Heading south following the main trade route from the Keep about an hour down the road the Whitcher steps off into the forest, this area during the dry season is wet and swampy, but nowhere near are thick as it would get during the Spring.

The branches hang down like arms reaching to grab you, the sound of birds, and animals slowly die away replaced only by your own breathing and the sounds of footfalls. Each step further the growth of the forest takes away the light as if the whole forest is sick and sapping the very life from all living things. Bugs, spiders, and insects of unnatural size crawl on the trees and across the ground. A thin fog obscures the forest floor, slowing even the most seasoned woodsmen. After walking for another hour through the trees and grasping branches. The air begins to change.

OOC
I need a WIS save from everyone and a Perception check. BTW the Whitcher is with you, but he will not be much help, he hasn't had a Long rest for two nights. Which is why he needs you all to help.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 1):

OOC Well, just rolled perception so I'll use that one.


19:23, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Fenrick Perception.


19:39, Today: Fenrick (Fen) Uther rolled 21 using 1d20+1.  Fenrick Wisdom save.

OOC Hopefully I roll some of those 20's when it comes to battle.

19:41, Today: Gryphon rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  perception.

19:41, Today: Gryphon rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  wisdom save.

<OOC: Sora rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Perception check.

Sora rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  wisdom save.>

 

Morwinyon moved through the strangely dying forest. Like any being full of life he found it disturbing. But he moved with careful steps. After walking for a while, his companions were bound to notice that his distinctive cloak seemed to aid him here and there, adjusting his direction with a nudge that clearly did not originate with him, or with a wrap around a branch to slightly change his footing.

OOC The dice roller was kind to me


21:17, Today: Morwinyon rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  Save, Wisdom.

21:16, Today: Morwinyon rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  Perception Roll.

Anders spoke up but quietly as they traveled, "Of course, our mysterious ally likely knows all this already, but I know but a few things of hags in general." He spoke calmly and matter-of-factly. "They are powerful fiends of pure evils, their very existence created from the evilest acts. Born of envy, jealousy, lust, and hatred, the Night Hag is one of the strongest of the Hag varieties. A lone Hag has power...but a coven? They are immensely strong." Slight pause. "I believe they are weakened by silver, but resist most other damage and spells."

He took note of the strangeness of the forest, how it didn't look as it should. He wondered if that was the influence of the hags, or their corrupting presence.

18:35, Today: Anders Greyven rolled 12,18 using d20+2,d20+2 with rolls of 10,16.  Wisdom Save, Perception check.

Alekos Eclipse rolled 14,21 using D20+3,d20+1. Perception, Wisdom Save

Very long few days of work, will make fuller post tomorrow.

Sora walked silently and timidly in the forest, looking around with the look of a lost child. She took comfort in tbenothers, walking behind Alekos and in front of Anders. She took comfort in the words of Anders, more for their presence as she knew most of what he said.

A sound caught her attention and she turned....her look of timidness turned to one of horror as a shadowy shape loomed up towards her.

The woman held her hand out, eyes wide as she muttered under her breath. Three red glowing spheres appeared in front of her hand and shot away as three orange/red scorching rays of energy.

<OOC: Attacks with scortching ray

Sora rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  attack - scorching ray 1
Sora rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  attack - scorching ray 2
Sora rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  attack - scorching ray 3

Sora rolled 13 using 2d8.  Damage - scortching ray>

This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Thu 27 Aug 2020.

As Fenrick walked with the group, in the back protecting the rear, he noticed something in the trees, human like, maybe?

However, just as quick as he saw it, it disappeared and did not see it again.

"There's something in the trees, that way" Fenrick told the others, pointing towards the tree he lost the figure behind.

Fenrck was unsheathing(OOC is that a word) his sword as the young female unleashed her magic.  He looked over to see what was going on, having not seen anything else.

Gryphon quickly picks himself off the ground from where he was slammed. "Something with these trees, seen some faces on them."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:34, Thu 27 Aug 2020.

"oh crap." Anders slowed and then stopped, looking forwards and upwards with wide eyes as if something were rising up before him. He then said, "Run!" before starting to turn around to run. He didn't make it in time.

"Ugh!" He fell backwards and tumbled a bit, thrashing about as if he were fighting against something physical. And also looked like he was having trouble breathing as well. "Gruggalug!" He made some incoherent noises as he was sent tumbling some more.

"I am in agreement with you Fenrick" He'd seen someone too. There was a decision to be made here. Not correct or incorrect, simply the best method for aiding friends.

If they were merely seeing things, as they declared, like these faces on trees, that would be one thing. But it honestly seemed as if one of them was going to end up strangling himself without some help.

"If there were others about, now would be the prime moment to strike at us."

He moved to aid the thrashing Anders. With a word Morwinyon brought light to his hand and reached towards the face of the man on the ground. "Be at peace and feel the presence of the light. Pay attention to it and not whatever bedevils your mind at the moment."

OOC: Since Anders seems to be the one in the most trouble I'm just trying to help him find a way out of this. Perhaps consider this a kind of a Help action

OOC:

Sora, Anders, and Gyphon, give me another WIS Save, DC 14, Anders with Advantage because of the Help.

Sora, if you fail the roll you continue to see the creature and take 12 Psychic damage.

Anders, if you fail the waves continue to crash into you taking 12 Psychic damage also.

Gyphon, if you fail the trees continue to attack you also take 12 psychic damage.

***

Fenrick and Morwinyon you hear a woman cackle from the forest it is coming from the same direction you saw the creature, and then close behind it you hear a cackle from the other direction but don't see anything.

Alekos, you don't see what is happening to your companions, but you feel the magic in all the air, what is happening is affecting their minds.


This message was last edited by the GM at 23:27, Thu 27 Aug 2020.

As if from far away, Anders heard the words of Morwinyon, a recent and only somewhat familiar companion. But he tried desperately to heed them as his lungs BURNED for air, his jaw visibly clamped shut and being held that way through force of will.

...and then it was all gone, just as suddenly as it had arrived.

Anders lay on the ground, gasping in great gulps of air, ragged and shaking as if he'd been drowning, intermittently coughing as well.

OOC: 2 less if a Check and not a Save, but still makes it.
17:13, Today: Anders Greyven rolled 19 using 2d20+2, dropping the lowest dice only.  Wisdom Save.