S1:E26 – Marcon

In our last episode, the party faced more blights, learning that they were sent by being known as Gothias. After a disturbing dream, Weyland made a call to the Hags to ask about Mave, and learned that Gothias was a vampire that the Hags believed to have been gone long ago. Our adventurers today are David who plays like about the wizard, and I failed it. Kieran who plays Weyland the Barbarian, before he was.

Theron who plays David Druid, oh no, Spike! and our DM Hazel. I have to do this to myself. Welcome fellow Trappers to Legends of Chill.

Spike leads you through the forest, and after a couple of miles, everybody give me a first- actual one. Hey. Hey. Hey.

Think about it. You notice this strange red object poking out from behind the trees. It's a bit off. Yeah, it looks like, but you can kind of see a glimmer of it through the trees.

Is it like a structure? It seems to be some kind of structure. Okay, I'll point it out to everyone. Can I use my goggles to zero in on some details of it?

Sure. Yeah, as you guys walk, you kind of focus in your goggles on it, and you're catching glimpses of it through the trees, and it looks like it is this tall pillar, and it's just a big cylinder of some kind of red gemstone. Mm. It's just a 40-foot tall.

Is it the same gemstone in the amulet that I saw in my tree? Same type of gemstone? Maybe a nature check. Mm.

20. Nice. Looking at it from this distance, it's hard to tell, but you think it is a different red gemstone. Mm.

The coloring seems slightly off. Well, I'm still going to be wearing it for red gemstones. Okay. That's cool.

Now that I really got it straight towards that at this point. Yeah, it looks like it's going to be off to your right. As you continue down this path, not that there's a path, but you know, as we continue following the hand. As you get closer, you see this like stone mound, and from the center of it is this 7-foot wise 40-foot tall cylinder.

Oh, let me check it out. Can we go check it out? Can we go look at the cylinder? Let's go check it out.

Oh, it takes upset. It takes upset. It takes upset. Wayland hacks a path to the strange monument, and on the stone base, you can see that it has some markings carved into it.

Are they druidic? They are not. They're actually just so much iconic. Oh huh.

Did you guys take a rest for a second? Yeah. If you're going to do a ritual, I'm going to do a detective magic. I think you're going to do languages.

Yeah, yeah. So it has to be a detective ritual. Well, it has to be a detective ritual. It pulls a hat over.

It takes a nap. It has a little 10 minute nap. You're a detective magic? No magic.

No magic. All right. You're comparing languages. Am I ever.

There are some rooms on top that are bigger, and those translate to sings, highlight. Sing like, la la la la. Yeah. Okay.

And then underneath that. A short little statement, I guess. It says, we sit, we watch, we wait. When the three pillars are joined, the passage will open.

Until then, we sit, we watch, we wait. What's the name of the third pylon? I don't know, I haven't made that one. Zing's pylon, Gling's pylon.

I don't know. That is in Ryori. Okay, sorry. I'm gonna, after I read out the rooms, I'm gonna circle it with the seeker's heart to see if there's any access to it, secret doors or panels or whatever.

Okay, go ahead and roll for that. There's not here to be any openings or panels here. It just seems to be this Strange Gymstone pylon with this message card underneath it. Okay.

You knock on it. See if it makes any noise. On the pylon or on the stone? On the pylon, unless it's like a tall climb, you said a mound of stones, you didn't say how it pile.

It was like, we're not gonna scale a mountain. You don't. You can get there, it's not that high. So you kind of like stretch up and knock on it.

And you hear this ring, is this nice, pure, magical sounding note. But as you know, there's no magic. And that just rings and reverberates out through the forest. Okay.

Very pretty and very loud. Ouch. All right, let's move on, no. Who's loud?

As you're saying that. You see four needle-whites depth out around you guys. Should I get them a surprise around or not? Probably not, cause wayland probably not wayland.

I probably would have noticed them. So we will roll initiative. Are they coming from all sides or are they all together? They're from all sides.

Oh, this is gonna be a long arduous battle. I think it's a needle-whites kind of seven. Wayland. Ten.

Day? Thirteen. Because I'm 22. Is spike Jones joining the initiative?

Oh yeah. Four. Okay, you can pause. There are four needle-whites surrounding you.

Let's say they're about 25 feet away. Okay. I will cast Toll the Dead on one of them. And it's a wisdom save DC 13.

Ten minus one. It does not make it one necrotic damage. Bring this today. I will produce a fling in my hand and throw it at a dick one.

Okay. Oh boy. It's not a great roll. Thirteen?

Thirteen hits. Okay. Two. Fire damage.

Yeah. Okay. That brings us to Wayland. Wayland really needs cleave.

Cleave. Greater, cleave. Greater, greater. All right.

Then Wayland will go up to the third one. Rage is a bonus action. And take a reckless hit. Oh, that's a 17.

Yeah. Good. 17 damage. So these two take their magic and go pew pew pew.

And just go to this guy with your second go. And just falls to the ground and pieces. Oh, that's how it's done. All right.

That brings us to the needle place. There are three left, which is fairly convenient. One of them can just attack each of you. The one that Ichabod attacked is going to attack Ichabod.

That is a 20 to hit. Yes, it does. Oof. That is 12 piercing damage.

Oh. Geez. Almost rolled max damage. Ow.

Okay. We're all here doing one and two and it's like. And the one that day attacked is going to attack day. A reasonable.

Eighteen. Yes. Ten damage. This guy would die.

He did fine last time. I know. And the third one who has not been engaged with anybody is going to shoot some needles out at Waitlin. Of course it's going to miss.

It's going to miss a tank. Seven. No. All right.

There's two spike jumps. Wait, we double-trying to speed. He's like a fastest. I'm sorry.

Yeah. So he's going to go over to the same one that day he's fighting and claw it. Okay. Okay.

Make him attack. He's going to attack 20. Then we'll hit. That will hit.

That will hit. That will hit. That's a D4. Plus one.

And launch itself and poke him in the eye. Nice. Okay. That brings us back around.

Take a bite. Did that go down? Did it die? No, I did not.

I did like four points a day in the episode to a total. So it was the... Assuming it was one little fire. That it was the other one that was super weak and only had like three or four hit points then.

I don't remember. Yeah. It's a three-blight. Okay.

All right. I will target the one attacking me with told that that again. All right. DC 13 wisdom save.

Roll with 13 minus one. Nice. I'm going to get 12 necrotic damage. There you go.

Ball. Yeah. That one has been told to death. Yeah.

It's returning to the favor. Yeah. That brings us back to day. Oh, okay.

I'm going to... I'm going to told them off. I did. I'm going to keep throwing fire.

I miss. So you do. Mm-hmm. Your fire just kind of goes and just splats in the middle of the area without really hitting anything.

That's fine. So it is now a wheeling strike. Can I reach them with my 35th film moving speed? Okay.

All right. Then we're going to go to the next one over. That's the least hurt. There's one that is uninjured.

It has attacked you, but nobody has hit it. All right. Then I will get that one. 13?

That hits. Yeah. That's going to hurt. Because it's more dangerous than last time.

Okay. Well, then it dies. Because, yeah. 24.

Yeah. 24. You had nine? Geez.

When I'm raging. I have a plus five for my strength in the magic weapon and then raging. It's an extra plus four. One day dies.

I have a very rare aim too. If you want. I can try to work in another character if you really want to die. No, I don't want to die.

Just know when she does. You have slain three of the four needle bites. The last one is the one that day has been hitting. Sorry.

But they didn't really do that much damage. The hands didn't more damage. So it is going to attack the hands. No.

Does a tin hit? No. The hands definitely dodges out of the way. It is very small in comparison to the needle bite.

So it usually scuttles around. And that brings us to Spike Jones. He's going to slap it. Alright.

And natural 16. That will hit. Five damage. And Spike Jones kills the final needle bite.

But it definitely slaps. Strange Jones is MVP again. And if my hand saves the day. So what are those healings?

I have an end here. Actually, I'll say you're fine and put a hand on your knick and fork it points. Well, you do that one today. How's he looking after that?

He needs a little bit. I mean, he's not fine. I'm better. I'm better.

That roll. Six more? We'll put it. Yeah.

But it will start to the day. It's actually not solved any mysteries. But it hasn't. So let's keep going.

Alright. So you were following Spike Jones again. You've walked for a while longer, surprisingly. Not running in any more bites.

Cool. And then suddenly, around you, below your feet. And in front of you, the ground is suddenly this lush carpet of green grass. And the trees around you are suddenly covered in leaves.

They're strange air-decent leaves that shimmer like rainbows. The trunks of the trees are smooth and are a rich, creamy white with gray veins almost looking like marble. The vines with large red flowers crawl out the sides of the trees. The air is fresh and cool.

It carries the pleasant scent of a healthy wood. You can hear the rustling of the leaves as the light breeze blows through. And you can hear the twitering of birds coming from the trees. So like we didn't see this coming just suddenly.

Yep. Okay. We're still awake, right? I'm going to take like three steps back the way we came.

Okay. You step back the way you came and you're back in the dark booney forest with the vent trees that you can see in front of you, that the area in front of you looks like. Okay. So I can still see the guys and I can see the fancy.

Yep. Alright. A little shrug. Don't rejoin them.

I like it. And we can see the line while we're standing in it. We can see the line where it went from rotten and terrible to beautiful and lush. Okay.

And does it look like that to our left right and forward? Or is it just a diameter? And then I was just waiting for the ferries or... No?

Oh wait, you know like 30 seconds for the ferries and you'd be happy to see grass and to do it. So it appears to be about a 150 foot cube of this forest and space. Are you actually facing anything into the grass? Yes.

Yeah, dirt underneath there. And right after you do that you hear, ah yes, supplication. Mortals, it has been some time. What gifts do you bring to make up for your negligence?

I don't get up but I look up from the ground and I say, this isn't even real grass. Think about it? Can you make me pick yourself a check? 14?

In one of the trees you see this ghostly form of like a very small dragon. You guys don't see anything. I'll address the dragon and say, who do we have the honor of speaking to? I thought that I had written that down.

So I guess I just make it up. Bobb it is. You have heard me, my name is Darmo. Has it been so long that you have forgotten?

You're the middle of a curse forest man. I admit it has been some time. Where are you from? From Hillskeep or the Black Watch?

No, bells run. Bells run. That's all that's left really. I'm not very familiar with you.

But still, you owe me some supplication. No. You don't seem like he's helped us out anytime recently has he? No.

No. I'm getting up and dusting myself off grumpily and like I agree. We can give him the verbin though. Oh, we like can you hit me with a wisdom saving throw?

Oh, I can. I don't. Oh, poor. That should do it.

I mean, it makes the story happen, I guess. I'm just glad it was like past the other one. You hear this voice in your head that says, it's a suffocate yourself. And so you do so.

You kneel down on the ground and you bend forward. Oh great, whatever the fucking one. And then, Wiggles doing that. And you see this magical glowing hand appear out of thin air.

And Ichabod, you can see this dragon moving along near it so that it can be within range. And the hand reaches out and it opens up Dave's pack. I slap it. Can you slap me, Mage Hand?

I'm not sure. I probably missed it unless a Mage Hand has an AC in like 10. I think it's spectral, so you really can't hit it. Probably not.

So you slap at it, but it just keeps... Can I close my bag? Yeah. I'll get to make you.

You can do that. It's not strong enough to resist. I'll say to the dragon, I have something for you. I think it'll probably fill your knights.

And I'll take out the Hita Winter book. Why did Sucken call on that? Because the Mage Hand will come around and it will grab that. And it will open it up.

And you see the dragons covering their over the hand. Yes, this is very nice. What else do you have? That's one from one of you.

I'm trying to find something worthless that I have. Give me a second. Oh, oh great. I was going to offer it something off of the robe of many things.

But there's not really anything good left other than healing potions. I don't want to give it the healing potions. So I guess I have a mysterious vial of green liquid that I'm never going to look into anyway. And they offer it back.

The hand comes over and picks it up and puts it underneath only the trees with the book. What was that? I do not remember where you got it from or what it is, so I'm not sure. Okay.

It's on my list between my Ring of Swimming and a Silver Letter opener. It tells you anything. It tells me where you got it from, but I'm not sure. I could probably find it.

It must not have been magical because... Yeah. All right. And what's a view, big one?

I think you probably still have that other book we had, the Treasure Roof Saint Michelle. Mm-hmm. Oh. In the party that we do have that bourbon, we have a bone shaped key that we don't need anymore.

We have some jewels. Oh, a part with the bourbon. It's taking the bourbon from the party. That's fine.

Sorry. I don't have any of the toy on me. Wherever what else I have. Is it going to accept the bourbon?

Yeah. Right. I'll share with you my favorite thing, a stiff drink. Oh.

That was nice. Who are you? Why are you taking things from us? It was you.

You see this swirl of multicolored lights come down, and then there is this figure before you. It looks like some kind of small humanoid. Nothing that you're very familiar with, that you're really familiar with. And...

Very small. It looks up at you. And it says, I am the keeper of this sacred grove. My name is Markon.

It's nice to meet you, Markon. Why are you taking things from us? It is my jub for keeping so much of the forest natural I preserved. Can I tell how much of the forest is actually doing okay?

I said this nice area is about 155 feet. Right, but it's hallucinatory or something like that since it's dirt. Maybe. Would you like to make a check to see if you can tell us hallucinatory and since you suspected it?

I mean, I got to be mouthful of dirt. I think I should maybe even get admitted. What do you want? Investigation.

Investigation. Twenty. More than enough, they'll say DC is 13. Okay.

So you can see this terrain superimposed over, like you can see both. You can see the natural terrain that is actually there, and you can see this fake, illusory terrain that is over the top of it. Is any of it actually? You can also see that the creature talking to you is also just an illusion.

Okay. Can I see the actual creature that's doing this? Can I see any element of the forest that's okay? Is it just completely an illusion?

Yes, completely an illusion. It's an illusion. I'll just share that. I want to look around to see if I can see what's causing it or who's causing it.

Okay. Go ahead and make a perception check. Twenty-two. You kind of can get a feel for where the voice is coming from and looking at where Ichabod's looking.

You can kind of guess where the creature is, but you can't see it. It is invisible. Okay. I'll say in Sylvan.

Do you understand me? The dragon turns his head over sharply to you, and then the Marcan illusion goes, yes, I understand that language. I was very impressed with the work you've done here. And are you just like looking right at the dragon?

Yeah. We all are, obviously. Are you still speaking Sylvan? Yeah.

I say in Sylvan, are we having another conversation that only Wayland can't understand? He's busy right now. The dragon kind of moves in front of you and weighs his tail right back on your eyes. See if you can see it?

Oh, follow it. The delusions all disappear, and you can all see now as this fairy dragon appears. It is, it looks like a very small dragon, but with these elaborate butterfly wings. And it is mostly a purplish color.

And it's like, ah, greetings. Thank you for the gifts. Those are very nice of you. You were so cute, thank you.

Why didn't you have more? I was just having a bit of fun. And it was fun. Absolutely, we agree.

I'm glad you enjoyed that. So, uh, those run. I don't know where that is, but it's weird to see people out here. Well, given the surroundings, I have to say it's weird to see a creature as beautiful as you out here as well.

Thank you. This is a weird place. I've been here a long time, but I don't know. This is just where I've always lived.

Just creepy forest place. Well, usually I play tricks on, have you seen those little plant things? They're really dumb. And they're really good to play tricks on.

They usually stay away from here. Now, I'm going to have to move around a bit to find some new ones that they trick on. We're actually interested in finding the cause of all this corruption. And I'm assuming that that would be in your interest too, wouldn't it?

Or do you like living in this environment? You know, it would be nice if this forest looked like the one I showed you. Because that's really pretty, right? You did you like that?

It was great. Yeah. But yeah, so that sounds good. How are you going to do that?

Well, we suspect somewhere ahead of us, and I'll indicate the general direction, there is some sort of rift where this is leaking through. And we want to go and see if we can heal it. Oh, that sounds great. Rift.

Did they say what exactly were those support of the Shadowfell? Or am I just going to guess more? I think we just know that it's a portal. I don't know that we necessarily know Shadowfell.

You guys encountered a measles, which was trying to garot one of you and take you away? Yeah, and that's a shadow phone. Which, yeah. One of you probably hate about it.

Yeah, quite a bit about measles for some reason. Maybe you had one of these, okay. Yeah, not just a rift, a portal to the shadowfell. Yeah.

Come on, right? I don't really go too much that way. It gets a lot more dangerous towards the center. So we've heard.

Well, I have to say I've really enjoyed both the setting you created and the conversation we've been having. I would never ask you to do something you weren't comfortable with, but I would love to carry on this conversation if you'd be willing to come with us a little while longer. And I'd love to see the tricks you play on the plant creatures. It has been nice talking to someone who can actually talk back.

I guess I could travel with you guys for a little while. I don't want to go too deep, but I guess we can see how it goes. Maybe you know some of this area anyway a little better than we do. You might have an idea of what we should look at and what we should avoid.

Yeah, I can try to help with that. Most of what's around here really are those, those light thingies which they hang around that creepy tree further in. Is that their home or is that who they serve? I think it's their parent kind of.

Yeah, that's how these black spores and they land and then these blights just shoot up. It's pretty weird. How is he getting this tree to serve them? Okay.

Vampires? Oh. Yeah, we can attach those blights and instead. So, I'm forgetting what's his name.

Gethias. Gethias will have us and we learned that that's a vampire. Oh, one of the Viny ones? Yeah, some of those can talk.

Yeah, the other one can't. It's a little weird. Where did you hear that he was a vampire? I always thought that Gothias was just a tree.

Hmm. I don't know. Might be outdated information. Well, they did say he died.

Yeah. They thought he died. So, yeah, if it's a vampire, it inhabits the tree now. What if the tree grew out of a stick?

There you go. That'd be fun. All right. It is actually the lore.

Whoo-hoo! Which I can take a credit for because I did not make it out of this house. I took it out of the books. Which I was like, oh blights.

That's a nice little monster that can throw a lot of them at them. Well, it's good to know we don't have to buy an actual vampire. Yeah, we just have to buy a vampire tree. Basically.

What are you going to do with the tree? Okay, we should go take a look at that tree. Yeah. All right, let's go do it with the tree.

All right, yeah, I can show you the way there. If you want. Do something. Thank you.

So, it flies off at its 60 feet. And... Slow down, please. Then it kind of looks back and realizes, oh, I have to move really slow for these apps.

Because you guys are dealing with difficult writing. All right. So, with the help of the fairy dragon, who I guess we will call more coming. Is that your real name or was that the name that you made for your illusion person?

Oh, that was just the name for my illusion person. Is it okay if we call you that or do you want to be called by your real name? Just calling me that is fine. That way the DM doesn't have to make up another name.

I give them the thumbs up. That's a DM. Roll for meta. So, it gets tired of flying slowly.

And so it just kind of starts to where it will perch on Ichabun's shoulder. As you guys are walking along. There's jealous. Because it does not want to fly that slowly.

It's really boring. It's just easier to sit and talk. And chatter. The chat one.

So it tells you, well, if you guys are going to move at this speed, it's probably going to be a little while before we get there. It'll probably be dark before we get there. Because you guys move so slow. Sorry we don't have wings.

Me too. Says the one with wings. As we walk, I'm going to use press the digitation to make spark showers and, and then I'm going to make the colors and the little wirly winds and just entertain. Oh, excellent.

Yeah, I really enjoyed that. I really appreciate that. Does it also have press the digitation? No.

You just color it right. Exactly the same way. It has dancing lights which I think is a cantrip. But you can only use it once a day.

It's kind of weird. That is weird. I am actually going to create odd odors with it and point at the other people in the group. It giggles.

It is really enjoying it. It uses, it was using dancing lights to make that little person. You can do that with dancing lights if you remember right. So it makes little fart sounds using minor illusion behind you guys to go with the odors.

Okay. Nice. And as you guys travel with these two tricksters now, amazing. Night begins to fall.

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