Troxell Lanathar |
"Ah, it now makes more sense. Auchs..., my apologies Myhm, I mean Brue, may have detected a ley line flowing through here which would have garnered his attention." Troxell surmises from the information Teena relates to the group, "I made his acquaintance due to his ability to detect such things. There are also large footprints leading up to the tower, probably him."
The druid points to the disturbed earth again, "My guess is that the dirt is obscuring a trapdoor leading down. Can you detect any magical auras in the vicinity, Teena?"
DM Rah |
Teena detects powerful magic in the area - the script on the walls, something in the air above, and something else in the center of the chamber.
Spellcraft and Knoweldge Arcana rolls please.
As you reach the center of the chamber you can almost feel the hairs on your arms standing on end. Troxell's talk of Brue's abilities reminds you of some things Brue said to you after you were reunited. One thing in particular was about finding "warm fuzzies" in the forest. He also said that you could learn to find them too.
Looking down you notice something in the rubble - A small carved wood horse and rider. It is one from a set of toys Brue always carries with him.
The script on the walls looks familiar to you. You have seen it before on a strange picture book owned by Irovetti, Commander of the Company of the Star.
Xerexis |
Xerexis does his best to get himself under control, he shakes his head in weary resolve.
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 - 2 = 24
Survival: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 2 = 22
"I have seen this script before, but I do not know what it means."
He loads reloads his firearm and slings it before proceeding.
DM Rah |
The pieces of the magical puzzle slowly becomes clear to Teena. The magic above seems to be a sort of daylight spell, and seems unconnected to the magics around the base.
The tower was constructed to focus magical energy intersecting between two planes of existence - the Prime and First World. The script around the walls are the key to a ritual that will open a portal, a fragment of which remains in the center of the chamber like the seam of a double-door. There is a residual aura that indicates it was activated recently.
Your knowledge of the Sylven language allows you to read about half of the words scribed on the walls:
'Twas (something), and the (something) (something)
Did (something) and (something) in the (something)
All (something) were the borogoves,
And the (something).
"Beware the (something), my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the (something) bird, and shun
The (something) (something)!"
He took his (something) sword in hand:
Long time the (something) foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in (something) thought he stood,
The (something), with eyes of flame,
Came (something) through the tulgey wood,
And (something) as it came!
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The (something) blade went (something)!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went (something) back.
"And hast thou slain the (something)?
Come to my arms, my (something) boy!
O (something) day! (something)! (something)!"
He chortled in his joy.
The vegetation within the tower seems stunted. You suspect some kind of magic is preventing it from over growing the structure.
Asp, your knowledge of the Sylven language allows you to read about half of the words scribed on the walls:
'Twas (something), and the (something) (something)
Did (something) and (something) in the (something)
All (something) were the (something),
And the (something).
"Beware the (something), my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the (something) bird, and shun
The (something) Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the (something) foe he sought—
So rested he by the (something) tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in (something) thought he stood,
The (something), with eyes of flame,
Came (something) through the (something) wood,
And (something) as it came!
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went (something)!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went (something) back.
"And hast thou slain the (something)?
Come to my arms, my (something) boy!
O (something) day! (something)! (something)!"
He chortled in his joy.
Troxell Lanathar |
Troxell frowns slightly as he begins to read some of the script written on the wall. "Apparently, these Fae fancy themselves poets. Let me read to you what I can make out in Sylvan..."
Feel free to look under my spoiler. Also, as a side note, I think we're about to go through the looking glass.
Myhm |
Myhm stands at the center looking around giggling slightly, like being tickled by little fingers, "Nice here... -Hmm, this is Brue's", he bends down and plucks something out of the ground debris. He holds it up and shows the others a small carved wood horse and rider. "But no more?", he squats down looking for anything else, "Brue had more horses." Myhm sniffs the figurine, as if to determine some smell of direction or foulplay.
Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
Then for reasons that sounds more like a purposeful calling rather than a animalistic rutting, Mhym howls towards the roofless tower with a deep bellow "AaahOooooooo!", repeating a few times.
Teena Akaash |
Teena tells the others about what she could make out about the strong magic here. "Well, it looks like Brue went through here, somehow. We need to figure out how to activate the portal, if we are to locate him."
Troxell Lanathar |
"Although I would like to find Brue, if he went into the First World, I am not sure it's wise to follow. If the rest of you are certain, then I will continue with you, but I can't promise anyone's safety or sanity." The druid warns sternly.
While he waits for a response, he thinks out loud about opening the portal, "The poem is the key, but I have no idea how to make out those strange words unless someone has a method of magical translation. I also wonder if that toy horse doesn't have some purpose in this."
Teena Akaash |
Teena looks at the toy, to see if it was magical as well. The fragment of the portal that remained ate at her...could she open it somehow? She approached the little portal and tried to enter it, seeing what would happen.
DM Rah |
Troxell, the horse is nonmagical. Examining it does not reveal any secrets to its purpose. It just seems like a crude toy. Myhm can reveal that Brue has had it for quite some time (possibly years).
Teena, the portal is not open at the moment. Myhm is standing right where the opening would be, actually. I'm going to give Xerexis some time to return and post, rather then npc this part, but I can give you another piece to the poem.
Mikmik watches as Troxell goes over the script on the wall, trying to piece it together. "That word is mite-speak. Said like brillig. This here is slithy toves. The kobold continues around the wall, picking out other words. "Gyre. Gimble. Wabe. Mimsy. Mome..."
When done, the script is as follows:
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious (something)!
He took his (something) sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The (something) blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
He chortled in his joy.
Troxell Lanathar |
"It still sounds like gibberish to me." Troxell grumbles as Mikmik adds more words to the poem. "What a Jabberwock?"
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Xerexis |
Xerexis mulls over the poem with Troxell in an attempt to bring greater light to the situation.
Know Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Myhm |
As the others discuss some cryptic subject, Myhm had been looking over Teena's shoulder. He suddenly twists around and tries to focus at something just beyond the edge of his senses. Frowning with shifty eyes, he gazes around the inner walls.
Did the tower used to have other floors? What is the climb DC to reach top?
Troxell Lanathar |
"The poem mentions something about a Tumtum tree and a sword. Do we have anything like that in the vicinity?" Troxell ponders and looks around the area again for any corresponding objects from the poem.
Xerexis |
The only blade that so cleanly decapitates is a Vorpal one.
We are going to need a sharper sword.
Teena Akaash |
"Sounds like gibberish to me. If we can't find the answers here in the tower, I suggest we take a walk abound this whole area and see if there is anything that might match the description given."
Teena Akaash |
"Ah, have we considered, just saying the words out loud? That might be worth a trial before we have to go outside and cut through all that shrubbery. Mikmik, do you think you could recite the whole poem? That might open things up for us."
Troxell Lanathar |
"It's worth a try." Troxell agrees, "If Mikmik is not willing, I'll recite it. I have some minor resistance to the powers of the fey."
DM Rah |
Mikmik does not speak Sylven, and is not really comfortable reciting it. He also points out that it seems one symbol is yet untranslated.
"Mikmik thinks it might mean Bander, which is name of nearby mountains. Not sure though."
Was waiting on a post, then realized you guys are probably waiting on me. Sorry about that. Whoever decides to read it please copy the completed poem.
Also, is Myhm climbing?
Troxell Lanathar |
Troxell recites the poem, filling in the words he doesn't know from what was suggested by Mikmik and Xerexis. "Ahem..."
"Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bander patch?!
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
He chortled in his joy."
DM Rah |
Nothing seems to happen.
Myhm |
Myhm approached the wall, reaching out to feel cobble and considered climbing to the top to get a look around the area. Then Troxell begins reciting the poem, the sound of which draws him back in with a sense of comfort. Somehow half way through the poem, Troxell seem to not sound the same, and Myhm comments with a frown, "First part warm like blanket, second part like poop. Maybe say first part again and again.
Teena Akaash |
"This is a strange place all right. I can work a bit of magic and all, but this is beyond anything I have ever seen. If this doesn't work, do we need to divide the versus up between us? Could that work?"
Troxell Lanathar |
"I don't know. If Myhm felt something at the beginning, something was right. He must have some sensitivity due to his connection with his brother. Maybe the words are off. I suspect it's the word after Bander, if it follows the rest of the poem, it should rhyme with catch." Troxell ponders, "I hate to have to repeat it for as many times as we can think of words that rhyme, if that's even the wrong word!" He adds with frustration.
This is a job for a bloody bard.
Troxell Lanathar |
"Bandersnatch? Hmm, that does sound more correct."
"Let me try it one more time."
"Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
He chortled in his joy."
DM Rah |
This time, as Troxell finishes reciting the strange words the script along the wall begins to glow with a strange light. Suddenly, colors seem brighter, shadows feel deeper. Smells are almost painfully sharp. Sounds echo with unnerving harmonics.
One moment the tower appears as ruins - the next moment parts of it are restored, but in ghostly translucence.
Myhm |
Myhm startles at first, though quickly calms by the sense of safety. He steps towards the center of the room, reaching out and into the ghostly painting.
DM Rah |
Myhm Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Myhm:
The area shifts wildly as you near it. The warm feeling passes over you along with a strangely familiar sensation you only feel during your berserker rage - like a sphere of steel in your chest granting you strength and power when the chaos of your rage is focused on it. You instinctively direct the energy in the chamber into that sphere and suddenly lightning flashes, arcing away like a web with you at the center. There is a sharp pain, but it feels distant.
Everyone else:
As Myhm extends his hand the center of the tower wavers as if seen through a waterfall. His hand pierces the effect and splits it, creating an opening. On the far side lush grass covers the floor and the tower walls appear whole and undamaged.
Troxell Lanathar |
"Amazing, it seems Brue's abilities are shared with those of the same blood." Troxell marvels, regarding Myhm with newfound appreciation.
"If you are all still willing to make this trip, the time to move is now." With that, the druid begins to move towards the opening.
Myhm |
Myhm looks down at the toy horseman on his open palm, then finally realizes that it might have been dropped on this spot if Brue passed through this strange curtain. He doesn't appear bewildered or amazed at the others, perhaps through lack of comprehension that stepping into another world was uncanny. ”Come-”, he waves to the others ,”Maybe Brue follow Dovan this way.”.
DM Rah |
Stepping through the portal you find yourselves within another tower, perhaps a mirror image of Candlemere from an age long past, before it fell to ruin. Glowing magic runes circle the chamber, matching those deciphered in the ruins. The entrance door is whole and sturdy, crafted from a single piece of dark mahogany. Above you is a stone ceiling with a five foot hole in the center, but no stairs or ladder by which to reach it.
The unnerving sense of dread is stronger here.
Will Save vs DC 20 or become shaken. Those already shaken become frightened.
Troxell Lanathar |
Will Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Troxell steps through the gateway and readies his cold iron scythe, "I sense a greater oppressive atmosphere, but you must stand firm." He advises with a stoic expression as he looks over his companions for signs of panic.
"Cold iron weapons may be helpful here. If someone needs one, you can use mine. I'll be using spells if they still work properly."
Xerexis |
will: 1d20 ⇒ 10
"This was a terrible idea, we should go back immediately."
Xerexis begins to flee
Myhm |
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 yep...
Once through the curtain, Mhym's senses return. The warmth disappears and a steely coldness kicks in, making his heart beat faster. He looks around frantically and heads for the door, tries to open it.
Troxell Lanathar |
Troxell attempts to grapple Xerexis to prevent him from fleeing.
Free AoO if Xerexis would take it.
Grapple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
DM Rah |
Xerexis turns to flee as Myhm steps through the portal and falls victim to the overwhelming fear himself. His concentration broken, the portal suddenly vanishes, leaving everyone stuck in the chamber with only one possible exit - the door.
Troxell tussles with Xerexis, trying to restrain him, but just barely misses a firm grip.
Suddenly, two lights appear in the opening above and begin floating slowly down. An otherworldly voice emanates from one, sounding a buzzing hornet swarm.
"That is Mitespeech! They're going to eat us!" Mikmik cries out.
With a buzzing laughter, the lights descend upon Teena and Troxell.
INITIATIVE
Myhm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Teena: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Troxell: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Xerexis: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Mikmik: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Wisps: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Mikmik Will Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Touch vs Teena: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
Electricity Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7
Touch vs Troxell: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
Electricity Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7
INITIATIVE - Round 1
Wisps
Xerexis <=UP
Troxell <=UP
Myhm <=UP
Teena <=UP
Mikmik