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Dusklord examines the banner.
"I have correctly matched the banner’s symbols to the symbols on the wax tablet map. Together, the two pieces present a specific timeline for the ritual’s effect. In the first few weeks, the ritual expands slowly out from Briar Henge. In the last few weeks, it expands to encompass nearby logging communities, including the lumber camp we passed through. In the final day, the ritual is powerful enough to affect residents of Wispil."
The wizard lifts a hand to slick back his black hair.
"Which would be most unfortunate, indeed, and given the state of several of our companions, I suggest we make haste."
This long, wide area is partially roofed by a sheet of woven bark. Under the bark sheet rest several casks, boxes, and simple pieces of furniture. Gourds dangle from the thorny walls as though hung on hooks. Three breaks in the bramble walls lead west, south, and east.
The stores include dried food, spare bedding, a washbasin, and so forth. The gourds contain fresh drinking water.
You uncover a large leaf folded around a dozen goodberries. These goodberries are shaped like blueberries but are shiny green in color.
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Yndra puts her axe back at her belt. "Excellent. Efficient, and clean. See, Serak? Applied with care, your talents are much more effective."
She listens to Dusklord's explanation, since she can't make heads or tails out of the banners. "Yes, I agree we should make haste. What o earth could possess these druids to put their plans on banners, though? Is it for planning? Communicating their intentions with creatures of the forest, who can't read? We'd have to ask them, when we find them. Lead on!"
Yndra repositions herself behind Aeleth, guiding him east on the suggestion of Dusklord.
-Posted with Wayfinder
This wide area on the east side of Briar Henge has a roughly circular shape. Four tall, thin spires of ancient stone thrust up from the ground at irregular intervals like malformed teeth. To the west, two thicker stones are capped with a third horizontal stone, forming a crude gateway. A thick piece of charred bark is suspended in this gateway by a web of crackling energy. The crackling energy pulses outward from the bark into the dolmen stones, and from there into the ground.
Surrounding the stones are four half-elf druids.
As Aeleth comes crashing in, then break from their ritual and cast more personal spells.
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Yndra lets out a triumphant cry as the bend in the corridor brings the druids into view. "Hah! There they are. Your ritual is at an end. No more will you endager innocent people with the power of this artifact." To her companions she adds "Watch out for their weapons. They're imbued them with druidic energy, to make them hit like..." She thinks for a second, trying to find an accurate comparison. "...like an ogre wielding a great magical club, I suppose. You deal with them. Leave the artifact to me."
She takes a step forward and draws a slender ivory wand from a pouch on our backpack. "Mighty Nethys, we are here doing your work, making sure that the powers of this artifact are put to good use, instead of this reckless ritual. Grant us your power to see this through!" Channeling power from the wand, Yndra blesses the party's endeavor.
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Just before the druids come into view, Starling stops to listen to their voices. She sniffs the air and begins salivating - even more than before - licking her lips with anticipation before the upcoming battle. This time however her seemingly natural bloodlust is amplified by strong, inexplicable rage against those who are responsible for her condition. As Aeleth calls out in warning and Yndra prepares for battle, Starling rushes forward on her still-human legs and pounces on the closest druid, biting at his throat and slashing against his chest at the same time.
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Yndra bolsters everyone's spirits with her blessing, as Dusklord tries to destroy the opponents morale. The druid in the yellow-fringed robes becomes frightened and will try to flee.
Meanwhile, Starling charges in, trying to rip apart the same druid, and misses with a claw swipe.
Serak races Aeleth into battle, and throws a ball of flame at the blueish-hued robed druid, causing soem nasty burns just before Aeleth charges in and smacks him down.
Yellow does turn to flee, giving Starling an AoO (second attack), which does draw blood. But the druid keeps running.
Red casts a spell, causing flames to appear in his hand, and throws one at Starling.
Green steps out from behind the arch, and immediately becomes much larger! He swings his large shillelagh at Aeleth.
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Dusklord scoffs at Serak's claim to greater magical power.
"Here we are, at the moment of our triumph, stopping these pathetic druids from performing some crazed ritual they stood no chance of completing if my magic is sent to stop it, and you claim to have greater magical power than I! Please! You have just witnessed my acquainting this druid with primal terror...see how he flees? But let me also show you that when burning things to the ground is called for, I have harnessed that power as well!!!"
The wizard lifts a hand, its fingers spread, and mutters a few arcane syllables, and a sheet of fire envelopes the enlarged druid.
"Do you not yet see that your few simple parlor tricks, while innate, are no match for the breadth of my studied arcane prowess!?"
An angry Aeleth knocks the large druid out in one swift kick, and then using the bestial claws he has grown, rips the man's throat out.
Aeleth casts flames at the fleeing druid, who seems to be recovering from his frightened state, and manages to dodge at the last second to avoid being caught full-blast.
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Yndra drops the wand she had used to bless the party. While walking to a more central location of the battle, she draws her axe. Before engaging, however, she casts another spell. She opens her mouth and seems to yell at the top of her lungs at the druid hiding behind the stone gateway. However, no sound can be heard...
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@Serak - since you are level 2, and used one attack already, it would really only be 1 minute. I'll allow it, but the duration is at an end now (unless I am missing something that extends your duration). Since Serak moves before Aeleth, you do hit blue.
[dice=Will Save]1d20+4 1d4
Yndra bolsters everyone's spirits with her blessing, as Dusklord tries to destroy the opponents morale. The druid in the yellow-fringed robes becomes frightened and will try to flee.
Meanwhile, Starling charges in, trying to rip apart the same druid, and misses with a claw swipe.
Serak races Aeleth into battle, and throws a ball of flame at the blueish-hued robed druid, causing soem nasty burns just before Aeleth charges in and smacks him down.
Yellow does turn to flee, giving Starling an AoO (second attack), which does draw blood. But the druid keeps running.
Red casts a spell, causing flames to appear in his hand, and throws one at Starling.
[dice=Ranged Touch Attack]1d20+1
[dice=Fire Damage]1d6+1Green steps out from behind the arch, and immediately becomes much larger! He swings his large shillelagh at Aeleth.
[dice=Attack]1d20+3-1
[dice=Damage]2d6+4
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Serak scoffs at Dusklord's claim to have mastered fire.
Fire?! You call that power? Let me show you true fire-power!
The gnome opens his mouth, and blasts the same druid that Dusklord targeted!
He snorts in disdain at the covered in flames.
Studying books and learning math real good is no match for the power of dragons!
Yndra stuns the red-haired druid, causing a severe ain in his ears as well. He won't be throwing his fire next round.
Serak sends out more flames, searing past Dusklord to burn his fleeing druid down to the ground.
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Starling's enemy tries to flee but is felled by her companions. She turns her attention to a larger battle just as some magic fire singes some of her fur. She growls and turns slowly towards the druid who hurt her. She readies herself for a while, and once he makes a brief movement - as if to better his position - she rushes towards him, falling upon him with tooth and nail.
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Starling attacks the red-haired half elf, biting her on the arm. The druid, stunned, does nothing in return.
The green druid shrinks back to size, and then expands to large again.
He continues to attack Aeleth, but this time swings wildly, missing the mark.
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Dusklord laughs out loud at Serak's disdain.
"I will grant you that your one trick is powerful," the wizard says. "But heaven forbid we encounter something immune to it! 'Burn everything to the ground' will only get you so far! Sometimes, you need some versatility!"
As if to emphasize his point, Dusklord moves closer to the druid dressed in green and enlarged, and unleashes a spray of vibrant colors in his face.
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Yndra hustles up to the druid she had stunned earlier, and swings her axe at her. She looks back at his companions, cross-eyes. "Could we please have this discussion when we're not in a lethal fight with four angry druids, that can grow to four times my size at the drop of a hat?" Turning back to the druid, she growls [b]"Speaking of which, you're doing stuff here that's wrong. As you may have noticed, we're here to stop you.
With so much offense targeted at the red-haired half-elf, she is quickly overcome and dispatched. There is little left except a tuft of red hair, waving in the wind.
The sun is beginning to set, and the piece of charred bark is still suspended in this gateway by a web of crackling energy.
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Yndra glares at Dusklord, not sure whether he is sincere or mocking her.
With the druids dealt with, Yndra stows her axe and stares in amazement at the suspended piece of bark. "There it is. The atavistic splinter. Ready for the taking." She rolls up here sleeves, then holds up a warning finger. "Of course, Dusklord will agree with me that items of this much power are not to be trifled with. Leave this to the professionals, please. Professor, if you will assist me."
Yndra studies the item carefully from all directions, without approaching too closely. Satisfied, the takes a few steps back, squints her eyes against the glare she's expecting, and casts detect magic.
It does detect as magical, rather powerful, and is still cackling with energy.
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Aeleth takes a moment to catch his breath in the aftermath of battle.
He sees Dusklord and Yndra trying to work out something about the splinter, and racks his memory for useful information.
"I remember I was once told a story about a magic splinter. It had the power to teach turtles to be ninja teens. I believe it was called the "Master Splinter". Do you think that story helps here?"
The sun is setting.
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Realizing that they might be running out of time, Yndra gives a last look at Starling and Aeleth. She puts her backpack on the ground and takes a piece of sturdy canvas from it, which she proceeds to folds around her hands. "Nethys, with your blessing...." With the cloth insulating her hands, she reaches into the gateway and tries to grab the artifact.
Yndra takes the splinter, and gets a nasty shock for her troubles, but her precautions should help.
(DC 13 Reflex save for half damage, and +1 from resistance, and +2 for making oven mitts...)
In any case, the damage won't kill you, and you are able to remove with the artifact. Aeleth and Starling immediately begin to revert to their normal selves.
The curse is lifted!
Venture-Captain Brackett accepts the Atavistic Splinter from you and promises that the Pathfinder Society will put the artifact to good use in the upcoming Ruby Phoenix Tournament in Goka.
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Yndra grits her teeth through the electric shock. On the way back, she eagerly discusses with Dusklord the possible uses of the artifact they found. "Job well done, I say!"
Once back in Absalom, she makes a thorough report to Zarta Dalreen, or all she's been able to learn about the Atavistic Splinter.