Chapter 17: Deep Reflections

[Jeff]

Aug 29, 2019 17:04:46 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal motions for Shorak to come up as he watches the backpack as though it might leap up at any moment. "Check that out," he says to the half-drow.

Aug 30, 2019 21:36:33 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Adamant moves over and picks up the backpack.]

Adamant stoops beside Shorak and reaches for the pack.

As Melethos turns and regards his reflection, none of you are immediately aware that he simply isn't there anymore—either standing behind Kal or reflecting at all.

I'm going to wait for Shorak's action at this point, to echo what I said a couple of days ago. No one's moved to the dais yet.

[Dave B.]

Shorak puts his hand out to stop Adamant from picking up the backpack. "Wait! Let me examine the backpack first. Just in case." Shorak fights the urge to look directly at his reflection and focuses his attention on the backpack. He carefully tips it to one side and then the other. If nothing bad happpens he will carefully open it, avoiding the gem adornment, if at all possible. As long as everything seems safe, he will take a look inside.

Sorry to hold things up. Crazy busy weekend.

[Jeff]

Shorak suspects no danger from moving the pack around; he tilts and lifts it and looks around, but that gem... His instincts tell him that the backpack does have some sort of ward, probably centered on the gem clasp. He thinks unclasp it will trigger a defensive spell.

Streko and Belarin have moved up to the dais, and both are keenly aware that the shadowy figure is still standing there within the reflections. They're pretty sure it's even turning to watch them.

Thul is unimpressed by his reflection, and knows he can look away if he wishes. But does he? The next Thul over, he can see in his peripheral vision, wears chainmail armor and is missing a hand!

Kal and Adamant, standing behind Shorak, are now aware that Melethos is...simply gone. They don't remember hearing him walk away like Streko or Belarin did.

Kal and Adamant still stand by Shorak, since their actions depended on taking the backpack from him. Are they doing so still? They'd have to grab it out of his hands.

[Elvis]

Aware of his surroundings, and with no immediate threat, Thul turns to look into the next reflection...

----

INT Save = d20+5 = 10

[Ken]

Belarin examines the dais as best he can. "Good Streko, let's see what we can find," he says. "Perhaps there's a way out of this area that doesn't involve mirrors...."

_________

Belarin is going to use the Help action to give Streko advantage on a Wisdom (Perception) check to find any sort of symbols or openings on the dais. Go for it, Joe!

[Dave W.]

"We should take the backpack with us, Shorak... I don't know that we need to open it if you don't think it safe but it may be the only proof we come out with. Melethos? What form... Melethos?" Adamant starts looking around for the tiefling. "Where are you?" he demands urgently.

---

Adamant won't take the backpack unless Shorak asks him to. Adamant is looking for Melethos, I think initially with less caution than he should. He will look for Melethos in the reflections but try not to linger on any warforged images.. I'm guessing that's a INT save anyway. If you don't need the INT check just ingore this:

dlw32:1D20+2 → 9(7 + 2)

[Jeff]

If Adamant is actively avoiding looking at any of his own reflections, no save is needed.

But Adamant's curiosity sure is tugging at him. As he looks around for signs of Melethos, he can see peripherally various versions of himself standing there also looking around. One of them appears to be even larger—easily an eight-foot-juggernaut Adamant with...is that a block of stone attached to one hand? Hard to say without looking at it. There is another with a moss-colored green coat hanging off his metal frame...

Not only does Adamant not see any sign of Melethos, he is also the first to notice that Thul is gone as well.

[Dave W.]

Adamant dearly wants to look at all the possible hims. There may be much to learn from the paths not taken. Still he resists.

"Kal, Melethos and Thul are both gone. I suspect to wherever the reflections take a person. We need to figure out how this works... and stay together."

Adamant looks to the ground to see if, like the petitioner's bag, his friends have left anything behind.

---

Adamant will continue to resist looking at himself... he's got a pretty strong will and a solid-as-a-rock sense of self. David would fail this test I think...

[Darren]

Kal grits his teeth in frustration. "Why does no one listen?" he growls. "Shorak, take the damn bag and come with me. Adamant, you, too." Kal begins to walk around to the front of the dais where Belarin and Streko are. "Damn the two of you, if you look in those gods-damn mirrors, I'll send you to Dollurh myself." Kal keeps his eyes focused on his friends' feet. "We have lost Melethos and Thul already and if my limited understanding of magic tells me anything, it's that they've been drawn into one of these alternate realties. I'm not losing anyone else right now. Our focus is not on going in there ourselves. It's on figuring out how to get them out. Streko, Belarin, search the dais, but DO NOT look at those reflections, yet. Shorak, Adamant, let's see what's inside that bag. Maybe there's something there that can help us. Stay together."

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks at Adamant. "I'm pretty sure the pack is warded against anyone trying to open it." He says as he hands the bag to Adamant and then follows Kal. "Unless someone has some way to disable the ward, I advise against opening it." Shorak adds. He looks around the cave, hoping to see if there is anything that would indicate where Melethos and Thul went. Unfortunately, his innate curiosity and instinct to always be alert to his surroundings forces him to stare at one of his reflections.

[Joe]

Sept 4, 2019 11:04:40 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin examines the dais as best he can. "Good Streko, let's see what we can find," he says. "Perhaps there's a way out of this area that doesn't involve mirrors...."

"Or, a way to retrieve our friends from the mirrors. I suspect Adamant and Kal are both correct. Their reflections took them into alternate realities. Now we need to find them as well as the petitioner."

Streko, keeping his eyes away from the mirrors, begins looking around the dias, feeling for any indentations, symbols, openings, anything that might give them the answers they seek.

"I'd be happier knowing there was no magic here on this thing that might trap us, but I hesitate to ask you to use magic here. It is simply to unreliable and could risk us all."
_____________________________________________________

#Perception roll with advantage(18 and 1 + 4). Streko will take the 18+4 for $200 Alex. So, my first advantage roll. I should have separated them as #1d20+4 and #1d20+4, rather than #2d20+4. Now I know...after so many years doing this, you'd think I would have had to roll something with advantage on my own, but this was the very first time. I am no longer an advantage/disadvantage virgin. :-)

[Dave B.]

Intelligence saving throw: 1d20+6=18.

[Dave W.]

Adamant takes the pack and slings it on his back. "I don't know that there's a need to open it, it's more as evidence."

---

did Adamant see anything of Melethos/Thul left behind? He will follow Kal around to the others assuming he doesn't... and assuming Shorak doesn't disappear...

[Jeff]

Adamant sees no trace of Melethos or Thul on the ground—no dropped objects, and there's not enough grit or dust on the stone for footprints. As he moves to follow the others towards the front of the dais, with the mysterious backpack slung over a shoulder, he, too, spies the movement of an alleged cloaked and shadowy shape, but then he sees it no more. It's not obvious where it's moved to, even in the reflections.

But Adamant also sees out of the corner of his gem-eyes, as he moves past another of his many reflections, that one of them has a sweeping red cape along with a matching shield and some obvious crest upon it.

With Belarin above him making suggestions, Streko scours the ground of the dais but finds no symbols carved anywhere, and no moving panels. Everything about this cave feels—even if it doesn't look like it—like it was formed naturally somehow. Grown into being by planar currents or whatever it is that makes up Kythri. At the edge of his vision he can tell that his closest reflection, also kneeling down, is clad not in the vestments of an Olladran priest but in the colorful garb of a Talentan nomad. Is that a hunting mask he's wearing, too?

Streko then notices a single sling stone in the corner of the dais. Dark stone, this one is etched with a glyph. The symbol is an old arcane hieroglyph that just means "break" or "broken."

Belarin is mostly focused on helping Streko but he gets the sense that the version of himself doing the same thing in the nearest reflective surface is lean, athletic, and extremely long-haired. And...shirtless? He feels like some jungle-dwelling Belarin must be standing there awaiting his scrutiny.

Kal's sharash-light continues to flicker. As he does, trying to maintain the semblance or order among his allies, he is aware that his nearest reflected image—if his mind isn't playing tricks on him—is thoroughly dragonmarked. Draconic hues of purple, at the edge of his vision, swirl up around his other self's neck and jaw. They almost glow.

As Shorak moves around, he glimpses versions of himself—and they differ wildly from his current self and one another. No surprise, considering the powers of his heritage. Just beyond Adamant, Shorak finds himself staring at one of his reflections on the north wall.

Clad in night-black leather armor, Shorak sees this other version of himself has the deepest black of a full-blooded drow, and scars have been smoothed away. But his hair, normally perfect white, is dark grey, and his eyes have no irish or scelera, just solid black. He suspects this is the form of one of the Umbragen, a reclusive and mysterious clan of drow who live full-time deep beneath the earth, quite unlike the Vulkoori and Sulatar tribes. Mirror Shorak looks back at him with the same expression he himself wears: curiosity. He also holds something in his hand—a playing card? Shorak is intrigued by this version of himself—it looks and feels like the ultimate stealth version—and he feels compelled to study it to learn more about how it came to be. But he doesn't have to.

All of you have the strong feeling of being observed.

Streko's Intelligence (Arcana) check: 22

[Dave B.]

"interesting." Shorak mutters as he looks more closely at the card-like item in his reflection's hand. "I wonder what that is?" He asks himself softly.

In case it's needed - Intelligence saving throw: 1d20+6=9.

[Joe]

Sept 5, 2019 17:19:13 GMT -4 Jeff said:

With Belarin above him making suggestions, Streko scours the ground of the dais but finds no symbols carved anywhere, and no moving panels. Everything about this cave feels—even if it doesn't look like it—like it was formed naturally somehow. Grown into being by planar currents or whatever it is that makes up Kythri. At the edge of his vision he can tell that his closest reflection, also kneeling down, is clad not in the vestments of an Olladran priest but in the colorful garb of a Talentan nomad. Is that a hunting mask he's wearing, too?

Streko then notices a single sling stone in the corner of the dais. Dark stone, this one is etched with a glyph. The symbol is an old arcane hieroglyph that just means "break" or "broken."

"Over here! In the corner of the dais! This stone has a glyph scratched into it. It's very old. Arcane, to be certain. I believe it means...break? Broken? I cannot be sure, as arcana is not my field of expertise. Belarin, however, can you ascertain the true meaning of this glyph? Can it be used to break the mirrors and, perhaps, free the occupants from their trapped domains? Perhaps even return them to their proper planes of existence? I'm not even sure what I just asked, but is it possible?"

"Also, I feel as if I am being watched. We really must solve the puzzle of this room. What did the dragon call it? We must find our friends and find the body of the penitent man. Simple, really. And, I'm babbling again. What say you, good Belarin?"
____________________________________________

Streko will focus on the glyph and the stone it is on and will not look over at that intriguing Talentan nomad in the fascinating hunting mask.

[Ken]

Belarin is about to look over the reflection -- and then Streko calls his attention to the stone with the glyph. "Let's, uh, see what you've found," he says, turning away from the mirror. He studies the glyph.

__________________

Knowledge (Arcana) check: 1d20(7) + 10 = 17.

[Darren]

"Belarin," Kal cautions, watching his friend, "keep your eyes off those mirrors. We don't want to get sucked in. Remember, our goal is to get our friends out. Not to get pulled further in. Stay focused," he says, coming up behind the warlock and placing his hand on the other man's shoulder. He, too, studies the glyph covered rock. "Looks like it's meant to be used in a sling. Perhaps someone else tried to break these mirrors with it?"

[Jeff]

Belarin suspects, as Streko does, that the sling bullet is a one-time activation piece of ammunition. Merely throwing or slinging it into a target should activate it. But there's no telling what it would do: merely hurt the target, ignite a fireball, sunder their armor? Who knows?

As Shorak looks more intently at the image, he takes a few steps closer, moving around Adamant to see better.

Adamant, then, out of the corner of his eye "sees" Shorak seem to...lean away from view. Like a shadow thrown across a room in the blink of an eye by the sudden movement of a light source, he is simply gone. The impression the paladin has is of Shorak becoming a shadow and falling towards the wall with frightening speed—but when he turns he sees no sign of his halfdrow friend. No sound was made at all.

[Dave W.]

"Shorak! NO!" Adamant reaches for his friend but does not even catch a handful of shadow...

"Damn it." Adamant moves closer to his friends as if keeping them in arm's reach could stop the process. "Kal. Shorak is gone."

---

I know we're not in tactical movement and I know that even "using a reaction" to try to grapple Shorak wouldn't work, but Adamant blames himself (of course)... he will make every effort to stay in arm's reach of the three remaining friends and try to grab them if they try to lean into shadow.

[Darren]

Kalarian grimaces. "Well," he says to his remaining friends, "it seems we have two choices. We can use that," he nods down at the stone, "and try breaking these mirrors. No idea what that will do." Kal looks each of his friends in the eyes (or eye-gems), catching brief glimpses over their shoulders of the reflections around them. "Or, we just go in and hope for the best. I hate that idea. I cannot guarantee that we will arrive wherever everyone else has gone together, and we have no idea where there even is, or whether or not there is a way back. It's charging blind into a battlefield on unknown ground against an enemy of indeterminate proportions. It's foolish madness." Kal looks, at last, at the pack slung over Adamant's shoulder. "Or, we open that and see what's inside. I don't think it can turn out any worse than the other two options. In all cases, we have no idea what our actions may or may not do. So I suggest we start there," he says, jerking a thumb at the pack.

[Jeff]

Even as Kal speaks, Adamant detects another figure, walking into view, approaching Kal. But only in the reflections. A slim, feminine shape, with white hair. A sword held up as she approaches him.

[Dave W.]

Adamant springs into sudden action, lifting his shield, he rushes past Kal to smash his shield into the reflection of the female.

---

shield bash to break the mirror?

[Ken]

"We were split up when we entered Dolurrh," says Belarin grimly. "That didn't turn out well for us. Especially not for Syrdan. We stay together and... Adamant! WHAT...?"

He grabs the enchanted stone and waits to see what happens when Adamant attacks the mirror.

[Joe]

"Brother!" Streko glances at Adamant's rushing form with both awe and horror. "Beware!"

[Jeff]

Adamant's shield hits the reflective stone hard, and a slight crack is made by the sheer force. In the process, Adamant looks beyond his shield for the figure that appeared to rush toward him in turn, and it barely even looks like a warforged: he saw red visceral flesh, not metal. It feels like a true threat...

Belarin, Streko, and Kal, too, glimpse a disturbing figure reflected in the mirror face Adamant charged. It is as larger as Adamant, but sure isn't his color. Will they look closer at it?

Dave, make an Intelligence saving throw for Adamant!

[Darren]

"Adamant! Look away!" Kal yells. "What you are seeing is not real!" Kal grabs hold of the warforged, trying to physically pull him from the reflections.

___________________
Not sure how you want to handle this. I'd like to either aid Adamant on his Intelligence check, but if that's not possible, a grapple maybe?

[Ken]

In the rush of activity - and in his surprise that Adamant actually cracked the mirror - Belarin looks at the figure beyond.

_________

Belarin's Intelligence save (including the +3 from Adamant): 1d20(19) + 6 = 25. If it's a check instead, then it'll be a 21.

[Dave W.]

“what is...”

---

ooof...
dlw32:1D20+2 → 3(1 + 2)

just in case Kal did give me aid... assuming thats advantage...
dlw32:1D20+2 → 22(20 + 2)

well thats the high and low of it... crazy die roller!

[Jeff]

No, Kal wasn't close enough to even try to stop Adamant. Moreover, you can't give someone an advantage on a saving throw with the Help action (much less an Intelligence one!).

Kal, Belarin, and Streko are looking in Adamant's direction when he vanishes, somehow folding into the cracked surface in front of him....at which point his reflection (a warforged-shaped form draped in garments like wet skin) fades away altogether. The cave noticeably dims without his light. Now only Kal's sharash remains to hold back the gloom. And a flickering gloom it is.

The crack in the wall has splintered the reflective surface, and Belarin sees nothing of significance in it. But others around it still show him, Kal, and Streko dimly. Each a variation in your peripheral vision.

Dave, of course, be watching your private thread.