|
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Paizo Pathfinder® GameMastery® Planet Stories® Paizo Games | |||||||||||||||||||
| About Paizo Messageboards News Paizo Blog Help/FAQ | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Posts
 Recent Posts
Initiatives (Silver Rose):
The party explodes into action. The voice seems to cut off but some arrows begin to fly into their area.
The voice chuckles "Oh I heard all about your tactics, and how you routed the lizards. I respect your puissance, but I really have a need of that rod. I am not without assistance, of a somewhat greater power than the poor khaasta." The voice gains a steely edge "Now, I have you with half your party in the sack. I have arrows trained at you waiting to fly. Do yourself a favor and either give me what I want or surrender for a patdown. I'll cut you a deal. If you don't have the rod, we all walk away with what we came with. No harm, no foul."
Quinn: Spoiler:
The voice seems to be coming from a distant patch of curly bark. The bark arcs up about 10 feet high as Quinn remembers (the night is very dark, with only the Yggdrasil starfruit glowing in the distance up in the leaf canopy. The motive seems to be clear: She wants something the group has . She seems very confident, Quinn doesn't think she is bluffing.
The voice chuckles as well. "Well, I didn't know about it until just recently. A little lizard on the fly told me something about it. Although I have been searching for the cause of the theft of beauty since I saw it in action weeks ago." The sexy voice laughs again "You lot are hard to follow! It took all my skill to track you, what with chicken-legged towers and squirrel parties. But, here we are." The voice pauses, and continues sadly "Perhaps you don't have the rod. I also heard you had pretty much wrecked the lizard's home. Either way, I'm afraid I'm going to have to check. I've come too far to trust your word. You lot can strip down and walk away from your posessions, or we'll have to settle this the old-fashioned way."
He doesn't see anything, but there is a patch of curly bark fifty meters away that could hide things. The voice continues "Well, I'll make my statement short and sweet. I have come for the item you took from the khaasta. You know, the Circean Embers rod. Agree to hand it over and me and my associates won't have to take it by force. No one wants that."
sneakiness... Issac heads out stealthily to seee what is going on. He gets a few feet out when a voice comes out to him from the darkness. "You can stop right there, my dear man. I can see you, and I know you have heard me, so shall we drop the cloak-and-dagger and get right down to brass tacks?" The voice is a sultry female one, a rich silken tone that brings unbiddden thoughts to the Godsman's mind. The voice of an high-priced jinkskirt or a mercantile captain of the Fated (not that the two aren't similar)
Perception: 1d20+15 Issac: Spoiler:
A few minutes into Issac's turn at watch, he hears what sounds like a distant patter of quiet feet. He isn't sure, but it didn't sound like it came from the camp. There are several secondary branches off from the camp a few hundred meters. If he had to guess, the footfalls came from that direction.
The preparations for the night's rest goes fairly innocuously. The rotted wood keeps the beetles occupied. Although starting a fire is a bad idea on Yggdrasil, the weather is clement, and there are plently of magical rations that Karrin and Ekuur can provide . After a meal and the first watch, the second watch is roused. They set to their duties under the dark canopy of the planar tree.
After a morning of quick lessons, Redhook gets a beetle set up for those who need them . The day has progressed to the afternoon, and Veridis disappeared for a bit during the riding, and returns near the end. He draws Issac aside. "I talked to Roth, and he says he was near the Warpwood hunting when his problems began. He wrote out a map to the area, here." Veridis hands Issac a rolled up scrap of parchment. "This should get you to where you want to go." The party gets set up . They set off, astride their shiny-carapaced mounts, Despite the exoticness of the ride, the journey goes well, the beetles are a sure-footed mount on the rough skin of Yggdrasil. After a few hours riding, the sourceless sunlight that illuminates the massive planar tree begins to dim, casting all in long shadows. Issac has led them along several junctures, and they are now several branches away from the main side branch that leads to Crux. They are all rather sore from their long journey, and the beetles are acting rather crabby. A small area of rotted bark attracts their attention. According to what Redhook told them, the beetles feast on any peeling or damaged wood on Yggdrasil. This would be a good place to camp until the light resumes.
Rhiannon whispers a fer words into to the bracelet at her left wrist, a dense shadowy fog settling upon the area to coalesce into the form of a powerful shadowy grey stallion, smoke wisping off of him as a flowing mane. Redhook steps back in surprise as the shadowy stallion materializes "Now there's a trig bit o'dazzlery!" He exclaims in a thickening Cager accent. He fastens up the strapwork on the beetle. A groom holds a bridle tight to keep the beetle's large mandibles off him. The party can see the mandibles are banded together with some strong-looking rope. Redhook unscrews his small hook hand and replaces it with a longer version quite similar to the beetle goad. "Now, with a riding beetle, yeh've got to keep the reins in hand, but they don't respond well to them. That's where the goad comes in. I'll show yeh." He deftly jumps up on the beetle and holds the reins in his good hand. He uses his hand goad to hook under the beetle's carapace, leading it around in a tight circle. "Anyone fancy a go?"
Redhook sighs "Veridis, I'm gonna need a deposit." He turns to the party "Roight. The Giant Yggdrassil Stag Beetle is a mean an' sulky beast. They ain't much in the brain department, and they like to stop an' gnaw wood when they gets hungry. Fortuantely, yeh can get them to do whatchur like with this." He walks over and picks up a long pole fitted with a fishook-looking end piece. "This is a beetle goad. Yeh stick it in the juncture between the beetle's head an' its thorax on the opposite side yeh wants it to go. " He points to a high-backed saddle with a complex strap webbing "That's a beetle saddle. Yeh have stirrups, and I'll show you the rest." Redhook takes them out for a quick proving ride with a small beetle in the courtyard
Veridis leads the group out of the Woodworkers Guild and out towards Redhhook's Stables. He mentions that a courier departs to Sigil on a regular basis, since Tiandra had already left this would be the easiest way for Issac to get his letter to Renkar. The stables is a large building build half into Yggdrasil. A row of large stalls contain smaller versions of the large beetles the party had fought a few days earlier out on the Forlini branch. A large man directs a small group of grooms. He looks like he's been through the wringer in his life, with a few quite serious scars visible even with heavy leather clothing on. His left hand is gone, replcaed by a large serrated red-colored hook. He looks up as the party comes in. "Get Hardshell some more feed Brendin, and ... Oh greetins, Veridis. What can I do fer yeh?" Veridis shakes the man's whole hand and indicates the party. "These travellers need some beetle mounts to go investigate something for the town. I will assume the cost." Redhook looks the group over "Any of yeh have any experience riding beetles?"
Ekuur's restoration makes Roth look better. The various shenanigans make Veridis, the constables, the gulidworkes look kind of bewildered, but they say nothing, possibly figuring that such a powerful party is bound to be somewhat crazy. Finally Roth looks up from Marlus "Thank you for freeing me from my torture. I thought that I would die there by the hand of that monster." Marlus, who has been sobbing quietly also speaks up. "I must also beg your forgiveness. I could have sworn I saw Roth spasm and ..and ..." She chokes up a bit "..pass on. I was so insane with grief I lost control of myself. I am not like this normally." Veridis lays a hand on her shoulder, and helps them to their feet. "Well, we are dealing with something none of us are prepared for. These fine folks saved you, and they have my gratitude." He looks the party over. "If you are interested in mounts, I will be happy to arrange for beetles to be made available for you."
Quinn: Spoiler:
The couple's thoughts are joyous. No actual evil or duplicitous thoughts can be detected
Ekuur, although a bit unhappy with having to extinguish the cleansing flames with a semi-opposed element, realizes this was not the appropriate time or place for them. At the appearance of the stricken man, Ekuur will rush over and begin to check him over. If he still requires any healing, Ekuur will lose a spell or two to cast an appropriate cure. Roth seems hagrid and skinny after many days in a catatonic state. There are really no actual wounds on him, but a lesser restoration couldn't hurt. A few days of eating wouldn't hurt either
Issac: Spoiler:
Roth seems alive, if weakened. He seems genuinely happy to see Marlus. He is breathing, and his skin has a living pallor to it, so if he is undead he is doing a really good job of hiding it
"Oi!", Isaac shouts around the restrained woman,"One o' you cutters want teh flag down a constable? Veridis, where d'ye want her?" Veridis hollers up "Just hold her steady!" Merle finds a squad of the local watch and informs them of the situation, they come running Marlus screeches "You have killed my love! You have brought evil to this place! I shall burn you and it until all is clean!" Suddenly from the back hallway a faint voice can be heard. "M...m...marlus? Are you there? I am so thirsty .." The haggard form of Roth F'Tsar leans against the carven wall. He looks very sick, but his eyes focus on the struggling pile. Marlus calms immediately "Roth? But, I saw you ...you were.." She dissolves into tears as the constabulary bursts in and begins running for the balcony. Roth teeters forwards and collapses by his weeping companion. They hug, the party backing off tactfully The guards confer with Veridis, who has also run up the balcony "Well, this is an odd thing then." The watch captain says, scratching his noggin.
Issac and Karrin tackle Marlus. She shrieks and shakes violently, lost in a fugue of anger and grief. The others soon appear and stand ready to assist.
Quinn runs up the stairs with the rest of the party, crossbow in hand. He hopes he doesn't have to use it, but if worst comes to worst... Rhiannon goes thundering up the stairs alongside her new companions, intent on preventing more harm. Rhiannon and Quinn both follow their new group mates. The priestess of Yggdrasil looks quite angered and crazy. She weaves her arms in an obviously arcane fashion.
Karrin pounds up the staris with the rest of the pparty. She also tries to grab marlus, but fails.
Ekuur's actions douse the flaming sawdust. A pall of steam and smoke swirls withing the cold bubble, percipitating into dirty sow that falls back into the bin.
Issac scales the intricate carvings up to Marlus. He atempts to grab her, but the wild-eyed priestess evades his grasp. She whirls towards him, a light of madness in her eyes
The wall of cold surrounds the flaming bin of sawdust, keeping the flames contained
The party runs back into the Woodworker's Guild. All activity has stoppped, the various workers milling about looking confused and apprehensive at the loud scream that has echoed out. As they run into the center work space Marlus appears at the top of the balcony leading back to the private area where they had seen Roth. "YOU! YOU KILLED HIM!" She screeches, her eyes wide with madness. In her hands is a large hurricane lamp filled with oil. She casts it down into a bin full of wood shavings below. There is a *whoosh* sound and the sawdust begins to flame up, causing the assembled workers to gasp in fright. "NOW I WILL CLEANSE THIS CORRUPTION OF THE MOTHER!" Marlus screams.
Nari's arrow hits the porcelain-faced monster, but it is hard to tell if it has any effect, since the thing doesn't bleed. The creature hisses Suddenly the thing vanishes. The graveworld and the moaning zombies all begin to disappear. Seph sees Roth vanish and the group opens its eyes to see their concerned party members standing over them.
In the Graveyard of Dreams: Nari notices a glow attaches itself to her. Not silver as the glow Justin had conferred upon her in her first waking moments, this blue-colored one siphons off a bit of the pain from the small cut the monster made on her arm.
Seph and Roth are covered in a thick fog as they race towards the stone tombstones. They hear the moans and shuffles of the many undead. Seph desperately racks his brain for a way to escape
Merle fires more arcane energy at the hideous monster. She feels strong and trys and experiment. Several undead pawing about the edges of their area suddenly blast to shreds. The catfolk sorceress suddenly feels as if she's in control of the dream.
Meanwhile ...In Crux ... Another, smaller wound appears on Nari, but it is no more than a bad cut from a kitchen knife might do. Rhiannon hisses almost inaudibaly as a smallish scratch appears on her arm. Veridis looks about at the group. "Did you wish me to find a priest? I am beginning to see the merit of you assertion that this mental malady is more of a spiritual rather than a physical matter."
Rhiannon touches Nari and begins to glow. Nari picks up some of the glow. Issac breaks a tile over Nari and the thigh wound heals, lesaving only a red stain where it had been.
Nari concentrates on sharing her pain. Merle fires off another bolt of arcane energy
Seph and the weakened Roth stumble towards the line of tombs. Seph can see undead shifting and shuddering about in the ruins
Roth looks stricken "There's nowhere to hide." The zombies start to congregate around the standing stones NEW ROUND!! The creature swipes at Nari agan
The creature hisses
Inits Rd 3:
Merle fires an arcane bolt into the creature. The thing hisses as the force strikes its ameoba-like mass. The hideous monster moves towards Nari. Her eyes glow an unearthly hue as she manifests an agony of the past to torment the abberation:
The creature screeches and an odd thing occurs. Its form twists and suddenly a massive bipedal vulture-looking creature appears in its place. It screams as a wound opens up on its sagging skin. Then as soon as it appears, the vultureoid form reverts to the translucent mask form. It advances and its two wicked claws lash out at Nari. Round Four:
One claw strikes the ground, the other rakes Nari across the left thigh. Blood wells from the deep slashes.
Meanwhile, in the waking world ... While the party discusses what action to take, Nari's slumbering form cries out. A spreading red stain begins to form on her upper left leg. The tough linen trousers she wears are soon soaked with blood.
Roth seems better. He looks at Seph "Is this more of a dream?"
He gets up, wincing. He is healed, but is frail and slow
Veridis ponders "I really don't think it would help much. More gilding on the lilly, as they say. The stone fetishes the priests of Pelor installed along the trade route have proved their puissnace against any undead ever seen before. If an undead can circumvent them I am sure a protection from evil spell will not faze them in the slightest." Veridis ponders some more "I am sure I can find someone if you give me a few hours, if you feel it is truly neccessary."
"The portal's Veridis and Crux's business. Sealin' it may be next to impossible, anyways. We need that portal to get back to the Cage, as does any blood travelin' through Crux with trade from Sigil. Wards on this side are the only remedy and I take it they've worked fine. Hells, may still work fine- we don't know anythin' about this thing. Best we can do is let the ladies finish their business, take a scan at the portal, catch our 40 and look at the Warpwood." Veridis nods at Issac's palaver "Ser Case, I am afraid Ser Issac is correct. there is no way to shut that portal down even if we wished it so. And the trading guilds would scream bloody riot if we tried. Ranais cuts several weeks off any other route to Sigil, and there are half-a-dozen portals around our town that lead to lucrative lands." He looks about "I do not think Marlus will be in the mood to entertain you for awhile yet. We should see what transpires with your friends first I would think." He gestures to the recumbent forms of Nari, Merle and Seph propped on the wall of the Woodworker's Guild. Their somnolent forms twitch and jerk randomly
Seph pours healing energy into Roth F'Tsar. The battered hunter looks better and opens his eyes. He focuses on the diminutive catboy "Huh, whaa? The monster .." He mumbles Merle's lightning bolt arcs towards the porcelain-faced abomination. It jinks quickly, but still absorbs some of the blow, it's clawed arms spasming. Nari's ring of fire springs up around them. Many of the zombies are caught in its fire, rapidly burning down to fetid ash.
The monster zooms towards Nari and Merle quickly, white mask face grimacing in rage.
Meanwhile, in the waking world .. Veridis looks at the group "Are you saying this..whatever ... comes from the portal to Ranais? Impossible! We have wards all about that to keep the undead hordes on that accursed world at bay."
Merle sees the zombies erupting all about her and Nari. Still, the whole scene still holds a hint of unreality for her. She can still feel the solidness of Yggdrasil's wood against her back. It is almost as if she is in a half-dream, and can recognize she is within a dream.
** spoiler omitted **
The creature is struck by the electrical force Nari tosses its way, it tumbles back a few feet It hisses The ground around them begins to erupt. Rotted hands start emerging, and their bodies they are attached to follow suit. A dozen rotted corpses begin to claw their way out of the fetid earth.
Dream Team: Spoiler:
Inits Rd1:
The hideous monster moves towards Nari and Merle, chuckling evilly. Lightning begins to play around the standing stones.
It gestures at Nari with a claw
Seph sees his chance and moves towards the stricken man at a sprint
Dream Team: Spoiler:
The creature hisses as Nari and Merle get its attention with acid bolts and telekenisis. It heads their way, leaving the stricken hunter on the blood-stained slab.
Perception: Seph manages to stay on its blind side as he heads to Ser F'Tsar.When he arrives the man is in a very bad way, at Death's Door and knocking. Waking Team: The three party members seem to be in a restless sleep, their bodies sinking to the ground. Their muscles twitch and their eyes move under their closed lids. Veridis looks semi-confused as he answers their questions "This is all very strange," He says nervously, running his fingers through his blonde hair. "But the Warpwood is about a day's journey from here along Fornlimi, the branch you just came from. Past the Khaasta knothole and into Ratatosk country." He points to a building marked Redhook's Stables "Redhook has the only mounts for rent in the burg. They're beetles, have any of you ridden them before?"
Justin: Spoiler:
Justin remembers the discussions of the Warpwood with the elder Ratatosk shaman Glittereye. A wound on the god-tree sounds like a likely spot for an undead horror to hide...
Dream Team: Spoiler:
They stealthily approach the standing stones. Nari can almost feel the sickly power radiating from the tumuli. They near the top of the gentle slope and see the same tableau Nari faced not a half hour ago.
Roth looks lacerated and bleeding, his face haggard with torture and pain. The translucent tranclucent mass swivels its porcelain-like mask face towrds the plinth. "Time to finish my meal and be on my way." It hisses, leaning forward and extending towards Ser F'Tsar its two very solid-looking monstrous arms tipped with spike claws a foot long.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
