As the lumbering darkness dissipates, the silvery sea of Astral Plane returns to relatively peace. Katar allows the sunlight brilliant fade around him, the glowing tattoo on his skin dims, then disappears. He glances around at his companions who survived the encounter, though all beaten down by the dark thing, to different degrees. “The thing was of the darkness, no doubt. Question is, was it an original resident of the Astral Sea, or was it sent by the Mistress of the Night?" He looks around the endless sea. “I was under the impression Priestess Aranthe will transport us to the Tower of Darkness, but it seems like we have drifted of course. A rest would do us well.”
Zephyryn holds onto Tempest's feathered body to keep from sinking to his knees, glad to finally have his mount close by. This first encounter in the Astral Sea hasd not gone so well.
"I cannot say I am good right now, but I will be", he says throwing a smile to Luna.
He speaks a word in primordial, and he is blanketed in healing energy. Looking to the other's he sees they are in much better health than he, and takes the majority of the healing energy for himself.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"I've fought Shar's servants countless of times throughout the years and I have never before encountered anything like it. Still there is no doubt in my mind this entity of evil darkness was one of hers, waiting to greet anyone who came to rescue the Moonmaiden." Luna says softly, looking around at the empty space of the astral sea. "Let us rest then gentlemen, we cannot afford to reach Shar's domain while hurt and exhausted." She adds with a firm voice, taking a trance position close to her companions.
(Unless stopped Luna will take a short rest, using 8 hd to heal for 60 hp. Those who take a short rest with her gain 14 temp hp again, including Tempest :-)
Before the short rest Luna would however unfold her black handkerchief and reach inside for her star-shimmering crystal ball, using it to see if she can catch sight of her imprisoned goddess.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Yes...a rest would be good..." the weary warrior says before closing his eyes and slowing his breathing. Although still appearing to be standing, he was fully at rest in the relative gravity of the Astral plane. (Short rest healing: 4 HD + Ring of Regeneration=65)
Zephyryn nods at the suggestion to rest, but before he sits down he closes his eyes, says a prayer and channels his divine power into renewing his powers.
He then slumps back against Tempest and they both rest. He uses 6 hit dice - 48
Bonus Action: Uses Channel Divinity to Harness Divine Power, regaining a level 3 spell slot.
Lunafocuses her gaze upon the sphere with the shimmering starlight within, taking the next ten minutes to carefully say each word of the scrying spell. Eventually, an image comes into focus, but it is very brief: upon a throne of shadows reclines a giant woman draped in black, and in her left hand she wields a spear of midnight as if it were her scepter. Behind her looms a dragon-sized raven.
Luna is able to discern nothing more, for after beholding this image for a few seconds, he watches the woman upon the throne reach forward and wrap her massive hand around the scrying sensor. Before the sensor is snuffed out like a candle, the following words reach Luna's ears: You must wait to see us face-to-face, frail visitor.
With the short rest concluded and the wounds of battle mostly healed, the four of you set out for the Towers of Night. Somehow, without any discussion or any doubt, you collectively agreed upon the direction you should travel. Mentally determining your destination was all that was needed.
For the next few hours, the scenery changes very little. A few unusual rock formations--most of them no larger than yourselves--float past you. They give the impression of being sculptures that have only a few chisel marks upon them before the would-be artist gave up on the project altogether. You are reminded that much of the landscape in the Astral Sea is the residue of people's fears and dreams; so, it isn't shocking to see things bizarre and inexplicable.
It is Tempest who gives all of you the first indication that something of concern is nearby. Something follows us, he communicates to Zephyryn. Even from his higher vantage point upon the back of the flying griffon, Zephyryn cannot see anything, but he knows Tempest's vision is far superior to his own.
One creature, long in legs, long in arms, feathered* with smoke and shadow, adds Tempest.
*Zephyryn is well aware that the griffon never uses the word clothed but always opts for the word feathered instead.
Katar takes off the moon-touched sword off his belt, the elven crafted longsword elegant and graceful. As he unsheathes it, silvery moonlight pours out from the gleaming blade. He hands it to Zephyryn, explaining it they encounter another darkness creature that is resistant to light, he would have another weapon to choose. "It is no sun blade," the elf says, "But you may find more use for it than I do."
During the short rest, he also asks Luna if she's willing to put some extra spell slots into his rod of absorption, seeing she'll hopefully recover those after their rest.
Katar was under no hopeful delusion that Shar wouldn't know of their coming. They weren't trying to stealthy at all. "She sounded very hospitable." He says to Luna's scrying, a lazy, mocking smile on his thin lips.
Before resting Luna would assist her companion Katar with pouring some of her and her staff's magic into his rod (10 levels of energy from Luna and 10 levels/charges from her staff if that's okay :-) Also, Luna intended to catch sight of her imprisoned goddess but instead saw Shar?
"Yes, I get the sense The Lady of Loss is expecting us and is maybe even prepared to negotiate. There are certainly things she would want that I at least wouldn't be prepared to do for her, even to help my goddess, but I would be prepared to at least listen to any propositions she might have for us and then we can decide together how we should proceed." Luna responds softly to the red-haired champion of Belenus, a smile tuging at her lips, as she tucks away the shimmering crystal orb into her black handkerchief.
Having visited and traveled the astral sea before, Luna would confidently traverse it's endless space together witn he companions.
Assuming Zephyryn shares Tempest's warning, the white-haired half-elven maiden would send her arcane eye back to take a closer look at what's pursuing the companions.
Before resting Luna would assist her companion Katar with pouring some of her and her staff's magic into his rod (10 levels of energy from Luna and 10 levels/charges from her staff if that's okay :-) Also, Luna intended to catch sight of her imprisoned goddess but instead saw Shar?
Transfer of magic between items is okay. And, yes, the scrying attempt seemed to show only Shar, but keep in mind that she used the plural pronoun "us" when she spoke.
Luna's arcane eye soon finds the creature that Tempest had spotted a short while ago. It is a loping, long-limbed, grey creature, and from its body and limbs trail chains forged of silvery light. Hanging from the chains are luminous charms depicting phases of the moon and others made of pure darkness.
The peculiarity of the creature's appearance is eclipsed by its behavior. For as it lurches along it emits plaintive screams that cause smoke-like wisps of black shadow to radiate from its body. Between screams, the creature seems to be saying something, calling out some repeated phrase in an unrecognizable language.
Observing it as she progresses through the astral sea, Luna studies the astral entity and tries to discern if it is friend or foe, also informing her companions what she sees. Insight: 10
She also utters a word in celestial and endows herself with the ablity to understand the repeated phrase. Cast Tongues
(Is Luna getting the feeling that the pursuser is gaining on the companions and that it will catch up with them before they reach the Palace of Night?)
Discerning the creature's true intent is difficult, but Luna has the feeling this long-limbed screamer is determined to follow the group for as long as they travel across the Astral Plane. How closely it will follow, or why it will do so, is impossible to tell. What is obvious, however, is the likelihood that the creature will draw the attention of other Astral travelers, for its vocalizations are quite loud.
Through the tongues spell, Luna understands the phrase being repeated by this creature: TRAPPED SO LONG; SMOTHERED AND CHOKED; STRANGLED BY MOONLIGHT.
Luna turns and explains to her companions what she has seen and heard. "Perhaps we should stay and talk to this entity. I have a feeling it can be important to know it's intent and purpose, maybe even find ourselves an ally, or at least some information on what is happening in the astral sea and what we're traveling into?" The white-haired half-elven maiden suggests to the others.
Always thinking about the tactical situation, the Champion warrior says, "If it is trapped and suffering, and we can end both, then perhaps we will gain an ally. But if we must destroy it, then at least it will not alert our adversaries of our approach." He moves about 30' away from the rest of the group, calling out, "Form a spherical shape so that we can attack from all sides, but do not place yourself directly across from another or you may be hit by their attacks..."
Before resting Luna would assist her companion Katar with pouring some of her and her staff's magic into his rod (10 levels of energy from Luna and 10 levels/charges from her staff if that's okay :-) Also, Luna intended to catch sight of her imprisoned goddess but instead saw Shar?
"Yes, I get the sense The Lady of Loss is expecting us and is maybe even prepared to negotiate. There are certainly things she would want that I at least wouldn't be prepared to do for her, even to help my goddess, but I would be prepared to at least listen to any propositions she might have for us and then we can decide together how we should proceed." Luna responds softly to the red-haired champion of Belenus, a smile tuging at her lips, as she tucks away the shimmering crystal orb into her black handkerchief.
"Are you certain you don't want to save some for yourself?" Katar smiles easily, nodding to Luna’s moonlight staff.
“Look,” He says, his deep citrine eyes eyes looking into the clear blue of hers, with genuine care and resolve. It is not his place to judge anyone’s decision, and he certainly knows people who would throw away their life for their deity without blinking an eye. For him, he intends to live out the rest centuries of his life as much as he can. And that means he will not back down and bend his will for anyone. “Don’t do anything you’re not willing to do. We’ll figure out a way.”
Katar agrees with others to listen to what the creature following them has to say and waits for it to approach.
Luna nods as Grim explains their tactical disposition when facing the pursuing entity, ready to do her part in hopefully negotiating with it.
"The staff that the Moonmaiden has blessed me with carries quite enough power, but if that changes I will gratefully accept the favor in return." The white-haired half-elven maiden answers Katar, returning his smile with one of her own. "And thank you friend..." She says, laying a slender reassuring hand on his arm. "...but even though I wouldn't hesitate to lay down my life for Selûne, I rather enjoy living, so I will do what I can to avoid that fate, and I'm sure with you at my side there will always be...other options." She finishes with a warm smile.
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As the lumbering darkness dissipates, the silvery sea of Astral Plane returns to relatively peace. Katar allows the sunlight brilliant fade around him, the glowing tattoo on his skin dims, then disappears. He glances around at his companions who survived the encounter, though all beaten down by the dark thing, to different degrees. “The thing was of the darkness, no doubt. Question is, was it an original resident of the Astral Sea, or was it sent by the Mistress of the Night?" He looks around the endless sea. “I was under the impression Priestess Aranthe will transport us to the Tower of Darkness, but it seems like we have drifted of course. A rest would do us well.”
Zephyryn holds onto Tempest's feathered body to keep from sinking to his knees, glad to finally have his mount close by. This first encounter in the Astral Sea hasd not gone so well.
"I cannot say I am good right now, but I will be", he says throwing a smile to Luna.
He speaks a word in primordial, and he is blanketed in healing energy. Looking to the other's he sees they are in much better health than he, and takes the majority of the healing energy for himself.
Aura of Vitality: 6, 9, 4, 5, 6, 3, 7, 6], 3, 2
"I've fought Shar's servants countless of times throughout the years and I have never before encountered anything like it. Still there is no doubt in my mind this entity of evil darkness was one of hers, waiting to greet anyone who came to rescue the Moonmaiden." Luna says softly, looking around at the empty space of the astral sea. "Let us rest then gentlemen, we cannot afford to reach Shar's domain while hurt and exhausted." She adds with a firm voice, taking a trance position close to her companions.
(Unless stopped Luna will take a short rest, using 8 hd to heal for 60 hp. Those who take a short rest with her gain 14 temp hp again, including Tempest :-)
Before the short rest Luna would however unfold her black handkerchief and reach inside for her star-shimmering crystal ball, using it to see if she can catch sight of her imprisoned goddess.
Cast Scrying to find Selûne.
"Yes...a rest would be good..." the weary warrior says before closing his eyes and slowing his breathing. Although still appearing to be standing, he was fully at rest in the relative gravity of the Astral plane. (Short rest healing: 4 HD + Ring of Regeneration=65)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Zephyryn nods at the suggestion to rest, but before he sits down he closes his eyes, says a prayer and channels his divine power into renewing his powers.
He then slumps back against Tempest and they both rest. He uses 6 hit dice - 48
Bonus Action: Uses Channel Divinity to Harness Divine Power, regaining a level 3 spell slot.
Zephyryn will use another 2 hit dice: 20
5 Hit Dice: 41
Using Channel Divinity to recover a 3 level spell slot.
Luna focuses her gaze upon the sphere with the shimmering starlight within, taking the next ten minutes to carefully say each word of the scrying spell. Eventually, an image comes into focus, but it is very brief: upon a throne of shadows reclines a giant woman draped in black, and in her left hand she wields a spear of midnight as if it were her scepter. Behind her looms a dragon-sized raven.
Luna is able to discern nothing more, for after beholding this image for a few seconds, he watches the woman upon the throne reach forward and wrap her massive hand around the scrying sensor. Before the sensor is snuffed out like a candle, the following words reach Luna's ears: You must wait to see us face-to-face, frail visitor.
< > - < > - < > - < > - < > - < > - < > - < > - < >
With the short rest concluded and the wounds of battle mostly healed, the four of you set out for the Towers of Night. Somehow, without any discussion or any doubt, you collectively agreed upon the direction you should travel. Mentally determining your destination was all that was needed.
For the next few hours, the scenery changes very little. A few unusual rock formations--most of them no larger than yourselves--float past you. They give the impression of being sculptures that have only a few chisel marks upon them before the would-be artist gave up on the project altogether. You are reminded that much of the landscape in the Astral Sea is the residue of people's fears and dreams; so, it isn't shocking to see things bizarre and inexplicable.
It is Tempest who gives all of you the first indication that something of concern is nearby. Something follows us, he communicates to Zephyryn. Even from his higher vantage point upon the back of the flying griffon, Zephyryn cannot see anything, but he knows Tempest's vision is far superior to his own.
One creature, long in legs, long in arms, feathered* with smoke and shadow, adds Tempest.
*Zephyryn is well aware that the griffon never uses the word clothed but always opts for the word feathered instead.
Katar takes off the moon-touched sword off his belt, the elven crafted longsword elegant and graceful. As he unsheathes it, silvery moonlight pours out from the gleaming blade. He hands it to Zephyryn, explaining it they encounter another darkness creature that is resistant to light, he would have another weapon to choose. "It is no sun blade," the elf says, "But you may find more use for it than I do."
During the short rest, he also asks Luna if she's willing to put some extra spell slots into his rod of absorption, seeing she'll hopefully recover those after their rest.
Katar was under no hopeful delusion that Shar wouldn't know of their coming. They weren't trying to stealthy at all. "She sounded very hospitable." He says to Luna's scrying, a lazy, mocking smile on his thin lips.
Before resting Luna would assist her companion Katar with pouring some of her and her staff's magic into his rod (10 levels of energy from Luna and 10 levels/charges from her staff if that's okay :-) Also, Luna intended to catch sight of her imprisoned goddess but instead saw Shar?
"Yes, I get the sense The Lady of Loss is expecting us and is maybe even prepared to negotiate. There are certainly things she would want that I at least wouldn't be prepared to do for her, even to help my goddess, but I would be prepared to at least listen to any propositions she might have for us and then we can decide together how we should proceed." Luna responds softly to the red-haired champion of Belenus, a smile tuging at her lips, as she tucks away the shimmering crystal orb into her black handkerchief.
Having visited and traveled the astral sea before, Luna would confidently traverse it's endless space together witn he companions.
Assuming Zephyryn shares Tempest's warning, the white-haired half-elven maiden would send her arcane eye back to take a closer look at what's pursuing the companions.
“My thanks”, Zephyryn says as he accepts the moon-touched blade.
As they fly, he protects himself and Tempest with a Death Ward. This covers both of them as part of Find Greater Steed.
After Tempests warning, he directs the griffon to swoop down and land.
”Tempest has spotted something following us. Smoke and shadow, wearing clothes. Long arms and legs”, he passes on to the others.
”He and I can circle back to take a look if needed”.
Special: Death Ward - Zephyryn and Tempest - 8 hours
Transfer of magic between items is okay. And, yes, the scrying attempt seemed to show only Shar, but keep in mind that she used the plural pronoun "us" when she spoke.
Luna's arcane eye soon finds the creature that Tempest had spotted a short while ago. It is a loping, long-limbed, grey creature, and from its body and limbs trail chains forged of silvery light. Hanging from the chains are luminous charms depicting phases of the moon and others made of pure darkness.
The peculiarity of the creature's appearance is eclipsed by its behavior. For as it lurches along it emits plaintive screams that cause smoke-like wisps of black shadow to radiate from its body. Between screams, the creature seems to be saying something, calling out some repeated phrase in an unrecognizable language.
Observing it as she progresses through the astral sea, Luna studies the astral entity and tries to discern if it is friend or foe, also informing her companions what she sees.
Insight: 10
She also utters a word in celestial and endows herself with the ablity to understand the repeated phrase.
Cast Tongues
(Is Luna getting the feeling that the pursuser is gaining on the companions and that it will catch up with them before they reach the Palace of Night?)
Discerning the creature's true intent is difficult, but Luna has the feeling this long-limbed screamer is determined to follow the group for as long as they travel across the Astral Plane. How closely it will follow, or why it will do so, is impossible to tell. What is obvious, however, is the likelihood that the creature will draw the attention of other Astral travelers, for its vocalizations are quite loud.
Through the tongues spell, Luna understands the phrase being repeated by this creature: TRAPPED SO LONG; SMOTHERED AND CHOKED; STRANGLED BY MOONLIGHT.
Luna turns and explains to her companions what she has seen and heard. "Perhaps we should stay and talk to this entity. I have a feeling it can be important to know it's intent and purpose, maybe even find ourselves an ally, or at least some information on what is happening in the astral sea and what we're traveling into?" The white-haired half-elven maiden suggests to the others.
Always thinking about the tactical situation, the Champion warrior says, "If it is trapped and suffering, and we can end both, then perhaps we will gain an ally. But if we must destroy it, then at least it will not alert our adversaries of our approach." He moves about 30' away from the rest of the group, calling out, "Form a spherical shape so that we can attack from all sides, but do not place yourself directly across from another or you may be hit by their attacks..."
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
"Are you certain you don't want to save some for yourself?" Katar smiles easily, nodding to Luna’s moonlight staff.
“Look,” He says, his deep citrine eyes eyes looking into the clear blue of hers, with genuine care and resolve. It is not his place to judge anyone’s decision, and he certainly knows people who would throw away their life for their deity without blinking an eye. For him, he intends to live out the rest centuries of his life as much as he can. And that means he will not back down and bend his will for anyone. “Don’t do anything you’re not willing to do. We’ll figure out a way.”
Katar agrees with others to listen to what the creature following them has to say and waits for it to approach.
Luna nods as Grim explains their tactical disposition when facing the pursuing entity, ready to do her part in hopefully negotiating with it.
"The staff that the Moonmaiden has blessed me with carries quite enough power, but if that changes I will gratefully accept the favor in return." The white-haired half-elven maiden answers Katar, returning his smile with one of her own. "And thank you friend..." She says, laying a slender reassuring hand on his arm. "...but even though I wouldn't hesitate to lay down my life for Selûne, I rather enjoy living, so I will do what I can to avoid that fate, and I'm sure with you at my side there will always be...other options." She finishes with a warm smile.