☠ Season of Ghosts w/ DM rainzax ☠

Game Master rainzax

Vekka will be back tonight, so I won't bot him for now.

Auntie Wu spins around to cast another Vitality Lash at the Chewer, then ducks behind Lan's Protector Tree. She worries about the guys up there, but there's no way she can help them right now. "Hang in there, guys!"

Vitality damage vs. Chewer: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 6, 6) = 17
DC 22 basic Fort Save

◆◆ Cast a spell, ◆ Stride

Kurobozu Basic Fortitude vs 17 vitality (DC 22): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27 @ 8 damage

Pulled in multiple directions Chewer reels in pain "I'll kill you all and bury you under this tree for Master to Have your Souls!"

Vekka!

Vekka groans.

I guess I had that coming...

DC24 fortitude: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
DC24 fortitude: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Yikes! Hero-pointing both
☘️DC24 fortitude: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
☘️DC24 fortitude: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

I think that's fail into stage 1and then recover?

--------------------

Knowing he's gravely harmed it, he figures it's best to press and see if he can end it.

◆ Recharge Spellstrike

◆◆ Spellstrike
Cast a spell Ignition
Strike: +1 striking katana attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34
slashing damage (two-handed): 2d10 + 4 ⇒ (6, 7) + 4 = 17
Fire damage: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 6) = 15
deadly IFF crit: 1d8 ⇒ 3
On Critical Success The target takes double damage and 3d6 persistent fire damage.

Kazuki is momentarily stunned but shakes it off. He hustles backwards, away from The Chewer, then fires two quick shots at the crazed creature...

+1 Striking ghost-touch Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 2nd increment, deadly d10, Volley 30'/-2) vs Target: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 15 - 2 = 182d8 ⇒ (6, 3) = 91d10 ⇒ 9
+1 Striking ghost-touch Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 2nd increment, deadly d10, Volley 30'/-2) w/ MAP (-3) vs Target: 1d20 + 15 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 15 - 3 - 2 = 212d8 ⇒ (7, 4) = 111d10 ⇒ 8

◆ stunned 1
◆ stride 15'
◆ hunted shot

Vekka's strike nearly fells the spider in one fiery blow! (1 shy of a crit; 32 damage)

Kazuki's stun takes his toll, causing his arrows to go wide...

Meanwhile, the Chewer decides to let the archer go and attack Auntie Wu!

Chewer
◆) Stride
◆) Stunning Flurry (Strike x2; if both hit, Fortitude DC 22 vs Stunned)
◆) Strike
~) Brawling Critical (DC 22 of Slowed)

Temple sword w/ Negative (1d4) plus Sagebane (DC 24 Fortitude) vs Auntie Wu (AC 22): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 352d8 + 8 ⇒ (6, 4) + 8 = 181d4 ⇒ 3 @ 42 damage less 30 tree = 12 damage
Temple sword w/ Negative (1d4) w/ MAP (-5) plus Sagebane (DC 24 Fortitude) vs Auntie Wu (AC 22): 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 18 - 5 = 332d8 + 8 ⇒ (6, 4) + 8 = 181d4 ⇒ 4 @ 44 damage straight to Dying 2
Temple sword w/ Negative (1d4) w/ MAP (-10) plus Sagebane (DC 24 Fortitude) vs Auntie Wu (AC 22): 1d20 + 18 - 10 ⇒ (6) + 18 - 10 = 142d8 + 8 ⇒ (7, 5) + 8 = 201d4 ⇒ 2
5x Fortitude Saves (!!!!!) - 1st vs Sagebane (DC 24 stupified +1), 2nd vs Brawling Crit (DC 22 slowed), 3rd vs Sagebane (DC 24 stupified +1), 4th vs Brawling Crit (DC 22 slowed), 5th vs Stunning Flurry (DC 22 stunned 1 (or 3 CF))

Lan's Tree interposes itself, but to no avail - Auntie Wu, stricken with 100 hand chop! - goes down violently!

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

DEFENDING THE TAN SUGI

ID: Chewer (Religion), Spider (Nature)
Terrain: Underneath Tree is Difficult Terrain unless Small Creature
Terrain: Tree is DC 20 to Climb
Shooting through the Tree: Cover (+2 AC)

R3
Spider @ 70/75/80 feet up (butt/abdomen/head) @ -86 (severly bloodied!) @ pinned (DC 10 Escape)
Vekka @ -15 @ w/ Heroism @ 75 feet up @ Uncharged @ pending Toxin outcome
Sigurd @ 75 feet up @ Shield broken @ -1 HPs @ Font taxed
Kazuki @ -26 @ Hunting Spider @ Stupified 2
Auntie Wu @ dying 2, prone, dropped items @ 5x fortitude saves pending
Chewer @ -42
Lan
Lan's Tree (30 HP?)

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Vekka - need that Toxin @ HERE

Lan is Up!

I assume dying makes the amped Shield spell from Lan go away. Fortunately, she wasn't holding anything.

Fort save vs Sagebane (DC 24 stupified +1), Pilgrim's Path bonus: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 1 = 14
Crit Fail for Stupefied 2?

Fort save vs Brawling Crit (DC 22 slowed), Pilgrim's Path bonus: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 12 + 1 = 21
Failure for Slowed 1

Fort save vs Sagebane (DC 24 stupified +1), Pilgrim's Path bonus: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 1 = 26
Success; no change

Fort save vs Brawling Crit (DC 22 slowed), Pilgrim's Path bonus: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 1 = 18
Failure for Slowed 2

Fort save s Stunning Flurry (DC 22 stunned 1 (or 3 CF), Pilgrim's Path bonus: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 1 = 29
Success; no change

Hmm... I don't think Hero Pointing anything here will help me all that much.

Final tally (I think): Stupefied 2, Slowed 2. And Dying 2. Can I get a double of anything else?

Is the deal that he takes the stage 1 damage, but it doesn't last the prescribed round?

poison damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Unfortunately, Lan's amped shield needed to be Sustained. When it seemed like it was ignoring you, Lan let it drop, thinking he might need to re-cast it on Kazuki.

---

Lan will heal Auntie Wu, and then cast Glass Shield on himself.

Heal (3rd rank, 2-actions): 3d8 + 24 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2, 3) + 24 + 3 = 34

Auntie Wu's eyes crack open, gazing up at the infected branches of the Sugi Tree. A tear escapes the corner of one eye and slips down into her hair, where Mogu's filament soaks it up. "Mogu, the tree..."

I was unable to find the rules about whether conditions like Stupefied are lost or kept when one is knocked unconscious. I figure that's too good to be true, so she's still slowed 2 and stupefied 2.

Scorched and chopped, the Spider makes it's final stand!

Spider
◆◆◆) Strike x3

Fang (plus Venom DC 24) vs Vekka (AC 24): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 292d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 3) + 10 = 18
Fang (plus Venom DC 24) w/ MAP (-5) vs Vekka (AC 24): 1d20 + 17 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 17 - 5 = 162d8 + 10 ⇒ (3, 8) + 10 = 21
Fang (plus Venom DC 24) w/ MAP (-10) vs Vekka (AC 24): 1d20 + 17 - 10 ⇒ (14) + 17 - 10 = 212d8 + 10 ⇒ (2, 8) + 10 = 20
18 damage, 1x Fortitude save!

Yet more mandibles find purchase, sending in another dose of toxin!

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

DEFENDING THE TAN SUGI

ID: Chewer (Religion), Spider (Nature)
Terrain: Underneath Tree is Difficult Terrain unless Small Creature
Terrain: Tree is DC 20 to Climb
Shooting through the Tree: Cover (+2 AC)

R4
Spider @ 70/75/80 feet up (butt/abdomen/head) @ -36 @ pinned (DC 10 Escape)
Auntie Wu @ -39
Vekka @ -38 @ w/ Heroism @ 75 feet up @ Uncharged @ 1x fortitude saves (And plz declare full outcome!)
Sigurd @ 75 feet up @ Shield broken @ -1 HPs
Kazuki @ -26 @ Hunting Spider @ Stupified 2 and Stunned 1
Auntie Wu @ prone, dropped items, wounded 1 @ healed to 34/66 @ Slowed 1 (doesn't stack) and Stupified 2 (does stack)
Chewer @ -34
Lan

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

The Party (except Lan) are Up!

"Stop it."

◆+1 Katana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4) + 4 = 13

One clean cut against the Spider. Hopefully it's enough.

"Vekka."
◆◆ Heal: 3d8 + 24 ⇒ (5, 3, 6) + 24 = 38

Shizuru's light shines upon Vekka, healing his immediate wounds. But what of the poison?

Shizuru's blade cuts the spider clean in half - guts dripping down the Tan Sugi as Sigurd's blade shines.

Spider out!

Vekka feels the full restoration of the blessing.

Vekka full HPs!

I assume the fortitude save is still in order?

Vekka braces himself against the poison that courses through his body with every heartbeat. He fears this might be the moment he loses strength and plunges into darkness.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

I weakens him somewhat...

Poison damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

but he quickly fights it off. Then Sigurd strikes the spider and erases most of the tengu's own wounds.

Exhaling, he offers Much thanks Sigurd. Now let's see to this statue...

Sheathing his katana, still high up in the tree, he turns back towards the statue.

I suppose resume earlier scanning, analysis, etc. Detecting magic until a more divine-oriented character can take a look.

@GM: In your last combat tracker, you have Auntie Wu listed twice. I think she should be Wounded 2 now, since she fell to 0 HP and was healed twice, right?

Through her tears, Auntie Wu sees the Chewer looming over her. Is her end near again? Will Mogu mourn her loss as only a fungus can? Oh, no you don't. Not yet. She raises her hand as if to shield her self, then blasts vitality rays right into its face.

Vitality damage vs. Chewer: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 1, 1) = 9
DC 22 Fort save

◆ Slowed 1, ◆◆ Cast a spell

Hrm, I kind of jumped the gun. But I don't think Vekka and Sigurd can practically drop 75 feet to participate in the ground combat?

With the spider finally dispatched, Sigurd has a chance to peer down the tree. "Not good... there's another enemy. And we're up here. Times like this make me wish I had angelic wings to arrest my fall."

He glances at his shortbow. "I can try to hit the interloper from here. I can also call upon Shizuru to blast them with Holy Light."

Kurobozu Basic Fortitude vs 9 vitality (DC 22): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 @ 9 damage

Auntie Wu's blast tears away more undead flesh. Chewer still looks strong. Vekka Delays.

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

DEFENDING THE TAN SUGI

ID: Chewer (Religion), Spider (Nature)
Terrain: Underneath Tree is Difficult Terrain unless Small Creature
Terrain: Tree is DC 20 to Climb
Shooting through the Tree: Cover (+2 AC)

R4
Sigurd @ 75 feet up @ Shield broken @ -1 HPs
Auntie Wu @ prone, dropped items, wounded 2 @ healed to 34/66 @ Stupified 2
➤ (Delay) Vekka @ full HPs @ w/ Heroism @ 75 feet up @ Uncharged
Kazuki @ -26 @ Hunting Spider @ Stupified 2 and Stunned 1
Chewer @ -43
Lan

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Kazuki!

"Sigurd! Vekka!" he calls out after seeing the carcass of the giant spider drop to the ground.
"We need some help down here!”

"Nice job taking out that giant spider!"

Kazuki continues to pepper the chewer with arrows...

+1 Striking ghost-touch Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 2nd increment, deadly d10, Volley 30'/-2) vs Target: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 222d8 ⇒ (8, 4) = 121d10 ⇒ 5
+1 Striking ghost-touch Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 2nd increment, deadly d10, Volley 30'/-2) w/ MAP (-3) vs Target: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 15 - 3 = 222d8 ⇒ (2, 4) = 61d10 ⇒ 2

+1 Striking ghost-touch Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 2nd increment, deadly d10, Volley 30'/-2) w/ MAP (-3) vs Target: 1d20 + 15 - 6 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 6 = 282d8 ⇒ (5, 4) = 91d10 ⇒ 10

+1 Striking ghost-touch Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 2nd increment, deadly d10, Volley 30'/-2) w/ MAP (-3) vs Target: 1d20 + 15 - 6 ⇒ (11) + 15 - 6 = 202d8 ⇒ (1, 1) = 21d10 ⇒ 8

◆ hunted shot
◆ strike
◆ strike

Missed: Auntie Wu's flat check vs Stupified 2! (Might cancel the 9 damage)

I think I carried over an earlier Stunned for Kazuki, which has since faded?

A flurry of arrows, but one clean shot. (-9)

"Another gardener?" Chewer turns his fury to the (reachable) healer Lan!

Chewer
◆) Step
◆) Stunning Flurry (Strike x2; if both hit, Fortitude DC 22 vs Stunned)
◆) Strike
~) Brawling Critical (DC 22 of Slowed)

Temple sword w/ Negative (1d4) plus Sagebane (DC 24 Fortitude) vs Lan (AC 23 / glass): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 382d8 + 8 ⇒ (8, 3) + 8 = 191d4 ⇒ 4
Temple sword w/ Negative (1d4) w/ MAP (-5) plus Sagebane (DC 24 Fortitude) vs Lan (AC 23 / glass): 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 18 - 5 = 212d8 + 8 ⇒ (1, 4) + 8 = 131d4 ⇒ 2
Temple sword w/ Negative (1d4) w/ MAP (-10) plus Sagebane (DC 24 Fortitude) v sLan (AC 23 / glass): 1d20 + 18 - 10 ⇒ (11) + 18 - 10 = 192d8 + 8 ⇒ (8, 8) + 8 = 241d4 ⇒ 2
2x Fortitude Saves (!!) - 1st vs Sagebane (DC 24 stupified +1), 2nd vs Brawling Crit (DC 22 slowed)

Lan's Glass shield deploys!(?)

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

DEFENDING THE TAN SUGI

ID: Chewer (Religion), Spider (Nature)
Terrain: Underneath Tree is Difficult Terrain unless Small Creature
Terrain: Tree is DC 20 to Climb
Shooting through the Tree: Cover (+2 AC)

R5
Sigurd @ 75 feet up @ Shield broken @ -1 HPs
Auntie Wu @ prone, dropped items, wounded 2 @ healed to 34/66 @ Stupified 2 @ Last-turn Stupified flat check
Vekka @ full HPs @ w/ Heroism @ 75 feet up @ Uncharged
Kazuki @ -26 @ Hunting Spider @ Stupified 2
Chewer @ (AC 24) -52 (or -43 if Auntie Wu fails Stupidied flat check)
Lan @ -46 damage @ 2x fortitude saves (plz finalize outcomes) @ Glass Shield? (plz finalize outcomes (rolled upthread))

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

The Party is Up!

"There's too much carnage..." Sigurd Swaps his Longsword for his Shortbow. But he doesn't hold the bow. He prays instead.

"Shizuru. Please blast the undead foe with >Holy Light<!"

Spell Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
"Ah, a little to the left?"
Hero Point: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
"Thank you Shizuru..."
Sunlight rains down on Chewer, focusing its gaze upon them for a moment- so intense it actually burns!

Fire: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1, 1, 4) = 13
If the target has the unholy trait, you deal an extra 5d6 spirit damage.
Spirit: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 5, 6) = 18

So, if i recall correctly, we have 50ft of rope up top, and 25ft of harder climbing below that.

Vekka re-focuses on his magical energies until the mystic muscles that spellstrike are re-honed.

◆ Recharge Spellstrike

Seeing that Sigurd has more far-reaching spells than himself, he sheaths his katana

◆ Interact: sheath weapon

and yells back down to Kazuka.

On my way!

◆ Climb vs rope DC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
Is it still only 5ft of movement on a rope? Athletics lists it as a "simple task" (so maybe the roll was unnecessary), but it doesn't give a diff movement.

Previous Round Stupefied 2 flat check DC 7: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Well, Auntie Wu *thought* she was casting a spell. Turns out she was just mumbling gibberish and waving her hands around.

This round:

Completely befuddled as to why the Chewer isn't dead already, Auntie Wu struggles to her feet and casts Vitality Lash at him again.

Stupefied 2 flat check, DC 7: 1d20 ⇒ 1 --> Crit Failure
Vitality damage vs. Chewer, Stupefied 2: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 2, 1) = 12
DC 20 Fort save

How did that miss?!

On the plus side, maybe the Chewer won't consider her enough of a threat to bother with trying to kill her anymore. ... Maybe.

◆ Stand, ◆◆ Cast a spell

↺ Shield Block (Glass Shield)

Hardness 4, plus:
Piercing: 3d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 4) = 11
DC 22 basic Reflex save

Lan's Glass Shield explodes into a shatter, but the creature dodges it all. Critical Success, -0 damage.

---

Lan feels a powerful hit.

Fortitude #1: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 vs DC 24, stupefied 1
Stupefied 0.
Fortitude #2: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 vs DC 22, slowed 1
Slowed 1.

---

Lan sees Sigurd and Vekka climbing down from the tree, and he turns to his foe and smiles.

"Go ahead," he says. "Hit me again."

He holds his ground.

◆◆ Heal (2nd rank, 2-actions): 2d8 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (8, 6) + 16 + 2 = 32
I'm saving my last 3rd rank spell slot.
◆ Slowed 1

50/62 hit points, AC 23 (it should have been AC 24 with the glass shield)

Auntie Wu's weed brain is fully activated by the gateway drug Sagebane - she forgets how to cast all spells. (Chewer @ -43)

Sigurd blasts it with a piece of heaven (Chewer @ -74), bloodying and nearly taking it out. Lan's glass goes wide, but he heals himself (50/62 hit points), and Vekka prepares for the long descent.

Chewer tries to finish the job...

...but first, Kazuki is up!

Can he inflict 16 damage!?

"Die, you bastard."
And with that, he lets the arrows fly...
+1 Striking ghost-touch Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 2nd increment, deadly d10, Volley 30'/-2) vs Target: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 352d8 ⇒ (1, 6) = 71d10 ⇒ 10
+1 Striking ghost-touch Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 2nd increment, deadly d10, Volley 30'/-2) w/ MAP (-3) vs Target: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 3 = 312d8 ⇒ (3, 7) = 101d10 ⇒ 3

+1 Striking ghost-touch Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 2nd increment, deadly d10, Volley 30'/-2) w/ MAP (-3) vs Target: 1d20 + 15 - 6 ⇒ (14) + 15 - 6 = 232d8 ⇒ (4, 4) = 81d10 ⇒ 5

+1 Striking ghost-touch Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 2nd increment, deadly d10, Volley 30'/-2) w/ MAP (-3) vs Target: 1d20 + 15 - 6 ⇒ (10) + 15 - 6 = 192d8 ⇒ (1, 6) = 71d10 ⇒ 9

Hmm. Looks like I pinned him to the ground with that first shot.

Pinned to the ground - in mulitple pieces! - Kazuki draws back from his volley of arrows, and the scene goes cold.

Exit Encounter

The party take stock of the wounded - as well as their declining resources!

How much Time to Rest?

Below the Tan Sugi, the ground reverberates for a few moments, then subsides. After a few more, the stupifaction caused by the Sagebane poison fades, and those afflicted regain their senses.

Sigurd 67/68
Auntie Wu 34/66, wounded 2
Vekka 60/60
Kazuki 55/81
Lan 50/62

0-10 min:
Lan Refocuses
Lan 60/62 with pearly white spindle aeon stone

10-20 min:
Lan Refocuses
Lan 62/62 with pearly white spindle aeon stone

20-30 min:
Lan casts Rejevenating Flames 3d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 2) = 9
Sigurd 62/62
Auntie Wu 43/66, wounded 2
Kazuki 64/81
Lan Refocuses

30-40 min:
Lan casts Rejevenating Flames 3d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 4) = 7
Auntie Wu 50/66, wounded 2
Kazuki 71/81
Lan Refocuses

40-50 min:
Lan casts Rejevenating Flames 3d4 ⇒ (2, 3, 1) = 6
Auntie Wu 56/66, wounded 2
Kazuki 77/81
Lan Refocuses

50-60 min:
Lan casts Rejevenating Flames 3d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 3) = 7
Auntie Wu 63/66, wounded 2
Lan Refocuses

60-70 min:
Lan casts Rejevenating Flames 3d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 3) = 5
Auntie Wu 66/66, wounded 2
Lan Refocuses

70 min:
Auntie Wu clears Wounded.

I assume that Auntie Wu will also use her Focus healing, so it'll be quicker than that.

It takes a few minutes for the sagebane to wear off, at which point Auntie Wu smacks her forehead. "Why am I not healing anyone?! Geez, I felt stupid for a bit there. That poison was something else!" She quickly gets to work, banishing all thoughts for a time as she fusses over wounds.

10-20 minutes
Treat Wounds vs. Auntie Wu and Kazuki, Assurance 20, Ward Medic: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (8, 1) + 10 = 19
Auntie Wu: 53/66 HP and clears Wounded.
Kazuki: 74/81 HP

20-30 minutes
Lan casts Rejevenating Flames 3d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 2) = 9
Auntie Wu: 62/66 HP
Kazuki: 81/81 HP
Treat Wounds vs. Auntie Wu, Assurance 20, Continual Recovery: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (8, 2) + 10 = 20
Auntie Wu 66/66 HP

While the healing proceeds, Vekka reverses course and climbs back up the rope he'd start descending. Free of injuries, he figures he can keep moving forward with progress.

"May our foe find their final rest." Sigurd puts his sword and shield away. "Vekka, I'll hold onto the rope while you descend with the head. Then I'll repair my shield."

Sigurd smiles as his shield is back to normal. "Let's take the time we need to recover. Then we can return the head back to its rightful location."

"Ugh. Thank goodness that's over. Good to see the poison wore off on you all. That was some fight. A huge thank you for the healing."

After being healed, Kazuki wanders about and gathers up any arrows that weren't damaged. He searches the chewer for anything interesting and inspects that big sword it was using.

Striking Temple Sword

The party sits down for 70 minutes and rest by the tree. But...

"...Zhi Hui. I am Zhi Hui. Our connection will remain a moment. You continue to locate the statues, I can continue to help. What do you need to know?"

Time again for a single question!

It should only be 30 minutes. It would have been 70 without Auntie Wu.

"Zhi Hui." Sigurd bows with utmost respect. "The Sugi Tree. How can we heal it?"

"The Tree and Willowshore are Bound to the same Terrible Fate - only through healing Willowshore's Curse can you truly heal the Tree"

She places one of her ghostly hands upon the tree - it's wound still bleeding a purpley-black sap.

“This monastery was built in this sacred grove of trees, but unknown to me at the time, the Great Tan Sugi seals away a powerful and evil fiend named Kugaptee. It is this fiend’s influence that has caused the tragedy unfolding now. It is no mere 'curse' that traps you and Willowshore: Time itself has been stolen from you."

She let's that statement, which should come as a surprise, wash over your perceptions. Then elaborates further, her form gently beginning to flicker "in" and "out" of phase.

"We are all trapped in a cycling mindscape that repeats every year, beginning on the first day of summer and ending on the last day of spring. Each time the cycle repeats, your memories have been reset. I retain my memories, but I know not how often the cycle has repeated, and until now have not been able to see further than Kugaptee’s darkness. But I know who started it, your go..."

Suddenly winks out!

And, with another Revelation revealed, the party reasseses once again their Reality - taking sufficient time to make sense of Zhi Hui's dire words...

You likely have clarifying questions to square this new Revelation with your previous Revelation, linked in Zui Hui's post above (click "mindscape"). Lets phrase it as Essence questions (Matter, Spirit, Mind, Life) linked to a corresponding skill check (DC 20): Everyone can roll one Tradition check, and the party ask one Clarifying "Essence" Question equal to the number of success about how to square the two Revelations into a single more-cohesive meta-narrative Revelation!

...and eventually, after 30 minutes of healing up, decide where next to explore in the monastery...

Where next?
1) Directly north of Tan Sugi? (E12)
2) Back through the Main Hall (E3) and Refectory (E6) then north? (E9)
3) Back through the Kitchen (E7) and into the unexplored room? (E8)
4) Back to the Library? (E10)
5) Somewhere else?

Also! Hero point to Lan for his pretty close guess over a year ago!

Kazuki's Tradition Check, DC 20.
Nature (T): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

----------------------

"Wait, ghost! Come back! Who started it?"
Kazuki looks at his friends with a puzzled look.
"I wonder who it is? Go-? Go- who? Maybe governor? Governor Heh Shan-Bao!?"

Regarding about where to go next, The Chewer came from E12. I vote we go that way.

"The year... repeats?" Sigurd isn't certain what to make of it all.

Religion: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

"Who and why would someone do something like this?" He frowns. "The Wall of Ghosts. Maybe that is preventing us from looking outward."

Sigurd isn't certain what to make of it, but he continues to Defend. He looks towards E12. "Is that where you want to go next? I'll lead the way."

Vekka is stunned and motionless.

How many times have we done this? What came in each version of the year? Clearly the curse bested us on each attempt. Do we even get this far every year?

Of course the ghost is long gone by the time he formulates any of these questions.

If Kugaptee hadn't intercepted our pass over the threshold of the wall of Ghosts... could we have exited the time recurrence? Is that even beneficial or would we leave the citizens of Willowshore behind, stuck in the recurrence? Is there a version of Willowshore that continues forward in time such that the outside world doesn't even notice? How does our helpful, mysterious merchant come and go with the outside world? He seems to know more about all of this.

Sorry, that's Vekka's frantic question dump I'll make my roll and we can decide on the real question.

Mind Essence (Arcana): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

"I suspect Shinzo has found a way to interfere with time without raising suspicion." Sigurd ponders. "That or if he explained it to us flat out we wouldn't believe him. We barely tolerate his merchant cover."

...elsewhere in the Monastery, a debate ensues...

"It's been awhile - do you think they are alive?"
"They must be dead I say"
"No no, too soon to Say"

...

"But how would we know?"
"Maybe one of them died. Should we go see?"
"No no, too soon to See"

...

"I want to be there when they die!"
"If they die, what will come to be?"
"No no, too soon to Be"

Wha--? Stunned by this partial revelation, Auntie Wu's mind churns with slips of barely-formed questions, like fish thrashing in a pond just under the surface. Finally one becomes cohesive enough to break free: "Are we some sort of...unlife?" A chill settles in her stomach. Please no!

Nature DC 20 (Life Essence): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Religion: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30 vs DC 20

Lan ponders philosophically about his spirit essence. Is this cycle meant to be broken, or is it beneficial for us to be trapped? What happens if we die, here or in Willowshore?

Kazuki tries to take it all in. He is completely flabbergasted.
"Wha—? What's going on? We're in some sort of time loop? We're not real? But, wait. This is a dream world, right?"

His eyes go wide in confusion and he throws his arms up in the air.
"What the heck is going on!? If it's not real, why are we here? Uggghhhh!!!"

Kazuki drops to his knees and puts his face in his hands. He tries to make sense of it all.

Placing one hand on Kazuki's shoulder, Auntie Wu wordlessly offers him her alcohol gourd. After taking a hearty swig of it herself, that is.

The party ponder their Existence, and putting their heads together about the Essence of the Multiverse, arrive at the following Summary:

Former Revelation
Prior to today, the party believed that Willowshore was Real, and that the Wall of Ghosts surrounded it, some kind of Boundary from / Portal to Other Worlds. Using a ritual, the Brokey Through into a Mindscape that contains the Pilgrim's Path and Monastery, but not before being Ambushed by an Animate Nightmare (also a Mindscape) of the sleeping fiend, Kugaptee.

New Revelation
Willowshore, it's entirety, including it's peoples and creatures, is no longer Real, although perhaps it once was. Instead, the Entire Realm (that is, both sides of the Wall of Ghosts, inside and out) is a vast and complex Mindscape, ever since the first day of Summer. Worse, on the last day of Spring, the entire Mindscape resets (subjective) Time itself. Those trapped in this "curse" simply forget what experiences that had in the prior year, and start over. The exact number of times this has happened is Unclear, but you suspect the number to be an unsettling amount.

The Wall of Ghosts simply divides this singular Mindscape into two (or more?) sections: Willowshore with it's bounded surrounding Hinterlands, and the Pilgrim's Path leading up to the Monestery. That said, perhaps there is more to it, as well.

What remains true is that Kugaptee's Dream hijacked the party over their transit through the Wall of Ghosts, for Kugaptee, as an Entity, is also somehow entangled in the same Curse, and possibly, had some hand in Creating it.

Q) How does the Wall of Ghosts interact with the Curse?
Answered above
Q) How does (did) Kugaptee's Dream interact with the Curse?
Answered above
Q) Does Willowshore even really exist?
Answered above

Q) If we somehow escape the Curse, what happens to our families?

If you personally somehow escape the Mindscape, your families will remain trapped in the (endless?) Cycle.

Q) Is it possible for Someone to travel To and Fro? How?

A sufficiently powerful being would be able to travel between Mindscapes with sufficiently powerful magic. Definitely in the mid to high teens in terms of level.

Q) Can the Curse be lifted from our actions in this monestary, or will we have to travel elsewhere?

The Mindscape Curse can be broken, yes, but would not only involve learning more about it (for example, in the Monastery), but with also reckoning with it's Creator(s), who may or may not be present in the Monastery or Elsewhere.

Sigurd ruminates on the analysis. "There is much to absorb..." Kolphanir must have sent them here for this purpose. To break the cycle.

Even if he is not real.

"My friends. We must defeat Kugaptee. At any cost." He looks to the family insignia on his shield. "As far as I am concerned, we are here for that reason. Until he is slain we will not see the next Summer Reenactment."

Vekka sits and thinks.

At least the answers grant some clarity. If only we could draw wisdom from the past occurrences of Time. What I wouldn't give to see how I turned out the times before.