Faila bites her lip, thinking, as she surveys the scene of carnage. "I did have the dream, about the book," she says. The glamor she felt about Sahmyr Ami seems to have faded at the grisly scene in front of her, and finally she says, "I think I have changed my mind. I don't think that Sahmyr Ami will be helpful to us. I think that he will trick us. I think that we should proceed without talking to him. Look what these Feywild creatures have done here. We must trust to our own senses, and not to the words of a sorcerer that will sound wonderful."
Boyd listens to Nikita's report. "Yeah, you won't catch me drinking a wing potion... Sounds like there's a lot more 'round here than we thought. Plus who knows what's still hiding in the house. I don't think we can clear this place out no more - we oughta pick a direction and move in it."
Upon hearing Faila's reasoning, Boyd nods his head. "I reckoned you had a good head on your shoulders. Yeah, this Sammerammy fella's up to no good. No use just lettin' him twist our heads in knots."
"We ought to get to that portal, and quick then, I reckon."
Resolving to visit the portal first and foremost, the party head towards the north of the grounds. Perhaps driven by curiosity, or maybe by a greater understanding of what the party are up to, the Sagacitas creature (the size of a small elephant) hurtles over to join the group. Its form rapidly shimmers and begins to shrink until it becomes a more manageable size (more akin to a large dog).
Choosing the safer of the two options, the party moves westward around Prospect's house, avoiding the animated plant-bear. Dew clings to their boots and clothes as they brush the heavily overgrown plant life. Assuredly, the grounds and house of Prospect would have been extravagant and beautiful in their day. Thoughts of lavish parties and the endless indulgence often enjoyed by the upper echelons of society come to mind. How then, would Asha, the perceived 'problem-child' have factored into her parents' affairs? Would the grounds with their rolling meadows, radiant gardens, and small boating lake have become an ornate prison to one such as she?
Looking around the place now, it is clear to see that Asha's life of privilege and wealth was far from comfortable. Restrictions, rules, a lack of freedom or understanding would have undoubtedly plagued the young girl's mind. Could such a mind have created a being like the elusive Sahmyr Ami? Ordinarily, such a thought might be the best explanation for Asha's childhood. Except that was not the case, who or whatever the being was that had dogged Asha's steps over the years was very much real and -- not only that -- had been responsible for the ill that now threatened Prospect and Saltmarsh itself.
Serving as a contrast to the sombre mood that pervaded both the party and grounds, the day was, on the whole, bright and cheery. Sounds of crickets, bees, and other small creatures -- not all entirely of the world of Oerth -- going about their business can be heard over the gentle breeze. Not only do many of the local fauna appear to be alien and otherworldly, but the smells; rich and vibrant, enticing and spicy, like a well-fermented wine, they assail the senses and add to the general mysticism.
Continuing to the northeast, the party passes the boating lake, the sun gleams off of its surface. Frogs of all shapes, sizes and colours can be seen hopping from lilypad to lilypad. Their croaks are unusual and off-putting; "Sah... Sah-myr... Sah... Ami..." -- weren't they supposed to ribbit? You swear you hear the name carried on their voices, as though there was a joke being told but it was at your expense.
In the centre of the lake large ripples emanate outwards, as though a giant raindrop had struck the surface of the water. Thumbtack lets out a loud hoot and quickly flies on by, keen that the party do not venture to close to the water's edge.
Obscured by thick vegetation and vines, you now come to a small building, tucked away as though it was attempting to remain hidden from sight. The magic users of the party instantly feel a sense of unease -- a build-up of wild magic is located here; chaotic, ever-changing, yet somehow unyielding. A large metal door sits slightly ajar, encouraging the party to continue on.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Taking a quick step back to catch up...
Meresaa surveys the carnage clinically, taking note of the variety of creatures present and the appearance of their visible wounds, mentally cataloging them for future pondering.
Her interest piques at Nikita's revelation of the Gloura's alchemical properties and she smirks at Boyd's reaction to the information.
"I, too, had a similar dream. Possibly the same dream. It's clear these dreams are being conveyed to us purposefully to influence us in some way. It certainly renews the sense of urgency I previously felt in getting to the portal. But for all we know, these visions could have been induced by Mr. Ami himself."
She pauses to consider and absently rubs her chin with one long finger.
"That said, with a lack of evidence to the contrary, the illusion of free will is very much the same as genuine free will, from the subjects perspective... Yes," she asserts more confidently. "I concur. Confronting Mr. Ami with no further information would be very unlikely to yield beneficial results at this point. I believe we should stay the course and proceed to Ms. Hawkes' workshop."
Smiling down at Faila and Boyd, she places a comforting hand on the young girls shoulder.
"Very well-reasoned, my friends. This entire group continues to surprise and surpass expectations."
As the group's attention turns to the west to move around the house, Meresaa lingers toward the back just long enough to withdraw a pouch from her robe and stuff the severed Gloura wing into it. She stows the treasure for future research and nimbly catches up to the party.
Seeing Nikita's hesitation, Meresaa inhales deeply through her nose, noting the subtle shifts in the Weave.
"Indeed. As one who's spent much of my life studying the unpredictable, I'm not comfortable here. We should move quickly -- yet carefully -- and remain here no longer than absolutely necessary."
She pokes her head in the door and assesses the scene.
Boyd feels nothing at the portal, but his companions caution puts him on edge as well. He asks Toska, "You went down here, right? Is it safe... besides for Maude, I mean."
He proceeds cautiously, looking for traps. Perception: 8 (in game log)
Reaching out with your mind you sense that the Weave is clearly distorted and erratic within the workshop. You surmise, rather quickly, that it is here that the portal between planes is located. It also appears that Asha's initial warnings are likely true -- should the portal attempt to be magically closed by one lacking adequate training or magical ability, then the results could not only prove fatal but result in a permanent tear between planes. It is clear to you that the place is magically volatile and that precautions should be taken when casting any spells.
Boyd - You sense no traps as you enter the workshop.
Meresaa - I shall include your perception check at the end of the next post.
Nikita's mage hand tentatively pushed the door further open. An eerie purple glow lights the otherwise unlit small workshop. As soon as the party enters they are greeted by all manner of equipment ranging from alchemical devices to those that would not look out of place in a wizard's emporium. The desks heave with documentation not too dissimilar to Asha's notes previously found.
Turning to the right (east) of the workshop multiple things strike the group all at once. Firstly, a large arch appears to have been created out of rock; it is clear that this has been accomplished through supernatural means. Behind the arch, two large metal constructs, or perhaps cabinets, sit glowing red-hot as though super-heated. Several blue and red viny growths extend from these metal cabinets to the arch, wrapping themselves up and over; like arteries and veins through flesh.
((A rough rendition of the arch -- though I could not add the red and blue 'vines'!))
Secondly, an array of large tanks containing green liquid sit around the workshop. Thick-set gloves and big metal tongs lie next to the tanks, along with wax earplugs, and what appear to be medical utensils. Gore and ichor are smeared on both the utensils and the desks.
You swear you see movement from one of the larger tanks -- something swims within the water. You are unable to tell what it is, perhaps another of the Sagacitas tadpoles, or perhaps something more sinister.
Thirdly, a strange-looking toy porcelain doll is perched next to one of the desks. It seems bizarrely out of place and rocks side to side when the party enters.
You are not so easily fooled -- that is no doll, you see through the illusion. The doll's arms and legs are not arms and legs at all, but rather tentacles. Its face, rather than that of an innocent child, is more akin to a monkey, though turned inside out ((see post 761)).
As the creature opens its mouth, a nerve-wracking thought hits you -- could this be the singing doll that Nancy saw? Your question is almost instantly answered as its strange voice rings out, chittering and bubbling. You instinctively place your hands over your ears.
The doll's head spins around 360 degrees and opens its mouth. A strange bubbling (or perhaps a chittering) singing comes from the doll's mouth, filling the party (except for Meresaa) with a sense of fear and dread.
Nikita draws her breath in sharply as if scalded, hissing: "The Weave is incredibly unstable here. Do not cast spells while inside if avoidable. And do not attempt to close the portal. Could be disastrous unless using artifacts as the Tree Knight Captain suggested. Not that I know how anyway."
Thumbtack flies back to perch on Nikita's shoulder as she draws her rapier. She and the owl peer around nervously at the doll and other hazards.
NikitaPerception: 10 ThumbtackPerception (advantage for Keen Hearing and Sight, but first roll higher anyway): 19
"Asha," she whispers, "are you still there? This is your device? Do we... walk through? This is a dangerous place." (Aware of repeating herself now.)
Boyd looks uneasy entering the strangely bright and strangely warm workshop. He enters slowly and takes a good look around the room from the entrance; he stands on his tippy toes and peers around the corner to get a good look at the whole room. His eyes pause on the swaying doll. He looks uncomfortable even before it starts singing.
"Procan protect! What in the hells is that thing?!" He bursts out as it starts singing. He backs off and holds his knife out like he's going to throw it at the doll.
Faila walks slowly, tensely, rigid and alert as she follows the party into the workshop, the eddying currents of light and magic filling her with a level of alarm most often reserved for wild animals smelling smoke and burning. She distractedly turns her head to look at Nikita as the elf speaks, warning the group against using magic. She stands still, clearly struggling against something, beads of sweat rolling down her temples, the threat of magic, and the need to use magic to survive, battling within her.
But the doll seems to push her over the edge, and she lunges at it, teeth bared savagely as they grow to long points within her mouth.
Meresaa moves to stop Faila as the young girl rushes in but hesitates to take her hands away from her ears in a moment of unconscious self-preservation and misses the opportunity. She watches, in a flash of panic and horror, as she waits to see what happens.
The bizarre creature's singing turns into shrieking as Faila tears her way through its bulbous, fleshy body. Blood and ichor squirt over the walls and floor, coating everything, Faila included. Where there was sound, now there is deafening silence as the creature lies slain on the ground, its fragile body mutilated beyond healing.
"Well, that was certainlyone way to deal with that creature," Asha's wispy voice, seemingly coming from the stone arch, intones. "I would urge caution when approaching other species in the future..."
Movement from the tanks. Thumbtack relays the message urgently to your mind. Shapes swirling and swimming. Images of black tentacle shapes, possibly more Sagacitas, flow into your mind's eye.
Before Asha can continue, the Sagacitas creature bounds to the nearest tank and whips at it with its tentacles, cracking the containing glass.
"This is my device... once activated a portal forms within the stone arch. It should be stable enough to enter the feyrealm..." she pauses momentarily. "Of course, the last time I used the device it did not quite go as planned." There is a longer pause as Asha's contemplates what she says next.
"Probably best to ensure that no one switches the device off as you travel through... that might be a little problematic." Uncertainty creeps into her voice. "My workshop has changed a lot since I became trapped. The veil between planes is waning. I do not know if it is dangerous... or, come to think of it, whether the portal will even be able to be closed should the device be activated once more."
"I am afraid I am not sure you have much of a choice either way. Leave the portal untouched and in time it becomes increasingly more unstable until... well, that is anyone's guess. Open the portal and you'll be able to travel through, but there is no telling what may happen to you, the device, or Prospect in general." She sighs, "I wish I could be of more help. Really how you proceed is up to you. If it does help, whatever decision you make, know that my life, the Tree Knights' souls, the Sagacitas -- heck, the entirety of Saltmarsh and Oerth -- is in your hands." She pauses. "Does that help? I guess that might put a little more pressure on you. Oh. Uh. Oh well."
Faila, after tearing the doll like creature into pieces, stops when it is finally quiet. She spits a mouthful of blood out onto the floor as her teeth return to normal. She heaves a sigh of relief at the cessation of the sound, but continues to stand there, numb and silent.
Nikita stands shocked for a moment as Faila eviscerates the strange, tentacled, singing fey monkey (?). She refuses to think of it as a doll as the Cabal had. I would ask her to control her wild aggression, but just as well ask her to deny who she is. Perhaps it is best she embrace it as she just did.
She murmurs to the wild, young girl. "I may not always agree with what you do, but know that you remain our friend and companion no matter what instinctive actions you take. On that point, you never need to worry. We are all in this together."
With Thumbtack's communication and the Sagacitas' assault on the tank, she thinks urgently at it (and speaks aloud so everyone can hear): "Please be careful, Sagacitas. You know that your young attach to us and draw away our life force. Are those your young in the tanks, or your prey? If your young, of course we will not hinder you from uniting with them. But please contain them as you have done before so they do not harm us."
(She readies the dodge action.) "Asha, the tanks are not part of your device, are they? How do we open the portal?"
Unfortunately, not for the first time, Nikita realizes that this is far out of her realm of arcane expertise. Arcana: 13.
To the others: "Should we go back and request that the Tree Knights guard the portal that we go through so no one deactivates it as Asha is warning against? Going through sounds to me like the only way - if we are to recover the seven artifacts to safely contain the portal as we must."
"The tanks certainly have nothing to do with my device," Asha says, indignantly. "Likely an addition by the Cabal, in order to contain the Sagacitas. Whatever evil existed behind Theodore Sedgewick," her voice still rings with emotion as she mentions his name, "saw these creatures as more of a tool than sentient being."
As far as you can tell Asha is not misleading you regarding the tanks. You can see no way they are connected to the portal, other than the fact that their current inhabitants came from through it.
"The device is quite easy to activate... I trust it has not been adapted since I last used it. On the side of those giant generators, you will find a magical rune in the outline of a hand. All that is required to activate the device is for two people to place their hands within the outlines, simultaneously, one for each generator. You might feel a little tingling, but that is quite natural," Asha explains in a more assertive, lecturer-esque voice.
Looking at the generators, both have clearly designated areas where a hand should be placed. You surmise that the action somehow draws from innate arcane ability within the user. Either that or it draws from the arcane energy located in the vicinity of the device, you are not quite sure.
You believe that there should be no lasting effect on those operating the device. Though ultimately, you are unsure of this fact.
Faila's eyes fill with tears at Nikita's words. Such an offer of belonging feels so far away, so distant from anything she knows. This is when I always get run out of town. It's a heartbreaking thought, and a difficult one to put away in the interest of the crucial decision they are all about to make.
Like a child much younger than her years, Faila suddenly comes out of her frozen stance and runs towards Meresaa, and huddles next to the blue woman, hiding her face in her robe.
Nikita listens calmly as Asha explains what she knows of her portal. Let us hope she is still right. I wonder who was the second person who placed their hand on the other rune for Sedgewick. Perhaps it was Asha herself.
She walks carefully to the generator on the right, locating the rune. "Two people then. One each to place their hand on the rune on each side. I will be one. Lady Meresaa, do you see any risk here that I do not? Other than the obvious risk of extraplanar travel through an unstable portal to a dangerous realm of course. And shall we go back quickly to bring the Tree Knights? Either to guard the portal after we go through, or to come through with us if they choose? I think they have earned that choice, have they not, especially when they thought we were returning to town when we departed."
She looks with sympathy at Boyd, the grizzled man's fear of the arcane likely making this fateful choice an even more daunting one than for most. And at Faila, ferocity transformed into burying her face in the blue woman's robes. None of them asked for this. Nor did I. But I will see it through.
Boyd looks numb as the doll thing is torn to shreds. He quietly puts away his knife and stands frozen in thought, halfway back out the door. Finally, his throat rumbles back to life, "Well. I suppose I should ask the wood elves if they want back home. Lady Meresaa.. do you - ah - want to put your hand on the wall... or - uh - should I? ... ... I'll leave you to decide."
On the way back out to get the wood elves, he gives Faila a sad smile. One that says he doesn't know what to do about any of this either.
Meresaa accepts Faila into her embrace. She lowers to one knee and removes a piece of fabric from a pocket, clearly a shop rag for cleaning messes in the laboratory. She spends the next minute or two gently wiping the ichor off of the girls face and hands, carefully removing what she can from her hair.
She continues for several moments in silence. Eventually, she quietly says, "You did well, Faila. At times we are all frightened by what difficult circumstances bring out in us. It reveals truths about ourselves that we hadn't known and, oftentimes, we wish we could return to blissful ignorance."
She picks a bit of rubbery tentacle flesh from behind Faila's ear and flicks it away before the girl can see it. Returning her large, cobalt eyes to the young druid's, she smiles reassuringly.
"But all of this is growth. Knowing one's self better is never a bad thing. If you don't like what you learn, meditate on it. Find a way to use it to your liking, but never deny your nature."
Folding the cloth, she finds a relatively clean and dry patch to give Faila's left cheek a final wipe before holding her at arms length to regard her work. A smirk hints at one side of her mouth as she gives a faint shrug and stands to regard the others, one arm still around the diminutive urchin.
Eventually responding to each in turn, she matter-of-factly states, "I see no obvious risk beyond the blatant unknown. We've come this far. No sense is stopping now." She glances back out the door, toward the house. "I believe making good on our commitment to the knights is in order. Giving them the choice of keeping watch at the portal or crossing over with us seems prudent. I had rather hoped Mr. Nack would be back by now. Having him or one of the folks from the circus watch the portal would be the preferable option, if it were available. But regardless, one of us should retrieve the knights before we press on. And press on we shall, as I've pressed my hand on more questionable surfaces than this." She grins at her own wit and waits for a reaction that most likely isn't coming before sighing softly.
Faila bites her lip, thinking, as she surveys the scene of carnage. "I did have the dream, about the book," she says. The glamor she felt about Sahmyr Ami seems to have faded at the grisly scene in front of her, and finally she says, "I think I have changed my mind. I don't think that Sahmyr Ami will be helpful to us. I think that he will trick us. I think that we should proceed without talking to him. Look what these Feywild creatures have done here. We must trust to our own senses, and not to the words of a sorcerer that will sound wonderful."
Boyd listens to Nikita's report. "Yeah, you won't catch me drinking a wing potion... Sounds like there's a lot more 'round here than we thought. Plus who knows what's still hiding in the house. I don't think we can clear this place out no more - we oughta pick a direction and move in it."
Upon hearing Faila's reasoning, Boyd nods his head. "I reckoned you had a good head on your shoulders. Yeah, this Sammerammy fella's up to no good. No use just lettin' him twist our heads in knots."
"We ought to get to that portal, and quick then, I reckon."
Morning - Day 4 - The Hawkes Device
Resolving to visit the portal first and foremost, the party head towards the north of the grounds. Perhaps driven by curiosity, or maybe by a greater understanding of what the party are up to, the Sagacitas creature (the size of a small elephant) hurtles over to join the group. Its form rapidly shimmers and begins to shrink until it becomes a more manageable size (more akin to a large dog).
Choosing the safer of the two options, the party moves westward around Prospect's house, avoiding the animated plant-bear. Dew clings to their boots and clothes as they brush the heavily overgrown plant life. Assuredly, the grounds and house of Prospect would have been extravagant and beautiful in their day. Thoughts of lavish parties and the endless indulgence often enjoyed by the upper echelons of society come to mind. How then, would Asha, the perceived 'problem-child' have factored into her parents' affairs? Would the grounds with their rolling meadows, radiant gardens, and small boating lake have become an ornate prison to one such as she?
Looking around the place now, it is clear to see that Asha's life of privilege and wealth was far from comfortable. Restrictions, rules, a lack of freedom or understanding would have undoubtedly plagued the young girl's mind. Could such a mind have created a being like the elusive Sahmyr Ami? Ordinarily, such a thought might be the best explanation for Asha's childhood. Except that was not the case, who or whatever the being was that had dogged Asha's steps over the years was very much real and -- not only that -- had been responsible for the ill that now threatened Prospect and Saltmarsh itself.
Serving as a contrast to the sombre mood that pervaded both the party and grounds, the day was, on the whole, bright and cheery. Sounds of crickets, bees, and other small creatures -- not all entirely of the world of Oerth -- going about their business can be heard over the gentle breeze. Not only do many of the local fauna appear to be alien and otherworldly, but the smells; rich and vibrant, enticing and spicy, like a well-fermented wine, they assail the senses and add to the general mysticism.
In the centre of the lake large ripples emanate outwards, as though a giant raindrop had struck the surface of the water. Thumbtack lets out a loud hoot and quickly flies on by, keen that the party do not venture to close to the water's edge.
Obscured by thick vegetation and vines, you now come to a small building, tucked away as though it was attempting to remain hidden from sight. The magic users of the party instantly feel a sense of unease -- a build-up of wild magic is located here; chaotic, ever-changing, yet somehow unyielding. A large metal door sits slightly ajar, encouraging the party to continue on.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Nikita pauses, a line of worry creasing her brow. "This is a dangerous place. I don't just mean Prospect. I mean this. The magic here is..."
She attempts to touch the Weave with her cantrips, to gauge the risk posed by the wild magic. Arcana: 15.
If she can't reach a conclusion, her Mage Hand gently pulls at the door from a distance to try to open it a bit further so the party can see inside.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Taking a quick step back to catch up...
Meresaa surveys the carnage clinically, taking note of the variety of creatures present and the appearance of their visible wounds, mentally cataloging them for future pondering.
Her interest piques at Nikita's revelation of the Gloura's alchemical properties and she smirks at Boyd's reaction to the information.
"I, too, had a similar dream. Possibly the same dream. It's clear these dreams are being conveyed to us purposefully to influence us in some way. It certainly renews the sense of urgency I previously felt in getting to the portal. But for all we know, these visions could have been induced by Mr. Ami himself."
She pauses to consider and absently rubs her chin with one long finger.
"That said, with a lack of evidence to the contrary, the illusion of free will is very much the same as genuine free will, from the subjects perspective... Yes," she asserts more confidently. "I concur. Confronting Mr. Ami with no further information would be very unlikely to yield beneficial results at this point. I believe we should stay the course and proceed to Ms. Hawkes' workshop."
Smiling down at Faila and Boyd, she places a comforting hand on the young girls shoulder.
"Very well-reasoned, my friends. This entire group continues to surprise and surpass expectations."
As the group's attention turns to the west to move around the house, Meresaa lingers toward the back just long enough to withdraw a pouch from her robe and stuff the severed Gloura wing into it. She stows the treasure for future research and nimbly catches up to the party.
Seeing Nikita's hesitation, Meresaa inhales deeply through her nose, noting the subtle shifts in the Weave.
"Indeed. As one who's spent much of my life studying the unpredictable, I'm not comfortable here. We should move quickly -- yet carefully -- and remain here no longer than absolutely necessary."
She pokes her head in the door and assesses the scene.
Perception: 15 (+6 if you'd prefer Investigation...I know I would 😅)
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Boyd feels nothing at the portal, but his companions caution puts him on edge as well. He asks Toska, "You went down here, right? Is it safe... besides for Maude, I mean."
He proceeds cautiously, looking for traps. Perception: 8 (in game log)
Nikita's Arcana check:
Reaching out with your mind you sense that the Weave is clearly distorted and erratic within the workshop. You surmise, rather quickly, that it is here that the portal between planes is located. It also appears that Asha's initial warnings are likely true -- should the portal attempt to be magically closed by one lacking adequate training or magical ability, then the results could not only prove fatal but result in a permanent tear between planes. It is clear to you that the place is magically volatile and that precautions should be taken when casting any spells.
Boyd - You sense no traps as you enter the workshop.
Meresaa - I shall include your perception check at the end of the next post.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Morning - Day 4 - The Hawkes Device Continued...
Nikita's mage hand tentatively pushed the door further open. An eerie purple glow lights the otherwise unlit small workshop. As soon as the party enters they are greeted by all manner of equipment ranging from alchemical devices to those that would not look out of place in a wizard's emporium. The desks heave with documentation not too dissimilar to Asha's notes previously found.
Secondly, an array of large tanks containing green liquid sit around the workshop. Thick-set gloves and big metal tongs lie next to the tanks, along with wax earplugs, and what appear to be medical utensils. Gore and ichor are smeared on both the utensils and the desks.
Meresaa's perception check:
You swear you see movement from one of the larger tanks -- something swims within the water. You are unable to tell what it is, perhaps another of the Sagacitas tadpoles, or perhaps something more sinister.
Thirdly, a strange-looking toy porcelain doll is perched next to one of the desks. It seems bizarrely out of place and rocks side to side when the party enters.
Meresaa's perception check:
You are not so easily fooled -- that is no doll, you see through the illusion. The doll's arms and legs are not arms and legs at all, but rather tentacles. Its face, rather than that of an innocent child, is more akin to a monkey, though turned inside out ((see post 761)).
As the creature opens its mouth, a nerve-wracking thought hits you -- could this be the singing doll that Nancy saw? Your question is almost instantly answered as its strange voice rings out, chittering and bubbling. You instinctively place your hands over your ears.
The doll's head spins around 360 degrees and opens its mouth. A strange bubbling (or perhaps a chittering) singing comes from the doll's mouth, filling the party (except for Meresaa) with a sense of fear and dread.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Nikita draws her breath in sharply as if scalded, hissing: "The Weave is incredibly unstable here. Do not cast spells while inside if avoidable. And do not attempt to close the portal. Could be disastrous unless using artifacts as the Tree Knight Captain suggested. Not that I know how anyway."
Thumbtack flies back to perch on Nikita's shoulder as she draws her rapier. She and the owl peer around nervously at the doll and other hazards.
Nikita Perception: 10
Thumbtack Perception (advantage for Keen Hearing and Sight, but first roll higher anyway): 19
"Asha," she whispers, "are you still there? This is your device? Do we... walk through? This is a dangerous place." (Aware of repeating herself now.)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Boyd looks uneasy entering the strangely bright and strangely warm workshop. He enters slowly and takes a good look around the room from the entrance; he stands on his tippy toes and peers around the corner to get a good look at the whole room. His eyes pause on the swaying doll. He looks uncomfortable even before it starts singing.
"Procan protect! What in the hells is that thing?!" He bursts out as it starts singing. He backs off and holds his knife out like he's going to throw it at the doll.
Faila walks slowly, tensely, rigid and alert as she follows the party into the workshop, the eddying currents of light and magic filling her with a level of alarm most often reserved for wild animals smelling smoke and burning. She distractedly turns her head to look at Nikita as the elf speaks, warning the group against using magic. She stands still, clearly struggling against something, beads of sweat rolling down her temples, the threat of magic, and the need to use magic to survive, battling within her.
But the doll seems to push her over the edge, and she lunges at it, teeth bared savagely as they grow to long points within her mouth.
Meresaa moves to stop Faila as the young girl rushes in but hesitates to take her hands away from her ears in a moment of unconscious self-preservation and misses the opportunity. She watches, in a flash of panic and horror, as she waits to see what happens.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Morning - Day 4 - Well that escalated quickly...
The bizarre creature's singing turns into shrieking as Faila tears her way through its bulbous, fleshy body. Blood and ichor squirt over the walls and floor, coating everything, Faila included. Where there was sound, now there is deafening silence as the creature lies slain on the ground, its fragile body mutilated beyond healing.
"Well, that was certainly one way to deal with that creature," Asha's wispy voice, seemingly coming from the stone arch, intones. "I would urge caution when approaching other species in the future..."
Thumbtack's perception check:
Movement from the tanks. Thumbtack relays the message urgently to your mind. Shapes swirling and swimming. Images of black tentacle shapes, possibly more Sagacitas, flow into your mind's eye.
Before Asha can continue, the Sagacitas creature bounds to the nearest tank and whips at it with its tentacles, cracking the containing glass.
"This is my device... once activated a portal forms within the stone arch. It should be stable enough to enter the feyrealm..." she pauses momentarily. "Of course, the last time I used the device it did not quite go as planned." There is a longer pause as Asha's contemplates what she says next.
"Probably best to ensure that no one switches the device off as you travel through... that might be a little problematic." Uncertainty creeps into her voice. "My workshop has changed a lot since I became trapped. The veil between planes is waning. I do not know if it is dangerous... or, come to think of it, whether the portal will even be able to be closed should the device be activated once more."
"I am afraid I am not sure you have much of a choice either way. Leave the portal untouched and in time it becomes increasingly more unstable until... well, that is anyone's guess. Open the portal and you'll be able to travel through, but there is no telling what may happen to you, the device, or Prospect in general." She sighs, "I wish I could be of more help. Really how you proceed is up to you. If it does help, whatever decision you make, know that my life, the Tree Knights' souls, the Sagacitas -- heck, the entirety of Saltmarsh and Oerth -- is in your hands." She pauses. "Does that help? I guess that might put a little more pressure on you. Oh. Uh. Oh well."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Faila, after tearing the doll like creature into pieces, stops when it is finally quiet. She spits a mouthful of blood out onto the floor as her teeth return to normal. She heaves a sigh of relief at the cessation of the sound, but continues to stand there, numb and silent.
Nikita stands shocked for a moment as Faila eviscerates the strange, tentacled, singing fey monkey (?). She refuses to think of it as a doll as the Cabal had. I would ask her to control her wild aggression, but just as well ask her to deny who she is. Perhaps it is best she embrace it as she just did.
She murmurs to the wild, young girl. "I may not always agree with what you do, but know that you remain our friend and companion no matter what instinctive actions you take. On that point, you never need to worry. We are all in this together."
With Thumbtack's communication and the Sagacitas' assault on the tank, she thinks urgently at it (and speaks aloud so everyone can hear):
"Please be careful, Sagacitas. You know that your young attach to us and draw away our life force. Are those your young in the tanks, or your prey? If your young, of course we will not hinder you from uniting with them. But please contain them as you have done before so they do not harm us."
(She readies the dodge action.) "Asha, the tanks are not part of your device, are they? How do we open the portal?"
Unfortunately, not for the first time, Nikita realizes that this is far out of her realm of arcane expertise. Arcana: 13.
To the others: "Should we go back and request that the Tree Knights guard the portal that we go through so no one deactivates it as Asha is warning against? Going through sounds to me like the only way - if we are to recover the seven artifacts to safely contain the portal as we must."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"The tanks certainly have nothing to do with my device," Asha says, indignantly. "Likely an addition by the Cabal, in order to contain the Sagacitas. Whatever evil existed behind Theodore Sedgewick," her voice still rings with emotion as she mentions his name, "saw these creatures as more of a tool than sentient being."
Nikita Arcana Check:
As far as you can tell Asha is not misleading you regarding the tanks. You can see no way they are connected to the portal, other than the fact that their current inhabitants came from through it.
"The device is quite easy to activate... I trust it has not been adapted since I last used it. On the side of those giant generators, you will find a magical rune in the outline of a hand. All that is required to activate the device is for two people to place their hands within the outlines, simultaneously, one for each generator. You might feel a little tingling, but that is quite natural," Asha explains in a more assertive, lecturer-esque voice.
Nikita Arcana Check:
Looking at the generators, both have clearly designated areas where a hand should be placed. You surmise that the action somehow draws from innate arcane ability within the user. Either that or it draws from the arcane energy located in the vicinity of the device, you are not quite sure.
You believe that there should be no lasting effect on those operating the device. Though ultimately, you are unsure of this fact.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Faila's eyes fill with tears at Nikita's words. Such an offer of belonging feels so far away, so distant from anything she knows. This is when I always get run out of town. It's a heartbreaking thought, and a difficult one to put away in the interest of the crucial decision they are all about to make.
Like a child much younger than her years, Faila suddenly comes out of her frozen stance and runs towards Meresaa, and huddles next to the blue woman, hiding her face in her robe.
Nikita listens calmly as Asha explains what she knows of her portal. Let us hope she is still right. I wonder who was the second person who placed their hand on the other rune for Sedgewick. Perhaps it was Asha herself.
She walks carefully to the generator on the right, locating the rune. "Two people then. One each to place their hand on the rune on each side. I will be one. Lady Meresaa, do you see any risk here that I do not? Other than the obvious risk of extraplanar travel through an unstable portal to a dangerous realm of course. And shall we go back quickly to bring the Tree Knights? Either to guard the portal after we go through, or to come through with us if they choose? I think they have earned that choice, have they not, especially when they thought we were returning to town when we departed."
She looks with sympathy at Boyd, the grizzled man's fear of the arcane likely making this fateful choice an even more daunting one than for most. And at Faila, ferocity transformed into burying her face in the blue woman's robes. None of them asked for this. Nor did I. But I will see it through.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Boyd looks numb as the doll thing is torn to shreds. He quietly puts away his knife and stands frozen in thought, halfway back out the door. Finally, his throat rumbles back to life, "Well. I suppose I should ask the wood elves if they want back home. Lady Meresaa.. do you - ah - want to put your hand on the wall... or - uh - should I? ... ... I'll leave you to decide."
On the way back out to get the wood elves, he gives Faila a sad smile. One that says he doesn't know what to do about any of this either.
Meresaa accepts Faila into her embrace. She lowers to one knee and removes a piece of fabric from a pocket, clearly a shop rag for cleaning messes in the laboratory. She spends the next minute or two gently wiping the ichor off of the girls face and hands, carefully removing what she can from her hair.
She continues for several moments in silence. Eventually, she quietly says, "You did well, Faila. At times we are all frightened by what difficult circumstances bring out in us. It reveals truths about ourselves that we hadn't known and, oftentimes, we wish we could return to blissful ignorance."
She picks a bit of rubbery tentacle flesh from behind Faila's ear and flicks it away before the girl can see it. Returning her large, cobalt eyes to the young druid's, she smiles reassuringly.
"But all of this is growth. Knowing one's self better is never a bad thing. If you don't like what you learn, meditate on it. Find a way to use it to your liking, but never deny your nature."
Folding the cloth, she finds a relatively clean and dry patch to give Faila's left cheek a final wipe before holding her at arms length to regard her work. A smirk hints at one side of her mouth as she gives a faint shrug and stands to regard the others, one arm still around the diminutive urchin.
Eventually responding to each in turn, she matter-of-factly states, "I see no obvious risk beyond the blatant unknown. We've come this far. No sense is stopping now." She glances back out the door, toward the house. "I believe making good on our commitment to the knights is in order. Giving them the choice of keeping watch at the portal or crossing over with us seems prudent. I had rather hoped Mr. Nack would be back by now. Having him or one of the folks from the circus watch the portal would be the preferable option, if it were available. But regardless, one of us should retrieve the knights before we press on. And press on we shall, as I've pressed my hand on more questionable surfaces than this." She grins at her own wit and waits for a reaction that most likely isn't coming before sighing softly.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age