1d20+10
1d20+6
;P
Justin's fireball explodes in the swirling leaves near the skeleton. The creature screeches and blackens, its bones turning a nice sienna color
DM dice:
Will Save:
Initiative Round one:
Leaf Ghost: 26 [Hit Bethany]
Mr. Swire: 16 [Drawing xbow, G26] [W18][1]
Issac: 15 [Tossing bomb-miss] [W16][2]
Phaumee:14 [Spear toss-hit] [W17][4]
Merle: 12 [MM-hit] [W16][5]
Karrin: 11 [Axe attack-hit][W13][1]
Justin: 11 [FIREBALL!-T18] [W24][2]
Drazek: 11 [Pending]
Tiandra: 11 [Sword attack-miss][W18][1]
Naridre: 11 [Leafblowing] [W12][4]
Bethany: 11 [Retreat CLW] [W19][3]
Ekuur: 8 [Channel] [W14][1]
Initiative Round two:
Leaf Ghost: 26 [mystery ray-Drazek-hit]
Mr. Swire: 16 [Frightened 1 rd]
Issac: 15 [Frightened 2 rd]
Phaumee:14 [Frightened 4 rd]
Merle: 12 [Frightened 5 rd]
Karrin: 11 [Frightened 1 rd]
Justin: 11 [Pending]
Drazek: 11 [Pending]
Tiandra: 11 [Frightened 1 rd]
Naridre: 11 [Frightened 4 rd]
Bethany: 11 [Pending]
Ekuur: 8 [Frightened 1 rd]
Drazek raises his skull-topped scepter and concentrates. Taking into account how effective Justin's fireball seemed to be, he decides to try out his new gloves. He also decides something this nasty needs an extra-special surprise
A stream of fiery energy laced with black veins lances out from Drazek's scepter, striking the skeletal creature squarely. It howls as the eldritch flames course along its body. It soars higher and screams at the party. A nameless feeling of dread steals over them as the unded horror gathers its strength, swirling its leaves towards them.
The fear wells in the party's subconcious. There is no rationality left, just a gibbering animal in the depths of their brain saying: run ...run. They begin pounding down the bark, away from the leaf-shrouded demon thing as fast as their feet can take them.
Justin, Drazek and Bethany are left to face the horror themselves. The demon-thing cackles insanely and points a long, bony claw at Drazek. A black rays spears out from it:
The pitch-black beam strikes the warlock squarely. Drakek feels as if part of his soul is being sucked out of him. He feels his energy draining away
will save
Seph transforms into his humanoid form and grabs Merle trying to stop her from fleeing
Justin takes a step back as the urge to flee envelops him. He shakes his head, as if trying to wake up. The urge passes, although he can still hear the tiny voice in the back of his head urging him to run, (Justin never was any good at listening to the SMART voices), and he glances around to see a mad, fearful dash of bodies fleeing from the spectre.
All but himself, and Bethany, and Drazek,...
'Why am I not surprised at that?'
"Perfect, just,... Perfect." he mutters as he raises his hands once more.
"BLAST IT!"
Tracing a fiery sigil in the air, Justin's new ring and amulet flash in unison as two thin but bright fiery rays race towards the 'ghost',...
Ray 1= 16pts fire
Ray 2= 33 pts fire
TOTAL= 49 pts of fire dmg (IF both hit and bypassed SR)
Seph transforms into his humanoid form and grabs Merle trying to stop her from fleeing
Seph fights his fear and grabs his sister tight
Ray 1= 16pts fire
Ray 2= 33 pts fire
TOTAL= 49 pts of fire dmg (IF both hit and bypassed SR)
Justin traces a fiery sigil in the air. Two red-hot beams arc out from his fingers, striking the floating skeletal form
The beams converge and strike the whirling leaves and the lurking demon skeleton within. The creature howls as the two beams make the swirling gale of leaves catch fire in an expanding holocaust. Suddenly the flaming sphere of whirling leaves explodes, casting burning embers all over the dead branch. In the sudden quiet after the explosion, there is a rattling as several blackened bones hit the ground
Just as suddenly as the fear gripped him, it leaves, and Ekuur stops running (only 1 rd effect, anyway). He immediately turns and races back, only to find Justin watching with a grin as the remains of the creature are immolated. Despite his own shame at his cowardice, he can't help but smile seeing the work of fire. "You have made the Sacred Flame proud, Justin Case. Well done."
He then goes to Bethany, and heals her of the creature's touch. The heat radiating from his cure spell removes the cold touch of the leaf-thing.
[ooc]Question: lesser restoration has no effect on negative levels, correct?
At first Merle try's to struggle against Seph but suddenly stops as the feeling dissipates.
At first Merle try's to struggle against Seph but suddenly stops as the feeling dissipates. She drops to her knees and hugs Seph
A chagrined Isaac returns to the site of the battle.
"Oi. Well that was bloody embarrassing. Nice work, Justin, Drazek."
Isaac kicks the remaining bones. He looks around for anything of interest on the branch, whistling for Chee Chowk.
"Sodding abomination."
Perception:
At first Merle try's to struggle against Seph but suddenly stops as the feeling dissipates. She drops to her knees and hugs Seph
Merle feels the blind waves of fear drop from her brain
"Sodding abomination."
Perception: 1d20+14
Chee Chowk comes scurrying forth and clambers aboard Issac's shoulder. Issac notes a dark cave-like opening by the side branch they fought by. It looks like some sort of rotted knothole.
Nari's crystal had been desperately skittering around, trying to get her to stay still long enough to switch places. She ran a bit farther than she should have before she realized that she could stop. She looked down at the crystal stomping irritably on her hand.
:Just try not to destroy too much while it's your turn, okay?: she said telepathically.
Nari took a deep breath and placed the shivering, cowering crystal on her shoulder where it promptly hid under her hair and walked back to the others.
Isaac whistles to his companions.
"Looks like we got lair or somethin' here, cutters. I'll give it a scan..."
The ranger motions for his monkey to stay outside, draws his short sword and heads into the knothole.
Perception:
Isaac whistles to his companions.
"Looks like we got lair or somethin' here, cutters. I'll give it a scan..."
The ranger motions for his monkey to stay outside, draws his short sword and heads into the knothole.
Perception: 1d20+14
Chee Chowk scrambles off and perches on the lip of the wood wound, peering after his ride fretfully
Issac notes that the hole is fairly narrow, and it descends at a 45 degree angle. The wood looks rotten, as if an old branch rotted or a beetle once chewed a hole through.
The Godsman comes to a larger hollow. The small chamber reeks of death. The floor is carpeted with bones: Human, Humanoid, Ratatosk, and animal. A few items wink from the tangle.
Issac begins to poke through the remains in the small rotted chamber. Various precious coins and gems start to emerge from the bony tangle. A rotted bandoleer on a skeletal Ratatosk yeilds five brownish potions:
5 Beetle Elixirs:
A slim white crystal four feet in length and pointed at one end emerges from an old backpack:
Crystal Anchor of Alertness:
A plain battered scabbard holds a wicked-looking rapier etched with a name: Kidneythief
Kidneythief:
Issac comes across a skeleton in a ragged red skimpy dress. A few wispy strands of white-blonde hair are kept back on the skull by a silvery band inset with sparkling orange gems:
A slender javelin under a pile of bones is etched with a stylized lightning bolt:
A small palm-sized blue crystal disk etched with Draconic runes on its edge catches his eye:
Force disk:
A host of smaller treasures unearth themselves:
- Gold chalice inset with semi-percious stones
- 10 hacksilver bracelets
- A white heart pendant fashioned of mithril and diamonds
- A pearl necklace
- A masterwork gold-hilted scimitar inlaid with diamonds and rubies
- A large bag filled with gold and silver flatware
- A pendant inset with a huge star sapphire
- A hammer pendant made of gold-washed mithril inset with black onyx knotwork
- A collection of miscellaneous coinage, much of it Abyssal or Asgardian in origin (1,000 GP)
Karrin rejoins the others after she shakes the fear.
"Wow that was weird," Karrin says sheepishly, "old bonesy here must have had some sort of magic to affect people's minds or something. I never felt a scare like that before. Completely irrational and stuff. Is everyone okay?"
Isaac emerges with his handkerchief over his mouth, his pack bursting with coins and valuables, a rapier and a javelin in hand.
"This oughtta put you cutters in a finer mood. This bony bastard penned a lot o' poor sods in the deadbook; figure they'd rather we have their kit than him."
Phaumee returns to the party and retreives his short spear. He chitters in his heavy Common accent
"Much thanks heros for killing bad-bad dead thing. Very bad, kill many fwee-chit-chit-*nuk* from hutch."
He dances about the blackened bones
"You come to Phaumee's hutch. Phaumee give you proper meal, then take you to lizard home."
"Sounds good Phaumee," Karrin says, "I've built up a bit of an appetite it seems."
Bethany nods her head at Ekuur for healing her and her eyes light up when Isaac brings out the treasure from the hole.
After eyeing off the headband and scowling when Merle picks it up and puts it on, she shrugs seeing nothing else of interest except the mundane treasure and moves back to let the others have their pick.
Knowledge (Planes):
Knowledge (Local):
Isaac tosses Kidneythief to Swire.
"Don't say I never gave you nothin', cutter. No offense, but I always reckoned yeh fer a kidney man..."
:)
Justin's eyes burn with a light that almost matches the flames as he watches his fiery rays burn through the leaves and scorch the bony ghoul within.
"YEAH!" He cries, raising a fist and then pumping it down with a feral grin.
"And there's more where that came from!" He adds, his adrenaline not ready to let him relax just yet,... He looks at Drazek and Bethany.
"What?!"
Once the excitement (and adrenaline) has worn off, Justin wanders over and examines the bones of the creature. He starts to kick the burnt bones towards the edge of the branch, then bends over and thoughtfully selects a surviving arm bone from the remains.
"I'm no necromancer, but this could come in handy." Is all he gives in way of explanation as he tucks it into his coat.
Once he has assured himself that it was NOT a 'ghost', (Or at least not the variety that is likely to regenerate and return!) Justin rejoins the others.
"I'm thinking, hoping actually, that without the spirits influence, that life will return to this branch. I know it looks dead, but this is a BIG tree, and plants are notoriously hard to kill. I think it's gonna be alright. It will take time, and a little help wouldn't hurt, but it should eventually return to full health. SPEAKING of health, I saw that thing hit you with what looked like necromantic energy Drazek, are you alright?" He asks, turning to the warlock.
Drazek grunts tiredly, a sound that seems somehow...lacking.
"Sumb@$++ got me good. Nice job Justin."
He turns to Bethany, "You alright babe?"
Justin nods with a slight frown.
"Well, even if Ekuur can't fix you up outright, he can probably provide you with a fiery boost, strengthen you to help you fight off the effects your feeling. You may be a little weak, but with any luck you'll be fine in a couple of days."
"And Nari! What was that trick with the leaves you did? That was brilliant! It wasn't expecting that! If that reject from the undead club had any skin left, it's expression would have been priceless! As it is, I think it's jaw almost dropped off right then!" He smiles at the shy elf lass.
Knowledge (Planes): 1d20+9
Knowledge (Local): 1d20+6Isaac tosses Kidneythief to Swire.
"Don't say I never gave you nothin', cutter. No offense, but I always reckoned yeh fer a kidney man..."
Issac:
"Sounds good Phaumee," Karrin says, "I've built up a bit of an appetite it seems."
Once the loot has been tucked away and the party regathered, Phaumee leads them back down the branches towards the main section they came from. It is fully dark and they are full-on tired when Phaumee motions for quiet.
He trills a chittery whistle, and several Ratatosk appear. He chitters and dances about with them for a minute and they send one of their group into a small declivity in the bark. When the Ratatosk returns they chitter some more and then Phaume turns to the group.
"You welcome to Krr-chitter-squee-squee hutch now. Meet wise one, Glittereye. Eat much. Follow-follow!"
Phaumee leads them into the bark declivity. It looks like nothing more than a small irregularity in the bark, but when the party jumps in they suddenly are ported ...elsewhere.
The emerge in a large room that looks as if it is hollowed out of the World Ash. A warm burnished wood chamber soars above them, bigger than many temples. Side tunnels lead off the main area.
The room is full of bustling squirrels. There is a manic, chaotic air as they scurry about chittering amongst themselves. The chamber has a strong musky smell, not too unpleasant, but very noticable.
Phaumee leads the group through the throng. The Ratatosk part and gather around the party with wide eyes. A bent and stooped Ratatosk stands before them. He is dressed in a shiny silk loincloth with bones and feathers worked into his greying fur. He grips a staff carved in stylized knotwork and animal figures. A wise-looking face with a white muzzle stares at them from under a large beetle head hat.
Phaumee bows and chitters in Sylvan to the old Ratatosk
Sylvan:
The elder squirrel looks the party over and speaks in accented, but comprehensible, planar Common
"Greetings valiant ones. I am Glittereye, Talker to Mother. Our community thanks you all. It has been close to a year since the Leaf Ghost began stalking our section of the Mother. We have not much to offer in way of reward, but you shall have our gratitude, and Phaumee shall lead you to the lair of the Khaasta. I would also give you this as a token of our esteem"
The wizened Ratatosk hands the party a pendant on a rawhide thong. The pendant is a small wood stylized carving of s squirrel tucked into its own tail as if asleep.
"This pendant marks its carrier as a friend of the Ratatosk. With it, you can talk our tongue. Once a day you can use it to change your seeming to be one of us, or our smaller cousins, for an hour of time. Use it wisely, for if it is used for ill its magic will fade."
Ratatosk Pendant:
The elder guestures with his staff.
"We have preapred a feast for you. You have done us a boon service. Come."
Glittereye and Phaumee lead them to a side chamber. A low dining table with odd circular chairs is arranged with a large selection of vegetable and nut-based dishes. A few cuts of a witish meat can also be seen.
"We do not eat much flesh," Glittereye says "But occasionally we do eat of the beetle. That is their flesh yonder. We also have some of the curdled milk the humans like.' He points to a wheel of yellow cheese. "I hope the meal is to your liking. Please, be seated."
A group of Ratatosk sit with the party and begin chowing down. There seem to be mostly mushroom, nut and some bean-type dishes, with various sauces reminiscent of soy. There is a type of bread similar to pitas that the Ratatosk use to scoop up messier dishes.
Isaac eats heartily, avoiding the beetle meat but otherwise enjoying everthing. He asks his questions in the Planar Trade tongue so his comrades may follow and without Cant to make it easier for the Ratatosk.
"It's troubling to find the undead on Yggdrasil's branches, much less an entire dead branch. You say this started a year ago, Glittereye. Did you notice any changes in the Mother before that?"
"It's troubling to find the undead on Yggdrasil's branches, much less an entire dead branch. You say this started a year ago, Glittereye. Did you notice any changes in the Mother before that?"
The elder ratatosk nods his narrow face, whiskers twitching agitatedly.
"Aye, Issac. Many seasons back, something ...bad appeared on the Mother. Like a canker or woodrot, only in Her Holy Flesh. We call it the Warpwood. Since that time, evil has come to many branches, and many new portals open to evil lands. Even some of us fall into madness. The Mother is sickened."
Glittereye chitters sadly.
"Never in the seasons upon seasons we have dwelt here has the Mother not protected us and we Her."
"sooo," Karrin says when she notes a lull in the conversation, "there was some talk of food?"
Justin, munching on what seems to be a particularly large pecan, slides over the platter of beetle meat to Karrin,...
Karrin happily eats the beetle meat and just about anything else placed in front of her.
"This is really good," Karrin says to her hosts, "does this tree provide all your food for you? Or do you have to go elsewhere? Like through portals and stuff. Also I hear there's a big snake at the base of this tree or something."
"It's troubling to find the undead on Yggdrasil's branches, much less an entire dead branch. You say this started a year ago, Glittereye. Did you notice any changes in the Mother before that?"The elder ratatosk nods his narrow face, whiskers twitching agitatedly.
"Aye, Issac. Many seasons back, something ...bad appeared on the Mother. Like a canker or woodrot, only in Her Holy Flesh. We call it the Warpwood. Since that time, evil has come to many branches, and many new portals open to evil lands. Even some of us fall into madness. The Mother is sickened."
Glittereye chitters sadly.
"Never in the seasons upon seasons we have dwelt here has the Mother not protected us and we Her."
Isaac looks concerned.
"Can you tell me where this Warpwood began, where it's spreading from? I'm no sage or anything; I'm not sure if I could do anything about it but it could do to have a look when we've settled our current contract."
The elder ratatosk nods his narrow face, whiskers twitching agitatedly."Aye, Issac. Many seasons back, something ...bad appeared on the Mother. Like a canker or woodrot, only in Her Holy Flesh. We call it the Warpwood. Since that time, evil has come to many branches, and many new portals open to evil lands. Even some of us fall into madness. The Mother is sickened."
Glittereye chitters sadly.
"Never in the seasons upon seasons we have dwelt here has the Mother not protected us and we Her."
"That is sad news Glittereye. And unusual, from what Isaac says. Has this ever happened before? I mean, surely something like this has happened before in the history of the 'Mother'? An old tale, or story, or superstition?" Justin asks, sticking a piece of food in his mouth. He stops for a moment, realizing that it was from the plate of beetle meat. He swallows, then tilts his head thoughtfully. He licks his lips.
"Hm. Tastes like chicken. Who knew?"
"Hm. Tastes like chicken. Who knew?"
"No, it tastes like beetle. Nothing tastes like chicken." Apparently the shrieking of today's foe put Swire in a foul mood. Or at least a more-talkative one.
Isaac looks concerned.
"Can you tell me where this Warpwood began, where it's spreading from? I'm no sage or anything; I'm not sure if I could do anything about it but it could do to have a look when we've settled our current contract."
Glittereye inclines his head at Issac
"I can show you where the Warpwood is on the Mother. It doesn't spread, but it is a circle of warped bark with a pool of darkness in the center. It is very bad to go there, but noble heroes like you I will show this unhallow spot myself."