Chpt. 4 - The Tower of Roses

[tkrexx]

Do you mind? Flint shields his eyes as the Halfling shows everyone her blade has a dual purpose. We all have had pieces of ourselves torn away in this accursed palace, friend Shen, he continues. I also feel less than when I entered, yet as I feared, the tower would be too simple a hiding place for such an allegedly reality-threatening artifact. So, we begin again. I for one would be at full strength before pushing ahead. We barely survived this most recent encounter; to move forward now would be to invite disaster. I will agree, however, to have one last look at the room with the tentacled beast. The loss of my own mental faculties caused me to overlook a vital component in my possession, and as such may have caused an oversight costly to the party.

[tkrexx]

This is so cool! A still giggling Honnilee finally notices how annoying her small flash-blade is during strategy sessions. She suddenly is realizes she has 2 swords, but 1 sheath. She is silent for a few moments as she muddles thru this puzzle.

[AleBelly]

Shen thanks Flint again for his magical armor. Maybe I'm just not seeing it, I've felt a bit dull in the head since the gameroom, but I was so sure the Staff would be in the tower. Any ideas?

"Well," says Raquinel, "this pipe Ianin's in love with seems to be a device of transmigration...whatever that is. Where I come from, that means reincarnation, so maybe he'll come back as the princess and she can tell us herself." She laughs a bit too much at her own joke. "We did find some items clearly not of this world near the device, so perhaps it's a portal to another plane, where the Runestaff resides."

She seems surprised at how much she's talking, so hesitates before adding "no matter our next step, I agree with others. We need to fully recover our health first. This body can't take too many hits as it is. Too much rest will deplete my meagre food supplies, unfortunately. Guess I'll have to find out how decapus tastes."

[MonkeyWrench]

At Raquinel's jest Ianin looks at the hookah, "huh... in love?" after thinking in it for a moment he simply chuckles and retorts, "if the device does as you say and reincarnates myself or others, or is a portal then I shall be quite alright with loving the object haha." he brandished a smile and winks at Raquinel before going back to lighting the hookah.

[GreyWolfVT]

Bjorn chuckles at everything and gets surprised every so often when Honnilee temporarily blinds him with the light beam. "Hmm what do you have there is that a bit of a puzzling item or what Honn?"

[doughx99]

Idwillen casts cure light wounds on Andover

1d8= 4

He then drinks his last potion of healing.

1d8=7

[greyarea]

Shen contemplates the idea of going to another plane to find the Staff. He gives up after a bit though, going to a corner to work his prayer beads and meditate while the others explore the things in the room. Preparation for the adventure ahead through meditation: that is something the monk can still fully comprehend.

[Grognardsw]

Honnilee the hobbit practices with her sword while Shen turns to meditation. Idwellin heals Andover and himself. The other injured look expectantly at Bjorn the cleric...

Ianin the conjuror spends time learning the Dispel Magic spell. He then lights the High Hookah of Transmigration. He breathes deep of the hose. The mage feels his body and mind lighten and rise. He sees his own material body sitting before the hookah, connected to his transmigrating spirit by serpentine coils covered with what looks like snake scales.

Ianin drifts through the ceiling, into the room above. It looks like a bedroom much adorned in silver! Than an other-dimensional wind buffets Ianin and he moves like a kite westward through the wall, tower stairwell, outside, then back into the second floor of the palace. It is hard to control his travel, though the serpent coils keep him in check somewhat.

The magic-user slows to a gentle float and looks about. It is a large chamber 60'x60', with line patterns in the floor, decayed wooden sparring dummies, and empty weapon racks. There are several doors in the room.

Suddenly a set of double doors open. Rushing through is a much bloodied Durandal the cleric! He is holding the hand of a small oriental boy, perhaps 8-years-old. He is saying something to the boy --pleading by the look of it -- but Ianin can't hear anything.

Actions!

[MonkeyWrench]

Ianin, in his spectral form, looks around. Can he hear no sound at all or just not them? is he just too far away from them? Judging from the Cleric's attire is anything chasing them that he can see?

Is he able to move forward towards them? Or touch/say anything? Is he able to affect his surroundings at all, or move? Or is he at the mercy of the winds?

[greyarea]

Shen, monk

Shen snaps out of his meditative state and stays back, ready for action.

[GreyWolfVT]

Bjorn not knowing who is still in need of healing ignores the specter and asks who needs aid.

[MonkeyWrench]

can everyone see that I am out of my body? Or do they just see that I am in kind of a trance or something?

[AleBelly]

I assume we can't see what Ianin is experiencing because he's a floor above us, correct? If this is true...

Raquinel casts a read magic spell and goes to work deciphering the magic runes written on the back of the talking paintings

if the above isn't correct
Raquinel suggests Bjorn cast his healing spell on the weakened fighters in the group instead of her and casts a shield spell.

[Grognardsw]

The other adventurers see Ianin in a trance, swaying a bit. There is no specter form.

Ianin cannot hear sounds on the prime material plane he left. Whether Durandal can hear him remains to be tested. Ianin does have slow mobility (30'/round) though that wind moved him easily (and quickly.) Upon trying to touch a wall, Ianin realizes he is immaterial and can't touch anything.

Durandal seems in a rush, but Ianin doesn't see anything chasing him at the moment (i.e. this round or next.)

HP status below. Bjorn let me know who you heal and please include rolls. Thanks!

Shen the Monk: 15/18 (4 from tentacles, 1 healed from rest)
Ianin the Magic-User: 5/12 (7 from Minor Death, 5 back from pink liquid, 6 from tentacles, 1 healed from rest)
Andover the Ranger: 6/31 (2 from monster heads, 24 from tentacles, 1 healed from rest)
Honilee the Thief: 5/19 (15 from tentacles, 1 healed from rest)
Bjorn the Cleric: 20/20
Flint the Illusionist: 4/9 (6 from tentacles, 1 healed from rest)
Poltux the Fighter: 3/11 (reduced to first level by Wheel of Balance, 8 from monster heads, 6 from tentacles, bled out 2, healed 8 by Bjorn, 1 healed from rest)
Idwillen the Druid: 12/17 (5 from tentacle, 1 healed from rest)
Raquinel the magic-user: 4/10 (5 from tentacle, 1 healed from rest)

[GreyWolfVT]

Bjorn casts CLW on Andover, Honnilee and Poltux.

A: Cure Light Wounds[1d8] = 7

H: Cure Light Wounds[1d8] = 2

P: Cure Light Wounds[1d8] = 4

[Zhym]

Andover, starting to feel a bit more like himself, thanks Bjorn and Idwellin for their divine aid. He then turns his attention to the small box with the buttons. What could it be for, he wonders, and does he dare push any of the buttons?

And has he suddenly found himself in Gamma World?

[GreyWolfVT]

Bjorn "Yer welcome Andover, and if I were you I'd press that there black one that says on demand." he smiles "Ya never know it could bring the runestaff to ya on yer demand."

[tkrexx]

Flint has a notion, and gazes again thru his seeing gem at Honnilee's sword, Andover's button box, and the swaying form of Ianin.

[tkrexx]

What? Honnilee notes the Illusionist checking her out using his all-seeing gem. Didn't you already check the room for nasties?

[doughx99]

Idwellin readies his sling but says I think we should wait until lanin comes back to us before making any moves or pushing buttons