"I really don't think that is a good idea Karrin." Merle yells whilst at the same time casting a grease spell on Glittereye's staff.
Justin, knowing very well what a fire spell can do in a close area, decides to follow both Rhiannon's and Ekuur's leads. He tries to se if he can recognize the spell Glittereye is casting, while being ready to dodge if it goes off anyway,...
Justin, knowing very well what a fire spell can do in a close area, decides to follow both Rhiannon's and Ekuur's leads. He tries to se if he can recognize the spell Glittereye is casting, while being ready to dodge if it goes off anyway,...
1d20+13
Justin
Issac gets a grip on the old squirrel-man. Karrin just misses.
Concentration DC 22:
The spells energy dissapates as Issac embraces Glittereye in a crushing hold. The elderly Ratatosk starts spasming and chittering. Phaumee runs over
"We must bring him away! The Warpwood make him crazy! Bad bad!"
Justin breathes a heavy sigh of relief as Isaac gets the elderly rodent in a vice-like choke hold.
"Listen to the squirrel! Get him away from the warpwood! I don't fancy trying to counter a nature priests magic when he's standing on the holy symbol!" Justin says with a frown. The mage turns to look at Phaumee.
"How are you and the others feeling? Do we need to worry about it affecting you too? Or is it because Glittereye is such a powerful nature priest that it affects him in this way?" He asks politely, but cautiously of Phaumee, using his still-active detection spell to glance at the other squirrel-folk and make sure they don't have the same greasy aura of the warpwood.
"I agree, we must get him away from here. And be wary ourselves; whatever controls him could just as easily find one of us a target, I think."
heal
knowledge religion
spellcraft
Grapple check:
Isaac tries to drag the elderly ratatosk away from the Warpwod.
"Aye, cutter. I'd reckon that Marlus Van and Glittereye were more vulnerable to it with their power drawn from the sodding World Ash. May well be it's Yggrdasil rattlin' their boneboxes, workin' these sods as a defense."
"Leastaways that's what I'd say is the Dark of it. Err, could one o' ye greybeards put this sod teh sleep?"
"I agree, we must get him away from here. And be wary ourselves; whatever controls him could just as easily find one of us a target, I think."
heal 1d20+10
knowledge religion 1d20+6
spellcraft 1d20+4
Ekuur:
Grapple check: 1d20+12
Isaac tries to drag the elderly ratatosk away from the Warpwod.
"Aye, cutter. I'd reckon that Marlus Van and Glittereye were more vulnerable to it with their power drawn from the sodding World Ash. May well be it's Yggrdasil rattlin' their boneboxes, workin' these sods as a defense.""Leastaways that's what I'd say is the Dark of it. Err, could one o' ye greybeards put this sod teh sleep?"
the Ratatosk and Phaumee help subdue Glittereye. The elderly priest falls unconscious of his own accord as they drag him away from the Warpwood.
Isaac leaves Glittereye in the care of Phaumee and the acolyte.
Sylvan:
Patting Phaumee on the back, he returns to the group.
"What say ye, cutters? Any theories? Mayhap one of us should head into the center, see what Darks we can pull from it."
Isaac leaves Glittereye in the care of Phaumee and the acolyte.
Sylvan: ** spoiler omitted **Patting Phaumee on the back, he returns to the group.
"What say ye, cutters? Any theories? Mayhap one of us should head into the center, see what Darks we can pull from it."
Phaumee nods
Sylvan:
As the party discusses plans, they travel with the worried Ratatosk a fair distance from the bizarre Warpwood. Glittereye's acolyte, named Shagbark, speaks up. Shagbark's Planar Trade Common is fairly coherent for a Ratatosk.
"I felt some of what Reverend Glittereye was hit with. The Mother is sick. She is lashing out, crying for relief. It has gotten worse since last we came here. I hope he is all right."
The recumbent Ratatosk elder twitches and chitters in the throes of whatever cataleptic state this incident has left him in.
"What say ye, cutters? Any theories? Mayhap one of us should head into the center, see what Darks we can pull from it."
"I can go. I am the least essential member of the group especially now. No, don't look at me like that. I'm not planning on taking any stupid risks. It's just good strategy. I have every intention of walking back out. But if I don't you'll still be in good shape. That's all."
"I can go. I am the least essential member of the group especially now. No, don't look at me like that. I'm not planning on taking any stupid risks. It's just good strategy. I have every intention of walking back out. But if I don't you'll still be in good shape. That's all."
"What say ye, cutters? Any theories? Mayhap one of us should head into the center, see what Darks we can pull from it."
"Bar that, cutter, ye sound like a sodding Bleaker. Ye ain't goin' alone; two more of us are headed in with ye, protected with what spells we can manage. That's a better strategy, if ye ask me and less likely to result in unnecessary losses."
"Karrin, watch her back. Ekuur, Justin, Merle- which o' you bloods has protection spells at the ready?"
"I can go. I am the least essential member of the group especially now. No, don't look at me like that. I'm not planning on taking any stupid risks. It's just good strategy. I have every intention of walking back out. But if I don't you'll still be in good shape. That's all."
"What say ye, cutters? Any theories? Mayhap one of us should head into the center, see what Darks we can pull from it.""Bar that, cutter, ye sound like a sodding Bleaker. Ye ain't goin' alone; two more of us are headed in with ye, protected with what spells we can manage. That's a better strategy, if ye ask me and less likely to result in unnecessary losses."
"Karrin, watch her back. Ekuur, Justin, Merle- which o' you bloods has protection spells at the ready?"
Smiles a little and points to the faction pin she's wearing. "I'll take that as a compliment then."
"I can make her invisible but that is about it."
"I have several I can use. Some are more geared towards enhancing the combat effectiveness, although I have both spells and the mental ability to guard against energy damage. I can also use a shield of faith, although it is somewhat short in length."
"I have several I can use. Some are more geared towards enhancing the combat effectiveness, although I have both spells and the mental ability to guard against energy damage. I can also use a shield of faith, although it is somewhat short in length."
The group discusses options in exploring the Warpwwod. The light is rapidly fading as Yggdrasil's day comes to a close. The mournful hoot of a giant owl in the distance echoes through the twilight air.
The Ratatosk work feverishly to make their high priest comfortable. After about a half-hour passes, Phaumee exclaims
"He is waking!"
"Whatever!" Karrin snaps at Isaac, before walking over to Naridre.
"Okay, so Karrin and Ekuur are going in with me? And no, don't even think about volunteering yourself Isaac. You're the leader, you stay put. In case things go wrong. Honestly," she added impatiently at his expression, "I'm not being gloomy. I'm just planning. You do know what planning is right?" she teased.
Her mood seemed to shift by the second as she stood and stared at the warpwood.
"No I have never heard of such a thing please explain it to me.", Isaac responds without inflection before adding,"You and Ekuur just keep an eye on Kind over there- I want an
itemized list of any backtalk or signs of insubordination."
He turns to attend the ratatosk priest.
"I can provide a protection from evil enchantment. It should prevent anything similar from happening to us. But it only works on one per casting. I can manage one easy, two if needed, or a resist energy, but unless I have some down time to prep scrolls that's all I can do. Now, if you find me a Target, then we can discuss multiple options for mayhem." He smirks.
"I should go. I have the most experience with things like this, Not that I've actually seen anything like this, and I'm trained to resist mental intrusions."
Issac walks over to the recumbent Ratatosk elder. He has opened his eyes, and he looks at Issac
Sylvan:
The ancient squirreloid is wracked with coughing. Phaumee and Shagbark try to calm him, but Glittereye pushes them off and rises on one furry arm.
Sylvan:
Issac, the Mother showed me what must be done in a vision while I was unconcious. There is a portal near here that leads to a reclusive world. There a priestess holds an artifact of great power, the Crysagmir. It is an artifact from the First Days, when the multiverse and planes were still in flux. It holds primal energy that the Mother needs to heal the Warpwood. Would you and your comrades entreat this priestess to give the Crysagmir to you? I fear for the Mother, and for the many skeins of destiny that might unravel should she die. If the Warpwood grows and cankers, it could turn the Mother into an avatar of hideous evil, spreading undeath to every portal she holds among her branches."
Ekuur inquires of Isaac, "Can you ask Glittereye what we might expect to encounter in there? For example, if we were to protect ourselves from energy, does he know what might be the best suggestion?"
Merle makes a face at Isaac behind his back before heading over to Karrin "Hey are you okay?" Merle asks as Seph in cat form climbs onto Karrins shoulder and begins to give her a pat on the back.
"I'm fine," Karrin says, "it's just Isaac has become a tyrant since he took over as leader. Making unreasonable requests and bossing everyone about. Well he ain't the boss of me!"
Isaac nods, gripping the elderly ratatosk's furry shoulder.
Sylvan:
He turns back to his comrades.
"Glittereye lanned me the Chant: reality is warped in the center of the Warpwood and un-life energy seeps from it and poisons the Mother... err, Yggdrasil. Unless we can protect against that, it may be more dangerous than we reckoned."
Isaac clears his throat.
"And, well, Glittereye says he knows of a trig artifact- real dusty and ancient-like, from the First Days when the Planes weren't as set as they are, that could heal the Warpwood with primal energy. A top-shelf priestess has it and she calls kip in a plane with a portal not far from here. If someone were to retrieve it, the Warpwood could be healed."
A bit sheepishly, Isaac scratches the back of his neck.
"I... agreed to do it. On behalf o' the Rose. Listen, first, before ye start rattlin' yer boneboxes or turnin' me into a toad or leadin' a mutiny! If we don't stop this, here and now, the Warpwood will spread and infect the World Ash. Poison the whole thing. Blood will rain from the sky, cats and dogs will start livin' in harmony, every Blood, Berk and Basher on the Planes will be affected one way or another. Yggdrasil herself will be an avatar of evil on a multiverse spanning scale. No plane untouched, even your old homes on the Prime."
"We head this off now, cutters, we could literally be saving the multiverse. So, naturally, I reckoned Renkar would want this on our resume."
Nari looked at Karrin a bit funny.
"And I thought I was crazy," she muttered.
"Right, well, glad we figured that out before walking into the warpwood. So...saving the multiverse it is. I presume this is going to be dangerous? No, shut up, it's your turn when I say it's your turn. You're always hogging time in the physical body. Well, it's my turn now. You heard him, saving the multiverse. Not a job for the timid.....Er.....sorry about that. Won't happen again. Probably."
Nari looked at Karrin a bit funny.
"And I thought I was crazy," she muttered.
"Right, well, glad we figured that out before walking into the warpwood. So...saving the multiverse it is. I presume this is going to be dangerous? No, shut up, it's your turn when I say it's your turn. You're always hogging time in the physical body. Well, it's my turn now. You heard him, saving the multiverse. Not a job for the timid.....Er.....sorry about that. Won't happen again. Probably."
"Ye keep that goin', cutter, ye'll quit bein' a Bleaker and come out a Xaosman. Chant my lann, yeh?"
"Ye keep that goin', cutter, ye'll quit bein' a Bleaker and come out a Xaosman. Chant my lann, yeh?"Nari looked at Karrin a bit funny.
"And I thought I was crazy," she muttered.
"Right, well, glad we figured that out before walking into the warpwood. So...saving the multiverse it is. I presume this is going to be dangerous? No, shut up, it's your turn when I say it's your turn. You're always hogging time in the physical body. Well, it's my turn now. You heard him, saving the multiverse. Not a job for the timid.....Er.....sorry about that. Won't happen again. Probably."
"I apologize. I'm not used to people being able to hear my commentary. Kind of makes my point for me, but not really anything that I need to share with the group. Point is, I'm ready to go whenever the rest of you are. Probably shouldn't waste too much time considering. I'm pretty sure none of us are particularly partial to the idea of evil and madness consuming the planes. Insanity isn't nearly as much fun as it looks like from the outside."
Rhiannon looks at Karrin, then shakes her head.
"I'll go as well,we'll need a tightly coordinated effort."
Justin looks at Nari with pursed lips and wide eyes.
"Uh-huh. Ok then." He says straight-faced, but glancing at Isaac with a raised eyebrow. Seeing the rangers retort to the usually timid elf, he relaxes, a little.
Only to raise both eyebrows at Karrin's grumbling.
Justin gives a small smile and a resigned sigh.
"Saving the multiverse. Probably a good thing to have on the resume'." Justin agrees. "Even if no one will ever believe it."
"Alright, I presume we're all going? Probably better not to split up if we're going to chat with a being who holds a fragment of cosmic creation/reality on her knick-knack shelf!"
"Ekuur, unless you have access to a blessing that can cover the entire party, I'll save my protections until it looks like one of us has been affected."
Glittereye raises himself up with Shagbark's help and looks at the party
"There is a secret portal near our home. I will have Shagbark lead you to it. I must give you a token to give the priestess to prove your story. I have it at our nest."
The elder priest looks frail and tired
"The priestess' name is Mirisel. She is a proxy of the elven deity Hanali Celani, Goddess of beauty and dreams. She lives in the city of Hanalindali, in the Vale of Eagles."
He looks at Issac.
"You must give her the token, and then bring the Crysagmir to the Warpwood."
"It'll be done, Glitteye, you can count on us. Oi, let's give that diseased mess the laugh and get this artifact, eh?"
Due to impending night, the group decides to travel about an hour away from the Warpwood and camp. Nothing untoward occurs, and in the morning, the group heads back to the Ratatosk lair.
Glittereye is carried in an improvised litter by the other Ratatosk. He seems worn and somewhat feeble. Despite this, the group makes good headway and arrives at the ratatosk's home before nightfall.
Inside, Glittereye's condition is greeted with a lot of concern. He waves off the hordes of concerned family and friends with assurances that he is all right. He leads the group to his private chambers.
Gllittereye's room is a hollow half-dome of polished wood. A carving of Yggdrasil dominates the wood of the room. It seems like a map as well as a decoration. Alembics, books and miscellania dot the area, the very picture of a bookish being's study.
Glittereye opens a small door in the Yggdrasil carving that was cunningly concealed in the various desgins. He pulls forth a large acorn. It looks to be about the size of a small pumpkin, and is a deep brown color.
"We Ratatosk are the Mother's Children in spirit, but on occasion, the Mother brings forth a child of Her own Flesh. This is the Scion of Yggdrasil. Merisel has desired this child for many years, and fate has decreed that she shall now gain custody of the seedling. This is the only treasure that she will accept for the Crysagmir."
Glittereye looks at the group.
"Who will take the honor of carrying Her?"
"As one holy man to another, I would be honored. If no one else objects, of course."
"Go ahead." Merle tells Ekuur secretly glad she wasent the one having to carry it.
"As one holy man to another, I would be honored. If no one else objects, of course."
Glittereye extends the large acorn to Ekuur
"You hold in your hands a seed that in later eons might be as mighty as the Mother. Guard Her well."
A song of growing and potential wells up in Ekuur's brain: Beautiful to hear, yet alien in composition. A song for treants and mayflies, birth and death, wind and roots combined.
Suddenly the song ends and symbols address Ekuur's mind in greeting
**hello**
The rest of the party watch as Ekuur becomes very still
Ekuur registers surprise for only a moment.
"Hello. Forgive my surprise; I was not expecting communication from you. Your song was most pleasant; growth and wind and rain ... no matter how often I experience these things, they still seem foreign to me. But I ramble ... what can I do for you?"
Ekuur:
**You are the Bearer. My Parent has told me you will be taking me to my new home. All I need is protection during the journey. Be wary. Many crave to possess me.**
The presence seems to wander off again. Although Ekuur gets a sense of power, he also senses that this spirit is new-born as such things go. It (she?) seems to be easily distracted. Ekuur can sense a little of its focus zipping around, trying to perceive all things in the room, while simultaneously resuming the song of growth.
Ekuur stirs again, then looks to the rest of the group and Glittereye. "It ... or actually, "she" I think ... requires our protection on the journey to her new home. She has told me many would desire to possess her, so we must be wary. It would seem we are destined to continue carrying the items the remainder of the multiverse desires."
It would seem we are destined to continue carrying the items the remainder of the multiverse desires."
It would seem we are destined to continue carrying the items the remainder of the multiverse desires."
"So the tree seed told you all this? Oh wonderfull" Merle responds in a somewhat deadpan voice
"We're security contractors specializing in the acquisition and transport of valuable assets- that's what we tell the clients from now on. Unless she's got some objections, Ekuur, I suggest we place her in a plain brown sack and mayhap one or two of us should carry dummy sacks that look the same. Won't be proof against magic spies, but it should trip up any cross-traders with a thought to bob us."
"Speakin' o' which- for the fifth time today, let me figure what you spellslingers have at yer disposal. Any means to confuse a seer? We got teh be more 'n just reactive if we can."
Isaac rubs his chin, trying to come up with any information at all on the plane the Rose is about to visit- and the proxy Meralindel.
Knowledge (Planes):
"We're security contractors specializing in the acquisition and transport of valuable assets- that's what we tell the clients from now on. Unless she's got some objections, Ekuur, I suggest we place her in a plain brown sack and mayhap one or two of us should carry dummy sacks that look the same. Won't be proof against magic spies, but it should trip up any cross-traders with a thought to bob us."
"Speakin' o' which- for the fifth time today, let me figure what you spellslingers have at yer disposal. Any means to confuse a seer? We got teh be more 'n just reactive if we can."
Isaac rubs his chin, trying to come up with any information at all on the plane the Rose is about to visit- and the proxy Meralindel.Knowledge (Planes): 1d20+9
Issac:
"I don't know if I like a commander telling me to lie . . ." Karrin mutters to herself, "seems kind of dishonest."
(Why yes children, that is the pot accusing the kettle of being constructed of a hard metallic substance)
"We're security contractors specializing in the acquisition and transport of valuable assets- that's what we tell the clients from now on. Unless she's got some objections, Ekuur, I suggest we place her in a plain brown sack and mayhap one or two of us should carry dummy sacks that look the same. Won't be proof against magic spies, but it should trip up any cross-traders with a thought to bob us."
"Speakin' o' which- for the fifth time today, let me figure what you spellslingers have at yer disposal. Any means to confuse a seer? We got teh be more 'n just reactive if we can."
Isaac rubs his chin, trying to come up with any information at all on the plane the Rose is about to visit- and the proxy Meralindel.Knowledge (Planes): 1d20+9
Ekuur runs down the list of spells he has prepared for today.
Justin looks dutifully impressed with the fact that the seed is from the World Tree itself, and is sentient.
"Of course, why wouldn't it be?" he mumbles bemusedly to himself.
The caster shrugs ruefully at Isaac's request.
"Sorry. I'm more of a reactive person. I'll try to take care of that for our next trip. Presuming we survive this one of course."
"I don't know if I like a commander telling me to lie . . ." Karrin mutters to herself, "seems kind of dishonest."
(Why yes children, that is the pot accusing the kettle of being constructed of a hard metallic substance)
"It's not a lie, it's a tactical diversion to further secure our mission-oriented assets.", Isaac notes before adding:"But if ye suddenly have an allergy to tactics, cutter, ye could always choose to abstain and keep yer gob shut. That way ye won't betray our plan to our enemies nor would ye have to take part in my dastardly, conniving plan. Yeh'll thread the proverbial moral needle with all the sweat of a deva at confession."
"Reckon a little diversion is all we can manage, unless ye have other ideas, cutters. Merle? Nari? Any tricks up yer sleeves teh secure our sacred cargo?"