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Magic Map

Starting to Follow... (DM SteveK)
Monday May 13th, 2019 9:13:07 AM
Desdichado thinks for a bit, paraphrasing what to do; bend down and take a drink from the Stream without making any noise. Then he makes a joke about a silly children’s story about seven silly dwarfs who owned a fabulously wealthy gem mine but were content to have satisfaction, even happiness enough to whistle just being able to work and live in a cottage in the woods. (On second thought, they weren’t really silly, were they?). Going back to serious, he cautions the group about the dangers of trespassing…

Sarge cautions everyone to ‘mind their manners’, and corrects Dez. It’s not ‘bend down’, but kneel on one knee. She must think that the more they adhere to the absolute specifics of the ‘riddle’, the better the outcome.

Toston points out the weird house-like stone, the various deciduous trees, and expands on the knowledge of Culverwood of Dez and Sarge. He thinks they should be blindfolded before drinking, and finds a spare pair of (clean) stockings to cover his eyes ‘like Justice’. He pauses for a moment to let things get good and quiet and then, kneeling on one knee, he is adjusted by Hmerrin to ‘drink with one hand’. So, with one hand scooping water, the gnome silently drinks from the stream, blindfolded, while kneeling on one knee.

Hmerrin isn’t sure he likes this plan. Nevertheless, the young fighter follows Toston's lead, and does the same.

Gaffer gets his bearings before putting on his blindfold. How long do we wait? There isn’t an answer yet, and the druid also follows Toston's lead.
…………..

Toston, Hmerrin, and Gaffer have done exactly as the first three lines. No magical insight occurs, but there is a feeling of… well, it seems that there are multiple feelings. Each by themselves is simple, but then they are layered over one another into a more complex whole. On the one hand, each action seems to set the hero further into a state of belongingness, focused on the riddle?instructions?ritual? from the map. To Toston, it feels like his last year at the dojo. To Hmerrin, like stepping into a salle with an old friend and worn-but-loved practice equipment. To Gaffer, like the first intake of breath when walking into a circle of oaks. At the same time, the wariness and suspicion felt by the Culverwood seems to reduce. Not welcoming, certainly, but like a strange dog that was growling but has now cocked its head to re-consider…

Desdichado, Sarge, and Wilford (who have not completed the first three lines) feel nothing different.
……………

Written in Dwarfish…

Kneel on one knee and lap with one hand from the Stream of the Bight
Watch as does Justice
Make the sound of one hand clapping
Walk a mile in another’s shoes
Whistle while you labor
No matter where you go, there you are

MAP. Unicorn Map

Wilford Grimly (HP:51/51; AC: 19; Touch: 12; Flat: 16; CMD: 20)
Monday May 13th, 2019 12:35:44 PM
Wil chooses to not perform the ritual. He is not all that great at riddles and overly suspicious around drinking water from a strange river. He chooses to stare into the surroundings and the river to try to be prepared for an invasion.
"An invasion of what?" Cicero says.
"What? I didn't say invasion," Wil counters out loud. "I said I want to prepare for anything that may be coming from the woods."
"Ok, whatever. I just think you're crazy."
"I'm crazy? I talk to people in my head. Yeah.. I'm crazy... now be quiet."
(Perception: 14)
"I wish I could of applied some protection before you tried to drink out of the river but I missed that river boat," Wil says.
Wil then begins to lay Resistant Touch on the ones that drank from the river
(+1 resistance bonus on saving throws. 3 used - 2 more available)
----------
Orisons: Detect Magic x1, Resistance: x2 Light: 1
Granted Powers D: Resistant Touch - D: Touch of Good -
Lv1: Protection from Evil/Chaos..etc, Entropic Shield, Shield of Faith - D: Sanctuary
Lv2: Spiritual Weapon, Resist Energy, Consecrate, D: Shield Another (if needed - Cure moderate Wounds)
Lv3: Magic Vestment, Magic Circle against... - D: Protection from Energy
Lv4: Summon Monster IV, Summon Monster IV - Domain: Dispel Evil
Lv5:
-- Channel energy 3d6

Sarge (Kathy)
Monday May 13th, 2019 12:52:45 PM
Sarge grabs something to blindfold herself and walks to the edge of the stream. She ties on the blindfold, kneels on one knee, and drinks with one hand. She maintains strict silence, not even going "oof!" when she kneels a bit too hard.

Desdichado(Ryan) [HP: 93/93; AC:20/10/20 - CMD 23]
Monday May 13th, 2019 12:59:58 PM
Dez follows the example of the others as well.

Hmerrin(HP 100/100 AC:27 T:16 FF:22 CMD:26)
Monday May 13th, 2019 6:59:36 PM
Hmerrin sighs.

"Whatever it is, we're gonna have to do all six lines to get anywhere."
He scratches his head.
"And I ain't got the least idea."

The lad studies the map again.

"Do we really gotta wear each other's boots?"

Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP: 67/67; AC:33/22/29 - CMD 28 d20+1=7 ;
Tuesday May 14th, 2019 12:19:01 AM
Toston tries to figure out if there is anything within a mile of the stream they've encountered so far in case the clue about walking a mile in another's boots might have been figurative instead of literal.

(Int: 7)

Gaffer (Courtney HP: 61/78 AC:25(21)(T:16/FF:15) CMD:20 WS 1/3 LL 7/9) d20+13=28 ;
Tuesday May 14th, 2019 5:55:27 AM
"I definitely feel... different. I'm not sure what." He shrugs a little helplessly. "I think we are on the right track but we need to finish the whole riddle."

Gaffer looks over the trees Toston pointed out earlier, looking if there is any tending they could benefit from. (Nature: 28) or any other details of the area that could be cleaned up or cared for.

If there is he begins to whistle and attempts to make work out of helping the life in the area, hoping for the vague feeling of closeness to build.

Map Directions. (DM SteveK)
Tuesday May 14th, 2019 7:26:12 AM
Wilford is suspicious and keeps watch, providing Resistance spells to each of the six Tide. Of course, the orison only lasts a minute, so by the time Wilford is done with the last casting, it will only be 24 seconds before the first Resistance wears off. (ooc: Nothing happens in that minute to need a saving throw in that time, and the spells wear off.) There is nothing else about the area.

Sarge and Desdichado also perform the first three lines, and now also have the dual feeling of more-belonging and more of a curious watchfulness (rather than the suspicious-to-hostile that had been emanating from Culverwood before).

Hmerrin and Gaffer are wearily certain that they are going to need to do 'all six lines' before anything will happen. They both open their eyes and the feelings recede. Gaffer doesn't see anything more that can help that hasn't already been seen.

Toston thinks, while kneeling on one knee, if there is anything he can think of that would indicate the lines could be anything but literal. Hmmm. No, nothing about the terrain. Certainly the Unicorn Tribe, with their oral history and forthright behavior, were about as literal as one could be and still be alive. Even the map itself, though translated by a dwarf long ago and called 'riddles', was given by orcs, needed blood of an orc, and has been absolutely literal every step of the treasure hunt...

.......
Written in Dwarfish…

[block quote]Kneel on one knee and lap with one hand from the Stream of the Bight
Watch as does Justice
Make the sound of one hand clapping
Walk a mile in another’s shoes
Whistle while you labor
No matter where you go, there you are [/blockquote]

MAP. Unicorn Map

Desdichado(Ryan) [HP: 93/93; AC:20/10/20 - CMD 23]
Tuesday May 14th, 2019 6:08:25 PM
"Well, I can trade boots with someone. Hmerrin - I think you and I might wear about the same size. Which direction should we start walking while we whistle?"

"Also, does anyone have True Sight prepared? Do any of you who are more magically inclined even know if it will work when you're blindfolded? I'd hate for us to be falling down while we walk."

Hmerrin(HP 100/100 AC:27 T:16 FF:22 CMD:26)
Tuesday May 14th, 2019 8:07:53 PM
Shaking his head at how unlikely it is this will work, Hmerrin proceeds to take off his boots, and puts on Dez's.

"How 'bout that rock?" he says, pointing to the house-shaped stone.

"We blindfold next the stream facing that rock. We kneel, cup out a drink, stand, and walk thataway while whistling...and probably walk face first into a rock. But, what the hey."

Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP: 67/67; AC:33/22/29 - CMD 28
Tuesday May 14th, 2019 9:21:33 PM
Toston says, "I have small shoes, I don't think they will fit any of you. I don't suppose any of you other's know how to cast enlarge person? Of course then I'll be big but if I take my shoes off they'll be small"

Sarge (Kathy)
Tuesday May 14th, 2019 11:25:24 PM
Sarge frowns. "Before we start trading shoes," she says, "are there footprints anywhere around? Or tracks of some kind? Maybe 'a mile in another's footsteps' is close enough."

"And yes, Toston," she adds, "I can enlarge you, if it comes to that."

Gaffer (Courtney HP: 61/78 AC:25(21)(T:16/FF:15) CMD:20 WS 1/3 LL 7/9)
Wednesday May 15th, 2019 4:01:02 AM
"Can anyone swap shoes with me?" Gaffer asks, pulling off his own expectantly. "I don't think my feet are that big"

If someone does swap shoes with him Gaffer follows along with Hmerrin and attempts to complete the whole ritual again.

Map Directions. (DM SteveK)
Wednesday May 15th, 2019 7:02:33 AM
The Tide makes a few corrections, switching shoes and boots and they move away from the stream and to the flat, five-sided stone. Interesting enough, the feelings don’t change, (sense Motive for hunch DC20 Highlight to display spoiler: { you get a hunch that the directions don’t have to happen at the same time, but do have to happen in order. }

There isn’t anyone for Toston or Sarge to exchange footwear, and thoughts start to percolate on how to meet the lines’ criteria. Enlarge? Just exchange stockings ( and stretch them to be useless)? Would walking without shoes work? Sarge thinks about footprints, but there are none, just the moss-covered stone that looks like ‘home plate’ in a children’s game.

Wilford still seems suspicious, and looks for a way to circumvent the riddle. But it is pretty clear to at least one voice inside his head, that, if his companions are four lines in and Wil is not, there is a very real chance that the cleric/rogue will be left behind when they start walking into Culverwood.

.......
Written in Dwarfish…

[block quote]Kneel on one knee and lap with one hand from the Stream of the Bight
Watch as does Justice
Make the sound of one hand clapping
Walk a mile in another’s shoes
Whistle while you labor
No matter where you go, there you are [/blockquote]

MAP. Unicorn Map

Desdichado(Ryan) [HP: 93/93; AC:20/10/20 - CMD 23] d20+15=30 ;
Wednesday May 15th, 2019 5:17:10 PM
(Sense Motive: 30)

"Hmm...maybe we don't need to do everything all at once, let's just try it in order. One step at a time, I guess?"

Desdichado kneels down with the blindfold, and cups water into his hand as silently as possible. Once the "familiar" feeling appears, he removes the blindfold and sets out in Hmerrin's boots toward the house-shaped stone that's been pointed out.

Hmerrin(HP 100/100 AC:27 T:16 FF:22 CMD:26)
Wednesday May 15th, 2019 8:57:01 PM
Hmerrin follows Dez's lead.

When he gets to the house shaped stone, he gives it a shove, and whistles.

Wilford Grimly (HP:51/51; AC: 19; Touch: 12; Flat: 16; CMD: 20)
Wednesday May 15th, 2019 9:09:42 PM
Noticing that he is far behind Wil hurries to catch up to the others.
"Ok, kneel and lap...up scoop.. with one hand"
"Super hero stance for 5 seconds... no.. no.. blind myself." Wil attempts to cover his eyes and pokes one causing him to curse. With one eye closed he claps one hand then takes a pair of shoes, that is offered.
All the while he whistles.. well except for a moment when he was cursing.
He then swoops to the right then swoops to the left then "around town" then "around town"
(Spongebob reference...lol ;)

Sarge (Kathy)
Wednesday May 15th, 2019 9:57:18 PM
Sarge attempts to swap boots with Gaffer, then stumbles along in Dez and Hmerrin's wake, trying to whistle.

Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP: 67/67; AC:33/22/29 - CMD 28 d20+11=20 ;
Wednesday May 15th, 2019 11:55:26 PM
Toston resumes from where he started and then removes the blindfold and tries to follow the others walking in hopefully any footsteps the others left. Maybe following the path the others had walked would be enough no shoe swapping needed. If he doesn't feel the strange feeling he decides to get creative and try a few other ideas...

Some things walk on 4 legs instead of 2 so would crawling work? If the first attempt to follow in the other footsteps does not make him feel any of the dojo feeling he had when he first lapped up the stream he tries to crawl instead after restarting from the beginning. If crawling doesn't work he decides to try to walk on his hands instead of using his feet. He figures there has to be some people who walk on their hands maybe in which case his hands would be somebody else's feet. So once again he starts over from the beggining with the stream and the blindfold and the silence and then after that part he switches to walking on his hands. (Acrobatics: 20 to attempt to walk on his hands for a mile following after the shoe switcher)

Gaffer (Courtney HP: 61/78 AC:25(21)(T:16/FF:15) CMD:20 WS 1/3 LL 7/9)
Thursday May 16th, 2019 5:26:54 AM
Gaffer repeats the beginnings of the ritual again, kneeling by the water, eyes covered, lapping for a moment. He removes the blind then tiptoes gently into Sarge's shoes.

Looking at the others walking to the house he tries to judge the distance. If they are doing everything literally then surely they must walk a mile? And so he sets about doing so, following along the river half way and then turning back.

Walk in the Woods. (DM SteveK)
Thursday May 16th, 2019 8:12:54 AM
The Tide attempt to follow the directions of the ‘riddle’, and there seems to be a bit of jostling, attempting, and eye poking that happens. First one way and then another, the situation could be comical if it weren’t so Lands of Unrest frustrating! Eventually though, things start to click into place.

Hmerrin is the first to kick at the stone, which knocks off some of the moss, and discovers the flat house-shaped stone (ooc: looks like home plate for a baseball game) has markings underneath the moss! A quick moss-removal reveals two footprints pointing into the Culverwood!

Wilford is the first to start whistling, followed by Sarge. The feeling of ‘belongingness’ increases.

Desdichado is the first to walk beyond ‘home plate’ in another’s shoes, and the feeling increases.

As the Tide walks in single file; Desdichado, Hmerrin, Sarge, Wilford, Toston, and Gaffer; the Culverwood quickly swallows up all sights and sounds except the deep woods. No direct sunlight (only green-filtered through the leaves), no sounds of the Stream, no feel but the moist forest bark and bracken, no taste in the air but the peaty lingering of soil just after a rain, no smell but a rich earthiness with a blended crisp of growing green.

Gaffer counts his steps in time, and soon is certain that they are going to have to walk an entire mile like this. With no sense of direction, completely lost and trusting to the words not to get in trouble. Yet the ritual seems to have aligned the Tide to the Culverwood, a feeling that I’m doing the silly instructions was a demonstration that the Tide would be mindful of the ancient Immortal, the magical forest of Culverwood. As it is, the Tide encounter nothing to bother them for their mile-long walk.

Desdichado, in the lead, is the first to notice something different. He is now on a packed dirt path, five feet wide. Ahead, lost in the trees for the moment, is the sound of water; a small falls perhaps.

Wherever they are, there they are!

.......
Written in Dwarfish…

[block quote]Kneel on one knee and lap with one hand from the Stream of the Bight
Watch as does Justice
Make the sound of one hand clapping
Walk a mile in another’s shoes
Whistle while you labor
No matter where you go, there you are [/blockquote]

MAP. Unicorn Map

Sarge (Kathy)
Thursday May 16th, 2019 11:54:02 AM
Sarge stops whistling. "Has it been a mile?" she asks. "You know, the implication of that last line is that once we've walked that mile, we're there. Wherever 'there' is."

Desdichado(Ryan) [HP: 93/93; AC:20/10/20 - CMD 23]
Thursday May 16th, 2019 4:13:30 PM
Desdichado pauses to see if he can determine which direction the sound of water is coming from and then continues further down the path. If the sound of the water gets louder, he'll keep walking for a while until he sees it. Otherwise, he'll ask one of his more geographically-competent companions if they can determine where the sound is coming from. Either way, he doesn't leave the path.

Hmerrin(HP 100/100 AC:27 T:16 FF:22 CMD:26) d20+4=8 ;
Thursday May 16th, 2019 8:17:30 PM
Hmerrin stays right on Dez's backside, not wanting to get lost or separated.

He does his best to keep his senses tuned for danger, but the simple act of staying with Dez takes most of his concentration.

[Perception 8]

Wilford Grimly (HP:51/51; AC: 19; Touch: 12; Flat: 16; CMD: 20) d3=3 ;
Thursday May 16th, 2019 9:29:35 PM
Will continues to whistle and catchy tune.. "Just stuck in my head."
"I declare were here!" Will says half joking.

Toston Lotor(Hugh Crosmun) [HP: 67/67; AC:33/22/29 - CMD 28 d20+16=35 ; d20+7=20 ;
Thursday May 16th, 2019 11:19:54 PM
Toston takes in his surroundings. (Perception: 35) (Know[Nature]:20) He takes in the falls and the surrounding flora and fauna if any looking for anything he can identify and for anything out of the ordinary.

Gaffer (Courtney HP: 61/78 AC:25(21)(T:16/FF:15) CMD:20 WS 1/3 LL 7/9) d20+16=30 ; d20+13=27 ;
Friday May 17th, 2019 4:13:01 AM
(Perception: 30; Nature: 27)
Gaffer pauses once they have reached the mile mark, taking a deep breath and drawing in the smell of Culverwoods. He listens closely for the sound of the life around them, other than the trees.

"Where ever we go... Maybe we should fan out and search around us? We need to make sure we don't lose sight of each other" he adds with a frown.

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