(does Argos know any AOE moves?)

"How can I be ready if YOU aren't ready to show yourself like a coward you sucker!" Argos doesn't even realize the snow is melting below him.

@Argos

((Hmm I guess you can do Light?))

"'Show yourself. Show yourself,' it chants." The voice mocks you in a rendering of a voice similar to your own. 

 The snow continues to melt at your feet but the way that it moves is not in a way that it should be. It is almost like... magnetic. A goopy spikey liquid. The lights in the room begin to flicker. "So it is settled."

"I hope you like guests."

From out of the puddle, an ice mephit begins to take shape. It's jagged claw crystallize from the liquid. Wing sprout from the spikes. An icy cackle fills the room. It finds it hysterical. The frosty mephit snarls at you and waits for your first step.

(Does it hurt everywhere :D)

(Oooo that looks nice!)

"Huh..." He started to notice the floor. "Ew..."

The lights flickered and he covered his eyes

"Guests?"

He uses the Light spell to see what's there, and he yelped. "Uhh guys? A little help?" He shouted

@Argos

((you know it~ >:3 ))

((ayyy right right I love magnets they are so cool. I collect all things magnet))

The little mephit looks at you with devious glee. Its claws look even sharper in the light. So, it taps its fingers along the tile floor to make an awful twinkling sounds like discordant chimes.

But from your Light, you also see that its shadow flickers. The darkness recoils a little bit, pushing further from the source when you... uh oh... realize that it is alive. Growing twice the size that a normal mephit shadow should be like, it emanates misery around it. For some reason just staring at it has made you teary eyed. It is a shadow.

It opens its 'mouth'.

"Do. Not. Be. Afraid."

Macario shifts his detect magic focus over to the pile of masks, yet again really wishing he had his sword. Had they been moving before?

[[ Not sure what check to do here so I’m gonna roll a couple and you can just go with whatever feels most appropriate? Arcana 11, perception 15, religion 12. Also if at any point you think I would notice that Argos left, Macario would probably follow him after everything he’s seen and heard today concerning the two of them and Inra. ]]

@Macario

((ayy okay!))

Shifting over your Detect Magic to the pile of masks reveals the same purple smoke and aura that Bhodir's did. Its phantom mists twirl and dance in discordant harmony. But in particular, as you move your focus over there, the darkness below them begin to move. They roll their mask heads this way and that. Uprising hands begin to spring forth. Angular and precise, but jumpy and jerky they move. To the right- no- to the left. The center of the eyes swirl about like a potion being shaken by a madman. They seem to be all mumbling all at once.

Voices overlap with other voices. Their cries come like cricket noises in the night. You can not make out at all what they are saying.

These are shadows. Their masks on their 'faces' give some semblance of a stare as the amalgamation of arms, legs, and heads (with masks) looks towards you. Slowly it rumbles, the mass moving step by step. Tile glide by tile glide.

"Do. Not. Be. Afraid." It repeats at the same time Argos's did. "Your... Buddy. Is. In Safe. Hands."

You look around to see that Argos is no longer there.

Focusing your breathe to recollect your thoughts, you look back in your memory to see what's there. The Feywild? No. It doesn't look like it. These shadow forces seem to be from the Underside. But you aren't there either. The walls around you seem solid. It's not in the past is it. No, it's not you can be sure of that (somehow deep within your gut you just know that). The interior designs seem to be all the same. Strange in a place that doesn't feel... real. You get a sense this world is a reflection of something. Not quite yours, but not so far off either.

"An inbetween." The monster corrects you. "A prison."

"Do. Not. Worry. Weee... can not hurt. You." Its voice is kind of wheezy as it claws out to slide itself closer. Its gnarled claws scrape at the floor with a sickening screech. "But others. Will." 

Argos screamed as he tried to attack both of them with his staff. (Rolled 20 and damage 4)

Ice Mephit and Shadow Encounter - Round 1

Argos (14/17 HP) 

• (Action two-weapon fighting) Attack Ice Mephit with staff 19 + 1 = 20 > AC 11 A Hit. ---> Ice Mephit takes double bludgeoning damage from its weakness so 4 x 2 = 8 bludgeoning damage ---> Ice Mephit is not at 13/21 HP
• (Action two-weapon fighting) Attack Shadow with staff 12 + 1 = 13 > AC 12 A Hit ---> Shadow takes half of bludgeoning damage due to resistance so 1 / 2 = 0.5 which rounds down to 0 sadly ---> Shadow takes no damage.
• End of Round: 9/17 HP

Ice Mephit (21/21 HP) 

• (Action) Attack Argos with Claws 18 + 3 = 21 > AC 16 A Hit. ---> Argos takes 3 slashing damage and 2 cold damage ---> Argos is now at 9/17 HP
• End of Round: 13/21 HP

Shadow  (16/16 HP)

• (Action) Dodge

@Argos

((I rolled for the second staff hit for two-weapon fighting))

The ice mephit screams back at you as you whack it. You see the ice start to shatter as splintery cracks begin to form on its body. Oh it is mad! As soon as you go down for the hit, it reaches out for you before you can reel your hand back, scratching at your arms with its icy claws. You can feel the cold go up from your arms into your whole body in a terrible shiver. Brrrrrrr.

It relents when it sees you're coming for a second hit as it flies in midair, trying to ascertain what you are going to next. That's right- the shadow.

The shadow acknowledges you as you come at it. You go down to whack it and you do, but its amorphous body just sinks right on down from the staff, forming almost a valley between two halves of its body. Bringing you staff back at arm's length, you watch it. The sunken part resurfaces again with a slight 'pop'. 

"Are. You. Done." 

It does not do anything.

You contentiously hear the laughter of the toucan in the background.

“Who are you then? And why am I here?” Macario asks, looking around the room for any sort of exit, or any threats other than the shadows in front of him. 

(thx!)

He held his arm and tries to warm it up bu rubbing it, thinking it would do anything.

"Danm I'll die if I keep this up... Unless-"

(Can Argos heal himself? If yes I'd like to cast Cure Wounds on Argos-)

@Argos

Ice Mephit and Shadow Encounter - Round 2

Argos (9/17 HP) 

• (Action) Cast Cure Wounds on himself ---> 5 + 5 = 10 ---> Argos is now at 17/17 HP
• End of Round: 15/17 HP

Ice Mephit (13/21 HP) 

• (Action) Attack Argos with Frost Breath DC DEX 10 (5 damage on a fail, 2 damage on a success) ---> Argos rolled 16 + 1 = 17 Success ---> Argos takes 2 cold damage (15/17 HP)

Shadow  (16/16 HP)

• (Action) Dodge

Closing your eyes, you feel the flow of Fenya's energy flow through you. Even in this absurd plane, you feel the warming heat of healing like an adrenaline rush. It is invigorating. You are filled up to all your total health. The pain from your rashes are no more, but the scars still dig deep.

However, while you did this, the ice mephit shows little time to stop fighting you. With an inhale, it blasts out a frigid cold rain of ice upon you, covering your body head to toe in frost like a snowman. It stings, but it doesn't hurt you as much. Your inner strength is too great and it withstands the imp's icy blast.

"Oh yes... That one. Is not... With us."

The shadow just shrugs and does not help you. "I... don't like to interfere with mortal affAIRs..."

@Macario

"We... are those left bEhiNd. From the first Fall." Their voices are gurgle-ly but also windy at the same time. It sounds as if they are choking on their own air. "We were sent hErE. To think..." One of the shadows 'coughs' and sort of spits. A black glob of nasty goo puddles out on the floor. "Your... goddess. Sesisah. Put us here... to protect. And re-formm."

"WE-he-he gUard this plane." All heads seem to solemnly nod, "But one of our occupants escaped. Today." It slithers towards you with ease. No need for the claw grabbing. It can just move like that apparently. "Looookkk." It puts its head down and rips off the mask. Gooey black tendrils cling on before they falter off. In its shadowy dark claws it holds out its mask. "He is trickking you. Trapping you. The reallll party is happening downnn there-ereee." It tilts all its head to see if you accept the offer.

Macario listens with curiosity to the shadow creature before him. Sesisah had put them here. To protect. The same as him. 

Trusting the slight feeling of familiarity and the shared purpose they have, he reaches out to take the mask, pressing the molded shape to his face. 

"If you don't want to interfere with mortal affairs, WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING ME!?" Argos asked relatively angry.

Argos went for the Mephit again to whack it far away from him (rolled 12 damage 3)

And then leaped for the shadow for the same thing. "Damn it why didn't I learn attacks spells!" (I'm assuming he doesn't know attacks-) (rolled 13 for the wrong thing since i misclicked- 4 damage)

@Macario

Somehow you can tell the shadows are smiling as you put the mask on. Maybe its the way that they shuffle. Their steps are more quick and agile. They wait for you to put on the mask... and you do.

Suddenly you are thrown on the dance floor. The same ballroom floor you are in. Dancing Lights occupy the space as they spark and color up the darkened room. Yet you reach out and you look down to see that you have tabaxi cheetah spots on you and furry hands and feet. This... this is not your body. You are looking from someone else's point of view.

You look up with this tabaxi body. Somehow you can control their motions. They do not seem to be fighting you. You can only feel a slight resistance. Turning to see from their angle, you notice all of the dozens of guests from the hotel earlier, all wearing similar colored masks on their faces like the one your real body is wearing now. "To the light." They all seem to mumble at once. "To the light and our savior." With trudging steps, they move forth. Then you see it. There is a big giant black-hole type void in the center of the ballroom.

One guest slowly rambles into it. He goes in. And then he is gone. Engulfed by the void. 

Sparks fly. And he is out. You hear a voice in the background. It is loud and commanding. "Yes. Show me your new face." Staring at the spot where the guest is is no longer human but a Bheur Hag. It cackles with the mask still attached on its face.

"We shall bring a new era unto to world." Inra stands tall with her hands behind her back. Her eyes are wide open but all you can see is white. There is no more pupil. Feathers sprout from in between her fur in odd angles. "Embrace a new world order."

Inra claps, "Now let's speed this up shall we."

Then the image fades. You are thrown backwards onto the floor of this room. You are back in your own body. The shadows slither towards you, looking down.

"This... World. Is A MIRROR ref-flec-tion of your oooown." One offers you a hand up. It is slimy.

"To get back.. you need.. is the key.."

@Argos

((no problem! also yeah you can get so many attacks with spells! you got 4 open prepared spells you can choose from!!! also channel divinity!))

Ice Mephit and Shadow Encounter - Round 3

Argos (15/17 HP) 

• (Action) Attack @Ice Mephit with Staff 11 + 1= 12 > AC 11 A Hit. ---> Ice Mephit takes 3 x 2 = 6 bludgeoning damage ----> Ice Mephit is now at 7/21 HP
• (Action) Attack @Shadow with Staff 12 + 1 = 13 > AC 12 A Hit. ---> Shadow takes half of bludgeoning damage so 4/2 = 2 damage ---> Shadow is now at 14/16 HP

Ice Mephit (13/21 HP) 

(Recharge) 5 < DC 6 ---> Does not recharge Frost Breath

• (Action) Attack Argos with Claws 9 + 3 = 12 < AC 16 A Miss. ----> Argos takes no damage
• End of Round: 7/21 HP

Shadow  (16/16 HP)

• (Action) Hide
• Move 30 ft away from you

The shadow, if it had a face, would seem offended. "I... Am.. Not?" It rolls its head to the side. It has no eyes, no ears, no mouth. Nothing. The fact that it can talk is pretty astounding.

The ice mephit sneers at you as you come to attack it. It flexes its little claws and laughs gleefully. Smacking it with your staff sends it flying back 20 ft only for it to come racing towards you like the speed of sound. You hear clinking within its throat. It sounded like it was about to use its Frost Breathe again, but it doesn't. Instead it lashes out at you with its claws only for it to miss as it only scratches the front of your chain mail armor, making horrid screeching sounds as it goes.

"Maybe. It is time. For yOU TO learnnn." With each word it takes it seems to be struggling. Its gurgles become more frequent in between breaths. It lets your staff go down upon its head. Its tendrils sink in and then pop right back out. You can tell that must have hurt as it winces.

It slithers away from you, tucking itself between the lounge chairs and the couches. It takes up a magazine and starts looking through it. "Mortals must learn for thHhem-hem-hem selves." It calls back right up to you. With its index finger, it licks it (or at least put it up to where its mouth should be), and turns the page of its magazine. Its cover says something along the lines of 'Self-Help Guide for Those In-Between Planes.'

"I would not. Stand... So close.. to it. If... You Must Know."

Macario quickly gets to his feet, ignoring the shadow’s offered hand. Wondering what the vision could mean, he turns his attention to the doors of the ballroom. Eduardo had been looking for a key in his room. Then Sesisah had called him her key. Maybe he could get out of here on his own. 

[[ Arcana 10 even if I could get like a situational advantage from the detect magic :/ Wondering if I can open the door and maybe channel some Underside magic to have it lead me somewhere else? I’m also curious if I could sense that Argos is in this in-between world as well and maybe get to him but idk what the roll would be for that. ]]

@Macario 

((oh whoops yeah you know Argos is in this world already. he's in the same plane of existence as you right now but he just wandered into the lobby. no need for a roll you can just walk to him heheh))

The shadow reels back its hand once it realizes you didn't want it. "You.. are starting. To Get it." It nods as it somehow realizes what you were thinking. "Thoughts... they flow freeeeely here." It stretches out its fingers, "But it seems we had missed some earlier. Today." It sighs.

"That.. may work. Yes..." It slithers towards the door to open up the exit, "But youuuu. Must. Channnel." It hacks and spits on the floor, "Your energy. To something. Tangible. From the other world. One that is. Correee-lated to you. Made for you. Specifically."

It replaces the mask onto its face. It 'blinks'. The eyeholes shut close before opening once more.

"When. You Are Back. Destroy. These. We... will be watching from here. And Break. On Our Own End."

[[ hehe yes definitely picked up on the mask hint thanks :) ]]

Macario looks into where the shadow’s eyes would be and nods, understanding. “I understand. Thank you.” Without a second look, he pushes through the door into the lobby where he can sense Argos. 

Argos is totally confused. "So close to what?" He questioned as he saw the shadow move away. Guess he can't attack that thing.

(I also noticed Argos had a mace while trying to look for the 3rd and 4th spells annnnnd I gotta use it B))

He looked at the Mephit, and his wrists were becoming sore from using his use of his staff. He looked around his person and then suddenly, just now. He remembered he had a mace. He blinked reeeeeeaaaaaaaal slowly. Then decided to use that. "HAH, TWO WEAPONS!" (Is this allowed-)

Argos strikes with said mace (8 to hit 1 damage)

(Also weird question, can I use both of the weapons?)

@Macario

((ayyy awesome! ))

The shadows seem to approve and slither away back to their lifeless pile and collapse into masks. The lights turn off as soon as you go. The ballroom once again goes pitch dark.

You go to the lobby to see Argos engulfed by another one of those shadow things. An Ice Mephit is flying rapidly around it as if trying to break the barrier to go inside. But once you arrive it is surprised to see you and focuses more on its target. 

Suddenly the shadow lets go and slithers away towards the where the executive office was. This is probably the least strangest sight you've seen all day.

@Argos

((YEAH! it's two-weapon fighting. you have a weapon in each hand and you can whack things twice with two different weapons!!!))

Ice Mephit and Shadow Encounter - Round 4

Argos (15/17 HP) 

• (Action) Attack @Ice Mephit with Mace 7 + 1 = 8 < AC 11 A Miss. ---> Ice Mephit takes no damage 
• (Action) Attack @Ice Mephit with Staff 10 + 1 = 11 = AC 12 A Hit. ---> Ice Mephit takes 3 x 2 = 6 damage due to bludgeoning vulnerabilities ---> Ice Mephit is now at 1/21 HP
• End of Round: 10/17 HP

Ice Mephit (7/21 HP) 

(Recharge) 4 < DC 6 ---> Does not recharge Frost Breath

• (Action) Attack Argos with Claws 15 + 3 = 18 > AC 16 A Hit. ----> Argos takes 3 slashing damage + 2 cold damage = 5 damage ---> Argos is now at 10/17 HP
• End of Round: 1/21 HP

Shadow (16/16 HP)

• Move 30 ft away to you
• (Action) Strength Drain (but this time it's Strength Gain!) 15 + 4 = 19 > AC 16 A Success. ---> Rather than drain your strength it gave you +1 on your Strength Abilities
• (Bonus Action) Hide

"Close... to ... eh... you'll figure it out when it hAp-pe-pens." The shadow just flips through another page on the magazine.

The Mephit glowers at you. Its beady little eyes never come off you. You find your mace and it looks back, almost about to step away but it holds its ground. Its jagged fingers curl like its waiting for a draw. A standard showdown. 

You blink real slowly. It blinks real rapidly.

"Tick. Tock." Its frosty tongue clicks.

You smack it down with your mace, but it misses. The Mephit catches it in midair, flying up to meet you eye-level, and blows a raspberry (real mature). Then you come at it again with your staff. You whack it down on its vile icy face and it shatters it. Horrid cracks run down through the middle of its eyes and body. That sets off a fire in its eyes- or maybe a hail storm? Who knows. Either way it is pissed.

Lashing out at you with its claws, it draws blood from its multitude of scratches. It assails your face where you are unarmored. You feel the cold sting of a frostbite throughout your body. Somehow you manage to pry it off your face. It doesn't go down without a fight, but you manage. It flies 10 ft away from you in rabid anger. Its wings beat terribly loud but ow its stance is lopsided. You know it is near death.

The shadow's shoulders slump and it sighs. "You might need. This." Suddenly without even seeing it slither towards you, you are engulfed in black. An eerie pitch black darkness. It is cold but also familiar. You shudder. You feel its grip against your wrist yet there is no reward to pulling. You are stuck there. ... Yet ... rather than pain, you feel... less sore. Your wrists feel more invigorated. You feel more stronger than ever. 

"You're welcome." You hear the shadow say before it slithers away. You don't even see it go. It just is gone. 

But now you also see Macario standing there in the lobby same as you.

((Argos now has + 1 to his Strength on the Stat sheet))

Quote from SunDial365 >>

@Macario

((ayyy awesome! ))

The shadows seem to approve and slither away back to their lifeless pile and collapse into masks. The lights turn off as soon as you go. The ballroom once again goes pitch dark.

You go to the lobby to see Argos engulfed by another one of those shadow things. An Ice Mephit is flying rapidly around it as if trying to break the barrier to go inside. But once you arrive it is surprised to see you and focuses more on its target. 

Suddenly the shadow lets go and slithers away towards the where the executive office was. This is probably the least strangest sight you've seen all day.

---

 

@Argos

((YEAH! it's two-weapon fighting. you have a weapon in each hand and you can whack things twice with two different weapons!!!))

Ice Mephit and Shadow Encounter - Round 4

Argos (15/17 HP) 

• (Action) Attack @Ice Mephit with Mace 7 + 1 = 8 < AC 11 A Miss. ---> Ice Mephit takes no damage 
• (Action) Attack @Ice Mephit with Staff 10 + 1 = 11 = AC 12 A Hit. ---> Ice Mephit takes 3 x 2 = 6 damage due to bludgeoning vulnerabilities ---> Ice Mephit is now at 1/21 HP
• End of Round: 10/17 HP

Ice Mephit (7/21 HP) 

(Recharge) 4 < DC 6 ---> Does not recharge Frost Breath

• (Action) Attack Argos with Claws 15 + 3 = 18 > AC 16 A Hit. ----> Argos takes 3 slashing damage + 2 cold damage = 5 damage ---> Argos is now at 10/17 HP
• End of Round: 1/21 HP

Shadow (16/16 HP)

• Move 30 ft away to you
• (Action) Strength Drain (but this time it's Strength Gain!) 15 + 4 = 19 > AC 16 A Success. ---> Rather than drain your strength it gave you +1 on your Strength Abilities
• (Bonus Action) Hide

 

"Close... to ... eh... you'll figure it out when it hAp-pe-pens." The shadow just flips through another page on the magazine.

The Mephit glowers at you. Its beady little eyes never come off you. You find your mace and it looks back, almost about to step away but it holds its ground. Its jagged fingers curl like its waiting for a draw. A standard showdown. 

You blink real slowly. It blinks real rapidly.

"Tick. Tock." Its frosty tongue clicks.

You smack it down with your mace, but it misses. The Mephit catches it in midair, flying up to meet you eye-level, and blows a raspberry (real mature). Then you come at it again with your staff. You whack it down on its vile icy face and it shatters it. Horrid cracks run down through the middle of its eyes and body. That sets off a fire in its eyes- or maybe a hail storm? Who knows. Either way it is pissed.

Lashing out at you with its claws, it draws blood from its multitude of scratches. It assails your face where you are unarmored. You feel the cold sting of a frostbite throughout your body. Somehow you manage to pry it off your face. It doesn't go down without a fight, but you manage. It flies 10 ft away from you in rabid anger. Its wings beat terribly loud but ow its stance is lopsided. You know it is near death.

The shadow's shoulders slump and it sighs. "You might need. This." Suddenly without even seeing it slither towards you, you are engulfed in black. An eerie pitch black darkness. It is cold but also familiar. You shudder. You feel its grip against your wrist yet there is no reward to pulling. You are stuck there. ... Yet ... rather than pain, you feel... less sore. Your wrists feel more invigorated. You feel more stronger than ever. 

"You're welcome." You hear the shadow say before it slithers away. You don't even see it go. It just is gone. 

But now you also see Macario standing there in the lobby same as you.

((Argos now has + 1 to his Strength on the Stat sheet))

 

 

*that only works if both weapons are light*