To Prove D&D Exists for Echolon

Quote from IamSposta >>

Can Toots make some kind of check to figure out what that small is? And do you want me to burn the spell slot for the spell she had readied?

”Well now... that is not what I expected at all. Any of you all have any way to get rid of that?”

 Whether you cast a readied spell or not, the spell slot is expended. Thems the rules for Readied Actions.

I have a "Wait" option for my games that pushes your turn to initiative 0. Considering this is PBP with a post a day expectation, I think I'd have to call for a lost turn if you take a wait, then don't respond for your turn in 24 hours. But you can always say you'll "wait" and give some sort of fall back plan that I can try to implement for you.

"Yeah, there is something in there that is not what you would call a friend. Not to mention it's darker then your Aunt Maria's burnt lasagna!"

The combination of odors is not entirely unfamiliar, just in combination. Like a well groomed and washed shipwright who just finished working on some planks.

"I could tie a rope to me and you can either follow it or pull me back if I yell 'Pulllll!'  But the rope would neg the whole point of me going in there invisible," Tommary continues to think out loud and then hears Hawksley, "What's that? Oh, I think natural or heck most magical light isn't going to penetrate this dark...  I'd stick my hand in to demonstrate but wouldn't want my demonstration interrupted by something pulling me in.  I guess I could just go invisible take a step in and feel around a bit, if it's a passage like the one we've been in, I should get some sense of what we got by feel and coin probes, about that change for some gold again?"

OOC: Echolon, this is probably some iteration of magical darkness, means of natural illumination, most unnatural light and dark vision don't work in it.  Blindsighht does and there's a debate over whether Devils sight does that varies among tables.  So far I'm volunteering to suicide probe it to see if it ends after a reasonable point.

OOC: No worries, it's also entirely plausible Hawksley didn't see it for what it was till he got a closer look.

Quote from Wysperra >>

The combination of odors is not entirely unfamiliar, just in combination. Like a well groomed and washed shipwright who just finished working on some planks.

OOC: So it smells like Squatch?!?

Quote from Wysperra >>

Quote from IamSposta >>

And do you want me to burn the spell slot for the spell she had readied?

 Whether you cast a readied spell or not, the spell slot is expended. Thems the rules for Readied Actions.

OOC: I know, but now so does anyone else in this campaign who maybe didn’t before. 😉

Quote from MidnightPlat >>

OOC: No worries, it's also entirely plausible Hawksley didn't see it for what it was till he got a closer look.

 OOC: And Hawksley is a martial character who cannot cast spells, so his character might legitimately have had no idea.

“Yeah, see.”

With that Toots plays a short chord on her lute to focus her magic and then holding it by the neck, taps the bottom of it against one of the skulls and casts light on it. Then, she gives the skull the tiniest tap with her toe so it rolls to just in the doorway so that part of the skull is visible on this side of the darkness, and part has entered that darkness to prove Tommary true.

“Although, depending on how powerful the magic fueling this darkness is, if someone were to use a more powerful magic to creat a strong enough magical light it might short out the darkness. I don’t know any spells like that though. What about you Oethe, do you know any spells like that?”

"Wait, are we about to 'attack the darkness'?"

Any Light in the area is immediately dispelled.

As Hawksley's torch flickers, it does not seem to have much effect. Probing near the doorway just allows maybe an inch of dim light from the torch into the room.

As you watch, you see a thin, inky black tentacle reaching out slowly towards the torch.

Tommary, grabs Toots by the collar and Hawksley by the arm and steps backwards toward Oethe, strongly encouraging his companions to follow suit.  "I think we need to adjust our strategy, wait, I might know this one."

Arcana check 18.

OOC: See if Tommary knows if it's the spell I think it is and if there's any variants.  He may still do the suicide dive through it to see what's on the other side if he can make it.  Otherwise, he'll just be perplexed.

OOC: is darkness considered “total cover?” If not, Elyona will use her Divine Sense feature: 

As an action, you can detect good and evil. Until the end of your next turn, you can sense anything affected by the hallow spell or know the location of any celestial, fiend, undead within 60 ft. that is not behind total cover.

OOC: Darkness does not provide cover, it does block line of sight. Even at that, part of the creature is visible so it wouldn't matter. That being said, it is not celestial, fiend, or undead.

OOC: Forgot to mention the little critters earlier. They seem in healthy condition with a couple wet spots in your bag.

Quote from MidnightPlat >>

Arcana check 20.

OOC: See if Tommary knows if it's the spell I think it is and if there's any variants.  He may still do the suicide dive through it to see what's on the other side if he can make it.  Otherwise, he'll just be perplexed.

 It is a creature, not a spell effect like black tentacles. You guess it is a demon from legend but Elyona says it is not.

Maybe it's some form of black slime or grey ooze. They are known to have pseudopods/tentacles.

"I guess we really are going to fight the darkness....  Should I try harsh language first or go right to close encounters tactics?"

Quote from MidnightPlat >>

"Wait, are we about to 'attack the darkness'?"

 “Looks like it’s the other way ‘round to me. But since the darkness started it, we better end it before it ends us. Anybody have a plan?”

Quote from Wysperra >>

OOC: Forgot to mention the little critters earlier. They seem in healthy condition with a couple wet spots in your bag.

 OOC: Toots would have prestidigitated that all up.

"I say we step back a bit and put some arrows and harsh language into it to see what we're dealing with, unless Elyona has a some divine favor we can curry."

"I can ask Arvoreen to bless three of you and to guide your shots for a time.  I agree rushing in is not the best idea."

OOC: Elyona can cast bless. This would mean that for 1 minute (assuming her concentration isn't broken), those blessed can roll 1d4 each time they attack and add that number to their attack roll.  (This would be true for saving throws as well). She doesn't have good ranged attack options herself, although she may choose to throw the two daggers she picked up from the gnoll priest's stash.  (She won't throw her own for fear of losing them in the dark)