Mortimer surveys the mazescape.
"Why not shoot for ? I'm tired of these narrow little paths.
Solrisa nods, still smiling though the party was no longer going north, goes in the direction that Mort points.
"Yes, Mortie, that's a good plan."
At the behest of Mortimer, the Outcasts move towards the back part of the Maze. Reaching the clearing, you find something new.
The Obsidian Portal is crackling with a deep purple magical aura. The face of it swirls, almost like the storms surrounding Tilagos Island.
There is an active spell emanating from the Portal- an Antipathy spell, though what it seeks to repel is as of yet unknown.
"Oauhg," Mortimer laments, rounding the corner, looking east. "They've delayed us for as long as they needed! Eidi, Ascaria? What did they do? Where did they go?!"
Eidi walks behind the others looking for their enemies while trying to think the answer to the portal riddle. When they spot the portal already opened and crackling in energy the half-elf is breathless.
The half-elf thinks his thoughts for everyone Wait... I am not sure they opened the portal... what I can say is there is an antipathy spell on it. The kind of magic that repels someone or something. We should check out if they made it to repel us
After that, Eidi tries to approach the portal to check out if it has been opened or only the antipathy has been added, and whether if the effect is targeted to affect any of the Outcasts.
This Antipathy spell is incredibly harsh against the Undead, though exactly how powerful it would be, you can not say. You also detect that the Antipathy highly respects Neutrality, something quite appropriate to the druidic orders that are alleged to have created it.
Eidi explains his findings through the telepathic bond It seems the antipathy let's me approach. It is specially target against undead and favors neutrality, as druids do. Those not seeking balance will need a strong Will to beat the spell and approach
The elder attempts to extend his arm and touch the portal surface with his staff. Trying to see if the device can be traversed to another place.
Eidi finds the surface of the portal to be cold, and fully stone through the whole of the circle, possibly having already closed up... The aura seems to be a lingering effect, extending outwards in a 20' radius.
Three of the holes in the face of the portal's frame appear slightly charred. One at the nine-o'-clock position, one at twelve, and one at three.
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”Did you want me to go first, Eidi? Mum said that I must be very strong willed if I kept eating all the sugar from the sugar jar even though I was punished for it each time, but really it was Rae who was eating it and so it kept happening and Mum thought I was very strong willed to keep doing it. So, it wasn’t me, so I probably have a very strong will,” Solrisa chimes in with another happy story.
Solrisa follows along with Eidi.
Ascaria joins with Eidi and examines the portal, having some neutral in him. "Do you think we need to put torches in the holes or something? How do we open it?"
(heroism)
The dimensions of the holes and the size of the teardrop crystals which seems to be occurring naturally on the island seem to be less than coincidence.
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"Oh, hey... I was wondering of what value this might be..." Mortimer reaches into his haversack and pulls out several green and blue teardrop crystals. "These are pretty ... unique. Do they fit?"
Green, yes. Blue, not so much.
Know (intelligence)
”Oh Mortie! That’s a good idea!” Solrisa smiles and cheers on the big man.
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"I think Mortimer is very right" Eidi continues the conversation through telepathy The riddle I deciphered before but I did not want to voice up was: "Return my eyes to me, and I shall gaze through the storm" So it makes all the sense the crystals are the eyes of the portal and must be returned
"Those blue ones are shattered, they will not fit. We need to find hole ones, and a third color we have yet not found. Let's try to examine the area of the blue crystals again..." Eidi goes to the fallen statues and looks for some whole blue crystals.
"Is there an order too, or do we just need the right three colors? Seems quite complex, lots of ways to get it wrong." Ascaria worries as he follows Eidi.
Upon return to the clearing of the Blue Crystals, Eidi reassures the party that there are, in fact, no whole Blue Crystals at the ready. Either a casting of Make Whole, or someone trying to shape the shards into teardrop shape will accomplish this.
As for a third color, you have yet to lay eyes on such a prize... Green, Blue, and ...?
There might also be another way here. Someone skilled in Using Magical Devices, and also be able to emulate someone Neutral in nature might be able to egg the Portal into opening...
The only place on Tilagos Island you have not visited, up close and personal, is the pool of water overseen by the Octopus Tree.
vs DC 15
"Er, I'm clueless. What should we do next? I need to get a scroll of it, but I don't have any sort of item fixing spells. Just people fixing."
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UMD
Solrisa moves up to look at the pretty teardrops and thinks about what might be necessary to get the Portal to open. She pokes and explores the device with a smile on her face, trying to understand it.
”I think...maybe...maybe I can get by this by being really really nice to it, and because maybe it will see that I’m not so bad or good that it will work for me,” Solrisa says with a smile.
UMD - Open the portal by being nice
”Ooopsie! That wasn’t right. I should have frownt instead of smiling!” Sol says as she tries again.
UMD
”Ooopsie! That wasn’t right. That was too much frowning!!” Sol says as she tries again.
UMD
”Oh, that’s really hard.” Solrisa seems really downcast after her repeated failures after she tried really really hard.
Int check
Eidi smiles at the kind attempts of Solrisa to open the portal "I think you are in the good track Solrisa. It is a matter of force of personality that it shall open. You are also a great stone cutter, perhaps you can try to cut the shards into a drop?"
"Mmmm... I fear the only place we have not yet visited in the island is the pool. Perhaps it is time for us to have a picnic by the tree..." the half-elf laughs in good mood "Unless Solrisa convinces the portal to open first, of course..."
If the portal does not open after Solrisa's efforts, Eidi walks towards the pool, ready to fight the tree in case it attacks the group.
HP = 99/99
Hero Points = 6
Equipped = Rod of Reach
Conditions = Heroes Feast (1/12h), Magic Vestment (+4, 1/15h), Status (1/15h, Eidi, Mort, Sol), Wind Walk (1/15h, all), Brightest Light (1/15h), Heroism (15/60m), Air Walk Communal (15/80m, all), Invisibility Purge (6/16m), Protection from Evil (1/4m)
Life Link (16)(100’) = Eidi, Mort, Sol
Channel Energy (6/12)(10/10) (DC: 27)(Avoid 9, 35’r, 1/1 swift) (8d6+1+2d6 phylactery)
Amiable Blunder (1/1 if Diplomacy failed by >5, re-roll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend Spell (1/3, 6th lvl)
Rod of Reach Spell (1/3, 6th lvl)
Vest of Surgery (1/1 Heal DC 20 to heal 1d4 ability damage in 1h)
Spellguard Bracers (2/3 Roll concentration twice and take the best result)
Mnemonic Vestment (1/1 Cast spell from a scroll without burning the scroll)
Tankard (1/1 Remove Fear), (0/1 Heroism (30min)), (1/1 unbinding to DC 25)
Physician’s Spectacles (1/1 Delay Poison)(Constant: Detect Poison, Diagnose Disease)
Expeditious (1/3 swift +10’ movement)
Melee Attack: BAB +12/+7/+2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +12/+7/+2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 16, Concentration +25)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (19): Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Guidance, Light, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (20): (4/9) Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Endure Elements, Enhance Water, Liberating Command, Obscuring Mist, Remove Fear
Second (21): (4/8) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Light Prison, Pilfering Hand, Protection from Evil Communal, Status
Third (22): (3/8) Cure Serious Wounds, Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, Magic Vestments, Neutralize Poison, Prayer, Speak with Dead*
Fourth (23): (5/8) Blessings of Fervor, Brightest Light, Cure Critical Wounds, Protection from Energy Communal, Restoration, Sending, Speak with Haunt*
Fifth (24): (7/8) Air Walk Communal, Breath of Life, Burst of Glory, Cleanse, Cure Light Wounds Mass, Plane Shift
Sixth (25): (2/7) Chains of Light, Cure Moderate Wounds Mass, Heal, Heroes’ Feast, Wind Walk
Seventh (26): (4/6) Cure Serious Wounds Mass, Greater Restoration, Holy Word, Particulate Form
Eighth (27): (4/4) Cure Critical Wounds Mass, Create Demiplane, Mass Heal
* Caster Level +2
- - -
Ascaria follows the old elf. Anticipating combat, he'll cast Protection from Evil, communal on the group prior to heading toward that area.
Air Walk Communal
Heroes' Feast
Protection from Evil, Communal
Wind Walk
Mortimer follows the old people and Sol to the tree pool.
"Hey, do you think we could purify the water the tree is sitting in? Maybe that will make it less likely to attack," he asks, pitying the poor tree.
"I could purify a little more than 150 cubic feet in a minute - if the creature lets me stand there that long. Somehow though I think it's going to attack as soon as we see it. Sorry Mort, but I think it's got to go if we're going to get through that portal."
He thinks a moment, seeing the somewhat concerned look on Mort's face, "Maybe you could, you know, knock it out and we could grab whatever it's guarding before it wakes? I dunno if that'll even work, but it might be worth a shot. No need to kill it if we don't have to I suppose."
Still feeling sorry for the plant/tree, Mortimer gently objects.
Why assume it will be hostile? It was never threatening -- though we did not get that close to it. It was only twitching a little, as if it is already in distress. There isn't that much water . Maybe you can just focus at the base of the plant?"
"I suppose that's true. I just assume everything on the island is out to kill me, but that's not fair is it. Sure thing Mort, I'll try and creep in and cleanse the water - see if that has an effect."
Smiling at the thought of another ally on the island, Ascaria will try to look nonchalant as he approaches the pool on the far side of the tree. That said, he must still get fairly close, the range of the Purify Food and Drink is only 10'. Just in case, he'll wait for the group to get nearby before proceeding.
He's tempted to convert some into beer or wine, a different spell altogether, but isn't sure the tree would appreciate that so lets it alone for now.
Mortimer goes in slightly ahead of Ascaria to protect him should anything untoward occur.
"Easy now plant, is it O.K. if we clear up your pool a little?"
Solrisa sticks near Mortimer in case things get sticky and sappy. She smiles and tries to seem somewhat not threatening as Mort offers to clean up the water.
The pool of water alongside the octopus tree is quite murky, frustrating any distant observations of true depth. Entering the pool will lend to further measures.
Approaching the pool from the north, once you've closed the distance to the tree, the bumps some call goose begin to raise along your forearms.
"Oh, yes, that is really not a placid location..." the half-elf grasps his staff with strength and prays for Ascaria's and Mortimer's ploys giving the gnome a boost "Well, let's see if that water is really making him bad"
Solrisa moves with Eidi, her shield ready and trying to seem nice.
”Not sure where we want to go...where do we want to go?” Solrisa walks, trying to find a nice path to the water.
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(Sol, heroism)
Trying in a variety of languages, such as Aquan, Aklo, Sylvan, and even Treant & Undercommon.
”I am not afraid of you tree, and am here to help you if I can.”
Cautiously approaching to within 10’ of the water’s edge, he’ll cast Purify Food and Drink.
The gnome brings purification to the murky tidal pool, and much is revealed to even those of clouded eyes.
The pool is now the picture of transparency. Its depth is roughly 50', and the pool now receives meager light, where you can barely see crystals of red sitting at the bottom. There are also lumps under silt, in various places...
The octopus tree shifts subtly, but it doesn't move forward...
"Oh, dear. If you're going to be like that, we're going to have to protect ourselves, and that will end very badly for you, plant. I'm afraid it's been twisted to evil ways, everyone?"
"... Oh look! Red crystals!"
Mortimer eyes the plant across the pond with some annoyance.
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"Oh great! I can see the crystals now Ascaria!" Eidi shakes his staff while doing arcane gestures with his other hand 'invisibilus siriviente'. As he completes his spell, the half-elf commands the invisible force to help "Bring me those red crystals below the water without being noticed by the tree"
While the giant considers lumberjacking the octopus tree, the waters of the pool are disturbed by an amoebal shape, which slips beneath the surface, and descends to the bottom. Moments later, the shape returns, bearing a handful of teardrop red crystals, which it hands over to the awaiting elderly half-elf...
Thank you!" Eidi smiles while he shows the crystals in his hands to the Outcasts "Hurry up, let's go back to the portal and try to open it before our enemies take us too much advantage"
If the others agree, Eidi walks all the way back to the portal, through whichever way the gnome thinks it is the safest.
Back at the portal the elder will try to fit the cyrstals "So... do we have a plan to reshape the blue ones?"
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"'invisibilus siriviente'
Mortimer gazes upon the still water. Once ripple form he exclaims "OH! Look, everyone! It's Rose!"
Impressed they were able to get the stones without hostility Ascaria comments, "Good plan Mort, that worked out better than I expected. Nice spell Eidi - a helping hand!" He looks enviously at the dripping unseen servant until it dries and is no longer really visible, except to his inner eye.
He moves back with the others to the portal and speaks telepathically, "We need to fix up the blue ones I think before we can make this work. Eidi, can you prepare a Make Whole tomorrow? If so, I suggest we do another sweep for the assassin and head to the Pub for the rest of the day. We'll return refreshed in the morning, ready for action!"
When you return to the Portal, you find it has grown quiet, once more. No crackling magic, no Antipathy radiating outwards to discourage those not welcome.
Eidi smiles happy at Mortimer's impressive memory "Yes, Rose is a pretty courageous force"
We can go back to the Pub. But if you prefer I can pray for the spell now, or use my bonded amulet to cast it immediately if we are pressed transmits the half-elf through thoughts.
Provided the group can protect him while he does so, Eidi grasps Aroden's holy symbol and starts praying for the spell.
If everything goes right, after a quarter hour of praying the elder casts make whole in the shards to shape them into a drop able to fit in the portal "So... do we try now? I can push some before resting"
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HP = 99/99
Hero Points = 6
Equipped = Rod of Reach
Conditions = Heroes Feast (1/12h), Magic Vestment (+4, 1/15h), Status (1/15h, Eidi, Mort, Sol), Wind Walk (1/15h, all), Brightest Light (1/15h), Heroism (35/60m), Air Walk Communal (35/80m, all)
Life Link (16)(100’) = Eidi, Mort, Sol
Channel Energy (6/12)(10/10) (DC: 27)(Avoid 9, 35’r, 1/1 swift) (8d6+1+2d6 phylactery)
Amiable Blunder (1/1 if Diplomacy failed by >5, re-roll to avoid worsening attitude)
Rod of Extend Spell (1/3, 6th lvl)
Rod of Reach Spell (1/3, 6th lvl)
Vest of Surgery (1/1 Heal DC 20 to heal 1d4 ability damage in 1h)
Spellguard Bracers (2/3 Roll concentration twice and take the best result)
Mnemonic Vestment (1/1 Cast spell from a scroll without burning the scroll)
Tankard (1/1 Remove Fear), (0/1 Heroism (30min)), (1/1 unbinding to DC 25)
Physician’s Spectacles (1/1 Delay Poison)(Constant: Detect Poison, Diagnose Disease)
Expeditious (1/3 swift +10’ movement)
Melee Attack: BAB +12/+7/+2, Size +1 Damage: +0
Ranged Attack: BAB +12/+7/+2, Dex +1, Size +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 16, Concentration +25)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (19): Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Guidance, Light, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Spark, Stabilize
First (20): (4/9) Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Endure Elements, Enhance Water, Liberating Command, Obscuring Mist, Remove Fear
Second (21): (4/8) Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Lesser Restoration, Light Prison, Pilfering Hand, Protection from Evil Communal, Status
Third (22): (3/8) Cure Serious Wounds, Dispel Magic, Invisibility Purge, Magic Vestments, Neutralize Poison, Prayer, Speak with Dead*
Fourth (23): (5/8) Blessings of Fervor, Brightest Light, Cure Critical Wounds, Protection from Energy Communal, Restoration, Sending, Speak with Haunt*
Fifth (24): (7/8) Air Walk Communal, Breath of Life, Burst of Glory, Cleanse, Cure Light Wounds Mass, Plane Shift
Sixth (25): (2/7) Chains of Light, Cure Moderate Wounds Mass, Heal, Heroes’ Feast, Wind Walk
Seventh (26): (4/6) Cure Serious Wounds Mass, Greater Restoration, Holy Word, Particulate Form
Eighth (27): (4/4) Cure Critical Wounds Mass, Create Demiplane, Mass Heal
* Caster Level +2
- - -
Ascaria chuckles as the ever flexible Eidi suggests something more immediate. "By all means, lets hunker down here and move forward now if we can. I've spent a number of spells already, but my channels are plentiful. I'm ready to go."
He'll settle in and rest a bit while Eidi studies. I moved all ongoing spells 20 minutes for wandering about and Eidi's praying. Invisibility Purge and Protection from Evil both expire.
While he waits, he doodles a bit, thinking about the tree and pool. He draws it from his rough perspective. The tree stands on its own, stoic and still. Eidi is by the waters edge gesturing to ‘Rose’ as Mort and Sol stand guard nearby. He draws the crystals in the bottom of the pool, with a wispy-watery rough form of Rose gathering them.
(heroism)
Dissatisfied, despite its impressive nature, Ascaria tosses it back into his pack with his other drawings, vowing to redo it at some point when he has more time. Perhaps in retirement...
"So... do we have a plan to reshape the blue ones?"
Solrisa smiles. ”Oh, I can try to fix them Eidi. I can also try being less smiley and frowny at the Portal, too. Don’t you worry. I’ll do better this time. I promise!” Solrisa cheers happily.
She will try again, using force of personality to activate the Portal. As she scrunches up her brow in frustration, she smiles just a *bit* to offset it...trying to be perfectly balanced.
UMD - Neutrality
Solrisa is also happy to try using her sculpting skills on the red gems. Working immediately (or in the morning), she will bust out her sculpting tools to try to get a gem to work correctly.
Craft (Sculpture)
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As Rose returns with the crystal shards and the others head for the portal, Mortimer stays behind a few seconds to scowl at the black tree. He gestures to his eyes with two fingers of one hand, then points to the tree pointedly before following the others.
"Uh, good idea, Sol!" he says, offering her a blue crystal shard. "But, you only need to shape the blue ones. The red ones are already in the right shape."
He goes to stand on lookout for invisible assassins while the gnome draws, Sol plays with devices, and Eidi prays.
His stomach growls loudly. I love licorice, but it always leaves me feeling hungry... He pulls out some bread upon it chews.
Solrisa convinces the Portal of her Neutrality, while Eidi reforms several blue teardrop crystals, facilitating the full use of this foretold gateway. Mortimer finds nothing to be alarmed about, in his sentinel activity.
Once the half-elf is finished, the gnome encourages the placement of the crystals in the recesses of the Portal, which fit perfectly, once placed.
A little déjà vu, and the Portal comes to life.
Beyond it lies a dense forest. While you stand waiting to pass through, the field of Antipathy arises again, and Mortimer is confronted by the defensive magics.
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Mortimer shrugs feeling a little "sparkly" for a brief moment, then follows the others into the portal.
Once they are through he says, "Hey guys? Somehow I get the feeling that that portal did not want me to enjoy my trip through it."
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The sudden shift in environment is shocking and overwhelming for a moment. The sound of the surrounding tempest is gone, replaced by a gentle wind carrying bird songs and the drone of buzzing insects. The sky above is overcast, yet it doesn’t seem ready to storm. The edge of a sprawling black forest, dense and overgrown, fills the view in one direction. Tall trees sag with branches heavy with moss, their dark eaves dropping to the ground in some places. From within comes a cacophony of insects and singing birds. Now and then, a ghostly green glow appears within, only to fade moments later, as if whatever creature was generating the light was afraid to be seen.
In the other directions grassy hills rise. Opposite the forest, these hills eventually become a range of rocky, barren mountains. A flash of brilliant lightning ignites the sky above the mountains for a moment, and the distant peal of muted thunder echoes down the slopes a few moments after. The landscape strikes you as a riotous explosion of life in all its forms. Colors are brighter, noises louder, and sensations are more intense from where you stand.
The Obsidian Portal stands silent, behind you.
You have entered a Demiplane. From the vibrancy, you can ascertain that it is connected with the Material Plane, the Ethereal Plane, and the Elemental Planes.
It has no connection to the Astral Plane or the Plane of Shadow.
You border on Nausea. The realm, in its vibrancy, presses down on you. It is an abrupt, constant feeling.
"Portals get a bit picky with giant muscular guys" Eidi smiles wide at Mortimer while he steps away from the portal to observe the new scene.
"Mmmm... this place... it seems like if we were in the First World... but it is in fact a Demiplane" the elder seems to faint and has to hold himself on the staff and Mortimer not to fall "It feels terribly oppressing... ough, there is a delocation of planes that hold the traveling spheres away of each other"
The half-elf looks around to see if there is even a shadow on himself "The Astral and Shadow planes are away from us... teleportation and shadow magic will fail miserably. Only magic to travel between planes, like plane shift will work"
"Is this a place of wisdom or a prison made by the Order of the Storm?" Eidi looks around trying to find out if there is any trace of their enemies.
Ascaria marvels in this new world, what he can see of it, and exclaims, ”A Demiplane huh? But it’s so huge!”
He checks everyones Status, and renews the Life Links just in case. He waits for a lead on their quarry, somewhat surprised there wasn't a welcoming committee.