As such, it cannot be passed through or bypassed. The vortex is not a spell effect, but rather a form of ritual magic. It is unlikely that the Dancing Hut created it - something else surely did.
The vortex will take some time before it completely drains reality away from this area, taking everything nearby with it, but no more than a week at most.
Multiple external power sources sustain the vortex. If they are all destroyed, the backlash should disrupt the vortex as well.
Del looks at the churning, swirling hole with wide-eyed amazement. "Well, it's not every day you see something that looks like a hole in reality." He looks to the others and adds cheerily, "I don't suppose we can go looking for more fey instead? Fey I can wrap my mind around, yawning portals to Nethys-knows-where? Less so."
you are not far from the truth Dell, this vortex is in fact draining this reality.
It won't be long before this entire area is gone, a week at most he says to the bowman as he casts detect magic and studies the awsome phenomenon.
this vortex is nothing to do with the hut, i am sure it is the work of the Fey, some kind of ritual magic, powered by multiple sources.
We must destroy all these sources and hope the backlash that forms within the arcane matrix will be enough to disrupt the Vortex itself he says turning away from it
we need to find the other fey, let us try the lake first
Sapphire nods
The lake it is then, let us marshall our strength for one last fight
She stands ready to move on.
Having established that the strange barrier is linked t the powerful fey magic that pervades the area, the party sets off toward the water they spotted earlier.
A pool of strange silvery water stands in the clearing here. On the pool’s surface, ripples begin at it’s outermost edge and rush inwards toward the centre where drops form and fly from the surface upwards to the sky.
The entire pool rains skyward while flakes of snow drift down between the droplets. A brisk wind rustles through the trees. Beyond the pool, another path leads northward.
A creature stands in the centre of the pool, leaning on nothing, head cocked at an odd angle. Unlike the other Dawn Pipers, this one is male and arrogant where the others were respectful.
Well, if it isn’t the Stewards of the Dullard Lands who have slain my sisters. You’ve probably seen the Reality Siphon by now too, magnificent isn’t it? Certainly beyond the ken of any of you foolish child-races. You will find that I am not so much of a push-over as my soft sisters if you try to stop me!
Corum shudders as he stands before the weird orb. Something this unnatural must be fey magic. He swears and then sighs with relief as they decide to move away.
Unfortunately the lake appears just as sorcerous and he regards the fey in it's centre coldly. He takes up position near the tree line and readies his axe in case the thing charges.
He looks to the others and nods. They know it is them or the fey. There is no turning back now.
Del seems crestfallen as the fey addresses them. "What's this? I was hoping for another dazzlingly beautiful fiery haired vixen! Well, your high and mighty fancy pants, I must confess that you are already a disappointment. How droll."
Greyston looks on suspiciously at the male fey, taking a step toward he shouts out over to him. "You know why we're here, why not just return to your own realm? No one else needs to be hurt, please."
His pleading falling on deaf ears.
Urgh.. how dull you mortals are. No wonder you all die so young, probably from boredom! the Dawnpiper says, unslinging a longbow from it's back.
14.16
11
Corum ducks behind the tree just behind him and gets his own bow ready.
"Oh? Fancy yourself an archer do you? Greatest marksman of the First World, no doubt! I don't suppose you'd risk your iron-clad link to that rift over a little competition instead of a petty fight, would you?"
If the fey declines, Del shrugs in lament and snaps off a shot in response. "Ah, what a pity. After all, where's the fun in this?"
HP: 21/36
AC: 19 (15 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 19
F/R/W: +7/+10/+6
Grit remaining: 1/2
Hero Points remaining: 2
Regular bolts remaining: 65/80
Cold Iron bolts: 33/40
Tanglebolts: 1/5
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
deadly aim: -2/+4
you are making a grave mistake Fey, your long life has made you arrogant and stupid.
You will not step down and so you force our hand the old Elf calls out to the fey, he knows it will not listen and so its fate is sealed.
Calling out the incantation he builds his spell, before he releases it he alters the structure ever so slightly multiplying its power.
...Magia Vis, Potestas ictus
Opening his hand the pyramids of force leap toward their target with unerring accuracy.
As they streak towards their target he drops to the floor behind the others, presenting as small a target as possible to the fey.
Sapphire sighs and jumps up in to the air, soaring above the ground and flying around to try and sandwich the dawn piper between her and the party.
Greyston steps forward looking for a clear shot to end the fight quickly.
HP- 44/46
AC - 19
Nasrin knows the fey is going to slam them again with a blast of sound so she breaks across the shore of the pond, opposite where Sapphire flew. She draws a dagger and hurls it past the 'Piper. Jagar follows close on her heels.
Fail
The Dawn Piper is left reeling from the blast of pure arcane force that Elleros sends streaking toward it.
It takes a quick step away from Sapphire and raises it's bow toward the old elf, eager to retaliate.
Hit
Hit
As Nasrin and Jagar reposition closer to the Dawn Piper, the surface of the water suddenly erupts outward as two creatures lurch toward them. This translucent creature's shape shifts between a spinning column of water and a crashing wave.
Miss
Miss
The water lashes out at the Druid and her companion but both are too nimble and dodge the attacks easily.
Del shakes his head ruefully as the very waters rise up to assault Nasrin and Jagar. "Possessed ovens, mad ambulatory boulders, and now murderous waves?" He sighs as he snaps off a pair of bolts at the fey. "This is starting to get ridiculous."
HP: 21/36
AC: 19 (15 T / 14 FF)
CMD: 19
F/R/W: +7/+10/+6
Grit remaining: 1/2
Hero Points remaining: 2
Regular bolts remaining: 65/80
Cold Iron bolts: 31/40
Tanglebolts: 1/5
Ongoing Effects
Vigilant Loading
Gunslinger Initiative
deadly aim: -2/+4
Corum nocks an arrow and leans out from his cover. He prefers the axe, to stand toe to toe with his enemy. Where you can smell the blood and taste the hatred. But he is not without skill with a bow and he quickly sends two arrows sailing toward the fey.
Short bow
Cold iron arrow
Arrow 2
Cold iron arrow
Nasrin shouts in Hallit, "Right!" and both her and Jagar begin attacking the rightmost elemental. Her spear penetrates the being of water and seems to splash away some of it's essence, but not enough. She shouts again, "Back" and steps away from the pond's edge.
for
Jagar growls at the things that surged out of the water, and when the girl orders his attack, he obeys her word. Snapping at the elemental on the right his jaws hit nothing but air as the thing slips sideways, almost leading the black wolf into the water. The bubbling chuckle from the elemental would be comical if not for the danger! When the girl barks a second order, he follows her back from the water's edge.
for
Sapphire's blade bursts in to flames as she intones words of power, shifting through the air to follow the piper and swinging her swords in heavy overhand chops.
Greyston steps forward and aims for the elementals, switching to alchemist fire knowing his reserves are low.
The Dawn Piper is run through by Sapphire's heavy blade and collapses falling through the surface of the water with a splash.
Greyston's alchemist fire fizzes loudly as it comes into contact with the water elemental, turning it to clouds of steam though it still retains most of it's form.
Hit
The elemental reaches out and creates a fist of water, slamming it into the side of the Druid's head.
Miss
Corum drops his bow and grabs his axe. He rushes out from the treeline to a position where he can charge into the elementals.
Round 2 action
Dropping to the snow with a crunch the old elf grunts in pain as his stiff aching knee thuds into the snow.
A moment later this is eclipsed by the white hot pain that erupts from his calf as the dawnpipers arrow falls from the sky to skewer his leg, the razor sharp arrow head punching through his shin and burying itself in the frozen ground.
arrrghh ...nnn he cries out in pain and struggles back to his feet, the arrow jutting from his flesh.
He watches Sapphire cut the Dawnpiper down but he realises that the elementals are still attacking, they didn't fall with the fey.
Drawing on his powers again he shuts out the pain and concentrates on casting a spell.
Hp 18 / 32
Nodding in satisfaction as the piper falls, Sapphire swiftly moves on to attack one of the elementals.
Corum strides forward through the undergrowth and swings his axe at the remaining elemental.
Pa rage
Dam
Court's axe fonds some purchase within the watery body of the elemental and dashes the thing apart.
The surface of the pool returns to normal and stillness descends on the clearing
Nasrin's grin looks particularly wolfish, matching the predatory gleam in her eyes. "I think we are learning to hunt these 'Pipers!"
"Good job!" He shouts out as the piper falls. "We're getting better." He smiles at Nasrins words. "Let's search him and continue moving forward."
we are one step closer to the hut, Eell done everyone he says as he sits down gingerly, grasping the arrow he snaps off the head and with a grunt of pain yanks out the shaft.
The blood flows like a river from the wound and he binds it as best he can. Out of potions and low on spells he would have to deal with the injury after they gain control of the hut.
Hauling himself back to his feet he gestures toward the trail heading north.
let us move on, if my supposition is correct the last of the pipers will be there and it will be protected by some kind of fire elemental.
Corum laughs with disdain. "And he said he wouldn't be an easy target!"
He moves back into the undergrowth to retrieve his bow and when he returns he says. "I'll dive down to see what he had. We cohld use some luck, and a potion or two!"
He doffs his armour, clothes and weapons. He stands at the edge of the lake in just his loincloth with the cold iron longsword, which he has strapped to his back, and a long dagger at his waist; his powerful body a network of old scars and burns overlaid with new cuts and bruises.
They don seem to bother him as he wades out into the lake and dives down to the bottom. He surfaces and disappears several times, searching for the body by feel. He eventually finds the fey and retrieves what he can before swimming back to the shore with his spoils.
Colum dives down to the depths of the pool and retrieves the Piper's bow (masterwork composite longbow +2 strength) and the protective bracers it wore (bracers of armor +2)
The warrior strides from the cold lake and dumps the gear. He quickly dries off with his blanket. He dons his furs and quickly performs a series of intense exercises to warm up and het his blood flowing. This takes a few minutes and involves push ups, tuck jumps and some intense practice with his axe. At the end of this he stands panting but dry. He dons his armour and gear and then says.
"That was very refreshing. Now, shall we find this hut?"
Sapphire lands next to the others.
We were fortunate there, I think he was overconfident. One to go, let's get this over with before we all keel over in exhaustion!
She waits for Corum to finish warming back up, lamenting the passing of her protective magics, but realising that the warrior needed to get warm again. There were limits even to his endurance.
Corum warms up and then leads the others along the path to the north of the lake. "Sapphire is right. We're all injured. We need to be careful. If we find any more fey we put them down quickly before they can summon help."
As he leads the group forward he takes his time, looking for signs of danger along the path ahead or in the trees to either side.
Perception
Wanting to make sure Corum is ready to move, he looks the big man over. "If your ready to go Courm then we had better keep moving. The hut is still waiting for us." Lets finish searching the way.
Greyston follows along, keeping an eye out.
North of the pool there is nothing but a dead end. The trees close in and in the merest of gaps between them you can see the giant oak from earlier. It appears you have explored all of the fey wood aside from the central clearing with the hut.
Along this path there is also an overturned wagon. Half a dozen human bodies lie in the snow, apparently killed by dozens of tiny bites.
Among the bodies you find a small coffer buried in a larger wooden chest of clothing. The coffer is stoutly locked.
Del shrugs at the absence of a fourth Piper, "Perhaps fire proved too wild for them to tame?"
Later, he pulls the coffer from the snow with a grunt. "Mmpf! Ah. Hah. What have we here now?"
Nasrin moves with great caution closer to the bodies, using her connection to the Wolf to try and catch anything amiss on the breeze. She inspects the body trying to puzzle out what kind of creature caused the bite wounds.