Vei moved to dispatch her next foe. Meanwhile, Fel saw Cardren rushing past. She drew up alongside him, and laid a hand on his side.
"Be healed, my friend!"
Stride ◆: Vei moves to AJ7.
Fel moves to AB15 (via Act Together.
Cast ◆: Fel casts Lay on Hands on Cardren (restoring 6 HP).
Strike ◆: Vei attacks SB2.
Fel's shot missed its mark. Her talents were mainly found in support, rather than offence. Thankfully, her partner made up for that deficiency. Vei had finished moving into position. Now she set upon the foe that Fel had failed to...fell.
Stride ◆: Vei moves to AG5.
Fel casts Boost Eidolon (via Act Together).
Strike ◆◆: Vei attacks SB2 twice. If the first hit destroys it, she'll instead move to AJ7.
The underbrush slowed Vei's pursuit of her next target. While she slowly approached, Fel moved to support her. A golden beam of light shot from her palm, towards the enemy.
Stride ◆: Fel moves to AA2; Vei moves to AB7 (via Act Together).
Cast ◆◆: Fel casts Divine Lance on SB2.
Vei moved to defeat one of the shadowy figures. She charged at them, in a flurry of fists.
Stride ◆: Vei moves to Y6.
Fel casts 'Boost Eidolon' (via Act Together).
Strike ◆◆: Vei attacks SW3 twice. If the first blow defeats it, she'll instead move to V7.
Vei pondered the implications of everyone's input.
[It's possible that not everything in your dreams stems from the 'elf'. The link between Fel and I keeps us unusually lucid. But the rest of you presumably make dreams from random scraps of thought. Perhaps the 'elf' is just intruding upon fantasies that would exist even without her.
Or perhaps, as Cardren says, there's more than one intruder. Either way, I would urge great caution.]
Fel nodded vigorously.
"Second guess everything! Ask yourself 'what does this dream want from me?'. I can't think of any way to stop these visions from happening. But we can at least avoid being misled by them."
Fel forced herself to continue speaking. This information was vital. She needed to share it.
"T-The thing looked like an elven woman. It showed a vision of us all chanting in a circle, around the black sphere. There were seven bleeding moons in the sky. A faceless man stood at an altar.
I didn't like any of this. I told the woman that I'd have no part in her ritual. Then she made the vision shift. She removed my doppleganger from the ritual circle. Then the false sphere expanded, and destroyed everything. She wanted m-me to believe that the ritual was a good thing: That it was holding back the darkness.
That's when Tarja and her comrade arrived. They challenged t-the woman. And when they did, she...she...grinned. It was the most horrible smile I've ever seen. Her teeth were like knives. Vei and I fled, while the others held back that creature. I hope that they're all right..."
As before, Vei filled in the blanks that Fel had forgotten to explain.
[Tarja is one of my fellow angels. I must emphasise that this 'dream' actually happened. We stood in a real place, watching a real battle: A battle that might still be in progress. My comrades risked their lives to unmask the creature, and protect us. Thanks to that, we were able to return and warn the group.]
"I-It wasn't just a dream! She was in the library!"
Fel struggled to make herself understood. Her mind skipped past tons of necessary context. Vei stepped in to fill the blanks.
[Let me explain. My link to Fel allows me to affect the material plane. But it also works in reverse. She too can visit my home: At least in spirit. We spend many nights in that great library. Only this time-]
"This time something was there with us! A sphere of horrid black! And an awful creature! I-It pretended to be a guide, that wanted to help our group. It showed me visions of what we were all 'supposed' to do. But it was all a lie! Once unmasked, it...it..."
The memory was too horrible to articulate. After pausing to catch her breath, Fel continued.
"You mustn't listen. You mustn't listen to the dreams! It's all a trick!"
Fel's scream echoed through the camp. One moment, she was lying unconscious; The next, she was on her feet. The gnome was shaking from head to toe. Her divine companion rushed to hug her.
"I knew it! I knew she couldn't be trusted! What does this mean?! How could that...thing...invade the library? Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods..."
Fel and Vei rushed over to their companions. Almost all the wounds they'd suffered were already gone. Being favoured by a deity had its advantages. The gnome was, of course, fully on board with saving the Dryad.
"This poor soul needs our help. We should do what we can to right the wrongs that have been done to her."
Fel uses Lay on Hands to heal 6 points of her own damage.
Vei hurriedly distanced herself from the brown mold. She moved to stand beside the one remaining foe. The brute was already unconscious. Vei made sure that he stayed that way.
It doesn't seem like Vei even needs to do anything. But just in case:
◆◆: Vei Strides twice to AA1.
Fel casts Boost Eidolon (via Act Together).
◆: Vei Strikes the Orc (non-lethally).
Fel and Vei had been oddly distant from the group. They spent most of their time talking to each other. Apparently Fel's latest dream had been very disturbing. The pair frantically discussed its implications.
When the time came, however, they would lend their support to everyone. They were both (of course) 100% in favour of rescuing the captive. When Zaranna asked for some backup, they were the first to volunteer.
Fel took Zaranna's anecdote very seriously. She too had a story to tell.
"That message might not be from the gods at all, Zaranna! Tonight, something invaded my dreams! A hostile force tried to trick and traumatise me. Vei saved me from it in the nick of time.
So please don't be lead astray. I've visited the divine realms in my sleep many times. Yet the invader's replica still managaed to deceive me. If Vei hadn't been there, who knows what might have happened."
Fel kept clinging to Vei. She didn't dare let go. So much of her strength came from connections with others. When truly alone against the darkness, she'd given in to fear. Only now, in Vei's arms, did she feel safe. She could examine the purple bubble with a semblance of rationality.
"What is that thing? How can it be here? And how do we get rid of it?"
Fel screamed. The shock of this moment overwhelmed her mental defences. The gnome scrambled backwards, in a blind panic. She couldn't even muster a defensive spell.
Then salvation came. To her left, she beheld the most wonderful sight. A pair of strong arms pulled her to safety. Tears of relief streamed down Fel's face. She tightly hugged her companion.
"Vei! I called and called, but you didn't answer! Why didn't you answer? I was so scared!"
Fel listened in vain. Why didn't Vei answer? She always answered! The duo's telepathic link functioned even between realms. Something was wrong. For the first time since childhood, Fel couldn't sense her companion.
Nonetheless, she wasn't alone. A presence lingered at the edge of perception. Another angel, perhaps? This was Faluun's realm. Surely no enemies could be here. Fel called out again: This time to persons unknown.
OOC: I'm not sure what the 'you have been here many time before' part means. For now, I'll assume that Fel has had lucid dreams about it.
The scent of old paper and leather reached Fel. Before even opening her eyes, she knew what she'd see: The great library. Rows of shelves stretched upwards and onwards to the horizon. They supposedly contained every bit of knowledge ever written. This was one of her God's sacred realms.
In the past, Fel had tried to read the books. But alas, the text was gibberish within dreams. The gnome knew that she was dreaming. Her connection with Vei created visions of this wondrous place. Speaking of which, where was Vei? Fel called out telepathically to her dearest friend.
[Vei, I've come to visit you again! What would you like to do this time?]
@ Fel - Just an fyi, your Divine Lance only does 1d4+3 until you can cast 2nd Level spells, then it will increase to 2d4+3. Only a -1 to this damage roll, but just letting you know.
Oops! Apologies. I misremembered the spell text.
Quote:
Also, if Vei moves that second time, you couldn't cast Divine Lance, so I won't move her this time.
Wait, why? Even after double checking, the budget looks correct to me.
Fel and Vei leapt into action. Seeing that the northern foe was already being handled, they targeted the eastern one. The pair moved to the edge of the beast's underbrush lair. Vei waited patiently for it to emerge. Meanwhile, Fel gave it some extra encouragement. A lance of divine light appeared in her hand. With a practised motion, she hurled the weapon into the underbrush.
Act Together ◆: Fel moves to Y15. Vei moves to Y16.
Stride ◆: Vei moves to AA14
Cast ◆: Fel casts Divine Lance (Good) at E2.
Fel listened silently, as the others listed their skills. She couldn't claim nearly as much credit as them. When her turn came, she deflected attention towards her companion.
"It's not really me who's capable. I'm just a conduit for Vei's power. As you saw at the wedding, she does most of the work. One enemy after another falls to her divine fist!"
The Angel was equally quick to bounce that attention back the way it came.
[Nonsense, Fel. You are a capable spellcaster in your own right. You can heal the wounded, control the elements, and summon magical beasts. Besides, my 'divine fist' gains its strength from your devotion.]
A light blush dusted Fel's cheeks.
"I'm g-glad you think so. Anyway, everyone, there you have it. Vei and I (especially Vei) will do our best to support you all."
Fel had likewise finished packing. She didn't actually look that different from before. She still wore her multicoloured dress. And even in combat, she never carried a weapon. So 'battle ready' Fel was just regular Fel, plus a backpack. She greeted her friend with a soft, melancholy smile.
"I'd pictured a much happier departure. Everyone is so scared. Let's see what we can do to banish that fear. We're not scared little kids any more. We'll take on this evil, side by side."
Fel slept fitfully. The day's events weighed heavily on her. Upon waking, she and Vei said their morning prayers. This was much more than a symbolic action. Divine energy flowed through and restored Fel. She felt ready to face the new day.
Breakfast conversation was predictably morbid. Between mouthfuls, Fel offered her own opinions.
"It almost seems like those men were...vessels. Maybe they weren't acting of their own free will."
"I think that we should stay together. But Cardren has a point too. Why did this attack come now? Those horrible people could have just ambushed Chet when he was alone. Doing it at a crowded wedding makes no sense."
Fel and Vei didn't go to the interrogation. They stayed behind, with the shaken guests. Fel first tended to the man who'd been shot. Then she went to check on her parents and friends. Vei, meanwhile, handled anyone else who needed help. Even while apart, the pair exchanged telepathic chatter. They both worried that this attack was just the beginning.
Fel rushed to check on the wedding guest who'd been hit by an arrow. She knew that he was almost certainly dead. But even a tiny chance was worth the time.
Meanwhile, Vei walked over to the Sheriff. She too had endeavoured to preserve someone's life; Albeit for a different reason. She pointed to the foes that she'd felled.
[I refrained from using lethal force. At least one of those people should still be alive. Perhaps an interrogation can shed some light on this tragedy.]
Before the enemy could finish hitting the ground, Vei had moved on. She rushed towards her next target. Fel's chanting continued to empower the angel. She would knock out every foe who dared defile this peaceful wedding.
Vei Strides to M7.
Fel casts Boost Eidolon, via Act Together.
Vei Strikes B1 twice.
Also, all of Vei's attacks are non-lethal. Angels can do that without a penalty. I realise that I forgot to mention this earlier. So I'm fine with ruling that the previous foe is dead.
That cry came from two mouths at once. Fel and Vei sprang into action. The angel charged forward. Her righteous fists sent a punch at one of the foes. Meanwhile, the summoner chanted an enhancement spell. Divine energy flowed from her, into the angel's strike.
Vei Strides twice to Q10.
Fel uses Act Together to cast Boost Eidolon, as part of the same action.
Vei Strikes W1.
Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Damage:1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 {+1 damage if the enemy is evil}
"T-That would be wonderful! I'd love to travel with you! Vei, what do you think?"
[I would find that most agreeable. Zaranna, your company is welcome.]
The decision to leave had become much easier. Fel wanted to be near the people she loved. That's why she'd delayed her departure for so long. Now she could take at least one of them with her. That would be a tremendous comfort. Fel grinned from ear to ear.
"Come on, let's eat! Then we go meet up with everyone!"
Fel glanced down at the symbol on her hand. Hers, however, was covered by another. Vei's summoning sigil blocked out most of the unpleasant sight: Just as Vei herself blocked out most of the bad memories.
"Yes, it'll be a bit strange. But I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again.
As for our dealings, it's been pretty quiet. We healed a wounded woodcutter; Scared away some beasts; And investigated an old ruin (with no results). I'm running out of new experiences. It might finally be time for me to move on."
Fel was a Gnome. Boredom could literally kill her. She'd resisted straying too far from home. Soon, though, she'd have to make a decision.
Fel's face lit up. She gave an extra enthusiastic wave to her friend.
"Zaranna! Yes, I'd love to eat with you!"
The taller woman gave a more restrained greeting.
[Hello, Zaranna. It is good to see you again.]
Fel skipped over to the forge. She'd made sure to stay in touch with her fellow Aasimar. The two of them shared a strong divine connection. And even putting that aside, Zaranna was good company.
"So, how have you been? Anything interesting happen since we last spoke?"
Two women walked through the town of Swampwood. One was a copper-skinned Gnome, clad in a kaleidoscopic dress. The other was tall, graceful, and imposing. She looked like she didn't quite belong on this plane of existence. Both women had shining golden eyes. Matching sigils adorned each of their left hands. The two of them were clearly connected by more than just proximity.
Feldrimala was glad to be back home. Her travels never took her too far away. This was just the latest of many visits. She greeted each familiar face that she passed. Her days of isolation were over. She'd proven to everyone that her 'imaginary friend' was very real. Now she strolled confidently, as a full-fledged member of the community.
@Fel - You still put your ability modifier with untrained skills. Please mark down which ones you are trained in. Please add Act Together and Manifest Eidolon to Special Actions along with the number of actions they use.
1)What have you been doing for the past eight years? Serving the grand design. Fel was deeply affected by her ordeal. She fell into a severe depression. Had she been alone, the Bleaching might have taken her. Thankfully, she had plenty of loving support. Fel's parents, best friends and guardian angel all guided her back to health. She remembered how to smile again.
Once Fel had fully recovered, Vei took her aside. It was time to reveal which deity she served. She had been sent by Faluun: The God of knowledge and magic. She offered Fel a chance to become one of his clergy. The young Gnome gladly accepted. Her training began in earnest.
Fel's connection to the divine grew stronger. She learnt how to cast more complex spells. Vei gradually became more visible and tangible. Until, one joyous day, she manifested fully in the physical world. Fel was finally able to give her companion a loving hug. Thus was born an inseparable duo.
2) Did you leave Swampwood? Yes. Fel travels wherever she's needed. Though to date, she hasn't strayed too far from home. There are plenty of tasks to handle in the surrounding area. She goes from village to village (with the occasional detour to historical sites). Fel heals the sick, gathers knowledge, and defends the helpless.
2a) If so, what brought you back at this point eight years later? This is just one of many returns. Fel visits Swampwood quite often.
3) Metagame question: Would you like to use the Critical Hit Deck only for Nat 20's for you the PC's or on any Critical Hit? PCs only. That's assuming that 'no decks at all' isn't an option.
I've put up a rough draft of Fel's new sheet (minus equipment). Before I go further, though, there's a question I need answered: Which deity does she serve? Vei has presumably told Fel by now.
Fel's chant was forcibly silenced. Her body refused to move. She could only watch helplessly. A terrible apparition rose from the Piper's corpse. Had this man only been a puppet of something greater? The creature abandoned its former vessel; And chose a new one. Shadei! Fel's heart sank, as the elf succumbed. By the time that she could move again, both puppeteer and puppet were gone.
"Oh gods. Oh gods. W-We have to go. We have to get out of her. Before it comes back. Before we lose anyone else!"
Cardren's nudge woke Fel from her slumber. She gave him a look of gratitude. His voice wasn't the only one urging her onwards. Fel's greatest friend had returned. The Gnome reached out with her soul. The now familiar chant sprung forth.
