Enjoy the time with your son. The early days (daze?) are great and you will remember them!
Take a break. If you can come back to this game let us all know then. If you can't, I know I understand. RL/Family first!
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Kahli reas the note, then takes another long, careful look at the painting. "No! That can't actually be Seer!?! That was years ago.... He was always interested in seeking out strange stuff for the Pathfinder guild, but. ??" She shows the wand to the others, explaining what was detected. "It could be useful!" She reaches back into the portrait trying to touch the picture of Seer and rub against the spots that were bloodied. Once it is obvious that the blood was added after the painting was made she shrugs. "Just don't understand the point!"
Disappointed that the guy in the painting wasn't real Kahli recovers the pack and checks out the items in it. The gloves seem very useful but require the person wearing them for a day before they will work. "There's something wrapped up in a scroll here. Not sure what but everybody back off a bit just in case it's dangerous...." Once she has at least 10' distance she sets the scroll on the ground and carefully unwraps whatever is in it.
"I think the picture moved a little when I pulled at the cloth inside of it. But it didn't seem like it was collapsing or anything. It would probably be too big and heavy to carry. If we had a cart and animals to pull it we might could put a mountain of treasure in it." "I didn't say that I recognized the guy. The Pathfinders are a.... Political organization. They travel around looking for historical artifacts and magical things of interest. Their focus is knowledge. Frequently they are at odds with other groups because people like to keep their secrets. Seer was a Pathfinder, and a mage. He led the team that my mother was with on a long-term expedition. That was when I was conceived. I think I might have been aborted if he hadn't been along. I was certainly an inconvenience, but he saw me as a curiosity. So I suppose I'm also listed in their books of history. The living child of a vampire and a human.... A footnote in history! But, he's not Seer. Just another dead Pathfinder."
Kahli studies the person in the picture. Then suddenly snaps her fingers. "Pathfinder! My mother's.... traveling companion. Well, the leader of one of the missions. He was a Pathfinder and the Lodge was paying for the mission. He wore...." She stops as Lash accidentally reaches into the 'painting' and touches a pack. "Wait? If that's an extra-dimensional storage space, maybe" She reaches in, pulling the pack out and trying to reach the person. "He's bloodied but maybe he's alive?"
"I don't think we're supposed to just ignore or bypass it. If it can be taken down I wonder what effect it would have on the image. Possibly we could turn the painting around?"
Kahli moves slowly over by the "painting". "If I'm our expert on magic we've got problems.... When I prepared my spells last we had someone with us that knew much more so I didn't prepare the Detect Magic orison. I can only test this thing physically and watch what happens. From what we saw of Lash's arrow it's obviously a portal. But to where?"
Not seeing any immediate danger Kahli digs in the pack and pulls out the Ioun torch so Hamley and Tenney can see as well. "Be careful. We seem to be locked in for the moment. Check for traps at the doors and under the rug." "Are there any magical auras?"
Kahli moves in with Lash. "It looked like he exploded, but that might be his way of teleporting. Or he might have friends here somewhere. Keep scanning for magic in the area and watch for any movement. I'm not certain what kind of fiend that was.... But at least your arrows got him out of here for now."
Kahli readies her dagger and holy symbol and calls out, "What kind of undead fiend is that thing!?! Lash, Step back before it attacks!"
I'm finishing my catch-up for a funeral Friday and babysitting my grand-daughter Saturday. Didn't have time for hardly anything online. Back to it now!
Kahli freezes when she sees and remembers the possible meaning of the symbols. "Wait! By the Sacred Sting, this may be the sign of our enemy!" She looks to her friends to be sure they have stopped. "Calistria isn't always understood by non-worshipers. She isn't focused on goodness or creating order. Her followers believe in love and freedom, and vengeance against any that do wrong. That symbol, I mean those symbols are the sign of Dispater, Arch-Devil of prisons, nobility and trickery. This structure may be a temple to devils and possibly even to the Arch-Fiend. This whole construct may be a creation of his. The creature that speaks to us through the orb may be Him, or a creature of His.... We may be facing dangers from the Hells."
RL beats any game. This one is fun and still will be if it has to slow or even pause for a short hiatus. Enjoy the time with the baby! The lack of sleep, etc. shouldn't be terrible right away.... Actually, I remember those days very fondly and am now enjoying my grandchildren even more. The next generations are the best of life's blessings!
Kahli continues walking while she thinks on Hrolf's concern. "Well, not everything we've encountered here has been hostile. Maybe the creature that summoned us, and them here wanted it to be that way. But if we approach hoping for a peaceful solution, it might happen. That said, be ready."
Kahli examines Hamley and the others, nods and starts casting. "Of course. We can't continue hurt like this!"
"Good point Hrolf. We can't relax here, ever!"
Kahli flies along with Lash. She keeps her spiritual weapon attacking the drake and reaches out to touch Lash. "Accept the Luck of Calistria and kill those drakes!"
Seeing how far she would fall if she somehow got knocked out the beam Kahli barely does anything but glance around and focus on flying. Seeing that she will likely make it to a place to stand she watches the creatures approach. Could startle them with a spell? If the creatures get within 150' of me.: Seeing the creatures flying fast and within range Kahli calls out a prayer to Calistria, casting Spritual Weapon, targeting the closest of them. A whip made of force appears in front of the closest and snaps at it.
Kahli definitely doesn't want to try and fight while flying! Hearing Lash's comment practically echoing what her fear is telling her she tries to fly faster....
Kahli has no experience flying, hence no skill at it. She feels like she is falling, upward! When she hears the voice she knows that it will be trouble again, but is shocked when Shantanna is pulled out and falls out of the channel of light. "Coward! We'll teach you what messy means when we finally meet you. We'll scatter parts of you around until you really know what a mess is! Then you die!" Focusing on the green beam she tries to stay in the center of the beam....
Kahli looks.... everywhere. She is excited, terrified, and so many more feelings. Is this the next step? Or are they all about to die? Regardless, they were committed. "There! A building in the sky! That's gotta be the next spot. That way." She focuses on flying that way. She can fly? No. This magic was flying them. Hopefully it would get them all the way!
Kahli is surprised when the pillar starts to glow when she moved away from it. She stops, "Not the touch, but the dust moving off." She moves over by the column beside the one Lash touched. "I'm going to just try and blow the dust away. Shantanna, can you read the runes?"
Kahli stands for several seconds just staring at the pillar where she is touching. Nothing happened? What were they missing? She pulls her hand away again waiting for.... anything. If nothing happens she looks around and notices Lash moving to touch a different one. "Well, Transmutation did nothing for me. I'll try a necromancy pillar next. Shantanna, which one?"
Kahli moves over by Lash as she touches a pillar. She starts to reach for the matching, necromantic pillar, but stops. "Necromancy is much maligned as evil because it is frequently used to call undead or other evil monsters. Like any other the magic is just power. However, in this case maybe we should stick to the pillars with the transmutation auras? Flying is transmutation isn't it? Which pillars are those? I'll touch a second one. Lash, maybe you need to keep a hand on that one? I know it's just a guess...." She waits for direction from Shantanna and lays a hand on another of the transmutation pillars.
Kahli listens and watches, wondering about the puzzle. "Lash is right. This is where we need to be to advance to the next obstacle. And wandering away to avoid it will just bring punishment. We have to solve it." "At the others we had to 'Match the element'. Maybe it's the same here. But.... 'Light three pillars, take to the sky. Light them wrong, meet your demise.' This should be about air, but maybe we light the pillars by introducing the other elements. There are 8 pillars, or 4 matched pairs. Maybe if we match a pair to the element that was required at the pillar in the direction of the pair? So, fire was in which direction? And water?" "Other guess.... Maybe we need to somehow get up to the light up there and deflect it onto a pillar? But how and which pillars? Sounds very dangerous and just guessing shouldn't be the way!"
Good idea. Post it in character!
Focusing on the pillars again Kahli points out her test with Hamley. "These pillars are Air. I tried this with Hamley. Try to fan or blow air into the center from outside. It doesn't come through. With good winds blowing outside, its calm in the middle.... I don't know what it means except I'm sure the pillars have something to do with air."
"He said that he didn't touch the stones, that he couldn't deduce them. He also mentioned a "she" that always took notes but that left for the North. Asked, why he hadn't trusted her, then this...." "The note that we found, that we've been following.... Could that have come from his 'she' that he didn't trust? If so, did that just leave us here? Maybe this is where they arrived in this, prison? Maybe activating these will just direct us back to the beginning?" "The note: Find the pillars. North. South. East. Match the element. Follow the lights. Not sure wha-.... Maybe she didn't know what to do here and didn't want to risk doing it wrong?"
Interesting thought on the ring.... Kahli has no Knowledge skills but does have spellcraft +6. I think I'll have to add a ring like that in the next campaign that I run. Thanks!
Seeing the man apparently dying right in front of them, for no obvious reason, Kahli examines him. She quickly casts Stabilize and Detect Poison. "Somebody cast Detect Magic! What's going on!?!" Assuming that he dies anyway?: "I don't understand. His wounds had stopped bleeding. He was stable. Was he cursed? Who was the "She" that he mentioned, and where did she go? North, but where? and how?"
Kahli considers the pillars. Pairs with matches auras, one necromantic and one transmutation. She isn't a wizard, but they've been in this mess for a while.... "For the others we had to bring the appropriate element to the pillar. Fire, water, whatever. With the strange effect this ring has on air I would assume air. But maybe it's different this time. Maybe we need to use the pillar to summon air for something? And the aura on the pillar could be the clue? Maybe we need to use a necromantic spell on the one tower and a transmutation on the other?" Seeing the wounded man awake and accusing them of trying to 'steal the magic' she practically snarls at him. "Fool! You're just lucky that we were able to not kill you. If you had just asked you could have avoided the fight. We don't want the magic, whatever that means. We're just seeking the path out of here to the next challenge, and eventually the way back to our homes!"
Kahli listens, clearly upset. "Fly? With the drakes around here? And extended with the putz likely the source? His magic is.... well, too powerful to consider. Staying here's not an option, but I don't know that flying away would be any better. And fly away where?" "Strange that the area of the pillars seems shielded from wind too. Let me try something. Put your hand there.... and see if you feel this."
Analyzing the wounds Kahli starts with her ready spells.
Then uses the wand.
She moves over to examine the enemy. "Take his equipment and bind him. He used magic so maybe gag him too? We need to have him reasonable before we let him speak. Some magic only takes words. I'll cure enough to wake him."
Kahli checks everyone's wounds. (including the Crazed Man. Is he dead?)
"Yes. But let's take care of wounds while we seek cover?"
Kahli moves up to the fire breathing dog, swinging wide to come in beside it and stab with her dagger.
Kahli grants a Bit of Luck to Lash again, adding "That crazed mage seems to have skill defenses against arrows. But those hounds.... That one breathed fire!" After she moves forward.
Kahli nods to the discussion. "He could be a prisoner, or a challenge. We'll just have to be ready for either. I think we should spread out some as we approach. If he's a caster of some sort a tight cluster of targets is too easy for something like a fireball spell."
Kahli follows Lash's instruction, as well as she can. Sneak is almost a foreign concept to her, but.... for once even her armor seems pretty quiet!
Kahli follows Lash under whatever cover is available. She stays close just in case combat does occur.
Kahli spots the approaching creatures but does not ready a weapon. Instead she moves up behind Lash. "Once they are in good range I'll add a bit of Callistra's luck to your shots. I'll have to touch your shoulder so don't be distracted...."
Kahli grins at Shantanna's reply. "Indeed. Many don't really understand the ways of the Lady of Lust and Revenge. I wouldn't exist but for her ways. But that's a story for later, possibly much later." "Your story is similar to the others that we've heard. And it confirms that the entity has reach across the planes. It worries me that your story indicates that he might have a direct connection to magic. I had assumed that he was just a really powerful wizard...." She pauses for Hrolf's question. "Hrolf's question is valid. You don't really know us, or us you. But this place has proven to be very dangerous. We won't force you to join us, can't really. But being alone here is really a quick death. Death might be the way to return to your previous life.... But who wants to risk that?"
Kahli listens to Tenny's idea. It is possible, but.... "There's no way to be sure but sometimes when the people have been pulled out there were obvious signs of pain, like they were being ripped apart. It seems like when we've gone through enough, gained enough power, then we'll face.... him. And if we can beat him, then we will be free. We just have to survive until then." Hearing Hrolf's words Kahli struggles to her feet, grabbing her holy symbol and dagger. "What? Where? Don't attack, it may be another of.... His prisoners." Seeing confusion on the face of the newcomer Kahli sheaths her weapon. "Well, friend may take a while, but not foe will do for now. As to your question.... Well, that can take a bit to figure out. My name is Kahli. I'm a priestess of Calistria. You've met Hrolf, and his friend She-ra. Lash, Tenny, and Hamley round us out. We, and this includes you now, are prisoners in a little game of survival, hosted by a powerful entity. I've an orb in my pack that can sometimes be used for communication." "Did something strange happen to you before you came here? Some just seem to wake up here. Others describe their experience like they were snatched from reality?"
No worries, enjoy a more full social schedule! The game will be here when you have time!
With Hrolf taking the dawn watch Kahli takes the first watch, with Tenney if he will.
Welcome Shantanna, the Invoker/Ley Line Guardian Witch! Never even glanced at that one before. Sounds interesting.
Wait! I didn't vote.... I vote to Wait! and have a new recruit.
Kahli glances around the area. "We can try and find a safe place to rest. We'll definitely need a watch though. We've seen lots of dangerous things moving around here." She stares at the area where the light seems to end. "And of course we'll approach carefully. There's always something dangerous there!"
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