Only Badgers Rush In... (DM BatMark) d4=4 ; d10=9 ; d6=4 ; d6=3 ; Friday May 26th, 2023 9:29:06 PM Naithi helps Berotha get better acquainted with her companions. Upon seeing the state of the grove, she takes stock, trying to determine whether this is really the same place, or some twisted deeper level of the Culverwood. Nightingale sadness turns to anger over the state of the grove. Someone will pay for this. Berotha agrees that this doesn’t look good, and looks for tracks. Beech casts detect magic and studies the miasma of mist. Panzer tastes the air, and plunges into the miasma to try to reach and break the staff. Sahabiel shares Panzer’s concern with the staff at the center of the miasma. She looks around for a guardian or creator of this mysterious event. Zazu and Lothlo wait.
Naithi is able to take an accounting of the local flora, and sees a very good congruence between the twisted trees and plants here, and their more natural kin in your own grove. It is hard to be certain whether this is the same place, or just a very close, but off kilter, analogue.
Berotha finds a set of three tracks that lead into the miasma. They are all graceful humanoid bootprints, which enter but do not leave the miasma’s boundary. Yet Sahabiel does not see any other creatures in the area, despite looking carefully.
Beech’s arcane investigation determines that the swirling miasma is the same mix of enchantment, transmutation, and necromancy as you encountered on the three paths that you first used to enter the mists surrounding the grove. Additionally, the staff is surrounded by a tight aura of abjuration.
Comparing notes on this newly available information, the Champions with a close connection to nature, Maab, and the fey feel a spark of recognition–this is similar to some ancient lore passed down by your teachers. This appears to be a twisted revival of an ancient ritual of the Sons of Dread, who were long ago defeated by the Gray Knights in league with Maab. Those heroes reported knowledge of the essence of the dark lore of the Sons of Dread and their malign allies, and this knowledge has been passed down among followers of Maab and other lovers of nature in the event that it ever should return to the Wold as a threat. You know that it should be possible to create a fey-inspired counter-ritual that will break this dark enchantment. Such a ritual will help the heroes attain a dreamstate to move physically and spiritually through the woven dark magics, but each such ritual is unique to its circumstances and must be a bespoke creation suitable to the moment.
Alas, Panzer has rushed in, and is able to barrel about 10 feet into the miasma with his powerful headlong rush. The miasma is surprisingly tangible, and resists his entry vigorously. Additionally, he feels a wash of magic pummel him, which the other Champions can also see as a flash of arcane energy. Panzer Highlight to display spoiler: {A voice whispers into your mind, commanding you to protect the staff from your companions, but you shake it off. Despite this success, you are then seized by a vision, that the elemental gem you used to escape your foes long ago killed your mother and father as well, and you flee in horrified panic (panicked condition.) As you run out of the miasma, you grow to large size (as the enlarge spell.)}
The other Champions see Panzer–now twice as big as before–come bursting back out of the miasma with abject terror in his eyes. He runs to the edge of the dark mists surrounding the grove and huddles there in a panic.
What do our heroes do?
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 56/56, CMD: 23 d20+15=19 ; Friday May 26th, 2023 10:43:25 PM
Lothlo watches Panzer somehow grow in size as he attempts to penetrate the miasma. Uh... Panzer? Are you okay? The archer tries to determine whether Panzer's fear is magical in nature or if something has genuinely frightened him.
perception = 19
Berotha (Jason W) -- AC: 21/13/18, HP: 75/85, CMD: 28 d20+14=30 ; d20+13=19 ; Saturday May 27th, 2023 10:34:33 AM
Berotha grips her glaive tightly with both hands and snorts air fiercely out through her nostrils. "Trouble! Three sets of humanoid tracks leading in but not coming out... What about Panzer's?" She looks around for threats a moment and keeps an eye on Panzer in particular to make sure he doesn't do anything but huddle. Then checks to make sure she can see Panzer's footprints leading in and coming out. "Not trusting anything in this magic place until I can check it..." For all she knew, tracking doesn't work normally around here.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 51/68 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+11=31 ; d20+6=13 ; Saturday May 27th, 2023 11:01:10 PM
Naithi isn't sure what is happening, but she isn't about to let Panzer get the jump on them, nor is she going to hurt him if it is not necessary. Naithi spurs Camalayas forward a they charge in to attack Panzer.
Actions --------------- Naithi Grapple check = 31 +2 =33 with aid another (Nat 20 and beats Panzer's CMD) Camalayas aid another to help Naithi Grapple= 13
Nightingale (JonS) HP 51/51 AC 21 CMD: 21 Sunday May 28th, 2023 3:33:55 AM
Nightingale falls to her knees, shoves her hands into the ground and begins casting a spell, the area smells of freshly cut grass as she consecrates a 20' radius section around her
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 51/68 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Sunday May 28th, 2023 3:26:20 PM
Naithi glances over and tried to determine what spell Nightingale cast.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 46/46 Character d20+18=23 ; Monday May 29th, 2023 2:03:06 PM
Beech, reaching out with a free hand, checks the magic in the air. He wants to see if they are shallowly into the Deep Woods, or are way deep into the Dark of the Woods.
Using UMD.... Roll 23
Berotha (Jason W) -- AC: 21/13/18, HP: 75/85, CMD: 28 Monday May 29th, 2023 2:09:18 PM
Berotha looks up alertly from her work checking tracks as Naithi grabs Panzer. "Hmmm... Do you need some help over there? Or maybe Naithi is affected by the magic here?"
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 28 HP 87/87 ) Character Sheet d20+10=15 ; Monday May 29th, 2023 5:55:53 PM
Panzer was fleeing in Terror until he hit the edge of the clearing. Where now?! How Can I escape?! I have to get back Home! I have to see tat the vision isn't true! He cowers in terror as he frantically scans the edge of the clearing looking for a way out. Then he hears the charging hippity hop of feet and tries to dodge, almost succeeding ( Total defense ), you do note that Panzer's normal combat reflexes do not kick in. He seeks only to escape, not to harm his attacker. But Naithi knows her holds and Camalayas Knows his wild sibling and just how to aid her. She grabs Panzer and holds him. Kept from escape Panzer shrieks in terror and tries his best to escape her holds. He becomes an armored for of his namesake Honey Badger and wriggles claws and snaps his jaws at Niathi to try and escape her. Grapple check to escape 15, fail. while grappled Panzers CMD drops to 26 from the dex loss.
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 56/56, CMD: 23 Monday May 29th, 2023 7:46:14 PM It's okay Panzer, we've got you. Did something happen in there?
Did Something Happen In There? (DM BatMark) Monday May 29th, 2023 9:38:42 PM Lothlo queries and comforts Panzer and looks to see whether the fear seems magical or mundane. Naithi, unsure whether Panzer is a threat to you or himself, charges forward to grapple the badgerfolk, then looks over to see what spell Nightingale is casting. Highlight to display spoiler: {This normally would require a spellcraft check, but given that Nightingale can freely tell you, see below.} Berotha snorts and warns of the tracks leading in but not out, while looking for Panzer’s trail as well. She asks whether Naithi needs help, and wonders whether she is also affected by the magic of this place. Nightingale kneels to cast consecrate on the area around her. Beech checks for magic in the air. Panzer cowers in terror, looking for a way out, but finding none. He tries to avoid Naithi’s grapple. Sahabiel and Zazu watch the goings on.
Panzer’s fearful cowering seems quite uncharacteristic for the doughty warrior, suggesting that magic is at play. Naithi now has Panzer grappled, holding him in place, despite the badgerfolk’s panicked thrashing. Berotha can see that Panzer's tracks entered and exited (larger than before) the colorful miasma.
Nightingale has successfully consecrated a 20’ radius ring around where most of the party is standing, the smell of fresh grass wafting through. Beech’s explorations suggest that you are in some part of the Deeper Culverwood, but it feels very different than those you have experienced before. Not necessarily Deeper, just different in some way; perhaps this is a different or twisted aspect of that which you have already experienced.
So you have a cowering, grappled ally; an area protected by consecration; and a challenge to break this dark enchantment by creating your own few counter-ritual. What comes next for our Champions?
Zazu Bridgebuilder (AC20, HP52) and Boyo the bunny (AC19, HP26) (Cayzle) Monday May 29th, 2023 11:38:02 PM
"Well," says Zazu, "maybe we should make this into something of our own."
The wizard casts a Major Image spell, bringing forth the illusion of a dryad, like one of those the party recently met. This dryad, however, is glowing with a bright light that does not illuminate anything, but her glow is like daylight, in opposition to the dark. As she walks back and forth, she sings, and butterflies and flowers appear in her wake before fading away. She is singing a song in Sylvan celebrating the day.
As other members of the party join in, Zazu's dryad acts in response, reacting to what others are doing and reinforcing the rest of the ceremony.
Berotha (Jason W) -- AC: 21/13/18, HP: 75/85, CMD: 28 Tuesday May 30th, 2023 10:01:04 AM
Berotha has no idea how to add to this ceremony. She mutters "Let me know if I can help with that. In the meantime..." she pulls out some masterwork manacles and heads over to Naithi. "Want a hand securing Panzer? Once he feels better, we can let him go."
Zazu Bridgebuilder (AC20, HP52) and Boyo the bunny (AC19, HP26) (Cayzle) Tuesday May 30th, 2023 10:54:03 AM
Zazu offers Berotha -- and everybody -- advice while concentrating on the illusion. "Don't be shy! Dance! Sing! Pray! Eat grass! Climb a tree! Put on a disguise! Shoot at the miasma! Make a light! Get mad! Just be sincere! I bet that matters most of all!"
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 51/68 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+11=21 ; d20+6=7 ; Tuesday May 30th, 2023 11:34:44 AM
Naithi calls out, I could use a little help here. I got lucky restraining Panzer, but he is strong and twice my size. I don't know how long I can keep him here without injuring him. Camalayas mins to Panzer's other side to help flank with Naithi as she continues her grapple.
Check to maintain grapple= 21+5 bonus to maintain grapple = 26 (Panzer's CMD is 26.)
I would appreciate it if some could help by assisting in the grapple and making a roll to aid another, just inst I'm missing a bonus Panzer has or Camalayas flexing bonus doesn't count. Ideally we need to calm Panzer down.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 51/68 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+1=17 ; Tuesday May 30th, 2023 11:45:18 AM
ooc: I forgot that after maintaining my grapple I have actions left.
Naithi pins Panzer, but it is not enough for her. He is too strong and is likely to escape any moment. She quickly attempts to tie Panzer up.
ooc: There is a -10 penalty to tie him up this round instead of waiting a round. If I wait it is likely I will fail my next roll or he will escape on his turn. I need two people to make a successful aid another roll to tie him up. If this isn't accomplished Naithi will burn a hero point to tie him up until he is calmed down.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 51/68 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Tuesday May 30th, 2023 11:49:46 AM
ooc: I just realized that I am assuming the +5 bonus to maintain the grapple counts towards this roll. If it does, great! If not, Naithi will just pin him instead as I can't roll that high.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 51/51 AC 21 CMD: 21 Perform: d20+9=17 ; Tuesday May 30th, 2023 11:57:31 AM
Hearing Zazu's comments, and frustrated at being unable to help Panzer at the moment, Nightingale will begin dancing with the Dryad
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 46/46 Character d20+5=24 ; Tuesday May 30th, 2023 12:08:00 PM
Beech, commands his Dancing Lights spell, to join in on the dancing part, so there will be an actual biped of light. He doesn't have much in the way of crowd control to help with Panzer, but he does have size on his side, so he'll try to aid in keeping Panzer under control until his panic subsides.... "Easy, my friend. I don't know what got to you, but you need to come back, we need your help."
Aid to Grapple check, 24
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 28 HP 87/87 ) Character Sheet Tuesday May 30th, 2023 6:10:31 PM
Manic energy floods Panzers veins as he is held down. The Panzer you know would likely just flip the grapple and start tearing out throats. This Panzer however just deflates. All of his strength seems to leave him and he just goes limp sobbing and crying on the ground.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 25/14/24 -- HP: 60/60 d20+13=21 ; Tuesday May 30th, 2023 6:43:22 PM
Noticing that Nightingale has started a consecration, and in her mind putting together all the relevant lore she knows regarding what this looks like, she asks, "Are ya thinking of the same ritual I am thinking?"
She looks between Nightingale and Zazu, and then to Naithi who is trying to hold the cowering Panzer.
"The more participants, the greater our strength to counter this dark. I will join ya as soon as I can, but let me try to help Panzer first... we can't leave him like this while we set about performing a dance."
Since outside of these.. necessary bits of violence.. she doubles as a healer and herbalist-apothecary, Sahabiel has seen her share of patients before, including ones deeply frightened by what was happening to them. Putting forward her best bedside manner, she crouches near the enlarged Panzer and starts speaking in soothing, reassuring tones to him.
I am not really sure what to roll to help someone with a fear condition, but I am going to try a Heal check since it does involve removing a debilitating condition?
Heal: d20+13 = 21
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 56/56, CMD: 23 d20+15=34 ; Tuesday May 30th, 2023 8:22:15 PM If Panzer is being affected by magic, then I unfortunately do not have the skills to assist. But everything else here so far has constructed with a way to guide us. Hopefully they left clues for us that will help us take care of Panzer and proceed safely.
Lothlo starts looking around for any runes or other clues, as well as keeping an eye out for any other possible traps.
Perception = 34
A song, a song! (DM BatMark) Tuesday May 30th, 2023 8:48:34 PM Zazu is keen to make this something of your own, and brings forward a Major Image of a glowing dryad, singing a Sylvan song and surrounded by joyful life. The elf encourages others to be creatively sincere in joining in this budding ritual. Naithi calls for help in restraining Panzer. Berotha is unsure how to help Zazu, so aids Naithi in restraining Panzer. Nightingale begins to dance as part of your counter-ritual. Beech sends his dancing humanoid light to aid in the dancing, while helping hold Panzer down. Sahabiel plans to join in the ritual soon, but first tries to soothe Panzer with her healing arts. Unfortunately, her competent but mundane ministrations are insufficient to bring the badgerfolk out of his panic. Panzer, under a scrum of Champions, uncharacteristically deflates and goes limp, sobbing and crying. Lothlo looks around for runes, clues, and traps, but senses nothing that you had not found before.
Panzer continues to hunker down and sob, now clearly no threat to himself or others, with nowhere to run either. In the meantime, Zazu’s ‘dryad’ with her inner light sings beautifully, while Nightingale and Beech’s dancing light move gracefully to this accompaniment. After about a minute, you can feel that the life and joy you are bringing to this place is having some small effect, but you are just as certain that this is not enough. Even worse, you can sense the darkness pushing back, actively trying to fend off your counter-ritual. A whiff of the stench of death might have caused a mortal singer to gasp a bit, and the ground seems slightly unsteady (but still solid) under the feet of the dancers.
Those leading or assisting in the singing part of your ritual, please make a Perform (Sing) check, or Zazu can make a Spellcraft check at -5, as he is using his magic to mimic the talent.
Those leading or assisting in the dancing, please make a Perform (Dance) check, similarly taking a -5 penalty if trying to use another skill or ability that is only indirectly applicable (such as Beech with the Dancing Lights.) How do others join in or otherwise take action? If you try something new as part of the counter-ritual, please make an appropriate skill check as part of your post, as the singers and dancers have.
Zazu Bridgebuilder (AC20, HP52) and Boyo the bunny (AC19, HP26) (Cayzle) d20+9=27 ; Tuesday May 30th, 2023 11:42:37 PM
Zazu tries to give his dryad as much grace and beauty as possible under the circumstances.
Spellcraft (at -5) 27 Woo hoo!
Berotha (Jason W) -- AC: 21/13/18, HP: 75/85, CMD: 28 d20+16=24 ; Wednesday May 31st, 2023 9:11:08 AM
Berotha slaps the manacles on Panzer, shrugging, and then walks over to where the dancing is happening. "I'm not much of a dancer but... There was this one part of the dance back on Minotaur Isle... We needed three minotaurs to punctuate the beat." She scratches her head, wondering how to make that work with just one taur. Then she has an idea. She starts climbing a little ways up the sturdiest trees in the grove and leaping to the ground to provide a large enough thump punctuating every few measures of the song.
OoC: 24 climb with the -5 penalty=19. Hopefully that's a reasonable substitution.
Nightingale (JonS) HP 51/51 AC 21 CMD: 21 Perform: Dance - d20+9=28 ; Wednesday May 31st, 2023 12:43:49 PM
Nightingale continues to dance
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 51/68 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+1=11 ; d20+7=15 ; d20+15=31 ; Wednesday May 31st, 2023 2:02:43 PM
ooc: Can you clarify if Panzer is tied up or not? If Panzer let's Naithi know he is not going to run again she will let him go and untie him if necessary and begin dancing. If not, she will keep him secure.
Assuming Panzer no longer needs to be watched Naithi moves to stand beside her dire rabbit Camalayas, guard dog Fizzgig, cuddly mule, and Jen the butler cat. She uses her handle animal skills to get them to join in the dancing.
The ever growing fey essence in her body shines through as she moves gracefully and effortlessly. Her troops movements are filled with joy and happiness. Her fey movements are one with nature, and the fey's joy is one with the land.
The demi-fey dances around her cursed grove with steps as light as air. She displays a grace and beauty that are a sight to behold. Yet there is a sense of danger in her movements. Her delicate twists and turns belie a deep power and potency as they flow seamlessly from form to form. Watching her you can guess where the ancient stories of sword dancing came from.
Actions: Perform Dance = 11 Handle Animal to make them dance = 31 (need 25 to 'push' them to do a trick they haven't been taught)
Camalayas Handle animal = 15 to help aid the other animals in the dance
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 46/46 Character d20+5=25 ; Wednesday May 31st, 2023 3:04:30 PM
Beech, having participated in various ceremonies with his mom, He always hated dancing. He wasn't coordinated enough in his mind to dance in public, it was the reason, he'd picked up cooking. Those who cook, were exempt from participating in most of the processes, because they were responsible for feeding the tribe. He will attempt to dance along with the others, but expects to fall flat on his "face".
Perform Dance = 25 (crit)
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 28 HP 87/87 ) Character Sheet Wednesday May 31st, 2023 3:57:30 PM
Panzer, bound, broken and completely demoralized by fear lies in a pile of sobbing and twitching armor on the floor of the tainted grove. He offers no resistance to the shackling and makes no move to run anymore. His mind has accepted that he HAS nowhere to run and tat escape is in fact impossible. Therefore he simply lies there in his own private mental hell, waiting for the despair to either lift or for it to kill him.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 25/14/24 -- HP: 60/60 d20+2=12 ; Wednesday May 31st, 2023 4:31:44 PM
Although she feels sorry for Panzer, Sahabiel recognizes that the ritual needs her, before the dark pushes back any more. "...I hope you were not expecting me to dance with all my gear on?", she says with a grin before she takes a swig from her flask and lends her voice to song. Singing the joyous "The Spring of Ealdemere" in her native elven tongue to provide the symbolic ritual component of joy for rebirth to the ritual, her lyrics are spot on, though her singing technique is only on the level of your average boisterous tavern party. Come to think of it.. this is Sahabiel we are talking about - that is probably exactly where she gets most of her singing from!
Perform, untrained, d20+2 = 12
Set My Badger Free (DM BatMark) Wednesday May 31st, 2023 9:31:43 PM Zazu injects his dryad with magical grace and beauty as she sings. Berotha manacles Panzer, then adds a big stomp on the downbeat by jumping from a tree. (OOC: My favorite so far–although everyone has leaned into this nicely! Berotha gains a hero point for amusing the DM while doing something clever and innovative.) Nightingale continues her effortless dance. Naithi sees that Panzer is manacled firmly, and organizes a dance of her natural friends, and they prove to have exceeded their teacher with their animal grace. Beech gets so wrapped up in thinking about dancing badly that he distracts himself from noticing that he has achieved transcendental grace. Sahabiel joins the dance, taking a swig and adding to the song with a spritely spring tune. Lothlo Panzer offers no resistance, lying in his own mental prison, until with a snap, he comes back to reality, mind finally clear of this unnatural fear. Unfortunately, he is now manacled quite solidly. (OOC: Gain a hero point for great role playing of this sad series of moments.)
Your collaborative efforts at singing and dancing seem to be holding the countervailing pressure of the dark magics of this place at bay for another minute. You can feel those fell forces probing at your minds as you cavort and sing. But the song and dance alone do not seem to be enough to win through, something is clearly missing. But what might that missing piece be? Might there be clues from your approach to the previous challenges set before you?
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 56/56, CMD: 23 d20+1=12 ; Wednesday May 31st, 2023 10:03:33 PM IT looks like we are missing something. Do you think we need to repeat the words from before as we dance? Performance = 12
Zazu Bridgebuilder (AC20, HP52) and Boyo the bunny (AC19, HP26) (Cayzle) d20+21=25 ; Wednesday May 31st, 2023 10:35:22 PM
Zazu feels a bit stumped. Mostly the tricksters approach to the previous hazards was to search for traps and disarm them. Not sure how, Zazu at least tries, while still concentrating on his illusion.
Peception check made as a move action - 25
Berotha (Jason W) -- AC: 21/13/18, HP: 75/85, CMD: 28 Thursday June 1st, 2023 8:59:11 AM
Berotha has little clue as to the themes of the challenges that she bypasses in the heroes' wake. But she keeps dancing along with the others. She starts trying to bellow long with the song as well as she climbs. What she lacks in harmony, she makes up for with volume!
OoC: Hooray for hero point!
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 56/56, CMD: 23 Thursday June 1st, 2023 12:59:33 PM For the past challenges, we repeated words and we had to avoid or disable traps to proceed. We also had a point where we all had to take different paths to proceed. There is likely a trick here as well, but I'm not seeing it..
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 25/14/24 -- HP: 60/60 d20+9=16 ; d20+12=14 ; Thursday June 1st, 2023 1:29:39 PM
Sahabiel rethinks what she remembers about the counter rituals against the work of the Sons of Dread...
Looking to the dancing Nightingale, she calls out; "Cousin, these counter rituals were originally devised by those who served Maab, would ya happen to remember more particulars?"
Nightingale (JonS) HP 51/51 AC 21 CMD: 21 Using a Hero Point as this is something she needs to know Religion check: d20+7=21 ; = 29 with hero point Thursday June 1st, 2023 1:42:15 PM
She hears Sahabiel's request, and as she is dancing she begins to commune with Queen Maab, searching her memory for anything that can help in this situation
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 51/68 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday June 1st, 2023 2:30:11 PM
Naithi tried to puzzle out what is amiss as she dances.
When the path first split in three we needed to have one group to refocus our attention and sing a counterpoint to the song. The second group manipulated the magic to wrap it around the bony hands and snap them off. The third group had to find a pattern and coax the magic into a form to lead them forward.
The trap was in the parts. Each part was the used the same base material in a different form (stone, sand, and glass). Each form utilized a different phase of matter (solid stone, glass is technically a liquid, and quick sand forms because of air pockets). Each trap came from a different direction, rocks above them, sand below them, and glass in front of them. The group passed the traits by going under the rocks, over the quicksand, and around/through the glass.
There was also the image on the stained glass, including a formless creature watching from above.
Naithi continues dancing as she attempts to sing live into the ritual as she relays a message to the others,
[b]Mother Maab of the Twilight Vales Ensure this ritual never fails Black, green and purple entwine Upon a staff like miasmic vine Revert them back to the trail
Green to focus and keep us from sight Black to cut away the blight Purple to create a path And lead us to the cursed staff So we might make this druid grove alright.
Over, under around and through Help is to make this Grove a new.[b]
Naithi silently prays as she manipulates a strand like she did on the path, trying to move it in a circle around the staff.
ooc: I'm out of ideas, but if no one stops her, Naithi is trying to move the different colored threads around like you would a maypole. The green will hopefully protect us and keep and formless enemy from seeing us. The purple will create a path for us. And the black will cut everything evil away, or server the strands coming out of the staff and allow us to move closer. White doing this we are moving around eachother and the stand will move over, under and around eachother like a maypole and mirror how we circumvented the traps.
This all makes the bespoke/customized ritual of Maab's followers.
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 51/68 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 Thursday June 1st, 2023 2:30:11 PM
Naithi tried to puzzle out what is amiss as she dances.
When the path first split in three we needed to have one group to refocus our attention and sing a counterpoint to the song. The second group manipulated the magic to wrap it around the bony hands and snap them off. The third group had to find a pattern and coax the magic into a form to lead them forward.
The trap was in the parts. Each part was the used the same base material in a different form (stone, sand, and glass). Each form utilized a different phase of matter (solid stone, glass is technically a liquid, and quick sand forms because of air pockets). Each trap came from a different direction, rocks above them, sand below them, and glass in front of them. The group passed the traits by going under the rocks, over the quicksand, and around/through the glass.
There was also the image on the stained glass, including a formless creature watching from above.
Naithi continues dancing as she attempts to sing live into the ritual as she relays a message to the others,
Mother Maab of the Twilight Vales Ensure this ritual never fails Black, green and purple entwine Upon a staff like miasmic vine Revert them back to the trail
Green to focus and keep us from sight Black to cut away the blight Purple to create a path And lead us to the cursed staff So we might make this druid grove alright.
Over, under around and through Help is to make this Grove a new.
Naithi silently prays as she manipulates a strand like she did on the path, trying to move it in a circle around the staff.
ooc: I'm out of ideas, but if no one stops her, Naithi is trying to move the different colored threads around like you would a maypole. The green will hopefully protect us and keep and formless enemy from seeing us. The purple will create a path for us. And the black will cut everything evil away, or server the strands coming out of the staff and allow us to move closer. White doing this we are moving around eachother and the stand will move over, under and around eachother like a maypole and mirror how we circumvented the traps.
This all makes the bespoke/customized ritual of Maab's followers.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 46/46 Character d20+5=13 ; d20+18=28 ; Thursday June 1st, 2023 2:41:57 PM
Beech, will continue trying to dance but will try to help move the different colors around as Naithi thinks...
Dance: 13 UMD to help move the colors about : 28
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 28 HP 87/87 ) Character Sheet d20+5=11 ; Thursday June 1st, 2023 4:01:13 PM
Panzer rolls to his knees and then to his feet. He remembers the fear, he remembers the visions that the barrierand staf and the Fey behind all tis showed him. His anger starts to build but in an uncharateristic moment of clarity, he manages to push it down. Rash actions are what got you thrown around in the first place. THINK about this Panzer refocuses on what the others are about. Zazu and the others are trying to counter the darkness and evil radiating off of the scene in front of them with light and life. What could he add. Panzer thinks about community. These folks took him in, showed them their home and offered him a place there. He built his own home and in preparation for the coming winter he helped build the most efficint and sturdy homes that he knew of for the other families there. That sense of community brought them all together and made sure that the winter was passed with ease by the many homeless refugees in the village. Panzer takes that sense of community and holds it in his heart. He allows some of the rage at being deceived and thus frightened by the fey here and lets that fuel his feelings, bringing them to a boil and infusing his being with that sense of belonging and camaraderie. Then he hear's Naithi's new song which weaves all that they have been through in this puzzle together, puts it to music and incorporates it into a dance. It is the best interpretation of what they are about here that he can think of so as the next verse starts he lends his voice and his feet to sing and dance following Naithi's lead. The heroic infusion of what he is feeling mixes with the words and dance steps into a compelling performance. (Use the hero point right back to fuel the perform roll) Perform (song and dance) 19
Dancing, Singing, Spellweaving (DM BatMark) Thursday June 1st, 2023 8:02:00 PM Lothlo wonders what you are missing, perhaps repeated words or disabled traps? Zazu is also stumped, and tries to search for traps while concentrating on his illusion. Berotha adds some enthusiastic bellowing to the stomping. Sahabiel tries to think about what might be missing, either spiritually, naturally, or magically, and asks Nightingale for insights from Maab. Nightingale continues dancing and tries to commune with Maab. Naithi recalls the three paths that you negotiated, and the three-part trap challenge, and how you manipulated the strands of magic on the paths. She moves to try this last one here. Beech continues to dance while joining Naithi with the magical weave. Panzer chokes down his anger and tries to think clearly. He channels his strong sense of community into an impromptu dance, which is unaccountably, heroically perfect for this moment.
The singers manage to contrive an oddly off kilter, yet compelling tune, swelling until bursting with fey joy.
The dancers, perhaps inspired by this performance, whirl and twirl with fey abandon.
The spellweavers wrestle to control the tri-colored strands, and start to bring some natural order to their arcane madness.
With the addition of this third element to the ritual, you can feel the tide turning in your favor! The miasma of magic erupting from the black staff shrinks back, now only arcing about 20 feet from the staff as you dance, sing, and weave closer.
How do our Champions proceed from here?
(OOC: For whatever aspect of the ritual you attempt to lead or support, please be sure to make an appropriate skill check with each post, in addition to any knowledge checks or the like that you are attempting.)
Zazu Bridgebuilder (AC20, HP52) and Boyo the bunny (AC19, HP26) (Cayzle) d20+9=27 ; Friday June 2nd, 2023 12:07:21 AM
Zazu decides the best bet is to keep on keeping on with the illusion.
Spellcraft at -5: 27
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 56/56, CMD: 23 d20+1=16 ; Friday June 2nd, 2023 9:06:47 AM Naithi, it looks like whatever you are doing is working, keep it up! Lothlo continues to dance before the miasma of magic
Performance = 16
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 51/68 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+15=16 ; d20+1=21 ; d20+1=12 ; d20+15=33 ; Friday June 2nd, 2023 1:37:35 PM
Naithi continues intoning the counter-ritual. The chant is powerful and filled with energy and intent. Naithi feels the power flowing through her veins as as the words leave her, and she channels it into her movements and her words.
All around her she sees her animals champions move gracefully around the circle, filling the grove with a joyous and cheerful melody. As they dance, they add their melodic animal sounds to join in Naithi's chanting, and their energy is palpable. This is a moment of pure magic, and Naithi feels invigorated and surrounded by magic and joy. She continues chanting and weaving the threads tighter and closer around the cursed maypole.
Actions ------------- Naithi Perform Dance = 21 Spellcraft to move the threads = 18 (Success given past roll requirements) Handle Animal to 'push' animals to dance = 33 (success)
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 25/14/24 -- HP: 60/60 Friday June 2nd, 2023 2:22:02 PM
Sahabiel continues singing (I'll Take10 on the Perform check so she consistently gets a 12), allowing herself to thoroughly enjoy the experience in the moment, and when she feels most aligned with the purpose of the ritual, she spontaneously decides that this song of renewal and rebirth would have more power behind it if she put a little Positive Energy behind it, which is after all the very energy of live resurgent...
Reaching into the powers granted her by the Culverwood, she channels a burst of energy.
Channel Energy, 2 of 5 uses remaining until next rest
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 46/46 Character d20+18=30 ; Friday June 2nd, 2023 4:44:26 PM
Beech gives up on the dancing, and focus' om splitting the colors and making them available for Naithi for use in whatever is planned....
UMD roll 30
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 28 HP 87/87 ) Character Sheet d20=18 ; d20+7=19 ; Friday June 2nd, 2023 6:33:50 PM
Panzer keeps following Naithi's lead. With his manacled hands he takes up a thread and follows her complicated dance to weave it onto their maypole. He chants her song along with her and continues to warm the feeling of community in his heart. This time though he focuses on the weaving of the colors. He still damnes, but he uses his knowledge of magic devices to perfect the pattern on the maypole. Perform 18 UMD 19
Two Steps Forward (DM BatMark) Friday June 2nd, 2023 9:36:11 PM Sahabiel continues her song, and adds the positive energy of her faith. Panzer weaves the magic strands while continuing to dance. Zazu keeps up the illusion of the singing dryad. Beech sticks with what he knows best, wrangling the arcane strands. Lothlo continues to dance, while encouraging the spellweavers. Naithi channels the power of her intent into the arcane counter-ritual, while her companions continue their graceful movements. Nightingale and Berotha add their unique abilities to the Champions’ mix.
Once again, your three-fold counter-ritual makes progress against the miasma, pushing it inward another 10 feet, leaving just a 10 foot bubble of threads between you and the rotted black staff at the center of this darkly cursed place. As you continue to press your advantage, you are able to advance again, and the miasma is pushed back into the staff. You seem to have it contained for the moment, but it is still fighting back, trying to reemerge from the staff. How do you end this threat?
Berotha (Jason W) -- AC: 21/13/18, HP: 75/85, CMD: 28 d20-1=10 ; Friday June 2nd, 2023 9:39:14 PM
Berotha shrugs and keeps on singing, giving it her best. She sticks to simple background chant right before her punctuating thumps:
"Repair the colors. THUMP. Repair the colors. THUMP."
OoC: 10 on perform (sing).
Nightingale (JonS) HP 51/51 AC 21 CMD: 21 Strength Check to remove staff: d20+1=17 Friday June 2nd, 2023 10:05:33 PM
Nightingale still dancing wants to move towards the staff, dance around it, and then try to pull it out of the ground
Realizing that she isn't as strong as others, she's gonna use another Hero Point to make sure she can do this
Zazu Bridgebuilder (AC20, HP52) and Boyo the bunny (AC19, HP26) (Cayzle) Saturday June 3rd, 2023 8:49:33 AM
Zazu stops concentrating on the illusion, setting the "dryad" to continue dancing and singing. [OOC: It will last four rounds without concentration.]
Then Zazu starts throwing rays of light at the staff, one per round, blindingly bright. [OOC: This is the illusion wizard school special ability.]
"Maybe these bright rays will help in addition to my illusion," the trickster says.
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 25/14/24 -- HP: 60/60 Saturday June 3rd, 2023 9:10:48 PM ooc: I wish to request DM permission to spend a Hero Point to cast a spell from another divine spellcaster's list; "Bless Weapon", from the Paladin spell list. Reasons: If our problem is a cursed staff, then blessing it seems like a logical countermeasure. Also - that spell works on weapons that are already magical, saving throw none, spell resistance none, and has this effect in the spell description: "...The weapon also becomes good-aligned, which means it can bypass the DR of certain creatures. (This effect overrides and suppresses any other alignment the weapon might have.)...", and I have a feeling that turning that staff even for just a few minutes into an evil smiting good aligned item is going to mess up its ability to be a conduit for evil magic?
DM Response: That's a very good and interesting idea, but as imminent events will reveal, will not be viable or necessary, and so I will save you the hero point.
Beech (JohnC) AC 19(23)/14/15,HP 46/46 Character d20+18=26 ; d20+18=35 ; Monday June 5th, 2023 12:07:54 PM
Beech, will exert his skill to push the colors to remain separate, right up until it's pulled from the ground. He'll make his way towards it while focusing on the colors. If no one else has, or is able to extract the staff, he'll reach out, and use his skills to try and extract the staff, and not physical strength....
UMD vs Colors: 26 UMD to remove the staff from the ground: 35
Lothlo (WillD) -- AC: 20/15/16, HP: 56/56, CMD: 23 d20+1=20 ; Monday June 5th, 2023 4:24:13 PM
Encouraged by the positive results they are seeing, Lothlo continues to dance his heart out as he fights against the miasma of magic.
Performance = 20
Panzer Braun (David F) AC 28 (T16, FF24) CMD 28 HP 87/87 ) Character Sheet d20=15 ; Monday June 5th, 2023 6:18:30 PM
Panzer keeps on following Naihti's lead. Perform 15
Sahabiel (EstherLauren) -- AC 25/14/24 -- HP: 60/60 Monday June 5th, 2023 7:40:40 PM
Sahabiel keeps up her singing, this is not the time to falter lest a resurgence of darkness threaten Nightingale and Beech who have gone closest to the cursed staff!
Continuing on Take10 = 12 rolls while not under threat
Nightingale (JonS) HP 51/51 AC 21 CMD: 21 Monday June 5th, 2023 8:07:24 PM
Nightingale continues to struggle with the naughty staff, trying to get it free off the earth it has blemished
Naithi (JamesD) AC: 24/16/19 HP: 51/68 , CMD = 18 Camalayas AC = 22/16/16 d20+15=27 ; d20+1=12 ; d20+15=35 ; Monday June 5th, 2023 8:14:25 PM
Unsure what else to do Naithi continues dancing and weaving the magics closer and closer to the staff. Perhaps if they get close enough she can attack it or stick it in a bag of holding.
Actions ------------- Naithi Perform Dance = 27 Spellcraft to move the threads = 12 Handle Animal to 'push' animals to dance = 35
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