[Game Thread] A Trip to Remember

[Arkaon]

Baka Dissociative states and out of body experiences were not something wholly unfamiliar to the tortle, and he allowed himself to be pulled from the conscious, waking world into this void of dreamspace. In fact, he found it quite calming. He felt awash with a sense of calm usually found only after the imbibing of his pipe. Though he had no eyes, he mentally closed them and let the feeling of peace wash over him. Perhaps he'd found the one place in all existence his demons could not find him. A slight twinge at the edge of his consciousness smashed that perception, and if he had been in possession of a body he might have shown evidence of discomfort. Fortunately, given his current state, only he was aware of it. So, the demons were still there, just distant. Whatever veil lay between his mind and their rending claws would not suffice, they'd eventually pierce it and consume him. If he could have, he would have sighed. He had long since grown accustomed to the fact he would be pursued his entire life, but for this briefest of moments hope had filled him again. He crushed it now, and cursed himself a fool. He should have known better. He reached instinctively for his pipe, at least he thought he did, until of course he realised he possessed neither hands nor pipe at this time. He gritted teeth that weren't there, and silently cursed his current state within his mind-voice. He contemplates all of this as he feels himself first drawn along, and then, finally, beginning to materialise once more. The tortle's form comes into being, and the very instant it does so he is reaching for his pipe, and for one of the fungi growin on his shell. Even before parts of him have finished reforming, he already has his pipe lit and is drawing back on the smoke, with an audible sigh of relief. Taking a moment to right himself, feeling now both at peace and somewhat insulated against the predator he knows stalks his sanity, he turns a bleary eye first to the swallow, and then over the scene around him. Baka follows the passage of the dream Almavalesh, and points back towards the door with his pipe. "Your dream self, sir, is muttering away as if to themselves, until the end. You asked "Don't you think so?", despite speaking in first tense the rest of the time. Do you recall who you were speaking to, just now? Grimly, do you see anyone through there?"

 

Baka
Tortle		Druid		Level 1	True Neutral
Attribute Mod Str +1 Int -1 Dex -2 Wis +3 Con +3 Cha +1 Stat Inc/Dec 0 Sheet	Defenses HP 11/11 AC 19 Str +1 Dex -2 Con +3 Int +1 Wis +5 Cha +1 Temp HP 0	Supplemental Prof. +2 Initiative -2 Speed 30 Hit Die 1d8 HD Spent 0/1 Pas. Per. 11	Proficiencies Armour L/M No metal Weapon Druid   Tools Herb Kit Languages Common Aquan   Druidic	Rolls Initiative 0 Attack 0 Skill Check 0 Ability 0 Save 0
Equipment Weapons Item Weight Quarterstaff 4 Total 4 Armour Item Weight Wooden Shield 6 Total 6 Equipment Item Weight lbs Backpack 5 Bedroll 7 Common Clothes 3 Mess-Kit 1 Ratons x10 20 Waterskin 5 Herbalism Kit 3 Rope (Hemp) 10 Druidic Focus 0 Chest 25 Crowbar 5 Hammer 3 Wooden Stakes 0 Holy Symbol (Amulet) 1 Flask of Holy Water 1 Manacles 6 Steel Mirror .5 Flask of Oil 1 Tinderbox x2 2 Torches x13 13 Total Weight 111.5 Combined Weight 121.5   Equipment		Spells Spells Prepared 4 Cantrips Shillelagh Thorn Whip Level 1 Slots 2/2 Absorb Elements Cure Wounds Detect Magic Entangle   Prepared Spells	Claws Effect: Can make unarmed attack with claws as natural weapons (1d4+3 Slashing damage) Hold Breath Effect: Can hold breath for up to an hour Shell Defense Effect: You can withdraw into your shell as an action. Until you emerge, +4 to AC, Advantage on STR & CON saves, Speed is 0 (cannot be increased), become prone. Disadvantage on DEX saves and cannot take reacitons. No actions except "Emerge" as a bonus action. Abilities	Skills Acrobatics -2 Animal Handling +3 Arcana +1 Athletics +1 Deception +1 History -1 Insight +5 Intimidation +1 Investigation +1 Medicine +5 Nature -1 Perception +3 Performance +1 Persuasion +1 Religion -1 Sleight of Hand -2 Stealth -2 Survival +5 Herbalism Kit (WIS) +5 Herbalism Kit (INT) +1 Skills	Notes       Notes

 

Actions
Action	Nil
Bon. Action	Nil
Free Action	Nil
Movement	Nil
Reaction	Nil
Other	Nil
Currently Equipped	Nil

[Mindsiege]

The Avalladasz Household Confronted with the dream-version of Almavalesh, the adventurers soon had to realize that as much as everything felt real, their dream and reality were not truly alike. As soon as Almavalesh had started scanning the living room without responding to the presence of the group, the young necromancer of the party was the first to test the limits of their sphere of perception. He hailed Almavalesh like one would hail a person, but while wearing a pondering expression, the debonaire mage didn't even look in his direction nor did he reply. It was such odd behaviour, that Derek's unspoken question about this theatre of the mind and what role the adventurers would play in it was not only on the young wizard's mind. Just as the rest of the group had witnessed that Derek's greeting had fallen on deaf ears, the other adventurers came to live and had questions and matters to explore on their own. As Aurora oriented herself, she was surprised to find that Godbert had not followed her into whatever realm this was. How long had it been since that was the case? It would make this dream journey quite the refreshing experience, if just for that novelty. After seeing Derek's partial interaction with the Almavalesh in front of the group, Aurora questioned out loud whether he was just a puppet. When she looked at Starlight, who had taken residence on one of the various bookshelves, the druid's next question was about his own form. The silvery voice swiftly responded, carrying amusement about everybody's reactions. "Hmm, well, as I said, this is the memory, so no, not a puppet. And about my own appearance, I certainly could change it, but frankly, being a bird is quite convenient. Especially for the observational venture that we're undertaking. Or well, you. As I've explained, I am limited in what I can do without your aid. It's all very complicated." While listening to the bird's response, the eternal bride had already moved across the room and evoked one of the magical abilities that she had received. The dream plants were sliced just as if there was no difference to a real plant and when they transformed into beads of healing, they persisted just like they would in the real world. The other adventurers more or less gratefully received each one of the tiny green balls, but Geghard in particular was still intrigued by the mystery behind the second Almavalesh. As he neared the mage that was really looking lost about what he meant to find, the expert spearwielder asked Starlight how he could be dreaming of himself. "As I said, both the research and the arcane theory behind what we're doing are truly convoluted and I could spend a length of time trying to explain how truly curious various aspects of it are. Did you know that one would normally not dream about themselves in the third person? It's not how the human mind works. Or most humanoids, I should say. Either way, to abbreviate the matter, yes, right now I'm dreaming of myself. The waking self and the alter ego of one's dream are two separate entities. It follows somewhat the same logic as to how our friend Rolen here would be currently experiencing the duality of two perceptions existing at once." And just as Starlight had mentioned it, when Rolen languidly opened his eyes in the real world, the blurred vision of a room full of sleeping adventurers played somewhere in the back of his mind. It was real and the elven illusionist knew that it existed maybe even more real than the dream world on the forefront of his senses. Just before he was pulled out of his trance, his meditating self closed his eyes again. Being aware of two realities at once was an absurd feeling, but somehow he had gained the ability to process it, just as if he had gained a new sense that had been hidden from him all his life. In the meanwhile, as their spirit guide had given Geghard his brief explanation, the fighter had reached out his hand to touch the human-looking Almavalesh in front of him. The man felt warm to the touch and his clothes had a very comfortable feel that came with the expensive fabrics that had been used to make his outfit. The mage didn't flinch or even turn his head upon the contact. No matter how living he felt underneath Geghard's fingers, it was just as if Almavalesh existed, but Geghard did not. Just about at the same time, Oguun had managed to overcome the weirdness that came with materializing in another plane the second time that day. There was still so much to learn about this new culture, but far more pressing right now was the extent of what was possible inside the dreamscape. As the githzerai asked about what manner of consequences violence inside this world would have for Almavalesh, the form of Starlight rustled her feathers. "Again, you ask of matters that require a wealth of knowledge to explain, matters better discussed during an afternoon of desserts." Somehow the mental picture of Starlight pecking at biscuits was a bit comical. "Suffice to say, that in the end I am the master of this world. I am thoroughly protected and not only just by measures that I've invoked today. Harm that happens to my memory will not falsify my knowledge nor will it harm me. When we all wake up, I will rejoice in the knowledge that my dear potted plants at home have not been vandalized and are still prospering under the green thumb of my wife." At the same time, Rolen had also reason to rejoice. Not as much about potted plants, but rather his injury was not acting up when he moved his body in the dream world. His body inside the Inn on Your Shield was also calm inside his trance and so for now he felt like he had gained the means to move more freely. But with the difference in sensations between his two selves, there also came the realization that his dream body was not protected by layers of arcane shielding. It was a feeling that Rolen seemed to have become uncomfortable with since he had risen to his calling as adventurer, and as such he asked the party for the time to clad himself in said magical armor and to rest a little whereas he prepared more magic. Even under the promise from Almavalesh that their journey was of an observational nature, readying for combat seemed most sensible for the elven wizard. This was a quest after all, and he could be harmed in this world, even if the biggest threat so far was the prospect of climbing a roof and jumping from it. Wrapping his own head about all the weird knowledge and sights that were introduced to Earlamar, the half-elf presenting himself as Grimly Packer had also arrived at the juncture that he was definitely dreaming. As such he was now ready to begin his job for Almavalesh in earnest, which included waiting for Rolen to do spellcaster things if the elven wizard saw sense in it and the opportunity presented itself. Not knowing if things would come to pass as such, Earlamar did have an opportunity to satisfy his curiosity at least, so while making a berth around Geghard and Almvalesh, the jovial rogue walked to the door that dream Almavalesh had arrived from. Looking through the doorway he saw that the neighboring room was quite different than the neatness of the living room and looked much rather than a workspace. The room was large and seemed cut in half straight in the middle, the two halves each having their own theme. While the left side still had a lot of neatness about it, it was very obviously a botanical workshop. There were workbenches, herbs, potted plants, and gardening equipment around, yet even as things were clearly being used, it was still far more orderly than the other half of the room. The right side of the room was mostly a scribe's corner and then flooded with books and papers, arcane measurement tools that were strewn about, and mostly things that Earlamar wouldn't ever need, at least for adventuring business. Looking for who Almavalesh had been talking to, the half-elven rogue indeed spotted another person that was standing with her back to him at one of the botanical tables. Even from behind she seemed like a fair woman, with pale skin and a lavish dress in tones of red and gold which had no business in a workshop. Though that's what she was doing, working slowly on something that Earlamar couldn't see. While Earlamar was still peeking into the other room, he also raised the question for someone to restate what exactly the mission was. Starlight just slightly quicker than the adventurers considered himself able to enlighten him. "Yes, we want to clear up what memories I am missing. By following the events that are soon to unfold we should be able to close that gap, and with seven pairs of eyes that can relive what I'm missing together with me, I'd say we're likely to catch everything that's of interest. Technically we will not find anything inside my mind palace... excuse me, nothing inside the dreamscape that I have never witnessed myself. You, fair adventurers, are the medium through which this dream journey will regain presence. Please make of the experience as most you can. I'm suffering a bit of a loss of privacy, but I invite you to pay attention where you can. Especially when it comes to the man that I've met that day, though by hearsay he wasn't all that outstanding." As Starlight's silvery voice ebbed once more, Baka was finally in the presence of the moment. Albeit to a debatable extent, considering that he had to imbibe mind-altering substances for the effect of warding off the other presences that seemed to be always nearing him at the edge of his mind. Even into the dream they had followed, and even inside the dream the perception of numbing his sense was soothing what horror they wrought on the tortle. And for all intents and purposes, Baka's actions worked for him just like they did in the real world. So with that kind of presence of mind, Baka audibly reminded the rest of the group that Almavalesh had clearly been talking to someone, and clearly not them. While Earlmar hadn't yet shared with the other adventurers that in the other room was a genteel woman working at a standing bench, Starlight once more raised her silvery voice. "Right, up to this point I recall clearly..." But before another explanation could be finished, the Almavalesh in front of Geghard interrupted the talking swallow by raising his voice out of turn. "No, I really can't spot it, and it wouldn't have ended up among the shelves, right?" Again, the mage was talking to whoever was in the other room and as he turned to the doorway, his steps sounded real and everything else about him seemed that way too. Even with a hand in his pocket he moved so swiftly that the distracted Earlamar caught on just a moment too late that he was right in Almavalesh's path, and just when he wanted to duck out of the way, the debonaire mage simply ran into him. But unlike with Geghard, no contact was made. In just one moment Earlamar felt the gentleman's body heat, but he never felt the brush of his clothes or the shoulder tackle that he would have expected, instead the mage's body seemed to simply flow through him. It was less a displacement of matter or like a ghost would pass through a wall, but even visible to all the adventurers the alternate version of their quest-giver seemed to fray at the edges and where he would have crashed into Earlamar, for just one moment his flesh and fabrics turned to something that looked like a cloud of colorful dust and it swirled around the perplexed rogue, avoiding him entirely. While the group was still just as surprised by what they had just seen, Almavalesh looked never disturbed and put back together as before when now he instead of Earlamar peered into the other room. And now he finally got a response, and although spoken softly, the adventurers could hear her well as nobody else was talking right then. "Really, dear? I honestly thought you were making your search in jest. Of course it would have been lost in your study, that's the only place things get lost around here." Although the voice sounded immediately of nobility to those that had dealt with the caste in the past, there was no reproach in her tone and besides a slightly absentminded amusement, the gently spoken words had no tooth to them and sounded slightly distracted. A wide grin appeared on Almavalesh's face and even to the adventurers who could only see his expression partially while he wasn't looking into their direction, the emotions in his gaze and smile spoke loudly of the great love that the mage held for this woman. "Right. Maybe I was jesting..." He now spoke with a soft tenderness in his voice as well, and then stepped back through the doorway and walked to the right of the neighboring room. With the adventurers left behind in the living room, Starlight had a moment to finally answer Baka's question. "Yes, you've all heard her. It is the lovely voice of my lovely wife Mayuri, blessed would I be if I had never forgotten a single moment of the life that we share." It was sounding a bit funny, but even with the silvery voice that wasn't Almavalesh's own, the adventurers could still hear the love for Mayuri from his words. "It may not seem so, but we were just about ready to depart for our trip into the city. I'm not sure how long it will take for you to regain whatever additional magic you could gather, Rolen, but for the few more minutes before we had taken our leave, we're all set to take a break and get a bit more acclimated. My own recollection reaches until we have entered out into the streets, so until then I know that nothing of note happened. Again, welcome to the Avalladasz household. You can make yourself at home, even if this place technically isn't even my home." And then while chirping a lovely little melody, Starlight took flight and followed Almavalesh into the other room.

 

GM instructions Okay, this was a big post but not a lot to go over. As I've mentioned before, Rolen is a bit of a special case because of his elven heritage and how his trance coexists with this dream. He can break his trance at will and at any point in time, however at the loss of being able to act within the dreamscape until a second ritual is cast. I've spent a lot of narrating, but essentially this post leaves your characters open to have a bit of free time. You can follow Starlight/Almavalesh to ask some more questions or do literally anything else. I've not gone over the details of the arrangement of the house, but if your characters would want to go snooping, we can talk a little in the OOC to not take up too much adventure time. I am very slow to respond in the IC, but OOC clarifications happen a lot faster. I want to highlight though that your group is unaware of how much time is available until the action starts moving forward again and it's clear that it wouldn't be waiting. As such the group is free to grant Rolen his first of the two short rests for this adventure only if that time will be available. Whether he can regain his spell slot before leaving the house would be a gamble. Rolls: - Initiative Character AC HP Status Action Position Character AC HP PP PI Movement Conditions Resources Derek Draven 12 6/6 17 20 30' Inspiration Arcane Recovery 1/1; Spells I. 2/2; 1/1 Goodberries; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Earlamar Xyr 15 7/7 12 10 30' Inspiration 1/1 Goodberries; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Oguun 18/16 9/9 14 13 30' Inspiration Spells I. 2/2; 1/1 Goodberries; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Rolen Galanodel 13 8/8 11 16 30' Inspiration Arcane Recovery 1/1; Spells I. 2/2; 1/1 Goodberries; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Baka 19/17 11/11 13 11 30' Inspiration Spells I. 2/2; 1/1 Goodberries; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Geghard Van 19/17 12/12 13 11 30' Inspiration Second Wind 1/1; 1/1 Goodberries; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Aurora Turpis 17/16 11/11 15 11 30' Inspiration Spells I. 1/2; 4/4 Goodberries; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Nephala 12 1/1 13 6 10' / 50' (fly) - -

[Togot]

Derek Draven I found it somewhat unsettling to be treated as if I were not here by the memory Almavalesh. I wondered if this was how ghosts felt watching the living that they couldn’t interact with. Or could we? No sooner had I thought that than Aurora turned some flowers into berries. I accepted the one she offered me. “Thank you.” As I listened to Almavalesh’s explanation, I noticed something odd. He said that most people don’t dream of themselves in the third person, but I did. In fact, I remembered every dream I had quite vividly. I wondered why that was. In my dreams I felt no pain even when I was injured. Almavalesh had mentioned we could be hurt here. I pinched my arm to test my pain response. From what I understood, all we had to do was follow memory Almavalesh around while he went about his business and be observant of our surroundings. Simple enough. Rolan asked for time for him to cast mage armor. I felt conflicted. While I understood and even wanted to cast it myself, I didn’t want to risk losing memory Almavalesh and failing our mission, but as the youngest member of the group, I wasn’t confident enough to voice my objection. I was a still seen as a boy by most. For all I knew he was hundreds of years old. Who was I to tell him he shouldn’t do something? In the end I decided to say "I'm going to follow Almavalesh. I'll let you know if anything notable happens." I left the room and followed memory Almavalesh wherever he went, observing everything I could as I did so. I sent Nephala, to fly around the rest of the house to scout it for me.

Stat Block AC:12 HP:6/6 STR:7 DEX:14 CON:11 INT:16 WILL:14 CHA:16 Passive Perception:17 Spells Prepared/Spell Slots:1st 2/2, mage armor, charm person, false life, magic missile Character Sheet

[BarrowB]

Aurora Aurora heard worried questions of others about her beads of healing and chuckled. "Yeah... death or being haunted by annoying ghosts? A tough choice... Though, there is no real? death here... probably... but I also saw no ghosts around, so I guess you have nothing to worry about." "I have no objections in letting one of us rest... but we do have a time limit." She tightened the grip on her swords. "I would love to demolish this place, if there are no consequences... but what if the clue we need is already here?" She walked up to the nearest window and swung her sword at it, cracking it slightly, before swinging again, Only 3 damage... but there is no time limit, so she could just keep swinging until its donebreaking it. Aurora looked back at others, smiling and shrugging. "What? It's fun." She peaked her head out and looked around, Perception 24trying to see if anyone suspicious was observing the house... or... if anyone other than her companions reacted to her actions.

OOC Initiative Character AC HP Status Actions Position - Aurora Turpis 17/16 11/11 Weapons out Attack window Perception 24 -

[CoffeeRogue]

Nightmare? Earlamar begins to say out loud what he sees: "There's a room with two completely different themes split in half - one looks like a weird garden and the other a library" before he can describe the lady in the room, the bird Almavalesh begins to answer some questions. And then, Earlamar experiences another, possibly once in a lifetime experience, the dream Almavalesh passes right through him. Startled and somewhat scared, Earlamar attempts to retrieve a weapon to defend himself but botches it completely as he's taken by surprise and falls on his bottom; shrieking as he does so, in a rather unmanly manner. "eeeek" As the moment passes, he realises the embarrassing situation he's in, so he tries to play it off cool by getting up and regaining his composure. This time, before he can answer the question about who is inside, the conversation between the dream Almavalesh and his wife ensue - thereby answering Baka's question about who is inside. And then bird Almavalesh confirms it. Fairly flustered by his predicament, Earlamar stands there with a perturbed expression as Aurora begins to trash the dream place. Earlamar was never one to stand on ceremony but considering what he had gone through, he doesn't join in the "fun" but doesn't attempt to stop Aurora either. "So...ahem", although flustered Earlamar manages to stay focused on the task at hand, "...beyond this point, we need to take notes or something? I'll stay closer to dream Almavalesh but I'll watch from the shadows". Once the group begins to move again, Earlamar will keep a safe distance, Stealth:17hide among the crowd on the street, and Perception: 20 (not nat)maintain a watchful eye on dream Almavalesh.

 

Stat Block STR 14 DEX 18 CON 9 INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 18

Action Block Free Action: Roll(s): Stealth: 17, Perception: 20 (not nat) Action: Move: Bonus Action: Reaction: Condition:

[Corwin]

Oguun Oguun sighed in relief at hearing the bird's answer. "I am thoroughly protected and not only just by measures that I've invoked today. Harm that happens to my memory will not falsify my knowledge nor will it harm me." The berry, then, was not a sacreligious theft of knowing. And he could swing his mace freely if there was any reason to. He tucked the berry into his belt pouch as he tried to follow the bird's explanations, not entirely sure if he understood them. Oguun also realized that he had no idea how to tell Almavalesh's recalled memories from his lost ones, or even if that made sense. Derek's plan seemed best, simply to follow the dream-mage and see what he had seen. Before trailing Derek, he went to Aurora's side, hoping he hadn't offended her. She seemed happily occupied with wrecking the mage's study and he didn't want to interrupt, so he just awkwardly loomed over her and rumbled "Thank you for the green thing." On a whim, he peered out through a broken pane, not sure what he'd see or even if anything would be there at all. How far did the mind palace extend from the reach of dream-Almavalesh's senses? If dream-Almavalesh hadn't been looking outside then and so couldn't recall it now, would there even be an outside? Another thought struck him as he turned to follow Derek and Grimly. "Bird-Almavalesh, are you certain your forgetting had not yet begun at this point? What was the item you had lost, and did you ever find it?"

 

Rolls and Actions Rolls: Perception - 8 Action Summary Move: follow dream-Almavalesh Action: Perception 8, looking for anything that seems abnormal for the place Reaction: Bonus Action: Object Interaction: Free Action: Concentration: Active Spells:

 

Stats Oguun character sheet Githzerai | Life Cleric of Zerthimon | Sage (Wizard's Apprentice) | Feats: none Githzerai Psionics | Mental Discipline | Disciple of Life HP: 9/9 | Armor Class: 16(18) | Stats/Saves: Str 13/+1; Dex 5/-3; Con 12/+1; Int 16/+3; Wis 18/+4; Cha 10/0 Senses: Passive Perception 14, Passive Investigation 13 Move: 30' | Conditions: none Languages: Common, Gith, Deep Speech, Undercommon Tool Proficiencies: none Attack Bonuses: Melee +3 | Ranged -1 | Magic +6 Spell Save DC: 14 Ranged weapon: javelin - +3 to hit, 1d6+1 piercing, range 30/120 Melee: mace - +3 to hit, 1d6+1 bludgeoning, range 5 Spells: Cantrips: 4 - Light, Mage Hand(invisible), Resistance, Toll the Dead Prepared Spells: 6 - Bane (1), Command (1), Guiding Bolt (1), Healing Word (1), Sanctuary (1), Shield of Faith (1) Domain Spells: 2 - Bless (1), Cure Wounds (1) Spell Slots: lv 1 - 2/2

[secretID]

Geghard Van, Human Fighter Sheet | AC: 19 | HP: 12/12 | Status: Normal Second Wind 1/1 | Polearm Master | Dueling Style Geghard also peeked into the next room to watch Almavalesh. He flinched when Aurora smashed the window, then quickly returned his attention to the study. “Yeah,” he said, joining in Oguun’s question, “a book, I assume? Was it something you needed for your appointment?” Geghard passed his gaze over the remembered man searching the room. “And is there anything else notable about the way you were equipped? Anything different than usual?” he asked. After a pause, Geghard continued. “Along those lines…it might be a good idea to take a careful look at yourself, and your lovely wife as well. Does everything you see here match your most recent memories?”

OOC Geghard won't be taking a position on Rolen and rest.

 

Applicable Spell/skills/statuses:
Initiative
Movement:
Free action:
Action:
Bonus action: None
Reaction:
Abilities: Polearm Master, Dueling
Resources: Second Wind 1/1
Dice rolls:

 

---

PP: 13 | Speed: 30ft

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Abilities: Str 16 (+3), Dex 15 (+2), Con 14 (+2), Int 12 (+1), Wis 12 (+1), Cha 12 (+1)

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Saves: STR +5, CON +4

---

Skills: Arcana +3, Athletics +5, History +3, Insight +3, Perception +3, Thieves’ Tools

---

Languages: Common, Elvish, Dwarvish

[Arkaon]

Baka "Harumph... hmmm" Baka muttered as he listened to Starlight, scratching the arm of the pipe against his chin thoughtfully as he did so. The tortle was not one to pretend to know more than he did about what was going on around him, and whilst perhaps he did not understand the magic, he felt he had a fair grasp of at least where they were at, and what they needed to do. That was always a positive start to a new adventure, Baka felt. Having a grip, if somewhat tenuous, on the goings on around oneself was not usually a luxury he was often afforded. It was a refreshing change. He was about to comment about that very thing, in fact, when something gave him pause. His eyes widened slightly as his head swivelled around, mouth agape as his gaze fell upon Grimly and Almavalesh... then moved past them, to Aurora. The fact that Almavalesh had walked straight through the roguish chap was not particularly remarkable to Baka. Truth be told, he was used to the blurred images of people around him meshing and colliding irrationally with one another, and frankly he wrote the occurrence off as his own mind. He had not thought he'd plucked a hallucenogenic mushroom from his shell to load the pipe with, but it wouldn't be the first time he'd made that mistake. No, it was the woman. The one who had just seconds ago handed him a Goodberry, which he had tucked promptly into one of his pouches. First her words cut through the self-induced mental haze. Ghosts? Did she know something of it? Was she, like him, afflicted... no. He stopped the thoughts before they could derail him further, something he was precariously vulnerable to. He was mistaken, and she must surely be speaking of their current affairs. Baka had little more time to contemplate it as she proceeded to smash the windows. His mouth agape, he watched her for another moment before shutting it and turning to face Rolen, grateful for the question to distract him from the disdain surely plastered on his face. He could not fathom why someone should wish to recklessly damage someone's home. Even a dream one. Home was important. It was something to be appreciated, cherished. It was something so easliy lost... Baka blinks and shakes his head at the Rolen before glancing at the others. "I've no issue if you rest, but it seems the others perhaps might be in a bit more of a hurry. I don't mind waiting with you, though, all the same." He watches the others begin to pick up the trail, but makes no initial move himself. Part of him is content to wait for Rolen, should the elven man deem it neccessary to rest up. The other part, however, is somewhat loathe to leave Aurora unattended. He found her description of the destruction as somewhat disconcerting, and did not feel right leaving her unattended in Almavalesh' dream study. Someone should really try to stop her if she got out of hand, though he wasn't sure it should be him. So he remained quiet for now, and secretly hoped that the window had satiated her destructive thirsts.

 

Baka
Tortle		Druid		Level 1	True Neutral
Attribute Mod Str +1 Int -1 Dex -2 Wis +3 Con +3 Cha +1 Stat Inc/Dec 0 Sheet	Defenses HP 11/11 AC 19 Str +1 Dex -2 Con +3 Int +1 Wis +5 Cha +1 Temp HP 0	Supplemental Prof. +2 Initiative -2 Speed 30 Hit Die 1d8 HD Spent 0/1 Pas. Per. 11	Proficiencies Armour L/M No metal Weapon Druid   Tools Herb Kit Languages Common Aquan   Druidic	Rolls Initiative 0 Attack 0 Skill Check 0 Ability 0 Save 0
Equipment Weapons Item Weight Quarterstaff 4 Total 4 Armour Item Weight Wooden Shield 6 Total 6 Equipment Item Weight lbs Backpack 5 Bedroll 7 Common Clothes 3 Mess-Kit 1 Ratons x10 20 Waterskin 5 Herbalism Kit 3 Rope (Hemp) 10 Druidic Focus 0 Chest 25 Crowbar 5 Hammer 3 Wooden Stakes 0 Holy Symbol (Amulet) 1 Flask of Holy Water 1 Manacles 6 Steel Mirror .5 Flask of Oil 1 Tinderbox x2 2 Torches x13 13 Total Weight 111.5 Combined Weight 121.5   Equipment		Spells Spells Prepared 4 Cantrips Shillelagh Thorn Whip Level 1 Slots 2/2 Absorb Elements Cure Wounds Detect Magic Entangle   Prepared Spells	Claws Effect: Can make unarmed attack with claws as natural weapons (1d4+3 Slashing damage) Hold Breath Effect: Can hold breath for up to an hour Shell Defense Effect: You can withdraw into your shell as an action. Until you emerge, +4 to AC, Advantage on STR & CON saves, Speed is 0 (cannot be increased), become prone. Disadvantage on DEX saves and cannot take reacitons. No actions except "Emerge" as a bonus action. Abilities	Skills Acrobatics -2 Animal Handling +3 Arcana +1 Athletics +1 Deception +1 History -1 Insight +5 Intimidation +1 Investigation +1 Medicine +5 Nature -1 Perception +3 Performance +1 Persuasion +1 Religion -1 Sleight of Hand -2 Stealth -2 Survival +5 Herbalism Kit (WIS) +5 Herbalism Kit (INT) +1 Skills	Notes       Notes

 

Actions
Action	Nil
Bon. Action	Nil
Free Action	Nil
Movement	Nil
Reaction	Nil
Other	Nil
Currently Equipped	Nil

[The Dark Star]

High Elf l Wizard 1 l 8/8 HP l 16 AC l Mage Armor Active l Spell Slots Lvl 1: O-X Rolen listened to the information that was being given to the group and watched over the beginning of the scenario. "Ah, so it has begun, no worries, I will not rest now, as things are beginning, and we could miss valuable information in that time, thank you for offering to stay with me Baka, but we can go. I think it might be best to follow our target, since it is where your memory begins to disappear." He said as he stood up. "One last question, we can discuss this on our way, but since we are in a dream, your dream, are you able to manifest things into this dream? Say like magical components for spells?" He asked, "I felt the need to ask, since we normal rules do not apply in this realm, you are essentially god here, so I would assume that you would be capable of doing so." He added. When he was given an answer, he would head out with the others to find, staying within the crowd, but not losing sight of them. Mechanical Information Move: Interaction: Action: Bonus Action: Reaction: Rolls: Character Sheet Link

[Mindsiege]

The Mage's Study The group was still getting accustomed to the dreamscape and how things behaved differently and held different values than they would in the real world. As the first to refocus on the task at hand, Derek informed the group that he meant to shadow the dream version of their employer and immediately entered the workshop area, leaving Nephala behind to explore the home. Aurora on the other hand felt free to do things that one usually wouldn't if this was the real world, and so instead of following she sought out the closest window and without much hesitation she raised her sabre and after a few repeated strikes she smashed it to bits. Most of the other adventurers were taken aback by the display of freespirited violence, but none were of the mind to correct the enternal bride's behaviour. So as Oguung and Baka stayed behind to watch the merit of her actions, Geghard and Earlamar rather followed over into the partial study as well. The noise of demolishing the window of Almavalesh's living room didn't seem to have recalled Starlight nor any of the acting memories, which were following their activities undisturbed, reliving their day how it had happened in the past. With Rolen casting his spell to erect his magical defences, the elf had a brief conversation with Baka about how he wouldn't be resting for now. In the meantime, both Aurora and Oguun were peering out of the broken window and what they saw was possibly either a surprise or a letdown. There was a bit of a distance from the house to a low wall that separated a well-kept garden line from what seemed like more estates next to the one that they were currently on. While Oguun had never seen anything like it before and even Aurora hadn't been to Westhaven for long, their view gave them essantially what was a rather rich neighbourhood in a better part of this frontier city. But even as the architecture immediately showed that there was a bit of wealth to the families living in this section of Westhaven, the buildings around wouldn't be yet called mansions. Almavalesh's home as well was just as neat from the outside as his garden or the inside, but other than the sights that were exotic by a githzerai's standards, the outside world seemed just to be a boring looking reflection of the real world. The sky had the normal colour of a rather late morning and there were no strange visual phenomenon about. Only when Aurora peered into the far distance, she got the feeling that the horizon was somewhat too close, growing misty at the edges, but with how the surrounding neighbood was mostly perching them in, maybe that effect was just a trick of the mind. At the same time in the other room, while Earlamar was still recovering from the surreality of bumping into Almavalesh's memory, him, Geghard and Derek were finally able to get a good look at the debonaire mage's wife, Mayuri. As the gentleman leisurely wandered back into his half of the room, the fair woman finally looked up from her work and with a gentle smile around her lips turned around to look at her husband. "Are you not a diviner, Alma? Why would you even be searching anything at all, when the knowledge of things is already at your fingertips and just a bit of magic weaving away?" Mayuri was quite evidently a woman that held much more noble bearing than Almavalesh, but right now it seemed like the adventurers had walked in on a scene of her casually flirting with her husband. At least that's how it looked from the happy twinkle inside the human woman's eyes. "Us mundane folk without a wealth of arcane powers at our beck and call, we need to keep tidy to find things." Despite the softness and melody in her voice, Mayuri had taken to a teasing tone and it wouldn't have been entirely out of place if she had stuck her tongue out at him next. But even as she had an amused smile around her eyes and lips, there was still something of a practiced composure about her and she didn't go that far. Almavalesh himself in response wore a similar expression. "Well, I could do that..." He said while streching his words at the end. "You see, as I keep saying: A sound exterior serves to keep a sound interior. And even if that's big part of of my magic's success, I think it's good to remind myself that magic can't fix everything, even if it could fix this matter for me. But rather, I probably ought to take more care of my study, I think. Hmm, when we return home later, I will put some time aside and clean up. It's a bit much if I had to admit to people that I have to divine my own things, right?" While he was leaning against a shelf full of books and scrolls, he looked over with a grin to Mayuri and without paying attention to his elbow he accidently knocked down one other book pile that had been disorderly placed on his desk. "Oops.." The mage's wife still had an amused look about her husband's antics, but then she folded her hands and turned back to the workbench before her where she had placed a small potted bed of earth and seeds that she had been working over with a small tool that she now picked up again. "Sure, dear. If you say it will happen, you're the diviner after all. Honestly, it's good that only I get to see you like this, what would people say..." While Mayuri seemed to have an odd way of showing it, even to the more jaded adventurer the love for her husband in her voice was quite audible and while her choice of words sounded a bit harsh, the memory of Almavalesh seemed to take it how it was meant and while he picked up the books that he had knocked over he wore a wide smile. "I will, I will..." As the three adventurers watched the rather private scene play out before them, while Almavalesh went back to scouring his side of the room and searching for the thing he had misplaced, Starlight had settled down on one of the shelves and if a swallow could manage to look flustered, the beautiful bird just did so. "Ahem... So, yes. We will be observing what I was doing that day and, hmm, maybe observing some discretion about gossip after we're done with this dream journey. Hmm, consider it part of your pay." Just after the bird had finished speaking, over from the other room came Oguun who had just wrapped his head around seeing more of Westhaven as best as he could. When the follower of Zerthimon was joined by Geghard and they started a discussion about what had been lost and the items visible in the memory, Starlight seemed a bit glad that the conversation found its way back on the mission. "It was a book indeed, but nothing of matter for our purposes, I figure. No, nothing for any appointments. In fact, originally I had never planned to take any appointments that day, it had been planned as a leisure cruise with my wife through the market." Following with Geghard's further thoughts, both the adventurers and their dream guide inspected Almavalesh as he was still looking through the various items around his study. "I don't think that there is anything out of place..." The silvery voice of the female bird concluded. "The dream should be fed by my memories and how they have been forged into the walls of my mindpalace. Neither me or Mayuri are wearing anything out of the ordinary today... ehem, that day... Well either way, that part is certainly in line with what I remember." While Derek had been listening to everything so far, his observant eyes couldn't help but draw in as much from the mage's study as he could discern. As a former apprentice of a necromancer he was quite accustomed with the way of wizards, and as such, even as it looked more like a scribe's corner to the other adventurers from afar, the young human realized that there was actually a wealth of arance science very openly on display. The depth of the material was far, far outside of Derek's wheelhouse, but whereas other mages guarded their secrets in magical towers or at least in secret laboratories, Almavalesh seemed to keep everything simply in his home next to his wife's gardening workshop, or whatever the other half of the room was. Even from Derek's current position he realized that Almavalesh might not have been shining much attention on it so far, but in the ways of the arcane he had to be a master. With simply what the apprentice necromancer could spot out in the open, it was very likely that the debonaire was several steps above in skill compared to any other inside the adventuring party that was undertaking his quest. It was still shocking how arcane formulas and similar wizarding equipment lied around openly among research books and other things that were still beyond Derek's comprehension, but just as Rolen had finished his matters in the living room and joined with the rest of the group at the workshop as well, Derek spotted one thing that he was able to place inside his own understanding of the arcane arts. Right there on the table next to where Almavalesh was idly searching, there was an open scroll of pergament that from its title seemed to address a simple kind of sleeping enchantment. Nobody else seemed to have any interest towards the study's materials so far, and Derek would only have to walk over to look at something that might contain magical knowledge that he was capable of understanding. While the young necromancer was left to his observations, Rolen had his own considerations about how this dream realm would interact with his matters of the arcane. When he asked Starlight whether the dream could produce magical components for his spells, the swallow flapped her wings and cocked her feathered head. "Possibly? Hard to say. It would be easier to search my storage for materials rather than to spin them into being. As I've tried to explain, the dream that we are sharing is wrought from my very own memories, to explain it in simple terms. Any divergence from what has actually happened would be quite the excellent weaving of oneiromancy on my end and while I suppose that nothing of this is real and we're all lucid, the god of this realm would be a god of dreams and memories, not me. Actually I've never truly delved into the religious aspects of my craft. The study of it led me through many myths and theories but none were really tied to deities." With another flap of her wings, Starlight kept mustering Rolen. "What kind of components were you considering? For your magic to work in the dreamscape you are reliant on such things and what you had on your person when we came should have been replicated on your waking self now, but if there is something I could supply for the time that we journey, maybe I have what you need inside my home somewhere?" The dream guide had just finished the explanation, as Mayuri suddenly became active again. "Neat. All right, Alma, I've finished up here. The workshop can wait for our return. You're still searching? I will go and prepare our leave then." Almavalesh looked up briefly as he had various items in his hands that he had been about to rearrange. "Right, love. Do wait in the kitchen for me, I'll be short in reminding myself where to pick up later. I might yet cast a location spell, if I'm being honest." With both wife and husband chuckling over the mage's mundane plight, Mayuri gracefully started to flow through and out of the room and as the half-elven rogued moved out of the way far early this time, it occured to Earlamar that for a person of Mayuri's ilk it was quite odd that they hadn't seen any servants inside the dream so far. "All right, further questions about our journey will have to happen as we prepare to leave. Even if I technically recall it, I'm a bit fuzzy about the timeline. And now that we are about to leave, we'll be entering into memories that aren't just new to you, but to me as well. I'm quite curious what we will experience together today!"

 

GM instructions We could have explored a bit longer around the household, but to me it seemed like most of the group is ready to move on. So with this post I tried to move the action forward a bit quicker. We can keep the rolls for Earlamar that he has made when he arrives inside the streets, but right now we're not there yet and you might want to remind me by including the results of those rolls in that post as well. The next round of posts will finally resolve the introductionary scene and your characters can finish doing what they wanted to do before heading out. I'll add Nephala's report next post as well. Lastly, Derek's observant feat has allowed him to pick up various interesting things about the study without closer investigation. Most of it goes far over his head but there is a scroll that contains documentation about the Sleep spell. If Derek grabs it, him and Rolen could scribe the spell into their spellbooks if they find the means to do so. Rolls: - Initiative Character AC HP Status Action Position Character AC HP PP PI Movement Conditions Resources Derek Draven 12 6/6 17 20 30' Inspiration Arcane Recovery 1/1; Spells I. 2/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Earlamar Xyr 15 7/7 12 10 30' Inspiration Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Oguun 18/16 9/9 14 13 30' Inspiration Spells I. 2/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Rolen Galanodel 16/13 8/8 11 16 30' Active Mage Armor, Inspiration Arcane Recovery 1/1; Spells I. 1/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Baka 19/17 11/11 13 11 30' Inspiration Spells I. 2/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Geghard Van 19/17 12/12 13 11 30' Inspiration Second Wind 1/1; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Aurora Turpis 17/16 11/11 15 11 30' Inspiration Spells I. 1/2; Goodberries 4/4; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Nephala 12 1/1 13 6 10' / 50' (fly) - -

[Togot]

Derek Draven My eyes made note of many oddities in the mage’s room. I felt my inexperience and ignorance weighing heavily on me. had I been more well read, perhaps I would have known what at least some of these things were. Then I noticed something that I did recognize, a spell scroll. I didn’t have time to study it at the moment, but perhaps I would later. Wordlessly I picked it up and tucked it away in my robes. It wasn’t stealing, not really. This was just a memory after all. The loving teasing and familiarity between Almavalesh and his wife made me think of my parents before I lost them. it was an unexpected wave of nostalgia that actually coaxed a tear from me. I wiped it away quickly, embarrassed by such an unprofessional display of vulnerability on my first job. I continued to shadow Almavalesh, unwilling to lose him.

Stat Block AC:12 HP:6/6 STR:7 DEX:14 CON:11 INT:16 WILL:14 CHA:16 Passive Perception:17 Spells Prepared/Spell Slots:1st 2/2, mage armor, charm person, false life, magic missile Character Sheet

[The Dark Star]

High Elf l Wizard 1 l 8/8 HP l 16 AC l Mage Armor Active l Spell Slots Lvl 1: O-X Rolen placed a finger from his right hand onto his cheek and nodded, taking in the information. "No need, I was just curious as to the parameters of your world, I'm ready to continue if the others are." Mechanical Information Move: Interaction: Action: Bonus Action: Reaction: Rolls: Character Sheet Link

[BarrowB]

Aurora "Huh... looks like we can't really see, what Almavalesh hasn't seen before... If I understand this stuff correctly." She tried to explain, what she was seeing out of the window. Remembering that they would leave soon, she made her way to the exit and stood next to it. One of the weird, magic guys said something about dreaming things into existence... she wanted to try. Aurora looked at a small, empty table and tried to imagine a plate of fresh brownies appearing on it.

OOC Wisdom to make the brownies: 20 Initiative Character AC HP Status Actions Position - Aurora Turpis 17/16 11/11 Weapons out - -

[Corwin]

Oguun Oguun took a last look out the window, trying to memorize what he saw. The reality of Westhaven was all new to him. And here, in someone else's mind, he was not even sure of what he was seeing. If neither the past Almavalesh nor the present Almavalesh had been looking out the window, was he seeing just old memories of what they would have expected to see if they had looked out? To be so extensive, the mind-palace must be a patchwork of sorts, memories old and new stitched together, renewed where the mage passed through, stagnant where he hadn't gone for some time, perhaps imaginary and undependable in places he'd never been. The cleric suddenly felt chaos closing in and resolved to follow dream-Almavalesh as closely as possible. Only near to the mage, in his most recent memories, could this plane be stable. The concept of wandering into some place that the mage had never seen at all was equally fascinating and horrifying. He hurried to stay close.

 

Rolls and Actions Rolls: none Action Summary Move: follow dream-Almavalesh Action: Reaction: Bonus Action: Object Interaction: Free Action: Concentration: Active Spells:

 

Stats Oguun character sheet Githzerai | Life Cleric of Zerthimon | Sage (Wizard's Apprentice) | Feats: none Githzerai Psionics | Mental Discipline | Disciple of Life HP: 9/9 | Armor Class: 16(18) | Stats/Saves: Str 13/+1; Dex 5/-3; Con 12/+1; Int 16/+3; Wis 18/+4; Cha 10/0 Senses: Passive Perception 14, Passive Investigation 13 Move: 30' | Conditions: none Languages: Common, Gith, Deep Speech, Undercommon Tool Proficiencies: none Attack Bonuses: Melee +3 | Ranged -1 | Magic +6 Spell Save DC: 14 Ranged weapon: javelin - +3 to hit, 1d6+1 piercing, range 30/120 Melee: mace - +3 to hit, 1d6+1 bludgeoning, range 5 Spells: Cantrips: 4 - Light, Mage Hand(invisible), Resistance, Toll the Dead Prepared Spells: 6 - Bane (1), Command (1), Guiding Bolt (1), Healing Word (1), Sanctuary (1), Shield of Faith (1) Domain Spells: 2 - Bless (1), Cure Wounds (1) Spell Slots: lv 1 - 2/2

[CoffeeRogue]

Plants Could be Bad too Often times trouble comes from the most unlikeliest of places. Knowing that first hand, Earlamar decided to take a peak at the room from before. He hadn't seen anything like it before but given his employer's capabilities, or at least the ones he had mentioned, this was to be expected. The greener part of the other room was most intriguing to say the least. While he was no medical practitioner, he understood that plants had a big part to play when it came to medicine. Depending on the capabilities of the practitioner, and the "medicine" resulting from it, it could potentially mess with someone's memories. He opened the door and walked into the room - making no effort to hide his intention. Although weary of what might await him, he decided it would be best not to touch anything and Perception Check: 22 (nat 20+2)simply peruse the contents of the two tables with a more intent eye on the table that Almavalesh's wife was working on. While he wasn't keen on leaving dream-Almavalesh on his own for long, he knew that saw Derek keeping an eye out - so if anything of interest were to happen, he knew that at least one eye was there to catch it while he did his share of investigation.

 

Stat Block STR 14 DEX 18 CON 9 INT 10 WIS 10 CHA 18

Action Block Free Action: Roll(s): Perception: 22 (nat 20+2) Action: Move: Bonus Action: Reaction: Condition: