With the hunters not only free of the Satyr, but of the curse that afflicted them, the rescue was finally complete.

It has been a long journey for our heroes thus far, who have found themselves battling shadows and a banshee at the church ruins, their discovery of a Fey circle and the mutated Elkthrawn with the power to best a owlbear with ease, the harrowing and unforgettable encounter with Magorian the Satyr where Althaea paid a heavy price, their run in with the bloodthirsty and starving gnolls that were so famished, were trying to eat the flesh right off the heroes' bones, and last but not least, the plague brought on by magically infused and engineered necromantic and toxic mushrooms, nearly crippling the town of Vertigo and all those within.

Things were starting to move in the right direction, with the mushroom plague coming to the end and the hunter's finally being free of the Fey's curse, though it came with a great cost...the death of Aleena.

What the heroes didn't know, was that a new story was unfolding and important pieces to that story were headed their way....

~Nine thousand, eight hundred twenty-six. Nine thousand, eight hundred twenty-seven. Nine thousand, eight hundred twenty-six.~ Infused casually walked alongside his shelled companion, with wooden feet crunching along through rocks, twigs, leaves, and whatever else happened to be under foot. ~Nine thousand, eight hundred thirty-one. Nine thousand, eight hundred thirty-two. I guess you never know, these days. World being what it is. Nine thousand, eight hundred thirty-five.~

Working with a non-human was still a change he was getting adjusted to, though it honestly had little to do with the physical appearance, and more to do with the speed at which they moved. It had been nearly a week since their last clash with the undead, so there was no particular need to hurry in reaching Anomaly Mountain. Finding food for Gar to eat had been less challenging than expected, but Infused was thankful that he did not have such needs of his own.

Infused reached his inorganic arm up to adjust the tied off pants leg and leather strap that he was using as a quiver for the javelin on his back, cursing the impracticality of the thing. "Gar? I am fighting a losing battle with gravity. I grow bored of carrying it in my hand, but frustrated with the constant adjustments. What solution would you suggest?" Infused had spent all of his life following instructions and recipes, and was still getting used to the concept of having to come up with the ideas and instructions on his own. Building the javelin quiver from the empty leg of a pair of pants had seemed a remarkable idea, given the absolute lack of supply that the world now faced. But how was he supposed to keep the weight of the javelin from dragging it down to be parallel with the ground and then gravity tipping it over? Within a few seconds of readjusting, every step was a challenge.

He knew it would be a few moments, at least, before Gar said anything. The tortle wizard had been his companion now for nearly eleven days, but it had taken him less than one of those days to realize that Gar always took his time, with virtually everything. The presence of danger was the one exception that Infused had found so far. ~Ten thousand, four. Ten thousand, five. Ten thousand, six.~

The large sword he carried over his right shoulder was able to rest easily with its hilt providing stability while the pommel counterbalanced the blade itself perfectly. ~Ten thousand, nine. Hmm, now that's a thought. How do I counterbalance a javelin?~ He pondered the question for a long moment, but there was only one other item he carried that wasn't worn, besides the greatsword, and that tiny bottle would not suffice.

Infused stopped for a brief moment. If his face had been capable of showing forgetfulness, it would, but instead it seemed like he had simply frozen in place for a second, ~Failure.~ Somehow he'd lost count of his steps. Not one to take a false count, he started over. ~One. Two. Three.~ Thankfully, the number of steps he traveled in a given day was merely a tool for keeping his mind occupied rather than obsessing over Gar's ridiculously slower pace. The number itself, thankfully, did not matter.

As infused plodded along, at his side another figure walked, less focused and more intent on the world around him, the sight of this person was more unusual than his companion. While warforged weren't common, Tortle's were rare, and this far inland even moreso, but even then he was unique.



Standing a little under 6 feet tall, his skin was a leathery green, with dark green patches , his shell a dark brown with sharp ridges on the edges. On his shell, several symbols were painted or etched in vibrant Blue, white or purple, giving them an almost glowing quality. His head was almost square like, with darker green on the top.

His clothing was simple and more for simplicity than any function, dark linen breeches that were a mixture of shorts and pants simple brown and orange robe-like vest that was sleeveless and leather bracers. On his belt were several pouches, as well as a simple dagger, while in his hand, he held a dark oak staff that had many small symbols on it.


Gar had never spent so much time with a warforged, and his time was well worth it. Infused, though smart and logical, also held qualities of other races...curiosity, impatience and a sense of duty, though his lack of self motivation made him more curious.

As they walked, the tortle smiled, treating this as more a stroll than a purposeful walk. He never understood people's rush with time, and so when he set out with Infused, the usual week long journey had now gone into 10 days.

He heard his friend speak and looked at him, a pause before he spoke as he thought. Much like his life, his way of thinking was slower and more measured than most.  "Gravity is something you will always lose, my friend....it is a constant, like time. But as for your problem, we can adjust the tying so it sits deeper, or wait until we find something more suitable Perhaps if we seperate it and tie a stick or branch to each part, seperating them, then it will be like a quiver but higher up a balancing brace."

The tortle smiled, shrugging as he plodded along at his place. "...or you can wait until we reach where we are going and we can buy one. I'm sure at this pace it couldn't be more than, what - five more days?" The tortle smiled at himself, knowing full well at this pace they would be a day or two

.....but he wouldn't deny himself some fun.

He looked at the warforged as he paused for a second, something he had seen, and again mused at the slight reaction. Looking at him, he smiled. "Come, my friend....it isn't far now."

~Forty-seven. Forty-eight.~ Infushed took note of Gar's suggestions, visualizing each of the options to consider their likelihood of success. Some sounded better than others, but each was worth consideration if the search for a true solution needed to continue. Then there was the thought of buying one, "You seem sure that we are going to find people at Anomaly Mountain, and that those people will have things in abundance-enough to sell them."

If there were going to be people gathered anywhere, somewhere near the Anomaly seemed a likely place, even to Infused himself, but he had not been out of the ground for long and had seen no sign of current humanoid habitation since. There were undead in droves, but very few of the living. ~Fifty-eight. Fifty-nine. Sixty.~

"Five more days? I am eternal, Gar. Five days, five years, or five human lifetimes is all the same to me." Infused never had cared much about time. He had no need of food or drink, and no need to relieve himself of the waste thereof. He did not age or wear down the elements that made up his body, despite seemingly being made of things that should break or at least deteriorate over time. Still, there was a fundamental difference between time and speed, and no matter how many years Infused could expect to still be alive, he still disliked wasted time when he could be spending it or investing it.

One of the best ways to invest time though, was in other people. Gar liked moving slow, so Infused invested his time in Gar. A wizard seemed like an intelligent investment, after all.

Gar chuckled as he moved slowly. “Ah, you see the trees, but not the forest my friend. For you, your lifespan is not like ours, so your grasp on time may be different, but dime does still happen none the less, and takes us all. All living things succumb to it, even plant life. All has a cycle.”

The tortle holds a finger up, ready for one of his speeches of life and time. “People fear death, but death is but another path, another state of being. It is time people should fear. People rush around like ants, saying the don’t have enough, or they want more. Even wood, metal, stone bows to time, turning to dust. No…your life is linger than most, but not eternal. You also will face time’s end, as will us all”

As they made their way over a crest, the view of the upside mountain came into view, and whatever gar was going to continue with, he stopped, both in speech and movement. He leaned on his staff. “Hhmmmm. Never in my days shall I see a sight like that, so rare it is.” He sighs and starts walking. “Come…people aren’t as isolated as you remember or believe. We will find a town and a case for your javelins. Perhaps, even someone else to talk to - I’m sure you’ve heard some of my view so often, you could repeat them word for word.”

"Mmm. Time will tell. You seem to know much about the warforged. I have never met one of my brethren. Master Kraelix told me the others had all been lost or destroyed. I know what I have been told, and what I...know. However it was that I came to know such things." Infused stopped when he saw Gar doing so, and had a look at Anomaly Mountain.

"I do think that this is a sight that was ever meant to be seen. It should be rare, but as it is, it is instead the most common sight anywhere within viewing distance. How could you miss it? How could your gaze not fall upon such a thing each day? I make few assumptions. Many hypotheses, however. 'There are many processes that must be followed before we can know a thing.'" If he were capable of smiling, the quote from Master Kraelix would have brought one to his face. But he was not.

Infused thought over the last tenday with Gar. There were pieces he could probably quote verbatim, but despite the slowness of his speech, he did not actually repeat himself all that often. Given enough time, the repetitions would certain come around, but it would take more than a couple of weeks for the tortle's words to leave such lasting impressions.

"It does make me wonder how many times one must gaze upon that mountain before it becomes so ordinary that you no longer notice it at all."

Gar chuckled at his friends musings. "I wonder the same about us, my friend.  in this land we are rare beings - you a warforged, myself a tortle. Warforged are rare these days, many destroyed or lost. My race, though more common on certain islands far away, few are here, but rarely far from the oceans. We, my friend, are as an unusual sight as this mountain. Will we ever be considered ordinary, i doubt it, but people will accept us as part of this world, like the mountain."

The tortle began walking. "Despite your limitations you claim, you hold some wisdom in your logic Infuse. You may have 'holes' in your certain aspects, but that's what makes us all worth living. My brethren are usually strong of arm or wise...many are warriors or healers. There are few that claim the arcane arts. Even i can say that my knowledge is lacking in areas, but what i do know, i know well." He held up a finger. "That is why you have lacked progress in your isolation m- it is the mixture of people with their skills and knowledge that pushes us to learn."

the tortle plods on towards the mountain and the hopes of civ ilisation.

Infused and Gar continued their trek toward Anomaly Mountain, and whatever form of civilization Gar was convinced they would find nearby. ~Seven thousand, four hundred twenty-six. Seven thousand, four hundred twenty-seven.~ Infused mentally sighed, and paused to have a look around. ~So much green. Dark and comforting, but empowering and...wholesome.~

"I have made a decision, Gar." He saw his tortle companion stop and turn toward him, but Infused continued to look out at the greens and browns of nature for a moment more before he turned to meet his companion's eyes and speak, "Green is my favorite color." The lushness of the various plants was both a source of comfort and uncertainty, as there were innumerable places that danger could be hiding here. Yet it offered that same protection to him, and added a bit of wonder to the mix as well.

---

On and on they walked, Gar setting the pace and Infused counting his steps when not engaged in active discussion. Eventually, they caught sight of wooden fence up ahead, and people moving about. Repairs were being made to the fence, east of the main gate, seemingly crushed by a falling tree, roots and all.  There were more guards than he had expected to see, but then again...what did he expect, at all, honestly? Nothing.

"Gar, this place looks well defended, and not particularly welcoming. Those walls are at least thirty feet tall, maybe more. What threats does this ravaged world now hold, that such walls are necessary?" He and Gar had fought several undead in the early days of their meeting, but the rest of the trip they had seen almost no creatures at all, living or otherwise.

Just as he finished his question, a face appeared at the top of the wall, looking down on them and demanding to know their business, "We have traveled far, in search of survivors and safety. This is Master Gar, a mage of some skill. I am Infused, a guardian and traveling companion. I was skeptical, until we saw your walls, that civilization still existed in this world. If people are gathered and rebuilding together, we wish to be a part of it."

Gar walked in as he did, his slow pace measured by his thoughts. As he heard infuse speak of his favourite colour, the tortle chuckled. “…and why would it not be. So many wonderful things are green. Leaves, grass, animals…..me!” He chuckled at his own joke as he walked.

As was always habit of the two, there was a long silence….never uncomfortable, but both Gar and his companion had no need for idle chatter all the time. So when they came to the walls, he answered, less humor in his voice. “Since your withdraw from civilisation, some things have changed. People have learnt many things, but humans are still fragile as they have been. These walls protect them from the evils without…sometimes monsters or undead, sometimes other humans waging war. A sad thing, but beyond our ken”

As the face above the wall appeared, the tortle looked up, speaking almost like an absent minded old man. “Oh….hello there. As my friend here has said, we have traveled long and seek the comfort of your great city….my, such a sturdy wall.l He shook his head and again looked up. “Sorry…it’s been a while since a warm bed and a warm meal. I am Gar, wizard from the north, and infuse my friend here. We seek shelter, companionship and knowledge.”

He again looked at the wall and tapped it lightly with his staff. “…such a well made wall. Is that eastern oak?”

We don't have much here travelers, but if you're anything like the other one of your kind here, a mechanical like creature such as yourself, you'd be most welcome here in Vertigo. We'll need to talk to the boss, before letting any strangers in, though.  We have had a bit of issues as of late, but that's not for me to discuss with you.

The guard turns to one of the other guards posted on the wall, and after a brief conversation, the other guard disappears, presumably down some stairs down from the wall.

It shouldn't take too long to fetch the boss.  Maybe about twenty minutes, so if you'd like to get comfortable and sit for a bit, I ....

It was at that point a demonic looking creature, with large leathery wings and a long curling tail, flew up out from behind the wooden stockade fence just over the guard's head, a maniacal cackling following it all the way.

Completely paralyzed by confusion, the guard tried to speak: Um...I...that...what the hell was that?

Gar stood there, a smile on his face as the guard explained about their boss, and nodded. “Understood….a artificial man and a giant humanoid turtle come knocking and you would need to ask. Please, we will wait.” The tortle stood there and looked at infused with a smile. “See…surprise. But, it seems there is another of your kind here. They said their was another warforged helping - interesting place already.”

As the guard returned offering them a seat, the tortle shook his head. “No thanks….I’m happy to stand. Turtle on his back and all. Plus the walk….” He was Interupted by the cackling of the beast flying overhead and for the first time, the tortle took a serious look, losing his smile as he clutched his staff. He watched as the demonic figure flew away and heard the guards curse. “That is an interesting question. Could you find your boss….perhaps we could be of assistance.” Lost was the slow time and movement….gar looked worried, excited and ready

Surprisingly, Gar and Infused see yet ANOTHER creature fly out from behind the walls, however this time it wasn't another demon, but a small mechanical owl.  Hovering at times or flying back and forth in hurried motions, the mechanical bird seemed to survey the situation with ample curiosity, flapping it's wings in both excitement and to keep it's heavy body afloat.

It wasn't long, maybe a couple minutes or so, until the double gates opened, and a mismatched group of individuals walked out.  The internal gate to Vertigo closed behind the group, most likely standard protocol to ensure the safety of those within.

The dwarf, who must be the boss the guards fetched, spoke up, however it came with a somber voice that didn't seem to match the words coming out of his mouth.

Welcome travelers.  My name is Thorin.  What...brings you to Vertigo?  There is a long pause, as it looked like he wanted to say more, but then suddenly the dwarf just turns, his head down and defeated, and addresses the female half-elf nearby, laying his hand on her shoulder.

I'm sorry Andraste, I....just can't do this right now.  Would you please take care of this?  I need to see if Sebastian is okay.

The dwarf, without waiting for an answer, just walks towards the gate, waits for it to open and close behind him, before heading back to the main cavern tunnel.

Infused looked up at the demon, then down at the welcome party, back up to the demon, back to the dwarf, then to the half-elf. This place was going to be interesting, it seemed. "We have traveled in search of other living beings who have survived, knowledge, and perhaps a new place to call 'home'." Infused glanced toward the demon once more, just in case, and would dismiss her if no alarm was to be raised. "We are sure to have at least some skills that could be put to use here, for the good of the people."

Gar, still focused on the fleeing demon flying away, he heard the gate open, and as the dwarf started talking, turned, a smile on his face. He quickly realised that what was being said and the mood was far different. As the dwarf left, he smiled and nodded.

The tortle looked at the others. "It seems that our arrival is fortunate...I gather from the tension that whatever occurred had something to do with the half succubus that just flew from your city."

The tortle leaned against his staff with two hands. "My name is Gar, an arcanist of modest skill. My large friend here is Infused - he has taken upon himself as my companion and bodyguard."

He paused, noting the other warforged and smiled....it seemed this group was in the thick of things within vertigo. "As he has said, we seek shelter, a warm bed and meal for the short term, but long term something else. Perhaps, what has transpired with that thing..." he said looking over his shoulder towards the flying demons direction. "...may warrant some assistance if you require. We are at your service if needed."

Why does Thorin keep offloading his responsibilities onto me? Is there no one else here he can delegate to? I understand this is a difficult time for the town leaders but this does not bode well for the town. Regardless, that can wait; right now the visitors deserve her attention.

Oh my, there are two of them. Two! Is this one like Sand? Its bearing is different, much more confident, but it lacks the Sand's tools and its design seems less sophisticated. And a giant turtle too! Even in its fallen state the world is filled with such marvels! Alright, I have to reign it in. Find out why they are here and if things go well I will likely have a chance to talk to them later to learn more.

"Well met neighbours, I am Andraste Giltris and I would like to welcome you to Vertigo. Behind me are my colleagues Althaea, Sand, and Thorn." I say with a nod, stepping to the side and gesturing to the others behind me. " I apologize for Thorin, he normally handles introductions but recent events have not been kind. Your offer of assistance is most generous; however, as a recent arrival myself I cannot speak for the town. If you are willing to abide by the town's peace and swear that you are not knowingly bringing any danger to the town you are welcome inside, at least for a day or two. There is food and shelter inside the mountain; it is nothing fancy but it is much better than you are likely to find outside. You will be permitted to keep your weapons while within the town provided you behave. When things are more settled, the town leaders will speak with you regarding any tasks they could use your help with."

Summary
Hair: Shifts from white to pale blond and slowly settles back to white.
Insight: 9

Infused was focused on the half-elf woman, paying no attention to the other beings standing behind her, nor those walking around in the now-revealed street. That changed, naturally, when she made introductions, and Infused looked at each of them in turn. Well, he'd intended to.

He heard Thorn's name, but little of what was said after that as his eyes and thoughts locked onto the one she had called Sand. Infused released his grip on the pommel of the greatsword that rested on his shoulder, and the blade swung down, stabbing into the dirt and leave the sword swinging back and forth slightly as it stood upright. Infused walked toward Sand, part intrigue, part confusion, and largely disbelief playing Alchemy's Apprentice inside him.

Infused took in the differences in their appearances. ~Such different designs.~ There were far more different than they were similar, in fact, but there was still no mistaking, ~Warforged. Singular. Plural.~

One of the distinguishing differences between the two warforged was that Infused was in possession of a working mouth and jaw. As he spoke, however, the voice came out as it should, but the jaw never moved, "Sand." He said it almost like he was testing the word; almost a question, but not quite. It was a name that could have such an array of meanings and symbolism. "You are...forged?" It sounded more like a question this time than it did before, but the changes in his tone were very small.

Infused lifted his left hand up to his chest, to a red crystal housed in gold wire that jutted from his chest at an angle that suggested it had not been a part of his intended design, "I am Infused."

Half-demons? Another warforged? ~Anomaly Mountain, confirmed.~

Gar hooked at the half elf, a slight smile creasing as her hair changed color, but was more focused on her words.“We will abide by the towns rules….we have seen no danger other than some undead which we were able to deal with ourselves. Having been in the road for almost two weeks now, anyplace that has a warm meal and a roof over our head will be welcome.”

Gar watched as infuse interacted with the other warforged with curosity. The tortle sighed. “You will have to forgive infuse….before I met him, the only interaction he had was his master. Prior to that he was in self isolation underground.” The tortle placed a hand on his friends shoulder. “He, like you, is forged. You are different, but the same….remember when I spoke of different purposes. Sand here…,is it sand?” He looked at the other warforged with curosity. < Seagreen >“…seems designed for craft purposes. Like you, another rarity in this land, like this mountain.”</Seagreen >

The tortle turned again to the others. “If you could recommend a tavern where we can rest, it would be appreciated. If you have the time, perhaps over a drink you can explain the suituation with the half succubus that flew over.”

Still annoyed by the guard, Sand barely registered the presence of the 2 newcomers when Scamp showed them to him. He had to stop and recenter himself, putting his hand on Clacker's back for a non-existing breath or two before he could concentrate on helping his friends with the new arrivals. Tasking his mechanical beetle to continue checking on his loot from the unfortunate victims of the plague, now a thing of the past according to the non-succubus demon, he shook his head trying to understand what was happening to him. All those memories and flashes that he was getting more frequently without explanation were taking their toll on the construct. He looked at the full plate mail he had brought back and longed to go right away to the forge to work on it. He never felt happier than when he was building something, and it would do him good.

The warforged slumped his shoulders in a breathless sigh. Looking toward the door, then at the armor, then back at the door, he decided to go really see this newcomer apparently like him. Then he could work on his project. Scamp perched on the top of the greatsword he had acquired with the armor, the big construct arrived where the tortle and the... other like him were talking to Andraste. Infused approached him and asked if he was forged. Again something triggered in his memory, a flash of an assembly line... but he was not one of the warforged in the vision, but flesh and blood, small hands working dexterously to assemble the inner working of the... advanced golems. What was happening to him?

Infused was waiting for an answer so Sand looked at him, as Scamp decided to use his skull as a drum, tapping it with his metallic beak.

Sand... is sorry. Sand does not speak... this tongue well. Sand does not understand. Why would Sand be forged?

Cocking his head to the side, in his expression of curiosity, he heard the tortle, that he had barely looked at, ask about food.

Sand welcome Infused and Gar to Vertigo. Tavern for eating is in main cavern.

Hoping for them to understand, he switched to elven, his accent archaic.

This language is easier to speak, do you understand?

Sand Int check to pierce memory veil : 18
This message was last edited by the player at 02:08, Sat 31 July 2021.

Infused became confused, as Sand replied. ~Have I forgotten the correct word for my race? Master Kraelix had called me 'forged'. Had he not...?~ If anything, he grew even more confused when Sand spoke in another language.

"Mmm, that is the name I was given for what I am. Gar says 'warforged', but Master Kraelix said only 'forged'. Master Kraelix was not one to shorten words, but I cannot confirm." Infused shook his head when Sand spoke the elven words, not even recognizing what language it had been intended to be.

He changed languages as well, this one sounding not unlike the grinding of rocks and crackling of flames, [Primordial] "Master Kraelix suggested that our origin was tied to the elements, explaining how I know these words. I have no memory of learning any languages at all, yet I know the words in each distinctly."

He spoke again, but this time the words were formed with more throaty sounds and what would have been hissing from the tip of the tongue on a creature who actually possessed one, [Draconic] "I could also speak the language of magic, if you understand it?"

Celestial "Or that of the heavens?"

Infused still seemed fairly oblivious to people and things that were not himself or Sand.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:27, Sat 31 July 2021.

This is not working, none of those languages are familiar.

Switching back to common, he shrugged.

Sand does not understand what Infused says. Infused is not understanding Sand. If Infused wants to follow Sand, Sand can show forge, Sand needs to work at forge. Sand thinks Infused does not need food. Maybe Sand can sharpen Infused sword?

Nodding his head, at the assembly, he turned away and walked where Clacker was still waiting. Seeing the other warforged, the construct was momentarily confused and gave an half-hearted clack of its sharp mandibles, as Sand was fixing the bags of loot on its back. Looking at Infused, he said.

This is friend Clacker. Sand built him. And this is Scamp, Sand did not build him, Sand read from book of magic and Scamp came to Sand.

The burden secured, he started walking towards the village forge. Seeing Jacob hard at work, he paused until the human saw him and asked for access to the forge. The man smiled and said that he was about to go eat and that Sand could work the forge while he was at the tavern. Nodding, he removed the breastplate of the armor, as his right thigh  seemed to unravel, exposing a series of tools in a secret compartment. As he was starting to work on the metal, he asked.

Why did Infused called Sand forged? As in built from forges?

His vision still vivid in his head, he wanted to know what the other warforged would say.

Infused considered alternative forms of communication, but found himself to be lacking. Master Kraelix had spells that granted him the ability to communicate in a number of ways, but Infused had no such magic. Infused had no magic at all. ~Not that I can control.~ He knew a direct solution would not work, since he had none, so a different approach was needed.

As he considered ways to keep words simple and meanings clear, he was reminded of the times he had helped Master Kraelix with delicate project that required a high level of focus. ~Important words only, no waste.~

"No problem. Infused never eats. To the forge." Infused nodded his head and went to retrieve his sword, brushing off the tip, "Infused follows."

At the introduction of Clacker and Scamp, Infused tilted his head as if uncertain, "They are...forged?" Infused had never heard anything about warforged in the form of an animal, but he also acknowledged that he knew next to nothing about his race as most of that knowledge had no bearing at all on the work he'd done before the world was turned inside out. Or upside down, in some cases. He had also never seen any form of clockwork animations, so seeing a bird and a giant beetle-thing of metal parts that could both move was blowing his mind.

"Built, yes. Forge, but the action, not the place or tool. Craft-forged. Work-forged. Scout-forged. War-forged. All forged, but for different purpose. That is all I was told." Infused watched Sand work, seeing the tools unravel from within the warforged body, and the large frame working the metal. He felt...something. Something that he did not know or recognize, or even how to describe for that matter. He tried to puzzle it out as he watched Sand at work.

This inability to communicate in this language is getting frustrating, now he speaks like to a simple minded.

Sand finished his invocation while taping lightly on the armor plate with a hammer that seemed much too small to be able to affect steel, the metal moving by itself to remove a big dent, returning to a pristine state.

Sand understands, Sand only has troubles speaking. Sand more comfortable with language of elves.

Infused was a being like him, maybe he would be able to understand. Lifting his big hand to his head, he unhooked a make shift covering plate on the side, exposing a section of his head that was partially melted and burned like by an electric arc of some sort, rust covering a lot of the metal present in the wound.

Sand injured a long time ago, Sand does not remember why or how. Sand's magic can not repair this damage. Dwarf friends that found Sand built covering to hide wound. Infused does not need to speak simply to Sand.

He nodded his head, his way of smiling, as he reattached the plate. This done, he took the steel breastplate and, finding another part that needed repairs, he started the same tapping with his hammer while speaking softly as he casted his spell. Done, he said.

Sand likes to build and repair things. Sand can read a little in book of magic too. What does Infused like to do? And who is Master Kraelix? Did he build you?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Sat 31 July 2021.

Infused watched as Sand worked, "I am glad to know you understand all the words. It will be more simple if I can be elaborate. It is unfortunate that I do not understand elven. I will seek a solution."

If Infused's eyes could get wide, they would have at the sight of Sand's partially melted head. He stepped closer to have a look, "Electric burns and rust, and magic has no effect. We are made of metal, but I am told it is also alive. What magic gives life to our metals, I do not know. But if you cannot restore the damage, maybe it is a thing that kills magic, leaving that piece to be what it was before you were forged."

"Master Kraelix was a transmutation wizard. He had passion for alchemy and enchanting items." Infused subconsciously reached up to touch the crystal in his chest again, "He did not build me, he..." Infused did not actually know how Master Kraelix came to have him, "..." Infused's head tilted from one side to the other, "I am sorry. I do not know. Obtained, somehow. Master Kraelix named me Fetcher, and I was his assistant with research, experimentation, and alchemy. Some of Master Kraelix's work would take days of tending. This is why I am work-forged, to assist for long periods of time."

"Master Kraelix is dead now, but his wife Alicia is still alive. Somewhere."

Infused naturally picked up on Sand's body language and its meaning. "A wound opened in the world, and Master Kraelix's tower fell through. I was trapped inside for...hmm, many long times. The items I have now are what I could find in the tower to escape. When I came out, I found the world like this, but its people mostly dead or dead-not-dead. Master Kraelix was one of these. Gar says to call them undead. Fetcher had to make Master Kraelix re-dead, and then was a Fetcher no more. Now he is only Infused."

"In the many long times, I changed. I stopped being work-forged, I think. Now, I am like war-forged. You like to build and repair. That is good. I do not know what I like to do. I did what I was told to do until the tower fell. Now...hmm, I think that is why I came to Anomaly Mountain; I need to find something new to do."

Sand continued his work while Infused told his story and had a noticeable pause when he talked about his master turned into an undead. He let the other warforged finish his story, as he tried on the front of the plate on his own torso.

Sand dwarfs friends got killed by undead. Sand does not like undead. Sand built Clacker friend to help protect during rest periods. Sand killed again many undead after dwarfs friends died and left Sand alone.

He shook his head as he removed the plate from his torso and picked up the back. Then a thought occured to him and he looked at Infused, head cocked to the side.

Dwarfs friends told Sand to come to Vertigo and talk to their friend. Sand does not think so but it would....

He hesitated for a long time, trying to find the word he was looking for, unable to bring it to mind in common. His shoulders slumped as he abandoned the search.

Dwarfs friends friend does not like Sand. Sand had to tell her about friends death.

Taking his hammer he selected the spot he wanted to fix then hesitated. Turning his head towards his guest, he told him.

Dwarfs friends friend's name is Alicia.

Infused nodded his understanding as Sand shared bits of his story. The armor was looking decent enough, though Infused admittedly had limited experience with such things. He knew the value of being able to work with your hands though, and that did appeal to him. Perhaps he was still somewhat of a work-forged after all. The topic of friends' deaths seemed a heavy one. Infused had seen people die, and seen the effect that death had on the living ones who cared about the dead ones. Death itself was a strange concept, and how

Seeing Sand inspect his work again, Infused pointed toward the spot on the armor plate that he could see was in need of some more attention. When Sand turned to him a spoke a name, Infused snapped to attention and his blue eyes locked on Sand's purple, "Alicia? That was the name of Master Kraelix's wife. Mistress Alicia is here in Vertigo?"

Sand shrugged. He didn't want to give false hopes to Infused, but the coincidence was interesting to note.

Sand does not know if Vertigo's Alicia is Infused's Alicia. Sand only knows there is an Alicia in Vertigo. She is usually in the tavern. Althaea, the elf singer that Andraste presented, knows her better than Sand. Maybe Infused could go talk to Althaea to know about Alicia?

Nodding his head, he started to fix the spot that Infused had pointed. Soon he would be able to ditch his noisy armor and wear this one.

Gar watched with curosity as sand and infused interacted. The tortle smiled as infused tried other languages, many he knew, but then reverted to common again. He watched the two leave for the forge with a slight smile. “Two of the same, yet very different in many ways.” The tortle sighed, then looked at the others.

“Well, if you could point me to this tavern your friend talked about, maybe we can have a chat about what that flying succubus demoness was doing here and why she flew out in such ominous glee.” Gar seemed comfortable that infused had found sand, and left together - now the tortle was more focused on what was happening here.

….and how he could help

Infused nodded his head several times as he thought about the possibilities and what it could mean if it really was the same woman. Did it mean anything at all, really? Other than a person he had known from before still being alive? It was good news, certainly, but...what was he supposed to do with that news?

"If it is her, I must speak to her. If it is not, then I must have confirmation. Either way, I think I must go to perform the test. I am happy to have met you, Sand. It feels...different, to know another. Good different. Even if we, too, are different."

Infused turned as if to go, then paused for a moment before turning back around, "I'm sorry. Where can I find the tavern?"

In reply to Gar (msg # 17):

"Of course, follow me. Althaea will you please join us; I believe you can answer Gar's questions better than I."

Escorting Gar through the first and second gates, I point out points of interest and pointing out prominent townsfolk as we walk back into the main cavern before turning towards the Better Times Inn. Stepping through the curtain onto the inn's wooden floor, the light from the lit fireplace and scattered torches dimly illuminating the room and casting flickering shadows, and stride towards a table near the bar where Corsica is cleaning up after the morning meal.

"Hello Corsica, this is Gar a recent arrival to Vertigo." I say to Corsica giving her a small smile and indicating the Tortle behind me. "He his been on the road for some time and is hoping to stay in town for awhile. I realize that this is not a normal meal time, but are there any leftovers he can have while he waits for Thorin and Sebastien?"

Scamp will show you, follow Scamp. Scamp, bring Infused to tavern and Alicia if you see her. And do not cause troubles!

With a mental command, the owl hooted in a weird metallic approximation of a normal owl and took flight, turning around Infused head until the warforged got moving, then strait to the main cavern. It was excited to go back to it's favorite location in this forsaken place! And to see fascinating stone lady again, the fey spirit did like her!

Sand was now able to finish his breastplate armor and sat in the corner of the forge, willing his body to expel the scale mail he had incorporated years ago...

Well a big welcome to our little slice of hell, Gar! Corsica says with a laugh.

Her mood does quickly change when Giltris mentions the leftovers, and immediately becomes visibly uncomfortable.

Yeah, well, I'm uh...sure we have some dried fruits and nuts, and maybe some um...leftover bread.  Sweat starts to bead on her forehead and her face starts to get a little red in the cheeks.

Rory calls out from behind the bar while cleaning some tankards, hearing the conversation unfold, but facing in the opposite direction of the group.  We have some soup ready Corsica!  I made it a little early in case anyone who was recovering from the illness needed something comforting and homely.

Corsica, now squirming, says in a mind your own fucking business voice, I KNOW RORY, but I really don't think we should be serving the soup RORY, we're uh...saving it for the sick, like you said, REMEMBER.  Heh....

Rory turns around, ready to mildly berate Corsica for her behavior, which is about as much as the well mannered Rory could do, Corsica, he's our guest, why don't you want to serve him any of our turt... His eyes go wide as he sees the giant turtle like creature standing in front of him and it's like the breath gets knocked out of him, as words now fail to escape his mouth.

Corsica squeaks out, I'll go scrounge about and see what we have; won't be long dear! With that, Corsica scurries off leaving the open mouthed Rory standing there, seemingly paralyzed.  From the kitchen, Corsica screams, Why don't you get him a drink RORY.

Gar walked slowly (Very slowly) as Andraste led the way, smiling and nodding at the people that no doubt took great notice of him.  He entered the Tavern with a smile and leaned against his staff.

With Corcia and Rory's interaction, he smiled, showing no discomfort, even when rory realised he was a tortle. The wizard held up his hand. "Don't go to much trouble on my account....some nuts and fruit will tide me over until dinnertime, thanks. What i would appreciate is a big drink of water - you know how we turtles love water"

He smiles at the rest of the group, then at Corscia, whispers. "Don't worry...though i look like one, I'm not a turtle. Distant relative, like monkeys and men. But all the same, i'll pass on the soup."

Seeing the color change in Andraste's hair, I could tell her emotions were getting the better of her. She quickly regained her poise and began to speak to the two strangers. When she mentioned my name, I gave a small nod as an introduction.

"I will accompany you." I followed along with Andraste and Gar, albeit much slower than my normal walking pace dictated. I was tempted to just meet the two of them there, but I was in no hurry and I would still be waiting for them to arrive anyway.

Once we reached the Better Times, I witnessed a sight I never thought I would see, Corsica squirming. It soon became apparent as to why and the tortle seemed to take it in stride. He even made a joke about it. I sat down to wait while Gar ate and to answer any questions either of them might ask of me.

Gar sat at the table slowly, his weight testing the chair before his full weight went in it and looked at the group. “I suppose your wondering what a tortle is doing so far inland, as well as my capabilities.” He waited and took a drink of water. “From what I can gather, my egg was snatched from the coast and brought inland, luckily landing near a lake to the north. I hatched knowing only fresh water of the lake, and grew. Maybe it was the cooler temperature, but it seems I’m a little smaller than my kin and not as strong, but the isolation led me to a man who taught me much - language, words and magic.”

He again paused, almost as if finished the story, but again continued. “My master, a high elf, taught me the basics and gave me the will to follow my own path of magic….,you see I never truely followed a single school of magic, but my spells seem to be orientated in the manipulation of time and speed….I can speed up and slow down things quite well. I have some other spells, of course, but it seems my talent lies in chronurgy.”

He looked at the others. “Through my master I met infused, a truely unique individual. He has a keen mind, yet skills of a warrior at heart. We traveled here when I heard there may me magic here that could help me improve my skills.”

He sighed, taking a drink. “..and Lo and behold, we arrive and we see a half demon fly away….it seems my skills may be of use, and at your disposal if required.”

By the Gods, Sand, what are you doing?

Lifting his head from his spell book, Sand looked at Jacob, that had just came back from the Better times.

Sand does not understand, is something wrong?

You have scales, you never had those before!

The man approached the warforge, triggering the protective instincts of Clacker, and Sand had to calm his construct. The artificer then looked at his body, effectively seeing the scale mail he had incorporated years ago popping out.

Sand is fine, Jacob is seeing Sand change his armor.

He pointed to the repaired breastplate he had scavenged from the Goliath's full plate mail.

Sand will be wearing this now. Does Jacob want to keep the scale mail?

Would I? I'll have to examine it for damages and repair it, before I can present it to the militia. Do you know how long that can take?

Sand can help.

We'll see, don't make a mess, I need to work. Does the other one like you also change his armor that way?

Sand would assume so.

Sand plunged back in his book, fascinated that he could read a little more now. After the scale mail finished extruding from his body, Sand, helped by Jacob, put on the breastplate and the reverse process started, fascinating the blacksmith, the metal of the armor fusing with the construct's body, leaving no traces that Sand had changed anything...

But he was not clanking as much as he walked now, going to the better times, to see if his companions where still there.

Why would I wonder about a Tortle being inland, where are they usually found? I have seen many different creatures in my life but I have never seen, nor heard, of giant intelligent turtles. It must have been hard never meeting another of his kind; it was difficult enough being a half-elf in a largely human society but I was never alone. I am glad he found someone to bond with, who taught him so much; I am surprised it was an Elf but there must be some who are more open minded.

My thoughts spins considering the implications of using magic to influence the flow of time. What wonders and disasters would result from playing with that fundamental aspect of the multiverse. A steadily growing ache begins behind me temple as I try to think it through; I am not to proud to admit that such things are beyond my capabilities and will leave such matters to others better suited to them.

His comment about finding magic here is puzzling, "Pardon me, but I thought magic was everywhere, what makes Vertigo special? If there was a collection of magical knowledge here I would understand but I have neither heard nor seen such."

"As to the daemon I have no idea where she came from or what she was doing here. Althaea, did Thorin or Sebastien mention her when you and Thorn spoke to them earlier?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:27, Fri 06 Aug 2021.

Infused followed the owlforged to the inn, where he sought out the ones that Sand had directed him to. ~"Andrasta presented Althaea. Althaea knows Alicia. Alicia might be Mistress Alicia."~ Infused was still not entirely sure what to think about Sand. He was clearly a warforged, but also one of an entirely different design, and had either not received knowledge of the common language, or it had been lost to him in whatever injury he'd sustained that left him scarred and rusted in the head.

As he arrived at the inn, Infused nodded to Scamp, "Thank you, Scamp."

He looked around for signs of how people handled themselves and their things here, trying to get an idea of whether or not he should walk through the door was a giant sword resting over his shoulder, or if something else should be done with it. He certainly wasn't going to just leave it sitting around, but he wasn't sure what he should do instead. "I think I will allow them to correct me if necessary. It is less awkward to ask forgiveness than permission."~

Stepping through the doors, he looked for the familiar faces that he had met at the gate earlier, hoping one of the females were present and able to direct him toward Alicia.

Turning to face Andraste as she addressed me, "The demon was with Thorin and Sebastian when we went to speak with them. She had disguised herself as a human and was treating those sick with the mushroom plague. She seemed anxious when I saw her, but I could not ascertain as to why. I merely asked Thorin how the hunters were faring and the demon, posing as Victoria Blackwater, overheard. As Thorn was present, she asked for the two of us to help with the ritual to cure them; however, Thorn refused. I was told I could not perform the ritual alone and to find another fey or elf for assistance. Being one of the hunters herself, I thought Aleena might be willing to help. Had I known what would befall her, I would have come asked you for help instead. We were given a fairly easy set of instructions to follow. The first step was to hold the bottle she took from me when she left. The other was to keep our eyes closed for the duration of the ritual. Aleena opened her eyes before the ritual was complete. At least, that's what I was told when she started screaming. I did not wish to meet the same fate so I kept my eyes closed. There might be more to this that I am not aware of, or it might be just as she told me. I cannot say with certainty either way."

Gar looked at the two women with a neutral stare, nodding. At Andraste's query, the tortle nodded. "It isn't likely to be well known. An ancient manuscript spoke of a once proud sect of magic users who held some power long ago and an ancient ruin that may hold information about said magic. Not much to go on, i know, but i've traveled for worse information. Plus, i've heard of the great mountain that was upside down and wanted to see it myself."

as Althaea spoke, he tapped his snout with his finger. "Given her deception with her heritage, it could stand to reason the ritual she spoke of, as well as how your friend died wasn't entirely truthful. But if she actually healed people, then maybe there was something in it for her."

He saw infused come in the door and nodded to the warforged, getting his attention. "Did you learn anything from your new friend?"

"I learned many things from Sand, yes. He tells me there is a female here named Alicia. This is the name of Master Kraelix's wife, so if this Alicia is Mistress Alicia, then I would much like to meet with her and see that she is safe. Sand tells me that Andrasta, who knows Althaea, knows this Alicia, so I wish to find her. If I could smile, as other races smile, then I would be doing so now, I feel. But, it is only a chance, statistics being what they are, that this female is the Alicia that I know from before."

Scamp had brought the other mechanical being to the tavern, where it had had so much fun before. But today it was almost boring, with no one making music to dance too, and the place was half empty, with humanoid eating and leaving. The fey familiar flew up to the rafters and perched itself on his favorite beam, trying to decide what to do.

Oh, it knew! Sand's instructions were to bring the other one to the rock lady! It took flight and circled about the main room of the tavern, looking for Alicia, but didn't find her there. Landing on the bar, where Corsica chased it away as she was cleaning the counter, it remembered about the rooms in the back, and flew there, poking its head in each room until it hopefully found Alicia.

Corsica overheard the warforged that was similar, yet so different to Sand, speaking about Alicia just as she came back out of the kitchen.

Haven't seen her here for at least a day now, which is unusual for her; well, that's unusual for just about everyone.  I mean, where else CAN you go, right? Corsica said.

I don't really get in anyone's business, but she's been asking for extra dried fruits and nuts the past couple days.  She's been taking some back with her, which I had only assumed was to eat in her room.  Maybe she is there?  Just needs some time away from the crowds? Rory added.

Yeah, she was asking me for the same, as well as some extra bread.  Maybe she's pregnant!?!  Eating for 2!  Corsica smiled with a playful grin.

I wonder who the suitor is?  Any guesses fam?  Corsica said as she looked around hoping for a juicy response.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:03, Mon 09 Aug 2021.

If Infused had possessed eyebrows, they would have risen at the possibility of Mistress Alicia being pregnant; instead his head and shoulders jerked back in surprise. Infused knew what it meant and how things worked, but the cycle of life was still a strange and wonderful thing to him. It was a joy that he would never be able to fully take part in himself, being of a race that was, supposedly, crafted rather than capable of reproduction. When he was alone, he would sometimes think about that fact and feel a sense of...loss. It was not something that he had ever possessed, or that he ever would, and yet it was a thing that completely separated him from all other forms of life. Being made of metal and wood instead of flesh and bone was no big deal, but this? This was an insurmountable difference.

Infused banished those thoughts, bottling them up for processing later when he was alone once more. For now, he needed to focus on Alicia, ~A new Master, or a new Mistress?~

"I must know if your Alicia is my Mistress Alicia. Can you seek her out? Or lead me to her room?"

The tortle, Gar, expanding upon the points I had been considering myself gave me much to ponder. Before I could respond I heard his companion mention Alicia, Andraste, and myself.

Upon hearing my name, I turned to the warforged that had entered the inn, "Yes, I know Alicia. I have spoken with her on occasion. I know where her room is, I can take you to her if you wish."

I stood up from my seat and began walking to the door. About halfway there, I turned back to address Corsica, "She did not speak of being with child to me, but perhaps while I am there I can find out the reason for her absence."

Gar had a furrowed eye ridge as he looked at infused. The tortle knew Kraelix, even met him a few times, and knew he had a wife Alicia. The odds this was one in the same would be remarkable, but even gar knew that there was worse. The tortle stood up with a groan, looking at Corsica. Lmaybe she was preparing for a trip, or helping someone in need….there are many explanations for the extra food. The only way to know is to ask. And speaking of asking - would you have a room for myself and my friend here where we can rest.”

He looks at infused and snorts. “…well, for me anyway. He really doesn’t need much rest - quite a handy thing. Myself, a place of quiet where I can sleep and research is still needed.” He starts to follow the others. “If you prepare, I will pay you once my friends problem is answered.” He looked at the others and smiled.

“I do love a good mystery.”

Infused had no hesitation in nodding his head in the affirmative, "Please. Yes."

We don't have any rooms available at the inn right now, as they are all being currently lived in by other residents here, but I believe some new spots have recently opened up in the cave down the main tunnel.  I'll speak with Thorin get that all sorted out for you.  Don't you worry your pretty little heads about it.  Corsica said as she jubilantly whipped off into the kitchen, carrying a plate of dirty dishes and mugs.

Althaea leads the newcomers down the main passage to where Alicia's room was, a small niche covered by a simple tattered blue curtain; materials were harder and harder to come by these days and pickings were slim.  Althaea called out to Alicia, but when she heard no response, peeked in to make sure she wasn't sleeping, but found an empty room.

Pushing the curtain fully open, the side of a simple bed faces you with a pink and white flowered quilt that looks like it was made for a young girl.  A small wooden nightstand sits next to the bed; it's in rough shape but seems to be in working condition.  A small strip of a battered carpet lays on the ground, used as a barrier to the cold stone floor of the cave beneath.  The room is bare bones, like most of the others here in Vertigo.

Sand arrived at the Better Time at the trailing edge of the conversation and nodded when he saw that Infused was talking with the Eladrin.

Sand happy to see Infused found Althaea. Did Infused find Alicia? Sand hopes Scamps did not cause troubles.   

Not seeing his familiar in the common room, he stopped moving, as he was falling into his trance to try to see what the mischievous fey was doing.

Gar smiles at the : Gar rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  Perception check woman as they pass her. “Your so kind….thank you.” The tortle follows after infused and as the curtain is drawn, he’s surprised by the sparseness of the room. Stepping in the doorway, he cuts to the side and looks around. “It appears no one is home. It’s a shame - I woul…”

His words trail off as something catches his eye and he steps over near the bed stand, and crouches, looking at something. People then notice  the tortle is looking as drops of red on the carpet. Laying his staff down, he looks around, then to the few little spots. “Was your friend in trouble?”

As the others leave the room to search for Alicia I stand up and leave the inn, moving along the main cavern wall until I reach Sebastien's office.

"Sebastien, I know this is not a good time but I would like to speak with you."

Infused saw the drops of blood as well, and went to join Gar in having a closer look. Hearing Gar call it out as being blood, and realizing the same for himself, Infused did his best to find where the trail of blood had started, and where it had gone. Somehow, the fact that she was gone and the presence of the blood seemed to confirm that it was Mistress Alicia in the warforged's mind. He could not explain why, but he could almost feel that it was true.

The sense need to find her increased. Bits of elemental energy began arc out along his torso as emotions became heightened.

19:56, Today: Infused rolled 21 using 1d20+1.  Wis Check.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:01, Wed 11 Aug 2021.

Sand had followed Althaea and the newcomers towards Alicia's room, asking himself why he wanted to go see the woman. She had been a friend to the dwarves that had found him in the ice but she didn't really represent anything for the warforged. The spartan room was  bare and Sand almost got his tools out to repair the ripped fabric curtain when Gar kneeled and looked at something on the carpet. With some anxiety, he asked if Alicia had troubles, and Sand could only shrugged. His eyes turned to the red splashes that had attracted the Tortle and he cocked his head, intrigued.

Please excuse Sand, Sand needs to see closer. Something is not right here.

As soon as he could, he also kneeled and his right thigh opened up on his secret tool compartment, from where he took a pointed piece of steel. Getting as close to the carpet as he could, he examined the red dots for a minute or two before nodding and getting back up.

This is no blood. These red splashes are wax. Sand could not determine for how long it was there. Is Alicia known to write? This could be wax from a seal. Sand does not know much about Alicia.

He started to look around for signs that could confirm or infirm his seal theory.

Sand Int check : 20
Sand investigation check : 9 (rolled a f...ing 1)
Sand perception check : 8 (another 1.... two in a row, the dice roller hates me tonight!)

"Shortly after my arrival to Vertigo, the village was attacked by Drow looking for an amulet that Alicia carried. She discovered the amulet in a tower belonging to a long-dead wizard about a week's travel to the north and slightly east of here. She mentioned traveling through a fishing village between there and here. Before the devil woman came to Vertigo and my companions and I were trying to find a cure for the plague brought by the mushrooms, Thorn mentioned speaking to Alicia was important. Perhaps there is some correlation between one of the places she visited and where Rolland and the others were infected? We should gather everyone and decide what we are going to do. If Alicia is in trouble, the faster we find her, the better."

I need to find Andraste and Thorn.

In reply to Andraste Giltris (msg # 50):

There is nothing you have to say, that I want to hear right now.  I mourn over the loss of someone very dear to me.  What could possibly be more important than that, Andraste?  Sebastian says angrily, while emphasizing Andraste's name, knowing full well that she prefers to be called Giltris.

Gar, still crouching, looks at the marks and nods at sands observation. "You have keen eyes friend sand, this is indeed wax, red in color...but like you I don't know how long it's been here."

He stands slowly, the weight of his shell obvious. "a magical amulet you say, belonging to a wizard." The tortle mused the information. "Unless there is an obvious trail, then we start at the beginning."

"I understand, loss is very difficult and personal. Even though it may feel that way, you are not alone; there are others who share your loss and are willing to help. Those who choose to suffer alone often find they regret the decisions they make when burdened with guilt and grief. Finally, I offer you my services when it comes time to lay her to rest, to give her a fitting farewell and ensure her remains cannot be befouled by undeath."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 22:58, Wed 11 Aug 2021.

I...I appreciate that Giltris.  I would very much like that.  I'm having...well trouble figuring out...I just dont know what I should be doing right now.

"I wish I had the answer but I do not. I do not think there is one. I do have some suggestions that helped me. First, take some time to process what happened, you have good friends and competent subordinates, let them help you. I know you take your responsibilities here very seriously but you need to look after yourself too. Second, do not make any major life decisions right now, let your emotions settle down first. And third, do not shut yourself off from those around you. You do not have to talk to anyone if you do not want to but do not withdraw from those who care about you. And there are those here who care about you."

I...meant I dont know what to do with Aleena. With her body.  I just can't think straight.  How do I honor her appropriately? What should I place her body in?  What...do I do with her belongings?  I can still smell her, everywhere. Can...can you help me?

"I see." I pause a moment to consider, "I believe that cremation is the best course of action but I know some believe otherwise. Did she ever speak to you about her beliefs? Even so we could have a small ceremony for her just yourself and some of her friends. If we act quickly we could clean her body and put her in one of her favourite dresses. I think she would like that. Once that is done, we can help you go through her belongings. You can keep what keepsakes you wish and the other can be donated. If you do not want to see them in Vertigo perhaps they can be traded to another village. I know that seems ghoulish but supplies are scarce and it could help someone else in need. She was a hunter, willingly risked her life for the rest of us; I believe she would approve her possessions being handed out now that she can no longer use them. I final act of charity."

"As for the smell, you can remove her possessions from the quarters, air out the furnishing, and wash everything thoroughly. Just remember that though it hurts now, soon that smell will only be a memory and you may find yourself missing it dreadfully.

Examining the room, while we further discussed what should be done, I noticed a few writing utensils in the drawer of Alicia's nightstand.

"Sand, it seems that Alicia was prone to writing. I can find five sheets of unused paper, a rolled-up sheet with a crude wax closure, a quill and ink, and a red candle partially consumed."

Opening the rolled up sheet, I hope to discover what has been going on with Alicia.

---

OOC:
Investigation:19

12:14, Yesterday: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Investigation.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:47, Thu 12 Aug 2021.

In reply to Andraste Giltris (msg # 60):

Sebastian paused a long time before responding, his fingers rubbing a scarf between his fingers that Aleena had worn on occasion.We spoke about a great many things, but never really our beliefs when it came to death.  I...we never thought it would come to that; at least not for a very long time.  She was careful and took every precaution she could, but it pained me every time she left these walls.

Suddenly Sebastian looked straight into Giltris's eyes, his demeanor changing.  You know...if Thorn hadn't refused to be part of the ritual, this would never have happened.  This is HER fault.  What does she even do to help around here?  All she does is skulk about, barely saying a word.  Come to think of it, I wonder if I've ever even heard her speak!  The one time she is asked to help save the people of Vertigo, she REFUSES!  Aleena spends...spent most of her time beyond these walls, foraging, hunting, scavenging, and gathering supplies to help our cause and Thorn just does NOTHING.  All she is...is a drain on our resources...nothing more! At this point, Sebastian is fuming.  His eyes, large and filled with anger, look like they are about to pop out of his head.  He now clenches the scarf in his fist, as if squeezing the very life out of it.

In reply to Althaea Sylvaranth (msg # 61):

Breaking the seal, Althaea quickly scans the letter before reading it aloud:

To whomever cared enough to look for me,

I have decided to leave Vertigo and if you’re reading this, I am already long gone.  I have caused more than enough trouble in my short time here and I fear it won’t be long before I put the people of  Vertigo in danger again.   That’s why I’m leaving and never coming back.

I never wanted anyone to get hurt.  With that being said, I have a confession to make and I feel now it’s time I got it off my chest.

"I" invited the Drow to Vertigo.

I didn’t say anything sooner, because after everything that transpired, I felt like I would be punished.  So I lied.  With the Drow disposed of, there was no one to refute my story.

See, I’m a professional trader.  I did so with the dwarves that Sand came to know, and many others in my travels, including the Drow.  I know the Drow are not to be trifled with, but they had information I wanted, and I had something they needed.  I never expected they would BURROW their way into the heart of Vertigo; I mean, it just doesn’t make sense!  What possible ulterior motive could they have had to do so?

I figured they would show up at the front gates, like anyone else would, and just ask for me.  I didn’t say anything about the meeting, because I didn’t know exactly when they were coming.  I mean, they were supposed to come three weeks prior, so I had figured they reneged on our deal.

Listen, I really am sorry that I lied, but know that it was only to ensure my own survival.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for making my time here in Vertigo more than memorable.  Everyone here has helped me in some way feel like the world was slightly less awful, however the reality is, it’s truly a terrible and horrific place.  I am truly grateful for everything the people of Vertigo have done for me, and I hope our paths do cross again, but in a better light.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how to retrieve the information I was supposed to get from the Drow and I think I’ve found the answer I was looking for, so with that, I’m off.

Be well and good luck to you all,

Alicia

"May I look at the letter? Perhaps the writing will seem familiar to me." If so, he would examine it for any details he might be able to make out.

"I know nothing of the drow she speaks of. The amulet, I could only guess at since there are many. However, the tower you speak of, and the long-dead wizard, to the north-east of here? Whether she is my mistress or another Alicia all together, she speaks of Master Kraelix and his tower. My home for many years. Sunken and swallowed long ago, it is not easily accessed these days, but we could get in the same way I got out, if nothing else."

"Is that really how you feel? You are angry right now, with good reason, and you want to find someone to blame, someone you can do something about, but please try to remember: Thorn chased off the Drow raiders the night we met, she tracked down your missing hunters and was instrumental in defeating the spirits that had trapped them, and she fought the Gnolls outside the town gates. I agree that she is angry, unpredictable, and her tendency to lurk in the shadows is unnerving but I know that she has no ill intent towards Vertigo or anyone here. That anger you are feeling is powerful, maybe it feels all consuming, but it is a horrible weight that will crush you and all you care about if you let it. If you can let it go I implore you to do so, but if you cannot make sure you focus it on those who are truly responsible for today's tragedy. Thorn did not bring Victoria here nor did she infect your people with demon spores or fey curses. It was Victoria who chose not to explain the consequences of failing to follow her instructions to either Althaea or Aleena, who both played a part in what happened but in the end it is Victoria who is responsible."

Summary
Channel Divinity: Emissary of Peace
Persuasion: 28

After reading the letter, Althaea was in shock. She was expecting to read that Alicia was leaving, but the fact that Alicia invited the Drow to Vertigo was the last thing she was expecting. Imbicile.

"I do not know if Alicia is simply more foolish than I gave her credit for, expecting the drow to do things in a conventional way, or if she is just dimwitted. I did not speak with her enough to know where she may have gone and I have no knowledge of other entrances to the Underdark. Although, it is not to say the information would be impossible to come by. If you would like to find her, we could go speak with the guards and see if anyone saw her leave and what direction she may have set off in. Thorn is a skilled tracker, if we know where to start looking, we may yet find her."

Gar listened as the letter was read and Infused confirmed his own thoughts. Then Althaea spoke of her association with the dark elves. He heard the venom in her tone as she berated the woman.

"Perhaps a little harsh, but the fact she felt she traded access had to be something important. I'm not condoning what happened, but I'm sure she had her reasons."

The tortle sighed, leaning against the staff. "Whatever the course, I see two options....following tbe woman, or searching for the drow entrance and finding out what she was seeking."

In reply to Andraste Giltris (msg # 65):

With a deep sigh,  Perhaps you are right Giltris.  In my anger, I had forgotten what she has done for us and focused on what she had not.  While I won't absolve her refusal to help in the ritual, she has done...enough to help, I guess.  I know that Aleena is some to blame for not listening, but Victoria is not the culprit here.  She made it clear what the instructions were and she didn't force Aleena to not listen.  What's done is done Giltris; we can't change the past or....well nevermind.  I need to focus on Aleena, now.  I'd like to have some time alone.

Sebastian turns to Aleena's body laying on the bed, gets down on his knees, and puts her hand against his forehead, with his eyes closed.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 12:43, Fri 13 Aug 2021.

"The writing does look somewhat similar to that of Master Kraelix, but I had never considered the look of writing to be a high enough importance to take note. A failing, perhaps." Infused studied the writing for another long moment before shaking his head and giving up on trying to identify it.

"I know a way into the underdark, as well. Near the tower, somewhat."

Sand shook his head as Althaea was reading the letter, not understanding why Alicia would invite the murderous drows in Vertigo. He had failed in this fight too, barely holding his own. Good thing Clacker had been there to even up the fight. Infused seem certain that Alicia was in the underdark, but he shrugged, not concerned about Alicia fate.

Thorin blocked the passage to the Underdark that dark sk... drows built to come here, but explosion blocked the tunnel. Unless Alicia found a way to go there, Sand does not think she passed that way, but Sand would prefer to make sure.

Sand is sorry to have brought Infused hopes high. Sand proposes to go get weapons from Sebastian's keep. Friends stopped gnolls, but Sand is worried about state of militia in Vertigo. Friends will not always be there. Sand is able to transport more items now, with new magic.

Nodding in accent to the words Sand spoke, "I agree, Sand. With this being our home for the unforeseeable future, I would feel much more comfortable if the militia had a better stock at their disposal. It has been twice now that we have been meaning to leave to retrieve the cache and plans have been delayed for one thing or another. The trek after Alicia could be a lengthy one, should we choose this path. My mind would be more at ease knowing our home was protected during our absence. Shall we convene with the rest of our compatriots to discuss this matter more fully?"

Leading the way back to the inn where Althaea knew Thorn to be, she sent a message to Andraste. "Giltris, I have news of Alicia and the drow attack the night of our arrival. Please meet me at the Better Times."

Gar listened to the talk of Alicia and the drow, and mused silently as they discussed what had happened. If Thorin had sealed the passages beneath the city, Alicia would have gone elsewhere to go under, but had it need north, both Infused and himself would have seen her in passing. “If she went north towards the tower infused, we would have passed her. No - she either went to some other entrance to the under dark or found a passage here.”

He nodded at Althaea’s wisdom as she led them from the room. “Checking the town for passages seems logical - even if one passage escaped destruction, then the town is at risk. I say we look, and if all a sealed, the milita have just to focus on the walls. If not, seal all but one, and we take that one.”

Sand rose and nodded at Althaea words.

Sand will verify passage drows took to come into Vertigo. Sand will see Althaea and other friends soon. Does Gar want to come?

Waiting a moment for the Tortle to react, he took off, going towards the back room of the Better Times, where his first fight with this group started, to examine the reconstituted wall to see if it was breached in any way.

Sand rolled 15 using 1d20+8.  Sand investigation.

Infused waved a dismissive had at Sand's comment, and the few remaining arcs of energy calmed themselves away, "Sand brought hope where there was none. Even if she is not my Mistress, it has changed a perspective somewhat, and the change is a good one. If your warriors need supplies retrieved from a tower, I will help with this."

"As you wish." Turning away from Sebastien's quarters I head back outside; the talk of guilt and blame has brought up some unsettling memories and affected my centre. This has been happening too much since I arrived in Vertigo; I do not understand why. Maybe some exercise will help.

Giltris, I have news of Alicia and the drow attack the night of our arrival. Please meet me at the Better Times. The words come from nowhere, straight into my mind, it is unsettling. She wants to discuss the Drow attack but there does not seem to be any urgency to the message. I take a moment to self-reflect, knowing she is awaiting my reply. I think it better I discuss this when my thoughts are clearer.

I will meet you there in a hour; I need to do something first.

Clearing the entrance tunnel, I head to the gate to the inner wall and out into the fields beyond. Scattered around the fields the town's residence labour to tend the crops, in their unending struggle to grow despite being permanently in the great mountains shadow. If Thorin were not here I doubt they could manage to support a town of this size. Maybe they could use some help.

"Giltris will join us in an hour, she has something she needs to take care of. In the meantime, we should inform Thorin of our findings. He will need to be informed of our plan to traverse to Sebastian's keep. Originally, he was to travel with us, but with recent happenings perhaps we could manage the trip alone.

As Althaea arrived back at the Better Times, she found Corsica straight away to tell her of Alicia and the letter. "What do you make of this, Corsica? I daresay, you knew her better than I."

Gar smiled at the warforged and nodded. "Lead the way sand" The tortle got up - slowly and followed at his usual pace. Arriving in the back room he leaned against his staff and let the warforged do his work. As he moved, the tortle himself looked around - he was no expert on what to look for but maybe a fresh set of eyes would help.

As he looked, he spoke."I am fortunate to meet two of your kind - first Infused, then yourself. Where i am from, your kind are as rare as my kind are." He looked at sand with a smile. "My time with infused has enlightened me a little, but i am hoping with some time with you, the differences in you both will be equally educational."

he again continued looking around. "You said you have some skill in the arcane - i'd be interested in hearing about it some time, if you would indulge a curious tortle."

---

OOC: Gar rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  investigation roll.

In reply to Althaea Sylvaranth (msg # 76):

She left us did she?  I can't say that I'm surprised.  She never seemed like the type to settle, and I don't just mean because she had that tingling of exploration running through her blood.  She never seemed to be fully at ease, even before the whole Drow thing.  Like looking over your shoulder all the time, expecting trouble, without the actual looking part, you know?  Probably because she was used to travelling before she came to Vertigo.  Must be able to take care of yourself, and capable, if you're exploring this god forsaken world.

Anywho, I bet she felt real bad about what happened with them Dark Elves.  Makes sense she didn't feel right any more.  Let's hope she fairs well out there on her own.  She was a good lass.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:17, Tue 17 Aug 2021.

In reply to Gar (msg # 77):

Both Sand and Gar looked at the collapsed tunnel, but found nothing of note.  The tunnel was still collapsed, there didn't look to be a breach of any kind, and there were no new footprints or changes from the last time Sand was here.

"My dealings with her were short but pleasant. Do you happen to know where Thorin would be at this hour? He should be informed."

Gathering up the letter, Althaea prepared to search for Thorin. Before she could leave, Thorin strode into the Better Times.

"Ah, I was just getting ready to come find you. We found this letter in Alicia's room. She has left us and it pains me to say, it was she who invited the Drow to Vertigo." Handing the letter over, she continues, "We were considering trying to follow her, but we would feel better doing so if the militia was better armed. Since we had planned on traversing to Sebastian's keep already, we were going to attempt this again. I realize in Sebastian's current state, he may not be able to join us. However, it could also prove to be a good distraction for him, but I will leave that to his discretion. I will need some information from him if he does not join us."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:58, Wed 18 Aug 2021.

She invited the Drow?  That is quite concerning.  Thorin ponders for a moment while Althaea talks about the keep and Sebastian, before responding.

Sebastian will not be accompanying you, given the circumstances.  I'd prefer him to not be disturbed by anyone other than me or the hunters right now, so please, let me know what you need and I'll speak with him.

"That is acceptable. I did not figure he would much enjoy seeing my face at the moment. The information I require from him is a rough map of his keep indicating where the cache was kept and any other notable items that may benefit us. Also, if there are any defenses we should be aware of and their locations. I know it has been stated in the past, but without him accompanying us this time, written directions to where is keep is located."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:03, Thu 19 Aug 2021.

I will speak with the hunters and Sebastian on these items.  Give me a couple hours or so, as I have a couple other smaller things to attend to.

With that, Thorin quickly walks up and grabs a plate of food and drink that are waiting for him at the bar, and heads right back out the door.

The tortle looked around as they spoke, searching (seemingly) thoroughly. Gar admitted to himself, he was not the best at searching, but an extra pair of eyes was always better, in his opinion.

After a time, he stood with a sigh. "It looks like there is no entrance or disturbances here Sand. Shall we return to the others?"

After meticulously examining the passage, Sand had to accept the evidence that no one had passed this way. He had expected this result and had only proposed this to cover all angles, so he rose and nodded to the wizard.

Sand agrees, Alicia did not come this way.

As the pair went back toward the main room he answered the question Gar had asked.

Sand can read a little of book of magic Sand found in dead dwarf friend bags. Sand learned some magic from it, but never had a teacher. Sand likes to build and that comes...

He shrugged, not sure how to explain it.

Images and plans come to Sand head when Sand wants to build, magic words to say with tools. Sand does not know where those come. Sand simply knows.

Gar looked at Sand with a tinge of curiosity. Magic was unique power - some, like his own, you needed to study, learn the language and phrases. Some magic users had magic ties to their bloodline - sorcerers they were called. Some still made pacts with entities of power, selling their souls for power. And artificers, people who had skills to emulate magic with technology was the rarest of all. They were smart and daring.

Sand was unique in more ways than one. HIs knowledge of arcane and gadgets seemed almost instinct, something unlikely. Many people like him spent years with trial and error developing their skills.

...and he had skills.

Gar looked at him as they walked back. "If you don't mind me saying, your unique, even for your kind. Your level of skill seems almost gifted, like...." he trailed off as he smiled, a thought coming to his head.

He decided to take a different tact with him. "Tell me sand....what is your honest opinion of time?"

Gar and Sand had reached the Better Time when the Tortle wizard asked a question that had the warforged thinking. He did not answer right away but took place at a table, the chair groaning under his weight. Taking a small bag, he opened it and removed a metal symbol with a finely engraved dragon on it, that he put aside. Fishing deeper, he got a half reconstructed jade medallion, the detailed engraving not rebuilt enough to give a precise idea yet of what it could be. Meticulous, the artificer looked into the small pile of fragments contained in a box to find the next one to add to the puzzle.

Time is... Sand is not sure. Sand has feeling that Sand is very old. Sand rusted like old sword. Sand never thought about time.

Finding a matching piece, he mended it to the medallion with magic and started looking for another piece.

Sand remembers last 2 years, when dwarf friends freed Sand from ice. But Sand can not be only 2 years old. Sand knows too much. Where is time that Sand lost in ice?

Taking a piece of jade, he tried matching it, turning it this way and that, to realize it didn't fit, so he took another one.

Sand thinks time is like a resource. It comes from...

Shrugging, he did a vague gesture with his hand.

Everywhere? Once time is gone, it is gone, it is very difficult to regain time. Like rock Sand repairs. It was easy to destroy, like time spent, but much harder to rebuilt. Sand does not know if Sand is clear. Or even makes sense. Gar asked difficult question.

Gar sat down, his own weight equally straining the chair as he listened. The tortle had an odd glint in his eye at the warforged and his answer, his mind going over several things unknown to the others. When Sand was finished, he nodded. "There is no right or wrong answer to that Sand....it is a difficult question to answer, even for myself."


he grasped his own hands in front of him. "You, sand, may only remember two years, but you are much older than the years suggest.  Your mind, your skills lend to this."

He looked at the others, then sand again. "Time is something given, but can not be taken. No matter how much we have, we never have enough, and want more. You reconise this....a sign of a keen mind and wisdom. Sand, whatever your past, you will find. And i hope i'm there when you do."

The repetitive motions of working the fields is soothing, focusing on doing the motions correctly, each time striving for impossible perfection, allows my thoughts to settle from the discord brought on from painful memories and turbulent emotions. The exercise burns off excess energy and brings back the satisfying ache to muscles that had been largely idle since this morning. Besides it is nice being able to help others in this simple, non-violent way.

Alas I cannot spend all of my day here, Althaea is still waiting. Waving to the others still working the fields I move back into the settlement proper and draw more water from the well. Drinking most of the first bucket before refilling it and moving to an out of the way place to clean up. That done, white hair still damp against the back of my neck, I head to the Better Times to meet with the others.

Just as Giltris sits down and gets comfortable, Thorin pops back in, barely juggling the dirty dishes, pieces of paper sticking out of various fingers, and a half eaten piece of bread.  After dropping off the dirty dishes on the bar, and Rory sweeping them up quickly, Thorin sits down next to Althaea and organizes the papers.

Alright, I've got the information you requested.  Let's take a look, shall we.

Thorin shuffles through the papers looking for the one he wants first, finally pulling it out.

Here are the directions to the Keep.  The keep itself is to the NorthWest, and is up on top of a mountainous hill.  The hunters said that when going through the moss covered forest, you'll come across a sinkhole near it's center.  Stay to the left and head straight out of the forest.  Once out of the forest, head due West for about half a day until you come across a large statue of a knight, half buried in the ground.  Looks like this.  Thorin hands over a rough sketch of the knight.



From there, head due North and you'll find the keep in another half day of travel.

Thorin flips over the paper, grabbing the next, and quickly peruses it before saying without looking up.

No real defenses you'll need to worry about.  The main defenses at his keep were his contingent of guards.

Taking a big bite out of the bread, he starts flipping over a couple more pieces of paper, finally finding the one he's looking for and hands it over.

Here is a rough sketch of the keep.  He said the cache can be found on the third floor of the main building, on the West side.  It is well protected behind a large iron door, but the keys were lost during the cataclysm, I'm afraid.  You'll have to try and find a way inside.

Thorin, shuffles through the papers again, double checking to make sure he didn't miss anything, before saying, Yup, that's it.  Good luck you guys.

Did you guys every figure out how you're going to bring back all the stuff?  What ideas have you come up with?

I hope someone knows how to pick locks.

"We have not had much time to fully consider any alternative ways to bring the cache back other than by having Clacker pull the cart and to have Sand use his magic to make the ground more passable. There might be other magic that can help haul things, but I do not possess them. My skill lays with people rather than objects. It was a bit slower going, but we made it work for the rescue of the hunters. If this method proves not to work, we will readjust on the journey rather than trying to come up with imaginary ifs and whens that may not happen. Perhaps our newcomers have some tricks in their arsenals that will prove useful to this mission. My hope is that another hiccup does not befall us to have to delay for the third time."

As she spoke, Althaea began to study the documents she requested to try and commit them to memory. It would be easier going if they did not have to keep stopping to study them to make sure they were still on the correct path.

---

18:14, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Intelligence.

While Thorin was giving his explanations on how to find the keep, Sand had the time to find and fix two more pieces of jade to his medallion. Then Althaea detailed how he had helped with his cart for Clacker to retrieve the hunters. He lifted the medallion to his eyes and examined it, before putting it down, nodding.

Sand can do more than cart on Clacker now. Sand has learned how to do disk of magic that could carry Sand and Clacker on it. Sand also has a big magical bag. Maybe Gar also knows how to do disk of magic? If not, maybe Gar can do like Sand and read from book of magic?

Letting the Tortle express itself, he continued after.

If big door has lock, Sand can try to open it. If not, Sand has something else to try to enter room.

Gar looked at Sand and smiled. "I know of the spell you speak of....floating disk. If we get time along the way, May i scribe the spell, then i can likewise carry some. Two disks will mean double the load" The warforged and his idea was sound and logical, again lending credence to the mysteries of sand.

The tortle looked at the others "there is a spell that can open locks. If their is an arcanist in town, they may have this spell. With some gold, i could copy the spell, and should the lock prove difficult, use it to open."

Sand listened to the Tortle and nodded. Opening a bag half hidden by his red cloak, the only garment he was wearing, he produced a medium size book and deposited on the table in front of the wizard.

Gar is welcome to look at dwarf friend book of magic. Sand reads it very slowly, Sand finds it difficult. Maybe Gar can find magic of unlocking in it? Sand does not know, Sand is unable to read all the titles

Infused had little to offer, but did have a couple of questions, "I can try to break the lock, or the door itself. Given enough time, and material, I may be able to create enough acid to eat through it, but that would be the last option after all else fails. I can help with carrying weight. Do you know what kind of supplies are there, and if they are loose or in containers?"

Sand nodded at Infused question and answered, as he was looking for another piece of jade for his puzzle.

Sand can build containers with remains inside keep. Sand likes to build.

He took a piece and tested it on his medallion, finding it lacking so he carefully put it back in the box, fishing for another.

Sand does not need sustenance, but how far away is this keep? Friend that eat will need food. Sand can not build that. Sand can provide all the water friends need.

I spend a few minutes going over the notes and map Thorin provided, writing a copy into my book for later reference. That done, I leave the Better Times inn and track down the hunters to discuss the route and anything we need to look out for on the way to the keep. While speaking to them, a soft melody reaches my ears, the slow and achingly precise notes of a violin playing a half-forgotten song; one I had not heard in over 5o years.

Following the sound, I find myself back outside by the stable, the fading light of the sun casting deep shadows across the ground. The volume of the music grows steadily as I walk forward into the stable and towards an empty stall in the back. Taking out my violin, I gently run my hand over the the weathered wood, the various nicks and dents intimately familiar to my finger tips, close my eyes and put the bow to the strings and play along, my inexpert fingers unable to match the glorious music I hear inside.

The song is long, much longer than I remember, but my hands do not falter on the unknown verses, remaining confident and steady. As the song comes to a close, tears streaking down my cheeks leaving wet trails in their wake, I hear a sharp exhale of breathe behind me. Turning I find myself staring into the intelligent, dark eyes of a large mare with a sleek, white spotted grey coat; a deep barrel chest; and solid, muscular legs. Stepping forward, she lowers her head towards me and I press my forehead to hers softly blowing at her nostrils so she will know my scent.

"Well met Harmony." I whisper, my voice thick with tears and wonder.

The day goes by quickly as the each of the party make their individual and necessary preparations for the coming excursion.  As the night begins to come to a close, a stiff, but welcoming cool breeze, finds it way into the caves of Vertigo providing a sense of calm and quiet to all those sleeping within. At times it feels almost too quiet, with the constant commotion of the comings and goings of the hunters and guards, or the late night clanging as Jacob tries to keep up with the demand of supplies, but tonight, even Jacob is taking a break and enjoying the night's quiet.

As the morning rolls around and people start waking up and attending to their necessary chores to keep Vertigo running, those that meander to breakfast are met with fresh cooked biscuits with honey and a touch of an exotic spice Cory threw in that gave it a special something.  It seemed appropriate given the peaceful sleep the night before, as a way of continuing that peaceful calm.

As the party congregated right outside the Better Times Inn after having breakfast, Sebastian walked up to Giltris and pulled her aside to talk privately.

I've thought a lot about what you said and I've decided that I want to do this on my own, in a more private ceremony.  I truly appreciate your help and getting my head in a more appropriate place.  I feel, well rested and...just ready, to close out this chapter of my life.  Thank you and good luck on your journey.

With that, Sebastian lays his hand on Giltris's shoulder in a gesture of friendship and appreciation, and then turns and leaves.

All preparations now in order, the guards open up the inner gates, as they see the party approaching, waiting until they were past it, then closing the inner gates once more, and opening the outer gates, to prevent any unwanted entry from outside.

The party begins their travels, walking along the dusty and desolate plains underneath the inverted mountain, all the various animal companions in tow.  Scamp was hooting and hollering enjoying being able to spread his wings while Aisling more quietly and methodically scanned ahead, circling and keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble.  Clacker by Sand's side seemed constantly on edge, his protective nature very apparent to all those that saw him.  Sel'zir, Thorn's spider had grown to an enormously large size, quickly gaining on the likes of clacker.  It walked besides Thorn in complete silence and moved instinctively with her, as if it could read Thorn's very thoughts when she decided to change direction.

After a good two hours, the plains were left behind and the moss covered trees right outside the edge of the inverted mountain's shadow came into view, the ground slowly supporting more and more new vegetation once able to harness some of the sun's nourishing rays.  As the group got closer to the moss covered forest, it was apparent that having a cart was going to be very unforgiving here.




It's here, when the group noticed that a thick fog had rolled in as well.

Gar smiled as sand offered the dwarven book of magic. "Thank you.  for now, i'll just have a look at it...note any spells that may be useful. When we have time and the means i'll copy some of the spells into my spellbook."

The tortle spent some time looking through the book as the others spoke, preparing for the night of sleep. When it came time to retire, Gar closed the book and handed it back to sand. "Thank you friend sand....their are some spells which are interesting."

Gar retired and slept soundly that night, the people around him hearing a slight snore as she smiled in his sleep - it seemed he had the same sleepy smile all the time.

The next morning, Gar was up at the break of dawn, his meagre belongings only enhanced with rations. staff in hand he was ready to go. As the group went, they noticed that the old atage of turtles being slow applied to Gar....he seemed happy to go at a casual pace.

When the group came to the tree's and left the plains, he stopped and took a breath of the cool, misty air. "Always the air feels fresher when their is a mist - almost cooler."

Sand had continued repairing the medallion while Gar was perusing the spell book and nodded when the wizard gave it back. Finishing the piece he had started, he picked up the book and said:

Gar let Sand know when Gar is ready to copy spells.

By that time, most of the patrons had retired for the night and the warforged energy was also running low. He knew he should enter is rest state soon but wanted to read the book, as he had just managed to understand another part of it. Some time later, he carefully put the book in his bag and finding a comfortable position on the chair, he stopped moving, like frozen. Automatically, his internal mechanisms started to repair the daily wear and tear of the wood muscles, while his mind processed what he had witnessed this day.

The following morning, the party was ready to leave and the going went well for the plains underneath the inverted mountain. Andraste had somehow acquired a horse during the night, an animal that Sand had not seen in the stable of the community. Cocking his head as his sign of curiosity, he asked his friend where she had picked it up.

But soon the terrain became more treacherous for the cart and the artificer had to concentrate on using his earth and water magic to level up a path for Clacker to pass on, slowing down the procession a lot. Which seemed to be to Gar's liking, as the Tortle was not hurrying at all for anything. Progressively, fog started to lift and Sand sent Scamp to scout around the party, to make sure no nasties were approaching under the fog cover, as he donned his shield on his arm.

Dead not dead like fog, friends be ready.

Today: Sand rolled 26 using 1d20+6.  sand perception.
Today: Sand rolled 14 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only.  Scamp perception (advantage).

As gar walked, he came up beside sand. “When you and I get time, I’d like to talk to you about your dwarven friends book. It has some….unusual qualities that have me curious.”

"This is Harmony." I tell Sand while stroking her broad neck. "She has chosen to leave her place in the heavens to help us." Reaching down I run my hands down her leg and she raises the hoof for inspection. "Actually, I need your help. Harmony has little protection and we are often in dangerous situations. Can you make something for her?"

Althaea returned to the room she shared with Alaric for the night. She needed to gather her belongings for the trip and inform him of her departure. Seeing Alaric sitting on the lower bunk perusing a book, she sat down next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. "Hello, my love. What are you reading?

"Nothing nearly as important as you".  Alaric closes the book, focusing his full attention on Althaea.

After receiving his answer, Althaea continued. "I have news. In case you had not heard, two newcomers have gained entry to Vertigo. Gar is a tortle wizard and Infused is a Warforged, but his specialties vary from those of Sand. I spoke with my companions this evening and we have made plans to once again venture to the Keep to retrieve the cache of weapons Sebastian believes to still be there. We will be departing with the dawn's light. I did not want you to be surprised if you wake and find I have already gone. Would you help me pack?"

Althaea stood from where she sat next to Alaric and began to place the few belongings she had brought with her to Vertigo back in their respective places in her pack, apart from her armor and weapons which she would don when she woke.

"Am I not welcome on this journey?" Alaric said playfully as he stood up and started to help pack what he thought appropriate.

"Of course, you are welcome to join me. I did not want to assume you would accompany me and be disappointed to learn you had prior engagements."

"The only engaging I wish to do, is with you, my dear." Alaric says with a devilishly handsome and charming grin.

Althaea rolls her eyes at Alaric's antics and mutters, "Humans," under her breath before looking up at him with a playful smile. Alaric kissed her forehead and began to pack his own belongings for the trip.

Once that task was complete, she began to prepare for sleep. Washing her face and hands, she removed the kohl from her eyes and undid her hair, running her comb through the long strands. Changing into the clothes she wore to sleep, Althaea crawled into bed next to Alaric satisfied she was ready to depart upon waking. "Sleep well, my love."

Althaea rose before dawn and began her day in the usual fashion, rebraiding her hair, drawing her eyes with kohl, and donning her armor. She placed her pack over her shoulder and strapped her weapons to her belt and left for the Better Times with Alaric. She would take the time to eat a warm meal since she did not know how long she would be traveling and might not get another chance to for some time. Once their meal was finished, they waited by the gate for the others to arrive.

Althaea felt lighter on this voyage than on her previous forays into the wilderness outside Vertigo. Be that from Alaric's presence, the lack of dread associated with the travels, or a combination of the two. Although she knew with the possibility of undead roaming the countryside she should aim for silence when possible, she found herself humming under her breath in spite of herself.

When the mists started rolling in, she headed the warning from Sand and began to keep a more watchful eye on her surroundings. What she saw unnerved her. The moss-covered forest was laden with bodies....everywhere.  The bodies were mostly twisted, strangely on their hands and knees, and moss-covered like the forest around them.  A good 60 feet or more away, one of the bodies has its head seemingly propped up, its eyeless skull looking straight ahead in our direction. For the time being, none of the bodies moved.

Seeing Andraste not far away, Althaea whispered loud enough for her to hear, "Perhaps now would be a good time for that extra sense you have about the undead and the like. She pointed out the bodies as she spoke.

---

11:50, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 29 using 1d20+10.  Performance.
11:51, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:20, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

Infused has little to do in the way of preparations, so instead he spent the time pre-travel having a small look around the area, taking in the sites of what civilization had become since last he stepped foot in such. The cool breeze at night was nice, though it overall made little difference to him, but he enjoyed the way that it made him feel more...compact, within himself. The relative feeling of safety within the city walls was odd, and difficult to accept. If he had required sleep, this night probably would have been one of those where it eluded him anyway, accustomed as he now was to taking any hint of noise as a sign of potential danger. He spent the night in inert observation and contemplation.

As others began to gather for a meal, Infused ended the inert state and listened to conversations, such as they were. He had little to add to anything that was said, but knowing what issues people here faced and what topics occupied their minds gave him a better sense of his new surroundings.

Leaving with a part of people was a welcome change, but he also felt more exposed. More people meant more noise, higher risk of unwanted attention. It meant better defense with more people, but how did he feel about the lives of strangers? How did they feel about him? Was his job to protect them all? Was it their job alone, and what happened happened? Once again, he lived in a world full of questions, as it had so many years ago.

The others began to change their bearing as the fog rose, and then weapons and shields began to move too, drawing Infused out of contemplation and into a state of alertness. What he saw was fog, and what he heard was nothing, but the others felt differently. Infused brought his greatsword to bear in front of him, feeling the energies inside him begin to swirl with anticipation, hoping for another opportunity to be unleased.

13:20, Today: Infused rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Wis Check.

Gar, still walking at his slow, leisurely pace, didn’t register the threat of undead until he heard the others speak, so entranced in the mist and trees. Though a man of knowledge and learning, his roots traced back to nature, and he always appreciated the beauty of such. As infused came to alertness, he placed a hand on his arm and nodded, a little more serious. Infused and himself had fought undead before - knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but now there were others to help.

“Stay calm and focused my friend….let danger come to us.” The tortle had seen his friend fight, a fierce warrior, but understood his eagerness as well. Gar was more patient…that was his nature, but he also knew when to be ready and when to strike. The two, though very different, complimented each other.

He none the less kept his usual pace as he strolled along. Casually he looked the same, but his eyes looked more alert

During the trip, both Gar and Andraste came to talk to Sand, and he was happy to answer both that he would help them with respectively the book and with an armor for Harmony, already measuring the horse in his mind to design the equine protection. When the forest deepened and the fog rolled in, Scamp could not see much. But Sand did.

The forest floor was filled with moss covered corpses, on their hands and knees. One even had the moss partially removed from it's head, the sightless eyes seemingly watching the progress of the little group. Nothing moved but Sand was uneasy, so he said to the group

Sand thinks it is better to not disturb dead. Sand not sure if they are dead not dead. Friends should hurry to put this place behind.

He still took a moment to concentrate and try to feel if there was any magic in the place but his synthetic nerves were too tight and he couldn't reach the state of calmness needed to sense magic this way. Instead, he gripped his spear and lifted it up high, ready to intervene if things started moving in an unnatural way.

22:14, Today: Sand rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Sand Arcana.

Seeing the scattering of bodies across the forest floor , I pull myself up into Harmony's saddle and lean forward to whisper into her ear. "This is why I always burn the bodies; whomever did this was very irresponsible. Let us check if this is worse than it looks."

Harmony trots forward until we are standing between our party and the corpses. Singing a soft hymn, I raise my right hand to gently grip my amulet and open myself, allowing Rao's power to flow through me and out into the world, searching for anything other.

Summary
Andraste
Delay action until Harmony has moved forward.
Action: Use Divine Sense. (As an action, you can detect good and evil. Until the end of your next turn, you can sense anything affected by the hallow spell or know the location of any celestial, fiend, undead within 60 ft. that is not behind total cover. You can use this feature 6 times per long rest.)
Passive Perception: 15

Harmony
Move: Advance until we are equidistant between the party and the corpses.
Action: Ready. take the Dash action of anyone other than the party starts to move or prepares to attack.
Reaction: See above.
Passive Perception: 11
This message was last edited by the player at 23:55, Thu 02 Sept 2021.

The tendrils of magic reach out from Giltris, probing their way through the densely moss covered forest.  Eyes closed, Giltris waits for the knowing feeling to pinpoint any unholy creatures near her, but alas, she comes up with naught.

"I cannot sense any undead in the immediate area." Getting down from the saddle, I remove my shovel from my saddle bags and look for the best place to build an oven. "Best we not leave them here like this; whomever did has done a grave disservice to the fallen and the living world. We must do better.

Had he been able to breathe, Sand would have sighed of relief hearing the paladin say there was no undead around. Instead he lowered his spear and nodded.

Sand is relieved. Sand does not like dead not dead.

Seeing Andraste taking her shovel, he nodded more emphatically and put his shield on his back, as he picked up on the half-elf intentions.

Giltris wants to prepare oven like for dark... Sand means drow. Sand will help. Sand likes to build.

Using his gained experience in constructing funerary ovens and his magics, he found a suitable spot and starting putting his engineering skills to work. Freeing Clacker from the cart, he used the defender strength to move bigger rocks and logs, as Scamp was circling the area as a scout.

15:54, Today: Sand rolled 20 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only.  Scamp perception (advantage). –

"I don't know what this oven is, but if we need to dig, this I can help with." Infused did not possess a shovel - for that matter, he possessed very little at all - but he did have a magical sword with a decently-wide blade. Following the direction of Giltris, Infused helped with the digging.

Gar nodded and watched as the two warforged prepared the oven. Gar was knoledgable in many things, but on something like this he didn't have much to offer - even physically he was not strong enough to help dig a hole.

So the tortle kept watch, occasionally looking at the two work, a smile on his face.

While Giltris, Sand, and Infused dealt with the bodies, Althaea sat and cuddled up next to Alaric. She kept a watchful eye on the surroundings while the others worked, hopeful that no danger would wander into the perimeter.

---

OOC: 06:53, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 24 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

With the pit dug, greatly sped up by Sand's magic, I direct Infused to look for stones and wood while I start to begin gathering the remains. Hmm, that is odd. Signs indicate this person died sometime within the last day and yet they have decomposed much faster than expected. And this moss, it should not have covered their bones yet.

"Something strange is happening here; be on your guard."

Given our recent experience with hostile fungi some precautions may be in order. Wrapping a scarf around my mouth and nose I carefully crouch down and gently begin to remove the remains.

Note: Her hair has shifted from pale white to a dirty grey.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Tue 07 Sept 2021.

Gar, watching the warforged work, heard Andraste speak and looked at them curiously. "How is this strange, friend Andraste....other than the numbers, they appear to be normal bodies?"

The tortle, none the less narrowed his eyes as he walked over to Andraste, his curiosity peaked.

As Aisling circled overhead searching for any danger, Thorn rested a hand on Sel'zir's cephalothorax to calm the spider. While she was certain her own agitation was affecting the damhán alla, she had not earned mastery over herself at considerable cost only to allow the arachnid publicly reveal her emotions.

Even if the sources of discontent were many. Most especially, this ridiculous mission to acquire weapons for a doomed settlement instead of pursuing the woman who had invited the Drow to Vertigo and extracting everything she knew in a slow and agonizing fashion before punishing her sufficiently to discourage similar behavior in others. Thorn might have objected to the current course of action - despite the fact that her opinion was clearly unwelcome - but as the thoroughfare outside Alicia's chambers had rendered tracking impossible, she had no real alternative to offer.

And then there was this unnatural and potentially deadly forest in which her companions insisted on delaying. While she understood that burning the bodies would prevent them from arising as undead, more dangerous creatures existed, presumably in the vicinity. Such as whatever had killed these people.

Finally, Thorn had enough. If the others would say nothing - content to either participate or quietly keep watch - then it fell to her.

"No more," she said to Giltris, in a level, but unyielding, tone. "You have collected the nearby bodies. Burn them, if you must, but then we depart immediately. This is unnatural," she gestured sharply at the eyeless, moss-shrouded corpses, "And even the way the dead are spaced evokes a baited trap. If it comes to it, I would rather battle risen corpses than their creator."

With that, she covered her own nose and mouth, readied her weapons and resumed her vigil.

Perception: 11
Perception (Aisling): 16, 20
This message was last edited by the player at 00:21, Wed 08 Sept 2021.

If I knew what was happening I would have told you! The flash of irritation was unexpected and unjustified, and it took a couple of deep breathes to suppress it. "One of the bodies is more decomposed than it should be and the moss on it is growing too fast. I do not know the cause; all I can say is that it is strange."

Note: Reddish-orange briefly streaks her hair before it returns to grey.

"Thorn, I will move as quickly as the situation allows." I tell Thorn while continuing to gather the remains. "This is important, not only are we protecting the living from a horrible threat but we are saving these people from having their final material remains defiled by darkness. I could not do anything for these people in life but I can do this last service and give them the respect and consideration due all living creatures." Setting my burden down near the oven I turn to face Thorn, doing my best to meet her eyes. I agree, this is most likely a trap but I have faith that you will not allow us to be caught unawares. It is because of your vigilance that I can conduct this last service with the solemnity it deserves. Thank you."

Turning back to my duty I throw one last comment over my shoulder. "If it does come to pass that whatever has done this returns whilst we are here it is better that we face it rather than another, less prepared traveler. Perhaps we will be able to remove another danger to the people of these lands. You have seen the people of Vertigo and the other smaller settlements, they face dangers enough."

Gar saw the brief flash of irritation flash over her features as she calmed. The tortle had the same calm demeanor as always as he listened to the reasoning. He looked at the moss with narrowed eyes and saw the bodies in a new light. If the bodies are decomposing faster than normal, then something unnatural was causing it.

…but what?

He looked at Mathorn and her sudden outburst, features still the same. With Andraste answering he nodded. “It may be unnatural, but could you in conscious leave here knowing you could possibly do something and spare this fate of others. What if someone you knew, family, or even a child came by and was fallen. No…I could not live with turning my back without trying at least.”

He leaned on his staff. “You, as a person of nature, I would expect that something that descrates the natural flow of nature, would want at least answers?”

He looked around, looking at the bodies as he reached in his sachet. “At the very least, these bodies deserve there rest….to leave them, we would be no better than what caused this, trap or not. Besides….” The tortle narrowed his eyes, his mouth smiling in a slightly meanacing way. “….let them try. I have some surprises for whoever tries sneaking up in us”

He removed a large sash and tied it over his snout
This message was last edited by the player at 02:24, Thu 09 Sept 2021.

Thorn's expression - still hidden under her hood - didn't reflect her sudden amusement at the notion of Giltris attempting to manipulate her. Clearly the half-elf had little respect for Thorn's wisdom, which suited her fine. Let all her companions underestimate her: the annoyance was a small price to pay for such an advantage.

"We seem to be the only living near enough to be menaced by this threat. And what do the dead care? Their spirits have departed. Funerary rites serve the living, not the dead," Thorn replied to them both in the same inflectionless, level tone as always, "I have abided because undeath disrupts Nature's cycle. But if there is anything She teaches, it is that the strong and cunning survive while the weak and foolish perish. We risk becoming the latter to salve your conscience," she repeated the unfamiliar term slowly. "So I repeat: burn those already gathered if you must, but no more."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:37, Thu 09 Sept 2021.

"There is great wisdom in what you say for nature is a hard and at times even cruel mother. But as thinking creatures we can choose to rise above and aim to create a world beyond survival of the fittest. If you wish to leave before my work here is done go with my blessing, good wishes, and hopes that we will meet again at the keep. However, I have a duty here and I will complete it."

Gar listened to the two, suspecting the two were at odds more than just today. Their idealsseemed to clash in regards to certain things, something gar both knew happened in individuals and respected. But given tbe circumstances, such discussions were saved for a safer place.

....not a forest of dead.

He looked at the two and shrugged. "You are both right here....to leave them would make us no better than the cause, but we also must not waste our time here. And while our good huntress here is right that nature shows us that survival makes us strong, this suituation may not be of nature, but something worse. let us do what we can and leave. We find the cause and we can see what we can do about it."

At first, Thorn wasn't sure which made less sense: Giltris advancing a world beyond the survival of the fittest as some sort of perverse goal or Gar's repeated and bizarre equivalency between them and the potentially unnatural killer(s). But that was before he suggested they should seek out the cause of these grisly deaths.

On your own heads be it.

Thorn seriously considered departing, and not merely to the keep - she had never seen much purpose in going there - but breaking company with them altogether. Still, her reasons for not traveling alone remained and as she had seen no signs of immediate danger, the potential rewards still outweighed the risk. For now.

So she bowed her head submissively to them both, murmuring, "As you will."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:10, Fri 10 Sept 2021.

As the altercation between Thorn and Giltris seemed to be drawing to a close, Althaea nudges Alaric. "Let us go help Giltris collect bodies for the oven. It will go quicker with more hands helping. I will continue to keep my eyes on the surroundings so nothing gets the jump on us." Althaea stood from where she sat next to Alaric and helped the man to his feet, brushing any debris from their clothing. She moved between the bodies almost methodically, finding an additional body spaced between twenty and thirty feet apart, totaling almost twenty when the count was concluded. After seeing the bodies up close, Althaea noticed something disturbing.

Althaea returned to Giltris, visibly a little shaken. "They have no eyes."

During the altercation between the huntress and the paladin, Sand had kept his concentration on building the oven, with the help of Clacker and Infused. He was uneasy at staying in this place and understood the hurry Thorn was showing, but deeper still, he somehow agreed with Andraste. The memory of the archaic prayer he had uttered for Aleena's soul burned in his memory and raised so much questions.

But for now he was doing what he loved to do, build something, anything. So strong was his concentration that he almost missed Scamp's warning. Brutally stopping what he was doing, he locked his articulations and sent his consciousness to the familiar's senses. Coming back after a few minutes, he moved towards where the main group was still arguing, making sure Infused was following to hear.

Scamp saw floating eye coming over here, with long cord attached. Eye is that way.

He pointed to the west, then doned his shield, the oven forgotten.

Sand thinks there might be more, friends be ready.

Meanwhile, freed to use his own sense again, and feeling the unease of his master towards what he had found, Scamp decided to have a little fun and swooped down to grab the optical cord a couple of feet behind the eyeball, already deciding where he wanted to loop that thing to knot it up

Today: Sand rolled 15 using 1d20+3.  Scamp attack to grab the optical nerve.

As the party gathered the nearby bodies and began piling them in the oven, Sand had informed them of a strange sight.  A lone eyeball with its nerve strands trailing behind it off to the West.  As the group readied themselves for whatever this was, that was coming, they could never have been prepared for what did come.

A mixture of the fog and dense forest left the area with little to no sun, but it was just enough for Althaea and Thorn to see the faint shadow that grew bigger on the ground.  It took a second to realize what was happening, but when they finally did and both looked up, they saw this large mass; a collection of hundreds of eyes floating along, trailing ganglia and dripping caustic fluid that left tiny sizzles in the forest floor around them, barely heard over the cracking oven fire.  The swarm of eyes descended upon the group, dropping right on top of Gar and Thorn, but Thorn quickly moved out of the way with practiced haste.  As soon as the swarm surrounded Gar, he felt the overwhelming and painful sensation of his eyes trying to rip themselves right out of their very sockets, as if trying to join the tumbling swarm around them.




If that wasn't enough, the forest suddenly seemed to come alive as the bodies not already collected by the group, started to rise, in a most peculiar way.  Vines and roots wriggled and writhed their way through, up, and around the bones of the skeletal bodies, lifting them off the ground.  The vines became corded and taut, creating muscle like fibers in their arms, legs, and chest;  the moss covering the skeletons started to sprout mushrooms that glistened and hardened, creating protective plates sporadically over their skeletal frames. The creatures, now moving as if alive, moved with alacrity towards the PCs, quickly surrounding them.


This message was last edited by the GM at 01:47, Mon 13 Sept 2021.

Friends be careful!

What is that thing? There will be time to examine it when it's dead!

The eyeball monstrosity having landed near him and Clacker, Sand quickly stabbed twice with his spear, as Clacker attacked with his giant mandibles.

Scamp had captured the eye stalk and using his maximum speed, weaved through the trees in a random pattern to create knots!

Scamp movement and dash 120 feet to attach the eye ball to trees.

Sand 2 attacks 15 to hit for 10 magical damage, 25 to hit for 10 magical damage
Sand Bonus action : Clacker attack, 10 to hit for 10 damage
No move action.

As Althaea looked up, Gar noticed and looked up as the mass of eyes descended on himself and Thorn. Gar's head was practically enveloped in the mass of eyes. At first he was confused by the watery darkness he saw.

Then he felt the pain.

His eyes, his own eyes seemed to take a life of their own, pulling on his skull, like gravity itself was pulling him via his eyes.

The wizard let out a painful scream as he felt the pressure building, his vision darkening and his limbs freezing from the sheer pain.

The Tortle, from the outside, looked like her was swaying, his scream echoing the forest.

"AAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:57, Sat 11 Sept 2021.

Infused's head jerked toward Gar at the sound of his scream, the hold on his emotions slipping. A bundle of eyes, a number of plant zombies, and the humanoids around him grasping at their faces. He had no idea what was happening to them, nor why, but he did know between zombies and a swarm of eyeballs, the eyes were more likely to be responsible than the zombies.

Things were happening around him, quickly. Too quickly for him to respond as fast as he wished, time seeming to almost slow as he fought to intervene.

Althaea saw the creature descend on her companions, and she quickly rose to action. She did not want to venture too close to the creature, lest her eyes also try to dislodge themselves, but hearing Gar scream, she had to do something. Muttering a curse under her breath, Althaea made a few sigils with her hands before releasing her spell. She immediately followed the first spell with another, sending two beams of crackling energy at the creature made of eyes.

Turning to Giltris, knowing she was likely about to get in melee with the creature, "When you are up there, be careful."

---

OOC: Hex: Str checks made by the creature have disadvantage
02:01, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 17 using 1d20+8.  Eldritch Blast.
02:03, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 12 using 1d20+8.  Eldritch Blast. (Beam 2)
02:04, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 13 force,5 necrotic using d10+4,d6.  Eldritch Blast damage. 18 total if damage types don't matter.
02:06, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 7 force,5 necrotic using d10+4,d6.  Eldritch Blast damage. (Beam 2, if it hits) 12 total if damage types don't matter.
30 damage if both beams hit.

Surprise Round Summary:

As the creature descended upon her and Gar, Thorn reacted quickly, her chakrams flowing from her hand with unnatural speed.  However, the creature's appearance was most disturbing, more so because it was inches from her not noticing the creature in time, and error she took personally.  Because of this, her first chakram not only went wide, but low, completely missing the floating creature and landing amongst the mossy roots behind it.  The second chakram found its mark, severing the strands, the eyes falling to the forest floor.

The hundreds of eyes wriggled and wormed themselves around Gar, enveloping the wizard who completely disappeared inside the swarm itself, the screaming pain from Gar the only reason others knew he was still alive.

It was then that the blasts of energy came flying towards the creature.  The first slammed into it leaving a couple of the eyeballs dangling by their ganglia, unmoving.  However, when the second blast came at the creature, the eyes literally parted to make a hole for the blast to pass through, leaving the creature completely unharmed.  The speed at which the creature did this, adapting within seconds, was quite frightening.

The creature was steadfast though, remaining where it was, continuing to harvest the eyes of its victim within.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:19, Mon 13 Sept 2021.

Gar yelled as he was within the sea of eyes, feeling their moistness against his skin, it barely registered in comparison to the pain he felt. His vision swam as he saw flashes of light, shades of red and grey. The tortle, paralysed in pain and fear tried I vain to swat them away, grab his eyes to stop the pain, but the pain itself was so excruciating that he was near frozen in the spot.

Then, he felt a tear in the base of his skull….and he saw nothing - only darkness.

A sloshing sound assaulted his ears, and strangely the pain eased, but he still couldn’t see within the sphere of eyeballs.

Perhaps my friends have distracted it. He thought to himself as he stood there. Then he registered a new moistness on his face, running down his cheeks. He reached for it almost like it was in slow motion, and felt it…..liquid, but warm.

He couldn’t see, but his claw came to his nose. The metallic smell was distinct.

….blood.

---

OOC: charisma save - 5
Constitution save - 4


Oh crap!

Thorn didn't see the deadly and utterly silent threat descending on her from above, but a mere breath before its attack her finely-attuned sense of paranoia detected its hostility.

"Heads up!" she alerted her companions, eyes darting quickly up to the threat - apparently some sort of ersatz beholder - before sweeping around to the circle of risen corpses. In the direction that Giltris had been gathering bodies, there seemed to be a single gap remaining. Her best option - provided it wasn't a trap. But first . . .

Just as Thorn was wondering if Sel'zir could do what she had in mind, the damhán alla - in a behavior which would have been disconcerting at virtually any other time - acted in accordance with her thoughts. The web she spun toward fell short of the floating abomination, but they could waste no more time. Together they sprinted away toward the opening.

Normally in the face of such overwhelming force, Thorn would use the shadows of the forest to hide, but that would be an exercise in futility against a creature literally composed of eyes. Best to put them out as quickly as possible then.

As Aisling raked his talons at their foe to distract it, Thorn murmured the word prey under her breath in Elven and loosed her chakrams. While one weapon blinded any number of eyes, the other flew wide, falling harmlessly to the ground. Unacceptable. Still, as she threw her remaining chakram again, she was pleased to see Aisling - finished harrying their opponent - swoop over to collect her lost weapon before flying back and dropping it into her waiting hand.

Surprise Round:
Sel'zir Web Attack: 14
Web Recharge: 3 (failed)
Thorn (and companions) move 15 ft northwest.
Aisling helps.
Thorn enables Favored Foe and attacks with advantage.
Primary Weapon Main Attack: 10, 10
Damage: N/A
Off-Hand Weapon Main Attack: 17
Damage: 18
Primary Weapon Extra Attack: N/A (chakram missing)
Off-Hand Weapon Extra Attack: 15
Damage: 10
This message was last edited by the player at 04:09, Mon 13 Sept 2021.

Upon seeing Gar blinded, Thorn had to pull upon her deepest reserves of discipline to avoid retreating to the farthest reach of her weapons. The notion that she could have become so vulnerable had she reacted a heartbeat slower was horrifying, but destroying this abomination as quickly as possible was the surest way to protect herself and to do that, she had to remain within range.

Glancing behind her and seeing no attackers lying in wait, Thorn backed farther from the deadly creature and, with Aisling’s assistance, spun her chakrams toward their foe.

Web Recharge: 1 (failed)
Sel'zir readies an action: bite opponent coming within melee range of Thorn/herself
Thorn (and companions) move northwest to 30 ft from the beholder.
Aisling helps.
Thorn attacks with advantage.
Primary Weapon Main Attack: 16, 15
Damage: 13
Off-Hand Weapon Main Attack: 15
Damage: 11
Primary Weapon Extra Attack: 12
Damage: N/A
Off-Hand Weapon Extra Attack: 24
Damage: 9
This message was last edited by the player at 04:19, Mon 13 Sept 2021.

Summary of First Non-Surprise Round up to Eye Swarm's attack:

Thorn continued her tactical attack, putting more room between the eye swarm and herself and letting the chakrams fly once again.  They whizzed through the air, circling back after smashing more of the creature's many eyes, only to be loosed again in similar deadly fashion.  The creature, heavily damaged by the onslaught, gave no indication it cared or worried for its own safety, as it casually floated South, continuing to encompass the tortle, but now moving to engulf the large warforged as well.

It was then that Gar felt the popping snap of his optic nerves being severed in each eye, no longer able to hold against the powerful pulling force emanating from the creature.  For a second, he could feel the strands of the ganglia and trailing blood tickle his cheek before his eyes left him forever, now one with the dreaded swarm.  The physical pain was almost as hurtful as the realization that he was totally and utterly blind, and his life would forever change from this point on.  (6 points of damage to Gar)

As Gar's eyes were being ripped out of his head, a flashing display of lights weaves through the air in a hypnotizing pattern over the creature; others nearby could see the eyes of the creature following the pattern of lights, each of the pupils seemingly looking in different directions, but when the light show completed, the creature went back about its business, two new eyes adding to its strength.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:02, Mon 13 Sept 2021.

The scream from Gar was alarming but both Althaea and Thorn had already moved to handle the strange eye monster and all of the large constructs were nearby. I cannot add much to that fight but I may be able to keep some of the strange plant-zombies away. Pulling myself up into the saddle, Harmony and I advance to place ourselves between the party and two of the nearest zombies. As we move a sing a short hymn, the familiar words bring a sense of peace and readiness infuse me as I ready myself.

Turn 02 Summary
Giltris
Move: Mount Harmony (-15ft of movement).
Action: Cast Bless, target Giltris, Gar, and Infused.
Bonus Action: N/A.
Reaction: If a target inflicts more than 20 damage with a single attack use Rebuke the Violent.
Reaction: Opportunity attack if prompted with longsword (28 to-hit for 8 slashing).
Concentration: 25, 24, 11, 23, and 12.

Harmony
Move: Move to the X (Harmony + Giltris are size large).
Action: Dodge.
Bonus Action: Nil.
Reaction: Opportunity attack if prompted (14 to-hit for 7 bludgeoning).



Notes
Bless: You bless up to three creatures of your choice within range. Whenever a target makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the attack roll or saving throw.

Rebuke the Violent: Immediately after an attacker within 30 ft. deals damage with an attack against a creature other than you, you can use your reaction to force the attacker to make a WIS saving throw (DC 16). On failure, the attacker takes radiant damage equal to the damage it just dealt, or half damage on success.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Mon 13 Sept 2021.

The scream from Gar had me worried. Calling out to Sand, "I want to try something, Sand. Close your eyes!" Drawing the sigils with my hands, for a brief moment, there was a flash of color in a twisting pattern before they once again faded from view. Althaea was surprised to see the creature still thrashing about where it perched over Gar. Damn!

---

OOC: Cast Hypnotic Pattern in 30ft cube, avoiding Thorn and Co.

Gar felt the severing of his optic nerves as his eyes finally gave into the pull of the monster, and gar felt the moisture of blood down his cheeks and into the corner of his mouth. The hot iron taste and smell assaulted him, snapping his mind into a sharp clarity....he had lost his vision.

...he had lost his eyes!

The realization made his mind think of the effect holding him in place, the pain and effect. His mind, used to puzzles manipulated the effect out of instinct, and he found a slither of release.

The tortle dropped to the ground,  breathing heavily on his hands and knees, his staff on the ground. He was fully visible now under the monster, blood running down his cheeks like a red tear from his eye.

...or where his eyes were.

The tortle gasped for breath as he was on his hands and knees, trying to process what had happened.

...he lost his sight, perhaps forever.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:54, Mon 13 Sept 2021.

Infused breathed out a word, "Drreitshh." He'd intended it to be a yell, but something about the tone in Gar's scream had caused the vocal plane in the warforge's throat to barely allow air to pass through and create the vibrations required for speech. Still, the command word unlocked the sword's power, sending flames licking up the blade from crossguard to tip.

All along his 'forged torso, upper arms and upper legs, arcs of electricity, small bursts or sparks in an array of colors, or small shadowy tendrils wormed their way out between armor plates and bundles of corded living materials, as the raging energy now trapped inside of him wrestled to break free. In all his years of service, he had barely even been aware that the energy existed. Only after he started fighting had it begun to manifest, and the more he fought the more it pushed to be free when he was excited. He worried about what all it could actually do. He had allowed it to flow freely through him on the day that he had been forced to fight Master Kraelix, and he had been thankful that there were no allies nearby to be caught in the effect. It had escaped of its own will on other occasions, and done no harm at all, leaving him now with a constant concern about what it might do this or the next.

Slow to start, Infused was finally in motion and able to assist. There was a threat in numbers, and perhaps he should have gone after zombies to more even the odds, but Gar's agony meant there was only one target for him. Infused stepped toward the swarming eyeballs and swung the flaming greatsword through them, and then again.

Bonus: ignite Flametongue
Move: adjacent to the eyeball swarm
Action: Attack (Reckless Attack) with Flametongue
Attack 1: Hit AC 17+1=18 for 12 Slashing + 4 Fire damage (16 total)
Attack 2: Hit AC 19+3=22 for 8 Slashing + 7 Fire damage (15 total) [31 combined]

21:26, Today: Infused rolled 1,3 using d4,d4.  Bless. (forgot to include it)
21:05, Today: Infused rolled 8,19,8,7 using d20+6,d20+6,2d6+4,2d6.  Reckless Flametongue: slashing, fire.
21:05, Today: Infused rolled 17,15,12,4 using d20+6,d20+6,2d6+4,2d6.  Reckless Flametongue: slashing, fire.

OOC: repost of my first round action, way up there


Friends be careful!

What is that thing? There will be time to examine it when it's dead!

Gar's screams were piercing, agonizing... what was the creature doing to him? Pointing with his spear, he directed his defender.

Clacker, get Gar out of monster!

The eyeball monstrosity having landed near him and Clacker, Sand quickly stabbed twice with his spear, as Clacker fearlessly moved in, trying to grapple the Tortle to move him out of that slimy mass of eyes.

Sand then felt something, an insidious attack that tried to affect his mind, but he shook it off, before moving back from the thing.

Friends be careful, creature attacks mind!

Scamp had captured the eye stalk and using his maximum speed, weaved through the trees in a random pattern to create knots!

Scamp movement and dash 120 feet to attach the eye ball to trees.

Sand 2 attacks 15 to hit for 10 magical damage, 25 to hit for 10 magical damage
Sand Bonus action : Clacker grapple athletic check on Gar, 9 :P ... not a fumble so if it's not contested, should be a success. Then move as far away as possible with Gar in tow.
Move action, go back the south prepared path and move away from the thing, while keeping line of sight on it. .
This message was last edited by the player at 11:39, Tue 14 Sept 2021.

Alaric
Alaric could see everyone rushing about, either towards the fight or in some cases, away from it. Althaea did not hesitate when the creature came upon us. She is even more magnificent in battle than I could have imagined. He glanced her way, pleading with his eyes to stay out of range of our assailants before rushing headfirst into the fray, pulling out his longsword as he drew close, slashing at the mass of eyes.

---

As the creature completed its harvest of the Tortle's eyes, the party, no longer caught off guard, began their strategic attack.

Giltris mounted his horse Harmony, moving North to intercept the oncoming plant skeletons, but not before casting Bless on Gar, Infused, and herself.

It was then, that the plant skeleton abominations raced forward, trying to overwhelm their newfound prey.  They were seemingly unhindered by the terrain, as they WERE the terrain.  The skeletons swung wildly, clawing at the heroes with nails that looked to be made of dried and sharpened roots, dripping with a strange blue ooze.

The two towards the East rushed forward to engage the Barbarian, who had his eyes set on the swarm that was inflicting such pain on his friend. One of the skeleton's claws was able to dig into the Barbarian's flesh. (Damage to Infused:  9 slashing + 3 poison. 12 damage if type doesn't matter)

The two to the South sped North, joining the fray by slashing their clawed hands at the mechanical beetle, ripping through the metal armor as if it was paper.  The beetle wasn't ready for such an onslaught and quickly fell to its last legs from the deadly claws of the plant skeletons. (20 damage to Clacker: One of the attacks was a CRIT. 6 additional damage was nullified due to poison immunity.)

The two to the North, only moved slightly to flank, when they were suddenly propelled upwards and off the ground right at Giltris, as the roots grew in size and girth.  Now level with her, their claws were easily able to sink into the Half-Elf.  (8 points of damage + 3 poison damage from Skeleton 1.  8 points of damage + 3 poison damage from Skeleton 2.  22 if types don't matter.)

The last sprinted northeast to engage the Wood Elf wreaking havoc on the floating eye swarm; the distraction from the large spider's bite was enough to throw the creature off enough, as the sharpened nails couldn't penetrate into the Thorn's flesh, leaving only deep scratches in her armor.

With that, it was the heroes turn.

Sand needed to get out of the swarm, so he carefully jabbed his spear while he dodged and weaved his steps to ensure the swarm or the skeletons wouldn't get a swipe in. (Disengage action, as discussed)

Clacker bolted over to Gar, dodging swipes from the two skeletons that had just put the beetle in such a deteriorated state, scooped up Gar and ran East, the only open path.  (Clacker moved 20 ft., 1/2 movement from difficult terrain with Gar)

Scamp wrapped the lone eyeball in such a knot, that in its final loop, the eye popped with a disgusting squishing sound.  (eyeball scout dead)

The barbarian rushed away from the two skeletons in hopes to help Gar.  The first skeleton swung and didn't even come close in the barbarian's haste, but the second landed a solid hit, his claws leaving deep gouges in the barbarian's legs. (17 points of slashing +3 points of poison damage.  Total 20 damage - CRIT)  At this point, a holy white light envelops and washes over the skeleton.  (Rebuke the Violent: 10 damage to Skeleton.)

The barbarian's sword leapt to life, the flames licking the metal of the sword, ready for a fight.  Infused took two large swipes at the swarm, and with each swipe, large chunks of eyes were cleaved from the creature's body.  The creature was in rough shape, its body partially convulsing from the onslaught it just took.  Some of the eyes started to look up, seemingly for an escape route.

Alaric recklessly rushed in to protect Althaea in case the swarm decided to move near her, delivering a brutal blow while slashing haphazardly. (3 damage to Infused and Althaea if she fails her ST)   However, with his blade ringing true, the creature hovered for a split second after the wild attack, before finally slumping to the ground in a mound of twitching pupils. (Oculo Swarm is dead)

Summary of Damage:

Infused:  35 damage (29 slashing + 6 poison)
Giltris:  22 damage (16 slashing + 6 poison)
Clacker:  20 damage (20 slashing + 6 poison that was nullified)

Skeleton: 10 damage (Rebuke the Violent - Giltris - Passed Saving Throw)
Oculo Swarm:  DEAD
Eyeball Scout:  DEAD

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:35, Tue 14 Sept 2021.

Gar, still feeling the paralysing effects of his injury, the tortle remained on his hands and knees, muttering. “No….no…..no….” His tone was unlike what you’d heard from him. The usual optimistic and happy tortle had a tone of fear, denial and sorrow. His clawed hands couched at the moist soil, almost like grasping at the Hope this was all a bad dream. He heard the sound of battle around him, people talking, but they all seemed muted to him.

Then he felt something grasp him, cold and lifeless. His mind went to his training with his mentor, and a particular lesson - one that taught him a valuable lesson. His master conjured poisonous spiders, a great swarm, to test his resolve. The tortle had no magic to attack such a foe, or anything defensive. But this wasn’t the test.

No matter how bleak, don’t give up. Your mind is your greatest weapon.

Gar’s instinct kicked in, and he held his hand out. His tone was angry, determined and ready to fight, something none of the party (even infused) had seen in him.“You’ll not take me that easily!” As he was dragged, he felt something familiar - his staff.

He was blind. He was surrounded by enemies.

…and he would fight

Seeing the swarm fall, Althaea while not feeling better about their plight per se, felt her unease about Alaric being next to the creature slip away. Turning now to address the plant skeletons, she called upon her magic and threw two more crackling beams of energy at the creature directly across from Alaric.

---

OOC: 15:12, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 13,19,14,10 using d20+8,d20+8,d10+4,d10+4.  Eldritch Blast.
13 to hit for 14 force damage, 19 to hit for 10 force damage. 24 total if both beams hit.

---

Alaric
After felling the mass of eyes, Alaric turned to see two blasts streak toward the plant skeletons that were approaching his location. Moving to engage them, he swung at the skeleton Althaea had targeted, in hopes of finishing it off.

---

As the undead attacked him from behind, the chaotic energy energy burst forth whether he wanted it to or not. He tried to grab hold of it, to keep it contained, but it was like trying to hold light, with no physical substance to it at all. The effects that had been manifesting across his body pulled back and withdrew inside him once more, all of the effects simply gone. Then the power surged out all at once, causing him to glow white as though his entire body had been the target of a light cantrip.

Then the light pooled up into his chest before rushing through his arms and into the flaming sword. The imagery he'd conjured before about failing to hold light was suddenly proven wrong, as light was now exactly what he was holding. The blade weighed almost nothing now, it's physical form converted entirely into energy.

As the now-energy sword energized in his hands, he watched the swarming eyes slump to the ground, so Infused turned to face the zombies, using the force on them instead. For now, Gar was safe. Blood dripping from the tortle's now-empty eye sockets was troubling, but a life without eyes was better than death with or without them. He could do nothing about his friend's eyes, but he could certainly work toward defending him from the threats that remained.

Bonus: Rage (+2 damage, resistances, advantage on str checks/saves)
Wild Surge: 4 Infused Weapon (details below) - 18:31, Today: Infused rolled 4 using 1d8.  Wild Surge.
Move: as needed, to reach a melee target
Action: Reckless Attacks x2
Attack 1: Hit AC 25+1=26 for 14 Force + 7 Fire (21 total)
Attack 2: Crit AC 27+2=29 for 24 Force + 19 Fire (43 total) [64 all together)
-this attack can be made at range 20/60 if necessary

18:43, Today: Infused rolled 1,2 using d4,d4.  Bless.
18:41, Today: Infused rolled 10,11 using 2d6,2d6.  Crit Damage: force, fire.
18:41, Today: Infused rolled 22,26,14,8 using d20+6,d20+6,2d6+6,2d6.  Raging Reckless Flametongue: force, fire. (also noticed I had not updated my dice roller links, my attack bonus is +7 not +6)
18:40, Today: Infused rolled 24,15,14,7 using d20+6,d20+6,2d6+6,2d6.  Raging Reckless Flametongue: force, fire. (also noticed I had not updated my dice roller links, my attack bonus is +7 not +6)

Magic infuses one weapon of your choice that you are holding. Until your rage ends, the weapon’s damage type changes to force, and it gains the light and thrown properties, with a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet. If the weapon leaves your hand, the weapon reappears in your hand at the end of the current turn.

The warforged did not have a built in revulsion instinct but had he had one, that mass of pulsing eyes would have triggered it. Instead, he almost calmly moved away, not wanting to push his luck with that mind attack again. By the time he had gained a better position, the eye creature was down, the last of its eye stalks still spasming. Clacker was beside a trembling Gar, but the wizard was alive. Raising his voice to be heard by his construct, he said:

Clacker! Protect Gar!

Now that this was done, he took a glimpse at the remaining attackers and selected one that seemed to have been burned already. Instinctively calculating the power and angle required for his throw to reach his target, he adjusted his aim and let fly, almost immediately getting his spear back in his huge hand, to be thrown again.

Sand

Action : Attack an already damaged skeleton, if none available, an undamaged one. 24 to hit for 9 damage, 19 to hit for 11 damage
Movement : Move as required to avoid being in melee with the mobs
Bonus action : Activate the heal function of Clacker, who regains 12 HP, he's at 24 now
Today: Sand rolled 24,9,19,11 using 1d20+9,1d6+6,1d20+9,1d6+6.  Sand attacks.
 Today: Sand rolled 12 using 2d8+3.  clacker heal.

Clacker

Move to stay with Gar
Reaction : give disadvantage to anyone attacking Gar

Scamp

Move and Dash to rejoin the battle

That was unpleasant; it seems these woods have quite a few nasty tricks. Leaning over slightly in the saddle I bring my sword down twice on the head and shoulders on the zombie to my right while Harmony jittered side-to-side underneath me in an attempt to throw of the enemies strikes. I do not think this will be enough.

Turn 03 Summary
Giltris
Move: Nil.
Action: Attack, target X.
     First attack: 23 to-hit for 5 slashing damage.
     Second attack: 25 to-hit for 9 damage.
Reaction: Opportunity attack if prompted (19 to-hit for 9 slashing damage).
Concentration: 11, 23, and 12

Harmony
Move: Nil.
Action: Dodge.
Bonus Action: Nil.
Reaction: Opportunity attack if prompted (12 to-hit for 15 bludgeoning damage).

Thorn watched with considerable satisfaction as the abomination fell, and rather quicker than expected. Not a true beholder then, albeit dangerous enough. And perhaps more unsettling. A beholder would almost certainly kill or enslave her, but the vulnerability of blindness . . .

One of the undead had managed to close with her, but its blade scraped harmlessly against her armor, deflected by Sel'zir who leapt forward to sink her poisonous fangs into the corpse's soft organic material.

While most combatants Thorn knew preferred close quarters so they could see the light leave their foes' eyes, to her mind that benefit hardly outweighed the additional risk. Still, sometimes the best way out of a melee was through it. So, working in perfect unison, she and her companions attacked.

Aisling distracted the skeleton while Sel'zir hampered its movement with her web. Then Thorn adjusted her grip on the chakrams and swung them in a vicious series of punches and slashes intended to reduce their enemy to fragments of bone and vine.

Round 1:
Sel'zir Attack (Readied Action): 16
Damage: 10 (8 Piercing + 2 Poison)
Round 2:
Sel'zir Web Recharge: 5 (success)
Sel'zir Attack Web Attack: 13,15 (Target restrained Strength DC 12 to break free)
Aisling helps Sel'zir.
Thorn enables Favored Foe and attacks the skeleton.
Primary Weapon Main Attack: 26
Damage: 15 (12 + 3 Favored Foe)
Off-Hand Weapon Main Attack: 10, 23
Damage: 10
Primary Weapon Extra Attack: 16
Damage: 10
Off-Hand Weapon Extra Attack: 28
Damage: 11
If Thorn kills the skeleton, she will target the enemy of whichever ally appears most wounded (within 60 ft) and then retreat 15 ft.
If Thorn would be hit with an attack, she will activate Bracer Reflection (reaction) +5 AC until the beginning of her next turn.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:40, Fri 17 Sept 2021.

Round 2 Summary:

With the falling of the Oculo Swarm, the heroes were bolstered, attacking the plant monsters with newly found vigor.

Sel'zir, waiting for the plant creature to get close, lashed out with a vicious bite, the poison seeping into the plant creature, who let out an unearthly growl.

He quickly followed it up by turning and shooting a web at and on the plant creature, thanks to Aisling harrying the skeleton, enveloping it in a sticking, tight knit mess.

Thorn quickly disposed of the plant creature in front of her on the bound skeleton and then tossed her Chakrams at the skeleton that felt the wrath from Giltris's rebuke, dispatching that one as well, as the twin blades tore the creature to shreds.

Althaea loosed two bolts of energy at the skeleton closing on Alaric, one of them slamming into the creature's side, and cracking the skeleton's ribs, before slamming into the plant's muscular tendrils.  The other blast flew off, exploding into the side of a tree, splintering it.

Giltris landed two strikes on the creature flanking him from behind, but the creature was not deterred.

The two skeletons flanking Giltris again swung wildly at her and each connected with solid hits; Giltris finding it hard to parry the blows from both sides.

The two skeletons south of the barbarian came rushing up in a flurry of blows, but only one was able to connect, tearing a chunk of flesh off the barbarian's back.

Sand, too far away to hit the one that Giltris had damaged, let his spear fly at one of the skeletons facing off against his Warforged brother, Infused, connecting twice.

Gar was currently being dragged by Clacker, but finally the paralyzing effects wore off and so fumbled around until he found his staff, now in hand.

Infused, enraged by the way the fight was going, taking way more hits than he had in some time, unleashed on the skeletons.  The fire wrapped around the plant creatures like a tornado, enveloping them, their screams high pitched and wailing as they both fell to the ground in crisp, smoking husks.

Alaric ran up to the skeleton behind him, giving Infused a wider berth so as not to damage the barbarian this time, and slashed about at the creature, leaving deep gouges in its shoulder blade.

Only three skeletons remained.  The two flanking Giltris and the one facing off with Alaric.

Things were finally looking up for the heroes, though Gar was still reeling from his loss of sight.

Summary of Damage:

Giltris:  25 damage (19 slashing + 6 poison)
Infused:  12 damage (11 damage + 3 poison, Poison was halved and rounded down to 1. Rage not enacted until his turn, so still full damage)
Skeleton B: 14 damage (Giltris)
Skeleton D: VERY DEAD  (Infused - (62 damage - 24 + 38 fire damage))
Skeleton E: Dead (20 damage (Sand's 2 attacks) + Infused - 28 damage (14 + 14 fire/vulnerable to fire))
Skeleton F: Dead (Thorn/Sel'zir attack)
Skeleton G: Dead  (Thorn thrown chakrams/Rebuke from Giltris)

Gar, no longer held by clacker had the sense to realise that what had him was friend, and with staff in hand, sightless, he stood up, stabilised by his staff. The tortle had a serious, somber look in his face. Though he had the sense, and hearing that sand commanded his companion to help him. The tortle felt helpless, blinded as he was. He didn’t know where his enemies were, where his friends were. If he had his sight, he could have used the simplest of spells, like his ability to create magic missiles, to aide them.

But they relied on seeing the target.

He reached out his hand, feeling clacker. “Take me to your master clacker….take me to sand.”

The tortle rested his hand on the cool body of sand’s companion, relying on him as he had a thought. Muttering a arcane word, a small pop sounded as a small bird swooped down, perching on gar’s shell. The owl hooted softly, and gar frowned. “Of course I know there’s something wrong with my eyes, I’m not bli….” He was about to finish that comment when he realised the irony in the statement, then shook his head. “Well, yes, I am blind, but I do realise it. Focus Lyndra. I need your help…fly over to the not man…..no, not the one you know, the OTHER one.”

The tortle waited a moment and sighed. “Lyn…..focus. Go to him and hoot. Yes like the hiding game…..no, we can’t play it now.  LYN - FOCUS!”

The owl reluctantly went over near sand and hooted. The tortle, listening, pinpointed the sound and turned. His life was in her claws now

Great. He thought to himself

Infused turned and started swinging at the zombie standing there behind him. There were others, he could hear, but his eyes had already found another target and his body followed instinctively. Flaming force sword leading the way, Infused set about dispatching another of the unnatural creatures.


Move: to Giltris's zombies
Action: Raging Reckless Attack x2
Attack 1: Hits AC 20 for 14 Force + 11 Fire (25 total)
Attack 2: Hits AC 22 for 11 Force + 11 Fire (22 total) - throw if needed

If both of them are dead, move toward Alaric's zombie

21:56, Today: Infused rolled 2,2 using d4,d4.  Bless.
21:56, Today: Infused rolled 9,20,11,11 using d20+7,d20+7,2d6+6,2d6.  Raging Reckless Flametongue: slashing, fire.
21:55, Today: Infused rolled 11,18,14,11 using d20+7,d20+7,2d6+6,2d6.  Raging Reckless Flametongue: slashing, fire.

Sand was adjusting his spear for another throw to relieve the skeletons' pressure on Andraste when, all of a sudden, he felt a enormous weight on him, his wooded muscles contracting and creaking like if lit on fire, desiccating before his very crystalline eyes. His quick mind tried to make head from tails from this attack when the voice sounded, adding another layer of complexity to this craziness. He wanted to ask questions, so many questions, but then he heard the psychic scream of pain from Scamp, the familiar fading into nothingness, back to the fey lands that had spawn him. His arms and legs seemed to weight a ton as a great exhaustion drained him of his magical vitality. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Infused fall, the blue light leaving his eyes.

But what spurred him to fight the extreme tiredness was to see his best friend in this motley crew slumped on Harmony's saddle.

Giltris! Nooo!

Struggling with every pace, he moved towards his friend, knowing full well he would be too late. But his brilliant mind was still calculating distances and it saw that Clacker could do something for Infused, like it had done for him before when he was almost overwhelmed with undead.

Clacker! Go repair Infused!

With this new set of instructions, the construct moved toward the fallen warforged and touched it, transferring some of it's own energy to activate the self repair mechanisms deeply implanted in his structure.

Sand felt like he was moving in quick sand and was too far to do anything to heal Andraste...but he could still avenge her if she was dead.

Scamp

Dispelled

Clacker

Moves toward Infused, he barely reaches but is within 5 feet
Uses his reaction to protect Infused if needed

Sand

Move towards Giltris as much as possible, possibly only 5 feet.
Action 2X attack on the skeleton to the left, 25 to hit for 8 damage, 25 to hit for 10 damage. If already dead, attack the one on the right.
bonus action, Clacker's Heal property on Infused, regains 11 HP, Clacker is at 13 HP after the necro blast
Sand is at 20 HP

Today: Sand rolled 25,8,25,10 using 1d20+9,1d6+6,1d20+9,1d6+6.  Sand attacks
Today: Sand rolled 11 using 2d8+3.  clacker heal.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:43, Fri 24 Sept 2021.

As Alaric struck the skeleton, Althaea's head instantly began pounding. It increased in intensity until it almost blinded her. That was when the voice started speaking. I do not know who you are, but I am coming for you. Do not underestimate me. The voice stopped and just like that, the pain was gone.

She called upon her magic once more and threw two more blasts of crackling energy towards the skeleton by Alaric. In her haste of wanting the job done quickly, her first blast went wide and slammed into the same tree splintering it further.

"Focus Althaea, you're better than this."

She noticed Gar was up and moving not long after, before collasping once again into a heap, his shoulders shaking as though he was sobbing. Althaea could not restore Gar's eyes, but blind was better than dead. When the wave of intense pain hit her, Althaea also noticed that Giltris and Infused collapsed, seeming to succumb to the injuries they had sustained. A short, beautiful melody came forth from Althaea, giving life back to Giltris, who was still under attack from one of the skeletons.

Alaric

Once the pain had subsided, Alaric looked to Althaea. He could see the pained look on her face and it hurt him to know he could do nothing for her. Instead, he doubled his focus to finish off the skeletons surrounding them. He swung his longsword at the skeleton, striking the creature squarely in the chest.

---

OOC:18:16, Yesterday: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 12,19,12,11 using d20+8,d20+8,d10+4,d10+4.  Eldritch Blast.
21:27, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 12 using 3d4+4.  Healing word.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:40, Sun 26 Sept 2021.

With the immediate threat reduced to detritus, Thorn quickly surveyed the field in all directions, including above - she would not make that particular error again.

At that moment, a voice rang out around her and pain wracked her body. And not only hers, but Sel’zir’s as well. She could feel the dark energy syphoning the spider's life. Even Aisling listed briefly before righting himself. And Giltris and Infused fell.

Time enough to parse the meaning of all this later, the first priority was getting her companions back in the fight. Now was not an ideal time to test a new spell, however theoretically sound, but if this worked she could at least get them back on their feet.

Thorn crouched down, pressing her hand to the loamy moss; perhaps the direct physical connection to the earth would improve her chances of success. Relief flooded her that the land itself wasn’t corrupted – this would require Nature’s restorative power. She closed her eyes focusing on that wellspring of life, attempting to draw it forth, to concentrate it into a form that would manifest where Giltris lay. For a breath, the power hung ephemeral and amorphous in the air before coalescing in accordance with her will.

As soon as she saw the transparent, faintly luminous figure bending over Giltris, she turned her attention toward the skeletons, who – if her bad luck held – had been healed by that necromantic power.

She spun to her feet, using the momentum to fling her chakrams. Then - hands freed for the moment - she motioned for Aisling to assist Sel’zir. Despite her grievous injury, the arachnid managed to stumble forward and ensnare the nearest undead in her webbing.

As Giltris rose, Thorn used her mind to guide direct the spell toward Infused while keeping her eyes focused on her returning weapons.

Web Recharge: 5 (success)
Sel'zir moves to within 30 ft of Skeleton A
Sel'zir Web Attack on Skeleton A: 9, 18 (Target restrained Strength DC 12 to break free)
Aisling helps Sel'zir.
Thorn attacks Skeleton B
Primary Weapon Main Attack: 20
Damage: 10
Bonus Action: Casts Healing Spirit on Giltris
Heals: 6
Primary Weapon Extra Attack: 19
Damage: 12
Bonus Action: Moves Healing Spirit to Infused
Heals: 6
Assuming no enemies appear behind her, Thorn retreats 15 ft (or as far as she can while remaining within 60 ft of all surviving foes).
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Thu 23 Sept 2021.

Whatever these creatures are they much more formidable than I thought they would be. They work well together, feinting and striking in concert making it increasingly difficult to defend against. The others are doing well, I just have to hold on a little longer.

Pain! It came from nowhere, moving inward from my extremities to my centre and as my vision darkens I feel myself falling...



I open my eyes to find a strange see-through elven man standing above me, reaching his hand out to help me to my feet. His hair is short-cropped and a pair of short swords are secured to his belt but other details are hazy. The sound of the plant-zombies and Harmony's heavy breathing as she tries to keep them away from me intrudes next and a new bruise from where I had landed on a tree root when I fell from her saddle makes its presence known. It seems there is still work to do.

Smiling at the elven spirit I push myself up from the ground, unwilling to trust his ability to help me given his condition. "Thank you neighbour, your help is most appreciated." I look around in time to see one of the creatures that had been attacking me crumple to the ground, the trademark slashes of Thorn's Charkram cutting deep into its chest. I must thank her for her for this timely intervention. I begin humming a new hymn and Rao's power flows through me in a cool wave starting in my chest and moving outward, granting strength and soothing the various aches and pains I had suffered in this skirmish. Pulling myself back up into the saddle I turn to face the remaining creature. Let us see how you do without your friend.

Turn 04 Summary
Giltris
Move: Stand up from prone and mount Harmony.
Action: Lay on Hands for 25 hit points target Giltris.
Bonus Action: Nil.
Reaction: Opportunity attack if prompted (18 to-hit for 9 slashing damage).

Harmony
Move: Nil.
Action: Dodge.
Bonus Action: Nil.
Reaction: Opportunity attack if prompted (24 to-hit for 14 bludgeoning damage).
This message was last edited by the player at 11:28, Sun 26 Sept 2021.

At the End of Round 3...

Just after Alaric ran up to the skeleton and hit it, readying himself for another strike, that's when it hit everyone.

A wave of dark energy washes over each the heroes; its tendrils draining the very moisture and life out of each of their bodies.  Their skin shrivels and darkens, as if withering into a desiccated husk.  The pain is excruciating as their very skin grows smaller and seemingly no longer fits their bodies.  Their heads feel like they are going to explode, as if drums beat on the back of their eyes and ears.  Their mouths run dry and parched, with an unquenchable thirst.  Is there no end to the pain?....

It's then, that a deep, booming voice can be heard, aggravating the very headache pounding in each of your skulls.  It's not coming from any specific direction, but almost as if centered on wherever each of you currently are.

"Listen up and listen closely.  I've taken back what is rightfully mine.  Should you feel the need to rectify that, know that I will send a plague even worse than the last to your precious Vertigo.  Maybe an improved version of the one you're experiencing right now, perhaps.  You've already seen my handiwork with the mushrooms.

Now let me be clear.  Stay out of my way or everyone you've come to know and love will pay the price.  This is your one and only warning.  I suggest you heed it."

With that, the voice was gone.  As if the voice was the finality of the vicious blight upon your bodies, the pain amplifies, then subsides in a heartbeat.

---

Failed Saving Throw:  (DC 16)  23 necrotic damage and 2 levels of exhaustion.  (Disadvantage on Ability Checks and Speed is Halved.)
Passed Saving Throw:  (DC 16)  11 necrotic damage and 1 level of exhaustion. (Disadvantage on Ability Checks only.)

---

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:52, Thu 23 Sept 2021.

Gar felt more than anything the effects of what was happening before most. The squeal of his familiar, then the severed link as she disappeared was the sign a split second before the darkness enveloped him, causing pain. He stumbled, leaning on his staff on one knee.

The tortle thought of the last few minutes, and what had happened. They've taken my familiar. They've taken my sight. Now they want my life....my friends life. Gar felt a welling anger at the thought.

NO he thought.

Wether the pain of his previous wounds and distress, the sheer anger he felt or some side effect of his unique magical training, he felt the pain lessen, even as his vibrant green skin darkened.

The stubborn wizard gritted his teeth, his closed eyes  as he used the staff to stabilise as the words came to his mind. he etched the words in his mind as he stood, unstable at first, then sure as he muttered under his breath, a minor spell coming to his mind.

As the voice said it's final words, his voice echoed over the area as he yelled, louder than anyone had heard. "ENOUGH!!" He slammed his staff in the soil at his feet, a simple ripple of wind rippling out from him just as the words and pain finished. The tortle didn't know if he caused it, or just coincidence, but the timing couldn't be more perfect.

The silence after the mental attack was deafening as the tortle stood there, breathing heavily with his staff in hand, his eyes closed, possibly forever now, the darkened stains of blood on his face making the skin look black

Gar stepped forward once, twice, and stumbling on a root, tripped over onto the ground, flat on his chest. He layed there, and silently sobbed tears that would not come

Infused felt the negative energy flooding into him. Energy flowing in and out had become normal for him, but some energies had a feel that went beyond just the physical like normal elements. He felt the wooden bits of his person shriveling and growing tighter, pulling against those made of stone and metal. Having a constructed body meant being held together with certain types of magic, which made mixing with others sometimes difficult or painful. This felt like it was trying to rip the individual parts away, separated once more, and he knew that was not a good thing that was meant to happen. Pain for a warforged was quite different than the pain of a normal being, but not to any lesser degree, only different.

Infused dropped the flaming sword, then fell forward and crashed to the ground, unmoving, with no light shining within his crystalline eyes.

The wave of dark energy washed through the heroes, felling both Giltris and Infused, but Thorn's healing spirit brought them both back from the brink of death.

Thorn's chakrams cut down one of the skeleton's flanking Giltris, severing the powerful tendril like roots that held the creature aloft. (Skeleton A dead as Skeleton B was too far and obscured)

Giltris was able to stand upright and pull herself up on top of Harmony, before letting her own healing magic wash through her.

The plant creature, enraged by the fact that the woman that just fell was already back up and moving, too a swipe, but missed wildly, no longer having the support from its fallen comrade.

Sand throws his spear with deadly effect as it slams into the plant creature twice, causing it to howl in pain as it seeps down and back into the ground, defeated. (Skeleton B dead)

Clacker runs over to Infused, immediately tinkering and moving parts around back to their original positions.  (Infused healed by Clacker)

The last skeleton, was barraged by a blast of pure energy and Alaric's slashing sword attack.  Seeing its inevitable demise, it melded into the ground, disappearing.

The heroes have survived, but paid the high cost of their compatriot's eyes being ripped from their sockets...
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:09, Tue 28 Sept 2021.

Infused felt magic being absorbed back into his body once again, his eyes taking on a soft white glow. The raging elements were gone, now replaced by simple, cleansing life energy. He felt pieces of himself moving, not of his own accord, and found one of Sand's 'forged was helping to restore his function. It was good to see 'forged doing the work they had been built to do. It felt natural, and right, and -

These undead did not. Infused climbed back to his feet, lifting the flaming sword as he did so, and he scanned the battlefield for signs of life as well as undeath.

Gar remained on the ground, sobbing tears that would not come, though drips of blood flowed down his tortle cheeks to the ground. Gar held his eyes closed more for comfort than anything....it somehow felt right, as when his eyelids were open, he felt the void.

...the absence.

The tortle realized that with his sight gone, already his other senses were trying to compensate for it's loss. The tortle had mused at this (along with millions of other things in his life), but this was not the way he had hoped on proving it.

He heard movement, even the sound of a familiar voice of infused. His head came up at the sound, eyes closed. "Infused.....are you alright?" His voice was strained, almost weary. He heard other sounds, movement - subtle but movement none the less. He did not know if it was friend or foe.

he felt on the ground, again grabbing his staff, he clutched it almost like a lifeline, then made his way to feel his satchel. His spellbook was still there.

Oh gods He thought. My spellbook - my magic!

his head turned as if looking for something. "What has happened?'

As the last skeleton vanished, Thorn continued to scan the forest for danger. At the same time, she mentally directed Sel’zir and the spirit she had conjured toward each other, a sensation somewhat akin to bringing her hands together without looking at them. She felt the restorative power, very faint now, vanish as it merged with the spider.

The immediate threat may have been dispatched, but unwilling to trust to that, she signaled Aisling to survey the area. Assuming he found nothing concerning, once he returned, she would set him to collecting any bits of his metal which may have flaked off during that necromantic assault. She could repair him when next they made camp.

Chakrams lowered, but still at the ready, Thorn padded her way silently toward the remains of the false beholder. Stopping some distance away, she studied the creature. Most of the orbs it had harvested were still intact.

“Would having Gar’s eyes assist a cleric in restoring his sight?” she asked the others. She knew priestesses to be capable of performing literal miracles, but had no notion of their spells’ parameters or requirements. She let the familiar bitterness mingled with longing flow through her, but only briefly. She may be a mere ranger, but the success of her healing spell rendered her safer and more independent.

Still, she rather hoped the answer to her question was no; she’d much rather burn the thing than go digging through it. But a mage without his sight was of extremely limited utility, so she would do what was necessary to increase the chances of restoring his vision.

Thorn moves Healing Spirit to Sel'zir
Heals: 3
Aisling spends 10 minutes scouting 1 mile radius.
Aisling Perception: 6, 17

Magically brought back to his hand, the spear was ready to be thrown again as Sand scanned around for more foes. But the forest was eerily quiet, except for the noises the companions made. Laboriously, his legs weighting a ton, he made his way to the sobbing tortle.

Sand will help Gar.

Touching him, he focused his magic through his spear and casted an healing spell, without too much hope that would restore his eyes. Hearing Thorn ask about the eyes, he perked up.

Sand doesn't know but thinks Thorn has good idea. Let's find Gar's eyes. Maybe Thorin can help? Sand not good enough.


Today: Sand rolled 9 using 1d8+5.  Sand cure wound on Gar

Gar flinched at the touch of Sand as he approached. He felt the healing energy the warforged channeled unto him, and though it helped the pain, he still felt the void of no sight. The tortle stood, supported by the staff and smiled. “Thank you Sand.”

He rested his hand on his shoulder as spoke to Thorn. The wizard’s logic overtook his sense of hope, and though the thought of the others helping him get his eyesight back, he knew magic, and though healing magic was not his scope, he believed that to regain his eyes would take powerful magic.

The tortle, his eyes closed, smiled. “You are good enough, my new friend - do not doubt your skills.” His smile was genuine at the comment - despite his injury, he was blessed with his friends.

The tortle sighed as he allowed the warforged to lead him. “It seems some challenges lie ahead.” He muttered, more to himself than anyone

Sand nodded his head at Gar's comment about his skills then realized the wizard could not see the gesture.

Sand knows Sand is good... good at building, at fixing objects. Sand is not as good fixing living beings.

Somehow, that inability to heal the grievous injury disturbed him, like a memory trying to claw back to the surface of his mind. He felt like he should be able to do something more, much more. Fragments of prayers, glimpses of half seen gestures and locations, and a urge to hold the broken jade symbol came to him, and he froze, as he tried to push past, to remember more, but without success.


Today: Sand rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Sand Int roll. –

Gar felt the pause in the warforged and stopped with him. His instincts told him Sand was thinking of something more than concern…his pause was not sudden or urgent, but hesitant. “You have done well sand….living or not, you are a good man.” He didn’t push what was going through his head - his own thoughts were personal until spoken.

“…and if you ever need advice, I am here, my friend. Talking and listening is one thing I can do well now, it would seem.” The tortle managed a weak smile at his own joke - at least he kept a semblance of some of his old humour, though distant.

“Sand - tell me what you see please”

Seeing that the threats had been eliminated, Infused spoke the command to extinguish the sword's flames and rushed to Gar's side. Sand was trying to heal him, which was far more than Infused could do himself. Magic was a thing he had never been able to master, no matter how much teaching he had received. The magic that lived within him was not his own to command, he could only struggle to keep it contained, or unleash it to do as it pleased; hoping he could at least direct where its flows went when it did manage to escape his grasp.

Seeing that Gar was healed, but his eyes not restored, Infused felt...sad. Even when he went inert, Infused could still see. He could not sleep or dream like other people could, and he could not close his eyes, so sight was a thing he had always lived with. He knew darkness, of course, so he understood what Gar would now be seeing, but to see darkness (and only darkness) for all of your life? That was a challenge Infused did not wish to face himself.

Nevertheless, Gar seemed to be in fairly good spirits about the whole thing. "Gar? Your eyes are gone, my friend. Not damaged; simply gone. Reach out to your familiar, Gar. Maybe she can be your eyes for you. If you can get her to sit still long enough to be of use, this time."

Gar heard infused come over and speak, and had a look of relief on his face. “Infused, my friend….it’s good you are ok.” He bowed his head and listened as he spoke and nodded his head. “I had thought that also. Lyn was dismissed when that ‘effect’ came across. Gathering from the fact she is gone and I was injured, I’d guess we all were similarly effected.”

He reached his hand out, touching empty air before finding Infused’s arm and nodded. “When things are calmer, I will. Luckily one of the spells in my ring was the familiar spell - I was saving it for a changed form, but this is far better.” He grasped both the warforged. “While I’m adjusting, I may need some help walking. And while like this, my spell book is all but useless….luckily what spells I have memorised I can utilised, but some need sight.”

The tortle held his hand to his lips, chanting, the rest noting a ring in his finger. Within moments, a pop sounded, and the same small brown owl reappeared. She flew around Gar hooting and making sounds. Gar frowned and held a hand up. “Yes, I know that hurt…..yes, it hurt me too……no, I didn’t summon you to send you back.”

The owl continued to hoot, then settled on his shell with a ruffle of her feathers. Gar smiled. “Yes….I’m glad your back too, now we have some work to do.” He closed his eyes, feeling the channel between himself and the owl. The tortle sighed with relief as he let the link go. He clicked his fingers at the owl popped into the dimensional pocket. “At least I have that….I can see through Lyn’s eyes when needed.” Despite the fact he was still blind, he had a small measure of relief.

Everything hurts! It was not the sharp immediate pain on a dangerous injury but the steady burning ache of a body pushed passed its limits and protesting further activity. But we are not done yet, so I will just need to endure.

Turning to where Thorn stood with her two companions a give her a short bow from the waist. "Thank you for your help, they were more dangerous than I expected."

Walking forward towards where Gar stood calling softly to him to let him know I was there. "May I touch your face? I want to look at the wound." With his consent I lightly turn his head from side to side while looking at the empty sockets. "I do not think there is anything I can do to heal this but if I can I will. In the meantime," I say as I wave Harmony over, "if you wish you can ride Harmony, at least until we get to more open ground."

Once Gar was settled in Harmony's saddle I return to gathering the remaining bones and the mass of eyes and bringing them to the oven for disposal when another thought occurred to me. "These creatures were not undead but were instead used as a frame for these strange plants. If we build a fire break perhaps we can burn out the remainder so that it will not be able to attack anymore travelers."

Summary
Medicine: 16
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Mon 11 Oct 2021.

Sand still had that weird feeling that he should be able to do more to help Gar, and was struggling to reconcile what he was feeling with what he was living. He tried to concentrate on the now and slowly made his way to the pile of eyes... why was he so tired? He had never felt that before. Finally arriving, he delicately sorted through, trying to find Gar's eyes. He picked up some likely prospect, without being fully sure which ones belonged to the tortle, that he had known for only a few days. He needed help.

Infused, what eyes would belong to Gar?

Has the other warforged was looking, the artificer looked around for more dangers and realized something when he looked at the half constructed funerary oven.

This will not be enough. The entire forest is infested by what animated those skeletons. To protect future travelers, the woods must be burned and destroyed.

Gar smiled as Andraste came to him, speaking softly, he nodded, allowing her to look at him. He opened his eyelids, showing his empty eye sockets. On her words, he smiled. “I expected as much, my lady - to regain my eyes would take art of a strong level, and I fear there are many beyond that. Given time, you may get there.” The owl in his shell hooted a few times, and the tortle smiled. “Yes Lyn….I like her too.”

At the offer of the horse, he nodded. “I am heavier than I look….it’s the shell. For now I will hold her side. When we leave, then I will climb up, but will only ride while the terrain is hazardous. I insist if the road is flat, that I walk, even if harmony stays at my side and leads me.”

With sand looking for his eyes, the tortle again closed his eyelids and smiled. “Sand….even if you found them now, they will be damaged beyond salvation. I fear only clerical magic may get my eyes back…..don’t worry friend, I’m sure we will find a way.” Despite his confidence, he had a t8nge of fear in his voice.

"Eyes are not a thing I specialize in, but I will do my best to help with their location." Infused set to looking for Gar's eyes, despite the tortle's lack of concern for them. Some magic was strong enough to not require components, but Infused well knew that the stronger the magic the more likely it was to require an object of power, or an object of focus, in order to perform. He did his best to find his friend's eyes, and failing that, would look for a method of carrying the whole disgusting eye-creature-thing's - corpse? - along with them.

22:04, Today: Infused rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  Investigation.

Thorn had just begun to search for Gar’s eyes in the corpse – the proliferation of closed lids, pulped balls and severed stalks stymieing her progress – when Giltris proposed burning the forest. What was the female’s obsession with fire? Did it appease her deity?

Without conscious thought, Thorn flowed to her feet, her sudden protectiveness of this ancient wood strong enough that for a moment paranoia made her wonder whether the impetus originated in some external force. Perhaps Sand was correct – the land was corrupted and attempting to manipulate her?

Then Aisling cried out overhead and Thorn realized what she was feeling: not merely a personal respect for Nature and for this forest that had existed millennia before their births and would endure ages after their deaths, but also something deeper, bred in her very flesh and bone. Thorn was one of the Sy’Tel’Quessir, and she was beginning to think that they were not called Wood Elves merely due to dwelling in the forests, but because they were connected to them, in a way she could not begin to understand. Burning this place would not harm her directly, of course, but she wondered if it might diminish her people, somehow. And if the upheaval had destroyed many groves . . .

She pushed that troubling speculation aside to focus on the immediate issue. “You may express your gratitude by heeding my words,” she replied to the half-elf, “Undoubtedly, Sand is intelligent and certainly correct in his assessment that many have fallen throughout this forest.” She turned to address him directly. “But you do not draw your magic from Nature. I do. I have sensed the wellspring of this wood; it is untainted. My spell touched Giltris and Infused. Did either of you detect corruption in it?” She crouched again to study the nearest skeleton more closely. After a careful inspection, she continued, “The vines, even the bones themselves were mere tools in the hands of this necromancer. There’s nothing unnatural about them. Burning this place would protect no one and cause great harm.”
This message was last edited by the player at 18:45, Wed 13 Oct 2021.

Sand carefully sifted through the mass of eyes, and realized that this eye creature had probably been active for a very long time...  humanoid eyes, cat like eyes, demonic eyes, eyes that he could not determine the nature of, there were hundreds of eyes.

But not only eyes. Among the mass, he extracted a pair of goggles, that he put aside to examine more fully. The most surprising find was a mechanical eye, the blinked when he picked it up. Intrigued, he wiped it clean and looked at it closer, being rewarded by another blink.

What are you? Sand needs to know.

Before he could extract the tools needed for the ritual of identification, Thorn gave her opinion on Andraste and his idea to burn the forest. Her passionate plea did not fall on deaf ears, even if he was lacking physical ears.

Sand must say that Thorn is probably right. Someone used the forest to do harm, probably for a long time, judging from eye monster, but it is not the forest fault. Sand still thinks that the corpses must be burned. Cleaning the forest of the corpses will reduce the ability to do harm.

Taking his spellbook, he flipped through the pages and settled on one.

Sand found items in eye monster, Sand will require time to determine what they are.

He started a low chant while holding the mechanical eye... the googles would follow.

Ritual Cast identify on the eye and the goggles.

Gar, standing with eyes closed looked like he was looking at the sky.  In reality, he was getting used to listening - now his sight was gone, he heard everything....the wind rustling the leaves, the sound of steps on the ground, even tbe breathing of Lyn on the edge of his shell.

As if sensing his thoughts, tbe owl pecked him on the head, playfully, causing him to flinch, but smile. "Your too cheeky for your feathers miss" The owl hooted indignantly as he listened to the others,  leaning on his staff. "I believe Thorn is right....this thing that attacked us was an outside source, not the forest itself. You heard it's words, how it spoke - it is an living being, and the trees are as much pawns as the bones here."

The tortle sniffed, then continued. "Whatever it was had some power to reach us so remotely...and that spell, though I do not know, is utilised by nature and arcane arts. Do not blame the forest, as the thing that attacked us is a spellcaster of some type."

When Sand mentioned identifying items, the tortle sighed....he loved discovering magical items and their nature.

"As you wish." Continuing with her work it took a moment for something else Gar said to  fully register. "I did not hear anyone speak to us. Who spoke to you and what did they say?"

The tortle listened to Andraste's words and looked as if he was looking down, despite his eyes being closed. "I do not remember the exact wording, but whoever sent the dark pulse spoke that he was taking back what was rightfully theirs and that if we interfere, they would make us pay and would send something worse to vertigo....and something about mushrooms?"

The tortle shrugged, muttering something. "Whats so bad about mushrooms?"

Sand was having difficulties trying to decipher the powerful magic coming from the mechanical eye and if he had eyebrows, he would be frowning. Shaking his head instead, he grunted as he finished the ritual. Looking at the blinking eye, he almost restarted the ritual, certain that he had made a mistake. But looking at the spellbook he realized that this was not the case. The magic was really resisting him.

He was not strong enough.

Putting the eye aside, he picked up the goggles and chanted through the words again, before nodding.

These goggles allows to see much further, it can be useful. But the mechanical eyeball is too powerful for the identifying magic. Sand senses strong alteration magic in it but can not say more. Maybe it needs to be accorded to someone to reveal its powers. Sand heard about such items but never encountered one before.

He picked up the eye, calmly blinking, and approached Gar.

Sand hesitates, Sand does not not what will happen. But maybe Gar would want to get closer to the magic of the eye?

Gar listened as sand spoke, a slight smile on his face. "Do not get frustrated my friend...some magic is obscure and can be difficult - even someone like me, whio has sp3ent most of his life in such things, ocassionally get stuck."

Never the less, the thought of the eye intrigued him. "This eye - can you describe it to me please? what does it look like, what is it made of, any detail will help."

Sand marveled at the calm the Tortle was displaying and nodded, before realizing, again, the wizard could not see him.

Sand senses very strong magic coming from the eye, alteration and abjuration mostly. It is a metallic sphere about an inch in diameter with one side showing a round green iris, like a human eye. It can blink with a mechanical shutter that is sliding over it. Sand feels like it is dormant. Sand thinks it needs to be activated, that maybe attuning to it is the way. Does Gar want to touch it?

The artificer waited for the wizard's answer, as the eye blinked again.

Gar held out his hand and nodded, hoping sand was watching the movement.

As the eye was placed in his hand, he furrowed his brow, remembering something of such items. He could feel the intricate device, but felt no magic exuding from it, indicating to him if it was magical, it was indeed dormant. He tilted his head up, memories of something he heard once coming to him. “I remember my former master mentioning such magical items. He said that some need to be in pairs to activate….I wonder if this is such as one.”

The tortle sighed. “I wish I paid more attention to him now…at the time I was more intent on certain magic”

After the battle with the vile oculus swarm that took Gar's eyes from him and the mysterious wave of necrotic energy that surged through you from an unknown and surprisingly angry stranger, the heroes kept moving through the moss covered forest, using the directions provided by Thorin.

The forest itself was hard to traverse and therefore, very slow going; it was not only because of the light fog, but the constant alterations required by Sand to forge a traversable path for the cart.  There were a number of times the heroes stumbled or tripped on the roots of the trees or the cart lurched from hitting a root Sand had missed, as the roots to the trees native to this forest were mostly above and covering the ground; the roots creepily arched and bent like spider's legs that fanned out from the center of each tree.

The constant stepping over roots and watching each of their steps, left each hero slightly perspired, even under the cooler air and canopy of the forest trees.

As the party continued to head Northwest, after a good three hours of aggravating travel, they came across the large sinkhole the hunters had mentioned in their notes to Thorin.

Light shined through the gap in the canopy of trees like a beacon, down into the sinkhole, creating an unearthly feel to it all.  The sinkhole itself was quite large, reaching close to 200 feet in diameter on the surface. About 50 feet down into the depths of the sinkhole, it opened up into a larger cavern, expanding well past that size underground.  The hole itself looked like it could be over a 1000 feet deep and the the roots of the trees had already started to creep their way down the sides of the large hole.  The sheer size of the hole was unsettling, once again showing the extent of the god's powers used during the upheaval.

Gar stayed close to sand and the horse offered to him, but despite that, and closing his senses to use Lyndra’s sight at dimes, the tortle stumbled. He heard others stumble, and was relieved he wasn’t the only one, but it was clear that the majority was the now blind tortle.

As they came to the sinkhole, he stopped with the others, sensing the openness of the area. He sniffed and spoke. “What are you seeing?”

Infused spoke to Gar, filling him in on what could be seen. "A sinkhole, some...two hundred feet, maybe more, in diameter. The hole goes down fifty feet or so, with a huge cavern below. The cavern easily reaches one thousand feet below, probably more."

Then he looked to those who'd come from the village, "This is the hole we were seeking?"

Gar listened to Infused speak of the void, his eyebrow ridges raising despite his eyes remaining closed. "Sounds an impressive sight. Lyn....would you be so kind?" The own digintantly hooted on his shell and ruffled her feathers and the tortle snorted. "What do you mean, tired? You've been on my shell the whole trip?" The own pawed at the shell and Gar sighed. "Please? Your my eyes now, even if temprorarily."

The own fluffed itself and took off, and gar channeled his vision through his familiar, commanding her down to look closer at the cavern below (At a safe distance.)

After hours of being somewhat restrained in his flying in the forest, the mischievous Scamp took flight when the forest opened up to reveal the sinkhole. Sand stopped his constant spellcasting to look at the ravaged landscape and got his new goggles out to examine the precipice, trying to figure out what was at the bottom of it. Could this place have had some sentient presence before? It was worth checking it out.

Action : Use eagle eye goggles to examine the sink hole,  21 for the perception roll
Today: Sand rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  sand perception.

Sand peered down into the sinkhole, giving the newly found magical goggles time to adjust and focus, before scanning its depths.  At first it was hard to see anything, the overwhelming darkness within lent little to no light for the eyes, but then he caught something.  Deep within the sinkhole, just on the edge of his vision and at almost an impossible angle where the sinkhole's walls opened up thirty feet below, Sand crouched down and saw a source of warm, golden light.  The golden glow gave off just enough light to show that the depths were covered in what looked like a jungle like environment, but the most interesting feature was the ziggurat that just barely peeked its head out of the jungle's dense trees.

The heroes, continuing to follow the directions given by Thorin, stayed to the left of the sinkhole and continued on, eventually findng their way free of the forest.  They headed due West for a good half a day, though their legs grew weary after the rough terrain of the forest, constantly climbing over the exposed roots of the trees; the journey was slowed down considerably with Gar's lack of eyesight.  While his familiar aided him with his sight for the time being, it didn't always look where it was supposed to and Gar found himself stumbling along and falling on numerous occasions.

The heroes finally came across the large statue of a knight half buried in the ground, a welcome sight to all, as at least it meant they were going in the right direction.  Before heading due North for another half a day, the heroes got their bearings and allowed Gar a moment to rub the soreness in his limbs from the constant trips and falls encountered during the forest trek.



Once ready to continue, the heroes set out, though due to the slower pace, the day started to get away from them and they had yet to get to their destination.  Darkness crept in sooner than expected, and the low hanging clouds stole any light the night might offer; it became harder and harder to determine if they were still headed in the right direction....
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:52, Wed 08 Dec 2021.

As night started falling, it was clear that Gar was getting frustrated with himself. His constant falls, not to mention the old saying 'a turtle on its back' was true, as the darkness closed in he sighed, rubbing his arms. "I am sorry....my injuries have slowed you down."

As the dark ess fell, he felt pretty much the same - since he lost his eyes he was in perpetual darkness, and though positive, even his thoughts crept to darkness. The fact his new friends kept him going gave him hope.

"Maybe we camp here for the night. With Lyns help, I can watch - her eyes are suited to darkness as much as light." The owl swooped in and landed on his shell, little hoots escaping her. Gar smiled. "Yes, I am volunteering you, but only so much as to help me. We don't want anyone sneaking up on us, do we?"

The owl ruffled its feathers as it sat there. If an owl could pout, this one would.

Despite being intrigued by the pyramid in the chasm, Sand knew the group was still tired of the battle, himself feeling it in his mechanical limbs so he contented himself to say what he had see and pressed on, to put as much distance between them and the cursed forest. Finally a rest was called for and Sand sent Scamp to explore half a mile around their resting place, for any possible troubles.

Sand is inquiring, how is everyone? Sand still has some magical energy and can heal injured friends.

Waiting for the answer, he helped set up the camp until Gar told them he could take a watch.

Sand thinks that Gar should rest. Sand does not sleep and will stay aware of surroundings during his rest. Clacker and Scamp do not sleep either. Friend Gar does not need to take watch.

Gar smiled at the protective nature of sand. "Thank you Sand for your concern...and while the rest will help heal up some of my wounds, my magical energy is at it's peak. Besides, Lyn is an owl, her eyesight is best at night." The tortle sighed as he sat down. "Most of my magic relies on sight, and where Lyn may help with that, only time will test that theory. And Sand, even you need time to recperate some of your energy - do not fret about this foolish old turtle...i still have a few tricks up my sleve"

He looked up as he rummaged in his pack, retrieving a globe holding it out to sand. "This is little use to me at the moment but may help you all - it is called a driftglobe - a portable light that will follow you. the command mitne will light the globe, and whedab will extinguish it. Utter tiecelle and light as bright as the sun will erupt from it for a time, but only for a limited time."

Infused was still a bit confused as to what the large chasm had been. It seemed to somewhat match the description they'd given him of where they were headed, but apparently it was not the place. ~A location to explore another day, perhaps.~

As they traveled onward, Infused offered Gar his assistance as often as it was needed. Trips and falls were unavoidable, but he did his best to help the large-shelled fellow stay on course. The question of whether or not to camp was of little concern to him. He was in need of repairs, certainly, and being inert would make that process faster and easier, but he could walk on for some time yet, if necessary. "I do not possess the means to see through darkness, but sleep itself I have no need for, so my hearing and limited vision will be in use throughout the night when we do decide to set up camp."

To Sand he replied, "I do need repairs, but see to those with flesh first. I can repair some of this myself while we camp."

Relief filled Thorn when they finally called a halt; much longer and she would have been forced to admit her own weakness. And if she did not collapse or sink to the ground, her utter exhaustion did force her to move with slightly more care than usual. Which might as well be a beacon to any predator in the vicinity.

Perhaps she had grown soft over a century of easier living. A troubling thought. Or the faux-beholder had sapped more of her energy than she supposed. But her fuzzy brain proved quite incapable of considering the matter further.

As the others began to make camp, Thorn pulled the mushrooms she had conjured last night from a pouch and held them out to her companions. "Here. Mushrooms - like Erik's berries. Eat them. Or not."

Fortunately, she had only cast one spell during combat so she could create more to heal herself and Sel'zir. The spider's wounds and exhaustion weighed heavily on Thorn through their bond. And she needed to cast Alarm before trancing. And repair Aisling. But if she stopped now, her body would demand rest and allow her to do neither.

She nibbled on a mushroom. Energy first. Then perhaps her fingers wouldn't fumble the delicate repairs and her sluggish mind could function just well enough for her spells to shape Nature's power. It would be sufficient. Because it had to be.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:39, Sun 09 Jan 2022.

The steady pounding of my heart in my head had joined with the ache in my joints to send a steady throb of pain running through my top to bottom. A steady symphony of protestation rebuking me for my poor choices while my heavy breathing and the stumble of my unsteady feet added an odd counterpoint that felt strangely appropriate. I know better than to push this hard, if you are going to help others first you have to take care of yourself. How many times did he have to tell me that before it stuck, I do not know if I can count that high, and yet here I am making the same mistake again. What a wretched student I turned out to be.

Well what is done is done and cannot be changed; I will just have to deal with the consequences and remember this moment when next I am tempted to keep pressing forward passed my limits. Look at us, even though they are not complaining they are all as weary as I. Even Harmony is dragging her feet despite the slow pace and the light load. A fantastic horse she may be but she was not intended for this twisted jungle.

As the party comes to a halt, I carefully move around Harmony to remove the saddle and tack and set it aside on a raised dry bit of ground before giving her a quick brush and checking her feet. If we need to move fast I am going to need her as close to her best as she can be. Satisfied that she had not picked up a stone I finished tending to her before moving back to my own gear and carefully arranging it, if I stop now I might not be able to get moving again, so even though I removed my armour I do not sit down, in stead I gather a few supplies and smart a small fire while slowly chewing one of the mushrooms Thorn had offered, attempting to savour the small morsel for as long as possible. Once the fire was going I put what remained of my water supply into a small kettle and set it over the fire to boil. A small nip of tea and then I can prepare for tomorrow.

A sharp twinge shoots parallel to my spine as I twisted slightly to put down the kettle. I will be days recovering from today. If we have that long.

During the several hours the group had been walking, Althaea was mostly silent. She was too weary to hold up much of a conversation, even with Alaric latched to her side. She leaned on him more to maintain pace than she would admit to the others. When the others called a halt for the day, she was relieved to no longer have to walk. Setting down her pack, she began to set up where she would sleep, laying out her bedroll and blanket. She removed her armor and weapons and set about the arduous task of cleaning them. Once that task was done, she ate the mushroom offered by Thorn and set about making her nightly cup of tea.

Alaric had also finished maintaining his gear and he looked to Althaea, busy making tea, and sighed contentedly. "Is there enough for two cups, my love?" Alaric started walking to the small campfire Althaea was perched over, she stood up straight as he drew near, nestling herself into his chest.

"But of course. I had already planned on making you a cup anytime I made myself one unless you told me otherwise." Taking one final breath of Alaric's calming scent, Althaea moved back to check that the tea was ready and poured the two cups.

After finishing the tea, Althaea washed out the kettle and the cups before placing them back in her pack. Before she could stifle it, Althaea yawned. "Come to bed, my love. We can keep watch after you've got a couple of hours of sleep."

Needing no more persuasion, Althaea nestled up under her blanket, Alaric at her back with his arm draped around her waist. She was asleep within minutes.

---

OOC: Althaea and Alaric will take watch together. Be it 2nd, 3rd, or 4th watch doesn't matter.

As the weary heroes continued to head North, the overgrown forest gave way to mountains that looked more like cragged teeth of a large monster than the wider mountains they were used to seeing.  Travel became a bit more difficult, as the softer forest floor was replaced with the harder stone of the mountains, as well as a steep incline that left heroes legs pulsating and sore.

It was underneath one of the tooth-like mountains, that the heroes found refuge beneath an overhang just deep enough to keep them dry should the weather turn sour.

The toll of the enervating spell that afflicted them and the precipitous incline was showing on each of the heroes faces and in their slowed movements as they set up camp beneath the mountain; their bodies were exhausted and weak, finding it hard to complete even the simplest of tasks.  It wasn't long before each of them fell into a deep slumber or trance as they let their bodies succumb to the darkness that came with the night.

The evening passed quietly; the heroes getting the sleep that they so desperately needed.  The next morning, the sun tried to peek its head through the morning haze of gray, but the thick haze prevented most of the muted sun's rays from piercing through.  The morning air had a chill to it, partially due to the higher elevation in the mountains, but also seemingly out of the ordinary for this time of year.

Sand took his watch, tinkering with Clacker to repair the damage the construct had sustained, but he was glad when he could start his rest period, his limbs heavy. Warforged don't dream, always aware of their surrounding, but he couldn't avoid revisiting what had happened in that clearing, and how close they had been to a complete disaster. Gar had lost his eyes and Andraste had been nearly killed. Never had this group faced so much adversity, but the priced payed to win this fight had been very heavy.

And what had been that necromantic blast? In his limited experience, he had never encountered anything like that. What had caused it? To whom did this booming voice belong? The forest was big, they would have to cross it again on the way back to Vertigo. Incapable of physically shiver, he nonetheless felt a tightening of his wooden muscles when that idea crossed his brilliant mind.

The night did not bring any answers and the chilly morning arrived. As the camp started to stir and the biological needs of his companions took precedence, Sand examined his cart and the way ahead, much more rocky.

Sand thinks the cart will need to stay here. Sand's magic does not affect rocks, there is not enough soil to make a passable path for wheels of cart.

The construct shook its head, thinking. How could he ameliorate his design to make an all-terrain cart? With the smells of the cooking breakfast permeating the frigid air, the artificer was deep in thought. Finally the group was ready to move on and its with a little sadness that the cart was left behind, with some tree branches and whatever soil he could gather covering it.

With his obligation of creating a path removed, Sand took his turn guiding the blind wizard, while sending Scamp to scout ahead of the group.

Gar sat down slowly with a thud, his exhaustion of the necrotic spell and lips of eyes had taken its toll on the tortle

....not that he voiced it.

At the camp, he ate what was offered, and at times seemed in a trance as the hoot of Lyndra flew overhead.

In truth, he was thankful he could see through his familiars eyes. Though stubborn and flighty at times, the little own seemed yo take pity on gar and wasn't as obnoxious as usual.

He sat there testing his magic with the owl. He managed to conjure light with it, as well as move a rock with a magic hand, bur even that he found taxing.

The night came and when others slept, he kept trying, pushing his limits with the patient owl.

Before long, the yortle fell asleep, the owl watching over its master.

---

With the morning, Gar felt a level of renewed energy and hope, and when they were ready, he stood, staff in hand and owl on the edge of his shell.

"That gives me an idea Sand....what if you could make a cart without wheels - perhaps a version of tensers magic spell that creates floating discs."

He was guppy his mind was sharp as normal.

The warforged looked towards the wizard and nodded, not that the tortle could see him do so.

Friend Gar has a good idea. Sand can create floating disk, but it is a long process that does not last very long.

He tapped the butt of his spear on the ground, thinking.

Sand needs to find a way of having that disk under cart for a long time. Sand will ponder on the puzzle. Sand likes to build.

With this, he was ready to move on further towards the keep.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:23, Tue 18 Jan 2022.

Scamp returned, hooting and hollering as it hovered right in front of Sand, flapping its wings while telling his master that he was sure he found the keep!  It was only one mountain over, way up on top of it.

Scamp seemed extremely pleased with himself; Sand finding it harder than usual to calm the enthusiastic bird.

Upon waking, Althaea brewed another cup of tea for both her and Alaric to enjoy, helping them both wake up and fight the chill that had gathered in the air. Once the kettle and cups were cleaned, she once again packed them away along with her bedroll and blanket. The pair once again donned their armor and their weapons were strapped in place.

She could hear Sand and Gar having a conversation, and made a mental note about the location of the cart that was being left behind. I hope it is not needed to carry everything back from the keep.

Once she could see that most of her companions were awake and seemingly ready to embark, Althaea spoke up, "Shall we be off? The chill in the air does not entice me to linger here for long."

Sand nodded to the Eladrin, and would have smiled if his fixed faceplate gave him that capacity.

Scamp says the keep is over the next mountain, on the very top. Sand has a rope that makes climbing easier, it will be useful.

Thorn examined Aisling with a critical eye; she recognized the flaws in design and construction, but hadn’t quite determined how to correct them. Still, he was restored to his original state and that was sufficient at present.

As she began to pack up her tools, Thorn caught sight of Infused. He had claimed to be able to repair himself, but if he had taken any steps to do so, they were extraordinarily subtle. And not terribly effective judging by the gashes in the rigid metal and the shriveled, broken wood. She wondered for a moment if he regenerated slowly over time, but that is not what he had said and – while the two could admittedly be crafted differently – Sand’s use of healing spells also implied otherwise.

Hands stilling, she reflected for a moment. Infused had caused considerable carnage during the skirmish. More than anyone, with the possible exception of herself. Which made him very useful indeed. All the more so since he was a melee combatant and a very dramatic one at that. The chaos he unleashed could only draw their foes’ attention, allowing her to hide more effectively. Restoring him to full functionality would directly benefit Thorn.

And . . . she was curious. She had never encountered anything quite like the constructs. Even spying Sand entering Vertigo had caused her hands to twitch toward her tools. If for no other reason than to scrub away the rust corroding parts of his form. But Sand watched her too closely already. With his expressionless face and stilted speech masking his obvious intelligence, she couldn’t ascertain how much he may have deduced. Best not to give him the opportunity to ask questions. But in the case of Infused, perhaps she could justify the risk.

She waited until he moved somewhat away from the others before approaching, her small bundle of tools held casually at her side. “I can attempt to assist with your repairs, if you wish. Aisling’s are finished,” she said, extending her left arm where the stimfay had perched on her bracer so Infused could judge her skill.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:28, Tue 18 Jan 2022.

Infused glanced up at the elven woman he'd barely met. His eyes were nothing more than solid blue lights behind a curved glass pane, making it impossible to tell what he was looking at beyond the general direction, but they were pointed up toward her at least.

He looked from her to the Aisling, toward the other party members, and then back to her, his metal head making no movement to indicate his gaze had shifted at all, and then he nodded. He felt he was far more complex a creature than the simple stimfay, but he had little to lose by accepting her offer. "I suspect you will find things more complex than you anticipate. My repair process is slow, somewhat lengthy, but effective." He lowered his head slowly, indicating she was welcome to join him and have a look.

He was suspicious of what she intended to do, but he had survived far worse than an elven woman with a bundle of tools. Suspicious...it was both the right word and the wrong one at the same time. Perhaps "curious" was a better word. Perhaps.

Thorn began by studying him for a moment. Even a cursory examination revealed that full repairs were beyond her meager skills and limited tools. True restoration would require - at the very least – a lumber mill, a smithy, a master artisan and probably an archmage as well. But she thought there was a little she could do.

She had not worked with his exact materials, but they seemed at least somewhat familiar. She leaned forward, brushing elegant blue-tinted fingers, rough with callouses of work and war, over the metal and wood. Feeling a sense of exhilaration different from the start of a hunt, but no less intense, Thorn selected the most appropriate tool from her leather case.

She began by making the smallest possible alteration; she would not risk causing damage through misjudgment, but quickly gained confidence as she worked. Thorn fell into a smooth rhythm: sanding sharp edges, patching small holes, shifting misaligned plates and tightening the joints between wood and steel.

With the alarm spell in place and Aisling and Sel’zir keeping watch, she could risk diverting much of her attention to the process. Infused’s craftsmanship was truly magnificent, so much so that she began to reconsider her original assessment – surely a construct expertly designed for battle would not require such extensive resources to repair. Perhaps merely activating the latent runes fused into his form would suffice. And – given the crafting components – she suspected her own Nature magic might prove at least as effective as arcane or divine spells.

She had no real notion of how to shape the power, but if Infused’s creator was half as skilled as she suspected, that might not actually be necessary. So she allowed its soft glow to cover her hands as she continued her labor. The effect was instantaneous and intense enough to be mildly alarming: like parched earth during a storm Infused's body drank the magic she offered and pulled at her for more. Thorn drew back and watched as the warped wood straightened and the metal flowed, filling the gashes in his torso before hardening again into protective armor.

Thorn considered for a moment. She was nearly certain the construct's magic couldn't drain her against her will. That would be a potentially dangerous design flaw, even for someone as powerful as his creator. Still, she doubted her energy reserves were equal to the task. So she completed whatever minor mending she could manually and focused her magic in small controlled bursts on the most damaged areas, providing the power his form needed to restore itself.

The end result was frustratingly unbalanced as the perfection of the areas repaired with magic made her own efforts appear painfully amateurish. Still, he looked better; more so than she ever could have anticipated. She settled back and glanced up at Infused, attempting to gauge his reaction.

Infused had sat, quiet and still, throughout the entire process. If the parts she touched, sanded, patched, or adjusted had caused him any pain at all, he had shown no outward sign of it whatsoever.

As he sat through the process, he took note of the things he felt. Pressure and vibrations, pieces being cut away or shifted from one location to another. A broken connection being mended, another being reconnected but to the wrong part, causing internal sensations of movement, but in the wrong direction. Within moments, his internal workings adjusted and compensated, rerouting internally to accept the change. Prior to this, every repair that had ever been made to his body had been done with magic, and things had mended precisely as they were supposed to. This seemed to be working fine as well, but it was certainly different.

When Thorn had set the tools aside and the glow of magic shone from her hands, he felt a sense of...yearning. As she cast her spell, releasing the magic, he felt it being drawn inside of him, down into his core and the maelstrom that warred within, waiting to be released. As he drew it in, he felt a swelling in the dried and shriveled bits of his torso, the moisture allowing dried woods to swell with life once more, the metals to regain their unnaturally pliable consistencies, and he felt more whole than he had been previously.

The ever-swirling magic that filled his core called out for more of the magic, but was powerless to force the issue. It gave him a sense of longing and a desire to do...something, to get more. The urge came from inside him, but not from him, so he simply sat there as he had from the time the elf had asked to aid him. Each time she repeated the magic, the effect on him and the prompting for more were the same. This interaction with magic, how his body seemed to pull it in rather than waiting to be acted upon by it, was relatively "new" in that it had only happened since the event that had broken the world. It had happened every time since, but before, not even once. It was a familiar foreign feeling, and he had no better way of describing it now than he did the first time it had happened.

He did notice, with the repeated small bursts of magic, that for the first time that energy stayed in a state of yearning, rather than trying to burst free. That, was certainly new.

When Thorn settled back and looked at him, he took it as a sign that she was finished with her work. He looked down at himself, noting things were mostly back in the condition they were supposed to be, and knew that the rest would take care of itself in the hours to come. "Thank you." As he said the words, the maelstrom churned once more, its yearning for more changing once more to a push for freedom. Infused wrestled the urge as he always did, keeping it contained within him. His respite from that fight had short lived, it seemed, but he began to wonder in what ways he might be able to feed that storm to keep it resting for longer than just a few short moments.

The next morning, Infused brought his thoughts and feelings back together more, ending the inert state of Sentry and regaining the use of his body. He felt more whole this morning, as if perhaps Thorn's tinkering had done better work than anticipated. He felt whole again, but he also felt... Ready? Rested? He wasn't quite sure what the right word for it was. Whatever humans felt when they made comments like "it's going to be a good day, I can feel it!" That's what he was feeling.

At least, he thought that's what the feeling was supposed to be. Optimistic? ~Bah! Feelings!~

Infused looked toward the mountain as Sand pointed it out. Climbing out of a sunken and crumbling tower, for a period so long he had no means of calculating it, was not an experience he wished to repeat any time soon. Climbing a mountain in the open world, however, felt like an achievement worth seeking in its own right. Infushed had been designed with strength and endurance in mind, but the intended purpose from his Master was quite the opposite. Infused had moved many supplies, lifted or opened uncountable numbers of crates, and the like, but the only climbing he had ever done before escaping that sunken tower was going up and down the ladders of his master's tower. "Can your rope climb itself up there, or do we need one to go up and then lower it down to help the others?"

Gar listened to Sand and Infused and sighed....he knew without seeing the trip would be hard and slow - for him normally it would be, but now would be harder. "I fear my presence slows you my friends....and i apologize greatly for that." He moved his hand to the cloth over where his eyes were, sighing. Even as a magic user, he wasn't the fastest (Ironic for a wizard dedicated to time), but now it seemed he was a weight on his friends more than ever.

"If you wanted to leave me behind, i would not blame you in my state" He bowed his head with a sigh.

As the heroes got ready to leave, Thorn sends Aisling to scan the surrounding area as some of the others looked around for the best path forward; it wasn't long before Althaea and the mechanical bird came back with some useful information.

There was a semblance of a path leading up the mountain in front of them;  it was slightly more treacherous, but looks like it could save them a good full day or more of travel by not having to go around the whole mountain to get to the one behind it, where the keep stood.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:51, Mon 24 Jan 2022.

Following the flight pattern of Aisling from the ground, Althaea was quickly able to discern a path up the mountain. After briefly scouting the path, Althaea returned to the camp, where the rest of her companions waited.
"There is a path ahead that will take us over the mountain rather than having to skirt around it. The path is a bit steeper, but if we are careful should save us a full day of travel. Shall we put our path forward up to a vote?"

"Is there an element of urgency in this quest? If so, I would vote to take the steeper path. If not, Gar's current state would have him better suited for the safer route."

Sand nodded to Infused suggestion.

Sand agrees with safer route. Vertigo has known about this keep and it's weapons for months, if not years. Sebastian was lord of this keep before. There is no emergency that Sand can see. It will also be easier for Gar.

Gar stood, holding his staff, his blindfolded head shaking. "Do not alter teh path on my account - I will go where the group does. We can not err on caution because of my lack of vision. If we can save a day, then consider this."

He leaned against the staff, listening to the sounds of the area....he did not want the group to think of saftey because of him.

Returning from her morning exercise and washing up I take a sip from my cold tea and listen to the discussion regarding the route.

"I do not know about the rest of you, but that blast yesterday is taking longer for me to shakeoff that I had hoped. I think I would be better prepared to face what lies at the end of this trail with more time to recover. I vote for the longer, easier path."

With the enervating spell still lingering and the devastating loss of Gar's eyes, the party decided to circumvent the harsher and steeper environment for an easier path around the mountain.  The path was flat for the most part, but the small rocks that found their way down the mountain were a headache for Gar as he had to be careful when stepping so as to not tweak his ankle.

As the day waned on, the light still peeking through the sky where possible, it was then that the keep atop the second mountain poked its head into view.



The mountain had some more noticeable features that the one the party just navigated around.  First, it seemed much more steep and craggy than the first, which could be because a good portion of the mountain looked to have come crashing down.  Second, there was a large crack that cut a slice through the mountain about 10 feet wide, and opened up directly below the keep; surprisingly, the keep still stood.

As the party got close enough, where the crack met the base of the mountain, it was there they could see the fissure that seemed to drop straight to the planet's core...
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:29, Mon 31 Jan 2022.

Gar walked almost like he was looking up, around at the scenery had it not been for the cloth over his eyes. Lyn alternated between flying and perching on his shoulder.

Every so often, with the aide of one of the others, he would practice looking through Lyn's eyes as he walked, both with her on his shell, and in flight. The experience was a little discerning but the tortle, as resilient as he was, was slowly getting used to it. He surmised that with some practice he may even be able to cast spells that way.

....perhaps.

When the group came to a halt at the sight, he looked through lyn's eyes again, mentally prodding her to fly. The owl fluffed its feathers with a snort but took flight as it circled the area.

"That is quite the sight....I wonder what caused such a destructive wound in the world?" When the silence came, he smiled, guessing at least some looked at him in question, releasing his link with he owl, he pointed up. "...Lyndra showed me the area."

"I have no idea what could cause such but whomever built that keep seems to have known what they were doing. Sand, can you tell from here if the structure is sound enough for us to explore?"

Upon their arrival at the keep, Althaea was filled with relief, it had been quite a journey to reach their destination, one she did not take lightly. Second, and possibly more important was the sense of awe at the sight of the damage done to the mountain surrounding the keep. To the right of the keep, the mountain dropped off suddenly, as though the cliff that was currently there had previously held the road that led to the keep. Glancing around her surroundings, she also noticed a multitude of bones scattered in various places on the mountain. Bending down to inspect them closer, she noticed some of the larger bones had been shattered into smaller ones and nearly all of them had been picked clean of the meat surrounding them. The age of the bones varied, some were quite old and one set was perhaps several days old, with bits of flesh still attached and just starting to rot. Whatever smaller scavengers lived in this area had not found this set of bones yet.

"Thorn, can you tell what these bones are from? I cannot distinguish what creature they belonged to."

While Althaea was examining the bones, she heard Giltris ask about the condition of the keep, but they were still some distance away. "Perhaps Sand can see something I cannot, but at this distance, I cannot tell whether the structure is sound. We will likely have to move closer to determine such details."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:42, Sat 05 Feb 2022.

As the party arrived at the base of the mountain hosting the keep at its top, Althaea called to Thorn to identify the bones on the ground while Giltris addressed herself to the artificer. Nodding, he picked up a set of goggles from his bag and brought them to his crystalline eyes.

It took a few seconds for the magic to adjust to the distance, but he then could see almost as if he was right there, hundreds of feet eliminated in an instant. Slowly, he moved his head, examining the keep methodically.

(In Elven) There is a big crack in the foundations of the construction. It could be unstable, caution will be required in that wing.

Continuing his inspection, he suddenly cocked his head to the side and fixed a certain point, then shook his head.

Sand saw a huge feathery wing, at least as big as Sand. It did not come out after. There might be a big bird living in keep.

Infused took in the sight as best he could. His knowledge was old, predating the world's destruction and the altering of its face. Trying to run through his memories for familiar things was no easy task now that so much was different. Still, he tried to place the keep as it had been. A wound that cut the world straight to its core was a fascinating concept; one that his Master certainly would have enjoyed the study and debate of. Unfortunately, not one that he already had knowledge about himself.


17:22, Today: Infused rolled 10,6 using d20+4,d20+4.  History, Nature. – [roll=1644016929.43645.359049]

Gar tilts his head and sends Lyn flying high to see if she can see what is hiding in the tower

Thorn wasn't hopeful that she'd be able to identify them, but dutifully crouched down to inspect the bones regardless. As she was finishing her examination, Aisling returned from his scouting and perched on Thorn's bracer, preening himself with a sort of smug satisfaction.

While such an attitude was inappropriate for merely performing one's duty, after conferring with him briefly, she had to acknowledge that the kite had done exceptionally well.

Running her fingers briefly over his metallic feathers to demonstrate her appreciation, Thorn summarized for her companions:

"Aisling saw two nests inside the towers both large enough for even Sand or Infused to lie down comfortably. A winged humanoid feasts on bones in one. He could not locate the occupant of the other. Many bipedal creatures roam the courtyard and grounds. He also spotted a noticeable glint through the broken roof."

"Perhaps we should find a secure place to make camp and make our final approach tomorrow. With a large flying predator in the area I would appreciate some overhead cover tonight."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Fri 11 Feb 2022.

Gar, looking to the side showed no indications he heard Malthorn. "I dont know if your listening, but I can see through Lyn's eyes. Two large nests on top of the towers of the keep, big - no smaller than six foot wide and long, maybe more.  One is empty, but the other is occupied by something humanoid with wings...maybe a harpy? If you want Lyn to go closer for a look  touch my right arm twice."

---

<OOC: Vision through his familiar. Waiting on decision>

Sand removed his goggles and his artificial spherical eye shutters opened and closed a few times, to readjust his vision to his current conditions. Opening his bag, he dropped the apparatus in it, before sending his familliar flying.

Scamp will look for resting place with overhead. Sand agrees with friend Giltris, it is better if big birds don't see us. Clacker would not be very good if we fight big birds.

The mechanical beetle did a loud "clack" with it's mandibules, like protesting the assumption of its master, and shuffle this way and that, moving its large mouth pieces, giving a strong impression of looking for something to bite. Sand placed his hand on Clacker's back and the construct stopped moving, waiting its next instruction.

Clacker is spending too much time with Scamp. Clacker is starting to have difficult personality.

Today: Sand rolled 14 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 11,3.  Scamp perception (advantage).

Infused considered the situation for a moment, taking in the suggestions of others, and then sharing his thoughts, "We do not want to face this creature out in the open in the dark of night, but there is still light left in the day. We do not know if we will find shelter out here, but we do know that the keep itself would offer protection. If it attacks us along the way, then at least we fight it with light on our side. If it follows us into the keep, then at least its advantage is reduced by ceilings."

Gar listened to the two warforged, seeing merit in both plans. "I do not doubt yoour courage friend, but the thing is Infused, is there are two nests, one empty....which means one is away. And let's not forget the humanoids around on the ground. We may be able to fight our way to them, but they will have every advantage. We need to find shelter for the night and take a proper look before we decide to attack."

Listening as her companions talked among themselves about how to go about entering the keep, Althaea had a similar train of thought to everyone else. "We have been walking for most of the day just to get here, I agree that we should find shelter for the night and better plan how we plan to fight our way through these monsters. While only fighting them one at a time seems like it will have a better outcome for us, we cannot say when the second creature will return. I'd rather know where they both are before we start combat."

"It is not a question of courage, Gar. Right now there is one, and there is light. If we wait, there may be two, and darkness may arrive in the meantime. If we stay here, even under cover of trees, we are still out in the open and potentially facing two, or facing whatever other foes might claim this area as their own. If safety is the goal, the proposals so far still risk the opposite. There could be more foes inside the keep, that is a possibility, but it may also allow us to avoid a fight with the winged creature if she does not follow us in."

"I may sometimes be quick to choose the path of action, but sometimes you are quick to choose the path of caution. Avoiding the danger we see could land us in danger we do not."

"You make a fair point Infused; there is risk no matter what choice we make. Thorn, what do you think?"

Scamp came back from his search and landed on Sand's head, tapping it with its beaks, creating a annoying metal on metal sound, that the mischievous familliar seemed to take great pleasure at creating, until the artificer tried to swipe him away. Flying around his master, the owl started chattering and hooting before landing on Infused head, trying to reproduce the sound on the other warforged.

Scamp found a covered shelter not far from here. Friends can rest there, or go up the keep. Sand will follow.

Looking at his familliar, he moved to make him fly off again.

Sand is sorry, friend Infused

Gar listened to infused and with a sightless smile, nodded. "You are right, my friend....my craft is one that promotes caution. Those of the wizard craft know that to rush things can mean more that your life - that is why we are careful and analyse everything."

Lyn swoops in and lands on his shell and he smiles. "You have a valid point, my metallic friend - while there is one it would be best, and with nightfall it can offer us cover. But we are all tired from the walk and the Attack that took..." he paused, sighing, then continues.

"If we were at full strength, I would be all for going....and I am jot against it. I just wish to inspire caution should we move on."

Her opinion was wanted? For a heartbeat, Thorn's hood and expressionless face masked confusion. Then she realized: Giltris must be seeking more information about the route itself.

"Traversing the path will take half a day. Perhaps more," she tactfully avoided glancing at Gar. "Arriving at the keep under the cover of darkness might offer some advantage depending on the nature of our opponents, but only for those with darkvision."

Obviously, that included Althaea and she thought the half-elf as well, but Thorn could not even begin to speculate about the tortoise or constructs.

It was likely too much to hope that she could make the ascent in cool, comfortable darkness rather than under the sweltering heat and blinding light of the sun.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:53, Mon 14 Feb 2022.

The party was able to find an ample place to sleep; the makeshift campsite nestled between the wall of the cracked mountain and fissure beside it, about thirty feet wide.

Looking up through the immense crack severing the mountain above and the land below in half, gave the heroes pangs of Vertigo.

The looming mountain above provided enough cover from the elements, except for the biting and bitterly cold wind that whistled and whipped through the crack and into the very bones and joints of the heroes.  The keening wind and unwavering cold only added to the fitful rest that came with the impending encounter with whatever lay in the keep.

It was well after midnight when Infused had just shook Althaea awake, his watch nearly at its end, when the sound of the wind dying down just enough before beginning anew, was now overlapped with a new sound...the measured beat of flapping that proved to be much larger than a bird.

Infused was the first one to see it; his night goggles providing the means to spot the creature in flight.  Just as he pointed the creature out so that Althaea was able to see it, was when Aisling started to chime in with muted mechanical squawks; the creature just at the edge of the goggles' vision.

The creature was immense; it's muscular body cutting through the wind as it soared above with a wingspan of at least fifteen feet.  It didn't seem to notice the heroes as it passed overhead...or perhaps it didn't care.

It was a Dragon.

…but this dragon had large chunks of scale and flesh torn from its body, leaving gaping wounds long since healed, though the creature's wings seemed untouched.  If a dragon could grimace in pain, you would think this one would be, considering the sheer amount of missing flesh and in some cases, pockets of exposed bone.

A dragon. An undead one, at that.

This was truly a sight to see. In many ways, it was probably a terrible sight to sight, but his years of research and service to a wizard also had him incredibly excited.

Still, it was a threat, and one that most definitely should be taken seriously. He started by alerting Althaea, whose turn it would be next on the watch anyway, then Sand. His fellow forged would already know and likely already be aware that something was going on, but he would get Sand's attention and give him the details. Next was Gar, then each of the others in turn. Each got a simple explanation when he woke them, "There is a dragon. Undead, I think."

Many questions raced through his mind, as well as scenarios and strategies that might prove useful against such a creature. A creature who could fly was a creature Infused himself stood nearly no chance of defeating, and not just in terms of one-on-one, he would be nearly useless. The others would be better equipped to deal with such a threat, and their planning would be more beneficial and informed because of it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:31, Mon 28 Feb 2022.

Gar lay against a rock sleeping, mumbling in his sleep, clutching a book in his hand like a teddy bear. Lyn, a creature of the night, stood perched at his shell as he slept.

Lyn heard the flapping and shrunk into the shell, the sign a predator was around. So much so, when Infused woke Gar, she was trembling.

Gar snorted awake and listened to his friend, his head tilted, catching the sound of flapping. He reached out his mind to his familiar, but felt only fear. The tortle made no move to stand.

"Infused....describe it to me, in detail please down to its scale color, how much of it is damaged and its size." He tapped his book, clearly nervous by the beast, but his mind went into its place to gain logical information. The size can tell how old it was when it died, the scales the type of dragon - even the damage, how long it had been dead and how long since it was raised.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:33, Mon 28 Feb 2022.

As she was preparing to trance Thorn felt it against her skin: a profound wrongness and deep sense of menace. She did not freeze - sudden stillness as much as flight attracted the attention of predators - but kept her body relaxed, equally prepared to move quickly or endure pain. Her posture altered slightly, causing her to appear smaller. Insignificant.

But she didn't actually spot the danger until Aisling perched on her pauldron, making a quiet click and somewhat strangled call in her ear: "Undead. Dragon." Looking up, she saw it silhouetted against the moon. A majestic creature transformed into an unnatural monstrosity.

Other than perhaps the glint, the stimfay had spied no indication that it laired in the keep. And if it did, she must hope her companions would have the good sense to abandon the cache. Thorn certainly had no intention of fighting a dragon. Much less for Vertigo.

But the presence of yet another undead, especially such a powerful one, raised troubling questions. Thorn had personally encountered one necromancer. Admittedly, the female's pets had proven very useful, but the cold energy surrounding her - not merely the opposite of Nature, but a bottomless, hungry maw that sought to devour life and pervert it - had deeply repulsed her. That necromancer had radiated potent dark energy, and yet Thorn had never heard rumors that she'd reanimated anything nearly so lethal.

Was there an archmage or some necromantic cabal in the region raising undead or was this some result of the Upheaval itself? Thorn would have to choose her words carefully, lest she reveal more than intended: "Is necromancy so common here?" she murmured, hoping the question was vague enough to mask the extent of her ignorance.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Sun 27 Feb 2022.

Without the night vision goggles, Sand did not see the undead dragon, but the description was terrifying enough. Hoping not to have to face that beast, he still wanted to prepare for it, as he started building contraptions that he thought might help.

OOC : changing his spell list in case of an encounter lol

Gar heard thorn's question and still looking up, spoke. "Necromancy is like any other magic...none are common or rare. What it's linked to is more the point. Necromantic magic, linked to death and undead is often frowned upon by most civilized cultures, though there are exceptions."

He shifts slightly. "In saying that, to make a dragon undead would require some great power. Given the voice that came to us and attacked us earlier, i would say that they may be one in the same - which scares me a little."

Infused returned the goggles to Sand. "You will need these now more than I. If he's not close enough for me to see without them, there is nothing I can do about him anyway."

"I wish that I could free the creature but I doubt I could, even with your assistance. I suggest we keep careful watch for its return before morning and take another close look at the keep before we decide whether or not to continue." Settling back into my place along the mountain wall I pause a moment having forgotten something important. "That was excellent spotting. I feel much safer knowing you are on watch."

Gar's reply more or less aligned with her own speculations: the necromancy resulted from one or more powerful practitioners in the region (perhaps including the voice in the forest) rather than being a widespread, spontaneous occurrence arising from the Upheaval. She had hoped for more, but would certainly settle for mere confirmation so long as it allowed her to avoid personal questions.

There seemed nothing more to do at present, so Thorn settled herself to trance. Trained by decades of grueling labor on too little rest, she immediately descended into the dark, silent void. Against her will, she relaxed slightly; only a fool would trust the safety of this place, but she lacked the will to entirely resist its lull, particularly after a day in the sun’s oppressive heat and brightness.

Still, she could not rest for long. The fact that she had not – and almost certainly never would – experience a vision or discover a portent did not absolve her of the responsibility of seeking. Even if any real hope that she could prove worthy of such an experience had long since been replaced by fear of offending the Goddess. Who may be dead, a heretical thought whispered before she could squelch it. As though to disavow the very notion, she threw herself into the search with nearly manic vigor.

Unending.

Eternal.

Empty.

Blackness.

And then . . . something? So very faint that it might not exist at all.

Thorn wasn’t certain. She could not determine whether she had perceived anything, much less how: intuition, magic, any of her five mundane senses. Or something else entirely.

Or nothing. Because that’s all her trance held.

But painful experience had made her sensitive to the slightest alteration in a familiar environment and she thought . . .

It was maddening. She prided herself on her tracking skills, but how was she supposed to trail something that left no trace. And was possibly a hallucination.

Yet she had to try. Perhaps a systematic method –

Thorn’s eyes snapped open as Althaea approached. She flowed to her feet, half expecting an attack before she registered that the alarm remained silent. And the harsh light of day. The whole night had passed in what felt like mere moments?

Thorn's blood ran cold. If her own perceptions proved suspect, could she trust anything at all? And just how long would she have wandered the void without someone to awaken her?

But worst of all was the absolute certainty that - despite the risks, despite her fears - she would try again.

As the combination of Infused and Thorn shook her awake, Althaea knew something was amiss. Infused pointed into the murky blackness of the sky, the shadowy silhouette of an immense creature finally filled her vision. Just as the thought entered her mind, she heard the whispers of the two beside her echo these same thoughts. Dragon. Undead. Althaea knew her capabilities and had seen firsthand the capabilities of the group she had surrounded herself with, Gar and Infused to a lesser extent. In their current state, it seemed folly to try and battle the creature. She hoped the creature would stay unaware of their presence and fly through the area to somewhere much farther away, preferably in the opposite direction of Vertigo.

About an hour or so before dawn, Alaric woke from his slumber and chatted with her for the remainder of her watch. Nothing else significant seemed to happen and she shook everyone awake just as the sun peeked over the mountains, signaling the new day.

---

08:46, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Arcana.

The heroes, after witnessing the sight of what they believed to be an undead dragon, finally settled back down into their respective slumbers; those on watch now brimming with renewed vigor as they look to the skies.

As the morning creeps into view, the sun does its best to peek through the ever present gloom of this post Upheaval world.  The heroes gather their things in preparation for their journey to the keep.  Circling around the mountain from the direction they came just the day before, took a turn and headed northwest, where Aisling had spotted a path that looked to be more suitable than the 800 foot climb straight up the cliff.

Once they closed in on it, Aisling let Thorn know this was the spot with some metallic chittering, and the party took her lead.  The path itself was still not easy, with having to constantly step up onto large rocks or around them, and an excess amount of scree littered with each step.  The party took turns helping Gar, who even with the help of his familiar, couldn't possibly avoid all the hazards laid before him.

The climb took much longer than the heroes had hoped, with them only making it about halfway to the keep when the sun was at its crest.  The heroes briefly stopped, as the constant hiking up the craggy mountain left them all sheen with sweat even in the cool air.  The keep loomed up in the distance with the sun right behind it, leaving the keep shrouded and more like a black silhouette than anything else.

About three o'clock in the afternoon, the PCs finally made the final turn up to the keep and were grateful that the path, coinciding with what used to be part of the road leading to the keep, made the second leg of the hike more bearable and in better time.  The keep was large, sporting two tall towers, one on each side of a multi-level keep.  The walls themselves were mostly intact, though numerous cracks and shifted stones could be seen throughout.  The road led right up to the front gates, one of which was held all the way open by a large wooden stake wedged at an angle in the ground, right underneath it.  The doors themselves were made of thick, sturdy wood, about 1 foot thick, with fanciful designs in the woodwork that gave it an air of elegance.  Looking inside the doors about 80 to 100 feet within, is what looks to be, (though hard to verify at this far of a distance), the body of a human soldier sitting with his back against the wall, head drooped down, and unmoving.  He looks to be wearing a simple metal helmet that comes down and over where his eyes should be.  His arms are tucked behind his back, almost as if he was being restrained, and one of his legs looks to be bent at a strange angle.

As the party approaches the keep the tension inside begins to rise, I take a few moments to focus on my breathing and find my centre. The simple exercise works and my anxiety and fears recede, taking the tightness between my shoulder blades with them. As the calm once more settles into my soul, I hold my recite a short prayer, thanking Rao for his assistance as I strive to live up to his example. That complete, I ready my shield an ride forward on Harmony to within 50 ft of the door and look carefully at the ground surrounding the open gate.

"I suppose they may have left the gate propped open when they abandoned the keep but I doubt a wooden stake would have survived the weather this long. Sand, Thorn can either of you see anything suspicious from here?"

Gar walked in silence the last part of the treck. The trip had taken its toll on him more mentally than physically - he knew thaht his lack of sight not only slowed them all, but his reliance on others burdened them all. He didn't like the feeling.

As they looked upon the gate, he brought his vision through Lyn, perched on his shell above his head. Even though his head faced to the right, he saw what everyone else saw. "I could send Lyn for a closer look..." The owl shifted on his shell, nervously. "....but if I lose her now, I cannot get her back and what little sight I can gain will be gone."

As the group stopped near the gates, the artificer approached Althaea, Thorn and Gar, giving them a small broach looking like a miniature Clacker.

This will help protect friends.

Sand took his long range goggles out and looked at the body visible from the entrance, trying to determine if he was living or not. He slowly expended the search to all that he could see in the courtyard and looked higher, to try to find the nests he had seen the day before.

Dice roll on the discord, perception 20, with the eyes of the eagle goggles

Aid level 2 casted on Katie, Andy and Emily, 5 extra HP

Sand approached Althaea and handed her a small brooch, <Orange<"My thanks, Sand."</Orange>

As the group approached the gate, the figure of a human could be seen against the wall. She focused her gaze on the human's chest, trying to see the tell-tale sign of life, the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

---

OOC: 06:33, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

Sand put on his long range goggles and carefully examined the body lying there at the entrance of the keep. Slowly, his head started to shake in negation then he looked wider, examining the walls and as far as he could. When he removed his goggles, his purple crystals that served him as eyes seemed to have an extra glint he didn't have before, amusement maybe? It was hard to be certain with his fixed face plate.

Sand sees straw coming out of body. This body has never been living, it it a...

He stopped and searched for his word before nodding.

A simulacrum. Sand suspects a trap of some kind if friends rushes to help. Sand did not see anything else.

OOC : I rolled my perception on DNDBeyond and share the single roll on Discord, perception 20

Gar feels sands hand and the brooch, and smiles. "My thanks sand." he clips the brooch on his sachel cord so it sits just above his hip.

When Sand tells what he sees, the tortle (facing to the left of the keep) chews his lip. "We'll, whoever done this was smart enough to set a trap, talented enough to build it. Assume that it's either a standard precaution, or they expect us."

Infused decided it would be smart to share his ignorance, "I have not encountered traps such as this. Should we destroy it, ignore it, or avoid as best we can?"

Althaea nodded in Sand's direction, "In that case, I agree with avoiding the dummy, but move ahead carefully. We do not know the location or details of the trap that may have been set." Althaea began to move forward into the keep, keeping her eyes peeled for any signs of the trap or other creatures. Alaric kept pace with her, his eyes scanned the room for anything that seemed out of place, but since he was unfamiliar with the keep, didn't notice anything in particular. Althaea squeezed his hand reassuringly, unsure of what lay ahead.

---

14:15, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Perception.
14:16, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Alaric-perception.

Sand nodded at Althaea's assessment and sent Scamp to scout ahead, to determine if the mass of humanoids they had seen the day before was hidden, and where.

The answer was not long to come, has the mechanical owl did see a mass of humanoid, just out of the vision of the group. Putting a hand on Clacker for support, Sand stopped moving as he projected his consciousness to the familiar. For about 30 seconds the warforged was still, then...

SCAMP!

His senses violently thrown back in his body, he looked toward his familiar then shook his head.

This is bad. Sand... Sand felt Scamp being dispelled, eaten by a big maw.

Putting a hand to his head, like he had a headache, he continued.

Sand counted at least thirteen humanoids, but there are more. Some lost all their flesh, while other still have some. Walking deads. Sand does not like walking dead.

Still reeling from the lost of his companion, he started to look at the entrance of the keep, like expecting the horde to come out.



Today: Sand rolled 11 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 4,8.  scamp perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:03, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

"I am sorry my friend. Scamp was a rascal but a true and free soul. If we retrieve his body can you repair him? Before he was lost were you able to tell if the large creature that ate him was also undead?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

Gar frowned as he absently had his gaze (if he had eyes) to the left of the keep, relying on his ears. When Sand called out, he was happy he didn't send Lyn in - he felt for scamp, but Sand had the capability to bring him back, Gar didn't at the moment.

The Tortle sighed. "Given an undead army, as well as the dragon we've seen, whatever leads up there is necromantic in nature. We must be prepared if we go there. Luckily, most undead are driven by instinct to feed or destroy life - luckily it gives them a simple and predictive mindset."

He tapped his shell. "If we can lead the majority of the undead into a trap of our own we can thin the herd, so to speak."

The Tortle shifted nervously....he had an idea of how to cast some spells (As difficult as it will be) - this may be the test that will do something unheard of.


....a blind wizard attacking
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:07, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

Signalling Aisling down onto her pauldron, Thorn drew her chakrams and eased her way toward the back of the group.

"The maw concerns me more. If the dragon lairs here, the cache cannot be worth the risk."
This message was last updated by the player at 16:57, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

The lost was keenly felt by the artificer and he had to resettle himself before he could answer the questions. If he was breathing, one could have believed that he was taking deep breaths.

Sand appreciates Giltris' concern. Sand can get Scamp back with some time.

He looked at the entrance.

Time friends don't have. Sand only could see big teeth before Sand's mind was sent back to this body, friend Thorn. Sand can not say if it was the dragon or not.

Not wanting to leave Althaea alone out there, he shook his head and lifted his shield, following the Eladrin, his mind already calculating angles and distances to build a trap.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:32, Thu 17 Mar 2022.

"More undead. I grow weary of fighting these mindless automatons," Infused pulled his large sword down to a ready position in case the attack were to come unexpectedly, but he left the triggering word, which would ignite it with flames, unspoken.

I pull myself up into Harmony's saddle, ready my shield and splash myself with Holy Water before drawing a stylized heart on my breast plate with the moisture. Come on dear one, we have work to do. Humming an upbeat hymn we start towards the inside of the keep.

Summary
Giltris equips her shield and casts Protection from Good and Evil, targeting Giltris and Harmony (applies to Harmony due to the effects of Find Steed - see below).
Both Giltris and Harmony take the Dodge action.
Advance through the gate into the courtyard (?) while keeping an eye open for traps, especially any hidden pits, until I can see what is inside.

Perception: 16 with disadvantage due to dim light otherwise 16.

Dodge
When you take the Dodge action, you focus entirely on avoiding attacks. Until the start of your next turn, any attack roll made against you has disadvantage if you can see the attacker, and you make Dexterity saving throws with advantage. You lose this benefit if you are incapacitated or if your speed drops to 0.

Protection from Evil and Good
1st Level Abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range/Area: Touch
Components: V, S, M (holy water or powdered silver and iron, which the spell consumes)
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes

Until the spell ends, one willing creature you touch is protected against certain types of creatures: aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.

The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. The target also can't be charmed, frightened, or possessed by them. If the target is already charmed, frightened, or possessed by such a creature, the target has advantage on any new saving throw against the relevant effect.

Find Steed
2nd Level Conjuration
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range/Area: 30 ft
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous

You summon a spirit that assumes the form of an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed, creating a long-lasting bond with it. Appearing in an unoccupied space within range, the steed takes on a form that you choose: a warhorse, a pony, a camel, an elk, or a mastiff. (Your GM might allow other animals to be summoned as steeds.) The steed has the statistics of the chosen form, though it is a celestial, fey, or fiend (your choice) instead of its normal type. Additionally, if your steed has an Intelligence of 5 or less, its Intelligence becomes 6, and it gains the ability to understand one language of your choice that you speak.

Your steed serves you as a mount, both in combat and out, and you have an instinctive bond with it that allows you to fight as a seamless unit. While mounted on your steed, you can make any spell you cast that targets only you also target your steed.

When the steed drops to 0 hit points, it disappears, leaving behind no physical form. You can also dismiss your steed at any time as an action, causing it to disappear. In either case, casting this spell again summons the same steed, restored to its hit point maximum.

While your steed is within 1 mile of you, you can communicate with each other telepathically.

You can't have more than one steed bonded by this spell at a time. As an action, you can release the steed from its bond at any time, causing it to disappear.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:58, Fri 18 Mar 2022.

Gar did not disagree with Infused, and held a hand out, feeling teh cold of his body. The wizard walked slowly, lettiing infuse lead the way as Lyn perched on his shell (cowering).


"Be my eyes for teh moment friend...when trouble starts i'll let go and you can do what you do best."

Althaea, accompanied by Alaric, crossed the threshold of the Keep. Her keen eyes immediately noticed the mass of undead scattered throughout the courtyard of the keep. At first glance, she counted ten skeletal warriors, seven who missed pockets of flesh, and three skeletal archers. While Althaea had tried to keep silent, Alaric had not seemed to get the memo and his armor clanged with each step. The undead horde all turned their gazes on the pair and started to move in their direction.

Althaea knew they could not take on that many targets at one time, but she had something up her sleeve for that. She just needed them to get closer together. She thought she might be able to take out one of the closer targets in the meantime, though. Althaea targeted the closest undead to her and placed upon it, a spell of cursing. Then, she aimed her eldritch energy at it to follow.

Alaric targeted the same creature as Althaea, not willing to leave her side, he threw a handaxe.

---

08:19, Mon 14 Mar: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  Stealth.
Alaric Stealth: 3
11:52, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.
Alaric Initiative: 2

12:28, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 21 using 1d20+8.  Eldritch Blast. 1st blast
12:28, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 17 using 1d20+8.  Eldritch Blast. 2nd blast
12:28, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 13,5 using d10+4,d6.  Eldritch Blast/Hex damage. 1st blast
12:29, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 7,1 using d10+4,d6.  Eldritch Blast/Hex damage. 2nd blast

If first blast kills it, will target the second closest with the second beam, but the 1 necrotic damage won't apply since I can't move hex.

Alaric to hit: 20
Alaric damage: 10 slashing (targets speed is reduced by 10ft)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Fri 18 Mar 2022.

"Sand only could see big teeth before Sand's mind was sent back to this body, friend Thorn. Sand can not say if it was the dragon or not." The dismissive, patronizing words rang in Thorn’s ears.

She did not grit her teeth. But she wanted to. Apparently, since they could not be absolutely certain of the dragon’s presence all the others intended to proceed as planned. Despite the fact that the last time they ignored her sensible advice, Thorn nearly lost her eyes. And Gar did. Thus putting them at an even greater disadvantage in this encounter.

Frustration arose in her – at their stubborn insistence on proceeding against all wisdom here and in the forest, at her disturbed trance, at this broken and illogical place that she had imagined as some sort of paradise, and at herself for being a complete and utter fool.

Suddenly, she very much wanted to kill something. As the foulness of the approaching undead settled over her like a shroud, she decided they would do very well indeed. For now, at any rate.

Staying behind the party, Thorn slipped toward the narrow shadow cast by the keep’s entrance.

The undead flooded towards them, but Thorn saw no sign of the maw that had consumed Sand's owl. Disconcerted, she sent Sel'zir and Aisling out from under cover to search for it while she turned her attention to their nearest foe. Her chakrams flew forward.

Her weapons and companions - their attempt unsuccessful - had barely returned to her when a wall of earth erupted in front of her feet, high enough to almost block her vision.

"Sand, not so high," she instructed, voice firm but emotionless as always.

Unwilling to risk being blocked Thorn repositioned herself between Gar and Clacker. If she had judged the distance correctly, she should be able to dart forward, attack the main mass of the enemy and return to the wall. Probably.

Initiative: 21
Stealth: 13
Thorn attacks the undead nearest her. If she kills it, she will target the skeletons fighting Althaea and Giltris, starting the the most damaged.
Primary Weapon Main Attack: 20,14 (Advantage)
Damage: 14
Off-Hand Weapon Main Attack: 13
Damage: 9
Primary Weapon Extra Attack: 15
Damage: 10
Off-Hand Weapon Extra Attack: 11
Damage: 13
This message was last edited by the player at 19:59, Tue 22 Mar 2022.

Sand was preoccupied by the tactical situation he had seen with Scamp's eyes and was too late to stop Althaea and Alaric to foolhardily walk in the ruined keep and start attacking the undead

No! Friend come back in defences!

With a few words, he magically created a 5 foot deep, 10 feet long and 2 1/2 feet wide hole, starting at one of the door walls, bringing the soil towards the group in a neat barricade of the same dimension.


Today: Sand rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  init.

Hopefully I'm clear enough in my design, now 10 feet of the 20 feet wide doorway has a 5 foot deep hole and a 5 foot tall wall to pass before reaching us on that 10 feet of doorway

Infused lead Gar to the hoped-for safety of Sand's barricades, to take cover behind his 'forged frame. "Undead wander the ruins, loosely. The nearest, some forty feet away. The furthest I can see, twice that, maybe thrice. More than a dozen. Giltris has summoned a steed and rides inside alone."

Use Magical Awareness to sense all magic within 60 feet of me.

Initiative: 12

01:05, Today: Infused rolled 8,12 using d20+1,d20+1.  Initiative, Vigilant Blessing. – [roll=1647669935.96038.359049]

I lay my hand my right hand gently on Harmony's neck and whisper a short benediction, the palm of my hand to cool for a moment and muscles in her neck to briefly shiver. I draw my sword and  Harmony surges forward taking us away from the gate, around the closest undead and amongst the nearby cluster.

"Ware the crossbows on the walls." I call back to the others as I swing my sword at one of the skeletons.



Turn 01 Summary
Giltris
Bonus Action: Cast Sanctuary, target Harmony
Action: Attack, target X (to-hit 16 for 7 slashing damage and to-hit 9 for 10 slashing damage)
Reaction: Opportunity attack (to-hit 13 for 10 damage) unless a friendly creature within 30 feet is hit by an attack that does 20 or more damage then I will use Rebuke the Violent.

Harmony
Move: 60 ft following the green arrow
Action: Dodge

Sanctuary
Sanctuary
1st Level Abjuration
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range/Area: 30ft.
Components: V, S, M(a small silver mirror)
Duration: 1 minute
Attack/Save: WIS 16

You ward a creature within range against attack. Until the spell ends, any creature who targets the warded creature with an attack or a harmful spell must first make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature must choose a new target or lose the attack or spell. This spell doesn't protect the warded creature from area effects, such as the explosion of a fireball.

If the warded creature makes an attack, casts a spell that affects an enemy, or deals damage to another creature, this spell ends.

Channel Divinity: Rebuke the Violent
Immediately after an attacker within 30 ft. deals damage with an attack against a creature other than you, you can use your reaction to force the attacker to make a WIS saving throw (DC 16). On failure, the attacker takes radiant damage equal to the damage it just dealt, or half damage on success.

Gar allwed himself to be led, shutting off his hearing he looked through Lyn's eyes at the scene - of all the enemies, all the undead. He wanted to use a more offensive spell, but he didn't know if his plan would work.

Since he lost his eyes, he'd been thinking how to overcome the hurdle of his sight (or lack there of). His most obvious tool was Lyn, and throughout the trip he praticed with minor spells. ths, however was the first time he would be using it in pratical use.

The tortle held up his hand  so he called fourth a mote of fire, sending it towards a skeleton

---

<OOC: Gar rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Iniative.

Action - Casts Firebolt

Gar rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  attack - firebolt.

Gar rolled 11 using 2d10.  damage - firebolt.

Bonus Action - None>