[Game Thread] A Trip to Remember

[secretID]

Baka Baka stepped around the crowd to get to the last legionnaire and 17 to hit, 8 damagerap him on the head. The blow would leave a nasty memory bruise on the memory man's memory head, but it was not yet enough to render him forgotten.

 

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	Shillelagh last legionnair = 17 hit, 8 damage
Bon. Action	Nil
Free Action	Nil
Movement	T13
Reaction	Nil
Other	Nil
Currently Equipped	Quarterstaff w/ Shillelagh

[Mindsiege]

Back to Daylight The tide had turned for the adventurers and after they had found their composure in dealing with these dangerous memories under the crimson light, the remainder of the battle was cleared in one fell swoop. Derek's chilling conjuration was derailed by standing so close to the burly adventurer, but when Oguun rang his deadly bell once more, with finality on his lips he brought the end to the man with the mallet, just like the githzerai had imagined it. Aurora who had been surprised by the swordsmanship of her opponent opted to take on the duel, but when she managed to cut across the rider's chest, she realized that he had been wearing a breastplate underneath his dark cowl. Another of her blows cut along his arm, and just when she asked him whether this could end at first blood, Geghard made any further reasoning unnecessary as he plowed into the well-armed human from the side and turned him to memory dust like his mount before him. Just before he dissolved, the rider wore a look of deep melancholy on his face, but the moment was so short that those standing next to him had to wonder if they hadn't just imagined it. Convinced that his party had now gotten the hang of dealing with these foes, Geghard called out to wrap things up as he joined Oguun's side who was still under attack. Nephala had done her best to harry the two Legionnaires that were continuously stabbing after the cleric of Zerthimon, and just as Rolen saw that all other opponents had been dispatched he hurled a flaming bolt at the guardsmen. The fire seemed to work much better than the previous mental attack, and it gifted Earlamar with the opportunity to claim the next imagined kill. It left the street with a single fighting enemy, and when Baka swung his spore-covered staff against his back, the Legionnaire was too wounded to even have much more fight left in him. One last spear thrust unwaveringly glanced off of Oguun's shield before the party of adventurers tore into the blank-faced Legionnaire as well and when they imagined him dead, all the memories had been defeated. There was an odd moment of not knowing what to do, but when the adventurers turned to the source of the crimson light, they just caught the moment as it ebbed when Mayur's eyes and mouth closed, and the light was no more. Her head which had been twisted on her shoulders slowly turned like on a socket and went back to where the rest of her body was facing. Aside from a few missing people that had been there before, the street was back under a late morning sun and nothing seemed like a violent fight had just happened. Which is when everything unfroze. All the citizens that had been standing still while the crimson light had reigned resumed movement all of a sudden. The noises of the street also resumed and sounded just as mundane and normal as they had appeared before, giving the scene a feeling as if the day had just returned to moving forward without ever having been interrupted at all. And also one more actor resumed what he had been doing before having been frozen in time. "...that acting in harmful ways will not affect me in a negative way. Such a disturbance is still very much unreasonable..." Starlight's silvery voice resumed talking just where the memory guide had stopped chastising Lady Aurora, but the swallow familiar didn't finish what she had meant to say when the eternal bride seemed to have been replaced with empty air. Starlight swooped further until she descended on a street post just ahead, and when the bird turned around after landing, she tweeted in surprise as she found all the adventurers grouped up next to the alleyway as if they had been teleported at once. "What... did anything happen?" The confusion came through even without human features to read, and as the vessel of the real Almavalesh waited for some sort of explanation, his memory-double arm in arm with his memory-wife kept gently strolling down the street, neither of them turning around while the adventurers were slowly being left behind.

 

GM instructions The last enemy failed to make any difference till the end, so instead of wasting a turn on rolling on his dismissal, I've decided to cut the outcome short. The battle was thoroughly won, though admittedly under the circumstances, there's probably a good question what exactly has been won. Almavalesh certainly could use getting filled in. Feel free to resume interacting with the scene as you would. Rolls: here   [IMG]-[/IMG] Initiative Character AC HP Status Action Position Character AC HP PP PI Movement Conditions Resources Derek Draven 15/12 6/6 17 20 30' Active Mage Armor, Inspiration Arcane Recovery 1/1; Spells I. 0/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Earlamar Xyr 15 6/7 12 10 30' Inspiration Goodberries 0/1; 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. 0/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Baka 19/17 11/11 13 11 30' Inspiration Spells I. 1/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Geghard Van 19/17 5/12 13 11 30' Inspiration Second Wind 1/1; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Aurora Turpis 17/16 7/11 15 11 30' - Spells I. 0/2; Goodberries 4/4; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Nephala 12 1/1 13 6 10' / 50' (fly) - -

[Togot]

Derek Draven I struggled to calm my racing heart as the battle which i had thought insurmountable was won. My relief was short-lived as I reflected on my own uselessness during the fight. I had failed to fell a single foe. I hadn’t even landed a hit aside from my magic missile spell which never missed. Was this really all I could contribute? And now I was out of first level spells, yet the greater threat was still at large. Not that I knew what that threat even was. Was it Mayu? She seemed to back to normal as if nothing happened. I suspected that the memory had been possessed by a foreign entity which had now left her, but what was it? where had it gone? What did it want? How could we fight it? Then Almavalesh carried on as if he had no idea of what had just happened. Was he really so unaware of what was going on in his own head? Nephala returned to my shoulder, and I stroked the underside of her neck to show my appreciation for her efforts. “Long story short, there is a hostile entity in your mind that tried to kill us and has an alarming amount of control over your dream space. I’m not sure if we’re qualified to stop it.”

Stat Block AC:12(16) HP:6/6 STR:7 DEX:14 CON:11 INT:16 WILL:14 CHA:16 Passive Perception:17 Spells Prepared/Spell Slots:1st 0/2, mage armor, charm person, false life, magic missile Character Sheet

[BarrowB]

Aurora Aurora saw that the battle came to an end and wasn't sure if she should be happy or sad about it. She looked to the bird, who got unfrozen and shrugged. "With all respect, you are a wizard, Mister Almavalesh. You should know very well that research sometimes requires drastic measures. We didn't spend half of our lives studying dreams and I imagine that asking you a thousand questions would be very distracting. Wouldn't you agree?" The eternal bride approached the talking bird, while explaining her behaviour. "Questions... I actually have two, that just came to mind... First of all, have you ever watched someone being slowly burned alive? And second, are you certain, that your wife is human? Or at least, if she is the person, who you think she is? The surrounding people tried to kill us, commanded by something, that took the shape of your wife." Aurora turned to the woman, who was walking next to Almavalesh, her grip on her weapons tightening and her eye lightly twitching. Perception 19She tried to observe, if there was any difference to her original form, in case the entity was still there.

OOC Initiative Character AC HP Status Actions Position - Aurora Turpis 17 7/11 Weapons out - - Move: Action: Bonus Action: Free action: Reaction: Other: Rolls

[secretID]

Geghard Van, Human Fighter Sheet | AC: 19 | HP: 12/12 | Status: Normal Second Wind 0/1 | Polearm Master | Dueling Style Geghard reflexively tapped the shaft of his spear against his foot to knock off the gore, but it had already faded away along with its illusory source. He Second Wind, 9 pts to bring to max.caught his breath before quickening his pace to move beside Mayuri. From there he examined the woman closely and openly, looking for lingering signs of corruption.

 

Applicable Spell/skills/statuses:
Initiative
Movement: Engage rider, then R13
Free action:
Action: Attack rider - hit, WIS save failed
Bonus action: Attack rider - hit, save made
Reaction:
Abilities: Polearm Master, Dueling
Resources: Second Wind 1/1
Dice rolls: Lady Luck

 

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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

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

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Languages: Common, Elvish, Dwarvish

[The Dark Star]

High Elf l Wizard 1 l 8/8 HP l 16 AC l Mage Armor Active l Spell Slots Lvl 1: X-X Rolen, relieved that the fight was over, moved towards the rest of the group as they joined together to try and figure out what in the dream world happened. "That was very strange, how everything froze in time, I wonder if it was something placed within your mind like a trap." He said out loud to the group. In the case that something was happening in the outside world, he checked in with his familiar to see if it had witnessed anything. He also began to think to his studies of the arcana seeing if he could remember any spells that could be done, was this a conjuration spell? Or something like Modify Memory? Mechanical Information Move: Interaction: Action: Bonus Action: Reaction: Rolls: Dice Arcana: 1d20+6 (1)+6 Total = 7 Character Sheet Link

[Corwin]

Oguun Oguun held his ground until the last of the aggressive memories dissolved, then watched intently as the crimson light faded and the false Mayuri returned to a semblance of normality. The sight of her head rotating caused a twinge of sympathetic pain in his own neck. The scene suddenly moved again as if nothing had happened and bird-Almavalesh flitted toward the party, resuming his scolding in mid-sentence. The cleric allowed himself the liberty of a brief feeling of peevishness directed toward the bird-wizard, then summoned his invisible Mage Hand from Githzerai Psionicsneglected third hand and wrapped it gently but firmly around Starlight, snatching the bird out of the air. He attempted to bring it level with his eyes, but it somehow slipped through the unseen fingers and fell to the ground, reshaping itself into humanoid form. "The others are correct, Almavalesh. Your mind-palace is not your own. Something manifested in your memory-mate's head. I saw a brief flicker of a shadowy tongue from her mouth before you lost your knowing and this place was suborned." Oguun leaned down untill he was level with the mage. "Look around, wizard. Do you note how many of your memory-folk are missing? They are missing because they attempted to slay us and we had no recourse but to destroy them while you hung in the air, frozen and useless. There seemed to be considerable risk to our welfare. Any light you can shed on this fascinating phenomenon would be most welcome."

 

Rolls and Actions Rolls: Toll the Dead - 8 damage, WIS save 17 Action Summary Move: none Action: grump at bird-Almavalesh, using Mage Hand Object Interaction: Reaction: any OA if available Bonus Action: Free Action: Concentration: Active Spells: Mage Hand

 

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

[Mindsiege]

Confronting Surreality With the threat of the armed memories assaulting the party of adventurers having been defeated, the group naturally turned to Almavalesh in his current form as Starlight. He seemed to be the only one who truly understood what this world that their minds were currently inhabiting was, or at least he should have been. Only Geghard and Grimly Packer used the moment to separate from the group, Geghard as he turned to follow the memory couple at a quickened pace and Grimly as he faded into the background of the open street, seemingly intent to stay out of the crosshairs of a distracted Aurora. As the only one that had been deeply wounded, it would have made sense that Grimly would have thanked those that saved him, but his mien was filled with unveiled worry and indecision that seemed to be prevalent on the half-elf's mind. With Starlight on the perch above the adventurer's heads, the swallow turned to listen after being confused about the changes in the scene compared to when everything had been frozen. The first to speak was Derek, shortening his theory on what had transpired into a single sentence. "Hostile entity...? Control...?" Even with the familiar's silvery voice this revelation was audibly met with confusion. Before the dream guide had gotten any chance to really absorb what had been said, Aurora also joined her voice to the discussion, defending her previous actions and questioning Almavalesh's mind that was inhabiting the bird. "My wife...??" The mere prospect that the eternal bride raised was met with a certain amount of incredulity. Adding to his companions' explanations, Rolen proposed the possibility of what had happened with Mayuri having been a trap inside Almavalesh's mind. Using his familiar that had been left in the Inn on Your Shield, the elven magician checked the surroundings in which everybody had been left sleeping. Fortunately, Ara was able to report that nothing strange had happened in reality, but in his cushioned seat Almavalesh seemed to have been sweating and scrounging his face for a while now, as if he had been dealing with some kind of inner turmoil. Right now he had returned to a more relaxed posture, but even with closed eyes and in his own trance-like state, the diviner looked as if he was distressed. With Rolen being left to interpret his familiar's findings, he also tried his best to recall magic that could have created any traps as he had witnessed the crimson scene. But as much as he racked his brain, Almavalesh's oneiromancy was such a fringe subject that hypothesizing about what kind of foreign influence might have caused this was a task beyond Rolen's knowledge. Conjuration was just as likely to be the cause as a modification of memories itself, seeing as the dreamscape and everything around it was so poorly understood by the high elf. There still hadn't been any thorough answer from their dream guide as the adventurers' hastened inquiries seemed to be met with at least partial incomprehension, enough to thoroughly peeve Oguun who had survived the most of the memories' blows, but his life had certainly felt threatened by all that had happened. With his githzerai psionics he grasped the frail body of Starlight and as he lifted her off her perch, she gave a displeased tweet. In front of everybody's eyes the blue shape of the familiar seemed to blur, undulate and then finally bloat as Starlight grew and transformed, shaking the psionic influence on its body by a sheer increase in mass. The image of the helpless bird was fluently replaced by the man Almavesh. He appeared as he had been when he had hired the adventurers for this dream journey, just that now the debonair gentleman was wearing an expression of cold anger. Instead of falling down from his position in mid-air where Oguun had pulled him, the mage floated down to the ground without ever having shown signs of casting any magic, and then he stood face to face with the follower of Zerthimon. He listened calmly as Oguun finished patronizing him in front of the whole group, and only when all had been said, he raised his voice. Still calmly, but clearly with held-back anger in it. "What you are saying, what all of you are saying is preposterous. Oguun..." Now that he had returned to his human semblance, there was no silver or harmony in his tone, and he kept meeting the gith's eyes with an unwavering will. "I could go to great lengths to explain to you how my mind palace and this dreamscape are not the same concepts, but suffice to say that I am still the one to hold control in this realm. It is by my magic that we are sharing these visions. By capturing my memories into a dream and inviting you adventurers into it, you may exert your will to influence these visions to an extent and as a lack of manners would direct you to, but the dream and the memory are interwoven as one and nothing that you are describing has any precedence." Taking his eyes off of Oguun, Almavalesh turned his head and let his gaze course over the street. The evidence of battle had mostly dispersed into dust and the adventurers right in front of the mage seemed unharmed, but collectively rattled. "A vision of memories attacking you and my own consciousness frozen? None of these make any sense!" And then his head darted around to where Geghard had currently caught up with the memory of himself and his wife. "Of course my wife is human, I don't understand what you believe to have seen." The debonnaire shook his head as he added the brief explanation for those directly surrounding him, before he raised his voice again and actually shouted across the street. "What are you doing there, Geghard Van?!" Even before Almvalesh had called attention over to Geghard's activities, Aurora had cautiously kept heeding if there was still anything off about the shape of Mayuri. But from behind, there hadn't appeared anything odd happening to her as Geghard had jogged over to the beautiful woman, both shield and spear in hand. Now that the life-long investigator had reached the married couple and overtook them, the two of them on initial glance appeared in harmony, walking down the streets to take their leisurely trip to the market just like they had planned. Geghard searched Mayuri for traces of corruption, anything that fit what had happened during the strange incursion that he and his companions had been assaulted by, yet there was nothing to be seen. Instead, Mayuri amicably turned to face her husband, and as the first words to fall between the two of them for a while, she spoke. "All this hammering reminds me, I've never asked at what intervals one would repair their roof. Is that something we have to concern ourselves with soon, Alma?" The casual question was so out of place compared to the violence Geghard had been a part of just moments before, that it might have clashed with the mood that he was inspecting Mayuri with. But just as he thought that the memory would keep ignoring him like it had before, while the noblewoman kept facing towards her husband her expression turned into a mask of amusement and just her eyes shifted to their corners and returned Geghard's gaze. And he knew immediately, he was being seen and silently ridiculed as Mayuri's mannerisms towards him were hidden from his group watching from further behind.

 

GM instructions A quick mechanical summary, Almavalesh has listened to all that had been said but he clearly doesn't have an immediate explanation for all the information you've provided him with. Your characters can gather without any checks that it clashes with his knowledge about the oneiromancy that you're all taking part in. He might have been focused on Oguun after that particular affront, but I tried to have his explanation consider all the adventurers' voices equally. Only Aurora's question about burning people alive was thoroughly ignored. Otherwise, Aurora's and Rolen's checks didn't provide any new information, but Ara's recounting of what has been happing outside of the dreamscape did. Of course, also Geghard's inspection of Mayuri put him privy to new information, but he's the only one aware of anything still being odd with Mayuri until he informs the rest of the group. For your next post you can either keep conversing with Almavalesh or wait with your posts until secretID tells us what's happening with Geghard. I'm at home a lot during the holidays, so I might be able to dish out a quick update after his post I'll let you know about that in the OOC.if it's necessary. Rolls: -   [IMG]-[/IMG] Initiative Character AC HP Status Action Position Character AC HP PP PI Movement Conditions Resources Derek Draven 15/12 6/6 17 20 30' Active Mage Armor, Inspiration Arcane Recovery 1/1; Spells I. 0/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Earlamar Xyr 15 6/7 12 10 30' Inspiration Goodberries 0/1; 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. 0/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Baka 19/17 11/11 13 11 30' Inspiration Spells I. 1/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Geghard Van 19/17 12/12 13 11 30' Inspiration Second Wind 0/1; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Aurora Turpis 17/16 7/11 15 11 30' - Spells I. 0/2; Goodberries 4/4; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Nephala 12 1/1 13 6 10' / 50' (fly) - -

[Togot]

Derek Draven I had hoped an expert in this field would instantly know the answer, but my heart sank with disappointment and a feeling of helplessness as Almavalesh not only expressed ignorance of the phenomenon, but disbelief. Janfadar had often warned me that wizards tended to be arrogant. I believe his exact words were insufferable egotistical know-it-alls who never admitted that they were wrong. How could I, a mere novice, convince someone as knowledgeable as our employer, that we had witnessed something he knew nothing about in regards to his own field of expertise? “Almavalesh, I realize I have next to no experience when it comes to your field of study, and I do not mean to diminish or criticize your level of expertise, but I ask you to remember that the very reason we are here is because something happened to your memory, and the world is filled with strange and incredible things. Is it not possible that we are dealing with something you have no knowledge of? I give you my word that what we have told you is true. Something seemed to possess the memory of you wife. It froze everyone including you, yet not us for some reason. It spoke to us. Emitted a red light and took control of several other memories which attacked us. They were very hard to defeat. Only after the battle did the entity relinquish control of your wife and release everyone it had frozen. We are not trying to trick you. We are trying to do the job you hired us for. We are trying to help you.”

Stat Block AC:12(16) HP:6/6 STR:7 DEX:14 CON:11 INT:16 WILL:14 CHA:16 Passive Perception:17 Spells Prepared/Spell Slots:1st 0/2, mage armor, charm person, false life, magic missile Character Sheet

[BarrowB]

Aurora Aurora was quite disappointed, that their contractor avoided her question. "Hm, wizards do tend to play with fire a lot... Guess I didn't have too ask. In most cases it would be 'yes' ." She glanced back to Derek and listened, as he was giving a longish explanation to Almavalesh. "As flowers wilt and seasons go by, Theories often just tend to die. Always changed for odder and odder, While gods look down and just not bother." The girl muttered to herself a verse of some poem, she read in her past. "As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with the bookworm. Just because something doesn't fit in what you know as truth, doesn't mean that it's not real. Theories tend to be crushed with time, experiments turn out to be wrongly done. If the world would be, as humanity imagined it, it would probably fall apart." She gave a nod to Derek. "Also, do you find it believable, that seven people, who just met, are actually ALL in cahoot against their employer? Let's not kid ourselves." Aurora sheathed one of her swords for a moment, to reach into her pouch for three of her green orbs of healing, slowly popping them in her mouth. She really hoped, that their nutritional capabilities wouldn't be reflected in the dream world. Trying to imagine a stomachache medicine would probably render her unconscious... wait. "Can you even be unconscious in a dream?" The girl thought out loud.

OOC Initiative Character AC HP Status Actions Position - Aurora Turpis 17 10/11 Weapons out Eat 3 Goodberries - Move: Action: Eat 3 Goodberries Bonus Action: Free action: Reaction: Other:

[Mindsiege]

Almavalesh Avalladasz While from their groups' perspective Geghard didn't seem to initially do much more than observe the memory of the mage's wife, the young necromancer Derek didn't spare any breath as he gave his word that their tales were being truthful and summarized once more what had transpired during the time that seemed to have passed Almavalesh by when he was frozen. Altogether it made for a convincing argument and when the gentleman turned away from looking after Geghard, his anger and surprise had turned to more of a stern frown, and the gears inside his head were visibly turning while he considered everything the younger wizard said. When Aurora also lent her voice to Derek's point, she made pretty clear that not listening to the adventurers would be unreasonable. And fortunately for the adventurers, despite all that didn't seem to match up about their story in Almavalesh's understanding, he appeared to still be a reasonable man. "I wasn't saying that any of you are lying, it just doesn't make any sense!" The magician turned his look into the distance, giving the semblance of someone that had to put a complicated puzzle together in his mind and was not quite yet succeeding. "I am quite clear about this being an experiment and how it leaves room for unexpectedness, but what you are saying..." As much as Almavalesh seemed to try to wrap his mind around the accurate recounting that the adventurers had given him, it still seemed difficult for him to find an explanation for what it meant or how it could be. As he was still visibly thinking, Aurora threw another question into the air and distractedly Almavalesh answered, not even looking at her. "It wouldn't be unconsciousness, just the absence and retreat, or even the destruction of your waking self. The rest of us might see a vision of your unconscious body, but that's really just how the dreamscape would make sense of it..."

OOC Just a quick update to give Almavalesh's immediate response to Derek's and Aurora's efforts, but before either of the two can post again we should probably await Geghard's post to help keep things in chronological order. Right around after Almavalesh's last reply to Aurora would be when Geghard makes eye contact with Mayuri.

[secretID]

Geghard Van, Human Fighter Sheet | AC: 19 | HP: 12/12 | Status: Normal Second Wind 0/1 | Polearm Master | Dueling Style Geghard did not spare a look back at his employer in response to the man's question. "I'm keeping up," he answered. "Isn't that the job? "I'm pretty sure that we're all still in danger. Maybe you should examine this version of Mayuri yourself. I hear you saying that it's impossible, but maybe you should just check anyway. Do you have some magic for the situation?"

 

Applicable Spell/skills/statuses:
Initiative
Movement: Engage rider, then R13
Free action:
Action: Attack rider - hit, WIS save failed
Bonus action: Attack rider - hit, save made
Reaction:
Abilities: Polearm Master, Dueling
Resources: Second Wind 1/1
Dice rolls: Lady Luck

 

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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

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

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Languages: Common, Elvish, Dwarvish

[Corwin]

Oguun "...but suffice to say that I am still the one to hold control in this realm. It is by my magic that we are sharing these visions." Oguun stared without blinking at the dream wizard, mulling over the implications. "If you control this realm and the attack was not your doing, then for what we experienced to have happened, either your control is incomplete or something controls you." He left his final conclusion unsaid; it seemed obvious that Almavalesh must be considered unreliable until his mind was freed. The githzerai clomped away and resumed Perception 20holding vigil over the memory of Mayuri.

 

Rolls and Actions Rolls: Perception - 20 Action Summary Move: to Mayuri Action: Perception check on Mayuri - 20 Object Interaction: Reaction: any OA if available Bonus Action: Free Action: Concentration: Active Spells: Mage Hand

 

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

[BarrowB]

Aurora "Hey!" Aurora Deception 11yelled in Mayuri's? direction. "We all know, that you are hiding in that woman's body, whatever you are. You may have a lot of control over this dream realm but with its host dead, you will also perish." She raised her sword and winked to Almavalesh, hoping he won't take her seriously. "I can stab the wizard in the gut, right now, and destroy us all, or you can just drop that ruse and tell us what do you even want from him or us. Are you some stray ghost, who wanted to be loved? A parasite, trying to mess with his memories, to change him? A trap set up by some rival? Probably just some miserable, lost creature." The bride Intimidation 11kept taunting Mayuri from the distance, hoping to get any reaction out of her.

OOC Initiative Character AC HP Status Actions Position - Aurora Turpis 17 10/11 Weapons out Trying to provoke Mayuri close to the more real Almavalesh Move: Action: Deception 11, Intimidation 11 Bonus Action: Free action: Reaction: Other:

[Mindsiege]

Fade to Black Almavalesh was ripped out of his contemplation as Geghard asked him to examine the memory of his wife himself. "I suppose I could..." He offered slowly, seemingly not quite sure yet what he would be doing after catching up with the memories which had kept walking ahead without waiting. But just as he was ready to set into motion to do whatever examination he could have been capable off, Oguun raised the point that Almavalesh himself might be compromised. And as coldly infuriated as the mage had been with the gith before, when the possibility of this was brought up he seemed more shocked than angry as he froze in his tracks, leaving Oguun to move up to the couple without him. While the gentleman didn't share his worries out loud, the cleric's suggestion seemed to have shaken him up quite a bit, enough that Aurora got a moment to enact her own ploy to trick whatever was hidden behind the veil of surreality and messing with the group of adventurers. With her sword raised to Almavalesh's gut, the eternal bride taunted Mayuri, and just before Oguun had been able to stomp his way to join Geghard's side, a sudden cry halted everybody in their steps. The one crying out had been Almavalesh, and as everybody had already been called to look at Aurora threatening the mage with her sabre, they could see how he fell to his knees before the young woman's blade had ever reached him. As well, instead of clutching his gut he was holding his head, one hand on the cobbled street to hold himself up and the other digging into his skull as if he was in strong pain. After his first outburst Almavalesh seemed able to keep his voice of suffering inside, but plain to see for the adventurers he was showing clear signs of struggle on his face, unable to articulate as whatever was happening to him immobilised him. Geghard's immediate reaction was to look back at Mayuri's face, and as he had suspected she was looking straight back at him with nothing but a taunting smile. Aurora never received a verbal response to her threats, but as she was closest to Almavalesh from all the adventurers, she was also the closest to what happened next. At first it just looked as if the debonnaire was growing pale, but it wasn't just his skin, even the colour of his clothes seemed to suddenly fade. And then all of a sudden, just when the adventurers had gotten over the surprise of something happening to him, he started to vomit black shadows, both from his eyes and mouth. It was immediately apparent though that this was nothing like a bodily sickness, because the mass of writhing shadow exceeded the mage's body volume already after the first second and in the following moments the street was flooded in darkness with Almavalesh as the point of origin. It was like a dam or a floodgate inside the mage had broken and the shadows poured out of him, bursting forth and expanding unnaturally fast as none of the adventurers had ever seen. Aurora as the closest was unable to ever really react to the shadows before she was enveloped by the ethereal mass herself, and she was only the first to realize that the shadows had no substance and she could still breathe, but otherwise the world seemed to taken from her as she felt all her bodily sensations disappear. In a way similar to when she had entered the dreamscape, but this time she still had a body. And then, Aurora wasn't the only intended victim, and the mass of shadows expanded like an all consuming monsoon, rushing towards all of the adventurers far faster than anybody could run. All the memories in the street were wrapped in it one after another, and the adventurers had nothing but moments before they would be gone like Aurora.

 

GM instructions This is more of a transitionary post, because the encroaching darkness is not really avoidable. Imagine that your characters have at the most 3 seconds to do anything before she shadows reach them as well. Aurora is too close to do much of anything. Imagine that your characters experience the same strange deprivation of sensations that I've described for Aurora as soon as the darkness has caught you. With my next GM post I will expand on what exactly has happened to your characters after being swallowed by the darkness, but for now I'd like each player to narrate the brief physical or emotional reaction that your characters would have to what in the hell happens to them. Rolls: -   [IMG]-[/IMG] Initiative Character AC HP Status Action Position Character AC HP PP PI Movement Conditions Resources Derek Draven 15/12 6/6 17 20 30' Active Mage Armor, Inspiration Arcane Recovery 1/1; Spells I. 0/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Earlamar Xyr 15 6/7 12 10 30' Inspiration Goodberries 0/1; 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. 0/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Baka 19/17 11/11 13 11 30' Inspiration Spells I. 1/2; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Geghard Van 19/17 12/12 13 11 30' Inspiration Second Wind 0/1; Goodberries 1/1; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Aurora Turpis 17/16 10/11 15 11 30' - Spells I. 0/2; Goodberries 1/4; Short rests 2/2; HD 1/1 Nephala 12 1/1 13 6 10' / 50' (fly) - -