You are this world's greatest heroes. Your exploits are known far and wide. Your power is both respected and coveted. Your story may even be sung in taverns or transcribed in tomes for others to use as an example. Both for good and bad. You have all triumphed over great odds and attained even greater glory. But you are not done yet. Far from it. Your greatest challenge lies ahead.
And that challenge comes in the form of nondescript letter. It is plain white paper with no seal or signature and appears before you as if out of thin air. When you open it you find a card that merely says "You. Are. Needed." in plain black letters. It is sufficiently cryptic enough to make you wonder and when you flip it over there is a string of numbers and symbols. The first part is easy enough to determine. A Date and Time two months from now. The rest is a little harder to decipher but you eventually determine it to be coordinates. But to where? The middle of a large forest apparently. And a very dangerous one at that. Travelling there, you get plenty of warnings from those nearby of how the place is connected to the fey and has many strange and powerful creatures. Your curiosity continues to rise as well as your determination. At this point their is little in the world that can challenge you let alone harm you so you enter and arrive at the indicated coordinates.
They lead you to a clearing in the immense forest to the ruins of a fort. Only its walls still stand though not for much longer. It is about 40x40 and the forest comes up almost right to the walls. It his here your challenge begins. And you are not alone.
Groff was a bit tired of the endless demons preventing his seemingly endless quest, The letter was a welcome respite.
Seems like a decent excuse for a vacation.
He seeks out a mage of sufficient power to teleport him to a reasonable proximity of the indicated location. Then he asks around about the local and trudges in, getting an early start in the morning. Some local fauna of the nastier sort do cause him a touch of grief on the way in, but they are inconsequential, swatted away like the mere pests they have become in the face of his vast experience. Really, a pack of worgs against me? I mean I've fought packs of Balors.
Eventually he arrives at the location. Hmm, what a dump. There better be a good reason I'm here or I will find who wrote that note and give them a bit of talking to.
Looking around he is on his guard readying his shield and primary scimitar.
"Hurm. "
As the first to arrive you notice that the inside of the ruin is not overgrown. It is barren with an easily discernible magic ring in the center. But since you know not the ways of magic, its purpose eludes you. It also seems dormant, merely writing on the ground though no amount of walking or rubbing will erode it.
Hmm, guess I'll poke around a bit, but this doesn't seem to make any sense. Who the hells would drag me away from important stuff to poke around a heap of rubble?
As with every morning Fizzy wakes and casts his spells of False life, and Overland Flight. This morning in particular he plays around a bit with a scroll that he had picked up, he casts tongues on himself then follows that up with a permanency.
He looks down at the fat raccoon, finishing up the crumbs from his morning cake. Well Fuzzwiddle? Shall we go see what kind of ambush we are walking into?
, then just before he arrives on the location he casts mirror image on himself gaining 8 images, he uses his extend rod to do so, then he casts invisibility on Fuzzwiddle as he climbs into his satchel.
Fizzy touches down near the dwarf, about 20 feet away, and observes for a moment. Then from 20 feet away the other direction he will cast a major image to have his voice come from there.
Groff will see the image of a ridiculously fat gnome with bright blue hair that stands about 2 feet high, and around his neck, blowing in wind that is not there is a fantastic scarf. The gnome stands with his hand on his belly, and with its head sticking out of a satchel is a ridiculously fat Raccoon, also with a fantastic scarf that is blowing in wind that is not actually there.
Hello! Did you get a card to come here too? Are are you what I am supposed to take care of? The image holds up the card that everyone received.
Perhaps due to his like of foresite the man of known as the Master Chef arrived by completely ordinary means. He did not appearly suddenly by means of teleportation, nor did he soar in under the influence of magical flight. Rather, he simply walked. Some would call it underwhelming, perhaps even unbecoming, but walking is good for you after all.
Kyamba arrives at the clearing with his assistant in tow. He makes no attempt to hide or conceal himself and while his weapon and armor are worn, they are not drawn. Close behind him follows an angelic (literally) woman and though she stands at nearly 10 ft tall she wears only simple clothes and a pack on her back; no weapons, no armor. Both attempt to exude a sense of calm as they approach, though the woman casts her eyes across the entire area with unknown intentions.
"Pardon the intrusion gentleman, my name is Kyamba and this is my assistant Rika" he motions to the woman standing behind him without turning. He then pulls out the card from his breast pocket for the others to see "Were you the ones that requested assistance or were you called here as well?"
"Curious." Mortimer walks into existence outside the fringes of the fort, eyes darting around as the imp on his shoulder eyes the three people there. After a moment it whispers something to the wizard, who shakes his head. "No, I know these three, they are not enemies. Groff, Fizzwiddle, Chef Kyamba. It is good to see you well. I am assuming from your questions that we were all given the same note." He holds up his own. "Does anybody know what we're dealing with?" Mortimer will cast detect magic in the area.
The image of Fizzy dances a little jig, belly wobbles intensely. Yes the Fuzz and I did get that same card! I don't suppose any of you have any pie...I am a bit peckish. Oh wait a minute! The image of Fizzy claps his hands together and an amazing looking pie appears, which he immediately begins to devour, sharing some with the Fuzz.
I have not met these others, but a Chef...that is promising!
You know Morty, I could make that detect magic a permanent thing if you wanted...I am always offering you know.
"Could be interesting, although I don't believe we have the time right now."
"Well met Master Talinth. Yes, I did receive the note but I've only just arrived myself. Still, things seem harmless enough..."
Then Kyamba smiles wryly in response to the Gnomes musings. He opens his pack and draws out a neatly wrapped box that he hands off to Fizzwiddle. "It's my own recipe" he says with pride and then turns to those others that have gathered "I have more if the rest of you would like."
Suddenly the dancing, prancing gnome stops moving, and the box is floating in mid air, then it disappears.
Sorry about that says the gnome that is now moving again. I might not be what I appear to be!
then to Mort Bah it only takes 10 seconds! I did it to myself this morning! Fizzy proceeds to say hello in 15 different languages.
"Thank you Master Chef." Mortimer briefly scans it, then gives an approving nod and stores it in a pocket. He then turns to Fizzwiddle and returns each greeting in the appropriate language, Then continuing on long after with a slightly amused grin. He returns to common. "By all means than, I shall supply the component cost."
The invisible Fizzy walks over, while keeping his duplicate going. Cast your detect magic, then relax.
Once it is cast Fizzy will cast permanency on Mortimer, then immediately go back to concentrating on his image.
"Think nothing of it." he says as he draws a few more things out of his pack "It's extra hearty though, should put a jig in your step at least". He idly watches the others as their conversation carries on.
Detect Magic reveals Strong Conjuration on the circle.
Fizzy pops his pill into his mouth as well
Mortimer is suddenly inwardly drawn as he studies the room. "Prepare yourselves." He begins chanting at rapid pace, infusing the others and himself with magic.
Kyamba's eyes narrow as he starts to slowly pace at Mortimers warning. He trusted the elf to know what he was talking about. "Rika, see to the others should they need it but otherwise stay back."
"Right" says the Simulacrum.
"This forest parallels the fey realm, and tonight is a full moon." Mortimer indicates the quickly vanishing sun as he mounts his phantom steed. "We are about to have some sort of otherworldly being here."
Taking the note, Darnak reads it and then sets it down on the nearest table. He gathers his things and stops at the door, placing his wide brimmed hat upon his head. Time ta go ta work, he thinks to himself before heading out, wondering what Torag has in store for him this time... and wondering if this will be the last.
As he arrives, he notices several others around. He nods in greeting before wondering what has caught their attention.
Kyamba quickly draws another box out of his pack and motions for the newly arrived monk to take it, though he keeps his eyes peeled around the clearing:
"Take this" he says "Things are getting heated but this'll help at any rate."
The image of Fizzy approaches Darnak and stops 10 feet away.
Greetings I am Fizzwiddle Glockenfleffor XXII and this is the Fuzz H gestures to a fat raccoon in a satchel, both of them have amazing scarves that flutter in a wind that does not seem to exist.
He does a gracious bow, full of flourishes.
Kyamba quickly draws another box out of his pack and motions for the newly arrived monk to take it, though he keeps his eyes peeled around the clearing:
"Take this" he says "Things are getting heated but this'll help at any rate."
Darnak nods, ::"Thanks. What does it do, laddie?":: he asks the chef from within his mind.
The image of Fizzy approaches Darnak and stops 10 feet away.
Greetings I am Fizzwiddle Glockenfleffor XXII and this is the Fuzz He gestures to a fat raccoon in a satchel, both of them have amazing scarves that flutter in a wind that does not seem to exist.
He does a gracious bow, full of flourishes.
Darnak looks within the mind of the gnome in an attempt to speak, yet, seems to be getting nothing. Guess I'm not gonna get through to that one. Mentally shrugging, he simply nods in greeting to the gnome image with a tip of his hat.
Somewhat uncomfortable with someone rooting around in his head, Kyamba answers the question regardless:
"The pill will get you going in a hurry and the cake has got some herbs in it that'll pick you up if you get into a bad spot. The last one is bottle of Brawler's Brew. That stuff'll set you up right if this turns into a fight"
Donovan Quince flies to the location noted on his magic carpet, surrounded by the smoke from his eversmoking bottle. He flies in high, taking the aerial view of the scene.
Perception
Knowing an adventuring party in the offing when he sees one, and not perceiving any immediate threat, he orders the bottle stoppered and flies down, slowing his descent when he is with 100' and calling out Hail, friends. I have the honor to be named Donovan Quince. How may I address you? His voice is slightly muffled by the odd mask he wears.
"More...?" mutters Kyamba as another new face made his way onto the scene. Someone who didn't understand the situation might think this clearing was a great place to meet people for a party, what with all of th food being handed out.
"Welcome Donovan, my names Kyamba. That over there is Master Talinth and this here Darnak Deepstone. The other two are Sir Groff and Fizzwiddle of the Glockenfleffor lineage, though I only know them by reputation."
"Don't worry, I've got some for you too." continues the Master Chef, pulling his fifth and final lunchbox out of his bag and offering it to the newest face. "But that's the last one so savor it well."
Donovan floats down gently on his carpet. He accepts the package with a bow. Kyamba? As in Master Chef Kyamba? I accept the welcoming gift, and shall treasure it.
Kn Local
The Fizzy image bows yet again, then says.
My gift to you all. He opens his hand and inside it is a small dragon, or the brightest colors. It flies out of his hands straight up into the air and explodes into bright fireworks...a strange thing, no spell anyone has heard of can do that. Though the caster types would recognize that as being possible with an illusion.
Darnak turns to the newcomer, nodding in welcome as The Chef introduces him.
His attention is easily gathered with the fireworks display. An odd one, that one is. He likes his colors to be sure, he thinks to himself as watches the thing explode. Shrugging, I prefer gray.
As all the people appear around him, he does recognize some by reputation. Very few people get to be this sort of level without visiting the World Wound at least once and Groff was likely around at the time and heard tell of them.
He notices the Gnome approach invisibly. And when the fake appears, studiously ignores it, but rather looks at where the invisible figure actually stands.
"Yes, Groff here. Got a note too. "
He then points over at the north wall "Something on yonder wall. "
When queried by the Chef. "Ayup. Thanks. "
Ugh. Fey. I hate fey. Donovan mutters to himself, barely audible through the mask. He floats over towards to writing on his carpet. Is it in a language he recognizes? (probably not)
The invisible Fizz wanders over and reads it.
Perception Most likely, Donovan hears Fizzwiddle moving next to him (invisible is only a -20 and you're not sneaking), so he orders the carpet "Up" and draws one of his pistols. "Someone invisible down near the wall. He warns the others.
fizzy takes 10 on each for a 35
fizzy takes 10 on each for a 35
And the picture, along with what you heard before entering the forest, leads you to believe it is a Bandersnatch, perhaps the deadliest hunter of the fey. They are enormous cat-like creatures ad come in several different flavors. The Frumious become furious and inflamed when significantly hurt, the Magicbane can disrupt spells, Confounding have poisoned quills and Primal can attack the mind.
That high of a roll also means you know all there strengths and weaknesses.
fizz casts mind blank to make him much harder to discover
this is a circle of teleportation
"Indeed, it is. There is also an arcane lock mixed into the circle that is set to activate in the morning."
"More importantly, what we're dealing with is a Bandersnatch, the deadliest mortal fey. They are gargantuan, six legged cat-like creatures, and there are several versions of them. I'm not certain which one we're dealing with."
"They can confuse you with a gaze and recover from most debilitating effects quickly. They also have painful quills that harm you if you touch them and they also leave them imbedded in your skin when they attack you or you attack them with anything that doesn't have reach, and in addition they can fire the quills at you. They are immune to fear, paralysis, poison, and sleep effects."
"While very strong and terrifying, in essence they are simply a very powerful magical animal. Not very smart. A confounding bandersnatch has poison quills, frumious ones can rage when hurt, magicbane can disrupt spells, and primal ones can attack your mind."
"Morning, you say?" responds Kyamba after a long pause. "We have a while then." he continues as he takes up a more relaxed stance. Rika also reappears after a moment and silently rejoins the group.
"But that begs the question: what should we do? Do you think you can break the circle Mortimer?"
assuming we can't...how can we beat set the stage for this attack?
is any one else hungry?
You're asking possibly the greatest binder alive during our time if he can control dimensional travel. Maybe I should ask you if you can manage slicing bread. Of all the...
"Couldn't hurt to try." Mortimer says with a smile.
Mortimer steps up to the circle, holding up his arms. "Thirku stoth!" A shimmering emerald barrier with a 20 foot radius appears, centered on the teleportation circle. "That should hold it for a few weeks."
You create a shimmering emerald barrier that completely blocks extradimensional travel. Forms of movement barred include astral projection, blink, dimension door, ethereal jaunt, etherealness, gate, maze, plane shift, shadow walk, teleport, and similar spell-like abilities. Once dimensional lock is in place, extradimensional travel into or out of the area is not possible.