There is a large no-longer-animated plant next to the party which might serve for building materials. However, Sami also notices movement about three-quarters of a mile to the east. Across the grasslands, he discerns the shapes of two more of the things heading towards the party; even at that distance, he can tell that these two look rather healthier than the one the party just fought.
I think that, whatever we do, we should do it fast. Who has rope? Let's bind it, and tie it around my waist. I will run with it. I'm not sure we're ready to face two more of those creatures.
Remembering that the party passed through some undergrowth near the river before reaching the prairie, you retreat from the approaching moonflowers. Since they don't move any faster than you do and they stop at the fallen 'flower, they do not catch up with you.
Every noise is taken as a harbinger of plant attack during the retreat, but nothing actually attacks. You are at the river, the boat is there, and everyone make a Fort save (DC 5, so I expect many of you can't fail it).
Lum is unable to quickly piece together a raft capable of floating the armor bundle. (It doesn't help that his tools are limited.)
Despite the risk of staying on land, the gnome continues to putter about with pieces of wood, and is eventually able to get a raft of sorts together. He won't guarantee how well it'll stay afloat in bad weather, though.
The party returns to the old logging camp they'd used the previous night.
However, as you reach the camp something happens. The note you carry vibrates in the belt pouch you keep it in, and you hear a distant voice, cutting in and out. From the others' reactions they don't hear anything out of the ordinary. The voice says, "...resonance...rift...here? Rashun! Help m...." Then, as nearly as you can piece together afterwards, a rift opened up in front of you as you walked, and closed up again behind you. The camp is still there...sort of. It looks as though it's been abandoned for years. The trees are much smaller, as though they've only been growing for a few decades, instead of the centenarians you were lately surrounded by. And there is no one around you at all.
It's getting late enough that you figure it'd be a good idea to hole up in the only intact building for the night before moving on in the morning...though where you'd go is entirely open. The silence, however, is broken by the sound of a boat on the river and a quiet murmur of voices from it. Looking out, you see a sailboat with a half-dozen or so people on board. There's a gnome, a half-orc, a few apparent humans, and one really odd one. The camp has a somewhat dilapidated stone dock, and the boat is heading for it.
What do you do?
Krol will try to blend in and hide, wanting to study these new approching strangers. He's disturbed by what just happened and for a moment he was going to go out to them, but for the moment he doesn't know if they are friendly or not.
Krol:
Ava:
Krol realises that he hasn't hidden well, neither has Ava but he remains hidden anyway, grasping a vail of alchemist's fire just in case they attempt to attack and are as unfriendly as he fears that they might be.
Sami, as the boat nears the jetty you see a couple of people in the old camp. They're both humanoid, one short and one more human-sized. As you watch both try to conceal themselves, but they don't have good cover. By this time everyone else has noticed them.
"What do we need to fortify the raft? I'm no builder but I'm a decent forager."
Spying the folk at the camp, I pull up short, "Do we know these folk?"
Besmarial responds, "No. There is something about them that reminds me of Master Gallowsmith, though."
"See if friends" Darc says, seemingly satisfied with Besmarial's response.
The party pulls in to the camp and disembarks. Krolmnite, you're pretty sure they know where you are. They're not looking noticeably hostile, though.
Seeing as him and Ava's attempts at trying to hide were futile he takes his hand off the vail and leaves it secured to his belt for quick use and takes a step forward. Ava joining him.
"I apologise for our behaviour just now. We were walking up to meet a camp, but a portal opened and the camp remains, but the people appear to have gone long ago. Can you tell me where or when we are?" before you is a handsome Gnome who knows how to keep himself looking presentable, despite the area around him. He shoulder length bright blong hair and brilliant blue eyes. His physique just like the rest of his race lacking in muscles and height, but known to make up for it in mental capacity. What really stands out however is a strange arcane mark upon his forehead.
This is the symbol usually associated with those who have been blessed (or cursed) with a link to a creature born on the other planes. They are said to take any strange and curious forms.
He looks back to the other figure who is with him.
The figure appears to be that of a female human under a cloak, keeping most of her features hidden. She has a beauty about her, but her eyes scream with violence. She has long black hair and soft pink lips cast against pale skin. She appears to be barefoot and like the gnome she is occompanying, she has a large backpack on her back, though it appears to be carrying far more than his, though she isn't bothered by the weight. She has a symbol on her head, matching Krol's and remains silent as she stares at the group. Krol simply saying.
"My name is Krolmnite Underhill and this is my companion, Ava." she gives a nod as he mentions her name.
The way Ava walks and moves doesn't appear to fully fit the figure of a human and you swear that you saw some movement around the area of her backside.
Krolmnite and Ava, there is a winged helmet hovering over the party. It appears to be a Cassissian angel; it speaks first. "I am Besmarial, bound in service to Prester Gallowsmith. Your names are known to me through him. Do you still have his invitation?"
Interesting, a Cassissian. Pester Gallowsmith must've made his deity happy indeed to have such a companion." he says more studying Besmarial than actually answering the question. "I've studied your kind, but didn't think I'd actually see one." he then pads down his pickets, searching through for something.
After a bit of time padding himself down he finds the invitation and produces it with a smile.
"sorry I have so much in my pockets it's hard to find anything." he hands it over to however will take it from him. "May I ask for your names as I have given you mine and Ava's?"
The half-orc eyes the newcomers suspiciously, especially the woman who eyes speak to him of death. He puffs his chest, looking straight at the woman as if to challenge her, he says "Darc" and waits for her to speak.
Besmarial dips in greeting. "The Powers of Nirvana think it wise to repair the world, and it is my honor to serve Their will."
Eretria steps forward, glancing over Krolmnite and Ava before smiling slightly, "I am Eretria Whitethorne, sorceress."
Krol extends his hand out with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, Eretria." he gives a look to the rest of the group "I hope we are to work well together."The half-orc eyes the newcomers suspiciously, especially the woman who eyes speak to him of death. He puffs his chest, looking straight at the woman as if to challenge her, he says "Darc" and waits for her to speak.
At this Ava strightens up and looks back to Darc, almost accepting the challenge, but not taking a step. As she and Krol exchange looks she takes a step back and relaxes. Krol moves over to Darc and offers his hand too with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, Darc." he says this with a bright smileBesmarial dips in greeting. "The Powers of Nirvana think it wise to repair the world, and it is my honor to serve Their will."
"I would be interested in exploring these worlds, but I am certain Desna would like the world to be repaired. She wouldn't have one of her followers gift me with my companion otherwise." at this he then realises he should tell the group a bit more about himself and Ava. "I am a summoner. Someone who has gained a supernatural and unexplained link to a outsider. Ava is that outsider joined with me after I saved her mother's life. Azatas have a different way of looking at life than we do, but I accepted this gift." at this he gives a signal to Ava who lets down her hood, revealing the blood-red scales around her neck, her sharp nails as strong as steel as she demonstraits on a nearby tree. She also opens her mouth to show off a pair of fangs and a reptilian tail reveals itself under her robe before she hides it away again along with putting her hood back up and unrolling her sleeves.
"I hope our skills can help you repair the world or worlds as I have heard stories of other worlds being shown in these rifts. The thought of some of these evil places bleeding into our world is terrorfying." he shudders for a moment before looking over to Besmarial. "So...where to?"
"I think that it has been decided to rest the night here, and then go on in the morning to assist Versey and Lum with a problem they have been having. They can likely tell you more. In the meanwhile, though, since you did not meet my master, I should tell you of his plan." It stops, and then begins to speak in a light tenor voice completely unlike the way it was speaking before. Krolmnite, it's the same voice you heard from your invitation not long ago.
The angel pauses in its narration. "We have discerned that every major event in the history of our world holds a certain temporal energy...an energy whose potential is detectable on certain individuals: those who respond to the symbol as you did are marked by that potential. More importantly, it also permeates the planar boundaries and as we found out, alters them. You see, every major event or keystone moment creates a potential for an equal and opposite outcome. The very energy that causes history to hinge upon that moment creates its opposition. When this occurs, a new Golarion is produced, divergent from our Golarion in that moment. If the event is strong enough, that Golarion continues, evolving in its new path separate from our path, spawning its own alternates. If it is weak, it will die, usually within a few days, but we have seen such realities persist for longer before fading. Indeed, in Pharasma's Boneyard, there may well be a graveyard of such realities. But I digress. In this garden of forking paths, there is always a prime path, a Golarion from which all others sprang. I first believed that our world must be that world, but of late I am reconsidering that conclusion. That does not change the basic point: it seems as if the weight of these other realities is becoming too much for this world to bear. The rifts are the result of this stress. They are the tears where one reality intersects with another, and if they are allowed to continue, they will eventually cause all realities to collapse in upon each other, destroying them all. We know not why or where this threat comes from, but we believe we may have a way to stop the collapse."
The angel continues in its 'natural' voice instead of the one it had used--presumably what the real Prester Gallowsmith sounds like. "It is at this point that my master showed an image, which I am not capable of repeating." It goes on as Gallowsmith. "In each reality, we have identified a keystone, a place or person or thing upon which that reality rests. Some aspect of these things has become lacking in some way and must be rectified if that reality is to be shored up against the collapse.
"This is the Dark Road, a tangle in the fabric of reality that, when combined with the rest of what is happening, threatens to tear all apart if it is not destroyed. Break the terminus before the Road is strengthened by the conjunction, and this reality shall be strengthened and the threat against all of us is lessened by the weight of a single grain of sand. Minor, perhaps, but taken in total with others and it may be enough to save us all."
Besmarial's voice returns to normal. "Come nightfall, if it is clear you can see the Dark Road in the sky to the north."
Krol nods as he listens to this and some of which he appears to grasp, though other parts seem a bit beyond him, though he doesn't confirm it verbally.
"I see the situation. It would be best for us to rest, but if we can find shelter that would be a big plus, especially if there are things lurking in these woods we've not seen before." Krol states as he things on these new events that have been revealed "It appears we'll have to destroy whatever is causing this, unfortunately I'm afraid in the worst scenario we might have to destroy a reality somehow to make room, otherwise all will be destroyed. This is going to be a educational jurney for me and Ava."
Lum interjects, "Well, you know, the building right over there made for a pretty decent shelter last night."
Krol nods as he understands the urgency here. He takes a look into the distance and back to the group.
"if there were a spell or something to help move us along that cpould help. I'd like to correct this world's issues as soon as possible." he looks through his items, seeing no way how his items could help.
Still feeling new to the group, I have been hanging back but after things seem settled I approach Krolmnite and Ava, "I am Elesandira, I too am new to this expedition."
A lithe leopard curls around my legs, "And this is Selvshanea."
I peer out into the darkness, "I am not yet weary, I shall take first watch."
Still feeling new to the group, I have been hanging back but after things seem settled I approach Krolmnite and Ava, "I am Elesandira, I too am new to this expedition."
A lithe leopard curls around my legs, "And this is Selvshanea."
I peer out into the darkness, "I am not yet weary, I shall take first watch."
"nice to meet you, Elesandira." he smiles and puts out his hand to shake. "If you don't mind, me and ava would like to take the first watch. Once I fall asleep she dissappears so it would be better if she were here if something starts up. Not to mention she has an acute sense of smell."
I raise an eyebrow: she disappears?
"Very well, the night watch for us."
The night passes without incident.
Conjunction -20 days
Next morning, the weather is great. Wind out of the east, blowing the party in the direction it needs to go, partly cloudy, and cool. A couple of hours of sailing later, Versey indicates that you're as close to his ship as you can get by water.
Eretria will nod. "Well let's not waste time and keep moving."
"Good idea." Krol says a smile as he and Ava gather their things ready to head out.
Darc smiles when Versey indicates their time on the water is at an end. Though his face still shows the increased tension he has when traveling on water. "Let's to shore then." he speaks harshly, trying to cover his unease. He scans the river bank for anything that might threaten their safe embarkation to dry land. "Don't worry, I lead the way." he says as he takes his flail out, just in case.
Darc smiles when Versey indicates their time on the water is at an end. Though his face still shows the increased tension he has when traveling on water. "Let's to shore then." he speaks harshly, trying to cover his unease. He scans the river bank for anything that might threaten their safe embarkation to dry land. "Don't worry, I lead the way." he says as he takes his flail out, just in case.
Ava decides to follow Darc's idea and narrow her eyes and sniff the air for any danger.
With Sami's assistance, Lum steers the skiff to land in a small inlet. There are, as noted before, no sounds of birds or other small animals in the undergrowth. Versey indicates a direction to travel, and the party sets out, dragging the armor-wrapped cylinder behind.
In and among the trees (and sometimes festooning them) are odd plants--some small low bushes with thick purplish-red leaves, streamers of moss of a similar color, and a few tall stalks with leaves a green so dark it looks almost black. Ava is struck by the odd scents of all of these; the vinegary tang of the moss and the bushes, and the ammoniacal bite of the tall stalks.
About a hundred feet from the shore, Selveshanea hears something moving. At the same time, Sami and Elesandira notice climbing vines on a tree near you. The interesting thing is that their climbing speed is visible.
What do you do?
Ava sniffs for a moment and looks to the group.
"There are many odd scents in the air. I do not know of these plants but they are making it difficult for me to tell if there is anything else nearby but us." she states more to Krol than the rest of the group.