Douena Trestleben |
Douena settles down eagerly to watch the ritual. "Are you asleep yet, Makoa?" she whispers loudly. "I think Mahjik's asleep. Are you asleep, Mahjik? Why aren't you asleep yet? Hurry and go to sleep. I want to see what they do to you. Sometimes I watch you sleep when I'm on watch. Did you know you snore, Makoa? Do I snore? Why aren't you answering me? Are you asleep?"
Navior |
The last thing we need right now is Makoa doubting himself because his totem spirit is a rabbit or something.
Well, it won't be a rabbit, as an 8 is a reptile of some sort. There are four on the list. Let's find out which one: 1d4 ⇒ 1. Crocodile.
Mahjik and Makoa lie down and let sleep come over them. Once they have fallen asleep, Alala, Osumare, and Masozi begin to dance around them, chanting as they do so. It's a repetitive dance, not too exerting, so as not to tire the women out too much over the lengthy period of time they must continue it. From the vantage of those of you still awake, nothing really seems happen, at least not for ages.
Pezock grows quickly bored, and eventually most of the others do, too. They begin to set up camp to sleep for the night while the three Zenj women continue to dance on.
Who's staying awake for the length of the ceremony?
After a moment, you realize that your own bodies have changed. Mahjik looks down and discovers that he is the monkey. Makoa can't actually look down, but he can see that he has a long crocodile-like snout and he seems to be lying flat on the grass.
Douena Trestleben |
Considering the reason most of us aren't participating is because we don't actually trust the women, we ought at least to set a rotating watch if no one character is observing the whole time. Does it take a whole 8 hours? I can't decide if Douena would find it interesting because it has to do with dreams or get bored really quickly because nothing seems to be happening....
Mahjik the Flink |
Douena would probably ask Osumare "is it working?" every 2 minutes.
Navior |
Considering the reason most of us aren't participating is because we don't actually trust the women, we ought at least to set a rotating watch if no one character is observing the whole time. Does it take a whole 8 hours? I can't decide if Douena would find it interesting because it has to do with dreams or get bored really quickly because nothing seems to be happening....
It doesn't take the whole night, just a significant portion of it (about 3 and a half hours or so). I get the impression Douena would start out really interested, but soon get bored. :)
Douena Trestleben |
Probably, and then feel cheated that she missed seeing anything that actually happened. She has to commune with Desna at dusk anyway. She can come check in after that, get frustrated that nothing's happened yet, and go on to sleep. Still want to make sure someone's watching the process at all times, just to protect Mahjik and Makoa (like we'd be able to tell from the outside if they were being dominated or programmed or whatever anyway, but it seems like due diligence).
Makoa Wolf'sKin |
"I am Makoa. I admit this totem us unexpected for me." He hisses, curving to look back as his form. "I'm guessing crocodile or alligator."
Navior |
"I don't think it's working," Douena tells the spirit dancers. "They're just lying there."
The dancers merely smile at Douena in between chanting.
"They did say it would take several hours," Shokambe says to her. "Perhaps you get some sleep."
"Welcome," it says. "I've been expecting you."
Navior |
For those watching the proceedings, they start to get quite boring. You make sure there are people on watch at all times, but otherwise also turn to catch some sleep of your own.
There's a hesitation before the serpent answers and then it's words are too emphatic. You don't believe this serpent is one of the young women.
Douena wakes up instantly, but knows that she (and perhaps others) needs to enter the dream ritual to prevent what she's seen from happening.
Douena Trestleben |
See? Desna's much more efficient.
Douena has hardly closed her eyes when she bolts back upright again. "Quick! Quick! Wake them up again! They're in danger!" She scowls at the spirit dancers. "What are you doing to them? Why are you working with the vampire-snake people?"
Mahjik the Flink |
Well... she is a goddess.
Sense Motive 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Mahjik vaults onto Makao's head, posing from atop in a stance known as monkey steals grapes. "Wise snake would do well to run and hide, for nobody has bested our combined forms!"
Yes. Yes I can feel it. This is definitely Mahjik's spirit animal.
Navior |
Jask hurries over to the side of Mahjik and Makoa. "Is it safe to wake them?"
The dancers glance back and forth at each other as if trying to decide what to do. Finally, Osumare steps out of the dance, while Alala and Masozi continue. "They will be learning of their spirit forms now and meeting their spirit guides. You must not interrupt." She looks over to Douena. "What vampire-snake people? We are not working with any vampire-snake people."
There will be combat at this point. We just need to wait briefly for a couple actions in the waking world before proceeding...
Douena Trestleben |
Navior |
Osumare looks confused and almost panicky, and the other two start to falter in their dance. "I don't know what you're talking about," she says to Douena. "We haven't lied to you. If you wake them, you will break their connection to the spirit world. It shouldn't harm them, but it may make them unable to make contact with their spirit guides in the future."
Navior |
As Urza tries to wake Makoa, Jask tries to wake Mahjik. Unfortunately, neither individual stirs from his sleep.
Osumare leans in. "But that..." she starts, but trails off, her face lowering.
Alala and Masozi stumble to a stop.
"What has happened?" Jask demands of them.
"If they will not wake, then something is holding them in there," Alala responds.
"This is not our doing," Osumare says softly. "It really isn't. But you have no reason to believe us."
"Someone should probably go in to help them," Alala continues. "With luck, they may be able to free themselves, but we can't rely on that. If you wish it, I will go in to help them. Or we can send some of you in to help them instead. At least two of us must maintain the dance though."
Urza Sha'rahad |
"Ok, Tarkanas, Douena, Ishirou, and Pezock, and myself will join as well. The rest of you watch over us. Jask, keep a close watch over those women. If they do anything you find questionable, kill them and wake us. Do not, for any reason, undergo their ritual."
FYI- I chose the PCs (obviously) plus fighter support (Ishirou) and Pezock (he was probably getting twitchy just waiting and I want to see what his spirit animal will be. Probably and elephant.)
Navior |
Alala nods. "Lie down beside them and relax. We will resume the dance."
Pezock grumbles as Ishirou and Jask try to coax him to join in. "I don't trust them," he growls.
"We have no choice but to trust them," Jask says. "Mahjik and Makoa need our help."
Pezock glares at the three dancers and sighs. He points at Mahjik. "I don't do this for him." He then points at Makoa. "I do it for him because he is not a coward." He sits down cautiously on the ground, looking furtively about at the three dancers. Slowly, he lowers himself until he's lying on his back.
Ishirou lies down beside Pezock, and the rest of you lie down as well.
Jask leans over Douena and says quietly, "Don't worry. We'll watch them."
Okay, I need spirit animal choices from each of you or you can choose to roll a d10.
Urza Sha'rahad |
Some form of canine: 1d3
Wild dog.
That's why Makoa likes me so much. We're virtually opposites. He should have been a canine (wolf druid) and I should have been a reptile (dragon sorcerer)
Navior |
Once you are all in place, Alala, Masozi, and Osumare begin their dance again and sleep overtakes you quickly. You find yourselves standing in tall grasses, a bubbling stream nearby. The sky is blue and cloudless, and also sunless, yet somehow it is light out. By the stream, you see a giant serpent leering up over a crocodile with a monkey standing on its head.
You also notice that you have all taken on the forms of animals. Only Untari appears to be her normal self. Between you all, there is a lion, an owl, a dog, a rhinoceros, and a rat.
The serpent hisses in irritation at your arrival.
For the encounter, you have all your regular abilities despite being in an animal shape. Regardless of the size of the animal you are, mechanically, you still count as your regular size and so that is the size of the tokens, even though Tar'kanas the lion looks much, much bigger than Pezock the rat (it's dream logic). You move as your animal would move, but at your regular speed. For Douena, she can fly at her normal ground speed (no Fly checks necessary unless she wants to do some aerial acrobatics, in which case she can substitute her Acrobatics skill).
You can cast spells and use special abilities as normal. Same with attacks. Feel free to change the visual description of your actions to fit with the odd dream-logic of the world you're in, even though mechanical effects are unchanged. For example, an attack with a ranged weapon could look like you growing an extra-long limb to swipe at the enemy with or a load roar that knocks the enemy senseless. If you don't include a visual description of your own, I'll add one for you. :)
For Mahjik standing on top of Makoa, this is fine as a visual description, even though he's occupying a separate square on the map. Crocodiles are normally Large creatures, but mechanically, Makoa remains a Medium creature, so as long as Mahjik is adjacent to Makoa, you can say he's standing on Makoa. :)
Douena Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Mahjik Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Makoa Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Tar’kanas Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Urza Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Untari Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Ishirou Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Pezock Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Ieana Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Order: Urza, Makoa, Ishirou, Mahjik, Untari, Tar'kanas, Pezock, Ieana, Douena.
ROUND 1
CURRENT EFFECTS:
None.
First Up: Urza
Urza Sha'rahad |
Urza-dog bounds over to D6. His barking causes the giant snake monster to burn with fear and rage.
Scorching Ray: RTouch
to hit 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 damage 4d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 1) + 6 = 14
Makoa Wolf'sKin |
Hissing his fury, Makoa wastes no time charging right up to the dream-snake and trying to bite through flesh and scale.
Charge to H-12, starting rage(assuming thus counts as the same 'day' it's the third rage round used), Power Attack.
Raging Power Bite, Charge: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 2 + 2 = 25
1d4 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 6 = 16
Navior |
Charge to H-12, starting rage(assuming thus counts as the same 'day' it's the third rage round used), Power Attack.
Yes, this counts as the same 'day'.
The snake burns from Urza's bark, bubbling welts forming on her skin. Makoa charges forward, moving incredibly agilely for a crocodile, but unfortunately causing Mahjik to fall off. The monkey lands on his feet, though, ready to fight. Makoa's teeth sink into the snake's flesh.
Rhinoceros Ishirou charges forward as well (to F 10), lowering his head to gore with his horn.
Ishirou katana at Ieana, charge: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 = 14 -- miss
Unfortunately, he missteps on a muddy patch of ground and the serpent slithers to the side.
Next Up: Untari, Tar'kanas, Pezock, Ieana, Douena, Urza, Makoa, Ishirou.
Mahjik the Flink |
Are you using Mahjik's flavor text as his action for the round, or does he simply cease to exist (in the initiative order) in a puff of dream logic?
I'll assume he's just missing.
Swift: mantis style
Move: G13
Mahjik scampers after Makoa culminating in a cartwheel attack on the snake.
Attack, Stunning Fist DC 18 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 2 = 20 damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Navior |
Oops! Sorry about that. I'm not sure how I missed him, but I totally did.
Ieana Fortitude: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 -- fail
Mahjik rolls into place and hits the snake with what looks like just a small, feeble monkey paw, but it has a big effect. The snake almost loses her balance and is stunned.
Next Up: Untari, Tar'kanas, Pezock, Ieana (stunned), Douena, Urza, Makoa, Ishirou, Mahjik.