Ghostfoot's Tearing of the Weave IC

[Ghostfoot]

As he moves to assist Anthony with the crossing Savin sees the bugbear rear out of the placid water and strike at his companion. Stepping forward and yelling he strikes at the goblinoid with a mighty two-handed chop, the blow hitting for 12 damage. The creature grunts in pain and turns to Savin. As it does Thunder rears high in the water its hoof cracking down on the bugbears head for 10 damage. Eyes rolling back it falls back in the water its body slowly taken by the current and dragged toward the rapids.

A chorus of high piping wails echoes from further out on the lake. A trio of small green elf-like beings duck and bob in the water. Their sing-song voices are incomprehensible but sound strange and haunting.

Spoiler: Temiryl speaks Sylvan

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"Nossfear! We loved you Nossfear!"
"We miss you already"
"Although you were big and ugly"
"And angry and stupid"
"It was never going to work out, Nossfear"
"Who are these uglies?"
"Not like the others"
"Maybe. Can't be sure"
"They all look the same to me"
"So ugly"
"Let's get rid of them then"

The fey swimmers beckon to Savin and speak with a beautiful accent "Come, come to us". Back on the shore Marshal and Fintan splash into the water and wade deeper, seemingly oblivious of what they are doing. "Mother? Is that you?" mumbles Fintan.

Spoiler: OOC

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Savin Will save vs DC15
(1d20+1)[7] Fail + AP (1d6)[6] Charmed

That sounds like it's just within range of a CL2 daze spell! Please roll a Will save, DC13, or be dazed for 1 round. Assuming the bugbear is humanoid, that is.

No need to tick off a cantrip, the bugbear goes down prior to casting.

Also, Dimers suspects a nixie or the like is to blame. Rolling for William's knowledge of fey that could charm a bugbear and let it breathe water: [roll0]

Indeed, they are nixies. He's familiar with the basics of nixies - charm, breath water, reclusive/ territorial, generally non-combative. Temiryl (Knowledge Nature roll 18) also knows this info and Anthony & Savin recognise them as fey nixies but don't have detailed knowledge of their abilities (Know Nature 14 & 13 respectively).

Detect Magic.
Spellcraft mod is +1 if you want to make the rolls secret.

Yes, the bugbear registers with a magic aura. But then it floats away.

Spoiler: Initiative - Round 2

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Character	Initiative	Health	Notes
Nixies	21
Temiryl	17	14/14	Outsider (Native) Type Immune to Sleep +2 saves vs Enchantment
Kilus	14	13/13
Savin	13	22/22	Jotunbrud - treated as Large
William	8	18/18
Anthony	6	7/17	Iron guards glare Delayed damage pool: 0
Krag	5	19/19	Dwarven saves +2 vs poison/magic Stability +4 bullrush/trip +4 dodge vs giants
Fintan & Marshal	-	-

=> Party
Post in any order and I'll resolve in order of posting, unless you indicate otherwise.

[u-b]

Anthony drops the lance, draws a cold iron javelin and throws it at the nearest Nixie.

Spoiler

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Throw: (1d20+6)[18] for (1d6+6)[10] (incl. +2 worth of knowledge devotion)
Granted: (1d3)[1]

[Dexam]

Temiryl gestures and incants, and a wall of stone some ten feet tall and sixty feet long and bristling with razor sharp spikes shimmers into existence, blocking Marshal and Fintan from the nixies.

The elf woman then yells at the nixies in their language, the tone sounding almost desperate.

Spoiler: Sylvan

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"No! You know not what you risk! Release them, and you may yet survive! I beg of you!"

Spoiler: Actions

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Standard: cast Silent Image to create the illusion of the stone wall. Will save DC 15 if interacted with.

Diplomacy on the nixies: (1d20)[2]

Edit: that'd be about right...

[J-H]

Kilus
"This is a very un-lucky area.... Release them!" Kilus demands the release of his fellows, and then splashes into the edge of the pond, channeling energy against the Nixies if they don't comply immediately.

Spoiler

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I'm sure they just wanted to have tea time, right?

Chastise Spirits (2d6)[9] Will DC 16 half. 3/7 expended.

[razorback]

The savage northerner shakes his head for a moment, being brought out of his battle rage as a calming voice speaks to him and he wonders why he was fight. "Yes, that sounds great. I am coming." he says, a broad smile developing on his face looking quite out of place as he moves towards the fairies.

[DrK]

Krag not knowing what to do freezes, grabbing at Marshal giving him a gentle slap. Stop man. He dinnae know what you're doing. They are fey monsters..

[Ghostfoot]

As weapons and spells fly it is clear that the elf-like sprites have no intention of abandoning their territory. "Come, friends. Join us." they beckon to the charmed folk. Ducking and diving they disperse in alarm as the illusionary wall appears, reappearing with tiny crossbows in hand.

An invisible force blasts out from Kilus and immediately the three nixies crumple like broken dolls. The limp bodies float gently on the water...

Spoiler: OOC

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Sorry a brief update only as am pressed for time but thought you'd like to see things moved on.

Edit: The charm spells are still in effect

[Dexam]

Temiryl looks sadly at the small fey bodies floating on the water.

"... I tried to warn them," she says in a small voice.

Shaking off the feeling of sadness, she scans the lake and surrounding woodland, lest other ensorcelled guardians are lurking nearby. She maintains her concentration on the illusionary wall, just in case Fintan and Marshal decide to head into the water.

[Dimers]

William grabs Marshall by the shoulder. "Come on, friend. Do you really think a nixie -- a watersprite known foremost for messing with people's minds -- would suddenly become your friend? You felt no such amity while we were on the trail. Wake up from the nonsense dream." Turning his head toward Temiryl, he comments, "Like as not, those two will be fine further downriver. I'll take no pains to discover whether they're unconscious, dead or faking, but they didn't act as if their hearts had stopped." William's tone shows he considers the matter satisfactorily closed.

[u-b]

Anthony takes a look around and, not noticing any new threats, proceeds to do some emergency fishing...

Spoiler

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Assuming Anthony's attack with the javelin was a miss. Also, it is not perfectly clear whether Marshal and Fintan are simply charmed and are sorry for their dead fey friends or are actively trying to drown themselves.

Anyway, fishing, in order of precedence, for:
1. Fintan (if required)
2. Marshall (probably not required)
3. The lance
4. Nixies (possibly with the lance)

[Ghostfoot]

Fintan and Marshall mill about, confused. They can't immediately see past the illusionary wall so the fate of the water nixies is not apparent. Marshall simply stares at William like a dumbfounded child "The pretty fey, where are they? I must go to them" he says but he makes no strong move to break free.

Anthony retrieves his javelin and quickly checks the nixies. They are all still alive and will rapidly be caught on the current and swept downstream without intervention.

On shore, there is a faint fluttering of wings nearby. A high-pitched voice of indeterminate gender calls out, followed by other voices talking amongst themselves.

"You are not Wingclipper. This is our place. Why are you here?"
"Let them feed the flowers"
"Not these ones. They are not with Wingclipper."
"But they are big, and dangerous."
"Banba wants these ones. He will decide"

[DrK]

Krag turns around looking for the voice though failing to see anything. "Who is there? We can hear your voices, we mean no harm but you attacked us and we had to defend ourselves." Standing at the water's edge he backs up a few more feet form the river but keeps a hold of his colleage lest he try and jump in after the ow apparently dead fey beasties.

[Ghostfoot]

There is a faint swarm of flittering sound all around. You can sense, but not see, a great many small creatures moving around, accompanied by a soft breezy rustle as the wings stir the air.

"You say that you mean no harm. All you ugly giants do is smash and break and hurt."
A slight figure pops into view, hovering in the air just in front of you. The pixie is only a couple of feet tall with elvish features and physique. Flitting from side to side it looks you over, and you can sense many more of them in the air around.

"But Banba says you are different. Says you are not like Wingclipper. Says we must bring you. Will you come? Speak with Banba."

[J-H]

Kilus
Kilus points at the pond and nixies. "They tried to drown two of us, after sending an enslaved creature to its death attacking us. We have only killed that which threatens us. Yes, we are dangerous, but so is a dire badger if you attack it - yet, if you leave it in peace, the badger passes you by, does it not?

We think something is strange in these woods. If Banba can help, we would speak with Banba. Can you tell us more of Banba?"

Spoiler

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Diplomacy (1d20+8)[15]

[u-b]

Anthony fished out the javelin, which was conveniently floating past, and sped after the lance. When he fished it out some distance downstream and looked around to pin some nixie corpse on it for further examination, the goings-on were already further underway. So, instead of ruining Kilus' diplomatic efforts, Anthony got himself and the equines out of the water, got to where the negotiations were taking place, and remained there doing nothing much.

Spoiler

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Playing Kilus' bodyguard which might or might not get him +2 do diplomacy for having a bodyguard (aid another: (1d20+3)[21]). Iron guard's glare in effect.

[Ghostfoot]

A look of confusion and anger flickers across the pixie's fact at Kilus' words. "Who attacks who first? The retaliation of our friends is only because of the hurt brought by your kind. If you giants cannot take care of your own then of course we will strike back"

At that the angry pixie vanishes. Another one, somewhat calmer, appears over to the left. She speaks more gently "They strike out at what they do not understand, knowing only that big folk have hurt and murdered their kin. Come, Banba will talk with you. Banba is passion and delight. He treats us to the sounds of the ancient woodlands - songs of beauty and words of revelation." Staring wistfully in adoration and spinning and twirling as she speaks of Banba, the pixie flits slowly into the forest, pausing to beckon you to follow her. "Come. It is getting late. You will be safe "

[J-H]

Kilus
"It sounds like he may be able to help fix whatever is wrong, then." Kilus looks at his companions. "Will you come with me?"

[DrK]

Krag looks with delight at the pixie. Yer a strange wee Beastie eh? Take us to this passion an' delight. We don't want no trouble or violence. leaning on his staff Krag offers his hand for the fey to land on. Much like one may treat a butterfly.

[Ghostfoot]

Smiling with cheeky delight the small fey alights on Krag's forearm - for about ten seconds before some other fanciful sight catches her attention and she flits away instantly invisible. Other faerie folk blink in and out of sight around the party and as you all move through the trees you sense you must be surrounded by dozens of the strange pixies.

The woods grow dark as night begins to fall and soon you are reliant on small dancing lights which seem to trail the pixies like miniature shooting stars. Travelling in the fanciful procession you are uncertain how much time has passed as you traipse through the trees. Eventually you hear beautiful haunting music from ahead and you come to an immense pond within the trees. lily pads ten feet in diameter drift on the quiet water and ferns and flowerng plants rustle in the breeze. Puffs of dendelion seeds and other pollens permeate the air. Large filaments of silken thread are atatched to some of the lily pads, creating a sort of bridge that leads to a small island in the middle of the pond. Rising from a large mound in the centre of the island is a massive plant its leaves arching more than fifty feet above the pool. A single stalk grows from the centre of the enormous plant, rising into the sky to unfurl into a huge white flower. A faint light emanates around the pond from the hundreds of tiny fey that flit through the air and you see more of the small green elvish nixies peeking from the water in between the lily pads.

Resting against the base of the plant another fey creature is revealed as the source of the entrancing music. He could almost be a handsome and well-built human male, but below his muscular bare torso he has the hoofed legs of a shaggy brown goat. Dark black horns carved with festive scenes curl from the sides of his head, although one is cruelly broken in half.

As your party approaches the bridge the satyr rises smiling and gestures for you to join him, wineskins, fruits and other foods laid out on stone serving plinth beside him. "Greetings, brave adventurers. Welcome to my domain. I am Banba. Come, let us be at peace. There is food and drink, and much to discuss."

[Dexam]

Temiryl looks about in ever-increasing wonder at first the fey and then their marvelous home, as they are lead through the forest and to the pond. As they travel, she keeps a close eye on her companions, hoping that her heritage - both the elven, and the celestial blood of her ancestors in her veins - will make her less susceptible to any enchantments the fey might cast over them.

The sight of the massive plant with its huge white flower and attendant faeries cause her breath to catch in her throat - to think that many people would go their whole lives with witnessing such a wondrous thing, she suddenly begins to understand that this is one of the better reasons that draws folk to the adventuring life. It probably also helps that this place has the feel, if not the look, of Evermeet; and for a very brief moment Temiryl feels a pang of homesickness.

Her eye is drawn to the figure of the satyr lounging against the base of the plant, and the memories of numerous tales about the exploits of these fey force their way unbidden into her mind, cause her cheeks to flame in embarrassment.

Doing her best to keep her imagination under control, Temiryl clears her throat and approaches the satyr. "Greetings, Banba," she says in quite formal and rather haughty Sylvan, "I thank you for your welcome; I am Temiryl Alauthiel, of Evermeet."

She takes some of the offered food and a wineskin, but does not yet partake of any of it. Switching back to Common, she gets right to the point. "You are correct that there is much to discuss; how about we start with who you are, and who this 'Wingclipper' is, and the difficulties your people are causing with the folk of Thunderstone?"

[Ghostfoot]

The handsome satyr stops playing his pipes and takes a swig of wine, wiping his chin with the back of his hand. "Greetings Temiryl" he responds in Sylvan, before also switching back to Common. "I am Banba. I won't call myself a leader, for we have no leader here. But I will speak on behalf of the fey folk who choose not to parley themselves. We are peaceful folk as you can see. We mean no harm to those who leave us be. You have had some conflict with some of my kin in the forest and for this we can only apologise and blame Wingclipper. It sounds as if you have heard of him by name? He is a despicable human who deserves no mercy. He and his hobgoblin allies have come to the woods seeking to hunt fey for sport. They are ruthless and cruel and kill for the sheer joy of it. Now you can see why my kin reacted the way that they did - out of fear of the big folk! They style themselves the Hellfire Militia and inhabit an old keep named Nightshade Hold in the bogs of the forest interior." As he speaks he nonchalantly pops grapes and pieces of fruit in his mouth.

"This Thunderstone that you mention must be the human town nearby? I guess it is quite close. We have been pursued closer to the town than we would prefer. If they are not happy with the presence of fey there is nothing that would please us more than to retreat back into the depths of these woods. If only those fey-killers weren't already hunting us there. If only you could drive them away or better yet kill them we would be free to once more return to the glens of the deep woods.

[Dimers]

William's eyes, alight with joy at the sight of the pixies and the fey locale, grow more sober as Banba speaks. He sidles over near to Krag and Anthony and quietly says to them, "I don't know anything of this 'Wingclipper' person, but this sounds like a fine quest. A chance to help many people. It hasn't the marks of a normal fairy-chase, either; they could have had us wandering the woods for days if that were their intention." The priest seems eager to offer his continued support to the adventurers. Perhaps he simply has no more important business to address, but indifference would not account for the strength of feeling in his voice.

[u-b]

Anthony remains glum. Or maybe stern. Or both. He nods to William. "Try talking them into giving us some sort of paper... err... into signing some sort of paper you are going to write, that would explain all of this and some more. For one, this Wingclipper is not yer out of the legal system of Cormyr, and I'd like him to be convicted of something before we just kill him. Not sure if hunting fae does count by those up above. We do have a mandate, but this is thin ice." He remains stern. Maybe glum too.

[razorback]

Savin looks distinctly uncomfortable with the proceedings and, while not making any outwardly hostile actions, he stands to the back of the group looking tense, hating the feeling of being mentally swayed as he was. Letting the others do the talking, he listens to the conversation while keeping an ear out for duplicity and an eye out for trouble.

[J-H]

Kilus

Kilus speaks to the satyr, politely passing on the platter of food. "I thank you for the hospitable offer, but as you've been pushed from your normal lands, I'm sure you must conserve what you have.

Remember, we are not as you are. A simple, direct message to the town would have saved unnecessary death and hard-feelings on both sides as you intrude on us, and we on you, in this part of the forest. Human farmers have a saying, 'good fences make good neighbors,' and this is true because the fences help define who can be where and why; it keeps everyone from straying into trouble.

We will gladly help with this 'Wingclipper,' but please tell us more. Why is he here? Surely he did not enter the woods solely to kill for sport. Do you have any equipment or tokens taken from his forces that will help us recognize them? Surely the folk of the woods have taken your own toll on his hunters."

[Dexam]

Temiryl glares at Anthony. "The lives of innocent beings are at stake; surely the need to act should outweigh any foolish legalities?"

She turns back to Banba. "We have indeed heard of Wingclipper, but only in name and a brief description given by a murderous wererat named Cloten, who was supplying him with cold iron and stolen goods before we apprehended him."

She gives a quick recounting of the tale of their adventure against Cloten, for both the benefit of Banba, and Kilus and William. During the tale, she makes mention of the owlbear, Sir Lysander, Captain Ghini, and the following of the cold iron shipments which have lead them here. While talking she keeps a close eye on Banba, trying to judge his reactions.

For the benefit of Kilus, she answers one of his questions. "We have heard, and seen, that the companions of Wingclipper bear tattoos of flames on their forearms. They also appear to be worshippers of the dark god Cyric."

Suddenly aware of how much she has been talking, Temiryl becomes a bit more shy and withdrawn. It must be this place... Nervously twirling her fingers in her hair, she tells Banba "I, for one, would be happy to help drive Wingclipper and his Hellfire Militia from these woods, so that you might return home and leave the people of Thunderstone in peace. I can't speak for everyone else here, though."

[Ghostfoot]

"As you will". The satyr takes the offered fruit from Kilus and takes a bite himself before whirling away, talking as he starts to dance and weave to some silent rhythm. "I don't care much for fences....but you will help? That is good. Wingclipper, I don't know where he came from or why he is here. But he likes killing. Some of us have fought back a little, naturally. And we coax the needlefolk toward their paths. But they carry weapons of cold iron. Look around..." he waves to the swirl of pixies flitting through the air and the grceful nixies swimming among the lily pads. "We are not fighters. They are organised and so very single-mindedly focused. So driven to hurt and kill. Here, let me show you where they dwell".

He gestures and a three-dimensional image of the surrounding forest springs into view, as if from a birds-eye perspective. You can see large trees, valleys, streams and lakes. In an area of low boggy swampland and blasted blackened treestumps is a small keep.

As you ask further questions he continues to dance and occasionally plays music that sways the mass of fey to dance and move. Later, he indicates an area of soft dry moss. "You can rest here if you like. Or not. No harm will come to you."

Spoiler: XP time

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Time for some XP when you choose to rest. Everyone gets +1975xp which should put you on 3097xp and 3rd level (woop!). There's some bonus xp included in there too. Level 2 was a little shorter and level 3 is going to be a little longer than usual.

Also, how does everyone in this game feel about extending the gestalting from "only at level 1" to "every five levels, ie 1, 6, 11, 16, etc"? The idea is to add a bit of flexibility to the play-by-post game where a bad progression choice or a class with a few dud levels can take a painfully long time to resolve itself IRL due to how long pbp takes to play out. I assume you will be keen but let me know if any reservations.

[J-H]

Kilus
As the party gets out their bedrolls, Kilus takes an arrow and uses it to scratch a few crude runes in the moss around the group, and then continues preparing for bed.

Spoiler

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Marking 1 day's rations as consumed.
The runes are not any rule-based game effect but are 'safety markings' against fey incursion while sleeping or dreaming. Kilus doesn't need to know that they aren't based on any skill check or spell...

[razorback]

Savin looks uncomfortable among the fey, as he can tell others do, too. But, the others seem to take what the fey say and look to be preparing. As he declined the food and drink they offered, he reaches into his pack and grabs a quick bite and drink when it looks like no one is looking when he is setting a spot under a tree to sleep. Resting against the tree, he rests lightly, waking for every noise or movement but getting some sleep in the process.

[u-b]

Anthony looks at the map, trying to understand and remember as much of the details and their implications as he possibly can. In any other circunstances he would start to ask questions, but since the first question coming to mind was "Can you please stop dancing right now?" and the second question, whatever it might be, did not seem to stand a big chance of being meaningfully answered, Anthony just remained silent. At least the other side seemed to be more competent than annoying. Anthony was not sure if that was a good thing.

Spoiler

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Know (local): (1d20+5)[20] regarding Nightshade Hold
Know (history): (1d20+2)[19] regarding Nightshade Hold
Know (geography): (1d20+2)[3] regarding implications

Camping near Kilus.