NotEspi's #1-06 : Lost on the Spirit Road (Inactive)

Game Master NotEspi

"Everyone, stand still. I can tend to your injuries."

Nilaglade hops off of Deroff and prepares to stitch, patch and disinfects everyone's wounds. Work keeps him busy. Keeps him away from the nightmare visions. The visions match the carnage. He's inclined to believe them.

"Which way did the kitsune go? Sounds like we need to find the bonsai. All of you wait here and begin repairing the wagon. We'll be back with the bonsai, soon."

Lokaloka eats half the pickle and tosses the other half to Deroff while Nilaglade isn't looking. She winks at the wolf, then walks up to Honzakqed to make sure he's ok.

"Brovver Lokoloko say easiest way to get you to eat pickle is by healing yous..." she says mischievously...

Assuming there are no more questions here, then

"Oh, the last time I saw the thief he was moving to the west. The direction of the caravans. That was where the spirits were guiding us as well."

The bubbly man points his fingers down the road. "I hope you won't mind if we stay here with the wagon and protect whoever is left. We just need to rest a bit. My humble apologies, and gratitude, again."

Okay everyone who can, please roll a survival or Nature check for this. This is not a secret check, so you do you for tracking.

"Of course. He won't get away with it. Keep them safe." He points to the merchants before turning around and getting back on the hunt.

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Too many images confuse his vision. The attack on the caravan was brutal.

None of the above... so Lokaloka will just follow along and play silly goblin tunes on her pipes

Honzak blinks at Loka as she heals him, the gnome already starting to ready his dagger to conduct a song of healing. "Thank-you Loka, that was sweet of you..." He then hears her ulterior motive and gives a sigh. "Fine. I'll try A bite. ONE. SINGLE. ONE. Just promise me the only thing that has been in that jar since you last washed it has been cucumbers/pickles and the vinegar!" The pampered city boy has no need for nature *shudder* or survival, *gag* so is perfectly happy letting his inferiors peers lead the way.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 +5 if we are in forests
does anyone have guidance?

The elf begins looking around for tracks

Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Eldon looks around with interest.

"Hmmmm...let me see...

Eldon starts looking for signs of kitsune in the direction where the caravaneers pointed. Soon after, a set of biped paw prints are found. Another interesting thing is that the grass and other flora seem to be bending in the direction of the tracks.

After following the tracks off the road and navigating deeper into the forest for about an hour, you come to a circular clearing (familiar to Honzak from your previous spirit encounter) around 30 ft in diameter, all covered in snow. In the middle of the clearing, a vulpine creature dressed in light, but layered clothing. They are sitting on the ground reading from a book in front of what seems to be a planted bonsai. The bonsai is surrounded by a circle of magical runes and has a glowing aura around it. With the kitsune's attention focused on the tome in his lap, he doesn't notice you just yet.

No map for now. You emerge from the underbrush and see him in the middle of the clearing.

"This seems awkward." Eldon says loudly enough for the kitsune to hear.

"Looks like you have something that doesn't belong to you."

The Kitsune near the tree looks at you and seems startled for a second. He scans the direction from which the voices are coming. He looks at the book, lets out a frustrated sigh, and looks back at you.

"Hello.", he speaks with a slightly nervous undertone, then stands up from his sitting position and turns towards you.

"I assume you are about to claim to be the righteous owners?"

"The kami own it. Not you." Nilaglade rides out from the clearing. "Actually they don't own it, either. The point is: what do you plan to do with that? Are you also helping the kami? We're all on the same side, in that case."

The kitsune tilts his head with curiosity. "Helping? In a way. It's complicated. What do you know about this bonsai, exactly?"

Lokaloka continues to play, though the volume is soft enough that only those around her can hear. She appears relaxed, though she has a spell ready if things go south.

"Complicated, yes." Nilaglade crosses his arms while Deroff lays down and pants.

"The kami are angry. They want revenge. Trees, walking on their own accord. Attacking and distracting a caravan while you take the prize." He points at the small bonsai.

"The forest is restless, you can feel it. They want the bonsai back. What's your plan, anyway?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 2 = 20

Nilaglade controls the rage inside, for now.

btw, I assume I was able to get my focus point back?

Nilaglade was looking at the caravaneers wounds, so yes.

The vulpine smiles. "Well... What makes you say that? This one doesn't seem angry to me. It just wants out.", he nudges his head in the direction of the bonsai.

"If it wants out, then why isn't it out? Either you are not letting it out or you are not able to let it out. We know people who can."

"Why don't prisoners just leave their cells?", the kitsune almost laughs. "Clearly, it didn't trap itself in the tree itself, and it was probably not voluntary either. But when it was trapped, the trees it is watching over started attacking the visitors, even the inhabitants of the forest. Balance was disturbed. I intend to fix that. I will allow the kami to merge with my person, and we will watch over the forest together."

Does Eldon think that sounds feasible?

Nilaglade leans back. The plan is sound.

Perception +7 to see if Nilaglade detects any falsehoods.

"Assuming we believe you. How do you do that? It hasn't succeeded yet. You need help to pull it off. We're clearly not enemies, so let's work together on this."

Eldon looks thoughtful.

"So I have a dilemma. What you've said might actually be true. But there is something else going on here too. You see, based on our experiences in this forest and our knowledge of the kami, and taking into account the spiritual encounters some of my friends" he points at them "have had, I know that they shared memories and experiences. You seem really eager to get back to doing your thing. You're looking at the bonsai in the same way I might look at a particularly good sandwich or bottle of southern Taldane red. What are you after? I think it best that you tell us before you try to do anything."

He keeps looking at the kitsune.

Eldon has Deception +9, Diplomacy +7, Intimidation +7 for any checks.

"How yous know tree spirit want outs of tree?" Lokaloka asks, her voice getting a bit dangerous.

Perhaps our fey companion can communicate with these spirits? the elf comments.

The kitsune looks aroind at the clearing that surrounds you. "Based on what I know about this kami in particular, this glade is its ward. The thing it is connected to and wants to protect. It's in their nature, just like us breathing. But I must admit, I don't know how to set it free from the bonsai prison. Hence the offer to merge our existences into one. Which would probably grant me... abilities." he pauses before finishing the sentence, as if looking for the right expression.

"That, I find very intriguing. So yes - there is an ulterior motive. Power. But it's for a good cause, wouldn't you agree?"

"The bonsai has a destination. You will return it to us when you are done."

He gives the proposition some thought and scans each of you with an arched eyebrow.

"Deal. Although - I want to level with you here. Whoever asked you to bring this tree to them probably doesn't want it because it's a nice little tree. The fact that a kami is trapped inside probably has something to do with it. But as I said - a deal is a deal."

He moves back to the magical circle around the tree to sit down.

As if on queue, nearby trees rustle, and a creature not unlike the ones you have encountered in the village appears in the bushes just on the edge of the clearing. It looks at the tree in the circle, and squeals loudly. A few seconds later, a large hulking tree walks out of the tree line, holding a piece of stone in the shape of a sword, and a split tree trunk as a shield. Both creatures rustle their leaves as they meet your gaze, and start walking toward the bonsai.

"NO!", the kitsune shouts at the arboreals. "I need more time! I came too close to be stopped!"

Fight for the Kami - Round 1

Conditions:

Honzak and Dimitsi
Lokaloka
Nilaglade
Dorobu
Thalaasi
Pine Brute
Arboreal Warden
Gympie
Eldon

Lokaloka immediately increases the volume of her music, encouraging her allies.

Performance, Lingering Composition: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Does the kitsune understand common?

He does this time.

Performance. Not a crit, but success.

Lokaloka concentrates and weaponizes her words.

◇ Linger Composition
◆ Inspire Courage
◆◆ Cast Biting Words

"Glad to see we've come to an agreement- whoa!" Nilaglade reaches for his longbow and peers at the small Blueish figure. "I'll take care of the little one, quickly."

Longbow, Hunted Shot 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Longbow, Hunted Shot 2: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 8 - 5 = 6
Piercing: 1d8 + 1d8 ⇒ (8) + (1) = 9
If either shot hit, add 1d8 ⇒ 8 Precision Piercing damage.
Add all damage before applying resistances.
I'm 100 feet away from Blue which is just in range of a longbow.

◆ Draw Longbow
◆ Hunt Prey: Blue
◆ Hunted Shot

Honzak draws in energy and creates another ensemble of spiritual instruments around himself as Dimitsi strides a little closer to the fight.

Nilaglade, don't forget the +1 from the goblin... or Deroff won't have any pickles to munch on!

Loka starts playing a song to boost her allies, Nilaglade fires two arrows, but none of them catches their target. Meanwhile, Dimitsi moves forward, scythe in hand, as Honzaq summons a quartet of instruments around him.

The Kitsune reaches for the mistletoe hanging around his neck. He speaks a quiet incantation, and vicious, long claws grow on his paws. He hunches over, as if returning to his primal roots, and looks at the attacking arboreals with a snarl.

Fight for the Kami - Round 1

Conditions: Inspire Courage until the start of Loka's turn 4.

Honzak and Dimitsi
Lokaloka
Nilaglade
Dorobu
Thalaasi
Pine Brute
Arboreal Warden
Gympie
Eldon

The magus draws his bow and knocks an arrow, and concentrating on a shart stone that he sees, fires the arrow at the blue creature
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
1d8 ⇒ 2 P
1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 telekinetic projectile for slashing

Thalaasi nocks an arrow, and chooses up a particularly smelly, but jagged stone to go strike his target in tandem with the arrow. The arrow embeds itself into the boar creature, and it seems like it doesn't mind at all. Ont he other hand, the jagged stone cuts several branches as it flies into it's overgrown hide. The boar leaves a trail of green pine needles as it runs towards Dimitsi to slash at it with one of the branches protruding from its back. The strike smacks Dimitsi across the chest, and sticky sap glues itself to his ribcage.

I need Dimitsi to make a DC 17 reflex save, or suffer a 10-foot movement speed penalty and become Clumsy 1

The hulking tree also moves closer to whoever is between it and the bonsai. This would be Dimitsi. It walks up, and gets ready to swing the large stone sword at the Eidolon

Fight for the Kami - Round 1+2

Conditions: Inspire Courage until the start of Loka's turn 4.

Honzak and Dimitsi
Lokaloka
Nilaglade
Dorobu
Thalaasi
Pine Brute ( -6 hp )
Arboreal Warden
Gympie
Eldon

Gympie advances and tries to get the attention of the big tree by firing a blast of flame at it.

◆ Stride
◆◆ Cast a Spell (Produce Flame) attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 = 14fire: 1d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8

Is Dorobu an enemy here? I don't want to attack him by mistake, which I've done in the past...

"Deroff, I need a better angle. Move over there." The wolf and the sprite move to the side to get a clear shot on his Blueberry prey.

Longbow, Hunted Shot 1: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 1 = 25
Longbow, Hunted Shot 2: 1d20 + 8 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 5 + 1 = 16
Piercing: 1d8 + 1 + 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (2) + 1 = 6

If either shot hit, add 1d8 ⇒ 7 Precision Piercing damage.
Add all damage before applying resistances.

Longbow: 1d20 + 8 - 10 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 10 + 1 = 10
Piercing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Nilaglade's certain at least one arrow found its mark, but he's not sure about the second shot.

◆ Direct Animal to Stride
◆ Hunted Shot vs Blue
◆ Strike Blue

Is Dorobu an enemy here? I don't want to attack him by mistake, which I've done in the past...

I'll let you guys be the judge of that.

He was not aggressive towards you so far.

I forgot the +1 damage to the arrow and the telekinetic projectivle spell so that should be 4 P and 7 S

Wiggling her fingers, Lokaloka sends three pickle-like missiles at the large tree creature.

3-action Magic Missile, IC: 3d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4, 3) + 4 = 15

◆◆◆ Magic Missile

Eldon ◆ hides (+8) behind Thalaasi's legs, ◆ draws his bow and ◆ shoots at the tree creature.

Short Bow, vs FF(hopefully): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 181d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (5) = 8

Dimitsi and Honzak both move at the same time. Honzak moves closer as Dimitsi takes a defensive step back. Honzak then sustains his ensemble, but targets a random tree with it's effect. Honzak then casts a small protection spell on Dimitsi, raising his AC by 1 for the turn.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Dimitsi is able to avoid the battering from the tree boar and slips away from the melee with a step.

None of the 2 other critters can understand common, right? Lokaloka doesn't speak Tree or Boar

You can try to RK the information. You did not attempt to speak with the pine brutes or the large tree. The kitsune is obvious, since it spoke with you in common earlier. Post soon. Starting to work on it now.