Mikhail heads through the portal as soon as everyone is able to get through.
Piotr follws Mikhail through the portal.
Alister follows the others through the portal with a look of worry.
When the lightning wall fades out, Aristu rolls up his scroll and returns it to its case as he moves through the portal.
You emerge from the portal into intense cold and darkness...and you cannot breathe!
In the instants of life left to you, you see a vast dark plain of metal under the twinkling stars. One star seems much brighter than the others, but you have to time to think about that. You see the mi-go (the insectile creature) walking serenely across the metal plain towards a distant archway inside of which is another portal.
The pain is incredible as you eyes begin to bulge and your lungs are ready to burst. With your last thoughts you propel yourselves back towards the portal to Candlemere...
Piotr feels the cold seeping into his bones ...
Corb huddles close to Piotr for warmth.
Alister huddles with Corb for warmth.
"This is a bad place, my friends," states Piotr with unnecessary emphasis.
Galen braces against the unexpected pain, and tries to help pull the others back.
STATUS
Alister (1/41 hp) (1 CON damage)
Aristu (3/32 hp)(3 STR damage)(2 CON damage)
Galen (24/52 hp)
Mikhail (37/54 hp)(2 STR damage)
Piotr (-6/34 hp)(1 STR damage)(1 CON damage) (DYING)
Corb (-7/17 hp) (1 CON damage) (DYING)
Returning from the void, the heroes of the Sword Marches stagger back through the portal, their lungs searing and flesh bruised. Piotr and his faithful familiar Corb both collapse on the floor, barely breathing.
Thinking quickly, Galen tries to pour a potion of Cure Light Wounds down Corb's throat, cutting his fingers slightly on the bird's beak.
(and removed from sheet)
He looks around the group, noting their injuries. "What... what was that? At least that... thing was going away. We're in no state."
Mikhail channels to heal everyone and shivers as the warm light pushes away some of the devastating cold. "I do not know, but I doubt it was effected in there as we were."
Alister stumbles through the portal and collapses to his knees. He is gasping as Mikhail heals the group. He rises to tend to Piotr, knowing that the mage's knowledge of the the planes might get them home. "Where the hell was that? Ugh, we barely made it back alive."
STATUS
Alister (7/41(35) hp) (1 CON damage)
Aristu (9/32(26) hp)(3 STR damage)(2 CON damage)
Galen (30/52 hp)
Mikhail (43/54 hp)(2 STR damage)
Piotr (13/34(28) hp)(1 STR damage)(1 CON damage)
Corb (4/17(14) hp) (1 CON damage)
STATUS
Alister (7/41(35) hp) (1 CON damage)
Aristu (21/32 hp)(3 STR damage)
Galen (30/52 hp)
Mikhail (43/54 hp)(2 STR damage)
Piotr (28/34 hp)(1 STR damage)
Corb (4/17 hp) (1 CON damage)
"Is there some way we can close this, make sure that thing doesn't return?"
The portal stands open!
Piotr weakly says, "I have no means of sealing the portal. Not prepared at the moment, at least. Give me a moment and I may think of something."
Alister stares at the open portal, letting his mind wander and delve into the unconscious recesses of his memory on how to seal this portal.
Alister and Piotr both come to the same conclusion: It's likely beyond their power to seal the portal. What they do know is that it didn't open to some distant plane - that was somewhere on Golarion's plane, but out among the stars.
The good news is that the portal itself isn't permanent. In fact, it should fade within the day. The bad news is that there is nothing stopping it from reforming.
Alister recalls an scroll he once saw that described creatures from the dark between the stars and he believes they are somehow connected to strange deities like Yog-Sothoth. If the portal is to be closed permanently, the team may have to consult with someone learned in the lore of portals.
"Do you believe that it needs to be in the same spot or can it be moved? If it needs to be in the same spot then I say once we have seen this place is secured we pile a good ton of stones and mortar where the portal is to prevent anything from passing through easily." Mikhail says as he rubs his still numb arms.
'
Galen nods. "That should at least slow anything down."
"OK, that's not a bad goal," Aristu looks up at the structure above the portal, "But how would we collapse the walls or ceiling?"
"I think we bring in some workers and fill in the whole room with mortar and bricks. It will take time and be costly, but whatever can survive in that place should not be allowed back to this part of Golarion." Mikhail says in reply.
"Should we secure just this room, or collapse the entire complex?," asks Piotr. "It would take time but it should be possible. We would also need to do something about the wisps if we intend to bring people here."
"Perhaps once we have figured out what is going on here whatever is drawing the Wisps will end and they will leave. The real question is do we want to complete our search of this floor or find a secure place to rest?" Malinor says as he looks over the portal.
"We're not in good shape. If we can't seal it now, we should find somewhere to rest."
Alister looks down at the body of Kundal and tries to determine if he's breathing. "We need to get him somewhere safe. But who knows what else is in here?"
In the opposite hallway the team discovers a room lush with plant life and a roof glowing with a pleasant sunlight. Reclining amidst the greenery is a fat and somewhat aged man with goat's legs. He bears a bow, a staff and an intricate set of pipes. Several high-pitched giggles can be heard from among the leaves. It is a scene as far removed from the alien place they just were as can be imagined.
"Hail, oh Mortal King!" says the satyr. "You have been looked for, your coming foretold. 'Broken he comes, Eldest behind him, Eldest before him, Eldest within him'."
Mikhail looks over the odd scene and tries to catch a glimpse of whatever is giggling to see how many might be hiding in the bushes.
Mikhail catches glimpses of small fairies hiding in the foliage. Tiny sprites with gossamer wings.
Alister stops suddenly as he sees the Satyr. He recognized the fey creature and if there was one thing his Grandmother had told them stories about it was the power of the fey. He carefully bows, wincing at his injuries. "My coming was foretold? By who, Satyr? And who do I have the honor of speaking to? Is this your lair that we are welcome in?"
"Lair?" says the saytr, laughing. "Is your hall a lair, King? No, I live in a fine house by the Silver Reed spring. This is a gate, and I am its guardian. I am Garovar, called wise by some." This is met by gales of tinny laughter from the sprites. "Not that all are that discriminating, you understand."
"So, your coming was foretold, but not your purpose. Why are you here, King?"
Piotr hangs back. The chaotic nature of fey has always been uncomfortable to him.
"Garovar the Wise. I am pleased to meet you. I am called Alister. I am here to protect my people." He points to Kundal. "This is one of my people. Do you know what happened to him? Or what the mi-go was trying to do? "
"You say you guard a gate. Where does it lead?"
Garovar looks at Kundal without much interest, ignoring those questions in favor of the one he wants to answer. "Why, to the House of Eternity, of course. I told you, I live near the Silver Reed spring."
Alister nods, but it's clear he's a bit lost. "You said you were a guardian of the gate. Are you here to guard from things coming through to this side or going to the other? And where is this gate?"
"I guard the portal against the mortal world, King. None come hence from the House of Eternity save by Shyka's leave."
PIotr is still listening carefully to what the satyr is saying.
"Is Shyka who you serve? Or does Shyka rule over the House of Eternity?," asks the wizard.
Garovar nods. "Both," he says.