…a knowing look between Vekka and his teammates verifies what’s on everyone’s mind that Vekka is able to put together…
How do you know we would have done nothing. We've learned so much about what is going on in Willowshore since this all began. I think we want the same thing!
If Yami seems dubious or unconvinced Vekka may reference Zoudou's notes as a concrete example of their efforts.
In this desperate situation, Vekka might be trying to convince himself just as much that... they might want the same thing. He hopes.
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"Yeah. C'mon, Lan! The more the merrier, amiright?"
"Yeah!"
Lan will take the lead in approaching Yami with newfound expertise in Diplomacy.
"We want to see, too! Cats aren't the only curious ones. Come on ... I'll scritchy-scratchy your back?"
Nobody knows how that works. Maybe Lan is a polymorphed cat. Or spent his last 9 lives not being a human. In any case.
"There is time enough for back-scratching" she plays coy, but marks the future date none-the-less "Help me Open the Wall of Ghosts - the Monastery lies just beyond!" with a quick circle/bunt around each party member (except Kazuki - whom she pauses a moment to smell...), she dashes behind where she was standing, lights some incense, and starts purr-chanting!
And so, Yami and the party fully cooperate to perform a ritual strong enough and weird enough to break a tiny crack in the mysterious "Wall of Ghosts" that surrounds - traps! - the town of Willowshore from it's neighboring geography!
Cast: 1 day
Cost: rice grains and incense worth 60 gp
Secondary Casters: 3
Primary Check: Occultism or Religion (expert)
Secondary Checks: Deception, Diplomacy, or Intimidation
She agrees to be a secondary caster to the strongest party member who is at least an expert in Occultism or Religion!
[ dice=Ho Lan's Occultism (T)]1d20+7[/dice]
[ dice=Sigurd Kolphan's Occultism (T)]1d20+7[/dice]
[ dice=Auntie Wu's Religion (T)]1d20+12[/dice]
[ dice=Ho Lan's Religion (T)]1d20+7[/dice] (Shining Dawn)
[ dice=Sigurd Kolphan's Religion (T)]1d20+11[/dice]
[ dice=Kazuki Sato's Religion (T)]1d20+7[/dice] (1)
"Who is the best as magic?"
"Auntie Wu, you may be best at this..." Sigurd looks at the wall. There was something Auntie Wu saw as he fought Zoudou...
That... proceeded quickly.
Vekka gulps and steels himself for the ritual to commence.
I hope we're doing the right thing.
Yami steps back "Okay, one back scratch before we go - for good luck!" she curls up to Lan, and lets the party do their thing!
Level: 2
Cast: 1 day
Cost: rice grains and incense worth 60 gp
Secondary Casters: 3
Primary Check (DC 21): Occultism or Religion (expert)
Secondary Checks (DC 16): Deception, Diplomacy, or Intimidation
Secondary casters attempt their checks before you attempt the primary check; no matter their results, the ritual proceeds to the primary check. Secondary checks affect the primary check depending on their results.
Critical Success: You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to the primary check.
Success: No bonus or penalty.
Failure: You take a –4 circumstance penalty to the primary check.
Critical Failure: As failure, and you reduce the degree of success of the primary skill check by one step.
Sigurd tries, but the spirits are so daunting... visions of Zoudou's dagger distract him.
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Blowing out a deep breath, Auntie Wu steps into the ritual circle. All the hairs on her neck stand on end. Even Mogu is squirming on her head. The energies of life and death are in flux here, and neither of them like it.
She closes her eyes and silently begs: Pharasma, I truly don't know if what we're doing is right. Please show us the way. Please.
Vekka's natural feathers and vellum spell feathers both stand on end as the ritual commences.
Too late to turn back now...
vs DC 21
Lan scratches Yami's back one more time, and scatters the rice grains on the ground. He looks around - making sure that everyone is ready. One by one, he lights the incense, and the aroma fills the fogless pocket.
It's hard to tell whether Lan is asleep or concentrating heavily, but eventually, his eye twitches, and breaks into a smile ...
"I'm going to stay back here, if you don't mind!" Kazuki calls out to the others from behind the bush with a look of worry across his face as they begin to prepare for the ritual. By the sound of his trembling tone, it's obvious to his friends that Kazuki thinks something bad is going to happen.
It opens.
Fogs part and mists dissipate to create what appears as a cylindrical "tunnel" that goes right through the wall, perhaps the height of two of you stacked high in diameter.
The soft night breeze slows to a halt, as if holding her breath. The ambient sounds of animals abruptly stop, and, a nagging, nary imperceptible sensation of being "watched" tugs at the hairs on the back of your necks...
...and without a thought, Yami dashes through, and fades behind a cloud of foggy mist which swallows her!
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There are some things mortals cannot comprehend. But they may observe.
Sigurd draws his katana and shield.
"Not what I had in mind when I volunteered to watch Yami."
He looks to his companions, and then raises his shield before entering the tunnel...
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"I don't like this." Kazuki murmers as the wall opens.
Afraid of what's happening, Kazuki wants to run away, back to the relative safety of the town. He suddenly steels his resolve knowing he can't leave his friends.
Kazuki comes out from behind the bush to join his friends. He cautiously approaches his friends, a worried look on his face.
"Do you think it's safe to go in? Who's going in first?" he inquires with a nervous grin.
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"Hoo!" Good job, guys." Auntie Wu takes a deep pull from her gourd, offering it to the others if they'd like a drop of liquid courage, too.
Shaking her head in a combination of disbelief, exasperation, and sheer overwhelmed-ness, Auntie Wu gives Kazuki a playful punch to the thigh. "We'll tackle it together. C'mon." She begins walking with him through the Wall.
vs DC 30
vs DC 30
Lan lets Yami ride on his shoulder as they pass through the tunnel.
Just when he thought they'd succeeded, Vekka's feathers seem to have a new reason to stand on end. The eye of the storm? The silence before... what?
With much trepidation Vekka attempts to follow the group through the tunnel.
As the party steps through the tunnel, they no longer feel the light of the Eternal Lantern shining bright before them…
A bit freaked out about going into the wall, Kazuki holds Auntie's hand as she leads the way in.
"This is so... weird. We're actually going into the wall? Or is this just a tunnel to the other side?"
The party steps through another world...
...another... ...something...
...and after what feels like an hour, or perhaps a year, or perhaps a minute of travel...
...emerge.
Into a vast grove, itself surrounded by it's own "wall" of "ghosts" who seem to lurk just beyond the mist... ...watching... ...Sigurd and Auntie Wu are the first to arrive...
Behind, just as the others push (or fall?) through, , sealing behind them.
Ahead, what the party recognizes as the Pilgrim's Path unfolds here, but something is different: Less a formal "path" or "trail" and more a simple convenient lower density of foliage that seems to make a "path" relative to the surrounding trees that stand tall. This forest is old. (But how old?!?).
And yet further ahead, perhaps some 150+ feet "northwest", , looking more like it was "placed" than part of the natural course, and reaching, up, up, up.
The players catch their breath - the air is cool, still - and press on the only direction forward...
vs DC 20
vs DC 20
Lan moves to just within 60'.
The tunnel closed. Sigurd puts his faith in Shizuru.
Yami is missing. Sigurd knows Kolphanir is watching over him.
He heard stories about Kolphanir from his parents. The guardian angel was banished to Golarion as she refused to withdraw from mortal life after a divine battle. She didn't care, and found like minded people who were kind to her. She promised to watch over their descendants and quietly guide them.
Despite the unknown time, location, and mortality of it all, it is serene. He finds himself at peace. Still, he keeps his shield high.
He remains observant of his surroundings. What will he find here?
"To be honest it is quite beautiful. And also eerie."
Trembling in slight fear, Kazuki sticks close to the trees, trying to stay hidden in the shadows of the foliage. He cautiously approaches the giant obelisk and occasionally checks on his friends to make sure they're still nearby.
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Oooh, I don't like this. Auntie Wu groans inwardly as the Wall closes behind them. Did we just abandon Willowshore? Will we be able to get back? Images of her children's and grandchildren's faces flash before her eyes. She's about to start hyperventilating, but catches the expression of calm assurance on Sigurd's face. Right. Right. We can do this. We'll figure it out. Let's go figure it out. Taking a deep breath, she squeezes Kazuki's hand and begins to step forward.
Padding beside Kazuki, just as much for her own comfort as for his, Auntie Wu's eyes flick back and forth, searching for signs of life beyond the trees.
Vekka's breath becomes very labored as he pushes into this place.
We shouldn't be here...
But it seems others aren't necessarily feeling the same way.
"You will never know the Paradise that lies Beyond if you don't Pray!"
"We have been Waiting for the Wall! Have you not Seen it? It surrounds us! Keeps us from The Real. Keeps us from Kugaptee! Kugaptee will Test us to Pass Through! Without Kugaptee, nothing is Real!"
"Alas, the Great Spirit shall only permit such Worthy to Pass."
Vekka mutters to himself, thinking back to Zoudou's rantings.
1) Exploration Mode
Physical awareness does not feel sufficient in this place, so Vekka decides to Detects Magic.
2) Choose two skills in which you are Trained, and please Roll them openly! Arcana, Nature, Occultism, Religion, Survival (against 5th Level DCs base 20)!
3) Move your Token on the Map to approach the Stone Slab within 60 feet - I will roll a Perception check for you - for every 10 feet closer than 60 feet out, I will grant a cumulative +1 to the Perception check![/ooc]
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The party is no stranger to magic, but no less, the Wall of Ghosts which they have just stepped through is strange. They put their heads together and combine their understanding of the supernatural to understand just where they are, what this place is, and importantly, how they could escape!
All Vitality effects here are dimmed. Treat any vitality effect as one Rank lower for all purposes (rolled damage, healing, counteract level, etc). Spell slots are still expended at their normal rank, they just have a lesser impact (as if they were cast as lower rank spells).
All Void effects here are amped. Treat any void effects as one Rank higher for all purposes (rolled damage, healing, counteract level, etc). Spell slots are still expended at their normal rank, they just have a greater impact (as if they were cast as higher rank spells).
Everyone gains access to the following ability while here:
Brighten Vitality (◆)
As a Spellshape effect, by using a single action before casting a vitality spell, you may temporarily suppress the "dimming" to have your vitality spell function as normal. If you do so, at the end of your turn, you will have to make a Will saving throw:
CS @ You no longer have to make this save each time you use this spellshape action
F @ You lose the ability to use this spellshape action
CF @ You become Drained
You are no longer "in" the Wall of Ghosts per se, or even on Golarion, but, somewhere else, transported by the "Tunnel of Ghosts" to this current destination. That your surroundings appear to resemble the forests around Willowshore may or may not be deliberate, but wherever you are, you are nowhere close to Willowshore nor the Pilgrim's Path.
The physical rules that normally dictate how the world works (physics, magic) are altered here. You reckon that with enough willpower, you could impose an alternate gravitational pull against a sufficiently large object, and "walk" upon it vertically as one would walk on ordinary ground. Perhaps a large tree or a rock.
To try it, you'd have to walk up to a large tree or rock, and just do it!
You are neither asleep nor awake, but, somewhere between. This realm is "real" for practical purposes (walking, fighting, casting a spell), but, you feel as though it exists primarily within your mind, divorced somehow from your physical body.
You are in an Immersive Mindscape! The mysterious architect of this mindscape has opened the door, and you have stepped through. Whether this "opening" was intentional or not is unclear. Who it is is unclear. And you are unsure if there is a way out.
You are within a "pocket" of the Astral Plane, but unable to explore this transitive plane further than the confines of the pocket.
This "pocket" was created by the spirit of a powerful entity whose influence extends beyond the planes, and it "traps" you here. If you intend to escape, you must somehow contend with that spirit to do so!
Before opening, verify that all 8 other points have been learned first!
You are inside of someone (or something) else's dream! Whoever (or whatever) it is, they are currently experiencing a "good dream", and you are currently experiencing a "nightmare"!
Furthermore, somehow, you were "hijacked" here while you passed through the "Tunnel of Ghosts" (which left you vulnerable in crossing), and instead of arriving at your destination, you became trapped here.
You can identify the Dreamer by finding some "mark" or "impression" within the dream, whose subconscious leaves such a mark or impression as part of the act of being the architect of the dream!
But where to look?...
Sigurd understands a bit about the Religious significance, but what about the Occult?
Life @ +2 (Lan, Religion CS)
Matter @ +1 (Auntie Wu, Nature S)
Mind @
Spirit @
Awaiting Sigurd, Vekka, Kazuki allocations...
Sigurd takes the time to recall the essence of Mind and Spirit as they apply to his studies...
Sigurd frowns as he realizes his vitality magic will be weakened. Yet the powers of void surge within. Lan gives him an important hint and reminds him he may be able to brighten his magic, briefly.
"I wonder where we are. Not Willowshore, nor the Pilgrim's Path. This land takes the form of a forest, but do not fully trust your senses."
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Life @ +2 (Lan, Religion CS)
Matter @ +1 (Auntie Wu, Nature S)
Mind @ +1 (Sigurd, Occult S)
Spirit @ +1 (Sigurd, Religion S)
Awaiting Vekka and Kazuki allocations...
Wait... I know better than that...
Life @ +2 (Lan, Religion CS)
Matter @ +1 (Auntie Wu, Nature S)
Mind @ +2 (Sigurd, Occult S; Vekka, Arcana S)
Spirit @ +2 (Sigurd, Religion S; Vekka, Occult S)
Awaiting Kazuki allocations...
Gracefully, a figure steps through another "Tunnel of Ghosts" which disappears as quickly as it appeared, stalled only a moment as he pulls a wagon full of neatly-wrapped scrolls through.
He hastens right to the point "I imagine you will have questions for me. I will answer what I can." placing tremendous emphasis on this last word, his knowing smile broadens, such that, there is an air of serenity around him, the type that only a person of honest integrity could exude continuously. You feel at ease around him, even as his presence here might puzzle your mind.
And pivots to "Just in case some last-minute magical preparations were in order, I brought these" each common scroll is meticulously labeled with it's price and his collections spans the traditions up to 3rd rank "Let me know if anything catches your eye"
He waits patiently, his coin purse strapped securely to his waist with different denominations to make change, open and ready for business.
"Shinzo! Good to see you again!"
Kazuki looks back at the creepy wall.
"Wait a sec...
You came through the Wall?”
Strangely, Shinzo's arrival brings some clarity for Vekka. Little of this makes sense, but perhaps a more familiar unexplainable figure is a sufficient anchor?
Questions... yes. I take it this is not your dream. Whose then, is it? Can we ask questions of the dreamer and if so must they be answered?
--------------------
His eyes light up at the collection of scrolls. He begins flipping through them...
I'm not surprised to see you here... Sigurd lowers his shield long enough to give a polite bow. "Well met, Shinzo."
The pronunciation of can tells him all he needs to know. He is aware of Kolphanir's limits on what she can and cannot do to aid the affairs of mortals. This could be her in disguise, unable to fight directly but able to aid those brave enough to fight in her stead.
Or perhaps Shinzo is another divine entity, bending the rules as far as possible short of direct intervention.
Or maybe the forces of darkness have restrained Shinzo to the point where this is the only way he can fight: the life of a "simple" merchant - who can travel to the Astral Plane on a whim and always has available wares despite trade routes cut off by supernatural fog.
Mortals may not comprehend. But they can observe.
Sigurd's no fool, and readily accepts the offer. He looks through the list of divine scrolls. It's so entertaining to look through the many possibilities. His doctrine limits the number of miracles he can perform further than most clerics, but he can cast them in any order or amount. It's an intriguing tradeoff.
"I am looking for scrolls of >Sure Footing< and >Translate, (Rank 3)<, do you have those?" Sigurd begins counting out 12 and 30 gold pieces. "I think 42 gold would be a fair trade for both, do you agree?"
He makes a note of scrolls he may need in the future, but these seem the most important to him right now.
Shinzo happily conducts business with Vekka and Sigurd, pulling out any common scrolls for their fair price, and making the exchange.
”Yes, I came through the Wall, much as you did. And yes, we are inside of a dream. You are free to attempt to contact the dreamer…” he lets that hang before asking ”So, what else have you learned about where we are?” it almost feels like “small talk” the way he addresses the subject!
After conducting business, the party approach the jutting stone - whose tip was only barely visible through the mists that seem to emanate from the surrounding "walls" - until it's base becomes visible. They approach just inside such a view, wary of not coming too close.
They scan the monolith...
(low-light vision)
The dirt trail comes to an end at a fifty-foot-wide clearing. A smaller trail leads into the woods to the north, while at its center sits a large slab of cracked, crumbling stone, perhaps 25 feet up... ...no wait, as you approach, it seems to shrink to about 10 feet up... ...you rub your eyes as the perspective seems to change relative to your approach...
A woman’s corpse lies atop the slab, her chest a gaping, gory hole and her left arm extended, as if pointing toward the northern path. Curling coils of fog writhe up from the hole in the corpse’s chest, slithering up and merging into the fog that surrounds it. Under the body, deep furrows on the upper surface of the stone seem to form a word, although it’s impossible to be sure what it says when viewed from the side...
Can't see due to the mist... ...maybe if you move even closer...
A woman’s corpse lies atop the slab, her chest a gaping, gory hole and her left arm extended, as if pointing toward the northern path. Curling coils of fog writhe up from the hole in the corpse’s chest, slithering up and merging into the fog that surrounds it. Under the body, deep furrows on the upper surface of the stone seem to form a word, although it’s impossible to be sure what it says when viewed from the side...
A woman’s corpse lies atop the slab, her chest a gaping, gory hole and her left arm extended, as if pointing toward the northern path. Curling coils of fog writhe up from the hole in the corpse’s chest, slithering up and merging into the fog that surrounds it. Under the body, deep furrows on the upper surface of the stone seem to form a word, although it’s impossible to be sure what it says when viewed from the side...
A writhing corpse lies atop the slab... ...you feel your heart sink with fear...
They decide their next move...
Sigurd frowns as he approaches the stone. "Who was that woman?" He looks to his teammates. "I will climb up, there's some kind of writing up there. I can't see it from this angle."
He hesitates. "Is anyone skilled in medicine? I'll drop a rope once I get up there. It may be useful to determine her cause of death. IF that's how this dreamworld works..."
Unless someone stops him, Sigurd sheathes his katana and stores his shield before making the climb.
He'll lower a rope once he gets to the top.
Sigurd looks down at the inscription...
(Shining Dawn)
...and although unable to read it, believes it is written in Aklo...
...but her cause of death is obvious:
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Why am I not alarmed to see him? Auntie Wu muses idly as she gives Shinzo a respectful nod. "Thank you for coming, Shinzo. Your presence is always a welcome boon." As she peruses his wares, she asks several questions: "How do we find the best place to look for a 'mark' or 'impression' of the dreamer? Is the dreamer a threat to Willowshore's people? Is it possible for us to weaken the dreamer from here? If so, how? How do we return to our world? Did Yami do this to us on purpose?"
She wants to bluntly ask if the dreamer is Kugaptee or Yami, but gets the feeling Shinzo cannot directly answer an honest "Yes" to either question.
-----------
"Sigurd, what do you see? Do you recognize her? I'm not much good at climbing... How high is it really?" She grasps the rope as soon as Sigurd drops it down and struggles to climb.