TALES OF CHARON RAID EVENT
A TWISTED TURN OF FAETE

Reports of sudden and dramatic changes to the landscape of the Sunset Plains in King's Valley have reached the ears of the Crown. The Knights of Duros first responded to the call for aid from the Horse Tribes of King's Valley, however, the situation is spiraling out of their control as they're beset by creatures not native to the region and unpredictable weather conditions. Spontaneous floods, fires, blizzards and droughts, swarms of insects thick enough to blot out the sky, ear-piercing screeches and blinding lights, whatever is causing this is wreaking complete and utter havoc across the region, and it appears to have no intention of stopping.

The Crown has once again called to arms for all willing and able adventurers to respond to the crisis before another earthshaking catastrophe can reshape Charon as we know it. For one reason or another, you have chosen to respond to this call for aid.

You and your fellow adventurers arrive from across Charon to the endless sea of grass that is the Sunset Plains. You can see Thunderhoof village tucked between the hills not that far away, a number of warriors from the local horse tribes and Knights of Duros are present to explain the situation. Earlier in the morning, a thick fog covered most of the land and a number of their own set off to never return. While the mists have burned off in the heat of the day, what was revealed is far from typical for the region. The local and knights are not willing to investigate further, instead focusing their efforts on evacuating Thunderhoof should whatever this is spread to the village. 

You adventurers have been entrusted with figuring out just what is causing these strange occurances and putting a stop to it.

The gentle whispers of the wind ripple through what normally is lush verdant grasses and golden fields of grain, only now the foliage has taken on hues of red, purple and blue. It's mesmerizing as the long blades dance in the breeze. One may look upon the scene and imagine a painter taking artistic liberty, or a poet describing a fanciful turn of phrase...but listen closer and the breeze carries more than whispers in a metaphorical sense. Words of an unfamiliar and unsettling language flit through the air, seemingly coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

The waves of grass shift and morph, glistening in the sun like fluid glass and moving in a way that nearly seems liquid. It's not unlike the mirage effect that can trick one's senses while lost in the sweltering heat of the desert. The whole area, spanning far beyond your own vision, seems to breathe. 

Each person who arrives at this site, from any direction, finds themselves facing this scene. Approaching the grass, the air seems to wobble, and upon closer inspection, there is some sort of soap-bubble-like veil covering the area. You can see through it to the endless plain of multicolored grass, and voices foreign and friendly worm their way into your ears from beyond the strange translucent barrier. The voices beckon you to step foot into the strange grass past the veil, tempting you with mystery, adventure, and the chill of danger. 

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ROUND SUMMARY

This summary includes the most important information to consider for the next combat round. This includes active threats and information on the boss creature gained as a result of actions taken in the previous round. Use this new information to strategize and coordinate efforts with your fellow players. If you choose to take damage or use hit preventions at any point within your own reply, please include that in your Action Summary.

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NOTE: To make things easier to track as people move about the battlefield, please indicate where you are entering the battlefield from (FRONT, REAR, LEFT FLANK, RIGHT FLANK).

Please make sure to DECLARE all NPC MINIONS and PETS being brought into the RAID as per the RAID NPC RULES. If you have multiple subclasses, please DECLARE which 2 you are bringing into the RAID. 

There is a weird bubble covering a vast area of the Sunset Plains. It is dangerously close to Thunderhoof village. You can approach the bubble from the FRONT, REAR, LEFT FLANK, or RIGHT FLANK.

Damage dealt to PCs and NPCs:

None so far

Active environmental threats:
All areas are under some sort of strange magical effect that cannot be fully understood. 
It is unclear what the mysterious veil/bubble is, however, it does look like you can pass through it to whatever lies beyond. 

Active minions: See Bestiary for creature details
None so far

Boss abilities discovered:
None so far

Action System is Active

The deadline to get your reply in for this round is Sunday July 7 at 11:59 pm ET

This is certainly the largest and most daunting undertaking the skeleton has ever undertaken.

And she is a skeleton; make no mistake.  This day was simply too important to waste time with disguises.  Beak stands before her fellow adventurers as her true self, wearing nothing more than the simple sleeveless shirt and pants of a karate gi, her glove weapons, and various necklaces and medallions.  Bare arms, bare feet, bare face revealing naught but a skull with what used to be much more resplendent and colorful frilled lizard-like fins on either side, before death and the passage of time took their toll.

Approaching the bubble-like dome from the front, she glances around at friends both old and new--Marion and the Blackfeather clan, her dearest longtime companions, the reason she's even over her self-imposed exile enough to be here today, and countless other faces she's never met before.  Not the most accommodating circumstances in which to get acquainted, but... well.  We're all here with common purpose.  For now, that's enough, right?

That's when she hears them.   The whispers.  She doesn't recognize that language, but she concentrates and activates a little spell she knows that just might help with that... at the very least, it wouldn't hurt.  And while she's investigating and being careful like this, that bubble looks... inviting, yes, but... hmm.  Just to be sure, she glances around for the nearest fist-size rock on the ground, using her telekinetic powers to lift it up and toss it at the bubble.  If there are any weird traps or... something, then it's far better to let that alert the group than risk any adventurers getting fried first.

---

- Approaching from FRONT

- Buff Action: Fluency (Self)
- Offensive Action..?: Telekinesis (Toss rock into bubble)

Active Items

- Luminous Medallion (Sun Heart Ring reflavored to medallion; casting light straight forward)

- Blackfeather Glove (0/1 Hit Prevention used)

Active Passives

- Dash (Blackfeather Glove)

- Fluency (Fluency)

Recharge Tracking
- All abilities charged and ready to use

"What the fuck?"

There has been a lot of shit that C'Leena has seen since coming to Charon. Some would say too much but.. This takes the cake.

She's heard a lot when it comes to the Fey from her wife, Nephele, and this definitely seems in character. A hunch the Nymph has had since word got out about this thing, and seeing it for herself..? Definitely looks in character for them.

The Nymph had accompanied her to this place, and they'd landed a little bit away. After some discussion and more than a little complaining from Nephele from going into this alone, C'Leena had managed to somehow persuade Nephele to hang tight. A fey getting involved might unfortunately cause more trouble than it's worth, no matter how much that fact stings.

The couple part with a kiss, and C'Leena approaches the bubble, not yet spotting anybody she knows. Granted, she's not exactly trying to spot anybody, but still.

"Yep. That's fucked up. Probably gonna have to go in there."

At least, that's what the ominous whispering is saying..

---

 Approaching from Front

Buff Action: N/A
Offensive Action: N/A

Active Items:
- Crystal Ball

Active Passives:
- Unwavering Virtue
- Quick Palm, Surface Scaling, Lockpick

Marion rushed back on the back of his dragonfly as soon as he heard of the news.

it was rather lucky how he and Dolo had been travelling west across the desert- and he made it in time. 
His dada and mama were there at the village, helping with the evacuation. They had been doing what they can to resolve what had been happening, helping whereever they  but it is hard with there being very little understanding of the mechanisms behind all these changes- and father hugged him, and told him, as always- that he is free to do what he decides, forever, and they’d be there for him. Marion did not see the sadness in his tired eyes, or perhaps he did, but leaned up to kiss the both of them on the cheeks anyway, and he smiled.
”I’ll be back for dinner-“
And as they hugged, and Marion looked past their shoulders to the changed colours of the world he knew so well before, and he feel the knot in his chest pull tighter.
”- And don’t let Dolo eat weird things, you really need to keep an eye on him.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The grassy fields of the plains are where he had grown up in. He could walk here barefooted and not be hurt- these lands he had overturned and tasted, examined and sowed, and he knew the species of grasses and the worms and the insects and rodents, the scent of rain in the air or where to look for moleapples. 

it was what home is like. And it is no longer. 

Marion walked through the high grass and touched their changed blades, Idun cradled in his arm and the wind blowing- while familiarity melted. And he looked to what had remained the same- there were so many people gathered here it is genuinely surprising, and there are familiar faces that he had met along the way.

“How did it… become like this?”
The little elf asked, his voice came out airy, and there is the same feeling when your breath catches in your chest, when you are watching a childhood home… burn.

“The voices in the wind- who are they? What are they saying?”

Approaching from Front

Buff Action: N/A
Offensive Action: N/A

Active Items:
- Tools of the Trade expression muse
- brain helmet

Npc/mounts:
-  Kweh; greater dragoonfly

They had been walking for days after being freed from the raider camp. Siathriah had conveniently summoned herself and the Manor maids only a day after her escape to bid her on a new quest. It was impossible to tell if this was some sort of revenge for her deals with the gremlin, or some personal vendetta of maliciousness. Either way, the Exiled Queens word was law, and obey she did. The invisible fae cat creature straddling her back hissed in her mind to stop, and Gwen held the party. “We’re here”

Gwendolyn could smell magic, thick and ancient, permeating the area. Something was indeed strange, though exactly what she couldn’t be sure. The scent of the fae queen on her back mingled in queer ways, as though oddly familiar with whatever they had stopped before.

“Did you hear that Milli? Someone talking?” Jess whispered, a nervous energy overcoming whatever bravado she normally exuded. Millicent responded with silence, clearly concentrating to try and figure out exactly what she was staring at. She was brought back to her senses as the cigarette burned her lip from inhaling too long, spitting it out in annoyance. It was like reality itself was bending in front of them, moving in nonsensical ways. “This is fucked”

“What is it?” Gwen asked aloud, though the answer once more came through her mind. “Look for yourself”

Another cruel joke from her patroness, who knew that she had given her eyes as part of a contract. Though it was definitely fruitless, the Exiled Queens word was law, and obey she did. Unwrapping the silk cloth from around her head, the world exploded in color and vibrancy. Blinking once, twice, and the brightness settled to eventually reveal the massive veil swaying queerly in the sunlight.

“Hells if I know” Jess muttered, in response to her masters unanswered question. As with all the manor maids, any direct intervention from the patroness will largely go unquestioned. Part of the contract for power, so the catlike eyes her master now possessed fazed her little.

Whatever it was, Siathriah was intruiged. She had deemed herself master of the fae in Charon, and whatever this was would fall under her rule. A mental order was given to all of her minions, and together, they advanced through the veil.
Approach: Rear

Action: Gwendolyn's Summoning Pact: Light Fae Siathriah


A summoning spell that draws light and binds it to the energy of a fae like being, allowing them to take a physical form of light and energy. This fae can take the form of a mundane creature, such as a cat, dog, bird, or something similar and will hang out with you for the rest of the topic's duration. This fey can not attack and avoids most combat, but is able to distort light around themselves, appearing to become invisible. The fey can speak and communicate with you, even able to mentally speak to you through your mind. Once per topic the fey can also distort the light around an area, creating a fog like effect that allows the caster to blend into their environment and become invisible. This fog effect will last for the next two post and will cover a 10 foot diameter area, and will allow any ally of the caster to also become invisible while moving through the fog.

Passives:
Infinite Soul - No aging
Blood Scent - blood tracking
Eyes of Siathriah - Vision impairment immunity, Spell/enchantment identification/knowledge
Purity Graft - Poison effect duration reduction
Malik's Coat of Perfection - Attractiveness buff
In plain sight - (outside combat) Lie detection immunity, identity detection immunity, Suspicion immunity
Spell Focus - Mercurial Censer, Spells billow smoke at target location for 1 post, deal poison damage.
Dread Helm- Darkvision, Blue eye glow
Life spark Earrings - Attack penetration post after healing
Boots of Tranquility - Nihililac bloom, misty steps, hot surface immunity
Mantle of Mists - Cold mist aura
Gauntlets of Affluence and Avarice - Increased strength vs. stone/metal, total damage vs. stone worth less than silver
Eternity Ring of Wolfe - feels Blue Raspberries emotions
Silver Veil - Airborne Poison Immunity
Arcane Senses - Spellcaster detection, elemental spell detection
Wicked Desires - Unable to heal with spells


HP:

Dread Helm: 1
Mystborn Platebody: 1
Gauntlets of Affluence and Avarice: 1
Mantle of Mists: 2, freeze attacks
Guardian Stuffy: 1 mental
Purity Graft: 1 poison


NPCs
Mori, Earth Domain Apprentice
    Action: Inhaling Dragon Salts, 1 Usage of Heat Wave
Jessica, Sea Domain Apprentice
    Holding Thurible of the Exiled Court (2 pts)
    Action: Inhaling Blizzard Salts, 1 Usage of Sheer Cold
Millicent, Sky Domain Apprentice
    Action: Inhaling Storm Salts, 1 Usage of Call Tornado
Siathriah, Light Fae
    Invisible

Rena tilts her head slightly as she steps up beside Beak, the lich idly dipping a talon into the vial of ink on her hip as she gently grabs her bondmate’s hand, silver eye lights sharpening with focus as the dextrous motions of her finger inscribe the symbol of an eye encircled by feathers on the back of Beak’s hand…the symbol of their family. A simple twist of will activates the fresh ink on the skeleton and the tattoo concealed amongst the lich’s feathers, and the crow idly tugs at the mental link thus formed before nodding and turning her attention back to the strange bubble encircling the field before them…once again, she’s come to a place that’s reduced her spectral loves to little wisps by simply being here. Once again, she's come to a place that has forced her little ones out of their puppets of bone and into their frozen eggs... the rules seem to be subtly different, however, as she can still feel the chill of both her curse’s chains encircling her bones…

A mote of cobalt ink and a wisp of amber smoke hover over either of Rena’s shoulders, for all the world seeming to nervously glance about…they don’t enjoy being confined to these forms, unable to do more than watch until their wife channels power toward them…that sort of thing takes time, after all…three frozen eggs sit in the satchel on Rena's hip, ready to have their mother's power channeled into and through them once again, that they might have puppets to inhabit once again...

The living fledglings chirp and chitter to each other, keeping themselves behind Beak and Rena as they glance around suspiciously, eyes of various colors scanning the environment in an effort to find some unknown threat before it can strike…

---

Bringing
Warlord Minions - Distant Whistle, Winding Gears, Morning Chimes
Oniwanban Footsoldier Subclass
Two Dancing Chains

Combat Sheet

SPOILER: Click to show

Rena - 0/6 wounds
Action - Inked Marking - Beak
Action - Inked Marking - Self
Non-action -
Movement - Approaching from the FRONT
Active Effects

SPOILER: Click to show

Mighter than the Sword - 0/5
Inked Marking

Weapons

SPOILER: Click to show

Duelist's Feathers - Slashing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Offhand - 40/40 ammo - 1/1 hp
Venom Feathers - Piercing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Poison - 40/40 ammo
Soulbound Bayonet - Slashing, Reach - Doublestrike, Lifelink, Serrated
Rose Urumi - Slashing, Reach - Infinite petals
Blackfeather Bayonets - Doublestrike, Dashing
Blackfeather Pistols - no enhancements
Blackfeather Staff - no enhancements
Drake Gland - Ice

Defenses

SPOILER: Click to show

Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp - cooling down 0/3
Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp - cooling down 0/3
Inked Marking - 2/2

Abilities

SPOILER: Click to show

Bestial Transformation - 1/1
Guardian Spirit - Caller of Spirits - 2/2
Banner Lord - 2/2
Consume Essence
Elemental Master
Spell Suspension - 2/2
Multi-Attack - 3/3
Pills of Vitality - 3/3
Quick Palm
Lock Pick
Undying Frenzy

Passives

SPOILER: Click to show

Infinite Soul
Hired Help - Two for One
Enchanting Sigil - Ice
Undead Servant - Army of the Damned - Army of the Damned
Persistent Dead
Lord of the Underworld
Tools of the Trade
Throwing Arts
Climbing Arts
Stormrider's Cloak
Brain Helmet
Wings
Silent Step
Backstab
Silent Step
Surface Scaling

Whistle - 0/4 wounds
Action -
Non-action -
Movement -
Weapon - Icicle Blades - Reach - Slashing - Ice
Effects - none

Wind - 0/4 wounds
Action -
Non-action -
Movement -
Weapon - Frost Ballista - Ranged - Piercing - Ice
Effects - none

Chime - 0/4 wounds
Action -
Non-action -
Movement -
Weapon - Glacier Hammer - Reach - Bludgeoning - Ice
Effects - none

Sarne was a Knight a Lord sworn to protect the people of of Charon. He was called by the Knights of Duros Sarne answering that call. Sarne thought this was just too significant to waste time. Sarne and his subordinates walked to the perimeter on the left flank Sarne sat on his Unicorn, Euros looking over the land on the Left Flank. He knew others had answered the call some Sarne knew others he did not. Sarne had the feeling this would test all the skills he had.

Sarne has soft features like an elf with a husky build. You can tell he is a nobleman in the way he presents himself, his armor, and his clothing. His piercing green eyes shine in the light. He stands almost 6 feet. His dirty blond hair is neat and well-kept. His skin is slightly tan showing the time he spent in the wilderness.

The sword at his side is made of white gold and silver a long sword of beauty. On his back is a gold bow in a sheath of its own but no arrows can be seen. Two Kukri Dagger handles could be seen at times sticking out from behind him.

Nordic was standing beside Sarne stroking his beard. "My lord I think we have seen worse," commented Nordic looking back at Naesala and Vamir looking ready to go.
"We are ready when you are My Lord," said Nordic with assurance in his voice.

Flare sitting on Sarnes shoulder looked out and whistled "My Lord, I have not seen this before not even with my people. I say caution," said the little Pixie.

Sarne gave a nod to them "The voices in the wind? Who are they? What are they saying?" said Sarne thinking out loud. "This reminds me of the Ring of Flowers quest I was on," said Sarne to everyone.

Flare frowned "I hope not. I cant make it out ether." she replied.

"Into the fire, we go then. What will await us the gods only know." said Sarne with confidence. Sarne ready his shield and the others readied then self's as well. moved forward slowly all in a formation.

---

Approach: from the Left Flank

Action: moving in from Left Flank, Nordic, Naesala, and Vamir are using Invisibility, Silent Step and on the watch for trouble. Flare is on Sarne's shoulder alert and ready to help Sarne. Unicorn (Euros) is ready to defend or charge at a moment's notice.

Activating Holy Avenger

SPOILER: Click to show

The pact has been completed, you have fused with the celestial inside you, allowing it control over your body. You may now gain any physical appearance changes, looking like the celestial for as long as you wish. The presence of light will often take over at random times, choosing to remain in control to combat evil. In addition to all of your physical damage dealing Light damage, all of your spells are now affected, allowing any of your damaging spells to deal Light damage in addition to its other damage types. Your Light damage from either spells or attacks also ignores resistance and immunity, preventing anyone from negating your Light damage.

Passives:
Celestial Strength Tattoo (Bulls Strength)
Always Watching Not only does nothing get passed you, but you are also now able to react to someone attempting to strike or harm you from a hidden location. You gain a hit prevention against that attack.
Spell blade Always There sword is always ready can not lose it.
Sub Classes Fighter's Guild Stalwart
Magicians Secret

SPOILER: Click to show

Nothing can get passed the Hunter's ability to sense their surroundings now. You are able to sense any hidden object, person or living creature, regardless of how they are hidden. You will get a mental ping of the exact location of where something is trying to be hidden from you, and can even sense things that are magically hidden, such as by spells or abilities. You can sense invisible enemies or detect things covered up by magic.

NPCs

SPOILER: Click to show

Nordic, Dwarf, Male, Stealth (Master): Invisibility, Silent Step, Blade (Novice): Battle Ax X2 Captain's Badge.
Naesala, Half-Elf Female, Stealth (Master): Invisibility, Silent Step, Blade (Novice): Dagger, long sword.
Vamir, Elf, Male, Stealth (Master): Invisibility, Silent Step Marksmen (Novice): Long Bow.
Unicorn (Euros) Armored Banner armor has two hit preventions
Lightning Pixie (Flare) Cast (Lightning Bolt)

Wearing/weapons: 

SPOILER: Click to show

Helmet 2/0, Hood, Cuirass Phantom Plate 3/0,
Padding 1/0, Gauntlets 2/0, Pauldrons, Greaves 2/0
Faulds, Kite Shield 3/0
Ray Bow, Paladin's Blade (Bonded) (Element Domain Light)Tourney Favor is Attached to Paladin's Blade
Falcon Kukri Blade, Normal Dagger, Normal Dagger Naesala has it Normal Long Sword Naesala has it.

Other Equipment:

SPOILER: Click to show

Flask of Feijoada, Crimson Pestilence,
Cirice's Divinity Charm, Dragon Chocolate
Storm Chocolate, Blizzard Chocolate
Eternity Ring (Katsandra's)
Eternity Ring (Sylvari's) (Wearing)
Etched Petals, Rings of Forged Connection

Admittedly, the bird wasn't fully sure what they were doing out here. These types of calls to action were things they normally avoided. They were not made for big threats like Scern or Vulcadreus. Everything the bird had learned and was trained to do leaned more towards hit-and-run tactics, things that world ending threats brushed off like it was nothing.

Still, there were some things worth venturing out for. Fae-influence could leave behind a lot of interesting alchemical ingredients and crafting supplies. It would also give Fish first hand information on what was happening rather than getting it through contacts and secondhand stories. Perhaps the most enticing for Fish was getting the chance to really test out the God-Killer poison. It worked well enough on humanoids and smaller creatures, but whatever was happening here could be a good test of its actual efficacy.

They wait for a moment, hidden in the shadows as other adventurers approach. The bubble was a big shimmering variable that Fish wanted to gather more information on first. The voices on the wind don't make it any more enticing, that's a basic trick to get people to come closer. They take out a tag and let it burn away with magic so they can understand this voice.[1] If they are going to follow it, they would at least like to know what it is saying.

After a few people continue to approach and don't scream out in life ending pain, Fish will stick to the shadows and slowly get closer.[2] They won't rush into this fight, but they have a feeling that breaching the bubble will have to be the next step. They at least wanted to know what happened to the others first.

---

SUMMARY:
Fish keeps to the shadows and stays hidden as they follow behind Gwen unbeknownst to her.

Rear approach
Actions:
1. Cast Fluency
2. Activating Pass Without Trace

SUBCLASSES BROUGHT:
1. Transmuter
2. Onibawan Shadow
Scrolls Brought: Star Storm, Fire Flower, Concussion

They say that the simple act of observation of a system can never truly allow for an understanding of its behavior; that just by looking at it, one has disrupted its own fundamental being. If that was the case, then all one had to do to know something to change it wholly and completely. And how could you ever know which part of yourself was real or which was manufactured as a mere consequence of being seen? How could you ever hope to grasp the truth of a system when the deeper you dug for the truth, the more you’d already failed?

These were questions which science would seek to answer today.

And such was the conundrum which had been presented to Morrigan Moonweaver – the Wizard of the Wastes, enchanter, diviner, storyteller, godslayer, Sand Scorpion, Sunsplitter, Champion of Zeinav, creator of miracles and maker of elixirs most wonderful… a fellblood of many hats, most of which were false and some of which were true, and which ones were which was up for the audience to decide. An idyllic field, plucked straight out of an artist’s wildest dreams. Yet, as they watched, the air itself vibrated, undulating as if gelatin in a pan.

No, not gelatin; like the stretching form of molten light in response to a glassblower’s gentle touch. Neither amorphous nor solid but transient, limitless potential contained within its shifting colors to take whatever shape suited it best. What was still yet undecided had become, of all things… a bubble.

Those Knights of Duros weren’t lying. This was a strange happening.

Yet Morrigan never could deny their insatiable curiosity.

Languid, casual as a summer breeze, the charlatan fanned themselves while observing all that they could of the nebulous dome which had encapsulated Sunshine Glade (and therefore, hardly able to grasp its true nature at all). In doing so, their heart raced. Whispers beckoned in their ears, crooning promises and sweet nothings with all the silver-tongued fancy of a liar. It took one to know one. Morrigan might not understand their language, but they knew honey when they saw it. But what was their prerogative? What was contained within the glistening cocoon that had enticed so many Knights of Duros, beckoning them within this beautiful cage?

The fellblood cast a glance at their intrepid travel companion. As a Knight of Galavance, Morrigan was probably honor-bound or legally-bound or whatever boring way you wanted to slice it - obligated, so to speak, to assist in this matter. Once the knights had found them, it was something they hadn’t been able to worm their way out of. Yet Kvasir had no such trappings keeping him here. Because he was so considerate, and because he felt the need to lend a hand wherever he could in a world that had attempted to scrub him out of existence, he was here. Helping. There was no other reason for it, simply besides the goodness of his heart.

Gods, Morrigan loved him and his foolish proclivity for being a good person, because he cared. The sweetness made them feel like they were sucking on a sour lemon candy, but all over - the sting, followed by the sugar. Funny that they actually had a name to put to that sensation now.

Somewhere along the trek through the glade they’d grabbed his hand - you know, for protection, or whatever excuse they’d given at the time for such an action. Morrigan never was one to shy away from casual touch - hugs, cheek kisses, playful hip bumps - but it was different when there was meaning behind it, but it would be weird if Morrigan didn’t flirt and simper and cling like a barnacle as they always did, right? Which meant the customary hand holding and pretending they weren’t brushing against his tail with their own and what have you.

Anyways.

So they were holding his hand, having just looked away from the bubble to discuss their course of action with him. Their mouth hung open, unspoken words nestled in their tongue. For a moment, they wondered if they would ever be able to bring themselves to speak the one truth that mattered.

What the coward said instead was, “Be careful.” And they could only hope Kvasir understood what they meant by that.

“I’ve a feeling, if this is the work of those meddling creatures, then there is more to this than meets the eye.” With their free hand, they tapped at their chin and hummed. Was there any ambient magic in the air? It was difficult to ascertain whether the buzz they felt was a consequence of the mana curse or because Kvasir’s palm was warm in their own. “At the very least, don’t listen to the murmurings. I’ve heard tales about instances such as this - people being spirited away, never to be seen again… if my suspicions are correct, then those knights who wandered into the woods weren’t captured, but led astray of their own volition.”

That was their own theory, anyways. And after what happened in Moonglade, where they’d fallen victim to the whims of such a prank, they weren’t taking any chances.

Morrigan did not want to forget again.

With great reluctance, they untangled their hand from Kvasir’s own (if they lingered a touch longer, that was no one’s business but theirs), reaching into the bag slung over their shoulder and resting on their hip. Let’s see, I think I’ve got something for this…

What they found instead was a piece of cloth.

It would have to do.

Morrigan brought the piece of cloth to their mouth and ripped it in half with sharp teeth, rolling both halves up into neat wads.^[1] Shoving each into one ear, Morrigan whirled back to Kvasir with a wink. “Just to be safe.”

With that, they turned on their heel and confidently sauntered to the bubble’s surface - or at least, as close to that edge as they could. Was it solid, liquid, quasi-solid, or just pure magic? The fact that light refracted off of it implied that it had a tangible presence, one which could be touched or grasped. If it was pure magic, then Morrigan could quite easily cut its strings apart with the Unweaver on their hip to gain entry. Yet part of them was nervous about the prospect of harnessing the Mana Curse in front of Kvasir…

And if light was refracted by its surface, if it behaved like a bubble, perhaps it would pop like one. Clapping their hands together with the telltale sign of jewelry clinking together like fine golden goblets in celebration, Morrigan affixed a confident smile on their face. One could only describe it as smarmy. “ALRIGHT!” They shouted, a little louder than necessary, considering their hearing was still plugged up. “IF IT LOOKS LIKE A BUBBLE, AND ACTS LIKE A BUBBLE, THEN IT CAN EFFECTIVELY BE TREATED LIKE ONE. SO LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU POP IT!”

Rubbing their gloved hands together, Morrigan triggered the friction-activation catalyst of the transmutive toxin on their gloves. It was time to evaporate whatever constituted as the liquid barrier holding this bubble of soap-like magic together. With a showman’s flourish they pressed the palm of both their hands to whatever constituted as the solid edge of this bubble, attempting to turn it to sand.^[2] They didn’t need to destabilize the entire bubble - not even a large portion of it. If the material under their hands dissolved, even a small portion of its structural integrity was compromised, the rest was wont to collapse - bringing them closer to whatever creature inside was behind this chaos. Behind them, Bubbles curled their tail protectively around Kvasir, as if to shield him in case his master’s inane plan went awry again.^[B1]

It was time to party.

---

ROUND SUMMARY

Morrigan approaches the bubble from the RIGHT FLANK.

Untrusting of the strange whispers, Morrigan IMPROVISES a makeshift pair of hearing plugs so they can safely approach the bubble’s surface without being enthralled by any spell. They then put their hands on the surface – assuming it possesses a SOLID form, Morrigan will use HANDS OF THE TRANSMUTER to turn a portion of the bubble into SAND, creating a hole in the side as if to pop the bubble. Bubbles SHIELDS KVASIR.

1. BUFF ACTION - Improvisation Equipment (Hunter I) - Using CAMO CLOTH to create a NOISE BLOCKER.

SPOILER: Click to show

While Hunter's are never without their standard equipment, most of them often come with additional gear, known as improvised tools. These tools are a random assortment of items that have their own effects but can be combined to create more advanced systems such as traps or triggers. Each hunter comes with the items listed below which can be used on their own but can not be combined or utilized with other objects without a class feature.

CAMO CLOTH: Small patches of cloth that mimic your cloak and are made with colors and designs meant to match the environment around them. These patches of cloth blend in with the area and can be used to hide objects. Comes in a set of four.

2. DEBUFF ACTION - Hands of the Transmuter (Transmuter - Use 1/2) - Transmuting the part of the bubble they can touch into SAND.

SPOILER: Click to show

Transmuters spend their time learning the fundamental make up of the natural world, having knowledge of all the natural elements in Charon. Twice per topic you can touch an object and cause it to shift into a natural element or mineral. This effect lasts for the rest of the topic. Examples include turning a door into water, or a sword into sand. You cannot use this on anything that's bigger than an average person (6 feet tall) or a living (or undead) creature, such as an animal or person.

Bringing Pet
Bubbles – Adult Drake

SPOILER: Click to show

Adult drakes are the grown version of their baby counterparts. Large reptilian creatures that are descendants of the dragons. These creatures are just a bit bigger than a mounted bird and can also fly. They are large enough to be ridden and can be driven into the battlefield, allowing you to attack from their backs and navigate the battle field. Depending on which drake you pick, it comes with a breath weapon to defend itself with and attack its enemies. This breath weapon has a damage type equal to its type and breaths out in a medium sized cone. Drakes come in six types.

Bubbles is a FIRE Drake.

B1. DEFENSIVE ACTION - Bubbles shields Kvasir with their tail in case anything happens.

Active Subclasses
Scarab
Transmuter

Passives

Gauntlets of Ginma (1/1 Hit Prevention)

SPOILER: Click to show

A pair of overgrown, magical gauntlets made of stone and covered in moss and small white flowers. These gauntlets provide one hit prevention, and allow the wearer to smash through stone as if it were glass, and lift natural boulders more than twice their weight. The abilities of these gauntlets will last as long as they have a hit prevention left.

Crystal Ball

SPOILER: Click to show

A small, weightless glass ball that is magical in nature but seems to have no unique qualities. It weighs nothing, can not be used as a weapon and appears to just float around your person. It can not be controlled or commanded, and passively hovers around you with a mind of its own. However this magical ball has a unique effect, it records everything that the owner sees, keeping a collection of their memories and experiences within the glass ball. While not in combat you can hold the glass orb and watch your memories play out through it. Whatever the glass orb was able to record can be retrieved and viewed later.

Arcane Glasses

SPOILER: Click to show

When wearing these special glasses, one can easily see magic in effect. By focusing their gaze and concentration on an object they can discern permanent enchantments from temporary enchantments, and even one wholly unskilled in magic can discern magic effects. While looking at a spell or enchanted weapon, you learn everything about that spell or enchantment. You can also identify what kind of magical effect or enchantment is placed on a weapon or item.

Disjoint Tattoo

SPOILER: Click to show

This tattoo allows you to manipulate your joints in a very abnormal way. This means you can do things like spinning your head completely around, rotate your arms and legs in awkward directions and even get creative with the way you move your limbs. This only effects the joints and does not apply to body parts that could not normally move.

Witcher Pitcher Leaf

SPOILER: Click to show

A tattoo of a leaf from the Witcher Pitcher plant found in the Marsh Flats. While dormant, this tattoo can detect magic, and will vibrate the closer it gets to rare and mysterious magic. It will ignore you and any of those you are frequently around, however if a new source of magic is detected, it will vibrate.

Once per topic you can activate the tattoo to cause two large plant vines to sprout from the tattoo, directed at someone within arms reach of you. The vines will wrap around one of the targets limbs and will prevent that person from using that limb or moving away from you for one post.

Tracker Extraordinaire

SPOILER: Click to show

On top of the Hunter’s Investigation Kit, they have a collection of heightened physical and innate senses. Physical senses such as smell, touch, hear, sight, and taste. Innate senses like, a perfect sense of direction, the feeling that something seems off or misplaced, and other such subconscious communications. This allows the hunter to pick up on clues or tracks that would other wise be hidden.

To say that things in Charon have been weird would be an understatement, but at this point, nothing has been particularly normal to one Astrid Stormstone. So, when things started going wacky in King’s Valley not so far away from the very place she and Fish worked to remove the Desolate Knight from the Glade, she decided maybe it’s a good idea to be nearby in case anything goes awry especially after the Knights of Duros, a knighthood order that she recently joined, having put out a call for help.

That doesn’t mean that through all this, Astrid can’t make the most of it with Cypress before things go totally wacky. So, the two girls find themselves in the Sunset Plains not so far from Thunderhoof foraging for plants together. It’s an important skill to have for an aspiring alchemist and member of the Golden Consortium to have. Why not make it a date? It’s significantly more relaxing than some of their other dates, which have included at least one dangerous adventure without warning that ultimately turned out just fine. Matching blue glass petal earrings dangle from each of their ears while they idly chat.

Not far away, Arcus, freshly donned in armor crafted for him, paws at the grass while nibbling at it. He snorts, shaking his neck out and causing the metal to clatter against itself. Spicy Pawsage, the hellhound, rolls around on his back in the grass, probably (and unfortunately) having found a nice horse poo to claim as his own. Buttfellow, the hulking eight-foot-tall metal golem with disproportionately large fists, short legs, and an oddly detailed head with red glowing eyes that doesn’t seem to match sits in the grass inertly watching the hellhound’s poo bath. On his shoulder, a much tinier golem made up of notebooks and blueprints called Blupee makes some attempt to organize the sheets of paper making up its main form. Bits of arcana and Formulae Arcanum snap each moved sheet back into its original place.

Just as Astrid starts to pluck a clutch of Horse Heart and explain what she knows of it to Cypress, whispers on the wind catch her attention. It’s nothing discernable to her, but it still seems… familiar. She’s heard this in a cave in Arid Mesa, and just as importantly, it sounds reminiscent of what the Desolate Knight would mumble. Astrid quickly gets to her feet, looking around alertly and before her very eyes, she watches the colors of the grass start to shift and morph in unnatural ways. As if the world is…breathing.

Something is very wrong, and that means that something is about to go even wrong-er. Except that it doesn’t immediately. There is no explosion, no wild rush of magic. There is simply just…a bubble. It isn’t any less concerning.

Suddenly, Astrid partially turns to Cypress and ushers her to stand up, motioning her hand with urgency, all the while, her attention stays focusing on the environment around them. “Come on. Somethin’s happenin’.” She finally looks at Cypress with concern in her eyes, their vibrant green contrasting with the multicolored grass around them. Astrid’s hand digs into her bag and pulls out a bottle of lavender-colored liquid, something that Cypress would recognize as Elsewhere Juice. Then, she attempts to press it into her hands, her fingers trying to curl over Cypress’ to force her to take it. “Take this. Get back home. I’ll be back as soon as this is over. Promise.” It’s rare for anyone to see this level of seriousness in Astrid’s expression, but it is evident and concerning in its own right. Something big could happen here.

When Astrid begins digging in her bag, Cypress has a feeling she knows what’s to follow. “Wait, Astrid-“ she tries to object as she steps back, but she has that lavender-colored bottle already in her hands. The satyr’s ears lay back against her curly locks, and with great struggle, she eventually takes the bottle- but for only a moment.

The whispers floating upon the wind grow louder; and Cypress meets Astrid’s unusually serious gaze with melancholy at first, before her blue eyes begin to sharpen with stubborn determination. Before Astrid can pull away, Cypress curls her fingers over hers and pulls herself forwards through the strange shifting grass to plant a chaste kiss on her lips while she presses the bottle back into Astrid’s hands.

“Nuh-uh. Not this time,” she argues softly when she pulls back, “I’m not leaving you here by yourself, Astrid… Together forever means just that; I’m not going to run away.”

Whatever effort Astrid starts to make to turn back to the situation at hand is quickly completely erased from her mind altogether, first by the look in Cypress’ eyes that tells Astrid she needs to prepare for an argument, but then by the sudden warmth of Cypress’ lips pressed against her own. By no control of her own, her eyes drift closed, only briefly though because when Cypress pulls away, all Astrid can do is stare at her and try to recollect her thoughts. This isn’t the first time they’ve shared a kiss, and by the gods, she sure hopes it won’t be the last.

What was she thinking about?

Oh, right, there’s a potion in her hands again. Astrid looks down at it, curling her fingers around the bottle and then turning her eyes up to Cypress again. There is ferocity in those sky-blue pools that tells Astrid that maybe arguing won’t really do her any good, will it? Resignation makes the tension in her shoulders fall, and Astrid’s head tilts down with a small, helpless smile. Slowly, she gathers her fingers around Cypress’ and gives them a reassuring squeeze. “Aye. Together means forever,” she says. This time, she won’t have to tell Cypress about the cool things because Cypress will be right at her side experiencing them.

Suddenly, Astrid’s voice is more sharp. “But! That don’t mean I ain’t gonna be extra careful!” she says, forcing the Elsewhere Juice back into Cypress’ hands. “We got no idea what’s about ta happen here, an’ if thin’s get real bad then ya have ta promise y’all drink that an’ get out a’ here, alright? I’ll do everythin’ I can ta keep ya safe, I always will, but ain’t no tellin’ what we’re facin’, an’ I ain’t losin’ anymore limbs ta brin’ back someone I love, got it?” If things weren’t so dire, a wash of regret might hit Astrid over accidentally admitting why she lost her arm – something she has kept as a close secret, having only told Cyran the full truth about it.

There’s no time to dwell, because immediately from her bag Astrid produces two other things: the familiar form of one half of a stone figure without its buddy and a brilliant red feather that shimmers golden in the light. Both of these items find themselves in Cypress’ hands one way or another. “This will let me get ta ya in a pinch or vice versa. An’ this… Well, it’ll keep ya from biffin’ it.” In other words, it will keep her alive. “Ya have ta keep these. No arguments on that. If I’m lettin’ ya stay here, that’s the deal. Got it?”

Before she realizes it, she's got them gathered in her arms; now's not the time to ask Astrid what she meant. Her terms are fair enough - Cypress didn't exactly prove herself particularly capable on their last adventure with Everett - but that's okay. With a resigned sigh, Cypress smiles weakly and lets her shoulders relax. "Got it." she agrees before she quickly tucks the items into her bag.

With their deal made and people really starting to gather around, Astrid grips Cypress’ hand tightly in hers, though her other hand reaches up to gently adjust the flower crown on her head with a worried but affectionate smile. “Alright,” she says, leaning forward to quickly press her lips to Cypress' as a final seal on their promise. Looking into her eyes, she nods. “Let’s do this.”

As wind buffets the grass around them, it catches her cape, whipping it wildly as magic tinges the air with mystery and apprehension. She glances around, looking for familiar faces, and is more than pleased to see a few she recognizes, people she can rely on and has worked with before. Except for one particular purple Fellblood with a surprising knack for making things worse: Morrigan Moonweaver.

A devious smile crosses Astrid’s face, especially spotting the Fellblood hand in hand with their not-boyfriend, Kvasir. Looking over her shoulder at Cypress, Astrid points them out. “Ya wanna meet Kvasir face-ta-face? He’s right over there with–” And her voice raises while she shouts to them. “–Morrigan Buttface Moonweaver!!” Admittedly, Astrid’s relationship with Morrigan has been nothing short of tumultuous, but one could call it on the up and up with confidence. By the gods, Morrigan has even said something nice about Astrid in front of other people. (Ignoring the fact that she basically forced them, but once she processed the information, it mattered to her all the same.)

“Hiiii, you twoooo,” she calls, giving a whistle to her various construct and animal companions before tromping over with Cypress presumably in tow. “Ready ta see what kind a’ weird magical– Oh, an’ there they go.” Before she can make it to them, Morrigan has stepped forward to touch the magic bubble. “Aye, good ta see ya too, Buttface!” she shouts to them. “An’ you too, Mister Kvasir.” All things considered, Astrid is looking quite a bit better than the last time Kvasir saw her – and particularly less armless.

“This is Cypress, an’ she’s a big fan a’ yers,” Astrid continues, attempting to pull Cypress forward for an introduction, however brief it may be before the bubble decides to make things go wacky. Making sure her weapons and armor are ready, Astrid stands defensively at Cypress’ side, prepared to protect her from whatever might happen with the strange magic.

Apparently, the strange spirits who sometimes manifest alongside Astrid have decided to make an appearance, though without her knowledge. As the mirage-like aura around them warps their perception, two spirits manifest a short distance behind Astrid. One is taller than the other, slightly more lithe in shape. The other has a more stout build, however, both spirits seem amorphous, lacking proper facial features. Effervescent tendrils dance along the tops of their heads, and their eyes glow with silent determination.

She’s too focused on everything else to notice this, but they loom a short distance behind her like overbearing guardians. Spicy Pawsage is surprised by them and lets out a low growl. Buttfellow, in his inert state, simply stares ahead.

---

Summary:

The weird bubble interrupts a foraging date between Astrid and Cypress and their many pets. After arguing about whether or not Cypress will leave, and getting bluescreened by a kiss, Astrid relents and hands Cypress one Blink Buddy, Elsewhere Juice, and her Gift of the Phoenix, making the satyr promise to leave if things get too hairy. (Mechanically, she is also giving Cypress Astrid’s Etched Petal, but in RP, it’s their matching earrings.)

Astrid approaches with Cypress at the (gay) RIGHT FLANK to harass Morrigan and Kvasir. Pets follow. She stands ready to defend Cypress if necessary, and two spirit guardians manifest behind her to protect them.

Actions:
DEFENSIVE ACTION - Protect the girlfriend
BUFF/DEFENSIVE ACTION - Summon 2 Spirit Guardians (level 4, info listed below)

Pets/Minions:
-Arcanatek Golem* - Buttfellow [4/4 HP]
-Dancing Chain* (flavored as lightning bolt) [1/1 HP, regenerates every 3 posts]
-Book Golem - Blu P Rint (AKA Blupee) [4/4 HP, cannot take actions]
-Dreadsnout - Spicy Pawsage (flavored as a hellhound) [4/4 HP, has fire breath, juggernaut charge, gore attack]
-Reindeer* - Arcus (flavored as a pegasus) [4/4 HP, Armored Banner 2/2 HP, Sleigh Bell]
*does not count against cap

Subclasses:
-Squire
-Arcanatek Researcher

Active Passive Items/Abilities:

SPOILER: Click to show

-Cantio’s Eternity Ring
-Night Vision
-Bull’s Strength
-Baloth Muscles (right arm) - bonk structures good
-Troll King’s Heart - passive regeneration
-Aura of Vulcadreaus/Touch of Divinity - ??
-Book Golem (when present, currently in Pet Pocket) - Spells cannot be countered when in line of sight of Astrid.
-Sun-Sparked Goggles - Cannot be blinded
-Stormraider’s Cloak - not affected by storms, repels rainfall
-Spidersilk boots - can walk on walls and ceilings
-Raider’s Loincloth - Movement speed cannot be reduced in any way
-Red Rogue’s Hood - Can communicate telepathically with another RRH holder
-Phantasmal Diplopic Plate - creates after images, especially while in motion, making it harder to directly target the wearer; gives 3 HP against abilities/spells/effects that would bypass armor, renders enchantments on a weapon that attacks through the armor useless for the attack.
-Knight: Stalwart Armor - ignores attempts to bypass armor
-Knight: Immovable Bastion - can’t be forcibly moved or knocked down
-Knight: Light as a feather - Armor doesn’t count towards item limit
-Knight: Tis But a scratch - half damage from physical sources
-Spellblade: Arcane Soul - Weapon has lightning, ignores resistance/immunity to lightning
-Spellblade: Arcane Focus - Can cast spells through weapon
-Spellblade: One with the Blade - Weapon doesn’t count against carrying capacity
-Spellblade: Always There - Cannot be disarmed of bonded weapon. Can summon weapon.
-Squire: High Quality Armor - Each piece of armor gains +1 HP against physical damage (listed below)
-Spirit Guardian: Shroud abilities - (while within the 25ft diameter shroud) Allies: x2 elemental spell abilities. Enemies: spells downgraded one level, reduced spell duration by one post, halved spell damage dealt, no benefits to speed buffs/cannot teleport, lose armor hit preventions, enchantments on weapons are deactivated
-Spirit Guardian: Spirit abilities - 4 HP per spirit, can grapple and restrain enemies for one post once per topic per spirit

Weapons/Armor:

SPOILER: Click to show

-War Hammer - bludgeoning, Spellblade weapon (lightning), pale ice, Bashing, double strike (Tourney Favor), ranged specialty
-The Doting Dad's Defender - battle hammer w/ ranged, bludgeoning, offhand enchantment (Tourney Favor), effects of ice rune + silvered enchantment + Gerhart’s Guardian Blade (is a fused weapon)
-Weapon Tether - attached to Doting Dad’s Defender and Cuirass
-Helmet (2/2 head HP)
-Icicle Pauldrons + Spitfire Gauntlets (3/3 arms HP)
-Padding, Phantasmal Diplopic Plate (5/5 chest HP) - Briar Shroud attachment
-Greaves (2/2 legs HP, 1/1 lightning HP)
-Rime Mantle (can be activated twice per topic, each activation lasts 2 posts and has 2 HP)
-Boomer Buckler (2/2 shield HP)
-Arcanatek Prosthetic (2/2 arm HP if in Defense Mode, not currently active)
-Flower Crown (1/1 Mind Altering Effects HP)
-Guardian Stuffy (1/1 Mind Altering or Fear Effect HP)
-Bardic Virtuoso: Inspiring Sigil (2/2 Fear/Charm Effects HP)

Recharge Tracking:
-None

Mikael looked around as he neared the analogy stopping at the edge, his ears pricked, and taill went still as he focused on the strange whispers, looking at the kaleidoscopic view of the grass and strange land before him. It was beautiful and unsettling all at once. He thought back on the information he had been given by the knights and locals when he had first arrived. This was far worse than the circles he had interacted with before. What could one this big cause? He glanced to the baby drake on his shoulder worriedly “stay with me don’t fly near it okay?” He questioned earning a small noise of agreement from the little creature. Normally he would have the little creature scout the situation from the air but something felt horribly off. He looked at some of the other adventurers around hoping to spot a familiar face as he went. He reached a hand into his satchel double checking that he had all 3 of his beastmaster scrolls with him though he hoped he wouldn’t actually need to use them in whatever was coming. His tail flicked warily as his eyes focused again on the strange dome.

———————————————
Approach:Front

Actions:
1.defensive stance
2.ready to use scrolls

Summary: mikael speaks to locals and knights for information before moving to the front of the anomaly

NPCs:
Baby drake (Darius)
Displacer beast (Chesh)
-Not against cap bc beastmaster lvl 3 prestige:
-wooful (Sola)
-owlbear (Luna)

Prestige:beast master lvl 3

Oh, this was certainly some Fae bullshit and Hylltywyll was intimately familiar with Fae bullshit considering he was such a prime source of it in Charon for so long until recently. Other Fae were coming back and he had... mixed feelings. He didn't exactly get along with other Fae. Especially snooty Fae that thought they were better than him, like that stupid cat.

Speaking of that stupid cat, Hylltywyll could see a small manifestation of it on the shoulder of the annoying noblewoman who served it. Of course she would be here to investigate this. The bubble was obvious and there were lots of adventurers here to investigate. Some other ones he recognized were also here. A purple Fellblood that made a crappy door. A little horned girl that he only met once, but he distinctly remembered he did not get along with. That ditzy Elf he met in the Crescent Isles just recently. A bird with too many other birds following her around, reeking of undeath. There were also plenty he'd never met before.

They approached from all different directions, looking at the anomaly in the valley. All potential targets for the little gremlin to follow, most likely harass a little, and probably fight either with or alongside. Things remained to be seen, but first he just had to choose, who did he want to hara- uh, work with- the most? He made his decision.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" He asked as he approached a group from behind, not bothering to try blending into the shadows or hide in the technicolor grass. He walked up behind two familiar faces and two unfamiliar faces, his own face covered in a wooden mask decorated with engravings of stars. His head was mostly hidden under the shadow of a pointy hat with flowers adorning its brim, his large ears poking up through holes in it. The rest of his body was hidden under a blue poncho except for bird-like feet and purple-fuzzed hands, the left of which was adorned with a metal claw covering the middle finger.

Morrigan and Astrid, he remembered. The foxy man and the Satyr girl next to either of them, he did not. He could feel a sense of something from both pairs. What was it? Fondness? Ew.

"Weird place for a double date." He quipped with a smile, looking to Morrigan and Astrid and their friends in turn. As he did so, he subtly implanted a speck of magic in them, linking their minds to his 

---

Approaching from Right Flank

Action 1- Support- Mind Parasite on Morrigan
Action 2- Support- Mind Parasite on Astrid

SPOILER: Click to show

Subclasses
Onibanwan Shadow
Arcanatek Researcher

Bringing Pets/Minions
Arcane Golem (Inside Shady Shelter)

Passives-
Hylltywyll's Shady Shelter
Vampiric Heritage- Chaos Touched
Expanded Mind
Infinite Soul
Mask of Memories
Lucky Clover
Flower Crown
Brain Helmet
Sun Sparked Goggles

Shaa was heading to his home in the rolling hills of Braddock when he heard tale of yet another strange disturbance of a Fae nature basically in his back yard. Over the years he had been very careful to keep a nice peace with that community out of respect for their power and a desire for them not to fill his house with manure as a joke. But there had been too many incidents as of late. Ever since the appearance of that dragon, the entire balance of the world felt off. It was like walking into a house where the floor was uneven. It just felt…askew.

The call had gone out to several adventurers to investigate the strange phenomena. If the incident with Vulcadreaus was any indication, Shaa expected to see several friends or at least people he knew here. Sure enough, despite her short stature, her red horns and spunky attitude were a dead give away. Astrid was here as well.

They had spent some time together recently and Shaa had learned what she had been up to. Adventuring, starting her own guild, losing a limb in a freak….what was it? Alchemy experiment? He had never really gotten a clear account of what happened exactly but he had learned one thing. She had been there with the dragon and he had no idea. Not wanting to repeat the same mistake, he decides to keep an eye on her just in case something funky showed up. Not wanting to come off as being overprotective, he decides to try to play it as cool as he can. 

HEY SHORTSTACK, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE SNEAKING AROUND. It’s like a bubble, I don’t think sneaking will work. It’s all…you know…bubbly and stuff. Shaa notes some looks from some of the others close to her. One on particular gives him a weird vibe. Like when you run into a stranger and for no reason whatsoever you want to punch them in the face. He was never quite sure if that was a Minotaur thing but that woman’s face….definitely punchable. Instinctively, he summons his spirit guardians to watch his back. While he’s at it, he rummages through his pouch and pulls out a peculiar object.

---

Approaches from Right Flank

Shaa- 

Action 1.Summons Spirit Guardians

Action 2. Pulls 4SXY6Dvc
7 - 8: Four-Sided Top
This top, oddly enough, may be spun on any surface. Just throw it, and it will right itself regardless of the terrain. Each of the four sides will begin to fire out small, silver coins rapidly, creating a spinning trap which affects everyone in a radius around it.

All items stored in Bag of the infinite

New Items


Sub Classes
Stalwart
- Iron Skin (1 HP)

Disciple of Vulcadreus

Active Spells/Abilities
Geomagnetic Sense- Constant Passive
Fighters Sense- Passive
Spirit Guardian


Pets/Companions
Vulcana the Fire Pixy (Tier 2)

Post Summary:

Cypress approaches the fae-induced strangeness from the Right Flank with Astrid.

---

While Cypress may not know much about all of the strangeness that has been plaguing Charon recently, she is familiar with that which she’s experienced and that which Astrid has. She’s not a knight, and she’s not anyone terribly important past a hopeful consortium initiate: but she is one Astrid Stormstone’s girlfriend, and she’s been listening to her recollections of adventures with glittering eyes for months now.

Curious universal shenanigans from across Charon and calls from Astrid’s knighthood order won’t stop them from spending time together; which is how they made it a date to forage plants in King’s Valley on one particularly fateful day, despite the Knight’s Orders that Astrid had received earlier.

Cypress knows that, at some point, she’ll be called again and their date full of laughter and idle prattle will come to an end. She’ll probably be sent home. She hopes it doesn’t come to that. Astrid has promised to protect her and keep her safe from their very first adventures together, and she has; but Cypress hasn’t really been carrying her weight.

She’s always been plagued by a fear of hurting others - at first, with her magic - but now, for her inaction. She’s grateful for Astrid and her willingness to protect her; but Cypress so very much wants to be able to do the same; and to prove that Astrid doesn’t have to worry quite as much as she knows she does.

Cypress sighs softly and smiles at Astrid over her journal where she’s been creating a rubbing with charcoal she brought from Shade’s Orphanage of the Horse Heart they’ve been collecting. Scattered along her page beneath the shadow of the plant is a series of notes, laid out similarly to the botanical index from the Golden Consortium that she reads so attentively every time a new pamphlet is released. She listens attentively to Astrid’s explanation, fondness glittering behind her eyes while she pulls out small clutches of the plant and talks about them.

Nearby, amongst all of Astrid’s creatures, lingers one slimy little guy; and as the colours of the grass stalk he’s climbing on begin to shift and change, the stalk loses its strength and bends under his weight. Skelly bellyflops mid-step into the grass below, leaving a trail of gloop behind him.

It’s the grass that Cypress notices first; over Astrid’s shoulders, a prism of colour catches her attention; and then, her ears twitch with the whispers on the wind.

When Astrid motions for her to stand, Cypress does; uncertainty lingers in her expression as she moves closer to the other girl and reaches out for her arm. “What’s going on?” she whispers as she tucks herself closer to Astrid’s side.

Something is definitely very wrong.

Cypress tears her bewildered gaze from long stalks of grass that have begun shifting in colour and rolling like the waves of the ocean to look at Astrid. Her green eyes stand out amongst a rainbow of colours - and there’s suddenly a knowing realization hidden behind them. When Astrid begins digging in her bag, Cypress has a feeling she knows what’s to follow. “Wait, Astrid-“ she tries to object as she steps back, but she has that lavender-colored bottle already in her hands. The satyr’s ears lay back against her curly locks, and with great struggle, she eventually takes the bottle- but for only a moment.

“Take this. Get back home. I’ll be back as soon as this is over. Promise.” It’s rare for anyone to see this level of seriousness in Astrid’s expression, but it is evident and concerning in its own right. Something big could happen here.

The whispers floating upon the wind grow louder; and Cypress meets Astrid’s unusually serious gaze with melancholy at first, before her blue eyes begin to sharpen with stubborn determination. Before Astrid can pull away, Cypress curls her fingers over hers and pulls herself forwards through the strange shifting grass to plant a chaste kiss on her lips while she presses the bottle back into Astrid’s hands.

“Nuh-uh. Not this time.” she argues softly when she pulls back, “I’m not leaving you here by yourself, Astrid… Together forever means just that; I’m not going to run away.”

Cypress holds her hands and her gaze with an unbreakable determination, but smiles faintly when Astrid's shoulders relax.

Slowly, she gathers her fingers around Cypress’ and gives them a reassuring squeeze. “Aye. Together means forever,” she says.

"Right," She squeezes Astrid's hands reassuringly in turn, hoping that these small gestures can express her desire to be here with her through the best and the worst - literally and figuratively.

- but then Astrid shoves the Elsewhere Juice back into her hands; Cypress promptly looks a little bewildered. "I-" she starts to object, fingers curling around the lavender bottle. She pouts somewhat, ears turning backwards; but then Astrid says something she didn't expect.

”... I ain’t losin’ anymore limbs ta brin’ back someone I love, got it?”

Her expression turns puzzled. Cypress blinks, brows furrowing in a moment of realization that only lasts a heartbeat; but the surprise is enough to keep her from rejecting either of Astrid's following gifts.

Before she realizes it, she's got them gathered in her arms; now's not the time to ask Astrid what she meant. Her terms are fair enough - Cypress didn't exactly prove herself particularly capable on their last adventure with Everett - but that's okay. With a resigned sigh, Cypress smiles weakly and lets her shoulders relax. "Got it." she agrees before she quickly tucks the items into her bag, where one Skelly has somehow appeared despite biffing it in the grass earlier. He looks at her and blinks sleepily.

She does not understand this lizard.

After putting away what Astrid has given her, Cypress realizes they’re not actually alone anymore. She feels the warmth of a hand overlap hers and immediately looks to Astrid. The prismatic grass sways at their knees, rolling like the waves of an ocean; and Cypress smiles sheepishly when Astrid reaches up to adjust the flower crown on her head. She squeezes Astrid’s hand and leans forwards to meet her in a kiss halfway, silently sealing a promise that they’ll both be okay - that they’ll continue to have their little dates - and catch up on that long list of plans for long after whatever this is has come to pass.

When she leans away, cheeks rosy and blue eyes full of fondness and determination, Cypress looks into Astrid’s eyes and nods.

That serious moment, full of young promises, lasts all of five seconds when Astrid spots Morrigan Buttface Moonweaver across the way; except Cypress mostly hears Kvasir’s name despite it and immediately blanches. “Wait, like, from the Golden Consortium?” she asks quizzically, “K-Kvasir is here?”

She bounds through the rolling waves of grass after Astrid, squeezing her hand tightly as they approach the two.

Based on context clues, she can figure out that Morrigan Moonweaver is the fellblood - and she completely skirts over the facts that Astrid has been calling them a buttface since the moment she saw them - to look at their companion with wide, starstruck eyes.

She’s never seen Kvasir before, but she’s more than familiar with his work for the Consortium. She forgets she has hooves until Astrid pulls her forwards to introduce her and nearly trips over herself in the process. Gosh, he’s so much prettier than she could have ever imagined; this is the man who writes the pamphlets she keeps in her nightside drawer. The one whose works she references off of for her journal, who she spent countless late nights reading off the lamplight of closing storefronts in the streets of Sol City, and whose work forged her pinpricks of dreams and hopes of joining the Golden Consortium when everything else in her life felt so dull.

What in the world could she possibly say to him?

“Uh,” she says instead of anything worthwhile after looking like a deer caught in a lantern light for far too long.

Honestly, it’s pretty hard to remember where she is at this point. Rainbow grass, mysterious bubbles, and ominous whispers on the wind who? She’s so starstruck that she almost misses the stranger that trots up behind them; after a moment, and after processing his voice, she blinks and glances sidelong at a very scrunkly little guy who appears out of seemingly nowhere with a slight tilt of her head, before she remembers where they are.

---

Approach: _(Gay) Right Flank

Given Items:

Received from Astrid: Phoenix Feather

Received from Astrid: Blink Buddy

Received from Astrid: Elsewhere Juice

Giving Items:
Cypress' Etched Petal to Astrid Stormstone

Actions:
Mostly gawking at Kvasir

Armour:
Rime Mantle: An action can prevent physical attacks twice per topic.

Weapons:
Cold Wood Cane
Gardener’s Spade

Pet:
Skelly the Skewt (He is Vibing)

Passive Items:
Flower Crown: Deflects or dis-spells one mind-altering effect per thread.
Astrid’s Etched Petal: Three times per topic they can channel a spell through the petal and affect the person whose name is etched into it, allowing that spell to take effect on or through that person.

"Mortals have a saying about curiosity and cats..."

"Please, don’t sound like Étienne."

Kalaf cut through the skies with ease, the idle breeze that swept through the plains just a gentle caress to the massive body of the battle-scarred drake. A long, scaly neck scanned left and right, taking in the air and letting out a dissatisfied grunt. Kalaf distrusted the creatures the Witch named "The Fae". Couldn’t eat the fae, apparently, so he didn’t trust them.

Which was the exact opposite approach of the Witch's Apprentice, Hektor. His eyes gleamed with excitement, as wide as possible, nearly the same expression he flashed for his Master to melt her heart into agreement that he could tag along. Not without any drawbacks, of course, as he was reminded of the presence behind him: silent Poe didn’t come along for nothing, and he knew the Black Quill was there to keep an eye out for him. Babysitter.

The trio didn’t seem to weigh a feather to the black drake, that begrudingly pointed his spiky head towards the ground to start his decent. Kamille herself wasn’t in the best mood ever, but that would be hard to assess, as she had chosen to cover her face for the day: a long, black beak protruded from her feathery cloak, her mask imitating the skull of a raven, with golden filigree adorning. A terrifying sight, under a certain light - which was probably intentional. 

Kamille had always been interested in the fae, even as a little girl, and even more when she befriended a gentle creature that healed her during her affairs at a tournament. Even more, she had been fairly acquainted to a small creature that looked like a simple piece of jewelry, that she now checked to see if it was properly wrapped around her pointy ear, like an ear-cuff. The Cthonian fairy had developed a peaceful relation to her, eating away at some spells cast her way.

Kamille tried to take a peak to the ground, between the drake's wings.

"There’s a lot of people here, already... Hope I'm not late."

Some kind of bubble of mist took the center of everyone's attention, in the middle of the plains. When Étienne refused to come along when Kamille wanted to investigate fae-related occurrences, she did a double take. The ghost had never been shy of any subject, and yet Étienne seemed reticent and distant when the Witch - excitedly - spoke of the fae. An uncomfortable knot started to form in her gut, but she pushed through. Did the ghost know more than he was letting on? She couldn’t be sure, as it wouldn't be the first thing Étienne had been hiding all along. Still, she turned her attention from the weird bubble, that she would only get to know better once she approached, and glanced around the people already present.

A blur of colors and people-shaped shadows crossed her eyesight, and yet she felt a tinge of recognition in a couple of them, with the fraction of a second their images flashed as the drake circled above, lower by the second. That big, horned blur was definitely Shaa, could never mistake it! That brought a smile to Kamille's face, thinking they would be able to work together again. A splash of glitter - Ah! Morrigan was there! It was gonna be interesting, then.... Even if she didn’t see it clearly, the Witch's heart knew her favorite bird of crime was present too, and all in a moment her mood shifted upwards. Shaa, Morrigan, Fish.... C'Leena and Gwen, if she was not mistaken? Rena, Sarne... Was that Astrid? Big axe, small girl, couldn’t be mistaken: that was Astrid! What was she-....?

"HOLD UP A SECOND! WHO IS THAT WITH ASTRID?"

Kalaf was too old and too much of a dragon to care to the Witch's desire for tea, so as much as she tried to twist her neck to take a better look, the great drake didn’t change a hiccup in his trajectory. Huge leathery wings blotted the sun for a second, and when he finally landed, it shook the land, accompanied by a windwhirl of dust and leaves and sand from the flapping of his wings.

Almost imediately, as they landed, her spellbook started to unravel, shaping a paper-man of sorts, with an ominous, starlit face between a cloak of pages. Almost as curious as the Witch herself, she knew he would urge her forward. The tea would have to wait.

"Mistress, should I recall of the etiquette when dealing with the fae?"

There were rules, of course. Each and single one of them she broke when meeting Hyll, for instance. Do as I say, not as I do, right? It would be quite ironic of she found the dark fairy there. Instead, she turned to face the young boy seated behind her, already eager to dismount.

"The rules. You must-"

Hektor rolled his eyes.

"Do not give your name to the fae. Do not offer them anything. Do not accept anything from them. Keep close to Poe. Yeah, I know. Yadda yadda."

Kamille clenched her jaw. His teenage years would be a nightmare.

The Witch raised a hand, a white mist forming in her palm, as she drew the lines of arcane power to shape a... raven. A white, mist raven. A pretty raven indeed, one that would make Mischief die of jealousy.[1]

"Misfit, first I need your help to investigate-"

"Is it wise, though, to use fae magic to investigate the fae?"

Sometimes, Zhantal was more annoying even than Étienne. As a literal man made of magic spellbooks and tomes of ancient knowledge, however, she couldn’t simply discard his wisdom. This didn’t keep her from rolling her eyes.

"That’s a good point. Hektor, hold this."

Unstrapping her staff from Kalaf's saddle and handing it to her apprentice, Kamille remained silent for a minute, during which Hektor and Poe knew better than to interrupt. Hektor felt the amount of arcane power the Witch was weaving, and excitement was written all over his young face. Once again, the ground was shaking around them, making even Kalaf growl and take a step back. A crack appeared on the ground, and from it, a small root started to wiggle its way upwards... and when the crack became wider and the small root became a ghastly, thorny hand, a huge golem shaped as a haunted tree pulled itself from the ground. A huge hole for a mouth, two embers glowing above for eyes, Disaster groaned the dissatisfaction of being "alive" and up for work. Still, he waited for orders, as the Witch decided for a course of action, taking a moment to look around and see what other people were doing.

Kalaf sniffed the air, stretching his neck towards the mists and growling in response, black smoke escaping his nostrils.

---

Summary:

Kamille, Hektor and Poe arrive riding Kalaf, that lands to the left flank. Kamille summons a Light Fae shaped as a raven (Misfit) and Disaster, the Arkanatek golem.

Actions:

[1]Gwendolyn's Summoning Pact: Light Fae (Misfit)

[2]Summoning of Disaster (Arkanatek Researcher)

Minions:

Hektor, Witch's Apprentice (Sea Domain Apprentice)

Zhantal, the spellbook (Book Golem)

Poe (Black Quill, warlord minion)

Pets:

Kalaf, the black drake

Mischief, because why not?

Wearing: 

Black Feathey Cloak (The Snuggle)

Corset (Shapeshifters Plate - 1 hit prevention)

Cthonian Fairy (Earpiece - 1 hit prevention for mind/emotion altering effects)

Raven's Skull Mask (Brutalizer's Mask)

Nevermore (one piece with Kamille, one with Hektor, one with Poe)

Arcane Proxy (Retorted Tree Staff)

Subclass:

Arkanatek Researcher