For the first time EVER... Lady Isile gets a null result from her spell. Thinking at first that she might have miscast the spell somehow or that something disrupted it, she soon realizes that she did get a result--it was just an 'empty' result. It requires something living to sense the surroundings and do the whispering.

There is nothing alive here--no people, no animals, no insects, no plants... not even fungi, mosses or lichens. It's not quite sterile but the unseen world is... suppressed. It takes a full ten minutes before her senses begin to register... something.

It takes awhile before she further realizes that it is the wind. As harsh and unforgiving as the land may be, it does not extend into the skies. The wind still blows across the land, though no birds bother coming this way any more, as there is nothing for them to feed on, not even water to drink.

The wind tells her this is a land of death; only dead things can be found here.

The land to the east is hurt. Those lines are rifts, great scars torn into the earth by some malevolent force, ripped asunder by gigantic claws, though she can't even fathom a creature so large it could do such a thing. It would dwarf even a dragon.

The wind also carries a faint glimmer of hope in the nebulous trace of green things and life far to the east. More than that seems to be sapped out of the very air by the land beneath.

In a whirlpool of blackness, there is a speck of gray at the center. Lady Isile realizes this must be the Orc stronghold, a lesser blackness in a vast expanse of deeper blackness.

While the spell leaves her with a vast sense of emptiness that soon passes, she also realizes that had the devastation not happened so long ago, it would have been far worse for her.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:50, Mon 12 Feb 2018.

Lady Isile had tears running down her face at the end of the spell, it only showed her horror that happened to the land and wondered if it could be ever healed.  Most scars leave a mark but in time heal, could that happen here she wondered but by the stench of death in the air she didn't think so.

"This place is not a place I would ever wish to live in.  I can feel a slight glimmer of home in the East but the rest of the land is dead.  Plain dead.

What kind of creature can leave scars like that in the land? she asked Radagast.

She would share what information she collected to everyone.

The utter lack of life other than themselves was oppressive to Anira as well and she reached out to touch Lady Isile's shoulder, trying to comfort her though there was no true comfort in a place like this.  "Well we know the Entwives won't be here so the quicker we get through here, the better.  I say once we get a good rest, we teleport ourselves as much as possible to get through here."

She hesitated, looking to Radagast.  She had never questioned him before but she couldn't suppress the shudder that went through her.  "Are you sure we should try to make contact with the orcs?  Maybe would could try to circumvent them ... get through the area and hopefully to a more living environment?"  She was more than ready to go inside their little save haven, to pour through the books they had borrowed.

"No, I'm not sure of anything," Radagast answers, "except that I'm not sure. Of that, I am sure!"

He's trying to lighten the mood.

"This is all new to me, too. I've felt the oppressiveness of this area since we entered it. You may have a point about the Ent-wives not being here. Are you positive that they can't be down at the bottom of those giant claw marks?"

"And, no, I cannot think of any creature so large it could make them. I've seen some Orc mining operations that made similar crevasses in the ground."

"As for seeing the Orcs... as I understand it, they represent the center of this shattered land. Getting there via teleport will be harder the closer we get, but once we get there, teleport after that should start getting easier."

"Just cautioning you, though, that once out of the broken lands, we don't know what we'll find. It could be worse."

"Anyway, at the moment, we can get near the center, and then see what happens with the Orcs then."

She had nothing to add but didn't quite like the idea of getting close to an Orc. even if it is said to be neutral.  One can never tell how the mood of an Orc can sway so quickly when it see an Noble Elf.  Let alone if they were to discover more about her they might even fear her or want her dead.

As the remaining group settles in for the night, resting as necessary, each of you has one or more books to read and study.

Lady Isile has Forgotten Mysticism by Theron Skayne, Mighty Invocations by Jurok Valimar, Ye Secrets of Wizardry by Elandris, Practical Thaumaturgy by Zanthar the High, and Mysteries of the East: Shining Spires of Sharandor by Azurak. She looks through the first four books, finding that they have information that will be useful to her, but that they will require studying. The last book, however, holds her interest. It tells the story of a city in the Searing Desert built and occupied by a race of red-skinned humans that call themselves the Thari. The city is described as made of glass spires that shimmer in the sunlight and glow at night. The Thari are known for making crystal balls and mastering arcane divination magic.


Grimfast had chosen three books from the same group: Mysteries of the East: Belegost, Mysteries of the East: Beyond the Veil and Mysteries of the East: The Great Wood, all by Azurak. Belegost is the city of Orcs. The author claims that these Orcs--orak-shan--have souls. They have honor, they've mastered a method of stone-shaping, and they consider themselves Masters of the Broken Lands. Stone-shaping, magic, drinking, and target shooting are favored pastimes. Not of the same quality as Dwarven stone-crafting, it is still rather impressive.

The Veil is a hundred mile long rainbow-colored waterfall that lies on the far side of the Searing Desert. It is supposedly the home of water sprites.

The Great Wood is just that--a great wood. It has trees that are a thousand feet high! According to the book, it lies at the Edge of the World. Entire cities live in the trees. The trees provide everything for the inhabitants, including food and drink.


Borun had three books: Mysteries of the East: Durandor by Azurak, The Magic of Trees by Miranda Portwood, and Perfect Self: Two Hundred Years of Meditation by Rinudia Maethel. The first one tells of a race of red-haired Dwarves that live in the fortress-city of Durandor which lies at the edge of the Broken Lands and the Searing Desert. They have a sort of stand-off with the Orcs of Belegost. They know the Orcs are there, but dare not enter the Broken Lands where there are deadly beasts and where the Orcs would have home territory.

The second book has lots of information about trees, with one important 'secret'--trees absorb magical energies from their surroundings, which is why many useful materials can be had from trees if you know how to harvest them and then how to treat them.

The third book deals primarily with meditation techniques, with emphasis on how to meditate even while one is in the midst of combat. It also 'teaches' the art of meditation before battle to achieve greater effort in battle.


Saxon has Ye Compleat Catalogue of Alchemaria by Trismegistus, The Other Side of Necromancy by Solon Darga and The Art of Technomancy by Sidra the Storm. The second book deals with a positive side of necromancy, rather than dark necromancy that most people understand. The third book covers the 'art' of technomancy that it calls 'science'. It deals with meshing and merging mechanical devices with magic, including what the advantages of that is.

The first book, however, is what absorbs Saxon's interest the most. It's not really a primer on alchemy so much as it's a huge workbook on how to make an extensive array of alchemical items--everything from potions and oils, adhesives and solvents, salves and elixirs, rings and amulets, cloaks and hats, salts and sands, automatons and clockworks, and dozens of other things. It starts out with talking about alchemist's fire (something everyone is probably familiar with) and covers several variations: alchemist's frost, alchemist's spark, alchemist's shriek, and alchemist's burst.

Borun started with Mysteries of the East: Durandor. He was astounded to discover that there may be dwarves still living in the far east. If Borun had any chance of contacting them, he would certainly pursue the opportunity. What lore we could share!

Next, he began reading Rinudia's Maethel's text. She had described a few katas in the book, and Borun tried practising a routine after studying its details. Unfortunately, some of the poses were difficult to achieve with Borun's short limbs. More study would be required. Borun frowned and moved on to the third book.

Miranda Portwood's book on trees was somewhat dry and tedious. Nevertheless, the details on harvesting magical materials might prove useful - at least to someone else. Borun pointed out this section to the more nature- and alchemical-inclined travellers in the group.

After a few more minutes of reading, Borun grew tired and settled down for a night's rest.

In the morning, when everyone is getting prepared for the day's journey, Grimfast shares what knowledge he gleaned from the books with the others.

"As I understand what the book said, if we can parlay with the Orcs of Belegost--these orak shan--they will escort us safely across the other half of these Broken Lands to the border where Durandor lies."

"So, do we want to risk teleporting right away, or hold that ability until we actually need it?"

"It is up to our sorceress and witch whether they want to risk teleporting across these broken lands," Radagast responded to Grimfast's question.

"The alternates are walk or fly. If the Orcs can see us safely through the other half of the Broken Lands, that would seem to imply that there are dangerous... things here in this region. Flying may be safer, though, since Orcs can't fly."

"one way or the other, we should get going."

The time she took in reading the books/tomes were very peaceful and quiet but her mind was able to grasp a few things from them without reading the entire book/tomes.

Taking a moment to grasp the knowledge that she just injected she looks to the others that was also taking the time to read the books they borrowed.  Hearing the shared knowledge from Borun and Grimfast she too took the liberty to share with the group the information that she was able to learn.

"I would like to not risk the lives of others with the knowledge of knowing that teleporting may be dangerous and not knowing the land and how magic works it would kill us.  she paused "I agree that walking or flying would be our best transportation.

She gather her belongs and was ready to move out when the group started.

Anira nodded agreement with Lady Isile.  "I can only fly for a short distance and teleporting I feel is too risky, so my suggestion would be to walk.  Besides, there were always those flying creatures at the other tower so who's to say there aren't flying dangers here as well."

"While I can cast several Fly spells per day for all of us, each spell only lasts for a few minutes." Borun nodded to Anira and Lady Isile. "I suppose we are walking."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:28, Thu 29 Mar 2018.

"Many secrets revealed in the book," Saxon announced both solemnly and excitedly. "A veil has been lifted from my eyes! Curiously, it never explained why there are limitations, but it did explain how to work around them."

"I have been studying the book fastidiously throughout the night, with our current dilemma in mind. I would take a week or several to master everything within that enlightening tome, such as teleporting, though I doubt any potion or elixir could surpass the darkness upon these distant lands."

"No, I considered flight as the most logical approach. I can now easily make potions of Overland Flight for everyone. These will last all day. We may not be able to fly like the wind, but we can cover as much ground as if we were walking, which, over this broken terrain, would not get us very far."

"An alternative might be potions of Gaseous Form, but while that would mostly keeps us safe from attack, we would also be subject to whatever winds scour this forsaken land."

"Is that acceptable to everyone?"

Shaking her head "Let those that can walk start while those that can fly ahead to keep lookout do that. she smiled.

"I will keep communication opened with Radagast.

Then she took the shape of a flying bird of prey and started to fly off not too high but high enough to look over the land ahead and to see if anything comes flying down from the skies above her.

Saxon quickly brews up five potions in his wagon, and then hands four of them out to Radagast, Anira, Borun and Grimfast, while downing the other one himself.

With his wagon still secure in Anira's shelter, he exits and starts to fly after Lady Isile.

"Not used to flying," he calls back to the others. "Any of you know how to do this?".

He looks a bit wobbly as he flies off in the direction Lady Isile went.

Anira held her potion and watched as Saxon tried to fly after Lady Isile, wincing a little as he bobbled a little.  She couldn't normally fly for long periods of time but she'd learned to control herself pretty well.  "Don't struggle so much.  Think of it like swimming and try to go with the current if you can to make it easier," she offered.  Lady Isile had suggested they walk while some of them flew ahead so she looked to Radagast.  "Walk or fly?" she asked of him and the rest.

"We wouldn't be walking so much as climbing over all these jumbled rocks," Radagast offered. "Not that we couldn't do it, but it would tire us out a lot more and would take three to four times longer."

"I understand the inherit dangers of flying, even in numbers. Any aerial predator is not going to be intimidated by a flock... he's just going to think it's his lucky day!"

"Until Saxon told us about the potions, flying wasn't an option. That's a pretty impressive tome, Saxon. Maybe you can see if there's something in there that will help us return the Ent-wives back to Fangorn."

Borun waited for Saxon to consume his potion before drinking his own. Borun wanted to confirm the effect first. Not that he was suspicious; rather he wanted to exclude any potential... mishap.

Borun himself had often cast the spell for various purposes. Once airborne, he did his best to inform the less agile travellers of the best flight technique. "Try holding your arms by your sides. No need to flap them around." Borun sighed. "You don't need to "run" through the air either. You will only tire your legs. Try to think about moving forwards."

As Lady Isile flies along, scanning sky and ground, she experiences a slight problem with her vision--she seems to have trouble focusing ahead of her. It only takes a few seconds for her to realize that it isn't her eyes that are the problem, but that there's something in the air ahead of her. It started as a sort of heat shimmer that turned grayish, and now continues to darken. It's moving with her, and when she tries to fly around it, it moves to stay in front of her.



Meanwhile, those flying below find themselves in their own predicament.

Writhing black tentacles suddenly shoot up from crevasses in the rocks below! One manages to snag Anira while another grabs Radagast. Three more miss the others.

14:02, Today: Azurak the Blue rolled 30,14,14,27,20 using 1d20+10,1d20+10,1d20+10,1d20+10,1d20+10 ((20,4,4,17,10)).

The tentacles begin to coil around you and start to constrict.

Anira was also impressed that Saxon could make an elixir that would help them fly for long periods of time and downed hers right after Saxon and Radagast.  "Good advice, wore myself out the first few times trying to swim in the air," she said to Borun.  Things seemed to be going well for a bit and then trouble found them, as usual, and Anira found herself not liking being snagged out of the air so tried to twist out of the tentactle before it started trying to crush her.

---

08:04, Today: Anira rolled 20 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 13.  Escape Artist.

While flying in the air and the off grayish form keeps in front of her, it only allows her time to shift her sight and allow True Seeing to come into focus so that she could get a better look at what is trying to elude itself from her.  Then she will be better prepare to know what spells to blast it with.

Partly because she's encountered one before, Lady Isile's True Seeing lets her realize that the 'thing' in front of her is a Living Spell, though she can't yet tell what spell it is. It's probably attracted to her magic.


The tentacle wasn't able to deal any damage to Anira the first round because it had to use a double move to reach her. As it starts to constrict this round, however, Anira is able to slip out of the tentacle's grapple.


16:58, Today: Radagast the Brown rolled 15 using 1d20+7 ((8)).

Radagast, however, isn't able to escape from the tentacle around him.

He was as surprised as anyone to be caught be the writhing black tentacle, especially since it had sprung up from the ground! He knew of the spell, but was not familiar with its particulars. It was certainly borderline dark, even though it smacked more of a sea creature.

Even as he struggled against the entwining tentacle, he could feel it trying to feed on his magic... his essence, really. It could clearly sense the magic even as he could sense its nature.

"A little help here would be nice!" he called out to the others.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 05:41, Sat 02 June 2018.

15:30, Today: Lady Isile rolled 25 using 1d20+20 with rolls of 5.  Knowledge Arcane on Living Spell.

Keeping her distance while her mind races for the right way to battle such a foe.  What is its weakness and how to destroy one.

25 was what you needed to know anything about Living Spells, other than what you've already experienced.

Living Spells are a fairly new phenomena in Middle Earth. They are caused by powerful spell casting that somehow goes awry. The result is the spell taking on physical form and a life of its own. Although not strictly an ooze, the Living Spell seems to function like one.

In theory, it can be damaged much like an ooze can, but a Living Spell has damage resistance as well as spell resistance.

Possible ways to destroy a Living Spell are:

Attacking it with weapons

Attacking it was spells--the problem with that is that if you don't overcome its spell resistance, you could actually wind up feeding the Living Spell with your spell energy.

Anti-magic Field--again, overcoming its Spell Resistance. If you do that, it can't exist within the field.

Dispel Magic--overcome its spell resistance and it will be destroyed.

Mage's Disjunction--usually the best bet, as spell reistance doesn't work against it.