Velarin Xilontheel(Chris J), AC 18(FF 18), hp 157/157 Monday August 10th, 2020 8:59:42 AM
(ooc: got a little confused by some of the posts. are we actually already in Koshe Marr, or do we need to get through this gate to get there?)
Seeing no other recourse at this time, and being no stranger to a mortar and pestle, V steps forward, plucks the petal from the plant that only he and Emrys can see, and begins to grind it into a pulp."Should this fail, Then I do not know what is next."
(Dan K) AC: 39 (T 30 FF 34), CMD:43; HP: 246/246 Barratore Steelwind Monday August 10th, 2020 9:12:12 AM
Barratore sets Lady Helena down at her request. "you're welcome" he responds to her.
Telepathically to the group he says "This is much easier when you have an enemy before you, and you only need to kill him before he kills you. Let's get on with this V, one way or another, because if this doesn't work, and nobody has any bright ideas, we got nothing."
Edson Kazil - Shawn R; AC: 31(T 21, FF 20), CMD: 24 HP: -112/128 Monday August 10th, 2020 9:44:53 AM
Edson faux squints his eyes at Lanliss' joke, but cant hide his smile. Edson watches as Velarin plucks something from the ground, and begins working on it.
Back to the Gate (DM John) Monday August 10th, 2020 3:29:39 PM
One does not simply plane shift into Koshe Marr. As a result of all the research you did, you were able to shift directly to the doorway to Koshe Marr and bypass much exploration, and the corresponding danger, of the shadow realm.
Lanliss pokes a bit of fun at Edson, then suggests proceeding with the flower.
Tishe’ shares her insight into the puzzle with the others.
Emrys checks out Edson using detect magic. He sees no sign whatsoever of any lingering aftereffects.
Barratore politely sets Lady Helena down and encourages action.
Edson enjoys the absence of pain and the presence of good comrades.
Velarin grinds the flower.
Except for Emrys, the others see Velarin appearing to place something invisible in the mortar. As he grinds it, a gray powder slowly appears between the mortar and pestle, its color matching that of the flower that briefly appeared on the surface of the gate wall.
As Velarin grinds the flower, he and Emrys see it disintegrate into an unexpectedly dry powder without any indication of oil or other liquid being present. The resulting particles are exceedingly fine and Velarin suspects the slightest breath could scatter the dust that his grinding has created.
Nothing else changes. The oppressive silence continues.
(Dan K) AC: 39 (T 30 FF 34), CMD:43; HP: 246/246 Barratore Steelwind Tuesday August 11th, 2020 8:22:34 AM
Barratore watches and waits until he feels the need to do or say something. "Well? What now? Is it going to work? How do we get in? I'm pretty sure that going over, under, or trying to bypass the wall is going to be bad."
Velarin Xilontheel(Chris J), AC 18(FF 18), hp 157/157 Tuesday August 11th, 2020 8:33:39 AM
V finishes grinding the flower into a fine dust, and quickly places his hand over the mortar to prevent a slight breeze from relocating it. He reports telepathically what it looks like and then looks to the group. "Anyone have anything? This is far from my area of expertise"
He then realizes that perhaps they are not using all their resources, and things sometimes don't happen by circumstance, so he looks at Lady Helena, an obviously learned woman, and describes what he saw and what happened? "Lady Helena? any ideas on what's next or how to get in?"
Edson Kazil - Shawn R; AC: 31(T 21, FF 20), CMD: 24 HP: -112/128 Tuesday August 11th, 2020 12:59:27 PM
Edson listens to Velarin's description. It sounded like it was working, but the rogue had no idea outside of trusting his friend.
AC 26/ T26/ F26 CMD24 (Fdom of Move) HP 164/164 Tishe’ (SteveK) Tuesday August 11th, 2020 2:30:09 PM
Tishe’ thinks Velarin has a good question and waits for the answer. Failing that, “ Maybe just blow the dust into the Gate and then we jump through?”
Lanliss Drakeguard Michael A; AC: 26 (T 19, FF 18), CMD:31 HP:34/ (87)141 Tuesday August 11th, 2020 5:55:32 PM
"If Tishe's advice doesn't work I don't know what would", Lanliss simply states.
Back to the Gate (DM John) Wednesday August 12th, 2020 12:39:41 AM
Tuesday 8/11
Barratore waits in antici…..pation.
Velarin is perplexed as to what to do next and asks Lady Helena.
Edson is also puzzled as what to do next.
Tishe’ waits for Helena’s answer, but has a suggestion. Lanliss agrees with Tishe’.
Emrys watches.
Emrys only Highlight to display spoiler: {During this entire time. The figure in the gateway, whom you assume Galadin Madrigal, that you can see due to your true seeing spell, has been completely motionless and expressionless throughout the entire time you have been at the gate.}
Lady Helena twitches at the mention of her name, obviously surprised, and clearly flattered, to be asked. “Um, well,” she mutters, attempting to stall for time to think.
“When we solved the puzzle the last time. The gateway just faded as soon as we moved the gems to the correct position.” She pauses again, chewing her upper lip in concentration. “It appears that grinding the flower is not sufficient to conclude the puzzle.”
When Tishe’s makes her suggestion, she nods excitedly. “Yes, that might do it.”
She seems extremely nervous to be put on the spot this way, and relieved to have someone make the suggestion. Based on your interactions with her so far, you perceive this timidity is highly uncharacteristic of her.
Velarin Xilontheel(Chris J), AC 18(FF 18), hp 157/157 d20+33=36 ; d20+5=23 ; Wednesday August 12th, 2020 9:15:52 AM
(ooc: I assume Velarin's robe can allow him to see Galadin as well?)
V appears to be contemplating as usual while he quickly speaks to the group."I'm not sure I like this. Does anyone have a read on Lady Helena? Unless someone has something telling me not to, I'm thinking our last and best resort is blowing the dust on the door"
(perception 36, sense motive on Lady Helena 23)
Contingency: Break enchantment activated when affected by mind or body control spells Bless(permanent) SR 18, +6 to overcome SR Haste on all Keepers: 19 rounds
Barratore responds telepathically while keeping an eye on Lady Helena, and the surrounding area. "Picking up intentions and such is not my strong suit. I'm thinking we just roll with it. Blow the stupid dust. Whatever we have to deal with, we deal with. We've done it before."
The Gate Opens (DM John) Wednesday August 12th, 2020 4:45:17 PM
To Velarin. Yes, you can and have been able to see Galaden all along. The spoiler text to Emrys in the previous DM post applies to you. --Thanks for the reminder.
Velarin is about to blow the dust, but wants a better read on Lady Helena.
Barratore is aligned with Velarin.
Neither Velarin nor Barratore pick up anything but earnestness from Lady Helena
Lanliss, Tishe’, Edson, and Emrys wait expectantly.
I will move this forward. Congratulations on solving the puzzle.
Valerian blows the fine petal powder into the opening. The dust flows toward the opening, expanding into a cloud much larger than than the powder in the mortar alone could account for. It starts to swirl in front of the opening, increasing in volume and density. Whereas the dust cloud thickens, the solid shadow in the gateway begins to thin until it and the dusty mist become of one substance. Slowly, the unified cloud dissipates, revealing the form of Galaden previously only visible to Velarian and Emrys. Lady Helena gasps aloud as she sees her husband again.
Galaden, hand outstretched all this time, takes a step forward, appearing as if he is completing a motion he never was able to finish. He shakes his head in surprise. “Helena?” he mutters. Then looking around, “Who are these people and what is going on here?”
“Oh Gallie!” she exclaims as she rushes toward her husband, arms outstretched.
As the mist of petal powder and the dissolving solid shadow of the gateway clears, you can see that Galaden is standing inside an arched entry about fifteen feet deep. On the other side is solid gray mist that begins precisely at the end of the gateway. No sound, other than those you make yourselves, can be heard either before you or behind you.
CDM Jerry [OOC post] Wednesday August 12th, 2020 9:49:24 PM
OK, folks, voting has begun on the Velvet Tap board. Follow my instructions. Voting ends midnight this Friday or when everyone has voted.
Follow my instructions. Don't make me get out my +5 Cane of Ungodly Whooping!
Lanliss Drakeguard Michael A; AC: 26 (T 19, FF 18), CMD:31 HP:34/ (87)141 Wednesday August 12th, 2020 10:24:29 PM
'What just happened', Lanliss thinks, flabbergasted by what just happened,
Emrys Myrridanmyl, Stephen F. ac17 hp125/125. rituals: Warding, Spiritual Healing, Charming, Contingency: BoL. Bless, True Seeing Wednesday August 12th, 2020 11:10:09 PM
Emrys seems to be obsessed by Edson's condition. He continued to observe him all this time while everyone else had moved on. The perplexity had completely distracted him. He didn't notice that Velarin had plucked the flower and ground it into a fine powder. He looks up just in time to see him blow the powder onto the gateway. He smiles that the outcome was positive and that Velarin hadn't joined Galaden within the obsidian obelisk.
"The fact that you don't know who WE are tells us you've been in there for a while."
(Dan K) AC: 39 (T 30 FF 34), CMD:43; HP: 246/246 Barratore Steelwind Thursday August 13th, 2020 7:43:01 AM
Telepathically, Barratore talks to the group. "Huh. Well, that answers those questions. Now we have business to attend to. What do we do with these two? I'm for thinking they should not be coming with us. They obviously have no idea no how long they have been here, and that's going to be a problem for them"
Velarin Xilontheel(Chris J), AC 18(FF 18), hp 157/157 Thursday August 13th, 2020 7:57:46 AM
V sighs with relief as their last resort worked. He then looks toward Emrys and Barratore and responds mentally. "Yes, you are right, we will need to deal with this before proceeding. They are obviously used to a higher end lifestyle, and it's likely that anything they had before is now gone. I don't know how much time we have before this gate closes again, but it's probably not long, and time is not on our side for this whole scenario."
V turns to Helena and Galadin "You should return to the the Wold. But, be advised that you have been here for a very long time and you may have nothing remaining when you return."
Edson Kazil - Shawn R; AC: 31(T 21, FF 20), CMD: 24 HP: -112/128 Thursday August 13th, 2020 9:39:05 AM
" Yea Barratore. I think you're right. " the elf replies mentally. " Use some charn to soften the blow. " Edson's eyes go wide as Velarin just cuts right to the matter... " okay.... V has it handled. "
CDM Jerry [OOC post] Thursday August 13th, 2020 12:58:23 PM
Don't forget. Voting ends Friday [tomorrow] at midnight. :)
AC 26/ T26/ F26 CMD24 (Fdom of Move) HP 164/164 Tishe’ (SteveK) Thursday August 13th, 2020 3:22:29 PM
Tishe’ nods vigorously. “Yes, return to Plateau City quickly! Tell your story and discovery. After all, you found it first. We are just gonna do a little tidying up first.”
“Quickly now”, she urges the Keepers. “We go through touching each other and all at once. You heard how quickly the Gate closed to separate Sieur Galaden and Madame Helena. We can’t take the chance of being separated!”
Tishe’ will wait until each Keeper is touching another. “OK. And... Step!”
The Gate Opens (DM John) Thursday August 13th, 2020 4:12:57 PM
Lanliss is flabbergasted.
Emrys is relieved that it worked and bluntly tells their recent rescuee that he has been imprisoned a long time.
Barratore starts a private mental discussion about what to do with their two newly acquired wards.
Velarin continues in the conversation, then broaches the subject aloud, "You should return to the Wold. But, be advised that you have been here for a very long time and you may have nothing remaining when you return."
Edson would prefer more tact, but Velarin has committed.
Tishe’ puts a positive spin on things to the noble couple and proposes haste for the Keepers.
Unfortunately, Galaden, still standing directly in the middle of the gateway, will have nothing of it. Taken by surprise by his sudden release and apparently unaware of any of the developments between him being trapped in the gate and having been released from it, he raises both hands in objection, clearly dismayed . “Wait!” he exclaims indignantly. “Just who do you think you are, kidnapping my wife, bossing me around without so much as a ‘how do you do’ or a ‘how are you’, and prancing around like a bunch of entitled jackanapes?”
He then glares at his wife accussingly and with a rapid motion, points first to her, then to the ground next to him, silently demanding she come to him. She responds with a stamp of her foot, a single shake of her head, a defiant hand placed on her hip, and a steely gaze of her own.
AC 26/ T26/ F26 CMD24 (Fdom of Move) HP 164/164 Tishe’ (SteveK) Thursday August 13th, 2020 5:25:11 PM
Tishe’ rolls her eyes. She begins rummaging and finds the scroll she wants in her satchel. “Sieur Galafar, you are in great danger. You and your lady-wife have been trapped for months in this Gate and the Woldsblood. You need to move quickly or you will be trapped once more!”
Her thoughts tell a different story to the Keepers. ‘If this lazy treadle doesn’t move in the next few seconds, I’m going to weave a Grasping Hand and pull the Grass Slug out of there by force!’
Lanliss Drakeguard Michael A; AC: 26 (T 19, FF 18), CMD:31 HP:34/ (87)141 Thursday August 13th, 2020 10:10:05 PM
Lanliss is happy to see that Helena is on their side. He nods as Tishe' speaks. He wouldn't want to be in a direct conflict with her.
Emrys Myrridanmyl, Stephen F. ac17 hp125/125. rituals: Warding, Spiritual Healing, Charming, Contingency: BoL. Bless, True Seeing d20+26=45 ; Thursday August 13th, 2020 11:23:29 PM
"Jackanapes! Really? It HAS been a long time! Cease this blatherskitery and remove yourself from this monolith before you become trapped again. Time is obviously NOT on your side!"
(Diplomacy: 45)
CDM Jerry [OOC post] Friday August 14th, 2020 12:20:45 AM
Need votes from Stephen K and Michael A by midnight tomorrow if you wish to vote on the Velvet Tapestry board.
Edson Kazil - Shawn R; AC: 31(T 21, FF 20), CMD: 24 HP: -112/128 Friday August 14th, 2020 9:25:29 AM
"How do you do?" Edson asks with a fake smile on his face. "Now that is out of the way, I'd listen to them. They are smarter than you think you are. In fact they're some of the smartest people around. Even your wife and her steel reserve quickly realized when to listen. "
Velarin Xilontheel(Chris J), AC 18(FF 18), hp 157/157 Friday August 14th, 2020 2:52:37 PM
V puts his hands on the two Keepers closest to him. "Tishe' is right, We don't have time here. we need to get through that gate quickly, one way or another. Convince him, move him, or relocate him, but it's gotta be quick."
(Dan K) AC: 39 (T 30 FF 34), CMD:43; HP: 246/246 Barratore Steelwind Friday August 14th, 2020 2:56:07 PM
"Agreed. If someone can't convince him or relocate him in the next few seconds, everyone follow me and I will move him. We need to be on the other side of that gate before it closes, and if either of them is still there at that time it's not going to be our fault or responsibility."
All clear at the gate (DM John) Friday August 14th, 2020 5:36:19 PM
Tishe’ doubles down on the warnings to Galaden.
Lanliss nods agreement and notes that Helena agrees as well.
Edson gives a ‘How do you do’ and supports his allies.
Velarin and Barratore affirms Tishe’ position on the need for speed.
Emrys puts the full force of his personality into his response to Galaden, “ "Jackanapes! Really? It HAS been a long time! Cease this blatherskitery and remove yourself from this monolith before you become trapped again. Time is obviously NOT on your side!"
Galaden blinks his eyes--several times. He looks first at Emrys, then at the others, and, finally, at his wife. With a heavy sigh, he slumps his shoulders in resignation and walks toward her. “I assume, at some point, you will explain what is happening here,” he states to her, almost pleadingly.
“Of course, dear,” she responds in that tone of voice known to all husbands, “but, first, it is time to go home.”
Galaden pulls out a small cube of solid emerald. You realize it is a standard die with pips numbering one through six. Helena explains as he pulls it out, “This is a unique take on the classic cubic gate. You can store up to three locations into it. To store a location, you must be there and press either the 1, 2, or 3 to do so, but you may only store one location per plane. When you are not on that plane, depressing that side opens a gate back to that location. Such a gate remains open for only about six seconds. To remove a stored location from the cube, press the opposite side (4, 5, or, 6) to forget it. You can forget and load locations at will. However, you can only open a gate once per week.”
Galaden looks quizzically at Helena while she explains this to the Keepers.
The only answer he receives to his unspoken question is, “Just open the gate home, dear”.
Subdued and no longer ready to put up any resistance, he does so. Not too far in front of them, a shimmering silvery gate opens. Helena takes her husband’s hand and steps toward it. She turns to the Keepers and says, “Thank you.” Just before they step through, she takes the cube from an unsuspecting Galaden and tosses it to Emrys. Then, with almost the same motion, she places her hand on her husband’s lips, before he can put words to any protest.
As they step through, the last thing you hear of the Madrigals is Lady Helena’s words, “I think our plane traveling days are over, dear.”
The gate they opened with the cube closes behind them. The eerie silence and stillness continues on this side of the gate to Koshe Marr.
The only thing you see on the other side is dense, silent, gray fog.
====================
Congratulations on completing this scene!
Each player receives 270,000 experience points. This includes experience earned for excellent research and roleplay resulting in finding the quickest way into Koshe Marr, and successfully navigating both the Madrigals and the gate puzzle.
Note that the cubic gate gifted you by Lady Helena has a value of 70,000 gp and is properly called an “Emerald Gate of Planes.”
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