Callix twirls the axe in her hands, "Guess I'll just have to cut her out..", and quickly lashes out with the blade.
for
for
Misliking the tone in her voice, Llewellyn shot the granddaughter a withering look. Still he couldn't possibly stand by and watch Ashling get eaten so he started whistling the complex almost chaotic aria that should free the young would be assassin from the moonflower's embrace.
He stubbornly ignored the rest of her imperious demands and shot another arrow at the moonflower.
Letitia's witchy magic takes effect, the moonflower thrashes about in plant agony, unable to really do anything. It would have had an Ashling snack to eat, but though her initial struggles to gain freedom came to naught, the strains of Llewellyn's whistled tune spurred her to greater effort and she was able to slip out of the plant's enormous mouth.
Samuel and Llewellyn's volleys each damage the plant, but as Letitia warned Callix's axe attack seemed more telling.
Global Condition: |Party Condition:
Callix HP: 75/75 - AC: 20/14/16 Status:
Letitia: HP: 54(+4)/54 - AC: 18/12/15 Status:
Llewellyn HP: 59/59 - AC: 23/21/13 Status:
Samuel HP: 78/78 - AC: 23/18/16 Status:
Ashling HP: 24/61 - AC: (23/19 if cold)21/15/17 Status:NPCs:
Moonflower 2 HP : -108? AC: 23 status : misfortune hex, agony hex
Letitia's lip curls as the moonflower succumbs to her agony hex. She cackles to keep both the misfortune and agony hexes going, then calls forth a gout of flame from her grim lantern to add to the damage the plant is taking.
"Tsk! Never thought about fighting the forest, but here we are!" Samuel rapid reloads a bullet and shots at the remaining tree.
With a sigh, Llewellyn dropped his bow and pulled out his sword and waded into close combat all the while whistling the tune that saved Ashling.
Callix keeps hacking at the plant, hoping to remove enough pieces that it stops moving....
for
for
Now being Free Ashling continues swinging the hammer
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The moonflower sways and thrashes under the groups onslaught, a huge crater in it's side opened up by Samuel's volley!
Copious torrents of sap and other plant-fluids pour out onto the jungle floor and with a groan of straining bark and xylem the moonflower topples over, disappearing into the overgrown foliage of the jungle floor.
Silence returns to the forest, as the booming echo from Samuel's musket slowly fades away.
Letitia floats down to the ground as the moonflower threats appear to have ended. "Hopefully that is the last of these plants."
She casts detect magic on the remains to check for any magical treasures that may have been on previous victims that survived the digestive process.
"The archon reported a building up ahead before it was attacked. We should check that out, and then consider resting. I'd like to try again to ease Syvet's condition, but it will require rest to restore my allotment of spells."
Llewellyn retries his bow and mutters, "Damn straight I hope that's the last one!"
He then starts cautiously heading in the direction where they presumed the building is.
Samuel looks proudly at the big hole on the wood as his grit goes up "That shall show them not to play with powder"
While the others examine the remains, he scouts a bit ahead to check what lays in the path crossing.
Everyone is cautious of the jungle, each tree or branch evoking the memory of the moonflower's attack.
Through the immense magical fields that permeate the Hut, you are able to discern a number of smaller magical fields within the second moonflower. Investigating, you find , entwined within the plant a desiccated body, a breastplate, heavy flail and backpack intact!
You arrive at the crossroads and look down the new path and see a wooden building. The double doors leading into it are slightly ajar.
"Aha!" Letitia exclaims with a note of triumph as she locates some magical treasures inside the plant's gullet. She keeps her detection spell active and examines the magics of the items.
"Hold a moment while I identify these items," she says.
Samuel whistles low as he eyes the slightly open double doors of the wooden building "Now, that there is a fine invitation to get shot, stabbed, or eaten. Reckon I will take a peek before we go into that wooden building ahead"
The Taldan nods to Letitia and waits patiently for her magics to do the identification work. Once the rest of the group joins, he moves up carefully, musket at the ready, eyes sharp for movement inside as he peeks through the door ajar.
He glances back at the others "Any bets on what is lurking in there? My money is on something with too many teeth..."
You peek through the gap in the door and see a 10ft wide corridor running the length of the building. There is a single door on each wall, offset by about 15ft. Coming out of the closer left hand door is a figure. It steps out into the middle of the corridor, stops and looks right at you, "Ah...you've arrived. Can I assume you're the one making all that racket out there? Please, come, my Master desires to meet you!"
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Letitia nods in satisfaction over the treasures, though the handy haversack perplexes her somewhat. "What sort of person possesses an object of such incredible storage potential and uses it as a mere coin purse?!? Not even a change of clothes."
She eyes the direction from which they came, thinking about the herb gardens nearly going to seed. "I am now fully convinced that we should go back to those gardens and collect their bounty before we go. We can keep them for quite some time in this. I haven't made a potion in what feels like weeks."
Samuel tilts his head, giving the figure a lopsided grin "Now, I hate to be rude, but I seem to have misplaced my list of ominous overlords. Who exactly is this 'Master' of yours? I am just a poor woodlands sentinel caught in some tangled-up witch tales, so if there is no trouble, I would love to invite a few friends to the chat"
Without waiting for an answer, he leans back, peeking outside. With a few sharp hand signals, he waves the others forward, his expression unreadable "Got a welcoming committee in here" he murmurs "Friendly enough, for now"
Alarm spikes in Letitia when Samuel speaks of a welcoming committee. Why must that man keep scouting ahead? she thinks, hoping he hasn't blundered into something over his head.
"We shall see about that!" Letitia calls back to him. "How is it friendly? What is it saying?" She looks at the others with urgency, and starts to move toward the building.
Llewellyn frowns as he hears the news and cautiously follows Mr Samuel into the building.
Samuel smiles amused "He says his Master desires to meet us"
Oh...my Master will want to meet all of your friends!" he says, in his strange voice and language, moving up to push the door open, allowing the rest to see him for the first time.
He waves you all forward, "Come, my Master would parley with any who inhabit this place...."
In all respects, he appears to be a oddly dressed, somewhat oddly proportioned human, wrapped in a long flowing robe and wrappings.
Especially, once it comes closer, you get the distinct impression , that though dressed as a man might be...this thing is definitely not a man!
Letitia frowns as she comes into view of the building and the being inviting them in. A "Master" did not sound like a resident of Baba Yaga's Hut.
She voices her suspicions. "The only 'Master' in this place is Baba Yaga. And unless he is inviting us to meet her, I would remain skeptical," she says to Samuel.
She then addresses the being. "Tell us about your master first. What name should we use? Why do you call him your Master? Are you a slave?"
"Wouldn't Baba Yaga be a mistress? I think this one serves another..." noted Llewellyn after hearing the granddaughter speak.
Samuel lowers his voice while observing closely the creature "This one does not seem human at all but from other place... what do you think?"
The figure tilts its head in a very odd manner at the mention of Baba Yaga, "The Old Crone? This is her domicile? Fascinating....my Master will be most pleased!" it exclaims, its voice becoming noticably less human in it's excitement.
It then ponders Letitia's second question, "How can one be a Master without a slave! I am indeed his slave...and quite willingly so!"
He the turns an begins to walk towards the other door on the left hand wall, "Do come! He will be very interested in meeting you and learning what you know of this place!"
You see what Samuel is talking about...it's not quite human is it? A clever disguise though.
In fact, you think that this thing is one of the Denizen's of Leng, a realm rumored to be somewhere among the Outer Planes or the dimension of Dreams. The denizens of Leng can travel to other planes freely, and often do so in strange, black ships, constantly seeking new breeds of slaves or trading rubies for unusual services or magical treasures. At other times, their visits are much more violent, focusing on abducting victims for use as slaves or worse.
You have no idea what this thing might be.
Eyes narrowing in doubt because what she was hearing did not match to what she had heard about such beings. "Strange for a Denizen of Leng to be so accepting of being a slave," she says. "I've heard your kind are generally known to be the slavers, not the enslaved. Traveling in your black ships across the planes to collect slaves for your distant dimension... why should we risk meeting someone whom you would call Master?"
Stealing herself for a fight, she tightens her grip on Emberchill and activates her robe's defense. "By your words, you have shown yourself to be an interloper. We will not share Baba Yaga's secrets with you or your master."
It turns back, hand held out to its side, a picture of innocence, "Ah, you're very knowledgeable and perspicacious to glean my true nature! My Master will be very pleased to make your acquaintance! Please, do not let the predations of my brethren color your perception of me and my Master. We are here for the day, and he would know more of it's nature...and that of its denizens. But...if you wish to keep your secrets...'tis no matter...just a parley then, a meeting of the knowledgeable and perspicacious, perhaps? "
Then ignoring Letitia's provocative grip on Emberchill turns and walks towards the door...
It is lying...it is concealing a very sinister intent.
Noting Letitia's sudden hostility, Callix's hands drift toward her axe, though she does not draw it from her belt immediately, watching carefully.
Llewellyn's eyes narrow and he considers the few rare stories he'd heard about the Denizens of Leng
"Here for the day you say? Quite the coincidence it's the very same day we turn up..." remarked Llewellyn with obvious skepticism.
"I do not care for your Master slave or slaver, stay there!" Samuel immediately raises his musket and readies the lock for shooting when he sees denizien approaching "State your intentions and what are you doing here or tell us how to get out of this prison or prepare to fight!"
You've heard the name Leng mentioned in some obscure poems...always in reference to Dreams and Nightmares.
With Letitia naming the figure in front of you , Callix, Ashling and Llewellyn realize that the wrappings were nothing but a cunning disguise. Still, what the creature, a Denizen of Leng, actually looked like was still concealed.
It turns again, unperturbed by all of the questions, anwswering Llewellyn, "The Universe is full of coincidences...none more important or noteworthy that any other. Travel the Planes enough and you'll see the Truth of that!" it says, the facsimile of a chuckle emerging from the wraps.
At Samuel's threat, it's form stills as it places its full regard upon the Gunslinger, "My intentions are that of my Master...we are travelers who happened upon this demi-plane in our travels." it says, then the wraps about it's forehead wrinkle...perhaps it is frowning, "Ah...you did not arrive here by your own volition, perhaps? This is no prison for those with the ability to walk the Planes...but perhaps it is to those without that ability." it says, with perhaps a bit of pity in its voice.
It then cocks it's head as if listening to something, then nods, "My Master grows weary of waiting... will you accompany me?"
Letitia hesitates, uncertainty driving her to indecision. She shakes her head and doesn't move to follow the Denizen of Leng.
"No," she says in answer to the extraplanar being, then turns to her companions. "I confess I do not know how your morals would have you act in such a situation. You would be opposed to a known slaver race, correct? Yet when a slaver is himself enslaved -- and delighted about such a turn of affairs -- does this mean that the Master is good in your eyes?"
"You still have not explained who this 'Master' of yours is" Samuel asks, his voice clearly running out of patience "And this thing about walking the planes... you do mean we are in a plane? And you decided to come here voluntarily?"
Samuel then looks over the denizien's shoulder, trying to peek about whom he might be talking.
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This situation got Llewellyn's hackles up so he felt with it in his usual irreverent way.
"I have a funny feeling you won't get a straight answer to those questions Mr Samuel. I reckon we'll be told the only way to learn about his master is to meet him or it and I can't say I'm in a desperate hurry, I mean just look at him, what's the master going to be like!?" laughed Llewellyn.
The figure looks at Samuel, then to Letitia, "Perhaps, once you've discussed the morality of the Master/Slave relationship, you can explain to him the nature of the Planes."
It then cocks it's head once more, as if listening to something, then nods, "My Master has decided to revoke his invitation to you. I shall now retire to attend to him. Please leave us to our privacy....we shall depart this demi-plane when able. While an interesting diversion , it retains nothing else to interest us.".
It then sketches a slight bow, then walks back to the door on the left, enters and closes the door.
The door to the right that it had emerged from remains ajar.
You cannot see anything that to which it may be listening.
"How peculiar, I hope we don't see him or perhaps it again." remarked Llwewllyn as the door closed. Turning to his companions he asked, "Anyway now what? I suppose there's the other door, although I remember a tale about curiosity and cats..."
Letitia curls her lip and huffs in distaste. She hated being dismissed, almost as much as not knowing something. "I suppose this was a fight that we have avoided, and unnecessary conflict invites disaster. However, it's likely that the Denizen of Leng and its master have been ransacking this building. I shudder to think of trying to track this being across the planes to recover something it's pilfered."
Lazlo hoots at her and she shakes her head. "That's not what I'm trying to do! Without more information, it's unwise to confront this 'master.'"
Samuel frowns, arms crossed over his chest, eyes still locked on the door where the Denizen disappeared. His fingers drum against the stock of his musket as he exhales sharply through his nose "Hell with that. We have been stumbling around this place with no real answers, and now we are supposed to just walk away from the one thing that might actually know what is going on?"
The Taldan's gaze flicks to the others, hard and assessing "That thing's master can walk the planes. Unless one of you suddenly figured out how to do the same, that is the best shot we have got at getting out of here. Maybe it is a risk, maybe it is a trap, but sitting here doing nothing sure as the Abyss ain't any safer. We go in, we keep our wits about us, and we see if this so-called master has something worth hearing"
His jaw tightens "Unless, of course, you all like being stuck here"
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"You make a fine point, Samuel. One way or the other, we will have our answers from this 'master.' Prepare yourselves."
Letitia casts see invisibility as a precaution.
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Death is always an option. Force their hand She stays mostly quiet as usual, But on speaking immediately going to what some may call an extreme. For her its just another decision, like any other I say we find them, prove ourselves the superior and get our answers. We have a higher calling than whatever this is She clutches something beneath her cloak near her neck, This place... Does not feel right to me. And hunting slavers is a duty I hold...to free those in dark and guide them
Llewellyn blinked as he listened to Mr Samuel, it was hard to argue with that.
Shaking his head slightly he went on to give a quick pep talk "Ooookaay, I guess we're going in! Whatever we find, just remember we're in this together. We've faced long odds before and prevailed, and no doubt we shall again!"
Samuel nods "Better facing death than lost in these forests of nowhere" he just readies his musket, making sure a serviceable bullet is well loaded.
He moves with the party, setting himself just in front of Letitia as the party moves to visit the 'Master'.
As you open the door and enter the room beyond, what appears to be a storeroom of somesort, you see the 'slave' genuflecting before another large creature floating in the air in the far corner of the room.
Moon-beasts have no voice or eyes, yet they “see” more than most and can project their thoughts into the very minds of those they wish to communicate with. These monstrosities hail not from any physical moon, but rather from the shared satellite of all slumbering minds in the Dimension of Dream beyond the wall of sleep. Here, the moon-beasts raise stone cities on the oily shores of night-black seas found upon the dark side of the dreaming moon, from which they launch long, dark galleys crewed by not-quite-human slaves that sail through the void of space down to the seas of the Dimension of Dream to seek new slaves and stranger, more sinister wares.
Moon-beasts are slavers, first and foremost. They use their spell-like abilities to curb rebellion or to quickly gain minions, but much prefer using physical and mental regimens of torment and reconditioning to break the spirit of their captives. They often work with the denizens of Leng, a metaphysically nearby dimension of nightmare and madness, although as often as not these planar neighbors serve the moon-beasts merely as slaves.
Worshipers of ageless entities from beyond the stars, moon-beasts are often compelled to travel to the Material Plane for strange and frightening causes, not the least of which is gathering suitable sacrifices for their mysterious and demanding lords.
The 'slave's' head snaps up as the group files in, "Ah, so you've decided to join us after all..." it hisses, its demeanor much more hostile that before. It tilts its head again, as if listening, then still kneeling, beckons you closer.
It has imparted a subtle emphasis on the word join...it doesn't mean joining for conversation...probably something more sinister.
Letitia recoils at the strange floating creature. After a moment, she steels herself to address the alien creatures. "We are not joining you. As I have said, you are the interlopers here. As such, you must make an accounting for yourselves and your intrusion into the Dancing Hut. Show us what you have discovered here so far; if they have no use to us, you may go in peace with them. If we require them, we have the means of bartering for them. This is your final chance to avoid hostilities."
Recoiling from the grotesque sight, Llewellyn's eyes goggled as he whispered under his breath, "What in the hells is that?!"
Eyes narrowing, Llewellyn retorted, "No. We will not be joining for any reason whatsoever!"