You've all been friends and an adventuring group for a short number of years. Looking for your next big break - it nearly cost you all a small fortune to acquire such information on the lead - but one day you all heard the tale, as reliable as could be, of a fallen clocktower in the High Forest just northeast of Uluvin which contained magic able to alter the flow of time itself.
Even if it sounded ridiculous, you just couldn't pass up the chance if it was actually true. Think of the possibilities! I mean, how hard could it be - a 200 mile journey to the High Forest. Easy peasy.
You started in Waterdeep, traveled south to Daggerford, east to the town of Secomber, then north to Uluvin. From there, you headed northeast into the High Forest.
That's when you got lost, and this is where our tale begins.
"You forgot your javelins." The copper-skinned elf slipped into the room, holding a stack of four javelins. She set them down on the bed, dark hair falling over her scarred face. "Oh...that's a lot of things."
Alta smiled at Sierra. "I am traveling for an unknown period of time," she pointed out with a laugh. "Who knows what I'll come across? Maybe if you ever get back out of the grove, you'll have lots of stuff too."
Sierra turned away. "No. I am not leaving again, not any time soon."
"But why? I mean, you've told me about Silverymoon, and before that, traveling with-" Alta snapped her mouth shut as she saw the old grief make its way across Sierra's face, switching tactics. "Turlang said you haven't left the Forest since Silverymoon, seventy years ago."
"It's...complicated. But today is about you." A soft smile made its way onto Sierra's face. "You're traveling! What does Sana have to say about it?"
"Oh, she's the one who suggested it, actually. Said that I can hardly fulfill my celestial destiny if I stay here in the forest." Alta laughed. "I just don't know where to go first."
"The north is beautiful. Ten-Towns is an excellent start in the world of travelers," Sierra suggested. "Oh, and if you end up in Waterdeep, you have to tell me all about it. I've never been there."
"I guess there were some drawbacks to traveling with someone with such an...unusual nature. The mythal kept them out, huh?"
"Yes."
"Well, if I end up in Waterdeep, I'll bring you a souvenir." Alta zipped up her bag and strapped her large sword, yklwa, and javelins to it. "I'll miss you, Sierra."
"You'll see me again. You'll be back..someday."
"There are certain benefits to all my friends having centuries long lifespans," Alta agreed.
The two women shared a tight hug, and then Alta shouldered her bag and headed out of the room.
When I was young, I fought in a war against an empire that was moving to conquer the small nation I called home. I wasn't bad with a sword, but what set me apart was the ability to cast spells and keep morale up so that the other soldiers in my platoon could fight harder. made him a valuable asset to his platoon during the war. We put up a good fight and for a little while, it looked like we were going to pull the upset. But the empire wasn't going to be denied. They brought out horrible new weapons that devastated our armies. I'm honestly not sure how I came out alive.
That brought an end to the war, as it wasn't pretty long until the higher ups decided that it was better to pack it in before everyone got killed. They became a part of the empire. Not me though. Rather than join the empire and serve the people I spent years fighting against, I left. I became a man without a home, doing whatever I needed to do to get by. It was lonely, not being able to go home, not having anyone to at least sympathize with your hardships. For a little bit, I contemplated just taking all my money and blowing it on booze so I could drink myself to death.
Fortunately, there was this cleric who there to talk me out of it. Someone who realized that I didn't need money or a religious experience as much as I needed someone to speak to. Someone that I could turn to to get this shit off my chest. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel alone or useless. My meeting with the cleric helped me realize that even if I lost my home, I could still do good in this world.So I did. And eventually, I met up with a group of people with similar experiences, who all had someone give them a hand when they needed it. And now we travel around, trying to do good in this world.
When the material world was born, so were its two siblings the dark Shadowfell and the bright Feywild. The Shadowfell is a dimension where nearly everything is black or colorless. This shadow plane is the opposite of the Feywild, a place where darkness consumes the light and the sky is bleak and dim. The Shadowfell is a dark echo of the material world, touching it in places of gloom, death and deep shadow, called Shadow Crossings. When the material world and Shadowfell share familiar landmarks, those on the shadow side appear as twisted and warped copies. The plane is not fully evil, but those who inhabit the Shadowfell generally are drawn to the darkness.
The Raven Queen, the Goddess of death, spinner of fate and patron of winter has made the Shadowfell her home, leaving behind the plane of her predecessor Nerull. Her true domain is in the midst of the cold mountains of Letherna. On top of a steep mountain overlooking the surroundings is her home known as Fate’s Palace. She decides the end of every being within the realms, excluding the Ancient Ones. She is the one who cuts the thread of life but there are those who defy her by choosing the path of undeath. Once a creature dies and his/her/its soul enters the Shadowfell for the next journey, the Shadar-kai are the first to greet them.
Ages spent in the Shadowfell have shaped the Shadar-kai into a people that live passionately and fearlessly, to combat the apathy and gloom of their home plane. Shadar-kai society is meritocratic and based on power and prestige of great deeds. This prestige, however, has managed to escape the grasp of our glum adventurer, Kitsune Narisu.
Most Shadar-kai do not fear death and live for the moment, or risk succumbing to ennui and fading out of existence, experimenting in all sorts of stimulation and extremes. Cursed with an infinite memory in terms of longevity, their personalities are greyed out and joyless. There’s not really a point to learning or remembering when everything is going to be the same dull experience regardless.
That dullness, by the way, is the Raven Queen's Curse. Anything that a Shadar-kai can do to feel something and add emotional color to their existence is getting out from under the curse, and the tragedy of their existence is that the experience is always temporary.
Kitsune, having lived untold centuries, is stuck in this rut of absurdism. Bored of the endless, mind numbing tasks her Queen has placed her on, she yearns for something new. Something different. Something….conspiratorial!
ONE FORTNITE AGO
Upon returning from her latest monotonous task, a messenger raven appeared on Kistune’s window sill. “Aha, what lugubrious task does she have for me now?!” she mumbled out loud to no one in particular. Upon unraveling the message bound to the crow’s leg, though, a curious smile cracked upon her face. A gesture not seen on her placid veneer in eons.
Continuing to mumble to herself, “…a clock tower…magic…change the flow of time…marvelous!” (whereupon her grin turned quite devious upon the mumbling of ‘marvelous’).
Quickly dumping her dirty, unwashed adventuring clothes into an ever growing unkempt pile on the floor, she quickly changed into a (relatively) fresh set of clothes, her well-worn leathers, and camouflaged cloak. Swinging her pack over her shoulder, she quickly sprinted out the door (forgetting to lock it in her haste), and ran to the nearest portal to meet up with her new crew in this amazing sounding city (Waterdeep?! Whoever heard of such a thrilling sounding place!) on the Prime Material Plane.
TODAY
Mostly keeping to herself, Kitsune disappears from the traveling group for hours on-end as they made their way into the High Forest. But this suits the others in the group just fine, as they find Kitsune to be rather drab, boring, and dull. Just the way she likes it!
With a familiar crackle, the worn envelope fell from its regular spot, just within the back cover of a heavily marked tome. "Oh, this old thing." The heavily accented gnome fingered the yellowed parchment within. "My reassignment papers - ah, note the heraldry of my school. None other than the great Mogschwartz Gnomish School for Wizardry and the Arts of the Sciences Arcane! Have I told you about it? I have? Well, humor me one more time, then. I was accepted about twenty years ago on a preliminary basis as a research assistant to the illustrious Arinominalosgum the Perturbescent, though I can't say that I ever actually met the gnome. He claimed he was off to the Elemental Plane of Water for a cup of tea with a marid of some repute, then vanished through his Iridescent Dimensional Rift, never to be seen again. I think on the official registry he is listed as being on an 'extended sabbatical,' but we all know what that means. Where was I. Right, research assistant. Well, you can't really assist in research if your researcher is off researching other parts of the cosmos, so I managed to transfer myself into the regular student program, mostly because my aunt's third cousin twice removed's wife's nephew-in-law's cousin was best friends with the under-secretary to the assistant administerial staffperson Rteithian the Balligant - now if that isn't favorable nepotism, what is!? Where was I? Right, student program. It went well, for the first eight years or so, and I progressed admirably, though I notably began to struggle in some of the more practical courses. My research was phenomenal - without equal, as the third-teaching assistant of the - sorry, did you say something? Where was I? Right, practical. Well, after another ten years, I finally came close to graduating, all practically without being able to cast a spell! The school's psychological division called is a nearly miraculous coalescence of savant malpractice, that one who could memorize spells of the third degree would nonetheless flub a simple magic missile, or petrify a tree with the appropriate countermeasure. Suffice to say, I am not ashamed of my disabilities of the time, and have worked very hard to overcome, thank YOU very much. Where was I? Right, practicals again. Well, the school couldn't officially graduate me without a clear demonstration of practical spellcasting ability, so a compromise was arranged. You have to remember, I am still a very well-connected gnome. In any case, a compromise was arranged such that I was sent on an extended leave of absence to pursue research projects of my choosing, until I could bring my findings, in confidence of academic fidelity, before an assembled council of the faculty and staff in a symposium on the art of applied arcane science. After some willywashing, I eventually settled into a comfortable group of adventurers- I'll admit, not perhaps the most illustrious of choices, and you'd be flabbergasted at the widespread disparagement of the arts arcane, for it is an art more than I science, really. Have I told you about that? Right, the point. Anyways, by having these adventures, I gain valuable experience for my symposium, and by hanging out with these adventurers, my own skin is saved from quite a lot of expensive healing potions (who even MAKES those things, anyways? They've got to have a fortune by now!) That's the plan, anyway! Now though, we are on the trail of something that seems to be quite important. The literature isn't at all clear as to what it is, but it seems to suggest that it can control the flow of time! Imagine it! Now, naturally I've got to make an addendum to my symposium notes if this item really is what it claims to be, but if it is, why is it? Yes, I think that's the question we should be asking. But no, the tall ones want to go fetch it and sell it for loads of money. Fools. I don't mean it, but really, sell a magic artifact? What, do you think it's like selling pumpkins! No, this is a chance for science! For artistry! I've just got to go along, to make sure nobody whacks it with the wrong end of a sword and reverses the timestream...muttermuttermuttermuttermutterthey'llseeoneday..."
"One more favor," He smiles wickedly at her. "One more and you will have your son back."
"I will do no such thing." She seethes between clenched teeth, her fingernails digging into the wood of his desk as her eyes flare a dangerous green hue. "I have been at this for years now, Alexi. Let me have my son back!"
"Tsk, you act as if you're never allowed to see him, Eris! You've seen our nannies take very good care of him, even when you're gone he's treated like a guest!"
"Like a guest with a collar around his neck that will kill him have I ever step out of line!"
"I think he likes it. Thinks of it like a game." The man scans the furious sorceress before him with a smirk at his lips, his brown colored eyes carrying a malicious gaze behind them. "You best watch yourself, Eris." She watches him with a murderous gaze as he sits himself in his seat before her, leaning back while he crosses his legs to sit more comfortably, in a stance of power over the poor mother. "Besides, you've seemed to have grown fond of this little group, yes? All I want is more information on this clocktower that had piqued your interest. It's only fair if you spend my money to have found out this little lead, that I get my share of it too, no?"
Her hands ball up into fists now, it taking all the willpower in the world for her to not have spat acid into his face. From her look alone, it would be easy to see she had no choice but to comply with his wishes.
"Just one last thing, and our contract will be fulfilled and you will have your darling little Tormund back."
Kitsune comes crashing through the woods, popping out into the small clearing where the team has temporarily paused to take a short break. Her forearms are bare, and noticeably scratched all the hell up. Overflowing from her cupped hands is a mound of freshly picked berries, juice dripping all over. Through a mouth full of berries, she exclaims “You guysh ghotta thhhry theshee! They’re delishhh!”
She places the pile of delicious looking berries down on an enormous leaf in the middle of where everyone is sitting.
”Lost? Where not lost! I know exactly where we are. The trees, they know. They told me. They told me where to find these lovely raspberries. They told me where the freshest water is. They told me where the friendliest forest creatures are found. They told me all their best secrets! I could find myself wanting to stay here for a lifetime, if only to get my fill of these juicy berries....” as she reaches down and plucks a particularly plump berry from the top of the pile she offered up for the group to gorge themselves with.
Seldor is a half-elven male in his mid-thirties. He's wearing a teal shirt underneath a brown jacket that's lined with fur and has dark green trousers. Strapped to his hilt is a rapier and a lute is on his back. He'd be quick to admit that the assortment of individuals that he had spent the last few years with was an odd one, but he had grown quite fond of them. For the first time since the war had ended, he somewhat felt like he had a purpose again.
Of course, that purpose would be a lot more existentially fulfilling if they hadn't spent the last several hours wandering through the woods. "Yes, I'm sure that the berries are delicious and the secrets are interesting, but can the trees tell us where the clocktower is? We've been going in circles for hours, Kitsune. Look." He motions to a piece of parchment he stuck to a tree using a crossbolt that says NUMBER OF TIMES WE'VE PASSED THIS TREE. There's currently three tally marks on the parchment. Seldor puts a fourth one on the sheet.
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
As beautiful as the forest is in the search for this fallen clocktower you paid good money to get a lead on, you all realize you're hopelessly lost. Your path through the woods descends along a ridge line with the trees crowding together under a dense canopy above. The ground is littered with fallen nuts. Tree trunks are coasted in thick patches of fungus, and a musty smell fills the air. Yet, despite the rising gloom, vivid sunbeams still shine between the trees.
CORRUPTION
As you try and figure out where you are based on where you think the location of the fallen clocktower is, you notice something particular about the forest as you travel slowly onward - the trees appear to be getting progressively "sicker" and the ground is beginning to look "cancerous" in appearance. However, the vivid sunbeams provide you with a sense that not all is wrong as they pierce the treeline to the ground.
Alta is delighted to be back in the High Forest. The black-haired woman is cheerfully at ease as they move through the forest, but as more and more signs of the forest's sickness appear, a frown appears and begins to deepen. "What is this? Turlang would never..." she mutters, half to herself, as they move, on hand gripping the large greatsword slung across her back in a reassuring motion.
Dalavash is getting a little tired and sweaty in his armour as the group meanders through the forest.
‘I love nature as much as the next priest, but there is too much of a good thing...’ he says aloud wiping his forehead, muttering afterwards, ‘As long as the next priest is unfit, overheating and has more blister than foot..' He pauses briefly to rearrange his feet in his boots, looking around as he does so. 'We'll be praying for divine guidance soon, at this rate.' he says to himself, touching the holy symbol hanging from his neck instinctively
Perception: 5
Nature: 8
(Posting on iPhone in back garden just now - *not* the best forum interface!)
Eris had been idly fanning herself with her foldable fan as they made their way through the forest, the sorceress having been mindlessly following along behind the group. She hadn't been paying too much attention to their surroundings, confident in her cohorts ability to navigate through the forest, however it would not seem so. Kitsune had plucked some berries from Gods know where (she politely declining the offer to eat them), and they had passed this same tree four times supposedly. Her tail twitches in annoyance behind her, but she manages to keep a regal air about her.
"Perhaps we took a wrong turn somewhere..." She assumes, brushing a black lock of hair behind her ear.
Perception: 18 Nature: 2
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Aeydof the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm /ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
Hans looks up briefly as the party starts to take note of their surroundings and eagerly darts forwards to take note of the changes in the forest.
Perception: 5
Nature: 22
"Hmm, ooh, accelerated decomposition of the... yes. Very odd. Very very very odd. I'd dare say this more than a natural occurrence! Yes. Yes! I'd stake my Mogschwartz reputation on it!"
DC12 Perception check: For those that pass, we've got some suspect fey going on around here. You notice out of the corner of your eye that small fey creatures like sprites, pixies, and even satyrs are watching you. They appear mean and grubby, and as they are discovered, they dart away muttering words like "enjoy our sunny woods akakakak.."
DC14 Nature check: These sunbeams are sinister. You can feel it. Something is not quite right. These sunbeams are not moving naturally with the afternoon sun. They are shifting in a manner that physics would normally debunk. They appear to be moving closer to you all as if trying to trap you - for what intention, or what effect would happen if you cross them - is unknown.
It's going to take a DC14 Dexterity CHECK to pass through the sunbeams.
Dalavash finishes adjusting his boots, taking a moment to take a drink from his waterskin. He looks around, not at the forest, which seems perfectly normal to him, but at his companions, some of whom now seem unsettled.
'Is something wrong?'
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INFERNAL MACHINE REBUILD
COMING VERY SOON
INFERNAL MACHINE REBUILD
You've all been friends and an adventuring group for a short number of years. Looking for your next big break - it nearly cost you all a small fortune to acquire such information on the lead - but one day you all heard the tale, as reliable as could be, of a fallen clocktower in the High Forest just northeast of Uluvin which contained magic able to alter the flow of time itself.
Even if it sounded ridiculous, you just couldn't pass up the chance if it was actually true. Think of the possibilities! I mean, how hard could it be - a 200 mile journey to the High Forest. Easy peasy.
You started in Waterdeep, traveled south to Daggerford, east to the town of Secomber, then north to Uluvin. From there, you headed northeast into the High Forest.
That's when you got lost, and this is where our tale begins.
PROLOGUE ONE: ALTA
"You forgot your javelins." The copper-skinned elf slipped into the room, holding a stack of four javelins. She set them down on the bed, dark hair falling over her scarred face. "Oh...that's a lot of things."
Alta smiled at Sierra. "I am traveling for an unknown period of time," she pointed out with a laugh. "Who knows what I'll come across? Maybe if you ever get back out of the grove, you'll have lots of stuff too."
Sierra turned away. "No. I am not leaving again, not any time soon."
"But why? I mean, you've told me about Silverymoon, and before that, traveling with-" Alta snapped her mouth shut as she saw the old grief make its way across Sierra's face, switching tactics. "Turlang said you haven't left the Forest since Silverymoon, seventy years ago."
"It's...complicated. But today is about you." A soft smile made its way onto Sierra's face. "You're traveling! What does Sana have to say about it?"
"Oh, she's the one who suggested it, actually. Said that I can hardly fulfill my celestial destiny if I stay here in the forest." Alta laughed. "I just don't know where to go first."
"The north is beautiful. Ten-Towns is an excellent start in the world of travelers," Sierra suggested. "Oh, and if you end up in Waterdeep, you have to tell me all about it. I've never been there."
"I guess there were some drawbacks to traveling with someone with such an...unusual nature. The mythal kept them out, huh?"
"Yes."
"Well, if I end up in Waterdeep, I'll bring you a souvenir." Alta zipped up her bag and strapped her large sword, yklwa, and javelins to it. "I'll miss you, Sierra."
"You'll see me again. You'll be back..someday."
"There are certain benefits to all my friends having centuries long lifespans," Alta agreed.
The two women shared a tight hug, and then Alta shouldered her bag and headed out of the room.
PROLOGUE TWO: SELDOR
When I was young, I fought in a war against an empire that was moving to conquer the small nation I called home. I wasn't bad with a sword, but what set me apart was the ability to cast spells and keep morale up so that the other soldiers in my platoon could fight harder. made him a valuable asset to his platoon during the war. We put up a good fight and for a little while, it looked like we were going to pull the upset. But the empire wasn't going to be denied. They brought out horrible new weapons that devastated our armies. I'm honestly not sure how I came out alive.
That brought an end to the war, as it wasn't pretty long until the higher ups decided that it was better to pack it in before everyone got killed. They became a part of the empire. Not me though. Rather than join the empire and serve the people I spent years fighting against, I left. I became a man without a home, doing whatever I needed to do to get by. It was lonely, not being able to go home, not having anyone to at least sympathize with your hardships. For a little bit, I contemplated just taking all my money and blowing it on booze so I could drink myself to death.
Fortunately, there was this cleric who there to talk me out of it. Someone who realized that I didn't need money or a religious experience as much as I needed someone to speak to. Someone that I could turn to to get this shit off my chest. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel alone or useless. My meeting with the cleric helped me realize that even if I lost my home, I could still do good in this world.So I did. And eventually, I met up with a group of people with similar experiences, who all had someone give them a hand when they needed it. And now we travel around, trying to do good in this world.
PROLOGUE THREE: KITSUNE NARISU
When the material world was born, so were its two siblings the dark Shadowfell and the bright Feywild. The Shadowfell is a dimension where nearly everything is black or colorless. This shadow plane is the opposite of the Feywild, a place where darkness consumes the light and the sky is bleak and dim. The Shadowfell is a dark echo of the material world, touching it in places of gloom, death and deep shadow, called Shadow Crossings. When the material world and Shadowfell share familiar landmarks, those on the shadow side appear as twisted and warped copies. The plane is not fully evil, but those who inhabit the Shadowfell generally are drawn to the darkness.
The Raven Queen, the Goddess of death, spinner of fate and patron of winter has made the Shadowfell her home, leaving behind the plane of her predecessor Nerull. Her true domain is in the midst of the cold mountains of Letherna. On top of a steep mountain overlooking the surroundings is her home known as Fate’s Palace. She decides the end of every being within the realms, excluding the Ancient Ones. She is the one who cuts the thread of life but there are those who defy her by choosing the path of undeath. Once a creature dies and his/her/its soul enters the Shadowfell for the next journey, the Shadar-kai are the first to greet them.
Ages spent in the Shadowfell have shaped the Shadar-kai into a people that live passionately and fearlessly, to combat the apathy and gloom of their home plane. Shadar-kai society is meritocratic and based on power and prestige of great deeds. This prestige, however, has managed to escape the grasp of our glum adventurer, Kitsune Narisu.
Most Shadar-kai do not fear death and live for the moment, or risk succumbing to ennui and fading out of existence, experimenting in all sorts of stimulation and extremes. Cursed with an infinite memory in terms of longevity, their personalities are greyed out and joyless. There’s not really a point to learning or remembering when everything is going to be the same dull experience regardless.
That dullness, by the way, is the Raven Queen's Curse. Anything that a Shadar-kai can do to feel something and add emotional color to their existence is getting out from under the curse, and the tragedy of their existence is that the experience is always temporary.
Kitsune, having lived untold centuries, is stuck in this rut of absurdism. Bored of the endless, mind numbing tasks her Queen has placed her on, she yearns for something new. Something different. Something….conspiratorial!
ONE FORTNITE AGO
Upon returning from her latest monotonous task, a messenger raven appeared on Kistune’s window sill. “Aha, what lugubrious task does she have for me now?!” she mumbled out loud to no one in particular. Upon unraveling the message bound to the crow’s leg, though, a curious smile cracked upon her face. A gesture not seen on her placid veneer in eons.
Continuing to mumble to herself, “…a clock tower…magic…change the flow of time…marvelous!” (whereupon her grin turned quite devious upon the mumbling of ‘marvelous’).
Quickly dumping her dirty, unwashed adventuring clothes into an ever growing unkempt pile on the floor, she quickly changed into a (relatively) fresh set of clothes, her well-worn leathers, and camouflaged cloak. Swinging her pack over her shoulder, she quickly sprinted out the door (forgetting to lock it in her haste), and ran to the nearest portal to meet up with her new crew in this amazing sounding city (Waterdeep?! Whoever heard of such a thrilling sounding place!) on the Prime Material Plane.
TODAY
Mostly keeping to herself, Kitsune disappears from the traveling group for hours on-end as they made their way into the High Forest. But this suits the others in the group just fine, as they find Kitsune to be rather drab, boring, and dull. Just the way she likes it!
Kitsune:
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
PROLOGUE FOUR: HAMDEL VON GUBERIAN
With a familiar crackle, the worn envelope fell from its regular spot, just within the back cover of a heavily marked tome. "Oh, this old thing." The heavily accented gnome fingered the yellowed parchment within. "My reassignment papers - ah, note the heraldry of my school. None other than the great Mogschwartz Gnomish School for Wizardry and the Arts of the Sciences Arcane! Have I told you about it? I have? Well, humor me one more time, then. I was accepted about twenty years ago on a preliminary basis as a research assistant to the illustrious Arinominalosgum the Perturbescent, though I can't say that I ever actually met the gnome. He claimed he was off to the Elemental Plane of Water for a cup of tea with a marid of some repute, then vanished through his Iridescent Dimensional Rift, never to be seen again. I think on the official registry he is listed as being on an 'extended sabbatical,' but we all know what that means. Where was I. Right, research assistant. Well, you can't really assist in research if your researcher is off researching other parts of the cosmos, so I managed to transfer myself into the regular student program, mostly because my aunt's third cousin twice removed's wife's nephew-in-law's cousin was best friends with the under-secretary to the assistant administerial staffperson Rteithian the Balligant - now if that isn't favorable nepotism, what is!? Where was I? Right, student program. It went well, for the first eight years or so, and I progressed admirably, though I notably began to struggle in some of the more practical courses. My research was phenomenal - without equal, as the third-teaching assistant of the - sorry, did you say something? Where was I? Right, practical. Well, after another ten years, I finally came close to graduating, all practically without being able to cast a spell! The school's psychological division called is a nearly miraculous coalescence of savant malpractice, that one who could memorize spells of the third degree would nonetheless flub a simple magic missile, or petrify a tree with the appropriate countermeasure. Suffice to say, I am not ashamed of my disabilities of the time, and have worked very hard to overcome, thank YOU very much. Where was I? Right, practicals again. Well, the school couldn't officially graduate me without a clear demonstration of practical spellcasting ability, so a compromise was arranged. You have to remember, I am still a very well-connected gnome. In any case, a compromise was arranged such that I was sent on an extended leave of absence to pursue research projects of my choosing, until I could bring my findings, in confidence of academic fidelity, before an assembled council of the faculty and staff in a symposium on the art of applied arcane science. After some willywashing, I eventually settled into a comfortable group of adventurers- I'll admit, not perhaps the most illustrious of choices, and you'd be flabbergasted at the widespread disparagement of the arts arcane, for it is an art more than I science, really. Have I told you about that? Right, the point. Anyways, by having these adventures, I gain valuable experience for my symposium, and by hanging out with these adventurers, my own skin is saved from quite a lot of expensive healing potions (who even MAKES those things, anyways? They've got to have a fortune by now!) That's the plan, anyway! Now though, we are on the trail of something that seems to be quite important. The literature isn't at all clear as to what it is, but it seems to suggest that it can control the flow of time! Imagine it! Now, naturally I've got to make an addendum to my symposium notes if this item really is what it claims to be, but if it is, why is it? Yes, I think that's the question we should be asking. But no, the tall ones want to go fetch it and sell it for loads of money. Fools. I don't mean it, but really, sell a magic artifact? What, do you think it's like selling pumpkins! No, this is a chance for science! For artistry! I've just got to go along, to make sure nobody whacks it with the wrong end of a sword and reverses the timestream...muttermuttermuttermuttermutterthey'llseeoneday..."
PROLOGUE FIVE: ERIS
"One more favor," He smiles wickedly at her. "One more and you will have your son back."
"I will do no such thing." She seethes between clenched teeth, her fingernails digging into the wood of his desk as her eyes flare a dangerous green hue. "I have been at this for years now, Alexi. Let me have my son back!"
"Tsk, you act as if you're never allowed to see him, Eris! You've seen our nannies take very good care of him, even when you're gone he's treated like a guest!"
"Like a guest with a collar around his neck that will kill him have I ever step out of line!"
"I think he likes it. Thinks of it like a game." The man scans the furious sorceress before him with a smirk at his lips, his brown colored eyes carrying a malicious gaze behind them. "You best watch yourself, Eris." She watches him with a murderous gaze as he sits himself in his seat before her, leaning back while he crosses his legs to sit more comfortably, in a stance of power over the poor mother. "Besides, you've seemed to have grown fond of this little group, yes? All I want is more information on this clocktower that had piqued your interest. It's only fair if you spend my money to have found out this little lead, that I get my share of it too, no?"
Her hands ball up into fists now, it taking all the willpower in the world for her to not have spat acid into his face. From her look alone, it would be easy to see she had no choice but to comply with his wishes.
"Just one last thing, and our contract will be fulfilled and you will have your darling little Tormund back."
Kitsune comes crashing through the woods, popping out into the small clearing where the team has temporarily paused to take a short break. Her forearms are bare, and noticeably scratched all the hell up. Overflowing from her cupped hands is a mound of freshly picked berries, juice dripping all over. Through a mouth full of berries, she exclaims “You guysh ghotta thhhry theshee! They’re delishhh!”
She places the pile of delicious looking berries down on an enormous leaf in the middle of where everyone is sitting.
”Lost? Where not lost! I know exactly where we are. The trees, they know. They told me. They told me where to find these lovely raspberries. They told me where the freshest water is. They told me where the friendliest forest creatures are found. They told me all their best secrets! I could find myself wanting to stay here for a lifetime, if only to get my fill of these juicy berries....” as she reaches down and plucks a particularly plump berry from the top of the pile she offered up for the group to gorge themselves with.
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Seldor is a half-elven male in his mid-thirties. He's wearing a teal shirt underneath a brown jacket that's lined with fur and has dark green trousers. Strapped to his hilt is a rapier and a lute is on his back. He'd be quick to admit that the assortment of individuals that he had spent the last few years with was an odd one, but he had grown quite fond of them. For the first time since the war had ended, he somewhat felt like he had a purpose again.
Of course, that purpose would be a lot more existentially fulfilling if they hadn't spent the last several hours wandering through the woods. "Yes, I'm sure that the berries are delicious and the secrets are interesting, but can the trees tell us where the clocktower is? We've been going in circles for hours, Kitsune. Look." He motions to a piece of parchment he stuck to a tree using a crossbolt that says NUMBER OF TIMES WE'VE PASSED THIS TREE. There's currently three tally marks on the parchment. Seldor puts a fourth one on the sheet.
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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CHAPTER ONE
AFTERNOON
LOST
As beautiful as the forest is in the search for this fallen clocktower you paid good money to get a lead on, you all realize you're hopelessly lost. Your path through the woods descends along a ridge line with the trees crowding together under a dense canopy above. The ground is littered with fallen nuts. Tree trunks are coasted in thick patches of fungus, and a musty smell fills the air. Yet, despite the rising gloom, vivid sunbeams still shine between the trees.
CORRUPTION
As you try and figure out where you are based on where you think the location of the fallen clocktower is, you notice something particular about the forest as you travel slowly onward - the trees appear to be getting progressively "sicker" and the ground is beginning to look "cancerous" in appearance. However, the vivid sunbeams provide you with a sense that not all is wrong as they pierce the treeline to the ground.
DC12 Perception check: ?????
DC14 Nature check: ?????
Perception:8
Nature:11
"I have no idea what the hell is going on, but I don't like it at all."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Alta is delighted to be back in the High Forest. The black-haired woman is cheerfully at ease as they move through the forest, but as more and more signs of the forest's sickness appear, a frown appears and begins to deepen. "What is this? Turlang would never..." she mutters, half to herself, as they move, on hand gripping the large greatsword slung across her back in a reassuring motion.
Perception: 5
Nature: 19
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Dalavash is getting a little tired and sweaty in his armour as the group meanders through the forest.
‘I love nature as much as the next priest, but there is too much of a good thing...’ he says aloud wiping his forehead, muttering afterwards, ‘As long as the next priest is unfit, overheating and has more blister than foot..'
He pauses briefly to rearrange his feet in his boots, looking around as he does so.
'We'll be praying for divine guidance soon, at this rate.' he says to himself, touching the holy symbol hanging from his neck instinctively
Perception: 5
Nature: 8
(Posting on iPhone in back garden just now - *not* the best forum interface!)
Eris had been idly fanning herself with her foldable fan as they made their way through the forest, the sorceress having been mindlessly following along behind the group. She hadn't been paying too much attention to their surroundings, confident in her cohorts ability to navigate through the forest, however it would not seem so. Kitsune had plucked some berries from Gods know where (she politely declining the offer to eat them), and they had passed this same tree four times supposedly. Her tail twitches in annoyance behind her, but she manages to keep a regal air about her.
"Perhaps we took a wrong turn somewhere..." She assumes, brushing a black lock of hair behind her ear.
Perception: 18
Nature: 2
Aeyd of the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk
Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm
Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid
Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue
Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm
/ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
Whoops. Alta image:
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Hans looks up briefly as the party starts to take note of their surroundings and eagerly darts forwards to take note of the changes in the forest.
Perception: 5
Nature: 22
"Hmm, ooh, accelerated decomposition of the... yes. Very odd. Very very very odd. I'd dare say this more than a natural occurrence! Yes. Yes! I'd stake my Mogschwartz reputation on it!"
Anyone order a cup of Sunny Delight?
DC12 Perception check: For those that pass, we've got some suspect fey going on around here. You notice out of the corner of your eye that small fey creatures like sprites, pixies, and even satyrs are watching you. They appear mean and grubby, and as they are discovered, they dart away muttering words like "enjoy our sunny woods akakakak.."
DC14 Nature check: These sunbeams are sinister. You can feel it. Something is not quite right. These sunbeams are not moving naturally with the afternoon sun. They are shifting in a manner that physics would normally debunk. They appear to be moving closer to you all as if trying to trap you - for what intention, or what effect would happen if you cross them - is unknown.
It's going to take a DC14 Dexterity CHECK to pass through the sunbeams.
Kitsune: “Fine. Suit yourself! More berries for .... <she stuffs another handful into her mouth> mmhee!”
DC12 Perception: 8
DC14 Nature: 3
DC14 DEX Check to pass through beams: 23
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Dalavash finishes adjusting his boots, taking a moment to take a drink from his waterskin. He looks around, not at the forest, which seems perfectly normal to him, but at his companions, some of whom now seem unsettled.
'Is something wrong?'