Hokey's hooves blessedly scrape the rough shore and she follows everyone as they crawl out of the water. Her body shivers uncontrollably due to the still frigid air.
That'll fix itself soon. The Maw is hopefully gone for good, now. Hokey thinks with some satisfaction at the results of her desperate struggle. She gets up and listens to Hydrand, nodding in agreement after he's said his piece.
"Yeah, I think that'll be for the best. I think we need to find a safe place to dry and rest before we head back to the Tower. I know I could use some after what I went through, back on that hateful little rock."
Hokey screws her face into a nasty look and spits on the shore. She doesn't look at or so much as acknowledge Bertram, even with a snide remark, as her companions half-expected her to.
"So, the plan is: get to a safe place, dry off and rest up and head back to the Tower. I'm not going anywhere near that godsforsaken hovel, either. Who knows what will happen at night, given what we've already encountered in their warehouse?"
"Alright, let's move. It was my idea, so I should get a spot. I want Jet to take it. Andras and Hydrand, decide who gets on next while we go down to the shore." Hokey swiftly orders everyone. She carries the raft with Jet, surrounded by her allies, armed to the teeth.
"If we keep a good pace, we might avoid the crowd altogether!"
Hokey rolled successful Int CR to note that the predators would likely be drawn to all the activity, causing Hokey to speed up the construction. Andras, Bertram and Hydrand tried to help, with Andras and Hydrand succeeding. Rolled a critical success to build the boat.
With Hydrand and Andras helping, Hokey was able to bundle together some wood in her canvas. Bertram tried to help, but tripped and scattered the neatly layered wood, causing him to receive a cold hmph from Hokey. The group eventually succeed in cobbling together a rather sturdy raft.
"Wow, that actually turned out better than I expected. Now, we should expect to see some morons try to take this from us. I'd recommend all of you have your weapons out while we carry this out of here and onto the beach."
Hokey gives a stern look and nods at Awful before muttering to the group: "Be aggressive with the first few that approach and make examples of them. We don't want anything to happen to our escape route."
Hokey softens her face and puts on a more cheerful expression.
"Come on, Jet! Why don't you help me carry this down to the shore?"
"I'm sure even she knows that, Awful, if it's the girl who looked back to you on the beach. Are you guys going to help or at least do something?"
Hokey leans in to whisper to the group.
"The water's calm now, but we've had a taste of what the environment has to offer. We need to cut our losses and get out of here, before the commotion draws out more predators."
Hokey stops Awful from chasing after the girl and puts Jet down.
"Awful, wait. I know you want to go chase that girl, but we need to focus on keeping what we still have."
She grabs a large square of fine oiled canvas her tent and spreads it on the ground.
"All of you, quickly take out your tents and gather the wood on them. In the worst case, we'll just tie them off and use that as makeshift rafts. Hurry up! We don't want to lose more than we already have." she says as she starts gathering pieces of wood with similar length into a neat square on her canvas. After stacking 2 layers, she ties off the canvas with her rope.
"Make sure Hydrand gets the thickest pieces. And the longest pieces you should grab for oars. Always grab two."
Erik would've been perfect for chopping these up to size.
"Andras, did you take the potion I gave you? If you haven't, hurry up and drink it. I want the bottle back. Awful, do you want a dose of salt draught? You never know what's been rotting in these waters."
Hokey glances over at Bertram. "What about you?" she asks gruffly
"Hopefully, Awful will have something for us at his place: I'm all tapped out of money. Awful said he made a boat, so it must be at least a raft big enough for us all."
Hokey sighs as she lingers and squints to see what the response might be from the other side.
"Well, I'll go let them know. Don't do anything dumb." Hokey says as she walks off towards the hut Awful went behind.
"sigh...Jet, I know you're confused right now, and nothing is making any sense, but you have to come with us. We're getting off this godsforsaken rock and we're going back home. Do you remember the Tower and going to Hyacinth's farm for some honey milk? Let's get away from this nightmare and go get another mug of that honey milk. Extra honey, just the way you like it."
Hokey kneels and gets to eye level with Jet. She goes through her pockets for some of the candy she bought whenever she was on her way to see Jet, back at the Tower. She pulls some out and grabs Jet's hand to give him some.
I established this back during the start of lvl 3 adventure. I didn't have it written down on my sheet, but I'm going for a bye.
"Here, take it. It's from that sweet meats place you like so much back home. I know you feel like I've left you behind, and I have, but I promise I won't leave you behind, again. C'mon, I got your name back for you, didn't I? And I got you out of that wasting soulsucker's realm and saved the world while I was at it, right? I'll get you back home, too. Remember? I'm a guide!"
Use fortune to change the narrative and have Jet calm down with the candy and be willingly grappled with one arm.
Hokey hugs Jet and picks him up.
"Alright, let's go back. Here, Jet, why don't you hold on to the shield for me?"
Hokey lets Jet take her shield and turns around to see Andras dumbfounded. She raises a judgmental eyebrow.
"What, you think everyone is as graceless and boar-ish as you? HeheI'm generally well-regarded around the Tower, where there are civilized people. If only because those dementia patients keep forgetting where they put their books. Anyway, hurry up and clear my way; I've got Jet. I think I saw Hydrand and Awful heading back to the tower."
Hokey's voice turns ice cold.
"And, Andras, we'll walk through the next obstacle, not talk around it."
"I see them. I knew he'd be causing a commotion. You guys go back to the tower and secure it. I'll back-up Andras and come back."
Hokey runs up to where Andras was yelling at the presumed kidnapper. She stops and glances at Andras's trumpet and some supplies on the ground and stows them all in her bag. She sneers over at the sniveling mess left in Andras's wake.
"What was your plan for after, if you somehow got away? Moron. Get out of here, before I decide I'm not too tired from fighting off a Roc to wipe some dust off this Urth I just saved."
Hokey continues to move past the gibbering idiot and enters the building while drawing her repossessed saber.
"I completely lost track of Jet and Andras. You guys find a boat or any way off? I don't like my chances of swimming with those eels in the water." Hokey says as she reloads her pistol and tucks it away for later. She takes a quick stock of her equipment and tools on her belt and in her bag.
"Shit. I better not see that stupid thug again. I swear..."
What the hells was Jet thinking? He better have a good explanation for this. Hokey thinks crossly as she wraps up her check.
"Awful, can you climb up to a vantage point and see if you can spot that ham? If you can't, I guess we should go back to the tower, since that's probably the only common landmark we all know on this gods forsaken shard of malice. Unless one of you has a better plan."
Hokey slams into the mud below with a sickening Squelch, putting an abrupt end to her free fall. Her world is pain and she can't move, breathe or even perceive anything beyond the true void of that pain. But pain was good. Pain was precious time she still had to continue to desperately cling to this miserable life she led.
Hokey gasps for air, as she forces herself to Do something! She rides the surge of adrenaline that accompanied that panic to try to heal something, anything, right now. Her red gloves light up and release a warm, healing light that lingers on herself, Hydrand and Bertram.
Succeeded on casting Potent, Spontaneous Mass Heal on Discord. Hokey, Hydrand and Bertram heal twice their healing rate + 1d6. Rolled 18 for Hokey.
Hokey feels every fiber of her being rejuvenated, as her body completely restores itself to its condition prior to this unfortunate Roc attack. The pain evaporates and is replaced with euphoria in its absence. And then the light dissipates around her and leaves behind the drab, dull world along with the din from the massive free-for-all happening a short distance away. Hokey rolls over and begins to laugh maniacally.
"Next time, I'm just gonna kill them all... Let's go back home, Hydrand. I'm tired of all this."
Hokey uses her Action to cast Empowered Spontaneous Sorcerous Lens (Sacrifice). Result: Failed (-1), gained Fortune and caused everything within short range to become Impaired for 2 Rounds. Hokey loses Destroy Magic. Hokey uses her Triggered Action to extend the duration of the Spell Guardian Defense.
Hokey is lifted up to dizzying heights as the Roc effortlessly climbs up into the sky. She struggles to come up with a solution, when she recalled the spell she had given up when she resolved herself of her past. She tries to cast it, but fails and unleashes a dense wave of mana to explode out, concussing both herself and the Roc. She extends her protection as she tries to think up another solution.
Hokey uses her Minor Action to put the gun back. Hokey uses her Action to cast Spontaneous Sunray. Failed Casting CR and lost Stabilize Magic and Cure and gained a Mark of Darkness. Hokey uses her Triggered Action to extend the duration of Spell Guardian Defense.
Hokey struggles to put away her gun and then focuses to draw out some magic to convince the Roc to let her go. Her golden mote surges in size and brilliance as she feels a faint connection to the magic she was trying to unleash. Suddenly, her mind feels like it's being pulled towards the silver mote and she screams as she feels herself splitting for an intense, everlasting second. She weakly tries to extend her Spell Guardian Defense for a little longer.
Hokey's Seed of Life triggers and Hokey heals 7 HP.
The Falcon Roc's punch collides into Hokey, and she releases a glow of light as her body heals while being damaged. Hokey stands a bit stunned as the Roc's talons open and quickly surround her.
Hokey uses her Minor Action to equip her pistol. Hokey uses her Action to fire the pistol. On Discord: Pistol was loaded. Shot missed, but did not misfire. Hokey uses her Triggered Action to extend the duration of the Spell Guardian Defense.
Hokey struggles against the talons closing in around her. She pulls out her pistol from an inner pocket and shoots at the ankle in front of her. She feels the unmistakable heft of a loaded gun.
Good thing I kept one more Plan B in my coat!
Hokey grimly fires her pistol, only to miss due to a tremor in her arm.
Gods damn it! I should've gotten more rest. is all Hokey can think before the talons around her close.
Rolled for Roc and Speed CR to get out of the crowd. Result: Roc attacks Hokey and succeeded on the Speed CR. Not rolling for Defense as Hokey is no longer in crowd.
Hokey slowly recovers her vision and could only make out the pandemonium the crowd was in all around her, at first. She couldn't see any signs of Andras or Jet and finds herself alone in a sea of strangers.
The usual plan, then. Get clear, get vision, get a plan.
Holding steadfastly to the wisdom she earned through her many adventures,
Hokey immediately dashes out of the crowd. She successfully escapes the crowd and runs as close as she can to the nearest vantage point. She turns back to see the crowd while catching her breath and spots a weird darkness flitting about.
What the hells is that? Seems too...oh shit, why is it always me? Hokey thinks with a sinking feeling, as she sees a giant Roc screeching and diving right towards her! She prepares to defend herself, even while scanning the area for some cover that could protect her from this new threat.
Hokey has Spell Guardian Defense 3, and uses her Triggered Action to extend the duration back to 2 rounds.
Hokey won't be moving until she has restored her vision. Her speed is also 1, right now.
"There!" Andras exclaims.
"Where is 'there?' I can't see! Argh, damn those cowardly Astrid savages. You try to be peaceful and they run with a parting blow, instead." Hokey says while slipping on her knuckledusters to continue to defend herself while she is blind, without hurting anyone.
As Hokey is defending herself with her knuckledusters, I will have her transfer the barrier onto herself and use a Triggered Action to maintain 2 rounds of it.
Hokey smoothly deflects away the warrior's extended blow that glanced off the barriers she summoned. Andras swiftly follows the opening to smack the sword out of the warrior's hand, which Hokey immediately picks up, in a rare and brilliant display of teamwork.
Hokey uses her Minor Action to pick up Gunther's sword Andras disarmed.
Hokey passes Andras the Salt bottle she pulled out, as she straightens up, whispering, "Drink it, just in case."
Hokey uses her Action to give Andras the bottle of Salt Draught. Effect when drunk: For the next 24 hours, creature makes challenge rolls to resist ingested poisons with 3 boons and treats any liquid consumed as if it were fresh water.
She intakes another strong breath while gracefully flourishing the shiny sword and then addresses the crowd.
"LAST WARNING! I KNOW YOU'RE ALL DISORIENTED AND CONFUSED, BUT THE NEXT ATTEMPT WILL BE YOUR LAST."
Hokey looks at Gunther and says, "I don't know if you heard the boy, but he called my companion his uncle. This is a familial matter, kindly take a step back. Don't make me hurt you to stop you."
Hokey uses her Triggered Action to extend the duration of Spell Guardian Defense by 1 round. Back to 2 Rounds.
Hokey takes a few faltering steps back as she is confronted with all the malice directed towards her from these yappy mongrels. But, either because she just slew a god or because this happened everywhere she went, she was no longer afraid, just irritated. The armored warrior suddenly rushes to attack Andras while she is momentarily gathering her wits.
Not after everything it's cost to keep these idiots safe up to this point! Hokey flares up, as her usual two mystical motes explode above her and she grabs her amulet.
Round 1, Fast Turn
"EVERYONE SHUT UP AND STAY BACK! LOREKEEPER OF THE TOWER ARCANE, SPELL GUARDIAN HOKEY! OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE TOWER ARCANE!" Hokey barks out appointedly to command the crowd, while simultaneously covering Andras in several translucent barriers, as much a display of her power as to defend him from the warrior's sudden blow.
Hokey uses her Action to lose Starfall and cast Spell Guardian Defense 3 on Andras. Succeeded on Discord. Effect: Andras grants 3 banes to attack rolls against him and gains 3 boons to CR vs. attacks.
"HINDER US AT PERSONAL COST. THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING!" she continues to threaten the crowd, as her motes strobe menacingly and cast her face in mystifying shadows.
Hokey uses her Triggered Action to extend the duration of Spell Guardian Defense to 2 Rounds. Hokey uses her Minor Action to take out a Salt bottle.
Hokey continues to follow the top of the bow from the fringes of the crowd, and confirms it was indeed Jet when she makes out his face after he briefly turns around.
"Andras, I see him! I'll go stop him and talk some sense into him! Hurry and catch up!" Hokey shouts as she speeds off.
Hokey scans the crowd from her vantage point at the edge and spots the tip of a bow bobbing up and down further ahead. She suddenly hears the crowd burst into pandemonium as people tried to run everywhere. She turns over to Andras and sees him in his new boarish form.
Haha Boarish. I should remember that one to rub in his face later.
Succeeded the Will CR to resist Frightening trait on Discord.
Hokey was unfazed by Andras's new, somewhat grotesque form -- she had seen worse during her adventures so far. Instead, her mind was focused on catching up with Jet, who was surely being carried away by the crowd running away from Hamdras. Seeing some people foolishly try to subdue Hamdras, she immediately decides to run ahead on her own.
"Andras, I think I saw Jet up ahead! I'll stay on the outside and try to catch up!"
Hokey hurries into the crowd, but loses sight of her tree in this forest of strangers. She quickly struggles to get out of the crowd, roughly shoving people aside with her gloved hands as they seem to squeeze in on her. Desperate to restore her personal bubble, but even more desperate to find Jet, she calls out to Andras.
"Andras! I lost him! I don't see him, but he has my bow. Find him!!" she manages to yell out, despite the creeping panic pulling at her clothes.
Hokey barely escapes out of the crowd and moves to an isolated space by a tree to catch her breath.
Cast Spontaneous Light Healing. Result: Arcane Wound, take a minor injury and lose Arcane Shield.
Hokey attempts to cast a healing spell on Hydrand, only to have the spell almost blind her with the wave of pain that accompanied the feedback from the magic.
"Sorry, Hydrand. Looks like you're gonna have to go like this for awhile."
"Yeah, and you'd owe me souls per week. Don't count on it, Awful. Be grateful you got out of there without being a literal drain on society."
Hydrand requests some support and Andras silently moves up and nods at Hokey. She feels the Life spell embed itself in each of them successfully, but can't feel her connection to that spell anymore.
Cast Seed of Life on Hokey, Hydrand and Andras. Result Burn Out: Successfully cast spell, but lose it until you complete a rest. Gain +7 HP for 1 hour.
That's fine, we just need this to last until we get off this island.
"Hydrand, hold up. Let's get you healed up a bit more. That stupid thing did a number on you." she says in a grumpy voice.
Hokey wakes with a thirst to match her headache. Despite the disorientation, the first thing Hokey does is to check on Jet. Then she hears the voices and checks her equipment, giving Jet something to defend himself with.
"Ugh. My head is killing me. Here's a bow and some arrows, Jet. You're a seasoned adventurer, now, so you better keep some weapons on you. Try to stay in the back and out of harm's way." she says as she refills her 'seasoning' pouch, taking a swig of it herself. Hokey gives Jet a longbow and 6 arrows (min. Str 9) and refills Salt and Pepper.
Hokey moves away from the group and gathers her breath while pumping herself up. She successfully casts Stabilize Magic in order to begin healing wounds in preparation for whatever was next.
Hokey successfully cast Stabilize Magic in Discord.
"It's much easier to cast without the influence of another being in my head. Anyone want to get in shape before we go to face the music?"
Magic: You learn one spell from a tradition you have discovered.
Learned: Destroy Magic Replaced: Sun Shard with Starfall.
Spell Guardian Expertise: When you use an action to attack with a weapon, you either deal 1d6 extra damage with that attack or move an active barrier to a creature within medium range.
Passed the Agi CR, but failed the Str CR to move. Slow Turn.
Hokey easily dodges the rocks and tries to move, but finds her right hoof wedged in a small crack between the rocks.
Move action: no move
Oh for hells' sake.
Hokey tries one more time to free her foot, but can't, and switches up her plans. She takes out her bow and takes careful aim, despite her fatigue.
Hokey uses her Free Action to let go of the amulet. Hokey uses her Minor Action 1 to equip her bow. Hokey uses her Quick Steps to no avail, and her Action to nock and fire an arrow. Result: 7 to hit and 5 damage. Hokey uses her Triggered Action to extend the Spell Guardian Defense and her Minor Action 2 to regain the use of her shield.
The Being takes a strong swipe at Hokey, despite it's disorientation from the unfamiliar sensation of being poisoned. It's dark, amorphous tentacle glances off her overlapped shields, as she twists her body to gracefully bound away. The strength behind the deflected blow chilled her to her core.
Hokey glances up at the Entity resolutely, a clear expression in her eye, when the wall to her left suddenly explodes with a shattering sound. Just as suddenly, Andras runs in like a whirlwind, nimbly maneuvering his switchblades, followed by the new gigantic form of Hydrand, with horrible gashes all over his body. Hokey puts away her fragrance bottle as the dying god is distracted.
Hokey uses her Minor Action to stow the bottle and uses her Free Action to grab her amulet.
"Your seconds are gone, Dying Beast, and your long history of parasitism with them." Hokey taunts up to the polymorphic being before her, as her red glove holding her amulet glows with Life energy.
Hokey uses her Action to cast Spontaneous, Potent Vitality Burst and grants Andras, Hydrand and herself healing rate + 1d6 Damage. Rolled 11 healing on Discord.
"You like deals so much, how about another one, Dying Beast? I'll cure you of the poison, if you give me a greater connection to my magic!"
Fast Turn. Failed Perception CR and Hokey is sickened (0 rnds).
Hokey is elated by her success and sneers as the Being roars in surprise and anger. Then the world shifts, as it did on the Island, and she doubles over to vomit. She quickly summons a stronger Spell Guardian Defense as she glares up at the enraged Entity alone.
I just need to hold out for a little longer. Everyone else will get here to back me up in a second or two.
Hokey uses her Action to use Spell Guardian Defense (+2) on herself. Result: Gained additional Deprivation and 4 semi-permanent damage. Lost Explosive Darts. Hokey uses her Triggered Action to extend the duration by 1 round.
"Try your best in these precious few seconds you have left, Nameless Beast of a Forgotten World. Any longer, and then you'll be the Dead Beast of a Forgotten Tomb." Hokey taunts up to the hulking, polymorphic figure.
Hokey is flooded with relief when Andras accepts the deal. She looks at Jet and realizes she can at least think his name to herself. She puts on a false bravado as her relief withers into a cold, paralyzing dread of what may come.
"Jet? Oh Jet, you got your name back." she says while giving Jet a quick hug. For a moment, her face is tender while gazing gently at Jet. "See, Jet, don't worry about anything and at least trust in me. I'll make sure we get out of this as fine as we can." Then she masks her face in her usual gruffness and shifts attention to the Entity before her.
Hokey uses her Move to run towards the Being and uses a Free Action to trigger Hydrand to provide a Spell Guardian Shield on her.
"Lesson number one, from the Hokey book of experience, Jet. These types, who play with others' lives, always leave themselves a backdoor to escape from, in case things get dicey."pun intended"And this thing really f@!%ed up, when it messed with me and mine, AND OFFERED TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR ITS STUPIDITY! HYDRAND, SHIELD ME, I'M BREACHING!." Hokey gets louder and angrier, eventually sprinting at the Entity while yelling and screaming - both at the godly figure before her and the ever-present unfairness continuing to dog her life.
I live my life under no one's yoke.
"You want my soul?! This soul requires a proprietary concoction of spices, dear customer!"
Hokey uses Minor Action 1 to spray "Pepper" Atomizer, which contains Poison. Hokey uses Free Action to drop the Atomizer. Hokey uses Action to retrieve another Atomizer from another belt pouch. Hokey uses Minor Action 2 to spray the Poison she filled that one with. I use Fortune to change the narrative to allow the Being to be affected by Poison. Hokey is affected by the Salt Draught (water) she consumed last turn, and is provided 3 boons to her challenge rolls.
Despite the very confused and concerned sounds coming from Hydrand, an opaque shield properly envelops her as she reaches the mighty morphing Zordon god. She squeezes the blub on her prototype "Pepperspray" Patent Pending and releases deadly gas into the air.
"I'm right here, take your bite." Hokey says triumphantly as The Being looks bemused. Before the gas could even dissipate, Hokey drops the empty canister and pulls out another one from a different pouch and squeezes the bulb on this one, releasing more gas. The Being looks shocked as it actually starts choking on the glitter dust of gas surround the two.
Hokey was able to succeed at both rolls in Discord.
The Entity directs a good portion of its heads and eyes towards Hokey, sensing her desire for a deal, though maybe not the ones he had proposed so far. She looks over at The Boy, whose name she had been unable to call since she had entered this room and seen him first before the Entity. She felt a sharp stab of grief imagining what he would've suffered through to get here by himself and she made up her mind. Though many incarnations of this polymorphic visage lacked visual expressiveness, she felt it leering as it looked on and dissected her down to her soul through them all.
Hokey chooses "Special" Win Gain.
"I don't want a deal from you, but I want to broker a deal between you and Andras, on behalf of *-, The Boy! The Boy is powerless, and his soul can't be worth nearly as much as ours. I ask that you lessen the price and that you put it on Andras's tab. I also ask that you restore whatever price The Boy paid back to him, and have Andras provide you with compensation."
Hokey looks at Andras, almost daring him to reject this deal.
"What do you say, Andras? You brought the boy here, against better counsel, as his guardian. You bear full responsibility for what happens to him on this "field trip" and have a duty to see him safely back home to the Tower, whatever mental damages aside. This is an opportunity to fulfill your obligations."
Hokey drinks her water and grimaces as she puts the empty vial back into the belt pouch. She walks up to The Boy and pulls out another container labeled pepper.
Hokey nods her head and was about to cast an empowered healing spell, when the deal stops her in her tracks. She is shown a tantalizing catalog of the esoteric secrets she could learn, the mystical power she could gain and the magical powers she could unleash. And then the catalog is just as suddenly withdrawn, permeating a sense of loss within her.
I could be someone with all that power. I could force the world to leave me and mine be, with all that knowledge.
Struggling to get a hold of her desires, Hokey does her best to use her real desire for what the being offered to lie to it and gain more information.
"You...really know just what to offer. To be clear, when you say you want souls, are there any other conditions you're withholding? Do they have to be willing sacrifices, or offered on a moonless night, or any of that garbage? Would we be able to offer anyone we kill along the way? And how are souls measured? They can't all be the same worth, right? Yours versus mine, for example."
Hokey resumes channeling her magic to cast a healing spell. Please let me know if you want your character to receive a heal.
Rolled -2 to the Discern Characteristics roll. Gained 1 Influence and 1 Fortune.
Hokey continues to carefully scrutinize the being for any signs of weaknesses. Unfortunately, she was still reeling from fatigue and her recent brush with death to focus properly. Having failed to discern anything, she asks the being, "Would you mind if I cast some healing magic?" as she takes out some water from her belt pouch to drink.
Rolled 15 for the Int Challenge Roll regarding the "soul".
Hokey's studies of the Fey and their Folklore and Magic in the Tower led her to theorize that everything that exists today could be traced back not to the Summer Queen and the other gods, but a being far greater. A being whose very "flesh and blood" or "essence" formed everything in existence - from Urth to living beings, and even their souls. Of the few who even know of this theory, most consider this to be blasphemous as best, especially the Fey, who laud their Queen as the almighty creator and protector. Before her was a being who could throw away that "conventional wisdom" and bear witness to the real truth of creation! However, as the being continued to talk and respond to her companions, Hokey's joy at this newfound discovery quickly ignited into righteous fury.
Wait, this thing wants MORE from us than we already had to give? And it wants us to do WHAT?! Who would even take this kind of deal?
Hokey glances over at Hydrand and Awful, who both seem likely to make a deal with this Devil before them.
If I'm gonna go out, I might as make it hard. We need as much information as we can gather. I hope these idiots keep this thing talking without making a deal too soon.
Hokey silently watches over her companions conversing with the being before them and carefully gathers as much information as she can.
Hokey blinked when the glint of the gold caught her eye. For a brief and horrible moment, she feels disassociated with her body, an ephemeral consciousness drifting in the void. She panics and opens her eyes to see a banal gate on a wall so massive, she couldn't see where it ended.
Huh?
Hokey simply stares at the gate for a while, dumbfounded, before she gathers her wits and checks her body. Noting that all of her wounds were still there, she angrily looks around, only to see the expansive white space, the infinite wall, and the singular random gate.
I guess we're all sent to our own doors...Or maybe the others will get here if I wait a bit. Jet must be scared out of his mind. We shouldn't have brought him.
Regaining some mental fortitude at the thought of Jet, Hokey walks up to the gate and begins to study it. Hokey uses Battle Recovery and recovers 5 Damage. It seemed to be made of some kind of wood and metal, and had a simple lock on it. Seeing nothing with her Truesight, she begins to cast Arcane Sight in order to see into the magical nature of the gate and the lock.
Arcane Sight casting challenge roll result: Illiterate Fool: Spell fails and Hokey gains 1d3 2 Insanity.
The spell goes off as usual until Hokey looks at the gate and sees it explode into a multitude of grasping hands. She struggles desperately to end the spell and holds her head from the massive waves of pain in her head.
Damnit. What is with my magic lately?! I better do something about this as soon as I can.
After calming down and losing faith in her erratic magic, Hokey opts to put on her knuckledusters and bash the lock. Magical reverberations travel from the strike up her arm and directly into her mind. Hokey gains 1 Insanity.
Might as well keep casting, if I'm going to get mentally damaged anyway, I guess.
Hokey successfully casts Stabilize Magic and then casts Arcane Sight using the stabilized magic around her. With the magical sight, she sees the internal mechanisms of the lock. While she was unable to understand the intricacies of the spell, she was able to figure out that the lock required magic to be loaded into it totaling 5 ranks of spells.
Hokey casts Explosive Darts (r2). Result: Disturbing Visions: spell goes off as normal, but you gain 1d32 Insanity. Hokey gains quirk (lose the ability to hold onto or pick up items with hands for 1d3 rounds when Frightened) and reduces her Insanity by 1d6+14 Insanity. Hokey successfully casts Explosive Darts (r2) and Sun Shard (r1).
Hokey casts her most familiar spell: Explosive Darts, into the lock. She feels a resurgence of her skittish nature resurfacing as her mind is overloaded with more feedback from the process. Resigned to a terrible fate, she grits her teeth and casts Explosive Darts again with no issues. She quickly uses the momentum to cast Sun Shard into the lock and receives a flood of relief as it gently clicks open.
Looking at the vast openness on the other side, Hokey gulps and casts Cure on herself with the last bit of Stabilized Magic around in preparation for the next trail to come. Hokey successfully passed the Will Challenge Roll to remove 1 Insanity.
Hokey goes through the gate, and on the other side is a vast openness with a single creature of immense proportions. It is an Entity that seems to be of everything all at once. It has a face that is hard to look upon, a face that changes and blends the faces of all who exist within this dreamscape. One moment it has the eyes of a Woad of the Bear, the next, its mouth is that of a dwarf's.
It places its gaze upon Hokey, and she feels as though it is looking not at her, but through her, to her soul. When it speaks, it speaks with a resonant combination of every being trapped in this nightmare.
"HoKey."
At the sound of her name, Hokey realizes that she recognizes the madness before her from the soul prison.
Hokey uses her Battle Recovery to catch her breath as she tensely stares down the strangers on the plateau. Heals 5 HP; no spells lost to regain. Once Hydrand and the others come through the hole, she lowers her guard enough to refill her atomizer. She grumpily moves away from the group when Bertram finally emerges from the hole and turns away from him.
"Hmph. Looks like-"
After hearing Bertram's sincere apology, Hokey turns around to respond to him, only to find him quickly fading away. Her face twists as she quickly deduces the requirements to be freed from this place and the answer to the annoying and clingy feeling she had ever since she entered this place.
A sacrifice? Do I need to lose more than what I've already lost on this journey?!
Hokey glances at the strangers on the plateau.
Will I end up dying here if I don't give something up? Does it have to be something special?
Hokey rummages through her pack and retrieves a torch to throw over the edge. She holds her breath as it noiselessly disappears from view and she disappointedly sighs.
Damn. Probably needs to be something valuable.
Hokey looked through her pack to find something else but realized the best sacrifice she could make. She rummaged through her pouches and pulled out 5 silver and 12 copper...and then reached into her coat and pulled out 3 gold crowns. She put the 12 copper back into a pouch and stared hard at the remaining currency, especially at the gold crowns. They were the symbols of her new life: the stability and comfort she was able to enjoy, the access, relationships, and position she had, and the power to overturn her fate and the misfortune placed onto her by others' ignorance and insecurities. She held her breath and reluctantly dropped her money.
Hokey is amazed to discover fresh air and the unexpected delight to have solid ground underneath her hooves. She allows herself a split second to enjoy something finally going surprisingly right before she brings up her shield and scans the plateau for any hostilities.
Hokey blacks out shortly after running up to Bertram. She regains consciousness to a worried expression on Jet's face, as he and Andras tend to her wounds. She slowly gets upbfrom sitting on Hydrand's hand and looks around in confusion before recalling the Bertram's attempt at murder. She warily glances around, half expecting another spell, but only hears him bemoaning the situation he caused.
Wallowing in his self-pity and not recognizing his wrongs, again. Useless.
Hokey awkwardly clears her throat and says, "Thank you guys for the support. It means more than you'll know. Speaking of, how'd you get so big, Hydrand? I think I prefer the other version; easier to...talk."
Hokey floats a bit of a distance away from Hydrand, and takes a breath to collect herself. She then begins to gather magic to heal herself, but fails to stabilize the magic around herself, her magic deprivation seemingly causing her to be unable to focus.
Failed Stabilize Challenge Roll. Result: Fizzle Your current casting of the spell fizzles out and does nothing.
What the...I can't...feel the magic?...Huh?!
Hokey begins to panic and immediately struggles, against her usual better judgment, to recast the magic. Her motes dim, as she gathers as much magical energy as this place has to muster. In her haphazard draw, she unknowingly takes in the wild wind energy still left from the dead elementals. The area around her fills with the scent of sulfur and brimstone as the uncontrollable energy explodes out from her.
Failed Stabilize Challenge Roll. Result: Putrid Wind The wind picks up and with it comes a putrid smell. Everyone within a number of miles equal to your power 2 miles can smell it and is impaired while within the area. The putrid wind blows for 1d3 2 hours.
"Great. Just great. What the hells even happened for us to end up here?!" she roars in frustration. She equips her shield and saber and turns towards the hole.
"You guys collect yourselves and follow after a bit of time. I'll probably be fine, smelling like this, but I'll likely give you guys away, at worst." she says before walking through the hole.
"Hold on, Hokey, we'll get you out! Watch yourself!" Bertram says with that stupid bravado he puts on before doing something really stupid. Mana drained and buffeted by the elemental she was held captive by, Hokey could do nothing, but get blended by the stone shards that were sent crashing into her, again and again. The pain and fragmentationn nearly kill her, and she watches 7 years of memories flash before her eyes. Suddenly, the pain stops and she is gently supported by Hydrand's huge hands.
Hokey lays there for a couple seconds, barely alive enough to breathe. She serenely sits up, checks her doll's new rips and tears, and says, "You all have a choice to make. Choose wisely." before grabbing her amulet and leaping at Bertram. Mid-leap, her familiar brilliant sun/moon motes flash, as the pale mote sends out large balls of energy at Bertram. While half-gliding/half-flying towards him, she takes out an atomizer from her belt pouch and sprays it when she closes the short distance to Bertram.
"I always thought it'd be Awful, first, but you screwed up by not finishing me off. One of us dies, today, Bertram of House Romden."
Slow Turn Actions: Action: Cast Potent Unerring Darts to deal 17 damage. Move to Bertram. Minor 1: take out Atomizer with Holy Water. Minor 2: use Atomizer as a minor action. Any creature in 1 yrd range is treated as though having ingested the substance. Holy Water: Target takes 1d6+1 damage per point of Corruption, if demon, devil, faerie, spirit, or undead. Bertram takes 2 damage.
Slow Turn Actions: Minor: Retrieve scroll from belt pouch. Action: Cast Lightning bolt spell on incantation, ideally not at a teammate, but still hitting the elemental's. Failed CR, Minor Miscast Result: Burn Out You cast the spell successfully, but lose the ability to cast it again until you complete a rest.
Hokey's fall stopped just as abruptly as it started, as she gets sucked into one of the elementals' bodies and begins to be buffeted by rough winds and sharp stone. She could barely think for all the pain and tumult around her. In an effort to protect the only thing she could, Hokey clutches her amulet and doll tighter to herself and attempts to make herself as small as possible.
Resigned to her fate, Hokey closes her eyes, only to feel an awkward crunch coming from something near her stomach. She looks down and saw the odd sensation was coming from a neatly folded sheet of paper in her doll's embrace. She grabs the scroll like a lifeline and reflexively casts it, even before it could implant the information of the magic into her mind.
This one's from Kara!
"Take this!" Hokey roars triumphantly as a flash of light explodes from the incantation she brandished.
Elementals take 17 dmg; half with successful Agi CR. Hokey will move if one of them turns up dead. My luck has not been good enough to risk two Free Attacks.
Sequence of events, from Hokey's perspective: She was strongly advised by Hydrand to rest, due to him noticing her behavior during the lobster people/harpy. She woke up mid-battle thanks to Andras's Zeusbolt, and is now falling.
Hokey regains consciousness to a dark void. Even her cursed, but reliable, Truesight wasn't helping her perceive through whatever veil was surrounding her. Just as she begins to slowly come around, she hears a loud peal of a lightning bolt and subsequently drops into an uncontrollable fall.
Failed Will CR to remain upright. Gain 2 Dmg, 1 Insanity.
She flails around, looking around and only seeing her friends slip further and further away. She reaches for the only things that could help bring her any semblance of mental stability: her amulet and her doll.
What is this? What's happening here? Ugh. I wish Kara could tell me what she saw... Hokey thinks to herself as the darkness silently consumes her.
"Ugh. More winding tunnels. This better not lead to any water." Hokey says as she follows closely behind Hydrand. She crawls through and immediately gets up to pat as much of the dirt and dust off as she can. She freezes as she sees the rest of the room.
"What the...These remind me of..." Hokey mumbles, her hand going into a beltpouch to give her doll a squeeze. "I don't like it here, guys. Let's grab that thing and go. Has anyone ever heard this song before?"
"So what's with these tentacles? What are they about and how do we get rid of them?" Hokey says, exasperation as clear as her fatigue from the recent fight.
"How do we prevent the connection in the future? Also, is there a way to get a message out of here?"
Hokey notices everything there is to see in this room, thanks to her Truesight. She spares the voices none of her attention at all, even as they get louder and more focused. She continues to look around the room when a few silhouettes appear in the room.
There must be something else here.
Finally hearing something she wants to hear, Hokey asks a barrage of questions.
"it sounds like you know what's going on here. I need a summary of events. What happened here?"
Hokey's stomach lurches as the world shifts like a gem being admired. She looks fatigued and , but smiles at what Andras says.
"Just keep yourself as safe as you can. You have someone who needs you, after all. I- Huh, I don't see the creatures... Hmmm"
She loses her train of thought and trails off while donning her shield and saber. She hesitates a bit before walking towards the leftover mud-pile.
"Alright, could one of you please light a godsforsaken torch, this time? It might actually help with more than just vision. Let's see if we can find any clues in the mud and get over to the hole. Maybe if we blast this thing, or use the Savage Ornament to kill it, we'll be free of this curse."
Quick Steps a bit closer to Andras. Action: Successfully Cast Potent, Spontaneous Vitality Burst. Targets (Short Range): Andras, Awful, and Jet (or Bertram, if Jet isn't hurt). Targets heal healing rate + 1d6 Damage.
Relief washes over Hokey as her healing magic sticks to Hydrand's bare metal, repairing any holes and thinning any sludge. She hears Andras yelling in pain and fury, and looks over to see a part of his body dented in an unnatural, repulsive way.
I don't even have room to breathe. This is...
"Argh! You guys will be the death of me!!" Hokey says as she quickly takes a step forward and raises her hands. She unleashes bright healing rays that instantly soothes and relieves everyone they hit.
Quick Steps a bit closer to Andras. Action: Successfully Cast Potent, Spontaneous Vitality Burst. Targets (Short Range): Andras, Awful, and Jet, or Bertram, if Jet isn't hurt. Targets heal healing rate + 1d6 Damage.
Relief washes over Hokey as her healing magic sticks to Hydrand's bare metal, repairing any holes and thinning any sludge. She hears Andras yelling in pain and fury, and looks over to see a part of his body dented in an unnatural, repulsive way.
I don't even have room to breathe. This is...
"Argh! You guys will be the death of me!!" Hokey says as she quickly takes a step forward and raises her hands. She unleashes bright healing rays that instantly soothes and relieves everyone they hit.
"NO! OH MY GO- THAT'S IT, HYDRAND! BEAT IT BACK." Hokey's scream turns into a triumphant cheer as Hydrand punches out wildly with his shield and gets clear of the blob.
"This way, Hydrand. I'll patch you up." Hokey says, as she steps towards him, a massive amount of healing magic gently pulsing from her gloves.
Action: Quick Step closer to Hydrand. Succeeded on casting CR to cast Spontaneous Major Healing. Hydrand heals 3x healing rate.
Quick Step to the side Bow Attack:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 Bow Attack Boons, Spell Guardian, Triggered:2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11
15 to hit
Bow Dmg:1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Hokey runs out to the side to give the group some room as they exit. Everyone follows shortly after her, with Andras and Hydrand securing the rear-turned-front. She quickly snaps to one side to get clear of Andras, and draws the bowstring. She releases the bowstring a moment later, when the blob emerges from the entrance.
Hokey remains vigilant to their surroundings and keeps an eye out for any sudden movements, even as she notches another arrow.
