmed in play it toppled an entire nation.

Though numbering and organizing the layers of the Abyss is a fool's errand, there are some realms that are constant enough to designate. The one hundred and thirteenth layer is Thanatos, layer of Orcus, the Lord of Death. It is a lifeless frozen landscape where life is snuffed out almost as soon as it arrives, either by the untold legions of undead denizens, the magical aura of the layer itself, or, in the worst cases, by Orcus himself, using his fearsome Wand.

Spoiler: John Bence's Wall Art

Show

There are no invisible objects in the room, but the entire back wall of the cabin is plastered with profane runes and abyssal scribblings. Where there was nothing to the naked eye, there is an extensive patchwork of spell work, seemingly scribed in the rusted red of blood. More disturbing is the fragments of souls that have been bound to the wall. Faces of people rise and seethe from the wood like a strange and rippling tide, mouths open in anguish. There are not many of them left, presumably due to whatever spell was used here absorbing so much energy, but there is a fine layer of ectoplasm that would indicate that once there were dozens of soul fragments powering this spell. The sight turns Mal's stomach, as the chaotic, destructive magic of the Abyss is written as plainly as news script, but as subtly as any devil could manage.

Spoiler: Monsters

Show

Barlgura: Demon loosed by summoning ritual on the road to Dam'ess. Slain with its summoned partner by team. (Bless helped with accuracy issues due to invisibility. In the future, layer mind sliver to aid with saves.)
Brazen Hart: Spirit of the wild wood around Dam'ess. Seeks to test the party's mettle by forcing an open fight with the Barlgura.
Horror of Yurl: Shapeshifting kind of monster. Severs limbs, creates euphoria, and slays by consuming the liver. The newest variant flies...

Spoiler: Instrument of the Bards

Show

Mal needs a translator, the spells, and woodcrafter to create a new relic.

Spoiler: Full Description

Show

Still, tucked among the primers and amateur books he finds a book that deals with the blending of magic and music. Specifically, it holds the instructions and rituals for a new version of the famed artifacts known as the instruments of the bards. Unfortunately, about a third of the book is in a language Mal does not understand or recognize, including most of the rites and rituals to imbue it with magic. Still, with a translator, appropriate magics, some study, and someone skilled in wood craft, he may be able to produce one of these relics for himself.

Report daily updates to Mistress Moira at last light.