Burke seems highly distracted.  While none know him well enough yet it is the odd state the woods that has him feeling off.  Its like an artist looking at a canvas where food instead of paint was used.  Its still art, but so odd.


OOC:
Dice rolls in PM.


[Private to GM:


02:35, Today: Bechazruhk Burke rolled 11 using 3d6.  Per.
Made it by 7, including +4 from Naturalist.
]

Shroud walks along quietly bow in hand as is his usual mode.


OOC:
Dice rolls in PM.


[Private to GM:

02:35, Today: Shroud rolled 12 using 3d6.  Per.
Made it by 2.
]

Haveron finds himself torn between watching the way in front of them and making sure the people in the group don't wander off.

[Private to GM: Missed perception by 1.
08:13, Today: Secret Roll: Haveron Stormwal rolled 13 using 3d6.  Per 12.]

Ryojin follows the group into the woods.

OOC:
Dice rolls in PM.


[Private to GM: 10:19, Today: Ryojin rolled 10 using 3d6.

Per 10, success by 0.]

In reply to Bechazruhk Burke (msg # 599):

The spacing of the older trees (three hundred years if a day) is deliberate... these were planted long ago in a circular pattern, but the younger trees aeem to have grown naturally.

There seem to be blurry areas high in the branches of the older trees that seem hard to look directly at, but out ofvthe corner of your eue you can see what look like black tablets with writing.

Partway along the planted trees is a sign of a fire within the last six months. One of the great trees appears to have been struck y lightning. And the undergrowth has barely recovered. It is much easier to see in that direction.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:50, Sun 09 Feb 2020.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 603):

"OOh, fire was here. Let me see..."

Gareth will naturally go and investigate.

"So guys, what do you think? You feel comfortable here? No? There can't be. Something even the dead are afraid of? What could it bee..."

His voice, low at the start, trails off...

[Private to GM: Rolled 4 under perception]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:16, Fri 07 Feb 2020.

Ugh, something is weird here. I'm tempted to say set it on fire... actually don't. The kitty probably lives in these woods.

[Private to GM: 02:28, Today: Berry rolled 5 using 3d6.  Another will roll! Will-14.]

Burkes steps grow slower as the sight of the circle of tall, older trees comes close.  The dirty hippy becomes quiet and thoughtful as his smile fades into sorrow.  With so much talk of the unnatural he is gladdened to see the signs of lightning as the cause for the recent fire.

He pats Feylans head and scratches the old wolf behind the ears before stepping forward.  Then he says with regret dripping from his words.  ”I know lots of prayers.  Sadly, I don't know none to heal these burns.”


OOC:
Burke wants to see and touch the damaged flora even though he cannot really help.  So'll move forward to Gareth, and he has no answer for Gareths intriging question.

Burke wants to read what is written on the black tablets.  If I can read from the ground, just move to them and read them but do not touch.  If they are high up then turn into a barn owl and fly up to read them.



[Private to GM: 12:43, Today: Bechazruhk Burke rolled 10 using 3d6.  Shape Shift:  Owl.]

In reply to Bechazruhk Burke (msg # 606):

The more perceptive may notice Gareth was not actually talking to any of you...

In reply to Bechazruhk Burke (msg # 606):

The tablets are very hard to look at. Will roll please.

Gareth can see that a tree fell over when struck by lightning, breaking the circlr.

Thaumatology from those who have it please

In reply to Narrator (msg # 608):

Gareth looks carefully at the tablets and the tree, wondering if the lightning that caused it to fall was natural, and the effects on the circle of trees. What were they here for anyway?

[Private to GM: Will, 9 under, Theaumatology, 8 under.]

The Adept looks curiously at the tablets up in the trees, wondering what were meant to do.

[Private to GM: Not sure if he is affected, or how, but expect he may not be able to read the tablets regardless.]

In reply to Gareth (msg # 609):

The way these items behave, they were enchanted with Avoidance at a very high level. It is likely that more are buried on the path. These could be valuable (indeed , one of the sages expressed interest) but how to get them home? The writing seems to shift, but is in eldritch.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 611):

Gareth will pass this to the others. How heavy are they?

In reply to Gareth (msg # 612):

You need to climb 8 yards up to find out.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 613):

Gareth looks for ways to climb up, but cannot seem to get off the ground...he can surely see how big they are from the ground?

[Private to GM: Failed climbing roll by 4, no further attempts!]

In reply to Gareth (msg # 614):

Gareth avoids more than a little scuffing
and indignity  from the fall.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 615):

Fortunately Gareth was never one to worry about what others thought.

Haveron finds himself unsure of how to proceed.  The trees have obviously been enchanted, and it seems like the tablets are the likely cause.  They are hard to look at, and he can tell it's source of the aversion.  After watching the rest of the group react and take action for a couple minutes, Haveron walks over to Gareth and speaks.

"Gareth, stop for a moment.  I have a question.

I can see you have shown an interest in the tablets.  I don't know if you mean to take one to sell, or if you prefer to study it.  However, have you considered the wisdom in leaving it for now?

Those tablets might keep us very safe overnight.  We had to struggle to enter this circle, and some of us almost did not make it.  It seems to be the same for nature.  We would not have to worry about any wild animals attacking us overnight.  Only those enchanted by our target are likely to find us.  And that would tell us if he is actively watching us, or if we have thus far escaped detection.

I would consider this a good test.  What I need is your judgement.  Would this be a safe place for us to stay?"

[Private to GM: 09:35, Today: Secret Roll: Haveron Stormwal rolled 12 using 3d6.  Will 12.]

In reply to Haveron Stormwal (msg # 617):

"For now I just wanted to study it, but selling it later also came to mind. You have a point, though. However, if we took one with us, then we might just be carrying around a safe zone, where we would not be attacked wherever we rest. That is, if taking one is an option at all..."

The dirty hippy is interested in seeing what the fuss is about concerning the hung tablets.  He gets close from his ground vantage point and squints at the placards but finds it difficult to focus.  This is odd, why should he have such a hard time reading writing?  Why else would someone hang signs if they weren't meant to be read?  And then it hits him.  Magic!


OOC:
Shroud has no interest in reading the tablets.  He will keep lookout while the others investigate the trees and black tablets.



[Private to GM:
14:22, Today: Bechazruhk Burke rolled 14 using 3d6.  Will.
Made it by 0.  Not sure if that's good enough.]

In reply to Bechazruhk Burke (msg # 619):

"Taking one with you would also start to drive the rest of us away. It is a long journey back, and while the sage expressed an interest in buying such a rare item, they, and anyone else you dealt with might have trouble noticing you."



Make a thaumatology roll...

"I'm not carrying one of those back. How about anyone who wants one can take one, haul it themselves and keep all the profit from it?"

[Private to GM: 21:17, Today: Berry rolled 8 using 3d6.  Another will roll! Will-14.]

In reply to Berry (msg # 621):

"That sounds fine, if it is even possible. But they are for later, for now, as Haveron suggested it might be a good place to rest and use as a base, from which we can scout around. Of course, if the creature that enchanted this place is still around, it might be that they can see this place easily. The magic may repel the weak of mind, but it may also serve as a focus for scrying. Let me think back to what I read about such things..."

[Private to GM: Gareth rolled 11 under his Theumatology skill...]

In reply to Gareth (msg # 622):

Avoidance as a spell usually is not combined with scryguard... but it could be.