"Are they not taking too long?" Izomandakus looks at the ship with an aerie expression on his face.
The boy taps impatiently at the railing of the canoe and looks casually at Hasslo and Valena "Hei, do you think Seamus decided to teach Kast how the kissing is done there up?"
"Just having a look does not take this long... and what is that dark music now...?" Izomandakus looks back nervously while Pachemu shakes at her seat.
When the rest of you return to the top deck, you see a white dog watching you with milky blind eyes, on the forecastle. The dog stares a moment, before quietly loping off into the swamp along a small animal trail. Your canoes remain tethered where you left them and your journey may continue.
You come upon a small hill, and Yap gestures up to the crown. You beach your canoes, draw your weapons no doubt, and creep up the dank and muddy embankment. At the top, you see a horrific sight! The rotting and mangled body of a beautiful dryad lies half protruding from a tree whose limbs have been smashed from the trunk by massive clubs.
Yap whispers, ”Not far now.” He bows his head a moment before leading you down the other side of the hill and into a valley. A large clearing is found there, with a calm pool of unnaturally still water ringed by twisted decayed willow trees. The wind blows cold, but the trees do not sway. It is as if the very land itself has died.
Yap quails at the edge of the clearing. “We’re here... my lady waits for you within. I dare not go any closer… When you do see her, don’t you get too close either!” he warns before flitting back to cower behind a gnarled tree.
Any final preparations before you step forth to meet the Princess of these woods?
Kast makes his preparations, and even though Yap did his darndest to prepare the party for this, Kast is still a bit unmoored by sight and desecrations before him.
"I haven't seen anything this bad since that haunted manor. I wonder if we'll burn this place to the ground as well," Kast comments with worry.
"Let's try to keep fire away this time, unless we want a pack of furious gnomes and fey running away from their woods aflame" Izomandakus casts heroism before following Yap and Kast.
Pachemu follows a bit after them as well, using the scarf around her neck to protect herself from the chilling air.
As they drag the canoes up onto the muddy bank, Seamus takes off his heavy pack; leaving it in the canoe, so he wouldn't be encumbered by it. Looking up to the hill Seamus realizes what they are looking at and looks away. So 'came back' did mean what they had all feared it meant. But how did she come back and why? Not wanting to see the dead dryad again, Seamus kept his eyes down as the followed Yap over the hill and into the valley.
'Don't get too close?' Giving Kast a worried look Seamus asks. "Burn this place to the ground?" Nodding in agreement with Izomandakus. "Besides the angry fey, I don't think it's smart to start a forest fire in the middle of the forest."
Resisting the urge to draw his long knives, Seamus tucks his hands in his pockets so he wouldn't fidget. Realizing that Yap ad said he 'dare not go any closer' Seamus turns and gives the pixie the stink eye. Movin towards the clearing, "Don't get too close got it." Moving forward slowly, intentionally keeping his hands in his pockets, Seamus steps in the clearing keeping a keen eye out.
"Besides the angry fey, I don't think it's smart to start a forest fire in the middle of the forest."
Kast gives Seamus a look, wondering if they hadn’t just spent a bunch of time in a swampy canoe together.
”Well, this much more angry haunted swamp then a forest, and so I tend to agree with you, but if the fey are dead, and the area is completely corrupt then fire might be the best option.”
”Well, this much more angry haunted swamp then a forest, and so I tend to agree with you, but if the fey are dead, and the area is completely corrupt then fire might be the best option.”
The trees seem to lean into Kast more than others after such a suggestion, but open warfare does not, as yet, break out…
Once soul shakingly beautiful, the nymph Princess Myriana is now a haggard, ghostly horror (image). Her disembodied arms float at her sides, exposed bone and sinew stretching toward her torso but ever too far out of reach. Her lower torso fades away to smoke, savaged too cruelly by the ogres for even her insane ghost to retain.
Her most terrifying feature is her eyes: wells of hellish horror, crying out silently in an agony beyond anything a mortal creature could ever know. They reduce those who try to hold her gaze to gibbering children. She is beauty undone, and torment incarnate.
As you enter her twisted glade, the ghostly nymph rises with a howl from the waters, a scimitar of fire smoking in her left hand. In a shrieking, hate filled voice, she accuses ”you rangers” of failing Lamatar, of failing to protect Fort Rannick, and of allowing the Kreeg ogres to take him to their lair high on Hook Mountain!
She demands to know how you plan to redress these failings.
Though we’re mapless for now, for no particular reason, let me know if any of you get closer than 30’ or so. Currently you’re about 50’ from her and at the edge of the clearing. She is hovering over the water some 20’ from the shoreline and 10’ in the air.
- - -
Know (Religion)
Kast looks at the apparition and doesn’t yet speak. He glances over to Izo to see if they have an idea about things.
Even Izomandakus shuns at the undead nymph, horrified by the pain inflicted to her.
"A ghost... we will need to appease her if we want to see her passing. Destruction will only have her coming back once and again." he whispers to the group while Pachemu steps forward setting herself protectively between the incorporeal and the group.
"We are not the rangers Princess Myriana, but I am sorry for the torment the ogres put on you. All I can say is we have set Fort Rannick free and defeated the ogres there." the boy adds, this time talking to the spirit.
Not sure what he's looking at, as the ghostly nymph shrieks at them, Seamus, tries not to pee himself as Izomandakus explains what's going on.
'I guess a ghost is better than an undead corpse. At least he didn't say we had to fight her.' Nodding in agreement with his friend. "We had no idea they were coming here as well. We intended to find the captain. What else can we do to help?"
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”She is undead. A ghost, to be exact. Though not necessarily evil, as ghosts often are not.”
She steps forward, her hands outstretched so as to appear unthreatening. ”Hello, darling. It is dreadful the mismanagement of those rangers. I am afraid you are mistaken, as we are part of a separate group. In fact, we rescued them from their folly and liberated the fort! As a matter of fact, we were trying to find Lamatar. We could do the same for your beau as we did for all those less deserving rangers, if you would like. We have fought ogres and worse before, so I am quite confident we can handle it.”
Kast says nothing yet, not wanting to ruin the impact of Valena's words.
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She steps forward, her hands outstretched so as to appear unthreatening. ”Hello, darling. It is dreadful the mismanagement of those rangers. I am afraid you are mistaken, as we are part of a separate group. In fact, we rescued them from their folly and liberated the fort! As a matter of fact, we were trying to find Lamatar. We could do the same for your beau as we did for all those less deserving rangers, if you would like. We have fought ogres and worse before, so I am quite confident we can handle it.”
She looks, almost, hopeful. But the fear and madness return to her eyes. ”Dear Lamatar was taken by the ogres, back up the mountain to their no doubt filthy hole in the ground at their Clanhold. They have slain him - I know it.” She clutches at her heart, and shrieks in agony a moment. You’re nearly blown down by the incredible wind seemingly generated from her, but it ends quickly. ”They must have the body somewhere… unnatural, for my reincarnation spells have been fruitless.”
”You are to go to the Clanhold! You are to bring his remains back to me.” She goes on to explain that nearly anything will do, even a substantive lock of hair or a single finger - for such is her power.
“Return my beloved to me! Return my commander to my heart, or I shall find him with my vines and my dark trees will eat the land and churn your people to bone and misery. Return Lamatar to my embrace!”
She summons lighting from the sky, which streaks down to the pool beneath her, electrifying the water under her feet. Quite a punctuation! Do you remain to discuss further, or depart quickly to begin your quest for the undead princess.
- - -
Hasslo stands back as Val tries to persuade the ghost of their follies. He shakes in his boots as he attempts not to stare. A fey undead - not something Hasslo wants to trifle with.
He tugs at the sleeves of Seamus, indicating that they should leave with haste. No reason to stay and discuss details with the fey. For every minute they waste here is a minute more of destruction. "Let's go before she decides to summon lightning upon us."
”Oh, it’s just a ghost, huh?” Kast says to himself, knowing that he should have known that.
Know (religion)
”Well, she’s going to end up being a super duper dead ghost if she keeps that up.”
Kast is ready to start the new quest, which seems totally normal and what a heroic hero might do.
Smiling proudly as his friend Val speaks so eloquently to the fey ghost, Seamus hopes that it's enough for the ghost to stay civil. As the emotions change on the Fey's face he watches as she clutches her heart and shrieks, surprisingly feeling sorry for the poor thing. He flinches a little at the threats, but nods.
As Hasslo tugs at his sleeve he pauses, bowing to the strange undead fey. "If it's within our power to return a portion of him to you we will." Following Hasslo's tug, "Yes we need to go, maybe Yap knows where the Clanhold is."
Izomandakus reels back when they are menaced with a dying land, but ultimately remains strong "You know, we were paid to clean up the ogres, so I guess we can very well do this. You said they brought Lamatar to their lair in Hook Mountain?"
The boy looks back and up at the high mountain range over the valley "Where exactly is this lair? Can you point at it for us?"
The boy looks back and up at the high mountain range over the valley "Where exactly is this lair? Can you point at it for us?"
She shrieks in pain and anguish, throwing out her hand toward Izomandakus! Some force follows from it, for poor Izomanakdus is thrown 20’ to the treeline.
”That way!” she screeches. Izomandakus was thrown north by northeast.
- - -
Pachemu growls as her friend flies over.
Izomandakus stands up and pads his tunic as he stands up. He frowns and his silken and acute voice takes a more severe tone "What the ogres did is terrible but let's get us moving before she runs out my patience"
After recovering the fallen staff he takes some distance.
Realizing Izomandakus had learned the direction to go the hard way, Seamus looked at Hasslo, "Nevermind talking to Yap, Izomandakus learned which way we should go."
Seeing Pachemu getting a little riled up, Seamus calls to her, "Don't worry Pachemu Kast will 'Hamberder' him right up as soon as we get out of this clearing."
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Kast goes to pick up Izo. "C'mon Izo, let's make like ghosts and be no-bodies around here," he offers Izo his hand.
"I probably, maybe, might be able to get us there, if we need to. I just need to think about it. Or maybe we could magic it up. Either way, we'll find it."
Kast is ready to go in that direction.
The party exits the clearing, with some haste, and you find Yap before long - hiding among the scraggly trees. The forest smells heavily of earth. That sort of sickly sweet smell of grave earth.
Nonetheless, you make some distance from the clearing, but it’s clear even through the haze that the sun is setting by the time you depart the valley and return to your canoes. Yap suggests, ”You should be safe here, as you’re on a mission for the Princess and all.”
What do you do?
Izomandakus gladly accepts Kast's helps and gets out of the clearing in the fastest of ways "Yes let's fade out of here. Personally, I would prefer to endure a night travel than pass the night here."
Pachemu nods to Seamus, moving back while holding a freezing stare at the undead nymph.
The boy makes it into a canoe, the pig jumps in between his legs while he takes an oar to move out of here at haste "Once we are at Bitter Hollow we can have a rest and think how we are to climb up Hollow Mountain. Hunters there might have some guidance for us"
Chuckling at Kast's pun, Seamus also high-tails it to the canoes. Climbing into the one with Izomandakus and Pachemu.
Raising an eyebrow at Yap's use of the word 'should' Seamus shrugs at Izomandakus' recommendation. "I don't mind if we push it a little and go back to Bitter Hollow."
He pauses for a moment, gesturing back the way they came. "Do you think She would take it that were fleeing? I don't want her to do anything to Bitter Hollow because of us."
He looks back the way they came. "What if we stay on the boat we found. It seemed reasonably safe."
Kast will air limp along, dragging the canoe as needed, until his magics run out and he rejoins ‘Mus sitting in the cramped canoe.
He will travel a bit at night, mostly looking for a good place to camp.
”Mus? Izo? Can you get us to a place where we can camp?”
Izomandakus looks up to the mountains and ponders the question "I can bring us directly on top of Hook Mountain at the doors of the ogres' lair." the boy seems hesitant thought "I have not done such thing in a long time though, maybe it is beyond my talent and some of us will be left back" he scratches his head then keeps padding with the oar.
The group decides to put some distance between themselves and the horrors behind them. Yap helps where he can, with a steady stream of blather and his low light vision. You paddle out toward the ship, but as you arrive in the region after a couple hours (~10:30pm), you find you cannot find it in the complete darkness.
Hasslo is fairly sure you’re in the right place (Yap has no real clue, he takes a different route when he can every time) but the ship is not here. However, the inability to see any stars, or the moon, or any point of reference leaves him, perhaps, befuddled as to exactly where you might be.
There are few dry patches, but they do exist here and there. Do you try to press through and muddle your way to the Wicker Walk or the eastern shore - and then onto Bitter Hollow? Or do you hunker down in some dry bit and post a watch?
The fog is thick, and light sources are nigh useless after a few feet. It feels even more claustrophobic than it did earlier.
"Looks like we should find a dry patch for the night," Kast senses that it's very dark by clever deduction and the complete absence of any sunlight. "If anyone sees a dry patch, let's get there and get to bed. My legs are sore from all this canoeing."
Kast will begin to cast about for a place to make camp, hopefully to try again to get situated in the morning.
Nodding in agreement with Kast, Seamus begins looking around, asking. "Hey Hasslo, your good at outdoor stuff you see anyplace we can sleep?"
Looking at the length the canoes, Seamus offers, "If we drag the canoes someplace sort of dry we could sleep in the ends of the canoes. There are four ends and five of us. If one of us is keeping watch, that means everyone would have a dry end of a canoe to sleep in." He shrugs looking at Val, "It's just an idea."
"It's just an idea."
"I've heard worse ideas," Kast replies, not looking at Izo and thinking about the '"Where exactly is this lair? Can you point at it for us?"' line of questioning to the obviously crazy mad dryad ghost.
Val shrugs and sighs. ”If we must make camp, we must. Personally, I would rather not be unconscious for eight hours in a swamp that mysteriously disappears entire ships. The last thing we need is one or more of us getting disappeared.” She waves her hand, prestidigitating some sparkles in the air. ”I have something for fatigue if you are worried about us being too tired by the time we get out.”
Izomandakus shrugs at the missing ship "It did not make any sense for it to be here so far away from the sea in the first place"
As Valena responds to Kast and Seamus, he looks worriedly at her and Hasslo "I fear the boys cannot keep going. Sorry. Let's be understanding with the situation."
You make camp on a fairly dry patch - large enough anyway that you’re not sleeping in the water at least.
You have an uneasy sleep, though not a dangerous one.
It’s nothing specific, but all the dreams you chase throughout the night end badly. It’s not that they were nightmares exactly. It’s just that everything that could go wrong did. Overwhelmingly so. By morning, you’re glad for the meager light filtering through the fog and the end of the hunt for sleep.
After preparation and breaking camp, you get in your canoes and begin the long row back. It’s Neth 19, a Wealday. You head north to the Wicker Walk, then portage the canoes back to Bitter Hollow. You arrive past lunch, but there’s still a fair bit of daylight left.
Yap leaves you near the Wicker Walk, rushing back to serve his mistress in her time of need. ”Please hurry!” are his last frantic words as he buzzes off back into the marsh.
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Will
”That was not a good night’s sleep. I think there was an oar in an uncomfortable place most of the night,” Kast says as he tries to massage his twisted left leg into some minimal movement.
Kast nods and waves goodby to Yap and knows the party will do their best to move quickly, but also safely.
”Which way, ‘Mus? Izo?”
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Waking in better shape than he expected, Seamus looked down at his feet and realized he had been kicking an oar right into Kast. Giving a guilty smile, he apologized, "Gosh Kast, sorry about that."
As Yap continues leading them the direction that the ghost fey had tossed Izomandakus, Seamus assumed they be at the Ogre's stronghold soon. When they exit the swamp near Bitter Hollow, Seamus turns looking at Yap, as the pixie asks them to 'Please Hurry.' Blinking his eyes, Seamus gasps, "But we still don't know where their stronghold is!"
Turning from the departing pixie as Kast asks his question, Seamus shrugs, "I don't know, how do we figure out where the ogre stronghold is?"
"North by Northwest" Izomandakus points out to Kast, while breaking the last cookie into six pieces and handing one piece to each of the Sihedron Heroes "Take, let's sweeten a bit the bad night"
"Myriana said high in Hook Mountain" Izomandakus points at the mountains that loom over the Graul's forest and the Damned dam "So let's find a way there up. We might need some climbing material."
Once they reach Bitter Hollow, Izomandakus will address the canoe seller and ask him to take care of their canoes "We need to climb up to Hook Mountain. Does any of your hunters know what is the best way?"
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Now that they are closer, and it is less night, Kast will try to help sort their position and the best way to get to Hook Mountain. Kast had studied maps in the past, lots of them, but recalling all that sometimes took perfect focus over a matter of time.
Know (Geography) -
"Let me think for a moment," Kast asks, not the smartest bulb in the orchard, and also not the most porn starriest. "I might...remember..."
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Watching as Izomandakus points towards the northwest, Seamus accepts the portion of the cookie. Smiling as he chewed it. There were few things he'd miss about Sandpoint, Cracktooth's tavern, the food at the 'Dragon' and Izomandakus' mother's cookies. Speaking with cookie still in his mouth, he asks his friend. "Hey Izomandakus, do you think your sister Aneka would start a baker at the fort, or maybe in Turtleback Ferry?" He smiles and swallows the rest of his bite of cookie. "I'm really going to miss your mom's cookies thought it might be nice if she put a branch nearby."
Hearing Kast speak up about 'remembering' in answer to Izomandakus question, Seamus pauses, looking towards his friend. Unsurprised that Kast probably had deduced the way to the ogre's stronghold. There were times Kast seemed to know everything. Seamus paused, smiling to himself, and there were times it seemed like Kast thought he did. Either way, Seamus was glad he was still with them and not on his way to 'the Wall'.
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"Oh yeah, Aneka," Kast says, thinking about kissing practice that needs to get before he can ever speak to Marigold. "Did we meet Aneka yet, Izo? Is she cute? I mean, what is her personality like?"
"Oh, Aneka, she is a bit reckless" Izomandakus answers a bit bewildered by the question "She is exactly as pretty as I am" the boy points to his face.
"The most bothering is she seemed to be the one to less understand me" he pats Pachemu's head "Until she finally understood me. Oh. And she enjoys much more the baking than me, specially talking with the clients, she loves talking with the clients, but I do not think she would like that much the Turtleback Ferry or the fort, oh no, she would not, but she would fight the ogres if needed to."
"Aneka always wants for us to walk around with hands taken. I do not really get the point, but you know, you sometimes have to do things for your sister" the boy shrugs and eats his piece of the cookie "I maybe should pay her and mom a visit."
Once they reach Bitter Hollow, Izomandakus will address the canoe seller and ask him to take care of their canoes "We need to climb up to Hook Mountain. Does any of your hunters know what is the best way?"
”Aye, there’s many who could tell ye of the paths to Hook Mountain for there are several. Not so many as’d join you though - this late in the season. The snows can be treacherous up there, not to mention the windy cold. Freeze you right up it will.”
You can get directions, and climbing gear should you wish to buy any.
Kast knows though - get the climbing gear. Or have magical ways to fly/levitate. Otherwise you’ll have a lot of backtracking and it could take additional time exposed on the mountain.
The temperatures will be cold (no biggy as you’re all wearing the gear) but areas of extreme cold are possible on the windswept mountain - and that’ll mean damage hourly to those not protected by magic or shelter.
- - -
I’ve added the location on the map between the locals giving you directions and Kast’s geographic understanding.
It’s a pleasant day, with the sun shining high in the sky. Do you depart today and push to get another half day’s travel in? Or rest and depart tomorrow?
Izomandakus profits their time in the swamp to replenish his ingredients pouch. A mud ball here, a root there, he does not expend too much searching for the more rare, but he is attentive to what is at hand as the group moves forward.
---
"If we push through the forest now, perhaps we can camp at the foot of the mountain or the lake tonight" Izomandakus gets some more food supplies and buys a climbing kit if available.
"She is exactly as pretty as I am"
"Oh." Kast tries to hide any disappointment in his voice and face with that answer. He smiles boyishly and thinks about where is he going to practice kissing.
Maybe that nymph has a non-undead, non-mad sister.
* * *
Kast thinks for a minute, and then opens his eyes as if recalling some facts.
"Oh, it's going to be cold where we are going. It's only a few days away, and we're going to need some climbing gear. I don't know how the ogres and rangers get up and down, but without climbing gear, it's going to take us longer. Unless all of you can walk on air?"
You pretty much start climbing as soon as you leave the huts huddled at the edge of the lake. That said there are plenty of places to camp in the early going, according to your information.
There are plenty of supplies in the 'Hollow, including climbing gear, silk ropes, grapples, the works.
'Cold-Weather outfit, Furs, Tent, Tent Cover, and a Bedroll.' Mentally running through the items he had purchased for the trip, Seamus shakes his head. "No, I don't have anything for climbing. But I bet they sell some kind of kit." Walking into what he assumes as a store of some sort, Seamus smiles his best smile and asks the person at the counter. "Do you Sell some sort of climbing kit? You know, all the stuff one would need for climbing in a convinent carrying bag?"
His purse lighter, but his pack heavier Seamus returns to the group from the store. "One Climbers Kit now available." He shrugs "I'm hoping there are instructions." Shifting his pack, he begins to head the general direction they had talked about. "Izomandakus is right, push through the forest now, camp tonight nearer to the mountains."
”I just put all that effort into learning how to swim and now I need to know how to climb? Horrible.” She pulls out her own fifty feet of silk rope. ”I have some nice rope, too. I had hoped to keep it saved for more…private…uses, but if we need it, there it is.”
She also purchases a climber’s kit. She gets a second-story harness too if she can find one.
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Climber's kit and second story harness are both easily found.
The Hook isn’t too bad the first day. Sure, it’s cold, but you’re well protected and it’s not that cold. The wind though is unpleasant, and seemingly unrelenting, but it’s not so strong that it hinders you - especially with the forest surrounding you. The paths you’re following are also pretty clear. Here too it doesn’t seem to have rained overmuch, and as cold as it is the ground is solid.
That evening, after a half a days travel, you find a decent flat spot to camp surrounded by enormous pine trees. You’re glad for your tents, blankets, and magical aid for it seems to grow colder overnight - and it starts to snow.
Morning is beautiful. There’s not much light, as it’s still snowing, but what light is there dances on that snow. Snow softly landing on snow is a beautiful and peaceful sound - hard to match in any other way. The wind has abated, at least in the morning, but the snow is accumulating quickly. The year’s first serious snowfall is upon you.
It’s Neth 20, an Oathday.
Late today you know you’ll face some serious climbs as the paths peter out and the steep terrain toughens. With luck you'll reach their camp before dusk. Most of the days travel though will be like yesterday. Any special preparation this morning?
Kast will continue to cast Endure Elements on himself, protecting himself with perfect normal cold protection. Outside of his usual magics (Greater Magic Weapon) he won't have anything special going on for the climb up. When the terrain just extra difficult, he may cast Air Limp as he trusts the footing of air to that of ice.
"You ready to climb, Izo? You want me to carry Pach when I can, or do you have him?"
Izomandakus wakes up and gets out of the tent, looking at the freezing environment, he smiles, the chill of the day waking his mind fast.
As they reach the first wall, he produces a pinch of limestone dust "It is fine, thanks Kast, I prepared for the occasion. Sorry Pachemu, you will have to sleep for a time" the pig looks up and while the boy throws the dust over her, he casts carry companion.
Pachemu is reduced to a tiny stone miniature that Izomandakus picks up and places inside his belt pouch.
"I think I am ready for the climbing" he states, placing his silken rope around his chest, and picking the climber's kit on his hands, equipping boots and harness, and covering himself with the furs he bought as cold outfit.
Cantrips (4/day)
acid splash
detect magic
ghost sound (Will 13)
open/close
Level 1 (6/day)
heightened awareness^
grease (Ref 14)
mage armor
2x shield
silent image (Will 14)
Level 2 (6/day)
spider climb^
*carry companion^
glitterdust (Will 15) | suppress charms and compulsions
mirror image
scorching ray
web (Ref 15)
Level 3 (5/day)
greater magic weapon^ (+2)
clay skin
heroism
lightning bolt (Ref 16)
monstrous physique I^ | haste^
Level 4 (4/day)
monstrous physique II^
dimension door | wave form^ (Ref 18)
greater invisibility
obsidian flow^ (Ref 18)
Level 5 (3/day)
telekinesis^ (Will 19)
grand destiny
teleport
After a suprisingly good night's sleep in the tent, Seamus packs his gear back up. Using the newly acquired climbing gear, he attaches his pack to a rope, so he doesn't have to wear it while they climb. But is able to pull it up behind him as they reach ledges and such.
Rechecking his climbing gear Seamus Raises an eyebrow as Izomandakus turns Pachemu into a tiny miniature, he jests. "Nice trick, anyway you can carry me like that?" Shrugging, "I guess I'm ready too."
Turning to Val, he smiles. "Nice harness by the way. After this we'll head back to Magnimar and do a little second story work."
He looks at the others, "Any chance one of you is actually a great mountain climber and will just lower a knotted rope for the rest of us to climb up?"