Psyche Support - 19/10/2022 - Archie’s Extracts
Oct 20, 2022 22:29:55 GMT
Jaezred Vandree, Anthony, and 2 more like this
Post by Andy D on Oct 20, 2022 22:29:55 GMT
On Nature Based Forms of Magical Communication
At some point, I suspect, I will put time into learning the Sending spell. Being able to contact anyone on the same plane to speak a short sentence, and hear a short response, is terribly useful. By contrast, it is interesting to see how druids make use of their talents to communicate a message.
I was in the middle of a physical training session with Kruger in Strength Corner. Kavel has me following an intensive adventuring program tailored specifically for me. He has expressed the importance of conditioning, as, “you can’t cast Fireball if you’re dead.”
Between sets on the squat rack, a squirrel approached Kruger and I, and announced, “I need some help to put Eric's mind back together... Because, I do not trust Killian to do it. Meet me at Fort Ettin."
The little squirrel then left us to go tell other people in the Training Yard the same message. Most fascinating! I imagine without animals around, the spell couldn’t work. But, with multiple animals, the spell can be more powerful than Sending, as it could target multiple recipients for one casting. Concerning the actual message, well I was already in Fort Ettin. So, I made my apologies to Kruger and asked if we could pick back up Wizard Conditioning at a later date.
On Adventurers New and Old
Carnan, who is a tall, blue Firbolg of some 400 years - and clearly proficient in nature magic - thanked the group of adventurers that came to his aid. He seems like a wonderfully patient and wise individual. The degree to which this can be attributed to an extended lifespan in excess of one achievable by humans, is not known. Regardless, I came to value his patience and wisdom. I also came to observe that even a very mature and experienced person can be wound up by the right individual. Master Carnan seemed to have himself an archnemesis in the form of one, Dr. Killian.
My old friend Fog, also a blue skinned Firbolg, from my first two adventures in the Dawnland had joined us. Fog continues to be a very relaxed individual. His stress management, I imagine to be on point. My own stress management was better for knowing this reliable ally was on the same adventure.
During the adventure, I experienced ‘being’ from Fog’s perspective. Experiencing the man’s natural wisdom and pleasant charisma from a first person perspective was fascinating. Had I not been so concerned with my temporary reduction in magical skills and intellectual fortitude, I may have enjoyed having Fog’s essence a lot more.
Sorrel; the Human stealth assassin and divine warrior - also, Kavel’s bonded sister. I knew we had good muscle in the team when I saw her. Additionally, it seemed she was experienced with mind-swapping, which was to be something of a feature in the adventure (see Fog’s mention above).
Tayz, an Araacokra Life Cleric was a refreshing surprise for me - a scholarly cleric. Quite the difference from my old friend Mendal, a Forge Cleric. I suspect Master Tayz will provide more insightful responses to my enquiries on healing magic than, “Moradin just makes it so.” (Mendal if you are skimming my writing whilst walking around the house; you know what you are like!)
On Counter Sabotaged Magical Contraptions
It was explained to me that ‘Eric’ (as mentioned by the squirrel) was an assistant to Dr. Killian, who has a shop under the Witching Court’s Mountain Palace. From this shop, the doctor, a magic researcher, takes commissions for expensive magical items. He put together a magical mirror for someone requesting a private, and safe space - the mirror would transport you to its own plane. However, the shop owner next to Dr. Killian happens to be the doctor’s own archnemesis, Xantha. She was secretly behind the commission and made alterations to the mirror to trap the doctor inside and separate him into multiple, locked away, parts. Young Eric caught wind of the ruse, and decided to trigger the trap with Xantha in his sights. However, Eric himself was unaware that Dr. Killian was aware of the ruse, and had in fact himself booby trapped the mirror to capture whoever pointed the mirror at a target. Most unfortunately, when Eric targeted Xantha, he got sucked into the mirror - a trap originally intended for a more powerful magician.
Carnan and Sorrel already had experience with the mirror, having already saved Eric once before. However, there seems to be one fragment of Eric’s mind still trapped in the mirror… and Eric also appears to have gone back in. If we find the missing piece, we can make Eric whole again.
On The Feywild - The Witching Court
It is as I was told, as if everything your feel and experience has been elevated. Magic is ripe and abundant on this plane.
Upon arrival at a teleportation welcoming chamber in the Witching Court, a tabaxi attendant, Swift greeted us, and led us through a winding underground maze to the Floating Melon, Dr. Killian’s shop. Next to it, was the Floating Apple, Xantha’s shop. Is there such a thing as keeping your enemies too close?
On Idiosyncratic Academics
As a scholar myself, I am no stranger to the idiosyncratic magic-researcher that does not mix well with the general public. I suspect, to some degree, I am myself an acquired taste. But, I can adapt to different groups with a little bit of self awareness, and I’ll do so for pleasantness’s sake. Dr. Killian seems to lack self awareness, or indeed any concern for it. I feel this aspect of Dr. Killian aggravates Master Carnan deeply. All sense of the mature, patient and wise Firbolg are not visible when Carnan is in Dr. Killian’s presence.
The Floating Melon was a cross between a small, messy shop and a decent sized, messy living quarters - utter chaos. In the far corner of the room a curtain hid the very object we had come to explore. On the floor surrounding it was a mass of papers all spread out. By a writing desk, Dr. Killian was dictating a message, when we came in.
Carnan expressed his disapproval to the doctor for putting Eric back in the mirror. My tall companion's disapproval was most noticeable in the way he tightly gripped his spear and then slapped the wall where Eric’s name was clearly spelt - which he did so in response to the doctor’s repeated misnaming of his assistant. I cite this moment as evidence of Dr. Killian’s general lack of concern - it is also evidence of why some doctors require assistants.
After a continued conversation with the doctor that produced no further information that we didn’t already know, and resulted in my companions all getting frustrated with the man’s perplexing indifference to the severity of the situation; both me and Sorrel suggested that we just proceed with joining Eric in the mirror.
On Exploring a Pocket Plane
It was a mixture of experiences, some enjoyable, some not so much. The party found itself on a small beach that Eric had created. Eric showed great mastery over the magic within the plane. Eric was able to conjure, at will; several armchairs to his beach, the insides of a library, and a roaring fireplace. When the rest of us attempted magic, unintended effects occurred. Wild magic! Though my friend Kavel may himself not be a magic savant, I agree with him entirely on the inutility of wild magic. I grew a feather beard at one point after using the tiniest of my magic. Utter chaotic nonsense.
Eric summoned a great iron door, through which we were to find his missing part, and in addition a cat called Rogers.
I was cautioned from using the Dispel Magic spell in the pocket plane. There was understandable concern that were I successful, we might all be trapped here. In retrospect this was obvious, and I’m frightfully embarrassed for suggesting the idea at the time. However, at the time itself, Sorrel’s caution about mind-swapping was well forewarned. My mind had turned ‘foggy’. My magical means had diminished and this was very worrying to me. Although, admittingly, I also felt oddly at ease and rather ‘chill’. I had clearly had my capabilities swapped with Master Fog.
On Research Possibilities for Longevity
This was precisely why I came to Kantas!
Master Tayz casted the beginning of what looked like a Sacred Flame cantrip. The flame appeared as expected followed by a dramatic decrease in his age! His aarakocra, raven plumage appeared so much younger. By his own words, he had re-entered puberty. The chaos of wild magic, surprisingly, was capable of de-aging!
On further discussion with Eric, however, the process of de-aging through wild magic was not likely to be easily replicable. Not for me, and less certainly for the entire Human race. Unfortunately, longevity would not be attained through wild magic, but coming to Kantas had once again provided me with new ideas.
On Magical Puzzles
I have become accustomed to these dangers during my time adventuring. However, in my lessened state, I was not particularly helpful in the matter of; re-joining my allies (as we became separated), finding Eric’s missing part, finding Rogers, and avoiding harm. All of the success here can be attributed to my companions, to whom I am ever so grateful.
When we went through the iron door, I found myself alone in front of five floating, glowing, white orbs. The orbs were in touching distance, but I opted, as I usually do, to investigate with my telekinesis. This minor sortie of magic altered my finely maintained beard and gave me a beard of feathers - wild magic and its inutility. ‘Why couldn’t I have decreased in age?’ was a question I asked to the void.
Sorrel and Fog, from where they were in the same void space were able to keep the rest of us connected, and through their wits, as mentioned earlier, we were able to achieve our task, and leave the mirror’s pocket plane.
On Unexpected On-Going Concerns…
Unfortunately it turned out there was a further missing part of Eric left to retrieve! Back in the Feywild, the poor lad could not cast magic.
The rest of us had fortunately returned to normal. I regained my mental agility and magical mastery, which I put to immediate good use. Outside the shop, I began cleaning up the scorch marks on my suit that I had received from taking a Fireball spell and Lighting Bolt to the chest. I felt I narrowly dodged the brunt of both blasts. I felt I must have experienced Master Fog’s mind and conditioning in the mirror, and it was a surprise to discover my own 50ish human body was more sturdy than my youngish looking Firbolg friend. Regardless, Wizard Conditioning has been paying off!
As luck would have it, the feather beard was not an on-going concern. It was a mild embarrassment though. I returned home and both Mendal and Kavel had a good laugh. They both plucked a feather each from my beard to inspect. Mendal then waved his feather under my nose, and I sneezed. To my delight, the feather beard magically vanished with the sneeze.