DM Bob & Carla - Remains of the day Thursday February 15th, 2024 11:34:19 PM Snark ponders why their treatment of Beatrix has not had the desired affect despite two attempts at remove disease. (OOC Isaac was clear in his post that he would use his lay on hands/mercy despite the previous failure…no backsies!).
Although Beatrix has learned much about undead in recent days, this affliction is unknown to her and she only knows what Benni has been able to tell her while seeing to her needs.
Despite the centaur’s issues, the wizard presses on and examines the magical nature of the door. It seems very similar to the door in the floor of the chapter house and he finds nothing deadly in his examination. As soon as he inserts the medallion into the recess on the door both the medallion and the door begin to glow an eerie green. Text surrounding the circumference of the door also begins to glow. The text appears in three forms, High Woldian, Runic, and Common. It reads ”Knowledge Discipline Self-Improvement” in all three forms.
Benni rummages through his gear and finds a second scroll of Remove Curse and casts it. Now if someone can cast Remove Disease the centaur might yet recover. If Benni succeeds in a caster level check vs DC 20 his previous Restoration spell will be successful (Oops! Rectifying DM error from previous post ). Jasper and Maxwell provide assistance to the cleric by way of Guidance and Inspire Competence.
Beatrix and Tinkerbell (Mitch) HP 64/64+8 AC 16/13/14 CMD 22 Tinkerbell HP 32/32 AC 23/15/21 Friday February 16th, 2024 6:31:08 AM
Beatrix continues to trust her comrades to save her from mummy disease, obeying any instructions and allowing any poking and prodding required.
“Benni” AC 23/11/22 CMD 19. HP 55/ 55 Onesimos (SteveK) d20+8=19 ; Friday February 16th, 2024 6:53:21 AM
Benni feels resistance to his Restoration spell, and since it was cast before the guidance and inspriation, he is unable to overcome the tenacious results of the disease.
Still, the curse is temporarily removed, and the cleric hopes the paladin or elixir can remove the disease of mummy rot on Beatrix. "Try again!", he urges.
................ (retroactive Restoration: 19 so close, but no cigar)
Active Conditions. -3 Strength (11/14) Light (StarKnife) (5/ 80m) ; Longstrider (0/ 1hr); Ghost Wpn (0.5/ 8hrs) (Isaac, Urist, Beatrix) Shield Other (0 of 8hrs) (Snark +1 AC deflect, save resist, and share hit point dam w Benni)
Channel(4/9), Good Touch(0/7), Calming Touch(0/7), Unity(0), Holy Lance(1) 0. Mending, Purify Food/Drink, Light, Stabilize 1. Prot v Evil. Prot v Chaos. Bless. Bless. Sanctuary. Shield of Faith. 2. *Shield Other. *Less Restore. Less Restore. Resist Energy. Silence 3. *Prayer. Invisibility Purge. *Ghost Weapon. *Ghost Weapon. *Ghost Weapon. 4. *Holy Smite, Freedom of Movement, *Restoration, *Dimensional Anchor.
Maxwell (AC18, HP65 of 72) (Cayzle) Friday February 16th, 2024 9:42:34 PM
"Remove Curse is a spell that wizards know," says Maxwell. "If it is an arcane scroll, I can read it."
Isaac Harker (Justin M) HP 73/87 AC22/ T12 / FF20 d20+8=16 ; Friday February 16th, 2024 11:25:36 PM
Isaac tries once more to banish the disease from Beatrix. Cure disease roll:16 "I think for now we'll just have to deal with this cursed disease. Once we're back in town, maybe Reshakka can help you?" Isaac looks over at the door and the floating text, "maybe we need to demonstrate those virtues? Or could they be clues to where to go next?" Isaac tries to consult the map he made to see if there are barracks or a training ground of some kind.
Snark Riverstone (MarkB) AC17 T13 F15, CMD 14, HP 56/58 d20+8=18 ; d4=2 ; d4=2 ; d20+13=14 ; d20+10=17 ; d20+9=23 ; d20+16=29 ; Sunday February 18th, 2024 4:27:41 PM
Snark is not pleased that our attempts to cure Beatrix are not working. But that just goes on a long list of things the gnome is not pleased about.
"Sorry Bea - yer kinda hosed for now. Here's an Lesser Restoration elixer, maybe it'll help a bit."
Snark hands the centaur a vial. Caster Level Check 18, would restore 2 points of STR if it works.
Snark turns his attention to the glowing green door. He's disappointed his attempts to identify the magical function of the door haven't told him how the door functions since it's still closed. He ponders the words around the door and scratches his head. "Knowledge. Discipline. Self-Improvement. Hmmm. We got folks knowledgeable folks in a lot of things, but those last two are gonna be a problem for this group."
He even tries Linguistics (29) to puzzle out if there is something about how these words appear in other languages that might provide a clue.
He'll share anything that comes to mind with his friends.
Finally, he will reach out an touch the glowing green door, hoping maybe his hand passes through the thing. If so, he will tie a rope to himself and give the other end to his friends and walk through. If this works, he'll report back what he sees.
Jasper (MarkB subbing for Holly) d20+21=27 Sunday February 18th, 2024 4:33:37 PM
The druid watches the gnome's experimentation.
She tentatively touches the door. She runs her hand along these words written around the thing. If these yield nothing, she will try listening at the glowing door (Perception 27). Finally, she'll push on the door and also attempt to pull it open.
DM Bob and Carla - ”Who are you?!” Sunday February 18th, 2024 8:12:57 PM Beatrix remains surprisingly calm, trusting her friends to save her from the insidious mummy rot that courses through her body - the result of a successful spear thrust by the now defeated mummy lord.
Onesimos and Isaac work furiously, plundering their resources in order to treat the centaur. Snark offers potions, whilst Jasper provides guidance. Maxwell inspires all with competence. After his second attempt, the cleric is reasonably confident that the curse inflicted on Beatrix has been expunged, however the disease has not. (OOC: the language for insidious mummy rot does have a sequence or order, for the magiks, but does not have a time frame. Consider the curse removed. Caster level DC vs 20 is required for remove disease, restoration, healing.)
A frustrated Snark studies the medallion set into the door, the door, and the script around the door. His mind reaches at slips of religious knowledge pertaining to the god Kevintar buried deep in his memory. He remembers the god counted as many wizards as monks among his faithful…that runes were important to him as were law and knowledge…that a prayer whispered before beginning a task was sufficient to sate the god of self mastery…. As the blue haired gnome muses, speaking the words aloud so his friends can know his thoughts, the script above the door alights! ”Knowledge” - the word glows green and the medallion sinks slightly into the recess into which it was placed! ”Discipline” - the word glows and the medallion sinks further. ”Self Improvement” - all the sigils about the door glow, and with an audible ‘thunk’, the medallion sinks until it is flush with the surface of the door and the door slides to the right leaving the chamber beyond revealed.
A narrow bridge of stone projects from the open door to the center of the chamber. Below, an abyss partially obscured by grey green mist. Around the perimeter of the room six shimmering portals. In the middle of the chamber, his back to the party, is a thin robed figure with a bald head. He seems fixated on the portal in front of him. Grey-green energy flows up from the abyss below - through the figure, and into the portal. The gateway flickers wildly, as if something trying to get through is repelled, and then returns to a dull shimmering.
The figure spins around to reveal an emaciated man with a skeletal appearance and blank eye sockets containing only points of light. There is a medallion hanging from a gold chain around his neck. Though showing no signs of ‘life’ his body is not significantly deteriorated.
An incredulous look crosses his face at the sight of those at the entrance to the chamber, and in a surprisingly strong voice he asks: ”Who are you? And, what are you doing here?”
Snark Riverstone (MarkB) AC17 T13 F15, CMD 14, HP 56/58 d20+13=30 ; d20+10=12 ; d20+9=24 ; Monday February 19th, 2024 1:30:52 AM
Skeletal figure. Points of light instead of eyes. Green energy.
There's nothing good about this. Nothing.
Taking all this in, Snark tries to figure out what's going on and exactly what this creature is. Knowledge Arcana 30 Knowledge Religion 12 Knowledge Planes 24
Snark thinks for a moment before speaking. Which is no small feat for the little gnome. His knees feel a little weak all of a sudden, and he grips his staff to steady himself.
With some effort, he smiles broadly as he says, "Oswin - you are looking good! I see you're still putting the win in Oswin! We were sent to find you. Could you come out here for a moment? We need to talk to you about something. Something important. That we want to discuss. Out here."
Then he'll step back and cast Fly on himself.
--------------------------------- Spells/Effects Running: Extended Mage Armor, Continual Flame hanging from the gnome's neck, Fly.
Abilities/Items Acid Dart (Sp) 8 - 0 used Gnome (Sp) 1/day - Dancing Lights, Ghost Sound, Prestidigitation, and Speak with Animals. 2 Pearls of Power - 1st level Staff - 8/10 charges Extend Metamagic Rod - 1/3
Beatrix and Tinkerbell (Mitch) HP 64/64+8 AC 16/13/14 CMD 22 Tinkerbell HP 32/32 AC 23/15/21 Monday February 19th, 2024 6:30:02 AM
Beatrix has no idea if she's cured or not but the door is open and someone's there so it's time to prepare for combat. She starts to reach for her lance, but Snark's words make her stop herself and smile pleasantly at the presumed mastermind.
Jasper (Holly) HP 52/66 AC 24* /13/19 CMD 9 | CMB 7 Monday February 19th, 2024 12:03:55 PM
Jasper notices that the emaciated man who Snark called "Oswin" looks like he's fighting to keep something on the other side of the portal. Maybe he needs help closing it.
She readies her sling.
“Benni” AC 23/11/22 CMD 19. HP 55/ 55 Onesimos (SteveK) Monday February 19th, 2024 5:02:38 PM
Onesimos is unable to cure Beatrix, and tells her so. They will be able to do a better job of it once they find out what is going on… and Snark opens the door.
Oh… my… The elf delays to act, waiting to see if Snark’s gambit can get a positive reaction. If not, he tries his own. ”Energy forces from this Abbey are causing destruction in Heranmar and among the surrounding living peoples. We are ‘doing here’ to stop it. You need to stop it!”
Isaac Harker (Justin M) HP 73/87 AC22/ T12 / FF20 d20+17=26 ; Monday February 19th, 2024 8:50:38 PM
Isaac looks at the strange man with growing dread. Was this man a Lich? "Who are you? And what are you trying to accomplish?" Isaac calls out the question and tries to wrack his brain for what this person has now become. Know religion:26
DM Bob and Carla - ”Kevintar’s Gift” Monday February 19th, 2024 10:35:46 PM
Clustered at the threshold of the large chamber, the Luck Maker’s take in the scene with a sense of dread. Beatrix and Jasper reach for weapons. The centaur hesitates and attempts a smile that stiffens into a rictus, due to the disease affecting her. The druid wonders if the lone individual might need help?
Snark and Onesimos make diplomatic overtures, whilst Isaac asks questions.
Isaac and Snark feel a prickle of memory, and remember briefly scanning some documents on the desk in the Abbot’s house and remembering they were signed…
The paladin knows the ‘creature’ is undead - and a lich - but, also more. Both he and the greenmage believe the being before them is known as an archlich - a type of lich that is…good? Possibly once a wizard or cleric, who has devoted it’s existence to whatever purpose motivated it’s transformation into lichdom. So rarely encountered, some sages disbelieve they exist!
”My name is Oswin Heribert, 11th Abbot of the Abbey at Heranmar and here at the time of the Cataclysm. This is Kevintar’s Gift!” Points of pale blue light sweep across the party, fixing momentarily on the speakers. His visage takes on a pained expression when Benni mentions destruction in Herenmar and environs. ”Kevintar’s Gift! This place where a nexus of Ley Lines and Wold’s Blood provides such energy and where the boundary between planes is thin. A place we could use to travel to gain knowledge…and bring it back to make life better for all. The Cataclysm changed that. We could no longer control the portals. Some connected to different realms and planes, others came under control of entities from the other side.” The archlich looks away from the party and scans the portals, quiet at the moment behind shimmering veils of magic. ”My penance…my purpose these many years is to guard the portals and block whatever attempts to come through!”
A great distance down, green mists billow and roil hiding the tributaries of energy and magic that swirl and race along their courses, cross, and then flow on.
Snark Riverstone (MarkB) AC17 T13 F15, CMD 14, HP 56/58 Tuesday February 20th, 2024 1:22:25 AM
Snark thinks. He says to his friends, "This fella's a lich alright, but I think he's a good lich. Being an abbot and all, he's prolly a high level cleric."
Then he turns to Oswin. "Sorry to hear Kevintar left you holding the bag, but good to know you're guarding stuff. Like Benni said, some green energy from this abbey is causing destruction in the sea near Heranmar. It made an awful wave come in and wreck stuff in the town. What's more, some underwater witch says it's wrecking her world. Now she's got her panties in a bunch and she's blaming the town. Any chance you can ... do whatever you're doing there in a way that don't stir up the sea? Anything we can do to help?"
Urist (MarkB subbing for Cayzle) Tuesday February 20th, 2024 1:33:58 AM
Urist isn't so sure. She uses her Hat of Disguise to transform herself.
She appears as a beautiful woman with red hair, pale skin, and ruby red lips. She is clad in a sparkly pink ball gown and wearing a pink crown. Her flaming hammer looks like a long wand topped with a star, though it's a flaming star due to the Continual Flame cast on her hammer.
She strolls forward, her wand held in front of her. She smiles at Oswin, and in a saccharine voice she says, "Are you a good lich or a bad lich?"
“Benni” AC 23/11/22 CMD 19. HP 55/ 55 Onesimos (SteveK) d20=17 ; d20+17=22 ; Tuesday February 20th, 2024 7:00:21 AM
Benni is wise enough to listen to Isaac and Snark, and then piece together everything they have found so far in the Haunted Abbey: displaced in time, apparitions and ghosts and undead guardians where there were once monks of Kevintar, and a powerful nexus of conflicting magics. He tries to assess the veracity of the archlich's motive, but is inclined to believe.
"Oswin, I am Onesimos Elpis, devoted of Flower, who has been the goddess of love for the last 150 years and lived through the Cataclysm that ushered in the fifth age. We are the champions of the town of Heranmar, a mere mile from the ruins of this Abbey."
"There has been a Cataclysm at the end of every age. No matter which one you describe, you have been here for thousands of years. And in those years, something has changed this nexus. Ley line energy has escaped, according to our ocean informant, and is causing wrack and ruin. We are here to help."
"Do you know of a way for us to help stabilize this nexus? Or even just the ley lines?"
............. Know History DC 10: 17 Sense Motive: 22
Active Conditions. -3 Strength (11/14) Light (StarKnife) (5/ 80m) ; Longstrider (0/ 1hr); Ghost Wpn (0.5/ 8hrs) (Isaac, Urist, Beatrix) Shield Other (0 of 8hrs) (Snark +1 AC deflect, save resist, and share hit point dam w Benni)
Channel(4/9), Good Touch(0/7), Calming Touch(0/7), Unity(0), Holy Lance(1) 0. Mending, Purify Food/Drink, Light, Stabilize 1. Prot v Evil. Prot v Chaos. Bless. Bless. Sanctuary. Shield of Faith. 2. *Shield Other. *Less Restore. Less Restore. Resist Energy. Silence 3. *Prayer. Invisibility Purge. *Ghost Weapon. *Ghost Weapon. *Ghost Weapon. 4. *Holy Smite, Freedom of Movement, *Restoration, *Dimensional Anchor.
Beatrix and Tinkerbell (Mitch) HP 64/64+8 AC 16/13/14 CMD 22 Tinkerbell HP 32/32 AC 23/15/21 Tuesday February 20th, 2024 9:13:32 AM
Beatrix reflects that could also refer to when the choas bell was rung but she's not going to get into semantics for now. "Well from what you say and what we were told about it sounds like the rift is becoming more unstable and leaking energies into the area, causing problems. You obviously can't leave here with your job, so is there anything we can gather or do to help stabilize or close the rifts?"
Jasper (Holly) HP 52/66 AC 24* /13/19 CMD 9 | CMB 7 Tuesday February 20th, 2024 2:28:42 PM
Jasper nods. "Tell us how we can help."
Isaac Harker (Justin M) HP 73/87 AC22/ T12 / FF20 Tuesday February 20th, 2024 11:38:55 PM
Isaac looks at Urist wondering what they are doing, "For now I think we can stow our weapons, But I've only heard stories about Arch-lichs." He walks closer to the Arch lich sheathing his sword, "A very angry merperson came up to the town of Heranmar a while ago and said a strange flux of magic from a ley-line destroyed a large portion of their home. We came to investigate that since they said it came from here and your Guardian didn't exactly make it easy for us to talk to you."
DM Bob and Carla - ”We’re not in Kansas” Tuesday February 20th, 2024 11:51:21 PM Snark vouches for Oswin and explains the party’s mission in plain speech. Benni catches on to what’s happening and speculates with a fair degree of accuracy on what’s been going on in and around the Abbey. He senses the archlich is genuine, and also…tired? Beatrix hits on the idea that there’s a rift or instability in the energies that’s causing the problems outside the Abbey. The elf and the gnome ask the archlich if he is able to control the disturbances…as Jasper adds her voice to those who offer assistance.
Urist-Glinda sashay’s forward a few steps along the narrow bridge, followed by Isaac, however the undead abbot holds out a skeletal hand in a stopping gesture. Advance no further, unless you wish to join me for the rest of your life and unto undeath!” There is a pause as he fixes the troubadour, and the paladin just behind her, with his glowing stare before answering the questions put to him.
”We tried to seal the breaches permanently, but failed at each attempt. My brothers and sisters and I came upon the solution of hiding the Abbey from outsiders as the only way to right the wrongs we caused with our arrogance and hubris. We consigned ourselves to the task in life and in undeath, bonding to the Abbey in order to protect the Wold and redeem ourselves. During all this time I have communed with my god, seeking guidance, and find him changed from an enforcer of Gargul and a god of testing to a god of serenity and discipline. He has bade me continue my vigil unto eternity.”
As he speaks the portal behind him bulges and thins. A large bony head with long fangs and spiral horns presses against the magical membrane, its large dark eyes taking in all who occupy the chamber and even those standing at the entrance to it. Oswin reaches down towards the abyss of swirling energy and using his body as a conduit channels a surge of energy towards at the portal, until the creature disappears and the veil assumes a benign appearance.
”This demon is most persistent. He nearly broke through a time ago, and I was compelled to draw heavily from the nexus to repel him. As I did so, I sensed a disturbance along the ley lines. You may lay the destruction of this ‘sea world’ at my feet.. His shoulders hunch momentarily, but then he straightens, bringing a boney finger up against his mouth. Thin lips pull back to show even, but darkened teeth in a horrible grin.
”There might just be a way…to seal the gateways…permanently!”
Urist-Glinda (MarkB subbing for Cayzle) Wednesday February 21st, 2024 12:24:36 AM
Urist smiles as she speaks, her moves graceful and measured so as not to step on her ball gown or muss her hair. "Oh dear Oswin, maybe we can be of some assistance. Perhaps you had the power to close these portals all along. Just click your heels together, three..."
He's interrupted by the grumpy little gnome.
Snark Riverstone (MarkB) AC17 T13 F15, CMD 14, HP 56/58 Wednesday February 21st, 2024 12:52:02 AM
Snark is becoming worried about a couple of his companions, one in particular. Though he will admit Urist has nice taste in clothes, he interrupts, waving her off from whatever she was suggesting this beleaguered lich do with his clicky little skeleton feet.
But even more concerning is Isaac's mention of the dead mummy woman. Afterall, maybe she was his undead girlfriend or something. In a hushed tone he speaks to Isaac in a secret code language, "Ix-nay on the uardian-gay. He might not ow-knay she's ead-day."
Anxious to avoid divert the conversation from the guardian that's now just a pile of bandages, he says, "Sooo, Oswin. Eternity, huh? Sucks to be you pal. You mentioned closing the portals. That seems pretty great. That'd leave eternity to, oh, I dunno, maybe pursue your hobbies? Do liches like gardening? Gardening's a nice hobby, and Jasper's got a nice one going back in Heranmar. How about healing people? Beatrix here's got both a curse and a disease. Any chance a powerful abbot-lich like yourself could heal my pal Bea?"
“Benni” AC 23/11/22 CMD 19. HP 55/ 55 Onesimos (SteveK) d20+9=17 ; Wednesday February 21st, 2024 7:41:37 AM
Onesimos waves aside Snark requesting a boon for Beatrix and follow-up the LuckMakers' general offer with more substance at the same time. "Our eyes tell us Abbot Oswin is fully engaged and it would be unwise to divert his attention to Beatrix. The insidious mummy rot will take days to consume her and we can remove the curse and disease ourselves tomorrow morning."
"Yet my friends have hit upon a solution, Your Right Reverend. As you and all your monks are confined to this Abbey, we, the living LuckMakers may move beyond the grounds to gather what you need. Tell us the way you have identified, and we can take upon that quest."
Better at understanding others than persuading them, Benni tries his best.
................. Diplomacy: 17
Active Conditions. -3 Strength (11/14) Light (StarKnife) (7/ 80m) ; Longstrider (0/ 1hr); Ghost Wpn (0.5/ 8hrs) (Isaac, Urist, Beatrix) Shield Other (0 of 8hrs) (Snark +1 AC deflect, save resist, and share hit point dam w Benni)
Channel(4/9), Good Touch(0/7), Calming Touch(0/7), Unity(0), Holy Lance(1) 0. Mending, Purify Food/Drink, Light, Stabilize 1. Prot v Evil. Prot v Chaos. Bless. Bless. Sanctuary. Shield of Faith. 2. *Shield Other. *Less Restore. Less Restore. Resist Energy. Silence 3. *Prayer. Invisibility Purge. *Ghost Weapon. *Ghost Weapon. *Ghost Weapon. 4. *Holy Smite, Freedom of Movement, *Restoration, *Dimensional Anchor.
Beatrix and Tinkerbell (Mitch) HP 64/64+8 AC 16/13/14 CMD 22 Tinkerbell HP 32/32 AC 23/15/21 d20=19 ; d20=2 ; d20=19 ; d20=4 ; d20=9 ; d20=9 ; Wednesday February 21st, 2024 8:45:45 AM
Beatrix starts a muttered conversation with her familiar pulling on all of their wide knowledge base to better understand the history being told to them, the nature of the rifts, and what they can do to help (I just rolled for every one I have, don't have to respond to any not relevant. 29 engineering, 12 geography, 29 history, 14 nature, 17 planes, and 19 religion)
Jasper (Holly) HP 52/66 AC 24* /13/19 CMD 9 | CMB 7 d20=14 ; d20=6 ; Wednesday February 21st, 2024 3:08:14 PM
Jasper's eyes widen at the sight of the demon.
She wracks her brain as she tries to recognize it (14 religion, untrained). Whatever it is, it's an ugly bugger.
She waits to hear more of Oswin's tale-- what did those old priests do, anyway?-- and what he suggests they might do to seal the portal.
Isaac Harker (Justin M) HP 73/87 AC22/ T12 / FF20 Wednesday February 21st, 2024 10:05:35 PM
Isaac asks "So there might be away to seal the portals? Anything to stop rampaging demons and rampaging merfolk out of our hair we'll try within reason. But what will happen to you once that is done?" Isaac looks at Snark and looks over at the dead Guardian "Well are you going to cover it up" he whispers to the gnome.
DM Bob and Carla - ”Let sleeping ley lines lie” Thursday February 22nd, 2024 1:11:00 AM Snark asks for a boon on behalf of Beatrix, however Onesimos more accurately understands the archlich’s dilemma, as well as the fact that the centaur’s demise is not imminent, and that a quest might be in the offing. Glinda-Urist volunteers. Isaac asks for details.
Jasper doesn’t know much about the kind of demon she saw other than that it was big…and scary. She does get the impression that when the creature fixed its gaze on the party, it committed each and every one of the heros to memory.
Beatrix puts various snippets of information gathered from her readings together. She understands ley lines to be conduits of magical energy that traverse all known corners of creation, serving the same function as veins and arteries of living creatures. She’s read that some casters can draw from ley lines to empower their magic. She does not know what would be involved in drawing power from a nexus of ley lines and Wold’s Blood, nor what risk is involved, and can only wonder at the skill level required to do so.
The undead Abbot is momentarily distracted by mention of the Gurdian. ”I know you have defeated those who have consigned themselves to keeping The Gift hidden, else you would not be here. Iliona, my partner in life, whom I raised after her death and bonded in undeath for eternity to the door, would have been the last to fall.”
Oswin continues: ”there are centuries of learning documented in our libraries. After the cataclysm, when the portals were corrupted, the most relevant documents were brought to the Chapter House as we searched for a solution. However, the danger escalated, and the sealing of the Abbey took precedence as it seemed the only way.”.
Oswin pauses, scanning the portals before continuing: ”There was a passage in a journal about an artefact - a lantern that emits powerful anti-magic. If you could find this lantern and bring it back to the Abbey, I could channel the energy of the nexus through it. That might permanently seal these gateways, and finally release all who protect the Gift to eternal rest! Look in the Chapter House for the journal of Brother Corbin. Everything we know about this artefact and its whereabouts is in this journal!”
Beatrix and Tinkerbell (Mitch) HP 64/64+8 AC 16/13/14 CMD 22 Tinkerbell HP 32/32 AC 23/15/21 Thursday February 22nd, 2024 8:12:59 AM
An epic hunt for an ancient artifact to seal away portals of doom? This sounds thrilling! And also time consuming. Dang it she has a job to do, and she doesn't want kids parent's freaking out over the teacher running off on dangerous adventures. Or worse kids trying to emulate her and run off on dangerous adventures. She'll have to find some kind of excuse if she's going to help with this. Hrm.
“Benni” AC 23/11/22 CMD 19. HP 55/ 55 Onesimos (SteveK) Thursday February 22nd, 2024 9:37:54 AM "Right", states Onesimos, that's all he needs to recommend to the LuckMakers to make their way back out (shutting the doors and keeping the keys as they go) until they are back in the Great Library.
Here, he pauses, looking to Jasper to use her knowledge of nature to gauge how much time has passed, and how much time they have to search for the Journal of Brother Corbin before having to rest for the night. That rest is very important for Benni, because that is the key to gaining the spells needed to free Beatrix from the insidious mummy rot!
................. Active Conditions. -3 Strength (11/14) Light (StarKnife) (7/ 80m) ; Longstrider (0/ 1hr); Ghost Wpn (0.5/ 8hrs) (Isaac, Urist, Beatrix) Shield Other (0 of 8hrs) (Snark +1 AC deflect, save resist, and share hit point dam w Benni)
Channel(4/9), Good Touch(0/7), Calming Touch(0/7), Unity(0), Holy Lance(1) 0. Mending, Purify Food/Drink, Light, Stabilize 1. Prot v Evil. Prot v Chaos. Bless. Bless. Sanctuary. Shield of Faith. 2. *Shield Other. *Less Restore. Less Restore. Resist Energy. Silence 3. *Prayer. Invisibility Purge. *Ghost Weapon. *Ghost Weapon. *Ghost Weapon. 4. *Holy Smite, Freedom of Movement, *Restoration, *Dimensional Anchor.
Snark Riverstone (MarkB) AC17 T13 F15, CMD 14, HP 56/58 Thursday February 22nd, 2024 1:24:29 PM
Snark is glad that's out now! He glances down at the pile of bandages as he replies to Oswin. "Yeah, sorry about Iliona. We didn't know she was anyone's girlfriend. The rest of her little Mummy group might be gone to, now that we're talking about it."
"So, we got a lamp to find. To the Chapter House!"
Snark is still flying, so those stupid human-sized stairs will be a little easier for him to ascend. He goes up with his friends.
Once back in the Chapter House, Snark will pull his little bat Luna out of his pocket. "Luna, we're looking for a book. It's a journal written by some guy named Corbin. Be an extra set of eye's for us as we look around, OK?"
Snark provides light as we carefully search the Chapter House.
We don't seem to be time limited, so he will take 20 as we all search, resulting in a Perception check of 20+16=36.
Urist-Glinda (MarkB subbing for Cayzle) Thursday February 22nd, 2024 1:29:38 PM
Urist turns to go, the hoops on her large pink ball gown swishing as she goes.
Back up to the Chapter House. She hums to herself, recalling an old song as she has to find a passage back to the place she was before.
Jasper (Holly) HP 52/66 AC 24* /13/19 CMD 9 | CMB 7 d20+10=29 ; d20+21=29 ; Thursday February 22nd, 2024 2:09:34 PM
Rest is essential. Jasper has few spells left.
With one last worried glance at Oswin and the all-too-watchful demon, she follows her friends up and out of the crypt.
When the Luck Makers arrive at the Chapter House, she glances out the windows to gauge the position of the sun (or the moon, as the case may be) to gauge the time. (Nature 29)
Then, she starts searching for the journal. (Perception 29)
Isaac Harker (Justin M) HP 73/87 AC22/ T12 / FF20 d20+5=18 ; Thursday February 22nd, 2024 11:46:44 PM
"Thank you for helping us we'll return hopefully with the book." Isaac follows the others to the Chapter house. He starts looking around for the journal the abbot mentioned he looks around for any sort of sorting reference that could help them. Perception 15 Ooc:would they have a Dewey decimal system?
DM Bob and Carla - ”Let sleeping ley lines lie” Friday February 23rd, 2024 1:08:43 AM
Having learned of a way to possibly resolve several problems at once, the party agrees to take on the quest proposed by the archlich. Oswin seems reinvigorated by the prospect that his indenture may come to an end. ”My vigil continues, but you give me hope that one day my penance will be ended and I can rest.”
The party depart the chamber once known by the Abbey community as Kevintar’s Gift, but now containing the corrupted portals, and reposition the door across the opening. They make their way down the hallway past the tattered remains of the Guardian and her minions, then up the stairwell to the catacombs where some of the party fought the Crypt Thing. At the end of the corridor is another stairwell leading up through the floor of the Chapter House. Once everyone is through, the mechanism to close the opening is tripped.
As the Luck Makers fan out through the room looking for the journal described by the Abbot, Onesimos frets about how much time has passed since the party entered the Abbey. Time seems to work strangely in this place, and Jasper finds it hard to gauge what she sees overhead. However, it’s not full dark. Her best guess is that they’re missing supper.
Snark sends Luna aloft to act as lookout while he searches the shelves under the large stained glass window at one end of the Chapter house. Urist-Glinda holds her wand aloft, the star at it’s end glowing brightly as she hums a tune. Isaac hopes there is some sort of order to the books ranged along the walls. Beatrix wonders how she’s going to reconcile the life of an adventurer with that of a school teacher.
A thorough search of the Chapter House results in the party locating a leather bound journal compiled by one Brother Corbin Parff, as well as 4 scrolls* and a locked chest.
*Restoration (800 GP), Speak with Dead (375 GP), Locate Object (375 GP), Hallow (1125 GP)
“Benni” AC 23/11/22 CMD 19. HP 55/ 55 Onesimos (SteveK) d6=1 ; d6=3 ; d6=4 ; d6=1 ; d4=3 ; Friday February 23rd, 2024 7:08:25 AM
Onesimos listens to Jasper as they find what they can find in the Chapter House. "I propose we camp here for the night. Eat, rest, and take care of Beatrix in the morning, before the insidious mummy rot has 24 hours to set in. Between, guidance, prayer, and inspired courage, I think multiple chances of my spells to remove curse and then Isaac's ability to remove disease, we can save our dear aggressive librarian." (the last said with a fondness for the centaur).
The cleric would like to hold onto the four scrolls, if no one objects, at least until they have finished their quest. The journal, he leaves to those better suited to knowledge, linguistics, and paper-puzzles.
After dinner but before resting, Benni spends more energy that will be renewed tomorrow anyways. - Channel Energy (9 healing to all LuckMakers) - Lesser Restoration (Benni gets 3 strength back)
................. Active Conditions.
Morning New Spell List Channel(0/9), Good Touch(0/7), Calming Touch(0/7), Unity(1), Holy Lance(1) 0: Mending, Purify Food/Drink, Light, Stabilize 1: Prot v Evil, Prot v Chaos, Bless, Bless, Sanctuary, Shield of Faith 2: Shield Other, Less Restore, Less Restore, Resist Energy, Silence 3: Prayer, Ghost Weapon, Remove Cursex3 4: Holy Smite, Open Slotx3 (pending if they are able to get the rot removed on the first go-around
Beatrix and Tinkerbell (Mitch) HP 64/64+8 AC 16/13/14 CMD 22 Tinkerbell HP 32/32 AC 23/15/21 Friday February 23rd, 2024 7:30:33 AM
Now that they're back outside and she's realized how late it is Beatrix is suddenly exhausted. She helps the others grab what they're taking home with them and is ready to hurry home.
Jasper (Holly) HP 66/66 AC 21 /13/19 CMD 9 | CMB 7 Friday February 23rd, 2024 1:39:18 PM
Jasper shares what provisions she has with her and makes a little nest to sleep.
Urist-Glinda (MarkB subbing for Cayzle) Friday February 23rd, 2024 6:36:11 PM
Urist-Glinda looks serenely at her companions. She smiles as she says in a lilting voice, "This seems a nice place to rest. And any good witch with a dwarven heart knows a rest goes better with ale."
She pulls out a keg of ale, offering to share it with her friends. She also pulls out some trail rations, offering some to any that didn't think to bring food.
Snark Riverstone (MarkB) AC17 T13 F15, CMD 14, HP 56/58 Friday February 23rd, 2024 6:49:47 PM
Snark is pleased with Benni's suggestion that the party rest here. He will cast Unseen Servant, extending the duration with a rod (16 hours). He'll set the Unseen Servant to cleaning up the place while we rest.
He pulls out his own trail rations to eat
"I can share these too, but they're kinda small and might not be a good meal for you bigguns."
"Oh wait! I got something to share! It'll go well with Urist's beer."
With that he pulls out a couple of pounds of cheese, cured sausage, nuts, and dried fruit. And a gnome sized tankard for some of the ale.
After a meal, the little gnome will examine the small chest at the other end of the Chapter House if something blows up.
He examines the chest carefully, trying to see if it has any traps or mechanisms that may be problematic (take 10 for Perception 26.)
Then he Detects Magic on it, and if the chest itself is enchanted, he tries to identify the magic (take 10 for Spellcraft 30.)
Assuming he does not find anything in his examinations that seems dangerous, he will try to open it. If it's locked, he'll search around for a key. If there is no key and it still locked, he'll work with his friends to force/pry the lock open. And if there any contents of the chest, his work with Detect Magic will again result in Spellcraft 30 to identify any magic items.
DM Bob and Carla - ”There’s no place like home…” Secret DM roll d10=9 Sunday February 25th, 2024 10:17:11 PM
The distance between the Abbey and the gates of Heranmar can be covered in 1-1 1/2 hours, and the Luck Makers are no strangers to the route, having even navigated it at night, however, weary from their travails in the crypts under the Haunted Abbey they decide to pause for a while.
It just so happens that the Chapter House, the chosen locale for their impromptu picnic is one of the few ‘safe’ buildings within the compound. No undead spirits will disturb their repose in this building.
Onesimos puts in a request for the recently discovered scrolls, and does what he can to heal the hurts of those who have been injured, as well as looking after himself. He reassures Beatrix that her recovery is a priority he and the paladin will tend to on the morrow. As the adrenaline coursing through her system recedes, the centaur gets a better idea of the toll the insidious mummy rot has taken on her system.
Jasper, Snark and Urist-Glinda dig around in packs and magical compartments and are able to supplement standard trail rations with ale, cheese, sausage, and a mix of nuts and fruits - providing a substantial pic-nic for themselves and their friends. The mage’s invisible minion silently sets to cleaning the place, his position identifiable by the cloud of dust it raises.
After the meal, the gnome works over the locked chest. There’s nothing magical about it, but it is bound by a stout lock for which he is unable to source a key. A knock spell, or a few good bashes with a heavy weapon should bust it open and spill the contents - nothing ‘magical’ per se - but a small fortune in gold and gems (value 20,000 GP.)
Meanwhile Brother Corbin’s journal sits where the finders left it.
Beatrix and Tinkerbell (Mitch) HP 64/64+8 AC 16/13/14 CMD 22 Tinkerbell HP 32/32 AC 23/15/21 Monday February 26th, 2024 7:08:07 AM
Beatrix has no interest in the loot. She eats something leaning against a wall and soon dozes off.
“Benni” AC 23/11/22 CMD 19. HP 55/ 55 Onesimos (SteveK) d20+17=23 ; d20+8=21 ; Monday February 26th, 2024 9:33:14 AM
Onesimos is willing to share what he has, but it is limited to preserved rations that can fuel a body but not the tongue. He ensures the watch is set, and sleeps well.
In the morning, he breaks his fast, conducts his morning ablutions and meditations (ooc: adjusted spell list), and is ready to heal Beatrix. With the curse portion already lifted (ooc: DM Post Feb 18), Benni prapares. "Urist, will you inpire us with song?" As soon as the troubador begins, Benni provides his own Touch of Goodness on himself, and then casts Remove Disease on Beatrix.
Once the disease is lifted, it is a simple matter to cast Restoration to fully restore the noble Centaur.
The elf then gets Brother Corbin's Journal and begins reading aloud so Snark, Beatrix, Jasper, Isaac, and Urist can all hear when they find anything useful about "lantern", or "artifact", or "anti-magic"
And (per DM hint in email), he is ready to have a long study of it once back at Heranmar.
................. Active Conditions. Inspire Competence (Urist) +2 competence bonus Touch of Good (Benni) +7 sacred bonus Remove Disease (d20+8lvl+2comp+7sacred) vs DC 20 = 23 success (barely) (ooc: second roll at +8 is if competence and sacred bonuses don't apply and Benni has to cast again)
Morning New Spell List Channel(0/9), Good Touch(1/7), Calming Touch(0/7), Unity(1), Holy Lance(1) 0: Mending, Purify Food/Drink, Light, Stabilize 1: Prot v Evil, Prot v Chaos, Bless, Bless, Sanctuary, Shield of Faith 2: Shield Other, Less Restore, Less Restore, Resist Energy, Silence 3: Prayer, Ghost Weapon, *Remove Disease(2), Open Slot(1) 4: Holy Smite, *Restoration, Open Slot(2)
Jasper (Holly) HP 66/66 AC 21 /13/19 CMD 9 | CMB 7 Monday February 26th, 2024 4:46:48 PM
Jasper breaks camp and prepares for the walk back to town. As she putters, her thoughts drift to the the souls bound to the Abbey. She hopes she can help ease their burden.
She mulls over what she might craft and purchase.
Snark Riverstone (MarkB) AC17 T13 F15, CMD 14, HP 56/58 Monday February 26th, 2024 9:07:04 PM
Snark is glad to have an uneventful night. In the morning, he will listen to Benni reading from the journal for a bit, but is anxious to get back to town. And good food and a bed. He figures we can sort out the journal is more comfort, and the gnome is all about comfort.
As such, he conjures a mount for the short journey home. His little legs have a hard time keeping up.
Glinda (AC18, HP65? of 72) (Cayzle) d20+20=38 ; d20+1=16 ; Monday February 26th, 2024 9:46:25 PM
Glinda daintily nibbles at the picnic and gazes at the treasures wisely.
"Of course, it is not the gold that you put in your pocket that matters, but the friends you make along the way."
She bows in answer to the request for a song. "Reverend Benni, I would be pleased."
She takes out her mandolin and plays a lovely melody. Perform Strings 38
Then she adds lyrics to the tune:
You're out of the woods, You're out of the dark, You're out of the night. Step into the sun, Step into the light. Keep straight ahead for the most glorious place On the Face of the Earth or the Sky.
But her voice is, alas, less lovely. Perform Song 16
DM Bob and Carla - ”There’s no place like home…” Tuesday February 27th, 2024 12:15:00 AM
Bellies full, and curiosity regarding the contents of the chest satisfied, folks bed down for the night on the cold stone floor of the Abbey Chapter House. Night passes uneventfully for the watches.
In the morning, Onesimos makes it his priority to do everything possible to heal Beatrix before the insidious mummy rot has an opportunity to progress further. He asks the troubadour for a song and Urist-Glinda complies, strumming expertly on her mandolin and singing a song to support the cleric and the ailing centaur. The disease is a challenge for the cleric, however, by the grace of Flower, the disease is removed and Beatrix’s health restored.
Jasper packs up, sparing a thought for the unfortunate souls bound to the Abbey. She and Snark listen as Onesimos reads a few passages aloud from Brother Corbin’s journal. It sounds like the brother was making frequent trips through one of the portals, his destination the Shadowlands, where the living could yet mix with the dead as those waiting to be taken to the afterlife, or possibly trying to avoid crossing over, wandered the shores of the River of Souls. The entries seem to be histories or life stories as told by those he encountered. The group rightly surmise it will take some time to work through the journal in order to find the information they seek.
Gear packed, the party make their way through the rest of the Abbey, locking up as they go. Once over the boundary wall, they are greeted by early mornings’s rosy light. The passage home is straightforward, though the melting snow makes the road muddy. Snark meanwhile is high and dry atop his conjured mount.
Snark Riverstone (MarkB) AC17 T13 F15, CMD 14, HP 56/58 Tuesday February 27th, 2024 1:50:41 AM
Snark trots along on his conjured pony. As he goes, he's really looking forward to being back in his room and sleeping in his bed. A real bed.
He'd like to get the treasure we found passed out, and he has a few things to attend to in order to be ready for finding this magic lamp.
"Hey Benni - did you get to the part in that journal about the magic lamp yet? Do you think there'll be a genie in it? I'd like to meet a genie. Maybe we'll get some wishes. I think I'd wish to know what happened to my dad. Did you guys know he was a member of the WLA?"
Beatrix and Tinkerbell (Mitch) HP 64/64+8 AC 16/13/14 CMD 22 Tinkerbell HP 32/32 AC 23/15/21 Tuesday February 27th, 2024 5:07:48 AM
Beatrix had expected the party to return to town and sleep in actual beds and not intended to doze off while they took a short food break. So she is surprised and a bit cranky when she wakes up 8 hours later to find that no one woke her up from her incredibly uncomfortable sleeping position. Still she's over it by the time they get back to town and thanks the pair who heal her graciously.
“Benni” AC 23/11/22 CMD 19. HP 55/ 55 Onesimos (SteveK) Tuesday February 27th, 2024 7:21:59 AM
Onesimos chides Beatrix good-naturedly as they walk back through the slush of the morning. "Well, we couldn't have you turning into a pile of sand, now, could we? Although I suppose we could have made a nice box for your children to play in. We could have called it Beatrix' Beach." For the centaur being grumpy, the elf shrugs it off: she must have been very tired when the LuckMakers decided that last night before they all went to sleep...
The cleric hands to Snark the Hallow and Locate Object scrolls for taking to the Catacombs, but wants to keep the Speak with Dead and Restoration scrolls for future possibilities. "I think one step at a time, Snark. This Brother Corbin travelled the Shadowlands, and I am concerned finding this lantern is not going to be the work of a day, or even months. I wonder if we shouldn't tell Nyana, the Oceanid of our progress: would it mollify her or only make her more angry?" Benni thinks, once home and warmed, he may cast a Divination to see if there is an inspiration one way or another.
............ Plan: Get back to LuckMakers House. Get cleaned, warmed, fed. Meditate for an open slot to be a Divination spell. Use the conch to cast Divination.
"Will it benefit Heranmar if I summon Nyana and tell her of our progress to fix the ley lines?" Highlight to display spoiler: { a divination spell can provide you with a useful piece of advice in reply to a question concerning a specific goal, event, or activity that is to occur within 1 week. The advice granted by the spell can be as simple as a short phrase, or it might take the form of a cryptic rhyme or omen. If your party doesn't act on the information, the conditions may change so that the information is no longer useful. The base chance for a correct divination is 70% + 1% per caster level, to a maximum of 90%. If the die roll fails, you know the spell failed, unless specific magic yielding false information is at work.}
Jasper (Holly) HP 66/66 AC 21 /13/19 CMD 9 | CMB 7 Tuesday February 27th, 2024 3:35:26 PM
Jasper is very curious about the results of the Divination spell. Nyana is... unpredictable.
Glinda (AC18, HP65? of 72) (Cayzle) d20+20=31 ; d20+26=44 ; Tuesday February 27th, 2024 9:36:30 PM
Glinda says her farewells. "It is time for me to return to my castle in that merry old land. It has been a lovely time! I shall restore my friend Urist to you as well."
Glinda waves her wand and gestures to the side. Highlight to display spoiler: {Creating a Distraction using Bluff, rolled a 31}
While folks are (hopefully) distracted, she disappears in a puff of smoke! Highlight to display spoiler: {Draws and drops a smoke stick, casts invisibility before the smoke dissipates}
Then Urist steps out from behind some tree trunk or rock or bush. Highlight to display spoiler: {Drops disguise, moves, drops invis, reveals self. Stealth 44}
"Hi everybody!" says Urist. "You all miss me? I know you missed all my jokes -- the ones that brought down the house, right? I tried those back in Glinda's home, but nobody much appreciated them!"
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