Ozella lets loose her Flame Arc.
[dice=Spellcraft]1d20+11
Ozella's flaming arc erupted from her small hand but when it hit the dream, it vanished without evident effect.
Dom steps and swings his enchanted falcata through the general area of the dream's location, causing small disruptions in the shifting pattern of its form.
As the ghost/dream witch begins spinning, Ingrit calmly puts an arrow into the center of what would be her body.
Dream:
Saves. Takes 5 damage from Flame Arc effect.
Ret-con: A stream of fire erupts from Ozella's small hand, heading for Yelizaveta. The animate dream shifts its form to avoid the worst of the flames, which at any rate don't do her as much damage as they might a corporeal form.
DC = 19
Concentration Check 2: From Dom's attack.
DC = 21
Concentration Check 3: From Ingrit's Attack
DC = 18
Concentration Check 4: Casting Defensively
DC = 24
Spell goes off without provoking an AOO from Domitian.
Yelizaveta gets her spell cast despite the wounds suffered while casting. She directs a baleful glare at Crasius. Faint motes of light dance around his head for a moment.
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Hadda watches the flurry of attacks go towards the Animate Dream to only partial effect. She has a spell in her spellbook for just such an occasion, and now laments having already used that portion of her arcane energy for the day to fail to scry. Nor was this a spell that Ozella could likely borrow. Crasius could, and possibly Rurik, were it only a scroll instead of a page in a book.
She also holds her breath as the false queen glares towards Crasius. But her companion seems to shake off and disbelieve whatever the witch sent his way.
All right then. No talk of Baba Yaga.
Crasius sees a night-black dragon materialize in front of him as if summoned. It has red eyes, red fangs and claws, marking it as a nightmare dragon from the Dimension of Dreams. As it opens its jaws wide and appears about to bite, Crasius remembers that the nightmare dragon only appears in dreams. The phantasmal killer fades before reaching the bard.
As the spell fails, Yelizaveta snarls and says to Hadda, "Söker du min mamma för att döda henne eller rädda henne?"
Round 2
Hadda (Inspire Courage)
Crasius (Inspire Courage, Shield of Faith, Heroism)
Rurik (Inspire Courage)
Ozella (Inspire Courage)
Domitian (remove fear, Inspire Courage)
Ingrit (remove fear, Inspire Courage)
Dream (12 lethal, shaken 2/2)
Well that's a complicated question, and I can't speak for the others.
Hadda considers the Dream's question for a moment. To banish the threat of eternal globe-spanning winter, the curse originally wrought on the nation of Irrisen by Baba Yaga over a thousand years ago. To seek the knowledge of such a being of tremendous power and history. To follow through on a compelled quest by the White Rider. To seek new realms and worlds. There were many reasons to seek Baba Yaga.
But which would Yelizaveta's Dream accept? Would any cause her to back down, or would she fight to the death? Most likely the latter. Who knows how much her hunger has grown?
"Både och ingetdera," Hadda says, deflecting. "Hennes vinter hotar alla och måste ta slut."
The errant librarian switches to Taldane to explain to the others."This Dream feeds on fear, attacking our minds by magic and touch," she says to the others, acknowledging what had already been attempted on Crasius. "Attack at will."
Knowing the creature's penchant for particular attacks, Hadda maintains her peculiar inspiration.
Even though she speaks to the Animate Dream, she still stays away from the creature and continues to do her best to attack. Since Flame Arc didn't do as she wanted, Ozella tosses a plethora of Magic Missiles at the incorporeal.
Crasius looks at Hadda and provides some Gallant Inspiration before trying to help her.
"Så, är vi på samma sida?" asks Dom, staying his blade momentarily.
Rurik holds steady while the team tries to interrogate the dream, since he doesn't understand the language.
Ingrit waits, ready to unleash a barrage of arrows as she awaits the Dream's response.
Dream:
Hadda, Crasius, and Dom badger the animate dream with questions, hoping to draw out her desires. Ingrit aims an arrow at the dream, ready to attack, while Ozella casts a magical attack. Ozella's spell, however, gets blocked by the dream's innate resistance to magic.
"My only allies are those who seek to slay my wretched mother! Now slumber and you shall receive the answers to your questions!" Her voice comes to everyone through telepathy. She then begins to cast a spell.
Seeing the act of aggression, Ingrit unleashes a volley of attacks, knocking a pair of arrow with her initial attack.
DC 21
DC 17
DC 18
Ingrit unleashes her usual bow attacks, each arrow passing through the space occupied by the swirling figure. The arrows cause more disruption to the arcane energies maintaining the animate dream, but not enough to cause it to lose its concentration on its spell.
Round 3
Hadda (Inspire Courage)
Crasius (Inspire Courage, Shield of Faith)
Rurik (Inspire Courage)
Ozella (Inspire Courage)
Domitian (remove fear, Inspire Courage)
Dream (34 lethal, shaken 2/2 rounds, full round spell casting in progress)
Round 4
Ingrit (remove fear, Inspire Courage)
Hadda tries hard not to roll her eyes or sigh in exasperation as the Dream continues her assault.
Hadda recognizes the spell instantly and considers telling her companions to spread out before realizing that--considering their relative strength--the magic would likely only be able to affect one of them. In that case, being close enough to shake each other awake might be more useful. Then she tries to change her tactics: not a complete 180, but twisting her words to make the Dream think that she was coming around. She wasn't, of course, and hopefully the others would see that, too.
"Help us find her and convince us why she must perish. We can gain strength and conviction for the task, but only if we can continue."
She nods at Ingrit's assault, hoping that the others follow suit and attack with all their might.
”What is she doing that is so dire that you turn against her?”
Dom gives up on words and focuses on striking the powerful witch ghost before her magics doom them all!
;
;
Deciding to talk it out this time, Ozella keeps an eye out for whoever might fall asleep due to the spell so that she can wake them up.
Hadda continues to coax information on the dream's desires from the increasingly agitated dream, with some help from Crasius and Ozella.
Rurik invoked Milani in a spell that created a morning star shaped force weapon that moved toward the animate dream and struck as if wielded by an invisible attacker.
Target: 1=C, 2=D, 3=H, 4=I, 5=I, 6=R
The weapon swung at the dream, but the form swirled and avoided the attack.
Domitian also attacks and manages to pass his magic falcata through vital locations occupied by the dreams shifting form, causing more disruptions to its integrity.
Concentration check #2 DC 21
DC 18
Domitian:
The animate dream completes her spell, despite the wounds from Domitian. A swirl of magical energy radiates out, but it focuses on Domitian as the closest to the source. His eyes close and he slumps to the ground. He is evidently unconscious, with no wounds that can be detected at first glance.
Target: 1=C, 2=D, 3=H, 4=I, 5=I, 6=R
"My mother killed her own daughter after I served her faithfully as queen. She cursed me to relive this nightmare of my death which I cannot escape no matter how much I try!!"
As she speaks, she reaches out to pass her hand through Domitian's unconscious form. His body jerks and he wakes from his magical slumber and contorts in pain as negative energy surges through his body. Her features momentarily stop looking angry as if inflicting the damage and pain on Domitian satisfied a deep hunger in her.
The dream moves on toward Ozella, looking like she intends the same fate for the gnome or Ingrit as she just visited on Domitian.
Round 4
Ingrit (remove fear, Inspire Courage)
Hadda (Inspire Courage)
Crasius (Inspire Courage, Shield of Faith)
Rurik (Inspire Courage, spiritual Weapon)
Ozella (Inspire Courage)
Domitian (remove fear, Inspire Courage, prone, 24 lethal)
Dream (51 lethal)
Domitian must make a DC 21 Fortitude save or suffer Wisdom drain and become fatigued.
If he fails, Domitian is plagued by horrifying visions in his mind which recur regularly keeping him fatigued as he fights to deal with them.
If he fails the save, he must attempt again every 24 hours or suffer similar effects. Cure requires 3 consecutive saves or dispel evil, dream, or remove curse.
Dom feels a cold darkness descend upon him, but he pushes through as his eyes suddenly open. "Don't let her touch you!" he cries from the ground.
Hadda takes a step back as the Dream seems to persist in her quest and manages to harm Domitian. She also looks at the Dream's incorporeal face and wonders at her words. Was there a fragment of Yelizaveta's actual consciousness and awareness tied to this Dream? Could her soul indeed find no rest? She seems to be aware in any case. How...fascinating.
But this was no time to consider the nature of existence and memory beyond one's mortal life. Animate Dreams could, as far as she knew, be destroyed under normal circumstances (however difficult it was to do so). Whether there was something about her creation through Baba Yaga's advanced arcana that furthered her animation beyond destruction, Hadda was uncertain.
"If you wish to escape this existence, then stand down. We will release you from this torment."
Hadda had no idea if that would actually work, but it seemed worth at least hearing the Dream's response to the idea.
Even as she says it, Hadda doesn't believe herself.
"Share what you know and ease your burdens so that you may pass on! Crasius chimes in to aid Hadda.
The need to finish off the strange attacker battles with his desire to find out what they need to know. And as the attacker seems to grow damaged from his allies attacks Crasius begins to worry they will find nothing of value from this dream.
Seeing the dire effect the ghost witch's touch has on Domitian, and watching as it advances on Orzella and herself, Ingrit shifts into a defensive stance as she continues her assault with another rapid volley, hoping to take the spirit out before it could do more harm.
Ozella gulps as the Animate Dream floats in front of her, but she doesn't flee the room. Instead, she raises her hands and speaks her spell even as her mind runs in circles making sense of the Dream's speech.
[/ooc]Welp.[/dice]
Ozella then five foot steps towards Domitian.
Dom gets on his feet, steps toward Ozella and Yelizaveta. he shouts angrily. He appears ready to forcefully defend the gnome.
;
;
Rurik:
Ingrit expertly sends multiple arrows at the dream and while keeping out of reach as she does so. As before the arrows pass through but do damage as the magic of the bow disrupts her form.
Hadda and Crasius try to convince the enraged being to relent, but their words don't seem to have any immediate effect.
Rurik's spiritual force morning star swings again at the dream, but again it just misses. As the weapon fights, Rurik steals around to deliver healing to Domitian.
Ozella throws more magic at the dream, but again she is unable to overcome its considerable ability to resist magic. The force missiles dissolve harmlessly as they reach Yelizaveta.
Domiitan can see that the dream is not relenting in the slightest and attacks her with extreme prejudice. His falcata connects with the center of her arcane energy keeping her active. The effect is dramatic. The dream falls back on the bed, her body blossoming with red as if bleeding profusely, not where Dom's falcata struck but from her chest. She fades until all that is left to see is the blood stain on the bed's blanket.
As the ghost-dream-witch collapses onto the bed, Ingrit breathes a sigh of relief. "Well that was unsettling. Did you manage to make sense of what she wanted?" she asks, turning to Hadda and Ozella.
As the ghostly creature finally "dies," Dom's sudden rage abates, and he feels quite spent from the battle. "I'm glad you're okay, Ozella. That thing's touch is not to be trifled with."
He then looks to Ozella and Hadda. "Pretty clear she wanted to murder us," concludes Dom.
He decides to check the room to see if there was anything valuable or if there were further clues.
"The dream seemed pretty intent on slaying Baba Yaga for having killed her." Crasius says as he remembers the vivid image that the dream had sent his way and he shudders slightly as he says, "And it did not seem all that concerned about taking others out to get it's way."
Hadda also breathes a sigh of relief. Domitian's final blow was quite the thing to behold.
"She seeks...sought...seeks revenge. And escape from her tortured existence. 'I cannot escape no matter how much I try.' Although I do not know whether the latter is possible--whether she will recorporeate. Or reincorporeate?"
Hadda considers the root words and realities of the Animate Dream's existence and makes a note to discuss the possibility with Ozella and Crasius later. After all, if this Animate Dream would return to haunt them while they worked in this Hut, it would be dangerous for all of them. "We should ask Tryva, though I don't know whether we'll get a straight answer."
She takes a moment to study the room before turning to leave.
"You all are ferocious in combat," she observes. "I realized there was little I could do to bring injury to the Dream. I have a way in my spellbook to deal with incorporeal creatures more expediently, but I was unfortunately not prepared to use the spell today. I shall prepare a scroll in the future to be more prepared."
"You did your part, Ozella. The queen said a lot during that fight. Maybe she wanted Baba Yaga to love her? If you hear the queen's side of the story, seems like she served loyally and then was condemned to a terrible torture."
After taking a few breaths and the color coming back to her face, Ozella began laughing. "Back off from Ozella!" She repeated, almost falling over from laughter. "Just all angry like and loud and you were so worried!" Eventually, her laughter did subside, and she offered to shake his hand. "Thank you, Domitian. For worrying and for stepping up."
Once she regained her composure, she pulled out a book from her pack and began taking notes. "She wanted to murder us, sure, but that's really just what they do, you know?" She explained even as she wrote. "The biggest takeaway is that her mother, Baba Yaga, killed her and then made her a Dream. Which would put anyone in a bad mood, to be fair."
"That was Yelizaveta. She was the 13th daughter of Baba Yaga, and the one that directly preceded Elvanna as the queen. Destroying it was likely what Tryva wanted with testing our resolve, so I'm with Hadda. We should speak with it again."
"So what do we ask now?"
Hadda nods, glad that the group seems to be rounding similar enough conclusions.
"That seems satisfactory, then. If we remain sufficiently well, let's vacate this cursed room and return to the Liar Seer."
The white-haired woman pushes on out of the room and approaches the raven, keeping sufficient distance so as not to appear threatening. She waits for a moment for the others to follow before addressing Tryva again.
“Before I aid you, you must first convince me you have the resolve to fulfill your desire. To prove your mental fortitude, you must face what I, the herald of the coming day, cannot.
"We return, Tryva, Raven of Dawn, having resolved to deal with the Animate Dream of the late Queen Yelizaveta. We have demonstrated mental and martial fortitude in learning the creature's desire. The Dream seeks vengeance on her mother Baba Yaga for her murder, and escape from her current existence."
Hadda pauses, and then continues with her query. "Can she escape? In our destruction of this form, has her unwaking existence been curtailed? Or will she return in due time to serve as a herald for any future servants of Baba Yaga?"
After taking a few breaths and the color coming back to her face, Ozella began laughing. "Back off from Ozella!" She repeated, almost falling over from laughter. "Just all angry like and loud and you were so worried!" Eventually, her laughter did subside, and she offered to shake his hand. "Thank you, Domitian. For worrying and for stepping up."
"But I WAS worried," says a very confused man. Eventually, he just shakes his head. "Gnomes," he mutters. When she finally thanks him, he smiles. "You're welcome. And call me Dom," he offers.
He follows Hadda out the room in time to see her address the raven once more. "Seriously, that was pretty harsh," adds Dom, referring to the fate of Queen Yelizaveta. Though as he says the words, he wonders what cruelties the queen might have inflicted during her reign.
When the group returns and Hadda tells the raven what they learned, the raven bobs it's head (nodding?) and flies over to where Hadda is and leans its head forward so that a small iron amulet slips off its neck and onto the ground. She picks the amulet up in her beak and holds it until Hadda (or someone) takes it.
Then Tryva says in her scratchy voice, “So be it. Seek now the sisters three who are one: Mother, Maiden, Crone. But know that the Maiden is elusive, and may only be caught with the waxing moon.”
After handing the PCs the amulet, Tryva crows three times and then f lies into the pool. There is no splash when she touches the surface. Instead, she seems to pass into another world and wings off into a glorious sunrise, her form growing smaller and smaller until it disappears. If anyone touches the pool’s surface, the water ripples and the sunset reflection immediately fades to reveal a shallow and ordinary pool of water.
Tryva’s iron amulet is engraved with a third Iobarian rune.
Three Who Watch.”
"Well, she didn't answer my question, but she seems satisfied."
Hadda takes the amulet, and smiles. "We are indeed in Iobaria. This says Artrosa, which is far to the north of where I grew up. It's a place with three enormous carved statues. I've never been, but any Iobarian child knows the legend."
Hadda detects for magical auras on the amulet.
"Humans." Ozella whispered to herself, still beside herself.
"The Three Who Watch," Ozella confirms. "Which is a good start, but we also have to leave the hut to get there. How is everyone feeling? Does anyone feel like they need to take a quick breather? Everyone calm?"
"Domitian looks a little hurt so we may wish to aid him some. Then I am ready to go and find our way out of this place." Crasius says as he looks over the group.
Dom grabs a cloth to clean his blade before realizing that there was nothing on it. "A small benefit to fighting ghosts, I guess."
As Crasius shows concern, Dom waves him off with a hand. "I'm fine, just a scratch left after Rurik's mighty healing. Let's keep going down the hallway."
He will inspect the next door they find.
Hadda grins a bit at Dom's recognition of the lack of blood on his blade. "You encounter ectoplasm sometimes, but no blood."
She focuses in again on the amulet as she ambles along with the group.
Rurik is ready on the spot after he puts away his morningstar so that he can use his healing wand on Domitian.
"That should take care of that. So, uh, what do we do now with the Three Watchers?"