Plane of dreams.
So, Continuing on deeper into the wood?
yes, onward to our intended goal
Big update tonight. Going to move this along.
Sorry all, I got caught up with real life. I'll have an update soon.
Akor wants to believe this fae rider, but the creepy way the forest reacted when he first neared bothered him. It never acted like that, unless something forced it to.
In the plane of dreams
You try to judge the center of the forest as best you can and head toward it. You can still occasionally see glowing eyes in the wood. They taunt you, but keep their distance. You have not way to tell if you're even headed the right direction. Then something strange happens. The trees surrounding you move and create a clearing where you stand. Then the trees to the left of that clearing open to create a straight path. They bend and move to create a clear shot to a massive black pyramid that stretches far above the tree line. If this were the prime material you would have seen this from the edge of the wood, but clearly the topography is strange here.
Magic radiates off the structure even without detection spells. YOu suspect that if you did activate a detection spell you'd be blinded.
You move closer and can clearly see that the path ends a few hundred yards form the structure and you are facing it's entrance. Flanking the entrance you can see two gargantuan stone sphinx's. Though their tails end in barbs and they have an extra set of arms in the front ending in sharp pinchers. They sit motionless. Between them you can see a massive black door. If you scout around the pyramid from a distance there are no other signs of entry or for that matter even seams between the blocks. It's as if this thing was carved from a single massive stone.
Akor wants to believe this fae rider, but the creepy way the forest reacted when he first neared bothered him. It never acted like that, unless something forced it to.
As far as you can tell what he says is genuine, though he could still be under some sort of geas.
"I must..." He trails off. Then shakes his head. "I must...do something." He says to himself, clearly confused and not "all there." "I was charged with a task. I just don't remember what." Still talking to himself.
"In all my hundreds of years of interacting with fae both here and in your own realm, not one of you has ever forgotten a task you were charged with. Unless something made you forget."
"In all my hundreds of years of interacting with fae both here and in your own realm, not one of you has ever forgotten a task you were charged with. Unless something made you forget."
"Don't be ridiculous, Mench! I forget nothing. My purpose is...to... He trails off and looks around. "I must return to the master.She will aid me."
He rears his horse and starts to leave.
You and Sparel have spoken at length about many things, including enchantment. A smart enchanter tells his thrall to return before the spell expires for a new dose. You also know that there is a very simple spell that can protect from many such things.
Akor whispers a prayer, calling upon some divine protection
Tialvoron looks to Rosa.
"If I had to guess, that is the source of the problems here. Want to tae a closer look?"
"yes"
With that a number of drone like eyes fly out and she sends them ahead
Plane of dreams
From the outside is as described. The eyes give a very detailed report of that.
Akor whispers a prayer, calling upon some divine protection
As you reach out during your prayer and lightly touch the hunter the magic energy flows over him. He stands motionless for just a moment and looks around. His eyes turn to you and you see thought behind his eyes.
Then suddenly...
"THAT INSIPID B~~*@!!!" He say's to no one in particular. "How dare she!!! I'll tear her heart out and crush it while it still beats!!"{/b]
The horse also stamps furiously as he speaks.
Clearly he's not actually talking to you, merely looking at you.
Then he actually speaks to you, [b]"You say you wish to protect this place and reclaim it for the elves? The elves have always worked with the fey for mutual benefit. I would ask your help now. The spell you cast will last how long? A few hours or minutes? I am of my own mind again, but when your spell falls so too will my mind become hers again. I need her dead before then. I may not be able to do it myself. Frankly the two of us might not be able. Do you have an army? Companions? Conscripts? anything? We'll need them quickly."
"Hmmph. Well, time to move in first-hand," Tialvoron says as he flies forward towards their goal.
"It will last several hours, and I can cast it a few more times if need be. I do have a trio of companions, who can be here almost instantly. We five should be enough, though I can call much more if you feel greater numbers would help."
He smiles a bit ruefully "Would you like me to heal the injury I caused? I am sorry about that."
Reaching out to Sparel's mind "Cousin, I might need you and the others. Seems there's a powerful woman of some sort at the heart of this problem. I am speaking with an unknown type of boreal fey, and she had ensnared his mind."
"It will last several hours, and I can cast it a few more times if need be. I do have a trio of companions, who can be here almost instantly. We five should be enough, though I can call much more if you feel greater numbers would help."
He smiles a bit ruefully "Would you like me to heal the injury I caused? I am sorry about that."
Reaching out to Sparel's mind "Cousin, I might need you and the others. Seems there's a powerful woman of some sort at the heart of this problem. I am speaking with an unknown type of boreal fey, and she had ensnared his mind."
50/50 chance. 1=you extended 2=you didn't
"It will last several hours, and I can cast it a few more times if need be. I do have a trio of companions, who can be here almost instantly. We five should be enough, though I can call much more if you feel greater numbers would help."
He smiles a bit ruefully "Would you like me to heal the injury I caused? I am sorry about that."
Reaching out to Sparel's mind "Cousin, I might need you and the others. Seems there's a powerful woman of some sort at the heart of this problem. I am speaking with an unknown type of boreal fey, and she had ensnared his mind."
The fey looks at the area where you hit him non-chantly. You can see that even now the wound is closing on it's own. Ice crystals make a lattice that eventually form into skin. "That is not necessary. It will heal on it's own. "
Sparel responds to your mental message. "*Mental sigh* It's barely been an hour. I was just in the middle of cross referencing. I suppose the information will still be here when we finish. Very well, I'm on my way. Meet me at the edge of the wood in a few minutes."
Sparel motions and the floating books close themselves and float to their space in the crate. Sparel says to the captain, "Akor needs me. I'll be back for that soon. Thank you for your hospitality."
Sparel steps outside, grasps his amulet, and the fabric of the plane seems to fold around him.
On the plane of dreams:
Sparel arrives on some random place on the plane of dreams. His protective magics automatically adapt to the plane he's on.
Having studied the plane of dreams in depth in the past he understands their properties. He's always held a strange fascination with this place. The combination of properties are somewhat unique and he's further fascinated because his people don't generally sleep.
Sparel closes his eyes and concentrates on something he has a deep personal connection with. Namely the necklace he formed out of his own blood for Rosa. The plane moves around him and blurs and in seconds he finds himself standing 15 feet behind Rosa.
Of course Rosa and Tia don't know this is happening, but they do sense a shifting of the plan in their vicinity. The very fabric of the place, about 15 feet behind Rosa, seems to morph and shift of it's own accord. With finely tuned instinct the two turn and draw weapons preparing for whatever may come through. Then in the place where the plane shifted settles and Sparel stands there. Looking past the pair Sparel sees the pyramid structure.
"Well, that's interesting." he concentrates and looks at it a few moments. Unbeknownst to the pair Sparel is creating a strong mental image of the place to make retiring easier and for later consideration.
To the pair he says, "Akor believes he's found the root cause of the forest corruption and he's got some sort of fey ally. He's requested assistance. "
"understood"
"understood"
Looking over Tia at the Pyramid again, "Though this may be relevant as well, It doesn't appear to be going anywhere. "
Sparel shrugs and holds out his hands to the pair. "When you're ready we can leave. "
As everyone nods their agreement and take Sparel's hand. The world shifts and you find yourself on the far edge of the wood.
Sparel contacts Akor telepathically
"We're on the prime. Where are you exactly?" Sparel and Akor have a short telepathic exchange.
"This way." Sparel says to the pair. The trio make their way post haste to Akor's location.
We find Akor standing in a small clearing covered in a layer of mist across the floor of the forest. with a pure white fey man standing on the ground next to a massive and pure white horse. Both creatures exude cold and mist, which rolls off to form the misty carpet.
Rosa calls back her drones and takes the offered hand.
Once in the clearing she send them put again, looking around.
Sword ever ready, her monotone voice she says
"Is this the aid, we found a pyramid on the plane of Dreams I would think there may be one here as well"
Rosa calls back her drones and takes the offered hand.
Once in the clearing she send them put again, looking around.
Sword ever ready, her monotone voice she says"Is this the aid, we found a pyramid on the plane of Dreams I would think there may be one here as well"
The white fey looks as if he just remembered something, "Pyramid? ...*thinking*... There is a pyramid. It's ... he turns and looks around trying to remember "that way" he points to the center of the woods. "that's he place of power. The pyramid enhances her abilities. It's the only way she could have enchanted me." His teeth grind as he says the las sentence. He's clearly pissed about that last part.
As if on cue a the plants of the dark forest seem to shiver and spring to life. Roots and branches alike grow at an astonishing rate and reach out for all in the area. Even plants that don't normally have thorns instantly grow thick barbed protrusions.
The entirety of the visible area is under the effect of enhanced entangle.
Entangle
School: transmutation
Level: ???
Casting Time: ???
Components: V, S, DF
Range: the dark forest
Area: plants in all of the dark forest
Duration: ???
Saving Throw: Reflex partial; see text DC=30
Spell Resistance: no
This spell causes tall grass, weeds, and other plants to wrap around foes in the area of effect or those that enter the area. Creatures that fail their save gain the entangled condition. Creatures that make their save can move as normal, but those that remain in the area must save again at the end of your turn. Creatures that move into the area must save immediately. Those that fail must end their movement and gain the entangled condition. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, making a Strength or Escape Artist check. The DC for this check is equal to the DC of the spell. The entire area of effect is considered difficult terrain while the effect lasts. If the plants in the area are covered in thorns, those in the area take 10 point of damage each time they fail a save against the entangle or fail a check made to break free. Other effects, depending on the local plants, might be possible at GM discretion.
The white fey says, "Apparently she senses that her thrall is free."
The white Fey and his horse attempt to avoid the branches in unison.
Reflex
Sparel with his hands casually behind his back seems to always move out of the way at the exact moment to avoid any adverse affects.
Ref, Rosa moves but her form just seems to give the plants nothing to hold to.
Akor is able to twist and tumble his way around the vines and branches attempting to grab him.
"You'll have to try harder than that my dear"
"This way!" says the hunter as he and his steed turn and run into the wood leaving a waist high trail of most in his wake.
Sparel shifts to his semi-elemental form and flies after. Assuming everyone is unhindered by the living brambles.
Yes Rosa follows
Tialvoron is quick enough with his blade to cut the plants that manage to almost rip his eidolon form.
The hunter gets stuck in the brambles once or twice, though he manages to quickly break himself out each time. His hard skin ignores the sharp thorns.
Suddenly you sense a massive wall of invisible magical energy. The hunter step through it and vanishes.
Sparel walks up and examines it a moment, "Clever. It's a massive invisibility firms with a planeshifting overlay. Essentially whatlies on the other side is there, but not there. I can't help, but appreciate the craftsmanship. It should be otherwise safe." he then steps through.
You see the twin of the pyramid described in the plane I dreams. Complete with massive sphinx like obsidian statues flanking a large closed door.
Tialvoron steps through with the others, noting their reactions to the pyramid.
rosa follows
Akor strides through and investigates the door
"I'm going to guess we can't just knock, huh?" He holds Demonwrack at the ready, wary of any threat.
Akor strides through and investigates the door
"I'm going to guess we can't just knock, huh?" He holds Demonwrack at the ready, wary of any threat.
"Knocking is an option. Let's go to the door and see who's home."
Sparel begins to walk cautiously toward the door. Presumably everyone follows.
As you get closer you can see the stone pillars are in fact stone sphinx's. Akor, looks at the statues carefully and realizes how very lifelike they are. Remarkably so.
Anyone with knowledge geography also notes that this place is far from where these creatures or this architecture should be.
They are actual petrified sphinx's.
ALrighty then,
The group approaches the massive stone doors. The Sphinx's do not move or otherwise show signs of life.
They are understandably locked. Actually, not locked so much as they don't actually have a seam. Its as if the wall was made to appear as a door.
Sparel examines, "It was a door, but magic sealed it. Unfortunately, the area is blocked from teleportation magic. We'll have to blast our way in."
After a few round the combined power of the group is sufficient to blast a hole in the entry way.
Upon stepping in you stand on a grand balcony overlooking the inside of the pyramid. Inside is a lush forest with life growing on every surface. The roof has some sort of magical source of daylight. Vines and creeping plants cover the walls. The center of the room contains a large tree. The whole place is beautiful, but the plants are somehow wrong. They look normal, but yet they exude an unnatural, undefinable aura.
Akor moves semi close to the tree, examining it as best he can without getting right in front of it
Rosa pulls out 8 scanning constructs and sends them out to see what is around them. She seeks the taint of chaos.
Rosa pulls out 8 scanning constructs and sends them out to see what is around them. She seeks the taint of chaos.
Akor moves semi close to the tree, examining it as best he can without getting right in front of it
Everything in this place radiates with magic. It's nearly overwhelming.
The plants are semi-sentient. Youre sure they've been altered in some way, but not exactly sure how.
Tialvoron stands ready for combat.
Rosa gos to full defence mode and looks close at a small plant.
You create a number of semitangible, visible magical orbs (called "eyes") equal to 1d4 + your caster level. These eyes move out, scout around, and return as you direct them when casting the spell. Each eye can see 120 feet (normal vision only) in all directions.
While the individual eyes are quite fragile, they're small and difficult to spot. Each eye is a Fine construct, about the size of a small apple, that has 1 hit point, AC 18 (+8 bonus for its size), flies at a speed of 30 feet with a +20 bonus on Fly skill checks and a +16 bonus on Stealth skill checks. It has a Perception modifier equal to your caster level (maximum +15) and is subject to illusions, darkness, fog, and any other factors that affect your ability to receive visual information about your surroundings. An eye traveling in darkness must find its way by touch.
When you create the eyes, you specify instructions you want them to follow in a command of no more than 25 words. Any knowledge you possess is known by the eyes as well.
In order to report their findings, the eyes must return to your hand. Each replays in your mind all it has seen during its existence.
It takes an eye 1 round to replay 1 hour of recorded images. After relaying its findings, an eye disappears.
If an eye ever gets more than 1 mile away from you, it instantly ceases to exist. However, your link with the eye is such that you won't know if the eye was destroyed because it wandered out of range or because of some other event.
The eyes exist for up to 1 hour per caster level or until they return to you. Dispel magic can destroy eyes. Roll separately for each eye caught in an area dispel. Of course, if an eye is sent into darkness, it could hit a wall or similar obstacle and destroy itself.
As rosa starts to send her constructs out and akor moves to examine the free the trees nd plants suddenly move and take a swipe at akor.
Surprise round.
"Claw" attack.
Akor, what's your current flat footed ac? Also if the above hits I need. Fort save.
Akor feels small roots start to take hold when he's hit, but his natural resilience prevents any from taking root.
Detect evil= yes. Lots. Everywhere.
Round one
You all saw the tree hit akor. Roll initiatives and declare actions.