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Planar Labyrinth: Prologue; Farewell, Rogrest. Enter the tear.
Topic Started: Aug 31 2014, 01:00 AM (1,153 Views)
Reic

"How much time do we have before we need to go? Give us as much information as you can in that time, both about the crime, and what lies beyond the rift, the more we know now the faster we can get through this, get me something to write with and to write on, scholar man what's your name? Help me take notes on this." I say with a hurricane of words, completely forgetting there might not even be time to take notes on this.
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Ryan
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James

"I'll recreate it the best I can," Sir Reginald explains as he heads up the stairs, turning into a hallway that leads right upon reaching the next floor up. "Supposedly, last evening a Royal Black Sentinel, an enforcer of the law from a neighboring country, recognized a criminal they were after for the murder of their princess. The Sentinels gave chase, and she broke inside the temple through one of the upstairs windows," he points to a side door as they pass through the hallway, leading into a small study with a desk and shelves filled with books. There is a broken window that shows Torn outside. "This one, in fact."

"They saw her enter, however, and with the Temple's guards on the assistance, she was trapped. She was cut off at every turn she made... until she came into the portal chamber. We'll be reaching it quite soon, I can show you it in more detail then."

"We know she must have fled through the portal: we were keeping the Planar Gems I had mentioned in a small, locked chest sitting besides it. She must have still been seeking escape, and with the temple so flooded with guards, the portal would have been her only option. The chest doesn't stop the Gem's ability to transport you through a portal... probably why she took them all. That, or she didn't want them to be able to follow after her. The chest was the only thing she stole, however: it's clear that the only thing on this thief's mind was escape. The Planar Gems just happened to be the best means. I can't exactly paint all the directions she took running around the temple... but she ran just about everywhere. I imagine she wouldn't have taken the tear were it not her only option."

Looking at a passing guard, Reginald nods his head. "Yes, we do have a fair amount of trained staff, to guard the portal in case something nasty should come through again... and we could spare the seven or so that my Gem can take. However," Reginald sighs, "The Planar Labyrinth can be chaotic, unpredictable: wherever she went, with the lead she has, there is very well a chance that we won't ever find her or those gems again. In which case, I thought it would be best that, if we could not get all those brave souls out there into the Labyrinth, we could at least manage the six of you. It's not much, but it's a start."

"As for what trials to expect, they're too numerous to count. In my year traversing it, I've fought monsters I've only read about in fairy tales, traversed reality-defying landscapes, had to deal with hunger in scorching lands of a sun that never sets and an unending ocean of mercury."

"But, there's also some Planes that will prove more hospitable... even beautiful. The last world I visited before I decided to return? A city of clouds, so far above the surface you can't even see it. Inhabited by a brilliant race of weather-manipulators that made the heavens put on a show like I'd never seen. It will be quite the journey."

Meleke

"I've certainly meet some pretty powerful individuals, but no-one in any of our pantheons."

"You wouldn't have," Master Nimb, still keeping up despite his short legs, answers, "You never left the material plane. The realms of Gods as you've described in your religions to me would only be found in the Astral Plane beyond the Elemental Chaos. Though they are prone to the occasional visit, it is rare to see them outside of it."

"Right," Reginald corrects himself. "But, to correct you, Master Nimb: I did hear rumors on my way back through the labyrinth that they had seen one of Ysgard along one of the worlds in the Material Plane."

Kioko

In your hurried rush of questions, Nimb chuckles, "Good idea. The Labyrinth is full of things you may need to keep track of. Writing things down is wise, lest you forget as much as Reginald tended too." He stops at the study presented where the thief broke in, and takes a feather quill pen, magically altered to hold ink in for far longer than possible, and a pad of paper. "It's a start."

"Time is short, unfortunately: A portal does not so much lead to another plane immediately, but instead leads to what is known as the Ethereal Plane. I mentioned it before," he holds up the Planar Gem again, "It's part of what makes these. It's a sort of misty, foggish dimension... I suppose if you were to put it into a metaphor, if all the different planes are islands, the Ethereal Plane is the ocean containing them. The portal leads you into this deep fog upon using the Gem, and from there you find the nearest portal. Well, other than the one you just stepped through."

"However, unlike islands, portals move frequently through the ether: the closest planes after stepping through a portal can change drastically overnight as they shift about like clouds in the sky."

"A true-seeing spell," Nimb adds, "as I am able to cast, is able to see into the Ethereal Plane a short distance, usually just far enough to the closest portal. There is only one close to Rogrest, but it is moving away as we speak. Within less than a day, it will disappear from even my sight... and then there will be no telling when that particular portal will return, if ever."

"So that's 24 hours we have to leave, enter this closest portal, find the thief with the Planar Gems, and return back to Rogrest with them."

All

After discussing the theft and the nature of dimensional travel, the party emerges in a large, round chamber, big enough to host the crowd of adventurer's outside. It has a high, curved dome of a roof, giving the chamber a very spacious feel as your attention is drawn to the center.
Posted Image


What appears to be a rip or tear in the air, glowing white and flickering with scattered light, sits above a raised platform in the center. "This," he motions towards it. "Is the portal. Sort of pretty, isn't it?"

There is another distraction in the room. A very loud, sore distraction that gives you all a sinking feeling in the stomach. Sitting adopt a pedestal stands a statue of a humanoid, standing up above about twenty feet with arms out stretched as though to grab at you all and with a long, thin, sadistic sneer lining his face. But, humanoid does not describe the figure's various features, which seem to borrow features from several races. The statue possesses a dwarven beard, elven ears, a tiefling's horns and tail, dragonborn claws, the pronounced teeth of an orc, the enlarged forehead of a gnome, and dressed in a comically mismatched, butchered combination of the clothes found across Rogrest.

It is a statue of Mrzfdpnk, the chaotic monster that tore a way into your realm and introduced Rogrest to the Planar community five years ago.

Reginald looks up at the statue, and says, "We thought it was a necessary touch: remind everyone, before they pass through this thing, the sort of creature that came out of it first. I figure we should only make sure the truly dedicated are ready to go through with this," he cringes as he looks up at the statue. "I was right here in Torn when he started turning the whole town upside down... got turned into a potato for three days for standing up to him." He shakes his head, "Haven't eaten a spud since."

"In the past," Master Nimb interrupts, looking to you all as he walks ahead of the group. "There is still time, if any of you have to know before leaving this plane of reality for another. Though, I recommend you do it quickly."
Edited by Ryan, Sep 7 2014, 10:41 AM.
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Tyler J Pineactupus
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A quick shake of the head from Maleke acknowledges that he has no further questions. If time is of the essence then there is no reason to go on with questions.

Spell List:
Spoiler: click to toggle
Edited by Tyler J Pineactupus, Sep 10 2014, 07:31 AM.
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JML

M. Herschel Pierce

Herschel lingers in the study, inspecting the broken window and other aspects of the room to get a better idea of how the thief broke in and what her state might have been. He mutters an arcane syllable and a green spectral hand appears in midair, intercepting the quill and notepad from Sir Reginald and delivering them to the wizard.

((Casting mage hand. Investigation check to examine the room for blood, disturbed furniture/items, and other clues about the break in.))

Investigation: [result]12&7,1d20,5,12&1d20+5[/result]

During Sir Reginald and Master Nimb's lecture in the Portal Chamber, Herschel wanders over to the (pedestal?) where the chest of gems once stood and again searches for anything which could shed light on the thief's hasty flight.

Investigation: [result]16&11,1d20,5,16&1d20+5[/result]

At the mention of the Ethereal Plane, Herschel perks up.

You said the portal leads through the Ethereal Plane, not the Astral Sea? Are you certain?

Prepared Spells
Spoiler: click to toggle

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EmperorRachelle

James Harrington

"Give me a few minutes to don my leathers and I will be all ready to enter the rift."

I put on my leather armor and ready my pack.

"I'm ready if everyone else is"
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XononoX

"I'm prepared, when everyone else is. Let's find this thief."
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Eliseo Francis Doomwaffle III

Meisu watched the entire thing in silence. The world was slightly awe-inspiring. The power that the Great Neube wielded, in order to create all this... Meisu had a very hard time trying to wrap his head around it. The great frog was a master of chaos and power, and he created an existence in which life could evolve and grow as it willed.

The Divine Water Skin must truly be a powerful item, for it would be forged by Neube's own hand. Meisu steeled himself.

"I am prepared. I am ready to enter the cosmic realm created by the Great Neube. Lead on!"

Prepared Spells

Cantrips

Blade Ward
Fire Bolt
Minor Illusion
True Strike

Level 1

Mage Armor
Thunderwave
Edited by Eliseo Francis Doomwaffle III, Sep 10 2014, 03:34 PM.
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Reic

"I'm ready to catch this thief but seeing as we are going to be working together for a while, we should have proper introductions. I am Kioko Fawks, daughter of the sorceress Vivi Fawks," I say with a warm tone.
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Tyler J Pineactupus
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The dwarf runs a stout hands through his red flaming hair all the way to the ponytail tie in the back; giving it a quick tightening tug. "Aye, I am Battleforged Maleke." His hands come down and one rests casually on his hammer while the other strokes his firebrand beard. Gazing at each of the faces Maleke nods when they each introduce themselves.
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Ryan
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Herschel

Your spectral hand intercepts the quill to jot down your notes as you take to inspecting the scene of entry: as noted before, it was broken in from the outside, as noted by the remaining glass shards scattered about the floor, and there's a roof top across the street around 30 feet away, vertically lower by about 5 feet. It appears to be a difficult jump, but the thief came out of it with no injuries that you can tell: no blood can be seen anywhere on the ground or walls, indicating they made it through without being cut.

Besides a few scratches on the floor from where a chair (now standing up) had been knocked over, presumably in her hastened escape, there appear to be no disturbances in the study where she made her forced entry: nothing stolen or moved.

"The thief, as I understood it, was being pursued very closely by the Black Sentinels that were chasing her: I assume she did not spend long lingering in here in after she broke through the glass." Sir Reginald explains his own observations.

Later, in the portal chamber (yes, sorry, should have specified: there WAS a metal pedestal placed next to the tear), the pedestal that once held the chest atop it stand at the base a fair distance away from its raised dais. "In retrospect," Reginald laments, "Perhaps keeping the stones so close to the portal was a mistake: we had kept their existence a secret until we were planning to reveal it this morning. How the thief even knew that it contained Planar Gems, or even how to use them, is anyone's guess."

Around the base of the pedestal, somewhat tucked away under one of the legs, you find a small knife. It is light and sharp, the sort of knife one would use for throwing, and it features a curved design of elven origins.

At your question of the Astral Sea, Master Nimb explains, "Quite: the portals lead out of each plane into, as Reginald accurately described, a transitive dimension that borders the infinite realms of the Material Planes. Referred to the Ethereal Plane, it is a featureless mess of matter and energy that possesses no form or function, a great 'ether' made up of the basic building blocks of all the Inner Planes that serves as a pathway moving from one portal to another."

"The 'astral sea' you may be referring to does exist however, though it's more commonly referred to as the Astral Plane." Pointing to his head, Nimb explains, "The Astral Plane is also a transitive plane used to travel between dimensions, similar to the Ethereal, but unlike the Ethereal, the Astral Plane is a realm made purely of thought and dream, with no material components whatsoever in its composition. It borders the Outer Planes, the realms of the Gods and beings beyond material comprehension, as opposed to the Inner Planes the Ethereal connects. Sir Reginald is well taught in the mapping of the planes, if there's anything more that requires explaining, he can provide a sufficient explanation." He turns to Reginald and sighs. "Hopefully."

All

"Well then," Reginald begins, seeing everyone is ready to go, "I see no further reason to delay our departure then. Prepare yourselves, friends: beginning now, it may be some time before we once again see Rogrest. Master Nimb," he turns to the gnome, "Wish us luck."

The gnome bows his head, "I have every shred of confidence."

Reginald digs into his pocket, and takes out the small, green stone he had displayed before. It glows brightly, shining more intensely than it did outside, and grows ever brighter with every step he takes to the tear, which in turn begins to vibrate violently and shift to a green hue as well, opening wider in response. "Everyone, please gather close... and take heed. The portal shift itself is somewhat uncomfortable."

With all of you close enough, a spark of energy lances forth from the tear towards the gem, and beginning with Sir Reginald, you witness the power of the tear disintegrate him starting from the hand as his body is reduced to green particles flowing through the tear like the sand in an hourglass, eventually drawing him in entirely as the knight is sucked within. The green energy then spreads out to each of you in turn, spreading over each of your bodies and equipment like a swarm of locust as you feel yourselves being broken down at the smallest level of being and being drawn towards the tear via the great energy stemming from it. The process tickles more than a little, but it is not searing pain either. Though the level of tolerance your mind has for basic atomization is up to you and your guts.

Posted Image
After the twisting, dazzling sensation of being ripped apart and sucked through a straw is finished, you all find yourselves floating within an infinite space of swirling green wisps and fog, filled with opaque and indistinguishable blobs of ethereal clouds filling your view within every direction.

Well, that is besides directly besides you all, where you notice the tear as it appears from outside, still as foggy looking out as it was looking in, glowing an intense green. You manage to see each other, as well as Sir Reginald (the gem no longer in his hands), floating nearby. All of you shine a luminescent, partially translucent emerald. Reginald is looking around the fog, ghostly head looking back and forth as he cries out, "There it is!" He points out with his hand, and through the haze of ether you all see a similar portal, roughly half a mile away and glowing a noticeable 'cyan' shade of blue as opposed to the green void you all float in.

"Okay, this is everyone's first time in the infinite space between worlds, I presume?" Reginald chuckles, "Don't let it overwhelm you, my friends. All of this is the same material that makes up our own world in every facet. Simply less constructed." He focuses on the portal in the distance, and his ghostly form begins to move closer to it, albeit slowly. "Simply focus on the portal there, and imagine yourself coming closer: the gem shall do the rest for us so long as we all seek to move to the same destination."

DM Note: No, no need for rolling, you can move through the ether as you would swim through water
Edited by Ryan, Sep 11 2014, 06:52 AM.
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