You push past the vines just as Frandal and Arissa did, and you enter the small square room; as soon as you do so, your entire surroundings change drastically...
You are not standing on the inside of an old abandoned tower as you expected. You are, rather, standing within a circle of massive, gnarled, twisted trees. The trees (there are nine of them) are extremely close together. Their bizarre-looking trunks are grown so close together that they almost make a solid, impassible wall that surrounds you. You look up and see that the upper branches of each tree has become intertwined with the branches of all the other trees, forming a leafless, impossibly complicated series of knots that almost form a roof high over your head. In front of you is a narrow opening between two of the tree trunks; you can see very little beyond them, but you know that you are not looking at Syndaris. There is only gloom and shadow, and far off into the distance you see a few dim orange lights. You are sure they are the Will-o'-Wisps that you had just encountered.
Behind you is a second opening, one that is in the trunk of the largest of the nine trees. You realize that the two of you have just entered some other realm. In Syndaris, the doorway between the two realms is the opening in the stone wall that is covered by the grape vines. In this realm, the doorway is the strange-looking hollow place in the tree behind you.
When you check the compass needle, you immediately notice its erratic behavior. The needle rarely stops moving as it moves sometimes clockwise and, then, suddenly counter-clockwise.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Xellos would normally stay and look around, but he doesn't want to remain in this strange place for long, especially by himself.
However, since the opening in the stone wall and the opening in the trunk are both "doors" in the same spots on their respective planes, and the huge enclosure of 9 knotted trees is in the same spot as the ruins, he wonders if both worlds mirror each other (but are different in shape and appearance).
He would also wonder if time behaved any differently here.
In other words, in Zelda: Link to the Past, if you use the magic mirror in Light World (or step on one of the portals in the world), you are transported to Dark World, which mirrors it. Except the forms and shapes in Dark World are different.
(Also similar to the Upside-Down in Stranger Things)
Arcana 17
Insight 6
After thinking for a moment, he pushes his way back through the opening in the tree trunk to get back to the group.
Xellos pops back through the tree trunk and back to the group.
"Well, that was interesting. If we weren't trying to prevent the death of Windhovers and prevent evil forces from overtaking over the land then I would be inclined to explore it leisurely. Anyway, it seems like the Shadowfell is a mirror of this plane of existence. The forms and structures may be different, but overall it's the same. The opposite side of a coin as it were. That's at least somewhat reassuring—it's not a random mishmash. We could possibly use it to our advantage at some point."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
After Apocalypse - Liavyre WithrethinElf Ranger
Dragon of Autumn - Geoff Krowly Human Cleric
Princes of the Apocalypse -Leofir SylvaranthElf Rogue
The Windhovers' Call -Xellos Mazoku Tiefling Sorcerer
(Small oversight on the DM's part) There is one additional detail about what you see after traveling through the shadow crossing: oddly, some of the vines that have grown around the opening in the stone wall in Syndaris have stretched through the shadow crossing itself and, therefore, reach into the Shadowfell. At this time of year (mid-autumn), you don't see any grapes on the vines, of course, but you can't help but wonder if the vines on the other side of the shadow crossing are actually producing fruit.
Frandal: An investigation of the remainder of the ruins reveals nothing of interest. The place is strewn with dead leaves; weeds have pushed themselves up through cracks in the ground, and the north-facing surfaces have moss growing on them. Otherwise, there is nothing to note except the shadow crossing you discovered in the western tower.
"Guys I think we need to get back, and meet with the rest of the Windhovers', while finding this portal provided us with important information for the future, I do not think there is anything left here for us to find"
“I agree. At least we’ve discovered why the wine from this plae has those arcane properties. Let’s go back and go to the Signing Fire and take a good deserved rest and meet the Windhover’s tomorrow.”
"There are still many mysteries surrounding this place, but we must pursue our quest."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Horatio Hirschfeld - Squire imbued with fae powers, in the Coliseum of Conquest (W2/L1) DM for Reavers of Harkenwold, and sometimes The Fighting Grounds of the Coliseum
It is evening (approximately eight o'clock) of your seventh day on Syndaris; barring any unforeseen circumstances, you will likely arrive in Findric in the morning hours of day eight. Bharash, in his letter, stated he would meet you at The Mug and Platter on day nine. So, you have plenty of time to work with.
Before advancing the story I want to make sure that (1) everyone is ready to move on to Findric (haven't heard from Ozum for a while), and (2) you wish to do so without resting first (fighting the wisps consumed a number of spell slots).
Reminder: You made the journey to the ruins on horseback (something I just remembered).
Frandal looks to the others as if looking for her aquintance
”I think we could pass by on horseback while we return. Did you noticed how some of the vines were intertwined inside the Shadowfell? “ he says as they start to go out to their horses “ I think that’s the reason the wine has this weird properties. Because the grapes were influenced by the plane during its growing... truly interesting from a theorical point of view.”
"There were 9 trees with their branches and limbs all knotted together that formed a roof of sorts is what I saw in place of the ruins here, as if they were roots. But yes that theory does make logical sense. Both planes overlapping in the same space is pretty fascinating. I bet if opportunity arises we could perhaps spring an ambush on that damned Tiefling through one of these portals. Assuming we knew beforehand when he would be coming through one of these things. I don't see how anyone could detect the presence of anything waiting on the other plane...hmm I have an idea..."
Before getting on the horse, Xellos picks up a rock and throws it through the portal to see what happens. If the rock doesn't phase through it, he shoots a Fire Bolt through it (aimed at the ground) to see if magic passes through.
He's trying to determine if non-living matter on its own or magic spells will cross into the Shadowfell without being "anchored" to an entity.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"So this is interesting...looks like practically anything on its own can cross over. I'll quickly try it from the other side."
DM
If I may bear on your indulgence once more, Xellos will quickly pass through the portal and do the same thing from the Shadowfell.
Once he's in the twisted wooded area, he'll quickly look for the same rock he tossed through and to see if there is a scorch mark on the ground from the fire bolt. Just to make sure. He does not want to spend much time here, so if he doesn't see the rock with a quick glance he finds another.
He tosses a small rock back into the portal and aims a Fire bolt at the ground, then quickly phases back into Syndaris to see if they passed through as well from that side.
Edit: Alternatively, I can roll Insight to see if he thinks the same process above will work without passing through again. If his Insight is not high enough, then he does the process above.
Insight 19
Once done with his experiment, he makes his way back to the horses.
"Ozum, can I ride you while you're in spider form?"
You once again maneuver your way through the vines and enter the crumbling tower; as soon as you do so, you find yourself standing in the Shadowfell and see the rock that you had thrown just a few moments ago. Additionally, you see a black mark on the ground, evidence of your Fire Bolt spell. You then throw the rock through the opening in the tree trunk before you yourself step through the same opening. You then find yourself in Syndaris, looking at Ozum, Kurt, Arissa, and Frandal. And you see the rock lying on the ground just a few feet away from them.
The shadow crossing appears to operate identically in both directions. All things that pass through the vine-covered wall in Syndaris end up in the Shadowfell. Conversely, all things that pass through the opening in the tree trunk in the Shadowfell end up in Syndaris.
Everyone: As you approach your horses, they are clearly frightened. Ozum's appearance as a giant spider is upsetting them.
Ozum drops out of his form, with his eyes merging from eight to two and his middle legs retracting into his torso as his body shrinks in size.
"I don't like staying in that form much anyway. I can't communicate too well and its gives me a bit of a headache." He holds his head and winches a bit.
"If nothing else, we learned some valuable information about the Shadowfell and how it works. It seems almost anything can pass through. Even magical power. Looks like we've learned about all we can here."
Xellos is mildly disappointed at not riding a Giant spider, but still gets on the horse and waits for Ozum to hop on, but is otherwise ready to depart.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
After Apocalypse - Liavyre WithrethinElf Ranger
Dragon of Autumn - Geoff Krowly Human Cleric
Princes of the Apocalypse -Leofir SylvaranthElf Rogue
The Windhovers' Call -Xellos Mazoku Tiefling Sorcerer
High Times at Low Tides -DM
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Xellos:
You push past the vines just as Frandal and Arissa did, and you enter the small square room; as soon as you do so, your entire surroundings change drastically...
You are not standing on the inside of an old abandoned tower as you expected. You are, rather, standing within a circle of massive, gnarled, twisted trees. The trees (there are nine of them) are extremely close together. Their bizarre-looking trunks are grown so close together that they almost make a solid, impassible wall that surrounds you. You look up and see that the upper branches of each tree has become intertwined with the branches of all the other trees, forming a leafless, impossibly complicated series of knots that almost form a roof high over your head. In front of you is a narrow opening between two of the tree trunks; you can see very little beyond them, but you know that you are not looking at Syndaris. There is only gloom and shadow, and far off into the distance you see a few dim orange lights. You are sure they are the Will-o'-Wisps that you had just encountered.
Behind you is a second opening, one that is in the trunk of the largest of the nine trees. You realize that the two of you have just entered some other realm. In Syndaris, the doorway between the two realms is the opening in the stone wall that is covered by the grape vines. In this realm, the doorway is the strange-looking hollow place in the tree behind you.
When you check the compass needle, you immediately notice its erratic behavior. The needle rarely stops moving as it moves sometimes clockwise and, then, suddenly counter-clockwise.
PbP Character: A few ;)
Xellos would normally stay and look around, but he doesn't want to remain in this strange place for long, especially by himself.
However, since the opening in the stone wall and the opening in the trunk are both "doors" in the same spots on their respective planes, and the huge enclosure of 9 knotted trees is in the same spot as the ruins, he wonders if both worlds mirror each other (but are different in shape and appearance).
He would also wonder if time behaved any differently here.
In other words, in Zelda: Link to the Past, if you use the magic mirror in Light World (or step on one of the portals in the world), you are transported to Dark World, which mirrors it. Except the forms and shapes in Dark World are different.
(Also similar to the Upside-Down in Stranger Things)
Arcana 17
Insight 6
After thinking for a moment, he pushes his way back through the opening in the tree trunk to get back to the group.
After Apocalypse - Liavyre Withrethin Elf Ranger
Dragon of Autumn - Geoff Krowly Human Cleric
Princes of the Apocalypse - Leofir Sylvaranth Elf Rogue
The Windhovers' Call - Xellos Mazoku Tiefling Sorcerer
High Times at Low Tides - DM
Xellos:
Your analogies are accurate. :)
Xellos pops back through the tree trunk and back to the group.
"Well, that was interesting. If we weren't trying to prevent the death of Windhovers and prevent evil forces from overtaking over the land then I would be inclined to explore it leisurely. Anyway, it seems like the Shadowfell is a mirror of this plane of existence. The forms and structures may be different, but overall it's the same. The opposite side of a coin as it were. That's at least somewhat reassuring—it's not a random mishmash. We could possibly use it to our advantage at some point."
After Apocalypse - Liavyre Withrethin Elf Ranger
Dragon of Autumn - Geoff Krowly Human Cleric
Princes of the Apocalypse - Leofir Sylvaranth Elf Rogue
The Windhovers' Call - Xellos Mazoku Tiefling Sorcerer
High Times at Low Tides - DM
Xellos, Frandal, and Arissa:
(Small oversight on the DM's part) There is one additional detail about what you see after traveling through the shadow crossing: oddly, some of the vines that have grown around the opening in the stone wall in Syndaris have stretched through the shadow crossing itself and, therefore, reach into the Shadowfell. At this time of year (mid-autumn), you don't see any grapes on the vines, of course, but you can't help but wonder if the vines on the other side of the shadow crossing are actually producing fruit.
Frandal: An investigation of the remainder of the ruins reveals nothing of interest. The place is strewn with dead leaves; weeds have pushed themselves up through cracks in the ground, and the north-facing surfaces have moss growing on them. Otherwise, there is nothing to note except the shadow crossing you discovered in the western tower.
"Guys I think we need to get back, and meet with the rest of the Windhovers', while finding this portal provided us with important information for the future, I do not think there is anything left here for us to find"
Kurt Stoneseeker
Ragmin Graybeard
“I agree. At least we’ve discovered why the wine from this plae has those arcane properties. Let’s go back and go to the Signing Fire and take a good deserved rest and meet the Windhover’s tomorrow.”
PbP Character: A few ;)
"There are still many mysteries surrounding this place, but we must pursue our quest."
Horatio Hirschfeld - Squire imbued with fae powers, in the Coliseum of Conquest (W2/L1)
DM for Reavers of Harkenwold, and sometimes The Fighting Grounds of the Coliseum
Everyone:
It is evening (approximately eight o'clock) of your seventh day on Syndaris; barring any unforeseen circumstances, you will likely arrive in Findric in the morning hours of day eight. Bharash, in his letter, stated he would meet you at The Mug and Platter on day nine. So, you have plenty of time to work with.
Before advancing the story I want to make sure that (1) everyone is ready to move on to Findric (haven't heard from Ozum for a while), and (2) you wish to do so without resting first (fighting the wisps consumed a number of spell slots).
Reminder: You made the journey to the ruins on horseback (something I just remembered).
Xellos says, "Would we have time to see the vineyards? If you all feel we shouldn't delay then I'm ok with pressing on."
After Apocalypse - Liavyre Withrethin Elf Ranger
Dragon of Autumn - Geoff Krowly Human Cleric
Princes of the Apocalypse - Leofir Sylvaranth Elf Rogue
The Windhovers' Call - Xellos Mazoku Tiefling Sorcerer
High Times at Low Tides - DM
Frandal looks to the others as if looking for her aquintance
”I think we could pass by on horseback while we return. Did you noticed how some of the vines were intertwined inside the Shadowfell? “ he says as they start to go out to their horses “ I think that’s the reason the wine has this weird properties. Because the grapes were influenced by the plane during its growing... truly interesting from a theorical point of view.”
PbP Character: A few ;)
"There were 9 trees with their branches and limbs all knotted together that formed a roof of sorts is what I saw in place of the ruins here, as if they were roots. But yes that theory does make logical sense. Both planes overlapping in the same space is pretty fascinating. I bet if opportunity arises we could perhaps spring an ambush on that damned Tiefling through one of these portals. Assuming we knew beforehand when he would be coming through one of these things. I don't see how anyone could detect the presence of anything waiting on the other plane...hmm I have an idea..."
Before getting on the horse, Xellos picks up a rock and throws it through the portal to see what happens. If the rock doesn't phase through it, he shoots a Fire Bolt through it (aimed at the ground) to see if magic passes through.
He's trying to determine if non-living matter on its own or magic spells will cross into the Shadowfell without being "anchored" to an entity.
After Apocalypse - Liavyre Withrethin Elf Ranger
Dragon of Autumn - Geoff Krowly Human Cleric
Princes of the Apocalypse - Leofir Sylvaranth Elf Rogue
The Windhovers' Call - Xellos Mazoku Tiefling Sorcerer
High Times at Low Tides - DM
Xellos: The thrown rock vanishes as it passes through the opening in the wall. The mote of fire you hurl through the opening appears to do the same.
"So this is interesting...looks like practically anything on its own can cross over. I'll quickly try it from the other side."
DM
If I may bear on your indulgence once more, Xellos will quickly pass through the portal and do the same thing from the Shadowfell.
Once he's in the twisted wooded area, he'll quickly look for the same rock he tossed through and to see if there is a scorch mark on the ground from the fire bolt. Just to make sure. He does not want to spend much time here, so if he doesn't see the rock with a quick glance he finds another.
He tosses a small rock back into the portal and aims a Fire bolt at the ground, then quickly phases back into Syndaris to see if they passed through as well from that side.
Edit: Alternatively, I can roll Insight to see if he thinks the same process above will work without passing through again. If his Insight is not high enough, then he does the process above.
Insight 19
Once done with his experiment, he makes his way back to the horses.
"Ozum, can I ride you while you're in spider form?"
After Apocalypse - Liavyre Withrethin Elf Ranger
Dragon of Autumn - Geoff Krowly Human Cleric
Princes of the Apocalypse - Leofir Sylvaranth Elf Rogue
The Windhovers' Call - Xellos Mazoku Tiefling Sorcerer
High Times at Low Tides - DM
Spider-Ozum nods his head at Xellos's question.
He seems content to continue investigating or head back to inform the Windhovers.
Xellos:
You once again maneuver your way through the vines and enter the crumbling tower; as soon as you do so, you find yourself standing in the Shadowfell and see the rock that you had thrown just a few moments ago. Additionally, you see a black mark on the ground, evidence of your Fire Bolt spell. You then throw the rock through the opening in the tree trunk before you yourself step through the same opening. You then find yourself in Syndaris, looking at Ozum, Kurt, Arissa, and Frandal. And you see the rock lying on the ground just a few feet away from them.
The shadow crossing appears to operate identically in both directions. All things that pass through the vine-covered wall in Syndaris end up in the Shadowfell. Conversely, all things that pass through the opening in the tree trunk in the Shadowfell end up in Syndaris.
Everyone: As you approach your horses, they are clearly frightened. Ozum's appearance as a giant spider is upsetting them.
“Hmm Ozum, perhaps you would like to keep your distance with the horses “ says the elf trying to calm down his tapping his neck.
PbP Character: A few ;)
Ozum drops out of his form, with his eyes merging from eight to two and his middle legs retracting into his torso as his body shrinks in size.
"I don't like staying in that form much anyway. I can't communicate too well and its gives me a bit of a headache." He holds his head and winches a bit.
"If nothing else, we learned some valuable information about the Shadowfell and how it works. It seems almost anything can pass through. Even magical power. Looks like we've learned about all we can here."
Xellos is mildly disappointed at not riding a Giant spider, but still gets on the horse and waits for Ozum to hop on, but is otherwise ready to depart.
After Apocalypse - Liavyre Withrethin Elf Ranger
Dragon of Autumn - Geoff Krowly Human Cleric
Princes of the Apocalypse - Leofir Sylvaranth Elf Rogue
The Windhovers' Call - Xellos Mazoku Tiefling Sorcerer
High Times at Low Tides - DM