The Bounders STORY

Bram takes one more look around before stepping back through the mirror.

Upon re-emerging in the mine, Bram fills everyone in,

"Ok, so it looks safe, I couldn't see anything that is an immediate threat. There is a mirror on the other side, and it does look to be movable."

"There was a bit of vegetation growing on and around the mirror, but I was able to pick it up and move it a little. We would need to remove the vegetation completely to take the mirror with us if we travel."

"I gotta say, I have no idea where that forest is. There is a feeling of otherness about the whole place, but I don't know if that is just that spot or if that place is somewhere else completely. Like, not from our world maybe."

"This is definitely very exciting, but I get the feeling no matter what we do, we may not be getting home quickly."

Bram smiles through all of his recounting, giving a wink at the last comment.

"If we move that mirror ... the mirror in the mirror, does that help us move this mirror ... the mirror with the mirror in it?" Clermar scratches his head a bit.  

Ospos looks at the mirror with distaste, "I'm not keen on going through portals into places we know nothing about.  I would rather use that worm to blast those doors off instead.  We can all move safely into the other room, then we can use magic to make noises at the door and keep at it until the worm destroys it and opens the way for us.  Then we'd just need to sit quiet until it leaves again."

"I prefer the arcane over a slow, suffocating death. Perhaps I may take a look? Maybe bring someone with me? we've tried it with one person, two seems like the next logical step. I'll still take a rope with me..."

Dril looks around for any volunteers that will come with him,

"But this place gives me the creeps!"

(Once the majority of the party has gone through I will cut to that side)

Nean will, with a sigh, step through the portal and vanish from the cave.

"Come on everyone, adventure awaits!"

Bram jumps back through the mirror, following Liafial and Nean.

-----

On the other side a human wearing similar cloths to Bram steps out.

"So, this is an enchanted mirror world, hmm, not too bad."

Turning to the mirror, and standing to the side, so as not to get in the way of others, Franz studies the mirror with the studied eye of the arcane.

Arcana check to understand the nature of the mirror: 19

Ospos, the last one remaining in the mines, looks at the mound of treasure and the partially excavated doors.  It would have worked, he thinks.

Ospos moves within throwing distance of those doors, and leans the mirror up against the wall.  Then he starts throwing gems or coins at the door, listening for any tremor of the worm coming back. 

While he perceives nothing, he continues to throw gems at the door.  If he hears the slightest tremor or sign of the worm, he'll throw one last gem at the doors and leap through the mirror, thinking and hoping, maybe the way will be open if we come back through.

Upon landing on the other side, Ospos will look around at the strange landscape and whine, "I really did want to pay them back.  Now I'll never see them again."  Looking at the others that seemed so keen on exploring, he will ask, "What direction do we take now?  We know nothing about this place.  What is safe to eat and drink?  What is dangerous?  Even the plants could be dangerous never mind beasts."  

Ospos sits and looks very much out of his element.

Ospos: In a last ditch effort, you begin chucking gems at the metal doors. They ping off, falling into the heaping pile of treasure. Alas, you don't hear any subterranean response, as it seems the worm has moved on in search of other prey.

Amethyst light falls on the party as they coalesce one by one on the other side of the mirror. The alien glade looms around them, seeming both enticing and off putting. At first glance there doesn't seem to be any indication of which direction is best, and for many of you, you've never felt quite this lost.

(I'd like everyone to give me an initial check as you get your bearings. Choose one out of: Perception to determine any movement or threats, survival to try to find the best path through the woods or which direction is which, investigation to study the stature and mirror, arcana to see if anything around is magical. If anyone tries to remove the mirror they can either yank it free or try to remove the vines which will require a dex check)

Franz: This artifact is truly a marvel. Portal magic is something extremely rare, and regulated, in Uvalli. You've never seen such a powerful example before, and get the sense that this particular enchantment is quite ancient.

(sorry, to clarify I meant just one of those checks please, thats a ton of rolls to resolve if everyone did all of them. I'll take your arcana check)

Liafial: Scanning the vicinity for any signs of magic, you slowly begin to realize that nearly everything here has a latent magical presence. It makes your skin tingle as you focus on it, the air, the plants, the flickering lights in the distance, everything is suffused with an alien arcane signature.

Nean will once again go with Perception, as he feels like it is the most pressing matter at hand.

Perception: 5

(Guess we should have examined the treasure for good luck charms.)

Ospos will study the mirror.  It's the only tie to the world he knows and is loathe to leave it.

Investigation: 19

Dril feels vulnerable hanging out around a portal. Eyes adapting to the light shining, he looks for some way out.

Survival: 5

"Truly an exquisite example of arcane craftsmanship. I aspire to one day to be even one tenth as good as this, with my own skills."

Looking around at the others, Franz decides to introduce himself,

"In case you were wondering, I am an associate of Bram and Franks. My name is Franz Harrington, sole heir to the Harrington Winery of Five Town, and to the Harrington family fortune."

At the mention of the fortune, Franz flashes his family signet ring round.

"Bram went to check on Frank, so I decided to come and check out this intriguing place."

Turning to Ospos, Franz comments,

"This one asks good questions, what will we do now?"

Franz makes no effort to work out which way to go, or what is safe to eat or interact with, he is waiting for everyone else to do these things for him.

Nean: Your surroundings are so alien as to be disorienting as you look around, and it's hard to make out anything past the clearing due to the thick swirls of mist.

Ospos: This mirror looks identical to the one you found in the cavern, well almost identical. You realize that the inscription is at the bottom of the frame, instead of the top, and it is written in elvish. You also notice the tiny flowers on the vines wrapped around it, shaped like little bells.

Dril: The obscured forest circles you, and though the flora is odd: massive ferns, blue bark on the trees, flowers with petals that look like glass; it isn't very dense, and you could navigate it in any direction. As for the best path, you couldn't have any less of an idea. In one direction, the sky deepens to violet, in the opposite it shifts brighter, pink like a grapefruit.

"Well, here goes nothin' " Nodrus says to himself before cautiously stepping through the mirror. He looks around at the oversized shrubs and grasses on the other side, seeing some of his party further infront.

Survival Check: 15

Clermar will gather his gear together, and put the mirror in the safest place he can find before slipping through. "I don't know how this is going to work out ..."

He looks around the new area for any potential extraplaner danger.

Perception: 11

Looking around at the rest of the party he looks a bit shocked. "Where did Bram go? Wasn't he just with us?"

"Bram is checking on Frank, I'm sure he will be back later."

Franz looks around for somewhere comfortable to sit while everyone else decided what to do.

Perception check to find a comfortable sitting location: 16