Cheshire looks up somewhat embarrassed. "Uh I . . .I don't know." He looks scared. He lets out a long breath, "I can't say. I once . . . wandered into or . . . was brought to the 1st World. Seeing forest giants and now wicked fey. . . it makes me wonder if we didn't loose our own world." He takes another deep breath. "The colors don't seem any more vibrant that usual. Soon the moon will rise. . . .our own moon is different. Forgive me my own fears are distracting us."
Kasana looked down sadly at the twisted remains of the fey in front of her. She wasn't sure what could've corrupted it but knew based off the Ranger poncho that it was wearing that at one point in it's life, it had been a nobler creature. Before returning to the party, Kasana spent a bit of time burying the creature and giving it a quick quick prayer before taking its poncho and returning to the party.
As they approached Fort Ristin and discussed what to do next, Kasana was the dissenting opinion. "I think we should go now rather than wait. I'd rather confirm now if what that hob said earlier is true or not. If he lied, it's not a big deal and we have a relatively safe place to rest for the night. If he didn't, then we use the darkness to our advantage and surprise whatever enemies are in there instead of being spotted in bright daylight. We also wouldn't have to worry about being attacked overnight."
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"Yes, but as Orthos said, hobgoblins have an upper hand during the night. And sleep at daytime. This is why we attacked trench during the day. I see your point, and I have the same nightvision as they, but I know humans don't. If the fort is taken, it is better to go in at day, but if it is not, it is friendlier to approach at day as well.", Sarya said, all of a sudden worried that it was a wrong call.
"Yes, but as Orthos said, hobgoblins have an upper hand during the night. And sleep at daytime. This is why we attacked trench during the day. I see your point, and I have the same nightvision as they, but I know humans don't. If the fort is taken, it is better to go in at day, but if it is not, it is friendlier to approach at day as well."
"That is a good point..." Kasana conceded. "Alright then, if we're to camp tonight, then let's find somewhere completely out of sight if possible."
Looks... bad. Note that open door?, he says pointing.
Maybe we circle it for clues?
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Sarya looked worried at the apparently empty fort. She replied to Orthos "Maybe, yes. We should be wary of traps, especially at a time like this." She realized she had never been in a situation like this. Being in front of a fort where supposed allies might not be is certainly not in her training. As such, she deferred to Orthos' wisdom.
"Open door means that rangers are probably dead. Also means that whomever did it isn't fortifying the place." Gazul mused. "Aye. Circle it, see if we can figure out what's inside. While hobgoblins could have taken the fort, if the door is open then something else might have moved in after they were done."
"Well if the fort is here we are in our own world." Cheshire nods at the idea of circling it first.
OOC: my internet went out yesterday afternoon, and it's still out. I had to come to the office to work today (???).
They're saying it should be fixed this afternoon so I intend to move things along later tonight.
Game on!
"We shouldn't be surprised..." Kasana replied as the fort came into view. "We were told that they had sacked the place. And based off it's current condition, it doesn't seem like they stayed around though they have to be based somewhere nearby."
When the crumbled tower came into view, Kasana was slightly relieved to see that there wasn't a small battalion of goblins sitting around and waiting for them. Still... what possibility could've caused the tower to fall. As she pondered on this, she looked up at the walls and towers before her and added. "I have rope but does anyone have climbing gear? Might make sense to climb up to one of the upper levels first rather than walk through the front doors or the hole in the wall, just in case there is something lying in wait..."
"Well I hope our next hope holds up better than this one. Lets see what carnage awaits. Side or door?" Cheshire is clearly inching toward despair.
”Place is sacked. I’m up for just doing the door. While it isn’t what I was hoping to see, at least we will be able to sleep with a roof over our heads.” He offered.
"I have no intention of sleeping here if we do not have to. Hopefully we can be about our business here quick and move on. I do not like the feel of this place in its current condition..." Kasana replied. Though she was probably psyching herself out, something in her mind about this situation did not add up. Hopefully there was a simple explanation...
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Sarya was sad to see the fort deserted, at least from the outside. She said "We should go in, at least to see if there is a clue about the rangers' whereabouts. And I agree about climbing the wall, but it's too dangerous, it could fall over. Let us try the door."
She placed her ear to the wall, trying to see if she could hear any echo from any living being in it.
Though not as proficient as the elves with their highly attuned senses, Kasana had also learned the trick loosely translated in common as "Seeing with your heart through your pointy ears" and assisted Sarya as best she could, relaying what she heard for the elf to interpret.
Orthos keeps watch nervously.
Curious as to what Sarya was doing, Gazul likewise put his ear to the wall. After a moment he pulled back and gave her a quizzical look. Because, just as he thought, stone couldn't talk.
OOC: out of town weekend but I think I can move thing along...
Game on!
Turn 265 - Through the Front Door
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
[spoiler=rolls]
PS: sorry for the delay.
Given Orthos can't see anything and moves before the people who are normally walking in front of him to protect him, he'll delay until both Gazul and Sarya both have moved.
While Sarya hesitated, Gazul did not. The dwarf surged forward, axe in hand. The plant did not look in any way friendly, and he was not about to wait to become plant food. "Come on gnome!" He said. "Time to bring some fire!"
Being caught off-guard, Sarya stupidly asked "What is it?" instead of acting. This was a moment she would regret for many years.
Caught off guard by the moving plant, Kasana was slow to pull out her bow, unsure it was friend or foe. It's a... moving plant... Gazul wait!" was all Kasana was able to get out before the dwarf steamed ahead and attacked it.
With the encouragement from the dwarf Cheshire moved forward behind the gruff warrior. He brought forth his coin and sent a bolt of fire toward the creature.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, Cheshire
, miss
Bonus action: Shillelagh
Move around it to the north so I am on a diagonal from Cheshire, and a flank.
Action: Whack it
Seeing a plant like tentacle whip over the gnomes head, and knowing being caught in a door way couldn't end well, the priest hastened into the courtyard while enchanting his staff... and was wow-ed by the appearance of the attacker. Nevertheless he moved so as to be opposite the small erratic magician and swung hard.
or for
Gazul moved around the plant, getting behind it so that others could move in. As he did so, he waited for his opening and struck. Unfortunately the moving plant shifted in it's attack, and his axe sailed harmlessly through the air.
Drawing her bow and letting the others pass in front of her as the plant grew violent, Kasana launched an arrow over the gnome's head towards the walking plant.
Cheshire sent another bolt of flame at the creature.
Cheshire spins in a downward corkscrew. "Quicksand. Get clear. Save yourselves." He hits the ground his hands and legs writhing in a pretend swim. "I'm sinking."
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Gazul coughed as spores filled the air, but he kept his bearing. With the plant standing still to unleash it’s attack, it was a much easier target for the dwarf. His axe bit deep as it impacted squarely with the ferocious vegetation. In doing so he ignored Cheshire, as he was getting used to the gnome’s wild magic.
Convinced that the plant is spewing forth spiders that are crawling all around him, the priest thrashed at the ground with his staff...
As she prepared to fire another shot, Kasana was caught off-guard by the rest of the party. While she was used to Cheshire's... peculiarness whenever he attempted to use magic, she was more surprised by Sarya's and Orthos' behavior. Both normally level-headed, she stared as the Elf fled and the Cleric began smashing the dirt with his staff; her utter confusion causing her arrow to hit with much less force than normal. As she watched this all occur, a fearful thought passed through her mind: Was Cheshire's Wild Magic spreading? Would she be next? She shuddered at the thought.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, Orthos
, hit
Cheshire continues his slow swimming pantomime arms and legs slowly moving as if stuck in muck and mire.
”Spores.” Gazul muttered as he hacked the plant in twain. ”Bloody fookin’ spores.” He have it a good kick for good measure as he turned to look at his afflicted companions. ”They’ll get over it soon now that the flow has been stopped.”
"So... not more Wild Magic?" Kasana asked Gazul as she lowered her bow. Though he visibly relaxed slightly, she stayed where she was, worried about being infected herself. Unsure what to do about here friends, she decided to scan the area at first instead, making sure there weren't any other in the vicinity.
Post combat
He snaps out of the hallucinations not long after it drops and looks worse for wear.
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Sarya's body finally overcame the poison and she looked to the sides panting. She said "Those spores... They gave me visions." She summoned her sword to her hand and inspected it closely. She seemed deep in thought. Coming back to the others, she said "We have been meeting more hostile forest creatures than hobgoblins lately. We should cover our noses. I wish we could figure out what is causing this to the forest. I wonder if it's only hobgoblin violence."
She inspected the plant they killed, trying to learn about it. The stress of the forest seemed to be more pressing to her than finding out what happened to the rangers. She looked to the stone floor, as if praying. Suddenly, she just raised her head and said "Let us find the rangers." and set out into the fort.
He whispers a healing word over himself...
Cheshire leans his head up like he is straining against a nonexistent force. "Tell my dad I love him. Save yourselves. The Quicksand!
OOC: busy week so far; I think I can update tomorrow...
Questions?
Game on!
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Sarya ran over to Cheshire, slapped him in the face and shook him. Instead of saying something smart such as "snap out of it" or "there's no quicksand", Sarya instead smiled and said "I've always wanted to do that!" a little too loudly. She, then, released the gnome and said "Sorry! So sorry! Uhm, there's no quicksand, Cheshire, it's an illusion!"