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Enko turns ”You are not the Witch?!” he scratches the empty indent of his head, clearly confused ”Well. You look like her."
*I* look like the witch? Auntie Wu is uneasily curious. She wants very much to ask exactly *what* it is about her that reminds Enko of the witch, but that seems like a frivolous question, unlikely to yield useful information.
"Auntie Wu, remember when you conjured those beasts to help us ride through the forest quickly? Can you do that again for Enko?"
Auntie Wu shakes her head at Sigurd's request. "Unfortunately, I prepared different spells today." Just as she was about to cast Create Water to fill Enko's head bowl, Lan pulls out his waterskin. Fair enough. I can refill it later if necessary.
"The Witch?" he looks up, points up, presumably at the rainclouds "She did that"
Broodily staring at the rainclouds, Auntie Wu asks Enko: "Yes, that's powerful magic. What else has the witch done, and how long has it lasted?"
Vekka is still a little suspicious of the creature. They did just say it was mischievous. "Guiding" them to mirror lake would be a prime opportunity for a prank.
Where can you find this witch? Or rather, where does she reside that we could avoid?
"Ah. So this witch really does control the weather. Who is this 'witch'? Is she human, like me, Lan, and Sigurd here, or another type of humanoid? Like Vekka or Ms. Wu? Is she a kappa like you?”
Enko thinks a minute - looks again at Auntie Wu - and shakes his head "You are kind of short. She is large. But! Witches are crafty - they can take other forms! But yes, she look human. Nasty claws" he continues to describe her clothing and her face.
"The Witch?" he looks up, points up, presumably at the rainclouds "She did that"Broodily staring at the rainclouds, Auntie Wu asks Enko: "Yes, that's powerful magic. What else has the witch done, and how long has it lasted?"
"She can shoots lighting bolts out of her claws!" he winces "But, instead of killing me, she emptied my water and dragged me away from the Lake, my home" he looks around paranoidly as a gust of faint wind brushes everyone's skin "She can probably hear us talking about her - Oh No!" he shivers.
Where can you find this witch? Or rather, where does she reside that we could avoid?
"She lives near the mountain - easier to Control the Weather from there - still a couple days walk to there" he turns to you, and pleads "Please don't go there! She will kill you!"
The party spends the better part of the morning hiking around the lake, talking to Enko, who never seems to run out of words.
he yells suddenly, as two serpents - one hiding in the lake, the other in the trees, leap out and attack!
(Incredible Initiative, Seasonal Boon)
But half the party is quick to respond!
SERPENTINE AMBUSH
Creature ID: Nature (DC 19)
Terrain: Path is regular, trees can provide Cover and are Difficult Terrain
Water: Lake is deep water, you must Swim through any square
Lan
Sigurd
Kazuki
Black Two-headed Snake
White Two-headed Snake
Auntie Wu
Vekka
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
These creatures are called Amphisbaena.
They have a spit attack that can blind you, and a poisonous bite.
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
"Don't let them flank you." Sigurd, katana and shield ready, moves to protect the shore.
"What are these things?" He has never seen a two-headed snake before. He raises his shield and slashes at the snake, hoping to catch it off guard.
Btw, Kazuki was using Avoid Notice for exploration.
Kazuki jolts in shock as a pair of massive, two-headed snakes burst from the roadside—"Yikes!" he yelps, instinctively scrambling for any knowledge of the creatures...
But there's no time to think—the ambush is swift and startling!
He marks the one slithering from the woods as his prey and swiftly fires two arrows at it...
Two arrows slam into White Two-headed Snake - one in each head!
Sigurd's katana strikes true!
Lan scans the field, and...
Lan's busy counting the badgers and mushrooms, and doesn't notice the snakes at first.
"Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, mushroom, mushroom ... SNAKE!"
◆◆
◆
Enko screams "The Witch has Snakes! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" he spills his head water onto the ground.
Black snake squirms, and Lan's electricity arcs fully into it's twin, bloodying it!
The snakes work in tandem to strike vengeance against those that wounded them, leading with a viscous spit attack, and finishing with a double lashout at nearby prey!
Black Snake
◆) Blinding Spittle vs Sigurd
◆) Stride
◆) Twin Bites vs Sigurd / Lan
White Snake
◆) Blinding Spittle vs Lan
◆) Stride
◆) Twin Bites vs Lan / Kazuki
SERPENTINE AMBUSH
Creature ID: Nature (DC 19)
Terrain: Path is regular, trees can provide Cover and are Difficult Terrain
Water: Lake is deep water, you must Swim through any square
R1
Auntie Wu
Vekka
R2
Lan
Sigurd @ Blinded?, Fort Save?
Kazuki @ Hunting White @ Fort Save?
Black Two-headed Snake @ -5
White Two-headed Snake @ -39 (bloodied)
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
Stage 1 1d6 poison damage and enfeebled 1 (1 round)
Stage 2 2d6 poison damage and enfeebled 2 and slowed 1 (1 round)
Stage 3 3d6 poison damage and paralyzed (1 round)
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
Yami disappears into the woods.
"If you die, I promise to bring you back" she reassures.
Yami disappears into the woods.
"If you die, I promise to bring you back" she reassures.
"Really? I doubt that." Kazuki definitely does not believe the talking cat.
"Ouch!!! The thing bit me right on a spot where I got lashed from those branches!” he feels a burning sensation as poison begins to flow through his veins and his tongue begins to swell, but, fortunately, the feeling subsides.
Kaz hustles away from the Whitesnake, .
He calls to the gods of nature to bless his bow with more power. Sure 'nuff, the bow begins to glow green with divine power!
He then fires two arrows in rapid succession at the white snake...
"I can't see!"
Lan puts a hand on Auntie Wu's shoulder and circles around her.
He remembers where the snakes were, and casts a spell again at their last known locations.
vs DC 11
vs DC 11
How do you know these snakes are hers?! Vekka asks, hoping that Enko is just jumping to conclusions.
He quickly advances on one, drawing his katana and making a strong swipe at it.
After their long nightmare it feels as though it's been some time since he wielded it.
Kazuki’s arrows, and Vekka’ blade fall short.
Lan’s electricity half-sparks.
Yami disappears into the woods.
"If you die, I promise to bring you back" she reassures.
"Please, don't." Sigurd raises his shield to block the venom.
Then he reasserts himself and raises the shield again.
A potency crystal burns away as he raises his katana at the Black Scaled serpent.
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Taken aback by the sudden attack, Auntie Wu shouts: "Stay back, EnKo!" Why the heck did you dump out your water when you need to run?! She's worried about Lan's apparent inability to see, but doesn't have time to tend to him as the snakes writhe and strike way too close for comfort. Taking a step back, she also zaps them both with electricity.
She'll take a moment to ID the snakes when she has one, but not right now!
"Stay back, EnKo!"
Enko and his empty cap heroically dives landing inches away from danger!
How do you know these snakes are hers?!
"Well then whose are they!?" he retorts fearfully.
Auntie Wu's electricity strikes home as does Sigurd's katana slash.
The snakes work in tandem to strike vengeance against those that wounded them, leading nother viscous spit and double lashout at nearby prey!
Black Snake
◆) Blinding Spittle vs Lan
◆) Step
◆) Twin Bites vs Lan / Sigurd
White Snake
◆) Blinding Spittle vs Auntie Wu
◆) Step
◆) Twin Bites vs Auntie Wu / Lan
SERPENTINE AMBUSH
Creature ID: Nature (DC 19)
Terrain: Path is regular, trees can provide Cover and are Difficult Terrain
Water: Lake is deep water, you must Swim through any square
R2
Auntie Wu @ Blind (1 rnd) @ -10 w/ FORT SAVE
Vekka
R3
Lan @ Blind (1 rnd) @ -44 w/ FORT SAVE x2
Sigurd
Kazuki @ Hunting White @ -14
Black Two-headed Snake @ -32 (bloodied)
White Two-headed Snake @ -44 (bloodied)
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
Two-Headed Snake Venom (DC 18)
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
Yami watches from a nearby tree...
...remains crouched and quiet...
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"Dear gods!!!" Kazuki exclaims as Lan's neck starts spouting blood like a fountain after being bit by a giant snake.
With an arrow nocked and the string drawn, he steps back to put more distance between himself and the giant snake. But as he does, his foot catches on an exposed tree root, causing him to stumble.
“Gah!” he yelps as the arrow is loosed unexpectedly. It hurtles straight toward Vekka—only to ricochet off his shield and at the snake instead!
"Oops. Sorry, Vekka!"
"Lan, get behind me." He lowers his shield and prays to Shizuru.
He tries to quickly slash the Black scaled snake, but his swing is reckless.
Lan circles around Sigurd, muttering a minced oath when his foot plunges into the lake.
vs DC 11
vs DC 11
Lan! Hang in there. Apply pressure to the wound, fast!
Vekka holds his katana in both hands, tapping one of his spell drums with the flat of the blade. It lights up with flame, and he slashes down at the nearest snake.
After, some of the energy settles on him and he holds a glowing outline.
The battle thickens as Lan battles for his life! Vekka's strike aims true, bringing white snake closer to it's end, while Sigurd's strike goes wide...
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
Black Two-headed Snake @ -32 (bloodied)
White Two-headed Snake @ -68 (near death)
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
Yami keeps a close eye on Lan from the bushes...
...nursing a small glow of purple necromantic energy in his paw...
Yami keeps a close eye on Lan from the bushes...
...nursing a small glow of purple necromantic energy in his paw...
"Huh. I guess that cat was right about keeping us alive." he muses to himself.
Kazuki’s unexpected arrow unexpectedly kills white snake unexpectedly!
vs DC 18
vs DC 18
Lan can't see, but he can feel the poison, and he channels his focus into fighting the venom.
Lan throws off the poison's effects, but his electricity arcs incorrectly on account of his strained vision. Sigurd completely heals him! Auntie Wu's electricity strikes home.
Black snake fights to the death, positioning himself between Auntie Wu and Lan, and lashing out!
Black Snake
◆) Blinding Spittle vs Auntie Wu
◆) Step
◆) Twin Bites vs Auntie Wu / Lan
Auntie Wu dodges the spit from one head, only to fall prey victim to the other head!
Enko reacts!
↺) Panic
"Oh No OH NO " and cowers upon the ground!
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
SERPENTINE AMBUSH
Creature ID: Nature (DC 19)
Terrain: Path is regular, trees can provide Cover and are Difficult Terrain
Water: Lake is deep water, you must Swim through any square
R3
Auntie Wu @ -40 w/ FORT SAVE
Vekka
R4
Lan @ -0(!)
Sigurd
Kazuki @ Hunting White (dead) @ -14
Black Two-headed Snake @ AC 21, 33/70 HPs
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
Two-Headed Snake Venom (DC 18)
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠
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That last bite was a doozy! Auntie Wu staggers a moment; Mogu has to squeeze her head with its filaments to remain on its perch. Lan is down; she's about to die. Grabbing her Staff of Healing, she uses it to heal herself, hoping she'll still be up in time to heal Lan next. If they both go down, it'll be a lot harder on the other guys.
Focus on the task at hand.
Protect your community.
You are the first line of defense.
Sigurd raises his Shield, hoping to draw the snake's ire.
"Hang in there, Auntie and Lan!!! Sigurd and I will slay the beast!"
Regaining his balance, Kaz goes after the snake that's still alive. He marks it as his prey, looking for a vulnerable spot, then sends a bunch of arrows at it...
Kazuki’s first arrows lands amidst wild swings by Sigurd and Auntie Wu’s healing power.
Just one more...
Vekka drags himself back over to the crowd to surround the final snake...
I'll help with that slaying!
His blade arcs outward at it...
Lan gingerly picks out a snake fang from his leg. Using his magic, he shatters it into a hundred slivers of bone and send it flying back at the snake, impaling it a hundred times.
The final snake drops to slashing and piercing sword and sorcery, and the party takes stock of their situation.
Auntie Wu @ -13
Vekka @ full
Lan @ full
Sigurd @ full
Kazuki @ -14
Enko - after several additional moments of screaming and despairing - finally rises and sees the coast is clear. He disappears into the lake with a SPLOSH!
...and returns when the party is done patching wounds bearing soaked-wet gifts:
"I believe you are not the Witch" he tells Auntie Wu - and bids farewell, his headbowl full of lake water "Thank you for helping little old me. I am home now. If you see the Witch, tell her, uh..." he thinks a moment "Tell her I went away. Or died. Or went back through the Mist!" he points to the extended Wall of Ghosts that tightly wraps around the Pilgrim's Path forward or backward.
And with that, dives back into Mirror Lake!
Your own reflection stares back at you as you gaze into the lake...
...barely perceptible...
...your own reflection smiles with an evil sneer...
...and then reverts to whatever facial expression you had when you first gazed...
...did that just happen!?...
The midday sun narrowly shines through the Fog and refracts through the Sprinkle of Rainfall...
After [redacted] time resting and sorting through the gifts, the party presses on.
The path leads up to a river’s edge, where a twenty-foot-wide rope bridge hangs a half-dozen feet over the slowly flowing river surface below. A hexagonal wooden shrine stands in the center of the river, its roof providing shelter from the elements while also offering a viewing portal in the center Arms of the Drowned to allow those in the shrine to contemplate the flow of water below. Several long-handled dippers for bringing up draughts of river water for drinking lean against the central hole’s railing, along with a half-dozen delicate-looking clay vials. A total of six wicker mats lie around this central hole, affording places to sleep above the river.
Cautiously, the party decides how to proceed.
You recall that the founder of the Tan Sugi Monastery felt that time spent along the shore of Mirror Lake provided an opportunity for self-observation and reflection. She hoped that pilgrims, when stripped of the distractions of others and the mundane problems of daily life, might see in their reflections a true vision of who they are when unburdened.
This founder's name was .
To aid in this contemplation, each pilgrim would chant a repetitive prayer meant to invoke the cycle of reincarnation, then retire to sleep above the gently flowing waters in the center of this Bridge Shrine.
Contrary to what your eyes see, you seem to recall that the shrine washed away a decade ago during a flood, yet here it stands, looking well-cared for yet still abandoned...
Yami spends several moments staring into the lake...
...later, upon approaching the bridge, she spends several moments staring into the river...
10 min Refocus
10 min Refocus
"Aw, look, there's a dashing young man staring back at me."
"Uhm ... he's ... uh ... smiling, but with an evil sneer ... wait ... no he's not. Was I imagining things?"
After healing/watching people identifying ...
"The founder of the Tan Sugi Monastery felt that time spent along the shore of Mirror Lake provided an opportunity for self-observation and reflection. She hoped that pilgrims, when stripped of the distractions of others and the mundane problems of daily life, might see in their reflections a true vision of who they are when unburdened.
This founder's name was Zhi Hui.
To aid in this contemplation, each pilgrim would chant a repetitive prayer meant to invoke the cycle of reincarnation, then retire to sleep above the gently flowing waters in the center of this Bridge Shrine."
Lan suggests taking a long rest here.
vs DC 15
"Wait, but I thought that the shrine washed away a decade ago during a flood, yet here it stands, looking well-cared for yet still abandoned. This is contrary to what my eyes see, could this be a trap?"
Lan recommends not going on the bridge just yet. He detects magic to see if there's an illusion.
You believe the “reality warping mind over matter” stuff was only a physical property of the Nightmare Realm you recently escaped.
Whatever this extended “within the Wall of Ghosts” place is, you do not feel you have that same capability here…
…at least, not you…
"Thanks for the gifts, Enko!" Kazuki calls out as the little turtle thing swims out to sea. "You are a good friend! Keep that head bowl filled and live long and prosper!"
"Huh. My reflection is staring back at me... Oddly."
An unsettling feeling crawls over him as he notices the strange, almost watchful gaze of his own mirrored image.
"Woah-ho-ho! Those are some extravagant gifts!" he exclaims as he inspects the items.
--------------------
“Thanks for the healing, Lan. I’m really glad that giant snake thing didn’t kill you or Auntie back there,” Kazuki says sincerely.
He lets out a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. “The way your blood was spraying out like a horse pissing was... quite a sight.”
---------------------
"Yes, I remember quite well when the shrine washed away in the flood. Luo Xi Yang convinced Southbank to have me part of the clean up crew as punishment for being drunk and disorderly at the tavern one night."
Kazuki wanders to the river's edge, Searching for hazards along the way.
"Being in this strange realm, I want to make sure the water is safe for drinking. I have a strange feeling it's not. Who knows what evil, or even that witch, corrupted this water."
Kazuki carefully dips his finger in the flowing water checking to see if it burns him in any way. If it doesn't burn him, he scoops up water with cupped hands, takes a whiff of it, then looks at it closely. If it seems safe, he takes a little sip.
"Goodbye, Enko. Stay safe." Sigurd smiles, knowing he helped someone get home safely.
He eyes the shortsword. "This will come in handy." He looks at his katana. "I need to find time to apply runes to this, but I've been focused on my shield."
"The shield is clearly magical."
Sigurd is so preoccupied he isn't paying attention to whatever Lan saw. Maybe it was a nightmare of that thing that was jealous of him.
Sigurd reaches the river. He quietly listens to his companions and their stories. It does seem like they are in a dreamscape, a projection of some kind.
"Is someone here? Looks like six beds are here to sleep above the river." He decides to Defend, raising his shield just in case...
Enko seemed to be happy swimming in the Lake (which this river drains into), but...
Please spoiler a Secret Survival (Trained) check!
The final snake drops to slashing and piercing sword and sorcery, and the party takes stock of their situation.
With their threat neutralized, Vekka wipes his katana off in the grass and takes a closer look at the snakes.
Amphisbaena... It should be no surprise that some of you felt affected by their bites. I apologies that I didn't realize sooner what they were.
He looks around at the group (particularly Lan and Auntie Wu) as he sheaths his katana.
Do any of you still feel as though your blood is tainted?
--------------------
"Thanks for the gifts, Enko!" Kazuki calls out as the little turtle thing swims out to sea. "You are a good friend! Keep that head bowl filled and live long and prosper!"
Vekka gives Enko a slight bow as he heads off.
We thank you! Not least because you had ample opportunity to enjoy more pranks with us and didn't!
He looks at the gifted items. If allowed he takes them in hand and goes to sit cross legged with them in his lap. From time to time he beats a spell drum at his back or scratches his chin in contemplation as he turns over one of the items in his hand.
After 20 minutes he stands up and reports to the party.
A wand of endure elements and...
--------------------
Like others, he walks over to Mirror Lake, which Enko departed through, and looks down at his reflection.
Hmm. The image of himself reflected back is so clear. It is certainly peaceful. His peace is then disturbed by the sudden, confused exclamations of what Lan sees.
"The founder of the Tan Sugi Monastery felt that time spent along the shore of Mirror Lake provided an opportunity for self-observation and reflection. She hoped that pilgrims, when stripped of the distractions of others and the mundane problems of daily life, might see in their reflections a true vision of who they are when unburdened.
Vekka frowns. Then if this is part of a dream or nightmare, it would be all the more powerful for the one in control to warp the image reflected back to you...
He suspects Kugaptee chose to show Lan a corrupted form of himself, not necessarily true to his character (not that Vekka really knows him that well).
"Wait, but I thought that the shrine washed away a decade ago during a flood, yet here it stands, looking well-cared for yet still abandoned. This is contrary to what my eyes see, could this be a trap?"
Right. This place is influenced then. He becomes more sure about his theory about Mirror Lake being used to show anyone what Kugaptee wants them to see.
Vekka has taken 20 minutes identifying the items once Enko departed. He agrees with Lan that this seems a reasonable place for a long rest. But he's not so sure about a potentially illusory shrine that should be gone.
Exploration: Given the observations so far, Vekka is Detecting Magic in this place.
A wand of endure elements and...
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"Thank you! Good-bye, Enko! Stay safe!" Auntie Wu calls as Lan casts healing flames over her. Oooo, that feels good.
When Vekka announces that the serpents were Amphisbaena, she dredges her mind for more information, but unfortunately doesn't recall anything else about them.
Do any of you still feel as though your blood is tainted?
Her mind feels so scattered. There's so much happening, and it's all so big and confusing and evil. Huh. Am I a little drunk? Didn't think I drank that much. A quick shake of her alcohol gourd causes a small bit of panic: it probably only has about a third of its contents left. Sighing, she pops some flayleaf into her mouth and stares into the lake, feeling miserable and waiting for a rush to come.
Her eyes go wide. She's genuinely not sure if what she saw was due to the drink, the flayleaf, or reality. But if Lan saw it too... "Uhhh... Hey Enko! Do you feel safe in this water?" Noting Lan casting Detect Magic, she does so as well. She needs to feel how real this is for herself.
She absently takes the wand of Endure Elements, stowing it in her pack.
When they get to the bridge, her mind is still muddled, though in a sharper, more distracted way. If the shrine washed away... She edges forward to the beginning of the bridge and casts Detect Magic. Is there magic associated with the bridge?