GM Rednal's War of the Burning Sky (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

If it is, I shall make good use of its choppy power!

Umbriak nodded and bowed his head. <"Then our thanks, and if all else fails, farewell fair lady."> Unless the others had business here, Umbriak started to head back to town. He intended to make sure they ready for freeing, then fighting, the strange fire beast.

Ridley thanked the dryad as well.

Fancy plot weapons tend to do their own thing. XD Put simply, they have a natural bonus of their own, but you can overwrite that with ABP's attunement if you want to. The bonuses do NOT stack - it's one or the other.

Leaving the Dryad's home was easier than getting there, and indeed, the forest seemed a little less oppressive, a little more friendly than before as you headed back towards the village... and whatever plans you had for your arrival there.

"So, how shall we do this deed?" Umbriak considered. "Do any of ye ken the magics for breathing beneath the lake? I dinnae think we wish to fight down below if nae breathing can be found. And shall we tell the local folks to head for yon dryad's grove, to avoid fighting? Maybe take a few barrels of water with them..."

"I figure we'll need to tell the local folks, it's the responsible thing to do. But there may be trouble with those who don't approve of what we intend to do. I'm also not sure if sending them off is the best idea...we don't know if it's sufficient if we sing that song of forms...and I'm quite certain we want to keep our target having a tangible form if we intend to fight it.", Farod answered. "Aside from that, we should probably also inform Crystin, Torrent, and the old Man. You know, I fully expect us to succeed in our task...but...they should know. Just in case..." It meant a trip to the shrine where their friends had taken refugee, and then back to the Seela village, but it seemed necessary regardless.

I have no magics to breath underwater, but I do have Endurance...then again, with a bow, I'm not a huge fan of underwater combat and would prefer getting the beast on land. How deep/large is the lake?

Our best bet is Air Bubble, but that's only 4 minutes of breathing, which is not much.

"Surely, some of the local water fey might offer assistance, no?"

I'm not sure we'll get a choice. If it's underwater we might have to fight it there. Hopefully, it'll head for the surface.

"Mayhap," Umbriak rumbled. "But aye, we should inform the others. Do either of ye have some magic that can reach them, or mayhap we should send a runner? I hesitate to hold off attacking the beast to wander through yonder woods again."

The lake is about three miles across, although your destination isn't quite that far. It goes at least 20 feet down when you get a ways away from the shore, though there are shallower areas.

"I'm not sure the lake is deep enough that we'll have to worry about magical aid in breathing. Flatland lakes tend to be just that...flat, wide across but shallow. Unfortunately I have no means to inform the others. And after the assault on her, I am reluctant to ask Tiljann to run an errand alone. Maybe we could arrange for the Seela to run and tell them if it seems we are failing in the task ahead of us - also because the shrine may be one of the only shelters left in the forest if so."

"Sounds like a plan, if she be willing."

"Well... I'm no eager swimmer, so I'll defer to you two on this."

"I can swim," Umbriak replied. "I can grow large, too, and use that to boost me thews and reduce how deep the water goes."

Ah, the traditional dwarven arts of diving into above-ground bodies of wa- wait, no, that wasn't right. Anyway, progress remained easy as you came within sight of the village once more.

Go in, go to the lake... whatever you want. XD It's your plan.

I'd pop up an Air Bubble if you've got the slots, just as insurance...

Farod will approach the Elder of the village, feeling they should let the Seela know what the Dryad told them, as well...that something monumental will happen, but they will survive...and ask for a Spear to use, if the Fiery being for some reason was unable or refused to exit the lake.

So once we're ready to go ahead, cast Air Bubble, Deacon.

Also, we can go dive, take a look, we don't have to pull out the sharpened stick in the moment we set foot in the lake.

Oh no, I don't know the spell. It's on Umbriak's list.

Spherecasting has access to Vancian Spells in this game? How does that work?

Generally... it doesn't work.

As for weaponry in the village... well, that wood is all on fire, too. There's really not any other kind of wood in this forest right now. XD; Except maybe for what you've brought.

You can borrow Umbriak's old axe, if you like...but we should be able to make do without magical aid. I hope.

For underwater combat, I would really prefer a piercing weapon. Penalties on slashing and bludgeoning are too massive. Even without extensive training, it shouldn't be hard to figure out that a stabbing motion with a spear will be more efficient than wide swings. *shrug* But thanks. Anyway, flaming spear-thingie is all fine. I don't expect we will be underwater long, it's really just a backup.

That said, can we stand by the lake and take a look? As in, dive in and see what's there? That is, get a scene of the underwater prison before we roll init? :)

I'm pretty pierce-y... not amazing at swimming, but if the water is calm it should be fine

You can totally go down to the lake and look in. ^^ Might not see everything, but... well, there is a map.

Everybody ready? Wanna go down to the lake and take a look? We can still pull back and do preparations if needed but I think we're pretty set.

Mage armor/Stand the Heat is still active, before we start the action, I would also buff with Gravity Bow.

Umbriak awwwaaaaay!

Oh! Dang! Ridley's ready, though he might stand/swim a few feet behind the others.

Fortunately, as it happened, the water near the fey village was pretty clear - and you could see out a fair ways.

Hm, underwater caves?...so, no fiery godlike beings pinned to the lake floor anywhere in view?

The Dwarf paused at the lakeside. "Nae chance of a boat that hasnae burned to ash, I suppose?" He looked around and sighed before heading out into the water.

Swim: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Hm...I'm growing worried...Ridley just meant to take a look...he's been under water too long already...you think he's alright?", Farod scanned the surface of the lake nervously, looking for the Halfling who insisted on scouting ahead-

Not that you can easily see from the surface, no. ...It's not a super-clear lake. XD

I blame perception modifiers. At +1 DC/10 feet, if he swims out 300 feet we basically have no chance to see him any more...he's gone.

Realzing he was all alone in the lake, and that...something...was calling him back to the shore, Umbriak sighed, turned and swam back to shore with a grunt. "I shall be most grumpy if the rust beasties nibble me undergarments..." Muttering to himself, the Dwarf started to look for whatever was attracting his attention.

When it becomes clear Ridley was gone, Farod makes his way to the shore with Umbriak:"You think he got scared and run off?"
It wasn't a pleasant thought, but it seemed more desireable than the alternative...
Clearly, though, they would have to reconsider their plans with one less person...maybe the Fey had SOME among them who could join in an assault against the trapped Fire-God.

"Called by his god, mayhap?" Umbriak suggest, wringing the water from his heard in a long stream. He doubted he was dead, and he didn't seem the sort to run. But his mistress had her own plans and ideals...

There were indeed times when people left for one reason or another... although it was probably worth keeping in mind that you were in the middle of a village of fey. Speaking of, you did hear some noise from further in.

Umbriak continued towards the noise, on the theory that it was probably interesting. Maybe someone was upset they hadn't gotten any of his breakfast...

Farod followed swiftly.
They HAD left a stock of potions with the others, so while unlikely, Torrent, the old man, and his sweet daughter might have made their way here for one reason or another.
And not all the Fey seemed to be unified, as the unprovoked Assault on the Fey Girl had proven, so it was best to be extra careful-

Moving towards the central area of the village, you noticed several fey cluster around what appeared to be a giant... crow man... of some kind. At the very least, it was a humanoid covered in dark feathers, with a beak coming out of his face, and he certainly didn't look like he was wearing a costume. The question, then, was whether it was a costume or whether the fey had done something...

The strange bird man cocked his head side to side, trying to keep a wary eye on each of the fey that fluttered about him. He didn't appear overtly hostile and his large wooden shield remained hanging from the pack on his back, but one of his hands was a stark white against his otherwise patchy black feathers and it continually clenched and unclenched as if in preparation for a coming conflict.

As the pair grew closer, they overheard snippets of what the man was squawking, and he seemed to be jumping between a variety of languages in an attempt to convey his words.

"...and then just as I steadied myself your infernal forest grew a face and tried to swallow me up!" The crow man gesticulated in the direction of mess of burning wreckage just beyond the ring of fey. "I barely made it past the flaming tree tops and now you're all just staring at me. Still nothing? Let's try ignan I guess since you all seem so fond of fire."

The man's sparse feather's around his neck fluffed a bit before he began his explanation again in the crackling and popping tones of the natives of the plane of fire.

"They are nae fond of fire, friend, but rather are it's captors and captives. 'Tis a long, winding tale, I fear. And 'tis Sylvan these kind folk speak, being the fey of this place from before the wee problem of charcoaling became an issue." Eyeing the stranger as he approached, Umbriak added in Sylvan, <"Do not worry, fair friends. I do not believe this one means any harm. Probably.">

<"But be welcome! I am Umbriak Emberswornn, quester and devotee of Angradd. Who do I address?"> Showing off his own skill with various languages, Umbriak spoke in Ignan too.

The birdman turned abruptly at the sound of words he actually understood, even if they were spoken in a strange fashion. "Sylvan...? Never learned it. I'm Tchakar. Just Tchakar." Tchakar cast a wary glance at the half-orc accompanying the dwarf before continuing, "I did not expect to find others trapped in this forest as I was coming down, and to be honest I wasn't sure that these weren't the ones that attacked me."

"And my name's Farod. Now then, the part that interests me most is why you would even try and cross the Fire Forest in the first place?", the Half-Orc keeps his distance, not presenting a threat, but not as relaxed as the dwarf either.
"You see, trouble of various sorts seemed to follow us, and knowing your intents and motivation would make it a lot easier to understand your sudden appearance."

They had, after all, been found by Ragesian agents at the forests edge, and a Devil had come in to try and tempt them...the sudden appearance of this birdfolk right when they were about to challenge the god of fire, right after their ally disappeared, seemed...curious as well as suspicious.
Don't worry, no drama, just an offer for some exposition - you can simply be on the run from them Ragesians yourself and it's all good in Farod's eyes :P

For what it's worth, the Ragesians probably wouldn't be too fond of a Tengu... XD

"It wasn't so much 'trying to cross the fire forest' as much as it was the wind blew away from Gate Pass and suddenly there was a forest on fire. I hoped that the wind wouldn't give out before I made it over, but the damned fire came up to meet me. I had been working on that," Tchakar pointed at the flaming debris, "For weeks just to see if it could work, but I was forced to test it out ahead of schedule when the soldiers arrived. Wouldn't do to get snatched up in their witch hunt. As it is, people don't often trust those of us that live up in the hills."

Umbriak stroked his beard. "Soldiers on a witchy hunt, ye say? Hmmmm..." The Dwarf wondered if they might be looking for them, but they didn't seem that worth sending in troops into a fiery hell hole. Well, maybe the message was worth stopping.

Still, maybe the crazy Tengu could help. "On the plus side, we may have found a way to escape yon flames..." He filled the new person in. If the soldiers were sniffing around they didn't have time to mess about.

"So you're saying my choices are try to run through a blazing forest that's already tried once to torch my feathers, wait here to eventually be caught and flayed by the Ragesians, or join with you and fight a burning stag that might be a god and that's been pinned to the bottom of a lake for years? Hmm... I guess I get to choose my manner of death then? If somehow you two managed to defeat the firebeast and the fires die out, have you thought about how that opens the way for the Ragesians to just charge in?"

"Och, I'm relatively uncertain the wee stag is nae fire god. I'm sure I'd have heard of such a beastie." Umbriak nodded. "And, aye, it's nae ideal...but 'tis better than not escaping, ye ken?"

"I suppose... Are you fast on your feet? If somehow we manage to avoid being skewered on flaming antlers, we'll need to move quickly to escape capture. Without Gate Pass in the way it won't be long before the Ragesians expand further. And... actually... do you have a plan to somehow defeat a monster at the bottom of a lake? I can usually avoid drowning myself, but I'm not much for fighting it out like a fish. I prefer to strike where the wind can ruffle my feathers."

"Maybe no God. But godlike enough, considering the large scale area it affects in such a massive way.", Farod chimes in, "As for the Fires ending, we do have a plan...and as for the Ragesians - the forest would not stop them, only force them to make their way around. Also, the last time Ragesians tried to capture us, it didn't end well. For them.", a smirk shows on the Half-Orcs face.
When the bottom of the lake is mentioned, Farod looks over towards the creatures prison:"I doubt we will have the luxury of fighting it below the water...that firey creature had been pinned there, I am quite certain that it will leave the lake the moment it regains a measure of freedom. Consider it that way: If our judgement is wrong, we'll likely all turn to ash the moment we make our move, so there won't be time to regret our decisions. And if we're right, there's no reason for regrets-"

*Tosses popcorn into mouth* Just lemme know when you're ready to proceed. ^^