You travel in the direction Birdie told you, southwest, and after about a mile you come upon a clearing. Tendrls of mist rise from the ground and it is hard to see more than 5 feet in front of you. There are strange noises in the surounding trees. Is it the stream or is it something else entirely?
Crimson thistles have overtaken this clearing, punctuated by a ring of mossy standing stones. In the center, a neglected stone slab bears ancient stains and gouges.
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The Druid's posture relaxes the moment they are out of the small hamlet. He moves towards the front of the group, looking for signs of travel along the road. At various points he stops, paying close attention to a leaf or branch, before moving back along in the woods alongside or in front of the group.
The wind feels good. How others can live in cities amongst all those people is beyond me. Soft soil under your feet. That's the best way.
Throughout the journey, Lumi appears and disappears- seemingly at random. Each time she exchanges a quick glance with Paemil before disappearing again back off into the woods.
"แจ้งเตือนเพื่อนของฉัน"
Stay alert, my friend
Lumi is much happier here too. Taste freedom!
"Smells. Wind. Shadows. Home.
Loping along ahead of the party, Lumi's feet fall quietly in the underbrush. She can just hear the noise of the group behind her.
"Loud humans." she thinks, looking back over her shoulder before turning back to the front. She ranges out to 100' from the party before circling back to see her friend. "Human needs my protection. Look out for his safety." A quick glance or hand signal moves her back out into the woods again.
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Razisus pulls the cloth of his robes more tightly as the party ventures into the woods. The cool, moist air feels so very different from that of his native land.
Stranger still to him is the mist. Sand, I understand. The cleric concedes. It remains on the ground. For it to become airborne, to fill the air, and become blinding, requires the force of a storm or, at the least, a powerful wind. But this water... there is not the slightest hint of a breeze, and yet the air is thick with it--it turns the whole of the forest white and unrecognizable!
The cleric at first casts light on a pebble that he picked off the ground, but soon realizes that the glow merely reflects off the foggy mist and provides little aid in seeing.
Knowing that he is searching for an item of magic, the cleric next casts detect magic, hoping that the spell will help pierce through the mist and find the item they seek.
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Shruti nods in recognition as Sirius points out the smell on the air, "Indeed. Our feline companion must be hard-pressed not to move ahead without her master's command." Drawing nearer to the circle, they raise a hand and reach out toward the stone slab in the center, using their senses and their grasp of the arcane to find the source of the sick feeling that is starting to rise up in her stomach.
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"Desna always provides a reward for a day of travel. This mist, for example. Look at how beautiful it is, wrapping around the trees and vines out here in the woods, and tickling at our eager feet!" Feelo walks along with the others, making light conversation along the way as the cheerful halfling is wont to do.
When they arrive, he notices a putrid smell along with the others. In a softer voice, he too utters a warning. "Something isn't right; this smell is not normal."
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Razisus notices no particularly odd smells--all the forest odors wafting in the air are foreign to him.
When the Desnan speaks, Razisus feels compelled to chastise the Halfling for allowing the hazardous mist to distract him, but the Osirian chooses silence.
Those distracted in life, find focus and clarity before the goddess' throne in death.. Quietly reciting the phrase almost as a mantra within his head, allows Razisus to maintain his silence.
You take 1 damage and are sickened for the next minute
You take 3 damage and are sickened for the next minute
You see Shruti and Paemil both bite their own forearms.
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A voice enters into Paemil's mind. EAT! You must EAT The presence overpowers him and the druid blacks out. He regains awareness with his teeth deep into his own flesh, immediately spitting and gaging on the contents. The taste lingers, bringing his stomach contents dangerously close to his throat.
The color lightens and a pale cast washes over his face. His arms reach out and he leans on one of the stone pillars- obviously ill
There isn't anything that you can tell that you can do about this. From what you can tell this was a momentary impulse by Paemil, Shruti and Sirius that has now passed, but they are suffering the lingering effects of taking a bite out of themselves.
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Slowly recovering, Paemil start to chuckle to himself, growing in intensity. As the others begin to look at him uncomfortably he settles a little bit.
"I not mad. It funny. Cannible Grove. Now Understand." he says, trying to deflect the awkward tension. He looks down at his arm- once again feels sick- and pushes the thought from his head.
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With their stomach in knots, Shruti begins moving around the stone circle, looking for any sign of the ground being disturbed or some other clue about where the lantern might be hidden. "This One is ready to be done in this place. It is foul and frightening, and This One does not care for it at all."
The snowy leopard stalks back into the clearing, just in time to witness Paemil's and others strange behavior.
Master has fleas? Bites on arm. Human are strange.
Seeing her friend unwell, she moves up to his side- nuzzling up to his leg. As he steadies, the cat reluctantly moves forward back out into the woods after a brief series of hand signals, intended to reassure his companion.
You move through the brushes having dealt with the after effect of the stone circle.
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Polo moves toward's Sirus and looks warily at the stream for creatures or traps before wading towards the golden object..He also is cautious entering the stream if he determines it's too swift or deep for his small frame. If he determines it's safe to enter the stream. polo wades towards the shinny golden object and retrieves it.
The stream is fast flowing, but not dangerously so
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Having more fully recovered, Paemil moves up toward the bank with Razisus and Feelo. As Razisus speaks, the druid also takes a moment to sense the magical fields surrounding the stream.
As the aura becomes clear to him, he offers to explore the area more.
"I will go."
His finger glows and touches the outside of his shield, which now throws light onto the rocky Island. Taking his time, Paemil moves slowly and deliberatly out onto the rocky island.
About halfway into the stream, Lumi appears on the closer bank.
"มาเพื่อนเก็บดูด้านข้างสำหรับฉัน"
The leopard leaps into the water and splashes across the stream to the far bank.
"Come friend, keep watch on the far side for me."
Crouched in the underbrush, all of a sudden a bright light draws the cats attention Humans and bad sight. Ruin hiding.
Springing forward, the cat goes to investigate the source of the light- and sees her companion wading into the fast flowing water. He calls out to her and points to the other side of the river.
Friend. Guard.
With that, the cat steps into the cold water, sticking her fur to her sides and matting down her ears and tail. Bounding quickly, she reaches the other bank. As she emerges from the water- the leopard give a strong shake and disappears into the underbrush.
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Shruti moves away from the standing stones and follows Feelo toward the stream, their arm still bleeding badly from where they bit themselves. "Ah, good! It seems that we may complete our task without any further difficulties, yes? Then This One will mend it's wound." Shruti's hand glows softly for a moment as they waves it over their wound and let the healing magic take its effect.