D&D 5e: Arcana of the Ancients (IC)

[Awful]

Shalar Yotul Azari Beast Barbarian 3 AC: 15 HP: 32/32 PP: 13 Rages: 3/3 Conditions: none As they'd gotten closer to the various cracks in the terrain, Shalar had begun sniffing the air. Abruptly, she crouched on all fours like a beast, sniffing at the ground. "Their scent! I have it, yes - this way, this way!" She loped off, pushing through the long grass, until they arrived at a crack in the ground. "It leads here! Ah, see, see-" She gestured at the scuffs in the ground. "Drag marks, and footprints - little ones. Goblins, and their captives." She stared down into the faultline, seeing if her darkvision picked out anything. Unconciously, she flexed her claws in, and out, as steady and reflexive as breathing. Spoiler: ooc Show 21 in perception

[Riggdgames]

Yusha Darwish Warforged Knowledge Cleric 3 AC: 15/17 HP: 24/24 PP: 15 PIv: 12 PIs: 15 Conditions: Concentration: Kalib Golden Eagle Familiar (Hawk size/stats) AC: 13 HP: 1/1 PP: 14, adv. on Perception (Sight), but no darkvison Yusha follows the others north, silently confirming with Kalib that they're on the right path as the eagle soars above. Yusha is happy to pass the walk in silence, listening closely to any snippets of conversation between the others. A part of him chafes at how ignorant he is regarding his temporary allies, but he'd "spoken" enough already this morning. The thought of trying to hold up his end of a proper conversation sounds exhausting. The hills themselves provide a valuable distraction. At the start of their journey, Yusha had mistaken them for common hills. After further examination, however, they appear to be anything but common. A kaleidoscope of shapes rise up from the ground, similar only in their tendency to lean to one side. What could cause such a thing? Yusha pings a silent prayer to Abadar, hoping for guidance to the source of such knowledge. Lost in thought, Yusha almost misses Shalar loping forward like an animal, nearly sticking her nose into the mud. One look at her and Yusha can't help feeling the dirt and mud caked on his own feet. Giving into a sudden urge, Yusha pauses to magically sweep his feet clean. With a screech, Kalib dives to the ground next to Shalar, sending up a cloud of dirt as he flaps his wings to break his fall at the last moment. Hopping along the edge of the crack, he gives another screech and flexes his talons into the dirt. Frowning down at him, Yusha responds. Do you have to do that? I'm quite certain an avatar should behave better than a beast. Kalib's attention doesn't waver as he peers down into the tear, screeching one last time for good measure. Yusha turns a critical eye to the wealth of tracks overflowing around the crack. Taking a moment to reach out for guidance, Yusha briefly examines the area for any non-goblin tracks, but quickly finds himself overwhelmed. The area is saturated in a variety of goblinoid and humanoid tracks. Spoiler: OOC Show Spoiler: Journal Show Spoiler: Cyphers Show Spoiler: Beast Lure Show This bulky device has a pointy “foot” that pierces the ground. When activated, it sends out a call to a range of about 3 miles, luring one beast whose challenge rating is no higher than 3. The beast makes its way to the cypher’s location at its normal speed and calmly remains there for up to one hour. During this time, you can impart a basic concept or question to the beast, and the beast can convey a simple answer in return. If the beast is attacked, the calming effect immediately ends. After the hour of calm, the beast returns to its previous territory (although it may be sidetracked by prey or attacked along the way). Spoiler: Immobilizer Show page 82, need to add

[purepolarpanzer]

A Crack in the Crooked Hills

Shalar's vision does not reveal anything, as the crack has a bend in it that blocks her vision. Still, she makes out a gleam of illumination down below. There is moving air coming up from inside which smells... odd. Metallic, with perhaps a tinge of oil. And while it is a tight squeeze everyone thinks they should be able to get down in there with a bit of effort. The party takes a moment to decide on a marching order before the enthusiastic elf goes first. Shalar has to lower herself down, sitting down on a makeshift shelf of earth before beginning the process of worming her body down through the tightest part of the crevice. However, things go sour as her pack becomes stuck, pressed firmly against the dirt and holding her in place. As she begins to ponder how to get past this impediment or attempt to retreat back upwards, she hears snuffling and squeaking below her, and she feels something brush against her leg. There is another gentle contact on the other leg, followed by a painful nip. Seemingly liking her taste, another bite draws blood on her other leg. More squeaking bubbles up from down below, followed by more gentle brushes. Whatever is eating her alive, more are coming for the meal.

Spoiler: OOC

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It's a DC 13 Acrobatics or Athletics Check to not get stuck. Everyone passes... except Shalar. While she is stuck, some R.O.U.S.'s take interest in her predicament and begin to nibble. Shalar takes 3 piercing damage, then a heftier 5 piercing damage. Now that she is stuck a DC 13 Acrobatics or Athletics check will do as well, and if she wishes to go back up someone could assist her for advantage.

[Theophilus]

Ar-Raaqis (Dragon) Faceless Warlock 3 AC: 14 HP: 13/24 THP: 0/0 PP: 10 PIv: 10 PIs: 10 Spell Slots: 2nd - 0/2 Bottled Respite: 4/4 Hours Healer's Kit: 10/10 Dragon Conditions: --- Dragon Concentrating: --- Ar-Raaqis noted Shalar the scent-hunter became lodged, her great muscles plugging the entrance. The mystic activated the arrowhead on her veil, which lanced invisibly forward to discharge the warrior woman. She whispered, "Let me assist you in pressing on." The masked warrior held her staff, with its hovering runes around its surface, at the ready to engage anything hostile that came into view.

Spoiler: OOC

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BA Telekinetic shove Shalar. She can willingly accept the shove or resist with a DC13 Str save. Accept or fail and move 5' deeper into the tunnel.

Action: Ready eldritch blast for the first hostile creature seen: (1d20+5)[21] for (1d10+2)[3] (edit: forgot agonizing blast, so 4 force and 2 bludgeoning). On a hit, move the creature 5ft backwards.

[Awful]

Shalar Yotul Azari Beast Barbarian 3 AC: 15 HP: 24/32 PP: 13 Rages: 3/3 Conditions: none Forcing her way through the crack, Shalar got wedged. "Hmm? This is-!" Something or somethings began nibbling at her, and she growled at the feeling of teeth in her flesh. She began struggling, but didn't make much progress until something invisible helped push her loose. She popped out like a cork, claws flashing and she laid about herself furiously at the rodents underfoot. "Grrragh!" She bellowed. "I'll teach that I'm the one who bites! " Spoiler: ooc Show 24 to get free 23 and 9 to hit, 5 and 4 damage respectively

[Inmate XIII]

Oath of Vengeance Paladin 3
AC: 18 HP: 31/31

Watching from above as the elf squirmed, Greck closed his hand around his weapon as he waited for the Dragon to clear the passage. The moment the way was clear he let go of the wall and dropped down. Bending his knees slightly as he landed on his feet, he quickly scanned the area and brought his hammer down on the closest moving thing with more than two legs.

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d20+5)[21] Damage: (1d8+2)[4]

[purepolarpanzer]

Room One- The Glass Chamber

Tumbling down from the crack and quickly followed by Greck, the family of giant rats is sent scattering at two of their number fall to claws and a hammer. They sprint deeper into the room and around the corners. You find yourselves in a dark room, entering from the east. The western wall illuminates the small chamber, as it appears to be made of glass and lit from within, showing a strange light blue glow and dancing colorful shapes that float, appear, and disappear without a pattern. At the west end of the chamber there are exits to the north and south, both of which reverberate with the squeaks of retreating dire rats.

As the others come down, a strange, warbling music begins to fill the chamber, sounding something like the noise a handsaw makes if you force it to bend back and forth. This sound appears to be coming up out of the floor.

[Inmate XIII]

Oath of Vengeance Paladin 3
AC: 18 HP: 31/31

As the rats begin to scurry away, Greck set down his weapon on its head and put a glowing blue hand on Shalar's shoulder. His grip was strong to prevent her from following the rats into their dens, but he knew it was unnecessary as the force of his will stitching her wounds would calm her emotions somewhat.

He glanced over his shoulder, counting as the others filed in, but snapped back to attention as a strange sound filled the air. He immediately released Shalar and took up his weapon once again. His eyes wide, he glanced around at every corner, seeking a source.

Close his eyes and listen? Study it for some hidden message? No, the music was a distraction! Keep alert for hidden enemies!

His thoughts racing, a memory came to him. Hypnotism? He had encountered creatures enchanted by strange music before. Could this be the same?

Finally settling on a decision, he narrowed his eyes and cleared his mind, attempting to focus on his meditation and only that.

Spoiler: OOC

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Lay on Hands healing Shalar for 8 HP; 7 left in pool.

[Riggdgames]

Yusha Darwish Warforged Knowledge Cleric 3 AC: 15/17 HP: 24/24 PP: 15 PIv: 12 PIs: 15 Conditions: Concentration: Kalib Golden Eagle Familiar (Hawk size/stats) AC: 13 HP: 1/1 PP: 14, adv. on Perception (Sight), but no darkvison Kalib dives after Greck, shrieking in triumph as the rats scramble away in fear. He lands with wings outstretched, puffing up his chest and letting out another screech as the rats dart out of sight. Seemingly immune to the wonders of the room, Kalib turns back and rakes one of the dead rats with his talons, adding another set of claw marks to the corpse. Yusha drops down through the crack cautiously, but the chaos has already fled by the time he lands next to the others. He watches in silence as Greck glows with divine light, imbuing Shalar with Tyr's gift. Yusha presses two fingers to the key-ring on his forehead, saluting Greck in his own way. The beginnings of a spell take shape in Yusha's mind as he intends to lend his new allies aid in case a real ambush should find them, but strange music interrupts his thoughts. Looking around for its source, Yusha's eyes fall on the dancing shapes that float and disappear within the west wall. Blinking twice, Yusha steps closer to the blue glow, desperate to discern some kind of pattern between the formless shapes and the music that accompanies them. Spoiler: OOC Show Spoiler: Journal Show Spoiler: Cyphers Show Spoiler: Beast Lure Show This bulky device has a pointy “foot” that pierces the ground. When activated, it sends out a call to a range of about 3 miles, luring one beast whose challenge rating is no higher than 3. The beast makes its way to the cypher’s location at its normal speed and calmly remains there for up to one hour. During this time, you can impart a basic concept or question to the beast, and the beast can convey a simple answer in return. If the beast is attacked, the calming effect immediately ends. After the hour of calm, the beast returns to its previous territory (although it may be sidetracked by prey or attacked along the way). Spoiler: Immobilizer Show As your attack action, you can use the device to create a mass of rapidly expanding and hardening foam at one target (range 20/60). The target must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw with disadvantage. On a failed saving throw, the target is restrained by rock-hard foam. A creature restrained by the foam can use an action once per minute to make a Strength check with disadvantage against the cypher’s save DC 13. If it succeeds, it breaks free and is no longer restrained. After an hour, the foam crumbles into powder.

[Amaril]

Calen Damora
Human Wizard 3
AC: 10 HP: 17/17
Conditions: none
Concentration: Detect Magic, 10 minutes remaining.

With the commotion at the front of the column seemingly resolved without his help, Calen steels himself and follows the Dragon down the crevice. He lands nimbly, and feels a momentary flicker of pride that's quickly soured by the sight of the two immense dead rats. Something tells him they haven't seen the last of those.

In the strange luminescence of the far wall, he can see Greck tense as the warbling music starts. His own pulse quickens--some kind of defense? There are any number of enchantments that can be carried through music...closing his eyes, the wizard performs a series of gestures and speaks a familiar incantation. If the sound does carry some sort of power, they might have only moments to act....

Spoiler: OOC

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Casting Detect Magic, focusing on the sound first, then the western wall of the chamber (which I highly suspect is a screen on screensaver mode ).

[Theophilus]

Ar-Raaqis (Dragon) Faceless Warlock 3 AC: 14 HP: 13/24 THP: 0/0 PP: 10 PIv: 10 PIs: 10 Spell Slots: 2nd - 0/2 Bottled Respite: 4/4 Hours Healer's Kit: 10/10 Dragon Conditions: --- Dragon Concentrating: --- Ar-Raaqis descended by gracefully, landing poised and ready to strike. She looked and listened, but even her augmented senses picked up little more than what plainly showed in this space. She whispered, "I shall consult the Runekeeper to see if the spirits discern these as runes." The masked warrior pressed her fingers against the wall and began a series of rites. Letters cascades vertically on her visor, overlaying an Spoiler: azure scale Show , unseen to the others. Her faceless helm retains its smoky darkness on its exterior while she whispers and gestures in consultation with the ancients.

Spoiler: OOC

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Perception 4 (Discord)
Ritually cast Comprehend Languages on the wall

[Awful]

Shalar Yotul Azari Beast Barbarian 3 AC: 15 HP: 24/32 PP: 13 Rages: 3/3 Conditions: none Indeed, Shalar nearly leapt after the fleeing rodents. At Greck's hand in her shoulder she began to turn, eyes fierce, until the bites on her shins healed up. Instead of pursuing the rats already disappeared down the passageways, she booted one of the corpses to splat desultorily down the northern passage. "<Handy trick,>" She nodded to the half orc, then paused and cocked her head. She looked back and forth between the passages, trying to determine the location by changing the position of her head like an owl. The glowy wall was interesting but could wait while the Bucket poked at it. "What is that sound? Like... Hurm! I don't know! A strange frog, perhaps, yes?" Spoiler: ooc Show 20 in perception to detect anything of interest and more accurately pick up the origin of the sound.

[purepolarpanzer]

Room One- The Glass Chamber

As the party moves into the room, Yusha, Calen, Shalar, and Ar-Raaqis each focus on either the sound or the imagery of the glass wall. Calen can sense no magic, but that is not unusual for Numenara. Greck insulates his mind against outward dangers, which proves to be the wiser approach. The rest of the party begins to feel sluggish and sleepy, but Calen and Shalar shake the effect off. Yusha, unused to feeling fatigue in this way, and Ar-Raaqis, who turned their back on sleep some time ago, feel their consciousnesses fade away...

Spoiler: The Dream State

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For exactly one hour, both Yusha and Ar-Raaqis find themselves together on a flat, featureless white plane. Above you, a celestial sky of stars spilling across the night like milk poured from a vase swirls and shifts in thousands of winking, twinkling, and pulsing colors, none of them familiar, with no constellations or points of reference that you can remember. Looking at each other, you see each other in your truest forms, not as you are in the "real world" but as you see yourselves in your mind's eyes. You feel cold, naked, and alone, with a looming sense of dread coming down like rain from the alien stars that stare down at you like you are less than ants on a mound. It is the longest hour of your lives. No matter how far you move in any direction, there are no new features on your blank white plane- no vegetation, no change in height or texture, nothing. The only sound you hear, even if you attempt to speak to each other, is the warbling, wailing sound of the music, much louder and more potent than it was when you were conscious.

The Glass Chamber

Yusha and Ar-Raaqis slump to the floor. They are unresponsive to any stimuli, even slaps or kicks. More worryingly, where Ar-Raaqis' hat has fallen away, a small, porcelain white protrusion is beginning to worm it's way out of their forehead, with brass or bronze orbs beginning to form like dewdrops hanging from a leaf. Shalar notices that the music grows subtly louder when her two party members fall, still seeming to come up through the stone floor. If it is noticeable here, it must be deafening down below.

Spoiler: Medicine or Arcana DC 5

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Uh oh. That kind of looks like the horn of one of the sleepwalking goblins.

Spoiler: DC 10

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It is growing fast. If it reaches it's full size, then it may be too late for Ar-Raaqis. Magic that can remove disease may prove effective in stopping the infection.

Spoiler: DC 15

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Greck's ability to cure wounds with a touch should be able to remove the danger from this horn like any other disease.

Spoiler: OOC

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Yusha and Qadira are K.O.-ed for one hour.

[Theophilus]

Ar-Raaqis (Dragon) Faceless Warlock 3 AC: 14 HP: 13/24 THP: 0/0 PP: 10 PIv: 10 PIs: 10 Spell Slots: 2nd - 0/2 Bottled Respite: 4/4 Hours Healer's Kit: 10/10 Dragon Conditions: --- Dragon Concentrating: --- Spoiler: In the Milky Way Show Ar-Raaqis shed her veil and her mortal form in this place. She stood as her spirit had ascended on its journey through the Moonlit Paths. Scales instead of flesh, fierce in her wisdom, powerful in her presence. She spoke to the other, "To which hell have we come? A nameless hunter lurks nearby..." The unmasked warrior lay with her helm pressed away by a budding sprout. Her olive skin peeked through, along with ears with the slightest taper. Her black hair pools behind her head in a carefully crafted bun.

Spoiler: OOC

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Night Night

[Awful]

Shalar Yotul Azari Beast Barbarian 3 AC: 15 HP: 24/32 PP: 13 Rages: 3/3 Conditions: none The throbbing music tried to get into Shalar's head and was entirely foiled by the thickness of her skull. Barely aware that anything had tried to steal her mind, Shalar squatted by the fallen woman and poked the revealed face of Bucket with a finger, dimpling the olive skin. "Huh," she said, sounding vaguely disappointed. "So unwilling to show her face, I thought she would be very ugly, or scarred. Or both!" With fascination, she watched the beginnings of something sprout out the woman's forehead. She twisted her head just a tad further than someone normallly could to look at the metal man, though nothing was growing on him. "She has a thing in her head! She does not look like a goblin, but perhaps goblins can be strange in this land!" She nodded thoughtfully to herself. "Shall I pull it out?" Spoiler: OOC Show 4 in medicine. Never change Shalar you absolute fool

[Amaril]

Calen Damora
Human Wizard 3
AC: 10 HP: 17/17
Conditions: none
Concentration: Detect Magic, 10 minutes remaining.

When his spell reveals no enchantment, Calen feels a wave of relief, his momentary fears abating. In fact, he suddenly feels so relaxed, he could just....

He claps his hands over his ears. "Everyone! Cover your--" Too late; Ar-Raaqis and Yusha are already down. Greck and Shalar seem unaffected--Greck seemingly thanks to some sort of meditation he's doing, and Shalar doesn't sleep. But wait--then why is it affecting Yusha?

Before Calen can think of an explanation, Shalar alerts him to something far more concerning. "No!" Rushing to kneel at the Dragon's side, he hesitates a moment before removing his hands from his ears; fortunately, the drowsiness doesn't return. Whether the effect of the music is short-lived, or he's just too panicked to be lulled to sleep, he can't guess and doesn't care to. As he watches, he's horrified to see the familiar protrusion growing visibly before his eyes. "S***...need to, uh..." Come on, what did Kip say about how this thing worked? Nano-something, or.... He's frantically running through every spell he knows, trying to think of something that could counter this, when he remembers that they have a champion of Tyr in their company. And Shalar said something last night about Greck healing him when he blacked out. "Greck! You can heal, can't you?" He makes space for the mercenary next to Ar-Raaqis. "Tyr might be able to purge this thing!"

[Riggdgames]

Yusha Darwish Warforged Knowledge Cleric 3 AC: 15/17 HP: 24/24 PP: 15 PIv: 12 PIs: 15 Conditions: Concentration: Kalib Golden Eagle Familiar (Hawk size/stats) AC: 13 HP: 1/1 PP: 14, adv. on Perception (Sight), but no darkvison As he stares into the shapeless colors, the music dulling his mind, Yusha feels the onset of something unfamiliar. A dream overtakes him as the gentle hum he emits falls silent. Kalib squawks as Yusha collapses to the ground, tilting his head to the side at first and watching. As the Ironborn's form stays put, however, Kalib flaps over to him, squawking more insistently and pecking Yusha's head repeatedly. Spoiler: In the Milky Way Show Chaos. Cosmic disorder on a scale so immense it can't possibly be balanced. It's like nothing Yusha can ever recall seeing, but a persistent memory tugs at her subconscious, registering only as ever-increasing panic. An explosion of light and color swirls above as Yusha reaches out to the Wealthy Father for guidance, but finds the connection severed. The warbling music surges, growing louder for a moment as Yusha becomes aware of another form nearby breaking up the featureless white plane. At first Yusha cowers, hands up to ward away the scaled monstrosity as much as the chaos above. The other's words are unintelligible, but its power is undeniable, washing over Yusha with a vague familiarity that hints at the other's identity. "What are you?" Yusha asks, her tear-streaked face partially hidden behind an arm of soft, brown flesh. Eyes widening, Yusha brings a hand to her face, feeling the warm skin give under her touch. Spoiler: OOC Show Just dreamin' Spoiler: Journal Show Spoiler: Cyphers Show Spoiler: Beast Lure Show This bulky device has a pointy “foot” that pierces the ground. When activated, it sends out a call to a range of about 3 miles, luring one beast whose challenge rating is no higher than 3. The beast makes its way to the cypher’s location at its normal speed and calmly remains there for up to one hour. During this time, you can impart a basic concept or question to the beast, and the beast can convey a simple answer in return. If the beast is attacked, the calming effect immediately ends. After the hour of calm, the beast returns to its previous territory (although it may be sidetracked by prey or attacked along the way). Spoiler: Immobilizer Show As your attack action, you can use the device to create a mass of rapidly expanding and hardening foam at one target (range 20/60). The target must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw with disadvantage. On a failed saving throw, the target is restrained by rock-hard foam. A creature restrained by the foam can use an action once per minute to make a Strength check with disadvantage against the cypher’s save DC 13. If it succeeds, it breaks free and is no longer restrained. After an hour, the foam crumbles into powder.

[Inmate XIII]

Oath of Vengeance Paladin 3
AC: 18 HP: 31/31

Focused as he his, Greck grit his teeth against the assault on his psyche; pushing himself deeper into his mind, he almost manages to drown the tone out completely before the sound of collapsing bodies snaps him out of it. He spun to see Yusha and the Dragon splayed out on the floor. "Ah, ffff..."

He stomped over to the pair and knelt down just in time to see the protrusion poke out of Ar-Raaqis' forehead. Fear rose in his throat again just before he registered Shalar's words. "Do NOT." His eyes flicked up to Calen, "We don't have long."

He waited patiently as the wizard assessed the fallen woman, A flash of anger crossed his eyes at the mention of "Tyr purging this thing", but he turned pack to Ar-Raaqis anyway, pulling off his glove. "Yeah, I can prolly fix this."

Closing his eyes, he placed his open palm over the tendril, hovering just above the skin. A low hum mindlessly escaped his throat as he began to slowly move his hand only slightly in different directions, as if feeling for something. Seeming to find whatever he was looking for he followed it down along the left side of her head and gently placed two finger on her temple. Next he cautiously ran them down her cheek, then up to the bridge of her nose, tracing her cheekbones while seemingly following some invisible path. As his fingers reached the space between her eyes, his snapped open.

"Found it."

There was no channeling of light this time, instead a blinding blue flash erupted from his fingertips as he withdrew from his touch.

"That's it. I've done all I can, the rest is up to her."

Spoiler: OOC

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Lay on Hands, curing disease on Qadira; 2 left in pool.

[Theophilus]

Ar-Raaqis (Dragon) Faceless Warlock 3 AC: 14 HP: 13/24 THP: 0/0 PP: 10 PIv: 10 PIs: 10 Spell Slots: 2nd - 0/2 Bottled Respite: 4/4 Hours Healer's Kit: 10/10 Dragon Conditions: --- Dragon Concentrating: --- Spoiler: In the Milky Way Show The Dragon gazed toward the other. Despite her own sureness of self, the unease and disorder of this domain clearly disquieted her gaze. She answered, "I am the Dragon. What is your name, woman? How have we come here? We should move, lest the Hunter claim its prize."

Spoiler: OOC

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Dream Walking

[Riggdgames]

Yusha Darwish Warforged Knowledge Cleric 3 AC: 15/17 HP: 24/24 PP: 15 PIv: 12 PIs: 15 Conditions: Concentration: Kalib Golden Eagle Familiar (Hawk size/stats) AC: 13 HP: 1/1 PP: 14, adv. on Perception (Sight), but no darkvison Spoiler: In the Milky Way Show The Dragon? "Ms. Ar-Raaqis?" Understanding dawns on Yusha as the faceless storyteller reveals her unmasked form. Her very presence seems to hold back the abyss even as the music swells, trying to drown out Qadira's words. The woman taps her chest twice with her left hand, bangles clinking, and says, "Yusha." But as she gestures to her shoulder, Kalib is nowhere to be found. A jolt of panic seizes her and she very nearly tries to summon him, but Yusha quiets her own impulsiveness. She could've condemned him to this hell as well. Gulping away the unfamiliar fluid pooling in her throat, Yusha allows the tears and snot to run freely down her face as she responds. "I don't know how we got here, but you haven't seen Kalib, have you?" She looks back up at the Dragon hoping for answers, but the chaotic eternity stares back from above them instead. Squeezing her eyes shut, Yusha sucks in a deep breath. "Can you get us out of here? I know of no Hunter, but if you light the path I will follow." Spoiler: OOC Show Daytime nightmares Spoiler: Journal Show Spoiler: Cyphers Show Spoiler: Beast Lure Show This bulky device has a pointy “foot” that pierces the ground. When activated, it sends out a call to a range of about 3 miles, luring one beast whose challenge rating is no higher than 3. The beast makes its way to the cypher’s location at its normal speed and calmly remains there for up to one hour. During this time, you can impart a basic concept or question to the beast, and the beast can convey a simple answer in return. If the beast is attacked, the calming effect immediately ends. After the hour of calm, the beast returns to its previous territory (although it may be sidetracked by prey or attacked along the way). Spoiler: Immobilizer Show As your attack action, you can use the device to create a mass of rapidly expanding and hardening foam at one target (range 20/60). The target must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw with disadvantage. On a failed saving throw, the target is restrained by rock-hard foam. A creature restrained by the foam can use an action once per minute to make a Strength check with disadvantage against the cypher’s save DC 13. If it succeeds, it breaks free and is no longer restrained. After an hour, the foam crumbles into powder.

[purepolarpanzer]

Room One- The Glass-Walled Chamber

The white tendril emerging from the Dragon's forehead withers like a vine and recedes into her skull, leaving her unblemished. Now the only question is when the sleepers will awaken.

Precisely One Hour After Yusha and Ar-Raaqis Lost Consciousness

Both sleepers awake in the same instant, with complete and almost uncanny remembrance of the... vision? Dream? Prophecy? that they experienced, and perhaps a greater and more intimate understanding of one another than they had before.

Spoiler: OOC

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If anyone wants to get in some roleplay while Yusha and Qadira are asleep, feel free to make a header and do it. For Yusha and Qadira, take as many spoilers as you needs to have your conversation in the Milky Way. I just figure some may want to move things along, so this is me heading the group in that direction.

[Amaril]

Calen Damora
Human Wizard 3
AC: 10 HP: 17/17
Conditions: none
Concentration: Detect Magic, 10 minutes remaining.

Watching the tendril wither away to nothing brings relief, but when she still doesn't wake up, Calen feels the fear returning. "We shouldn't stay here, no telling what we've all been exposed to. Can we get them back up the crevice?" Whatever it's going to take to treat Ar-Raaqis and Yusha, it'll be easier up in the light of day, without this music raising the hairs on their necks...or maybe that's just him.

[Theophilus]

Ar-Raaqis (Dragon) Faceless Warlock 3 AC: 14 HP: 13/24 THP: 0/0 PP: 10 PIv: 10 PIs: 10 Spell Slots: 2nd - 0/2 Bottled Respite: 4/4 Hours Healer's Kit: 10/10 Dragon Conditions: --- Dragon Concentrating: --- Spoiler: In the Milky Way Show The Dragon tilted her head slightly to the side. When she gazed about the churning chaos, she shuddered. She answered, "We have fallen into in a strange place of unbecoming. I have not seen your guiding spirit. Perhaps we must travel to find the way of escape. This realm seems like one where we must pass through the barrier without a portal. Beware, a proverb for such places, 'The Cake is a lie.'" When Ar-Raaqis awoke, her pale eyes blinked with momentary confusion. Her gloved hand touched her bare face, and the woman swiftly rolled to her feet in a swift, acrobatic movement. She quickly grasped her helm, reseating it. The effect severed her human appearance once more, returning the enigmatic fusion of metal and magic garb. The mystic turned her veiled gaze toward the Iron-flesh. She said with a hard tone, "How long have we walked without our flesh? The seas of discord sought to consume us."

Spoiler: OOC

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[Awful]

Shalar Yotul Azari Beast Barbarian 3 AC: 15 HP: 24/32 PP: 13 Rages: 3/3 Conditions: none Shalar pondered Calen's words. "We could just leave them," she said. "Though I suppose it is nice to drag them outside, so the rats do not chew them. Hup!" Shalar slung the Dragon over her shoulders. Yusha had the unfortunate fate of being dragged by the ankles, being made of metal, their head clanking softly off the stones. "In truth, you are cunning, Cowpen!" She beamed winningly at the smaller human. "If they have become like the gubbaz, it will be much easier to kill them this way, without risking them coming in behind us!" At the crevice Shalar had gotten stuck in, she slung Ar-Raaqis through first, then her backpack, and then slithered through and pulled Yusha through too. Nice and easy, without having vermin treat her shins as a free lunch. Outside, she dumped them on a relatively soft path of grass, and positioned herself where she could see the entrance but was out direct line of sight of it. ---- An hour later "You wake!" Shalar said, pausing her butchering of a rather unfortunate passerby rabbit. Her teeth gleamed as she grinned that habitual grin. "Do you feel any tentacle feelings in your skull? If so, I will have to pull it off, yes? Your skull, that is."

[Amaril]

Calen Damora
Human Wizard 3
AC: 10 HP: 17/17
Conditions: none
Concentration: Detect Magic, 10 minutes remaining.

Calen's already considering some sort of pulley system using the ropes they have with them, when Shalar just...solves the problem. He watches her sling their unconscious comrades back up the crevice like ragdolls, a hint of red creeping into his cheeks.

"Uh, actually, it's..." He trails off with a sigh. "Never mind. And...thanks, I think." He actually hadn't even considered the Safeguard taking over Ar-Raaqis and Yusha as a potential risk, but it is worth preparing for.

----

A while later (but less than an hour)...
Concentration: none.

While Shalar is busy trying to catch one of the rabbits that have been hopping by, Calen signals Greck for his attention. "I don't mean to pry, but, well, you seemed sort of bothered when I mentioned Tyr earlier. Did I say something wrong?"

----

A while later (an hour in total from when the first while began)...

Calen glances up from the runes scrolling across Kip's surface in time to see the Dragon's eyes flickering open. An immense weight lifts from his shoulders as he confirms Yusha is also beginning to stir. "Oh, thank the gods! You had us worried!"

[Riggdgames]

Yusha Darwish Warforged Knowledge Cleric 3 AC: 15/17 HP: 24/24 PP: 15 PIv: 12 PIs: 15 Conditions: Concentration: Kalib Golden Eagle Familiar (Hawk size/stats) AC: 13 HP: 1/1 PP: 14, adv. on Perception (Sight), but no darkvison Spoiler: In the Milky Way Show Yusha listens intently, opening her eyes to focus on the Dragon while trying hard to ignore the chaos around them. "'The Cake is a lie.'" Yusha repeats slowly. "It would be fitting," she remarks, considering Qadira's words, "for such a place to deceive. Abadar teaches us that chaos feeds on lies. If there is any balance to the portal that brought us here, I'll not be surprised to find the portal back riddled with deceit. I only worry that there is no balance, no portal home." Yusha wakes slowly, a dull whir giving him away before his eyes open. A metallic ping echoes off his skull, then another. Eyes blinking open, Yusha finds another pair of eyes directly in front of his own, entirely too close for comfort. Kalib pecks at Yusha's head once more for good measure, letting off another soft ping. Is that entirely nec-- Yusha pushes himself up with a start, suddenly aware that he'd somehow been caught sleeping. Pebbles lodged into the crevices of his armor fall into the soft grass as he looks at his new companions, apparently unscathed. He finds the Masked-Dragon's gaze staring back at him. "How long have we walked without our flesh? The seas of discord sought to consume us." Blinking twice, Yusha opens his mouth to answer, then closes it. A dull chattering rises in volume as the memories come flooding back. "Oh, thank the gods! You had us worried!" Thoroughly off-balance, Yusha looks back and forth between Calen and Qadira before shutting down, unable to answer either. Rising to his full height, Yusha steps a few paces away to refresh his connection to the Wealthy Father. A minute later he returns, gesturing until the illusory words speak for him. "Apologies, I am well." Glancing at Qadira, a flash of the Dragon he'd met invades Yusha's mind, coupled with the image of his own soft, brown flesh. The desire to 'say' more evaporates as Yusha tries to reconcile what he's seen. Their shared hallucination was one of chaos, but even this world feels tilted. Spoiler: OOC Show Ain't no rest for the proper Spoiler: Journal Show Spoiler: Cyphers Show Spoiler: Beast Lure Show This bulky device has a pointy “foot” that pierces the ground. When activated, it sends out a call to a range of about 3 miles, luring one beast whose challenge rating is no higher than 3. The beast makes its way to the cypher’s location at its normal speed and calmly remains there for up to one hour. During this time, you can impart a basic concept or question to the beast, and the beast can convey a simple answer in return. If the beast is attacked, the calming effect immediately ends. After the hour of calm, the beast returns to its previous territory (although it may be sidetracked by prey or attacked along the way). Spoiler: Immobilizer Show As your attack action, you can use the device to create a mass of rapidly expanding and hardening foam at one target (range 20/60). The target must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw with disadvantage. On a failed saving throw, the target is restrained by rock-hard foam. A creature restrained by the foam can use an action once per minute to make a Strength check with disadvantage against the cypher’s save DC 13. If it succeeds, it breaks free and is no longer restrained. After an hour, the foam crumbles into powder.

[Awful]

Shalar Yotul Azari Beast Barbarian 3 AC: 15 HP: 24/32 PP: 13 Rages: 3/3 Conditions: none An hour later "As it seems no killing is needed, another decision!" Shalar said, "Do we try again down that path, or seek another? If the sound is the danger, another tunnel would not help, yes?"

[Inmate XIII]

Oath of Vengeance Paladin 3
AC: 18 HP: 31/31

Truth be told, Greck wouldn't have dragged the unconscious pair outside and would have preferred to just hold position where they were, but distracted as he was scanning the entrances of the chamber for potential threats, he didn't notice Shalar moving the duo until she had already tossed the Dragon through the gap. He shrugged and simply decided to allow the elf to do her thing unhindered. He followed the group out and turned to glare down the crevice.

He jumped a bit when Calen spoke, not expecting the sound from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder briefly, then resumed his vigil of watching the crevace. "I am no cleric, mage, and don't mistake me for one."

---After the hour---

Greck only moved again once he heard Yusha and ar-Raaqis stirring.

"How long have we walked without our flesh? The seas of discord sought to consume us."

"Ehhh... 'Bout an hour, I think. That music, hypnosis I guess, took you and the metal man out," he muttered, scratching his head. "Yer gunna have to let Calen there explain what happened after, I'm not entirely sure about the details."

[Amaril]

Calen Damora
Human Wizard 3
AC: 10 HP: 17/17
Conditions: none
Concentration: none

Earlier...

Behind Greck, Calen looks puzzled. "I'm...not sure I understand. Don't you work Tyr's miracles? I mean, I assumed, with the symbols...."

Now...

"I mean, I don't fully know what happened myself," Calen admits. "It definitely seemed like the music that did it. When you passed out," he says to Ar-Raaqis, "we noticed one of those growths like the goblins had starting on your head. Greck managed to get rid of it, though. When you both didn't wake up, we brought you out here...figured it'd be safer."

The wizard fidgets uncomfortably. "I was trying to figure a way to bring you out of it, but you woke up on your own. What do you mean about walking without flesh?"

[Riggdgames]

Yusha Darwish Warforged Knowledge Cleric 3 AC: 15/17 HP: 24/24 PP: 15 PIv: 12 PIs: 15 Conditions: Concentration: Kalib Golden Eagle Familiar (Hawk size/stats) AC: 13 HP: 1/1 PP: 14, adv. on Perception (Sight), but no darkvison Yusha busies himself examining the ground nearby, ignoring Kalib's questions as he searches for a spot that's flat. Settling down into the grass, he carefully pulls an ornate scale from his pack and sets it down reverently. Upon closer examination, he's forced to wedge one side up slightly to balance it, but a couple minutes later he's satisfied. Breaking his concentration for a just a moment, Yusha looks at the bird in annoyance. That is a clear misrepresentation of my motives, Kalib. I am not hiding anything from you, I am merely trying to focus. With Abadar's guidance, perhaps I can learn if I'm susceptible to...whatever that was a second time. If there is justice in this place, we can simply shut our senses to the music and shapes down there. Now, please be quiet. I can't hear myself think with you in my head. Positioning himself in a meditative pose in front of the scale, Yusha places a hand over each platform. With one finger pointing down over each, he gives himself over to the Wealthy Father's guidance. Can we hope to enter the tunnel without succumbing to Chaos if we ignore the auditory and visual stimuli? Yusha goes into a kind of trance, emitting a steady series of clicks as he starts printing laying down a thin trail of iron-grey. Abadar-willing, the final shape and disposition of weight would give some clue about their ability to navigate the cavern. Spoiler: OOC Show Ritual cast Augury Spoiler: Journal Show Spoiler: Cyphers Show Spoiler: Beast Lure Show This bulky device has a pointy “foot” that pierces the ground. When activated, it sends out a call to a range of about 3 miles, luring one beast whose challenge rating is no higher than 3. The beast makes its way to the cypher’s location at its normal speed and calmly remains there for up to one hour. During this time, you can impart a basic concept or question to the beast, and the beast can convey a simple answer in return. If the beast is attacked, the calming effect immediately ends. After the hour of calm, the beast returns to its previous territory (although it may be sidetracked by prey or attacked along the way). Spoiler: Immobilizer Show As your attack action, you can use the device to create a mass of rapidly expanding and hardening foam at one target (range 20/60). The target must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw with disadvantage. On a failed saving throw, the target is restrained by rock-hard foam. A creature restrained by the foam can use an action once per minute to make a Strength check with disadvantage against the cypher’s save DC 13. If it succeeds, it breaks free and is no longer restrained. After an hour, the foam crumbles into powder.