With her full attention trained menacingly on the Knight Felicia takes a deliberate step forward and brings her shield to bear with full force.
Yurias lighting strikes the witch, burning her exposed flesh terribly. Even as she dies the flow of electricity causes her to spasm wildly until, finally, she falls still and is dead.
The knight does not offer up much resistance as Felicia and Ludwig bear down on him. They hack and smash, tearing away at the knights broken body. Finally he succumbs to his wounds and crumples, unmoving, the glowing sword he had been wielding fading away into nothing.
The two masters of the Abyssal Woods have died clutching one anothers hands. There comes a deathly still over the forest and the bodies of the Flower Witch and her knight fade away. All that's left is the witches mask and a pair of rings...
Verdant Mask
Mask belonging to the Flower Witch, eternal caretaker of the abyssal woods. Though there were many who bore the mantle of coven mother, all would wear this mask. To those unfamiliar with this tradition it would seem that the Flower Witch had lived forever.
This mask grants a +2 competence bonus on Knowledge (Nature) and Heal checks. The wearer may use the divine magic and read magic talents three times per day.Soul of the Flower Witch
Soul of the Flower Witch, caretaker of the forest.When the age of deep waters began the Flower Witch, fearing what would come, fled to her sanctuary.
The wondrous soul of the great witch can be used to acquire numerous souls or to create something of great worth.
Soul of the Flower Knight
Soul of the Flower Knight, guardian of the forest.The knight long ago gave himself willingly to the witch, sacrificing his humanity in the process. He would become a figure of legend, but for what?
The wondrous soul of the elegant knight can be used to acquire numerous souls or to create something of great worth.
The forest's grieving for its fallen parents is interrupted by a quiet moan. Pengaal tries and fails to stand - the Knight's soul, still shaped into a radiant sword, pinned him to the ground with a dead man's grip. When he reached for it, though, it softened and un-formed in a haze of light.
Struggling back to his feet, Pengaal limps over to Sir Siegschwert and offers the soul to him. "Thghckck.." He breaks out into a fit of coughing, spitting blood onto the ground. "The soul of the Knight should join his sword, I think."
Yuria quickly moves about the group "Anyone injured, please, come to me. I will heal you as quickly as I can."
Yuria eagerly blesses and heals everyone, muttering unknown scriptures of the People of the Sun as she does so. She looks over to the Flower Witch, and the mask "Hmmm..... No.... No I will not take anything from them until I know what it does..... I fear it may contain taint of some fashion or another."
As the survivors collect themselves after the battle they see a figure at the edge of the clearing. It is the witches disciple that they had met earlier. She enters the clearing with cautious footsteps and congratulates the group. "I am sure it was not easy but it was necessary regardless. You all saw that she could not be reasoned with and there is too much at stake to bargain with her." She moves past the group towards the remains of the witch and knight, scooping up the paired rings to examine them. "It is time..."
Yuria looks after the Disciple with her head cocked in curiosity "What, exactly, is it time for now, Disciple?"
"To see this pact to its end." she replies, glancing at Yuria. "I said I would aid you once the woods were saved. I only need to take up the mantle and I can make good my promise." With that she places the pair of rings in her mouth and swallows, eating them. With a hum she closes her eyes and starts to sway gently from side to side.
Shifting his tired feet, Pengaal tightens his grip on his swords. I hope, for our sakes, she is telling the truth.
After a while Aster the Disciple opens her eyes. "Ah...I see." she says, looking off into the distance "Yes, I can help you on your way but we must first go elsewhere, there is much to discuss." as she is speaking there is a rushing sound, like a strong wind passing by but you only hear the sound. To the survivors amazement the edge of the forest ahead of them fades into darkness. In the far distance there is a faint glowing and the Disciple gestures for you all to follow as she heads into the black. Each of Asters steps along the ground cause a burst of lush grass and flowers to spring forth. Her voice calls out, explaining "The first thing you must understand about this place is that it is more subjective than it seems. Things come and they go for the any reason or even a lack thereof. The darkness here will call to your mind, your wants, and will summon forth something in return. This is important, so remember." her voice trails off...
Following into the darkness the survivors see the light growing in the distance until they recognize the familiar shape of the Lantern Tree coming into view. Now the Disciple speaks again "This place seems to be unique in that it continues to exist without reason. Perhaps he could be the cause" she says, indicating the Twilight Deserter who is now gently sleeping on the same rock he had been sitting on before "but I doubt that's the case. Something about this place spares it from the turbulent tides of change and madness. Only now can I see as much while knowing that the Aybssal Woods lacked this quality. It is no wonder to me, then, that my mother and so many of my siblings were led astray..."
"I'm afraid I still cannot reveal to you any secrets beyond these, but I can point you in the right direction. Even now I sense a mass forming out in the darkness. A great thing is on the verge of birth though I can say nothing more of its nature or purpose. Only that such a gathering must surely hold the insight you seek." Aster has been speaking now for a while and is apparently quite tired. She finds a spot beneath the tree opposite of the Twilight Deserter and sits down. "There is one more thing..." she says quietly "You all have done so much for me already yet my coven is still in ruins. I do not seek to tempt you away from your duties but without disciples or a champion than I am neither mother nor matron."
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Aster rests beneath the Lantern Tree. If she is approached she will offer to help the survivors in any way she can which includes offering her services as a skilled witch. For now the Twilight Deserter is asleep, or perhaps he is just pretending? Beyond that the survivors have been left to themselves to rest and recover.
"Now we rest for a while." Ludwig wearily sits on the cool ground, dismissing his armament. He sighs. "And think of what happened and what is going to happen."
He looks at Felicia, worry in the eyes.
"How are feeling?"
Yuria appears to think for some time on this covenant and the idea of becoming a disciple "I am of the People of the Sun, but...." She thinks on how she was yet to save someone from death, despite her powers to do so in the old world she came here from I think, perhaps, hearing about how your own people work, learning how you sprouted gardens within the darkness, learning about these woods, and your beliefs.... It may be one of the many keys we need to save these lands. I will listen to your words, Disciple, though I'm unsure if I would be able to promise I could conform."
Stepping further into the light, Pengaal cocks his head. "While you speak, may I see that ring?"
Felicia takes a moment to look over herself as her heart starts it's rhythmic beating. "Warm." She says with a small smile.
Aster smiles warmly to Yuria. "I know the sun daughters and respect their beliefs. Joining the coven was a similar decision on my own part. I gave up my old life and family for new brothers and sisters along with a vow to the Abyssal Woods. To protect and preserve it - both for prosperity and the sake of the world at large. As disciples our first duty is to the woods and, by extension, each other."
A group dedicated to the preservation of the Abyssal Woods. They believe that their spirits are home to a fragment of the forest, that they may carry it wherever they go. They are taught to be in touch with their natural instincts or at the very least to be open to that element. The Disciples are a strange covenant, if only because they come from all walks of life. Some are traditional mountain folk, others are nobles who had lived lives of luxury. Their bound together by their shared reverence of their matron and the Abyssal Woods. The Flower Witch is a natural subject for their worship and allows them to otherwise try and improve their lot in life and feel like there's somewhere they belong.
[u]Code:[/u]
1) Going a full month without going into the Abyssal Woods, unless restrained.
2) Failing to respect nature.
3) Bringing harm to the Abyssal Woods through your own actions.
4) Killing a Disciple except for in self defense.
5) Refusing a command of the Flower Witch
6) Going a full month without performing a ceremony in the name of the Abyssal Woods
7) Allowing an outsider into the Abyssal Woods.
8) Destroying any trees or plants for no reason.
9) Leaving the Abyssal Woods
10) Eating any food that was not found in the Abyssal Woods.
As she speaks, Aster offers the ring to Pengaal.
A plated ring depicted a coiled serpent consuming its own tail. Traditionally a symbol of greed.
Use spellcraft and detect magic to determine this items effects.
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Siegschwert listens to the Disciple, imbibing her words and taking note of everything.
The giant sits in the ground in front of her, still towering in this position. With extreme care, Sieg puts the Flower Knight's Sword in his right knee and his Soul in his left one.
It would be difficult to describe his attitude with other words than respect, devotion and care... not unlike a father observing his sons as they grow to become men.
"Disciple... may you recount how was the Flower Knight in life? We... met him in this darkness coil... a shadow of his former self... yet still he was a Knight... honorable... dutyful... an example to me even if we... clashed swords." speaks the Librarian Knight as he caresses the sword's embelished hilt "His ethos... lives inside the memories of those... who knew him... mortals who will one die depart... but his soul will live forever in his sword... carried by many for eons... maintaining his legend..."
Siegschwert turns his head towards his companions. I... intend to soulsmith... but I will need a catalyst... a fragment of impurity yet a purifier of things... will you allow me to obtain one from the Disciple?"
Accepting the ring, Pengaal weighs it in his hand, then turns it over and studies the carving. He holds the ring up to the light, smells it, bites it lightly, and finally puts it on. After a moment, he takes it back off and looks to the others. "I have no idea what this does."
"I did not know him well. Or, at all. He was her betrothed and guardian of the forest. Beyond that, he merely wandered about the woods as if in a trance. The only time he would be spurred to action was when a aggressor was found, then he would fall upon them like crashing thunder."
"Beyond that he was...elegant, eccentric? I had never heard him speak, nor had I seem him outside of his armor or without blade."
Yuria nods to Sir Siegschwert "Of course! You all have done more than enough to earn a reward, in my eyes, simply by keeping me alive all this time as I try to do the same for you all."
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The huge manknown as Siegschwert listens to the disciple, partially taken aback by the lack of details. Promptyly, he standa up and walks away fromthe tree, just far enough so he can consider him alone and at peace in the revolting chaos that surrounds them.
Sitting so he face away from the rest, he removes his helmet, passing a hand through his scarred face.
With delicate movement, the Knight takes the Soul and the Replica sword, each in one hand.
Siegschwert then proceeds to breath deeply, trying to attune himself to both fragments of the Flower Knight... as his mind drifts towards his legend.
A embroidened armor wearing man walks through the Abyssal Woods. Not the chaotic one that is now, but the mystical one that was one day.
Countless tresspassers found their way there, and the Flower Knight faced them all. Scoundrels, sorcerers and knights as well, and the Knight offered them all a single challenge. He bested all who accepted, by skill of arms alone.. and those who rejected and tried to use their numbers only found death at the hands of the furious Knight, aided by the Woods itself.
He guarded the sacred place for countless years, out of a sense of duty, honour... but above all out of love to the Flower Witch.
Cue to the day he was felled... the day he died for the second time... and yet he did it with pride, pursuing his duty and always filled with his deep love for the lady of the Abyssal Woods.
Siegschwerts intense focus on the Flower Knight and its deeds is captured within the Replica Sword as it fuses with the glowing host. The blade glows hotly for a moment but then returns to normal. Perplexed, Siegschwert wonders if he may have done something wrong during the process. Only while holding the blade, however, does he begin to notice the feeling of a familiar presence emanating from the sword.
The Replica Sword can cast each of the following spells once per day with a caster level equal to the wielders character level: blade tutor's spirit, spiritual weapon, and spiritual squire
Aster inhales sharply and her eyes roll back. She lets out a sigh and says "...Ah, something is coming. You've all drawn it here. It won't be long now, get your affairs in order before it arrives." She turns an empty gaze towards the sky. You get the sense that, where there was once nothing in that dark, black void, something has taken shape. The man wakes with a start from his slumber and shudders to himself.
There is a crashing sound. One of the lanterns has fallen from the tree and broken open on the ground yet the flame within remains lit. Without looking Aster says "Hmm? Something that is not yet ready to pass to memory?"
"I know that this a naive question, but what are the chances that this something is amicable or at least neutral?"
Ludwig stands up summoning his armor and weapon, and walks up to Aster, keeping an eye on the shapes in the void.
"You are the ones that called it. What have you been thinking of that beckons it here?"
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Having finished his work, Siegschwert actually feels growing. His inner demons appeased after a smithing work, the Knight turns to face the rest after donning his helmet.
He closes the distance and shows them the sword, ecen if it hasn't changed. "It... it's awakened now... the sword bears his owner's... soul... he will accompany us... guide us if needed."
The huge man then follows the gazes of the rest towards the point in the sky, trying to discern what lies there.
Reaching into a pack, Pengaal pulls out the Witch's Mask and pulls it over his stained lips. He runs his fingers over the tracings on the mask and then over the ring, trying to discern the magic within.
The crash of the lantern causes him to look up, though, and he moves over to crouch down next to it. Humming softly, he cups his hands around the flame.
Yuria watches the lantern fall and cannot help but be curious as to its meaning. She was still weary of nearly everything in this world, let alone the silent man she was still unsatisfied with.
Past transgressions happened to tear through her mind as the lantern fell, and a tsk'd face came about her as she called forth one of her nine souls "Banish away your darkness, and repay your death again for the light, dear soul. Tell me..... what is it that comes to us, and my Light of the Sun, here.... in this Deep.....?"
Yuria's hand touches the fragments of the broken lantern as she speaks, swaddling the soul around its fading light in her hands as she asks, her hands dancing politely around Pengaal's, as she had no intention of intruding his own inspection of the fading light.
Those who stare into the void begin to see something coming into existence. They can sense it there though it still lies at the edge of their vision.
Meanwhile, Pengaal and Yuria approach the discarded lantern. Each one grasps the strange ember and then suddenly shudder with their eyes rolling into the back of their heads. Pengaal and Yuria collapse into one another and lie still.
The more observant of the survivors may have noticed this but before an alarm can be raised, they find their attention once again drawn to the something above.
Your eyes wander up and you see above you the dark planet of awesome size perched in its sunless void, an invisible titan of jagged mountains. A monster spinning, soundless, forgotten. It's so close now, you see it just above you.
Maybe, even if you tried very hard, you could touch it?
You reach up...
The world spins around violently and suddenly you are not where you were, only where you are now. Gone is the lantern tree, the disciple, and even the strange man. There is a huge wave of nausea that overcomes you momentarily as your vision realigns. You find yourself atop a mountain. Or at least, you assume so. Cold winds whip around you and you stand knee deep in snow while even more is picked up and thrown into your face. It is difficult to tell what is around you. You can make out the slumped figures of Yuria and Pengaal lying in the snow, as well as a trio of nearby pillars that mark the only significant structure in sight. Immediately the cold sets in and you can feel your body temperatures already starting to drop.
"We need to hide from the wind!" Shouts Ludwig to everyone, while running up to Pengaal and Yuria.
He checks if they are conscious.
"Hey, are you all right?"
Both Yuria and Pengaal are breathing and seem well, but remain unconscious and unresponsive.
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Siegschwert takes a moment to scan his surroundings before lifting Pengaal andcharging him over his shoulder, while he carries Yuriaon his arms.
He then looks at Ludwig and Felicia and says "You... are right... lead the way to a shelter... this reminds me of my home... but also to other, less kind... places. We should take care..."
Siegschwert picks up both Yuria and Pegnaal
"Let me give you a hand." Ludwig gestures at Pengaal.
After taking the burden off Siegchwert, Ludwig begins slowly making his way towards the pillars.
Felicia holds her shield high, doing what she can to block some of the wicked wind that whips across the group. She trudges ahead of everyone, trying her best to cut a swath through the snow to make it easier to get to the pillars.
Carrying the two survivors the group make their way towards the pillars. The pillars are arranged in an isosceles triangle. As they step into the center of this triangle to examine the pillar, the survivors feel a stone surface beneath the snow. Examining the pillars: each has a series of pictographs. One depicts a golden lion devouring the sun. The next shows the sun with light flowing out of it like water onto a field of red and white flowers. The last pillar in the triangle shows two female figures, one with a blue gown and one wearing white, facing away from one another. The figure wearing the blue gown is beautiful and voluptuous while the woman in white wears a wreathe on their head.
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Siegschwert doesn't seems faced by the cold, but can feel Yuria shivering in his arms. Removing his magical cloak with his right hand, the Librarian Knight accomodates Yuria better, trying to cover her completely wrapped by his big cloth.
"Ma the Sun... warm you forever... Yuria of the People of the Sun..." he whispers to her.
Once his friend has been covered, the giant turns to examine the pillars. He caresses their surfaces with respect and admiration, following the engraving.
Noticing the simmilar cave in the different mountain depictings, Siegschwert calls his conrades. "I believe... these are more than artistic... they may be Passage Pillars... used to covertly show the way to those who know where to look... we may find shelter if we follow them... threse Pillars carry the Wisdom of the rocks..."
"Then we have to follow this path." Ludwig shrugs off the piercing wind.
"We can't stay out here in the open."
Ludwig squints his eyes in the attempt to see any marks that would help navigating in this place.
The survivors make their way deep into the snow. The going is slow, to say the least. Between Yuria, Pengaal, and the blizzard they spend half an hour trudging along and feel like they make no progress. In fact, if they look hard enough, they might even be able to see the pillars faintly.
Yuria and Pengaal both begin to squirm in apparent agony in their unconscious states. It is so violent that it focuses Ludwig and Siegschwert to both stop momentarily.
Yuria gasps out loud over the shoulder of Siegschwert as she gives a faint, shivering yell "MAIDEN!" Her yell would echo in the open space as she begins to observe her surroundings. "Maiden...." she repeats again, faintly and continues "W-w-where....where....where are we?"
Felicia shrugs off the cold at first, bracing herself, but as the group trudges on the cold starts to seep down into her. She gives a soft shiver, "This place...it reminds me of the Titan's range from the Old World." Her breath hangs thick in the air before her for a moment before it gets whipped away by the wicked winds. "It is a terrible place... she finishes somewhat grimly.
Sitting straight up in Ludwig's arms, Pengaal grasps desperately for his weapons and, at the same time, for his left arm. His head turning like an overexcited owl, it's all he can to to sputter "What is all this white?"