I'm going to need a bigger fountain!

bobble

Mar 17, 2022 19:49

What to roll to recognize information about Huang?

Sciborg

Either History or Arcana works here.

In the background, Sherri is studying the scroll and seems completely absorbed.

bobble

nat 1 :( I guess Teri never got to those books

AncientSwordRage

Fin is still adjusting her bag

Sciborg

The name rings zero bells. You think Huang might be a type of furniture.

Maybe something you saw at Walmart once?

bobble

Teri shuffles her feet and looks away, a bit embarrassed to have to ask: "Do either of you know a 'High Archmage Iolatos Huang'"?

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 19:52

Fin mutters, stupid sargh book.. then notices the question from Teri

"Are you ok if I check, the book?"

bobble

Teri angles the page at her

AncientSwordRage

Fin pull Gesta Draumrsteig out without dislodging the plushie and leafs through

@Sciborg am I ok to cast Guidance?

Sciborg

That works, roll Arcana too.

AncientSwordRage

2+3+3= 8

Sciborg

The Gesta seems to know what you’re looking for, but acts sluggish. A few of the pages flicker with Rorschach-like patterns that form images; you get brief impressions of a snow-swept rural village, a figure walking through a frozen forest, high and imposing castle spires. Then it fades.

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 19:58

"þúst... Nothing useful, dullín. Sorry..."

And Fin wedges the book back in her bag

"Unless snowy villages mean anything?"

Mithical

Sherri glances up for a second. "I'm afraid I'm not really familiar with many "archmages". Sorry, dear."

(hi)

bobble

(hi!)

shrug "Not sure what it could mean"

Sciborg

(\o/)

AncientSwordRage

(the gangs here!)

Sciborg

The Gesta suddenly twitches again in the bag. It seems a bit more restless than usual.

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 20:01

Fin scowls at the bag but says nothing

bobble

Do we notice anything about the bag?

Sciborg

The twitch is visible enough that you probably noticed.

bobble

"Fin, why are you looking at the bag like that?"

AncientSwordRage

Fin blushes bright red

bobble

"Fin...?"

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 20:05

"no reason... " (Outright lie)

Sciborg

(Deception check)

Mithical

"Oh, God, that damnable book better not sprout tentacles again, or I'm going to lose it."

Sciborg

(Opposing Teri's Insight)

bobble

2+3=5

AncientSwordRage

(8+5 is 13 deception? It's that what you're after?)

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 20:07

Fin seems perfectly not suspicious.

AncientSwordRage

(brb 5 min sorry
)

bobble

Teri relaxes a bit and goes back to staring at "High Archmage Iolatos Huang" as if she could scare it into giving information

Mithical

14+4 for Insight, FTR

Sciborg

@Mithical Fin seems incredibly suspicious.

Mithical

Giving a look at the bag housing the Gesta, Sherri sighs and goes "Well then, dears, if the book isn't going to sprout tentacles, should we head to that meeting at City Hall? We also now have the added firepower of a stuffed plushie to help us out."

bobble

Mar 17, 2022 20:12

Teri's newfound spellbook disappears into her bag and she straightens up a bit

AncientSwordRage

Still looking sheepish, Fin nods

Mithical

"Well then! Let's get a move on, dears, i want to make a stop at Starbucks on the way."

AncientSwordRage

"Oh, I have heard of them! They sell coffee, já ?"

Mithical

"Yes, Fin. They do."

bobble

"I have a 5% off coupon somewhere in here" Teri says, digging though a pocket

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 20:16

Roll Investigation for coupon-finding? :p

bobble

2+2 :( Teri must've dropped it

Sciborg

Alas, all you find is pocket lint.

bobble

(anyone know the user repeatedly requesting access?)

Mithical

@h0lmesxx please see the room description, top right on desktop

bobble

"Not here." Teri mumbles, scurrying after Sherri

Mithical

Mar 17, 2022 20:19

(how far are we from City Hall / a Starbucks?)

Sciborg

It's around noon, and the weather is mildly cloudy with a gentle breeze. If you walked back towards the center of town to get to the closest Starbuck's, it would take about twenty-five minutes.

AncientSwordRage

Forgetting all about her lie, Fin asks, "Do they sell nice bread?"

bobble

Teri knows the layout of the streets pretty well since she walks most places, in case that's relevant

Sciborg

The Gesta keeps moving slightly in the bag, seeming almost agitated about something.

bobble

Would Teri get a chance to see such movement?

Mithical

Mar 17, 2022 20:22

Sherri closes the door to the Grimsley's apartment and starts walking briskly towards the center of town, raising an eyebrow at Fin. "Bread? At a Starbucks?"

AncientSwordRage

"Would you stop??!" Fin says to absolutely no one

Sciborg

@bobble (It's fairly slight but you're perceptive enough.)

AncientSwordRage

Fin looks at the other too as innocently as she can...

bobble

"Fin, are you trying to get the Gesta to stop moving in your bag?" Teri asks.

Mithical

@AncientSwordRage Sherri stops short at that.

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 20:24

"Já, ok.. I lied... I'm scared of why it's moving so much...I don't want anyone to get hurt..."

Sciborg

The strangest thing happens suddenly. For a moment, the weight of the book seems to vanish from your bag completely, as if the book just disappeared into thin air. Then a second later it's back again. The book almost seems to be vibrating slightly now.

bobble

Teri gestures to an awning in front of a store that is closed today. "Maybe check on it?"

Mithical

"Good God, the book is even more of a drama queen than I am."

AncientSwordRage

"Já.." Fin trots off to a safe distance

Sciborg

The book is shivering violently now, making the bag buckles rattle.

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 20:27

(sorry one moment)

(removing cat from a room)

bobble

Someone rushing past the group, running with a phone to their ear, shoots Fin a glance, and Teri returns a glare

Mithical

Speaking of shivering, is Sherri, who's dressed in a crop top at the moment, bothered by the temperature? (I ask because of backstory, which would to me make sense that she's not bothered by it too much. Also that 14 Con score.)

Sciborg

(It's slightly cloudy and chillier than you'd like, but you're probably fine.)

Mithical

(thumbsup)

Sciborg

Sherri and Teri, seeing as you're hanging back, either one of you can make a Perception check if you want to be looking around at this moment.

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 20:31

Whispering to her open bag about 2ft from the rest of the group, "Heyrðu, skrítin bók! Behave! Your tentacles don't scare me!" (Last part is a lie)

(Fin doesn't have a good sense of what 'safe distance' means 🙃)

bobble

pacing

Sciborg

Inside the bag, you see something very strange is happening. The book is... phasing in and out of reality slightly. It keeps flickering between being transparent and being material, like a phantom, and each time it happens it shivers.

Mithical

Sherri peers over the shoulder of Fin into the bag, but doesn't say anything.

AncientSwordRage

"Hver fjandinn?! What the heck! ....oh crumbs... Oh crumbs...."

bobble

"Fin?"

"Do you need assistance?"

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 20:35

The sidewalk begins to shake ever-so-slightly under all of your feet.

Mithical

"...Fin."

AncientSwordRage

"What is the word for when a thing goes from here to not here? Like a candle somebody is trying to blow out? It's doing that thing."

(@Sciborg what is Lupo doing?)

Sciborg

Lupo is completely inanimate; not even the eyes move.

bobble

"Fin, what happens if you try to take it out?"

Mithical

Sherri looks around, slightly freaked out, to see if anybody around has noticed the shaking.

14+2 Perception (this die keeps rolling 14s)

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 20:37

@Mithical There are some distant screams from alarmed people as the sidewalk continues to shake. Distant BEEEEP BEEP BEEEEEP sounds ring out as car alarms go off. This is clearly something that is happening to both the Upside and the Otherside at once, not just something only you can sense.

AncientSwordRage

"... I'm scared..." The colour had drained from Fin's face

Sciborg

Some people start to run past you in clear terror. "Earthquake!" somebody yells.

Mithical

"Hrafnhildur, if the Gesta is causing this, you need to deal with it now."

bobble

Teri awkwardly pats Fin's head. "You need to try something"

AncientSwordRage

"No... I'm fine... I can do this..." Fin's eyes glow and she plunges her hand into the bag to grip it

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 20:39

Your hand passes into the transparent body of the Gesta; it seems to be having more and more trouble staying in the Material Plane, and is shaking violently. It's going to take more than a physical hand to grip it at this point.

AncientSwordRage

"I can't... I can't grip it... I need something else. My hand isn't enough to hold it here."

bobble

Upon seeing Fin's hand go through the book, Teri tries conjuring up a mage hand and poking the book

Sciborg

The mage hand works, and grabs the book firmly. The phasing immediately stops, but the sidewalk continues rumbling.

You hear distant screaming, about two hundred feet down the road.

bobble

"Fin, maybe try now?" Teri's forehead has some sweat as she tries to pick up the book, but I'm pretty sure the Gesta weighs too much

Sciborg

(The Gesta is under ten pounds, so you actually can lift it if you want)

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 20:44

Fin tries again to grip them book

bobble

Oh really? I've been imagining a big boy. Then Teri doesn't try to pick it up

Sciborg

(I could be wrong, i don't remember how much a Tome specifically weighs...)

The book is able to be grasped now. It has completely stopped phasing.

AncientSwordRage

In an uncharacteristically deep voice Fin says to the book "Behave. I.. am ...in charge of you now."

Mithical

Sherri is nervously rocking on her feet.

Sciborg

The book lies inanimate, but the shaking is continuing around you and the screams in the distance are getting louder.

Mithical

Mar 17, 2022 20:47

Can we see anything about the source of the screaming?

Sciborg

It's about two hundred feet away, Perception check to see or hear.

AncientSwordRage

@Sciborg (I'm happy for it to be light, it just looks big compared to Fin, probably)

Mithical

...5+2

bobble

Teri is feeling rather helpless about this situation

Sciborg

You only hear the shouting and obvious panic; there are too many people and it's too far away to make out more specifics of what's happening.

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 20:48

Fin looks up in the direction of the scream

(2+3 is 5)

Sciborg

It's impossible to tell beyond "something bad is going on."

Mithical

Sherri starts half-running in the same direction they had been heading. "Let's keep moving, dears!"

AncientSwordRage

Still in a boomingly deep, but not overly loud voice Fin demands from the book, "is this you?!"

bobble

Wanting to follow, Teri tugs Fin's arm

AncientSwordRage

Fin runs awkwardly behind, one hand still griping the book

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 20:51

The book does not react, but begins quivering again slightly.

AncientSwordRage

(@bobble mage hand still in effect?)

bobble

The mage hand is loosely holding to book to try to keep it in-phase

Sciborg

People are fleeing from the epicenter of whatever is happening, bumping into you as they run and shout into their phones.

AncientSwordRage

In her normal voice, Fin suddenly says "flickering! The word was flickering" before carrying on running

Mithical

"What's going on!" Sherri shouts at someone running past.

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 20:55

"Out of the way!" Fin booms loudly at the crowd in front of them

bobble

Teri backs that up with a gust directed in front of Fin

AncientSwordRage

(if need be Fin casts thaumaturgy again for that effect)

(pausing for scibirb to catch up)

bobble

The gust is itself backed up with a glare

Sciborg

(sorry, call)

@Mithical The person shouts back wild-eyed, "I don't know!" They're stumbling and one of their pant legs is scorched.

The thaumaturgy and gust combined push back the crowd and fling some people over, and there's a general increase in the chaos.

AncientSwordRage

Fin pumps her little legs as fast as she can but she's at risk of falling behind

Mithical

Mar 17, 2022 21:02

"Fire," Sherri mutters to herself. "Not good."

bobble

Teri strides forwards like she knows what she's doing; she doesn't beyond "follow Sherri" but who needs to know that?

Mithical

"Fin! Teri! Keep running, or stop and see what's behind?"

Sciborg

As you near whatever's going on you see a bright orange-red flash, and some more scattered screams and people fleeing; it seems to be centered in Charity Plaza, one of the central parks.

AncientSwordRage

@Mithical "Nei, I can't see any fire..."

bobble

Does Teri recognize any flee-ers?

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 21:05

Roll Perception.

bobble

19+3=22. Really, this is the roll that Google likes?

Sciborg

As people sprint past you in a general organized panic, you recognize a few of your regular library patrons, as well as some people that you vaguely recall seeing around the apartments you "borrow" showers from. However, none of them jump out beyond being people who were in the area when whatever this is started.

bobble

Teri speeds up a bit

Sciborg

The Gesta starts pulling back against the mage hand, but the spell is keeping it firmly materialized.

Mithical

How long until we reach Charity Plaza?

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 21:08

Are you Sprinting? (i.e. 60 ft. / round?)

AncientSwordRage

(50ft/round for Fin)

Mithical

I guess so? I'd said half-run, so probably closer to a full-out run for Fin given height difference

bobble

Yes, but at Fin's pace - pausing every once in a while to make sure she's not lost

Sciborg

You arrive on the outskirts of the plaza just in time to see the last few parkgoers fleeing the scene, dragging partners or children behind them in terror. As one older man runs, a blast of fire flies at him from the center of the park, and he dives aside, scattering pigeons, and manages to evade just in time.

Can everyone make me a Nature check, and Sherri has advantage.

AncientSwordRage

"Ok, já. Now there's fire"

Mithical

Mar 17, 2022 21:11

17+0 (first roll was a 4)

bobble

nat 1 wow

AncientSwordRage

14+1

Sciborg

In the center of the park, amidst a thicket of burning trees and grass, writhes a massive, Huge-sized creature made of pure roaring fire. It's like one of those fire tornadoes that happen when a twister hits a wildfire, and both Sherri and Fin recognize it as a fire elemental.

bobble

"Wha-?!"

Sciborg

On the ground nearby is a huge, glowing red portal hewn from graffiti-like magical symbols that seems to have just closed before you got there; it's now just graffiti.

Mithical

Mar 17, 2022 21:15

"Oh, that's not good."

AncientSwordRage

"Já, definitely fire now ...."

Sciborg

The fire elemental roars, shaking the grass and pavement. ”BWAOOOOOOOOOH.”

AncientSwordRage

Telepathically Fin says to the other two, "Fire elemental"

bobble

Teri stares uncomprehendingly. She wants to wake up. One step too far from her life.

Mithical

"Fire-element-alive-thing, dear," Sherri tells Teri, eyes fixed on the elemental. "I think I saw it in a dream once."

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 21:18

"We need lots of water, Já... A river... Is there a river near by?"

bobble

A small squeaking noise emerges from somewhere in Teri's throat, and then the visibly shakes herself. "Do you know what to do?"

Sciborg

@AncientSwordRage Roll Perception?

The elemental seems disoriented from raging and isn’t attacking yet.

AncientSwordRage

@Sciborg 6-1=5

Mithical

"Do I know what to do? You're the one who's been living in a magical library! I've been trying to run away from an incident with a donkey and a roof! No, I don't know what to do!"

Sciborg

@AncientSwordRage You vaguely recall there being a fountain in Charity Plaza somewhere, but other than that, there are no city lakes or rivers that come to mind.

bobble

Mar 17, 2022 21:22

Teri squeezes her eyes shut. @Sciborg, may she summon a book on elementals?

Sciborg

@bobble Absolutely.

AncientSwordRage

Fin's voice booms again, "Heyrðu, hot stuff!"

Sciborg

The elemental shakes itself off, and its fiery eyesockets flick towards the source of the booming voice. ”BWOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAGH.” it rumbles, shaking the pavement.

AncientSwordRage

Telepathically Fin pleads to the others, "Find me some big body of water" and Fin sprints off away from the group

bobble

Teri remembers a book-summoning spell and concentrates on the title A Brief Introduction to Not Dying by Magic: Book 3, Elementals

3

Mithical

Mar 17, 2022 21:23

Was that anything coherent in Primordial?

Sciborg

@Mithical You don't speak the same dialect exactly, but focusing on the BWOOOOGHing you vaguely make out something that might be words: "WhhEEEEErrrrrEEEEEEEE."

@bobble A tiny portal opens next to you with a merry little tink sound, and a book pops out like it came out of a slot.

Mithical

"...oh, God, I might be able to talk to it."

AncientSwordRage

Fin keeps shouting to get it's attention as she runs

Sciborg

The elemental starts shifting and roiling towards the direction Fin ran off to, bwooghing loudly: "fiiiiiiiiNnnnnnnDDDDDDD."

bobble

Teri frantically flips through it to get to the section on fire elementals

Mithical

Mar 17, 2022 21:26

"YOU'RE IN THE HUMAN WORLD! HOW DID YOU GET HERE?" Sherri shouts at it in the dialect of Primordial that she's still not sure how she knows.

Sciborg

The elemental's attention flicks back to Sherri, in apparent surprise that you speak its language. "HOOOOOooooooMMMMMMMEEEEEEEE," it bwooghs at you.

AncientSwordRage

water... Anything big and wet.... Please

Sciborg

@AncientSwordRage The Charity Plaza fountain comes into view; it's a nice fountain with three levels, at the top of which sits a cherub pouring water from a vase.

Mithical

"This isn't your home, love. How did you get here, so that we can get you back?"

Sciborg

"HOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooMMMMMMEEEEEEe GOOOOOOoooooNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEE. KIIIIIIIIIILLLLLL," the elemental bwoorrghs.

bobble

Mar 17, 2022 21:28

Book say anything useful?

Sciborg

@bobble Investigation?

AncientSwordRage

Fin looks at the fountain, then back at the elemental, and then back at the fountain

Mithical

"No killing, please. We'll get you home," Sherri promises with absolutely nothing to back it up.

bobble

9+2=11

Sciborg

@bobble After some frantic page-turning, you locate the section on elementals. It says: "In order to not die by magic from elementals, one must utilize the opposing element."

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 21:30

(I'm loving the bwooaging, don't mind Fin looking for water)

please she pleads telepathically, we need to put the big walking fire out

bobble

"Fin, looking for water is good!"

Sciborg

@Mithical "NoooooOooo HooommeeeEEEEE," it bwurghs, growing increasingly agitated, and starts roiling back towards where Fin has gone.

Mithical

"Well, it was great talking to you, love," Sherri mutters.

AncientSwordRage

I'm going to need a bigger fountain!

bobble

is the elemental within 10 feet of the cherub?

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 21:32

It's about 60 feet away from Fin now and closing.

bobble

Where is Fin?

Mithical

"Fin, it's coming after you! It says it doesn't want to go home and wants to kill things! Watch out!"

AncientSwordRage

Booming, "That's right, this way"

bobble

The reason being that gust can push things 10ft from the caster, so if the elemental is near the fountain and Teri clambers up there, she can direct some of the water spray into the elemental

Sciborg

"KIIIIIIIIiiiiiiLLLLL HoooooOOOMMMEEEEE TAAAAAKKKKEEEEERRRRR," it bloooorghs, pursuing at an increasingly rapid pace. It lifts one misshapen arm to fling a fireball at you.

(How close is Fin to the fountain @AncientSwordRage)

AncientSwordRage

Mar 17, 2022 21:33

@Sciborg (if she could reach it, touching distance)

Mithical

Can I roll Insight to see what it means by "home taker"?

Sciborg

@bobble If Teri sprints you could probably make it there.

@Mithical Absolutely.

Mithical

13+4

Sciborg

The home of most fire elementals, as you know well, is the Elemental Plane of Fire. It's therefore logical that if it claims its home was destroyed, the Fire plane has suffered some kind of event that makes it inhospitable for this element to live there.

bobble

One hand holding her bag close to her body, Teri sprints over the the fountain and tries to get to the cherub. 17+5=22 Acrobatics

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 21:36

You successfully vault onto the fountain. The elemental hurls its fireball as you do so.

Dexterity saves from both Fin and Teri

Mithical

"Oh, D'Arvit," Sherri curses, and runs after Teri.

bobble

13+5=17

AncientSwordRage

NAT 1 (+3=4)

Sciborg

Teri, you take 5 fire damage; Fin, you take 10. The fireball explodes at the base of the fountain and showers you with sparks.

AncientSwordRage

Fin too distracted by the Teri-batics is caught off guard...

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 21:38

The elemental is now within 10 feet of Teri and closing. "KIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLlllLLLLL," it bwwwooshes.

bobble

Coughing, Teri sends a water spray at the elemental with gust

Mithical

"NO KILLING!" Sherri yells at it in frustration, running towards the fountain.

Sciborg

The moment the water impacts its fiery body, the elemental shrinks from Huge to Large and starts smoking and vaporing with a fwooooosh sound. It bwooooorghs in agony and backs off.

AncientSwordRage

Fin whoops as she sees it shrink

bobble

cough cough cough

"Sherri, do you have any ideas?"

Mithical

Mar 17, 2022 21:41

(waiting to see if it responds to the yell at all)

Sciborg

"KIIIIIIIIIlllLLLLLLL," it repeats angrily. "HUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRTTTT!"

AncientSwordRage

Dusting her self down, Fin conjures a Minor Illusion of a 5ft wall of water between the elemental and herself and Teri

Sciborg

The elemental shrieks in terror and skates backwards at the sight; apparently it’s easily fooled.

Mithical

Sherri shakes her head, having caught up next to Teri and Fin at the fountain. "Water seems to be working? It doesn't seem interested in discussion."

Sciborg

You can hear police sirens distantly approaching; all the Upside hullabaloo has clearly attracted attention.

bobble

Mar 17, 2022 21:44

Teri curses under her breath at the sirens. She does not want to deal with police at this moment

Mithical

Imitating Fin, Sherri also casts Minor Illusion, but of a watery tentatcle reaching from Fin's wall towards the elemental.

"Leave," she says in Primordial, "or there'll be more water."

Sciborg

The elemental fwoomps backwards. ”HROOOOOO.”

AncientSwordRage

more water please Fin begs Teri telepathically

bobble

checks to make sure *A Brief Introduction* is undamaged - Teri does not need Oakwinkle after her too

Teri messages back "only if it tries to attack again"

Mithical

Sherri wiggles the tentacle to try to scare off the elemental again.

Sciborg

Mar 17, 2022 21:50

(I hate to leave us at a Dramatic Confrontation but i must eat :p)

AncientSwordRage

Fin curses quietly in Dwarvish

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