Marnir listens to the man’s ramblings, hoping to pluck nuggets of truth from his words. ”The immortal dreamstone. What’s that?” he asks, before whispering to Markizio. ”Our friendly local mad oracle might be able to get some sense out of him. Let’s get him back to the Drake first mate, before he can do any more harm to himself.”
Markizio nodded, "Yeah, I think you're right. Let's get him back to the Drake."
He then asked, "Let's do that first and see if we can get any useful information out of him before we continue with our exploration. I mean it's not like this fort is going anywhere, right?"
--------------
As you lead the babbling unfortunate from the building and towards the gate two more of the unearthly Animated dreams drift out of the building to your left B10.
Marnir however sees three Phase spiders lurking on the ethereal plane by the gate, trying to remain hidden, but he is able to pick them out.
It seems taking the man from the fort is an unpopular decision.
What are you doing now? You can all see the Animate Dreams, only Marnir has seen the Phase spiders.
”This man is not popular here,” Marnir says as they start to escort him back to the ship. ”More phase spiders lurking by the gate,” he adds, pointing in that direction with his axe. ”Maybe we should take him back inside.”
Hearing about the spider things, Jane tries to think of a solution. "Sorry guys... I have no clue what to do here."
"Can we fight that many of the dream-things? Maybe we should run for it!" says Niobe nervously.
As soon as Kung sees the dream-thing, he actively starts tapping his peg-leg into the hard ground, kicking up dust as he forces the rhythm of his rage to begin. Once only would he allow himself to fall victim to that attack on his mind.
He turns to face the dreams, barely hearing Marnir's words about the spiders. He takes a step and enters his fighting stance, ready to take on both of the dreams himself if he has to.
The barbarian can focus her strikes. She gains a +1 competence bonus on melee attack rolls and thrown weapon attack rolls. This bonus increases by 1 for every 4 levels the barbarian has. This is a stance rage power.
Seeing Kung boiling with rage, Jane arms her crossbow and takes aim at the nearest spider and readies a red arrow shot.
Markizio lifted his hand, "Maybe we can bring our oracle here. It looks like the issue here is with this fellow..."
Both the Animate dreams take advantage of your inaction.
Jane, Markizio & Niobe are all panicked and flee for the gate. Dropping anything held.
Niobe runs too close to Red and is attacked.
Niobe Lose 2 Con & 29hp.
Marnir The other two Phase spiders have moved closer to you and Kung.
Your captive is left shrieking and crying on the ground.
Marnir & Kung, what are you doing now?
Kung steps towards one of the animate dreams and attacks with everything he has.
HP 18+96/96
AC 20 touch 11 flat-footed 17 (+8 armor, +3 dex, +1 natural, -2 rage)
DR 1/-
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +13, Ref: +12, Will: +8 (+2 rage)
Superstitious: +5 to saves vs. spells/spell-like
Conditions: rage, accurate stance
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +22/+14 (+8 BAB, +6 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage, +3 competence/accurate stance)
Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 2d6+23 (+9 str, +3 enhancement, +9 power attack, +2 rage)
14/19 rds Rage remaining
Seeing his friends and shipmates sent fleeing by more animate dreams Marnir curses. "Gods damn it," he yells before starting his war chant and wading in to support Kung.
HP (90) 72/75
AC 23, touch 14, flat-footed 23 (+8 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 30 ft
Fort: +15, Ref: +9, Will: +14 (+4 vs fear) (+2 heroism, +2 Fort & +1 Will inspired rage)
Conditions: heroism, see invisibility, inspired rage
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 nhancement, +2 heroism, -2 Power Attack, +2 furious, +2 inspired rage)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+20 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike, +6 Power Attack, +2 furious, +3 inspired rage)
14/22 rds raging song remaining
Both of the Animate dreams drift back from the pair of pirates as they brutally hack into one.
Both cast Phantasmal Killer on Kung & Marnir, both men ignore the horrific images easily.
The Red Phase spider returns to the ethereal plane, all three move into position behind you.
Your actions. Only Marnir can see the Spiders again.
Slipping up as the dream creature tried to slip away, Kung instinctively strikes at the thing when it tries to cast a spell, taking advantage of the opportunity. He then unleashes his full fury on it before turning his attention to the other dream that's moved farther away.
HP 18+96+18/96+18
AC 19 touch 10 flat-footed 16 (+8 armor, +3 dex, +1 natural, -2 rage, -1 inspired rage)
DR 1/-
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +15 (+2 morale/inspired rage), Ref: +12, Will: +11 (+2 rage, +3 morale/inspired rage)
Superstitious: +5 to saves vs. spells/spell-like
Conditions: rage, accurate stance, inspired rage
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +24/+16 (+8 BAB, +8 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage, +3 competence/accurate stance)
Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 2d6+26 (+12 str, +3 enhancement, +9 power attack, +2 rage)
13/19 rds Rage remaining
Kung follows the Orange dreams retreat and his blade flashes in silver arcs that make it wither and die.
"Phase spiders creeping up!" Marnir shouts as he turns towards the advancing creatures, continuing his warchant as he strikes out at one trying to attack from behind. He then steps backwards, shielding his back with the wall.
HP (93) 75/75
AC 23, touch 14, flat-footed 23 (+8 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 30 ft
Fort: +15, Ref: +9, Will: +14 (+4 vs fear) (+2 heroism, +2 Fort & +1 Will inspired rage)
Conditions: heroism, see invisibility, inspired rage, fast healing 4
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 heroism, -2 Power Attack, +2 furious, +2 inspired rage)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+20 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike, +6 Power Attack, +2 furious, +3 inspired rage)
13/22 rds raging song remaining
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"EEEEEEEeeeeee..."
Markizio tried his best to outdistance the gnome an druid. he knew full well that he didn't have to be faster than the monsters chasing them, just faster than those running...
Jane tries to find a place to hide.
Niobe hits the beach, turns back into a mermaid, and keeps going!
Yellow withdraws as Marnir's axe bites into it hard on his first attack, his second missing the scuttling monster.
Green & Red both move on Marnir, attacking him together.
Their fangs sink deeply into him and he feels their poison sapping his health, but he shakes it off.
Marnir Green has Grappled you.
The Animate dream focuses on Kung
Kung you feel a soothing sensation sweep through your mind, your eyes drift closed and you fall asleep.
Marnir. It's your action. What are you doing?
HP 18+96+18/96+18
AC 19 touch 10 flat-footed 16 (+8 armor, +3 dex, +1 natural, -2 rage, -1 inspired rage)
DR 1/-
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +15 (+2 morale/inspired rage), Ref: +12, Will: +11 (+2 rage, +3 morale/inspired rage)
Superstitious: +5 to saves vs. spells/spell-like
Conditions: rage, accurate stance, inspired rage
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +24/+16 (+8 BAB, +8 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage, +3 competence/accurate stance)
Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 2d6+26 (+12 str, +3 enhancement, +9 power attack, +2 rage)
13/19 rds Rage remaining
Marnir growls in pain as he feels the spiders' fangs sunk into his flesh. He feels himself picked up by the strong jaws of one of the spiders and flails against its head, trying to escape, his loud voice all the while continuing his chant.
HP (85) 83/ (101) 83
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 22 (+8 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 30 ft
Fort: +15, Ref: +9, Will: +14 (+4 vs fear) (+2 heroism, +2 Fort & +1 Will inspired rage)
Conditions: heroism, see invisibility, inspired rage, fast healing 4
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 heroism, -2 Power Attack, +2 furious, +2 inspired rage)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+20 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike, +6 Power Attack, +2 furious, +3 inspired rage)
12/22 rds raging song remaining
** spoiler omitted **
Kung turns and swings at Green as it struggle to keep Marnir grappled.
He slaughters the creature in two savage strikes.
Red steps back 5', you can see she is considering the situation. She then moves to secure your prisoner, who has been trying to roll away from the fight. She Chitters an order at Yellow in an unknown tongue.
"Hold them where they are you fool!
The Animate dream casts on Kung & Marnir
Confusion
Both resist the swirling madness that tries to take their minds.
Yellow looks very reluctant but advances on Marnir
Marnir Lose 13hp and 1 con.
You may now act.
Kung, rage in his eyes, is empowered by Marnir's inspiration and a primal surge of adrenaline as he tries to ignore his own mortality in the face of these creatures. He lunges towards the animate dream in an attempt to finish the thing off. "STAY OUT OF MIND!" erupts out of his lungs with passionate fury.
HP 18+96+18/96+18
AC 19 touch 10 flat-footed 16 (+8 armor, +3 dex, +1 natural, -2 rage, -1 inspired rage)
DR 1/-
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +15 (+2 morale/inspired rage), Ref: +12, Will: +11 (+2 rage, +3 morale/inspired rage)
Superstitious: +5 to saves vs. spells/spell-like
Conditions: rage, accurate stance, inspired rage
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +24/+16 (+8 BAB, +8 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage, +3 competence/accurate stance)
Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 2d6+26 (+12 str, +3 enhancement, +9 power attack, +2 rage)
11/19 rds Rage remaining
Marnir deals with the Yellow Spider on him.
Already wounded it dies with a look of shock on its face as Marnir slams his axe into it from the ground. He stands up with his remaining action.
Kung wounds the Blue dream.
Blue lashes back at Kung.
It's touch sapping the life from Kung
Red has a struggle with the squirming, shrieking man, finally managing to get a grip on him without harming him. Dragging him away from the fight.
You may now act.
Kung still has that rage in his eyes; whatever is happening behind him he simply doesn't see. His sword glints in the sun as he brings it down on the animate dream again and again.
HP 18+96+18/96+18
AC 19 touch 10 flat-footed 16 (+8 armor, +3 dex, +1 natural, -2 rage, -1 inspired rage)
DR 1/-
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +15 (+2 morale/inspired rage), Ref: +12, Will: +11 (+2 rage, +3 morale/inspired rage)
Superstitious: +5 to saves vs. spells/spell-like
Conditions: rage, accurate stance, inspired rage
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +24/+16 (+8 BAB, +8 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage, +3 competence/accurate stance)
Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 2d6+26 (+12 str, +3 enhancement, +9 power attack, +2 rage)
10/19 rds Rage remaining
Marnir grunts in pain as the phase spider digs its fangs into him, the laughs maniacally as he cuts it down. He sees their guest being dragged away by the last remaining spider and quickly moves to intercept, his war chant echoing loudly off the walls. "Get your claws off him!" he roars as he attacks the spider.
HP (76) 83/ (101) 83
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 22 (+8 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 30 ft
Fort: +15, Ref: +9, Will: +14 (+4 vs fear) (+2 heroism, +2 Fort & +1 Will inspired rage)
Conditions: heroism, see invisibility, inspired rage, fast healing 4, 1 Con damage
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 heroism, -2 Power Attack, +2 furious, +2 inspired rage)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+20 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike, +6 Power Attack, +2 furious, +3 inspired rage)
11/22 rds raging song remaining
Marnir Misses the agile Phase spider.
Kung hits the Animate Dream again and again. It responds by stepping back 5' and vanishing.
The Red Spider glares furiously at Marnir releasing the prisoner and returning to the ethereal plane as it slips away through a nearby wall.
Silence falls over the fort, aside from the whimpering of your prisoner.
What are you doing now?
Kung follows the animate dream as it moves away from him, still attempting to destroy it even as it vanishes.
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"Kung, help with this guy!" Marnir calls, looking out in case the phase spider returns. "We need to get him back to the Drake before anything else tries to kill him. Or us!"
Scooping up the quivering man Marnir & Kung hurry out of the fort. Strangely the man goes stiff as you leave the fort, relaxing as you get some distance from it.
You make to the shore, and your boat without any further incident. Your fellow party members are there, or close by in the water.
Kung feels the power of Marnir's inspiration fade away, and he too allows his rage to drop. Even fatigued, the frail old man is no trouble to support, and the fatigue fades away in short order.
Getting out to the boat, Kung is happy to see that Markizio, Jane, and Niobe all made it back here at least. He finds his fancy friend, and gives him a big hug. "Markizio need buy more shirts. Always getting wet and dirty, or holes poked!"
Niobe returns nervously, hair frazzled, and looks like she's keeping quiet simply by the expedient of biting her lower lip. Doubtless if her mouth opens the torrent of words that come forth will be both frustrating and adorable.
Finding herself back at the boat, Jane quickly composes herself and moves into her lab. "Stupid spiders. I'll make something for you to die." she says out loud.
"There one more still. Not get last." Kung looks to Marnir for confirmation; his memory of what happens in combat can't always be relied upon.
It takes Hettia three days to aid your prisoner in repairing the damage done to his mind. Best be gentle with the poor sod Captain." She uncharacteristically advises you. "He's had two different groups hammering his mind for months. He's lucky his brain hasn't melted out his ears by now!"
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- 3.
The mans name is Ederleigh Baines. Once the apprentice of a wizard and Pirate captain named Bikendi Otengu
Millennia before the formation of the Eye of Abendego, in the heyday of the Age of Serpents, the cyclopes of Ghol-Gan ruled over much of the territory now claimed by the Shackles.
Many of their ruins still stand, including those on the remote island now known as the Island of Empty Eyes.
During the days of Ghol-Gan, the cyclopes built a mountain retreat called Sumitha.
This retreat contained an underground vault known as the Eye of Serenity, which held an artifact called the lens of revelation.
The cyclops seers of Sumitha guided their fellows in using the Eye and the lens therein for personal sojourns and divine introspection.
But with the waning of their civilization, the lens turned dark and the cyclopes abandoned Sumitha.
Many cyclopes retreated into the Darklands, leaving only a handful behind, who gradually degenerated into brutish savages.
Centuries later, sailors saw the eyeless statues on the island's shores and hillsides and gave the island its current name.
In 4110 AR, Chelish explorers stumbled across the island and made landfall.
The settlers explored the island's interior and discovered the ruins of Sumitha, stirring up conflict with the few remaining cyclopes in the stronghold.
The Chelaxians lost several soldiers in the ensuing battles, so they built a small fort overlooking the island's inner bay to defend themselves.
Eventually, however, the giants' attacks grew too numerous and
organized, spurring the settlers to abandon their island home and flee to the mainland, joining the larger and newer colony of Sargava.
More recently, a band of pirates settled upon the Island of Empty Eyes. Led by a Mwangi wizard named Bikendi Otongu, they swiftly restored the Chelish fort and began quietly scouting the island's ruins.
Bikendi used powerful illusions to hide his people's presence from the cyclopes for many months, all so he could conduct his research without interruption.
Obsessed with dreams and alternate realities, he believed he could extend his life without relying on an undead apotheosis like lichdom-turning instead to the heartstone magic of night hags.
Using such a gem, he hoped to bind his soul in an arcane ritual, preserving it as he separated his consciousness from his physical form. As his body passed away, his mind would remain vibrant and free to seek out the Dimension of Dreams, living on for all eternity in whatever world he could imagine.
To carry out his plan, Bikendi searched for the perfect gem to create a heartstone, carefully consulting the magic of ancient Ghol-Gan and looking for a flawless jewel among the ruins of Sumitha.
He found exactly what he needed in the lens of revelation, and moved invisibly among the cyclopes of Sumitha until he could steal away the
stone used in their ancestral divinations.
But to craft a heartstone from the lens, Bikendi also needed to cultivate a relationship with a night hag willing to help him.
Thus he made contact with a night hag named Lodhotha and offered her a hundred souls from captives taken in his raids in exchange for crafting such a heartstone from the lens that he could use for his ritual. Lodhotha readily agreed, accepting Bikendi's hapless victims even as she
made plans to keep the new hearts tone, called the immortal dreamstone, for herself.
In the meantime, she feasted on the nightmares of those held in the fort's prison, raiding their dreams each night until she could harvest their souls for the dark markets of her nightmarish realm.
To fulfill his part of the bargain, Bikendi increased his raids, using the island as a base from which to assault passing ships.
These efforts attracted the attention of the cyclopes, however, who discovered the lens of revelation was missing from the Eye of Serenity and rightly surmised that Bikendi's pirates had stolen it.
They sent warriors to test the fort's defenses, but the pirates held
on, adding captured cyclopes to the allotment of souls due Lodhotha. Bikendi realized, however, that the giants would eventually overrun the fort, so he escalated his plans by imprisoning some of his own men-those who had shown fear or doubt in standing against the cyclopes.
This gave him enough souls to meet Lodhotha's quota, sating the hag's appetite and convincing her to craft the immortal dreamstone.
Knowing full well that Lodhotha would rather use the stone on him than relinquish it, Bikendi anticipated her treachery, and sprang his
own trap before the hag could double-cross him.
Bikendi instructed his apprentice, Ederleigh Baines, to pickpocket the dreamstone when Lodhotha arrived, thus depriving the hag of her most significant weapon and preventing her from escaping into the Ethereal Plane as well.
Bikendi and his followers then slew Lodhotha, even as Ishtoreth's cyclopes began their final siege of the pirates' fort.
Ecstatic with his prize, and realizing that the dreamstone's magic would last only 24 hours following Lodhotha's death, Bikendi retreated to the fort's tower to attune it to himself, intent on completing his ritual before the cyclopes breached the outer wall.
Unfortunately, not only did the ritual prove more challenging than
Bikendi had anticipated, but without the wizard's arcane assistance against the cyclopes, Bikendi's forces were quickly overwhelmed.
The giants sank Bikendi's ship with thrown rocks, then broke through the main gates and slew the fort's defenders before turning their assault
on the tower itself.
Clutching a mug in still shaking hands Ederleigh Baines tells you the details of what happened on the island.
Baines tells you his master sought immortality in the plane of dreams rather than undeath.
Stealing a huge, enchanted crystal from the Cyclops ruins on the island. He then made a deal with a Night hag for a Dreamstone to let him turn the stolen crystal into an immensely powerful Dreamstone of his own.
He killed the Night hag when she arrived and rushed to the tower in the fort to complete his ritual.
Without him the Cyclopes overwhelmed the fort and assaulted the tower.
Baines survived by hiding as the Cyclopes sacked the fort. Bikendi was killed, and the Cyclopes took the stone back to their home, but his spirit remained in the tower as a ghost, trying to regain the stone and free his spirit.
Bikendi has been using the Nightmare spell to try and communicate with Baines. Naturally that hasn't worked very well. He has been using his Possession ability to try and make Baines go and retrieve the Dreamstone, but the range is only 100 yards from the fort.
So Baines has been waking from horrific nightmares to find himself walking outside the fort with no idea how he got there?
Things got worse when the Phase spiders arrived, bringing with them the Animate dreams. They work for another Night hag and want the Dreamstone also. Bikendi panicked when they arrived and began to bombard Baines mind each night. Meanwhile the spiders and Dreams would probe Baines mind telepathically for the location of the Dreamstone, which he sadly doesn't know. Every time he tried to flee the fort the Phase spiders would catch him and bring him back.
Not allowing him to leave until they have what they want.
Oh and the fort is haunted. Every night someone alive sleeps in the fort
Juju Zombies arise from the grounds and try to kill them.
Any questions for the poor guy?
Marnir is glad to see his friends at the ship's boat, even if they doo look a little strung out. "Not a problem, we handled everything fine. Except that last spider still lurking about," he jokes, confirming Kung's observation.
Once Hettia's magic has restored Ederleigh's mind and sanity, Marnir has the man tell his tale. The story of betrayal and horror is almost too terrible to believe. "I don't really know what to say to that," he says, awed by Ederleigh's strength of will and his ability to survive such torment. "Do you know where Bikendi's ghost is?"
Ederleigh nods weakly. "His Ghost lairs where he died. In the tower basement. He hides in the central pillar to avoid the Phase spiders and Animate dreams. Be wary, he still has all his magic!"
Janes ears pick up when she hears that there are undead around. "Wait, you mean i can actually do something? Ghosts? Yeah!!!
Markizio looked down when his captain and man-at-arms returned; he stammered, "I--- I--- don't know but those things got into my head and I just panicked. Glad you're both OK."
Shook up by the whole ordeal, the man was just not himself for a bit.
Niobe sheepishly returns to her place on the ship and says in a very quiet voice, "If we're going back in, I can prepare some spells to fight off the evil dreams' attacks and the poison of the phase spiders." She idly twists her fingers together in a nervous fashion and looks at the deck.
"Kung think we kill all bad dreams. But maybe more? Don't know. One spider left, for sure. Maybe more? Don't know. Need to kill all; can't have bad dreams and spiders live in same castle as us." He chuckles to himself, the safety of the Unbound Drake returning his jovial confidence. "Can you think of pirate party with bad dreams and spiders? Hahahaha we never get invited to Council!"