Once certain that the wisps are gone, Chark sees to patching up her companions.
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Chark will return inspecting the ruined structure and, if nothing of interest is found, looks across the water to the far island. Tiny, she says, I am sure you can make that jump to look at that one over there. Would you be willing?
Concealed amid the tree roots is a simple silver chain bearing a brass housing with tiny brass wings. At the center of the housing is a clear spindle stone, positioned so it resembles an open eye.
Chark confirms that it's magical.
Chark dutifully hands the pendant to Haldan. I am certain you can make out what this is, she says.
"Wh..hat is it Chark?" Charlie asks seeing the pendant gleam and glitter in the sun.
Tiny joins Charlie and waiting for the magic users to identify the items.
Dendillion snatches the curio from Chark, intercepting it before it can make it to the wizard. "I'd love to have the first crack, if that's alright."
Dendillion notes that there's an engraving on the back that reads, St. Alkitarem’s Eye. He concludes that the stone itself is a Clear Spindle Aeon stone. The necklace seems to be only able to bear a clear spindle aeon stone, not other types of aeon stones. It allows the bearer to use the aeon stone’s resonant power and doesn’t restrict the wearer from investing other aeon stones
”That is an impressive necklace and stone to be left out here amongst some tree roots. Is anyone tired of eating or drinking? The resonant power might be useful around some of our patrons…” This last bit makes Haldan chuckle.
The party looks about as they decide who is to wear the necklace. It appears that about 2/3s of the area has been cleared, and in one day no less!
"Not sure who should have the neckless, but let's see if we can finish as much of the exploration done today and keep pushing onwards. The faster we clear this place up, the sooner we can start practicing and advertising our act."
If we feel like this place is fully cleared, we push forward.
"P..p..probably fell prey to those wisps just as we nearly did." Charlie passes on the orb. "L..let's finish clearing and head back."
The party is pretty confident that this island has given up all it has to offer.
Tiny heads down and peers to the southeast, looking for a good way to make it to that island.
Tiny doesn't see a path, but the tree cover isn't too difficult.
Tiny leads folks back around "Anybody got a good machette?" he asks, trying to pick a good way through the dense foilage.
Tiny makes his way through the somewhat densely packed trees to find another clearing in the back end of the plot of land.
There's another log bridge.... but there's also a set of stairs carved into the face of the bluff. From here it's hard to see, but it looks like there's a small ruin atop the rock.
Dendillion urges the others on, following Tiny as they whack through the bushes. "It will be so nice once this area is properly secured. I mean to get with all the performers and talk about the next show. It's been far too long since we performed."
Charlie urges Goliath over the logs as the small bear decides to wade through the water instead, appearing sopping wet and shaking on the other side. Charlie sighs as he follows along behind.
Charlie walks across to the small island first. Two strides from the end the log gives way! . The water behind Charlie begins to churn. A black, amorphous blob piles up on itself breaking the surface. It's a quivering mound of midnight sludge that glistens darkly before surging forward.
Charlie is Scouting
(Scout)
(Search)
(Detect Magic)
(Seek, Keen Eyes)
(Search)
Round 1:
Haldan: Go
Ooze: TBD
Charlie: TBD
Chark: TBD
Dendillion: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Pulling the power from his poppet familiar to be able to remember a spell.
Drain familiar, Sudden Bolt, Recall Knowledge
A black pudding! Haldan knows that the whole creature is acidic. Any metal or wooden weapons are subject to the corrosion if you don't strike with lightning reflexes!
The ooze doesn't seem to have quick reflexes, but quick enough this time!
A massive pseudopod strikes at Charlie:
for . It then grabs him and then squeezes for and
Round 1:
Haldan: Sudden Bolt
Ooze: ATK
Charlie: Go
Chark: Go
Dendillion: Go
Tiny: Go
Pudding: 13
Tiny drops into his stance and claws repeatidly at the pudding.
Tiny then raises his shield.
Chark lets fly a blazing band of orange-white fire arcing through the air at the massive ooze!
She then conjures up a disk of force for protection.
Tiny's hand slices through the pudding with incredible ease. So much so that the pudding splits into two puddings without harming it! He immediately switches to a traditional fist, slamming the original pudding with ease.
Even Chark's poorly aimed spell strikes true and seems to burn the pudding just fine!
Round 1:
Haldan: Sudden Bolt
Ooze: ATK
Charlie: Go
Chark: Fire
Dendillion: Go
Tiny: Oops
Black Pudding (Rokkujusan): 34
White (Rokkujuni):
As Charlie gets overwhelmed by the blackened water he panics and does everything he can in his power to try and escape.
HP 38/52
AC 21 (23 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3
Focus 1/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 40/40
Try as he might, Charlie finds himself held fast!
Round 1:
Haldan: Sudden Bolt
Ooze: ATK
Charlie: Stuck
Chark: Fire
Dendillion: Go
Tiny: Oops
Black Pudding (Rokkujusan): 34
White (Rokkujuni):
Action 1: Inspire Courage
Action 2-3: Telekinetic Projectile
Dendillion strums his lute, letting the magic of the music flow through him and the others. He lets the notes ring out, the sound lingering.
He then plays several notes on top of the ringing sound, a counterpoint with its own magic: one that lifts a nearby rock and hurls it!
Dendillion gets to work quickly. His music inspires and his rock strikes the pudding HARD!
Round 2:
Haldan: Go
Ooze: ATK
Charlie: TBD
Chark: TBD
Dendillion: TBD
Tiny: TBD
Black Pudding (Rokkujusan): 52
White (Rokkujuni):
Haldan summons the ethereal hand with his joy buzzer and reach forth on the same creature (black).
Haldan easily strikes the pudding with his spell. The jolt is enough to discorporate the pudding, which turns into an oily, albeit harmless, film on the water! Charlie is free!
The remaining pudding finds an available meal in Dendillion:
for and . It grabs hold of Racaraide and squeezes!
Round 2:
Haldan: Kill
Ooze: ATK
Charlie: Go
Chark: Go
Dendillion: Go
Tiny: Go
Black Pudding (Rokkujusan): 52
White (Rokkujuni):
The great bard gasps in pain, first from the strike and then when the ooze grabs hold. "It burns! Nine Hells, it burns!"
Action 1: Escape
Action 2-3: Telekinetic Projectile
In desperation, Dendillion tries to break free.
He is absolutely unsuccessful.
So instead he goes for broke and tries to call forth more musical magic.
With a strum of his lute, the music picks up another stone and flings it at the remaining ooze!
Chark wastes no time in summoning up a yellow-orange ball of flame into her hand and hurling it at the massive ooze.
She then conjures up a disc of force for protection.
Dendillion gets crushed by the pudding, but manages to get off a spell. He and Chark both strike with potent magic.
Round 2:
Haldan: Kill
Ooze: ATK
Charlie: Go
Chark: Magic
Dendillion: Magic
Tiny: Go
White (Rokkujuni): 23
Tiny leaves the puppy behind and pummels the ooze with many different body parts.
Keeping his fists closed, Tiny goes to town pummeling and punching. In a few second there's nothing left of the pudding as this one too spreads out over the surface of the water.
Dendillion breathes a ragged sigh of relief. "That hurt."
I'm sure it did, Chark says, fussing over him like a mother hen.
Tiny wipes the goo and ichor off his fists and looks over to Dendillion "You gonna be okay?"
Frustratingly, the island has nothing on it. Still, the pudding would have been a nasty surprise, and was definitely part of your charge.
Looking around, it appears the whole area is now clear... except for the odd stairs cut into the side of the hill.
While Chark does her thing Dendillion strums his lute. The notes are calm, soothing ones that help the healing process.
The music doesn't help much, but he continues to play while the Sarenite works.
At Tiny's prompting, Dendillion says, "I'll survive, though my doublet didn't. Let's keep going."
"That could have been far worse. Thanks for having my b..b..back!" Charlie slings the good from his clothes back into the water as he peers down the stairs. "Th.this wasn't on the map."
"Just, look at the state of us." Haldan giggles. "We are hardly presentable."
And with this, Haldan starts casting Prestidigitation on anyone, one by one, remotely covered in oil.
"There, do try to keep clean now children."
Looking down the stairs with Charlie.
"If you've got a crayon or something I can draw some stairs on the map." Haldan says with a wink. He takes out a flask, takes a swig and offers some Halfling Hooch to Charlie. "I'll go first when everyone's ready." He then takes out his yo-yo and heads down the stairs after everyone is prepared.
The head of the valley is higher and rockier than the overgrown area at the valley’s mouth, and the stream flowing into the valley is clean and clear here. The stream runs near a set of broad stairs carved into the granite hillside. Badly weathered and quite old, these stairs lead up...
Charlie is Scouting
(Scout)
(Search)
(Detect Magic)
(Seek, Keen Eyes)
(Search)
tiny starts the trek, but immediately stops half way up when he sees an expertly laid trip line! It looks like it's holding something back from falling down from the top. Given its construction it would take an expert in thieving to safely disarm...
Haldan, hearing his services are needed, step up. Casting Guidance on himself first, he gets to work.