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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Richards" data-source="post: 9786180" data-attributes="member: 508">ADVENTURE 8: COUNTING DOWN THE DAYSPC Roster:  Amris Goodwitch, celestial elf witch (wizard) 3                     Avoroth Bleakborn, fiendish human cleric 3                     Gonkle Bu'Onk, fiendish orc fighter 3                     Wilbur Von Schattenwalde, shadow human druid 3Game Session Date: 22 October 2025 - - -"I'm afraid we have some bad news," declared Aurora.  "We've determined there's a very good reason the Shrine of Malevolac is located here on the edge of the Lake of Suffering: the field it generates, which protects everyone for a thousand miles in all directions from the fireballs birthed in Avernus's atmosphere, is powered by consuming the souls of the dead.""So there's no way to replicate the effect for Elsewhere?" asked Avoroth."Not without an infinite source of souls to consume," replied the arch-witch.  "You see the problem."Avoroth could think of a few souls he wouldn't mind feeding to a protective field around Elsewhere, but he acknowledged the limitations of the situation.  "Then there is nothing further to be gained by remaining here," he observed."We're going to leave a team here to perform some further observations and experiments - perhaps there is still something to be learned from the shrine - but yes, there's no need for you scouts to remain.  I'll have one of the senior spellcasters teleport you back by Elsewhere."  Shielded as it was from teleportation effects, it was impossible to teleport directly into the town; arriving just outside the edge of the farmlands ringing the town was as close as the effects allowed.The four scouts, their new fiendish riding mounts, and Tamaskan and Pivot all joined a group of scholars returning to Elsewhere.  Together, they informed the town's council about their findings.  The council was obviously disappointed, but understood the reality of the situation.  "Oh well," sighed Father Solaire, "perhaps this is for the best.  Elsewhere has existed for millennia without such a shield; it is unlikely the lack of such protection will cause any adverse effects to the town."Months passed in town, as the council was satisfied the immediate area surrounding Elsewhere on Avernus had been sufficiently explored to ensure the town's protection.  The scout teams still performed routine patrols around the outskirts of the town to ensure no wandering threats approached too close, but that still left them with plenty of downtime to pursue their own interests.  Amris devoted her time to mastering several new spells she'd unearthed in the spellbook taken from the fiendish human illusionist who'd tried to destroy the Shrine of Malevolac.  Wilbur trained with Tamaskan, teaching the dire fell fox a few new commands to increase her combat abilities in the field.  Gonkle spent his downtime in weapons training, while Avoroth pored over Asharen's notebooks detailing the working of the Elsewhere Compass she'd constructed.  And it was here that the fiendish cleric hit a roadblock in his attempts to understand the device's workings, for there was at least one, and possibly two, pieces missing to the Elsewhere Compass.  The first was a cogwheel forged from metal harvested from one of the gears of Mechanus, and it might very well be present in the device but was impossible to determine that for certain, as the gear would be completely indistinguishable from any of the other cogwheels.  The second piece was referred to in Asharen's journal as "a splinter from the doorframe" - but to what doorway? - which was to be used as the axle for the Mechanus cog.  But there were no wooden axles remaining with the damaged device, and several gears that had been scattered by the device when it had first been discovered.  Could one of these gears have been the Mechanus cog?  And was the "splinter from the doorway" laying somewhere in the farmlands around Elsewhere, where Asharen had been slain by the hell hounds?  If so, finding it would be quite literally like seeking a needle in a haystack.When questioned with a speak with animals spell (one Wilbur was using quite frequently to talk to his dire fell fox companion), Tamaskan said Asharen already had the Elsewhere Compass when they first met, though the planar scout claimed someone had told her how to make it in her dreams.  Avoroth cursed, realizing his ambition to figure out the workings of the device and using it to learn about Elsewhere's future path through the planes - and hopefully how to steer it - was not to be realized, not by any progress along this particular avenue, in any case.But one day, after Avoroth had lost any further interest in Asharen's journal and the Elsewhere Compass, the four scouts received a telepathic summons directly in their minds.  <You are to meet with Father Solaire,> the mental summons decreed, and gave them a location in the town, at the intersection of two main streets.  Wary of the unusual meeting place for the solar who usually lived in the town's sole church, the scouts each made their way to the meeting-spot to find Father Solaire waiting for them."That's a new trick," observed Avoroth dryly.  "I was not aware solars had the means for telepathic communication."  He didn't particularly like the idea of someone else in his mind - it seemed like a violation."We do not," admitted the solar.  "I summoned a djinni to send the message for me.  However, the reason I called for you is this: I wish you to check out the church."  He did not need to specify which one, as Elsewhere made do with a single temple building shared by the worshipers of the various gods, trading off days for their own worship.  "As you know, the council decided not to recreate the Shrine of Malevolac due to its requirement of destroying souls to power its effects.  However, someone has taken it upon themselves to begin renovating the church to do just that.  Although their intentions are likely quite noble - the safety and well-being of Elsewhere - I have been unable to get the person or persons responsible to speak with me; they disappear when I approach.  I suspect it is due to my status as an 'outsider,' someone who came to Elsewhere from outside its borders rather than being born here, as you all were.  I therefore would like you to intervene: talk to those making the changes to the church and get them to cease all further actions until we can all discuss their intentions.  I will not be accompanying you, as I need to keep an eye on Obsidian Omega Shi.""Is deadly force authorized?" asked Gonkle.  Applying deadly force was one of his greatest joys in life."If it becomes necessary, by all means," agreed the solar.  "The safety of Elsewhere is our utmost priority."  The half-orc grinned a tusky grin - that was exactly the answer he'd been hoping for.The group approached the church cautiously, to find hooded figures making alterations and additions to the sides of the church.  They did so my merely standing at the four corners of the church and gesturing with their hands, causing building materials to manifest and float over to where they were needed."Hey!" called out Wilbur.  "Stop what you're doing there!"  the hooded figures paid him no attention, carrying on with their silent tasks as if he hadn't said a word.  Preparing for possible conflict, the shadow druid cast a magic fang spell upon Tamaskan.Gonkle ran up and grabbed at the hood of the closest figure, pulling it back so he could look the interloper in the eye - intimidation often worked better when staring down one's intended victim.  But the half-orc's action revealed the completely smooth head of the figure, which lacked eyes and all other facial features with the exception of the vague impression of a mouth.  But even with such an intrusion into its personal space, the figure continued ignoring Gonkle, focusing completely at the task at hand.Trying to use nonlethal methods to get them to stop, Amris channeled a touch of fatigue through her familiar doll and into Pivot, as the owl flew from its perch upon her shoulder and headed over to the robed figure in the northeastern corner of the church.  The spell activated upon contact, but the figure seemed to resist its intended effects.  It did, however, apparently register this as an attack and it returned the favor, swatting the owl out of the air with a rapid slap of its hand, sending Pivot crashing to the ground, well into unconsciousness; Amris felt the momentary pain through her empathic link and then nothing.  The other three continued their silent work, and wooden support beams floated up to the church's rooftop and continued assembling themselves.Scowling at the effrontery - the cleric did not like being ignored, even if it happened en masse - Avoroth cast a bless spell upon the group.  He had no particular love for Pivot, but if it was combat these robed interlopers wanted, then he was ready to comply.  So, too, was Wilbur, who channeled a flame blade spell through his shadowflame runestaff as he charged the figure who had swatted down Amris's owl familiar.  Tamaskan raced along at his side, setting the robes of the hooded figure ablaze with a strike from her flaming tail.Gonkle attacked his smooth-faced foe with his falchion, cutting the blade deeply across its torso in a strike that would surely have caused a lot more damage had he been facing a living foe.  Whatever these things were, they didn't even bleed!  Amris, in the meantime, cast a scorching ray spell at the figure who'd hurt Pivot, causing more of his robes to burst into flame.  Oddly, though, the figure didn't seem at all concerned that he was now a humanoid pyre.  It calmly attacked Tamaskan, while another hooded figure from the southwest corner of the church ran over to help engage Gonkle and the fourth one ran around the other side of the church to assist the one currently ablaze."I summon thee, Ripper!" invoked Avoroth, causing a fiendish dire wolf to appear directly behind the figure Gonkle had cut with his falchion.  It snapped at its robes to no effect.  Wilbur, in the meantime, regretted using his runestaff, irritated the negative energy channeled through the weapon seemed to have no effect upon his foe - these were not living beings, the druid surmised.  But living or not, Tamaskan bit at the flaming being's leg while swatting it again with her blazing tail.Gonkle struck again against his foe, while Amris cast a Melf's acid arrow spell at the reinforcement just now arriving beside the burning foe; the witch deemed Wilbur and Tamaskan could handle that first enemy on their own.  Her spell struck true, burning into the figure's robes and chest, but once again the enemy didn't seem at all fazed by the obvious damage it had taken.  But the half-orc now had two foes focused upon him, and it was more than he could do to fend off all of their blows.Avoroth went over to Pivot and channeled an unneeded spell through his Boccob's book of knowledge, converting it into a cure light wounds spell he applied to the little owl.  (He did so not because he desired to save the little familiar so much as he did not wish to hear Amris's bitching if he failed to save Pivot when he had the chance.)  The owl blinked its eyes, rose to its feet, and took to the air, out of immediate harm's way.  Ripper, in the meantime, got a good grip on Gonkle's original foe and brought him crashing down to the ground.  Gonkle finished him off with a falchion-stab to the back of the neck, then brought his blade around to strike at the other foe attacking him.  In doing so, he missed out on the fallen foe dissipating into nothingness at his feet.Tamaskan finished off the burning foe with a vicious bite and the being - whatever it was - instantly sublimated, turning into mist which vanished at once upon the breeze, leaving behind nothing.  Wilbur immediately shifted foes, using his runestaff to strike the one whose torso was still being eaten away by acid.  Amris cast a magic missile spell at the same foe, while Pivot, at her urging, landed upon the roof of a nearby building and kept an eye out for any additional foes who might be approaching.Gonkle took a hit or two from his new foe, and Wilbur did likewise as the acid-eaten figure got past his own defenses.  Avoroth cast a shield of faith upon himself and readied his quarterstaff as he approached Gonkle, who seemed as if he could use the most assistance at the moment, as Ripper had returned from whence he came, the duration of the summoning spell having expired.  The cleric disliked entering personal combat himself, but sometimes it became necessary and it looked as if this current combat was one of those times.  But the cleric might have made his assessment prematurely, for Wilbur handily dispatched the foe he, Tamaskan, and Amris had been fighting, its body sublimating in the wind as had the others before it.  That left only the one up against Gonkle and Ripper, and Amris hit it with another magic missile spell.  It continued to put up a good fight, but it was soon taken out, Tamaskan landing the killing blow with a bite that ripped out the figure's throat and then caused it to discorporate into nothingness like the others.With the noises of combat now quieted, the group of four scouts could hear the sounds of construction coming from inside the church.  Wilbur raced into the western entrance to find five more robed figures inside, four of them actively using their telekinesis to apply runed plaques to the building's interior walls, while the fifth stood among the pews, seemingly in contemplation.  Once again, the druid called out, "Cease all actions!" and once again he was summarily ignored.  Tamaskan and Amris entered the church beside him.  Without turning to acknowledge any of them, the fifth figure asked - in an almost bored tone - "Why are you bothering me?"Gonkle and Avoroth entered through the main doors in time to hear Amris explain why they wanted to halt the unauthorized renovations to the church.  "You could at least have your...workers stop while we discuss things like civilized beings," she implored."Very well," replied the robed figure, and without saying a further word, the other four instantly stopped what they were doing, becoming as motionless as statues.  "I will put it in simple terms for you.  I am constructing a shield around Elsewhere that will prevent it from being affected by the ambient effects of whatever plane it is currently on.  The shield will be powered for a century by the soul of the Blood Emperor, during which time an alternative power source can be devised.  Does that strip you of any concerns you might have?"The group had to admit, it did make sense; the Blood Emperor was a powerful undead being whose imprisonment on Mount Celestia had already been going on for untold centuries.  "And what, are you just going to pop over to Mount Celestia to fetch the Blood Emperor when you're finished with your little construction project?" sneered Avoroth."I have already procured the Blood Emperor; he is in a location of my choosing, awaiting his eventual fate.""Oh yeah?  Where?""That is none of your concern.""Look, just who exactly are you?" demanded Amris.  "And what gives you the right to make alterations to this church without the approval of the town council?""My name is none of your business," replied the hooded figure, who still hadn't even bothered looking at the people with whom he was conversing.  "And I have every right, as a citizen of Elsewhere, to alter the church as I see fit.  The council can go stuff themselves."If the man could do what he claimed, then it seemed as if allowing the construction of a miniature version of the Shrine of Malevolac would only be to the benefit of the town and those who lived within it; still, the man's shifty demeanor, self-important air of superiority, and unwillingness to cooperate with the leaders of Elsewhere led the scouts to question both his sincerity and his trustworthiness."Well, maybe I'll head over to your house and remove the roof," replied Avoroth.  "After all, I am a citizen of Elsewhere and apparently that's all that matters when it comes to renovations around here."The man gave a heavy sigh, apparently having determined he was going to get nowhere with these fools.  He raised his hands and the four other robed figures immediately dissipated into nothingness, as if they'd been slain.  Then, lowering his hand, he himself discorporated like a summoned creature, although Amris recognized the effect.  "That was an astral projection," she declared, "one of the most powerful arcane spells known.  Whoever that was, he could very well have been overseeing his construction project from another plane of existence entirely.""He's a pompous ass," sneered Avoroth."You'd certainly know," sniffed Amris, "but if he had wanted to, no doubt he could have slain the whole lot of us without much of an effort.""And yet he didn't," replied the fiendish cleric.  "Come on, let's pull this crap off the walls and dismantle what they were building on the outside.""Hold up," admonished Wilbur.  "Let's go report in to Father Solaire, and see what he wants us to do."  The cleric grumbled, but nodded his assent.Father Solaire listened intently to the group's report.  "Do you have any idea who he might have been?" asked Amris.  "And why he wouldn't want to deal with the town council, or even reveal his identity?""Hmmm," mused the solar.  "No one in recent memory seems to fit...although there was one person who had the same kind of attitude toward 'owning' the village; he was exiled millennia ago.  I'll need to take some time to meditate upon this to fully recall such old memories, but if he's not only still alive but also returned to Elsewhere, that could be a major problem."  Father Solaire would say no more upon the subject, but gave the group his full consent to undo the alterations that had been made to the church, and informed them he'd put a guard duty upon the church to take on any replacement servitors - he said it sounded to him as if they were astral constructs - that might show up to pick up where they had left off.The group set themselves to their new task, Wilbur using a warp wood spell to destroy the runes on the plaques (which, they had learned, had been adhered to the church's interior walls with sovereign glue), while Amris used an erase spell to do the same.  Gonkle climbed up on the roof and discovered, to his great joy, that demolishing was almost as fun as killing; Avoroth had to ensure he only destroyed the recent additions to the church, not any original parts of the structure.  But once their task was done, it was back to the normal routines of foot patrols around the outskirts of Elsewhere, until the year in Avernus came to an end.On the eve of the next Shift Day, the scouts enjoyed the normal festivities celebrating a successful year of existence upon the first layer of Hell, and took their places just inside the boundary of the town proper, awaiting the sudden transition as Elsewhere plane shifted to its next random location.But this time, the shift was different.  There was a flash of clear diamond light, and suddenly the four scouts were no longer where they had been just a moment before.  Whereas they had been standing in a road in Elsewhere, they were now not even in the town at all: Amris and Gonkle sat upon their fiendish steeds Flick and Runtlemeat, while the other two mounts, Victor and Blackie, were tethered to a floating, black box about the size of a coffin that they pulled behind them, and upon which stood Avoroth and Wilbur.  Pivot and Tamaskan, who'd been with the group a moment ago, were nowhere to be seen, but the group felt mere annoyance at their absence rather than full concern."Wha--?" sputtered Wilbur, looking about him and trying to make sense of it all."We seem to have experienced some memory loss," reasoned Avoroth, as the gears of Mechanus turned inexorably in the distance. - - - This was a rather odd little adventure, one that was kind of disappointing, actually, in that our 3rd-level PCs were up against a spellcaster of at least 17th level (in order for him to have cast a 9th-level spell, astral projection), fighting summoned astral constructs that our unknown powerful spellcaster could easily replace at will.  And it seems like we got chumped, fighting off a guy doing something of actual benefit to the town.  Plus, I was saddened to see the whole Elsewhere Compass turning out to be a dead-end red herring; Logan even explained it was only about 83% accurate in any case, even if we did get it up and running - Asharen had waited for a year on a different plane she thought Elsewhere would appear on, only catching up to it after it had left Mount Celestia and arrived on Avernus.But we did level up to 4th at the end of the session, so that was good.</blockquote>

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