A Land of Wonder! (Inactive)

Game Master Rickmeister

Oops, i'm sorry, I should have specifief more clearly that you cannot see people standing on the bridge. You can see the bridge clearly, all the way to the other side, but nothing on the bridge past 1/3rd of its length.

You can hear her talking though, at a DC 12 perception check.
I'll assume that's why Shan-yu responded, coz he heard the talking? ;)

Terry will then walk onto the bridge, peering forward cautiously.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Perhaps, but I also think the group might have reacted a bit differently when those people on the bridge suddenly vanished. "Ho hum, Anja and Shana vanished, I sure hope they're alright!" would not be our reactions I would think.

My thoughts exactly. I didn't think Terry would panic - the party has seen a lot of strange things on this trip already - but he would definitely investigate.

So far only Anja has vanished, as she has just walked across the one-third marker. Let's reset starting from Anja's last post? :-D

Anja walks forward, and you see her dissappear from sight. She starts talking to someone not visible either.

Sorry, another clarifying question - does she "disappear" into the fog, or does she just straight up vanish?

Slowly ddissappears, but it's still odd coz you can see the bridge in its entirety (though foggy).

What about Shana, who was following right behind Anja?

Terry narrows his eyes. "Blasted fog!" he mutters. "I can't see a thing." Closing his eyes, he mentally prays to Gozreh for assistance. A gust of wind blows down in the direction of the bridge, gusting away the obscuring fog.

What about Shana, who was following right behind Anja?

I believe the two weren't far enough to become invisible when Shana was on the bridge, and now she's back on the ground, relaying the message of there being a creature on the bridge. Anja didn't become invisible until she walked closer to it.

I believe the two weren't far enough to become invisible when Shana was on the bridge, and now she's back on the ground, relaying the message of there being a creature on the bridge. Anja didn't become invisible until she walked closer to it.

This is indeed the case and, assuming I'm catching when Anja went invisible, she just relayed the message and chose her card. If it happened before then, her actions would still be the same, telling the party whats on the bridge.

Like Anja and Shana said:
Party encounters bridge.
Anja and Shana walk up.
Shana returns at the same time as Anja steps forward and dissappears into the fog.
Shana gives information on creature on bridge.
Terry uses gust of wind.

As Terry summons a strong wind to blow back some of this mist, you can indeed see the bridge better, but nothing on it. This is extremely weird as you could have sworn Anja only took only a few steps forward, hearing her speaking.

Anja puts her arm around her friend and looks down at the pool of shimmering rainbow tears. "Hm. You sure someone didn't make you cry to just to see these beautiful tears?" she says with a soft chuckle. "If you want to talk, I'm here for you. If you don't, I'm still here for you."

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

I figure if a couatl woman is like a human woman, she doesn't always want you to fix what's wrong, just to listen. In any case, Anja's a human woman (well, half-human), so that's what she'd think to offer.

Unknowingly interrupting the tender moment, Terry calls out "Anjaaa! Anja! Where have you gone? If you got sucked into a pocket dimension and will never be seen again, can I have your longsword?"

Anja can't hold back a smile at the idea of the halfling trying to wield a longsword sized for a half-elf. "We're fine!" she calls back.

Turning back to the couatl, she reassures her, "Don't mind them. But I don't think they can see you. I couldn't see you until I stepped onto the bridge."

Has Terry stepped onto the bridge? Rick, can anyone on the bridge read the spoiler above, or do they have to walk further forward?

Right now, nobody but Anja is on the bridge, so nobody can see her or the woman she speaks of.
Shana has seen it, but is now standing back with the group.
Copied it here in case anyone will step unto the bridge.

Khar shakes his head once again at all the craziness. This place is not for me. With one of their members vanishing while crossing the bridge he begins casting a spell on himself, where shortly after he begins to fly into the air. "Let me take a look from above, see if I can see what is going on." He takes his time moving slowly up and across over the bridge.

Take 10 for 20 Fly checks

I'll assume you come close enough, so you may read the spoilers Khar, and act appropriately.
.
Others, what do you do?

"Hey, don't worry. These guys are fair. They didn't even kill that stupid rabbit or hurt that weird owl-guy. They're just confused, because they can't see us, and they're worried about me. I'm worried about you. You still haven't told me what's wrong."

Shan-yu waits for Khar to signal either everything is well, or aid is needed. If Khar vanishes as well, he will begin making his way across the bridge.

Khar doesn't vanish, although the strong wind might make it more difficult to fly.

Khar, the floor is yours. Nobody else on the bridge, right?

As Anja fades from view Valeeran listens intently and is relieved to find he can still hear his companion. Following the odd conversation as best he can he maintains his watch from his side of the bridge.

"Anja why not bring your new friend over here for us all to meet?"

Anja's heart sinks when she gets a hint of the nature of the couatl's pain. She answers Valeeran, "We're going to stay on the bridge. Y'all can come over, though."

After a long silence, she asks her friend, "Tell me what happened."

"Anja is certainly sounding much less....Anja than usual isn't she?" Valeeran says to no one in particular.

"Humm...some form of illusion perhaps or an enchantment? Guess there's only one way to find out."

"Skitter why don't you stay here with Terry. If you get the feeling I've gone a bit bonkers you can give him a good nip to let him know." the elf says with half a smile.

With that Valeeran rattles off a few arcane words and a shimmer briefly appears around him. Stepping forward he makes his way down the bridge to where Anja presumably is.

Cast Prot. from Evil on himself and start heading across the bridge.

Terry continues moving forward on the bridge, glancing down at the boards below his feet distrustfully, until he can see Anja.

Oops, just saw Valeeran's post. He glances up at the wizard, before continuing on, carrying Skitter forward. He trusts that the physical danger here isn't readily apparent.

I'm going to wait for Khar and Shan-yu to post before continueing.
Terry: you waiting with Skitter or you going with Valeeran?

Skitter looks at the halfling, and seems to be eyeballing him.
"Haven't forgotten what you did to my tail a few months back, little one."

Terry quirks an eyebrow at the scorpion. "I wouldnt've had to use the wind to blow you out of that tree if you had just stopped serenading me with a miniature mariachi band. In the middle of my meditation!"

Terry will wait for Anja and Valeeran to give the o-k.

"Oh now that is interesting isn't it. Indeed there's a winged serpent here who seems quite distraught." the elf can be heard saying as he fades from view. "Ummm Anja that's quite kind of you but don't you think we should help the creature off it's rather precarious perch? Perhaps back on the solid ground we came from?"

After looking at the odd sight for a moment Valeeran looks out across the bridge to see if the other side still appears the same.

Sorry Terry didn't realize you were heading out already. Feel free to accompany Valeeran. Oh and Skitter is a weasel :)

Shana watches her companions move out, nods to herself, and follows Valeeran's lead by casting Protection from Evil on herself before advancing back onto the bridge. She hesitates after the serpent comes back into view, not wanting to crowd the three others on the bridge.

Map is updated, just to give everyone an idea where they are.
There are even lines, for those wanting to read spoiler tags.

Skitter to Terry: "You are crazy! You're lucky I don't bite your nose, just saying. If my master wasn't so nice, I would go Gorum on it!"
--

Shan-yu had been waiting on a sign from Khar, but with everyone else heading up the bridge, he will join them, not really comfortable having nearly everyone being collected on a bridge with something that can fly away if the bridge is dropped.

That's right, weasel, my bad. One of my companions has a scorpion pet in another one of my campaigns and I got it mixed.

Assuming when you said I was close enough I could read the spoilers that I can see them on the bridge. If so below is my next action.

Khar shouts out to the others "She is here, she appears to be safe. There is some creature here as well."

Take 10 Know. Arcana for 23 to try and identify the creature

Terry is carefully making sure his hand is as flat as possible for Skitter to stand on. He's thinking about how best to channel Gozreh's will in this situation, and is actually considering whether to take to the skies for an aerial perspective. For the time being though, he waits.

Not really sure what to do. Shan-yu isn't going to start questioning the NPC or acting impatient because it would probably set it off and upset Anja. Best bet is to let it cry itself out and eventually start feeling better, but that's not heroic or very entertaining.

Valeeran's holding on Anjas response. His next suggestion is to ask if the party might move up past the serpent to make sure the other side of the bridge is secure.

okay we'll hold for Anja then.

Anja sighs. Her friend is trying her patience but it's not her fault. "I'll sit with you, but I'm tired of telling stories. This whole world is full of stories, but no one wants to tell theirs."

Can Terry hear Anja?

It's a DC10 check to hear eachother, but as far as I'm concerned everyone can Take 10.
Nobody can hear the Couatl though.

Standing over Anjas shoulder Valeeran perks his ears for a moment. "Anja can you hear the creature? Does it need aid of some kind? Do you think it will let us pass?"

How big is the serpent? Could Valeeran step over it without too much difficulty?

T10 Knowledge to identify the creature = 20 for everything except Arcana which would be 27

Looking back towards the halfling and Skitter Can Val still see them? he shakes his head and then puts his hand on the ground. The weasel leaps off the halflings arm and runs to Valeeran and up to his usual perch.

Those on the bridge can still see the guys standing on the river bank, yes.
The Couatl is large, so no getting past it without it wanting too. I'll assume Anja doesn't mind you going through her square.

"Wow, big snake!" the weasel says when he lays his eyes on the Couatl. "And it's got wings? Can you make me wings?"

"She's upset. She needs some time."

After a pause, "Oh. You're talking about Sonorae? You were part of that group... what happened? Was it Zassrion's idea to attack her? How did he convince the rest of you to join him?"

"You get into plenty of mischief WITHOUT the ability to fly, thank you," Terry murmurs, though without conviction. He looks up and feels the breeze on his face, and longs to take to the skies himself.

The couatl continues sobbing uncontrollably !

--

"Don't listen to the little man, Valeeran, my buddy.. Can you do it? Can you make me soar? Oh how I would behave if you could. Pretty please?" the weasel says to the wizard, while gleering menacingly at Terry.

Gleering = glaring with glee! :P

Valeeran waves away the weasels chattering with a distracted "Later".

To the group he says, "It seems we've found the next of our conspirators. It says they all ate a piece of her and have become an aspect of their creator. Sorrow in this case or something akin to it I would guess."

"Creature we can not help your pain here if it is a result of your actions. However we seek to undo the deed and in doing so we may be able to aid you as well. Give us the token you hold of your former mistress and perhaps we can put an end to your pain."

Diplomacy if needed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8