There was a horrible, tense moment in which Morrigan thought the good guard might run his weapon through them for daring to approach him. Their breath hitched; a traitorous act of their selfish, cowardly body that was generally averse to pain when they had the time to think about it. The charlatan had the hell beat out of them enough times as a result of their on hairbrained schemes. Enough so that while they feared little, they were smart enough to avoid bodily harm when there was no gain in it for them.

They swallowed. This would work.

It had to.

That hollow feeling gnawing at their chest persisted as they concentrated, grabbing hold of that feeling they’d spent their entire life stamping down to the deepest parts of their subconscious. The part of themselves they hated the most; the thing that had made them so horrible.

(It was easier to blame the curse than themselves. But Morrigan had been meticulously crafted from a child’s hopes and dreams and desires to be something more.)

Ah, but it was just a thing. If magic was a tool whose outcome was crafted by intention, then the opposite was true; the mana curse was best used by fueling the fire. Their envy, hate, greed, self-loathing… that was all Morrigan. A selfish monster wrapped in a pretty package.

But, in this case, a useful one.

They did savor the insufferably smug sensation of being right. These men were flesh and blood, not illusion - as the air fell dead where magical threads were cut, as arid as the White Sand Sea, the miasma of color drained from his eyes and he came back to his own senses. Or, well, tried to.

His head swiveled around in confusion, as if attempting to gather his bearings.

“Wha-?”

“You’re real!” Morrigan blurted, clapping their hands together. “Good! Wonderful! You must be those missing Knights of Duros we were looking for. Alright. We don’t have much time, I don’t know if this not-spell is strong enough to last once I am out of your proximity. We -“

It was then they felt a tug on their pant leg -

"Fish needs your help."

The fellblood in question, who was currently in the middle of being incredibly smug at the prospect of being right, turned and flashed Fish a pleased grin. One Fish would probably want to stab if the circumstances were different. “Oh? I’ve dreamed of the day I heard those very words from you. Now, what can your dear ole’ Auncle Morrigan do for you?”

"Fish needs Morrigan to use anti-magic in this location."

… Okay, well that was not the response Morrigan had been hoping for. Their mouth twisted in an unpleasant grimace; irritated at the fact that this of all situations was what they were uniquely equipped to handle. Smoothing over their expression, they crooned, “Only because you asked so nicely.”

"Fish has identified these spots as sources of the distortion, Fish wants to try and disrupt it."

“That, I can do.”

Fish disappeared in the shadows, leaving Morrigan with the still-stupefied Knight.

“Oh, right. I was still dealing with you.” The fellblood reached up and bopped him on the nose with a glitter-coated finger, a lazy smile on their lips. “Okay, don’t talk, just listen. I am with the Knights of Galavance. My compatriots and I have come for the same reason as you - to investigate the magical anomaly in the Sunshine Glade. Only, you guys failed at your jobs, and we’re doing much better at them.” They paused, tilting their head to the side. “Oh, why do I bother, you won’t remember this later.”

They pulled a bottle from their flask and took advantage of his disorientation to give him a little nip of sleeping potion.^[1] If by leaving, the knight would go back under this spell, then Morrigan would just have to remove him from the equation.

“Sweet dreams!” They patted his cheek as he slumped over, deftly pulling back out the Wizard’s Hat they’d used earlier, placing it on top of the knight’s head and pulling it downwards, hopefully encapsulating the sleeping knight within its embrace.^[2]

“Alright, that is one problem taken care of.” Right, they should probably share this information with others, no? That was probably something that well-adjusted people who cared about their teammates should do. Through the mental link, they called out to the one fae that was possibly on their side… they hoped.

“HYLLYTWYLL!”

No response.

“Oi, are you ignoring me-? Oh, wait.” They’d broken the bonds of magic surrounding them, so that likely included spells and enchantments that had been placed upon them. Hell. That was annoying.

Whelp! Not their problem anymore!

That was just fine. The fellblood traipsed through the illusory town towards the arcane distortion pointed out by the thief; the place where the heaviness in the air felt the strongest. With any luck, as they took their place upon center stage, the final point in the star that made up this four pronged attack - this horrible affliction would be useful for once.

---

ROUND SUMMARY 

Morrigan remains on the RIGHT flank.

After getting the plan from Fish, Morrigan puts the knight of Duros to SLEEP. They then try and put the unconscious knight in their Wizard’s Hat to bring him with them as they find the distortion pointed out by Fish, trying to break down the magic with their MARK OF THE MANA CURSED.

1. DEBUFF ACTION - Morrigan uses a vial of SLEEP POISON to knock the dazed knight unconscious.

SPOILER: Click to show

A small glass bottle filled with a murky clear liquid. This liquid is odorless and can easily be slipped into food or drink, or even added to the edge of a weapon. If this poison enters the blood stream it will knock the afflicted person unconscious instantly. They will remain asleep for the entirety of their next post. If they take damage they will be awoken from their slumber. Comes in a set of two bottles.

2. SUPPORT ACTION - Putting sleeping knight of Duros in the WIZARD HAT.

SPOILER: Click to show

A tall, pointy hat which is worn on the head, typically by professors, wizards or scholars. The owner of the hat can pull themselves up into it, revealing a small, single room magical space. This room is small but can provide a private space for you. Objects can be stored in the hat, but still count against your weight limit. You can leave the hat at will, however if the hat is damaged or destroyed, you will be forced out.

PASSIVE - Mark of the Mana Cursed (Post 2/3)

SPOILER: Click to show

A pulsar gem has been broken down, and its essence imbued into a tattoo needle, allowing the owner to have a magical tattoo etched into their skin. Once per topic, the user can activate the tattoo, creating an anti-magic barrier around them in a ten-foot radius. Any spell that has been cast immediately ends. Additionally, for the next two posts, no one - neither friend nor foe - can cast a spell within that radius.

Active Subclasses
Scarab
Transmuter

Passives

Gauntlets of Ginma (0/1 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.

Oh, that is interesting. She was expecting to be indentified if the attempted mental suggestion hadn't worked--that the knight would recognize that thought as not coming from him, would be able to tell that someone was trying to plant thoughts in his mind--but never before has her attempt to Message someone simply been blocked. That speaks to some sort of control effect, as if the knight's mind isn't truly his own at the moment, as if attempts to reach him are being intercepted by-

Something stirs deep within her soul. Another adventurer from the army assembled here today, one she doesn't know and has never met before, and who must have been fighting on some other flank entirely... but there's something particularly stirring about that speech. Beak knew she was here to protect everyone, of course--even the townsfolk and the fellow fighters she didn't know--but now the motivation to act is extra strong.

She can't just lie here and play dead and hope the problem goes away. She needs to do something. She needs to save the day.

With an unheard-by-anyone-else mental groan, she rises to her feet. This next part... could be a problem. She expects that the sight of a skeleton standing up will make the knights assume some necromancer in the group is raising mindless dead to throw at them. She wishes she could announce her presence--that she comes in peace, that she means no harm, that at the very least she can talk and isn't some mindless minion. Unfortunately, she can't talk--not physically, anyway--and attempts to reach them via the psychic channel are failing.

Fortunately, Rena Brighteyes can still hear her, and the magic of the inked marking allows for a much faster and less taxing form of mental communication than her Message spell.^P1

"Istir, I can't seem to communicate with the knights. I hate to be a bother, but... could you perhaps help explain to them that I am a simple adventurer and not some monster, and that I am cooperating and peacefully surrendering to them? Don't worry; I have a plan."

She carefully removes her gloves, one at a time, and stows them away in her pack.^P2 They did demand she throw down her weapons, after all, and she's not as helpless without them as they may suspect. She then holds her hands forward, wrists touching each other and curled downward, as if awaiting someone to come bind them for her.

When they do is when she makes her move. The first person to touch her receives the full force of her calming spell^A1. It's normally meant to remove natural rage and panic feelings in the target, but it should help with unnatural control effects as well. She's taking a risk, here--if this doesn't work, she'll be bound and arrested--but with any luck, she should be able to counter whatever effects the knights may be under, and once they're back to being themselves again, they may even become allies once the real battle begins.

She doesn't expect it to take long for one of the other knights to notice something peculiar happening with the first one that tried to take her in, and perhaps come running to assist. If they do, she's ready to greet them with a second dose.^A2

---

SUMMARY:
Beak hears Astrid's rousing speech and is filled with an urge to protect her, which inspires her to give up the playing-dead ruse, stand up, and take a more active role in this standoff.

Since she can't communicate with the knights mentally and has no physical voice, she uses the Inked Marking to ask Rena Brighteyes for help explaining to the knights that she is just an adventurer like anyone else here, and that she is cooperating and surrendering.^P1

She unequips and puts away her glove weapons^P2 and presents her bare hands to the nearest knight for arrest. As soon as they touch her, she uses the connection to flood their senses with a mind-clearing and calming spell in an attempt to break their mind control.^A1 If a second knight sees the commotion and comes to assist with the arrest, she does the same thing to them.^A2

Ending round still in FRONT FLANK, GROUND LEVEL
^P1 Passive: Communicating with Rena Brighteyes via Inked Marking
^P2 Passive: Standing up, unequipping and putting away both glove weapons
^A1 Action 1 (Debuff): Calm Emotion (targeting the first knight to attempt to arrest her)
^A2 Action 2 (Debuff): Calm Emotion (targeting the second knight to attempt to arrest her, assuming there is a second one)

SPOILER: Click to show

Health
- 1/3 Major Wounds taken
- 0 Minor Wounds taken

Weapon
- (No offensive actions used this round)

Active Items
- None

Active Passives
- Art of the Iron Fist (3/3 posts - Expires next round)

• Attacks deal (non-magical) Earth damage in addition to their regular damage
  
• 0/1 Hit Prevention used on left arm (does not stack with armor)
  
• 0/1 Hit Prevention used on right arm (does not stack with armor)
  
• 0/1 Hit Prevention used on left leg (does not stack with armor)
  
• 0/1 Hit Prevention used on right leg (does not stack with armor)
  
• 0/1 Elemental Ranged Deflection used (can deflect, bounce, or otherwise redirect one incoming elemental ranged spell, once per duration)

- Fluency

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

- Inked Marking (from Rena Brighteyes )

• 0/2 Hit Preventions used (Hit Preventions are specifically vs. spells of any domain)
• Can communicate with Rena telepathically and know where she is at all times, even without line of sight

- Inspiring Presence (from Marion Aurea ) (2/3 posts)

• Double damage with physical attacks

- Staunch Perseverance (from Marion Aurea ) (2/2 posts--Expires next round)

• Immune to status effects from spells--still can take damage, but can't be stunned, paralyzed, etc.

Recharge Tracking
- All abilities recharged and ready to use

Turning away from the window and feeling rejuvenated from his spell, Shaa takes a better look around the room. To his surprise, the room isn’t a room at all but what appears to be a large cave. Looking around a bit, he spies a tunnel lined with mushrooms, leading into the darkness below. Shaa smirks with a throat chuckle. He didn’t know who this mysterious voice was but it was now obvious he did not know who he was messing with. An exhausted geomancer and elementalist, Shaa had no problem with underground tunnels and caves. As it happened, his very own home was an underground cave full of tunnels. There were several rules to live by and one of them was “ Don’t trap a Minotaur in an underground maze.”

There were three things that were bothering him however. Should he leave his companions and go off alone when they might need him? What was up with the cave mushrooms? And last but not least, where the heck was his pet Sandworm? 

---

Meanwhile over in the city, the grumpy Sandworm Dusty was making its way down the street.

Dusty continued to wiggle its way down the street with a lot of effort. It thought it saw several citizens see it coming and promptly go out of their ways to avoid the worm. It understood the reaction but somehow still felt a bit hurt. Even monsters don’t like to be pariahs. This travel was for the birds. Dusty decides to try to dig again. To its surprise the stony surface seems soft! Tired of worming around, Dusty is able to burrow back underground. The only question was, it still didn’t know where here was. There was something odd about this place that was preventing him from being unsummoned back his regular desert. There was only one person who could help him, the one who had summoned him originally. Shaa Rhunn. The creature reaches into its natural instincts for its magical origin and starts to quickly burrow in that direction.

---

Back in the building 

As Shaa considered his next options, Vulcana the Fire Pixy hops off his head and on to his snout. With a tiny firey hand, she pats him gently with a look of concern. Yeah we have ourselves yet again in a crap storm. But we have been in worse spots than this. Sure it’s annoying now, but some jerk is gonna get its ticket punched for this, I promise. Vulcana nods and punches her little fist into her open palm in solidarity. That’s right pip squeak, bam bam right in the kazoo. Just have to find the jerk. Vulcana points down the mushroomy tunnel with a quizzical look. Yeah I’m considering it. But also considering that most of the stuff around here is just an illusion, what does that mean about the tunnel? Is the town fake and the tunnel real? If the tunnel is real, where does it lead? Do we need to get some guys and head on down together? They can probably handle the tin can brigade outside. Between Astrid and Kamille alone they can deal with those dorks. I might be the best equipped for underground nonsense however.

While he considers his options, the ground next to him starts to turn and shift. Hey… looks like we are getting some back up. Dusty the sandworm emerges and roars angrily. Shaa didn’t speak sandworm but assumed it meant something equivalent to “ What the hell man!” Yeah yeah man I know. We are in a magical illusion time travel scenario thing here but we will get it figured out. Unfortunately, Dusty didn’t speak common tongue or even have ears so all it perceived was Shaa flailing around. This was getting them nowhere. Then Shaa gets a brilliant idea.

He runs over to the tunnel and starts slapping the wall. Dusty can sense the open space of the tunnel. Does Shaa want him to go down the tunnel? Whatever. Tunnels were Dusty’s jam so he starts following the tunnel where it leads. As he is actually a b bit bigger than the tunnel, he scrapes the walls of the tunnel taking out the mushrooms as he goes. Shaa points at the tunnel with a big thumb. Free tunnel cleaning service. Nice. But they were going to need more underground back up.

Shaa animates two golem constructs from the earth. The spring to life and await his command. Follow the worm and destroy any other mushrooms you see. Shore up the tunnels where we go. The two golems nod and move to follow their orders. And a final bit of prep and we are good to go. Summoning all of earths energy, Shaa transforms his body into an earth elemental. From the outside, it was an intimidating brigade. A giant Sandworm followed by two golems followed again by an earthen Minotaur with a tiny flame perched on his stony head.

---

Still in Right Flank, heading down tunnel as an earth elemental

Shaa-

9/11 HP. (Wind, Blunt) 0/6 wounds

Action 1. Animate Stone

Action 2. Full Elemental Manifestation ( Earth)

Vulcana- Lands on Shaa’s head
Dusty- Burrowing down the tunnel
Golems- Following Sandworm

All items stored in Bag of the infinite

New Items
Ferburus Dew Claw

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)
Golem 1
Golem 2
Dusty the Giant Sandworm

Hylltywyll peered around at the unexpected surroundings with equal parts curiosity and annoyance. It was interesting that the solid stone building was actually just dirt on the inside. Was the entire city like this? The whole thing just a magically oversized version of a child playing with dirt and covered with an illusion? Were those knights just illusions? If Hylltywyll had to guess, he'd say they were real, but definitely not in their right minds. He doesn't know of any queen that any knights would be serving. Also, for once, he didn't commit any crime that would warrant being arrested by a squad of knights, and neither had anyone else he could see through his mental connections in the area, as far as he was aware.

And checking on those mental connections, he realized one of them had been severed.

"I can still talk to Astrid... But not Morrigan anymore." Hylltywyll told Kvasir, giving him a sideways glance while he he continued checking out the room.

He watched through Astrid's eyes as the drake riders... were now trying to protect her instead of arrest her. Well, she looked like she was doing just fine. Kamille was also being approached by drake riders, but was pulling a Karen on them. She was probably fine too. They weren't attacking yet, at least.

If the insides of this building we nothing but dirt, then did that mean the outside was too? Could those knights just dig right through it? Would they try to? If whatever spell they were under also made them believe the city was real, then maybe they wouldn't, but that wasn't something he would just sit here and assume.

"We should keep moving." Hylltywyll said to Kvasir and started slowly, cautiously walking down the tunnel. Now was a good time to actually put into use the systm of communication he'd set up, even if part of it had been abruptly cut off. That idiot Fellblood probably did something stupid. Or died. But probably something stupid was more likely. That purple cockroach would probably never die in a way that didn't immolate their entire surroundings with glitter, and Hylltywyll wasn't sparkling again.

He communicated with everyone he set up a connection with, Lady Kamille Verlithax, Cypress Springleap, Lady Astrid Stormstone, and Kvasir Sigurrós

"I think the buildings are fake. They're made of dirt covered in an illusion. I'm inside one with a tunnel leading down towards the center, where I think the source of all this mess is. What's going on out there?" He broadcast out and then added one more thing with a shrug. "Oh, and I can't talk to that purple idiot anymore. The connection was broken."

And then he added one more slightly annoyed message, but only to Cypress and Kvasir. "And my name is Hylltywyll, not fluffy guy!"

He crept through the tunnel, his shadow magic covering him and hiding him, keeping to areas of shadow away from the glowing mushrooms. He was near impossible to see, though Kvasir didn't need to see him to know where he was thanks to the inked marking.

With a swipe of his finger across a bit of paper he pulled out from the shade beneath his cloak, the ink on the paper slithered across its surface until it formed a solid black circle in the center of the paper. He handed it to Kvasir. With a curt "Here."

---

Still in right flank, heading down tunnel.

Action 1- Buff/Support- Cloak of Shadows
Action 2- Buff/Support- Sacred Scroll Arts- Concealment Scroll on Kvasir Sigurrós

SPOILER: Click to show

Passives-
(Shadow Dancer)
One With the Shadows
Shadow Sight
Pass Without a Trace

Inked Marking
Bestowed Defense

Mind Parasite (on Morrigan, Astrid, and Kamille)

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

Javal’s attempt at clearing up things doesn't work as they continue to be aggressive and confronting. The fellblood being the good-natured person he is gets confused, these are supposed to be the good guys right? Then are they acting in direct opposition to justice, could these fellows be evil Knights of Duros who’ve abandoned their virtues and fairness?

Nadia thought back to when the group first arrived the Knights of Duros were supposed to be helping them stop whatever was going on, not arrest them. These fellows must be some sort of trick or being controlled and pushed to block them from pursuing their real enemy. It certainly becomes even clearer when a large shadow distorts the scene in front of them as if there is something under their current surroundings.

“My liege, don’t trust these people they’re could be some sort of trick or might be controlled”, the moon elf tries to warn.

“Oh no”, Javal exclaims, “So they’re lying to us? How despicable that these supposed members of the order of righteousness dare attempt to stop the path of justice. Even if you’re some sort of trick you should do better at being honest about your trickery”, the fellblood continues to scold the Knights of Duros as Nadia stands there in confusion.

Javal then turns as he hears Astrid’s speech nodding in approval at her shout, she was his friend, and like her everyone else here was here to protect Charon. As Javal realizes the winged drake riders start moving towards her he glances at the wef rider in his flank. He wasn’t going to let his friend’s moment get ruined so he rushed towards the flier ignoring the Knights of Duros pulling back and clasping his hands together as water covered them swinging forward and latching into one of the drake’s tails and pulling back with all of his might. 

“Hey there good fellows my friend there is busy and I’m sure she wouldn’t appreciate your company. If you three truly seek to fight someone then I’ll be your opponent here and now so quickly turn around and don’t keep me waiting”.

Nadia, although uneasy about taking them head-on, follows her liege’s lead and decides to go on the offensive. She pulls back on the Ray bow and shoots an arrow of light aimed at one of the back of one of the Drake riders.

SUMMARY:

Javal is a little confused at why these Knights of Duros are being so unjustly and Nadia realizes that they must be either controllled or some sort of illusion. They both then hear Astrid's shout and feel encouraged focusing their attention on keeping the front flank drake rider's at the front flank. Javal water whips one of their drake's tails holding it back. Nadia fires off the ray bow at another WEF Drake Rider. Javal then calls out to the riders to fight him if they want to fight someone. 

Javal is at the FRONT FLANK

---

Javal Zarrias
1. Scolds the Knights of Duros
2. Offensive Action: Water Whips one of the WEF Drake Riders and calls out for them to fight him.
Passives: Bull's Strength, 7/8 HP of Armor
Nadia Sadrine
1. Offensive Action: Shoots Ray Bow at one of the WEF Drake Riders 

I look down at Rose as she shifts slightly in my hands. The force from before finally settling onto her in pain. I can feel the toll as well, but in a lesser amount. Was it due to how big I am compared to her? Is it my own carelessness in bringing her but having no way to heal or protect her?

A swelling of clouds forms in my head, pushing back the thoughts of what I can do to only form thoughts what others can do so much better than me. I grit my teeth at the thoughts, of how healing is lost from Taki, Arashi has traveled far, Celeste is helping her brother. I close my eyes and I push it all out. My mental needles may hurt, but they let me think! I can’t… I can’t let my mind fall. I breathe out slowly, releasing the chaos in my mind. As I do this, I push out a bit of energy with it. Letting the clouds cover the sky, blocking out any ‘sun’ or sky lighting. Creating darkness for all to see through. Perhaps the ones on the field will be distorted.

Lightly shifting Rose to my back once more, I tuck her behind my hair with my mini me. Maybe one day I can better help those who help me. My mind and eyes are my best tools, so let’s use them. The energy I feel forms a dim glow in the center of my left eye. I watch closely to that around me and from what I can tell from above. Am I being useful, or am I simply doing nothing. I pinch myself, no I can’t focus on that right now. Simply do what I know, watch and learn, observe and analyze.

---

Keyke is located in the Rear?

Action 1- Buff Action: Cast Overcast

Action 2- Buff Action: Cast Cloud Gazing

Summery: Keyke and Rosemary are in the city. Keyke releases spell Overcast to cover the area with dark clouds. She then will cast Cloud Gazing to watch everything happening. Rosemary tucks herself behind Keyke’s hair onto her little doll backpack.

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

Active/Activated Passives/HP:
Fluency spell
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

Loci, Wind, and Hum all hiss, the bones of each skeletal avunculus crackling and crumbling under the aftershocks of the blast as they stumble back, eye lights of emerald, rose gold, and copper flickering and dimming…

Rena tilts her head slightly, raising her hands and carefully eyeing the knights as she slowly, carefully pulses two charges down the links between herself and two of her siblings to keep their puppets of bone from crumbling to dust…then the lich speaks as Beak stands back up, the crow's voice soft and gentle, "...the skeletons are just as much people as you are, Sir Knights. hardly the mindless, ravening monsters I suspect you're more familiar with...see, she's cooperating. perfectly peaceful, just no voices to speak of..."

…Whistle lets out a soft trill, ruby eyes flaring as she backs away from the guards before stepping behind her uncle Loci, the blade-wielding fledgling keeping wary eyes on the apparent knights…

…Wind lets out an alarmed chirp, fumbling for and snatching his Aunt Wind’s Mourning Stone from the air before it can hit the ground as her puppet crumbles to so much dust, the golden eyed fledgling retreating back behind Rena as he clutches the frigid Mourning Stone in his talons…

Chimes hisses angrily, hefting her Glacier Hammer as she slowly retreats back behind her Aunt Hum, brassy eyes scanning the knights as she occasionally twirls her hammer in her hands…

Loci straightens up, emerald eye lights stabilizing and brightening as the cracks in his bones rapidly seal back up in response to the power rushing down the link between himself and his lich of a sister, the skeleton taking a half step forward as his ruby eyed niece steps behind him…

Hum sighs softly, shaking herself off and taking a half step forward as the damage to her skeleton puppet rapidly reverses, the copper eyed undead crow tilting her head at the knights as though daring them to attack her impudent, brassy eyed niece.

---

Rena Brighteyes talks down the Knights from attacking Beak, Buzzling Locusts, and Somber Hum as she re-conjures the puppet-shells for Buzzing Locusts and Somber Hum, who proceed to step into place to guard Distant Whistle and Morning Chimes, while the fledglings each slip behind an adult - Distant Whistle behind Buzzing Locusts, Winding Gears behind Rena Brighteyes, and Morning Chimes behind Somber Hum.

Combat Sheet

SPOILER: Click to show

Rena - 0/6 wounds
Action - Conjuring Loci - Summoning
Action - Conjuring Hum - Summoning
Non-action - talking down the knights
Movement -
Location - Front
Active Effects

SPOILER: Click to show

Mighter than the Sword - 1/5
Inked Marking
Inspiring Presence

Weapons

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Duelist's Feathers - Slashing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Offhand - 40/40 ammo - 1/1 hp - 1 tainted
Venom Feathers - Piercing, Ranged - Doublestrike, Poison - 40/40 ammo
Soulbound Bayonet - Slashing, Reach - Doublestrike, Lifelink, Serrated - tainted
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 - 0/1 hp - cooling down 0/3
Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp - cooling down 0/3
Inked Marking - 2/2

Abilities

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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

Loci - 0/4 wounds
Action - Guarding Whistle - Defensive
Non-action -
Movement - Half step forward
Location - Front
Effects

SPOILER: Click to show

Persistent Dead

SPOILER: Click to show

Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect.

Extended Frenzy

SPOILER: Click to show

If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die.

Wind - 4/4 wounds
Action - Dead
Non-action - Deceased
Movement - Inanimate
Location - Front, The Ground
Effects

SPOILER: Click to show

Persistent Dead

SPOILER: Click to show

Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect.

Extended Frenzy

SPOILER: Click to show

If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die.

Hum - 0/4 wounds
Action - Guarding Chimes - Defensive
Non-action -
Movement - Half step forward
Location - Front
Effects

SPOILER: Click to show

Persistent Dead

SPOILER: Click to show

Any creature or minion you summon (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) will have its duration increased by one. This allows it to remain for one extra post longer than its normal duration. Your summoned minions also become immune to effects or abilities your enemies control that would end their duration early, with the only exception being to straight up deal damage and kill them again. Spells and abilities that would remove the creature or banish it no longer take effect.

Extended Frenzy

SPOILER: Click to show

If your undead servant witnesses one of your other minions or summoned creatures (must be from the Dark Domain shop or from this class) be killed or unsummoned while the servant is currently in a frenzy, it will have its frenzy duration increased by one post, allowing it to remain offensive for as long as your other minions continue to die.

Whistle - 0/4 wounds
Action - Hiding behind Loci - Defensive
Non-action -
Movement -
Location - Front
Weapon - Icicle Blades - Reach - Slashing - Ice
Effects - none

Wind - 0/4 wounds
Action - Hiding behind Rena - Defensive
Non-action - catching Wind’s Mourning Stone
Movement -
Location - Front
Weapon - Frost Ballista - Ranged - Piercing - Ice - 17/20 bolts
Effects - none

Chime - 0/4 wounds
Action - stepping behind Hum - Defensive
Non-action - Twirling her Glacier Hammer
Movement -
Location - Front
Weapon - Glacier Hammer - Reach - Bludgeoning - Ice
Effects - none

Like a faint, distant whisper fading into thin air, Kamille realizes Misfit is gone due to the impact from the force wall - it probably took a minute longer for her to notice it, since the impact left her disoriented. Mischief was still cawing somewhere, and she knew it was smart enough to keep himself out of danger. Rightfully so, when she looked back, she saw Mischief soon found himself on one of the many nooks on top of Disaster, looking somewhat hurt and with a few feathers missing. The Witch gave her apprentice, sitting on the golem’s shoulder, a knowing nod.

The knights that surrounded her looked wary of Kalaf and Disaster, so that was good. Kalaf growled when they as much took a step closer, showing his several rows of teeth. Disaster didn’t seem much intent on looking menacing, the fight apparently gone from him as he protected the Apprentice sitting on his shoulder.

Kamille’s mind was racing, the options looking not so good. What did they know so far? Was it all an illusion? Where the knights innocents or illusions too? Were they charmed?

The answer came in the form of a voice she didn’t know - or several. A patchwork of voices that sounded anything but human. For a second she jumped up, thinking that maybe whatever entity was behind all of that, it was in her mind. But… She knew that cadence, the choice of words. Didn’t she just apply an Inked Marking to Fish?

Yes. Fish. Fish talks like that.

OH MY GOD FISH IS TALKING TO ME!

FISH IS THAT YOU?! OH MY-I MEAN YES THAT IS A PLAN! I’M ON IT![1]

Fish was so smart! They managed to find a location that looked suspicious and the plan quickly took shape. Kamille looked around - yes, she could do that. No problem.

It looked like Hyll was also in her mind still, and while that didn't seem to surprise her, she still felt a bit confused with the amount of voices in her head.

Hyll, tell everyone you can to brace yourselves. There might be a few explosions around. You're so smart to see through the illusions! Tell me what you find, please! And tell me if you need me to explode something - or someone.

Kalaf growled at the approaching knights. First, she would need to take care of those, but as she wasn’t sure if they were illusions or not just yet, she’d rather not hurt them. Kamille looked over to Hektor.

Hektor, distract them.

What?! How?!

Just… Keep talking![2]

The Witch turned to Sarne for a moment.

“I hope everything is alright around here, Lord Sarne? I’ll trust you to protect my Apprentice.”

The drake violently opened his wings - and for a moment it would be difficult to say for sure for anyone around, but it could very well look like the flap of Kalaf’s wings created a powerful windwhirl. Kamille herself didn’t give any indication she was casting a spell [3] - but then again, that was the Witch of Moonglade. As Kalaf prepared to take the skies once again, winds so powerful as to knock people back hit the knights, as Kamille weaved the magic around her without raising suspicions [4], trying to buy her allies on land some time to handle the knights, who she hoped would be buffeted back by the winds.

And in a big, powerful jump, rider and drake were back to the skies.

Hektor stood up from his position on Disaster’s shoulder, clearing his throat. Yes, talk. It’s simple, right? Just do like Allan does…

Of course, Allan often gets punched by Edgar in the end.

“Gentlemen! If I may have your attention, I’m sure this is just a big misunderstanding…”

Kalaf didn’t need indications as to where they needed to go, the image clear in the Witch’s head being just enough to direct the black drake [5]. He seemed eager to fight back, and slightly annoyed the Witch wouldn’t be pleased if he ate the knights on land.

What’s ‘arrest’, little one?

They wanted to lock us up in a cell. A… cage.

Are they idiots?

Kamille snorted as they leveled up in the skies, trying to focus once again on the task at hand. The point that Fish gave her came into sight, and she took a deep breath.

Here comes the big boom, Fish.

A heaviness accompanied her, as the magic made the air around her dense and electrified. For this time, she took the small spark of power that remained after her first strike [6] and used it to enhance her spell. Kalaf surrounded the spot, and when the Witch raised her arms, the skies parted to give way to a giant, empowered, electrified chunk of stone and storm [7]. Yet instead of magma, Mayhem descended upon the area as lightning and stone, weaved from nothing in a flash of light, an example of arcane might [8].

The earth would groan under his landing - a loud, thunderous crack that echoed for the second time on the battlefield [9].



[1]Inked marking
[2]Nevermore
[3]Arcane nexus
[4]Windtalker
[5]Riders bond
[6]Electrical surge: 2 charges used
[7]Kamille’s summoning pact: Mayhem
[8]Elemental master
[9]Sound of thunder

---

Action Summary:

Kamille:
Action one: Cast Windtalker to knock back the knigths (Support action)
Action two: Summon Mayhem on the location given by Fish (Offensive action)

Kalaf
Action one: Looks threatening and flies off again

Mischief
Action one: Cowers on Disaster

Hektor
Action one: This-is-not-what-I-signed-up-for speech

Disaster
Action one: …….huh?

Poe
Action one: Still hiding


Everyone remains on the LEFT FLANK.

Taki couldn't help but feel bad for the soldiers, their weapons passing through her entranced form. It would not protect her much longer, but it proved to be more than enough to disrupt and distract the knights. Now, it was time to slip free of their peculiar tactics, likely another layer to this bizarre illusion. The effect of the shadows stretching across the field was not lost on the Orochi, which gave her a wonderfully amusing idea. Concentrating once again on the shadows, she deepened their darkened influence as much as possible. In addition, a cacophony of distorted hissing flooded the area, as if the shadows concealed a spectral swarm of primal serpents¹.

Stepping deeper into the shadows, the inky darkness seemed to crawl across her scales as she faded from sight and sense². The wavering, swaying buildings almost made her laugh, a hissing snort sneaking it's way into the roiling sounds seeping from the shadows. Taki wasn't sure there was a goal to all of this, other than perhaps to be as disruptive as possible. Either way, it was high time she slip away from the front lines and position herself for the next step in this strange feverish dance³.

Kamina and Rina had managed to return to her pack^4/5, but both were still in shock and aching from the immense pressure and impact of the shockwave. They huddled in their makeshift abode, trying to console each other and hope that things didn't get any worse. There were all manner of shouts and angry voices beyond the walls, the sounds of battle and confusion. It was an overwhelming experience for the pair, especially Rina, the tiny Flitten unaccustomed to the rigors of adventuring life.

---

Taki notices the distorting effect that shadows have on the illusory buildings, and uses Mass Shadow Control again to darken the area. Adding her own illusory hissing sounds to the mix, she slips away using said shadows while her companions are hiding and trying to recover from the shockwave.

1: Mass Shadow Control > Making the FRONT as dark as possible, and filling the shadows with the illusory sound of hissing snakes.
2: Pass without Trace > Taki conceals herself in shadow from all natural senses, moving away from the attacking guards and back towards the FRONT group.
3: Finale [3/3 Duration] > Ends this round, after Taki disengages.
4: Rina > Hiding in Taki's pack
5: Kamina > Also hiding with Rina

SPOILER: Click to show

Taki - 0/6 Wounds, 3/3 HP, 1/1 HP vs. Fire



Rina - 2/4 Wounds, Flitten



Kamina - 2/4 Wounds, Lightning Pixie II



Prestige: Sharpshooter 4, Shadow Dancer 4, Brawler 3, BV: Dancer 4

Subclasses: Oniwanban Shadow, Oniwanban Footsoldier



Passives: Aura of Vulcadreus, Surface Scaling, Silent Step, Mystic Bells, One with the Shadows, Shooter's Sense, Far Sight, Quick Draw, Hands are Weapons, Iron Grip, Fighter's Sense, Throwing Arts



Items: 4/12

Augments: Baloth Muscles x7, Bull's Strength, Claws, Disjoint, Extra Arms, Fangs, Gills, Prehensile Tail, Tongue Lash, Troll King's Heart, Kijin Guisegraft

Wearing: Morph Suit, Spring Broach, Summer's Embrace Cloak, Kishin Earthswimmers, Fire Dancer's Bangles

Weapons: Kusarigama [Tourney Favor], Folding Shuriken, Hydra Blood Needles, Walking Sword, Gun Brace, Monk's Spade

Misc: Dragon/Storm/Blizzard Chocolate, Spirit Bottle, Tent, Tool Pouch, Medical Kit, House Key, Sleigh Bell [Rina]

Quick Summary:

After leaving the Snow Fort and just missing Natsunats-Shun , Cypress communicates with Kvasir Sigurrós and Hylltywyll through their mental connection, and lets them know that she's okay in addition to what she sees. (And apologizing for calling Hyl a fluffy guy). She encourages Lady Astrid Stormstone 's replicant to help Astrid with the drake riders, and lets her know she's going to go through the tunnels in hopes of finding the source, and hopefully meeting up with the others. She rushes off into a building, and prepares to enter a tunnel by picking one of the glowing mushrooms to use as a light.

---

On the other side of the snow fort, Cypress is able to get a better view of what the field has turned into: the chaos takes on an urban look to it. A shadow passes over her from above, she thinks - but when she looks up, she doesn’t see anybody. “Huh…?” What was that? She glances from side to side, ears perked while she searches for something - or someone - familiar amongst the buildings and streets. It’s difficult to find all those she’d been with earlier amongst the new urban sprawl, though; for a moment, she lingers in hesitation, unsure of what to do.

A voice brings her back to the present, perking her ears despite the fact that the connection is still mental. “O-oh, mister Kvasir! I’m okay!” she responds; how can she even stutter in her head? “I was behind a wall when everything changed, I’m not hurt, and one of Astrid’s other selves is with me right now! Are you guys okay?” She glances towards the replicant before looking back towards Astrid worriedly.

What can she do to help her?? She can’t fly!

Another voice chimes in her head from the undesignated scrunkle; her ears perk when he mentions that there appear to be tunnels in the buildings, where they think the source of all of this is coming from. She wiggles her tail, glancing towards Astrid and then Cstrid with a conflicted expression. However, when Hylltywyll barks through the communication following it, she winces. “I-I’m sorry, you didn’t introduce yourself!” she responds apologetically; in hind sight, fluffy guy isn’t exactly the best replacement for a name… but there’s a lot going on right now!

She’s real overwhelmed!

“Astrid’s speech was maybe too inspirational. The drake riders are going after her - not to fight her, they keep trying to talk her off the battlefield - but there’s knights trying to arrest people, too - and… well, that’s all I can really see from here.” She informs Hyl and Kvasir through their connection, before turning to Cstrid. “Hey, listen - you should go help Astrid with the drake riders! I can’t fly, but the fluffy - uh, Hylltywyll - says that the buildings are tunnels that might lead to the source. Maybe we can help her and the knights both if we get to the source and take care of it, right?”

She gathers up Cstrid’s hand and squeezes it with a determined glitter in her eyes. “Be careful if you go - you and her both, kay?” Regardless of what Cstrid decides to do, she might suddenly feel a lot faster than usual - not that she needs it, but, maybe it’ll help her get to where she's going. ⁽¹⁾ Without waiting, Cypress whirls around and heads for the nearest building, hoping she won’t get intersected by any of the knights roaming around the streets attempting to arrest people.

She pushes her way into a building, and should it have a tunnel, she decides to traverse it. If the building happens to have a glowing mushroom within it, she pauses before taking a moment to attempt to pick it to give herself some sort of light source. ⁽²⁾ Maybe she can meet back up with some of the others... hopefully.

---

LOCATION: Moving from Right Flank to Tunnels beneath Right Flank

(1) SUPPORT: Quicken Cast on Cstrid

(2) MOVEMENT?: Attempting to Pick a Glowing Mushroom

NPC: Skelly is just vibing.

Huh. So the Knights were unaffected, but the WEF riders were… VERY affected. Uh oh. Six drake riders turn to look towards Astrid, and for a moment, she kind of regrets the attempt she made to make friends. Could she turn the riders against the knights? Does she want to? Actually, that might be bad.

A sneaky grin spreads across Astrid’s face. They might know where the “Queen” is.

Hey, Hyll, Astrid calls over their mental connection. All the drake riders are comin’ ta protect me. I’m gonna do somethin’ stupid. Just a warnin’. Let’s see if they’ll take me ta their queen. She listens while Hyll communicates the group’s findings inside the buildings and their intent. That seems like a solid plan. Aye, sounds good. If ya find somethin’ good ta do down there, tell me. I can teleport back ta Cypress in a jiff. Also, Morrigan put themselves in a weird no-magic zone an’ one a’ the knights seems ta be comin’ ta his senses. Seems like whatever is controllin’ them is doin’ just that. Me speech didn’t do nothin’ ta rouse ‘em.

With the drake riders closing in, Astrid urges Arcus into the air. “HEYYY! Fellow WEF members, if ya wanna keep me safe, I sure do appreciate it.” All the while, she rifles through her bag to produce three items: her signet ring, her badge of the Knights of Duros, and her special magical parchment.^[1] Acting as innocent as can be, she looks to the presumed leader of the group and says, “I think the best way ta do that is ta take me ta the Queen so we can talk. I’ve got this missive here, ya see, special fer me ta come talk ta her ta keep the Knights a’ Duros from hurtin’ me an’ me friends! Is there any way ya can do that fer me?”^[2]

As she unfurls her parchment, a very official looking document of ink manifests upon its surface.^[3] She’s stared at enough documentation with Count Thadda to have some idea of what a proper letter head looks like. This one comes with the iconography of the WEF and Knights of Duros in the header, and at the bottom, it includes the sigil on her ring. Given that the knights are referring to a queen, she thinks better than to include the seal of the current monarchy cause some wacky stuff is going on.

Luckily, Arcus has been in the presence of the giant drakes before, especially at home, so he doesn’t react much to their approach. The spirit guardian near Astrid lingers nearby, ready to lash out and protect her if anyone seeks to hurt the girl.

---

Cstrid, having rushed back to Cypress after the explosion, gets checked over for injuries, and Cypress’s tender and quiet fussing brings a flush to her cheeks along with a relieved smile. “Aye, we’re fine,” she confirms. The Replicants are just Astrid, after all, albeit a little less durable. They care for Cypress exactly the same amount as their original. With a nod, Cstrid shuffles out of the fort only to hear the original make a speech.

“Huh, that ain’t such a bad impression a’ Leandros,” Cstrid muses before glancing over at Cypress when she appears from a puddle. “Oh, that’s a good trick! Come on!” She rushes back to the bulk of the right group in time to get most of the gist of everything else – including the beginning of the descent into the underground. Cstrid looks at Cypress for confirmation. If she’s going underground, then so is Cstrid!

Well... maybe. Cypress has encouraged her to go help her main self, and maybe she'll go do just that! If Astrid needs a Relicant army to confuse all the WEF riders, then she'll need extra hands! So as Cstrid nods and follows Cypress back, she sees Buttfellow approaching and her expression drops. "...Look, you go down there an' we'll catch up. Promise!"

Buttfellow, having been left behind by Mainstrid, looks at the knights with a blank stare, his active state fading into something more passive. He almost looks compliant in a way. Lightning continues to spark off of his surface, the duration not quite up yet. He realizes he is alone with the purple one and looks around to see two other Astrids with the others. Without consideration for the knights, he slowly wanders back to the group.

“Oiiii, Buttfellow, didja get smacked by that explosion?” Dstrid complains. “Ridiculous,” she murmurs, manifesting a well organized box.^[4] Stepping into a building, she unfolds it into a small workshop. “Cstrid, get yer arse in here an’ help me make him a shield!” The timing of this is impractical, but the two of them working together combine some bits of metal and hide into a well-enough made giant cuirass for the confused construct. They fashion it onto his person^[6] and pat it in a show of “Job well done,” and “That’s sufficient, I guess,” attitudes.

Seems like everyone else is heading into the tunnels, so they’ll pack up and go after them when they get the chance.

The spirit guardian with Cypress sticks to her like glue the whole time.

---

SUMMARY:
Wounds/HP were deducted properly in the last round summary.

Astrid hears the plan from Hyll then tells him her plan. She uses Charming Grace to convince the WEF leader(?) to take her to the Queen, providing a very official looking missive created by her Wanted Poster, her signet ring, and her Knights of Duros badge to add to the ruse/proposition. Buttfellow returns to the group where he can see other Astrids. Dstrid summons the Battlefield Smithy inside a building/cave. The Replicants work to combine stones+hide to create a cuirass for Buttfellow to at least provide some protection for his dumb ass. Buttfellow dons the crude cuirass.

Astrid, Arcus, Buttfellow, Blupee, Cstrid, and Dstrid remain at the RIGHT flank.

1. Wanted Poster
2. DEBUFF? ACTION - Bardic Virtuoso: Charming Grace
3. SUPPORT ACTION - Uses Wanted Poster
4. SUPPORT? ACTION - Dstrid casts Summon Possession on Astrid’s Battlefield Smithy
5. SUPPORT?? ACTION - Cstrid uses Battlefield Smithy
6. DEFENSIVE? ACTION - Buttfellow dons a cuirass

Wound/HP tracking:
-Astrid [0/6 wounds, see below for HPs]
-Buttfellow [2/4 wounds, 1/1 HP (new cuirass)]
-Dancing Chain [0/1 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:
-Butfellow, Lightning Armor [Post 3/3]
-Dancing Chain Cooldown [Post 2/3]
-Buttfellow, cuirass duration [post 1/3, -1 stone, -1 hide for now]

Subclasses:
-Squire
-Arcanatek Researcher

And now he finally got the time to take in what was around him.


There was a voice that could be heard- rung across the field, and he sort of could tell where it's power came from. It's one of themselves- and Marion let himself comply.

Stone paves streets, knights... last moment they were in the plains of king's valley, and now- 
Is it an illusion? It might as well be part of a wild dream, and Marion wouldn't be able to tell the difference. 

"Thanks... "

Feeling the hand on his shoulder, Marion let out a relived breath as the energy pushed into him, mending- it feels different from his own, or his father's. 

"Are they real? Wait, don't... oh, please excuse me"

Straightening himself up and dusting his clothes, the little elf pushed ahead to those guards that surrounded the group.

"Kind sir- I pray, listen to my plea."
He hugged his staff, and managed a smile one of the knights.

"We are here by accident, you did see how we suddenly appeared out of nowhere? It's the making of the faerie lord that we had been fighting against, in king's valley, where the tall grass had turned the shade of purple and creatures driven mad... please, if you have love for our land- join our ranks until the battle is done, then you may carry out your mission as you see fit."

Position: Fronk quadrant, ground level

Actions:
1 - Activate (Citrinitas)(Prestige) Charming Grace: Active
Marion lay claim to a truly Charming Smile, so much so that it almost seems
like he can cause compulsion in almost anyone when it comes to angling a
conversation in his favor. Three times per topic you can put any one person you
are speaking to under your charm, causing them to see you as a trusted friend.
You can ask them to complete one favor, which they will attempt to do to the
best of their ability. This favor can not force the enemy to harm themselves and
the more in danger they become, the more likely it is for the ability to end. The
person will remain charmed until they sustain damage or complete the favor.

2 - Blank

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 (1/3)
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: (1/3)
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.

It takes Kvasir a bit longer than it should to realize that the building he and the scrunkle ventured into is not, in fact, a building.

He should have noticed as soon as they made it through, really; there’s no noticeable walls, none of the familiar planes or distinguishing features that make up any building he’s ever been in, no furniture, anything of the sort– there’s nothing but earth all around them, dark and claustrophobic, clusters of mushrooms springing up from all over the place. They’re unlike anything Kvasir has ever seen, too– so many mushrooms this distinct from one another coexisting in the same conditions, in clustered formations? That’s unheard of.

Oh, if they weren’t in such urgent conditions, he’d be whipping out his Consortium notes on the spot to start sketching and taking notes– but that’s a lot of mushrooms to take note of, and they don’t happen to have a lot of time on their hands.

He’s not happy about it, but he’ll relent and keep his notes stashed away.

…for now.

Kvasir’s high-focused fascination flits on backstage in place of quickly blossoming concern as soon as the scrunkle mentions that his contact with Morrigan has been abruptly cut off– he blinks uselessly, eye widening, teeth digging into his bottom lip as he weighs just how to respond. He’s well aware that Morrigan is more than capable, and that they’re likely doing just fine, and if the connection is cut, they might have done it themselves– but at the same time, that tiny, irrational part of him is all too quick to ramble on about what very well could be going wrong back there with the knights.

A lot of things could be going wrong back there with the knights. Especially since all of them had been marked for arrest, and the knights didn’t seem to be in their right mind, and…

“...I see,” he says. “I’m… sure they’re just fine out there, at least. I imagine they’re giving those knights hell.”

When the scrunkle indicates they should keep moving, Kvasir is quick to follow– though not before pausing to drag his fingertips over Laleh-Vahzgun’s bowstring once more, a quick surge of light thrumming through it as he sends a spell through the connection– somewhere else on the battlefield, Natsunats would feel a warm light settle over her, easing the pain from the damage she’d sustained at the sudden shift of the setting. [1] Immediately after, for a third time, everyone on the right flank except for Morrigan would feel that sense of invigoration flow through them again, renewed. [2]

After that, he simply continues along after the scrunkle– whose name he learns is Hylltywyll, after a rather… annoyed declaration through the connection formed between the two of them and Cypress–, guided along both by the knowledge bestowed to him by the blessing and the connection. Despite the… unease that comes with navigating the tunnels, it is comforting to hear that Cypress is doing alright up there, and that she’s with Astrid– well, one of the Astrids.

“Good, good,” he responds back. “Try to keep it that way. Hylltywyll and I are just fine– he and I are in the tunnels he mentioned. There’s a lot of strange illusions going on, so just… continue to be cautious.”

Kvasir’s content just to keep walking with Hyll for as long as necessary– but he startles a little as soon as Hyll hands out a piece of paper to him, tail bristling and a mildly undignified noise escaping his throat, but he settles quickly enough, accepting the paper with little more than a head tilt. It doesn’t… seem particularly strange, and certainly not malicious, so he quickly tucks it away on his person, giving a grateful nod.

“Ah, thank you…?”

…he has to say, Hylltywyll certainly is an interesting person. Not in a bad way, of course, more in the sense that he’s unique– different from most people Kvasir knows. He feels like they’ll both be alright down here, at least.

…everyone else down here in the tunnels, though– that minotaur man, and… Cypress? [3]

Oh, gods.

“...Cypress, are you down here, too?” he calls through the connection. “Ah, we can try and meet up with you– please be careful…”

---

SUMMARY: Now in the STRANGE CAVES, Kvasir takes a moment to PINE over the lost opportunity to WRITE ABOUT MUSHROOMS and WORRY about MORRIGAN before continuing down into the tunnels with HYLL. He also HEALS NATSU and INVIGORATES EVERYONE BUT MORRIGAN again. He learns HYLL's NAME and has some TALKS, before realizing CYPRESS is in the CAVES UNSUPERVISED and FRETTING, as he does.

Lycoris continues to do NOTHING but NAP.

1. Major Healing on Natsu - SUPPORT ACTION

2. Inspiring Presence (Again) - SUPPORT ACTION (you aren't escaping.)

3. Blessing of the Lost Oasis - awareness

TEMP PASSIVES:

Vestige of Light - 5/6 posts

Blessing of the Babyleash Lost Oasis - 3/3 posts (resolving)

Inspiring Presence - 1/3 posts

Concealment Scroll (from Hyll) - 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.

Vail follows Gwen and her entourage through the mist^[1], keeping a low profile from the knights and the cityfolk. As the group wanders deeper into the city, he keeps a close eye on the knights, who now seem far more concerned with the deeptusks than them. Something about this city strikes the ashlander as odd, aside from the buildings, which appear to be wobbling wherever the darkness touches. Gwen’s query pulls his attention forward, and he replies with an unsteady tone.

“Still here, unfortunately, and I haven't got the slightest clue as to what is going on. If I had to venture a guess, however, the people here are real, even if the environment is not. The knights have done little to pursue us and the commonfolk we’ve seen don’t appear to be armed. I highly doubt that being behind this illusion would waste energy creating beings that weren’t immediately hostile to us. The commission mentioned knights entering and never returning, so perhaps these are the people who ventured through the veil before us.”

The ashlander patiently waits in the darkness^[2], provided by a sudden overcast, as the veiled woman is launched to the rooftops. Sure, he could join her up there, but the movement of several airborne drakes meant that more people were more likely to be spotted. His decision is a sound one, especially after the noble woman blasts a hole towards the center of the city, an act that is sure to draw quite some attention.

As Gwen discusses her plan to head down her impromptu path, an uneasy feeling of deja vu arises within Vail, as he is reminded of the last time he ventured through a tunnel with her.
“Gotta say, my memory of what happened at Drakolt is a bit hazy, but the sight of another tunnel doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence. Regardless, I’ll bring up the rear. That firework show is bound to have drawn some attention. If we do get any unwanted guests, it's best that the person who excels in tight spaces greet them first.”

---

SUMMARY:
Vail follows Gwen and uses Pass Without a Trace ensure he doesn't leave a trail. He then waits in the shadows as the noble woman fires her big laser, and decides to follow her underground, taking up the rear to greet any unwanted pursuers.

[1] Passive action: Uses Pass Without a Trace.
[2] Buff action: Activate One with the Shadows

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: [2/6] posts
Blessing of the Hallowed: [2/3] 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

Mikael took a breath as he looked at the guards not backing down before looking to the buildings seeming to morph in the shadow. Hearing a voice across the way he felt the urge to protect that person “Darius go find the girl who spoke and make sure she is okay please” he called before focusing and using calm emotions once again before moving swiftly to a guard, grabbing onto one hoping the spell would break whatever enchantment they were on like the Deeptusks. “Please work” he muttered as he was in a very bad position if this didn’t wor.

Darius however flew to find the voice of who must be protected letting out a little squeak once he had found the group she must be in looking for who exactly it was in the group.Luna however moved forwards to help protect Mikael if the spell didn’t work on the guard whilst chesh stayed back, low to the ground in a defensive stance due to being blind at the current moment, letting out a hiss as his tail lashed. It was certainly a dangerous game and Mikael could feel just how beat up he was at this particular moment

---

Front Flank
Actions:
Sends Darius to find Astrid, and uses calm emotions on a guard

Active Items/Abilities:
-Calm Emotions

NPCs:

Baby drake (Darius): find Astrid 

Displacer beast (Chesh): defensive position. Blind

-Not against cap bc beastmaster lvl 3 prestige:

-owlbear (Luna): move to Mikaela side (bull strength tattoo)

Summary:sends Darius to find Astrid and uses calm emotions on a guard

wounds:
mikael: 
-Major:2
-Minor:1

darius:
-Major:1
-Minor:0

Luna:
-Major:1
-Minor:0

chesh:
-Major:1
-Minor:0