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As the newly restored party enters the Gravenwood, only partially protected by the dark influence by their warding magic- those in the front can see something up ahead. Eyes from dark shapes, darting between the trees. With no moans or dark curses- these forms do not seem to be ghosts or harmful spirits- at least not yet.

"They are watching us."
"What should we do?"
"Be rid of them."

Rules
As with climbing the tower from the previous thread; this challenge includes overcoming obstacles. You may perform as many obstacles of the same type together as you wish, but must combine their difficulty.

To fail any of the challenges below is to be Cursed or Injured. The Ward will protect one party member from being cursed.

Watchers in the Forest
Unflinching Stares x3
>Scare them away (Strength roll of 6 or better)
>Magelight (Chorus 2)
>Clutch a Rabbit's Foot (Give up Rabbit Foot)

Suspicious pile of leaves x2
>Jump Over (Easy Skill)
>Prod at it (Give up Staff)

Mysterious Birdcall
>Mimic the sound (Hard Skill)
>Throw a knife at the sound (Lose Throwing Knives)

Rolled 1, 5, 3, 8 = 17 (4d8)

>>5727781
I'll try to
>Mimic the sound

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>5727781
"Sshoo, ssshoo! Weren't you taught that ssstaring iss rude?"

>>5727804
Btw That was an attempt to
>Scare
Apparently Squire isn't very scary guy, go figure...

>>5727783
>>5727804
Okay, so we got two failures in a row...?

>>5727825
I guess that uses up both our Wards, then. And I don't think putting on more prayer will add anything to protect us?

So, going to hold back on an action for now, as Benjy is far less capable at anything he might turn his hand to here then Scrim would be.

Rolled 1, 6, 2, 4 + 1 = 14 (4d6 + 1)

>>5727830
Sigh...well i can do up all of the challenges, i guess. It's basically impossible for me to fail anyway, and i don't care about difficulty due to my booties.

>>5727781
"I hate this bloody island..."
>Jump Over (Easy Skill)
>Mimic the sound (Hard Skill)

>>5727834
Hmm, yep, that works. A pair of 1s, and a 2 and a 1.

Being gravely wounded and cursed, I should probably sit this one out right?

>>5727855
Your character's wound was healed in the Downtime just before the previous player of the character quit, but I think the curse is still in play?

I don't know about sitting out, but since Scrim's just bounced all over the skill challenges your best bet is probably to wait until after the remaining Warriors have tried scaring off the unflinching stares, and having an attempt if there's still some Stares left over to shoo. Since your Dice is a D8 for being a Snout, you'll actually have a slightly better chance of scaring away with your Strength rather then attempting a Magelight... if you're needed.

>>5727855
I don't think you're gravely wounded anymore after tordynnar healed you, but yes. All that's left is for someone to roll away the watchers.

Rolled 3, 5, 4, 4 + 1 = 17 (4d6 + 1)

>>5727781
I just realized there are *two* piles of leaves. I need to get rid of the second one, too. Should be easy, i literally can't fail an easy skill test.
>Jump over it

>>5727867
Ooh, a pair. That works extra well. Also the 3,4,5 sequence, but it hardly matters at that point.

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>>5727834
>>5727867
>>5727868
How many rolls you gonna make on one prompt, bud?

>>5727871
Isn't it for a different roll? I thought i had to roll again if i wanted to act again.

>>5727871
Hey what's the limits on the Necklace, I imagine if I go up to d100 I'll explode
also what if I try scaring multiple Stares, would that need a 18 strength roll? a 10?

>>5727891
Difficulty is combined so I'd say 12 for two, or 18 for three.

>>5727871
If you're only allowed to roll once and you can't just add stuff, then that means that we still have an pile of leaves left, right?

Rolled 8 (1d12)

>>5727781
>Scare them away
Twink draws power from the necklace, flexing his might to the shapes

>>5727895
Can we get an answer on this please? Since it doesn't count, someone needs to jump over the pile of leaves.

>>5727893
So if I’ve understood it correctly: if a solo hero encounters one trap where they have a 50% failure rate they get 0.5 or 1 injuries on average (depending on whether it can be triggered multiple times), but if you encounter two they die? Is the intention to prevent a single tough/skillful player from tanking?

>>5727972
Should I have a go at the second suspicious leaf-pile, then? Jumping's an easy skill check so I'll have a 50/50 chance there, succeeding on a D6 Roll of 2, 3 or 4... not great, but I don't think it's actually worse then anyone else's chances, and everyone else is better placed Scaring off a Stare.

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>5727781
>Scare a Stare

>>5728079
I suppose so, seems like we're gonna get cursed to hell and back anyway lol.

>>5728079
if Tordynnar uses magelight and passes you could auto-3 the stares, supposing that these obstacle shares mechanics with hauntings
>>5728080
we might actually need it too

>>5728085
Fair enough! I'll hold on, then, and see what results Myron and Tordynnar get first - if both of them succeed against the Stares, there's no job for me and I'd be better used jumping the leaves. If Tordynar succeeds but Myron fails, I can auto-pass the last Stare with a Magelight. And if Myron Succeeds but Tordynar fails... Pineneedle might need to step up against the Stares.

(It's a shame we can't give orders to the unclaimed characters and tell Alfred to scare a stare/Pietro to jump the last suspicious leaf-pile)

>>5728094
Yeah considering there's a lot of 50/50 stuff here and we only have 9 active players all things being equal we don't actually clear everything. The extra two would be mighty helpful.

>>5728007
Forget it, I'd misunderstood.
>>5728094
I have a Staff, maybe I should prod a leaf pile with it. A staff provides immunity to torment, but with only 2HP life/not being double cursed is more scare than items imo. Gotta stay kicking to keep on licking.
And it doesn't require a roll which is nice.

Question to Bananas: what happens if we don't clear all the obstacles, do we each get to pick another obstacle to clear?

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>5727781
>Magelight

>>5728512
Oh, awesome! That natural 1 raises the chorus of the magic roll by one, so...:

>>5727781
>Magelight (Chorus 3) (Auto-3)

So...all we've got left is the leafs, right?

>>5728547
I believe so; and Pineneedle can take care of the last suspicious leaves automatically if she's prepared to give up her Staff.

>>5728563
I’ll wait to see whether Myron does something, otherwise I’ll jump over it. As a snout I’m a weak sealer for a sage so I guess the staff may be useful ahead. And hitpoints can be replenished, after all.

>>5728616
Myron doesn't really have anything to do, all that's left is the skill check for the pile of leaves.

>>5728618
Very well, I’ll
>jump the leaves
roll+2d8

>>5728626
Wait… how do I roll? I’m a total quest noob

>>5728626
Put that in the options menu, and use "dice" instead of "roll".

>>5728626
Uh...i would reccomend giving up the staff.

>>5728629
Ok, let’s see if Bananas has mercy on me because I technically failed to roll. I’m uncertain which is better so I’ll follow your rec.
> poke the leaves

>>5727781
>Scare them away (Strength roll of 6 or better)
"MROOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
MYRON REPORTING FOR DUTY SIR, still may be sporadic as I have 12 hour shifts but im still here

Rolled 9 + 1 (1d12 + 1)

>>5728757
forgot dice

Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>5727783
>>5727804
>>5728080
Finding a creeping chill up your spin, the power of your ward fades quickly against the uncompromising darkness. One of you becomes Cursed...

Rolled 2 (1d11)

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Down from the forest's canopy comes an unseen threat- sinking on a silver chord. The jaws of a great spider, filled with deadly and lethal venom, descend upon the party in absolute silence. With no way of seeing or hearing this threat coming- the party is unable to stop it sinking its jaws into someone in an unseen ambush.

The massive spider attacks Grimbold, but at the last second, his helmet protects him from the lethal bite. The spider is knocked away- and from the gloom come many more skittering legs!

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From the great spider, many more come. Drawn by the promise of feeding, or to protect their great mother. With the webs encircling, it appears that the heart of the Gravenwood are home to a great brood...

Rules
Enemies with the Lethal tag instantly slay a character if they are damaged by its attack.
Enemies with the Enrage tag jump their next move up by 1 round every time they are struck by an attack. All enemies in the same group will still treat their move as the same.
Enemies with the Entangle attack don't do damage- instead entangling a character. Characters who are entangled must be freed by another character before they can act- which requires an action.

Great Spider
Hit Points- 10
Defense- Ichorous Blood (1)
Attacks- Dripping Fangs (+3) Lethal
Moves every 8 Rounds

Red Tarantula x2
Hit Points- 7
Defense- Hairy Hide (2)
Attacks- Bite (+2)
Moves every 6 Rounds – Enrage

Trapeze Spiders x2
Hit Points- 10
Defense- Web-Swinging (3)
Attacks- Entangle
Hunts characters who Breathe. Cooldown of 10 Rounds.

Lesser Spider Swarm x10
Defense- N/A
Attacks- Bite (+1)
Hunts characters who attempt to free an entangled character. Cooldown of 10 Rounds.

>Attack
>Evade
>Weaken
>Breathe

>>5728905
Okay, I would recommend to kill the entangling spiders first. If they're dead, the lesser swarms are no longer a worry, and you can pick apart the tarantulas easily. I can dodge the big spider ez with my buckler.

I would recommend Myron wait until someone gets some bonus damage so he can nuke the big boy

>>5728902
DAMN, that was close. okay let's think this one through... we only really need to kill the big spider and the tarantula, which got a collective 24 hp and 1-2 defense, if we get a 9-10 roll we can kill them in three turns but that'd be very lucky
>>5728913
no no, see that cooldown? they are a non-threat, just get someone entangled then have Talon shoot them

Rolled 11 + 2 (1d12 + 2)

>>5728905
Alright, there's really no threat of me dying to this so I'll just
>Attack the Great Spider
Twink borrows strength from the Sea-God's Necklace and aims to drive Rosethorn through the mother's eye.

>>5728926
nice, that's a +2 for the next Fighter by the way

>>5728926
So, is the great spider just dead?

>>5729016
very much unalive yes

>>5728926
Very nicely Done!

So it's probably worth it just have available Fighters just line up in sequence and squish the Tarantulas next before they get to move, then, whilst the rest of us watch their rounds move, holding back? Until someone Breathes, neither the Trapeze or Lessers will be able to do anything.

Rolled 9 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>5728905
>>5728929
I'll take that +2 and deal with a red tarantula.
>Attack red tarantula with rollover damage.
"Squire will cut your threadsss with poleclaw!"

>>5729048
Didn't even need it! Lucky! But I'll pass on that +3 left over to our next fighter to finish up our awe inspiring combo attack!

Rolled 9 + 4 (1d10 + 4)

>>5728905
>Attack Red Tarantula with rollover damage

"Eat stone, spider!"

I'm not certain if I'm doing the rollover right.

>>5729184
Huh, i guess we've won. The other spiders can't attack us unless we breathe or get entangled. Guess we're all good lol.

>>5729184
And that's a third main Spider down! Only the Trapezes and the swarm of lesser Spiders left...

And with the Warrior damage chaining on yet again with a 4, probably worth getting Myron to try and smash a Trapeze Spider outright next...

>>5729191
Yeah as long as everyone who hasn't gone yet dogpiles the trapeze spiders without breathing we can leave twink to do his best Legolas impression and make pincushions of the spark that's left.

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>Try to make a really dangerous combat encounter with enemies who combo off each other and the first lethal-level monster
>It's the easiest one yet

>>5729221
lmao it's the war machine all over again

tho if any of you guys breathe i could try and sweep the leftovers real quick

>>5729221
To be fair, it absolutely would've just murdered Grimbold without his trusty helmet. Phew!

>>5729205
With Twink, Tord, Benjamin, Squire, Grimbold and myself we have 6 players who’ve responded to this encounter.
If 5 players eat an entangle, that gives 45 rounds for Twink to breathe and shoot the Trapeze spiders. That’s enough to kill them without taking any risk (as long as enough players respond).

>>5729233
I could attack them normally with the rollover damage and hope I get lucky and I'd be done way earlier than that. Even if I get hit I got 4 hp. We didn't even need that extra rest to heal.

>>5729221
Well we can't *always* roll badly, can we?

Though it's a shame i haven't gotten to use my buckler yet. I think that it would look great on Scrim, given his size.

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>5729233
Isn't the lesser spider swarm 10 damage, or am I remembering the rules wrong? Looks like an insta kill for whoever tries to unentangle. Anyways, getting entangled is probably fine for a non-combat character like myself, especially when that entangle has a 10 round cooldown.

>>5728905
>Attack Trapeze Spiders
>Breathe

>>5729221
Well we did roll incredibly well. This could have been very lethal quite easily.

Rolled 6 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

GOOD FUCKING LORD hiromoot that took forever, anyways
>>5729429
all swarms always attack as one so no, also you may have gotten injured for literally no reason but maybe the rollover damage saves you?
>>5728905
>Turn 6
>Breathe
>Turn 7
>Attack Trapeze Spider x2 (6/10)

Rolled 5 + 2 (1d10 + 2)

>>5728905
>Turn 8
>Breathe
>Turn 9
>Attack Trapeze Spider x2 (1/10)

Rolled 1 + 5 (1d10 + 5)

>>5728905
>Turn 10
>Breathe
>Turn 11
>Attack Trapeze Spider (10/10)

>>5728905
>Turn 12
>Breathe
>Turn 13
>Shoot Trapeze Spider (7/10)
>Turn 14
>Breathe
>Turn 15
>Shoot Trapeze Spider (3/10) (dead)
>Turn 16
>Breathe
>Turn 17
>Shoot Lesser Spider Swarm x10
>Turn 18
>Breathe
>Turn 19
>Shoot Lesser Spider Swarm x9
>Turn 20
>Breathe
>Turn 21
>Shoot Lesser Spider Swarm x8
>Turn 22
>Breathe
>Turn 23
>Shoot Lesser Spider Swarm x7
>Turn 24
>Breathe
>Turn 25
>Shoot Lesser Spider Swarm x6
>Turn 26
>Breathe
>Turn 27
>Shoot Lesser Spider Swarm x5
>Turn 28
>Breathe
>Turn 29
>Shoot Lesser Spider Swarm x4
>Turn 30
>Breathe
>Turn 31
>Shoot Lesser Spider Swarm x3
>Turn 32
>Breathe
>Turn 33
>Shoot Lesser Spider Swarm x2
>Turn 34
>Breathe
>Turn 35
>Shoot Lesser Spider Swarm

>>5728905
>Turn 36
>Free Tordynnar

Since the guy took the web for the team...

If there's anyone still to take an action, perhaps they could pray? Whilst it won't do anything practical in this encounter, perhaps it'll absorb Twink's 'unclean' status?

>>5729451
Wait… does defense not affect bow damage?

>>5729516
nope, that's how Talon obliterated the octopus last thread

>>5729465
I doubt bananas will allow that, it’s not in the prompt and would trivialize unclean.

>>5729518
Cool!

>>5729519
Well considering you already trivialized all the wounds and curses you had slowly built up by whining at the QM last thread, don't see why you couldn't just do it again.

>>5729552
that's a new player retard

>>5729552
That was a different player, they left in a huff. I took over their char recently; you can tell the difference by the fact I’m dropping the holistic healing stuff

Looks like I made it there after the fight, sorry bros

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After defeating the giant spiders and their swarms of young- you manage to cut through the webs and make your way out of the spider's lair. You are now entering the heart of the Gravenwood.

Here, the trees begin to take on the almost-white of birch, when you stumble across the most quiet part of the forest of all. Here, a great field of bones is strewn about this part of the forest in stillness. You can see from the shapes below these are the bones of elves- the graves of immortal creatures.

"Careful, these ones were not buried." One human party member starts up, but one of the elves shoots him down. For humans; restless spirits tend to start by the dead not being buried- but elves have no such issue. For elves, being left in the forest and returned to nature would be a proper burial. Grimbold finds this concerning- not a tomb, not even a humble stone sarcophagus?

While the threat of spirits and ghosts seems less now- the party still moves carefully. Then, something is found near the center of this great collection of dead. There is a small instrument made of bone, capped and banded with silver. The morbid instrument is instantly claimed by Benjamin.

Benjamin Bones now possesses the Ossic Harp. During any combat, haunting, skill, obstacle, hazard or any other type of roll challenge- Benjamin can play music on the harp. Playing music counts as his action, but he can choose to stop playing at any point freely.

Whenever Benjamin plays the harp- he can choose from two songs. The songs have their effects even if the characters who act afterwards want them or not.

The Uplifting Song increases the roll of every character who goes after it by +3

The Sorrowful Song decreases the roll of every character who goes after it by -3

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As what little light can be seen through the canopy of the tree gets darker- the party stumbles across something else in the heart of the old wood.

They hear a slight click, the drag of a stone on the soil, and then it stops as they come into sight. There, they see them. Small beings of the forest- the innocent and child-like Kodama.

"They aren't harmful..." Scrim blurts out, more out of surprise and concern then anything else. Gnomes are the closest race of all to these elder, mysterious beings. Some even believe that these creatures come from gnomes- gnomes who are unwanted or get truly and utterly lost in the forest will become one of these beings.

The child-like beings don't disappear or attack, simply watching. It seems in this part of the forest where their hold is strongest- they are bold. It is a sign that this part of the gravenwood, perhaps above all others, still retains that natural health and magic of the forest- uncorrupted by the darkness of this island.

>Try to speak with one
>Offer them an item
>See if they have anything valuable
>Other (write in)

>>5730108
That's a good pickup. Finally something for our bard to play that isn't his own xylobones.

>>5730111
"New friendss can be found even in the mossst grim of placess!"
>Offer them some food, perhaps they would enjoy the novelty of something not of the forest.

(Does Scrim know any more about how we should interract with these brings? Likes/dislikes,culture, behaviour?)

>>5730111
>Try to speak with one
whimsical little creatures. what do we have that they would like? marbles?

>>5730111
"It saddens me to see me kinfolk in such states...though I suppose they seem safe. E'll try to speak to them."
>Try to speak with one

>>5730111
>Try to speak with one

>>5730111
>Try to speak with one
"Hello little ones, Mrooooooooo"
Myron is just trying to play with them, he has love for anything smaller than him, which is most

>>5730111
>Other
Talon wonder if he can get an army of small ones to follow him and literally throw at his problems. The plan is doomed by a lack of whistle though

>>5730108
"We ventured through the spider's lair,
With web a-spun and fangs-a sharp;
And once arachnids met despair,
Trod deeper through the wooden warp;
Amidst the bones of elven past,
I did take up the Ossic Harp!
A soaring song, horizons vast!
A melody, of mornful garb."

>>5730111
>Offer them an Item (Marbles)
"Hello there, little ones! How nice it is to see someone friendly in these deep woods! Would any of you like to play a jolly game?"

(Also, perhaps someone could use the write-in and offer Twink a prayer? If there is a grander spirit in the forest that we might meet soon, we must look our best for the occasion, and that involves making our Elf-Warrior all clean!)

>>5730108
Damn that’s a good item. Can the harp be played during downtime? That would combo very well with the baleful basket.

>Try to speak with one
(Maybe they have a use for a hunch)

>>5730310
>Damn that’s a good item. Can the harp be played during downtime?
It *does* say roll challenge, so i think the baleful basket could work. That'd pretty much give an free heal, In addition to pineneedle's addded hunch roll, you could have at the very least 2 completely safe heals, but most likely more if you just managed to roll good.

>>5730468
> The songs have their effects even if the characters who act afterwards want them or not.
Even better, it’s an AoE! If the BB can be used multiple times per downtime, that’s really powerful. And the effect on combat/sealing is also amazing. Maybe it’s foreshadowing some really hardcore challenges ahead

>>5730111
>Sing to the Kodama

"As strange as this is, every creature loves a good song. Benjamin, play that harp in accompaniment, would ye?"

>>5730530
"I'd be glad to accompany your song, Grimbold! I'll play an uplifting tune for you to sing to!"

>>5730561
"I can play the cowbell" ~Myron

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The Kodama are child-like forest spirits. How long they have lived in this wood- even compared to immortal beings, like elves, is almost impossible to even imagine. Without the gift of speech or reason- they are not a "race" of people, but something else- something more primordial.

You see them playing with the twigs and leaves, the rocks, in this most ancient and secret of groves. How must these creatures think, or experience time, is totally alien to you. Beings of an unchanging, timeless place- timeless life.

>>5730122
>>5730124
>>5730139
>>5730161
>>5730310
You try to speak to the creatures. They look up at you with curious eyes- unable or unwilling to speak. Do they understand? There is some intelligence behind those eyes, but not one you can fathom.

>>5730530
Only when asked to sing do the Kodama react- swaying with the words music. They do not make any noise in response- only the wind in the trees above answer you.

>>5730245
But most curious of all is when offered marbles. The tiny glass beads enchant the creatures- the Kodama look over the small gifts- a colorful toys totally unlike anything in their small, isolated little world they live in. It's so much that soon, all the Kodama gather around them, touching them, examining their smoothness, and keeping them. It's clear Benjamin isn't getting those back; but he's used to giving gifts and receiving nothing in exchange.

But then, as the forest canopy overhead gets even darker- the party feels a tug on their sleeves. The little creature have something to show you- a secluded grove. Scrim instantly realizes what this is- it is hidden in the same way his home was once hidden in its own place- they could have walked past it a hundred times and never found it.

The natural grove is a quiet, secluded place with a natural rock waterfall, beautiful fireflies dancing in the dim light, and soft grass with bushes all around. It is a sacred place. This is where they will sleep tonight.

Twink takes advantage of the opportunity and bathes himself in the river- feeling clean for the first time since that basket was used on him. His Unclean status has been restored.

Rules
Because no party members are injured and no watch is needed- this downtime encounter is skipped However, Pineneedle still gets to attempt to break a curse if they choose to.

Cursed Party Members
Talon
Pineneedle
>Roll your class die twice and get a 7 to break a curse

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With the night passing smoothly- the party feels invigorated. Now, they look over their map...

It appears that they've visited almost every place on this island by now! And yet despite this- no hidden palace of some ancient King- and they still have not figured out the riddle to yet enter. Where is the palace? And where should they go now?

>Write in

>>5731745
Well, seems like there's no avoiding the forest now!
>North-West forest under Royal Flower Field

>>5731747
I'm for it

>>5731745
>>5731747
+1
Probably the best bet. Hopefully if we find it we'll also get a clue about how to enter.

Rolled 2, 6, 8 = 16 (3d8)

>>5731744
>Rolling to break my own curse.
After, I’ll
>Lick Tordynnar
Wasn’t I at 2/3 HP? Or do I only have 2 max?

>>5731815
No lick, you can only do one downtime action.

>>5731818
Since Tord’s a sage, he can attempt to break a curse as well right?

>>5731747
Shouldn't we be trying to get welcomed first? Y'know, in the arch of welcoming? It was said we had to get 'invited' to find the palace.

>>5731839
we don't know what the fuck that entails and we have to find the elk-spirit anyways. we might have almost everything we need tho, the apes rock shows an elf with what seems to be the ossic harp inviting a dwarf, a human and a snout I think

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>>5731839
The inscription of the welcome ceremony included the royal palace; so we need to know where the grove hiding the royal palace is before we can conduct the welcome ceremony. The welcoming ceremony grants access, but it doesn't tell us where the thing actually is.
We need to find the Elk-Spirit and get a blessing before we can even know where the grove containing the palace is, so we need to find the Elk spirit first.

>>5731938
Is that actually the Ossic Harp? I just assumed it was a bow, because Elves.

Also, I think the third invitee is a Bromble.

>>5731745
>>5731747
>+1 To this.
Though now I'm wondering if the Elk was waiting for us in the forest right next to where we landed, and if we've therefore already walked past it twice.

>>5731977
oh yeah, those are horns aren't they. and the thing has more than one string so it's probably an harp, doesn't matter really we got both
>Though now I'm wondering if the Elk was waiting for us in the forest right next to where we landed, and if we've therefore already walked past it twice.
we should have went to the stone cove first like I wanted

>>5731837
Cursebreaking is from your item, not from sage

>>5731986
Ah, then our curse removal capacity is very limited - I have a 7/64 probability of rolling a 7 on a 2d8.
Question to bananas: could I lick myself to accumulate hunches? The text says fellow party member, not *another* party member, and dogs lick themselves all the time so it seems pretty in character.

>>5732008
Wait a sec, I looked at the copper rings item description from last thread and it says it requires a healing roll of 6,7 or 8. Should I use that rule in future when cursebreaking?

>>5732021
Naw you're right.

>>5732021
>>5733135
That mean you broke your curse, right?

>>5733292
Don’t think so, I only rolled a 2 on my first die.

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>>5731747
You decide to head to the North-West forest. Cutting through the spooky Gravenwood- you find yourself giving a wide berth to the royal flower field and then, finally, retracing your steps.

Here, you can find a few ruins. Small raised patches of ground that don't look natural- places that once may have held structures. Stone pieces of masonry, half eroded by time and half worked into the forest. This was where you found that ruined once-stable and its nightmare. You hope not to find any more. Spending the day searching, you criss-cross the forest over and over again until something feels off.

You now know that you've searched this entire wood top to bottom and yet you still have not found anything here. The ruins and calmness of this wood made you think this is where the palace should be, but no matter how hard you look, nobody can find it. It's either not here, or...

"Well, now what do we do?"

>Write In

>>5733379
"Me guess? This island's becursed magicks will be hiding the palace until we've made ourselves welcomed as that old wizard said. Mayhaps we should attempt to return to that there welcoming arch, eh?"

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>>5733379
"Huh! This does feel like this is where the palace should be... but if that's the case, something's off about the diagrams we found in the Ape settlement..."

>>5731977
"The Tablet suggests there is a building - or series of buildings - close by to the Arch of welcoming, in what is now the CENTRAL forest. I had assumed that would be the palace... but if the palace is somewhere here, hidden in the North-west, perhaps the unknown central structure is an abode for the great elk Spirit? Either way, it is involved in some aspect with the ritual as depicted upon the tablet... so perhaps we should go somewhere around here, and see if we can find anything of it? It may contain more welcome ritual details...

>>5733398
That seems like a good start. If that fails, we could try digging more by the stone arch. IIRC Benjamin and Grimbold failed to find anything, but maybe we just didn’t dig enough.
Crazy thought: if we set the forests alight, that might break whatever magic protects the palace. At the very least we’re likely to get a response, even if it’s not the one we want.

>>5733379
>explore south of the stone cove

>>5733398
+1 to Benjamin's course of action.

"Aye, mister Bones, ye have the right of it. Mebbe it's some invisible palace, or underground buried."

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After spending the day on a wild goose chase, you see the sun going down. You'll need to be rested up for tomorrow. Finding your old campground not too far from the enchanted flower fields and close to the great central wood you plan to explore fully tomorrow- you set up camp.

Cursed Party Members
Twink

>Take Watch (+10% avoid Encounter)
>Heal
>Gather some medicinal herbs (Sage only)
>Use the Baleful Basket (Tordynnar only)
>Inscribe a Rune (Runesmith only)
>Lick (Snout only)
>Break Curse (Pineneedle only)

>>5734643
"At leasst out in the open like thisss we can sssee anything approach. As long as the watch doessn't fall asssleep! I'll go firsst."
>Take Watch

>>5734643
Scrim takes the second watch, silently humming a gnomish song.
>Take Watch (+10% avoid Encounter)

>>5734643
>Take Watch (+10% avoid Encounter)
"I have no need to rest my skull! Of course I'll watch through the night."

(Also, isn't it Talon who bears the current curse, not Twink?)

Rolled 1 (1d8)

>>5734643
>Lick Tordynnar
I’m afraid my work has become very intense, so I may not be able to be as responsive as before.

>>5734643
>Take Watch

"I'm sure we'll find this crown soon, ladies and lasses. Shouldn't be too long now.. I can feel it in the earth!"

>>5735093
Scratch that; I can’t afford any distractions. Sorry guys, I have to go. It’s been fun, and good luck in your quest for the crown!

>>5734643
>Gather some medicinal herbs (Sage only)

>>5735200
thanks for playing while you could, and for the clutch Lick

>>5734643
>>Take Watch (+10% avoid Encounter)
I'm guessing the necklace got me cursed, a fair tradeoff.

I am working on the update now and will post it within the next 12 hours. My apologies for the delay.

>>5735200
Sorry for the whiplash, but it looks like I may have held the fort. I’ll know for certain tomorrow. If so I’ll keep playing (if I’m allowed)

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>>5735089
>>5736035
Yes, Talon has the Curse, not you, it was the wrong character.

>>5735093
Tordynnar now has a Hunch Roll of 1- feeling confident.

With a restful night, undisturbed from your vigilant watch, the party decides to travel to the very heart of the island, in the deepest forest in the center. Here, the air feels still and clean, a strong scent of the pine, as you travel in search of the great King's once infamous stronghold.

You hear the babbling of a brook- and for the first time, the sound of birdsong. This place is remarkable, but still, there is a sense of being unwelcome. There is less signs of habitation or even visitation the further you go. The path is swallowed by unkept forest, fungus growing between the deadfall, the trees growing thicker and more wild as you enter the most sacred part of the island.

“...Look here, these are tracks. Of what animal, I couldn't tell you. Maybe an elk, or a very big deer. Certainly not a moose- I don't think those live here.”
Tordynnar motions at the dirt- finding the newfound signs of a large animal to be very disconcerting. He feels a hand on his should as Talon looks off in awe.

“What... Is that?”

Rules
Rogues do not gain additional dice against heavy attacks. Bucklers cannot be used against Heavy attacks.

Whenever a character activates the Tangle, their primary weapon is lost and they cannot attack again this combat. They can continue to attack if they have a backup weapon.

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The Spirit of the Forest
Hit Points- 35
Defense- Ancient Pelt (2), Majesty (4), Arrowfend Antlers (Reduces Ranged damage by 1 per Antler)
Attacks- Kick (+1), Antler-Gore (+4), Accursed Hooves (Heavy)
Moves every 7 Rounds
Hunt anyone who drops it below a 10 HP threshold (below 30, below 20, below 10) with Tanglevines- binding their weapon and making them unable to attack.
Has Four Antlers

Majesty
Protects the spirit. Must be Sealed by magic to remove this protection.
Chorus- 4
Seals- 4

>Attack
>Evade
>Weaken
>Break Antler (Requires Strength roll of 7 or better)
>Seal Magic
>Breathe

>>5737213
Now that's a boss battle.

Question though, this guy has three attacks, what does that mean again? Are *all* his attacks heavy? Does he attack all at once?

>>5737213
What the hell is up with those legs
>>5737219
it attacks every 7 turns, those are just a total of +5 to dodge rolls

>>5737219
No it's one after another. If you destroy all his antlers, the Antler attack ceases to work.

Also, before any actions are taken, let's increase his turn timer to Moves every 9 Rounds. I was originally basing him on having only two attacks, that's my bad.

>>5737224
Okay, so on turn 9 it's attack 1, on turn 10 attack 2, and on turn 11 attack 3.

>>5737224
so, does defense affect the Strength roll?

Regardless, I'm thinking we should remove that defense first if we want to kill this thing. We need to seal up majestic.

>>5737240
In fact i'd recommend someone start a prayer so I can begin risk free.

>>5737242
Can't we just have Benjamin Seal it by himself with
>Seal
>Breathe
x4?
No need to waste turns praying

>>5737295
And afterwards, he can play his instrument for +3 to buff our attacks, unless there's something we need to roll low for?

>>5737295
Alternatively he can start off with a -3 song and the sages can seal it safely

>>5737295
That would work I suppose, but then someone would have to dodge right after that. I could do it, if I'm awake by the time it happens...

>>5737306
I'll dodge it, with the Heavy attack modifier you'll just get squished

>>5737295
Sounds like a good start, but remember it'll be 3 attacks on turn 9, 10 and 11. And also Ben playing his harp would increase your hazard roll to dodge (which is bad) so if he plays it should be after that.

So if turns 1 through 8 are Ben breathing and sealing. We have dodges the next 3 turns then he can play the harp and we go for the throat.

>>5737426
What if we break the antlers first, that should drop the attack too I think

>>5737295
Can I do that? I'm not sure how Benjamin's mechanics work with multi-actions. On the one hand, he's a Skeleton without any lungs, which I've been assuming would sadly make him unable to use the 'Breathe' action mid-battle; but on the other, he's incapable of Exhaustion because of his animated nature, so might be able to take multiple actions in long fights by some other means?

I might play the dodge-tank, do the antlers works against thrown knifes?
As an Experienced Rogue, do I have 3 instead of 2 dice for the Accursed Hooves?

>>5737551
Yes
No

Ok, I feel this bossfight have been hand-crafted by keeping in mind what happened to the Octopus.
I respect that.

>>5737514
I don't think it's so much the act of breathing that refreshes your action in combat so much as "taking a breather" and spending a turns worth of time regaining your action.

>>5737462
That could be worthwhile too. Get that out of the way before people start losing their weapons to tangle. And lower the amount of dodging. Also I don't think there's a risk of taking damage since it's a strength roll and not an attack if you fail to break the antler right?

>>5737601
Well, if that is the case:

>Turn 1: Seal Magic: Auto-3
>Turn 2: Breathe
>Turn 3: Seal Magic: Auto-3
>Turn 4: Breathe
>Turn 5: Seal Magic: Auto-3
>Turn 6: Breathe
>Turn 7: Seal Magic: Auto-3
>Turn 8: Breathe

So that's the Magic sealed away, leaving us on the cusp of turn 9 and the Spirit about to attack. So someone will need to Tank/Dodgetank, and then I'll play a Tune.
(If Squire's interpretation was wrong, consider all the actions voided)

Grimbold has a shovel (which counts as a Back-Up weapon) so he'll be good for dropping it below an HP Threshold - who else carries back up weapons?

Rolled 1, 5, 7, 8 = 21 (4d8)

>>5737607
Got a bow, the throwing knifes, and regular base weapon - but I'm more fitted to dodge
>Dodging the Beast's Kick

>>5737610
>Turn 10: Play Ossic Harp
>UPLIFTING SONG - +3 To all Characters

Well i believe now someone has to tank the heavy attack

Rolled 9 + 1 (1d10 + 1)

>>5737213
"Hrrah! Fall, damn beast! Ye won't hurt me friends!"

>Attack


I'll tank the hit, considering Grimbold is the beefiest Warrior in the party.

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>>5737620
Benjamin decides to play an inspiring song to help out the rest of the party in the battle.

WHAM!

It doesn't last very long. Benjamin has been knocked apart, and will need to be rebuilt after this fight is over. Because he is in no condition to play his harp, the song has no effect.

Well. now is the time for people to start hittin'


Dang, am i really not gonna get to act in *another* battle? It always ends before i get the chance to do something...

Rolled 9 + 2 (1d12 + 2)

>>5737213
>Turn 11
>>Attack
Twink pokes the abomination with Rosethorn.

>>5737772
Now Rosethorn is trapped in the Tanglevines! Lucky Twink still got his sword though.

>>5737634
I’m here (fort held, now in mop up phase of crisis). I guess I should give the guy a whack once it approaches 20 to eat a tanglevine?

>>5737774
Wouldn’t grimbold have been tangled, not you?

>>5737808
everyone who drops the boss down a ten gets tangled, it had 27 after Grimbold, it has 18 now

Read fuckers, read.

So, uh, you warriors gonna keep hitting it?

Going to bed. But before
>Take a breath
I could throw a knife, it will be useless. Doing that to get a Dodge back when things will go back into nasty

>>5737947
I could start breathing but if I don't kill it and we reach turn 18 without people to dodge we are eating shit so I'm waiting for Squire and Myron and we'll figure it out from there, the thing is half dead anyways

>>5737955
Well we can't wait around *too* much, or else the timer goes out

Rolled 9 + 1 (1d10 + 1)

>>5737426
>>5737232
Guys we went over this. It attacks 9, 10 and 11.

"Take thiss you big meanie!"
>Attack

>>5737772
fuck I just realized wrote 11 instead of 12
>>5738050
10 hp left, just enough to not get Tangled

Rolled 5 + 1 (1d10 + 1)

>>5738061
>>5738050
>>5737213
In that case I'll go again!

>Turn 15
>Breathe
>Turn 16
>Attack

>>5738086
Just 6 HP left. We've got this in the bagge. Part of me wants to try attacking so i'll have done *something* in the fight, but we only have 1 turn left before the next attacks so I'd rather not ruin our chances.

>>5737213
>Turn 17
>Breathe
Ok that's enough waiting, if you guys could dodge two attacks I'll finish this, otherwise I'll just eat a hit

Rolled 6, 5, 5 = 16 (3d6)

>>5738142
Well that was kinda pointless but ok then
>>5737213
>Turn 18
>Dodge

>>5738157
Dear lord that's close, without the buckler it would have been literally one short of a hit.

Wait, could I actually dodge again by using a vanish?

>>5738162
you did it before with the apes so i'd say its legal

>>5738165
Okay, so in that case
>>5737213
>Turn 19 (?)
>Vanish
So now someone just has to dodge through antler attack...or take the hit and finish him

Rolled 14 (1d14)

>>5737213
>Turn 20
>Evade
Twink pulls power from his magic necklace again, but this time to escape the big hooves that are gonna cave in his torso.
At long last, my elf agility is gonna serve a purpose. Behold, the first ever 1d14.

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Rolled 4 + 1 (1d12 + 1)

>>5738176
Of course.
>>5737213
>Turn 21
>Breathe
>Turn 22
>Attack

Rolled 2 + 1 (1d12 + 1)

>>5737213
>Turn 23
>Breathe
>Turn 24
>Attack

Rolled 1 + 1 (1d12 + 1)

>>5738180
Good fucking lord just die already
>>5737213
>Turn 25
>Breathe
>Turn 26
>Attack

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>>5738181
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

>>5738185
Well, someone's gonna have to either dodge or tank that hit.

>>5738188
well if we wait like three or so hours for Talon to wake up he might dodge the first hit, Tordynnar can Hunch the second one and maybe Pineneedle can dodge? yeah shits fucked
for the record if Ben had waited to serenade the elk after it finished rushing we would have been peachy

>>5738205
I feel like it'd be better if tordynnar kept his hunch for the basket. This way we can heal. I think someone should just bite the bullet and attack.

Myron, specifically, would be very useful here.

>>5738207
>Myron, specifically, would be very useful here.
Yeah i'm not holding my breath
it's a fifty fifty to kill the thing with a 1d8 but Talon's cursed so he's schrodingers rogue right now. Pineneedle could take one for the team though

>>5738218
I'd do it, but I vanished so i can't do much. How much HP is left anyways?

>>5738223
just 2 hp

>>5738227
I haven't used my block yet so if you want to finish it off I'll tank the final hit on my shield.

Rolled 2, 4, 7, 7 = 20 (4d8)

>>5738205
I'm all woke up
>Dodge

>>5738404
Or I can block one of those hits you already took, whatever we need.
I feel like I could have blocked the hit on Ben and solved this problem but I wasn't given the chance...

Rolled 2 + 2 (1d12 + 2)

>>5738404
>>5738407
alrighty then
>>5737213
>Turn 28
>Breathe
>Turn 29
>Attack

>>5738417
ignore that +2, it's got 1 hp left
lord this fucking luck

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>Breath
>Stab

>>5738427
you are now in a state of superposition, both alive and dead

>>5738431
hey, I have the right to get injured once before dying, right?

>>5738432
you are cursed, that's basically an injury if banana wants it to be

>>5738427
A damage result of zero means you took damage. Activating the curse would just mean you failed the roll, which you already did, so I choose not to activate your curse.

We could really use Myron right about now...or literally anyone...

Did... My best.
As often... Not enough...

And I guess there will still be no loot for me

>>5738566
I mean like
you weren't injured before so
I don't really know how you died...

>>5738570
I'm not died, just roleplaying an overly, edgy, dramatic injury

Rolled 3 + 1 (1d10 + 1)

>>5737213
>Breathe
>Attack

"Ye overgrown moose-elf-spawn, just die already!"

>>5738594
Okay so NOW he's dead

>>5738603
I hoped the fact we killed him with intact horns will let us have better loot

Sorry guys, looks like I came too late. Pineneedle provided moral support from the rear as the menfolk faced the beast :)

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>>5737629
>>5738176
When the beast slams its front legs down on you- it is not as you expect. The bodies that make up its support hit you as hard as two great stone-like hooves would; but they claw at you with their hands and moan at you. You can see their distorted, haggard faces. These poor souls, damned by some unnamed crime, tear at you out of anger or obligation- these are the most accursed souls you could imagine- forced to hold up the weight of this creature with their slender elvish frames. Are they alive? Are they spirits? Is there any difference to a being such as this?

>>5738594
After a final blow- the party is victorious. The great beast lay dead; a monument to this island, the corrupted guardian of the forest, now defeated.

Normally, felling such a great and mighty beast would be a cause for celebration. But to many in the party, there is only a feeling of sadness, and loss. Somehow, the woods that you are in, and the rest of the forests on the island, simply "feel" less. Like the majesty and purity of these woods, unchanging and strong, have now been finally put away. The Spirit, a great and powerful monster, was still a threat- it spared no effort in trying to kill you and break you against the trees and stones. You had no choice. But something about it dying there feels... sad.

>>5738611
While the Humans in the party, ever ambitious and short-sided, celebrate over the thought of what sort of fantastic reward that slaying this spirit could bring; people of other races in the party may feel different.

The beast is shivering. Its moan sounds throaty and echoing- it is not the call of a great elk bellowing. It revberts the sound of thin and hollow metal shell- like the sound of a ghosts wisps. It forelegs, made up of cursed elves, whimper along with it.

Who feels pity for this creature?

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>>5738704
Scrim feels no pity for the creature - although he is concerned for his lost kodama kin, their home perhaps injured by said death, he otherwise feels proud in aiding the felling such a large beast despite his race's diminutive physical prowess. He joins the humans in celebration.
.
"Let's see ya try to crush us like that, eh, beast?"

>>5738710
Waaait, this ain't gonna be a situation where we only get the "blessing" if we feel bad roight? Gonna suck if i'm locked outta da final misson because of the personality flavor..

>>5738704
I do

>>5738704
Pineneedle feels pity for the elves turned into limbs - how many centuries did they endure in that state? Surely no crime warrants that punishment.

>>5738704
Twink, being the tree hugger that he is, feels a bit conflicted over having killed one of his people's icons, but he reasons that the island was already tarnished before he stepped on it.
Maybe he's too young to fully sympathize with the legacy of his ancestors.

>>5738704
>Lol this monster fuck your build
>Lol your character feels wrong
You made me laugh behind my Keyboard, QM. Hope you're happy. I love that quest.

Seeing the death of the thing and the impact it have, Talon is laughing. Not at the loss this world suffered, just at the feeling his life is a big, cosmic joke. Always was. Always have been.
Great sorrow creeps up. Talon relegate it deeper in his sorry body and mind of his, with another heartfull, inconvenant laugh.
Upon the heavy gaze of Tordynnnar and Pineneedle :
"HAHAHAHAHAHA. Sorry... HéHéHé... Nerve just gave up. Don't you ever feel you're a mis-shapen cog in that crazy world? Why did I ever thought I could make things right?"

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>>5738813

>>5738813
I think it’s best to let people roleplay their own characters, my Pineneedle is pretty chill and doesn’t do side eyes ;)
Kudos for the pathos

>>5738849
I think it's more interesting to have some manner of personality presence in the updates themselves.

>>5737213
>>5738417
I'll use my shield here as I mentioned.
>Block

>>5738704
Squire is sad that such pain is was the fate of most spirits here, and how it's upset the natural order of the island. He hopes the find rest in death.

>>5738826
Tank you for the praise. After all, I've been the Edge in the night for 3 threads.

>>5738849
Sorry, didn't meant to impose anything.

>>5738716
Given that Humans don't seem to be allowed to feel pity on this occasion, I doubt that'll be the case. Otherwise that's me and Talon blocked, along with Alfred and Pietro if anyone takes the characters on.

>>5738704
"Death can be but a journey! Perhaps it will find a greater peace? Or perhaps it will remain around as a spirit, conscious? It has merged with several Elves, after all - though it is they that I most wish to find freedom from their torment..."

"...Could someone help put me back together, please?"

>>5739201
Hahahahaha
Death is a journey where you missed the departure.
Does that mean you are stuck forever as a skeleton, old friend? What will happen when everybody will die? Will you be cursed to roam an arid world alone?
Héhéhé... Wait is that a rib or a finger?

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With the beast fallen, the party recoups and looks over the potential spoils... But a few feel a little different.

>>5738915
Squire inches closer to the dying beast, near to its face. Perhaps a small risk, but he does not fear it any more. Instead, he feels pity. As he crosses to its eye, he sees the hollow socket filled with hatred close, and then open again to the wet and gentle eye of a doe, before it cries a single tear. Squire smells no salt on this tear, and somehow, without being told, he knows what to do. Cupping his hands, he takes the tears flowing from the eye and raise them to his scaled muzzle to drink. It is the sweetest water he has ever tasted.

Squire has been Blessed. He can no longer be Cursed.

Finally, mercifully, the great spirit of the forest dies.

The other party members are discussing what to do with the beast. Pineneedle mentions how many of its parts could be useful- its antlers could make a great replacement staff for her, any of the rogues could benefit from its thick hide as a form of armor or cloak insulated from the elements- and its meat could grant great strength to any of their warriors- besides Myron of course, he has more in common with the slain beast here then any of his fellow companions...

"Enough! You sit here and play with trifles while the true prize is just out of reach!" Alfred suddenly roars, motioning to the top of his head.

"The Crown! The Starcrown! That is the true power on this island; and if this spirit was corrupted by the old King- then the crown is stronger then the very spirit of the forest itself! Any artifact with a power over another must be older and stronger- that means the Starcrown possesses a magic that is older then the forest itself. The very bones and creation of the world- only the magic of the Ancient Ones could fit that description! That is the true treasure here!"

While his one-track mind to get the treasure has begun to grate on the party, he does have a point. With plenty of daylight left, it may be time to finish their quest on this island...

>>5738704
Grimbold is on hands and knees, cradling the spirit-beast's ruined body- he is no great lover of the wilds, but he does recognize majesty and purity. He draws mental connections to the home peaks of his people, to the towering columns of his hold and the power of the avalanches that sometimes tear through them.

Grimbold's ruddy, bloody visage is marred by a creek of tears- small, unaccompanied by any crying, but still there.

He feels pity for the Beast.

>>5739882
ah shit I missed it by three minutes

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It seems, according to Squire's experience, you have received a Blessing. That should be enough to find the Hall of the old King. Though you may be missing something else, the empty spaces on your map are growing thin...

Where to go next?
>Write in

>>5739884
>South-West Forest

Should we check the welcoming stone things again now that we have a Blessing?

>>5739884
I'd like to try out the Arch theory.
However, I'd also like the cloak.
Scrim, would you help me with your greater clothmaker skills?

>>5739880
"Hmm. If there is no structure around here to check, we must remember that we still hold no true knowledge of the welcoming ceremony - and how we might conduct it, to truly obtain an invitation to the old king's hall."

"Therefore, I agree with Twink, and we should check the
>>5739884
>South-West Forest
in case there is one final secret of the island that we missed there."

>>5738915
"Also, Squire! It seems that you have been blessed... and dare I say it, annointed, by the tears of this elder beast! Should we start to call you 'Knight' from here on?"

>>5740080
Seconded
>Southwest forest

Nice, now we can heal Squire risk-free!

>>5740086
Squire must be knighted by a Lord after performing a great deed. This might jussst qualify, but a sssuccessful crusade would be better!

>>5739884
>South-west forest

>>5739884
>South-west Forest

"What a gift, wee dragon, what a gift.."

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You decide to travel to the South-West most forest on the island. With it being in the afternoon now, you don't have all the time in the world before nightfall. As you explore the woods, coincidentally the ones closest to where you first landed on this cursed island, it's no wonder how you missed things here. There are great potholes in the ground and great puddles, almost pressed into the soil unnaturally.

Then, you hear. There is a low grumble deeper in the woods.

"Gum Ear.... Gum Ear...."

The words "gum ear" keep being repeated over and over by some low voice far in the distance. Suddenly a nearby deer, a great doe far bigger then you'd expect, runs past you in a fright. You wonder; what she a courtesan of the great Spirit of the Woods you slain just earlier today? It's clearly not your party she was running from.

"Gum Ear... Gum Ear...!"

>Continue on
>Retreat and regroup (downtime)

>>5740810
>>Retreat and regroup (downtime)
nevermind, I'm good

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>>5740810
>Retreat and regroup (downtime

>Retreat and Regroup

Yeah, i might as well.

>Retreat and regroup
Discretion is the better part of valor

>>5740810
>Continue on
"Were not afraid of any gum earsss. Bet they can't even hear us coming!"

>>5740810
>Continue on
(unless Benjamin is still shattered, in which case:
>Retreat and regroup (downtime))
"Is this the first thing on this island to actually call to us? If it is asking us to 'come here' to it, would refusing be rude of us?"

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After retreating and taking the rest of the day off to heal your wounds, fix your spiritual malaise, and work on your newest pieces of gear- you make camp and break for the night. Especially far away from that forest!

The next day, realizing it would bring you no closer to finding your goal, you decide to ignore the sounds of the Southwestern forest, and focus on a more pressing concern. You head to the arch.

"What, exactly, should we do with this? I still feel like it's important."
"We still need to be invited. How would the elves invite their guests?"
"I'm sure we've seen clues for this before- this can't be that hard to figure out. After that, it will just be finding the palace..."

>Write In

>>5741324
"That there tablet - the one we took fom the monkeys. It shows some elvish man playing a harp. Maybe we oughta have benjamin play the harp and then walk through the arch, eh?"

The elves invite their guest.
Twink, you're an elf.
I think we can game the spell like this, using the blessing, the harp, and the knife-ear ancestry

>>5741324
I'm but a humble observer, but might I suggest having an elf stand on one side while the harp is played, to formally issue the welcome? if that doesn't work, maybe Squire can issue the welcome, being blessed and all?

>>5741324
Alright, people already said it, I'll just invite them with the harp and if that fails we'll figure something out

>>5741324
I guess the rest of us should head to stand upon the sea-ward side, amidst the shallow stones, whilst the Elves welcome us?

Twink, Tordynar, do either of you want to borrow the Harp for the attempt?

>>5741535
sure

>>5741409
Sounds like a plan!

>>5741324
"Maybe friend Twink's ssspear is important too? A sssentry would block the entrance to a cassstle with crosssed spearss, so maybe raissing it to let usss walk through the arch could be sseen as welcoming?"

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With the plan in place, Benjamin gives Twink some impromptu harp lessons to help him play a tune.

"Do you know any elvish songs?"
"Which one in particular?
"...I dunno. Try something!"

The party lines up and, with the mock-ceremony underway, one brave soul passes through the arch as Twink serenades them with the strumming of a harp. Nothing happens. At first, there is a great sense of disappointment, or realizing that their dream of finding this palace may have all been in vain without knowing the exact secret, hidden magic that would allow them to find it- but then, almost as if waiting for this, a squirrel comes down from a nearby tree and leaves a single, small, tiny pinecone on the grass. Then, it leaves.

"What the devil?"

Scrim takes the Pinecone in his hand and holds it close.

"Is... this our invitation?"
"It doesn't seem like much. You'd think an Elvish King wouldn't be handing out pinecones to people."
"...Maybe it's more the thought that counts."

Then, after a bit of time in deliberation, somebody notices something.

"Hey! Does anybody see that shape in the trees- to the Northern forest? It looks a bit like a roof!"
"How didn't we notice that before...?"

Almost unmistakably, there is signs now that the palace of the Elf King, large and imposing on the island, is there now, clear as day. Almost impossibly poking through the trees- unmistakable. The party, excited with the sudden development, grabs their things and runs to the palace.

Smelling of pinewood and ancient stones- the palace stands silent. It is a tall building, mostly made of one massive hall with more rooms and chambers further within- a sloped roof without battlements or walls to protect it- this place would have been protected by the trees, not by stone. The door is opened, and inside you see black. Even your torch or lanterns barely make a dent in it.

"That's dark."
"...It's as dark as the night without stars."

>Fumble along the walls
>Let Twink lead with his lantern
>Snuff your lights and enter

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>>5743129
>"...It's as dark as the night without stars."
BRAVO NOLAN

>>5743129
>>Let Twink lead with his lantern
Put on the filter too, maybe what's inside won't see us coming

>>5743129
>Let Twink lead with his lantern
"If there's something lurking in a Darkness that dark, it'll probably see us no matter what we go in with! At least this way we might see it in return!"

>>5743129
>Let Twink lead with his lantern
Twink's lantern; Twink's choice.

>>5743129
Fumbling across the walls could easily trigger a trap; going in blind may be suicide. Best to
>Let Twink go first with his lantern.

If I can suggest something outside the prompt, I’d say we should move with the warriors surrounding the rest and trail a rope so we can beat a retreat if our lights get snuffed out.

>>5743129
>Let Twink lead with his lantern

>>5743129
>Let Twink lead with his lantern
"There better be a damn good reward by the end o' this..."

>>5743129
>>Let Twink lead with his lantern
"Be our guiding ssstar, Twink!"

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Twink's lantern, bright enough to pierce into the omnipresent darkness, was chosen to lead the way. As you finally enter the Elf King's hall, you can sense the stillness, as though this place had not been disturbed since the fall of that ancient dynasty.

The lantern barely illuminates into the chamber. Even at its brightest with its hood most uncovered, the light from the flame seems swallowed by darkness. Twink, thinking laterally, tries something unusual. Placing a glass disc over the lantern's pupil- the light is turned from the red-orange flame into a more pure white light, which suddenly dispels the darkness much better- illuminating the wooden walls.

"Look at this- this is old Elvish. I can read this."

Tordynnar sees passages along the walls, and using his scholarly insight, he can translate.

"In the beginning, all was light. And the luminous light came from within and out of every being. It was only after requested by his wife, did the King of the Dead create darkness. The tool with which to punish the Ancient Ones who refused to give us our rightful home. And the Ancient Ones, shrouded in this darkness, wandered to find each other- not realizing that they were being led astray. Finally, they became lost and then cast away from the world they had labored to create- a triumph over them by our 'er gracious King. But, even while lost, the Ancient Ones could look out and shine as bright as they could, and could look upon each other- and this is why today we know their names and faces- as we call them the Stars."

Somebody coughed- and drew attention to the center of the room. At the back of the hall was the Elvish King, sitting on his throne, and atop his head was the Starcrown. It shone with a sort of spectral light that called to you, so very intimate and precious. You are finally here.

Who claims the crown?
>Volunteer