You walk up the hill, but the closer you get to the tree, the larger the bushes around it seem to grow, until they block your path entirely. Up close, you can tell that they are thick with twisting black thorns.

You ground yourself and concentrate on sensing the tree's aura still, and find that you can feel something from the tree. While you see the general surrounding, which shows you a healthy tree, underneath you feel something special. It's green and blue and swirling with other colors too, from the ground up and into the tree. From there, you think it vanishes somewhere near the base, behind the bushes.

The bushes themselves have a strong, green aura.

Also, you feel like for some reason it's hard to sense the aura, and you lose focus of it very quickly. It's hard to hold onto, like it's hard to keep your thoughts flowing the way you normally do to do it.

I want to examine the thorns more closely. Do they glisten? Are they very sharp compared to normal thorns?

Interesting...so the source comes from below... After I strain to hold onto the sense of the aura... Warded. Strong, too. This could require some finesse, and more time than I have right now. Especially as I am expected back in the village.

After I finish observing, I will head back to town, pass the night, and find a place to sleep. When I go to sleep, I will mentally try to call to Pax in the hopes he will reach my dreams once again. If I become conscious in my dreams and he is not there, I will attempt to reach HIS dreams. Not sure how to describe that, so I'll think on it and see if it is even needed.

The thorns seem like normal bush thorns. While some might be sharp enough to prick the skin, they aren't long enough to cause any real damage. They do glisten.

After you return to the village, it's late and your host is already asleep. You fall asleep too, and try to hold onto your dream to make it lucid, which you succeed in doing as you fall asleep.

This time, Pax is not present.

The thorns glisten...Has it rained recently? If not... Oh great. Is that poison?

No Pax...darn. All right, time to find him.

I will Ground and then Center. Then I picture him as I remember him, and repeat his name within my mind. I meditate and focus myself on him. When I have built up a great deal of focus and energy, I will say his name aloud three times, and will the energy to show me where he is. I want it to work similarly to the location spell Pax taught me, showing me where Pax is as he slumbers.

I envision the dream world as being a world of its own, and the dreams of the people within the world are their own little sections. I want to find Pax's section, and then travel there and contact HIM.

OOC: I really hope this works. It would be so epic if I contacted him; I bet he'd be impressed.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:27, Tue 29 July 2014.

You fail to ground or center while in your dream this time; however, you complete your ritual to find Pax and soon, while you aren't entirely certain if you're dreaming or not, you find yourself in another dream.

There, you hear a scream of anger down a long tunnel that you now find yourself in. As you follow the noise, you see that it leads to an enormous, earthen wall with runes etched deep into its surface.

There, you see a man with black, windblown hair beating his fists against it. His hands are bleeding from the effort, and the wall doesn't move.

I do read Norse runes. Are these runes Norse? And should that be a skill on my sheet?

Ow. Looks painful. Is that what Pax really looks like? I decide to read his aura, and compare what I find to my memory of Pax before I say anything. What is the color(s)? What kind of person do I sense that he is? Is it a strong aura? That is, spiritually strong, like a practitioner's would be?

They aren't Norse runes that you can read. They seem to shift between different incomprehensible languages.

Everything feels distorted in the dream, but you see a purple aura around him that arcs like lightning from him, and sizzles with power. Then, he stops beating on the wall suddenly and the aura changes to red. He turns abruptly, and sees you. This man seems completely different from the Pax that you know, but still very powerful. His eyes are brown and red, and he approaches you with slow steps that seem to bring him closer to you than he rightly should be able to travel at a walking pace.

With only a few steps, he's almost on you, and his face starts contorting as he comes.


OOC: Amateur, Professional, or Expert at Norse Runes?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:57, Fri 08 Aug 2014.

Contorting in what manner? Contorting like a rictus of pain and madness? Contorting in fury? Grief? If he appears to be insane to me, I will try to will myself to disappear from this dream and back to my own dreamscape. If he seems angry or it is some other contortion, or if I find myself trapped, I ready myself for trouble and then say: "Hail! I appear to have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque or something! Where are we, friend?"

OOC: I would say 1@3 or 1@4. Fairly low skill since there is almost no call for it and it was years ago that I last needed it. I have to stare at them and slowly puzzle out their meaning. Reminds me of when I was learning French in high school.

Sorry, contorting was a poor choice for words. More like shifting its appearance as he approached. Like it was melting and reshaping with impossible movements of parts of his face. You hear bones crunching in it as well.

Would you still like to do either of the things you were considering?

I will speak to him, and append to my statement: "Unless, of course, *you* are Pax."

Slowly, the young man's face grows older and a beard forms around his jaw and slowly down his chin. His hair grows fair, and robes cover him.

He holds a hand to his head, and then closes his eyes. The cave shifts then to become an ornate hall bordering on ostentatious. His face has fully transformed to Pax, and he says, "I apologize, son. I'm afraid I must have called you during a rather unpleasant dream." He takes a seat at a table that could seat fifty, and pulls out the chair next to his. "Come, sit."

I will accept the seat, and turn to face him directly.

"Actually, sir, I came in search of you. I walk the Dreamworlds often." I smile politely and with a little warmth.

I wonder if Pax is something other than what he pretends to be....Perhaps a rival wizard seeking to abuse my good nature to secure power over the Master of the Vale? Am I involved all unwitting in a dominance struggle of wizards? Or is he what he seems to be? Why does he mask his features so? Does he fear that I will be the traitor, or be captured and reveal his complicity? Or is it somewhat else? Hmm...

My face grows grave. "I believe I have located the first totem. It is a tree surrounded by thorns that glisten. I believe they are poisoned. I could feel the rushing of energy through the tree. I must admit I am at a loss for how to proceed. Should I destroy the whole tree? I doubt fire would work, and I can't get close with an axe. The power is too strong to try to disrupt the flow of magic, it would likely explode. Plus, that would be foolish - surely it has additional defenses I do not see."

I will form the image of the tree and bushes and thorns in my mind and attempt to project that image onto the table in front of me, showing Pax what I remember. I focus on the blackness of the tree, the fiery colors of the leaves, and the glistening of the thornbushes especially, sure to include those details.

"It's just...strange that my wards didn't even warn me of your approach. They protect me from harmful magic while I sleep." Pax seems seriously concerned, and even suspicious. He strokes his beard slowly as you tell him about the totem you believe you found. "You could feel the energy, you say? I fear that perhaps the tree surely has hidden defenses that must have already been working on you, for you to feel strangely on approach."

You shape the image in your mind and project it for him. It feels more difficult to do it here for some reason, but you manage to make it appear. Pax widens his eyes. "I'm impressed that a novice would have such mastery of his mind's powers, Brock. Tell me more about where you learned these gifts. To touch dreams and sense the energy of others. I have mastered spells to perform these same things, sure, but you do them with such ease..."

His eyes narrow slightly, and his jaw sets.

I eye him as he says that he wards himself. "I don't especially think that walking the world of dreams is an art of magic. I've been able to walk right through any ward I've ever come across in dreams. My mother, who taught me the things I know, tells me that I am gifted at it. It is a power of the mind more than of energy and spellcraft."

I look concerned about the defenses of the tree. "How might I circumvent these wards and destroy it? Can it be done in a way that he will not realize it has been destroyed for a while? This practice of unweaving world altering spells is new and strange to me."

I let out a breath after the effort to make the image. "Wooh! That was much harder than usual. Maybe your wards are effective after all." I grin apologetically.

When I see his jaw tighten... Well THAT'S a switch. Now HE is suspicious of ME. Ironic. I wonder...can I trust him fully? I want him to trust me, and if he can enter minds I suppose I could let him see my true intentions...but what if he uses the opportunity to alter my mind and seize power over me? I just don't know...

OOC: As for the last thing he says, I answered that at the top.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:32, Sat 16 Aug 2014.

"I've just never seen magic like yours before. It's as if my own doesn't recognize it. Perhaps it's because it is related more to the self than to the arcane realms."

Concerning the tree, he replies, "There are spells I could teach you to guard yourself against unfriendly magic generally, but they would be stronger if we knew more about the attacks. And there are others to silence your magic, but it would depend on the wards attached to the tree. I would suggest protecting yourself and attacking the tree with a natural attack opposing it. If it is a tree, it will be vulnerable to flames."

"I could teach you these spells and more about how we perform them. I could teach you a deeper understanding of touching the arcane realms through the changes in the elements. It would help you defeat this tree, but I must ask something of you as well. The magic you do is extremely curious to me. Walking in dreams so easily and undetected. When I've visited you, I have brought myself to you after preparation and ritual. Teach me how you do it, and I will teach you a ward to protect yourself from magic or to hide your magic from tracing spells."

I nod at his advice regarding the tree, thinking it through but saying nothing.

"That sounds a bargain to me. I know not how easy learning the dreamwalking arts will be for you, but I will teach you whatever I can."

"The first lesson in striding outside your body is in KNOWING yourself. You must know how to ground and center. This will teach you where you are and where the world is in relation to you and your destination, enabling you to more easily return. As a wizard, I trust you already know how to meditate?"

His eyes lock on yours and he's focusing on every word you say with a small level of scrutiny.

"Of course. Many of my spells require deep concentration to truly connect to the elements and the energies beyond. It will help you learn the spells I have to teach you. It sounds similar to touching the arcane realm, but with more familiarity with the world around you. Go on."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:25, Tue 19 Aug 2014.

"You are correct. This has nothing to do with energies beyond yourself. As will become apparent momentarily."

"Good. Yes, the first step is to meditate. While you meditate, envision your self, your being, as a construct of energy contained within a body. Essentially, envision your soul. View yourself and all your strengths, your weaknesses, faults and virtues. When you see yourself for who you are, then you are ready. Picture yourself simply stepping out of your body. Your perceptions go with your soul. If you do this while awake, you should feel yourself floating outside of your body, and be able to see your body sitting there meditating. If you are already dreaming, it is different. When you are successful, it is time to draw the connection. To find your way home, you need to always know where your body is. But remembering that is difficult, so most people leave a small part of themselves behind, as a beacon. Picture a silver or gold cord of energy connecting your soul to your body. As you do this, push some of your personal energy into this picture, creating the actual bond and leaving part of you behind." I pause. "That's really all there is to the art itself, but all these things become easier to aspire to with proper preliminary training in centering, grounding, cleansing of the chakras, and more. Don't feel bad if it comes hard to you. I didn't manage it for about a month.

He listens intently, and nods when you finish. "I have never heard of magic like this before, but I must try it. As I promised, I will teach you two spells. First, let me reiterate how you draw power to fuel your magic."

"You must connect to the magic realms beyond our own. Your magic comes from within you, but this magic comes from beyond. To connect to the magical realm, you must follow three steps. First, recognize natural change around you. Second, you much tap into that change by focusing on it with at least one of your senses. Third, you must maintain your concentration on it to power your magic. Any change can work, from the wind blowing to a river running to something as powerful as a volcano exploding. The greater and longer-lasting the change, the more powerful spells you will be able to cast."

"Once you've tapped into the powers beyond our world, you must recite the spell before losing touch with the change. If you're touching the blowing wind and it ceases before the end of your spell, the spell will dissipate and be ineffective."

"I will teach you two spells in the tongue you know. The first is a ward to protect yourself against harmful magic. Recite a prayer to invoke the powers beyond while focusing on the change you've identified."

Powers beyond the Earthly Circle,
Surround me and become my shield.
Protect me from the powers beyond,
seeking to harm my mortal flesh.
Guard me!

"You will see a manifestation of the element's spirit engross you and fade away, only to reveal itself again when a magical attack tries to penetrate it. To hide your magic from others who might try to trace it, recite this instead."

Powers beyond the Earthly Circle,
Shroud me and become my veil.
Protect me from unseen eyes,
prying for my hidden truth.
Hide me!

Both spells increase in volume, climaxing in the last two words, which Pax booms at you.

"These are beginning spells that many new wizards learn. Concerning changes in nature, focus only on those that don't involve the earth. While an avalanche could be touched, rocks and dirt are hard to penetrate with magic. I can teach you a spell another time that is used to store magic to be used later into stones, but it must wait. I am being woken now, and regretfully must go. Good luck, Brock."

He begins to shimmer and disappear in front of you, and you feel the dreamworld around you shake. The walls and floors begin to shift and start melting away.

I listen intently and commit his spells to memory. I am starting to trust Pax - I think he is being straight with me.

"My thanks, Pax. Until we meet again!"

As the dreamscape begins to shudder and cease to exist, I focus my mind and shift myself away from here and into my own dreams. After that I let myself relax and sleep restfully.

You don't remember any of your dreams that night after shifting back to your own, but you wake up decently-rested to your host letting out a loud snore from his bed. It's early and the first, dull rays of light are starting to shine through the cracks around the door.

I will rise and go for a walk. It would seem odd if I left before my host woke up, and I need to maintain the appearance of being a normal denizen of the area.

After time passes and he awakes, I will inquire after breakfast and whether he requires any repayment for what he has done for me. I will also thank him with a smile. Additionally, I will see if he has a fire making kit (flint, steel, tinderbox) he would be willing to trade, and offer labor in exchange. "After all, being a courier means I have to travel a lot, and I am still short on traveling kit."

After accounts are settled (And hopefully I have something in my belly and a way to light fires) I will set out from the village along the road, appearing to continue my journey. Once completely out of sight, I will head into the woods and go to the totem.

Your host supplies you with breakfast for the road, and he gives you some replacement rations for your trip out to see him. "I'm sorry, but I don't have anything like that. Ask some of the travelling merchants in town; maybe they'll have something. And you should check in with others in town to see if people have mail to deliver; they're good folk, and will pay you for your services."

"Hmm...that sounds a good plan. You have been very helpful - Thank you" I tell him truthfully. Then I take my leave of him, with his much welcome gift of supplies. I will spend some time asking around town for anyone that needs messages delivered, approaching the various villagers.

In the village, you find four people who have messages for relatives in Tower, but no one else has anything for you. Among them is a merchant with odds and ends, where you notice he does own flint and a piece of steel with a tinderbox. "Delivering the letter alone is enough for the fire kit, but do you have anything else you're willing to trade aside from delivering the letter? I have some fire oil as well, but I'm running low and couldn't give it up without a decent trade."