((remember, everyone within 10 feet is now healed 8 hp. It now has 2 charges left - and the Lingering Shadow has to fail two more saves. Need a 100% success rate now - or try and give the seed more power if that fails))
Erro is heartened when the healing energy washes over him and there’s a glimmer of hope in his heart. Erro will take position alongside Rawk, readying a weapon attack against the first enemy, presumably the shambling zombie, that comes within range of the group. Will use bonus action to switch Hunter’s Mark from the previously vanquished zombie.
Attack: 15 Damage: 7 if hit 5 and Col Slayer if Rawk hits it first: 1
Tempest starts moving the Moonbeam towards the door, focusing on the ritual. Another blast of light shoots from it, and the rivulets of silvery magic extend further. You can palpably feel the Lingering Shadow's hold weakening further, and the shadows around you seem less dense, and the pool clearer. You can make out the grim trophies underneath, and the spirits still wrestling in their fiendish bonds - though these are noticeably weaker now.
Lingering Shadow's Turn
Tendrils of mist shoot towards Tempest
Attack: 9, damage 15 necrotic, and make a con save vs DC 15 or take 3 Con damage
The Vessel
Heedless of risk, the Vessel charges forward taking the dash action, and is met by Erro and Rawk's prepared attacks, both digging deep into it's rotten form, shadow hissing out of the wounds.
Other Things
The banging on the door continues, and through the cracks already there two Shadow-Snakes squeeze through, starting to head towards the heroes
There is the sound of more smashing wood, and chunks of the door continue to fly off. One of the hinges breaks, and the door begins to be pushed over. They are not through yet, but it wont be long...
Tempest ducks and bats away the tendrils of darkness with his staff. He'll look to Ellis and say, "if this doesn't work pour the potion onto the seed" then he'll look up across the pond and time will seem to freeze as he looks out into the water. He sees his father smiling and a young woman comes up to join him, his mother. The tattered and bleeding water genasi looks tranquil for just a moment then his eyes flare and a cloud seems to form over his brow. Tears stream from his eyes and his teeth chatter with rage as he grips his staff tightly and shouts at the top of his lungs... "My name is Tempest, you killed my father... prepare to die!" He'll continue the ritual and hold the moonbeam in front of the door.
"This annoying zombie will not perish! It just keeps spitting out another one! What good is slaying it doing us? Rawk, perhaps on the next one you could wrest that horrible knife from its hands and make it less of a threat? Or toss it back into the pool?"
Erro looks to the foes who have just breached the door. "Aggh, not more of those horrible shadow snakes! We'll never be able to keep the door shut with those attacking us. Hopefully Tempest's moonbeam will slow their advance."
Erro shall attempt to finish off this zombie: Attack: 9 Damage: 6. If hit: 5 + 6.
Ellis was thankful that the attack of Tempest missed before hearing him, nodding back. He will Ready to pour the potion onto the seed if he sees that the ritual doesn't work this time. Come on, just a little longer and then they can finally purify the Heart.
Rawk will follow up behind Erro and attempt to hack the zombie in two then grab for the dagger if it dies. "Will do. Let's finish this one!" she chirps
Rawk and Erro tear into the Vessel, Erro's blow going wide but distracting it enough for Rawk to bury her blade through it, almost splitting the Vessel in two. It collapses to the ground, and you can hear the pounding on the door growing louder, the Shadow-Serpents flowing towards you.
Then Tempest feels a surge, as the last bit of energy flows from the seed, and he feels the Heart connect with it, join with it - and then direct that final blast of energy at the Lingering Shadow's final tethers on the Material Plane. A blinding pulse of light shoots from the seed, the veins of silvery life spread out all through the grove, wherever they touch seeming to burn shadows away from the ground. The water in the lake seems to start to glow, the murkiness being driven away and you see the ghosts within break free of their chains of shadows.
You all hear in your mind a hiss of rage and frustration from the Lingering Shadow, a wordless curse of enmity direct at you, then the shadows within the Grove start to swirl, as if caught in a giant vortex, wisps seemingly boiling off and vanishing to some other place. The hammering on the door abruptly stops, and glance back catches a glimpse of the zombies beyond stationary, darkness pouring from their eyes and mouths. The two Shadow-Snakes you can see, start spinning and turning round and round, with each revolution becoming fainter and more intangible until eventually there is nothing left.
The seed gives one last blast of light, then crumples to dust, its job done. The presence of the Shadow, ominous and encompassing fades away, though you all feel the hatred of an implacable enemy as it is banished from this plane.
There is a sudden quiet in the Grove. The shadows have not fully gone - it will take a while before the effects of the Lingering Shadow are fully banished - but in the center of the lake you see a sunshine lance down, lighting the rock in the center then spread across the lake, causing motes of the sunlight to bounce of the wavelets. The widening path of light slows then, as the initial burst of energy fades, but if you look carefully you would see the edge still slowly expanding. Above this place the shadow seems to have lifted, a column of purity leading up to blue skies and sunlight.
The corpses of the slain zombies seem to begin to sink into the ground, being reabsorbed, and you watch the same happen to mound of bodies on the lack bed as they are finally allowed to decay and return to nature.
Around the edge of the lake, dozens of pale forms stand, the spirits until so recently bound by the Shadow. Foremost among them in Tempest's father, who stands before Tempest, a faint smile on his face.
Is there anything you guys want to do / say at this point?
Tempest collapses to his knees and lets out a groan of sorrow and relief as he finally mourns the loss of his parents. Tears stream from his eyes and fall to the ground. The small patches of wet soil quickly soak in the water as the grove continues the healing process. Tempest doesn't say anything for a few minutes, he just sits in the sunlight feeling the warmth on his skin. After about 5 minutes, he clears his throat and wipes the few tears that remain on his cheeks. "We should rest here for a while then return as quickly as we can. This is only the first battle of many. Eldath will help restore this grove but the yuan-ti will continue to fight to destroy it. We must defeat Fenthaza and rid the area of the yuan-ti. We must cleanse and rebuild this city. We have struck a fatal blow but cannot allow our enemy to walk away wounded only to come back healed and full of vengeance. We must finish this fight to preserve this land... this world for the generations to follow."
As you collapse on to the ground, your father's spirit comes up to you. For a moment his hand stretches out as if to touch you, then he pauses and a sad look flits over his face.
"You have done a great thing, Tempest. You have freed me and the others and will allow us to move on. But as much as you grieve for me, do not yet shed tears for your mother. She was sold before we arrived in this place, and may yet live. If she lives, find her - free her from whatever fate has befallen her, and bring justice for what has happened."
The other spirits start becoming more indistinct, a silvery glow around them.
"You and your friends cannot rest here. The slavers will be able to push their way through soon, and though the undead are free of the Lingering Shadow's direct control they will quickly recover from it's loss. Less powerful and mindless, but still dangerous." he pauses a moment, a look of satisfaction on his face "the slavers do not yet realise the danger this will bring for them. Before we go, we will provide as much cover as we can."
As if to highlight his words, the sounds of raised humanoid voices can be heard through the tunnel as angry slavers try and push their way through a mass of stunned zombies. By the ruined buildings you see the same ghost as before, that pointed to the trees. He silently beckons you into the building behind.
"Go with that spirit." your father's voice is becoming fainter, the spirits now barely distinguishable - more like a cloud of silvery light "he will show you an escape, and perhaps earn some rest himself."
The spirits merge together into a brilliant fog of light that the moves to the tunnel. The zombies still stand motionless, though you think you begin to see a faint flicker of movement beginning. The light passes into the tunnel, and you hear cries of surprise and dismay from the slavers, hopefully disorienting them for a few moments more.
Tempest will rise suddenly rejuvenated by his father's words of hope. "I will." he mutters to his father then turns to the group, "We must leave now! Follow the spirit!" he shouts pointing at the silvery ethereal being. Tempest will make sure the others move towards the spirit then follow behind them taking up the rear of the formation.
Ellis saw as the light from the seed shoot at the Shadow and destroy it, all the shadows burning and vanishing away before hearing the hiss and then seeing the seed crumble to dust. He sighed in relief as the Grove was quiet and seemed like it would go back to normal, so thankful for the sun before seeing all of the spirits. He had agreed with Tempest about taking a short rest and needing to defeat Fenthaza. But then Ellis heard the spirit of Tempest's father tell them that they can not rest since there are still the slavers and the undead even if they are less powerful, now hearing the voices of what must be the slavers. Then he saw the ghost beckoning them to a building as Tempest's father told them to go with him, that they will show them an escape. "Y-Yeah!" Ellis says back, nodding as he will follow Tempest and the others to the spirit while still holding onto this potion Rawk gave him.
((Phew!!! Bravo! You know you are doing it right when play by post becomes suspenseful.))
Erro, normally full of words, is simply silent at the scene. The moment of peace and mercy is more than enough to satisfy. When the familiar, maybe predictable rush of danger returns a moment later he takes it with an air of slight levity, knowing that whatever happens they got the last laugh. Erro will take point and charge forward towards the structure.
(Agreed. That was awesome, but we're not through this yet!)
Rawk takes in the scene in awe and wonder. "Soon this place will be one of beauty again." she chirps softly as her rage begins to subside. Hearing Tempest's father and the banging at the door continue she reacts quickly and takes the helm flying in the direction of the building and spirit. If she sees anyone struggling to keep up she'll assist them in moving along.
((That was a close run thing - had me on the edge of my seat as well! Well done Team!))
You hurry towards the spirit, a mournful emaciated figure in tattered clothes. It beckons you in to the building, now closer you can see that though simple, it was once a finely crafted structure carved directly into the rock itself ((think Petra in the real world)). The door gapes open, and once inside it is dark. The walls once had fine paintings on them, now defaced and grime covered. The floor is think with rotten mulch and a stench of decay lingers. Stairs lead up into the building, and the figure suddenly appears at the landing, beckoning you on.
From the grove behind you hear the shouts of anger get louder, and hear the sound of an axe smashing into the door. Racing up the steps, going up several flights of equally ruined and despoiled levels - once simple but comfortable dormitories. There are small slit windows on each landing, and through them you see about a dozen slavers bursting into the grove, weapons drawn. The are led by a huge man, his arms and face covered in scars and tattoos wielding an equally over-sized axe. You hear the cries of anger from the slavers, and as you reach what must be the fifth floor, ever led on by the spirit, you hear a deep thunderous voice echo in the grove.
"You'll pay for this, you filthy scum! This has cost us a fortune, and i'll extract it from your hides!"
A glance out shows the slavers running towards the building, guessing where you must have gone.
Another two floors pass by, and finally you come to floor with a long corridor, several rooms lying of it. The spirit appears at a part of the blank wall, beckons, then steps through the wall and vanishes from sight.
((remember, everyone within 10 feet is now healed 8 hp. It now has 2 charges left - and the Lingering Shadow has to fail two more saves. Need a 100% success rate now - or try and give the seed more power if that fails))
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Erro is heartened when the healing energy washes over him and there’s a glimmer of hope in his heart. Erro will take position alongside Rawk, readying a weapon attack against the first enemy, presumably the shambling zombie, that comes within range of the group. Will use bonus action to switch Hunter’s Mark from the previously vanquished zombie.
Attack: 15 Damage: 7 if hit 5 and Col Slayer if Rawk hits it first: 1
Lingering Shadow Save: 10
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Tempest starts moving the Moonbeam towards the door, focusing on the ritual. Another blast of light shoots from it, and the rivulets of silvery magic extend further. You can palpably feel the Lingering Shadow's hold weakening further, and the shadows around you seem less dense, and the pool clearer. You can make out the grim trophies underneath, and the spirits still wrestling in their fiendish bonds - though these are noticeably weaker now.
Lingering Shadow's Turn
Tendrils of mist shoot towards Tempest
Attack: 9, damage 15 necrotic, and make a con save vs DC 15 or take 3 Con damage
The Vessel
Heedless of risk, the Vessel charges forward taking the dash action, and is met by Erro and Rawk's prepared attacks, both digging deep into it's rotten form, shadow hissing out of the wounds.
Other Things
The banging on the door continues, and through the cracks already there two Shadow-Snakes squeeze through, starting to head towards the heroes
Trying to bash down the door:
23
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
There is the sound of more smashing wood, and chunks of the door continue to fly off. One of the hinges breaks, and the door begins to be pushed over. They are not through yet, but it wont be long...
Heroes Turn
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Tempest ducks and bats away the tendrils of darkness with his staff. He'll look to Ellis and say, "if this doesn't work pour the potion onto the seed" then he'll look up across the pond and time will seem to freeze as he looks out into the water. He sees his father smiling and a young woman comes up to join him, his mother. The tattered and bleeding water genasi looks tranquil for just a moment then his eyes flare and a cloud seems to form over his brow. Tears stream from his eyes and his teeth chatter with rage as he grips his staff tightly and shouts at the top of his lungs... "My name is Tempest, you killed my father... prepare to die!" He'll continue the ritual and hold the moonbeam in front of the door.
Moonbeam damage, should the door fail: 12
((I think a Princess Bride reference deserves inspiration Xtra!))
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
((lol))
"This annoying zombie will not perish! It just keeps spitting out another one! What good is slaying it doing us? Rawk, perhaps on the next one you could wrest that horrible knife from its hands and make it less of a threat? Or toss it back into the pool?"
Erro looks to the foes who have just breached the door. "Aggh, not more of those horrible shadow snakes! We'll never be able to keep the door shut with those attacking us. Hopefully Tempest's moonbeam will slow their advance."
Erro shall attempt to finish off this zombie: Attack: 9 Damage: 6. If hit: 5 + 6.
Ellis was thankful that the attack of Tempest missed before hearing him, nodding back. He will Ready to pour the potion onto the seed if he sees that the ritual doesn't work this time. Come on, just a little longer and then they can finally purify the Heart.
Rawk will follow up behind Erro and attempt to hack the zombie in two then grab for the dagger if it dies. "Will do. Let's finish this one!" she chirps
Attack: 19 Damage: 6
Lingering Shadow Saving Throw: 8
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Rawk and Erro tear into the Vessel, Erro's blow going wide but distracting it enough for Rawk to bury her blade through it, almost splitting the Vessel in two. It collapses to the ground, and you can hear the pounding on the door growing louder, the Shadow-Serpents flowing towards you.
Then Tempest feels a surge, as the last bit of energy flows from the seed, and he feels the Heart connect with it, join with it - and then direct that final blast of energy at the Lingering Shadow's final tethers on the Material Plane. A blinding pulse of light shoots from the seed, the veins of silvery life spread out all through the grove, wherever they touch seeming to burn shadows away from the ground. The water in the lake seems to start to glow, the murkiness being driven away and you see the ghosts within break free of their chains of shadows.
You all hear in your mind a hiss of rage and frustration from the Lingering Shadow, a wordless curse of enmity direct at you, then the shadows within the Grove start to swirl, as if caught in a giant vortex, wisps seemingly boiling off and vanishing to some other place. The hammering on the door abruptly stops, and glance back catches a glimpse of the zombies beyond stationary, darkness pouring from their eyes and mouths. The two Shadow-Snakes you can see, start spinning and turning round and round, with each revolution becoming fainter and more intangible until eventually there is nothing left.
The seed gives one last blast of light, then crumples to dust, its job done. The presence of the Shadow, ominous and encompassing fades away, though you all feel the hatred of an implacable enemy as it is banished from this plane.
There is a sudden quiet in the Grove. The shadows have not fully gone - it will take a while before the effects of the Lingering Shadow are fully banished - but in the center of the lake you see a sunshine lance down, lighting the rock in the center then spread across the lake, causing motes of the sunlight to bounce of the wavelets. The widening path of light slows then, as the initial burst of energy fades, but if you look carefully you would see the edge still slowly expanding. Above this place the shadow seems to have lifted, a column of purity leading up to blue skies and sunlight.
The corpses of the slain zombies seem to begin to sink into the ground, being reabsorbed, and you watch the same happen to mound of bodies on the lack bed as they are finally allowed to decay and return to nature.
Around the edge of the lake, dozens of pale forms stand, the spirits until so recently bound by the Shadow. Foremost among them in Tempest's father, who stands before Tempest, a faint smile on his face.
Is there anything you guys want to do / say at this point?
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Tempest collapses to his knees and lets out a groan of sorrow and relief as he finally mourns the loss of his parents. Tears stream from his eyes and fall to the ground. The small patches of wet soil quickly soak in the water as the grove continues the healing process. Tempest doesn't say anything for a few minutes, he just sits in the sunlight feeling the warmth on his skin. After about 5 minutes, he clears his throat and wipes the few tears that remain on his cheeks. "We should rest here for a while then return as quickly as we can. This is only the first battle of many. Eldath will help restore this grove but the yuan-ti will continue to fight to destroy it. We must defeat Fenthaza and rid the area of the yuan-ti. We must cleanse and rebuild this city. We have struck a fatal blow but cannot allow our enemy to walk away wounded only to come back healed and full of vengeance. We must finish this fight to preserve this land... this world for the generations to follow."
(Proposing we take a short rest.)
As you collapse on to the ground, your father's spirit comes up to you. For a moment his hand stretches out as if to touch you, then he pauses and a sad look flits over his face.
"You have done a great thing, Tempest. You have freed me and the others and will allow us to move on. But as much as you grieve for me, do not yet shed tears for your mother. She was sold before we arrived in this place, and may yet live. If she lives, find her - free her from whatever fate has befallen her, and bring justice for what has happened."
The other spirits start becoming more indistinct, a silvery glow around them.
"You and your friends cannot rest here. The slavers will be able to push their way through soon, and though the undead are free of the Lingering Shadow's direct control they will quickly recover from it's loss. Less powerful and mindless, but still dangerous." he pauses a moment, a look of satisfaction on his face "the slavers do not yet realise the danger this will bring for them. Before we go, we will provide as much cover as we can."
As if to highlight his words, the sounds of raised humanoid voices can be heard through the tunnel as angry slavers try and push their way through a mass of stunned zombies. By the ruined buildings you see the same ghost as before, that pointed to the trees. He silently beckons you into the building behind.
"Go with that spirit." your father's voice is becoming fainter, the spirits now barely distinguishable - more like a cloud of silvery light "he will show you an escape, and perhaps earn some rest himself."
The spirits merge together into a brilliant fog of light that the moves to the tunnel. The zombies still stand motionless, though you think you begin to see a faint flicker of movement beginning. The light passes into the tunnel, and you hear cries of surprise and dismay from the slavers, hopefully disorienting them for a few moments more.
What do you want to do?
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Tempest will rise suddenly rejuvenated by his father's words of hope. "I will." he mutters to his father then turns to the group, "We must leave now! Follow the spirit!" he shouts pointing at the silvery ethereal being. Tempest will make sure the others move towards the spirit then follow behind them taking up the rear of the formation.
Ellis saw as the light from the seed shoot at the Shadow and destroy it, all the shadows burning and vanishing away before hearing the hiss and then seeing the seed crumble to dust. He sighed in relief as the Grove was quiet and seemed like it would go back to normal, so thankful for the sun before seeing all of the spirits. He had agreed with Tempest about taking a short rest and needing to defeat Fenthaza. But then Ellis heard the spirit of Tempest's father tell them that they can not rest since there are still the slavers and the undead even if they are less powerful, now hearing the voices of what must be the slavers. Then he saw the ghost beckoning them to a building as Tempest's father told them to go with him, that they will show them an escape. "Y-Yeah!" Ellis says back, nodding as he will follow Tempest and the others to the spirit while still holding onto this potion Rawk gave him.
((Phew!!! Bravo! You know you are doing it right when play by post becomes suspenseful.))
Erro, normally full of words, is simply silent at the scene. The moment of peace and mercy is more than enough to satisfy. When the familiar, maybe predictable rush of danger returns a moment later he takes it with an air of slight levity, knowing that whatever happens they got the last laugh. Erro will take point and charge forward towards the structure.
(Agreed. That was awesome, but we're not through this yet!)
Rawk takes in the scene in awe and wonder. "Soon this place will be one of beauty again." she chirps softly as her rage begins to subside. Hearing Tempest's father and the banging at the door continue she reacts quickly and takes the helm flying in the direction of the building and spirit. If she sees anyone struggling to keep up she'll assist them in moving along.
((That was a close run thing - had me on the edge of my seat as well! Well done Team!))
You hurry towards the spirit, a mournful emaciated figure in tattered clothes. It beckons you in to the building, now closer you can see that though simple, it was once a finely crafted structure carved directly into the rock itself ((think Petra in the real world)). The door gapes open, and once inside it is dark. The walls once had fine paintings on them, now defaced and grime covered. The floor is think with rotten mulch and a stench of decay lingers. Stairs lead up into the building, and the figure suddenly appears at the landing, beckoning you on.
From the grove behind you hear the shouts of anger get louder, and hear the sound of an axe smashing into the door. Racing up the steps, going up several flights of equally ruined and despoiled levels - once simple but comfortable dormitories. There are small slit windows on each landing, and through them you see about a dozen slavers bursting into the grove, weapons drawn. The are led by a huge man, his arms and face covered in scars and tattoos wielding an equally over-sized axe. You hear the cries of anger from the slavers, and as you reach what must be the fifth floor, ever led on by the spirit, you hear a deep thunderous voice echo in the grove.
"You'll pay for this, you filthy scum! This has cost us a fortune, and i'll extract it from your hides!"
A glance out shows the slavers running towards the building, guessing where you must have gone.
Another two floors pass by, and finally you come to floor with a long corridor, several rooms lying of it. The spirit appears at a part of the blank wall, beckons, then steps through the wall and vanishes from sight.
Everyone make perception checks....
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Erro looks around, frantically:
Perception: 21 (Assuming to have lit a torch if it was too dark to see)