“Since Ernie wounded me during the fight. I think his blades were cursed. Or he was. Last night’s rest helped, but I still feel wrong somehow. His corruption is still there, somewhere.” Sacha lays down and lifts up the back of her shirt to show the tattoo. A large, vividly green tattoo of the World Tree and a symbolic representation of the known planes of existence. It takes up most of her back and some branches reach up her arms. The tattoo is incredibly detailed and depicts many mythological figures, such as a black wyrm gnawing at the roots, a giant red squirrel climbing the branches, a large eagle flying above the canopy, and Melora the Wildmother trimming the leaves.
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Randa can smell, in a spiritual sense, the lingering stink of Ernie. She knows it now, and may not soon forget, as she had been in his filthy hovel.
Brother Bombur carefully examines where the wounds would have been. The healers did fine work and the magical healing allowed everyone to perfectly recover as they slept. However, there is some scarring on Sacha's shoulders that should not exist because of that magical healing. A puncture between the clavicle and scapula, a most vulnerable location given the axillary artery and axillary vein, not to mention the lungs under that. Had Sacha not been physically reinforced due to her connection to the World Tree, she would surely have perished from the wound.
As Brother Bombur palpates the scar tissue, he feels a shock travel up his arm like a lightning bolt. A flash of imagery crosses his mind's eye of the round face of Ernie, smiling in a knowing and unsettling way. Ernie is a man that Brother Bombur has not seen in person, but the imagery were as clear as if he had. This is a curse for sure. It isn't the most powerful or damaging curse he has heard of. It is functionally just a tracking curse with some shared emotions - Ernie can feel when Sacha connects to the World Tree and Sacha can feel when Ernie is watching. He also knows Sacha's location at all times.
The real problem though, is not with the what, but the how. This is a piece of soul removed. Somehow the dagger that Ernie used sliced off a spiritual piece, not just a material piece. A Remove Curse spell will not succeed here because the soul is the tether. Until that is recovered, Ernie will haunt Sacha. More than that, Ernie having part of Sacha's soul cannot at all be good for that piece of spiritual material.
“It’s a beautiful depiction of the World Tree. I did a bit of study of this when I was an acolyte. This rendition was done by a master artist to be sure,” Bombur says.
“Now, as to the damage. I believe Ernie has somehow taken a portion of your soul. That may seem impossible, but there it is.” He spreads his hands out. “The effect seems harmless as to the specific curse,” he says. “Ernie will be aware of your presence and location. Probably privy to your thoughts and emotions to some degree. What he can possibly do with the piece of your soul, however… I care not to think on that too much. It is… not good. We must recover this for you in order to rid you of the scar.”
Bombur looks at Sacha with piteous eyes. “I’m sorry this is not better news.”
Morgan steps closer to Sacha, wearing an expression far too serious to be genuinely serious. He sets a hand on the barbarian's shoulder and points a finger at Brother Bombur. "What BB here doesn't want to say... is that we might need to put you down, Sacha. I'm sorry."
He holds the solemn face for about two seconds before a grin breaks through. "Or... hear me out... you just buy a round of drinks at the first tavern in Bazzoxan. Works miracles against curses. Trust me, I'm an expert." (He's absolutely not.)
(OOC: For all this theatrics—trying, and probably failing, to lift Sacha's spirits—Morgan rolled a Performance: 14.)
“It’s a beautiful depiction of the World Tree. I did a bit of study of this when I was an acolyte. This rendition was done by a master artist to be sure,” Bombur says.
“Now, as to the damage. I believe Ernie has somehow taken a portion of your soul. That may seem impossible, but there it is.” He spreads his hands out. “The effect seems harmless as to the specific curse,” he says. “Ernie will be aware of your presence and location. Probably privy to your thoughts and emotions to some degree. What he can possibly do with the piece of your soul, however… I care not to think on that too much. It is… not good. We must recover this for you in order to rid you of the scar.”
Bombur looks at Sacha with piteous eyes. “I’m sorry this is not better news.”
" It will come for you again and when it does we will burn it to ash and scour its poison from your soul, Sister.", Jacaranda promised.
Sacha pulls her shirt down and sits up, deep in thought. This is heavy news. Sacha is very conflicted and doesn’t feel that there’s any good option.
“You all know I do not want to put any of you in danger. I’m being tracked by corrupt monsters from another world that could attack us at any time. They have taken advantage of how I channel the World Tree and now my very presence in the party endangers you all. And I don’t know how useful I am to you in my current state. I would never forgive myself if any of you died because of my curse.”
”If I were strong enough, I would leave you all. I would disappear in the night when the rest were sleeping and complete our quest on my own. I cannot abandon this quest, the fate of my people depends on me seeing it through, but I am torn between the needs of my people and the needs of the Fellowship.”
”But I am not strong enough, so I think I must remain with you. I have failed in my role and become a burden for the rest of you. I am deeply sorry for the hardships that I bring upon you. If you wish for me to leave, I will.”
“Since Ernie wounded me during the fight. I think his blades were cursed. Or he was. Last night’s rest helped, but I still feel wrong somehow. His corruption is still there, somewhere.” Sacha lays down and lifts up the back of her shirt to show the tattoo. A large, vividly green tattoo of the World Tree and a symbolic representation of the known planes of existence. It takes up most of her back and some branches reach up her arms. The tattoo is incredibly detailed and depicts many mythological figures, such as a black wyrm gnawing at the roots, a giant red squirrel climbing the branches, a large eagle flying above the canopy, and Melora the Wildmother trimming the leaves.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Randa can smell, in a spiritual sense, the lingering stink of Ernie. She knows it now, and may not soon forget, as she had been in his filthy hovel.
Brother Bombur carefully examines where the wounds would have been. The healers did fine work and the magical healing allowed everyone to perfectly recover as they slept. However, there is some scarring on Sacha's shoulders that should not exist because of that magical healing. A puncture between the clavicle and scapula, a most vulnerable location given the axillary artery and axillary vein, not to mention the lungs under that. Had Sacha not been physically reinforced due to her connection to the World Tree, she would surely have perished from the wound.
As Brother Bombur palpates the scar tissue, he feels a shock travel up his arm like a lightning bolt. A flash of imagery crosses his mind's eye of the round face of Ernie, smiling in a knowing and unsettling way. Ernie is a man that Brother Bombur has not seen in person, but the imagery were as clear as if he had. This is a curse for sure. It isn't the most powerful or damaging curse he has heard of. It is functionally just a tracking curse with some shared emotions - Ernie can feel when Sacha connects to the World Tree and Sacha can feel when Ernie is watching. He also knows Sacha's location at all times.
The real problem though, is not with the what, but the how. This is a piece of soul removed. Somehow the dagger that Ernie used sliced off a spiritual piece, not just a material piece. A Remove Curse spell will not succeed here because the soul is the tether. Until that is recovered, Ernie will haunt Sacha. More than that, Ernie having part of Sacha's soul cannot at all be good for that piece of spiritual material.
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“So, anything?” Sacha asks Bombur and Randa, worriedly.
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Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
“It’s a beautiful depiction of the World Tree. I did a bit of study of this when I was an acolyte. This rendition was done by a master artist to be sure,” Bombur says.
“Now, as to the damage. I believe Ernie has somehow taken a portion of your soul. That may seem impossible, but there it is.” He spreads his hands out. “The effect seems harmless as to the specific curse,” he says. “Ernie will be aware of your presence and location. Probably privy to your thoughts and emotions to some degree. What he can possibly do with the piece of your soul, however… I care not to think on that too much. It is… not good. We must recover this for you in order to rid you of the scar.”
Bombur looks at Sacha with piteous eyes. “I’m sorry this is not better news.”
Middle Grade Author
Morgan steps closer to Sacha, wearing an expression far too serious to be genuinely serious. He sets a hand on the barbarian's shoulder and points a finger at Brother Bombur.
"What BB here doesn't want to say... is that we might need to put you down, Sacha. I'm sorry."
He holds the solemn face for about two seconds before a grin breaks through.
"Or... hear me out... you just buy a round of drinks at the first tavern in Bazzoxan. Works miracles against curses. Trust me, I'm an expert." (He's absolutely not.)
(OOC: For all this theatrics—trying, and probably failing, to lift Sacha's spirits—Morgan rolled a Performance: 14.)
Despite himself, Bombur laughs heartily at the joke. He appreciates the attempt to lighten the mood.
"Well done, Morgan!" He claps the man on the back.
Middle Grade Author
" It will come for you again and when it does we will burn it to ash and scour its poison from your soul, Sister.", Jacaranda promised.
Sacha pulls her shirt down and sits up, deep in thought. This is heavy news. Sacha is very conflicted and doesn’t feel that there’s any good option.
“You all know I do not want to put any of you in danger. I’m being tracked by corrupt monsters from another world that could attack us at any time. They have taken advantage of how I channel the World Tree and now my very presence in the party endangers you all. And I don’t know how useful I am to you in my current state. I would never forgive myself if any of you died because of my curse.”
”If I were strong enough, I would leave you all. I would disappear in the night when the rest were sleeping and complete our quest on my own. I cannot abandon this quest, the fate of my people depends on me seeing it through, but I am torn between the needs of my people and the needs of the Fellowship.”
”But I am not strong enough, so I think I must remain with you. I have failed in my role and become a burden for the rest of you. I am deeply sorry for the hardships that I bring upon you. If you wish for me to leave, I will.”
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
"I will walk by your side," Bombur says, putting a hand on her shoulder.
Middle Grade Author
" There are failures aplenty to go around, Sister. We can carry them together."