Tiff approaches the pool of water, "There's at least one limbic system now! Hmmm I usually employ the stick method but I'm out of sticks."
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Piotr stands ready with his sword, since by now he expects things to jump out of everywhere. Ann slides up to Tiff, "So what is it?" she asks with great interest, nodding to the tubs of goop.
As Tiff approaches the black, viscous liquid in the tub, it errupts into a mass of writhing tendrils, and a gaping maw. The party watches in horror as the writing tentacles slam into Tiff, then then the gaping mouth grabs her.
Tiff recognizes it as a formless spawn. It is an intelligent ooze and it is resistant to all damage types and has fast healing 10.
Winter stands shocked, frozen by the creature's fury.
You remember that anyone wishing to wake from the Dreamlands and return to her body on the Material plane can make a concentration check to do so as a full round action that does not provoke any attacks of opportunity. It gets easier if you're willing to subject your physical body to increased psychic strain.
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Rose rushes to the rescue, slashing the creature with her claw!
_____
“Aw, great! TIFF?!”
Violet zips behind Rose and gives Tiff a whack with the healing wand.
The formless spawn does not seem impressed with Rose's little claw mark.
Rose demands to know, How is it that my claw is as impotent as a kitten’s?
Violet’s inquiring mind attempts to answer.
Piotr doesn't hesistate and rushes forward to help
Ann moves into the room and looks baffled for a moment, "Hey, Gross Puddle of Discarded bodily fluids! Let her go!"
Violet answers Rose aloud, “Uh… it’s weakness? Hit it really hard?”
Between being squeezed to death and bitten to death Tiff manages gasp out, "Tact..ical... re...treat. I'll... hold... it... off. Win...ter I need... 6 more sec...onds."
Tiff does her best at what she does best and becomes difficult.
Somewhere in her mind she reassures herself, It's only a dream.
Remember all of you have a ticket out of Dreamlands.
Any caster wishing to wake from the Dreamlands and return to her body on the Material Plane must succeed at a DC 25 concentration check to do so. This is a full-round action that doesn’t provoke attacks of opportunity. The DC of this check is reduced by 1 for every 2d6 points of damage the traveler willingly takes to her physical body as part of the full-round action (this damage can’t be reduced in any way). If successful, the caster awakens. The caster can try again if she fails her concentration check. A caster can use her character level + her Charisma modifier as her bonus on the concentration check if she isn’t a spellcaster or if that value is higher than her usual concentration bonus.
"No..." - Garrosh snarls as the monstrosity attacks one of his newest companions - "Ragathiel, give us strength" - he adds, the utterance of a divine spell.
Blossom rushed forward on her stumpy little legs, making it as far as the doorway, before she stops. She waves her hands and says something incomprehensible while she reached toward Garrosh imbuing him with power.
"I don't know if I can give you 6 seconds but I can try..."Winter rushes forward with a spell of healing.
The formless spawn proceeds in swallowing Tiff, while giving a loud belching sound. It does not seem affected by Ann's words.
Then it decides to take a few smacks out of Rose as it regenerates.
Winter steps behind the wall and casts bless on the entire party.
“So much for tactic! Die—not you Tiff, you do the opposite!”
Rose steps back from the tub.
Violet heals her.
The siblings try and do anything but both are not accomplishing much.
Tiff can't hear Rose's pleas to not die, too much black tar or whatever this thing was in the way. The whole affair had rather miffed her and she swore off swallowing live things whole from here on out. With not much else to do she tried to wake up.
The leshy muttered another incantation, her voice slowly rising to a crescendo, as she gestured at Piotr.
"Thank you yet again Blossom" - from the entryway, Garrosh takes a bead at the creature and lets two arrows fly.
Tiff—talk to me, Mademoiselle! I cast this spell for good reason!
As Garrosh attempts to shoot the formless spawn, it lashes out at him with it's tentacles, causing his shots to go awry.
Rose's attacks seem to bounce off it's rubbery exterior.
The formless spawn turns it's attention back to Rose in a flurry of tentacles and snapping at her with it's gaping maw.
Winter desperately tries to keep everyone in the party on their feet.
Tiff pinches herself as she's digested.
She finds herself not in the stomach of some strange ooze but safe and sound on the ship sailing to Katheer.
Violet reminds the group, “Tiff said ‘tactical retreat.’ I believe she knows she can wake herself. And I know if that thing kills you, you’ll be as good as dead.
“Either wake up, or back up… Tiff’s only hope is she saved herself.”
Violet withdraws.
Rose withdraws, repeating the words she just messaged to Violet.
“I cannot reach Tiff with my Message spell. Do not die for her. Hopefully, she has not died for us.
“If you cannot wait, you may wake to check on her… but I suggest you back away first.”
”Umm… wait for me,” Blossom cried as she retreats after Rose and Violet.
Ann withdraws and after the others do, Piotr will, making sure to between the thing and the others.
With a last look at the aberration, Garrosh withdraws after the others.
You awaken next to the pile of sleepers that you met in the dream. However this time you realize that the stairway you saw previously had shrunk to the size of your palm and you believe the window to enter the Dreamlands has now passed...
As the party tries to escape from the room, the creature attacks them with it's tentacles.
Once the leshy realized that the aggressive goop creature was not pursuing she stops her retreat. ”Did dream Tiff get ate or real Tiff? Either way it’s not great,” she asked sincerely.
She nonchalantly picks a berry off of one of the vines that make up her body. She bites into the lush purple berry squirting juice on those close by with her first bite. As if caught doing something naughty she picks another berry from her body and offered, ”Sorry, I’m not good at sharing…. but would anyone like to eat me … well not me… not like Tiff… umph.. do you want a berry? They are delicious and good for you too.
Tiff tuts at this development but then shrugs at not being able to do much other than wait for them to wake up. She passes the time by perusing all the books the rest of the party has collected.
Once the leshy realized that the aggressive goop creature was not pursuing she stops her retreat. ”Did dream Tiff get ate or real Tiff? Either way it’s not great,” she asked sincerely.
"I am not sure..." - Garrosh growled in a terrible mood.
She nonchalantly picks a berry off of one of the vines that make up her body. She bites into the lush purple berry squirting juice on those close by with her first bite. As if caught doing something naughty she picks another berry from her body and offered, ”Sorry, I’m not good at sharing…. but would anyone like to eat me … well not me… not like Tiff… umph.. do you want a berry? They are delicious and good for you too.
"No, thank you" - he nods at Blossom with a hint of a smile - "I am ok" - he looked around at his companions - "How is everyone?"
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Rose accepts a berry. “Ah, you are delicious as you look, mademoiselle.”
Violet takes a berry in both her tiny hands. She takes a bite and says, “I need to wake up. Either Tiff is awake and of sound mind or…”
Violet takes another bite.
“Never mind the or part. Garrosh, I think it is best we wake. Tiff can’t perform the ritual alone even though she’s probably considerably smarter than I am. It’s not possible to perform it alone.
“Our bodies may be unharmed when we wake, so please… enjoy a berry first. Because these really are so juicy and tangy and sweet, Blossom.”
Violet savors the flavor before concentrating to wake up.
Rose casts Guidance on herself and concentrates, following Violet’s lead… or Tiff’s, she hopes.
After everyone has a chance to partake of her fruit Blossom tries to focus on rejoining her body in the waking world, Wakey, wakey.
"I don't know if we can take the creature."Winter is rather pale, shaken by the shock of seeing Tiff going down it's maw. "Maybe there's a way around it?" Winter suggests. "Anyway see you on the other side." Then she vanishes.
The party wakes up on the Sellen Starling to find themselves sprawled in a circle holding hands, with the staircase now palm sized, except for Tiff who is unashamedly riffling through their belongings looking for books.
You find a pile of books in the tusked half orcs backpack and are browsing through the first few titles, "Monuments of the Forest, The Unified Manual of Understanding, Atop the valley's soul", when the party shows signs of storing.
"Hey how did you get into our dream and what are you doing with our gear?" Winter retorts at Tiff's actions as she wakes up.
Violet checks the cure light wounds wand and realizes no charges were used.
Piotr's hand goes for a berry, since it is food. Ann kicks him lightly, making him look at her, but with a nod in Winter's direction, he looks there instead. He gets the hint that eating a part of another woman was not a wise idea.
Shortly after they are awake, Ann pops re-back into existence and jumps on the bed to watch the show.
Tiff mutters to herself as the rest wake, "Oooo these titles look interesting!"
She doesn't face Winter right away, too distracted by the possibilities of the contents of the books. But she eventually tears herself away and smiles at the changeling, "Oh getting in was quite easy. After you performed the ritual the aperture remained open for quite some time, and you made such a commotion that investigation was likely. You're lucky it was Blossum and I who followed you. Anyone of lesser quality would have surely been driven insane by the experience."
Tiff holds The Unified Manual of Understanding in one hand and begins to skim the page. She does not stop answering Winter, "I had no idea how long it would take for the rest of you to awaken, so I thought I would make myself useful and try to find where the ritual to open the aperture was written down. Now that you are awake you may assist me in this endeavor."
Tiff then turns to Blossum but quickly glances at all of you, "When you have some time I'd like to interview each of you regarding your magical traditions. I've discovered most capable of spells do not write them down, which is a shame. I would like to record them for posterity."
Tiff notes the number of charges on her wands and gets an idea, "And to help the exploration of the Dreamlands."
”Ummm, okay, I think,” the leshy answered Tiff meekly.
Garrosh plopped himself down heavily, rummaging in his backpack for some dried meat - "It seems everyone is making themselves at home" - he grunted, munching on the meat - "How soon can we return?" - the half-orc added with pragmatism.
Blossom brow wrinkles as she listens and she blurts out, ”Why go back to sleep land? Look I want to get off of this cabin thing too… but we just come right back when we wake up. I think we can come up with a better plan to escape.”