Maxine, your ray misses again, with the orbs continuing to mock you. Professor, to your horror, you notice that the orbs have smartened up and quickly fly fifteen feet into the air, to be outside of the range of the flaming sphere.
You all realise that you're at an impasse. Something about their nature makes the orbs resistant to most damage, and for many other attacks, they're just too agile to be pinned down and hit. While you aren't hurting as such, the orbs seem to be little affected by your efforts, and you definitely counted more lights in the distance...
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
"Nothing works!" Maxine did not hope too much she can keep up with wizards in spell slinging, but it looked like their magic could not truly affect creatures either. "There is no way to even hold them... I wonder if there is anything they truly like - to lure them to some point, like moths to the lamp, while we would go around. But for that we need to know those creatures and to be alive, which probably means we have to retreat."
The whisps are definitely hostile, and were it not for Berrus trying to protect you all as best he can, they'd be flitting in and out of range to try and zap you.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Abandoning his control over the wind, the Professor reaches out to control the fire on Berrus' branch, causing it to flare up and extend from the branch. "We may have to pull back, but on the other hand, perhaps if we all grab branches we can keep them off of us long enough to get to the skull," he says, considering their options. Snively looks carefully at the positioning of the wisps and the route to the skull...could this plan work?
An Investigation roll, perhaps: 12
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
We've come too far to turn away now...Shae would close her eyes and take a deep breath, thinking about what calms her. Maybe the wisps can be calmed as well? She will start humming in a soft melody.
I shouldn't be here 'cause I should be dead I can see the lights in front of me I believe my best days are ahead I can see the lights in front of me Oh... if I'm still your friend What the hell What the hell you got for me I gotta get out from under my bed I can see again the lights in front of me Hey I've been waiting to get home a long time
Shae will open her eyes. Feeling a bit safer from her ally's manipulation of fire to try to keep the wisps at bay, she will continue her song out loud to see if it could have any affect on the wisps.
(Not a bard, but it's a thought that popped into my head. Shae's got +3 cha so maybe? As if trying to soothe them or entrance them so we can keep moving forward with the protection of the fire.)
"Hey now, do you know my name Hey now, where I'm going If I can't get an answer In your eyes I see it The lights of home The lights of home."
If it looks as though their combined efforts are successful, the warlock would try to press forward.
"I was born from a screaming sound I can see the lights in front of me I thought my head was harder than ground I can see the lights in front of me One more push and I'll be born again One more road you can't travel with a friend Saw a statue of a gold guitar Bright lights right in front of me Hey, I've been waiting to get home a long time
Hey now, do you know my name Hey now, where I'm going If I can't get an answer In your eyes I see it The lights of home In the lights of home
Free yourself to be yourself If only you could you see yourself If only you could
Free yourself to be yourself If only you could see yourself If only you could..."
The orbs both back off and fly quickly towards the skull. You see other lights in the distance, glimmering and coming in and out of focus. It doesn't feel like a victory or like you managed to sway the orbs, but the path to the skull is open for now, and Shae, singing, leads the way.
Do you all follow Shae?
Everyone, you get 50 XP for the encounter!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Of course we follow! If only not to leave Shae alone with the creature. "Either they are more intelligent then they look and can appreciate good poetry, or melodic sound scares them. Great thinking!" fully approved Maxine, running after Shae.
The Professor follows along as Shae’s mellifluous tones soothe the wisps, but he keeps his firestarter out and makes sure the flame on Berrus’ branch is burning bright as they go...just in case.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
As the three others are pressing forward, I assume Berrus is tagging along as well.
Your small group approaches the skull, so far unmolested. As you step within sixty feet or so of the skull, you notice a pattern drawn into the ashen ground before the skull. It all takes you a moment to realise the regular lines form a pentagram, and each corner sports a separate arcane symbol. Although you're pretty sure that your comprehend language spell is still active, you cannot decipher the meaning of any of the symbols, Professor. It doesn't take someone with arcane training or an overflowing imagination to realise that whoever resides here is preparing some sort of ritual.
The place seems devoid of all life, apart from a small, warm light, as if from a candle, shining from inside the skull, impotently trying to hold the steamy fog at bay. Apart from the hissing of nearby Geysirs, the area is deathly quiet.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Maxine slowed down a bit: "Should we pay a visit to the current owner of the skull or invite him here by destroying symbols on the ground? By the way, Shae, are they the same as in your vision? Though, I am not sure you were mentioning symbols."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The Professor:
Professor Snively takes a moment to investigate the symbols, determining if perhaps he should use his Detect Magic ritual to gain a further understanding of their purpose.
Arcana: 22
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Shae, as soon as you look at the symbols on the ground intently, you're wracked by headaches, and it feels as if something is going wild inside your mind, but as hard as you're trying to focus, through the headache and the strange energy of the place, Kam remains silent.
Professor, from the set up of the geometric forms, and the selection of the space, this must be a summoning circle. You've read about summoning magic, but it had always seemed something more suited for druids or, in a pinch, warlocks, and so you're not intimately familiar with the way a summoning circle works. What you do know however is that the size of the summoning circle is proportional to the power of the caster and the creatures they're trying to summon. This circle is a good thirty feet in diameter...
Furthermore, you know that any summoning ritual requires some form of sacrifice, some material component that is used up and that helps bind the summoned creature to this plane. Hard as you try however, you don't see any such sacrificial materials...
Maxine and Berrus, what are you doing?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The Professor:
"This seems to be a summoning circle, used to call a being from another plane and bind it to our own," pontificates the Professor. He continues, "given what we have seen so far today, I expect something from one or more of the elemental planes is a likely target. However, summoning was not my area of specialty at the University, so I know little more than that, other than a sacrifice or gift of some kind is typically required to bind the creature once summoned."
Turning to Shae, he asks, "What can you discern about this summoning circle? Can you tell from the symbols what plane it is intended to reach or what type of creature it is intended to summon?"
Noticing Berrus' wandering gaze, Snively asks, "Does it look safe for us to continue towards the skull?"
From the earlier Arcana roll, does the Professor know if there is a risk to crossing the threshold of the summoning circle?
Insight Check to notice Shae's discomfort: 19
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Considering Maxine's suggestion, Snively thinks for a moment and says, "If we disturb the circle, we will likely destroy any chance we have of a peaceful encounter with this 'Horned Lady'. If we continue on into the circle without disturbing it, we may be trapping ourselves or giving her an advantage over us, however. All else being equal, I would rather not destroy this magic without provocation, but I am open to suggestions."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Maxine, your ray misses again, with the orbs continuing to mock you. Professor, to your horror, you notice that the orbs have smartened up and quickly fly fifteen feet into the air, to be outside of the range of the flaming sphere.
You all realise that you're at an impasse. Something about their nature makes the orbs resistant to most damage, and for many other attacks, they're just too agile to be pinned down and hit. While you aren't hurting as such, the orbs seem to be little affected by your efforts, and you definitely counted more lights in the distance...
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
"Nothing works!" Maxine did not hope too much she can keep up with wizards in spell slinging, but it looked like their magic could not truly affect creatures either. "There is no way to even hold them... I wonder if there is anything they truly like - to lure them to some point, like moths to the lamp, while we would go around. But for that we need to know those creatures and to be alive, which probably means we have to retreat."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
The Professor:
(OOC: Is Comprehend Languages still active? Do the wisps seem to be trying to bar our path forward?)
The Professor keeps the flaming sphere as much between them and the wisps as possible, then asks the others, “What do we do now?”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
The whisps are definitely hostile, and were it not for Berrus trying to protect you all as best he can, they'd be flitting in and out of range to try and zap you.
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
"Mebbe we should back off a bit"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
The Professor:
Abandoning his control over the wind, the Professor reaches out to control the fire on Berrus' branch, causing it to flare up and extend from the branch. "We may have to pull back, but on the other hand, perhaps if we all grab branches we can keep them off of us long enough to get to the skull," he says, considering their options. Snively looks carefully at the positioning of the wisps and the route to the skull...could this plan work?
An Investigation roll, perhaps: 12
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
We've come too far to turn away now... Shae would close her eyes and take a deep breath, thinking about what calms her. Maybe the wisps can be calmed as well? She will start humming in a soft melody.
(casting light on her tome)
I shouldn't be here 'cause I should be dead
I can see the lights in front of me
I believe my best days are ahead
I can see the lights in front of me
Oh... if I'm still your friend
What the hell
What the hell you got for me
I gotta get out from under my bed
I can see again the lights in front of me
Hey I've been waiting to get home a long time
Shae will open her eyes. Feeling a bit safer from her ally's manipulation of fire to try to keep the wisps at bay, she will continue her song out loud to see if it could have any affect on the wisps.
(Not a bard, but it's a thought that popped into my head. Shae's got +3 cha so maybe? As if trying to soothe them or entrance them so we can keep moving forward with the protection of the fire.)
Hey now, where I'm going
If I can't get an answer
In your eyes I see it
The lights of home
The lights of home."
I can see the lights in front of me
I thought my head was harder than ground
I can see the lights in front of me
One more push and I'll be born again
One more road you can't travel with a friend
Saw a statue of a gold guitar
Bright lights right in front of me
Hey, I've been waiting to get home a long time
Hey now, where I'm going
If I can't get an answer
In your eyes I see it
The lights of home
In the lights of home
If only you could you see yourself
If only you could
Free yourself to be yourself
If only you could see yourself
If only you could..."
just an unstable unicorn.
The orbs both back off and fly quickly towards the skull. You see other lights in the distance, glimmering and coming in and out of focus. It doesn't feel like a victory or like you managed to sway the orbs, but the path to the skull is open for now, and Shae, singing, leads the way.
Do you all follow Shae?
Everyone, you get 50 XP for the encounter!
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Of course we follow! If only not to leave Shae alone with the creature. "Either they are more intelligent then they look and can appreciate good poetry, or melodic sound scares them. Great thinking!" fully approved Maxine, running after Shae.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
The Professor:
The Professor follows along as Shae’s mellifluous tones soothe the wisps, but he keeps his firestarter out and makes sure the flame on Berrus’ branch is burning bright as they go...just in case.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
As the three others are pressing forward, I assume Berrus is tagging along as well.
Your small group approaches the skull, so far unmolested. As you step within sixty feet or so of the skull, you notice a pattern drawn into the ashen ground before the skull. It all takes you a moment to realise the regular lines form a pentagram, and each corner sports a separate arcane symbol. Although you're pretty sure that your comprehend language spell is still active, you cannot decipher the meaning of any of the symbols, Professor. It doesn't take someone with arcane training or an overflowing imagination to realise that whoever resides here is preparing some sort of ritual.
The place seems devoid of all life, apart from a small, warm light, as if from a candle, shining from inside the skull, impotently trying to hold the steamy fog at bay. Apart from the hissing of nearby Geysirs, the area is deathly quiet.
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Maxine slowed down a bit: "Should we pay a visit to the current owner of the skull or invite him here by destroying symbols on the ground? By the way, Shae, are they the same as in your vision? Though, I am not sure you were mentioning symbols."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
The Professor:
Professor Snively takes a moment to investigate the symbols, determining if perhaps he should use his Detect Magic ritual to gain a further understanding of their purpose.
Arcana: 22
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
im not liking this situation one bit, i canna fight the unseen or protect you much from them for that matter
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Shae would look over the professors shoulder to look at the symbols along with him.
Arcana: 15
just an unstable unicorn.
Shae, as soon as you look at the symbols on the ground intently, you're wracked by headaches, and it feels as if something is going wild inside your mind, but as hard as you're trying to focus, through the headache and the strange energy of the place, Kam remains silent.
Professor, from the set up of the geometric forms, and the selection of the space, this must be a summoning circle. You've read about summoning magic, but it had always seemed something more suited for druids or, in a pinch, warlocks, and so you're not intimately familiar with the way a summoning circle works. What you do know however is that the size of the summoning circle is proportional to the power of the caster and the creatures they're trying to summon. This circle is a good thirty feet in diameter...
Furthermore, you know that any summoning ritual requires some form of sacrifice, some material component that is used up and that helps bind the summoned creature to this plane. Hard as you try however, you don't see any such sacrificial materials...
Maxine and Berrus, what are you doing?
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Berrus not understanding all this magikal mumbo jumbo :P is scanning the area for enemies/unusual things
Perception: 5
Laissez les bons temps rouler
The Professor:
"This seems to be a summoning circle, used to call a being from another plane and bind it to our own," pontificates the Professor. He continues, "given what we have seen so far today, I expect something from one or more of the elemental planes is a likely target. However, summoning was not my area of specialty at the University, so I know little more than that, other than a sacrifice or gift of some kind is typically required to bind the creature once summoned."
Turning to Shae, he asks, "What can you discern about this summoning circle? Can you tell from the symbols what plane it is intended to reach or what type of creature it is intended to summon?"
Noticing Berrus' wandering gaze, Snively asks, "Does it look safe for us to continue towards the skull?"
From the earlier Arcana roll, does the Professor know if there is a risk to crossing the threshold of the summoning circle?
Insight Check to notice Shae's discomfort: 19
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
The Professor:
Considering Maxine's suggestion, Snively thinks for a moment and says, "If we disturb the circle, we will likely destroy any chance we have of a peaceful encounter with this 'Horned Lady'. If we continue on into the circle without disturbing it, we may be trapping ourselves or giving her an advantage over us, however. All else being equal, I would rather not destroy this magic without provocation, but I am open to suggestions."
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
"As far as i ken tell its as safe as anywhere around 'ere
Berrus points at the circle "so we should be avoidin that then?
Laissez les bons temps rouler