[dnd 5e] Skaldlands (IC)

[mtatosky]

At Jacira's words Akkila readies herself.

Spoiler: Divine Sense

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The presence of strong evil registers on your senses like a noxious odor, and powerful good rings like heavenly music in your ears. As an action, you can open your awareness to detect such forces. Until the end of your next turn, you know the location of any celestial, fiend, or Undead within 60 feet of you that is not behind total cover. You know the type (celestial, fiend, or undead) of any being whose presence you sense, but not its identity (the Vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich, for instance). Within the same radius, you also detect the presence of any place or object that has been consecrated or desecrated, as with the Hallow spell.

If Akkila gets such a ping on her radar she will point it out to the party and if it's coming from one direction she will start to guide Lomp away from it.

[bc56]

Pierce draws a spear and dons his shield. "Let's just be ready, and try to get a move on. I don't like this."

[gabado]

At Jacira's words Akkila readies herself.

Spoiler: Divine Sense

Show

The presence of strong evil registers on your senses like a noxious odor, and powerful good rings like heavenly music in your ears. As an action, you can open your awareness to detect such forces. Until the end of your next turn, you know the location of any celestial, fiend, or Undead within 60 feet of you that is not behind total cover. You know the type (celestial, fiend, or undead) of any being whose presence you sense, but not its identity (the Vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich, for instance). Within the same radius, you also detect the presence of any place or object that has been consecrated or desecrated, as with the Hallow spell.

If Akkila gets such a ping on her radar she will point it out to the party and if it's coming from one direction she will start to guide Lomp away from it.

Spoiler: Divine Sense Result

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Akkila's ears are filled with a monotonous and ominous chant, the language is ancient and arcane. She senses something rather sinister, neither anger nor malice, but thirst. It is a powerful and driving yearning, a curiosity and hunger for secrets, for knowledge, for blood. The chanting grows louder and louder consuming her senses. There are drums and howls, wild voices of ravenous men and beasts.

to get a sense of what it sounds like.

There are no figures that she can sense, but Akkila is sure the group must move, the rhythm and hunger surround the group. Keeping this divine sense up is incredibly overwhelming and Akkilla will be unable to take other actions while it's in effect (normally she would be fine, but this is substantially more omnipresent and powerful than a normal aura.)

[saltstorming]

Thunder attempts to join the others in finding the true path, while wracking her brain for any information she might know of the mysterious fog.

Spoiler: Checks

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Survival check: (1d20+3)[22]
Arcana check: (1d20)[5]
Bardic Knowledge check (if applicable): (1d20+4)[8]

[gabado]

Thunder attempts to join the others in finding the true path, while wracking her brain for any information she might know of the mysterious fog.

Spoiler: Checks

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Survival check: [roll0]
Arcana check: [roll1]
Bardic Knowledge check (if applicable): [roll2]

Thunder has found the path! the others were looking in the wrong place, this is clearly it, the wagon has left unmistakable marks through the dry grass. She is very confident that she has found the correct path, and what's more, she remembers which direction they were traveling!

She does't remember any tales or lore, though there is a nursery rhyme she once heard about a foggy marsh filled with living corpses... perhaps this fog is similar to that fog, maybe there are undead somewhere close by. She can recall the tune, though given the mood, and the look on Akkila's face, this might not be the most appropriate time to sing it.

[atlastrembles]

Seeing Tethys's magic create a wall beyond which the mist does not pass, Jacira turns to her. "...How long do you think you could keep that up? Keeping the fog off our path long enough for us to pass through?"

As long as need be, art-brother, but only if it's the only thing I do. Tethys continues her swirling incantation, feeling the beginnings of an evil presence start to gnaw at her will at the edges of the fog. She falls utterly silent, concentrating on keeping up the barrier.

[mtatosky]

Akkila leans heavily against Lomp. She looks like she's holding back disgust and vomiting.

Pick a path and go, stay and be lost!

[Leostales]

Thunder has found the path! the others were looking in the wrong place, this is clearly it, the wagon has left unmistakable marks through the dry grass. She is very confident that she has found the correct path, and what's more, she remembers which direction they were traveling!

She does't remember any tales or lore, though there is a nursery rhyme she once heard about a foggy marsh filled with living corpses... perhaps this fog is similar to that fog, maybe there are undead somewhere close by. She can recall the tune, though given the mood, and the look on Akkila's face, this might not be the most appropriate time to sing it.

Muun sighs in relief, he has felt quite useless during the whole event and his Arcanophobia was acting up throughout. "I'm glad to were through with that," he exclaims.

[bc56]

Pierce would be quick to follow Thunder, but he turns and supports Akkila, helping her along, as it's obvious she's in great pain.

[Leostales]

Since Muun too, felt terrible up until the path was found. He joins in aiding Akkila. "You gonna be ok?" he asks.

[mtatosky]

Thank you for the help. We must hurry though, whatever is in that fog is hungry for death I can sense it.

Akkila shudders and with the help of Muun and Pierce moves quickly in the direction they lead her too.

[Leostales]

Muun decides to take another look around, in case there's anything else to worry about.

Spoiler: Survival check

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(1d20+4)[10]

[Morvram]

Jacira attempts to hurry forward, along the path that Thunder found and through the area in the fog being held open by Tethys.

[gabado]

The path cuts through the grass winding hither and thither, growing more frantic in its twists as the morning drags on, an hour in, and the fog has not relented. It swirls and eddies at the edge of Tethys' gyre of wind. The air grows colder and colder, though the fog is held at bay, large droplets of dew form on clothes and in hair. Lomp is on edge, his eyes bug wildly at the fog around him and his ears twitch at the slightest noise over the rushing of the Salt Witch's wind weaving.

The ground begins to slope down, the other side of the plateau must be near at hand. Thunder is able to keep the group on course as you coax the frightened horse down an ever steepening grade. Trees begin to appear suddenly from the fog on either side of the path. They are gnarled, ancient pines with needles sharp as steel and calcified bark. The ground has become increasingly rocky and you're forced to dismount the wagon and guide Lomp on foot.

By what must be midday, the ground has begun to level out, large boulders now punctuate the mist, raising high out of sight above Tethys' winds. Dense patches of moss and lichen grow below them, and the grass has become shorter and greener as you reach the bottom of the slope.

Spoiler: Akkila's vision

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as the ground begins to level out, Akkila's vision begins to blur, the chanting has swelled and distorted into a constant roar, then all of a sudden, in one blinding flash, the sound and hunger and pain that has been swirling around her for hours coalesces in a single point, just beyond the curtain of the fog, directly in the group's path, forming the gleaming silhouette of a man.

It is as if she had plunged into a cool spring on a hot summer day. A wave of relief and exhaustion sweeps over her, no longer is she surrounded by that thirst and malevolence. She can finally breathe.

Suddenly, Akkila's eye glow bright white, shining out into the fog like a lantern, then in a moment it is gone. Her face is no longer haggard and contorted in concentration and disgust.

[saltstorming]

Thunder glances at Akkila worriedly. Though safely on the path, the dense fog is still surrounding them and Akkila seems quite aversely affected by it. Distractedly, she hums the morbid tune under her breath, before removing her violin from her pack and beginning to play, beginning a jaunty tune to attempt to cheer up the party.

"It began on a cold, clear day," she sang,
"when the dragon took gold from the king.
Sir Luckless was sent out to look over the fray,
led by the prize of a ring."

"For the ring was to be for the lady Aisling,
a lady so pure and so fair,
that when she opened her mouth to sing,
all but the strongest could not help shed a tear."

"So spurred by the hope was Sir Luckless that he
rode faster that his horse could ever bear.
And horseless he walked to the lair by the sea,
approaching it tired and unaware."

"Now the dragon was no fool, and he snared
the poor man in one enormous bite.
And let that be a lesson to all that may dare
to beat a dragon in any fair fight!"

Spoiler: OOC

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EDIT: Whoops, I was late. Just... pretend that happened while Akkila was still feeling bad, I guess?

[bc56]

"Weren't we supposed to avoid the forest?" Pierce wonders. "Ah, it's probably not a problem."

[saltstorming]

"Forest, forest... Oh! That forest! Hm. Pierce, do you still have that map?"

[Leostales]

"Weren't we supposed to avoid the forest?" Pierce wonders. "Ah, it's probably not a problem."

"Uh-oh," says Muun. He then suddenly shouts, "ARE WE HEADING INTO THE FOREST WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN!!!!!" He rushes to Pierce, shaking, hoping he has the map.

[atlastrembles]

Tethys finally allows her incantation to falter, her arms falling heavily to her sides. She collapses to a knee as the wind dies down and shakes her sweat-matted hair clear of her eyes, tasting the salt in the droplets that land on her tongue. The crystal braided in her hair had vibrated a furrow in her forehead during her extended casting and as she levers herself up heavily and wearily, she rubs at the mark and asks to no one in particular.

Never have I seen such mad magic, what was that? And where are we?

[gabado]

Tethys finally allows her incantation to falter, her arms falling heavily to her sides. She collapses to a knee as the wind dies down and shakes her sweat-matted hair clear of her eyes, tasting the salt in the droplets that land on her tongue. The crystal braided in her hair had vibrated a furrow in her forehead during her extended casting and as she levers herself up heavily and wearily, she rubs at the mark and asks to no one in particular.

Never have I seen such mad magic, what was that? And where are we?

As Tethys’ winds abate, the fog shifts slowly back to the ground around the party, and a man steps into view down the path.

His gray cloaks are wrapped tightly around his body and a sparkling silver buckle holds his clothes together. The man looks pale and old, very old. For what seems an eternity, he stands and watches the group, only to be engulfed by the fog once again. Just before the man disappears, he raises his knotty staff and points it at the party.

Spoiler: Akkila

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This is the silhouette, the being of the fog, the condensed center of that hunger and spite. It is easier to look at him than it was to be inside the fog. The chanting rumbles slowly beneath the shifting winds, building as he moves toward the group.

As soon as he vanishes into the fog, the chanting stops, his hunger and malevolence are gone. For now.

As he vanishes, there is a sudden rush of cold wind, sweeping forth over the landscape in a deafening roar. The fog momentarily becomes so thick the heroes cannot even see their own hands in front of their faces.

When the fog eases up, the cart is gone, Lomp stands unbridled and shivering. The boulders are nowhere to be seen and you are surrounded by large, imposing trees.

It is quiet, unnaturally quiet. The horse’s heavy breathing is painfully loud in the moist air. A thin, white fog hangs low in the sky, blanketing the landscape. The faint light that filters down through the embracing branches of the trees cast strange shadows, and the forest surrounds the group like an ancient guardian. Impressive pines, thicker than three men around, rise toward the sky like ancient champions of the forest. What or whom they protect, one cannot say. Everything is covered in thick, moist moss that has clung to the landscape since the forest was young. From the damp insides of the moss, small yellow mushrooms and other vegetation springs forth. The pine needles lie thick on the forest floor. There is an overwhelming sense that the forest hides many secrets beneath its flourishing surface.

A single hoot breaks the silence.

Somewhere nearby, a dry branch breaks. With watchful eyes, the group stares out into the dark forest to see what it might have been. Lomp’s eyes are wide and full of fright. The shadows make no sounds and refuse to give up their secret.

Never before have any of the party seen such a bushy and untamed nature. It is as if the forest has stood untouched since the dawn of time and has grown wilder and wilder as the seasons have passed.

[Leostales]

As Tethys’ winds abate, the fog shifts slowly back to the ground around the party, and a man steps into view down the path.

His gray cloaks are wrapped tightly around his body and a sparkling silver buckle holds his clothes together. The man looks pale and old, very old. For what seems an eternity, he stands and watches the group, only to be engulfed by the fog once again. Just before the man disappears, he raises his knotty staff and points it at the party.

Spoiler: Akkila

Show

This is the silhouette, the being of the fog, the condensed center of that hunger and spite. It is easier to look at him than it was to be inside the fog. The chanting rumbles slowly beneath the shifting winds, building as he moves toward the group.

As soon as he vanishes into the fog, the chanting stops, his hunger and malevolence are gone. For now.

As he vanishes, there is a sudden rush of cold wind, sweeping forth over the landscape in a deafening roar. The fog momentarily becomes so thick the heroes cannot even see their own hands in front of their faces.

When the fog eases up, the cart is gone, Lomp stands unbridled and shivering. The boulders are nowhere to be seen and you are surrounded by large, imposing trees.

It is quiet, unnaturally quiet. The horse’s heavy breathing is painfully loud in the moist air. A thin, white fog hangs low in the sky, blanketing the landscape. The faint light that filters down through the embracing branches of the trees cast strange shadows, and the forest surrounds the group like an ancient guardian. Impressive pines, thicker than three men around, rise toward the sky like ancient champions of the forest. What or whom they protect, one cannot say. Everything is covered in thick, moist moss that has clung to the landscape since the forest was young. From the damp insides of the moss, small yellow mushrooms and other vegetation springs forth. The pine needles lie thick on the forest floor. There is an overwhelming sense that the forest hides many secrets beneath its flourishing surface.

A single hoot breaks the silence.

Somewhere nearby, a dry branch breaks. With watchful eyes, the group stares out into the dark forest to see what it might have been. Lomp’s eyes are wide and full of fright. The shadows make no sounds and refuse to give up their secret.

Never before have any of the party seen such a bushy and untamed nature. It is as if the forest has stood untouched since the dawn of time and has grown wilder and wilder as the seasons have passed.

Right after the owl hoots, Muun slaps his forehead "NO!" shouts Muun as he falls to his knees. "Not Again!!"
It would almost be comical, if it wasn't real life.

[saltstorming]

Thunder looks oddly at Muun. She's not sure what happened to him, and she's not sure she wants to know. Instead, she chooses to examine their surroundings, peering out at the ancient forest. As she stares, she feels an overwhelming sensation of being watched.

"What was that?" she wonders aloud. "Who was that man?"

[bc56]

"Where'd the wagon go? That guy must've been a powerful mage indeed." Pierce looks around to get his bearings, then pulls out the map.

[Morvram]

"Impossible," Jacira murmurs, approaching the spot where the cart was a moment ago and waving her hands through the space where it should be. "We have to turn back," she says, her voice shaking. "Make for Harvuk with haste. We have to..." Jacira begins to pace madly, hands clasped and eyes screwed shut, her face contorted by the expression.

[mtatosky]

That was no man, that was the hatred, spite, and anger of the fog, of whatever was behind the fog. There are stories of holy men and women being lost in it, this must be what happened to them.

Akkila stands and moves over to Lomp, checking to make sure there were no injuries, and stretching herself out a bit after that intense assault on her senses.

We have no food or water, we have nothing for Lomp and it looks like we've been placed away from civilization. First step should be to get our bearings, second should be to find food and fresh water. From those stories of the past, those who disappeared into the fog were never found again, I fear we may be long away from our homes.

[Leostales]

Muun gets up, "My friends, I am afraid we may be in the Demiplane of Dread. Unless were very, very lucky and aren't."

[Leostales]

[COLOR="#800000"]

We have no food or water, we have nothing for Lomp and it looks like we've been placed away from civilization. First step should be to get our bearings, second should be to find food and fresh water. From those stories of the past, those who disappeared into the fog were never found again, I fear we may be long away from our homes.

"That would be the best course of action, either way," agrees Muun.

[atlastrembles]

Tethys looks wildly around her at the unnatural forest. She hadn't seen the figure in the mists, but would have sent magic flying its way had she. She puts her hand on Lomp's flanks to keep him calm as she responds to Muun.

Whether this is the Land of the Dread or not, we press on. Keep your weapons drawn and your eyes up. We're not dead yet.

[Leostales]

Spoiler: OOC

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I said dread not dead although there is not much difference. :)

[gabado]

It looks to be about mid-afternoon, though with the thick, dark canopy above and the fog hanging high among the branches, it's difficult to be sure. The forest is quiet, pensive, observant. It feels as though a hundred eyes track every movement from the dark spaces beneath roots and behind rocks, though peering into the forest, none can be seen. Lomp sways uneasily from side to side, grateful for the attention payed to him by Akkila and Tethys.

The map is useless at this point. It was little more than a crude sketch showing Harvuck's positioning relative to the coast and Jotun-Heid. Wildheart is marked on the map, taking up a large swath of the land north of the designated route. It is likely that the group either wandered or was moved into the forest, but discerning geography in the forest from this map with any degree of certainty is impossible.

To add to the confusion and alarm of the missing wagon, the is no longer a path. The group stands in the center of a small clearing, hemmed by trees. No overt signs of their arrival can be easily detected. It is as if they were always here, rooted like the trees, asleep, like the rocks, awakened with the lifting of the fog.

Spoiler: ooc

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The characters have on them everything that is in their packs. Given the considerably low amount of space in the wagon and Lomp's frail physique, you were carrying most of your gear anyway. If you did not include rations on your sheet, we can assume that the character intended to make due with Lubbud's gruel, or at least didn't pack redundancies. Other party members will have to share. There is enough grass for Lomp.

Fortunately, we have a hunter, who will be able to track down some game (hopefully) with a series of survival checks and some time. Water is a concern, everything around is rather damp, and the terrain is hilly, so a survival check would point you downhill in an efficient route to pick up the trail of some water. Getting tinder to start a fire will be difficult, given the prevailing wetness of the surroundings, so an additional survival or nature check will be needed to get a healthy fire going once you've found a spot to camp.

alternatively, you could try to head south, making a survival or nature check, or using some magic to determine direction to set your path. Since the forest lays north of the path along which you were traveling, heading south should (if the map is correct) eventually dump you out close to some portion of the trail.

as always, religion, arcana, bardic knowledge, history, and other related knowledge rolls are encouraged to delve deeper into what just befell you.