This session was designed to show the versatility of the QRST to plant the idea in the players' heads that the teleporter could find people as well as components, foreshadowing the way they'd eventually use it to go on rescue missions or solve their own personal story arcs.
This marks the introduction of Gunnloda Frostbeard who would soon become a staple of the group. They didn't have a reliable main healer, so an NPC was provided to allow for more difficult encounters.
While originally she had introduced herself as Gunnloda Frostbeard, it was retconned to remove her last name for backstory reasons.
Carlota is the name of a character from Critical Role.
Originally, the temple was to Arawai, a god of the Sovereign Host, while Gunnloda is a cleric of the Host. When the game was retconned to have all the people come from the same world, the faith of Vyon was retconned to an original pantheon, and Gunnloda's attachment to this temple was lost.
Gunnloda's voice was somewhat patterned after Mrs. Doubtfire's accent.
It was also later retconned that Gunnloda was from the neighboring country of Dhog Lodir, but she didn't recognize any of the names on Ravaphine's 'map.' She should have recognized Riverrun at the least, but that would have changed too much.
While Gunnloda's love of food was originally just a random character quirk, it ended up being key to her backstory and personality.
The Moonstream crest was inspired by the Northern Water Tribe symbol from The Legend of Korra. In fact, the symbol came first and the Moonstream name came from the two parts of the symbol- the crescent moon and the water.
Thanks to Brimeia's tossing of Poni through the portal, it also offered a way to further refine the abilities of the QRST and how they could use it strategically to find out more about what they're getting into, though throwing Poni was not a tactic the group used.
The beginnings of the Devil's Food (Seirixori/Gunnloda) ship were unintentionally planted here, when Seirixori stabilized Gunnloda after she fell, though this was probably mostly a strategic choice to get the healer back on her feet.
Gunnloda's injury would reappear later in Seirixori's kraken-inspired nightmare.
Transcript
Introducing Gunnloda
DAY ONE 4:30PM
[7:28 PM] DM: The commoners have started taking the food from the carts out in the square into the stores of the tavern so that they won’t spoil. There’s a stout Dwarf woman giving direction while she nibbles on a tart. When she sees you appear, she heads over with a smile spread between her plump, rosy cheeks. She’s got her red hair pulled back into a messy, thick braid that falls over chain mail armor with a blue and yellow stylized H on a tabard smeared with juices and flour. “Hello dearies! How are you? Gunnloda, at your service,” she says holding her hand out to shake. “I couldn’t bear the thought of the food out here spoiling, so I asked Carlota over there to help me get it all stored away. You know people like this listen to anything you say when you’re wearing a suit of armor. Speaking of, you stand out a bit yourself. Where are you from?”
[7:31 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine:
Ravaphine stands there confused for a few seconds but regains composure to introduce herself to the kind woman and reaching her hand out to reciprocate the handshake. "Hello ma'am good day. My name is Ravaphine from the town of
Rauvi. Are you here from these parts?"
[7:31 PM] DM: Oh, and a Religion check, please.
[7:32 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((12))
[7:32 PM] DM: You recognize the symbol on her armor to be one of a religion.
[7:37 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Do you frequent the temple often? I am just a visitor here in your town of
Bellbury "
[7:38 PM] DM: "Oh, I'm not from here, dearie. I just appeared, much like you did. Are you from here? Bellbury you said?"
[7:41 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Just came across it in my travels. I never heard about this place before, even in my readings" Ravaphine says with slight questioning in her voice, "I've noticed that symbol on your armor before, would you like to accompany me to the temple? Maybe we can find something there to get a better understanding about this town"
[7:41 PM] DM: "Oh, I'm so scatter-brained sometimes. You just said you weren't from here. Rauvi.... I can't say I've heard of it. But yes and no. That temple's to an agricultural god like my own goddess Arawai... well, one of the gods I serve. I looked in the temple myself when I first got here, but it was empty."
[7:43 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "My companions have vanished, but we managed to find this piece of paper in our findings. Have you heard of any of these other places before?" Ravaphine asks while showing Gunnloda the map fragment
[7:44 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "I haven't explored much of this town. I might make it over to the mansion next to see if there is anything to be found there"
[7:44 PM] DM: She shoves the last of the tart into her mouth, wipes her hands across her tabard and takes the paper. "Hmmmph... nopf. Can't fay I'f heard of deef."
[7:47 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "It seems that this is a land somewhere far off. I'm headed to the mansion now, care to accompany me? My companions might be there and they can help send us home"
[7:47 PM] DM: She finishes the tart. "Oh? Well now... that sounds interesting. While we walk, maybe you wouldn't mind telling me about the kind of food you eat back home?"
[7:51 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine walks next to Gunnloda and heads to the direction of the mansion. "Well, for starters, my mother is a fantastic cook. She can create a meal out of anything and I mean anything. Only the freshest food you can find!"
[7:54 PM] DM: "Anything? I ask because I'm a bit of a chef myself and I'm always looking for new, exotic dishes to try."
[7:55 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Before we leave, I may have you show me some cooking lessons to see if my mom hasn't heard of them before! maybe we can trade recipes"
"Oh, that would be wonderful."
Moonstream Mansion
[7:53 PM] DM: The most ornate of the buildings around the town square appears to be both a seat of government and, as you enter the door, the home of the ruling family. A symbol of a crescent moon and river is embossed in stone, embroidered in blue and silver on draperies, and embedded in the floor in the entryway.
Straight ahead are a pair of double doors.
[7:55 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "I'm sure they'll know whats going on here..." Ravaphine says as she cautiously before knocking at the door
[7:55 PM] DM: There's no answer.
[7:56 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Should we...should we try the door?" Ravaphine asks
[7:56 PM] DM: "I don't see why not. This seems to be where the leader of the town lives. They probably have people in and out all day."
[7:57 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine goes to open the door
[7:57 PM] DM: She leans in a bit conspiratorially. "Besides, it's not like anyone is here to stop us!" she laughs.
[7:58 PM] DM: Ravaphine opens the door?
[7:58 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine opens the door and motions for Gunnloda to follow.
[8:03 PM] DM: You open the doors to a large room where the business of governance appears to take place. Two long tables flank the open space in the middle and a large, oaken desk sits at the head of the room.
[8:03 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "Oh, this is quite fancy for such a small town."
[8:04 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((do the desks have drawers))
[8:04 PM] DM: They do. Give me an investigation check.
[8:05 PM] DM: On the desk are stacks of parchment, a few books, and a half-written letter. The inkwell sits ready, but there is no quill, and should you touch it, the ink on the parchment is freshly dried.
Master Enchanter Qarius,
I must ask you once more to consider sending your
Spellguard to
Bellbury . The town is on edge and
Mr. Ningel’s actions have been come increasingly erratic and dangerous. My guard is not equipped to handle the threat of a mad wizard. Your college is still responsible for him, regardless of his standing. He appears to be buil
The letter stops mid-word.
[8:05 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((17))
[8:06 PM] DM: Nice. In the desk drawer, you find a ledger that gives the names, occupations, and addresses of all the villagers. It is probably used for taxes and land ownership information.
[8:06 PM] DM: You also find a locked chest.
[8:07 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine quietly mumbles to herself "what has poni done"
[8:08 PM] DM: Gunnloda is looking at the letter curiously.
[8:08 PM] DM: "Well, I suppose that means this is definitely Bellbury."
[8:08 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Poor guy probably disappeared in the middle of his letter not too long ago from the looks of it"
[8:09 PM] DM: "I agree. Have you seen much of the rest of the town?"
[8:10 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "I haven't seen much, just the temple, and the home of a fellow named Poni" Ravaphine says with hesitation, not sure if she should tell Gunnloda the whole story yet
[8:09 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Hey, are you good with tools? I found a chest over here but it seems locked and I'm sure the key is on somebody's person"
[8:11 PM] DM: "Oh, no, and I'm not above opening unlocked doors, but locked chests in desk drawers are a bit further than I'd want to go, dear."
[8:12 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "What if it has answers about how to get home?"
[8:12 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine searches for a key
[8:15 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine searches the desk of the desk and the books
[8:16 PM] DM: You can roll deception to see if she'll believe you.
[8:16 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((6))
[8:17 PM] DM: Gunnloda looks at you. "You think there are answers about this in that box? I think you already know more than that."
[7:24 PM] DM: DAY ONE 4:30PM
[7:27 PM] DM: Recap: You’ve managed to bring two Bellbury citizens, somehow both named Lin, back home. You’ve also found two components, though Ravaphine disappeared with one of them. Those of you who have disappeared back home and returned found that time passed while you were gone, but you returned to the exact same spot you had disappeared from. In addition, when you blink into Bellbury, you seem to always come back to the Bellbury town square. Brimeia is in the basement with Poni, Poni’s corpse, and a villager named Lin who holds a goblin scimitar. Everyone else has vanished.
[7:30 PM] DM: Lin: That was.... odd.
[7:30 PM] DM: Lin: Where did the others go?
[7:30 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "What in the hells?" Brimeia scratches her head, looking all around, still thrown off by the whole... poofing thing. "Where'd everyone go?"
[7:31 PM] DM: Poni: "They probably got teleported back home. Can you pick me back up?"
[7:31 PM] DM: Poni is lying on the floor where the last person to hold him must have dropped him.
[7:32 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Oh. Uh, I didn't see you there, M'lady--" Brimeia frowns at the magic stick-gnome, crinkling her nose a bit. "Oh. You. I suppose... You're not gonna zap me or anything right?"
[7:32 PM] DM: Poni: "As long as you don't drop me."
[7:33 PM] DM: Lin: ".... right. I need to go. I need to make sure my Vardalon's safe and... oh, Hennet will probably have my head for leaving without permission."
[7:34 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Still looking a bit skeptical, Brimeia bends and slowly picks the stick up. "Oh. Already? Well, take care... I never caught your name, ma'am."
[7:35 PM] DM: Lin: "Oh, it's Lin. Lin Cook. Thank you so much for saving me from those nasty goblins. Please, stop by the general store if you need anything else. I'm sure Hennet will be happy to help you find what you need."
[7:36 PM] DM: Poni: "Hennet's an asshole."
[7:37 PM] DM: Lin blinks. "I-- Is that thing talking?"
[7:38 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Glad to help a pretty la--" Brimeia sighs when Poni interrupts. "Yeah. He does that, apparently. Some kinda magical, not quite dead, gnome in a stick. Think he made this place blow up and ... do all the weird magic poofs." Brimeia gestures vaguely.
[7:39 PM] DM: Lin: "Poofs? Like more than just me?"
[7:41 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Oh yeah. Like everyone. ..I think." Brimeia frowns with confusion for a moment, but shrugs it off quickly. "I try not to think too hard about it. Hey, want someone to see you home?"
[7:43 PM] DM: Lin: "Wait, everyone? Everyone? Oh... I need to-- I need to see if he's ok." She goes to turn and remembers she's carrying the goblin scimitar. She gently lays it across the clutter on one of Poni's workbenches and heads up the stairs.
[7:45 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Ah- " Brimeia doesn't get a chance to finish before Lin rushes off. Concerned, Brimeia follows. The poor woman looks so worried.
[7:46 PM] DM: Poni: "Good, now that that's done, we should go to-- oh, we're following. Of course we are."
[7:51 PM] DM: Lin rushes up the stairs and pauses at the street, taking in the quiet of the town. "No... this is... this is all wrong." She heads south, opposite the direction of the town square, where the houses turn back to a single style, but the smell of water's in the air. She ducks into one alley and starts pounding on the door to a house. "Vardalon? Many? Hemisal?? Please, answer!"
[7:58 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: The woman has a headstart, but it doesn't take Brimeia long to catch up. "Um, are you-- Is everything alright?" It certainly doesn't seem as if everything is alright, but the tiefling can't think of anything else to say.
[7:59 PM] DM: "You... you saved me, right? Could... is it possible for you to find my Vardalon? I worry about him. If some goblins or something took him, I don't think he could defend himself."
[8:03 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Yeah..? Vardalon, he your family? Well if it's fighting to be done, I'm just the devil for it." Brimeia puffs up a bit, offering a grin
[8:04 PM] DM: "He... yes, something like that. Just, please. He's so sweet and gentle. I'm so worried something terrible has happened to him."
[8:10 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Well, if it'll ease your worries, miss." Brimeia backs up a step or two and charges the door, shoulder first.
[8:10 PM] DM: Roll athletics.
[8:12 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: ((15))
[8:14 PM] DM: You throw your shoulder against the door and the frame gives way, splintering at the handle. There's now a door hanging of its hinges and a rather shocked woman behind you.
[8:15 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Well is he in here?" Brimeia gives a shake to clear off any larger bits of debris and peers into the house.
[8:16 PM] DM: Lin carefully edges past you and into the house. It's well kept, but there's food out on the counter like someone was in the middle of making lunch when they disappeared. "No... it doesn't look like it."
[8:18 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: There doesn't seem to be much of interest, but Brimeia takes a closer look anyway.
[8:18 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: ((5))
[8:19 PM] DM: You don't see anything of interest.
[8:19 PM] DM: Lin: "Maybe they're at the Cask? That's where most people go."
[8:20 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Cask, huh? Sounds like my kinda place. Maybe we'll find my new companions there too."
[8:21 PM] DM: Lin: "We can check there. If he's not there, though, how will we find him?"
[8:22 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "I've.. no idea." Brimeia shrugs casually. "Let's just check first."
[8:23 PM] DM: Lin nods and heads out and back north to the town square.
[8:25 PM] DM: When you get there, you see a chain of commoners moving perishable foods into the tavern. One of them points at the big fancy building and says "They went in there."
Enna and Seir join the others in the Mansion
[8:17 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna poofs back into the town square, looking disheveled and alarmed
[8:17 PM] Leigh- Enna: She mutters to herself, "That really doesn't get any less disarming each time it happens, does it."
[8:18 PM] DM: Enna and
Seirixori show up in the town square. One of the commoners carrying food from the carts to the Cask points towards the mansion. "Some people went in there."
[8:18 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seeing the, unfortunately, familiar town square, Serixori shouts, "Damnit! Can I get ANYTHING done? Stupid gnome!"
[8:19 PM] Leigh- Enna: "Try only being gone and back for ten minutes. Just enough time for the nausea to kick in"
[8:20 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine hears a familiar voice from the fountain outside
[8:22 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Grumbling all the way, Seirixori nods towards the elf she met last time and heads towards where the commoner pointed.
[8:22 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna follows behind
[8:23 PM] DM: The most ornate of the buildings around the town square appears to be both a seat of government and, as you enter the door, the home of the ruling family. A symbol of a crescent moon and river is embossed in stone, embroidered in blue and silver on draperies, and embedded in the floor in the entryway.
Straight ahead are a pair of double doors.
You open the doors to a large room where the business of governance appears to take place. Two long tables flank the open space in the middle and a large, oaken desk sits at the head of the room. Inside are Ravaphine and a woman in chain mail and a tabard.
[8:23 PM] DM: Religion checks, please.
[8:24 PM] Leigh- Enna: ((12))
[8:25 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: ((20))
[8:27 PM] DM: You can recognize the symbol on her tabard, a stylized blue and yellow H, as the Sovereign Host symbol.
[8:28 PM] DM: She's a stout dwarf woman with a wide smile between plump, rosy cheeks. She’s got her red hair pulled back into a messy, thick braid that falls over chain mail armor with a blue and yellow stylized H on a tabard smeared with juices and flour.
[8:28 PM] DM: "Oh! More friends! Hello! My name is Gunnloda. Who are you and where are you from?"
[8:29 PM] DM: Brimeia and the woman you rescued from the goblins walk in as well, looking very confused.
[8:31 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori steps back and away from the group to give herself some space. Her only response is to nod at Gunnloda.
[8:31 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia wanders into the square. "Well I found you lovelies after all!" she laughs.
[8:32 PM] DM: Lin: "I'm... Lin. I'm from here."
[8:32 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna leans against the wall, picking at her bracer, her eyes scanning the room.
[8:33 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "Friendly bunch, I see. Well, Ravaphine and I were just looking here and found this." She holds out a piece of paper.
[8:36 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori sighs and steps forward to glance at the paper.
[8:36 PM] DM: You can see it says:
Master Enchanter Qarius,
I must ask you once more to consider sending your Spellguard to Bellbury. The town is on edge and Mr. Ningel’s actions have been come increasingly erratic and dangerous. My guard is not equipped to handle the threat of a mad wizard. Your college is still responsible for him, regardless of his standing. He appears to be buil
[8:37 PM] DM: Poni: "That backstabbing-- I hope she's gotten captured by goblins!"
[8:37 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "So you are crazy, good to know." Seirixori steps back again.
[8:37 PM] DM: Poni: "All great minds are considered crazy to the people too stupid to understand them."
[8:38 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia flinches when the stick-thing speaks. She's never going to get used to that. "So you get on well with everyone then."
[8:38 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "I'm sure you tell yourself that daily."
[8:38 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna gestures her head in a nod towards Seirixori. "What's it say?"
[8:39 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "That he's mad and a threat." she pauses, "Is there more to this?" She asks Gunnloda.
[8:40 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "We also found a locked chest and a list of some villagers names"
[8:40 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "No, dear. It looks like it was cut off right there."
[8:40 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "I think they poofed"
[8:42 PM] DM: Lin: "Not to... interrupt, but if you saved me, you could save my Vardalon, right? Do you think you could?"
[8:42 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Who is Vardalon?" Ravaphine asks the stranger
[8:43 PM] Leigh- Enna: "What happened to him?"
[8:44 PM] DM: Lin: "Vardalon is my love. He's not at home and if everyone's disappeared... I think he might be in trouble. He couldn't protect himself from goblins."
[8:46 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori looks towards the Poni stick, "Well, mad wizard, you're the thing that gets us places."
[8:46 PM] DM: Poni: "I take us to components."
[8:47 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Oh no I'm so sorry. Maybe we can find the rest of the components and find him along the way"
[8:48 PM] Insight checks: Enna: ((13)) Seirixori: ((17)) Ravaphine: ((24))
[8:49 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "You're not telling us the truth."
[8:49 PM] DM: Poni: "Of course I am, Candy Cane. I haven't lied. I take you to components."
[8:49 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Yes, but you can take us elsewhere."
[8:50 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Poni, didn't you say that you were working on a way to transport to unknown places"
[8:50 PM] DM: Poni: "I could theoretically find people if I had a personal item, but you don't! So let's go find the next component, yes?"
[8:51 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "And this is your fault, so you will take us to wherever it is to help her."
[8:51 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "So you were lying to us"
[8:51 PM] DM: Lin: "I do! I have his necklace!"
[8:51 PM] DM: Poni grumbles.
[8:52 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "who knows, maybe he's seen another component. People are getting taken because of them"
[8:52 PM] DM: Poni: "If we can get back to the task at hand, fine. Take me back to the portal and I'll find the asshole."
[8:52 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "We already know where you are. We need to find her husband."
[8:53 PM] DM: Lin: "Not... my husband. His fathers don't like me much, but please, if we could save him, maybe they'd change their minds."
[8:54 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "My ...apologies? Let's just go." Serixori heads outside to Poni's basement.
[8:55 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine also follows and heads towards the basement
[8:55 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna turns to Lin and says, "We'll find him." She heads out following the tiefling and the elf.
[8:56 PM] DM: So! Gunnloda and Lin follow you all to Poni's basement.
[8:56 PM] DM: Poni: "Press my button."
[8:58 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "No thanks," Brimeia grumbles.
[9:00 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine notices the components on the desk and takes the first component out of her bag to add to the collection "I'm going to put these on the top shelf so they're safe"
[9:00 PM] DM: Poni: "Great. That way you won't take it home and lose it."
[9:00 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Honestly," Seirixori reaches over and pushes the stupid button.
To the Dryad's Jungle
[9:01 PM] DM: Through the portal, you see a component, sitting in the darkness of a destroyed building. The rubble behind the component is old and weathered and the entire image is dark as if a moonless night. While you’re looking, you notice a bit of movement from the shadows in the distance, but you can’t tell what it was.
[9:02 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Well if you wanted to hold hands, all you had to do was ask," Brimeia says with a wink.
[9:02 PM] DM: Insight checks?
[9:02 PM] Seirixori: ((17)) Ravaphine: ((12)) Enna Meliamne: ((16)) Brimeia: ((18))
[9:03 PM] DM: You all recall that you were asking Poni to find Vardalon, not a component.
[9:04 PM] Leigh- Enna Meliamne: "We promised that woman we would find the person she's missing, gnome."
[9:04 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Brimeia, enough. Poni, this is not where we're going first."
[9:04 PM] DM: Poni grumbles again. "Fine. Put the item up to the sensor on the bottom of... me."
[9:04 PM] DM: Lin takes the necklace from her neck and hands it to Brimeia.
[9:05 PM] DM: Lin grabs the scimitar from the table.
[9:05 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia takes the necklace and holds it up to the stick thing. "Like this?"
[9:05 PM] DM: Poni: "Now push the button."
[9:06 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Do I have to?"
[9:07 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Give me the damn thing if you won't, stop wasting time."
[9:07 PM] Leigh- Enna Meliamne: Enna mutters under her breath, "Why hesitate, you're pushing everyone else's buttons"
[9:09 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "be careful with that, it's not very stable" Ravaphine opens her hands out for poni and the necklace
[9:10 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "Fine, fine," Brimeia says, finger poised over the button, but at Enna's comment, she looks up again. "Not the fun way," she grins. She presses the button.
[9:10 PM] DM: The image shimmers and coalesces into a vision of a jungle. Though the light appears as though daytime, the light is subdued, likely due to the high canopy of trees above. In the center of the image, you see a large human man, currently fawning over what appears to be a greenish elf barely dressed in leaves and vines. She’s clearly enjoying his attention.
[9:11 PM] DM: Lin: "....Vardalon?"
[9:11 PM] DM: Nature checks, please.
[9:11 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((20)) Seirixori: ((10)) Enna Meliamne: ((21)) Brimeia: ((2))
[9:14 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Look! It's a dryad! I've read about them before."
[9:16 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine looks over to Lin nervously
[9:16 PM] DM: Lin steps towards the portal, confusion etched across her face. "Why is he..."
[9:16 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Lin, before we jump to any conclusions, I'm sure there's a good explanation for this"
[9:18 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "There's only one way to find out. Hold on to each other and let's step through."
[9:18 PM] Leigh- Enna: "Dryads can easily charm people. He may not be fully in control right now."
[9:19 PM] DM: Lin turns. "He doesn't look like... himself. Can we save him?"
[9:20 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: from the top of the stairs, there's a shout, articulate profanity, and then martyn tumbles down the stairs. he lands in a heap at the bottom, looks around, and says, "I meant to do that."
[9:21 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "Oh my! Are you ok, dear?"
[9:21 PM] DM: A hefty red-haired dwarf woman in chain mail reaches down and helps you to your feet.
[9:21 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Oh hi! I hope you're okay"
[9:21 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: "Aside from a mostly unpleasant interaction with a local and a particularly unpleasant threat of bodily harm, never better." he nods to the dwarf
[9:22 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Great, more fun. Listen, join us or not, but please let us go through, now. We're wasting time." Seirixori says, annoyed.
[9:22 PM] DM: Lin: "Yes, please."
[9:22 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "How do we do such a thing, love?"
[9:23 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "everyone, follow Brimeia's lead. grab a shoulder"
[9:23 PM] DM: Gunnloda and Lin do so.
[9:24 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna places her hand on Gunnloda's shoulder. She's getting antsy.
[9:25 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine hangs onto Brimeia's shoulder
[9:25 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: Martyn puts a hand on the red-headed dwarf's shoulder.
[9:26 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori follows suit.
[9:27 PM] DM: Poni: "Are we ready? Can we do this so we can find the next component soon?"
[9:27 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "through the portal we go!"
[9:28 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "How's this work?" Brimeia frowns at the stick
[9:28 PM] DM: Poni sighs heavily. "Put me through the portal."
[9:29 PM] DM: Poni: "I'm not sure how many times I have to explain this."
[9:29 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: "Treat it like a door," Martyn says. "Step lively now."
[9:30 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Will you please hand me the stupid stick."
[9:31 PM] DM: Poni: "You just have to put me through and I take the rest of you."
[9:31 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "hang on to the stick, please"
[9:31 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia chucks the gnome-stick through the portal
[9:32 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine blinks, unmoving
[9:32 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "that was...our ride home"
[9:32 PM] Leigh- Enna: "For the gods' sake, that man is in trouble and that thing is unpredictable"
[9:32 PM] Leigh- Enna: "Oh lord."
[9:33 PM] DM: The image instantly changes as soon as Poni goes through the portal. You no longer see Vardalon or the dryad. Instead, you see Poni lying against a fern at the base of a tree.
[9:33 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "He said put him through. He didn't say how."
[9:33 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori tries to hit Brimeia on the back of the head with her staff.
[9:39 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: ((12 - 4 for earlier))
[9:40 PM] DM: Seirixori tries to hit Brimeia and the staff just bounces off her shoulder.
[9:41 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia turns to look at the spot she was struck without a hint of concern. "Well if you wanted to spar, you're welcome to any time."
[9:34 PM] DM: It looks like the same jungle you were looking at before, just in a different spot.
[9:35 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: Martyn huffs and steps through without waiting for the rest.
[9:35 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Great, why with these people?"
[9:35 PM] DM: The portal now shows Martyn and Poni. Martyn, you can see Poni sitting at your feet!
[9:36 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna runs in after Martyn
[9:37 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: "I'm Impressed Poni. Your little portal didn't kill me or rearrange my limbs in some terribly inconvenient way." Martyn says
[9:37 PM] DM: As each person goes through the portal, they are visible in the viewing screen of the portal and they are in the jungle.
[9:38 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori goes into the portal.
[9:38 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine also goes through the portal
[9:39 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia steps through with the others
[9:40 PM] DM: Poni: "Would you like me to?"
[9:40 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori also picks up Poni after she steps through and shoves him in her bag.
[9:41 PM] DM: You're all in the jungle! There's a lot of green and brown around.
[9:41 PM] DM: Poni (muffled): "hhhhhmmmmphhh!!"
[9:41 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "Oh thank god we made it in one piece"
[9:42 PM] DM: Lin and Gunnloda followed everyone else.
[9:42 PM] DM: Lin: "Where's Vardalon? VARDALON!?"
[9:42 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna bends down to speak into Seirixori's bag "I don't appreciate being used as a pawn in any games, gnome. Show us where that man and creature were."
[9:43 PM] DM: Poni (muffled): "mmmmhphpmm"
[9:43 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "He's doing this on purpose"
[9:43 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Did you really need to ask him a question? He's less annoying this way." Seirixori pulls him out reluctantly.
[9:44 PM] DM: Poni: "If I get the ability to cast spells back, just know you're on my shit list, you rutabega."
[9:44 PM] Leigh- Enna: "All I'm concerned with is making sure we get to Vardalon in time"
[9:45 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "If I don't leave you in shit first."
[9:45 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: "That is a powerfully impolite thing to say Poni."
[9:45 PM] DM: Lin starts making her way through the brush, calling out. "VARDALON?"
[9:46 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Damnit, Lin! Don't go running off!" Seirixori calls out, trying to stop Lin.
[9:47 PM] DM: Lin: "If you aren't going to find him, I will."
[9:48 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "how far did you yeet poni into the portal, tiefling? he can't be that far"
[9:49 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: "I dunno. I am quite strong." Brimeia shrugs.
[9:49 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "We don't know where we are, running off is going to get you killed and this will be pointless." Seirixori says to Lin.
[9:50 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna goes after Lin and cuts her off, blocking her path. "If you're going to run after him, at least be quiet about it. You don't know what's surrounding us."
[9:49 PM] DM: Perception checks, if you please.
[9:50 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((10)) Enna: ((21)) Brimeia: ((19)) Seirixori: ((15)) Martyn Hornback: ((10))
[9:52 PM] DM: You all hear a sound from the left and see three small, moldy two-legged creatures with long, thin arms ending in long hands with claws and another blackish, moldy creature that walks on four legs like a beast and has thorns protruding from all parts of its body. They're currently coming around the tree to your north, investigating the sound. Roll for initiative.
[9:53 PM] Leigh- Enna: ((15)) Seirixori: ((19)) Martyn Hornback: ((5)) Ravaphine: ((2))
[9:54 PM] nature check Enna: ((7)) Seirixori: ((10)) Martyn: ((20)) Ravaphine: ((15))
[9:57 PM] DM: 11- This creature is a plant called a Vegepygmy.
16- Vegepygmies are created when a humanoid or giant is killed by russet mold’s poison. The mold itself can be killed in many ways, the easiest of which is direct sunlight.
[9:57 PM] DM: 11- This creature is a plant called a Thorny.
16- Thornies are created when a bestial creature is killed by russet mold’s poison. The mold itself can be killed in many ways, the easiest of which is direct sunlight.
[9:58 PM] Leigh- Enna: "I've never seen these things before."
[9:58 PM] DM: Vegepygmy #1!
[9:59 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: "I suggest an immediate and liberal application of fire." Martyn says
[10:00 PM] DM: Is going to come around the tree and make for the loud one.
[10:01 PM] DM: It tries to attack with claws, but Lin manages to jump back behind Enna and avoid it.
[10:01 PM] DM: Vegepygmy #2 will come around to the closest person to her- Brimeia!
[10:02 PM] DM: The claws hit, but can't find purchase on her.
[10:02 PM] DM: Brimeia !
[10:03 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia flies into a rage and swings her mighty greataxe at the offending vegepygmy!
[10:04 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: ((16 atk, 18 dmg))
[10:05 PM] DM: The greataxe swings straight through the vegepygmy and it explodes into a cloud of spore.
[10:08 PM] DM: Seirixori !
[10:12 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori uses Thorn Whip on the thing she can see.
[10:13 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: ((10 ac, 2))
[10:14 PM] DM: A whip made of thorns and vines forms from the foliage nearby, but the vegepygmy ducks and avoids the strike.
[10:14 PM] DM: Enna !
[10:16 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna swings forward with her shortsword at the vegepygmy next to her
[10:17 PM] Leigh- Enna: ((24 atk, 10 dmg))
[10:17 PM] DM: Enna puts her shortsword right through the vegepygmy and it collapses.
[10:19 PM] Leigh- Enna: Enna backs away from the pile mold on the floor. "I think I killed it? Can't be too certain though."
[10:21 PM] DM: Gunnloda's turn!
[10:24 PM] DM: "If there's one thing I can't abide, it's mold." She points her finger and a ray of fiery light streaks across at one of the vegepygmy. It ducks out of the way.
[10:27 PM] DM: Thorny: Approaches Enna and makes an attack. The thorny bites into Enna and throws its head around like a dog with a ragdoll. ((12 damage.))
[10:28 PM] DM: Enna falls unconscious.
[10:30 PM] DM: Vegepygmy #3 is going to attack Gunnloda.
[10:31 PM] DM: It jumps on her and swipes at the cleric's neck. There's a spray of blood and Gunnloda falls.
[10:33 PM] DM: Lin freaks out, understandably and slashes wildly with her scimitar, but she misses just as wildly.
[10:33 PM] DM: Martyn!
[10:37 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: martyn casts Ray of Frost ((18))
[10:38 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: ((+ 5 cold damage))
[10:39 PM] DM: Martyn sticks his hand out and a ray of cold shoots forward, striking the vegepygmy in the side, causing a frost to develop on its side. It hisses as if in pain, but isn't dead.
[10:41 PM] DM: Ravaphine!
[10:43 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine hurls a mote of fire and casts fire bolt at the creature to the left and goes to find safety behind a tree
[10:44 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((9 attack, 7 fire))
[10:45 PM] DM: The fire shoots past the vegepygmy and hits a tree nearby, sputtering out against the living wood.
[10:47 PM] DM: Vegepygmy stands up, seemingly returning from the dead! It sees it's surrounded and tries to make a break for it. Brimeia can make a reaction attack.
[10:48 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia swipes at the sudden movement from the floor by her.
[10:49 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: ((22 atk, 11 dmg))
[10:50 PM] DM: The vegepygmy barely has its feet when the axe comes down on its head again and it collapses again.
[10:50 PM] DM: Brimeia!
[10:52 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia lumbers forward with a mighty howl and swings her axe back then back down upon the moldy dog-like thing.
[10:53 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: ((19 atk 9 dmg))
[10:53 PM] DM: The axe finds purchase in the Thorny's "flesh" but it snarls and spits Enna out, turning on Brimeia instead.
[10:53 PM] DM: Seirixori!
[10:55 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori aims her sights on the weird pet and Thorn Whips it.
[10:56 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: ((8atk, 3))
[10:57 PM] DM: The thorned vine whips out towards the thorny, but because she was trying so hard not to hit the unconscious elf, she misses.
[10:57 PM] DM: Enna! Roll a death saving throw.
[11:00 PM] Leigh- Enna: ((11))
[11:00 PM] DM: That's one success.
[11:02 PM] DM: The thorny reaches out and takes hold of Brimeia's thigh, but her barbarian abilities allow her to shrug it off partially.
[11:03 PM] DM: The vegepygmy chases down Seirixori and slashes at her.
[11:03 PM] DM: It connects with her midsection and slashes her for four damage.
[11:04 PM] DM: Lin is going to swing at the one on her savior's thigh. The scimitar comes down on the thorny for 6 damage.
[11:05 PM] DM: Martyn!
[11:11 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: Martyn rushes forward into the fray near the thorny and the vegepygmy and fires a Ray of Frost point-blank into it. ((23 + 8 frost))
[11:12 PM] DM: The cold blasts out of Martyn's finger and fully encases the unconscious vegepygmy in frost.
[11:13 PM] DM: Ravaphine!
[11:16 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine takes a deep breath before peeking out of her hiding spot and casts magic missile, aiming 2 darts at the thorny and one at the vegepygmy
[11:16 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((14))
[11:18 PM] DM: The vegepygmy takes a magic missile to the head, knocking it unconscious, but the thorny is still growling.
[11:18 PM] DM: Brimeia!
[11:20 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia growls menacingly at the moldy looking thing and sweeps the axe toward it.
[11:20 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: ((16 atk, 15 dmg))
[11:21 PM] DM: Brimeia buries her axe in the thorny's head and it falls unconscious.
[11:21 PM] DM: Seirixori!
[11:24 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori attempts to use her herbalism kit to stabilize Gunnloda.
[11:25 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: ((20))
[11:27 PM] DM: Gunnloda is stabilized.
[11:27 PM] DM: Enna's death save!
[11:27 PM] Leigh- Enna: ((6))
[11:28 PM] DM: The thorny regenerates, stands, and attempts to leave. Brimeia gets a free attack.
[11:29 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: ((20 atk, 10 dmg))
[11:29 PM] DM: And it's unconscious again! Huzzah.
[11:29 PM] DM: The vegepygmy returns to life and goes after Lin in a frenzy.
[11:30 PM] DM: It slashes at her leg, causing her to cry out in pain.
[11:30 PM] DM: She in turn turns and attacks it. , but misses.
[11:30 PM] DM: Martyn!
[11:33 PM] Jonathan- Martyn Hornback: Martyn turns and attacks the vegepygmy with Ray of Frost again ((19 + 2 cold))
[11:34 PM] DM: The vegepygmy's limbs start to seize up, but it doesn't fall.
[11:34 PM] DM: Ravaphine!
[11:35 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine casts fire bolt directly at the thorny bastard
[11:37 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: ((16atk, 5 fire))
[11:37 PM] DM: It dies!
[11:38 PM] DM: Brimeia!
[11:39 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia changes toward the remaining critter and whirls her greataxe toward it!
[11:39 PM] Leigh- Enna: ((brb))
[11:39 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: ((15 atk 12 dmg))
[11:41 PM] DM: Brimeia's axe comes down on the vegepygmy and it shatters into tiny ice cubes. Enna and Gunnloda wake up at 1 hp.
[11:41 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori wants to loot the bodies.
[11:42 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: ((7))
[11:42 PM] DM: Gunnloda sits up. "That... was not good." She puts her hand to her neck.
[11:42 PM] DM: Brimeia puts her hand directly in the vegepygmy's body and comes away with her hand covered in spores.
[11:42 PM] Leigh- Enna: ((back))
[11:42 PM] DM: Seirixori and Martyn unfortunately don't find anything here.
[11:43 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia grimaces and swipes her hand on the tree bark nearby.
[11:46 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: "we should rest for the night"
[11:48 PM] DM: Gunnloda: "Aye, we could use some healing." She puts a hand on Enna and heals her for 6 hp.
[11:49 PM] DM: She heals herself as well for 5 more.
[11:48 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori pulls Poni out of her pack, "Let's do this quickly in case there are more lurking around."
[11:50 PM] DM: Poni: "Grab on."
[11:50 PM] Jaymes - Ravaphine: Ravaphine latches onto seirixoaoisasdalk's shoulder
[11:50 PM] DM: Gunnloda touches Martyn's shoulder and Lin reluctantly touches Enna, glancing around for sight of Vardalon.
[11:50 PM] DM: Lin: "We'll come back for him, right?"
[11:51 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: "Yes, yes, we're just in no shape for anything else right now."
[11:51 PM] Kyris - Brimeia: Brimeia reaches for Ravaphine's shoulder
[11:53 PM] Felicia - Seirixori: Seirixori waits for all the touching and then pushes the button to bring them back to the basement.
[11:54 PM] DM: The world around you changes to Poni's basement, you all find beds in various places and rest for the night to return in the morning for another go-round.
