Raelynn 2021/09/06(Mon)14:50 No. 1009621 ID: 8483cf
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I spend the time on first watch scanning for wildlife and creatures at the edge of the forest. I climb to the top of the closest trees- my new mutagen helps me balance perfectly, even on the branches. It’s quite useful.

After an hour of watching, I know I’m not alone. I can barely make it out, it’s so difficult to see- my Seersight is straining to pick it out from such a distance. But I can discern it, just barely.

A large corvidae with silver-tipped feathers perched on a tree miles away stares back. Contemplating. Knowing.

Then it’s gone.

----

Serah’s Bombs
1x Glue
1x “Sticky” Earth Shrapnel bomb that sticks to target
1x Solvent
1x Fire
1x Flashbang
1x Smoke

Serah’s Potions
3x Healing
2x Mage Armor
2x Strength
1x Invisibility (Failed)

Serah’s Elixirs
2x Healing
2x Mage Armor
2x Strength

Oils
1x Coating of Flame

Distillation
2x Magic Missile

Landi’s Spell List
- Inventory: Can hold up to 87 lb./ 39.4 kg.
- Calamitous Cacophony: A blinding display of glowyness. Can also deafen for extra dust cost.
- Portal: Tunnel through space-time to a location within 50 feet. Visibility or reasonable assumption of distance required; accuracy reduced if not able to see target. Currently limited to nonmagical, inanimate objects. Alchemical products are considered nonmagical. Portal entrances and exits cannot terminate within objects or creatures, but can open and close in midair.
- Godmother’s Blessing: Increases defense of armor based on amount of dust used.
- Godmother’s Makeover: Transforms outfit of one willing target into something more stylish. Duration depends on dust used.

Landi’s Bombs
1x “Sticky” Earth Shrapnel
1x Glue
1x Smoke

Landi’s Potions
2x Healing

Landi’s Elixirs
1x Healing

Raelynn
- Elven Shortbow, nonmagical
- Camouflage Spell
- Elven Rope, magical
- Quick-Draw Quiver, nonmagical
- Samhain (heirloom; magical; long dagger; half of paired set)
- Antidote and First Aid Kit (Stabilization only; works at 0 HP)
- Flint
- Provisions and Water Cleansing Pellets
- Animal Treats (Wrapped in scent-proof liner)
- Uncanny ability to mimic animal noises
- Feline’s Grace Mutagen: Perfect Balance, ½ damage from AoE, and deals increased melee damage
- Seersight Lv.1: identifies weak points, allowing extra damage to armored targets and instant kill chances on unarmored targets.

Dotti
- Fire Magic: Large Aoe with moderate damage, or single-target for high damage
- Mind Magic: Charm on eye contact, stun on break.
- Illusion Magic: Odds of seeing through illusions increase as target gets closer.
- Novice pickpocket (only works on the overly trusting; bonus to stealing jerky treats)
- Can throw bombs with no chance of dropping them at her feet

Jek
-Healing Spells: restore 2 HP per cast on others; 3 HP on self
- Can pray for divine intervention in times of need. Effects increase with target’s and caster’s faith. Effects can range from increasing stats, to granting armor, to stabilization at brink of death, and healing diseases or neutralizing potions.
- Can throw enchanted spear at distant targets and call spear back, dragging them to him if hit successfully.
- Shield can blind attackers with reflected light.

---

We break camp and prepare to pass through the forest up to the mountains. We’ve decided to take the route climbable by foot, with no sheer cliffsides. It’s safer in the sense that we won’t have to risk climbing, but riskier because it’s well-traveled by the local beasts and magical creatures in the area. I wonder if Mai Terrorscale came here because of that, or if it’s Mai herself who draws the creatures here.

I scout ahead and quickly find our first dilemma. In order to ascend the mountain, we’ll need to cross a river. There are only two crossings within a day’s travel from where we are. One, a giant fallen tree, has a nest of owlbears nearby, and it’s mating season- they are extremely territorial, and we may even be near a nest. The fighting will be very difficult if they get on top of us.

The other bridge is a collection of giant rocks, where the water rushes below. It’s exposed to the air with no tree cover, and my instincts tell me it’s easy hunting grounds for aerial predators. Some areas are slippery, which is a hazard for those without superior balance or experience crossing the rocks.

I advise Serah to drink up her first of the two Elixirs of Mage Armor she has. We’ll be fighting soon.

Which crossing do we take? Should we hand off potions or bombs?

>>1009621
Hmm, is it possible to cross the river by using our ice djinn to make an ice floe? Or a full ice bridge?

If not... let's go for the fallen tree. Raelynn should focus on keeping an eye out. She can see through stuff, which means we can prevent ambushes, and possibly even sneak past them by observing where they are. In the even of combat, we can try using smoke and glue bombs to aid running away.

>>1009626
pretty much this

Raelynn 2021/09/06(Mon)18:30 No. 1009651 ID: 8483cf
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I ask Landi if Genice is powerful enough to get us across the river. She says Genice isn't powerful enough to create a full bridge, but she can freeze a solid enough floe to float us across, if we pick our launch point right.

The best spot for us to cross is just at the edge of the owlbears’ territory. Not enough to enrage them, and a very safe distance from the nests. We have crampons to strap to everyone’s boots, so we won’t slip off the floe if we’re ambushed by birds of prey on the crossing.

Serah orders Landi to summon Genice and get us across.

It takes longer than we expect for Genice to freeze the floe. The owlbears take notice, and I prepare us for a fight. We take up a defensive position.

Three owlbears come out from the woods. They’re defending their territory, and they obviously don’t like Jek, but he’s reflexively taking point, protecting the rest of the party.

The slightest move could set the owlbears off.

We have a good defensive position. Our most vulnerable party members are hidden behind rocks, and the owlbears haven’t noticed me. We have many options- we could fight and strike first, use magic, or something else.

The floe is a few minutes from finishing.

What should we do?

Dotti: Look one in the eyes, make him hypnotized.
Landi: Dazzle them with a stunning display of magic.
Jek, Rae and Serah: Sucker punch one!

Can Dotti charm the one in front? Get it to convince the other two to back off a bit and wait for us to leave. Or even to indirectly communicate that we're going to leave, so that they do it by their own free will.

Charming one would greatly sway any ensuing fight in out favor as well. There's three of them, so charming one and having it occupy one of the others means we only have one owlbear to fight with our own troops.

Raelynn 2021/09/06(Mon)19:59 No. 1009660 ID: 8483cf
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I give the signal to Dotti to try and charm one of the owlbears.

She gives a loud bark, drawing their attention- and their eye contact. She pours magic through the connection. I see she’s targeted the smallest of the bunch. It’s mating season, and the small owlbear doesn’t need much encouraging to go after the next-largest competitor for mates.

Small Owlbear is charmed into attacking Medium Owlbear! Dotti does not need to maintain eye contact or spend mana to maintain the geas because Small Owlbear felt like doing it anyway.

“Landi!” Serah commands. “Light it up!”

“Party time!” Landi hurls herself forward and casts Calamitous Cacophony! Serah has been a good leader, and made sure we all know to cover our eyes. We don’t take any ill effects or lose initiative.

Large Owlbear overcomes the noise and blinding light and does not lose its action, but it loses accuracy and has slowed initiative!

Serah strikes a glancing blow on Large Owlbear’s head!

Small Owlbear strikes Medium Owlbear!

Jek spears Large Owlbear in the torso! It’s bleeding profusely!

Medium Owlbear strikes Small Owlbear back!

Raelynn’s arrows strike Large Owlbear in its sensitive underarm! It’s weakening!

Large Owlbear lets out a desperate roar and swipes with both claws, striking Serah and Jek!

>>1009660
Alright, we got this. Jek, Rae and Serah can finish off the Large Owlbear. If Landi has Salt favor she can quicksand the medium one.

Once the two other owlbears look to be weakened from infighting, Dotti can hit them with a fire aoe, then the other combatants can move in.

Take one last look around. If there are enough owlbears to foster fiercely lethal competition just kill your targets and harvest resources. If not, then keep stunlocking the owlbears until they can't think straight.

Dotti: Create an illusion of rampaging forest dwellers headed this way. Be sure to tell the others.
Landi: Godmother's blessing on Serah.
Everyone else just pummel the owlbear, even if you think they're dead.

Raelynn 2021/09/07(Tue)18:51 No. 1009780 ID: 8483cf
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Large Owlbear roars! It’s not retreating!

Serah lands a crushing blow on Large Owlbear’s head! It collapses in a pool of blood.

Small Owlbear strikes Medium Owlbear! It’s not really that wounded.

“Wait!” Serah shouts. “Let the owlbears weaken each other first!”

Serah’s leadership is practiced enough that the party obeys her!

Medium Owlbear strikes Small Owlbear! It’s not really that wounded.

Small Owlbear strikes Medium Owlbear! Mowlbear more angry than wounded.

Medium Owlbear strikes Small Owlbear! Smowlbear bleeding now, and posturing more defensively.

Small Owlbear strikes Medium Owlbear! Mowlbear is slightly wounded.

Medium Owlbear strikes Small Owlbear! Smowlbear moderately wounded, and is wondering why this was a good idea in the first place.

Small Owlbear takes a defensive action! Medium Owlbear roars in response.

“Now!” Serah says. “Dotti, light them up! Landi, shake things up!”

Dotti summons all her fire magic and lobs a fireball between the bears! Their fur is scorched black and their wounds burn in pain!

Dotti’s geas is broken! Small Owlbear is stunned for its next action!

“Earthly Djinn of Change, I beseech thee! SALT!” Landi shouts. Salt is kind enough to turn the ground beneath the Medium Owlbear to quicksand, trapping it in place!

Serah strikes Medium Owlbear in the chest! It roars!

Jek stabs his spear at Medium Owlbear’s throat and scores a hit! Medium Owlbear is bleeding!

Raelynn fires on Medium Owlbear, striking it in the vulnerable underarm! It’s bleeding more heavily!

Medium Owlbear swings at Jek, but it’s too slow to catch him! It’s trapped in quicksand!

Small Owlbear is stunned!

The ice floe is almost ready!

They're on fire, mired and bleeding. Glorify Salt by increasing their entropy and enjoying some owlbear shanks with a pinch of salt over a campfire.

>>1009780
Let's do the unexpected (FOR THE GLORY OF SALT), and retreat to the ice floe. The smowlbear will probably not follow us.

Maybe Rae can use her Wild Empathy to convince them they have lost the fight and that they should stand down?

Raelynn 2021/09/07(Tue)19:34 No. 1009788 ID: 8483cf
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Mowlbear is mired and furious!

“Landi, is the ice almost ready?” Serah asks, her Warhammer at the ready.

“Yeah! We can go now!” Landi says. “Is small boi gonna chase us?”

Raelynn materializes behind Landi and scares the living daylights out of her. “I’ve got this.”

Raelynn looks Smowlbear in the eyes, stands as tall as she can, puffs out her chest and gives a shrill shriek!

Success! Smowlbear is deeply intimidated by the even smaller owlbear!

“Let’s go!” Jek says.

“Wait!” Landi flits in front of Mowlbear and stares at its angry angry eyes. “I wanna make Salt happy!”

“Oh dear,” Serah says.

“Dotti, hypnotize these owlbears into thinking the smallest owlbears are best, not biggest!”

Dotti lets out bark of delight. She scampers out from behind her rock and pours almost all her mana into her mind whammy.

“Owlbears on this mountain are supposed to be cute and fuzzy!” Landi declares.

Dotti barks in agreement.

Landi’s favor with Salt has increased!

Raelynn draws Samhain and quickly cuts the dead Large Owlbear’s beak away. It’ll sell for a high price, or be useful in a mutagen.

The party thankfully crosses the river without issue, and there are no more encounters for the day.

Raelynn thinks she sees a glimpse of a black bird with silver feathers, but it’s too far away to be sure.

AREA CLEAR!

Resources spent: 1 Elixir of Mage Armor

Resources Gained: 1 Large Owlbear Beak

---

Day 3 passes with no encounters.

Jek knows we should be headed up the mountain path we’re on, but can’t remember anything specific.

I don’t see the stormcrow today. I am mildly let down.

I pause. It was exceptionally odd that we weren’t attacked by birds of prey while crossing, with all the noise we made. Did the stormcrow clear our path?

Maybe. Maybe not.
---

Day 4

The path grows very cold as we rise in elevation and begin to pass out of the lush green forest.

As I scout ahead, I notice a very odd, very low-hanging fog ahead, above an unusual root formations around the edge of the forest. Tree roots don’t grow this far away from, well, trees. They’re too thick to be brambles.

I carefully scout closer, at the edge of my seersight’s penetrating vision, and I can see eke out shapes of hunched humanoids hiding in the roots.

We could go around, but the path we’re taking narrows into the roots and fog. We’d lose two days finding an alternate route into the higher elevations, or we could risk a climb around it. There’s no guarantee the humanoids wouldn’t see us if we started an ascent around them.

Should we prepare for battle?

>>1009788
Fog, and roots with people in them? Confer with Jek. This sounds like something very strange, does he know anything?
Could the humanoids be trapped in the roots, and the roots are in fact some kind of creature?

The humanoids probably hunt in symbiosis with the roots. Go through, try not to breathe in the fog, and prepare to make a stand against the rootfolk.

Hmm, we could try getting rid of the fog with fire magic? Warm dry air?

Raelynn 2021/09/07(Tue)20:57 No. 1009800 ID: 8483cf
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I report back to the party what I’ve found.

“That’s not a threat! Those people are trapped!” Jek says in horror. “These roots were meant to slow and snare adventurers, but not kill them. I would never allow it,” Jek says. “My eldest daughter crafted these defenses to keep our home safe. Without her, they must have grown out of control. The fog is new, and I have no explanation for it. I suspect it may be an improvement by one of my other children looking to prove themselves.”

“Are you sure?” I ask. “The humanoid shapes I saw weren’t struggling.”

“Then we have no time to waste,” Jek says. “At least we can give them a proper burial.”

“I won’t risk it,” I say. “I don’t trust these roots, or this fog.”

Dotti holds up her sign, conserving her mana by not “talking.” [I have an idea!]

“Does your idea involve fire?” Landi asks.

Dotti nods. [Burn the roots AND the fog! If it’s a trap, they’ll have no problem getting free! If they’re innocent, they’ll ask for help and we can put out the fire with Genice! If they’re already dead, it doesn’t matter!]

Serah ponders…

>>1009800
>just throw fire at the problem
Well, so long as we're close enough to hear them...
OH. One problem. The fog may be enchanted with sleep or something. If they're unconscious they can't cry out for help.

I think we're just going to have to bumble into whatever it is. Send Jek in ahead so he can take a closer look since he should in theory be immune to the roots anyway, and follow behind him close enough to assist him if it turns into a fight.

If these roots are designed to deal with adventurers non-lethally then wouldn’t someone come by sooner or later to let them out so they don’t starve to death or something?
Regardless we should experiment before we settle on a solution. Try to determine if the fog possesses any unusual effects.

You should do some testing. Water-based fog isn't typically flammable. If this particular fog is flammable, the explosion will be lethal.
Do some testing. Have Landi place some of the fog and roots in a bottle with portal, then boil the concoction and attempt to set it on fire.

Scout the area for a source. See if you can influence the roots somehow.

Raelynn 2021/09/08(Wed)16:28 No. 1009900 ID: 8483cf
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“You’re not seriously considering Dotti’s idea of burning it all down, are you?” Jek asks, horrified.

“No!” Serah gasps. “Not entirely! I just had to judge exactly how powerful an ice djinni would need to be in order to put out Dotti’s fire. Genice doesn’t have the strength for us to control the fire.”

Dotti squints. [We don’t need to control the]

“Please stop considering that idea, Dotti,” Serah says, taking Dotti’s sign with a frown. “We can’t risk innocent lives.”

Dotti nods halfheartedly, then tries to take her sign back. Serah hands it back reluctantly.

“Then it’s settled,” Jek says. “We will help them. The roots should release them- they were designed to ensnare and passage in one direction, and let adventurers turn around once they were exhausted.”

“We should still be cautious,” Serah says. “Landi, let’s sneak to the forest’s edge. Your portals should have enough range to take a sample while we’re behind a tree.”

I nod in agreement. Caution is best.

Serah and Landi do their best to be stealthy, but it’s intolerably loud by my standards. I keep a close eye on them. The humanoid shapes keep stirring, but they’re still not struggling. Serah and Landi sneak back to a safe distance.

“It’s mostly magical,” Landi confirms. “I’ve drank enough stuff that’s bad for you to know the taste of miasma. This isn’t poison- it’s a spell.”

“Then it’s a kind of mind fog,” Serah deduces. “It won’t kill you, but it will put you in a total stupor or even knock you out if your focus is bad, or if you’re not naturally resilient to spells. It doesn’t matter how tough you are; it’s all in your head.”

“Could you find a source?” I ask.

“It’s coming from higher up the mountain,” Landi says, her wings pointing in different directions like antennae. “I can’t get a read on it. The roots are powered by an enchantment buried at the top of the pass- the roots naturally seek it out, and ensnare anything they touch.”

“Both of these are my family’s work,” Jek says. “The magic will know to let me pass- but it is also my responsibility to clean up for my family’s overreach. The combination of roots and mind fog has obviously entrapped these adventurers, for who knows how long. I must free them.”

“Jek, wait!” I try to stop him from marching out, but there’s no stopping the paladin. Sure enough, the roots retreat from his path.

“Hello!” Jek calls out. “Can you hear me? Are you trapped?”

“Yes!” calls a raspy voice from the vines. “Please! Help!”

Serah motions to keep up with him. Landi and Dotti tag along, but stay at the edge of the mind fog. Serah advances, and she’s immediately hit with a wave of fatigue.

I stay hidden, just in case things go bad.

Jek advances through the thick bramble of vines. He doesn’t appear to be affected by the fog, but then he wobbles a bit. He’s not immune after all.

Serah doesn’t notice. Landi and Dotti can’t advance into the fog- or can they?

Hmm, what would happen if a person was affected by a mind altering spell before entering the fog? Could Dotti’s charm be used to force people to act as if the fog didn’t affect them?
Otherwise test how well fire thins the fog, if a couple torches and Landi’s fire work well enough to move through safely then be ready to move in to quickly save everybody if things go wrong.

Tell Dotti to mind control Serah into coming back.

Raelynn 2021/09/08(Wed)18:05 No. 1009914 ID: 8483cf
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“I see you! Please, help me!” the raspy voice calls out. “Oh, I’m ever so trapped! Save me!”

The humanoid shapes start moving all at once. Alarm bells go off in my head.

“Dotti!” I call out to her as stealthily as I can. “You need to get Serah to come back! Right now!”

Dotti lets out a whine. She doesn’t have eye contact! She barks as loud as she can, then takes a second to remember she can use her magic to talk. “SERAH! LOOK AT ME!”

Serah thinks she hears something, but her head is hazy. She fumbles for her alchemist’s pack. Maybe if she can clear the fog somehow-

Six elite goblin warriors and three elder goblin shamans spring their surprise attack! They’re all wearing pendants shielding them from lightning and mind fog!

“Storms cast you down, consort of the dragon usurper! The mountains will be ruled by goblins and harpies once again! Oh, great goblin god, thank you for making paladins such idiots!”

Shaman 1, at the top of the pass, standing over the unearthed dragon statue enchantment, takes control of the roots and brings them to life! Jek is fully bound! Serah’s legs are bound!

Shaman 2 summons a storm within the fog! The roots cannot be burned, and visibility is even worse! The fog is now resistant to fire!

Shaman 3 begins chanting a spell to summon lightning within the storm! Allied party members in the fog will be shocked severely next round!


The six goblin warriors fire six arrows at Jek! Six hit! Three do no damage because of his great toughness!

As if things can’t get any worse, the shrill cry of a murder of harpies echoes through the pass. They’re not here yet, but they will be soon!

Next round, the order of actions are:

Raelynn
Goblin shamans
Goblin warriors
Dotti
Landi
Serah
Jek

This fight could be unwinnable depending on how durable the goblins are. We're outnumbered more than two to one, and half our party is fully disabled.
Also:
>mind control fog, yet one of the "victims" cried out for help
Good thing the quest author decided to dump out two updates in less than two hours or else maybe someone would've figured out this was a trap. Why couldn't Raelynn tell they were goblins? She can see through the fog.
>shaman at the top of the pass with the root enchantment
Uh, what? All the goblins are clearly pictured amongst the roots. This image is very confusing. The fog was supposed to be above the roots, as well, yet in the image it's below.

Raeylnn, snipe the shaman that's about to use lightning. We can't let that spell go off.
Dotti: blow up some goblins.
Landi: blow up more goblins with the shrapnel bomb, tossed through a portal.
Serah, Jek: try not to die. Serah should probably drink a magic missile distillation. Jek may want to pray for divine intervention, targeting whoever's most at risk, which is likely himself. More armor would work.

Oh it's not half it's 2/5.

Landi: freak out a little over Dotti's voice, thats the first time you heard her speak.

Raelynn, take out shaman 3.
Dotti, make a decoy Serah illusion.
Landi, shake them out of their stupor with a dazzle spell!
Jek, just whack anything that gets close. Serah, if you have something that will clear fog, toss it! Maybe one of your gravity bombs will flatten it?

Raelynn 2021/09/09(Thu)17:33 No. 1010022 ID: 8483cf
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The mind fog has affected the artist! The fog does not extend all the way up the pass. The roots do. The shaman controlling the roots has a “crown” directly above jek.

Raelynn grits her teeth, pours her focus into her shot and fires at Shaman 3! She misses! She fires again with an arrow from her quick-draw quiver, and this time hits the shaman through the eye! Shaman 3 is slain!

Shaman 1 (holding the enchanted statuette) fires a bolt of lighting at Jek! It strikes him and jumps to Serah! Jek’s scale armor is seared and scarred! Serah’s mage armor absorbs the damage!

Shaman 2 fires a bolt of lighting at Jek! It strikes him and jumps to Serah! Jek’s armor is pitted! Serah’s mage armor is almost gone!


The six golblin warriors fire their arrows at the bound Jek! All six hit! Only two hurt Jek due to his great toughness!

Dotti is enraged! She screams and summons all the fire she can, and hurls it into the center of the goblins!

Two goblin warriors are incinerated! Shaman 2 is injured! Two more goblin warriors are gravely injured!

“Holy fuck!” Landi freaks out at a talking Dotti! Landi decides to blow shit up as a coping mechanism! She portals a sticky Earth shrapnel bomb as close as she can to the goblins. It explodes, killing the two injured goblin warriors!

Serah can’t think straight, but she knows a fight when she hears one (and feels it too). She pops the seal off her Magic Missile distillation and fires blindly!

Shaman 2 is hit by a stray missile! Shaman 2 is killed!

Serah can continue firing her magic missiles for the next two rounds without spending an action, but focused fire will require an action.

Jek prays for the strength to withstand this assault and make it home to his family! Jek gains 2 armor!

One goblin warrior and Shaman 1 remain!

Six harpy warriors and one harpy stormcaller screech and arrive on the scene! They will strike next round!

Rae, go after the goblin shooting lightning again.
Landi, can your djinn friend blow this fog away? Actually, you should mire Serah in quicksand so she can't get lifted off her feet by harpies.
Dotti, prepare for incoming harpies! Hunker down in cover.
Jek, go harpoon fishing! Serah, whack any target he manages to land with his spear.

Raelynn 2021/09/09(Thu)18:31 No. 1010030 ID: 8483cf
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Raelynn fires at Shaman 1 and scores two direct hits in the throat and head! Shaman 1 is slain!

The roots begin to recede into the ground! Serah is freed! Jek's arms are freed!

One goblin warrior scores a hit on Jek! It is deflected by Jek’s divine armor! Jek’s divine armor begins to fade!

Dotti sees the harpies coming for Serah and is even angrier! She summons all her mana and throws the ball of fire directly into the pack before it can enter the fog!

One harpy warrior is slain! Two harpy warriors are slightly injured! Three dodge the fireball! Harpy stormcaller dodges!
Dotti is out of mana!

Landi beseeches Salt’s aid to grip Serah’s feet to prevent her from being lifted off the ground! Serah is protected from aerial kidnapping and being knocked down by anything!

The harpy windcaller protects the harpy warriors from the mind fog and electrical attacks! She summons another storm inside the fog! All non-harpy units (including the one goblin warrior) will be shocked severely next round!

The five harpy warriors swoop in and attack Jek, whose legs are still bound! Four hit! Only two hurt Jek because of his great toughness! Jek’s divine armor is gone, and he is bleeding!

Jek spears an uninjured harpy and pulls it towards himself!

Serah wildly fires her magic missile and strikes one harpy warrior, killing it! Four remain! She swings her carhammer at the trapped harpy and kills it in one strike!

Three harpy warriors, one harpy stormcaller and one goblin warrior remain!

Oh dear Dotti, at least the fireball didn't go to waste. Use your voice to hurl insults at the stormcaller. Rae, use your bow to hurl arrows at the stormcaller.
Heal up, Jek. Tanks a lot.
Serah, leave the fog behind to protect Dotti and also think straight again.
Landi, teleport a smoke bomb into the harpies' midst.

>>1010030
Raelynn: shoot a non-stormcaller harpy. We actually want the lightning to go off, now.
Landi: give Jek some armor.
Dotti: throw a rock.
Serah: climb out of the fog, and whack a harpy.
Jek: climb out of the fog, and heal thyself.

Raelynn 2021/09/09(Thu)19:39 No. 1010046 ID: 8483cf
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Raelynn takes aim and shoots twice at a harpy warrior! Both shots hit home, killing it! Two warriors remain.

Dotti yowls and yammers at the harpies and throws rocks angrily. It’s cute, but not powerful.

Landi quickly casts Godmother’s Blessing on Jek! Jek gains 1 point of armor!

Harpy windcaller’s spell completes, shocking Serah, Jek and the last goblin warrior! Serah screams! Jek grimaces! The goblin warrior is slain!

Two harpy warriors strike at Jek! One hits, but does not hurt Jek due to his great toughness.

Serah retreats towards Dotti, firing magic missiles as she goes. Her focus improves as she moves out of the fog, and she strikes a harpy warrior with a barrage of magic missiles, killing it!

Serah’s distillation of Magic Missile has run out!

Jek follows Serah out of the fog and heals himself! Jek restores 3 HP!

One Harpy windcaller and one Harpy warrior remain!

Oh, godmother's blessing is only 1 armor? That's not great.
Raelynn: shoot the non-stormcaller.
Landi: summon djinn just in case.
Jek: reel in the stormcaller.
Serah: smash the stormcaller.
Dotti: hunker down.

Dotti: Use Smug. Landi: use Dazzle.
Jek and Serah: Reel in the windcaller.
Rae: Take out the last warrior.

Raelynn 2021/09/09(Thu)20:25 No. 1010055 ID: 8483cf
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Raelynn fires twice at the Harpy warrior! She strikes it in the throat! Harpy warrior is slain!

Dotti is smug! She knows the fight is won. She puts her paws on her hips and flips her tuft of curly hair with a toss of her head.

“Landi, give us cover!” Serah commands.

“Party time!” Landi flies above the party and casts Calamitous Cacophony! The party suffers no ill effects, but the Harpy windcaller is dazed and can only take one action!

Harpy windcaller shrieks in rage! With a foul curse, she casts a bolt of lightning that arcs through the entire party for 1 damage each!

Serah cries out in pain!

Raelynn winces!

Landi grits her teeth and bears it! She takes less damage due to her magical resilience!

Dotti lets out a yipe and is no longer smug!

Jek launches his spear and reels in the Harpy stormcaller!

Serah swings her hammer with all her might and caves in the Harpy stormcaller’s chest! Harpy stormcaller is slain!

Raelynn 2021/09/09(Thu)20:25 No. 1010056 ID: 8483cf
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The area is clear!

Jek heals Serah and Dotti up with his magic. His scales are shifting and moving- his pitted scaly armor is somehow rearranging itself and re-forming now that the danger is passed.

“I remember how to get home,” Jek says. “Just barely. There’s a marked tree near the spot where the sun sets, a few days’ hike through the pass. I don’t know how to get there, but I can describe the tree to you. Maybe that will help Raelynn guide us to the right part of the mountains.”

“Good. Great. Are there any other surprises your kids have set up that we should know about?” I ask Jek. It comes out angrier than I wanted it to.

“A few, but none that can’t be avoided.”

I’m about to snark back at him, but there’s a hand on my shoulder. Serah grips it tight.

“We would appreciate the forewarning, Jek. We will be careful from now on.”

Jek grabs the enchanted statuette and pockets it. The fog does not dissipate.

We put as much distance as we can between the site of the ambush as we can before setting up camp for the night. Jek takes first watch.

The last thing I see before I fall asleep is the glint of silver-tipped wings.

----

Days 5, 6 and 7 pass with no encounters.

We ascend the mountain, and I make doubly sure to check for goblin traps.

I don’t see the stormcrow. I don’t care. I have better things to do- like my job.

Day 8 brings worries about food. Dotti is nervous, and insists we go hunting. Serah and I overrule her and press on to look for Jek’s tree.

On Day 9 we find the tree. We’re close. Jek knows it. He starts recognizing landmarks, and he’s growing more excited to finally reach his family again.

I can focus less on food, and more on what might happen if Mai Terrorscale doesn’t like us showing up on her doorstep.

We can’t fight a dragon. What can I possibly do to protect us if things go poorly?

Negotiate or make an offering

You could have an illusion say hello first. You could swear that your clan will have its revenge. You could also have a plan ready to stop, drop and roll behind Jek.

>>1010056
Plan ahead for an escape plan. You've got smoke bombs and illusion magic.
Also, spend extra effort looking for the stormcrow. It's following you, so it clearly took interest. Maybe you can start talking to it since you're in safer territory? It'll be difficult to form a bond if you're fleeing from a dragon.

Dotti recover your smugness

Raelynn 2021/09/09(Thu)21:15 No. 1010065 ID: 8483cf
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Dotti quickly recovers her smug, much to Landi’s dismay. Landi also is still freaking out about the fact that Dotti can “talk.” She’ll get over it soon enough. Hopefully.

I start my night watch on Day 10 perched atop a tree, endlessly going over options for how to escape an angry dragon. I’m liking Feline’s Grace more and more. To borrow a phrase from Landi, the mutagen is… kind of cool.

Plan A is to let Serah negotiate safe passage. Her political connections have to be good for something. I could even bring up the fact that I’m technically still part of Uí Liatháin. If Mai is as savvy as her reputation says, she’ll know my clan is well-versed in vengeance. Bloody, dirty vengeance.

I don’t want to rely on Jek. He’s gotten us into trouble once already, and I can’t trust him to be our get-out-of-dragonfire card. Smoke bombs and illusions are our best best if things go poorly. I’ll need to have Dotti practice her timing on when to make us disappear, and when to have the illusion come out of the cloud.

I spy motion out the corner of my seersight. I turn my head and see silver.

The stormcrow circles.

I look up at it.

It looks down at me.

Its tailfeathers are ragged and missing in places. An injury suffered long ago.

I touch a hand to my gray bangs. We’re alike.

Slowly, it descends toward my tree. I don’t move.

It lands beside me. I don’t speak.

It looks to a shadow on the mountain. By daylight, it’s sheer cliffside, but by moonlight, the reflected, silver light casts differently.

Stairs. I see stairs cut into the crag.

“Thank you,” I say.

The stormcrow lets out a soft trill.

I offer it a treat, and it accepts with a swift, precise peck, plucking it deftly from my hand.

We spend the rest of the watch in silence.

Raelynn 2021/09/09(Thu)21:15 No. 1010066 ID: 8483cf
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END OF THREAD 4: Lazy Fairy: Journey Before Destination

Who Will be the POV of the Next Thread?

1. Moonshine, a.k.a. Landi, a Fairy
2. Lady Serah Kensington, Heir Countess of Kensington, a Human Alchemist
3. Dorothea, a.k.a. Dotti, a Fox Spirit
4. Raelynn, a Wood Elf Ranger

Thread will remain open for one week to count votes.

Get back to Landi!

Let's be Landi and see how much we can impress Salt.

Landi. We still need to freak out about Dotti talking now.

Landi plz

Be Serah. Time to be the leader again.

>>1010066
Fairy time