"There are things I am going to tell you which you will find difficult or impossible to believe or understand.  I know you'll have questions, but I ask that you wait until I've said my peace before asking them as there is a lot to go through and we don't have a lot of time." she said.  The ruddy little umbrean looked up at her captors.  Waiting only a moment for some sign of agreement then, taking a deep breath, she went ahead.

  During the last days of the dragons a queen had decided to begin studying the umbreans depth.  The dragons had known for ages that the umbreans had some peculiar properties foremost of which was their ability to absorb memories and experiences from others to construct their own identities around.  Furthermore it was clear that umbrean colonies could somehow store and exchange those same memories and experiences.
  So some dragons went to the task of cataloguing, collecting and even dissecting umbreans to discover the extent of their nature.
  When a discover was made, that the greater the collection of umbreans in a colony became not only did their general intelligence, experience, and wisdom increase so did their capacity for memory and something else.
  The collected umbreans began assembling memories of their collective pasts.

  While the growing complexity of the large umbrean pool was an ongoing concern for the dragons the revelations of the umbreans reassembled memories was an incredible boon.  Undiscovered histories, technological, magical, and psionic knowledge that far exceed anything the Dragon's had ever known.  Though some gaps in the umbreans memories remained.  Most of those gaps were simply the failure of memory, though one great gap existed for which no elucidation was forth coming.
  That great mystery was the exact origins and history of the umbreans themselves.  The umbreans simply appeared, fully formed and developed, almost exactly as they are now, on Ancerenth around 100 million years ago.  While the dragons and umbreans were investigating the origins of the umbreans, the dragons themselves were struck down.

  The impenetrable darkness which had driven the dragons from their own world, by devouring it, had after all these ages found a way to reach out beyond the stars and sought to not only consume the dragons themselves but any and all worlds they had fled too.
  The Far Gods sent a host of angels to stop this violation, though they could not save the dragons themselves from being devoured.  Many of the recently deceased dragons found themselves reborn as umbreans.  Others who had either been sleeping, or meditating, or had their minds intertwined in the Dreaming magic of the citadel here on the moon found themselves disposed of body and spirit.  Trapped within the complex spellwork which served the citadel.

  Reduced to a status not too dissimilar from those of daemons most of the dragon minds caught in the Dreaming chose to stay within and fashion themselves an existence within the endless, malleable realms of dreams.  Those that did not, along with some umbreans who refused to remain such did exactly what the living umbreans are trying to do now.  Fashion themselves mechanical vessels within which to transfer their selves into.

  "I am one such dragon, from the Dreaming realms. My name is Kylin Zal'Fa." she said before going on with her tale.

  Over the millenia the Dreaming dragons and umbreans in the waking world grew apart, and distant until both largely no longer troubled themselves with the affairs of the other.  This changed some centuries ago.  When the great lich Phazion arrived on Ancerenth.

  During the war against the lich the umbreans of the citadel made a discovery near the eye of the great storm at the heart of the Crystal Isles.  A great stone, like a mountain in miniature made of a dark ore, dimly lit by a ruddy glow.
  The stone twisted the minds of all who came in contact with it.  Turning anyone without the strength of will to resist it into a thrall of the stone's will.  But something was also happening to the stone.  The colour of the light within changed as its collection of enslaved minds grew.  Turning first orange then finally yellow.

  "At first the Stone was trying to find other stones like itself, it believes there are more like itself scattered around the world.  But as it's light began to change it's agenda did too.  We think that it might not be as masterful a manipulator as it believes.  The more thralls it gathers the more the thoughts and wishes of the thralls taints and distorts its own will."

  In the past the umbreans have had the rare member with so coherent a mind as to try and pick up the life they had lost.  These were incredibly rare individuals.  Most umbreans are formed from the collected experience of many beings and so are distinct from those entities who's experiences gave facets to an umbrean's mind.  If the umbrean could not be dissuaded the umbreans of the citadel would use their machines to make an effigy, a mechanical version of a living thing so close to being a natural, living being as to be almost indistinguishable to all but the most sophisticated healers scrutiny.  With the use of a device called the Bridge of Starlight the umbreans could transfer the mind and soul of the umbrean into the machine.  Thereafter they would alter the memory of the effigy so as to remove any knowledge of the citadel or the umbreans existence and would plant the machine-man back into the world with false memories of some miraculous god's blessed resurrection.

  But there were far too many twisted umbreans who believed they deserved to have their lives back.  The Stone believed it could make the world right for itself and its thralls.  Mistaking the threat for mere upstarts the umbreans who called the others the Restorationists fled to Ancerenth and set their temporal prison believing that the could find some way to reason with the others and bring them back into the fold.

  "As long as the Stone is in control their is no hope of peace.  And the dreams tell us the Stone plans something terrible.  Using the umbreans of the pool and their focused, collective mental strength the Stone wants to try and extend its mental control over some if not most of the planet." Kylin finished.

Kylin's story made Willa's mind whirl.  She had so many thoughts and questions that all tumbled out of her, in typical disorganised Willa fashion.

"Uh, uh ,uh, Willa think seen stone!  Was when collapsed before Narayans' camp!  Iron Jubei, Mr Phelan, sir, Drex, remember?  Willa vision-seeing zig-grr-rat.  Orb also.  Told 'yawa yats'.  Made to make head spin.  So strange.  Why Willa see?  And then, why?  Also, stone moved? Or still at found-place?  Up-here umbreans having stone?  Being thralls? So Willa thrall being also?  Or can made to be?  Willa thoughts being borrowing now?  How know?  Is like naughty-brain-hugger-borrower-demon?

Kylin is dreaming dragon of past?  Was trapped in spellworkings?  How after trapping coming to umbrean being?  Or Kylin not ever spellworkings trapped?  Also, Kylin refusing dragon, or accepting dragon was?  Also, also, Kylin crystals gone.  Where from crystals?

Hmm, so always being rare powerful-mind umbreans?  Got turned umbrean-machine-men, down there.  When dragons dying, was more powerful minds.  Bigger dragon-wills than umbreans.  Dragons learning of umbrean-machine-men making.  Dragons then thinking not want to join umbrean group.  Want stay dragon-selfs.  So steal knowledge of umbrean-machine-men makings and make to use for self?  But down-there umbreans time-trapped up here umbreans first.  Is right?

But Willa still not understanding.  Why stopping zig-grr-rat, stop up-here-dragon-want-to-being-machine-men umbreans wanting to be machine-men?  Or Kylin say, up-here-dragon-want-to-be-machine-men still want being machine-men, but no longer dangerous being?

Willa also wonder if first umbrean-machine-men down there still?  Immortal maybe?  Willa meet?  Or met?  Or all dead now?

Willa also also wonder if stone and water friends being accepting dragons of once?  Chose to being stone and water instead of staying dragons.

Also, also, also wonder, original umbreans happy for dragon experiments?  Or original umbreans and dragons not friends being?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:40, Tue 27 July 2021.

    The umbrean in the jar, Kylin.  Was a little overwhelmed by the torrents of Willa's words.  Stammering to try and reply.  Moonchild, his eye laughing was doing his best to not break down and chuckle out loud.  So he stood back and hit himself in the face, hard, so as not to embarrass the others.

Gyr smiled and scratched his cheek.  "Stellar summary, Willa, I couldn't've put it better myself," he said, "Fret not, Kylin, I'm sure those of us who've known her longest still stumble on the stream of consciousness that is Willa's expounding mind.  It sounds like this is, indeed, a chunk of the Old Moon that has infected the rest of your people," the Ulh continued, "but as is the case with Umbreans -- it soon learned -- you shouldn't link up with a neural network that you didn't make.  This sort of issue happens with tree and fungal systems all the time.  Anyway," he assured, "I wouldn't wonder that this vast array of interconnected Umbreans isn't what's kept the Old Moon from expanding too far into the wider world all these years.  Effectively, it's like a net caught on coral and can't go anywhere with any real significance.  Luckily for us, our newest friend might allow us to revisit an earlier idea of mine to access the heart of this whole Lunar Citadel operation.

"With your help, Kylin, this once beautiful city could return to its former glory and life, and just maybe give your people a place of their own to live.  How about it?" he offered and then gestured to Jubei, "We've already got the authority, now we just need someone to get us to where we can apply his majestic charms."

    "Yes." Kylin answered, "It is why I have come all this way, though what is this piece of the Old Moon you're referring to?" she asked.  "I have no idea what that is refering to." she added for elaboration.

The Ulh glanced about at his fellow adventures with only the barest tilt of his head as he then looked directly to the Umbrean, but addressed the party at large.  "In my travels, I heard about great chunks of stone that could influence the minds of those around it; the legend goes that these are fallen pieces of what was once called the 'Old Moon', something like a dead god.  Tell me, Kylin, is this stone that you speak of a dark, almost blood red?" he then asked, a paw indicating a height against Jubei as tall as him, "Very large?"

    Kylin shrunk back with her draconic brow drawn up, "Ye-yes!" she said. "Do you know of a way to defeat it?" she asked.

Gyr cinched his brow and half-frowned, shoulders slumping as he shook his head.  "I have no power to destroy it; nothing short of a miracle would do," he said, pursing his lips in the resulting lull before assuring, "By which I mean... divine intervention, an act of great faith.  By my understanding, the stone is still an 'old god' and... should be subject to any divine rules of engagement.  We'll need a powerful divine champion of their god to confront the 'Old Moon's 'champion' and best them.  Luckily," Gyr then continued, smiling to Jubei and Drex, "we have some excellent potential in that category."

At those words, something seemed to click in the Kaetyma's mind as his expression turned into a sudden frown of grim determination. With a startlingly fast movement he had drawn his blade and swished it about in a flourish.

"Yes we do! With the support of my ancestors, I will stand ready to confront them. Which now reminds me...", He spoke and turned to Phelan.
"Phelan, may I inquire as to what you know about Deep Magic? During the spiritual encounter with Moonchild, we were visited by a great white dragon. I am not sure if it is the same dragon spirit who manifested itself here earlier, as that one was decidedly more... elusive. Amare and Kendall suggested it might have ties to Deep Magic."

He spoke and put away his blade again after the brief demonstration.

Willa had been looking at both Drex and especially Jubei with pride and awe following Gyr's words.  Though Jubei's sudden action had startled her out of it and she now looked at him with confusion.

"Uh, Iron Jubei meaning great white dragon deep-magic maybe is, or later elusive dragon being?"

Phelan frowned thoughtfully. "Deep Magic is... Well. We all practice it to an extent. It's the foundation of magic, really. Nowadays it's mostly referenced through superstitions like knocking on wood or the danger of breaking mirrors. But it comes out in other ways. Songcasters, what you might call bards or minstrels with arcane training, utilise it rather heavily and then modify it with arcane magic. Music itself is a form of deep magic."

He shrugged. "There were courses on it at the Academy. I'm not aware if more modern institutions still teach it - though I believe the Isleborn have taken up studying it." The Narayah shook his head. "Regardless. The other thing to keep in mind is that Gods can wield fairly powerful deep magic as well. So that dragon may be a form of divinity, or simply a bard."

"The great white dragon," Jubei nodded to Willa, before he listened to Phelan's explanation, which saw him nod at the end.

"I will chose to believe that it was the former. Or perhaps it is a divine bard, present to record the occasion. Be as it may, it does not change my resolve. We shall find and confront it, and free those affected by it. The question is but where it is. Is it with the pool?" the last part was amed at Kylin.

    Kylin, caught momentarily off guard stammered "No-not yet, it's being moved as we speak to the main pool chamber beneath the center of the city."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:01, Thu 26 Aug 2021.

"Then we will need a plan of action," the Ulh resolved, "either to intercept the Old Moon en route or set a trap for it when it arrives.  We've not been as covert as we would've liked," Gyr pointed out but looked especially guilty when he mentioned, "so it'll have some kind of escort, I wouldn't wonder.  It might be the most vulnerable when it's dropped off but before it's... 'installed' in the pool, I suppose...  Kylin, do you know where we can get a map of the facility?"

Jubei let out a low rumble and stroked his chin.
"I may be drawing the wrong conclusions here, but isn't the fact that an attempt of an ambush was made on us a very save indication that the crystal is aware that we are coming? It will no doubt have a significant escort with it. Furthermore, the pool is a place of significant importance and will no doubt lie deeper inside the moon. We know that the inner chambers are protected by this labyrinth of unrealized reality, and inside this labyrinth is also the vault holding the dragon king. I'm certain he will help us overcome whatever escort the crystal may have if we free him, and then we can directly confront it, but for that we must act fast."

After answering the question Phelan had been visibly lost in thought over what they heard. Slowly his fur began to bristle and the thoughtful chin stroking began increasingly shaky. "Ah. If I'm right, I can provide more context. I think the situation may be more dire than Gyr has previously explained." His voice was hesitant.

"'Old Moon' could be an accurate description I guess. It's kind of not... But it's absolutely and utterly ancient. Fragments of this have been found in the past by the League. We tried to stay away because even the smallest fragment could take control of an individual's mind. You would need divine power to even reveal what was happening. Worse though... There are two divine entities who sought out these fragments, and would go to war over them." He very carefully avoided naming names.

"Something this large though... You'd almost need a full Intervention here, which is absolutely something that will get unwanted attention. We want to be very careful with how we handle this. Otherwise the lot of us won't even merit a footnote in the historical documents that may or may not be written about the events."

    Moonchild wondered "Surely if it has been here so long, several centuries from what I've been lead to understand then the gods on the world below must have realized its here.  They are gods after all.  And we have two agents of other gods here who could be consulted."

Phelan was shaking his head. "They have incredible senses which is why I'm not saying their names as that is a surefire way to draw attention. But they're not all-seeing all at once. They had no reason to believe a fragment would have ended up here." He explained to Moonchild. "We have two representatives, but calling upon their patrons would draw attention as well. Divine interference is not exactly subtle." His smile turned wry.

"His patrons are very powerful." He pointed to Drex. "But they're not necessarily swift to act and by the time they did the Citadel would no longer exist. If they did act fast, I'm pretty sure everyone would notice." He pointed to Jubei. "And his patron is equally powerful and equally lacking in subtlety. No. If we're getting Outside assistance, we need to be quiet about it. And no names." His last sentence was very firm.

He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "On our own I don't think we have the power to get this done quickly and the longer it takes, the more trouble we could end up being in. But here's more than one way to get a Patron."

"Narayah Pactcasters in the past have had many different patrons. Including some from beyond the stars. Pactcaster patrons don't necessarily have the same power, but they are notably more subtle and don't automatically radiate divinity like a beacon." His attention slowly turned to Willa. "Willa. If my hypothesis is correct, your patron may be the best approach here."

Willa panicked at the implication.  Gyr has asked for a divine champion and Phelan wanted to involve her patron?  That would mean that she would have to be the...there was no way she was or could ever be a divine champion.

In a fluster she held her hands up defensively, backed away and blurted out the first thing she could think of, something that had apparently been weighing on her mind since it was first mentioned:

"Wh...what about trapped up here d...dragon king?

Then suddenly looking shocked at her own suggestion, quickly blurted out another name:

"Amare!  Amare?  Yeah!  If...if helping Amare up here, Amare be helping us!  Maybe...
This message was last edited by the player at 00:33, Thu 02 Sept 2021.

    Moonchild shook his head. "The Scion-" he stumbled for a second then corrected himself "Amare's powers were severely limited even before he invoked the rites of void.  His fragment was intended to play a guiding role in events not to truly act on his behalf.  Not only that but these New Gods are unknown to him, myself as well.  They are not old enough have interacted with the Colossi much less the Progenitors, wherever they may be now."
  He continued with a sigh, "Due to his lack of any power he can actually use safely, the-" Moonchild appeared to do another mental double take, clearly becoming exasperated "Amare has been relying on recognition of his authority by other powers to accomplish his goals."

  In the silence Kylin asked "What Dragon King?"

Jubei followed the exchange with a raised brow, especially when Amare was brought up.
But whatever question may have burned in him, it seemed to be answered sufficiently by Moonchild.

He turned to Kylin when she asked and motioned to himself.
"We are here in no short part at my behest. Since the disappearance of the dragons, my people have been left fractured, and it recently has come to a head. The tribes of Muatal spend more time fighting each other and destroying what little legacy we have left, than to try and create something greater from it. I set out to find the Conflict's End that the stories of so many Weyrs talk of, and I was given to understand that the Dragon King would be able to help. The search for the Dragon King is, in part, what brought us here," he explained before he paused for a moment and furrowed his brows as a realization seemed to strike him, "W-why do you not know of the King?"

    Kylin shook her little, gooey head "There have always, only ever been dragon queens.  Male dragons simply aren't strong enough to have the same power as those rare females who can become queens.  I've likewise not heard anything about something called Conflict's End, though I do admit that may just be something that's common knowledge amongst my kind anymore.  Though if you help us I think we can find an archivist who might know." she said.

  She looked at Phelan and Krath "And the world appears to have changed a fair bit while we've been frozen in time.  So I guess we might just be ignorant.  The Old Queens hoards contained secrets known only to them."

  With what Kylin had said this had Phelan thinking that perhaps his people had not done such a good job at investigating the city as he had once been led to believe.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:54, Thu 02 Sept 2021.

So much information. So much go consider. Krath tried to follow it in his mind, but it was hardly simple to take in.

"It sounds," he began, "like we might be able to learn a lot from one another. I am terribly curious as to the times before my kind were as numerous as now, or even simply our old history. I am no scholar, so I will probably understand little, but I am curious nonetheless." He ended his statement with a respectful bow.

    Moonchild looked over at Jubei "Shall we pursue this Dragon King of yours then?" he asked?

Jubei nodded in response to the question, "I would say so. Unless I misunderstood things, his prison would be on the way to our destination regardless. And I admit I have become even more curious about him, as his title of King apparently is exceptional to say the least."

    A circle of red light flickered into existence around Jubei and from that ring rose a ring of strange runes.  They swam across the floor and gathered around Willa. 

  Once Willa had studied them they moved back to form a ring around Jubei and a line of red light drew itself from the floor to beneath the doorway leading from the chamber.

Gyr sympathized with Krath and clapped his bicep in solidarity; he was plenty lost, too, but being a Traveller and a druid, 'lost' is exactly where he needed to be.  "Perhaps our divine champion could, indeed, be Jubei," the Ulh considered, perhaps even suggested to Phelan, "If this Dragon King fellow directly ties to-" he cleared his mental throat, "his divine power, then there is no one more suited to aid us in challenging the Old Moon than someone who is already here.  Besides, raw power just might be what's needed in the fight to come."

Willa, who had been watching the floor quite intently, looked up and with an innocent smile asked:

"Is time to go?  Willa think Pretty lights getting bored."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Sat 04 Sept 2021.

    Moonchild quirked his armoured head.  "I'm not so sure Willa." he said.

  Phelan, Drex, Jubei and Gyr all see tiny pinpricks of light breaking through the red glow.  Phelan and Willa both sense it, a moment where magic snaps and frays in the face of another spell so subtle it was barely perceptible.  Like tiny droplets of a cutting mist it passed through the room only touching the specific magic of the first, fraying spell.

  The red glow melted away to reveal what was really underneath.  The constellations of Empyrean script.  The language of the stars.

  The circle which had surrounded Jubei and made a line towards the doorway was in truth a pool, and trail of slowly shifting stars.

  Drex and Jubei, both sensed a terrible malice had been exposed.  Something not only mischievous but sickeningly evil was in the air.  Spirits.

Phelan stared at Gyr in disbelief. "I... No. No divine champion. The dragon could be a useful ally in the sense that he'll have a lot of information - if we can find him - but no divine champion. Remember what I just said about drawing attention?"

He shook his head, turning his attention to the magic playing about in the air. "I see... Alright." He muttered. "I think we need to follow that trail of stars. If I'm right, I think it may lead us to the dragon king. The Stars tend to react to mortal wishes and they also tend to like mortals, so it should be safe. Hopefully the Dragon King can provide some information."

Jubei blinked a few times when the strange magic appeared around him and he braced himself for a potential backlash that never came.

"I am... not having a good feeling about this. There is something evil involved here, but I cannot tell what it is exactly," he murmured with a grimace upon his muzzle. "We should exert caution, both while following this trail and wherever it leads us."

Gyr repaid Phelan's incredulity with some of his own.  "We're about to intercept a giant chunk of an ancient god who can control people by proximity alone.  Attention should not be drawn only up to the point we engage with the blasted thing," he reasoned, "by all accounts, this is an affair that the gods should be made fully aware of."  He huffed and also shook his head.

"Stars do tend to do that," he quietly concurred and then thought aloud, "Form up and march in, lads, blades at the ready.  Whether an army of dark ooze or a waking dragon, expect the worst... and hope for the best."  His staff psychokinetically spun to his outstretched paw to set it against the ground decisively.  The Ulh looked to the warriors of the group.  "At your lead."

"We have records of past incidents wherein the gods finding out led to the local area being destroyed." Phelan's voice sharpened into a warning tone. "They would go to war over these because these are fragments of their very beings. The two were originally one and this was a part of them. "

"But now they are two. And they do not share. They go to war. And everything else in the area ends up destroyed.  I ask you one last time, do you still mean to go ahead with this?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Wed 08 Sept 2021.

Gyr sighed and canted his head, smiling sadly as he relaxed from his dramatic posture.  "Fret not, my friend, I have heard the stories and saw the devastation of their... 'sibling rivalry', to uncouthly put it," and then addressed Phelan directly, "I have no intention of calling their conflict here.  Perhaps I spoke too generally, so let me specify: they-who-shall-remain-unnamed-lest-their-attention-be-garnered have tracked the Old Moon since their inception, so a chunk of the size that we are about to assault cannot have escaped their notice; why the Lunar Citadel is not yet besieged is anyone's guess, maybe it is beyond their grasp," he conversed, "After all, the druids built a redoubt up here should their 'rivalry' destroy more than a continent but I digress.  To deny the assistance of other gods because two of them are dangerous is no reason to traverse a trail of stars without backup, especially when we are already tits-deep in god-stuff.  Like you said," he then assured with a mental chuckle, "it would take either of them some time to affect anything, even if we were to say their names aloud now."

Phelan's stance loosened slightly, his fur puffing out less as some of the hostility drained away from him. "It's actually not as likely they've really even looked at the moon. Why would they? As far as all parties knew, all the fragments landed planetside. By all rights they should have."

As Gyr continued he shook his head. "You misunderstand. I didn't mean those two would take some time, I meant the ones Drex is beholden to. The two I'm concerned will likely not be delayed if anything becomes notable." He did frown thoughtfully. "The use of Empyrean language combined with the stars themselves implies the aid of a Celestial - and I can confirm from the magic used that it's definitely Celestial in origin. There was another spell concealing this that was forcibly dispelled. The only other magic I could note was a spell on Willa to allow her to read any language." He tapped his chin, though his crossbow was still at the ready.

"I did mention Willa's patron before. I suspect we're already receiving some help."

    Gathering their things, the adventurers followed the path of stars out the door and into a darkness beyond.  The space they found themselves withing was not the corridors of the underground city.  It was a blackened, flat horizon.  With stars slowly moving overhead.  Not wheeling about as they usual did over the course of an evening but traveling in straight lines slowly across the sky.  The signs along the trail gave Willa early warning that the party should not stray from the path.  For to do so would not only see them lost but they would end up in places that they would not like to be.

  The only other light in this place was those they had brought with them and with Amare's aid a small, hooded lantern provided some illumination across the hard landscape.

  After what felt like almost an hour of walking the party spotted a glowing rectangle in the distance, at the end of the star-lit path.  This revealed itself to be a doorway into underground hall built for creatures who dwarfed even Jubei and Krath in size.  The entire space was well lit by crystalline chandeliers assembled into great constellations across the cavernous chamber.

  The walls and ceilings were plastered and painted in deep, brilliant colours.  Or inlaid with brilliant blue crystal only a fair shade darker than those of the weyr you had been in days before.  The artwork was of a landscape caught at dusk.  The greatest door was built into an archway resembling the sun and a lesser doorway to that was on the opposite side built into an archway resembling to coppery moon.
  A winding road of enameled glass over golden dust lay between these two great doors.  Other doorways were scattered across the cavernous hall.  They were smaller than the the sun and moon doors by about half but these were none-the-less large enough that they would have been the gates into great castles or fortresses through which armies could have marched with ease.
  The doorway through which you entered was a small one, a passageway clearly intended for servants as it was almost hidden amongst the scenery of the plastered walls.
  Only more a little more then a dozen pillars were scattered across the hall.  In odd places for them to serve any architectural purpose.  They seemed to play a roll in the aesthetics of the chamber.  These pillars were towering, swirling, nimbuses of storm clouds.  Flashes of dim, thunder-less lightning illuminating their depths.  Each stood atop of pentagonal base of gold and inlaid with one draconic rune upon each face.  Jubei could see, even from the great distance that these symbols were numbers.  Though they didn't count up from one.  Instead their numbers were scattered, like two, eleven, three, seventeen, five, and so on.

  There was so much magic in the hall that the air was almost thick with it.  Phelan's hair wanted to stand on end, and Willa got 'the prickles.' Moonchild looked ill.  But explained he was alright, he simple was not used to being exposed to so much magical power in one place.
  "There is magic everywhere but its, cold, rigid and dead.  This is magic used like a finely crafted machine with no room anything but perfection and precision.  Its beautiful, but its terrible.  I can only guess at the toll this place must have taken to make." Moonchild explained.

  Text gathered before Willa and red "To these vaults are as far as we can take you.  You will need the aid of others, and your wits about you to find your way into and through the Labyrith's of Unrealized Realities which protect your prize."

Jubei's gaze drifted above, while his maw hung open as if he tried to catch flies with it, and his plumage lay flattened against his head. Then his mouth snapped shut and he gulped. A small nod followed.

"Kylin, do you happen to know anything about this place?" he asked as he looked to the umbrean that had tagged along with them now.

To see the stars roll and turn filled the druid with serenity, especially since they were as accurate as he remembered them.

Amongst the room of storming pillars, Gyr stroked his mane in thought and then asked Phelan directly.  "How d'you suppose those numbers that Jubei identified relate to the positioning of the columns?" he idly wondered, gesturing to one with his staff.

    Kylin shook her remarkably draconic head. "I've heard the queens had secrets but I believed they'd all had been found or had been lost to time." she looked at the scores of large doors around the chamber.  She squinted "The numbers on the doors and the markings on the pillars look the same so I think they are related."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:17, Sun 19 Sept 2021.

Willa looked between the pillars and doors a number of times, her brow furrowed.  Despite all indications to the contrary she wasn't actually unintelligent, just poorly educated.  And right now, that lack of education was showing.  She'd never been taught her numbers and so any sequence or significance between the ones here eluded her.   She understood what they were, but not why they were here.

OOC
20:51, Mon 20 Sept: Willa rolled 10 using 1d20+6.  thievery by the prime (?) numbers.

Gyr would need both his paws for such a puzzle (and good chance he'll even need his psychokinetic tendril) so his staff was holstered to pull out a notebook and pencil, important tools for any worldly traveler.  He jotted each number down (noting if any of the pillars decided to move or change... none so far) and generally walked about to sketch out a small diagram.  The modest sketch was then held at eye-level with his tendril as he cradled an elbow in one paw and his chin in the other, pacing about as he studied the numbers...

26 for Perception
24 for Dungeoneering

    Gyr noticed there were other markings beside the draconic numberals, they were not as obvious as the numbers themselves. These markings appeared faint, almost ghostly.  Like flickers of a mirage.

  The pillars were not placed around the room in anyway to bear the load of the great chambers roof, no, instead they must serve either some mechanical or aesthetic function but Gyr would need to explore the room fully to even begin to guess.

Gyr inspected one pillar in particular: the nearest.  "These aren't load-bearing," he pointed out, "and might even be moveable.  Hold up..." the Ulh looked a little closer, testing the mirage symbols by flicking his eyes to see them off-center, "there are other symbols here... further draconic, I wouldn't wonder."

    The flicker was barely noticeable and as he approached Gyr would have dismissed it as his imagination or a trick of the light but once he touched the panel the additional markings became clear as day.  There were symbols that he didn't recognize but they were certainly draconic.  They had that quality of being made by creatures who had ready access to very sharp claws and precious little manual dexterity.

"Jubei, what do these symbols say?" Gyr asked over his shoulder, pointing at the flickering symbols that appeared, "They're definitely draconic and might aid us in what's to come."

Jubei gave a nod as he came over to investigate those carvings. He had been marveling at the stupendous size and the absolute lack of idea what to do about any of this. But reading draconic was something he could do.
"Alright, let me see."

    The symbols were familiar to Jubei but their combination didn't form any words.  They were symbols next to other symbols...wait, those are numbers and some of the symbols he recognized as being used in equations.  Could this whole design be some kind of math problem?  There we different blocks of symbols  So perhaps if one could work out what they meant as equations their meanings could be elucidated.

Gyr frowned as Jubei explained that the smaller symbols were yet more numbers.  "Well, that's out of my wheelhouse.  Maybe we should knock on that door over there before messing around with whatever calculus is keeping these pillars in place?" he thought aloud and then looked to the doors, "We have a few spare hands, luckily enough, so let's handle both at once.  Phelan, would you and your mathematical expertise be so kind as to make some sense of these draconic numbers with Jubei?  I can't shake the feeling that they're here for something.  I'm going to check out those doors over there," he then addressed Willa, Krath, and Drex, "and could use some help, seeing as how there are three; someone can keep an eye out in case anything happens while we're piecing all of this together."

Jubei frowned in response to what he read and shuddered a bit.
"It is far from my expertise as well, but let see if I can get a better picture of what we are supposed to solve for?"
And with that he plodded around a bit to have a more indepth look at the pillars.


19:22, Today: Iron Jubei rolled 18 using 1d20+8.  Perception check!

Willa slipped over to Gyr's side.  Always happy to make new friends, she liked the idea of knocking on doors!

    Walking over to the doors and giving them a good knock, Gyr discovered they were, in fact, stone.  Solid stone by the looks of it.  Willa could confirm this because she could find no slits or gaps in the apparent door-frame she could even partially enter.

  Reading the draconic script on the pillars Jubei could confirm that they were each different.  Each held distinctly different set of equations.  Comparing them to each other Jubei could pick out styles.  As though made by different authors.  As he wandered around behind one pillar, a message flashed across the base in draconic.
"Why are you here?  Tap the keys at the base of the pillar, don't answer out loud, there are watchers but they are about as clever as a golem." the message said as an alphabet of draconic letters appeared below the message.  The letters each stood in their own little blocks.  It looks a lot like the odd machines Jubei had seen Phelan work with back in the weyr on Ancerenth.

  The message disappeared again only to be replaced by another. "Well? You didn't just stumble in here.  Someone guided you past the defenses.  You still have the labyrinth ahead of you even if you know which vault you are after.  Given you don't seem to have a clue which vault you want I imagine either someone is playing you for their own schemes or some greater power granted your wish.  Either way I'd be willing to help you but I want a way out of this place.  I'm a prisoner here.  And if you don't agree to help me.  Well I can always set the defenders from the labyrinth on you until you change your mind." the writer of the message seemed equally impatient and angry.

Gyr grinned with Willa as they inspected the doors... only to find that they were hardly doors at all.  The druid's thorny vines crept over the great expanse, seeking out any and all crevices to inspect; the Ulh's novice geomancy attempted to shift any and all stones to discern where the actual doors were....  He looked down to the Umbrean at his side and her similar attempts to identify any manner of portal by her unique means but was as successful as he.  "These are less doors and more decorative walls.  There must be a magical trigger to open them somewhere," he thought aloud.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Fri 15 Oct 2021.

"Or maybe real doors hidden?"  Willa piped up, hopefully helpfully.

Jubei's brows scrunched as he read the message to him, then started to frown at its aggressive contents. Still, he did not let that dissuade him too much.

"We are here for the dragon king," he wrote with the keyboard, "Who are you?"

    There was a long pause before a new message appeared, in gleaming letters, upon the screen. "That is a name I haven't heard in a very long time." there was shorter pause before another line of text appeared.

  "Why do you seek the once proud dragon king?" it asked.  "And how did you found out about him?  I'd been told all references to his existence had been erased from the histories as a final bit of spite and torture from the long dead queens?" another line quickly followed the first.

Jubei's eyes narrowed for a moment, before he typed up his response.
"I learned of the one they once called the Tyrant from a spirit in the Conduit near Kyssia. I search for the Conflict's End, and it told me that the dragon king would be able to help me in this quest. And now I am talking with this very king, am I not?"

In reply to Willa (msg # 53):

Perception: 26 to inspect the giant stone doors

Gyr crossed his arms in thought.  "That really would make for a hard labyrinth to solve if we can't even find the entrance."  He put his weight into pushing the stones with a grunt before addressing Willa again, "It might not budge even if we got Krath and Jubei to this with," he speculated and then kept a paw to the 'door' as he looked over his shoulder at Phelan and Jubei.  "Any luck?" he asked.

    The doors were elegantly molded from a white stone, infinitesimally speckled by what appeared to be grains of glass.  The stonework was at the very least masterful and as such presented no flaws or weaknesses Gyr could think to exploit.  Beside the numbers on each door they were slightly different.  Very fine filigree and patterns in the stone itself suggested different themes of a sort.  But they were very vague, one was floral, with scores of tiny flowers of a kind Gyr had never seen before.  Another as a lattice of stars and constellations.  Another after that was of the sea and waters.  One and on the doors tantalized but never seemed to reveal anything of even budge.

  "Come speak with me in person, I'll open the door.  You'll still need to traverse the labyrinth but I have the sense that someone's already provided you with the means to do that." the screen red.

  There was a load crack from beneath the floor.  A hole formed in glass covered, golden roadway.  Revealing a metalic tunnel leading into the earth.  Flickering bands of the same metallic substance turned around the tube.  Some of these rings were more complete then others or were much wider than the tube itself.  The rings vanished then they hit the floor only to reappear on the other side.  A curtain of white light shimmered within the tube.  The tube itself was large enough to comfortably accompany the party even if they were double their number and walking beside each other.  It easily matched to scale of the doorways yet was distinctly different from them.

By Numbers and Charades: The party receives 1,000 experience points (from avoiding two major combat encounters, 100 from solving a puzzle).
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:11, Mon 18 Sept 2023.

Jubei stepped away from the display, a faint frown on his muzzle, and yet his displeasure seemed fleeting at best.

"We are about to meet someone who might be able to assist us in making this a more understandable task," he addressed the others as he strode towards the new opening. "And before you ask, no, I do not know who exactly they are. I have a hunch, but my last few hunches haven't proven true, so I'll reserve it till we actually meet them."

Gyr pivoted from the door, exchanging a look with Willa before returning to Jubei.  He reached up and clapped the giant dragon's arm.  "Awesome!  Of course the real entrance to the labyrinth wouldn't be any of the obvious doors," the Ulh thought aloud and then inclined to peer through the newly manifested trapdoor before standing again and presenting a paw, "At your lead."

    Passing through the portal you enter into an almost circular passage.  The floor you are walking on is the only flat surface.  Draconic texts curve in long arches and spirals across the walls and floor, flowing from the end you entered to the far side.

  The corridor doesn't appear to have a determined size as each of you describe a corridor that appears to be only just large enough for you to fit inside.  Which would be impossible given the very different sizes of the constituents of your party.

  Though the walls appear to be made of stone the more perceptive of the party notice the texture of the walls seem to change if you look at it for long.  The more you stare at it the more detailed the surfaces become until the become almost rough.

  Crossing the corridor felt strange only in hindsight as it felt like it took both a very long time and no time at all.  Passing through the shimmering curtain on the other side you emerge into the sky.  Standing atop a grey slab of stone gilded in a fine web of golden strands.  The portal you had exited was part of a tower of stone similar to the one you stood upon except this was a tall cylinder almost certainly a mile tall with other portals like the one you had left appearing at regular intervals around both the circumference and length of the tower.  Only your portal had an adjoining platform for you to stand on.

  Everything else was the deep blue of the unbounded, endless sky.  It was exactly noon.  The golden orb of the sun was uncomfortably warm for everyone except Jubei, who for the first time in a while felt like he was almost home in this heat.

  The distant air appeared hazy though and you could just faintly see distant, enormous shapes on the horizon.  Structures similar but different to the ones you were next to and upon.

  As the last of your party exited the portal - the order of your arrival was nothing like your entry, with Moonchild arriving first, followed, by Willa, Phelan, Drex,Gyr, Jubei, and finally Krath - three golden portals shimmered into existence from the air.  Each to a side of the square platform you stood on.
  These portals were not like the one you had entered the labyrinth with.  These were ribbon like structures that looked more like archways, though they did not meet at the top.  Like the weaving together of large strands or tendrils of a plant.  Once they had materialized something appeared to connected to each.
  The first archway on the left, shimmered with a curtain of light between its limbs and formed a whirlwind of air trailing off into the distance where another platform was appearing from the haze.
  The second archway, dead ahead of you, conjured a bridge of golden strands across the air towards a circular platform with a golden spire at its center circled by a stairway leading into a closed, squat, but broad, stone cylinder at its top.
  The third archway, to the right, made sliding, swirling tunnel of gossamer light lead down to huge cube with only one visible entrance and exit.  The cube floated in the air on one of its points.

[Feel free to explore, I'll specifically state when Ruuk is introduced.  The skill challenge for exploring the labyrinth will be introduced after that point.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:31, Sun 31 Oct 2021.

Gyr's keen eyes studied the ever-shifting wall, enamored and enraptured by the liminal space they traversed, he stopped a moment to tilt his head one way and then the next to study the boundless arching runes beyond their corridor.  "Hey guys, check out this stone!  There's nothing actually there, yet it's not quite an illusion, either, because I feel like I could just touch the ceiling yet Jubei walks through just fine.  How curious," he marveled.  When the sun burst onto them, he raised a paw to block his eyes, especially since he wanted to gaze out at the open sky, taking moment to step away from the group and as near to the edge as he dare.  He'd also open his coat a bit since the sun was so very warm and the difference from the moon base was quite stark.  Gyr then took a moment to determine if what they experienced was some sort of teleportation magic by internally calibrating himself of any potential motion sickness.  Regardless, he'd have himself a thorough look-around, perhaps even at some of those other portals that appeared (and if need be, he'll use his psychokinesis to bridge the open gap).
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Sun 31 Oct 2021.

Jubei did not realize that the corridor conformed to their shapes until Gyr pointed it out, and even then he struggled to fully understand what his eyes were seeing. He grunted and simply shelved it away with all the other strangeness of this place as he nodded.

"Where are we?" Jubei pointlessly asked as he let his gaze drift around and then examined the portals closer, "Right, the labyrinth. We will need to navigate it to meet that somenone. Any suggestions?" He looked to the others.

    Moonchild turned to Jubei and asked "Didn't the creature from that disc say they would guide you?"

"Yes, where is Kylin?" Gyr wondered aloud, "She was with us a minute ago."

Willa gazed about in awe at the wondrous vista, until Gyr made mention of Kylin.  She looked around quickly for her fellow umbrean, before rushing back to the portal the group had entered/exited by.  Sticking just her head through she called out:

"Kylin!  Where be?  Willa and friends of, here!"

    Shortly after Willa stuck her head back through the portal she saw the passage growing dark, as if it just suddenly ended beyond a point down the corridor.  There was no sign of Kylin.  Though she had entered with all of you when the party had passed into the portal.  As though by gravity Willa was pulled (or perhaps pushed) backwards through the gateway as the shimmering curtain of light faded leaving only a half circle niche in the stone.

  "I don't think someone wants her in here." Moonchild remarked.  "Is is possible to hold someone in...uh...suspension? In a portal?" he looked over at party as he asked.

Willa looked both unhappy and thoughtful.

"Is Maze, no?  Maybe Kylin in other part.  But why be?  Is not 'cause umbrean.  Willa here still!  So 'cause dragon was?  But Iron Jubei here be, though...not same as.  So maybe?  Else, 'cause Kylin knowing stuff?  Can to be telling things?  Willa and friends of, not allowed to know?  Is..." she shuddered a little, "icky feeling.  Willa not to be liking very much!"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Wed 03 Nov 2021.

Jubei gritted his teeth as he grimaced and shook his head, "Let us hope that she has simply been barred from entering. But let us assume the worst. We have to act with urgency."

He then turned his attention back to the three passages ahead.
"Now then, spirit, guide me. Which way is the path?" he murmured.

Gyr stopped at each archway, holding a paw over his eyes to gaze into the distance at each destination.  Archway #1 "Seems to lead to another platform like this one; we'll likely see more of the labyrinth from there..." he pondered aloud and then continued on.  He stood at Archway #2, eyes squinting at the light as he followed upward to the stone cylinder on high, "That looks like an actual destination or... some manner of stopping point to continue elsewhere..."  At Archway #3, the Ulh squatted and stroked his mane as he inspected the odd cube far below, "That looks like a dead-end... yet why would a labyrinth have an obvious dead-end from the start?"

Upon returning to the group, Gyr speculated aloud (as was his way).  "It sounded like we were to be escorted to meet this dragon-king fellow but ended up here, instead.  Either that lofty cylinder or that teetering cube would be places to meet someone... or to hold someone.  Kylin could have been swiped, lost, or run-off but she should also know her way around; if swiped, she might be held somewhere," he insinuated, tossing a thumb over his shoulder at the third archway and its singe entrance/exit.  "If we have, indeed, been escorted to where he can meet the dragon-king, I know of somewhere that would be very fitting," Gyr continued, tossing a thumb of his other shoulder at the second archway with its golden tower.  He then braced his hips and addressed the first archway, "And I have no data about that way," before addressing Jubei, "so it's up to you to direct us, if that spirit of yours doesn't respond."

   At first there was no obvious response to Jubei's call.  There were faint flickers in the air as golden dust gathered about Jubei in strange currents and formed ahead of him what looked like a wide, and intricate golden flower.  Very reminiscent of a plucked rose only far too precise and symmetrical.  Of the golden dust which did not become the flower a few became loose petals which floated around the flower.

  Shimmering, scintillating light shone from the flower and it spoke with a voice similar to the one you had heard from the draconic apparition before only this one sounded far stronger and more ethereal as if the words were being spoken directly to you in a private chamber.
  "Fear not.  The child Kylin waits in the corridor for your egress." the flower spun lazily as it spoke the center of the blossom remained turned all the while to Jubei as it spoke.  "The guardians of this place do not allow the entry of transplanted minds."
  The flower floated over to Gyr and lazily orbited about him.  The glimmering light within focused it's cyclopean gaze upon Gyr.  "She will not have to wait long as time flows significantly faster here than in the real world."

  "A warning before we proceed.  The machines of this place react to the mind.  The slightest pressure can be read as instructions.  Should you see a machine with crystals or jewels in its design then still yourself before you proceed lest your mind cause reactions you'd rather do without." Moving on to Drex the rose spun about him slowly as well, gazing unblinkingly at him.

  Finally it floated back to Jubei "The path through the labyrinth holds no peril of its own.  What dangers you will encounter will be accidents of your own design.  This way."  The flower drifted towards archway leading to the tall cylinder.

"Good, that puts my mind at ease. Somewhat. Let us go, and keep in mind, don't touch anything without having a good idea of what you want it to do!" Jubei adressed the others, before he made his way to follow the spirit's direction down the 'middle' path.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:54, Thu 04 Nov 2021.

Willa watched the golden dust display with wide-eyed wonder.  Both beautiful and familiar.  That familiarity bothered her.  At first she wasn't quite sure why, then remembered the vial of something similar she had in her backpack.  Was that all it was?  Maybe, but not only.  There was something else...

Therein lies a sea of gold which can heal me

Phelan's words!  Or not his words, but what he told them before. No, read to them.  From a book...no, a journal!  Amare's journal!

"Wait!"

Willa's shout is desperate. She didn't know if this place was where Amare needed to be, or could lead there, but she had to ask.  The one thing she would never forgive herself of was not helping Amare now after all he had done for her. She looked sheepishly at the questioning and, perhaps shocked faces, and nervously tapped her fingers together.  Then she pointed to the flowing golden dust:

"Is golden.  Maybe more is?  A sea of?" As some faces appear blank, she tries to elaborate: "Amare needs sea of gold to save!"

Gyr loosed a soft sigh.  "That's a relief," he pondered, following the golden flower and Jubei throught he middle archway.  He stole a glance at the cube far below, though...

    Moonchild step forward and knelt down beside Willa and took one of her hands into his own.  "As wondrous as the powers of Auerum is it not a kin to the Aquies Vitahe which Amare spoke of.  The Waters of Life that reside within the Seed Vault appears like a golden syrup yes but it has no relation to the Grace of the Lost which is Auerum." Moonchild said kindly.  "Thank you for trying Willa.  Amare thanks you as well.  Keep on trying, from both of us." he addded before he released her grip, having looked into her eyes for a bit before he rose and the party went across the bridge.

  As you climbed upwards towards the spire the golden flower explained what lay ahead of you. "The mirrored hall is a watcher's station, you must resist the temptations the watchers will array before you.  Choose only the path that leads to your goal, not the ones that lead to your desires.  For a true dragon would not be tempted by satisfaction only by purpose." the flower turned gracefully, as if carried by unseen winds, as it spoke.

  "Besides my kind very few others have access to this realm from outside.  Non of these are not new arrivals however, they have been here since the dragons crafted this realm.  One such provided assistance in the creation of this place.  The Drixos may know of what I speak of." the flower flew over to Phelan as behind it trailed a small image made of the motes of golden dust.

  It was of an odd arch a little taller than it was wide.  Though it was rather three very different looking arches grown or perhaps fused together.  There was one, smooth, continuous piece which made up the bulk of the arch joined by two others.  The second, most prominent piece was often curled around the first almost like a vine.  Parts of it curled off from the bulk of it and ended in small curls or waves which only added to its plant like appearance.  The third, and smallest, aspect was a broken one.  As though some giant had slammed a hammer into parts of it and cast those broken of chunks far way.  What remained were floating chunks of a thin, blade like quality.  Some of the haphazard pieces looked like a particularly vicious saw blade.  Where pieces joined the other two arches they it appeared that they were piercing them only adding to the illusion of blades.

  "The Things which dwell in the Nothing beyond the glass curtain of the Solemn Archway, or as I believe the Isleborn call it the White Arch.  Be wary of their influences for they are tricksters the likes of which could deceive even the gods.  Though they speak the truth they can do so in ways that can readily deceive and drive one to madness.  They are drawn to reflections and may choose to interfere here.  Their vacuous behavior is nigh impossible to predict for they are driven by no purpose.  They are the ruins of a bygone age.  Pay them no heed and they shall have no power over you." the flower returned to Jubei by circling the group.  "I will answer a question, if you have any, then I shall go and await you at the hall's egress." the flower said.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:27, Thu 11 Nov 2021.

Gyr admired the twisting, almost spiraling plantlike arches, stroking his mane in thought.  "So... what relation do the 'Things Which Dwell in the Nothing' have with the Dragon King, if they are on the way to us meeting him?" he asked of the floating, golden flower.

Drex just seems on edge. Still keeping quiet, not quite sure what to make of this place. He will be the rear guard.

    The golden flower twirled towards Gyr.  "In much the same way as a king may wish to interfere in the affairs of foreigners to his dominion." the flower answered before it retreated and vanished from view by disintegrating in the same way it had appeared.  Golden dust retreating into thin air.

  Ahead lay the mirrored hall of which the golden flower had spoken.  Though it had understated the degree of mirrors involved.  Beyond the stone stone walls of round portal everything was a mirror.  The floor, the high ceiling.  Ever surface reflected another.  Creating a cascading kaleidoscope of images. It was difficult to see where to even go.  And as one haphazard step revealed, some of the mirrored floor fell clear to the clouds below.  You would have to venture carefully ahead to reach the other side.

[Here begins a small group based skill challenge called "Trip the Mirrored Fantasy." your goal (to reiterate) is to cross the wondrous hall of mirrors.  This is a group skill challenge which means that you pass as long as half or more of the party passes their checks.]

Trip the Mirrored Fantasy

Group Skill Challenge

  Before you lies an endless hall of mirrors, to reach you goal you must navigate this hall to the best of your ability.  More than just your own reflections reside within.  Temptations of all sorts await you as well, to lead you astray, can you keep to your aims?  Or will you falter, or fall.

Primary Skills: Acrobatics, Dungeoneering, Perception. vs DC 12
  Primary Skills are used to gain successes and failures in the challenge.  These must be rolled by all PCs in the challenge.

Secondary Skills: Athletics, Insight, Mechanics. vs DC 7
  Secondary Skills my be rolled only when the party fails to pass on any given round.  Only the PCs who hadn't failed at the Primary Check during the round my roll a Secondary Skill check as this exists to mitigate the damage of the failure to the party.  As long as at least one PC passes the Secondary Skill check on a failed round the party will not experience any of the negatives associated with a failed check (see Special rules).

Special Rules:
- At the end of each round all players will be attacked by the Mirrors, this is an attack against your PCs Will and has the Charm keyword.
- Should the Party Fail a round the player with the worst check (break ties randomly) will suffer an injury.  Typically in the form of a fall to another level.

Pass Conditions: 6 Successes before 3 Failures.

"I see."  Gyr watched as all that lay before them were refracting images of light within light, tumbling together in a dizzying beauty.  The Ulh gathered himself with a breath and stepped forward.  "Careful now," he cautioned, if perhaps to himself as well as his companions, keeping all senses available to him open at the precarious hallway.

Gyr rolled 27 using 1d20+11 ((16)).  Perception vs. DC 12 (Primary)
Gyr rolled 19 using 1d20+11 ((8)).  Insight vs. DC 7 (Secondary)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:46, Fri 12 Nov 2021.

Jubei recoiled a little from the insane sight before him but steeled himself to tackle it and gave a nod.
"Very well, here we go. Watch your footing."


21:51, Today: Iron Jubei rolled 16 using 1d20+8.  Perception check vs DC12.

Willa's eyes were wide with wonder.

She - and everyone else, were effectively stood inside a kaleidoscope and it was both wonderful and maddening at the same time.  She found that if she didn't try to focus on the reflections, the entire world became a beautiful sea of colour but if she stopped to try and make sense of what she saw her head began to pound. As if it was simultaneously about to implode and explode!

The problem became that, though she understood that she shouldn't try to make sense of the images, no matter how hard she tried to tell her subconscious this it stubbornly refused to listen!  So she found herself in the odd situation of having to concentrate on...not concentrating.  So peculiar!  And if she faltered even for a moment,  her treacherous mind started to do its own thing.  It was all very odd and very fascinating at the same time!

She wanted to stay a while and see what would happen, but everyone else was already moving ahead.  She tried to quickly catch up, stumbling around pitfalls unseen until the last moment.

OOC
Acrobatics: 17

23:23, Today: Willa rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Acrobatics - Mirror Hall?  Mirror Ball more like!

    After some initial stumbling around and carefully inching forward it became very apparent that this hall of mirrors wasn't very long the walls curved to form a spiral.  Some of the mirrors were very severe distortions of what they reflected or only selectively reflected things.  One such only reflected shades of red.  While another only reflected non-living things.

Iron Jubei and Ruuk are hit for 26 Temptation.



Temptation: When characters are hit by Siren of Desire they gain Temptation points.  When Temptation points equal their total Hit Points the character's strongest desire manifests.
  At the start of the player's turn they automatically loose 10 points of Temptation until no Temptation points remain.  Psychic damage resistance reduces the amount of Temptation points gained from Siren of Desire on a 1 for 1 basis.

Total Progress
Sucesses: 1/6
Failures: 0/3
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:29, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

Willa continued to skitter along the floor, hoping to avoid pitfalls all the way.

OOC
Acrobatics: 17

15:16, Today: Willa rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Acrobatics - Twisted Vistas.

"What is this?" the dragonblood muttered as he stared into whatever only he seemed able to see, before he shook his head clear again. "No, gotta focus."

21:43, Today: Iron Jubei rolled 12 using 1d20+8.  Perception check vs DC12.

The mirrors showed such wonderful things, such terrible things, such things to send the mind reeling in ways yet possible.  But Gyr saw that they were just mirrors and agreed with Phelan that such were the traps to avoid.

Gyr rolled 18 using 1d20+11.  Perception vs. DC 12 (Primary).
Gyr rolled 23 using 1d20+11.  Insight vs. DC 7 (Secondary).
Gyr rolled 28 using 1d20+9.  Phelan's Dungeoneering.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Mon 06 Dec 2021.

    The path begins to twist and turn, rising and falling in a lazy arch.  At one time going one way then suddenly another.  The mirrors themselves became ever stranger.  Some were barely mirrors at all and were more like windows.  If you looked at those too long it seemed the glass was melting away under your gaze.

Iron Jubei, Gyr, Ruuk and Willa are hit for 32 Temptation.


[@Ruuk's Player, you're new here so note that this colour text is DM speak to players.  Now feel free, those who have picked up a lot of Temptation points to put into your posts what.  Ruuk your character's desire manifests but you are not drawn to it yet as the threshold will be reduced beneath the required amount at the start of the next round.  So it'll appear but recede into a mirror.]

Round 3

-10 to all Temptation points (@Ruuk and @Jubei be mindful that you should have lost -20 by this point as you have been hit twice and this is the third round).

Total Progress:
Success: 2/6
Failures: 0/3
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:07, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

Willa's subconscious was starting to get more brazen.  She noticed it trying to do things that she was telling it not to.  But she couldn't focus too much on its bad behaviour, when there were difficult mirrored holes to not fall down.

OOC
Acrobatics: 17

17:06, Today: Willa rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Acrobatics - Managing Many Mirrored Missteps?

Such beauty and want danced on the edge of Gyr's vision, illusions that promised everything in life that he could strive for, dream of... but illusions were all they were.  He pressed on, sparing his attention only to keep an eye on his companions.


Temptation: 32/49

Gyr rolled 16 using 1d20+11.  Perception vs. DC 12 (Primary).  Psychic psirens psling psilly pspells!
Gyr rolled 28 using 1d20+9.  Phelan's Dungeoneering.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Fri 19 Nov 2021.

The paladin paused and his gaze drifted off into some indeterminate distance yet again. The moment passed quickly and he shook his head and let out a snort.
"Focus on what's real," he murmured to himself.

Temptation: 38/55



Iron Jubei rolled 16 using 1d20+8.  Perception Check vs DC 12.

    The scenes to which the mirrors gave way became ever more pleasant and less strange as the party progressed.  Some were almost idyllic now.  As if you could just melt away all your wants and cares in the world...

Everyone save for Iron Jubei and Ruuk are hit for 17 Temptation.

Round 4

Remember to subtract 10 points from your temptation points at the start of the round.  Phelan has psychic resistance so he basically is cleared at the start of the round.

Total Progress:
Success: 3/6
Failures: 0/3

Gyr marched on, feeling the sting of allure on his psyche... to be so wrong and yet feel so right... he winced and grit his jaws, even batting his own muzzle to stay focused.

Temptation: 39/49

Today: Gyr rolled 18 using 1d20+11.  Perception vs. DC 12 (Primary).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Mon 06 Dec 2021.

As the group pressed on, Willa's wayward mind started to see things reflected in the surface that simply weren't there to reflect.  Or at least she thought she did, catching them on the edge of her peripheral vision only to find herself looking back when she tried to confront them.  She was even beginning to think it a shame that they were so elusive.  They seemed nice!  She'd like to see more...

OOC
Acrobatics: 14

02:26, Today: Willa rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  Acrobatics - Tiptoeing around temptation.

Temptation: 39 / 48

For once Jubei didn't seem distracted, and neither did he mutter to himself as he strode forward with guided precision.


Temptation: 28/55

Iron Jubei rolled 17 using 1d20+8.  Perception Check vs DC 12.

Drex keeps his mind focused, not letting these phantasms distract at the task at hand.

Perception Check: 15 vs DC 12.

    The scenes to which the mirrors gave way became ever more pleasant and less strange as the party progressed.  Some were almost idyllic now.  As if you could just melt away all your wants and cares in the world...

Only Drex and Ruuk were hit, for 7 Temptation Points.

Round 5

Due to some book keeping mistakes on my end a previous rule needs to be reinstated.  When your character receives temptation points two rounds in a row you do not subtract 10 from your accumulated temptation points at the start of the round thereafter.

Total Progress:
Success: 4/6
Failures: 0/3

Avoiding pitfalls was difficult!  And it seemed to Willa to be becoming ever more so with each passing moment.  It must only be a matter of time before she sli...

"Eep!"  Willa squeaked in alarm as her foot suddenly found no floor on which to stand.

Luckily it turned out not to be a full load bearing foot, as only it disappeared down the hole when she fell down. The rest of her simply splatted against the mirrored floor.

Close one!

OOC
Acrobatics: 13

21:12, Today: Willa rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  Acrobatics - Yet more fancy footwork?  Surely Willa can't dance forever?

Temptation: 29 / 48

This message was last edited by the player at 22:32, Thu 25 Nov 2021.

Gyr paused to center himself, his psychokinetic tendril coiling into a tight spiral in front of his face and he just staring at its center... and when the fog lifted from his eyes, the Ulh noticed that he hadn't stopped moving but was walking off from the group!  He promptly corrected his path.

Temptation: 29/49

Gyr rolled 14 using 1d20+11.  Perception vs. DC 12 (Primary).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Mon 06 Dec 2021.

The scenes in the mirrors are mesmerising, but Drex catches himself. Remembering his old church mentor's advice when entering a place of temptation: "When temptation is distracting you in your mission inflict small cuts to yourself with each temptation to keep the mind focused." "Great is the Teacher, wise is his words, focus the mind with discipline, Amen." With quick movement Drex draws blood, the sharp pain centers his mind.


Temptation: 14/51

Dungeoneering advice from his mentor Check: 21 vs DC 12.
Takes 1hp damage to keep his mind clear.

    A landscape of mirrors had almost become your world now, tantalizing vistas of your every want, the air itself was a perfume of desire.  Would you submit or press onwards?

Everyone except Phelan and Ruuk were hit, for 6 Temptation Points.

Round 6

Total Progress:
Success: 5/6
Failures: 0/3

Gyr's trust in his own senses had misled him... it wasn't the first time (and it certainly won't be the last) but he remembered his time at his family's home... and the pranks his brothers played on him.  The echoes mocking laughter kept him cynical to the wondrous desires just beyond the reach of his fingertips (or psychokinesis), while his own laughter at revenge pranks kept him serene to traverse the beautiful mirrorscape.

Temptation: 35/49

Gyr rolled 14 using 1d20+11.  Perception vs. DC 12 (Primary).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Mon 06 Dec 2021.

Somehow Willa continued to traverse the almost imperceptible pitfalls.  Likely more by luck than judgement or, had she finally found something she was good at?

OOC
Acrobatics: 18

16:36, Today: Willa rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  Acrobatics - Pretty Promises Pose Perils.

Temptation: 19/48

Phelan's furry brows were drawn in a frown as he did his best to ignore the tricks being played on his senses. Instead relying on his mind and grasp of where he had noted walls to shape the idea of the right passage to fall. Something had flickered on the edge of his vision, a tail, the sounds of an engineer at work. But it had gone a while now.

OOC:
Dungoneering: 14

    Before the adventurers knew it, they were out of the hall of mirrors and into the sunlight and sky.  The passage behind was all but lost to darkness and the faint glittering of the mirrors in the dim light within.

  You had a moment to catch your breath as the strange, golden flower that had lead you into that place appeared before you.  Spinning lazily about itself as it spoke "You have passed through unscathed!" it chimed.

Trip the Mirrored Fantasy: The party gains 60 Experience Points.

Willa felt queasy.  She'd almost become used to the fractured infinitely reflected world she'd been traversing and suddenly being thrown back into 'reality' was disorientating.

As the world slowly rotated around her, trying to re-establish some sort of equilibrium, Willa's focus was drawn to a small patch of solace amongst the maddening normality.  Another multi-faceted mirrored surface.  She stumbled groggily over and fell onto it, giving her mind some momentary reprieve.  After a few moments, when she felt the world had stopped spinning and she was ready to once again try looking out onto a non-kaleidoscope world, she pulled herself up.  Only to find the mirrored surface came with her!  Gloopily adhered to her face.  Pulling it away she was surprised to find herself clasping a piece of multifaceted mirrored material.  She held it up to the others with a look of confused happiness.  Another item for her collection!

OOC
Willa gets a resplendent cloak +2, by spending 2 fortune and 2 fame tokens
This message was last edited by the player at 16:54, Tue 07 Dec 2021.

    A deep tone trumpeted loudly from the dark portal into the mirrored hall, and from that hall emerged a silvery diamond billowing smoke as it moved through the air.  The liquid shape zipped through the air unleashing a peel of thunder.  To which the golden flower turned and sang soft melodies.

  The diamond darted off into the sky, quickly vanishing from view.  The flower sang to you "We may have a problem." it turned and faced the party.  "One of my kind was...unsatisfied by events within the hall of mirrors and has leveled accusations of interference at me.  She intends to remedy this by manipulating possibilities so as to remove any of my supposed meddling."

  The golden flower spun around and seemed to be searching the horizon.  "She's going to the Tree of Possibilities to implement her plan.  We need to stop her before she succeeds." the flower continued before turning back to the party.

  "To that end we will need to take a detour, I do apologize for the inconvenience.  I will require your assistance to prevent the alteration of your realities." the flower sang dipping low for a moment as it circled around towards Jubei.

  "The Portal Key will allow us to avoid circuitous travel, if you would be so kind as to present it to me." the flower looked almost expectantly at Jubei.

"'Unsatisfied'...?" Gyr wondered aloud and rolled his eyes, "Miffed that we've a stronger will than all that, I suppose.  Cheeky."

"I have never known anyone to whine more than someone who makes a trap." Phelan confirmed, having walked out with an unimpressed look on his face. "They get their fur ruffled up over the fact that they were outdone and take it as a personal offence."

There was a slight frown on his face at the mention of the Portal Key.

"I didn't know that we were on some kind of public trial there," Jubei remarked with a grunt and shook his head, "Either way..."

He then proceeded to present the portal key to the flower.

The tree of possibilities sounded incredible to Willa, not that she really understood what it was, but the name was exciting!  But apparently, despite that, it was a bad thing?  That was a shame.  It reminded her of that phrase "think of the possibilities."  She'd always thought that meant to think about all the things that could happen, but maybe it actually meant to think about the tree instead?  Maybe both!

But if the tree is bad, why do they keep it around?  Also, if it was a tree, could you make a clipping, or take a fruit and grow a new tree?  Would that one be better, or bad too?  Could you have a whole forest?  Would they all be bad?  Or just some?  Are there more bad possibilities in life than good?

She shrugged.  Only one way to find out!  She fastened her new shiny piece of fabric around her neck, like a makeshift cloak and made ready to move.  Though anyone paying attention would have noticed a momentary wince from her upon seeing Iron Jubei brandish the Portal Key, which was quickly covered up by a broad smile and a loud declaration:

"To the Possibilitree!"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:26, Sat 11 Dec 2021.

"And all of its branching outcomes!"

Gyr joined Willa in the exuberance to reach their destination.  He'd encountered many trees in his worldly pilgrimage and sincerely wondered if the Tree of Possibilities was, in fact, a literal tree or a metaphorical construct.  Either way, the thought of seeing it excited him, especially since he would be experiencing it in a realm outside of the normal natural order, one that was still vibrant with life (in its own, special kind of way).

    The golden flower dissolved back into dust and swirled around Jubei's outstretched hand then suddenly vanished into the disc itself which began to shine with a golden light as parts of the disc opened up on his palm.  A blue light shone up from the disc and not a moment later a dazzling beams of light scintillating light shone down from the sky above and fell upon each of you.  For a moment it felt like you had been drawn into a rainbow and before you had time to really examine your new surroundings it was gone and the area around you had changed.

  You stood inside a cavernous chamber that appeared to be a mixture between a lighthouse and an auditorium.  You stood at the top upon the first broad ring, about fifteen feet wide.  Each ring below appeared about the same width and there were at least seven of them you could see, discounting the eighth upon which you stood.  The pit of the chamber was about one-hundred feet across.

  The walls of each level contained a least a dozen arches.  Those on your level looked out upon the endless sky of the world you were in and you could spot other spires, rings, and mountainous blocks of stone in the distance.  Those on the other 8 levels held large dark pools of water which flowed against gravity in their niches.

  All this was however dominated by a gigantic globe of water which occupied the center of the room.  Globules, some a few feet, others a dozen or more, orbited this great globe.  The waters were as clear as glass and you could see arcane designs and that peculiarly luminous script you had occasionally seen since you had returned from the Conduit in Kyssea.

  The golden dust flowed out of the teleportation engine almost as quickly as it had entered it, then reformed itself into the golden flower which it had been only a minute before.

  Thunder clapped, and again the flower responded to it with a soft, trilling song.  "We have arrived, and must move quickly." the flower sang to you.  It split into several flowers then one going to each of you while another flew ahead towards the sphere.  Breaking into the surface as a stone falling into a lake.

  While they were each golden each of the new flowers were a slightly different shade of gold.  And each spoke with a different voice.  The seemed to be different beings as each greeted you.

  "Uh...hello, uhm, there." a soft contralto pipped at Willa.

  "Greetings!" shot a cheerful tenor to Phelan.

  "Nice to meet you!" pipped a happy soprano to Gyr.

  "Howdydo?" chirped a pleasant baritone to Drex.

  "Hello." rumbled a deep basso voice to Jubei.

  "Moonchild." said a clipped meso-soprano to Moonchild.

  "Gentlemen." greeted a firm alto to Krath.

[If you have something to do before this encounter starts do so in reply to this post please or else its past.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:44, Fri 17 Dec 2021.

Willa looked about in confusion and wonder.  She had certainly been experiencing some very strange things of late.  To think a little over only a couple of years ago she was first waking up in a sewer!  Imagine the amount of things longer lived peoples must get to do in their lives.  Suddenly she had a lot more respect for the adults and children alike that used to bully her on the streets.  She had no idea that they must have seen and done so much!

"Uh, hi?" Willa responded quietly to what seemed to be *her* flower.  "Willa is.  Be friends?"

The splendor of so grand a space was ignored for a split second as the druid Ulh steadied himself; teleportation never really agreed with him nor he with it.  When he'd had a moment to appreciate it all, however, he was quite beside himself.  Even the unique golden flower who'd welcomed him so politely was endearing and greeted the happy soprano in kind, "'Nutha day, 'nutha coin!"

"Uhh, hello," Jubei responded a little absentmindedly to his flower as his gaze drifted about this strange room. Down the tiered rings and then back up to the globs of water. His head recoiled and he blinked a few times.
"I have no idea what to do..." he muttered quietly.

  The topaz yellow flower beside Jubei whispered to him. "Its alright that's what I'm here for." to the rest of the party the voice sang "Momentarily focal points of reality will appear, we will need to control as many of them as possible or all of them.  If we hold the majority we can counterinfluence any changes to the Continuity that the Others might seek to cause." as explanation.

Eight points of light flashed across the stepped floors and just ahead of eight of the niches in the walls appeared large spheres of metal and glass.  Each sphere floated in the air and a pale, tiny sun shone from within.

"Oh!  There they are!" the happy voice of Phelan's guide chirped then added "There is one more than we had expected though."

"It does little to change our purpose." Krath's guide sang sternly.

"Yay!" shouted Drex's guide as it wheeled around in the air.

[And thus begins our first round.  There are no opponents on the field at the moment so feel free to roll initiative and take your turns.]

"It seems like we have work to do." Drex said to his golden flower.

Initiative: 23

Gyr readied his staff, casting a doubtful gaze to the surrounding area.  "Well... here we go."

15:34, Mon 20 Dec: Gyr rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Gyr Initiative.

Krath locked eyes on the #4 point, preparing to quickly slither over.
Ruuk rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Krath's Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:25, Sun 02 Jan 2022.

Willa was reluctant to anything before seeing what everyone else was up to.  Truth be told, she wasn't sure what was going on...

Initiative: 4
18:45, Today: Willa rolled 4 using 1d20+1.  Initiative - Going Balls to the Walls.

In reply to Willa (msg # 119):
Krath tilted his head to look at the flower and the rest of the party, growling out something.
"So, correct me if I'm wrong... but you all are here to coordinate us as we try to take 'control' of these floating points by standing near them? Must we touch them, or just be in their vicinity?"
This uncharactaristic bout of conversation was followed by a few seconds of hacking, a cloud of what seemed like dust pouring from his short muzzle.
Who knows how THAT got there...

"I will make my way to the central point, from there I will try to support where ever I am needed," Jubei spoke as he motioned towards the sphere at the very bottom of the pit, but he also clicked his tongue in evident displeasure.

This 'arena' is huge, while he wasn't exactly the fastest.

Initiative: 16
22:25, Tue 21 Dec 2021: Iron Jubei rolled 16 using 1d20+1.  Initiative roll.

The area did not appear immediately dangerous even as you moved to secure your positions.

[Feel free to make your turns!]

Krath slid down a level, hustling forwards towards the first point.
"I'll take that one over there."

[Move 1, DC 10 Athletics to drop 4, Standard-> Move 5.
Ruuk rolled 18 using 1d20+9.  Stick the Landing.
Run4:H13-I14->Drop down to L14-M15
Run10:L14-M15->T8-U9
This message was last edited by the player at 07:00, Sat 08 Jan 2022.

After a brief moment of scanning the battlefield, Jubei gave a nod.
"Alright, this will be a lot of running," he declared and nodded, before he hurried after Gyr.
"Whoever came up with these stairs..." he muttered.


Move Action: RUN
K-L 13-14 to P-Q 7-8

Standard to Move Action: RUN MOAR
P-Q 7-8 to V-W 4-5

Drex points to the orb on the second lowest tear. "I'll get that one." Zooming of towards it.

Actions: Double move (Run)
Move: I-15 to D-23
Move: D-23 to B-31

"I'll go for that far one," Gyr pointed out, holstering his staff and cinching his robes.  The Ulh's more deer-like characteristics shone through as he dashed along the ring's edge, cloak fluttering behind him.  "I've a few things to say about them, m'self!" he agreed, running alongside Iron Jubei.

Move Action: Graceful Prancing at Mach 2 (Run x2)
L12 -> U6
U6 -> AD3

Willa wasn't sure what to do, but she did think it would probably be a bad idea for any of them to be caught alone so - seeing him take off by himself - she decided to chase after Drex.  There were lights all over the place anyway, so hopefully she could grab an unattended one somewhere.

She also wrapped herself up in protective shadows as she pursued the divine warrior.  Just to be safe.

OOC
Double Move (run) to C28
Gain Shadow Walk

"I'll take this one then." Phelan's voice was calm as he bounded his way down, making use of his claws to easily clamber between the tiers and not needing the stairs at all.

OOC: Move (Run): K11->P16
Move (Run): P16->U21
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Sat 15 Jan 2022.

    The watery globes turned, and spun overhead as the adventurers dashed across the large chamber.  For the moment they were not disturbed in their movements.

  Moonchild didn't so much as hesitate as he ran forward and climbed down to the level below and again the next beneath that.  He seemed intent on getting to the center as fast as possible.

Moonchild climbs from 15J down to 16K then moves to 17L and climbs down to 18M.

End of Round 1

Start of Round 2
Players Turn

  A faint, shimmering ring of light appears near the center of the lowest level, floating about ten feet off the ground.  It is only about three feet across.

Shimmering Light appears at 33AJ.

As well it should, the sudden burst of light far below garnered the Ulh's attention.  He continued to dash along the upper rim, but not before relaying his findings to Iron Jubei and Krath (the only ones within range of his telepathy) and pointed with his psychokinetic tendril.  "Something bright just popped up at the bottom but it's outside my wheelhouse as a druid.  Maybe Phelan or Willa might know what it is!" he transmitted.

Gyr rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Gyr Arcana vs. That glowing light in the center.

Move (Run): 3AD -> 3AM
Move (Run): 3AM -> 6AV

Drex continues towards his target.

Actions: Double move (Run)
Move: B-31 to F-37
Move: F-37 to G-45

Krath slithered over two more circles finally reaching some stairs.


[Run 2, DC 10 Athletics to drop 4, Run 3+2, Standard-> Run 5+2.
Ruuk rolled 29 using 1d20+9.  Drop a Circle and Stick the Landing.
Drop 2: T8-U9 -> V10-W11
Run 3+2: V10-W11 -> AA9-AB10
Ruuk rolled 16 using 1d20+9.  Land Athletically!
Drop 2: AA9-AB10 -> AB11-AC12
Run 3+2: AB11-AC12 -> AG11-AH12

Willa starting to feel a little anxious as she and Drex moved further away from the others.


OOC
Move: c28 to d35 (7 spaces)
Standard to Move: d35 to f42 (7 spaces)

 - Willa does not run this turn (she doesn't need to in order to keep up with Drex)
 - Maintaining Shadow Walk

Jubei continued to rush along the outer perimeter, bringing himself into position to make for a hurried descent down the circles in the next couple of moments. He huffed a little at the task ahead of him.
"This is gonna be real bad for my knees," he murmured to himself.

Move Action RUN
V-W 4-5 to AB-AC 2-3

Standard Action to Movement RUN
AB-AC 2-3 to AH-AI 2-3

Phelan peered at the light as it materialised whilst he clambered down another tier. "That's... Ah. Something's going to come out of the light, on guard!" He called out as he stood by one of the lights, raising his crossbow at the light.

Move: U21->25
Standard: Ready Action

**Contingency: Readied Action**
Action: Magic Weapon
Trigger: Hostile target appears
Target: Triggering creature
Attack: 13 vs ac welp
Hit: 8 damage

Phelan's distant words set Gyr's jaw, but he had a task to fulfill and would rely on his speed and luck to pull him through, should anything attack.  He tapped his brow in a quick, over-the-shoulder salute to their trusted artificer and dashed off to his destination.

Move (Run):
AV6 -> BE13

Standard -> Move (Run):
BE13 -> BK22

    Dashing, and climbing Moonchild made his way further down towards the pit.

Moonchild moves from 18M to 19N then climbs down to 20O, then moves moves to 21P and climbs down to 22Q.

End of Round 2

Start of Round 3
Players Turn

  Three sparks seperated from the ring and grew into orbs of light which burst.  Revealing, what looked at first glance like, floating, white, serpents.  On closer examination the looked oddly melted.  Their bodies almost insect like yet sinuous with black, scaly bellies and tiny tendrils like arms and feet as stubs at their sides.  Their heads were almost flat masks of gold and silver similar to a human face but with one flat cyclopean eye from which a faintly-blue light shone.

  The ring which spawned the three wyrm-like creatures vanishes, only to be replaced a moment later by two more ring which appear at two different spots in the area.

Shimmering Light appears at 13AR and 47AX.

This message was deleted by the player at 22:24, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

In reply to Phelan Drixos (msg # 135):

Krath nods his head, still headed for point 1, drawing his chain from around his waist. He hooked his claws into the chain, whipping it in a slow circle as he waits for the next circle to 'pop.'


Move: AG11-AH12->AL14-AM15
Minor Action: Berzerker's Charge(Stance): Until the stance ends, you gain a +2 power bonus to your speed when charging and a +2 power bonus to the attack rolls of your charge attacks.
Ready Action: Basic Attack
Trigger: Hostile target steps within 4 squares
Target: Triggering creature
Move 2+Attack: 16 vs AC
Hit: 16 damage

"These things look fragile and likely are distance attackers!" Phelan warned as he frantically reloaded his crossbow before taking a shot at the furthest of the three then reloading once more.

Minor: Reload
Standard: Magic Weapon
Target: Wyrmling 2 (blue)
Attack: 29 vs AC
Hit: 8 damage.
Minor: Reload

**CONTINGENCY**
Immediate Interrupt: Shocking Feedback
Trigger: An enemy hits an ally
Target: Triggering Enemy
Attack: 30 vs AC
Hit: 12 Lightning damage. Attacked ally gets Resist 5 all until end of next turn.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:34, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

Drex grit his teeth. This one feels like it is going to be one of those fights, he thinks to himself. Taking out his climbing gear and starts the descent to his target glowing flower.

Standard action: Get climbing gear

Move action: Climb down from G-45 to I-44
Athletics [Climbing]:23

Willa squeaked in alarm as Drex vaulted away, apparently abandoning her.  Shocked and suddenly alone, she wondered what she had done to cause him to leave.  Of all of her friends, they had the most tumultuous relationship, but she still like to think they were close.

As the shock faded and she could think a bit clearer she realised she had been quietly following along behind him hidden in shadows.  She'd never called out to him or otherwise made it obvious that she was following.  Maybe he simply didn't know?  Or perhaps he had confidence in her to act alone, or expected her to follow?  But climbing was not something she was good at, being all small and slippery and such.  It was possible that Drex might not know that.  It wasn't exactly something they'd done much of in the past, but it still left her in a bit of a sticky situation.

Also, since she was already thinking anyway: what was Phelan up to?  It seemed unlike him to just shoot someone new.  What if these lightipede things were friendly?  Or at least not violently aggressive.  This seemed much like a game.  A sport even!  And they were just the opposition, right?  Willa hadn't been to any sporting events, but she'd seen other children playing games in the streets and they would usually split into two groups, with both working against each other to win and not normally killing each other in the process.

Though, now that she thought back, there were 'bad sports'.  Those were very confusing to her because it seemed that the rules for 'sports' and those for 'bad sports' were very similar.  So much so that she often didn't realise she had been watching a 'bad sports' game until violence actually broke out.

So...this was a 'bad sports' game?  If so, yet again no one had told her!  That was so frustrating! Or perhaps, it was her fault?  Maybe there was some hidden social cue that everyone else had seen and understood that had just gone over her head?  Gah!  She was so dumb sometimes!

If only...oh right the game!  Now where did Drex go?

With a lump in her throat and butterflies in her stomach, Willa cautiously lowered herself down the side...

OOC
Willa will carefully climb down the side following Drex (DC10)

Originally, this was said to take a whole action at DC10 to traverse 4 squares of distance.

However, by the rules, 20ft at half speed, with a base speed of 7, I think Willa may have to make 2 DC10 tests (1 to move 15ft and one to move the last 5ft, I guess?):

Move action: Climb down 1: Athletics: 19
14:47, Today: Willa rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Athletics - Slow climb down.  Test: 1.

Standard to move action: Climb down 2 (if needed for the final 5ft): 6
14:52, Today: Willa rolled 6 using 1d20+3.  14:47, Today: Willa rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Athletics - Slow climb down.  Test: 2.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:59, Wed 26 Jan 2022.

Gyr's ears perked at the command and the twang of Phelan's arcane bow, his target finding true.  Being out of range of everyone, there was no one to hear the Ulh's strikingly clever quips.  Oh well.  All the same, Gyr slowed himself to a steady pace and got within range of the nearest ball of hovering light, drawing his staff and cinching his Cloak of Distortion to protect against potential attacks.  He eyed the floating orb of light... and extended his psychokinetic tendril to hover the tip near it, just to see if there was any reaction.

Free:
Draw staff from Battle Harness

Move:
BK22->BN29

Move, down the stairs:
BN29->BK33

Minor:
Psychokinesis on the floating orb of light #4
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Thu 27 Jan 2022.

After a brief initial struggle, the kaetyma made his way down the wall and onto the stairs. He was still far away from where he should be though.

Movement action:
Athletics check for climbing: 5 using 1d20+2
No movement

Standard action to movement action
Athletics check for climbing: 10 using 1d20+2
Moving down!
AH-AI 2-3 to AH-AI 6-7

    Gyr could observe no obvious reaction from the orb of light as he put a psychic tendril near it.
  "They're called Wyrmlings!" Phelan's bepetaled companion provided.  "Individually they aren't very dangerous, but in groups they can easily subdue targets much greater than their size might suggest!"  While Phelan's shot lands home and knocks a wyrmling out of the sky.  Though as it hits the floor the wyrmling dissolves into motes of light which scatter about the floor like embers.

  Moonchild continued his slow, methodical progress forwards and downwards.
Moonchild moves from 22Q to 23R and climbs down to 24S, he then moves to 26T and fails to climb down to 27U, falling and taking 5 damage from the fall but landing prone in 27U.

Enemy Turn

    The wyrmlings, almost as one fly off towards the northernmost ring of light which had appear a moment before.
Wyrmling 1 flies 8 squares from 32AJ to 24AR, keeping to 2 squares of altitude above ground.
Wyrmling 3 flies 8 squares from 34AH to 26AP, keeping to 2 squares of altitude above the ground.

End of Round 3

Start of Round 4
Players Turn

Three sparks separated from the northern ring, and two more sparks did the same from the southern ring.  Each spark became a wyrmling floating next to the ring as the first ring had done so before.  Then those two rings vanished to be replaced by three rings of light scattered around the area.

Shimmering Light appears at 58AF, at 16T and 37BF.

Gyr saw a pair of Wyrmlings pop out, and then saw another point forming where another set was sure to appear.  He edged away from the new enemies but kept his psychokinesis within reach of the glowing node.  Everyone was out of range of his telepathy... a failing of the Ulh's sole form of reliable communication but one he familiar with.  He waved his arm and staff at Krath to signal that he was going to interact with the glowing node, despite its inactivity to his hovering touch.  Even so, he kept an eye on the potential of new foes, his druidic stones tumbling over each other above his juggling paw in anticipation of a fight...

Move:
33BK->28BJ

Standard:
Ready action

**Readied Action**
Action: Magic Stones
Trigger: Hostile target appears from 37BF
Target: triggering creature
Attack: 15, 21, 11 vs. Reflex (starting at top left corner around center, going clockwise)
Damage: 7dmg, push 3 (off ledge)

Minor:
Interact with glowing node #4

Krath flicked his head to peek at Gyr, nodding as he quickly slithered over to Point 1, charging past them and making an attack against Purple 5. The chain whipped around his arm, tip flying straight for the floating creature.



Action: Charge Attack
Target: Purple 5
Move: AL14/AM15->AQ16/AR17
Attack: 36 vs AC; MBA Berserker's Wrath Charge.
Hit: 21+1 damage

Phelan wasted no time in taking a shot at another one of the Wyrmlings, keeping his crossbow loaded and being ready to take another shot even as he remained nearby his own mote of light.

Standard Action: <Green>Magic Weapon<green>
Target: Wyrmling 7 (Yellow)
Attack: 24 vs AC
Hit: 9 damage.

Minor Action: Reload

**CONTINGENCY**
Immediate Interrupt: Shocking Feedback
Trigger: An enemy hits an ally
Target: Triggering Enemy
Attack: 30 vs AC
Hit: 12 Lightning damage. Attacked ally gets Resist 5 all until end of next turn.

Willa notices the light appearing to the South.  Deciding that maybe it was a bad thing, whilst not being entirely sure of Drex's plans, she decided hasten to move towards it.  If she could get close enough, maybe she could deal with whoever or whatever came out.

As she sped along, something occurred to Willa and she called out to her floating friend:

"Uh, friend-flower, Willa wondering: how long is game lasting for?"

OOC
Willa double moves H42 to S56 (14 spaces)

Maintaining Shadow Walk

Drex continues he climb downwards.

Move Action: I-44 to J44

Move action: Climb down from J-44 to L-44
Athletics [Climbing]:26

    Rising to his feet with a hop, Moonchild makes his way over to the stairs leading down to the next level below.
Moonchild gets up from his prone position then moves from 27U to 33T

Enemy Turn

  The massed wyrms press their assault on Krath, while the other two gather around on of the orbs.  A moment later a ring of light appears around the orb.
Wyrmling 1 flies from 24AR to 20AV and attacks Krath with Freezing Ray and hits triggering Phelan's contingency Shocking Feedback which hits Wyrmling 1 and deals 12 lighting damage to it and grants Krath resistance all 5 until hte end of Phelan's next turn.
Wyrmling 3 flies from 26AP to 18AX.
Wyrmling 4 flies from 12AQ to 16AM and attacks Krath with Freezing Ray and hits for 6 cold damage.
Wyrmling 6 flies from 14AS to 18AT and attacks Krath with Frightful Ray and hits.  Until the end of the Wyrmling's next turn, Krath grants combat advantage and takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls.
Wyrmling 7 flies from 47AW to 49BE.
Wyrmling 8 flies from 47AY to 51BD.

End of Round 4

Start of Round 5
Players Turn

    Seven more wyrmlings appeared scattered across the three glowing rings.  Which winked out the moment after the wyrmlings appeared.
  Only for those same three rings to reappear shortly afterwards.
Shimmering Light appears at 51R, at 27-28 AH-AI and 43AT.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:03, Fri 04 Feb 2022.

Drex keeps his head down and continues his decent.

Move Action: L-44 to N-44

Move action: Climb down from N-44 to O-44
Athletics [Climbing]:11

Phelan turned behind noting a lone wyrmling and loosed another crossbow bolt at it. Unfortunately in trying to keep track of all the enemies in the area, his bolt went wide and the Narayah swore quietly as he reloaded.

Minor: Reload
Standard Action: Magic Weapon
Target: Wyrmling 15
Attack: 13 vs AC (MISS)
Minor: Reload
This message was last edited by the player at 12:06, Tue 08 Feb 2022.

Jubei seemed momentarily flabberghasted by the little wyrmlings as he just stood there (and wasted a perfectly good turn), but without any further hesitation pulled out his javelin to throw it at the closest Wyrmling. Before he made his way on to further descent the stairs.

Standard Action: Ranged Basic Attack
Target: Wyrmling 4
Attack: 19 vs AC
Damage: 9

Movement action:
AH-AI 6-7 to AH-AI 8-9
Athletics check for climbing: 6!
No climb ;w;
This message was last edited by the player at 18:19, Fri 04 Feb 2022.

The druidic stones flew and harried the Wyrmlings, but they were slippery; only one met its mark and launched its vanishing carcass away.  "Perhaps I should fight fire with fire... or snakes with snakes," Gyr decided, converging his projectiles until they were a bright, spinning ring of primal energy, exploding into a horrid tangle of serpentine vines.  With his adversaries distracted, the Ulh collected his stones and staff to scale the wall (for the node didn't react to his psychokinesis), digging his claws into the surface and inching his way down until he was only a few feet off, and dropped the rest of the way, using the momentum to stagger and get some extra distance.  He was one good dash from the stairs and the node.

Standard
Action: Vine Serpents
Target(s): Wyrmlings #12 & #14
Attack(s): 23,17 vs. Fortitude
Hit: 17 + restrained
Miss: 8 + immobilized
Effect: Zone until EoE, Any creature within the zone that leaves or attacks a creature outside it takes (10) damage.

Minor
Psychokinesis: Hold Staff

Move
Athletics: 18
Climb: 27BJ->28BI
Drop: 28BI->29BI

As Willa prepares to fight the encroaching wyrm-things (which she had come to realise were most definitely *not* friendly.  She should never have doubted Mr Phelan's wisdom!), her eyes are distracted by another light appearing nearby.  And that wasn't good!  She'd soon be swarmed by the little things if she wasn't careful.  Little things that were, she noted, cheating!  How was it fair that they got to fly!  Stupid rigged game...

Well, she decided with an assertive nod, if they weren't going to play fair neither would she!

"Is Penalty!  Flight not right!  Play nice, or pay price!"

Within moments a small curse mark scored itself onto what might be the wyrmling's hide, though it was very difficult to make out amongst the creature's luminescence.  But that, of course, was the least of the opposition's punishment.  Thrusting her rod aloft, like a referee brandishing a card at a punished player she called out, in her best piratey voice:

"Unleash...THE THWACKEN!"

The world becomes silent before a strange blue mist materialises, covering a large area centered on Willa.

The still miasma is pierced by the knelling of a distant bell.  A ship's bell. The foggy phenomenon splits and is sucked towards two distinct points before disappearing into the ground.  A moment later the eerie peace is split by the sound of crashing waves and splintering wood as two massive, ice-covered tentacles burst up through the floor, wildly thrashing about in the air.


OOC
Minor Action: Curse Wyrmling 11 (Green)

Move action: Move from S56 to V57

Standard Action: Daily: Tentacles of Cryonax, close burst 10.
Effect: You conjure two icy tentacles, each in an unoccupied square in the burst*. The tentacles persist until the end of your next turn. Each creature other than you that starts its turn adjacent to a tentacle takes 5 cold damage, and it is slowed until the end of its next turn. While a tentacle persists, you can use the secondary power through it.

*Spawn: 1 Tentacle at 58AF (between 3 wyrmlings, as shown)
        1 Tentacle at 51R (at the new light, as shown)

Maintain Shadow Walk

This message was last edited by the player at 20:45, Fri 04 Feb 2022.

Krath winces and shakes as he's blasted on two sides, locking eyes on the target of his fears.
He backs up a little before charging forward again, swinging the bladed end of his chain in a loop at Wyrmling 6.


HP: 40/51
Action: Charge Attack
Target: Pink 6
Move: Net 0
Attack: (1+16-2)15 vs AC; MBA Berserker's Wrath Charge.
Hit: Misses?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Mon 07 Feb 2022.

    Krath's companion swept over to the focus as Krath battled.  Krath's attack unfortunately misses his target as the wyrmling bobs and weaves.  "Keep close if you can Sir Krath your proximity to the sphere is needed for this operation.  Though you do not have to be by its side continiously.  Just get close ever now and again." said the alto tones of Krath's flaxen yellow flower that pealed off from Krath and flew to the sphere.

  Gyr's vines make short work of the two remaining Wyrmling's on his side.  "Oh Sir Gyr we need to get to the focus." the happy little blossom danced up and down though otherwise it remained in place by Gyr.  "I'm tied to you so your physical presence adjacent to the Interface is required for me to do my work." the soprano voice added.

  Phelan's butter yellow companion exclaims "Alrightyoh!" as he zips in a meteoric arch towards the glowing orb, and circles it leaving golden fairy dust floating in the air behind him.

  Moonchild dashes down the stairs and vaults down to lowest part of the chamber.
Moonchild moves from 33T to 34X and climbs down to 34Y.


  The wyrmlings near Krath swirl and cast their, pale, icy beams from their tails.  Striking the huge musadi, but not doing any noticable damage.

Wyrmling 3 flies from 18AX to 22AT and attacks Krath with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 6 attacks Krath with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.

  The wyrlings across from Gyr spin, their beams lance out at Gyr.  Though it is clear from the way the beams attenuate near Gyr that he is at the edge of their effective range.  The first beam bright green and the second is a dull, almost green version of the same beam.  Only the brighter of the two manage to catch Gyr sending a chill down his spin and causing his heart to race.

Wyrmling 7 attack Gyr with Frightening Ray and hits. Until the end of the Wyrmling's next turn, the Gyr grants combat advantage and takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls.
Wyrmling 8 flies from 51BC to 49BC and attacks Gyr with Dazing Ray and misses.

  The wyrmlings beside the first of Willa's tendrils are frozen solid and fall to the earth shattering into the luminous embers which wink out of existence shortly after their breaking.

  The wyrmling Phelan had shot at returns the favour but its sickly, green beam finds Phelan's arm rather instead and the magic surges into the small narayan.

Wyrmling 15 moves from 15S to, rising to be two squares above the ground, and attacks Phelan with Dazing Ray and hits. Dazing Phelan until the end of his next turn.




    Eleven wyrmlings resolve themselves around the three luminous rings.  Again the rings shimmer away before reapearing, those this time there are four rings of light instead of three.
Shimmering Lights appear at 3AO, 59AY, 24N, and 31AV.

Krath swipes frost off his arm. "I figured. I won't be going anywhere unless this thing does."
He backs up a little, then charges again, spiked chain whipping in a curved ark towards Pink 6 again.


HP: 40/51
Action: Charge Attack
Target: Pink 6
Move: Net 0
Attack: (22-2; been reading Krath's sheet wrong)20 vs AC; MBA Berserker's Wrath Charge.
Hit: 16(2d4+11)+2(1d8)=18 damage

Willa was ecstatic to see the Thwacken thwack three things!  Allowing herself a little smile before moving on.

She knew the Thwacken would get bored and leave soon if she didn't bribe it with a little more power, but she wanted to be in a better position to do that.  So she rushed forward to where she could see the nearby, southernmost orb.  Once there, she widened her connection to the mysterious 'beast'.

A beast that - little to Willa's knowledge - may or may not simply have been a manifestation of power, rather than an actual entity deigning to answer her call.  But regardless of the tentacles' true nature, they responded violently to her proffered power, as another burst forth right where she had wanted it to!

Willa's elation rocketed as it felt like someone was being really nice to her right now!

After the new appendage's appearance Willa found herself somewhat planless. Everything had gone great for her so far, more than she had ever expected!  However, that success left her unsure about what her next move should be!  She settled on keeping her options open, positioning herself near the stairwell on the floor below.  It would hopefully allow for an easier descent, should she need to get down later.

OOC
Move: V57 to AC60

Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax:

Roll a d6. On a 1, remove one tentacle. On a 6, add one tentacle to an unoccupied square within 10 squares of you. If you have
one or more tentacles remaining, the effect persists until the end of your next turn. Otherwise, the effect ends.

Result: 6!

23:10, Today: Willa rolled 6 using 1d6.  Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax.

Effect: Summon another Tentacle within 10 squares.  At AL64 (Orb 8's location)

Standard to Move: AC60 to AI60

Maintaining Shadow Walk
This message was last edited by the player at 13:31, Tue 08 Feb 2022.

It was some small blessing that no one was within range of Gyr otherwise they would have heard his panicked telepathic screaming.  His vines proved successful despite the sudden influx of additional Wyrmlings, and while his cloak distorted the air around him with a shimmering wave, he was still struck by a dastardly beam (square between the eyes, no less).  Any pithy quip he might have given his helpful floating flower was immediately drowned out by magical fright.  The Ulh wrung his staff and eyed the floating orb some several feet down, the golden flower's urging naught but a distant plea to him as his heart lodged into his throat, shaking his head desperately... and then he spotted the alcove formed by the stairs on the lower floor!  He closed his eyes and screamed in a mad dash for that distant haven, nearly stumbling and diving behind the stairs, breathing far too heavily than he should have as he clung to his staff for dear life.

"I'm so glad no one can hear me right now..." the rational part of his mind considered, patiently waiting for the magic to wear off so that he could regain some semblance of control and dignity.  At least the golden flower was where it needed to be.

Move
Run: 29BI->33BG

Standard
Total Defense: +2 to all defenses

Minor
Psychokinetically thumb an item in the pocket of his cloak...

"Ngh..." The Narayah needed a moment resting a paw on his temple as his vision swam slightly from the effects of the ray. In the back of his mind he noted that his companion had started interacting with the orb, so he devoted his attention to the Wyrmlings showing up. He loosed a crossbow bolt at the Wyrmong that had struck him, but it went wide as his vision continued to waver.

Standard Action: Magic Weapon
Target: Wyrmling 15
Attack: 16 vs AC (MISS)
This message was lightly edited by the player at 16:17, Tue 08 Feb 2022.

"Alehop!" Jubei exclaimed as he flung himself over the edge and in a surprisingly skillfull motion, used his front paws to hold on to the edge before he dropped himself the rest of the way... which given his length wasn't exactly much as his rear legs already touched the ground after a loud thud.

He moved down to the stairs with a grunt, briefly considered his options as he stared at the wyrmling to his west, before he made his way to the next edge. His presence was more required in the center.

And as if spurred on by his previous success, he managed to vault the next step as well.

Movement action: Run
Including Climb!
Athletics 22 using 1d20+2
AH-AI 8-9 to AH-AI 12-13

Movement Action: MORE RUN
MORE CLIMB!
Athletics 17 using 1d20+2
AH-AI 12-13 to AH-AI 16-17

    Moving swiftly Moonchild tosses his conjured javelin and the luminous lance flies clear of its intended mark, bouncing off the wall behind and vanishing a moment later to reappear in Moonchild's left hand.

Moonchild moves from 34Y to 37AE and attacks Wyrmling 18 with Javelin Toss and misses.

  "That's it Sir Krath!" Krath's flower said then added barely a moment later "I should have this one secured soon."


    The last Wyrmling near Krath's flies to join its companions only to suddenly turn and fire a dull green beam at the towering musadi and strike him with it cleanly.

Wyrmling 3 flies from 22AT to 22AP and attacks Krath with Dazing Ray and hits, Krath is dazed until the end of his next turn.

  The two wyrmlings who had attacked Gyr earlier continue to assault him with their pale beams.  Though one barely finds its mark on Gyr as the other's ray swaps across the floor  causing shortlived frost to form where it had touched.

Wyrmling 7 attacks Gyr with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 8 attacks Gyr with Freezing Ray and misses

  The wyrmling who had been harassing Phelan switch to attack Jubei with its pale beam and scores an easy blow against the big kaetyma.

Wyrmling 15 flies from 16W to 17AA and attacks Jubei with Freezing Ray and hits and hits dealing 5 cold damage.

  One of the newly arrived groups of wyrmlings lashes out at Moonchild with their frigid beams.  Only half of them find their mark however.

Wyrmling 16attacks Moonchild with Freezing Ray and hits and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 17attacks Moonchild with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 18attacks Moonchild with Freezing Ray and hits and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 19attacks Moonchild with Freezing Ray and misses.

  Another group of wyrmlings rush towards Willa's position.

Wyrmling 20 flies from 42AU to 50AS.
Wyrmling 21 flies from 44AU to 52AQ.
Wyrmling 22 flies from 44AS to 52AO.
Wyrmling 23 flies from 42As to 50AQ.

  Caught by one of the tendrils from Willa's spell, three more wyrmlings meet their frozen end.
Wyrmlings 24 through 26 perished at the start of their turn due to the effect of Willa's Tentacles of Cryonax.




    Further wyrmlings appear, another thirteen now joined the battle.  The rings of light vanish, though no new rings appear.

Gyr quaked in his robes, gulping and sweating at the war zone he found himself in... with yet more Wyrmlings popped up nearby, he dared to peek out from around the stairs to check if he was still being pursued.  Turns out, he was, and another ray hit him square between the eyes with a refreshing blast of cold.  The Ulh brushed the frost from his face and returned to his rampart with a growl.  "Finally, I can hear myself think again," he huffed and shook some sense back into himself to get a grasp of his current situation, grunted in thought, and snapped his fingers.  Tucking into the nook caused by the stairs, Gyr eyed the tree and the glowing golden flower overhead... and summoned up a great tangle of verdant growth to provide him and his companion some cover.  "Still able to work?" he asked, watching whatever was happening with the node of light as he hid amongst the twisting vines and branches.

Minor
Verdant Bounty: Area burst 2 creates a plant-filled zone that lasts until the end of your next turn. The zone is heavily obscured (-5 to ranged attacks), and you and your allies gain a +5 bonus to Stealth checks while within the zone.

Move->Minor
Lie prone (+2 vs. ranged attacks), Stealthily (10)

Standard
Full Defense (+2 to all defenses)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:23, Fri 11 Feb 2022.

"What I would give for a tomecaster right now..." Phelan murmured, studying the field, noting Moonchild's more vulnerable position. "Covering fire..." He had shaken off the dazed state loading the crossbow, firing then swiftly loading it again to be ready.

Minor: Reload

Standard: Magic Weapon
Target: Wyrmling 18
Attack: 23 vs AC
Hit: 16 damage

Minor: Reload

This game wasn't working how Willa thought it would!  Instead of competing to control points with another team, it felt more like a battle of time as more and more enemies kept appearing.  At this rate eventually she and her friends would be overrun.  Perhaps that meant that they just had to hold the majority of lights for a single round, rather than until their opponents were defeated?

She took a moment to survey the 'arena' from her position.  She was levels higher than all of her friends, which gave her a clear enough view of what was happening.

Krath was by one light and Iron Jubei nearing another.  Phelan was a tier above a third.  Whether that meant he had claimed it or not, Willa wasn't entirely sure.  She assumed he did or would momentarily.  Moonchild had taken it upon himself to head for a very exposed position.  That worried the little umbrean, but at least her friend was approaching another light.  It looked like Drex hadn't moved since she last looked for him.  That was a worry, hopefully he had a plan.  Hopefully that plan involved the orb he had been moving towards.

If they all kept or grabbed the lights it look like they were heading towards, that would give them the majority and, perhaps, the win? Hopefully.  She wished someone had explained better how the win would be won before.  But that was probably her fault for not asking, before the game started.  Though why her little lit companion wouldn't answer her questions was a little stranger.  Perhaps it didn't know?  Or perhaps it didn't like her?  Most things didn't.

Also, where was Gyr?  She couldn't see him anywhere!  There was suddenly a lot of green in one spot near an orb, maybe he was in there?

Regardless, she was near a light too.  It hadn't been her attention to go after it, but she was in a surprisingly useful position if they only needed to hold the majority of lights for a short time.  And even though it looked like her friends might have enough covered, if she took this one, it might mean Moonchild wouldn't have to place themselves in direct danger.   Or would cover for Drex if he had other plans.

With all these thoughts blurring through her mind, Willa concluded that perhaps the best way to be a team player right now was, oddly, to play by herself.  She turned her attention to the tentacle-guarded-orb and ascended the stairs to it.

Thinking of tentacles: they were being quite useful right now.  They deserved a reward!  Willa gave them a little magical thank you.  Apparently it wasn't enough though as one retreated back to wherever it came from.

Her new position placed her too far away from the Wyrmthings to affect them, so she shrunk down protectively into her armour, all but disappearing into it.

OOC
Move: AI60 to AL65 (Orb 8)

Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax

Roll a d6. On a 1, remove one tentacle. On a 6, add one tentacle to an unoccupied square within 10 squares of you. If you have
one or more tentacles remaining, the effect persists until the end of your next turn. Otherwise, the effect ends.

Result: 1

Effect: Tentacle at R51 disappears.

Standard Action: Total Defence

Maintained Shadow Walk

Drex was a bit overwhelmed by all the flying wyrmling and completely forgot what he was doing... Cursing himself Drex continues his decent.

Move Action: O-44 to Q-44

Move action: Climb down from Q-44 to S-44
Athletics [Climbing]:12

Jubei squinted briefly as he took aim once more, and still channeling that athletic spirit, he flung his javelin and nailed one of the wyrmlings, which was just flying high enough to peek over the edge.

Then he made his way forth in his weird little triathlon as he hurried down the steps and climbed once more to finally make it down to the last layer.

Standard Action: Ranged Basic Attack
Target: Wyrmling 3
Attack: 21 vs AC
Damage 8

Movement Action: Run!
Athletics check: 14

AH-AI 16-17 to AH-AI 22-23


Minor Action: Divine Challenge
Wyrmling 16
This message was last edited by the player at 06:58, Fri 18 Feb 2022.

Dazed: You grant Combat Advantage, can take a single standard, move, OR minor action (but no immediate or opportunity), and you cannot be considered flanking
F/R/W/AC - 18+2/16+2/13+2/18+2
Krath growls at Wyrmling 3. "Please... do. I'm. TIRED. Of these. THINGS."
He sways back and forth, swinging his chain in a defensive pattern. Maybe he could block the next ray...?


HP: 40/51
Total Defense: +2 All defenses

If time auto-progresses:
Berzerker's Charge attack the nearest enemy (11+2 to hit, 2d4+1d8+11 damage, +2 move speed)
If no foe is reachable within 5+2+Reach squares, Total Defense)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Tue 15 Feb 2022.

    "Uhm...st-stay close, okay?" Willa's flower companion floated off and drifted around the glowing orb.  Spilling floating, golden dust, that reminded her a lot of the golden dust she had in that vial of hers.  "Uh, uhm...I'll tell you when uh...I'm done, okay?" the small contralto was almost to soft to hear over the sounds of combat and the flower was trying to speak during what pauses in the fighting there was.

Moonchild rushed towards the nearby orb and took aim at one of the wyrmlings, with a steady toss of his blue javelin he sent another wyrmling to the junk pile.

Moonchild moves from 37AE to 37AK and attacks Wyrmling 17 with Javelin Toss and hits dealing 10 damage.


  The two wyrmlings which had been hounding Gyr for a while now, try to find him in the mess of plants and give up choosing instead to redirect their efforts towards Willa.  Though neither of their beams find the small oozling.

Wyrmling 7 attacks Willa with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 8 attacks Willa with Freezing Ray and misses.


  Jubei's new assailant easily follows up its previous attack on the big kaetyma.

Wyrmling 15 attacks Jubei with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.

  The survivors of one the wyrmling conjurations scatter and attack Jubei and Phelan, though only Jubei is struck while Phelan's low profile saves him from the frigid, pale beam.

Wyrmling 16 flies from 26AH to 21AC adjusting its altitude by 1 square and attacks Jubei with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 19 flies from 28AG to 28AC and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and misses.

  The group of wyrmlings rushing towards Willa turn and head towards Drex.

Wyrmling 20 flies from 50AS to 50AK.
Wyrmling 21 flies from 52AP to 52AI.
Wyrmling 22 flies from 52AO to 52AG.
Wyrmling 23 flies from 50AP to 50AI.

  A group of recently appeared wyrmlings flies towards Krath and fire, almost as one, their tail beams at the overly muscular musadi.  Most of them hit their mark but Krath is uneffected due to his musadi nature and the simple minded machines don't seem to realize this.

Wyrmling 27 flies from 30AW to 26AW and attacks Krath with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 28 flies from 31AW to 28AW and attacks Krath with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 29 flies from 31AU to 28AU and attacks Krath with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 30 flies from 30AU to 26AU and attacks Krath with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.

  Phelan drops to the ground as he is struck by four icey beams from more recently appeared wyrmlings.

Wyrmling 31 flies from 22O to 22S and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 32 flies from 24O to 24S and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 33 flies from 24M to 24Q and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 34 flies from 22M to 22Q and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.

  The group of wyrmlings closest to Willa fly closer and attack her as well with their cold beams though only two find their mark on her.

Wyrmling 35 flies from 58AZ to 62AV and attacks Willa with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 36 flies from 60AZ to 60AV and attacks Willa with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 37 flies from 60AX to 62AT and attacks Willa with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.

  The last arrivals make their south towards Krath.

Wyrmling 38 flies from 2AP to 10AP.
Wyrmling 39 flies from 4AN to 12AN.


    The battle rages as the area is fraught with wyrmlings.  A familair melodius voice, that of the flower which had guided you here in the first place, spoke from the great sphere floating overhead.  "You must stop the wyrms!  If they hold a Focus long enough they will be able to activate one of the guardians to their purpose!"


This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 18:02, Mon 21 Feb 2022.

Willa winced under what might be a literal hail of attacks.  She emerged relatively safe, but it had still hurt!

"You must stop the wyrms!  If they hold a Focus long enough they will be able to activate one of the guardians to their purpose!"

Now that sounded unfair!  She frowned from behind her skeletal mask. Why could the opponents do things she and her friends couldn't?  Why were there so many more of them?  Why hadn't she be told the full rules before the game, instead left to learn during it?  Were they just being made up as the 'competition' went along?

It took a lot to frustrate Willa, but the (to her) constantly moving goalposts of this 'game' were really infuriating.  She shouted out at the top of her lungs:

"WHY CAN DO?  WHY NO TELLING OF BEFORE?  WHAT GUARDIAN IS?  WHAT DOES?"

Also that was the DUMBEST name for whatever these  wyrmlings could summon.  Guardians?  Really.  As she understood it, she and her friends were here to save...something?  It was the other team that was trying to change, what, time?  Now she actually thought about that, that was a scary thing!  What did saving time actually mean?  How would she and her friends be affected if they lost? That was a parade of thoughts that could last her hours if she let it.  Fighting back her usual brainstorming thought process to focus on the moment, didn't all that mean her team was the defender in this situation?  Wouldn't the GUARDIANS help the DEFENDERS?

Bah! Either way, it wasn't fun for her.  Weren't games meant to be fun?

Grumpily she tried to empower her tentacles once more, before considering her options.

She was shocked at what happened next.  Shocked and delighted!  As her Thwacken seemed to share her frustration she felt its power growing within her.  Taking a quick look to assess her options, she hastily pointed to the closest group of wyrmlings...

After a new tentacle erupted between those, Willa took another look over the 'pitch.'

As far as she could tell two orbs were currently held by the wyrmlings, whilst she and her friends would soon have between four and...six?  She had no idea where Gyr was!  That was a very frustrating position to be in!  It meant there was a good chance that they would hold the majority of the orbs and would...win?  She had no idea.  No one had explained the rules properly!  She had no idea what the conditions were for the win.  Did she and her friends need to hold a majority for just a moment, or for longer?  Seconds?  Minutes?  Hours?  Days?  Also what would happen if a guardian did appear?  Was it just another opponent or could it do something to the lights to stop/delay her friends from winning?  Not knowing was so...nevermind!

She realised she was potentially able to get to and take on the two wyrmlings holding a 'nearby' orb, but she would really need to push herself to get there and it would use up a lot of her reserves to do so.  Even then it would require an obscene amount of luck.

It seemed too much for one little umbrean to manage by herself.  And her friendly, yet unresponsive, flower had finally communicated something, telling her not to move so, with current information at least, odds seemed to be in their favour.

OOC
Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax:

Roll a d6. On a 1, remove one tentacle. On a 6, add one tentacle to an unoccupied square within 10 squares of you. If you have
one or more tentacles remaining, the effect persists until the end of your next turn. Otherwise, the effect ends.

Result: Another 6! :O

09:56, Today: Willa rolled 6 using 1d6.  Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax.

Effect: Summon Tentacle within 10 squares.  At AU61 (I think - where shown anyway)

Standard Action: Total Defence

Willa DOES NOT have Shadow Walk for the next round
This message was last edited by the player at 23:20, Fri 18 Feb 2022.

Phelan had dropped to the ground to try to avoid the beams, but wasn't quick enough as all four collided with him and leaving ice crystals in his fur. He launched a crossbow bolt at one that was too close to another orb of light one and reloaded his crossbow before opening a vial and allowing the magical energy to flow over his wounds. "Prioritise any that are by the lights!"

Standard Action: Magic Weapon
Target: Wyrmling 15
Attack: 30 vs AC
Hit: 15 damage

Minor: Reload

Minor: Healing Infusion: Curative Admixture
Target: Phelan
Effect: Heal for Surge+3
This message was last edited by the player at 12:29, Fri 18 Feb 2022.

    The wyrmling Phelan shot disintegrated.  Willa's cry was answered by her companion.  "They are-um...escalating the situation, we're trying to do the opposite.  So uh-they are...uh think they can get away with it."

Gyr felt somewhat relieved within his arboreal haven, watching the golden flower work with the node.  The errant spray of cold lasers ceased and the combat was distant... he lamented the urgency of holding that spot while all the attackers danced outside his range, but things were going well regardless.  But then he heard the announcement and just... stared at the underside of his temporary canopy.  It was then that Willa's dulcet tones echoed off every surface and Gyr was less peeved that his telepathy was limited in reach because she voiced all his grievances quite succinctly.  Gyr huffed.  "Stay here and work fast," he directed the golden flower before hopping to his feet as the verdant growth shriveled away, giving him a better scope of the battle field since last he participated.  Namely, his attackers thought it better to capture a node.

"Oh, is that what they're doing," he wondered and then asked the flower, "Will we get a Guardian if we claim a node?"  An answer wasn't immediately expected because there was meddling to do.  So, the Ulh raced up the stairs and drew deep from his well of stamina, spinning with a full-body swing of his staff to launch his earthen missiles at the offending adversaries; vengeance was his.

Move
Stand up

Standard>>Move
33BG->39BH

Action Point!
Standard
Power: Magic Stones
Targets: W7, W8
Attacks: 25, 26 vs. Reflex
Damage: 8 damage, push 3

None
F/R/W/AC - 18/16/13/18
Krath growled - how was he supposed to hit anything when they refused to get in range? He quickly whipped the chain harmlessly around his waist, pulling out his bow and taking a shot at Wyrmling 27 Red.


HP: 40/51

Action: Longbow Shot
Target: Red 27
Move: Net 0
Attack: 12+8 on 1d20+8 vs AC; RBA
Hit: 10+8 on 1d10+8

If time auto-progresses:
Berzerker's Charge attack the nearest enemy (11+2 to hit, 2d4+1d8+11 damage, +2 move speed)
If no foe is reachable within 5+2+Reach squares, Total Defense)
This message was last edited by the player at 22:48, Sun 20 Feb 2022.

Jubei finally reached the center of the pit, and punctuated his descent with yet another throw of his magical javelin. Whatever spirit possessed him definitely seemed to guide his arm, considering how he was nailing those throws.


Movement Action:
AH-AI 22-23 -> AH-AI 28-29

Standard Action: Ranged Basic Attack
Target: Wyrmling 19
Attack: 25 vs AC
Damage: 7

    Moonchild takes up a position beside the floating orb at the lowest level of the chamber and tosses his luminous javelin at one of the wyrmlings.  Piercing the flying machines coils and crashing it to the wall only for the wyrmling to shatter into embers.  The javelin vanished a moment later.

Moonchild moves from 37AK to 36AM and attacks Wyrmling 29 with Javelin Toss and hits dealing 10 damage.

  "Jubei!  I'll need some cover I'm going to call for some help." Moonchild shouted, drawing his left hand up before his helmet in an arcane gesture which pointed both up and down with his thumb turned towards him.  His other hand he held close but palm outstretched to the air above.
  "Formless, thoughtless, dive, dig deep..." he hastily intoned in clear voice which did not echo.



  The next nearest group of Wyrmlings to Willa turn from their course towards Drex and approach her firing their icey beams at her, though only two manage to strike her.  The other two sweep past her leaving trails of short lived frost.

Wyrmling 20 flies from 50AK to 54AK and attacks Willa with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 21 flies from 52AI to 56AK and attacks Willa with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 22 flies from 52AG to 56AG and attacks Willa with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 23 flies from 50AI to 54AI and attacks Willa with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.


  Jubei and Moonchild at attacked by the pair of wyrmlings left between them, though only Moonchild tastes the bite of their chill.

Wyrmling 28 attacks Moonchild with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 30 flies from 52AI to 56AK and attacks Jubei with Freezing Ray and misses.

  Wyrmlings scatter around Phelan only to lance four beams at him and yet each one misses the prone narayan.  Streaking the air overhead.

Wyrmling 31 flies from 22S to 21W and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 32 flies from 24S to 28U and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 33 flies from 24Q to 28R and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 34 flies from 22Q to 20U and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and misses.


  One group of wyrmlings freezes beside one of Willa's tentacles and as they shatter to the ground their fragments vanish in dim sparks.

Wyrmlings 35 through 37 are killed by Willa's

  The remaining wyrmlings stike against Krath with a sickly green beam and an off-yellow ray.

Wyrmling 38 attacks Krath with Frightful Ray and hits, until the end of the wyrmling's next turn, the Krath grants combat advantage and takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls.
Wyrmling 39 attacks Krath with Dazing Ray and misses.


    Moonchild's flowery companion had begun his work on his orb while the battle continues to rage around the spheres.


This message was last edited by the GM at 18:04, Mon 21 Feb 2022.

Drex continues his decent.

Move Action: S-44 to U-44

Move action: Climb down from U-44 to V-44
Athletics [Climbing]:14

Willa again cowered under an elemental barrage.  It was not nice and she would soon have to do something about all these cuts she was suffering before it was too late!  Deciding that the best defence was a good offence, she infused the Thwacken with yet more power.  A bribe it greedily accepted as another tentacle tore through some hidden veil into the material plane (or so it appeared to Willa at least).

She was momentarily amazed at the Thwacken's constant eagerness to assist.  She did not dream it would ever be this helpful.  This could be the start of a beautiful friendship!

Leaving her protective, cocoon like huddle, Willa beamed behind her visor.

"Thank you!  Thank you lots and lots, Mx Thwacken!"

Having learnt to trust the destruction of the wyrmlings around the newly summoned tentacle, Willa turned her attention to the one just outside of its reach.  A few considered steps around the orb of light, to whip up her shadows and she was ready to strike.

Thrusting her otherworldly, gifted rod forward, the lucky little oozeling called out:
"By Great Oracles' great stars, bad guys be greatly harmed!"

OOC
Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax:

Roll a d6. On a 1, remove one tentacle. On a 6, add one tentacle to an unoccupied square within 10 squares of you. If you have
one or more tentacles remaining, the effect persists until the end of your next turn. Otherwise, the effect ends.
Result: 6!
18:14, Today: Willa rolled 6 using 1d6.  Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax.
Effect: Summon another Tentacle within 10 squares.  At AJ55 (Tentacle drawn at correct loaction)

Move Action: Move to AM63 (Going around orb, not underneath = 3 squares)
Gain Shadow Walk (Concealment)

Standard Action: Dire Radiance vs Wyrmling 22
To Hit: 29 31 vs Fortitude (I miscounted my bonuses, it should actually be +12 to hit :P)
(1d20 +Cha:4, +Prime Shot: 1, +Expertise: 1, +Enhancement: 1, +Proficiency: 1, +Disquiet: 2, +Hidden Sniper: 2)
Primary Damage: 7 radiant
(1d6 Radiant +Cha: 4, +Enhancement: 1)
Effect: If Wyrmling 22 moves towards Willa it will take further damage:
Secondary Damage: 9 radiant
(1d6 Radiant +Cha: 4, +Enhancement: 1)

18:26, Today: Willa rolled 29 using 1d20+10.  Dire Radiance vs Wyrmling 22.
18:27, Today: Willa rolled 7 using 1d6+5.  1st Radiant Damage.
18:27, Today: Willa rolled 9 using 1d6+5.  2nd Radiant Damage.

This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Mon 21 Feb 2022.

Freezing - Grants Combat Advantage and suffers -2 to hit til after Wyrm 38's turn
F/R/W/AC - 18/16/13/18
Krath stumbled, whipping around at the chill spreading across his torso, firing upon the wyrmling that had frozen him.


HP: 40/51

Action: Longbow Shot
Target: Red 38
Move: Net 0
Attack: 24 on 1d20+8-2 vs AC; RBA
Hit: 12 on 1d10+8

If time auto-progresses:
Berzerker's Charge attack the nearest enemy (11+2 to hit, 2d4+1d8+11 damage, +2 move speed)
If no foe is reachable within 5+2+Reach squares, Total Defense)

The Ulh stumbled and slid after launching his druidic stones, using his staff to catch himself and immediately turning on a heel to return to the node (his stones whizzing back to his personage).  "How're we looking?" he asked the flower, despite its lack of answering any previous questions, he was hopeful that it would answer this one.

Standing just over the edge to scope the battlefield, he spotted a few that he might be able to do something about.  "My stones won't reach that far... but I know something that might," he decided, spinning his staff above his head to whip up a small wind storm, his robes and mane billowing around him.
"Rile and roil; tumult, turmoil; go forth, furious gale!"
A visible wind formed and followed the direction of his then pointing staff, striking at the Wyrmling with the vague form of a snake, and after swallowing it up, the stream continued to the lower level, mouth agape to unleash its fury at the second.  Its form gave way to a low-level twister, buffeting around the laser-snakes to hinder their attacks.


Move
Walk: 39BH->32BE

Standard
Power: Wind Wall
Targets: W28, W30
Attacks: 15, 9 vs Fort
Damage: 16, slide 3
Effect: The wall creates a zone (28AW-27AU-26AU-26AT-25AT-25AS-26AS-27AT) that lasts until the end of your next turn.  The zone grants superior cover against ranged attacks made through it that target AC or Reflex, namely, the Wyrmlings' ray attacks.

Phelan yelped and flattened himself on the ground as beams criss-crossed over his prone body. "How much longer?" He queried his partner who was currently interacting with the orb he was protecting. As the Narayah spoke his query, he fired another crossbow bolt at one of the Wyrmlings, quickly reloading after while he remained prone.

Standard Action: Magic Weapon
Target: Wyrmling 16
Attack: 25 vs AC
Hit: 13 damage

Minor: Reload

It turned out that Jubei's plan had... certain flaws, which wasn't exactly a new one. Though there was something to be said about the confusing verticality and his generally more cumbersome pace. Either way, he spun around to move in the hopes that he could contest one of the points swarmed by the wyrmlings right now.

Movement action: Run!
Also Climb!

AH-AI 28-29 -> AH-AI 22-23

Athletics check to climb: 4 using 1d20+2


Movement action: second climb!

Athletics check 4 using 1d20+2 ;w;

But alas, he failed to find a good grip on the edge to pull his oversized form up.

    Moonchild stands still as he continues to intone "...beneath, places, spaces, lost, forgotten, wilderness..."

  "Sir Jubei, may I inquery about your plans?" the faux golden flower hovering around Jubei asked him in a rumbling voice.  "Are you going to aid your ally on the floor?" the flower half tilted meaningfull towards Moonchild.

  Due to the deligent, and fortuitous attacks of the adventurers many more wyrmlings are felled and only a handful remain now.



  Despite their setbacks the wyrmlings continue to press their attack.

Wyrmling 28 flies from 28AW to 28AS and attacks Jubei with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 31 flies from 26AU to 23AQ and attacks Krath with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.


  The wyrmlings around Phelan continue to rain down their own barrage of cold beams.  Though only half of them catch the small narayan.

Wyrlming 31 attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrlming 32 attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrlming 33 attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrlming 34 attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and misses.


  The lone wyrmling flies out overhead and tries to hit Jubei with its green beam only to fail completely and the beam to strike wide of its intended target.

Wyrmling 39 moves from 12AN to 16AJ (maintaining its altitude) and attacks Jubei with Frightful Ray and misses.



    Phelan's companion and Krath's both announce, almost at exactly the same moment.  "Jobs done!"
  Each orb glow a brilliant white before a dusty beam of golden light fires from each orb and strikes the surface of the watery globe floating overhead.  Each beam sends ripples across the surface from where they penetrate and the globe of water.  Which had occassionally flash with a something not unlike lighting within now grew fierce.  As routine flashes flared from the murky depths and a bright light grew within.

  A deep, angry trumpet blared overhead.  An unfamiliar, feminine voice, almost toneless or perhaps bored, issued from the sky overhead.  "Anchors initialized.  Established Continuity contradicts desired input parameters by operator Clydine.  Attempting to resolve paradox by initiating Thereshold protocol.  Searching for possiblities to resolve paradoxes.  Please do not initiate any further changes to Continuity otherwise errors or damage may result."

  The great archways showing the endless sky beyond shimmered as curtains of indigo light appeared between them.

The Narayah was getting up even as beams criss-crossed about him, letting out a yelp as two collided. "Not done yet. Be ready." He murmured to his companion as he finished standing, then did a wild dash toward the next orb. "Jubei, I have this one. Cover Moonchild!" He called as he saw the behemoth lumbering up to the ledge.

His smaller size aided him as he dashed beneath one of the wyrmlings and did a dive by the next orb. "Now!"

Move: Stand

Standard->Move: Run U25->U24->AA18 (7 squares) possible OA from Wyrmling 31 (note +2 to AC vs OAs cancels out the CA from Run)

Free: Drop prone
This message was last edited by the player at 10:49, Thu 24 Feb 2022.

Willa watched awestruck as two of the orbs suddenly shot and channelled golden dusty beams into the great ball of water overhead.  It was very pretty!  She watched thoughtlessly for a few moments, before snapping back to her senses, suddenly sure she was about to be attacked.

But she wasn't.  There was only stillness around her.  Except for the tentacles of the Thwacken, swaying hypnotically, almost peacefully as they found themselves with no targets to bonk.

Eventually, she realised that there were no more Wyrm-things nearby, at least not for now.

Looking around , she thought her friends seemed to be fairing well.  All except for Phelan, who was...surrounded!  She gasped in alarm and almost threw herself forward, over the ledge to get to him.  Every instinct in her small body pushing her to his aid, but he was far to far away!  Plus flower-friend needed her to stay put.

She shook with concern for the pragmatic narayah, before noticing Jubei.  A lifeline!  He was close.  The great protector would sooner die than let anything happen to Phelan, of that she was certain.

Panic attack over, Willa deflated with the biggest sigh she'd ever sighed!  And, with nothing better to do, took some time to attend to her own injuries.  She also channelled some more arcane power to the Thwacken.  Both in thanks for its help so far and also because she felt comforted by its presence.  It seemed content.

OOC
Standard Action: Second Wind
Effect: Spend a healing surge to restore 12 hit points and gain +2 to all Defenses.

Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax:

Roll a d6. On a 1, remove one tentacle. On a 6, add one tentacle to an unoccupied square within 10 squares of you. If you have
one or more tentacles remaining, the effect persists until the end of your next turn. Otherwise, the effect ends.
Result: 3
11:11, Today: Willa rolled 3 using 1d6.  Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax.
Effect: No change

Move Action: Move to AK63 (2 squares)

Willa has +2 to defences until the start of her next turn

This message was last edited by the player at 11:23, Thu 24 Feb 2022.

Drex continues his decent, looking up he realized he his next to his goal. Doping his gear and reading himself.

Move Action: V-44 to Y-44

Move action: Climb down from Y-44 to Z-44
Athletics [Climbing]:17

Free action: Drop Climbing gear.

Minor action: Draw axe

The beams of light connecting at the center gave Gyr a sense of calm, if only because it was from the nodes that his companions had captured.  Having had no luck communicating as of yet, he once more asked of his guide, "How's that going?"  Either way, he was stuck there for the time being and returned to the safety of the stairs.

Move
32BE->33BG

Standard
Full defense

Luckily, Jubei heard Phelan and nodded, then abandoned his attempts to climb back up and instead made his way along the side of the ring, in order to provide cover for Moonchild by flinging his javelin another wyrmling.

Movement Action:
AH-AH 22-23 to AN-AO 25-26

Standard Action: Ranged Basic Attack
Target: Wyrmling 30
Attack: 21 vs AC
Damage: 6

Minor Action: Divine Challenge
Target: Wyrmling 28

F/R/W/AC - 18/16/13/18
Krath shrugged off the chill from Wyrmling 31, shooting at Wyrmling 28, moving in as the arrow whizzed past.


HP: 40/51
Action: Longbow Shot
Target: Blue 28
Move: Drop a level (Athletics of 22) AQ16/AR17->AQ19/AR20
Attack: 11 on 1d20+8 vs AC; RBA
Hit: 13 on 1d10+8

If time auto-progresses:
Berzerker's Charge attack the nearest enemy (11+2 to hit, 2d4+1d8+11 damage, +2 move speed)
If no foe is reachable within 5+2+Reach squares, Total Defense)

    With only a handful of wyrmlings remaining to be taken care off the battle seems all but won.  Moonchild is appears to be halfway through his spell, intonning "...borrow, call, draw, spring, pattern, piece, whole, song..." the air above Moonchild shimmers, then splits open a dark crack containing oily darkness.

  Gyr's orb shone and shot its own golden beam towards the great globe overhead.  "Wouldn't you know it I've just finished my work!  Lets get another one!" the little soprano bubbled.

  Drex's flowery companion spun off towardst he nearby orb and began its work, leaving a magical trail of golden dust in the air around the orb as flower turned.  "Thiswon'teventakeaminute!" the baritone rushed.

  Willa's orb did the same as Gyr's, the motes of glowing dust dancing around the.  "Uhm.  We can move on.  I've-uh finished working on this one." the contralto almost whispered.

  Phelan's companion notes as they approach his second orb "Fortunately we've gotten to this one before the wyrmlings made much progress.  So there should only be a slightly delay, compared to the first one, as I undo their design."


  A wyrmling which had been harrassing Jubei is struck down the the holy light of his divine challenge as it changes the target of its attacks to Krath.

Wyrmling 28 flies from 28AS to 24AW and climbs one square higher in the air, then attacks Krath with Freezing Ray consequently triggering Iron Jubei's Divine Challenge dealing 6 damage to the wyrmling, destorying it.


  The remaining wyrmlings converge on Phelan, despite their many attacks they only score two hits on him.

Wyrmling 31 attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 32 moves from 28U to 24U and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and misses.
Wyrmling 33 moves from 28R to 24S and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 34 attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and hits dealing 5 cold damage.
Wyrmling 39 moves from 17AJ to 16AF and attacks Phelan with Freezing Ray and misses.



    "Additional anchors stabilized.  Narrowing possibilities, please stand by for causal fracture." that same femine voice from earlier spoke again.  As the orbiting spheres began to glow brightly.  Strange reflections appearing on their surfaces.


This message was last edited by the GM at 20:25, Mon 28 Feb 2022.

Phelan grunted as icy beams landed all about him, two making direct hits. He looked himself over, checking his condition. With a nod, he sighted his crossbow before firing at the isolated wyrmling. Following that, he reloaded his crossbow before opening another vial and letting the magical energy restore his vitality.

Standard: Magic Weapon
Target: Wyrmling 39
Attack: 27 vs AC
Hit: 10 damage

Minor: Reload

Minor: Healing Infusion: Curative Admixture
Effect: Heal for Surge+3

At her flower's words, Willa took off at a sprint.  It look like Phelan might be in trouble and though he was far away, she could not, not try, could she?

As she slipped around, she also gave the Thwacken its due.

OOC
Move Action: Run to AB60 (AK63 > AB60 = 9 spaces)

Standard to Move Action: Run to S55 (AB60 > S55 = 9 spaces)

Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax:

Roll a d6. On a 1, remove one tentacle. On a 6, add one tentacle to an unoccupied square within 10 squares of you. If you have
one or more tentacles remaining, the effect persists until the end of your next turn. Otherwise, the effect ends.
Result: 4
14:41, Today: Willa rolled 4 using 1d6.  Sustain Minor: Tentacles of Cryonax.
Effect: Power continues


Willa Gains Shadow Walk, but also grants Combat Advantage

This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Tue 01 Mar 2022.

A greater sigh of relief left Gyr's lips as the node burst into radiant satisfaction.  "Great!" he exulted and used his psychokinetic tendril to further congratulate the soprano flower, "No time to catch our breath, I'm afraid, we've still plenty of work to do!"

With his staff secured in his battle harness and his robes cinched up to give his legs all the room they'd need, the Ulh was on his toes and vaulting up the stairs three at a time.  The deer-like grace of his ancestry's other half shone once more to carry him to that distant light node (freshly evacuated of any bothersome wyrmlings).

Minor
A psychic pat on the back for the golden flower

Move
Run: 33BG->41BG

Standard>>Move
Run: 41BG->50BF
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 04:32, Wed 02 Mar 2022.

F/R/W/AC - 18/16/13/18
Running: -5 to attack rolls, Granting Combat advantage til the start of his next turn
Krath shrugged off the chill from Wyrmling 31, shooting at Wyrmling 28, moving in as the arrow whizzed past.

<Pink>
HP: 40/51
Move: 5ft
Action: Run
Total: 5+5+2 from AQ19/AR20->AY31/AZ32

If time auto-progresses:
Berzerker's Charge attack the nearest enemy (11+2 to hit, 2d4+1d8+11 damage, +2 move speed)
If no foe is reachable within 5+2+Reach squares, Total Defense)

Jubei was far too much out of position to do anything of value right now, as such he decided to move back and assist Moonchild, who would require some healing attention in a moment.

Movement Action: Run
AN-AO 25-26 to AH-AI 24-25

2nd Movement Action: Run
AH-AI 24-25 to AK-AL 31-32

    "...cleave, render, break, exhange, through, beyond, hereto..." Moonchild's droning incantation continues.  The dark crack spreading into a thin, horizontal line.  Though distracted by the battles nearby Jubei could suddenly feel something looking at him.  That something was the darkness that made up...whatever it was Moonchild was conjuring.

[Jubei you may roll Insight on this gaze to try and gain, no pun intended, some insight on its thoughts and maybe intentions.]

  Phelan's target shattered, not unlike glass, as his bolt struck it.  Sending pieces of the wyrmling flying.  Those quickly turned to sparks in turn and vanished barely a moment later.

  Willa felt a sudden, growing knot in her stomach, and a feeling of displacement.  Flickering glimpses.  She felt almost like she was standing in the hall of mirrors again but something was very different about it.

[Willa you may roll Perception to try and figure out what you are feeling.]

  Gyr's companion spun away as he could feel something not quite there, almost like a sponge, pressing against his psychic tendril.

  "The Work is Completed." the tight meso-soprano announced from the orb beside Moonchild as a dusty beam of golden light shines upward into the great globe overhead.

  A crackle shrieked overhead.  The remaining wyrmlings turned in upon themselves, as though they were collapsing, vanishing from sight.  A black diamond, and a familiar golden flower both shot out, on different sides of the lower hemisphere of the globe.  Soft music trilled from the flower and thunder crackled from the crystal.

Between the Roots and the Brances:The party recieves 375 Experience Points (325 for the Combat Encounter and 50 for Completing your Objective).

[Unless I am mistaken this would mean you have enough experience points to level up to 6 after this encounter?]

  "I fear we have all been decieved." the returned flower half-shouted to be heard.  The black diamond shot towards one of the gossamer curtains which covered the archways leading out of the chamber.  Only to bounch off it like a pebble thrown at a stone wall.  Causing it to almost crash near Phelan's position.

  "Deception would require intention and malice on our part Lumnerus." a voice like the bellows of a great forge exhaled from the watery globe overhead.  "Your actions merely provided an opportunity.  Clydine and your were so busy trying to combat each other you didn't even consider the possiblity that we might not have any trouble with eliminate both you and these troublesome Materials simultaneously."

  "So you intend to use the Tree to remove us?" the small golden flower sang up at the watery sphere.

  "We will restore unity!" the other voice bellowed from above.  "For far, far too long the both of you have not only fractured our people with your concerns for the trivial affairs of Materials but your actions have exposed our existence on multiple occassions to potentially hostile entities!  We can't allow your efforts to continue any longer!" the voice overhead almost roared painfully.  It wasn't hard to sense the self-righteous indignation being expressed by whoever was speaking from within that great globe.

  The flower began its singing reply when things seemed to drag to a halt, the moment seemed to stretch out to infinity as you felt yourself standing in two places at once.  Like a waking dream.  In that otherplace, familiar yet you can't quiet describe it you were sitting comfortably.  And Amare was serving you tea.  The entire party was there, all comfortably seated on pillows or chairs.
  "I'm sorry to drag you out like this." Amare said as he held the tray aloft with unseen hands and prepared your drink.  "But we needed to talk and plan for what lies ahead." he added stiring your tea.  "Please take a moment though to catch your breaths."

10:31, Today: Iron Jubei rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Insight Check.

Jubei looked rather incredulous at what was happening, and seemed a little stunned when they found themselves suddenly drawn to some tea and possibly cookies. He stood there for a brief moment, before he shook his head clear.

"So what happened?" he eventually asked then, "We played into the enemy's hand?"

All at once Willa's attention was torn in multiple directions.  First and foremost was her concern for Phelan, but with the imploding of the wyrm-things, she thought he would be safe and felt relief for that.  Then there was the fact they had apparently won - that was great!  She'd never won at a sport before!  Not that she'd ever really been allowed to play one before either....No one ever wanted an umbrean on their team.  Also, some sort of argument or discussion was going on overhead, which seemed important, but she didn't really understand any of it.  Her Thwacken was departing for voidy-shores unknown, so she quickly thanked that, wished it good luck and waved it on its way.  A black crystal had started whizzing and bouncing and crashing about.  She'd certainly like to know what that was and maybe add it to her collection later.  Then her gut felt funny, in a way she wasn't really sure about.  She took a moment to try and figure out why.  Perhaps this is what winning felt like?  If so, she hadn't yet made up her mind if she liked it or not.  Maybe it grew on you and became better later on?  She'd heard people say beer could be like that.  Food was weird...But at least this was something new!  And then...

"Amare!"  Willa shouted tearfully.

OOC
Not sure if the perception check should be made before or after the level up:

Perception: 19 (18 if made before level up)

10:02, Today: Willa rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Perception - Willa's Gut Feeling.

    Amare, apparently completely unfettered knelt down and gave the little umbrean a hug while the tea was preparing itself it would seem. "You're doing well!" he remarked a little cheekily at Willa.  His smile dispelling any actual cheek.

  Whatever it was that had been looking at him, Jubei felt it not only saw him, but it also looked right through him.  As if it knew everything about the kaetyma.

  Willa's had realized, before Amare's telepathy had swept them away, was that the glimpses she had seen were reflections.  That was the reason for the sense of a hall of mirrors.  Those reflection nearest to her looked much like she did but those further away looked a little different.  Some dressed differently or had slightly different colours or materials to either their clothing or their bodies.  There was however still something fundamentally 'Willa' about these reflections which she couldn't truly define to herself.
  What had shaken her stomach, and this was a sense that came up from her feet, was that she shouldn't be able to see what she had just glimpsed.  No should, that was what the Floor was for after all!  Keep things from getting mixed up.  But something had carefuly made holes in the floor.  And through those holes came water.  In this place-that-was-not-a-place (her feet told her), she felt a chill (also from her feet, which were quiet wet and annoyed about all this water).  Something was about to go horribly wrong.

  But whatever that would be, Amare had borrowed some time before that horrible moment arrived.  "To answer your question Jubei. We're caught in an internal conflict of a group of beings I refer to as the Walkers.  You've met them before, you've seen them in many places.  The narayah call them the White Stone Civilization.  The ones who built the Conduit at Kyssea.  The very same beings ones who built the strange stone edifices of Galdion and many other relics like it beside."  Amare explained.

  "And to answer you next question, they intend to prevent you from having come here in the first place.  By altering events in the past through this profane machine they have created.  Its both clever and worrisome that such a thing has been allowed, or, has escaped the notice of the denizens of the deep." Amare added.

  "We are however, not powerless, you may have noticed Moonchild isn't here. Well that is because what he has been doing is using the enemy's own tools against them.  The veils that separate past, present and future here are very thin.  Thin enough that, with a little magic, one could borrow something from somewhere and somewhen else. He's been conjuring the Instrument of Transubstantiation, that which has authority over destruction itself.  Moonchild will use the Instrument at the critical moment to destroy this Tree of Possibilities before it can cause any real damage to events." Amare paused to open a jar of cookies.  They smelled warmed and recently baked and reminded you of your favourite cookies.

  He quickly dolled out a few cookies to each of you.  "Tell me, Phelan, are you familiar with - I believe the idea is called something like a 'Time Storm' by your people?" Amare asked.

Willa went rigid in Amare's hug.  Touching was not something that generally turned out well for her.  People nearly always got angry at getting gloopy.  And it was embarrassing for her to make them so.  However, as Amare pulled away and she nervously looked him over, she noted that she had not left a single drop of slime on his person.  Sighing with relief and realising that this somehow both was and wasn't real, she looked up at him once more.  Her understanding of the situation left her confused.  Happy but sad at the same time.  Bittersweet.  Then a thought occurred to her.

"Uh, M..master Amare.  Willa not find lake of gold yet.  Sorry."  She looked a little crestfallen.  "But am trying!  And still looking be!  Promise to find and make you non-stone!"

Then, after Amare's ensuing explanation of 'current' events, a question came to Willa.  A very specific one full of a comprehension that she does not normally exhibit when discussions turned away from the 'normal' and 'mundane' to more abstract scenarios.

"Uh, if can to borrow from other, uh times, can get to keep?  Is possible to have for all time?"

For some reason she suddenly looked full of hope and apprehension.

Phelan had been taking a moment to compose himself from the fight when time slowed to a halt. He let Willa have her moment, the poor Umbrean looked like she sorely needed it. "That flower, I assume it is a representative of one of the Walker factions, one that does not want the past altered." He mused aloud, giving a wry look to Amare. "Not all of them are likely tricksters, given what you've mentioned now and to me in the past. Though I can't tell which has eyes on the device."

He listened further to Amare, looking increasingly worried, and went very still at the phrase 'Time Storm'. "... Yes I am familiar with it. I've been very worried we were going to see it, given the state of this location. At the Academy, the general advice was to not be in. I happen to prefer existing." The Narayah looked directly at Amare. "We really can't afford this happening. Yes we might be able to pull through, if we find the Eye, the cause, and remove it. Assuming we don't all vanish from existence first or similar. There are... Options if needed to make it work but that's such a huge risk. If it's inevitable, then I will have to ask you a favour, Amare and neither of us are going to like it or the necessity thereof."

He looked at the others. "Temporal theory amongst the Narayah is that all times are 'real'. There is no stream of time, each instant is happening at the same time. There is only the present, and it changes. There is no 'past' or 'future'. Which explains a good bit about you." He threw at Amare. "Regardless. Amare's hinting at what happens if all of the 'present' moments happen at once. The energy of all the fluctuations of this results in a 'storm', thus the name. It's dangerous for obvious reasons."

"As for your question, Willa. It's absolutely possible, though it can be risky. It's best to take something you know you had in another present."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:59, Fri 04 Mar 2022.

Hearing Phelan's answer, made Willa's eyes pop out of her head.  Somewhat literally as her eyestalks, that she kept hidden to maintain a more humanoid appearance threatened to make an appearance.

She inhaled loudly in shock, then threw her arms in the air and shouted out:

"WE CAN SAVE AVIANA!"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Fri 04 Mar 2022.

Phelan winced slightly, though it was obviously not at the volume of the shout. "... No, we can't. Not the Aviana we met. Not the Aviana of our present. Our efforts would save an Aviana, but she would still be dead in our present." His voice was gentle as he spoke, the bearer of bad news. "We cannot change the past. We can take from it, but we cannot change it."

Willa's elation was short lived.  Her joy suddenly cracked and all life drained away from her face.  She shrunk down into her armour and fought back a flood of tears as emotions she thought she'd overcome before had suddenly come surging back.

Some time passed with Willa in silence, but despite her grief, she hadn't been wallowing in pity.  Not entirely anyway.  She still *felt* that she could do something.  Finally, after putting what disparate pieces of understanding of the subject she had together, she formulated an idea and, with a huge lump in her throat, asked one last question:

"B...but what about Aviana's soul?  It...it wasn't there.   Was gone.  M..maybe because we al..already t...took it?  Is okay?  Makes sense?  Is possible?  Could to save it from Big Bad Voice in Darkness Soulstealer Hecatomb eating?  Not to devoured be?  Maybe, maybe then to find new body for?"

Phelan was already shaking his head. "Her soul is not an object that can be brought through time. Even if it was, it wasn't of our possession and pulling it through would make the time storm even worse." The tone of his voice hadn't changed, and his face was sad. "I'm sorry, Willa."

Willa sniffed and fell down onto a cushion she knew wasn't really there and just quietly whimpered:

"Oh.  Okay..."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:41, Fri 04 Mar 2022.

    To Phelan's discussion of the Walker's Amare said "It would appear that they are all indeed Walkers and are not as unified as they had once been.  I can only guess what may have caused such a schism.  My own information of their kind is aeons out of date and they appear to have changed considerably somewhere in the last few millennia.  Their Empty Mirror may be able to explain that as their kinds are connected.  But that is a concern for another day.  If there is a group of their kind interested in aiding you, for whatever their own ends may be for the time being, it would be in your best interest to take advantage of them."

  Amare's sorrowful expression was clear as he looked over at Willa "Phelan is largely correct Willa.  You are at a moment where you can glimpse why I can't share everything I would like to and why I can't simple act as I might want to either.  Though from my own position, and points you will have access to, things can be...nudged." Amare added after Phelan had spoken.

For perhaps the first in a long time, the Ulh examined the tip of his own psychokinetic tendril (like some newborn cub only just realizing it existed); what an unusual thing he just felt...

The voices boomed overhead and so his antlered noggin turned in address, ears flicking at the discussion of reality itself.  His eyes then snapped to each of his comrades, distant... and then immediately nearby... yet not.  There sat Amare.

Well, "sat".  What else can one really "do" in a telepathic commune except "be".  Gyr was no stranger to such things, after all, Ulh were naturally telepathic and the most powerful and trained elders could bring in several others simultaneously ("several" in this case being two or three) but only the willing.  It was an an excellent way to communicate privately, over long distances, and to train the minds of Ulh cubs to not broadcast every fleeting thought or feeling.  There was one time when Gyr's father yanked the entirety of his brothers from all over the airborne ranch -- unwillingly and for a few seconds -- to bellow at all of them in the angriest they'd ever seen him; it damn near killed him.

Gyr peered at Amare from under the edge of his headband, absorbing every sight and smell that he could.  It was beautiful; not only did his mind tell him it was "beautiful" but it was all genuinely beautiful.  His jaw clenched.  And then his nostrils caught a whiff of those cookies, those divine cookies, his favorite in all the world... it set his face to stone if only because it was a recipe that his grandmother took to the grave with her, and try though she might, his mother could never properly replicate.  Yet there it was, sitting before him, fresh out of the oven.

He and Iron Jubei had already conversed with this "Amare", or a shadow thereof tucked neatly into a corner of Moonchild's mind, and the only revelation was that there was still so much more hidden.  So, for the first time since the dinner with Lord Jubjub, the Ulh's mouth moved with masterful purpose and intent, his very audible voice the peak of articulation and projection in that telepathic commune with only a charming hint of an Ulhai accent.

"Who are you?"

[For dramatic effect, and to expound on the nature of a telepathic commune, the party is keenly aware of Gyr's inner monologue and the information therein.  Not that they "heard" any of it, only that they can read Gyr's narrative box text.]

Krath, for his part, was merely looking around, head aching as he was astounded by what he could see even as their very nature offended the reality of his Present.
As he made a sweeping look to the right, his eyes met with the gaze of another Musadi, one wielding a scimitar and Scale armor. He jumped, as much as one can in these circumstances; this was HIM. But... not him?
Something told him this was a VERY similar 'Present...'

    "I thought he had-" Amare looked over at Phelan then realization dawned on his face. "Oh yes you cut off before the end of Volon's story back during the dinner party at the weyr.  Probably didn't help that Lord Jub Jub showed up as well at the time so the discussion of some history appears to have slipped your minds." Amare shook his head.

  "It would take too long to explain Gyr so I'll try and keep it short, simple and to the point.  I'm an agent of the one who sired the beings who in a very real sense made Ancerenth.  Colossi, such as Volon, are effectively my cousins.  Which in turn means everyone here, with the sole exception of Willa." Amare smiled a little ruefully at her.  "Means all of you are effectively my distant, blood relations." To emphasis his point he held up his left hand and the entire hand turned into a mass of radiant blood which then returned to human form a moment later.  After he finished speaking, Amare paused to let what he'd said sink in.

  "I'm here to find my brothers and sisters.  The three of five who survived the War our Father warned them not to get involved in.  Typically that would not be a problem but the mechanism connecting our two realms.  A well of sorts.  Lost its connection.  The Far Gods, on our behalf, provided a means of access but only a single agent could be sent.  I was created to be that agent." Amare added after a while.

  "Those of you who where are at Kyssea should remember the magnitude of the gateway which had to be created to provide me entry.  The Far Gods spent millenia preparing the rite and for the last few centuries their clergy had to provide aid to the final steps.  That's why the Far Gods returned in such force at the same time as my own arrival." Amare finished.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:11, Sun 06 Mar 2022.

Gyr's face lightened; it did not brighten, but the shade over his eyes lessened.  "That's making sense," he said with minimal concern.  It was then that he noticed the other warrior in their midst to whom Krath seemed suddenly so interested and blatantly wondered who that could be... while savoring one of the provided cookies.  The cookie was as delicious as he remembered.

Jubei himself seemed strangely absent, if not in body so at least in mind. The kaetyma stared into some indeterminate distance, while the corners of his mouth twitched. It was hard to tell if he was smirking or baring his teeth at whatever he 'saw'.

After a moment, he shook his head clear and blinked a few times, before he looked to Amare,
"So... our next step is to 'nudge things' in order to make this... Tree of Possibilities undone? How do we go about this, I reckon our window of opportunity will be rather narrow, else you would not have brought us here to discuss it first."

    "You'll have to gather yourselves around Moonchild.  And make sure none of you are caught in the vortex around the chamber when he strikes with the Instrument at the machine overhead.  Yes it may appear to be made of water but is indeed a mechanism, one made of the ephemeral stuff of reality itself.  Turned in and out upon itself many, many times until it reaches through the world like the roots of a tree.  Once the mechanism has been struck you will only have a break moment before it detonates which is where you come in Phelan." Amare looked over at the narayan.

  "You will need to use the teleportation engine escape the area.  Return yourselves to where you had been or even try and ask the Walkers controlling it to take you were you need to go this will not be a request they would refuse from you at this time.  Something for you to contemplate though, is that those who control your teleportation engine Phelan, appear to have taken a liking to you.  I am aware that they've taken steps to bring to fruition things that would, from their perspective at least, make you happy." Amare said with a quirk of a smile at Phelan.

Krath looked around, then jumped as he heard a serpentine voice echoing across the gathered space.
"What guarantees do we have that the reality they return us to will be our own? I meam, there are two forces trying to mess with the device; how can we be sure that the other side won't mess with our transport out?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Mon 07 Mar 2022.

"And what about the moon at large? Will the Umbreans also experience this storm? Is there a means to warn them?" Jubei asked a little oblivious at first at the new voice, before he blinked and looked into its direction. "What?"

    Amare looked at Jubei.  "Remember what I said about the veil between different times being thin here?  This communication exists in the mental plane which exist as part of the material world.  Anything that effects the material world effects this realm as well.  What you are hearing is the voice of another adventurer, like yourselves, who are in another time and place parallel to this moment." Amare explained.

  "And I will share with you what I answered of his question as well.  The teleportation engine Phelan carries is the dominion of another group of Walkers.  If they had wished any of you ill they would have acted long before you had gotten this far.  I had seen possibilities where they provided more aid, but only if you took the initiative.  There are some things they would be willing to do for you, you would only need to ask.  It was one such event at the gates of the weyr, which you had not taken, which threw my own awareness into disarray as your actions changed your relative position to my own in the temporal landscape.  Shifting things around so much that you had made me, in essence, dizzy." Amare finished.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:14, Sun 13 Mar 2022.

Jubei let out a snort and nodded.

"Right, so we don't have to worry about the moon, good. We just need to get out of this labyrinth thing then and hopefully find ourselves infront of the vault we were going for," he seemed to ponder for a moment, before he gave a shrug. "Well, I'm ready for it, as ready as can be."

"Amare has nailed the explanation. Essentially there are different 'presents' that are going to merge with ours if this continues. The effects will create a literal storm, which we will need to make sure we survive. It seems Moonchild is going to detonate the cause, which is one less task for us. We just need to survive and escape." He paused as he brought out the engine.

"Which is where this comes into play. I've been using it sparingly because I don't want to need it and not have it. Now is very much a time to need it. With their help, we should be able to get where we need to be." He cast his eyes down to the artifact briefly.

"We only need to complete a few objectives once time resumes. We need to join Moonchild and ensure that the Tree is struck. If Moonchild is unable, one of us will have to. Once that happens, we immediately will leave - so I would recommend we position around Moonchild so I can activate the Engine and take us out. Questions?"

Willa spoke up, her voice small.

"What...what about Kylin?  Is not here too?  Also, how to stuck tree?"

Gyr seemed to space out far more than usual... as though he was there but not there there (and having quite a time about it)...

    Amare spoke to Willa briefly "There will be a moment, you will know it when it happens.  You'll be in a place that is and isn't a place.  You'll see reflections of yourself.  And there will be a song you've heard before.  That music is in your bones.  Let it guide you to the answers you seek.",


  "If you are prepared." Amare sipped from his teacup.  "I'll return you to the waking world."

Unsure whether anything she did here would have an impact on how she found herself back there, Willa stood up, dropped her visor and drew her rod.  It was not assertively done, more rote.

She sniffed a little from behind the metal plate.

"Bye Amare.  Willa find you Golden Pool as soon as can!"

She wanted to promise him everything would be okay, but she hadn't been able to keep the last big promise she made...
This message was last edited by the player at 18:24, Sun 13 Mar 2022.

    "One more thing before I send you off." Amare said as he rose from his chair and went over to a bookcase from which he retrieved a small box, no larger than five inches on a side.  It was wrapped with a small red bow and bound in a green cloth.

  "Moonchild doesn't know the interior like I do, and I will admit my own memory can be a little messy due to my chronic agony.  So this solves all those problems and others besides.  You'll find it in your pack on waking." Amare said and smiled as he handed the small wrapped box to Willa.

  "There is also a note in the box which will tell you all you'll need to know about it.  Take a look at it once you have some time to rest after the coming ordeal." he added, still smiling.

  Amare let everyone finish their tea and a sad smile goodbye the familiar surroundings you couldn't quiet describe vanished in a blink of an eye and you stood again, where really you had been standing this entire time.

  Moonchild's chant finished. "...beckon, become!"  There was a scream beyond hearing.  Not something you heard through your ears but something that resonated through your bones.  It was a hungry, triumphant scream, of some terrible predator who's just about to leap upon its prey.
  Darkness had flashed across the chamber and been drawn into the length of the weapon Moonchild had conjured.  It danced and curled around the length it.
  Light shone around rather then reflecting off of it.  Giving the impression of a faint halo, which only made the whole thing look flat and featureless.  As if it  was the silhouette of some great big fish swimming just below the surface of reality, the bulk of it obscured by less obvious dimensions.  Yet the way Moonchild's hand held it suggested it definitely had volume.
  What little you could see of the weapon beneath the oily darkness gathered around it, suggested a simple, yet elegantly designed glaive.
  You had the uncomfortable feeling that you were looking at Death given form.  There was a sense that it was looking right at you with unseen eyes, that it was examining each of you in turn.  There was no malice there, nothing evil, only that which brought other things to an end.  Clearly it had been instructed that you were not the targets of it's wielder's wroth but cared not one way or the other.  It was a weapon, and it wanted to be used.  Not needlessly but with purpose.

  The Walkers, as Amare had named them, didn't appear to notice the effects of the strange weapon Moonchild now wielded.  Of course, for some of you there was a little voice in the back of your head that said "Of course they didn't see it, because that's what it wanted you to see."

  The air itself was electric with anticipation.  You had a little forewarning but you would only have a little time to act before the storm erupted through the chamber.

[You may take one action before the storm begins.]

F/R/W/AC - 18/16/13/18
Running: -5 to attack rolls, Granting Combat advantage til the start of his next turn
Krath jerked as he was returned to the waking, time-bound world. He turned towards the center, launching himself and catchjng his long body in a surprisingly acrobatic roll, avoiding taking damage from such a leap.


HP: 40/51
Action: Run+Jump (Athletics 10/10= 1 square)
Total: 5+2 from AY31/AZ32->AS34/AT35
Jump Damage: 1d10- (Acrobatics roll 21, /2) = 0 Fall Damage

Willa, though expecting the return was still bewildered by the experience.  She knew enough to realise that she needed to climb down to get to Moonchild, but was too disorientated to find a safe route.  Her grip slips and is accompanied by a startled "Eep" before a small, unflattering splat can be heard around the room.

OOC
15:45, Today: Willa rolled 9 using 1d20+4.  Athletics - Descending.
Walla falls into space u55

1d10 fall damage: 10
15:34, Today: Willa rolled 2 using 1d10.  Ker-SPLAT!
16:44, Today: Willa rolled 8 using 1d10.  Splatmore.

This message was last edited by the player at 16:44, Tue 22 Mar 2022.

Drex knows what to do. His muscles tenses as he sprints towards the steps leading down to the center where Moonchild is standing.

Move Action: Run (8 squares)
Moves form: AA-44 to AI-45

Phelan had forgotten he was on the ground and cursed to himself as he took the time to get up, knowing he really only had a chance to do that before things got started. He was going to need to get busy before long.

Move Action: Stand up

Gyr snapped back to reality with a wobble and a groan.  Any available cognition was spent confirming the light nodes status with the golden flower; as it was no longer needed, the Ulh hiked up his robes dashed back to the stairs.

Move
Run: 50BF->59BG

    The air erupted with sparks and a gale.  A silver-blue vapour, bleed from the air itself and was blasted about.  The Time Storm was upon you.


  Near the adventurers caught in the storm, the air boiled and spat out a black, metalic mass, of shimmering spirals.  It flowed over the ground, slowly seeking out the adventurers with tendrils which looked as hard a steel one moment then shimmer like a mirage the next.  The interior of the metalic mass formed large whorls which looked almost like hives from which a bright blue light shone.


  Moonchild looked around at the adventurers.  Spotting the dark masses his glowing eyes drew up in confusion.

[There is an active Battlefield Effect noted here and in the Campaign Book. Time Storm: Anyone who starts their turn in the storm takes 5 points of force damage and is Slowed until the end of their next turn.  Before the end of their turn any creature who's size is Small or less must make a saving throw or be slid three squares counter-clockwise around the eye of the storm.
Visibility within the storm is reduced, so anyone in the storm has Concealment.]


  Something which was and wasn't winded batted against the adventurers out in the storm.  Green lightening flashed across one side of the chamber and hit a piece of stone causing a small explosion and sending chunks of rock spiraling into the air.

F/R/W/AC - 18/16/13/18
Running: -5 to attack rolls, Granting Combat advantage til the start of his next turn
Slowed (EoNT) - Speed is 2
Krath hissed his displeasure at the storm, leaping through into the safe zone, trying to repeat his feat of acrobatic prowess. He lept twice as far... but landed easily twice as hard.


HP: 40-(5+3)=32/51
Action: Run+Jump (Athletics 27/10= 2 squares)
Total: 2+2 from AS34/AT35->AN34/AO35
Jump Damage: 2d10- (Acrobatics roll 8/2) = 7-4=3 Fall Damage
This message was last edited by the player at 17:38, Tue 22 Mar 2022.

Willa had to fight to get up.  Really fight.  Not only was she in more physical pain than she had felt for quite some time, but the winds themselves seemed to be particularly adamant about her staying down.  So it was with some pride that she was finally able to stand.  However, her accomplishment was short-lived.  The bullying winds instantly finding a new way to torment her haggard body.  Her pliant form an apparently perfect target for their games.  She was almost immediately flattened and inverted by their relentless bludgeoning.

Billowing out like a ship's sail, Willa found herself being unceremoniously shoved around the theatre.  It was all she could do just to maintain a modicum of control.

OOC
Start of Turn:
5 Force Damage and Slowed

Move Action:
Stand Up

Additional:
Saving throw vs Forced movement:
Failed Voluntarily
Effect:
Slid 3 squares anti-clockwise to X56

Standard Action to Move Action:
Move 2 spaces to Z56
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Tue 22 Mar 2022.

The winds howled in no natural way.  As it had been, any he could hope to reach was far beyond his capabilities, especially with so tremendous a gale as battered them all.  The only hope was to reach the eye of the storm and weather its duration there, with any luck, they'll have all made it and aid could be provided as needed.  He watched from afar as Willa, an acorn against a hurricane, scurried with all her might and damn the consequence.  Gyr bolstered himself and crouched to the lower profile of his bestial form, running toward the stairs to ready himself for a leap onto the tier below.

Damage
5 force

Minor
Wild Shape

Move
Run: 33BG->37BH

Standard>>Move
Walk: 37BH->35BG

Damage:5 Force and slowed until end of next turn.

Drex decends lower on the stairs just outside the storms reach. Keeping an eye on Willa, she will need help. Where is Phelan in this storm, he remembers that he is on the opposite side of where Drex is.

Move Action: AI-45 to AI-44

The small Narayah said something incredibly impolite as he was blown about by the winds, using it to his advantage as he was thrown closer to the stairs. He took the chance to run down them, going down a level and getting ready to clamber down the next. He needed to get to the middle as soon as possible to pull this off. So much to do, so little time.

OOC: 5 force damage, slowed until next turn.
Forced movement: AA18->AD18

Move: Run AD18->AG18->AH17
Standard: Run AH17->AH21

Jubei's feathers rose and he let out as snarl as he quickly tried to get a grasp of the situation. Most of his allies were still out there and he could barely see them through the storm.

"Krath, help Gyr if you can!" he spoke and motioned into the direction of the Uhl as he made his way into Willa's direction instead, and met Drex on the stairs.

Run action:
AK-AL 31-32 to AK-AL 37-38

Standard to movement Run Action:

AK-AL 37-38 to AG-AH 43-44