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Ed's healing magic works as usual, and everyone has their wounds fixed.
The discussion is underway, but Ed starts to notice the strange looks, and Kappi's subtle but not so subtle whisper to Ali. ok what is it? Kappi blushes, Ali looks to Davosh who tosses Ed a mirror.
Your eyes are different. Davosh says with an unphased matter of factness. Ed isn't sure if the witch is upset or not at the additional set of special eyes.
I, I, I'm not sure what happened, but silver is the color of Apsu. I will have to pray The volume decreased and distraction increased as Ed finished the thought.
Finally Ali breaks the silence of everyone lost in their own thoughts. So where do we go? Can we take care of that large spider?
Ed responds Ok I am open to ideas what do ya have Ali?
Vojtek weighs in from the floor, "That infernal spider is beyond us. Let's backtrack to explore other areas first. Maybe we will find something useful to kill it, or a way to bypass it."
"I agree. Back track.
Yes. Discretion is the better part of avoiding being wrapped in spider silk & sucked to a dry husk.
After taking a moment to catch their collective breath, the party realizes that the only ways to go are through the door with the inscription, up the flight of steps that rose into the gloom just beyond the entrance to the bebelith cavern, and back to face the bebelith herself.
Yes. Discretion is the better part of avoiding being wrapped in spider silk & sucked to a dry husk.
The lad looks a little ill at the thought.
Highest wins?
Inscription, definitely."
"Kappi, check the door."
The inscribed stone door is locked, but Kappi gets to work on it and just manages to get it open. In the gloom beyond is a winding stairway that descends steeply.
Kapii proceeds carefully along the passage...but not carefully enough, as his foot strikes a trap!
A burst of cold, black energy explodes from a glyph at the Varisian's feet, and he instantly ages thirty years!
One." This phrase deactivates the glyph. This was clearly a sacrifice of youth.
So by messing up the first step in the ritual, is it essentially cancelled if Davosh leads the way - performing the verse for future runes?
"AHA! Kappi! You look like I feel my boy! Worry not son, it'll past in time. Unfortunately, I know what we've walked into. Literally. We walked. Into it."
The horrors of the spiders has lost its grip upon the strange one. "This is a ritual to achieve the status of the Crone, the final form as it were. Kappi, if your skills are up to it, can you disable this? We're going to face more. I know the Old Words to get by it, but I have no intention of any of us turning into a wrinkled old senex."
"AHA! Kappi! You look like I feel my boy! Worry not son, it'll past in time. Unfortunately, I know what we've walked into. Literally. We walked. Into it."
Kappi is almost in tears upset at his youthful hands now looking considerably more weathered. The lad didn't fear death, but suddenly middle age thrust upon him is a massive shock to his system.
Then a glimmer of hope at Davosh's words. Tears now do flow as his emotions are rocked one way and the other. He stutters a little, Wait, this will pass? I don't understand...
Vojtek nods. ”It will soon pass, Davosh speaks true with the wisdom of the Ancestors. Over the next few winters you will spend more and more time around your hearth, little brother. Then, you will join the ancestors, where you can guide us... or live inside Davosh... I think.” Vojtek nods sagely and continues, ”Magic has robbed you of your youth, but the sooner you may die and continue your adventures in company with those who came before you, so all is not lost my friend.”
Boy, you are a macabre bunch.
Vojtek nods. ”It will soon pass, Davosh speaks true with the wisdom of the Ancestors. Over the next few winters you will spend more and more time around your hearth, little brother. Then, you will join the ancestors, where you can guide us... or live inside Davosh... I think.” Vojtek nods sagely and continues, ”Magic has robbed you of your youth, but the sooner you may die and continue your adventures in company with those who came before you, so all is not lost my friend.”
Not so young Kappi blows a bubble of snot out one nostril and starts crying again.
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Ed gives a curt disapproving head shake to Vojtek. With a deep breath Ed lays a comforting hand on Kappi's shoulder. The lad looks up at Ed, his face has a comforting grin on it.
Wow look at you, you're going to grow up and be a handsome man. The ladies are going to be fighting over those rugged good looks.
He takes Kappi's face into his hands forcing him to look into Ed's eyes. The new silver eyes shimmering drawing the lad to stare into them. Look at me, don't pay Vojtek any mind. There is another way to look at Davosh's words. The magic from the trap will fade in short order, returning you to the young lad. Look on it as a blessing not many know what they will look like as they age, now you do. So take this knowledge and lead us down the stairs, but keep a keen eye for the next one it is a croning ritual, and I don't know any male crones.
He finishes the last line with a smile and a mussing of Kappy's hair.
Kappi is somewhat reassured.
The rogue knows that his normal mode wasn't sufficient to find the glyph before the trod upon it, so he is extra careful as he descends and he eventually locates the four remaining glyphs[/ooc].
Davosh uses the passphrase whispered to him by the Ancients and tells the party, in his cryptic way, what each of the subsequent [i]glyphs are.
The first was a sacrifice of youth, which Kappi experienced.
The second is a sacrifice of fertility (bestow curse, –6 to CHA).
The third is a sacrifice of health (greater contagion: bubonic plague).
The fourth is a sacrifice of strength (bestow curse, –6 to STR).
The fifth is a sacrifice of life (slay living at effective CL 20).
The descent terminates at a bare stone door. Kappi takes a moment, but is unable to unlock it
Ed gives a curt disapproving head shake to Vojtek. With a deep breath Ed lays a comforting hand on Kappi's shoulder. The lad looks up at Ed, his face has a comforting grin on it.
Wow look at you, you're going to grow up and be a handsome man. The ladies are going to be fighting over those rugged good looks.
He takes Kappi's face into his hands forcing him to look into Ed's eyes. The new silver eyes shimmering drawing the lad to stare into them. Look at me, don't pay Vojtek any mind. There is another way to look at Davosh's words. The magic from the trap will fade in short order, returning you to the young lad. Look on it as a blessing not many know what they will look like as they age, now you do. So take this knowledge and lead us down the stairs, but keep a keen eye for the next one it is a croning ritual, and I don't know any male crones.
He finishes the last line with a smile and a mussing of Kappy's hair.
The Varisian man is reassured by Ojos de Plata. He pulls a tattered piece of scarf from a pocket. He blows his nose clear and gets his game face back on. He leads off at Ed's prompting.
Kappi is somewhat reassured.
The descent terminates at a bare stone door. Kappi takes a moment, but is unable to unlock it
The rogue looks over his tool roll and selects a slightly different pick for this job. He lets out a long breath as he gets back to work on the lock.
Disable Device.
The door stubbornly refuses to cooperate.
"It's okay lad, try again." Davosh casts Guidance on Kappi before his next attempt.
The Varisian rogue unties his head scarf and shakes it out. He runs his handes through his hair and lets out a long frustrated breath. He takes the time to carefully retie his head scarf and then he goes back to his tool roll.
Disable Device
After Kappi's calming ritual, the rogue manages to disable the lock on the door!
A withered cornfield extends in all directions beneath a waning moon in a starry night sky. Dozens of dead ravens lie strewn on the ground among the shriveled stalks.
A bent and aged crone stands in the center the cornfield, leaning heavily on a staff. Welcome to my home, where I roost after I roam! she says in a thin, reedy voice. Are you friend or foe? Jadrenka would like to know.
"Greetings Jadrenka. Nice to meet ya. The answer is up to Mr. Fell to tell."
Davosh knows that he's off-putting, so he waits for Edward. Still he does speak up a bit just aimed at the chosen of Apsu, "We can be friends. It's mostly that we're turned around. We're here chasing you-know-who and got WAY off course."
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With a contemplative look the Oradin remembers the maiden prisoners tale.
Ed takes a few steps forward Greeting Jadrenka and thank you for the welcome to your home. My name is Edward Fell, Paladin of Apsu, and seeker of the Queen of Witches. To answer your question I would say that the answer isn’t clear right now. I would prefer to be friends, but I have a few questions first. First and foremost, under what charge do you hold the Varasian lass a prisoner? Please realize my question isn’t a condemnation, more of a curiosity about your due process and to make sure someone isn’t being held unjustly. Also why is this your home? I thought Artrosa belonged to someone else.
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Kappi's plea w/ untrained charisma
Something about Kappi's dumb and honest face seems to help.
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something about Vojtek's toothy scowl does not seem to help.
With a contemplative look the Oradin remembers the maiden prisoners tale.
Ed takes a few steps forward Greeting Jadrenka and thank you for the welcome to your home. My name is Edward Fell, Paladin of Apsu, and seeker of the Queen of Witches. To answer your question I would say that the answer isn’t clear right now. I would prefer to be friends, but I have a few questions first. First and foremost, under what charge do you hold the Varasian lass a prisoner? Please realize my question isn’t a condemnation, more of a curiosity about your due process and to make sure someone isn’t being held unjustly. Also why is this your home? I thought Artrosa belonged to someone else.
Artrosa belongs to all and to none, like the wind and rain and setting sun! Jadrenka replies with a cackle. And no captive is Caigreal, despite what she would tell you be all.
She pauses a moment as if in thought. If for Dear Grandmother you pine, then our goals might just align. Yet a host of oversized folk would undo this unyoke. She winks and snaps her fingers, vanishing, as her voice trails off: Mettle by trial, another mile!
At once, the illusion of the field fades as well, revealing a rectangular room formed of chiseled granite blocks. Carvings of lifeless cornfields adorn the walls, and withered cornstalks and dead ravens litter the floor.
Almost as soon as Jadrenka is gone, a thick mist begins to rise from amid the bundle of withered cornstalks!
Round 1
Kappi —
Ali —
Vojtek —
baddie —
Edward —
Davosh —
Ali, knowing nothing of what's going on, brings forth her wand of Shield & uses it, then re-stows it.
The Varisian rogue starts to panic wondering what in the hells is going to happen. He wracks his brain for something that can help...
Know dungeoneering
"I know a teleportation spell when I see one, and that one was superfast.
[b]"Hungry fog! It's not undead, but it'll mess us up!"
can we fight it??
"If we strike hard and fast!"
Thoughts on an element of choice? Cos I have a few options...
Round 1
Kappi screams a little bit, he is clearly terrified. Yet, he knows everything is on the line. He MUST do his part to see this through.
He takes a quick step and blades appear in his hands.
FULL ATTACK
First Main
+1 sh sword
Offhand
mwk dagger
2nd main
+1 sh sword
Ali shields herself while Kappi steps up and slashes, two of the blows landing! But the effect of the blade feels thwarted somewhat...
Round 1
Kappi — full attack
Ali — shield
Vojtek —
baddie — TBD
Edward — TBD
Davosh — TBD
- Round the First
- Current HPs: 112/112
- Raging
Vojtek lunges forward, throwing his arms out to the sides. He slashes at the... thing... and snaps at it with his horrifying jaws!
He wonders at the tactics of slashing and biting at some fog, but he remembers ice cold fog biting at him on the Tundra by the Edge of the Ice, so he considers turnabout fair play.
for damage.
for damage.
for damage.
for damage.
And for damage.
Vojtek would be amazed at how easily his blows landed if his rage didn't make such contemplation impossible.
Nevertheless, this blows shred the fog into oblivioin!
In the corner of the room, obscured by the illusion and by a withered bundle of cornstalks, sits a small chest. Kappi proclaims it free of traps and opens its unlocked lid, revealing a few changes of robes. Folded within these is a small ivory tube.
Three other doors exit the chamber.
Kappi gives a nervous cheer as the strange fog beast is defeated. His back twitches a little as he feels adrenaline leaving his system.
After dealing with the searching/treasure in the room he moves to the first door And checks door for traps and listens.
Perception
Unless he hears something he needs to inform the group about, he will open the door.
Ali breathes a quiet sigh of relief at Vojtek’s destruction of the threat, then makes a loud disgruntled sigh. SUCH a glory hog!!. She winks at Kappi
She takes up the scroll case, and casts read magic...
could’ve used that a few minutes ago...
Once Vojtek catches his breath, he looks over the door with Kappi and takes up an assault position.