Post by Andy Davy on Mar 27, 2024 23:26:49 GMT
Observations on Eldritch Induced Fear and Magic Defying Associated Phenomena
Lady Saria Underwood of the Daring Council charged a team of adventurers, whom I was part of, to investigate a recent doomsayer named Cassandra.
I was aware of Cassandra. I was previously involved in resolving a terrorising situation that the Temple of Waukeen was facing in the form of a former paladin of theirs returning from Hell as a death-knight seeking vengeance. On that same day, Cassandra had been foretelling the end times, around the city, with a placard in hand, shouting her pronouncements. My young wizard friend, and occasional student, Mittens was involved in another situation where followers of Lathander were being targeted by evil. In that incident, Cassandra again was present, and more actively so.
Lady Saria Underwood’s instructions were to liaise with the religious institutions in the city, and see if we could track down Cassandra and deal with her, as she appeared key to the recent religious targeting. In addition, we were to investigate the strange reports coming from Castleside, where in addition to reports of civilian troubles, there were reports that the Order of the Crimson Fists’ leaders; Grandmaster Nailo and Ser Cinderwood, were not accepting visitors, and had sequestered themselves from contact.
Upon arriving in Castleside we saw that some buildings and shops showed evidence of arson with scorch marks around windows. There were also broken shutters and blood on the floor indicating physical altercations had taken place. But, the streets were not busy. The citizens that were about seemed distrustful and hurried. Some appeared to be alert for a fight. Most appeared fearful of that. The vast majority of people, however, seemed to have sequestered themselves away in their homes. We could ourselves feel a sense of fear trying to disturb us, as if magical in origin, but escaping our proper detection.
At the front gate of the Order of the Crimson Fists’ headquarters, we experienced some trouble gaining entry to the compound. This is until one in our party compelled the guard on duty with strong insistence that our desire to talk with the leaders of the group be accommodated immediately to avoid consequences.
Though we reached the door of the room Grandmaster Nailo and Ser Cinderwood were to be found strategising, we experienced further trouble seeing the two leaders face to face. This is until another member of the party also strongly insisted on an immediate accommodation of our request for direct conversation. This took the form of a door being violently kicked with the intention of disruptively unlocking it. The two high-ranking paladins, fortunately, were not too perturbed by the disturbance to their meeting.
The leadership of the Crimson Fists had made the decision to lockdown their soldiers in the compound; for their own safety and that of the citizens. The aura of fear that appeared to be abundantly dispersed in the air, had not gone unnoticed to the OCF. We were fortunate that a member of the OCF had been scouting around Castleside and had found something unusual that he wanted keener eyes to investigate.
In an abandoned house for sale, we discovered a most confounding energy emittance. Both my own, and a colleague’s ability to detect magic failed to determine what exactly was the apple-sized sphere of black matter that was floating stably in the living room of the for-sale home. We did manage, however, to determine that the unknown substance was fatal to the touch, and it did appear to have traces of eldritch energy to it. The sphere was, undoubtedly, a form of magic, but it seemed very much to disobey all understood rules of how to conjure the weave - it seemed outside of the weave. We also learned, through arcane and regular investigation, that on one side of the sphere, the fear-inducing effects were much less present than on the other side. We eventually were able to conclude that there were four spheres in the region of Castleside that formed a square, and from within; the fear-maddening effect was inflicting the populace.
There were recent footprints close to where the sphere hovered - medium-sized humanoid. It is presumed these belonged to Cassandra. I managed to brute dispel the floating orb with a relatively high application of the Dispel Magic spell.
Hidden behind barrels in an alleyway, we found a second sphere. We also found Cassandra nearby, who greeted us with her doomsaying and in addition a talent for offensive eldritch magic. Cassandra also had humanoid-shaped friends who appeared to be formed of a similar energy to that of the black spheres.
We fought, and seemingly because Cassandra was in danger; she vanished. Over the course of the battle, Cassandra made several announcements about, “something eldritch coming for us”. It was only until later could I see what was figuratively ‘before my eyes’, when Lady Saria Underwood observed that it appeared that Something Eldritch was now known.
We defeated Cassandra’s allies with minimal collateral damage, and dispelled the remaining orbs. Lady Saria Underwood paid as well for our work.
I know my friend Mendal, and several other adventurers have encountered the entity known as, Something Buried. I have encountered Something Lonely, and now Something Eldritch. What and/or even who these entities are, and what they want is worryingly unknown.
The Castleside Team
Bosalind "Boosya" Sugartooth - our elderly harengon and cleric friend has a wonderful grandmotherly instinct towards any adventuring team she is part of. During the recent adventure, the party benefited immensely from the heroic feast she summoned into being at Lady Saria Underwood’s dining room. Not only was the feast delicious, it provided divine magical benefits that empowered our will against fear - which was terribly useful against eldritch horrors. We were, in addition, immune to the effects of poison for a time. There was plenty of food for a party twice our size. Boosya, of course, invited our host, Lady Saria Underwood to partake. Kavel and Mendal must have a sixth sense for feasts, because both these pairs of freeloaders turned up to sweep food into their mouths, and then they filled up some doggy-bags! They then wished us well on our mission and left.
The manifestations of Boosya’s Spirit Guardians are quite fascinating. As is typically the case, a person’s magic does tend to manifest into the world with traits that go hand in hand with the caster’s personality. My own magic, if I do say so myself, has an air of the refined. Boosya’s Spirit Guardians are animated teapots. It is very charming, but also deadly to our foes.
Malak'yth - the drow bounty hunter does not travel in the same circles as I. This is no declaration of disapproval, however, as I am very much impressed with his expertise with a crossbow. Malak’yth’s deadly aim and rapid fire of his crossbow is like having three to four crossbow marksmen in your party, so deadly are his skills. His manner, I feel is less to my taste, but I cannot deny that occasionally his form of ‘diplomacy’ is what’s called for.
Mittens Mckittens - The up and down graph of improvement in magical acumen and general character ever continues to have more peaks and troughs added to it, for young Mr. Mckittens. The tabaxi wizard friend of mine reached an all new level of cheek during an incident that included a lot of rude, angry name-calling towards me, his elder. A stern disapproval was admonished in return. The young man apologised soon afterwards, which did show good character. To be fair to Mittens, he, like me, had been hurt by eldritch fire, which not only injured us, but affected our minds. Whereas my cognition had been slowed, which carried over to my body, Mittens experienced a rage similar to that which our ‘thicc’ friends make use of when fighting.
I demonstrated the Dispel Magic spell for Mittens several times during our recent adventure. I feel he has observed the lessons well. I am eager to see him perform the spell himself after he’s had a chance to study.
Mitten’s studies, I feel, positively contribute towards his investigative acumen, which was displayed many times in the recent adventure.
Wil Frozendagger - a human like myself, but in character and social circles Wil probably shares more in common with our ally, Malak’yth. Wil has a keen survival instinct, which actually contributes very well to the party, in particular with tracking our foe.
Will’s mastery in eldritch magic may prove very resourceful in discovering more about Cassandra and Something Eldritch. The team’s warlock demonstrated a powerful casting of the Blight spell during the fight against Casandra and her eldritch allies, and his water guardian romantic partner is a fabulous balance for Wil’s rougher personality, as well as a most welcome extra party member in dangerous encounters.
Dr. Archie Haltuhr (myself) - I was pleased to aid the party by enhancing their already strong insight and perception with the spell, Owl’s Wisdom.
I have learned I can cast the Dispel Magic spell more powerfully than I previously have cast it before, and still had magical reserves to spare. Offensively, Steel Wind Strike proves to be very beneficial.
Lesson, thankfully relearned without dire consequence: pre-cast Mage Armour and do remember to cast the Contingency spell with a t-rex polymorphication as the contingent spell - before a fight occurs! I do not believe I am getting senile, I think I was simply overconfident that combat was not on the agenda that day. Hopefully, this was the last lesson needed on said matter.
On Divinely Manifested Cooking: The Heroes’ Feast Spell
Once again, it is divinely derived magic that is able to provide healing and health reinforcements, as well as poison prevention, and in the case of the Heroes’ Feast; immunity to fear. Again, I have pause to regret not being particularly religious myself - it seems an avenue towards my goal of life and health extension could be found in the divine.
However, with my recent research success in discovering the recipe for an Elixir of Health, I feel encouraged that I may discover the beginnings of a species-wide remedy to the short lifespan of humans within the prism of learned magic. I shall begin researching the recipe for Restorative Ointments soon.
Kavel and Mendal insist I spend time researching how I might be able to cast Heroes’ Feast, as a wizard, and at an economically feasible daily rate! I suggested to Mendal that if he invested less time at the forge, and more in his religious duties, he might accelerate his own divine know-how, and himself cast Heroes Feast for us for our daily benefit. The suggestion was met with a grumble.