While Waterfall prepares the lot of you spend your time centering yourselves and digging down into research about the nature of dreams - which is a very real and tangible topic on this world instead of just being a philosophy riddle. Together, you uncover quite the set of well-supported facts about what you might find when travelling into Zarta's mind:
with the Dimension of Dreams, which overlays the
Ethereal Plane. The dreaming creature casts itself into the
Dreamlands in an idealized avatar known as a lucid body.
• Traveling to the Dreamlands in a physical form is
considerably more difficult than traveling to other
standalone planes and accessing the personal
dreamscape of an individual sleeper is even more so.
Dreamscapes are immune to entry by standard magic
such as plane shift.
• A lucid body can attempt extraordinary acts within
a dreamscape that one could not accomplish in the
Material Plane, such as casting powerful spells or
wielding legendary magic items.
• Once within a personal dreamscape, a traveler may be
able to physically exit the dream onto the dreamer’s
home plane within proximity to the dreamer. If a traveler
remains within a dream when the dreamer wakes up,
the dreamer can decide to shunt the traveler onto its
plane. Otherwise, such travelers are pushed into another
dreamscape or onto the Ethereal Plane.
• Although the act of waking up seems near instantaneous
to the dreamer, the process is perceived to pass more
slowly within the dreamscape, warning for any travelers
to exit on their own before the dreamer awakens.
• Although generally safe, personal dreamscapes have
been manipulated and preyed upon by animate dreams,
feargaunts, night hags, and other creatures stalking the
Dimension of Dreams.
• Some scholars suspect many of the dream encounters
with familiar faces, friends, or loved ones reported by
dreamers are, in fact, contacts with creatures originating
from the Echoing Pale, who readily pass through mirrors
and reflective surfaces found within the Dreamlands.
As you re-gather around Zarta, Waterfall returns with a scroll of dream council. This should bring you into a shared dream with Zarta. The spell will last for only one hour, though hopefully awaking her will not take that long.
Oh, and I also found this: perhaps it will help you. I suspect should you succeed and all re-awake then we may need to confront Aslynn quickly.
Several nearby Ardis Scholars also bring some items to help preapre you for slumber: a set of embroidered Jalmeri sleeping cushions, a finely-woven blanket of Osirian cotton, a celestial down pillow, and a silk-woven, plush butterfly
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Woozily, the effect of his trusted master's "tea" completely disorients our feathered hero, but by instinct, as well as mystical connection with Jakoby, he soon gains a grip of his new surroundings, and discovers a new ability:
"Where am I?"
Hearing his own voice for the first time - or rather, the audible echo of his thoughts by extraordinary means in his new lucid body! - Ro revels in speech for the first time in his life, and... finds it disturbing; a new sensation that attempts to expand his consciousness in an unnaturally orthogonal dimension. Closing his beak reflexively at the surprising revulsion, he binds tight, hoping now that indeed, nobody heard him enunciate like a linguistic sentient!
Finding his master's lucid body, he looks upon her as she looks upon him - the idealization of their avatars expressing themselves through subconscious mechanism: Jakoby's forehead dotted by an open third eye as sky blue as the two her physical body was born with, her feet bare (instead of booted) and of winged ankle matching tailfeaters with Ro, who himself, feels his eyebrows grown longer and with additional multi-hued colorful feathers and a "beard" under his chin, long and flowing, a wisdom-grey color, handsome of bearing, distinguishing him above and beyond the already majestically sunset red avian figure he cut with his naturally impressive wingspan.
The two of them, part stupor, part wonder, simply stare!
You can get settled - Ro looking quite settled already - into the bedding as Waterfall reads from the scroll. Occult words ring out sonorously...slowly....lulling you to sleep....
Behind closed eyes, the darkness grows heavy, like rocking a baby back and forth, each question harder than the previous three. Did I pack everything for the mission? Did I forget to study? What am I searching for?
The darkness finally coalesces into a room with an air of unobtrusive familiarity. The bookshelves, meeting rooms, and curated artifacts are typical of Pathfinder lodges, visible through the translucent walls. Strands of billowing mist flow through the building, filling the area with the same eerie mist that carpets every Pathfinder lodge. Equally familiar, but far more unsettling, are the reflected faces that leer out of over a dozen mirrors, hung askew on walls throughout the lodge. Each year, numerous agents have their souls trapped within these mirrors, never to be restored again. Should you fail on your next mission, surely you will be their next victim.
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Fortiva's dream form looks to be the same age, with the same build, though her hair blows gently in an unseen wind.
It's her equipment that really draw the eye, however - all of it is immaculate and of much higher quality than what she normally wears and uses.
As she moves towards the garden, one can just barely hear music. Apparently, Fortiva's dreamshape also comes with a theme song.
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Teja emerges into the dream realm dressed as a librarian. She has an old black robe that all but screams "Shhhhhh" as you look at it, and an oddly square mortarboard on her head. The tassel hangs over one side.
She looks around, unnerved by the mirrors and the mists. "Where did the card catalogue go?"
While most of you adjust yourselves quickly, Ro and Teja remain unnerved by the mist and the strangness of the dream keeps tugging at their minds and slightly distorting their perceptions of reality.
The mists continue to thin slightly as you get your bearings, allowing you to take in the greater area. The building you are in does look like a Pathfinder lodge but all of the walls between the rooms are opaque and translucent . You see a nice garden filled with large plants next to you, while a ways down there is a massive conference chamber with a large potted flower on the table. Strange mirrors are hung throughout the lodge as well giving off strange and distorted reflections of the views reflected in them. The source of the mist is also apparent - a boiling cauldron in the back of the building. And connected to the cauldron by links of a heavy chain wrapped around its torso? A night hag!
Aslynn makes some final adjustments to a nearby mirror with a decorator's flair as she turns to greet you. "Your presence here demonstrates that you’ve undertaken,” gloats Aslynn, “efforts to stir your precious Zarta to awaken. If you think yourselves able, you would be mistaken. For within my scheme, she has already partaken!"
Even from a distance you notice that Aslyyn's clothing is ruffled, her hair a mess, and there are dark patches across her skin. But as the hag sets her gaze on a nearby table you notice Zarta dralneen slumped over in a chair. Her complexion is pale and drained, while on a table next to her a
multifaceted, black sapphire gemstone the size of a human skull emits a dim, purplish glow.
"My plans for Zarta are, as for all dreamers, the same. To finely siphon her soul. To her dreamscape, lay claim. Transform it. Reshape it. Snip and cut every seam. Restitch and weave it
into my realm of endless dream!”
Aslynn cackles with glee and malice. And as she does, some of the plants begin to move in this breezeless space, and you catch sight of odd flashes of movement amidst the mirrors…
Initiative
Fortiva, fatigued
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Fortiva's shield fairly materializes on her arm, giving off a glint as it catches the diminished light of the dreamscape. She glides further into the garden, her music swelling as her blade appears in hand, ready to strike. She slashes at the vine creature and leaves a deep gash in it, before the music subsides to its normal level.
◆ Raise Shield (AC 30)
◆ Stride
◆ Quickdraw
for Slashing, precision, fire, cold
◇ Debilitating Strike: Enfeebled 1 for a round
↺ Opportune Backstab or Shield Block (if hit for more than 30 dmg)
for Slashing, precision, fire, cold
Fortiva gets her guard up and races ahead toward the plant. Lashing out at it she catches the flora off-guard! Some of the force of the blow catches on the large pot the plant is in whihc is glazed in a deep red but the deep cut *shatters* the pot and chops away at several of the living thing's leaves and branches.
Engaging with the potted plant Fortiva catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror again. And then sees herself exit said mirror! The elf's twin advances towards her and slashes out with a blade of her own
for
A few moments later another being steps out from the glass - Astrid!
And all of you can see the second plant in the other room start to drag itself and its heavy pot slowly off the table and towards the garden. It doesn't get far but the stem holding its central flower stretches surprisingly far to take a bite out of Fortiva. As it chomps down the elf starts to feel an overwhelming sense of despair as she looks at the wound.
for
Success: Huh, you misted up for a second there. Weird.
Failure: This is getting really overwhelming.
Critical Failure: THE WORLD IS DARKNESS!!!!!!
Initiative
Teja, frightened 1, fatigued
Blue plant 37 damage, persistent fire 1d10, flat-footed, enfeebled 1
Oh, and don't forget the Fort save against the cold, please. It being slowed would only be fair!
And I must admit I'm trying to math out the 37 damage, hehehe... 36 slashing plus 4 fire plus 8 cold, but ignore the fire... *brain explodes*[/ooc]
The rest of you see Fortiva distracted for a moment as the elf seems to be fighting back a tear or two
Initiative
Teja, frightened 1, fatigued
Blue plant 37 damage, persistent fire 1d10, flat-footed, enfeebled 1
Teja thinks hard and decides she doens't like the look of her reflections. And in response the dreamscape reacts by causing several of the closest glass sheets to explode!
She then races towards the plant in the room's center. It doesn't seem to care for the approach and bites back at her in response!
for
The bite narrowly hits the rogue, who feels despondent when looking at the bite marks.
Success: Huh, you misted up for a second there. Weird.
Failure: This is getting really overwhelming.
Critical Failure: THE WORLD IS DARKNESS!!!!!!
Of course she has little time to dwell on her feelings as both Teja and Fortiva then find themselves trying to duck away from viney tendrils that thrash about from the pot-less plant at them. The elf avoids the strike but Teja gets another wallop.
for
for
While this is happening Astrid sizes up 'herself'. It looks like her own reflection has come to life out of the mirror. While she suspects it is some sort of dream outsider, she's not certain of what kind.
Initiative
Jakoby, Fatigued; Ro, Frightened 1, fatigued
Drak
Astrid (2 actions)
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Seeing the issues these things are causing, Drak decides defense may help more than offense.
◇ Cast Lingering Composition to extend the next Composition Cantrip
◆ Cast Inspire Defense/Rallying Anthem
◆ Recall Knowledge on the Mirror beings that look like our allies.
◆ Stride over toward the doorway
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With honor, Jakoby sprints on winged heel (the boots of bounding reimagined!) and supports Fortiva's and Astrid's battle with themselves, not interfering just yet. Drawing her flawlessly sharp katana, she slashes into the plant creature!
◇) Command Ro
◆) Stride
◆) Interact to Draw Spiritbreaker
◆) Strike
Seeing the party taking some hits Drak raises a rally tune while sizing up the 'copy-folk' He struggles at first to recognize the creatures, but recall tales of Aslynn crafting dreams into mirror-like creatures in the past. Called her [Aslynn’s] ‘Eyes’ they can take on the appearance of those reflected in mirrors and travel through them with ease, but they maintain some of their mirror-like vulnerabilities
And Astrid, Jakoby, and Ro race into the fray! Astrid gets a bit of free therapy for certain emeotions by smacking herself hard. A crtiical blow sends it staggering a step back. At the impact you hear a *crack*ing sound and as its 'blood' pours out from its wounds and lands on the ground it quickly hardens into small slivers of a reflecting silver-blue material. Meanwhile the newly-resplendent Ro soars around the unpotted plant while Jakoby's katana cuts into it!
Far away, the quasi-transparent walls allow you to see Ro's reflection catch in a far mirror in another room. The bearded-bird thing emerges from a far-off mirror, and slowly moves towards the fracas.
All the while you can see Aslynn smugly smiling and laughing from afar.
Initiative
Inspired Defense up (4 rounds)
Fortva 100/116 HP, fatigued, fighting off sadness (need Will save this turn or Slowed 1)
Patrick
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Pulling herself together in this weird space and facing her twisted doppelganger, Fortiva focuses on the bigger threat.
Her blade traces a course through its vines, then cuts back as she finishes with a flourish.
◆ Keep shield raised
AC 30 with fatigue plus bard song
◆ Strike blue
for Slashing, precision, fire, cold
It's already on fire, but dc24 fort and flat-footed again
◇ Debilitating Strike: Enfeebled 1 again
◆ Strike blue
for Slashing, precision, fire, cold
↺ Opportune Backstab or Shield Block (if bit by the plant or hit for more than 30 dmg)
for Slashing, precision, fire, cold
Patrick blasts the plant while Fortiva critically slashes it again, and narrowly avoids hitting it a second time. That plant is looking terrible.
'Fortiva' and 'Astrid' both suddenly become four 'Fortiva's and 'Astrid's as suddenyl a trio of new reflections of yourselves shift and dance about them. . Each then lashes out at their counterpart. Both Pathfinders are cut, and as they are cut each of you find your vision plagued with hideous visions and hallucinatory things flitting about before you.
for
for
The still-potted plant then continues to drag itself closer. Filling the doorway, it reaches out with it's 'bud' to try to bite at Jakoby.
for
As that CHOMP connects, Jakoby feels a wave of panic rising while she takes in the wound.
Initiative
Inspired Defense up (4 rounds, +1 AC, save, phys res 2)
Teja 57/88, frightened 1, fatigued, quite sad (no reactions, need Will save at start of every turn)
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“Swallowed by a plant - you got a sense of humor, Ol’ Deadeye!” a moment’s prayer for our smoky hero, who feels her nerves seize in panic.
◆) Hunt Prey w/ Monster Hunter vs Red Plant
◆◆) ??
As 'Astrid' tries to cast a spell to make (more) mirror images of herself Astrid-Prime respond with a ferocious swing. Another critical strike disrupts the spell, leaves her doppelganger looking very cracked, and arcs more lightning out that shocks 'Fortiva' and finishes off the loose plant which finally wilts from all of the damage dealt to it.
Jakoby takes in the still-alive plant and recognizes it as a Violet Etheroot. Plants native to the Ethereal Plane, they are sharply attuned to emotions - able to not only sense the emotions of those around them but mentally incite intense emotional responses amongst those they have recently fed on. They are not flame-resistant. They also are more often free-roaming and relatively swift for a plant though - the one you're taking in seems a bit slowed as it moves about in its thick and red-glazed pot.
Initiative
Inspired Defense up (4 rounds, +1 AC, save, phys res 2)
Teja 57/88, frightened 1, fatigued, quite sad (no reactions, need Will save at start of every turn)
Jakoby 85/125 HP, fatigued, frightened 2; Ro, fatigued, frightened 1 (2 actions left)
Drak
Astrid 134/148 HP
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Teja pulls herself together enough to try to shatter the mirrors in the next room. With a bit of focus she forces the dream to obey her commands, rather than just stay in the play that the night hag was directing. Another three glass surfaces explode.
Then, she turns a weary eye on the nearby potted plant, wondering what it may be vulnerable to.
** spend dream points on another shatter.
* recall knowledge
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Finally something vulnerable to Sonic and no way to get more than one in an area. Drak mumbles to himself.
◆ Stride into the room
◆◆Cast Daze at the fake Astrid, Basic Will save DC 26
Teja shatters more mirrors, leaving the closest remaining ones far away from you all. She then sizes up the plant. It doesn't seem especially weak or resistant to anything, but that pot its in looks especially thick and the red glaze is faintly glowing and emanating a bit of heat.
And as Astrid continues to swing in a rage her second strike completely shatters her other - which explodes as it dies into a large eruption ofjagged shards.
Drak's mental magic then shifts towards the other mirrorfolk. It fails to throw off his spell, though the mental damage looks less effective than hoped for.
Initiative
Inspired Defense up (3 rounds, +1 AC, save, phys res 2)
Jakoby 85/125 HP, fatigued, frightened 2, need Reflex save; Ro, fatigued, frightened 1 (2 actions left)
Creatures more than 20 feet away are Concealed
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◆) Hunt Prey w/ Monster Hunter vs Red Plant
◆) Strike vs False Fortiva
◆) Command Ro
Our smoky hero chops fake Fortiva’s head off! Or at least, one of them...
Drak manages to dive out of the way of all the flying fragments while Jakoby avoids the worst but gets a bit nicked. The Ulfen woman then strikes down a Fortiva while Ro manages to get a strike against the plant. His peck bounces hard off of the plant as the etheroot twists and ducks a bit into it but the bird still draws chlorophyll.
Other 'Ro' glances impassively as its copy flees into another room. It's gaze then lands on the mighty and threatening Astrid. As the bird-copy mutters Astrid finds herself feeling sluggish while all of you then see 'Ro' move to flank Fortiva.
Initiative
Rallying Anthem up (3 rounds, +1 AC, save, phys res 2)
Fortva 90/116 HP, fatigued, need Reflex save
Patrick
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↺ Opportune Backstab when 'Fortiva' is hit.
◆ Raise Shield
◆ Strike Doppeltiva
for Slashing, precision, fire, cold
◇ Debilitating strike: enfeebled 1 (if it's not destroyed)
◆ Stride / Tumble Through the Etheroot
↺ Opportune Backstab on plant or Shield Block if bit by same.
Fortiva takes advantage of Jakoby's swing to backstab herself. It too cuts through an image while landing a blow . She then lands another major blow - leaving 'Fortiva' looking mostly cracked - before trying to join Ro behind the plant. Unfortunately the cramped space and its large size make that tricky and so she falls back beside Astrid.
Initiative
Rallying Anthem up (3 rounds, +1 AC, save, phys res 2)
Patrick
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Patrick is looking confused. Two Astrids and two Fortivas. He dare not try any offensive action there in case the wrong one is targetted. Otherwise one of his nightmares might come true, being chased by an angry Astrid wielding an impossible large and sharp sword.
The obvious target is the plant. Get that out of the way and he might be able to get to Zarta and help her.
So he moves to a spot between Teja and a Fortiva before electric arcing the plant.
basic reflex DC 26
I am open to suggestions but I recommend we get to Zarta quickly