Mirica's dispel magic seems to have no effect as Chen slams his hammer into her with sudden rage!

Chen stops moving and stands there staring into space unmoving. 

Toc, "This is a problem....."  He backs away out of range....

He casts a spell.  Chen is surrounded in a large glass like sphere of magic.  "That should keep him and us safe while we consider our options.  Maybe Mirica should use her restorative magic on Chen instead of Fianna or I." 

Chen, you can act normally for 2 rounds. You're stuck in a magical sphere.

After staring into space for a few moments, Chen shakes his head and walks... nowhere - slipping on the curved interior of the sphere. What's this? How did I get in here? he thinks. He knocks on the glass, but the others just stare at him impassively, unmoving. He bangs harder, switching from his fist to his hammer, frustrated and angry and confused... I am no foe. What sorcery is this that has charmed all my companions at once, and I alone have resisted?

Jahren asks Toc "what do you make of all this?"  "Should we anticipate more of this chaotic magic?  Gesturing at Chen he adds "we can't afford for this to happen again."

Toc says, "Well, I don't know, it seems to have been related to that magical disturbance of shadow and destructive magic.  And somehow it interacted with the Mythal.....the magical force that surrounds all of Myth Drannor...but....it seems only spells we were casting against that thing was giving off strange effects.  Spells we've been casting on ourselves seem to be functioning fine.  I'd say....if we encounter another disturbance, targeting it with magic will cause a lot of chaos. And...upon it's death....it triggered more chaotic effects on us all....though I think the Mythal may have turned that into some sort of positive energy, because I feel like I've gained some sort of permanent protection.  But...this is all new to me too.  Who knows, something is messing with magic at a fundamental level....."

To Chen he waves his hands, seeing him get angry, and makes a 'thumbs up' and it 'wait a second' motion.  

Toc continues, "I'll drop the sphere, if Mirica is willing to try her restoration spell on Chen."

"Let's do it. Crazy Chen is the last thing we want around here," nodded Mirica, preparing the words of prayer to be said the moment protection drops.

Toc drops the sphere, and Mirica steps forward, touching Chen.  4  He stands there passively as you touch him....and then he blinks his eyes...

Chen you make act normally.  Some fog across your mind seems to roll away, and you realize you'd been very confused for the past few minutes.

Fianna with her new set of antlers, and Toc with his eyes clenched shut seem to be the only remaining issues as the group looks around the ruins.  Sand, mud, all the blasts of lightning and fire, and blazingly bright light, not to mention a huge strange energy wave has announced your presence to anyone nearby.  

Chunks of rock and leaves come fluttering down from the sky as that area of reversed gravity seems to finally end. 

What now? 

"Toc, can you look through your familiar if need be?"

"I suppose we should go about finding what we came for, eh?"

(I forget what time of day it is.)

     What now?  Now rest!

     Fianna moves off from the rest, just a bit, to sit and to rest and to contemplate.  Antlers? She thinks to herself.  Repeatedly.  Almost like a mantra, trying to absorb the information.  To accept it.

     “No,” she whispers to herself, after a long time.  This was not acceptable.  She had never considered herself particularly vain. Nor particularly normal.  She was she. She was herself.  She was what nature and nurture and her own decisions (good and bad) had made her.  
     These antlers were not her.  These were imposed upon her.  They were the product of chaos and madness and an insult to nature itself.  She would not abide them.

     Fianna goes  to Chen quietly, trying to take him aside.  She pitches her idea to him, asks his help.  “You are the biggest. The strongest.  You seem the one most likely to be true with the blows needed.  I’m afraid this may go against your gentle nature, but I’m also afraid to ask it of your more reckless one.  Please, help me in this... I know what I’m asking. I know it’ll be painful.  And I know it’ll not be a cure... but I’d rather have broken stubs I chose than a gloriously magnificent set of antlers I did not.”

     In a nutshell, Fianna is asking Chen to chop off the offending protuberances.  Hopefully one swift and true blow for each one, lopping them off as close to her true self as he dare strike.  Once done, after swallowing a bunch of healing potions, Fianna intends to wrap and bind the stubs as tightly as she can with the goal of trying to prevent further growth...

Mirica tiredly set down by Fianna still carefully watching Chen, not trusting even the prayers here. The look of defiant devastation was not something new to the field medic, and she tried the usual routine: "Would not try to convince you this is pretty, though, know a guy or two who would appreciate such decoration, but that is not the point. The point is - it's temporary and not the worst possible thing that could happen. We had a wild sorcerer once in the unit.... for a very short time. One time his spells backfired twice - first he turned blue, then become a cactus. During the battle. Id did distracted a few enemies, but what were we supposed to do with a blue cactus in a flower pot? What I mean to say, if you can ignore it for a while, please do? Looks like we got a truly big problem on our hands now."

Fianna was not convinced of course (Mirica followed, in part to keep an eye on Chen, and to be near by if after his help the warlock will need a medical assistance). But once the deed was done, she asked about that huge "elephant in the room".

"So, you are saying," she addressed Toc here as the only specialist, "the Mythal was not destroyed but got wild? How did it work before? No magic was allowed to be used inside the city, right? And now it turns every magic user - even priests - into the unluckiest wild sorcerers ever. Yet, that thing you call "emanation" freely spitted acid and practically devoured magic items. One more battle like that and we all risk to go further naked and unarmed. Should we return to the city and and prepare better? Stoke up on mundane arms and armor, get more components (get rid of effects of the first battle too)? 

Toc considers carefully, and then takes a seat on a boulder, "Well, I'm not sure the Mythal has gone wild, or if that's even a thing. The purpose of the Mythal was to provide many benefits to the people here and prohibit some effects like summoning demons. It was a protective field.  But it didn't prevent magic. It was more like...a powerful source of energy you could use to do things within the Mythal without using up your own magic for example. Perhaps I start from the beginning. A mythal is a webwork of living magic that are laid by the elves over cities. Myth Nantar, long lost under the waves, Myth Lharast in the heart of Amn, a city that only fades into existence in alignment with the moon. Myth Glaurach which even though it's city is gone, the Mythal there can replenish magical power and allow mages to cast spells more powerful than they normally could.  Each Mythal is special and unique. In general though, they are powerful sources of defensive abilities, meant to protect the thing within. Now, Myth Drannor's mythal did stop some magic. Scrying, mind reading, divination spells are all entirely absorbed by the Mythal. It also has certain gateway abilities, those that know how can teleport through it, but otherwise that sort of magic wouldn't work. Otherwise, it helps those within stay free of illness and disease, and others could call upon the mythal's power to do all sorts of things like move instantly around the city, power magical items, or increase magical prowess.  However, I was never a full time resident here, as such I was never taught the ways of the Mythal." 

He sighs, "All that said, the threads being broken out in the forest, and the magical disturbance we just encountered are strange. I can't really provide much insight into them beyond what I've already said.  The wild surges seem to be caused by that disturbance interacting with the Mythal in some way, and it's death triggered some sort of powerful and strange ripple." 

It's around 2pm, the group having travelled for a good portion of the day. You figure you're about 30 minutes from the spot where Toc believes Aldlas Sodhese's crypt is likely located.  

"Perhaps those things were some sort of experiment, failed or otherwise. Could explain why it can interact with... Mythal?" She says the word slowly, to make sure she said it right. "You mentioned that it can prevent demon summoning. Could they still enter an area covered by the field? I can imagine a strong one being able to tamper with it, or a wizard with a lifetime's worth of studying it. Though, if these wild magic surges only happen when the tendrils are around, then we could be safe otherwise."

Chen listens intently to Fianna's request, and pats her on the shoulder reassuringly. Looking into the distance, he starts speaking, almost as much to himself as to Fianna: I understand. We all have things that we want to eliminate - things that we have decided are not part of who we want to be. Most are difficult to remove. I fear some may be impossible. Then facing her directly he continues: I am glad that in your case the solution is relatively simple, and I would be glad to assist you. I also hope I can help find a more permanent solution. Now... let me have a look...

Chen examines the antlers briefly, tracing their contours down to where they meet Fianna's head, to determine how simple the task might be... Medicine: 8. If he can't decide, he also calls to Mirica for advice. Once they determine how to proceed, Chen helps Fianna to lay with the antlers against a solid surface, and uses his handaxe to make one swift blow against each antler in quick succession... (DEX check? 6)

It's a rough job, with a poor result in Chen's estimation, and he apologises. But he hopes it gives Fianna some relief, and suggests that perhaps some work with a rough stone might help to rub them down further. 

Toc shakes his head to Loane, "I'm afraid it does not keep out demons. Myth Drannor has been the target of their ire many times in the past. It just prevents their summoning within the boundary." 

Chen, Fianna, and Mirica spend some time to one side.  Given Chen's recent propensity towards random violence, Fianna laying her neck down across a boulder, and letting Chen raise an axe above her face....seems like either the most brave thing in the world, or the most desperate.  Everyone watches, spells sparking on finger tips, everyone ready to respond, as Chen brings the hand axe down, sending an antler flying.  There's a collective exhale of breath....then it's held again as he raises up his arm again.  Fianna glances up, the sun glinting off the edge of his very sharp axe that the massive dragon born holds in the air momentarily just above her head.  The axe comes down, and an antler flies, and another collective exhale issues. 

Wrapping up the flat stumps on her head with a bit of fabric, Fianna continues to worry the stumps as the group finds a comfortable place to rest.  Still shocked from the chaotic and unpredictable encounter with the magical disturbance, everyone sits about in quiet contemplating, with the odd additional question flying to Toc, though he's unable to offer much more insight. 

FinFin goes for a bit of a scouting trip ahead. The rocky wasteland seems otherwise quiet, with only the odd broken thread twinkling in the sky here or there.  Otherwise, the path to the area Toc describes seems clear. 

The sun is high and the air is warm.  The wind blowing down from the south is cool but not unpleasant.  The distant sound of the trees blowing is a pleasant backdrop to this dire land. The young shrubs and grass around the ruins do nothing to enhance the rocky, barren outlook of this place. 

Everyone has a light snack and an hour passes. Birds flit through the air.  A fox skirts a small cliff searching for rodents before seeing the group and rushing off. A few squirrels run past. A trio of rats makes their way through some cracks.  Chen, curious as ever, finds a shaft of darkness nearby. At first it looked shallow, but it does a zig and a zag and then vanishes into darkness.  The sound of wind blowing through it is quiet but constant. He smells a bit of a foul smell in the air.  He drops a pebble and hears it roll and clatter for hundreds of feet before hearing there's silence. 

(an hour passes, short rest everyone). 

Toc looks about, "Are we resting the rest of the day, moving on, or retreating to someplace safer to camp?"

short rest... Hit dice: 1) 9 2) 8

Chen calls Fianna over. Do you think FinFin would be willing to take a look inside here? he asks, pointing down the hole. I'm not sure I'll fit, but there might be enough room for us all to rest safely, if needed.

"Never being good with magic," admitted Mirica after listening intently Toc's lecture. "What I do is a gift from the nature itself, it's different. Or so I thought until today. Would not pretend I understood all of what you explained, though it is indeed very impressive. But whether that wild magic is happening because of elven magic clutches with human's, or the crash broke something in the nature of your Mythal - it does not explain, how Aldlas is staying... may be not alive - we do not know that - but capable to do anything here?"

"Well, we will not know until we find him. I can tell will all confidence and experience, that we are not ready to this expedition. Not even close. Any sane person would (and should!) turn around, get back to the city and equip according to all we learned. Especially because we can get there and back here quite fast. With all that said, I suspect we are not the most sane people in these woods. So, un-ready when you are."

     Fianna chokes back her fears as she allows Chen to perform the most brutal of operations upon her.  Her mind races, swirls, tries to constrict yo thoughtlessness but rest will not come as her thoughts fart back and forth towards his oncoming swings and then back to living with antlers.  It’s silly, really. It shouldn’t be such a big deal.  She is a woman of magic, Fey touched and a spirit free of boundaries or bindings.  Yet...

     And as the axe swings every muscle in her body clenches in fear of the oncoming pain.  She does what she can to stifle herself, to not scream out, to not make this any harder on her friends and companions...  but in truth she is so lost inside herself that she cannot he sure if she screamed or not.

     And there was pain, no doubt.  But it was not as she had feared.  At first it was more like... a hard shove?  A wrenching.  The sharp pain was almost lost in the jolt of it all.  But later, slowly, a building thud of pain that pulsed and throbbed and could not be ignored for long... but she would do it anyway.  She had made her choice and she would live with it without complaint or letting her fellows down.  Without letting them see the pain at all, if possible...

     During the test, Fianna brings FinFin back to her and cuddles her familiar, using them to help calm and heal herself and her thoughts. (3 hit dice used to recover 36 hp - max healing with FinFin within 100’ due to the Gift of the Ever-Living Ones.)

     After the rest Fianna agreed to Chen’s request and encourages FinFin to explore the depths of the crack.  Using their Darkvision and their BlindSight (if needed), FinFin will carefully wind their way into the crevice and explore.  Fianna will focus on the familiars senses and provide a running narrative of what, if anything, or interest is discovered.

FinFin climbs into the dark tunnel. A human could fit in here. Chen could squeeze. But there wasn't quite enough room to make flying comfortable. Still, it was doable. The tunnel though would not make a great hiding spot, as it goes at a 60 degree angle down. It would be some unpleasant sleeping on the side of a cliff.  The first hundred feet or so is cracked rock, which widens more and more until FinFin is comfortably flying around the space.  Then it meets worked stone, and through a large crack in a stone edifice, FinFin flies into the half-open room of an elven building that is partially collapsed.  Whatever was built here, seems have been underground, and only partially crushed by impact. FinFin finds herself at some sort of intersection of stone hallways, leading two north and two south, but both the north and south ones seem to meet hallways.  Heading randomly south, finds a wide hallway still intact. Elven statues of wizards in the midst of casting spells line both side of the hallway. It disappears into darkness.  The nearest elven statue turns its head towards FinFin, and begins speaking arcane words, while its hands move. It seems to be casting a spell. 

?

     FinFin instinctively dodges.  Fianna will attempt to temporarily dismiss the familiar to its pocket dimension.  ((Attempt as in hopefully fast enough to save them...))

During the rest Jahren begins singing a soft, almost magical song in Sylvan as he looks about the fascinating place they are in.  The song evokes a sense of wonder but also a just a hint of sadness, both potentially appropriate for the current state of Myth Drannor.  (feel free to add 1d8 of healing if using hit dice from Song of Rest)

Jahren hit dice: 12 plus 3

The bard stays silent regarding taking a longer rest, intent on letting the heroes of this story decide for themselves.  He is, of course, mostly just an observer.  On that notes Jahren spends about twenty minutes of the rest writing in his journal yet again, a practice the party has witnessed him do at least daily.

Pondering the loss of his wand, Jahren also ponders his options for direct attacks on a foe when all of his other tricks don't suffice.  For a brief time he sits cross legged on the ground with his eyes closed, sometimes muttering words in Sylvan to himself.  Occasionally small illusions of brightly colored plants, animals or fey creatures such as pixies and sprites appear but are gone again in a few seconds.  By the end of his meditation Jahren has a wide smile on his face once again.

FinFin vanishes into her pocket dimension, safe and sound, reappearing near Fianna. 

Toc, his eyes still seemingly glued shut, looks around.  "It is unnerving not being able to see more than 60 feet. As if the whole world were a vast dark cave and only your dark site lets you see."  He sighs, and reads his book, apparently without issue.