Muir takes out his starry map and unleashes a bolt of radiant magic from close quarters at the Mireah Hit 23 Dam 14. He watches Sam full to the ground unconscious and quickly casts healing word. Muir's focus was panicked and causing the heal to do minimum healing for Sam (6HPs.). Muir speaks his tree in Druidic
Muirs bear takes a bite and swipe with his claws at Mireah
Gewyn gives up trying to pry away the restraints around his legs and body and goes still as he looks Rynwell in the eyes, his now pale and alien features reflecting in the moonlight. "Sure, I don't hate the animals I call food. I also don't spend my time trying to justify my actions to them. It's a waste of breathe, and breathe is precious."With that, Gewyn holds his hand before his mouth, and opens his fist as he blows a cloud of choking powder directly into Rynwell's face.
Having her foe directly in front of her, unnerves Elthana enough that she misses her first two attempts to hit the woman. Unsure if it is the proximity or the fact her tattoo is not working, she pushes through on her last attempt and hits her directly across the face.
Muir's starry bolt hits Mireah square in the face and her spring flowers begin to wilt, her grey and green skin sallows a little and blossoms of white bud taking over where the colourful flowers died off, the sister of spring undergoes a small but not insignificant change. She retaliates using one legendary action this turn to strike out at Muir, (30 to hit, for 16 bludgeoning damage and Muir is restrained by vines), Muir's polar bear gets off two final attacks landing them both perfectly, and then disappearing should Mireah's attack have caused Muir unconsciousness.
Rynwell scowls at Gewyn just in time to breathe in a whole heap of dust, she claws at her own throat as she begins needing oxygen simultaneously beginning to sneeze and choke without end.
Elthana's final desperate attack hits, even in her cursed state, Elthana uses the monks knowledge and ability to stun her prey, twisting her hand into specific muscles as to paralyse Tialha, and she lock up, for a second. Her eyes twitch and she looks to Elthana, using the powers of a legendary resistance Tialha shrugs off the stun once again.
Sam's body absorbs the healing magic of Muir's healing energy, and Sam stands once more, his eyes burn with a rage that none in the party have seen before.
Seeing Vin starting to choke and sneeze on the dust he'd blown, Gewyn shouts out, "Hey Vin, you are 'Born of Fire!' Remember? You going to let a little dust quell your flame?" (1d8 Bardic inspiration)
Rynwell continues coughing unable to shake the coughing and sneezing, stepping back into the tree she appears a lot further away stepping out of a tree away from everyone she doubles over gasping for breath.
Tialha meanwhile gives Elthana another slap, clasping both of her wintery cold hands on either side of Elthana's head, the magic buzzes and swirls in Elthana's ears and shaking her eyes. (33 to hit, 22 radiant damage) She hears through the buzzing a whisper from Tialha;
"we will own this world, those of us gone and those of us that yet remain"
Mireah stands to face Muir once more after recoiling and reforming due to his starry blast to her head, she already has him restrained and so she merely squeezes what little remains in the loxodon (16 bludgeoning damage) she leans close and whispers.
"it is the nature of spring to bring renewal and rebirth, times change new eras are born, one is coming, but it will not be yours"
The sisters Polar bear attacks Neferox with both bite and claw, as Sarah disappears from view, (21 to hit, 8piercing damage. 23 to hit, 11 slashing damage). Shionne, unaffected by the dust that Gewyn blew out looks away from Sam and sees Neferox in her grasp, the hound is restrained and also gasping for air, sneezing continuously, Shionne has no words for the dog, simply looks down at the thing with pity as she too squeezes the remainder of what was once the life blood of Vin's companion out and onto the floor. (16 bludgeoning damage)
As Muir is released his body falls to the floor and similar to Sam the field begins to quickly grow over his body, tearing at his clothes and rooting into his skin.
Sam takes off running south... Head no longer tilting, his frenzied eyes focused straight forward... Sam runs thirty feet south... Sam dashes further, pushing himself another fifteen feet until he is adjacent with Elthana... He attempts to scoop up his cursed and bubbly teammate into his arms and then shifts his movement mostly to the east, apparently running for the Awakened Tree...
As Elthana Stuns the crap out of the winter sister and leaves her in the dust, Sam scoops Elthana up handsomely in his arms and takes her over to where Muir is being absorbed into the ground, or Sam would have, If he hadn't taken Elthana a little bit further and deposited her directly in front of Mireah instead.
Mireah now at a loss for someone to attack looks thankful to have been brought another victim and she Wastes no time in attacking Elthana. (22 to hit, 15 bludgeoning)
Shionne surprised by the resilience of Neferox who has only just stopped sneezing, simply squeezes tighter in response, (15 bludegoning damage) letting go of the dogs body and watching it start to be absorbed into the ground too, she says something Sylvan to the bear before she turns and walks into her tree stump, appearing once more near Vin.
With no more prey in front of it, the polar bear heeds the word of its master and turns tail, finding Elthana to the south of it, it bounds toward her and attempts to bite and claw at her form as she is restrained by Mireah, (Bite, 20 to hit, 12 piercing. Claw, 22 to hit, 16 slashing)
Rynwell relaxes and smiles toward Gewyn from afar, she stops coughing. It's not that she fought through the effects of the powder more that she just now stopped pretending to be inconvenienced by it, (final Legendary resistance used) she watches him struggle and remain restrained by the vine trap, then she too steps into the tree she is by and steps out of one near Gewyn.
Gewyn gives up struggling and starts belting at the top of his lungs. The tune is defiant, and the lyrics are foreign. He isn't even sure he is speaking real words in the faerie tongue. Rather, his tongue simply forms sounds and syllables that feel familiar, and almost comforting to him.
(Mantle of Inspiration. Another 8 HP and movement w/o AoO for Gewyn and Vin)
"The thing is," Gewyn says, breaking off the song and staring Rynwell in the eyes. "You're right. I have been hiding who I am, out of shame and fear. But I am through hiding my true form from the world!" He thrusts his chest forward proudly and sneers. "But you are a filthy hypocrite. You hide your hideous deformities from us even now. What's your excuse? What was it that was taken from you?" His expression borders on sincerity for his last question.
vicious mockery DC 16, 5 damage and disadvantage on next attack
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vin seeing Nef, Sam, Elthana, Muir and the rest all going down one by one until it's just Vina nd Gewyn left visible has the boy shaken. He cries out "Dammit! Everyone. Hold on!" Then focuses his attention back on the enemies. Vin has things to heal his friends but he can't apply them while these hags stand in his way. He just prays they will survive a bit longer as the hags are seeming pretty injured as well. If Gewyn and Vin can't take them down then everyone will be lost. With that in mind and worry running in his head Vin uses the magical from Gewyn to get clear of the hags and continue to focus Rynwell with his attacks. He's pretty tapped on options so he just keeps blasting her hoping that the pair of them can take them out in time to save their friends. Two more beams of magical power sent streaming at Rynwell again.
Rynwell stretches out a hand and physically repels vin's first attack, the second is dodged as she lowers a shoulder slightly and then regards the two, the magic in Gewyn's insults also don't seem to take root.
With a hand wave Mireah dismisses the polar bear, who fades from existence, and Mireah too steps into the tree near her and reappears just to the north of Gewyn.
Tialha shrugs off the stunning force of Elthana's last blow, then she too steps into her tree, reappearing directly next to Vin.
"What was taken from me? EVERYTHING!" Screams Rynwell, "everything that mattered was ripped from me one way or another..." As she trails off she sheds the appearance of damage, as do each of the other sisters, rynwell points to each of them in turn.
Tialha, the daughter of winter, begins to look sickly, her cold and icy skin begins to tighten against her bones and the extremities of her icy branches break off into ash as her body descends into the ground.
Mireah, daughter of spring, she loses the green in her Green/Greying skin, the flowers that make up her hair face the floor, wilting out of grief, her shoulders slump and her eyes water, she turns to the tree the connection on the back of her legs shattering as she walks into it and disappears... For good.
Shionne, daughter of summer, she looks toward Rynwell with pity, she surrounds herself in the warmth of golden light, and turns away from her remaining sister, her connection also shattering as she ascends out of sight.
Leaving only Rynwell left alone, "you couldn't imagine having three parts of yourself leave you, splitting your soul" she begins meekly, but takes a breath and redoubles her anger at Vin and Gewyn, "I would do anything to get them all back, sacrifice anything, and I have!" Blackened infernal corruption begins working its way up Rynwell's leg, twisting her body into corrupt and burnt roots as it spreads turning her fingers into claws, igniting an infernal flame in her chest and behind her eyes, and blackening the antler like branches that protrude from her head, Gewyn recognises this as the Rynwell he saw before, the real vision of the Night Hag, "This was my sacrifice, but tell me, what would you be willing to give up to save your friends? To save your world? Would you give your own lives? Would you give your own souls...
No, you don't have the courage.
In here, you cannot harm me in any way that truly matters, so what is your next move?" As she finishes speaking, each of the fallen party members are fully absorbed into the ground, their bodies consumed and buried out of sight, the ground above them grows over as though they never stood there in the first place, the vines grasping at Gewyn's legs let go, returning into the ground too and Rynwell simply looks at Vin and Gewyn, watching, waiting.
Comprehension hits Vin. He knows where they are. He suspected a dream but he never bothered to think whose dream. It's why everything is so controlled. It's why the ground seems to obey her will. It's why Nef felt this place was similar but different to the dream place she was attacked in before. This was all Rynwell. Everything was hers to command. Its why the ground sucked up their friends and family. It's why they all scream out in pain together. It's why they look different. This is Rynwell's dream. He listens as she stops her assault for a moment. Summoning the memories of her sister's back. Controlling them in ways only one in a dream could control others. They could of easily been overwhelmed by Rynwell and her sisters so if she's summoning them back... he listens.
As she asks for Vin's next move he holds his action. A spell ready to cast at the slightest sign of combat again. He may prefer talking and peaceful solutions but he wasn't one to just let evil win either. He'd go down fighting if he had to, striving to save those he loves and cares for. Worry gnawing at his mind for Nef and the others. As he holds his magic though he replies "My next move? Is to listen to you. Then tell you something. You're right, I can't imagine being split like that. However; If what you say is true, if you want them back, then do you realize Shionne is dying? Do you realize that what you are doing, the changes to the portal, It's killing her and the other beings from your world. If you really wanted to sacrifice anything to get them back then you need to stop or you will lose your chance be reunited, forever. So let our friends go and stop this craziness of changing the portal. That is the only path left to you if you ever want to be with your sister. So please, stop. Not just because we want you to but also because it will help you too."
"You know nothing of me," Gewyn spits. "Of what I would or wouldn't sacrifice. If the cost of peace was my identity, my life, my soul? To save the world? I would offer it in a heartbeat."
Rynwell looks hard at Vin, then her hard face softens slightly. "you speak the truth? Shionne is in your plane and dying... she would have been saved if she didn't turn her back on me... throwing herself into the arms of the monarchy, taking on the roles of our departed sisters, she made her choice... she is as much to blame for my lack of places to turn, for my having to face the corruption alone, for my sacrificing everything to return Tialha once more, If it weren't for her Mireah may have never left! If you truly want to help me then you will stay here and perish, accept that your life will bring balance once more to the Faewyld. by any means..."
As Gewyn interjects with his defiant statement Rynwell squints, her eyes see through him and her face turns to one of disgust, "you, your lies and cowardice are plain to see, I knew that you didn't have the courage, your life is a performance but now no one is entertained, how about a taste of reality? If you wish to prove yourself so much then show me, put some actual action into those words that you rely on so much..." the visible world distorts slightly around both Vin and Gewyn, the flash of a glowing red portal appears momentarily underneath them and they smell sulphur, but Rynwell remains stead fast as the ground and the trees align back to where they were. A pain shoots through each of your stomachs as you look down to see a Dagger buried there, blood soaks your clothes down to your feet and you feel vertigo swim through your heads "take that dagger and take your life!... The only way to stop me is to show your devotion to your cause, because without it you are nothing."
Gewyn reels in pain. His head swims with thoughts. Maybe I can talk my way out of this... No, she is a different kind of insane, and I am too tired to thread that psychological needle. If I laced my words with magic... No, I tried before when she was feeding on Nef. She shrugged it off like it was nothing. Wait, what if this is a dream? And perhaps by falling asleep, I can wake from it... No, I'm probably no more likely to survive falling asleep than if if really do finish myself with this dagger. Wait, but maybe that's key? Maybe this is some kind of test... So what, I'm going to let myself die here just in case? No there's got to be a better... It hurts...
Not just the dagger, but the thinking. The stress. The struggle.
His defiant words had indeed been a bluff. For years, Gewyn had not really wanted to live... but he hadn't really wanted to die either. On one hand, an existence that was dull grey at best, punctuated with times of pain and stress. On the other, oblivion. Or possibly a continuation in some afterlife. Gewyn wasn't sure which scared him more, and he never put in the time and work to figure it out. It was easier to not make a decision. To just continue going through the motions, come what may.
But why do I keep playing? Why do I keep putting myself on stage? I keep just making things harder for myself.To try to give others what he no longer feels, he realizes. So then, if there's is no running away from the choice anymore, maybe just this one last time, I try to make things better for a world I am leaving one way or another...
His one free hand slowly goes to the dagger in his stomach. He flinches, as just grabbing the hilt causes pain to fire through his nerves. Then he pauses to look over at Vin, just to know was being seen one last time. He looks back at Rynwell and starts singing once more, loud and defiant, in that tongue foreign to even himself. Blood drips from his pale lips as his voice grows hoarse. He closes his eyes. Then he plunges the dagger even deeper into his abdomen, driving the last note from his body with a gasp.
As Gewyn falls, Vin was left in the silence. Whatever mad ravings Rynwell had he couldn't hear them for there has always been one fear that was above all else for Vin. Being alone again. The memories of the uncaring orphanage. The agony of remembering the isolation as he was ostracized for having pointed ears instead of rounded ones. The feeling of helplessness when people looked away from his hungry and starving body. Vin draws strength from others. He finds his center with others. It's not that he cannot be on his own for a bit. He always looks for a way to return to those who show him kindness. Try as he might, as the last person he was drawing comfort from fell, he couldn't keep at bay the thought... (What If I'm wrong.)
What if everyone really is dying? What if Gewyn really did stab himself? He has no real idea how this place works only theories. Dreams, feywyld, demons, fairies, his world, their world. It's all just theory what's going on. They could be trapped in a dream. Their real bodies unconscious. They could all be fine. They could also be subject to an illusion. Their bodies very much being harmed while they try to suss out the truth. People really dying. People he cares for. Nef could be dying. The one that loved him unconditionally and kept his fear at bay. Muir could be dying. The one that makes him think of new possibilities. Elthana, could be dying. The one that drives him to do better. Sam could be dying. The one who gives him courage past his other fears. Gewyn could be dying. The one who gave Vin hope that things would get better. Vin begins to cry as he watches Gewyn fall onto the ground. Tears falling down his face. Fear welling in his soul.
Would Vin die for others? Yes. In a heart beat.
There wasn't a fear for himself. In fact, Vin doesn't see himself as very valuable at all. An unwanted orphan that never had any friends until he met a puppy. He didn't value his life very much. A sacrifice was something he would do. However, if there was anything that would make sure that Vin would fight. It was to fight to save these people. It was to fight to save Nef. If the hag could even remotely assure him that his friends would be okay if he died. That Nef would live on. He would die for them. However, if Rynwell was looking for Vin to sacrifice himself she played it all wrong. The only thing she has done, is made Vin fight harder. He won't stop until she's down. He won't stop until he has saved his friends.
He looks to Rynwell and says very sadly, "I would die in a moment for my friends, to save other's lives. There's a problem with what you ask. It's not just my life in the balance. Rynwell, it's all of my friends. Would you of sacrificed Tialha to prevent Mireah leaving? That's what you're asking of me because you have everyone I care for in your clutches now. I'm the only one left to save them. If I could believe for a moment you would spare my friends if I died then I would die. I would much rather you stop. Much rather you talk with Shionne and work things out. I'd much rather you should her and us you are not too far gone and help us stop the darkness coming. Darkness I'm positive all three of your sisters would hate. If they were allreally here, would even one of them like what you are doing?"
He takes a deep breath and a hardness comes over him. Vin gets a look of determination in his eyes. "You say you can't be harmed here. As it is... maybe you are invincible here. Then this is all in vain. we were dead the moment I rang the bell. It's possible you're not though. I'm sorry. I'm going to fight you if you won't stop. I have friends that might be counting on me."
Vin unleashes his spell.
He doesn't target Rynwell. He targets the tree she is attached to in the center. Making a 5 foot wide column of fire as he creates a raging bonfire at the base of the tree Rynwell and the others all came from.
DEX save DC 16 from a tree base that doesn't move. 13 fire damage and sets things on fire in it.
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Muir takes out his starry map and unleashes a bolt of radiant magic from close quarters at the Mireah Hit 23 Dam 14. He watches Sam full to the ground unconscious and quickly casts healing word. Muir's focus was panicked and causing the heal to do minimum healing for Sam (6HPs.). Muir speaks his tree in Druidic
Muirs bear takes a bite and swipe with his claws at Mireah
Bite: Hit 26 Dam 10
Claws: Hit 23 Dam11
Gewyn gives up trying to pry away the restraints around his legs and body and goes still as he looks Rynwell in the eyes, his now pale and alien features reflecting in the moonlight. "Sure, I don't hate the animals I call food. I also don't spend my time trying to justify my actions to them. It's a waste of breathe, and breathe is precious." With that, Gewyn holds his hand before his mouth, and opens his fist as he blows a cloud of choking powder directly into Rynwell's face.
Having her foe directly in front of her, unnerves Elthana enough that she misses her first two attempts to hit the woman. Unsure if it is the proximity or the fact her tattoo is not working, she pushes through on her last attempt and hits her directly across the face.
Attack: 21, Damage: 8 bludgeoning
She uses her ki point to attempt to stun her.
Muir's starry bolt hits Mireah square in the face and her spring flowers begin to wilt, her grey and green skin sallows a little and blossoms of white bud taking over where the colourful flowers died off, the sister of spring undergoes a small but not insignificant change. She retaliates using one legendary action this turn to strike out at Muir, (30 to hit, for 16 bludgeoning damage and Muir is restrained by vines), Muir's polar bear gets off two final attacks landing them both perfectly, and then disappearing should Mireah's attack have caused Muir unconsciousness.
Rynwell scowls at Gewyn just in time to breathe in a whole heap of dust, she claws at her own throat as she begins needing oxygen simultaneously beginning to sneeze and choke without end.
Elthana's final desperate attack hits, even in her cursed state, Elthana uses the monks knowledge and ability to stun her prey, twisting her hand into specific muscles as to paralyse Tialha, and she lock up, for a second. Her eyes twitch and she looks to Elthana, using the powers of a legendary resistance Tialha shrugs off the stun once again.
Sam's body absorbs the healing magic of Muir's healing energy, and Sam stands once more, his eyes burn with a rage that none in the party have seen before.
Seeing Vin starting to choke and sneeze on the dust he'd blown, Gewyn shouts out, "Hey Vin, you are 'Born of Fire!' Remember? You going to let a little dust quell your flame?" (1d8 Bardic inspiration)
Rynwell continues coughing unable to shake the coughing and sneezing, stepping back into the tree she appears a lot further away stepping out of a tree away from everyone she doubles over gasping for breath.
Tialha meanwhile gives Elthana another slap, clasping both of her wintery cold hands on either side of Elthana's head, the magic buzzes and swirls in Elthana's ears and shaking her eyes. (33 to hit, 22 radiant damage) She hears through the buzzing a whisper from Tialha;
"we will own this world, those of us gone and those of us that yet remain"
Mireah stands to face Muir once more after recoiling and reforming due to his starry blast to her head, she already has him restrained and so she merely squeezes what little remains in the loxodon (16 bludgeoning damage) she leans close and whispers.
"it is the nature of spring to bring renewal and rebirth, times change new eras are born, one is coming, but it will not be yours"
The sisters Polar bear attacks Neferox with both bite and claw, as Sarah disappears from view, (21 to hit, 8piercing damage. 23 to hit, 11 slashing damage).
Shionne, unaffected by the dust that Gewyn blew out looks away from Sam and sees Neferox in her grasp, the hound is restrained and also gasping for air, sneezing continuously, Shionne has no words for the dog, simply looks down at the thing with pity as she too squeezes the remainder of what was once the life blood of Vin's companion out and onto the floor. (16 bludgeoning damage)
As Muir is released his body falls to the floor and similar to Sam the field begins to quickly grow over his body, tearing at his clothes and rooting into his skin.
...
......
... Sam, eyes wide and frenzied, looks about...
... Sam tilts his head to the left...
...... Sam tilts his head to the right......
Sam takes off running south... Head no longer tilting, his frenzied eyes focused straight forward... Sam runs thirty feet south... Sam dashes further, pushing himself another fifteen feet until he is adjacent with Elthana... He attempts to scoop up his cursed and bubbly teammate into his arms and then shifts his movement mostly to the east, apparently running for the Awakened Tree...
......
...
.
Before the heroics of Sam the Man...
Elthana, shaken a bit by the full force of radiant damage, takes hold of herself and the magic comes back to her tattoo as she attacks again..
Missing her first, she lands the second two:
Attack: 19 Damage: 9 + 5
Attack: 19 Damage: 8 + 1
And she attempts to stun her again with a ki point....
...
With Elthana moving towards Muir (as per Discord) Sam adjusts...
......His eyes track, adjust... He shifts his path...
...Picking up Elthana just as she gets next to Muir... Sam scoops her up... Carries her a bit further...
...Sam then runs out of movement, Elthana just north of Muir and himself to her west.....
As Elthana Stuns the crap out of the winter sister and leaves her in the dust, Sam scoops Elthana up handsomely in his arms and takes her over to where Muir is being absorbed into the ground, or Sam would have, If he hadn't taken Elthana a little bit further and deposited her directly in front of Mireah instead.
Mireah now at a loss for someone to attack looks thankful to have been brought another victim and she Wastes no time in attacking Elthana. (22 to hit, 15 bludgeoning)
Shionne surprised by the resilience of Neferox who has only just stopped sneezing, simply squeezes tighter in response, (15 bludegoning damage) letting go of the dogs body and watching it start to be absorbed into the ground too, she says something Sylvan to the bear before she turns and walks into her tree stump, appearing once more near Vin.
With no more prey in front of it, the polar bear heeds the word of its master and turns tail, finding Elthana to the south of it, it bounds toward her and attempts to bite and claw at her form as she is restrained by Mireah, (Bite, 20 to hit, 12 piercing. Claw, 22 to hit, 16 slashing)
Rynwell relaxes and smiles toward Gewyn from afar, she stops coughing. It's not that she fought through the effects of the powder more that she just now stopped pretending to be inconvenienced by it, (final Legendary resistance used) she watches him struggle and remain restrained by the vine trap, then she too steps into the tree she is by and steps out of one near Gewyn.
Elthana's body is welcomed onto the ground as it falls there into the awaiting grass which immediately moves to begin consuming her.
Rynwell looks over, and loudly states, "thank you, that will be all..." At which point the light in Sam's eyes go out once more and he too falls back.
Vin and Gewyn all of a sudden find themselves very very alone.
Gewyn gives up struggling and starts belting at the top of his lungs. The tune is defiant, and the lyrics are foreign. He isn't even sure he is speaking real words in the faerie tongue. Rather, his tongue simply forms sounds and syllables that feel familiar, and almost comforting to him.
(Mantle of Inspiration. Another 8 HP and movement w/o AoO for Gewyn and Vin)
"The thing is," Gewyn says, breaking off the song and staring Rynwell in the eyes. "You're right. I have been hiding who I am, out of shame and fear. But I am through hiding my true form from the world!" He thrusts his chest forward proudly and sneers. "But you are a filthy hypocrite. You hide your hideous deformities from us even now. What's your excuse? What was it that was taken from you?" His expression borders on sincerity for his last question.
vicious mockery DC 16, 5 damage and disadvantage on next attack
Vin seeing Nef, Sam, Elthana, Muir and the rest all going down one by one until it's just Vina nd Gewyn left visible has the boy shaken. He cries out "Dammit! Everyone. Hold on!" Then focuses his attention back on the enemies. Vin has things to heal his friends but he can't apply them while these hags stand in his way. He just prays they will survive a bit longer as the hags are seeming pretty injured as well. If Gewyn and Vin can't take them down then everyone will be lost. With that in mind and worry running in his head Vin uses the magical from Gewyn to get clear of the hags and continue to focus Rynwell with his attacks. He's pretty tapped on options so he just keeps blasting her hoping that the pair of them can take them out in time to save their friends. Two more beams of magical power sent streaming at Rynwell again.
Attack: 24 Damage: 12 force damage
Attack: 16 Damage: 15 force damage
Rynwell stretches out a hand and physically repels vin's first attack, the second is dodged as she lowers a shoulder slightly and then regards the two, the magic in Gewyn's insults also don't seem to take root.
With a hand wave Mireah dismisses the polar bear, who fades from existence, and Mireah too steps into the tree near her and reappears just to the north of Gewyn.
Tialha shrugs off the stunning force of Elthana's last blow, then she too steps into her tree, reappearing directly next to Vin.
"What was taken from me? EVERYTHING!" Screams Rynwell, "everything that mattered was ripped from me one way or another..." As she trails off she sheds the appearance of damage, as do each of the other sisters, rynwell points to each of them in turn.
Tialha, the daughter of winter, begins to look sickly, her cold and icy skin begins to tighten against her bones and the extremities of her icy branches break off into ash as her body descends into the ground.
Mireah, daughter of spring, she loses the green in her Green/Greying skin, the flowers that make up her hair face the floor, wilting out of grief, her shoulders slump and her eyes water, she turns to the tree the connection on the back of her legs shattering as she walks into it and disappears... For good.
Shionne, daughter of summer, she looks toward Rynwell with pity, she surrounds herself in the warmth of golden light, and turns away from her remaining sister, her connection also shattering as she ascends out of sight.
Leaving only Rynwell left alone, "you couldn't imagine having three parts of yourself leave you, splitting your soul" she begins meekly, but takes a breath and redoubles her anger at Vin and Gewyn, "I would do anything to get them all back, sacrifice anything, and I have!" Blackened infernal corruption begins working its way up Rynwell's leg, twisting her body into corrupt and burnt roots as it spreads turning her fingers into claws, igniting an infernal flame in her chest and behind her eyes, and blackening the antler like branches that protrude from her head, Gewyn recognises this as the Rynwell he saw before, the real vision of the Night Hag, "This was my sacrifice, but tell me, what would you be willing to give up to save your friends? To save your world? Would you give your own lives? Would you give your own souls...
No, you don't have the courage.
In here, you cannot harm me in any way that truly matters, so what is your next move?" As she finishes speaking, each of the fallen party members are fully absorbed into the ground, their bodies consumed and buried out of sight, the ground above them grows over as though they never stood there in the first place, the vines grasping at Gewyn's legs let go, returning into the ground too and Rynwell simply looks at Vin and Gewyn, watching, waiting.
Comprehension hits Vin. He knows where they are. He suspected a dream but he never bothered to think whose dream. It's why everything is so controlled. It's why the ground seems to obey her will. It's why Nef felt this place was similar but different to the dream place she was attacked in before. This was all Rynwell. Everything was hers to command. Its why the ground sucked up their friends and family. It's why they all scream out in pain together. It's why they look different. This is Rynwell's dream. He listens as she stops her assault for a moment. Summoning the memories of her sister's back. Controlling them in ways only one in a dream could control others. They could of easily been overwhelmed by Rynwell and her sisters so if she's summoning them back... he listens.
As she asks for Vin's next move he holds his action. A spell ready to cast at the slightest sign of combat again. He may prefer talking and peaceful solutions but he wasn't one to just let evil win either. He'd go down fighting if he had to, striving to save those he loves and cares for. Worry gnawing at his mind for Nef and the others. As he holds his magic though he replies "My next move? Is to listen to you. Then tell you something. You're right, I can't imagine being split like that. However; If what you say is true, if you want them back, then do you realize Shionne is dying? Do you realize that what you are doing, the changes to the portal, It's killing her and the other beings from your world. If you really wanted to sacrifice anything to get them back then you need to stop or you will lose your chance be reunited, forever. So let our friends go and stop this craziness of changing the portal. That is the only path left to you if you ever want to be with your sister. So please, stop. Not just because we want you to but also because it will help you too."
Held Action Cast Bonfire
"You know nothing of me," Gewyn spits. "Of what I would or wouldn't sacrifice. If the cost of peace was my identity, my life, my soul? To save the world? I would offer it in a heartbeat."
Rynwell looks hard at Vin, then her hard face softens slightly. "you speak the truth? Shionne is in your plane and dying... she would have been saved if she didn't turn her back on me... throwing herself into the arms of the monarchy, taking on the roles of our departed sisters, she made her choice... she is as much to blame for my lack of places to turn, for my having to face the corruption alone, for my sacrificing everything to return Tialha once more, If it weren't for her Mireah may have never left! If you truly want to help me then you will stay here and perish, accept that your life will bring balance once more to the Faewyld. by any means..."
As Gewyn interjects with his defiant statement Rynwell squints, her eyes see through him and her face turns to one of disgust, "you, your lies and cowardice are plain to see, I knew that you didn't have the courage, your life is a performance but now no one is entertained, how about a taste of reality? If you wish to prove yourself so much then show me, put some actual action into those words that you rely on so much..." the visible world distorts slightly around both Vin and Gewyn, the flash of a glowing red portal appears momentarily underneath them and they smell sulphur, but Rynwell remains stead fast as the ground and the trees align back to where they were. A pain shoots through each of your stomachs as you look down to see a Dagger buried there, blood soaks your clothes down to your feet and you feel vertigo swim through your heads "take that dagger and take your life!... The only way to stop me is to show your devotion to your cause, because without it you are nothing."
Gewyn reels in pain. His head swims with thoughts. Maybe I can talk my way out of this... No, she is a different kind of insane, and I am too tired to thread that psychological needle. If I laced my words with magic... No, I tried before when she was feeding on Nef. She shrugged it off like it was nothing. Wait, what if this is a dream? And perhaps by falling asleep, I can wake from it... No, I'm probably no more likely to survive falling asleep than if if really do finish myself with this dagger. Wait, but maybe that's key? Maybe this is some kind of test... So what, I'm going to let myself die here just in case? No there's got to be a better... It hurts...
Not just the dagger, but the thinking. The stress. The struggle.
His defiant words had indeed been a bluff. For years, Gewyn had not really wanted to live... but he hadn't really wanted to die either. On one hand, an existence that was dull grey at best, punctuated with times of pain and stress. On the other, oblivion. Or possibly a continuation in some afterlife. Gewyn wasn't sure which scared him more, and he never put in the time and work to figure it out. It was easier to not make a decision. To just continue going through the motions, come what may.
But why do I keep playing? Why do I keep putting myself on stage? I keep just making things harder for myself. To try to give others what he no longer feels, he realizes. So then, if there's is no running away from the choice anymore, maybe just this one last time, I try to make things better for a world I am leaving one way or another...
His one free hand slowly goes to the dagger in his stomach. He flinches, as just grabbing the hilt causes pain to fire through his nerves. Then he pauses to look over at Vin, just to know was being seen one last time. He looks back at Rynwell and starts singing once more, loud and defiant, in that tongue foreign to even himself. Blood drips from his pale lips as his voice grows hoarse. He closes his eyes. Then he plunges the dagger even deeper into his abdomen, driving the last note from his body with a gasp.
Vin began to reply.
Then Gewyn stabbed himself. "GEWYN! NO!!"
As Gewyn falls, Vin was left in the silence. Whatever mad ravings Rynwell had he couldn't hear them for there has always been one fear that was above all else for Vin. Being alone again. The memories of the uncaring orphanage. The agony of remembering the isolation as he was ostracized for having pointed ears instead of rounded ones. The feeling of helplessness when people looked away from his hungry and starving body. Vin draws strength from others. He finds his center with others. It's not that he cannot be on his own for a bit. He always looks for a way to return to those who show him kindness. Try as he might, as the last person he was drawing comfort from fell, he couldn't keep at bay the thought... (What If I'm wrong.)
What if everyone really is dying? What if Gewyn really did stab himself? He has no real idea how this place works only theories. Dreams, feywyld, demons, fairies, his world, their world. It's all just theory what's going on. They could be trapped in a dream. Their real bodies unconscious. They could all be fine. They could also be subject to an illusion. Their bodies very much being harmed while they try to suss out the truth. People really dying. People he cares for. Nef could be dying. The one that loved him unconditionally and kept his fear at bay. Muir could be dying. The one that makes him think of new possibilities. Elthana, could be dying. The one that drives him to do better. Sam could be dying. The one who gives him courage past his other fears. Gewyn could be dying. The one who gave Vin hope that things would get better. Vin begins to cry as he watches Gewyn fall onto the ground. Tears falling down his face. Fear welling in his soul.
Would Vin die for others? Yes. In a heart beat.
There wasn't a fear for himself. In fact, Vin doesn't see himself as very valuable at all. An unwanted orphan that never had any friends until he met a puppy. He didn't value his life very much. A sacrifice was something he would do. However, if there was anything that would make sure that Vin would fight. It was to fight to save these people. It was to fight to save Nef. If the hag could even remotely assure him that his friends would be okay if he died. That Nef would live on. He would die for them. However, if Rynwell was looking for Vin to sacrifice himself she played it all wrong. The only thing she has done, is made Vin fight harder. He won't stop until she's down. He won't stop until he has saved his friends.
He looks to Rynwell and says very sadly, "I would die in a moment for my friends, to save other's lives. There's a problem with what you ask. It's not just my life in the balance. Rynwell, it's all of my friends. Would you of sacrificed Tialha to prevent Mireah leaving? That's what you're asking of me because you have everyone I care for in your clutches now. I'm the only one left to save them. If I could believe for a moment you would spare my friends if I died then I would die. I would much rather you stop. Much rather you talk with Shionne and work things out. I'd much rather you should her and us you are not too far gone and help us stop the darkness coming. Darkness I'm positive all three of your sisters would hate. If they were allreally here, would even one of them like what you are doing?"
He takes a deep breath and a hardness comes over him. Vin gets a look of determination in his eyes. "You say you can't be harmed here. As it is... maybe you are invincible here. Then this is all in vain. we were dead the moment I rang the bell. It's possible you're not though. I'm sorry. I'm going to fight you if you won't stop. I have friends that might be counting on me."
Vin unleashes his spell.
He doesn't target Rynwell. He targets the tree she is attached to in the center. Making a 5 foot wide column of fire as he creates a raging bonfire at the base of the tree Rynwell and the others all came from.
DEX save DC 16 from a tree base that doesn't move. 13 fire damage and sets things on fire in it.