With the light emitting from Beak's ring- Marion seemed to be a little more at ease. He does not have the best vision in the dark- and then the shadows parted a way between them, going forward. A sigh of relief couldn't help but escape him.

"I- I see. "

Portals, but to where? The little elf would have no way of knowing, but the faith of how things will generally turn out alright as well as knowing Taki- quite the reliable character- from before, Marion decided that there is not much good to be done here, in this stone city. If anything, he feels like being a fish in a glass bowl in here- providing some meagre entertainment to the ones watching outside.

"Good knights- if you are decided. Would you come with us? The path ahead is unseen, but perhaps we would come closer to the truth beyond these walls."

He made the offer. The rest is up to themselves, as Marion sang his blessings over all of them once more, picking up Idun and followed after Taki's footsteps, walking into the portal without much of a pause. He doesn't let himself hesitate on this- no, if he stop in his tracks he might become stuck in fear.

Position: Fronk quadrant, ground level

Actions:
1 - Activate (Citrinitas)(Prestige) Staunch Perseverance: Active 
You very voice or gaze fills your allies with the strength to keep fighting no
matter how dire the situation is. This affects your allies for two posts and for as
long as your allies can hear or see you, they will be immune to spell effects. This
will not ignore the damage dealt to them by that spell but will prevent them from
any other effects, like being stunned, frozen, shocked, burned, paralyzed, or
other status effects.

2 -/

Items:
- (Helmet) Emerald Hair Clips: 
Reflavoured from: Brain Helmet
A finely fashioned helmet favored amongst battle mages, this steel helmet is
made to look like the top of a brain and is able to defend your head from strikes.
While wearing this helmet your spell count is increased by 5 and you no longer
need any free hands to cast your spells.
A set of jeweled hairpins that are fashioned to look like leaves- they exert a
unseen forcefield that is able to defend your head from strikes. While wearing
them your spell count is increased by 5 and you no longer need any free hands to
cast your spells.

-(Tools of the Trade)(Citrinitas)(Prestige) Golden Laurels: (1/2)
Gold and plant life had always symbolized him. While wearing this item,
Marion gain two hit preventions against fear or charm effects.

Buffs and Effects:
-(Citrinitas)(Prestige) Staunch Perseverance: Active (1/2)
You very voice or gaze fills your allies with the strength to keep fighting no
matter how dire the situation is. This affects your allies for two posts and for as
long as your allies can hear or see you, they will be immune to spell effects. This
will not ignore the damage dealt to them by that spell but will prevent them from
any other effects, like being stunned, frozen, shocked, burned, paralyzed, or
other status effects.

-(Light) Inspiring Presence: Active (3/3)
An aura of energy begins to radiate from your person, filling your allies with
hope and strength. You begin to inspire those around you to continue fighting,
filling them with the will to continue going. Anyone who you consider to be an
ally standing in your immediate area will feel their strength grow. For the next
three posts any ally affected by this spell, including you, will deal double
damage with their physical attacks. (does not effect spells)

- From Astrid: (Ability) Perfect Charm: (3/3)
Your smile and demeanor are so enthralling that those around you now view you as their best friend, wanting nothing more than to protect you. Anyone who can hear your voice will ignore all fear or charm effects and will do everything in their power to protect and defend you. Once per topic, you can force anyone who hears you, regardless of friend or foe, to commit their life to protect you for three posts, preventing them from being charmed by other effects as well.

You know, Astrid expected something to be weird about the drake riders. She’s not entirely sure she expected them to be more illusory vine creatures. “Ack!” the half-dwarf puffs in surprise as she’s wrapped in the vines. Just as she does, her contingent spell to pocket Arcus goes off, and before she knows it, she’s whisked– Wait, that’s the ground! “H-Hey, wait!!” Her eyes clench shut, but to her surprise, she glides right through it, as does the creature grasping her.

Tumbling to the ground inside, Astrid gets to her feet as quickly as she can and takes in her surroundings. Her spirit guardian phases through the tunnel wall and joins her side, looking around alertly and observing the girl for damage. They catch a glimpse of a spectral Fish the Tinkerer, and she raises a hand in a half wave before the voice draws her attention. Astrid looks in the direction of the voice. “Sorry ta say yer gonna wanna fatten me up first,” she jests, trying to get a good look at the entity.

Admittedly, Astrid did not expect this to work as well as it did. And if that spectral Fish doesn’t give the bird some access to the area, then she’s alone. Something seems to click for the little bird, and then they run away. She’s actually alone. Uh oh. Time to stall. There’s no way she can fight this on her own.

Taking up a more proper stance, Astrid considers what she knows. This is probably the Queen the knights and drake riders were talking about. Time to put on her courtly voice. “Ah, Yer Majesty,” she says, offering a little curtsey with her tattered skirt. “I’m Lady Astrid Stormstone. Excuse the intrusion, but ya did just kinda do… whatever the heck is goin’ on up there.” With a hand, Astrid motions toward the surface. She starts to lose some of her politeness as she continues. “If ya don’t mind… What the heck is goin’ on?”

Wait, Astrid, you can play with this! This Queen has the Knights of Duros at her beck and call, and you’re a knight too! “After all, if the Knights a’ Duros serve ya, then I s’pose I’m a servant ta ya, too.” Her badge representing her membership to the very same knighthood order gleams proudly on her chest. “So, Yer Majesty, what is yer mission here, an’ how can I serve it?” This could go badly.

The half-dwarf tucks her hands behind her back, attempting to look like any warrior standing at attention, ready for orders. While she does, her fingers dance anxiously, drawing up a magical pair of bells that she can use at a moment’s notice if she needs to.^[1]

While she talks out of her ass, she attempts to reach out to Hylltywyll over their mental connection. Hi, I’m…somewhere underground talkin’ ta the entity responsible fer this, I think, she says over their mental link. It wants ta eat me an’ everyone else, an’ uh… I don’t think I can fight it on me own. Soooo hurry up please? Oh, I got down here ‘cause one a’ the vine creatures snatched me up an’ dragged me down here. Anyway, good luck! Who knows if that will get through, but she sure hope it does. Oh, I’m uh… tryin’ ta pretend ta be at her service so…Maybe let folks know not ta come weapons blazin’.

Astrid has a feeling that the drake-riding-vine-monsters won’t be on her side much longer if she isn’t somewhere they can see her, but maybe they’ll come to her rescue down here and leave everyone else alone? That might be a little too hopeful. She throws a glance at what’s left of the vines at her feet. This thing might be down for the count.

Hopefully someone shows up to help.

---

Meanwhile, Cstrid and Buttfellow have caught up to the rest of the group, and Cstrid is instantly met with Cypress’s excitable and very cute face. If anything, the Replicant’s appearance could be a good sign that Astrid is alright. The satyr’s sudden disappearance and reappearance on the other side of the smoke cloud is nothing short of confusing for the Replicant. “What the..?”

Cstrid looks at Buttfellow. “You go first,” she says. The golem abides, lumbering through the smoke. He doesn’t exactly breathe, but he probably get covered with the spores, which, luckily, Cypress cleans off quickly with her quick cast of Spring Cleaning. The golem stands beside Cypress and gently pats her head before looking back for Cstrid. Being a magical Replicant, she’s not exactly sure if she’ll suffer any adverse effects. Maybe it’s better to be safe than sorry. She holds her breath and rushes through, quickly hitting herself with her own cast of the cleaning spell to avoid anything just in case.^[3]

The Spirit Guardian with Cypress seems slightly less concerned now that at least one Astrid is within their sights. One might even say it seems… amused by the two girls.

“Alright, we’re together! Hiya everyone!” she says energetically before scooping Cypress up into a hug since, as far as she can tell, the satyr is probably worrying over everything going on. Astrid warned her this would be a lot. “Don’t worry about a thin’. We’re gonna make it through together!”

Cypress smiles, bursting into a small fit of giggles when Astrid scoops her up; she hugs her in turn, squishing their cheeks together. “I know; I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about you.” She assures the replicant; as she’s put down, she scrunches her nose. “Or… well.. yous?”

“Ah, don’t worry about mes,” Cstrid assures her. “There’s a gaggle a’ Replicants holdin’ off the knights from followin’ us, an’... Well, I ain’t exactly sure what mainstrid is up ta up on the surface. Probably distractin' the drake riders or lookin’ fer a way through the weird forcefield.”

Then she looks past Cypress at the rest of the group. “Speakin’ a’ makin’ it through... how do we get through there? Have ya heard anythin’ from Astrid, Hyl?” She points to the distortion field. When someone proposes the means to get through safely, Cstrid and Buttfellow will continue with the rest of the group.

---

Back at the surface, inside the building, the reset of the Replicants are just here to cause problems for the knights in the cage. It won’t last forever, though, so the Replicants start scheming. Morrigan figured something out, so Gstrid scuttles back outside and calls to them.

“Oi! Morrigan! We got a pair a’ knights stuck in here fer now! Looks like the others went down here!” She watches as they try to push the vine-wrapped crystal ball through the distortion with a confused look on her face. What are they doing? Why aren’t the knights attacking them? Where did the fifth knight go? “If…If ya got it, then no problem! We’ll just be annoyin’ over here!”

Having blinded the knights and trapped them in a cage, the Replicants decide to be more problematic. Two of them target the knights’ cuirasses and attempt to lock them in time and space,^[4,5] which, in theory, will just trap that thing in its present position for the foreseeable future until the spell is released. That’ll keep them from following… Unless Morrigan comes over with their antimagic field, not that the Replicants really know about that.

If that doesn’t work, they’re at least around to slow these guys down.

---

SUMMARY:
Astrid gets yeeted into the underground, sees the spectral Fish, and decides to stall for time. In an attempt to gather information from the Queen, she asks how she can be of service to her as a Knight of Duros herself. She also reaches out to Hylltywyll over their mental connection to tell him what's going on. Behind her back, she creates two small bells to call upon the Muse of Dance just in case things get hairy.

Meanwhile, Cstrid and Buttfellow reunite with the group. They rush through the spore cloud and quickly are cleaned off by Cypress casting Spring Cleaning and Cstrid also casting it. They plan to follow the group through the distortion if someone discovers a safe way through. 

Meanwhile, the Replicants tell Morrigan Moonweaver they've got two knights trapped and decide to just be a problem for the knights by suspending their cuirasses in time and space.

Astrid is in the distortion boss room. The rest of the group is in the RIGHT flank.

1. SUPPORT? ACTION - Bardic Virtuoso: Jack of All Muses [use 1/2, dance]
2. PREP ACTION - Getting ready to activate Arcane Mode on Arcanatek Prosthetic
3. SUPPORT ACTION - Cstrid casts Spring Cleaning
4. DEBUFF ACTION - Dstrid casts Suspend Item
5. DEBUFF ACTION - Estrid casts Suspend Item

Wound/HP tracking:
-Astrid [0/6 wounds, see below for HPs]
-Buttfellow [2/4 wounds, 1/1 HP (new cuirass)]
-Dancing Chain [1/1 HP provided, regenerates every 3 posts]
-Blu P Rint (AKA Blupee) [2/4 wounds, cannot take actions]
-Spicy Pawsage (flavored as a hellhound) [2/4 wounds, has fire breath, juggernaut charge, gore attack] - Pet Pocket
-Arcus (flavored as a pegasus) [0/4 Wounds, Armored Banner 1/2 HP, Sleigh Bell]
-Cstrid - Replicant [0/1 wounds]
-Dstrid - Replicant [0/1 wounds]
-Spirit Guardian [3/4 HP] - w/ Astrid
-Spirit Guardian [4/4 HP] - w/ Cypress
-Snow Fort [2/3 HP]

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) [0/1 HP]
-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:
-Buttfellow, cuirass duration [post 3/3, -1 stone, -1 hide for now]
-Lightning Cage duration [Post 2/2]
-Perfect Charm duration [Post 3/3]

Subclasses:
-Squire
-Arcanatek Researcher

I tuck my chin in and cover my head as I flap as hard as I can. The WEF rider, which turned out to be a vine monster of sorts, smashed into the facade of cobble before blipping out of existence. I tried the same thing and almost broke my neck. I barely save myself by turning a headlong dive into a clumsy tumble, arching my back to roll and spreading out my wings so as not to crush them under the force of my hurtling body hitting the dirt. I groaned. Why couldn’t I follow? Was there some invisible portal that closed? Or does this “queen” only let her minions in? Or did the vines cast some space magic last second? I shook myself out and preened out the biggest messes from my head and wings. No, I looked around where I’d landed in the shadow of one of the fake buildings. Through the layers of the illusion, I could see a warping in the space where I’d smashed myself that definitely looked like a portal, still there. The vine creature also seemed to have had some sort of impact with the floor before going through, so being a servant of the queen wasn’t an automatic pass. Hell, it seemed to have lost a few limbs in the process. If the creature could use space magic, it wouldn’t need to use a portal. So then what was it? I joined the other three who were taking a crack at getting through as well. Shaa tried following a spell, a furry adventurer I didn’t recognise sent a black golem of sorts, and Morrigan tried wrapping the ball in some of the vines that had been left behind. I pursed my lips. Was being magic the only way to get through? Well, there certainly weren’t any non-magical ways to pierce space. Considering that the vines of the vine monster had been left behind, I doubted that wrapping myself in them would work. So I resorted to the only magic I knew. Only because Astrid needs the back up is what I tell myself before giving in to the demon I'd been pushing back for 6 months. My shadow writhed as red bled over my skin and my feathers turned to plates of obsidian. I let out a yell and punched into the ground. 


I should thank the queen for giving me reason to do this again. Then again, she has to die for taking Astrid…The very least I can do for her is make it quick and pretty <3

---

Right Flank
summary: Nats smacks her head into the distortion, looks around and decides that using Abyssal Infusion is her best bet to following Astrid.
Buff Action: Abyssal Infusion
Misc Action: Making the shadow wiggle(?) One with Shadows

Quick Summary:

Cypress, without a plan to test the distortion, decides that she will attempt to blink into/and or through it.

---

Cypress glances sidelong at the Spirit Guardian.

Sometimes she forgets she's still there... watching...

“Alright, we’re together! Hiya everyone!” she says energetically before scooping Cypress up into a hug since, as far as she can tell, the satyr is probably worrying over everything going on. Astrid warned her this would be a lot. “Don’t worry about a thin’. We’re gonna make it through together!”

Cypress smiles, bursting into a small fit of giggles when Astrid scoops her up; she hugs her in turn, squishing their cheeks together. “I know; I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about you.” She assures the replicant; as she’s put down, she scrunches her nose. “Or… well.. yous?”

She shakes her head somewhat when Cstrid tells her not to worry - that’s simply not a possibility - but she’ll still try not to let it get the best of her. She does have a tendency to overthink things. “Yeah.” She agrees with the replicant’s hypothesis, lashes lowering slightly. “She probably is - but she’s fine, I’m sure… she’s done this more than I have.” Her smile softens somewhat - but when mister Kvasir calls for her, Cypress’ ears and shoulders perk up; she swivels her head to look at him - or, not so much at him as towards him given she cannot see in this darkness.

“Oh - the mushrooms?” she says, looking at the mushroom that she’d picked. It’s still in her hand. She doesn’t feel tingly or bad just by holding it. It gives off a faint blue glow - and although it’s not the best source of light - it works.

She probably shouldn’t shake it around, though, if that’s the case… golly, mister Kvasir sure is smart! 

With a smile and a glance back at the replicant, she reaches out to take her hand and bring her closer to the others - and when Astrid asks Hyl about her original counterpart, Cypress looks to the little scrunkle in anticipation on the wellbeing of her girlfriend. Though, to her surprise, there’s something… weird as she gets closer. Not that the others are weird, but the tunnels themselves kind of... stop being tunnels.

It’s like someone put up a huge, massive wall that blocks everything off. It doesn’t feel quite right. “Um…” she hums, pursing her lips while she releases the replicant’s hand - and lot happens in those few moments. 

Mister Shaa vanishes in a flash of lightning, and mister Hylltywyll stomps around for a while before he suddenly summons a massive shadow that looks suspiciously like him if he were vertically blessed - and Cypress watches, ears tilted back slightly and eyes wide.

They all have plans.

… She does not… she does not have a plan.

She watches the swirl of colours - or maybe the absence of colours - from the distortion for a moment. She turns her head just slightly to watch Hylltywyll’s shadow-like reflection walk into it. 

She doesn’t know where mister Shaa went - maybe he’s already on the other side?

Another heartbeat passes where all she does is look at the distortion: what’s she supposed to do? Standing here isn’t going to get them anywhere… and after a moment of pondering, she reaches just beneath her neckline to pull up a small crystal-like pendant; she carefully places it between her teeth as insurance ⁽¹⁾ and takes a breath to steel her nerves while she adjusts the flower crown on her head.

Maybe.

She glances sidelong at Astrid’s replicant - she’s still here - and that’s a good sign. Astrid’s still out there fighting, and she can fight, too. Cypress gives herself a little shake and stomps a hoof, trying to summon up the courage she felt when she saw Astrid at her best - poised on Arcus - and steps forwards. 

She touches the distortion with a hand first as a test and attempts to push through - and if nothing happens, she will attempt to step into the distortion. Should she find herself blocked in any way, she summons up her ability to attempt to Blink through.

---

<sup>LOCATION: Right flank, in the tunnel-distortions with Hylltywyll , Kvasir Sigurrós , Shaa Rhunn , and Lady Astrid Stormstone 's replicant.

(1) Essence of the North - Preparing to sip if she gets bit by the distortion.</sup>

(2) MOVEMENT: Steps into the distortion, or BLINKS into the distortion if blocked.

^{NPC: Skelly is still vibing. He's a little guy.}

Mikael tried to keep focused on everything happening around him/ He however froze upon hearing the strange voice. It sent a chill down his spine. Was this the being that was causing all of this? He grimaced some and looked to the portals around them. This certainly seemed rather ominous. He took a few steps closer to one of the portals, Sola and Chesh right behind him in case something were to happen. This all felt horribly off.He tried to look through the portals to see where they would leave if at all possible. He then looked to the others "Should we pass through?" he questioned wanting to hear what the others thought before doing anything brash that could lead to further complications or issues. After all this wasn't a situation to take lightly and judging by the scale of power this being seemed to hold, it wasn't going to be an easy mission or anything like that. At least they didn't seem to have to fight the knights anymore so that was one good thing. The big question was what would be happening up ahead? He glanced to darius on his shoulder and just prayed that everyone would make it out of this

______________________________________________
Front Flank
Actions:investigate portals

Active Items/Abilities:
none

NPCs:
Baby drake (Darius): returns to mikael

Displacer beast (Chesh): moving behind mikael

-owlbear (Luna): moving behind mikael (bull strength tattoo)

Summary: Mikael examines the portal and awaits to see if the others are ready

wounds:
mikael:
-Major:2
-Minor:1

darius:
-Major:1
-Minor:0

Luna:
-Major:1
-Minor:0

chesh:
-Major:1
-Minor:0

Progress! So, the calming effect partially breaks the charm magic. Not enough that the knights aren't still trying to arrest her, but enough that her attempts to communicate are no longer blocked. That's... something. She can work with--

Wait, what's that?

"There are distortions, likely portals, hidden in the illusions! Follow the lit path or seek them out if you can sense them!"

And just like that, the darkness itself seemed to part and reveal a path to the portals in question. Were this any other random stranger's voice, she'd suspect more fae trickery, but she knows @shitakibo and she knows that orochi is equal parts wise, great at investigating and gathering intel, and trustworthy and reliable when relaying it to others.

So... what now, then? She's much faster than she lets on and would be able to slip the knights' grasp and run, if not outright teleport over to that portal before anyone could stop her, but she's still in manacles. Whatever's waiting for this group on the other side of that portal, it... wouldn't do to face it without freeing herself first. Besides, she's so close to winning these knights over. She knows she is. She prepares to speak with them mentally once more, now that she knows she can.^{A1, A2}

"You can hear me! Excellent! Yes... I know you're just doing your duty. I don't fault you for that at all, nor am I resisting or even asking for favors or leniency. All I ask is that you think. What is your duty? I don't even want you to tell me the answer to that. Search your heart and tell yourself that."

It's a desperate, perhaps even silly move, to be sure. She can't... logic-and-reason her way out of someone else's mind-control magic, can she? But the hold is already weakened. She knows it is; she couldn't even Message the knights before, and now she can. That's something. It's a foot in the door. And maybe she can convince them to break the remaining shackles on their minds themselves, if they could only be made to see them....

"Why are you here? Again, don't tell me; just listen and think. You're not just town guards or city watch. This area you're patrolling isn't your home. You're knights, aren't you? Knights of the crown? You were sent here on a mission. What was that mission? This city you're protecting... is this your home? Look around you... the darkness, the way the buildings themselves ripple in the darkness as if none of this is even real. That portal being illuminated over there. None of this is natural, is it? None of this is right. Don't take it from me; you know this in your own heart. Think. Deep down. Think!"

If this works, then not only will the knights be able to release her from these manacles once they're back to being themselves; they may even prove their worth as valuable allies in the fight to come. If it doesn't... well... at least she's not making the situation worse... right...?

---

SUMMARY:
Now that Beak is able to use her telepathic communication once more, she attempts to reason with both knights^{A1, A2} asking them to think about why they're here, hoping they can feel some sort of contradiction about their "orders" and figure the rest of the mind control trickery out themselves.

Ending round still in FRONT FLANK, GROUND LEVEL
^A1 Action 1 (Support...?): Message (attempting to reason with the knight arresting her)
^A2 Action 2 (Support...?): Message (attempting to the same on the other knight who's been calmed but not charmed)

SPOILER: Click to show

Health and Status
- 1/3 Major Wounds taken
- 0 Minor Wounds taken
- Currently in manacles around the wrists

Weapon
- (No offensive actions used this round)

Active Items
- Luminous Medallion (reflavored Sun Heart Ring)

• Lighting up the area immediately around Beak

Active Passives
- Fluency

• Can understand all intelligent languages (i.e., excluding animal speech)

- Inked Marking (from a player who's no longer here)

• 0/2 Hit Preventions used (Hit Preventions are specifically vs. spells of any domain)
• The telepathic communication is moot since the player we got this buff from is no longer here, but hopefully the hit preventions are still good..?

- Staunch Perseverance (from Marion Aurea ) (1/2 posts--Just cast this round)

• Immune to spell effects (can still take damage from spells, but can't be burned, paralyzed, etc.)

Recharge Tracking
- All abilities recharged and ready to use

After shaking his head for a few minutes, Javal decides he has to get to the bottom of this whole thing. Knights and WEF riders are acting weird and a strange darkness has overcome their front flank. The only source of light keeping things illuminated was a bright blonde-haired fellow, his voice the same one that was encouraging them earlier. Running over the options in his head Javal figures that the best thing to do is give this situation some light rain. Hopefully whatever type of distortions and tricks were going on would be washed away by the rain of justice. The fellblood stands still pointing his katana toward the sky he closes his eyes concentrating on

Image of water dripping from the edge of a leaf. He would spin his sword around and then his eyes would jerk open, “RAIN COME TO ME”, and suddenly a normal rainfall (1) began in the area.

Javal would chuckle as he felt the rain wash over his body, the domain being a dear friend to him at this point. He sprinted around noticing the faint spots of distortion springing up. Walking up to one of these strange spots he lowered his blade and touched it (2).

"Hello there weird distortion in the air do you want to be my friend", he asked curiously. 

His loyal retainer immediately exclaimed, “Wait my liege be careful we don’t know what that is”.

SUMMARY:

Javal thinks something is a foot, no something is an arm! Decides that maybe rain could clear some things up casts drizzle and then starts running around. Spots area of distortion and pokes it. Nadia warns him not to poke random areas of distorion.

Javal is at the FRONT FLANK

---

Javal Zarrias
1. Support Action: Drizzle
2. Action: Poke distortion
Passives: Bull's Strength, 6/8 HP of Armor
Nadia Sadrine
1. Warn Javal

As Vail follows Gwen’s entourage deeper into the tunnel, he catches sight of the veiled woman plucking one of the spore-spewing mushrooms from the cavern walls. Throwing all caution to the wind, the noble bites into the foreign fungi, as if it were some common delicacy to her. The scene elicits an eyebrow raise from the ashlander, a reaction that is even more justified as Gwen begins to babble utter nonsense.

The sound of a distant cough suddenly draws the ashlander’s attention back towards the entrance of the cave. Vail’s fists tighten as his upper body lowers, preparing to dash towards their oncoming opponent, when the sound of the earth moving around him freezes his advance. Pillars rise between him and the guard, sealing the intruder’s path.

Vail turns back to see Mori finish her spell. He breathes a quiet sigh of relief as he relaxes his stance. “Thanks, there is a chance these knights are just as much a victim in this as we are. It’s best we focus on eliminating the source of this whole mess rather than any tricks it plays on us.”
From the corner of his eyes, Vail spots Gwen rejoining them in the waking world (if he could even call it that). “Speaking of, I’m guessing that shroom gave her some sort of clue. Better I figure it out myself.”

The ashlander rips a mushroom from the wall, momentarily examining it before deciding to take a bite.

You mess with my head plenty enough already, do me a favor and try to keep some semblance of our sanity, okay?

Vail bites into the mushroom^[1], enduring the unusual texture in his mouth as his mind endures something far greater. Time seems to slow around him as the distortions he had previously seen give way to more defined layers of… reality?

As Vail regains his senses, he realizes that time did indeed slow for him as Gwen and her maids have already proceeded into the tunnel. His swift feet allow him to catch the group quickly and he finds the veiled woman attempting to pry through one of the barriers that only the two of them can see.

“Guess we’re doing this the old fashion way, huh? Breaking and entering is my specialty.”

Vail forces his hands into the barrier alongside Gwen, as wraps adorning them continue to glow^[2].

SUMMARY:

Vail eats one of the mushrooms and he sees the layers of reality. He then joins Gwen in trying to traverse the distortion by attempting to peel it open using his cold iron hand wraps.

---

[1] Utility action: Vail eats one the mushrooms (gross) and gets to see the reality onion.
[2] Offensive action: Shoves his hand-wraps through the distortion along with Gwen, hoping the Cold-Iron effects it.

Active passives:
Controlled Immunity - poison/toxic reduction
Bulls Strength Tattoo - Double Strength
Shadow Sight
Pass without a trace
Hands are weapons
Iron Grip
Dashing Enchantment: Master Unarmed built-in enchantment
Vestige of Light: [4/6] posts
Two Piece
Hands are weapons

Equipped items:
Phantom Plate (Cuirass) (3/3)HP
Smoldering Cape (Clothing)
Hand Wraps (Unarmed Weapon): Life Link, Cold Iron, Double Strike

A look of tense relief settles over Kvasir’s face as more people make themselves known down in the tunnels– that minotaur fellow from before, whose name he’s still yet to catch, as well as Cypress, a towering arcane golem, and… Astrid…? No, not Astrid, but an Astrid–, especially as the light emanating from Laleh-Vahzgun finally ebbs away completely, leaving them all in near-true darkness. There’s a comfort to companionship, even if there’s a stranger down there, too– the closer they get to returning to the oddities and dangers that linger around them, the better it feels to have others down there as well.

Especially considering how frustrated Hyll seems as he kicks at the wall and grumbles to himself, clearly annoyed with something about these tunnels– it’s hard to figure out just what, though, and Kvasir doesn’t exactly want to irritate him further, so he’s just going to, uh… let him have his moment and direct his attention elsewhere for a moment.

“Ah, uh, hi… Astrid,” he says, offering the replicant an awkward wave and a strained smile as he looks to her and Cypress. “Uh– Astrid… Three? Two? Um… Good to see you down here– I hope the… other yous are also doing alright?”

Gods above, that’s a strange sentence. The quantity of Astrids is a strange concept. He doesn’t think he’s ever going to be able to wrap his mind around it– at least not how many there are.

Still, that should be far from the first thing on his mind; there are far more pressing matters at hand. Namely following along after Hyll as he continues down the tunnels, all the way down to a strange… distortion that awaits them toward the end.

It’s a brilliant entanglement of colors, once again, out of place against the dark earthy hollows of the tunnels: pastels swirling together, shifting, fading, here and yet not, a ghost of the filmy veil from earlier, a clear shift in the solidity of the world around them. It’s as surreal and unnerving as it had been earlier, and yet, it leaves no leeway for a fork in the road– the only thing ahead is the distortion, which offers no window into where it may lead, into just whose realm it’s leading them into.

It’s unsettling, but it’s the only way forward.

Kvasir’s gaze flits over to Hyll as he does… something with his shadow, as it extends, warps, forms some tall, harrowing facsimile of the scrunkle it had branched off from, breaking off and lurching forward into the veil of colors and promptly disappearing. It’s… definitely the safe thing to do, to send something else through in place of oneself, but… the last thing Kvasir wants to do is just sit here and wait any longer when he could finally start collecting more concrete answers.

Without taking his eye off of the shifting film of colors, Kvasir flicks open the clasp of his satchel and feels around the arrangement of potions he keeps in place before withdrawing one of them– a vial of brilliant, vibrant rainbow liquid. He lifts it up, quickly popping the cork and downing the contents– almost immediately, a colorful surge of light dances around his fingertips, sparking to life as he curls his fingers inward, a halo of rainbow light branching outward, with him serving as the center. [1] [2]

“Ah, if anyone wants to follow after me,” he begins, offering a small, hopefully comforting smile to all others still present on that side. “I’d recommend staying in this circle.”

And with that, he turns to the film of colors, takes a deep breath, and steps forward and beyond.

---

SUMMARY: Kvasir acknowledges everyone else in the TUNNEL and briefly PUZZLES over WHICH ASTRID IS THERE before following HYLL down to the DISTORTION. He drinks his PRIDE OF SOLARIA POTION and casts CIRCLE OF LIFE through it before stepping through the DISTORTION.

LYCORIS returns to doing NOTHING.

1. Imbibed Kvasir's Pride of Solaria Potion - BUFF ACTION

2. Cast Circle of Life around himself and those accompanying him into the distortion - SUPPORT ACTION

TEMP PASSIVES:

- Inspiring Presence - 3/3 posts (resolving)

- Circle of Life - 1/2 posts

PETS:

1. Lycoris, "Moth Dragon" (reflavored Snow Owl) - counts as a pet

SPOILER: Click to show

A strange moth Kvasir encountered in the Lantern Light Wood on a mission for the Consortium with Morrigan Moonweaver and Cantio von Lumen. This creature has the ability to manifest as a cat-sized moth around the house, bearing resemblance to a Death's Head Hawkmoth in terms of appearance, but when the time comes, it can transform into a vast, imposing moth-like dragon, capable of casting magic.

Can cast Snow Flurry and Heavy Blizzard once per topic.

2. Sparkle-lings (reflavored Snowlings) - do not count against NPC cap

SPOILER: Click to show

A round bottle of what appears to be never-melting snow... but tip the bottle, and snowlings will pour out. Snowlings, little round snowballs (about the size of a golf ball) with legs, are eager to help perform tasks, chores, carry an item, or cause a distraction— but they have no combat abilities, and cannot speak. The entire group of Snowlings may be assigned one type of task at a time.

PASSIVES:

- Night Vision

SPOILER: Click to show

Any and all eyes you have are altered to be able to see in the dark. These eyes are given the ability to see regardless of how dark it is. This does not effect your normal eye sight and will not hinder you if it is bright out. These only work in normally darkness and will not see in darkness created by magic.

- Controlled Immunity

SPOILER: Click to show

Gaining mastery over the human body has increased your control over your own body. You have now become resistant to poison and toxins, your body able to fend them off with ease. Any poison or toxic effect last for one turn less on you and will not effect you as much as normal.

- Angelic Light

SPOILER: Click to show

The light within the celestial now flows through you, invigorating you and filling you with holiness. All of your physical attacks now deal light damage in addition to their normal damage types, so your sword slices, arrows strikes and hammer smashes all deal light damage, making you effective against those of evil and death. Your attacks that deal light damage now deal double damage against those who are of the Evil Alignment.

- Morrigan Moonweaver's Eternity Ring

SPOILER: Click to show

A single ornate ring that is said to magically bind itself to your soul upon receiving the ring. This ring is not for you to wear, instead it is meant to be given to another like someone you love, trust, care about or value immensely. While someone is wearing your ring, they are able to read your emotions or mood, and tell if you are happy, sad, scared, etc. The wearer of your ring is also able to cast one spell, or use one martial/stealth ability that you own (is in your inventory) once per topic. They cast the ability at the same level you posses (Novice, Master or Exalted) and can be used without needing to be in the topic together. A ring can only be bound to one person at a time and you cannot wear multiple peoples' rings.

- Life Spark Earring

SPOILER: Click to show

A small, yellow sun shaped ear ring that can be attached to the ear in any manner. Worn by paladins, clerics and battle medics to dish out damage while still protecting their comrades. While this is worn, if you healed someone last post, all of your damage this post will ignore resistances, immunities and hit preventions.

- Inked Marking (from Hyll)

SPOILER: Click to show

The Quillomancer's tool of the trade is a small, glass vial of black writing ink, which all Quillomancers keep on them. By infusing your magic into this ink, you can place your hand on a target, transferring the ink onto their skin in the form of a tattoo of your own design. You can make three tattoos per topic, which are permanent and stay until the end of the topic, morphing back into ink when the topic ends. Anyone who has an Inked Marking will be able to telepathically communicate with others who also have an Inked Marking, even if they are unable to see one another. Those with an Inked Marking will also know the exact whereabouts of others with the markings, able to speak with and track others affected by the tattoos. An individual can only have one Inked Marking applied.

    Clone 2 couldn't help but choose to take the opportunity to mess around. "What do you mean arrest?" She moves her hand to cover her mouth, "Is that ruckus criminals? I could only hear it slightly before and wanted to take a look at what was happening!"

    Clone 1 enters the building and looks around at the mushrooms covering the tunnels. She carefully steps around the place but decides to try a little magic recently acquired. Pulsing out some magic, not unlike a calming aura, her watches around to see if life is here.

    I can only hope that those two keep them off of me. I walk to the crowds and decide to try and find some stalls. Perhaps there is an item around here to help? Or where ever the others disappeared to that I saw through the clouds is the only way to advance? I pull out a little chocolate as I wander and bite into it's cool berry flavor. As soon as I finish it, I walk up to a pair of people and place on my little child persona. "Hello! Um, I'm a little lost. Can you point me to the nearest bookstore?" How I got there doesn't matter for these people, only that I am really trying to fins my way around and to learn more about this place.

---

Keyke is located in the Rear?

Action 1- Buff action: eating Blizzard Chocolate

Action 2- Buff action: Smooth Talking the 'citizens'

Clone 1: Buff action: Walking around the tunnels with Blooming Anklet

Clone 2: Buff action: Smooth Talking the guards (we gaslighting people!)

Summery: Keyke and Rosemary are in the city. Clone 2 with the guards tries to use gaslight. Clone 1 is in the buildings trying out some magics. Keyke is trying to be discreet as she can be in the crowds while Rose hides under her changed hair on her little backpack mini me.

Rosemary- Curling from the pain in Keyke’s hair/on backpack.

Active/Activated Passives/HP:

Fluency spell

Cloud Gazing

One with the Shadows

Pass without a Trace

Carl- Auto shooting from floating crossbow (19/20 arrows left)(In space pocket, but leaving here for arrow count)
Inspiring Sigil- hits for fear/charm affects left(1/2)
Phantom Curse(Touched by Death)- get up after 3rd major hit
Dancing Chain- Physical hit prevention (1/1) (Not recharging/3)
Cat's Grace- moving allows no knocking over/knocking off something
Electrical Surge- (0/4 Charges)

NPCs and Pets:
Rosemary- Water Pixie lv 2(Does not count against cap)
Chain of Past- Dancing Chain(Does not count against cap)


True Passives:

SPOILER: Click to show

Space Pocket- infinite storage/quick pull out
Animal speech Necklace- speak to all animals
Mask of Memories- can not be made to forget anything, or have your mind cleared, wiped or erased. Your memories can not be read, altered or affected in anyway.
Veiled Sunhat- sight is unaffected by particles such as snow, sand, or silt.
All Eye- immunity to blinding effects from things like flashes and magic, able to see through vision impairing effects, such as mist, smoke or dirt.
Night Vision- See through all non-magic darkness
Shadow Sight- seeing fellow Shadow Dancers
Blooming Anklet- 5ft radius of flora will bloom
Blood Scent- blood tracking
Life Spark Ear Rings-Attack penetration post after healing
Expanded Mind- know the spell is being cast, and you know everything about it, the domain its from, its element, its effect and any additional bonuses
Cat's Grace-no fall damage below 200ft drop
Sea Legs- Can not be knocked down or reduce speed when on a ship

Well, it seems most of the guards here have been pacified. Thats nice. C'Leena lowers her guard and glances around for anyone looking injured, her eyes landing on Mikael Mooreson . She jogs over to the fellblood investigating the rifts, slowing down next to him.

"G'day. You look a lil' fucked up. Here," She says, patting the man on the shoulder and sending her healing magic through him^[1], causing a somewhat uncomfortable feeling as some of his more severe wounds mend themselves. "Won't be able to do that again for a bit so.. Try not to get hurt. Good luck!" C'Leena bids before jogging back to the others.

Once she rejoins the others is when she hears the voice. "Fuck you and your fey bullshit. I should kick your ass." She grumbles underneath her breath. She's ready to act, but not quite doing anything yet.

---

Overview:
Remaining in FRONT, Ground


Actions:
Support Action 1: Major Healing to Mikael (-1 Major Wound)
Action 2: Readying Attack to anyone becoming hostile.


Healing Used:
Marion -
1 Major

Mikael - 
1 Major

Completing his task to help Hektor was over. he was going to get back to his other plans. Let's see if they would take him to see the Queen. Sarne wanted to reason with the knights. "Sir Knights of Duros, what crime am I being accused of? For I served the Royal family much like you do. The Sequoia bloodline has been serving since The Age of Solemnity. You have not heard of my family? you do not find it odd?" Asked Sarne sheathing his sword and taking off his helmet. [1] Sarne's wings retracted, morphing into his back, and disappeared.

Sarne places his shield on his back and waits for the other knights to arrive Sarne hands him his sword and says a few words. [2] "I surrender to you knight I wish to see who is in charge and see the person that accuses me of a crime as a right of my status and a noble," requested Sarne in a respectful tone.

Sarne wondered how the others were doing this was going to get harder but he would have to see what he could do from his position. Who knows maybe Sarne's plan might get him somewhere.

=========================================
Approach: Sill in the Left Flank

[1] Action 1: wings retracted, morphing into Sarne's back, and disappearing.

[2] Action 2: Arcane Focus sword Remove Condition Light Domain Spell
This spell allows you to touch yourself or an alley, completely removing all negative effects applied to them. This includes mental and physical effects the would negatively influence or harm the target. This will remove any negative spell that has a duration and can also cure effects from poisons or toxins. This spell can only be used twice per topic. used 2 of 2 for this topic.


[3] Action: Nordic, Naesala, and Vamir Stealth (Master): Invisibility, Silent Step. They stay hidden in the alleyway's shadows. Watching Sarne's back They will follow if they can

Action: Violet stays with Unicorn (Euros) they remain hidden in an alleyway or building.
=====================================

Inspiring Presence: is still active for one more post

SPOILER: Click to show

An aura of energy begins to radiate from your person, filling your allies with hope and strength. You begin to inspire those around you to continue fighting, filling them with the will to continue going. Anyone who you consider to be an ally standing in your immediate area will feel their strength grow. For the next three posts any ally affected by this spell, including you, will deal double damage with their physical attacks. (does not affect spells)

Their weapons will have
Enchanting Sigil Fire Rune

SPOILER: Click to show

A Fire rune etched into the item causing the blade to appear a deep red. While this gives off no light the weapon does radiate heat in a small range. This rune causes the weapons attacks to burn like fire, burning flesh, and clothing. Can not be placed on a weapon with another elemental rune

Sigils Blessing Holy

SPOILER: Click to show

A Holy weapon radiates with calming and relaxing energy, filling allies with hope. This weapon is effective against undead creatures and deals extra damage to evil-aligned people. After striking an enemy, allies of this weapon owner come to trust and respect the user while those who were struck now cower in the weapon's presence.

Passives:
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.

Celestial Strength Tattoo: (Bulls Strength)
Always Watching:

SPOILER: Click to show

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.

Stalwart Armor

SPOILER: Click to show

You are comfortable with your armor, basically living in it at this point. Your armor has become an extension of your own body. Because of this you no longer feel the effects of armor, moving normally and as nimble as someone without armor. Your armor also now ignores effects that would attempt to bypass armor. If a spell or ability would cause an enemy to ignore your armor for any reason, that effect is now negated.

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.

Welcome to the Jungle:

SPOILER: Click to show

Now a master of your craft, all of your creations no longer take an action, letting you create up to three different combinations in a single post while also doing other things. Additionally, you have learned the inner workings of trap creation, able to locate and even disarm other traps. Your movements no longer trigger systems that are hidden like traps and can be disarmed by you without being triggered.

Overwhelming Might:

SPOILER: Click to show

Stalwarts are physically impressive beings of massive might and prowess, and it shows in the weapons they wield. As long as this subclass is active you can wield any two-handed weapon or a shield in one hand, weapons and shields have all of the benefits of being heavy without being slower to use. This allows you to wield a double-handed weapon with one single hand, or even duel wield double-handed weapons.

Unwavering Virtue:

SPOILER: Click to show

The celestial has instilled its sense of honor within in, building your resolve and strengthening your will. You can no longer be effected by spells or skills that would attempt to force you to do anything against your will. You cannot be turned against allies, forced to flee or even injure someone you wish not to injure. You have become a bastion of goodness that no one or nothing can influence you otherwise.

One with the Shadows:

SPOILER: Click to show

You are always aware of any form of shadow or body of darkness in the immediate area, able to passively sense where these shadows are and what is creating the shadow. In addition you can manipulate your own shadow, changing its size, shape and even removing it altogether. While within a shadow you have the effects of the spell Shadow hiding active at all times, but can now move and interact with objects without breaking the effect.

Shadow Sight

SPOILER: Click to show

While inside of a shadow created by you or another object, you can see perfectly, your vision not hindered by the darkness. You can also see others who would attempt to conceal themselves in the shadows or darkness. You can see the outline of others who are within the shadow or darkness as if you could see them in the daylight however this does not apply to magical means from spells or abilities.

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 (Violet) Cast (Lightning Bolt)

Wearing/weapons: 

SPOILER: Click to show

Helmet 3/0,Torso Phantom Plate 3/1, Armor Arms 3/0, Armor legs 3/0, Kite Shield 2/0
Iron Skin 2/0
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 (Sylvari's) (Wearing)
Etched Petals, Rings of Forged Connection

Front

@shitakibo steps towards the distortion, but a repelling invisible force pushes against her and prevents entry. Simply being able to see the portal does not appear to mean one can pass through it so easily. Dually, as the shadows are pulled away from certain parts of the flank to create a path of light for the others to follow, the city’s walls reappear and solidify. This unfortunately bars Marion Aurea , Mikael Mooreson , Javal Zarrias , and C'Leena Thomas from even approaching the distortion from the surface of the city. Another way in will be needed to proceed forward. Mikael Mooreson is healed up by C'Leena Thomas as rain starts to fall across the FRONT flank.

The three knights charmed by Marion Aurea do try to go with the group, however the two others trying to arrest Beak do not seem fully convinced of being on the same side as the adventurers. The pair exchange glances of doubt as Beak ’s voice continues to invade their minds.

“Miss, the only thing that doesn’t make much sense is why an undead would show itself so openly in a populated area. We have to serve the Queen and protect the civilians from threats like yourself across all of Charon.”

The other knight does look around at the shadows. “We saw this magic cast by one of the interlopers running around. This strange magic is clearly their doing.”

It seems that trying to reason with the knights will only go so far.

Left

The knights arresting Lord Sarne Sequoia , while calmed down, don’t seem to be buying into his claims.

“You pose a threat to the public and have resisted arrest. In the interest of public safety, you will be detained until further notice,” one knight says as they pull manacles out and move to lock them onto the adventurer’s wrists. “The Queen will see you only on her own terms. If you really are noble born you will show her your utmost respect.”

The other two keep trying to get at Hektor but can’t really do much more than just poke at Disaster with the tips of their swords to try and nudge it to move.

The knight holding the staff who also ends up confiscating the sword is pulsed with two different spells at once. They wince and put the palm of their hand to their head like they have a headache.

“Where…where am I?”

The other knight arresting Lord Sarne Sequoia looks at them. “What happened? What’s wrong??” They turn back to Lord Sarne Sequoia and reach for their own sword defensively.

“I told you no more tricks! What did you do?”

Right

Shaa Rhunn rides a lightning bolt he fires at the distortion. This unfortunately does not work as expected, and the lightning bolt, and thus the minotaur is reflected back in the opposite direction as if hitting a magical mirror.

Hylltywyll ’s summon moves towards the distortion, but when it enters the space it ends up exiting facing the opposite direction, as if it had been turned around and sent back. Aaaaand then it gets blasted in the back by Shaa Rhunn ’s lightning bolt.

Kvasir Sigurrós casts circle of life and tries to pass through the distortion as well. He is repelled but thanks to the spell Hylltywyll ’s ink blight is protected from the damage it would have received from being struck by the lightning minotaur that manifests back in the tunnels.

Morrigan Moonweaver hands two potions of eagle sight to the pair of very confused knights.

“Uh, what?” One of them asks as they take the bottle, then they watch in confusion as the purple fellblood goes fishing by wrapping their crystal ball in vines and angling it into the portal.

The crystal ball does pass through thanks to the vines. Seems like even though they’re no longer moving about they still are able to interact with the portal.

The two knights aren’t entirely sure what is going on, but seeing the chaos all around them, they do at least hold their ground. It’s probably a good thing the knights who are still enchanted are currently too busy being harassed by the alphabestrids.

Natsunats-Shun collides with the ground near Morrigan Moonweaver , but is not on the same layer of reality as the others are who entered through the mushroom tunnels. They do witness Morrigan Moonweaver ’s fishing attempt, and collecting the vines does seem to let the crystal ball pass through the portal from this layer thanks to Morrigan Moonweaver ’s antimagic field disrupting the illusions. It seems that the vine creature just fumbled its entry and didn’t cleanly enter the portal when its illusion was broken by the antimagic field. Attacking the ground does leave divots in the ground, but if the distortion is directly attacked, it repells their punch back at them.

Rear

Lady Keyke Runi approaches the civilians asking about a bookstore. The civilians stare at her wide-eyed and alarmed which doesn’t make a lot of sense given her unthreatening appearance. They start waving to get the attention of the knights rushing over to this flank to deal with Kalaf and Disaster.

“Over here! One of the criminals is here!” Shouts one of the civilians.

The duplicate being confronted by a knight lies through their teeth but that doesn’t make them any less abrasive towards it.

“Don’t cause any trouble,” the guard moves to restrain the double. The other duplicate finds that there’s a tunnel inside the mushroom house which appears to lead underground, however, they also hear another knight frustratedly cursing and trying to hack away at an earthen wall.

Lady Kamille Verlithax ’s blight and Kalaf manage to take out one of the WEF riders. Lady Kamille Verlithax makes a fiery swirl around herself which helps deter the knights on the ground, but another pair of WEF riders are quick to close in on her. The knights on the ground instead turn their attention to Mayhem and chase it from the field.

Portal

Lady Astrid Stormstone attempts to stall for time and asks how she can be of service to the queen. A chuckle echoes through the air.

“A servant, are you?”

In mid-air, two tears form before widening and opening into what looks like two massive eyes that look down on Lady Astrid Stormstone . They eyes shift colors continuously, as if made out of the same auroras rippling across the sky, where one would expect white they only see pitch black.

“Given how much all you morsels are putting up a fuss, I highly doubt your words hold any sincerity in such claims to servitude.”

The eyes narrow, but seem bemused rather than angry.

“It’s almost sad, all you morsels stumbling about blind to just how futile your struggling is, and how small you truly are.”

Cypress Springleap feels repelled by the distortion at first, but then she blinks through it to stumble into a puddle near Lady Astrid Stormstone on the other side of the portal.

With the knights slowed down, Gwendolyn Mystwud and Vail have time to combine their efforts to disrupt the repelling force around the portal. As Gwendolyn Mystwud shifts the properties of her spell to match the repelling effect, the distortion tears and weakens enough for the group to pass through into the portal.

Fish the Tinkerer blinks to the other side of the portal after enshrouding the portal in inky black smoke.

As the others join Lady Astrid Stormstone beyond the portal, they can see a ripple spread across the puddles. From those puddles, multiple figures start to rise up from the depths. The figures step forward, revealing oddly equine physiques with long manes that drape down their necks and cover their faces. Before long, a whole herd of these strange dripping, greenish-grey colored horses stand before the group. Singular golden pin-pricks for eyes gleam through the kelp-like hair.

“If you truly wish to serve, then you will satiate my hunger.”

The eyes close and the herd charges the adventurers.

---

NOTE: Please indicate where you are at the END OF YOUR TURN on the battlefield (FRONT, REAR, LEFT FLANK, RIGHT FLANK). 

Knights of Duros are real, some have been freed while others are still enchanted. Other charm effects and means of countering the charm are somewhat effective, but results vary.

Shadows, or being in shadows, can distort the illusions so you can see through them. 

Inside the buildings are tunnels full of mushrooms. The mushrooms create poisonous spore clouds when destroyed. The mushrooms allow you to see through the illusions when eaten. 

The WEF riders are no longer charmed by Lady Astrid Stormstone . The WEF riders are illusions covering more vine monsters and are hostile. The WEF riders can pass through the portals. 

The distorted areas are rifts in space, creating portals to a different reality. Space magic can be used on the portals to let PCs pass through it. All other physical attacks and spells are repelled.

New enemies have spawned inside the portal. 

Damage dealt to PCs and NPCs:

Confirmed - damage and effects have been awarded

Inbound - damage and effects have been threatened

Lady Kamille Verlithax
Kalaf - 1 minor wounds (piercing) confirmed from previous round (reduced due to abilities)

Active environmental threats:

All areas are under some sort of strange magical effect that cannot be fully understood.
The battlefield has been transformed into a stone city.
Inside the buildings are mushroom tunnels that lead to the distortions.
There are weird distortion points on EACH FLANK that redirect RANGED PROJECTILES and RESIST being entered. These are confirmed to be portals on the FRONT, RIGHT and REAR flanks. The WEF riders are able to pass through it, and SPACE magic can also be used to move through it.

FRONT
IT DARK OVER HERE - magical darkness effects make it difficult for those without night vision, dark vision, ebon eyes, etc to see.
Beak is giving off LIGHT in their immediate vicinity

Active minions:

FRONT:
3 Knights - charmed by Marion Aurea
2 Knights - calmed but still arresting Beak

LEFT:
3 Knights - calmed but still trying to arrest Lord Sarne Sequoia and Hektor

RIGHT:
1 Knight - asleep in Morrigan Moonweaver 's hat
2 Knights - pacified
2 Knights - hostile, blinded, and trapped in lightning cage
2 WEF drake rider - hostile, regrouping

REAR:
2 Knights - hostile and searching for Lady Keyke Runi , one attempt to arrest replicant
1 Knight - hostile, in a smoke cloud, and searching for Vail and Gwendolyn Mystwud
4 Knights - hostile and chasing Mayhem off
2 WEF riders - hostile and pursuing Lady Kamille Verlithax

PORTAL
12 hungry hungry puddle ponies

Boss abilities discovered:

Projected telepathy
Illusory magic
Charm effects
Terrain manipulation
Spacial rifts

Action System is Active

The deadline to get your reply in for this round is Monday September 2 at 11:59 pm ET

Siathriah took no time at all to speak through her loyal servant, words pushed through Gwendolyn's mind and out of her mouth.

“BASTARD QUUUEEEEENNNN, YOU HAVE NO DOMINION ON THIS PLANE WHATSOEVER. IT’S MINE. MINEMINEMINE” The grace and tact of the Feytron had been left behind once the portal was passed. The mushroom had made her servant pliable, she would do anything directed at the moment. If only her full form were here at this moment, she would hold no restraint. “AFRAID TO COME CONSUME THEM YOURSELF? YOUR PHONY REIGN WILL END ONE WAY OR ANOTHER” (1)

The hells was she spouting out, obviously the mushrooms were still having an affect. Look, Astrid was talking to eyes in the sky. Now she was to she guessed. And like, a million kelpies? Faerie tales, lol. Haha, Vail had some too. She turned towards the ashlander, a dumb grin on her face. “Prettyyyyy cool huh?”

Ok, maybe having your servant under the influence while you weren’t at full power was not the best idea, but it would have to do. Siathriah shot mental orders to all of the Mystwud Maids to unleash everything. Their own binding contracts took hold immediately, each one becoming laser focused out of nowhere. Several sigils were traced around, and spells were cast with eerie focus.

Millicent draws upon the Storm Salts she had inhaled upon arriving to the bubble in the first place. A wicked whirlwind would be summoned in the midst of the kelpies. (2)

Mori conjures a ball of flame with cat ears, then lobs it into the kelpie krowd. (3)

Jessica Pulls an icicle from one of the nearby puddles, and launches it into the hungry herd. (4)

Gwendolyn in the meantime, tries to focus back on the situation. She takes a long swig of a potion she had found only recently, a bit of liquid courage. (5) Her gaze drags slowly upwards until it meets with the aurouran eyes. The eyes of the Haar Gossamaar flash a brilliant blue, another channel of magic opened from underneath Mystwud Manor to try and bewitch the bewitching. Or at least, begin to wear at it’s defenses. (6)

Actions
1 Siathiah, Debuff Action: trying to intimidate the Fey Queen

2 Millicent, Attack Action: Call Tornado (Storm Salts, taken in round 1) vs. Kelpies
    This spell gives the caster the ability to harness the power of the winds, creating a massive vortex that forms in the area. The tornado then begins to rampage through the environment for the next couple of minutes, tearing up vegetation and destroying weak structures. While it is not a full on natural tornado, it has enough power to harm your enemies.

-Deals wind damage-

3 Mori, Attack Action: Fire Bolt (with lil kitty cat ears) vs. Kelpies
    By summoning a small mote of flames in your hand, you can then fire the bolt outwards to deal fire damage. A small basketball sized ball of fire forms and can be held in hand until ready to fire. It can be fired up to medium ranges and splashes when it collides with something.

-Deals fire damage-

4 Jessica, Attack Action: Ice Spike vs. Kelpies
    You create a large spike made of pure ice in your hand. This spike is about as long as a spear and can be used just like one. It has a pointed tip, making it great for stabbing and piercing. It can also be thrown for ranged damage. If it stabs into something, it will break, leaving a chunk of ice behind.
-Deals ice damage-

5 Gwendolyn, Buff Action: Malik's Ambition vs. Self
    A crystalline bottle containing a thick, golden liquid that looks far more viscous than traditional potions. When ingested, the user will notice that it is so cold that it almost tastes like molten fire in the back of the throat. By imbibing this potion, the user will find that their senses have become sharper - the range of their vision is doubled, and their strength is increased. It is as if the limiters connecting their brain to the part of their body that feels pain has been disconnected. They gain five feet in height, and their skin takes on a golden sheen, becoming hard to the touch and granting them one hit prevention. This state lasts for three posts, in which the user's mind progressively begins to cloud with overconfidence, making them act recklessly. At the third post, the state ends as the user's body rejects the golden serum, and they return to normal with a small headache.

6 Gwendolyn, Debuff Action: Powerful Presence Vs. Fey Queen
    Once per topic, you may make eye contact with a target and cause them to become hypnotized by your mere presence. If you, or your target, are unable to see, this may be used similar to a touch spell.

A hypnotized individual will follow your commands without question, believe everything you say, and see you or themselves as whatever you ask them to. A hypnotized individual can be induced to fear you or be charmed by you; they can be asked to do certain tasks; or coerced to believe something is real that is not with ease.

If you physically harm this individual, this effect will drop. Powerful Presence will last for three posts before the target returns to normal.

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: 0

Mystborn Platebody: 1

Gauntlets of Affluence and Avarice: 1

Mantle of Mists: 2, freeze attacks

Guardian Stuffy: 1 mental

Purity Graft: 0 poison

Silver Veil: 1/2 mental

"AGH! Hey!" Hylltywyll screeched indignantly after jumping away from the minotaur that suddenly fell to the ground in front of him after shooting his newly summoned minion with a freaking lightning bolt. "Watch where you're aiming." He scolded Shaa Rhunn .

He took a look at the ink blight to assess the damage. These things weren't unbreakable, and it took him a moment to summon one. It'd be annoying if it died because of something stupid. Luckily, it looks unharmed, thanks to the magic he could trace back to Kvasir. Staying near him and travelling here with him had proven very beneficial. He could also tell the magic was protecting him too, along with the others nearby, including the minotaur he gave a disapproving look to.

Well, they couldn't just walk through the barrier, and trying to shoot lightning at it obviously didn't work. But, blinking into it had worked, judging by Cypress now being inside. Hylltywyll could just blink himself inside too, but it would leave Kvasir and his ink blight behind. It'd also leave the minotaur behind... Hmmm, pros and cons...

Ugh, he'd have to try and open a way in for all of them. Thinking all the way back to when they'd first arrived, a similar distortion was around the entire area, and it had been popped by Morrigan. It had showered them all in glitter, but that was a fairly small price to pay for opening the way into where the one behind all this mess surely was, waiting for them.

Waiting while talking to Lady Astrid Stormstone ... Hm. She asked him to tell everyone not to go in blazing while she was pretending to be its servant, but judging by how their conversation was going, maybe she was rethinking that request. Oh, actually, now she had another request for him. He hears her voice in the back of his mind.

"Oi, Hyl, Cypress just teleported in beside me! What’s happenin’?? Do ya have any Replicants or Buttfellow with ya? Erm, Buttfellow’s the big metal guy."

"Heh. The golem’s name is Buttfellow?"

Hyll grinned in amusement. What a stupid name, but it was funny. He should think about naming his own golem that he stol- liberated from some stupid mages. Something fun, but not so stupid.

"I can tell ya more about it later. There’s a pair a’ crazy talkin’ eyes that wants ta eat us. Is there a Replicant with him or not?"

Hyll looked through Astrid's eyes for a moment, confirming what she was telling him.

"Oh yeah, I can see that, it doesn't look good. By replicant, do you mean this magical copy of you out here?"

"...Ya don't know what a- nevermind, yes! If ya need his help breaking through, he can cast some elemental stuff once he's active. If ya don't need his help, then tell the replicant to pocket him fer me!"

"Fine. And I know what a Replicant is, I was just messing with you!"

"I shoulda known. Good luck gettin' in!"

Hmph. As if someone as magical as him wouldn't know what a replicant is. Who does she think he is, her personal messenger?

"Astrid is inside there, talking to the one that calls themself the queen, and it doesn't sound like it's going well. There are what look like horses coming out of puddles in there." Hylltywyll said out loud, looking toward Kvasir Sigurrós . He figured there was no point in mentally telling Cypress since she was already inside. She could see and hear it for herself. Kamille wasn't even at the distortion. She seemed busy dealing with the WEF drake riders, and already knew Astrid was inside. Still no connection to Morrigan anymore, so no idea what they were doing.

He looked to the replicant of Astrid near the stupidly named golem. "The real you wants you to pocket the golem." He said nonchalantly before beginning his own plans.

Hylltywyll put a hand on the ground, attempting to extend a shadow onto the surface of the distortion and create a hole in it for everyone here to pass through. He made it large enough to allow his ink blight to walk through easily. Consequently, that also meant the minotaur could walk through easily.

Just to be safe and because he hated glitter, Hylltywyll also conjured a wall of light to duck behind if the bubble burst like it did last time. With the wall of light at an angle to form a transparent purple lean-to, he forced his shadow upon the barrier and tried to create the opening.

---

Right Flank, near distortion.
Action 1- Support- Create Door on the distortion barrier
Action 2- Defensive- Wall of Light

SPOILER: Click to show

Ongoing Abilities:
Astral Soul- Mind Parasite (Astrid, Kamille)
Quillomancer- Inked Marking (Hylltywyll, Kvasir, Cypress), Bestowed Defense
Mind Ward
Inside area of Circle of Life -Kvasir

Passives:
Acolyte- Controlled Immunity
Shadow Dancer- One With the Shadows, Shadow Sight, Pass Without a Trace
Astral Soul- Expanded Mind
Archmage- Infinite Soul
Vampire- Vampiric Heritage- Chaos Touched
Quillomancer- Eldritch Might, Looming Darkness, Ink Pot
Hylltywyll's Shady Shelter
Sun Sparked Goggles
Mask of Memories
Flower Crown
Lucky Clover