Gavin says a quick prayer and violet flames cover his body.
"I am ready." he says, taking Lyra's hand.
Fenrick readies himself with a couple of prayers to Pharasma. The first one channels vigor into his limbs, making him move faster. He then gives himself the gift of tactical acumen. He then asks for some favor from his Goddess. Lastly, Fenrick fills himself with wrath against this weird enemy. Fenrick takes a quick moment to reassess the strategy of going after a very big enemy.
I am full of divine powers and am I ready to go.
Grasping hands, Lyra poofs the Seekers across the several hundred feet between them and the mogobo. After a disorienting step through nothingness, they arrive in the lagoon between the creature and the stone monument.
While the creature is still off guard, Gavin backs away to a safer distance and casts wall of fire just behind the creature.
damage
Pigeon does what pigeons do best. Get in the way and be annoying. Falling into a practiced form, she slices and shreds at the beast's face.
Fenrick appears next to toad, and is ready to rumble! He makes 3 quick attacks with his large weapon and one bite, after he makes a prayer to Pharasma to improve his weapon against this creature.
Demoralize opponent Signature Skill
The Witness - Mobogo-a-go-go - Round I
The seven Witnesses move effortlessly through the marsh to follow Gavin, screening the priest from the Mobogo in an attempt to allow him safe casting.
"Alert me if you require healing," he growls to Fenrick and The Pigeon.
In a flurry of action, Gavin summons a wall of fire that singes the ugly toad-monster enough to stop its regeneration while Lyra and Fenrick begin stabbing and hacking. Lyra lands two well placed strikes but the orc absolutely savages the creatures face, slashing it across the cheek on his first strike and hacking through one eye and then another with his second and third swings. It takes in a big breath, as if preparing to croak, and then collapses with a gurgling grunt before the Witness has even finished moving.
It’s huge bulbous corpse turns to vapor and drifts away in the coastal breeze. As it does, an inky blue-black portal opens on the side of the stone structure facing the Seekers.
Pigeon whistles in gore-splattered awe at the sheer brutality of Fenrick's decimation of the now pitied creature. "Well that went well" the young woman smiles in relief, cleaning her rapier on a rag before sheathing it.
"Through the portal then?"
Gavin makes his way to a safe distance, one from which he can heal and support his more martially inclined friends. Turning just in time to see the monster enveloped in a frenzy of blades, teeth and claws.
As he watches the thing disappear, he thinks, Oh my! I thought I had anger issues....
As the witness catches up to him, Gavin's incredulity is impossible to mask.
"Well, my friend, I think we picked the right folks to accompany us into the tower....."
Gavin takes a few moments to look around for anything of note that they might have missed.
And if there is nothing that catches his eye, he indeed is ready for their next step.
"So it would seem..."
The Witness approaches the monument and portal. "If we might tarry for a minute, I'd like to make a brief examination of this structure and effect." He walks around the large stone as he physically inspects it, then invokes a cantrip and studies it again, followed by the portal.
To Gavin and Fen while they wait on Witness's investigation "Not knowing anything much about magic, I just jumped into portal after portal. "
Gavin looks around but, beside the natural beauty of this place, sees nothing further of note.
After a fairly thorough search, the Witness learns that this monument is the same dimensions as the anchor and composed of the same stone, with the same relief of the Seeker's Seal. The only (mundanely) notable difference is that this one shows no signs of weather or wear. A magical inspection reveals that, like everything else here, it is a magical construct. The portal itself appears identical in all ways (magic and mundane) to the one through which the Seekers originally entered the Anchor.
"This portal appears identical in function to the one we entered at the Southern Anchor near Tokelau. I'd say it's slightly more likely than not to return us back there.
"I'd like to enter the portal second to last, in order to observe any possibly interesting phenomena induced by our passage through it from both ends."
"I'll go first" Pigeon volunteers, drawing her rapier again and then stepping through.
Gavin proceeds through second, armed with a rod in hand.
Each of the Seeker's, in turn, pass through the portal and find themselves once more standing on the plateau north of Tokelau. The Witness notes nothing particularly unusual about the portal and is left to presume that his initial theory that they had entered, and were now leaving, some manner of pocket dimension or demi-plane was most likely correct.
The sun is setting now, which means it is likely that several hours have passed while the Seekers were within the anchor. The ruins have emptied of sightseers and scholars, and the children who had been playing are now scampering down the path towards the city.
Each of the Seeker's feels a strange warmth where their mark is, and they immediately notice, on those marks which are visible, that the innermost pentagon is faintly glowing with an azure energy.
With his new family at his side, Gavin wastes no time selecting the community domain.
"It has been quite a long day. I suggest we find shelter and rest soon."
Fenrick calms down as the heat of battle ends. He wipes down his large blade and puts it away. In the process, he his magical auras fade away as well. He then moves through the portal.
He finds himself with all his allies back to where they started this journey. I agree with you, Gavin. I need to wash up and relax by the fire. It has been a long day and I am spent. He looks to the Witness I see it is night time now, how much time passed? Is it the same day or have been gone for longer?.
He inspects his his hand and the tattoo. It is giving him a new feeling, as if it is telling himself. Pharasma is giving a message, or so he is reading it, when he notices the gifts of the trickster follows him.
I have learned to lie to accomplish my goals, but never thought of myself as an trickster... why has this stayed with me? Fenrick wonders as he wonders what new powers lie within himself.
Lyra stretches into a long yawn and agrees "Sleep would be lovely" her movements are a little more feline than before.
The Witness arrives back to the prime material plane with a growing sense of freedom from constraints of all kinds. I have always yearned to be free of impediments as the Cosmic Pilgrim is - not just those of the crude physical, but more importantly those of ignorance and magical limitation. This experience has awoken my devotion to the Treader of All Paths into some more. Perhaps in defeating my double I've been freed from the limitations it represented - or in overcoming it have I integrated it's nature more fully into my own? Noting the glowing mark on the inquisitor's hand, the wizard quickly retrieves his full-length mirror from his haversack to study his own brand in the reflection.
"Yes, sleep. It has been a long time since I've allowed myself the indulgence," he says quietly, as if to himself. "A long time..." Coming back to the moment at hand, The Witness looks around properly for any signs of the scholar-mage Gorka and his assistant before turning his attention to the night sky.
"Ideally Alexei would know the answer to your query, Inquisitor. However..." He begins comparing celestial features to the horizon and one another in an effort to approximate the time and date.
The stars are not yet visible, but based on the setting sun it seems that several hours passed while you were inside. It must be admitted that it could be the dusk of a different day but the data available from the weather and surrounding environment point towards it likely being the same day.
"This place seems relatively safe, why don't the Witness and I take the twilight watch, and you 2 can see us through the remainder of the night? I have some notes to take and some work to finish before I sleep anyway." Gavin says.
As the others set up bedrolls and doff armor, Gavin puts quill to parchment, weaving magics into his work.
When the time comes, Gavin joins the Witness in the mirror.
The Seekers set camp amidst the ruins, and the night passes uneventfully. In the earlier morning light, the following day, little columns of smoke rise from the city below as cooking fires are lit and people begin their days. By the time the Seekers' camp is broken down people have begun making their way up the numerous switchbacks of the trail which leads to the ruins.
Gavin takes his time with his morning routine, offering tea to the others and preparing himself to travel.
Before he sits for his normal meditation, he inquires about the days plans.
"I can be prepared to contact Wolfric this morning, or this evening, whichever you prefer. Magically transporting to him may be more beneficial if it is after the days travel, he will cover more ground alone, and it would give us some time to reflect on the trials of yesterday."
As we come out of this portal Fenrick takes stock of himself, noticing that he lost his wings he has grown to appreciate but is happy to have his normal mouth. He does notice a small vulture totem that he is unaware of where it came from.
A fresh gift from my lady of graves. He holds the totem in his hand as he gains more mastery over death with the new gifts.
As we prepare for rest, Fenrick pulls out his wand and gives it a tap. As the Birds settle down for some sleep, Fenrick relaxes through the first watch, then takes to cleaning his clothes/armor and his weapon through the second watch. At the beginning of the final watch, he brews up some hybrid coffee and sips away at it as he watches the sunrise from the mountain plateau.
When we wake up and are planning the day, This travel sort of thing is not my strong suite. I trust you guys to figure it out, just let me know what I can do to help.
The Witness - rested, refreshed, and with re-memorized spells - chats with Gavin regarding his own experiences within the Anchor, more comfortable now that his mouth has returned to its usual proportions.
"The next leg of our journey - as I intend it - will be to the Eastern Anchor, by way of Tzekal, Marow, and Izar. We'll only achieve Marow today, then Izar tomorrow morning. From Izar we can supply ourselves for travel by road to within one hundred miles of the Anchor, at which point we'll need to travel overland. I should be able to procure magical means to assist us in this regard.
"My intention for Wulfric is to have him travel towards the Northern Anchor so as to use him as a reference point for translocation; I'm not skilled enough to bring him along with us. Our travels to the Eastern Anchor should afford him the time he needs to reach the northern forests, at which point we can join him and make use of his expertise in navigating the difficult terrain to the Northern Anchor. From there I can bring us back to within a reasonable distance of the Western Anchor.
"As for today, once in Marow - a quaint enough village - we'll have the rest of the day to spend as we wish. Barring any unforeseen difficulties or arcanospatial navigation errors, as always."
"That sounds like a terribly efficient plan." Gavin says with a smile.
At least we'll have a little time to rest
Once they are settled safely into a quiet space in Morow, Gavin again begins writing, trying desperately to foresee the pitfalls their path may lead to.
daylight-1
invisibility purge-1
remove curse-1
water breathing-1
ant haul, communal-1
calm emotions-1
ironskin-1
"Not one single objection." Lyra says to the plan. In the morning though Seth will emerge, being the more social of the twins.
Before anyone arrives in the ruins, the Seekers gather around the Witness and slip through the endless nothingness to arrive in the garden at Tzekal.
The travelers stay only moments, but that is long enough for Gavin to arrange some silver and gold coins into the intricate shape of a flower on the stone bench where he meditated.
After another disorienting jaunt through the emptiness beyond things, the Seekers appear in Marow, a small town on the cobblestone road that runs from Korryn all the way to Izar, just west of the road that leads up to Borroka. Seth, Gavin, and the Witness have all passed through here before on their way to Korryn and the Tower.
Marow truly is more of a village than a town. There are only a score of buildings, most of which are low, stone structures with thatched roofs. At its center, flanking the road, are: two inns with stables; a tavern and brothel; a municipal building that houses a courthouse and watch barracks; and, a general store. Down an alley to the south there are signs for a smith and a tanner, and another alley to the north has a sign for an apothecary. The rest of the buildings appear to be residences; there are two large, fancier ones near the center of town and the ones on the outskirts are surrounded by thawing farmlands.
Gavin takes about half an hour to reacquaint himself with the village, then he secures a good size room for the group at one of the inns.
After a quick meal (with anyone who would like to join him) he retires to the room to continue preparing for the journey ahead.
Seth will peddle his services to pass the time, not really to make money, more to find out anything interesting that might be interesting.
Most of the conversations you overhear are idle prattle about local gossip, or planning on the part of travelers coming to and from Korryn. One conversation does stand out though... a pair of sketchy looking Atlaean men headed east were discussing a magical ruin where one of their cousins has set up shop with a handful of bandits to rob scholars and the like. They mention it being 'halfway from here to Izar' and 'a big square stone pillar'... which makes you wonder if they aren't talking about the eastern anchor?
When Seth gets back to the room, he'll settle his tools on the floor and set to cleaning them. Carefully putting each and every one of them back in its place once he is done. While he works, he tells about the days gossip, "An Atlaean man in calf hide boots with a split heel was talking about a cousin robbing scholars in a magical ruin halfway between here and Izar, around a big square stone pillar. Sound a bit like the description of the eastern anchor?"
"It does indeed. Well done, Crow."
Fenrick gets pulled through space again twice in a row. The feeling is dizzying when it happens but back to back really throws him off.
When we make it to the new village, Fenrick sticks with Gavin for his meal. It is always a delight to share in conversation.
The only errands that Fenrick has for the day off is that he wants to sample the local coffee. He goes to the tavern and orders a coffee, in hope that the beans are a local.
"While it is disheartening to hear that there may be trouble near the next anchor, it is certainly valuable to know that ahead of time. Good work, Seth."
Upon arrival, Gavin secures a room at the closer of the nearly identical inns. He and Fenrick sit down to a hearty breakfast of eggs, sausages, crusty bread, and raspberry preserves. No coffee is grown locally and Fenrick is slightly disappointed with stale blend of southern Atlaean beans that he receives. Not quite as disappointed, however, as he is with the number of wary glances his presence provokes.
While you're standing there taking in your surroundings, a young half-elven woman emerges from the workshop and smiles warmly at you. "Good morning," she says brightly, then in almost a whisper she adds, "don't worry, my husband's a half-orc, you are welcome here... so, what can I get for you?"
You're pleased to learn that they do, in fact, sell a variety of anointing oils. Although the quantity you need will clear out their stock, she is more than happy to sell it to you.
"Tell me, Crow - what are your thoughts on our trials at the Southern Anchor?"
Seth considers the question "That thing impersonating my sister was one of the worst things I faced... in a long time." not ever, wasting away in a plague killed town would be that, always. "Other than that, I still don't completely understand the entire thing. We made choices. Were they anything other than picking tools to defeat our foes? I choose what made sense to me, though what I came out with seems alien and odd, more my sister than me." he held up his hand, giving a slight sniff, seeing smells like colors weave around his digits.
"This blessing, of the Soul, right? We received it after killing something. What does that say about our souls?" he shrugs, deciding maybe he is overthinking things, but still feeling something is wrong with it all.