Chpt. 2: In the Palace

[Grognardsw]

Continuing the saga, War is Hell: The Palace of the Silver Princess

[Zhym]

While mulling the possibility of temporary sex changes, Andover moves to peer into the pool marked J on the map.

[FreebirdFootbagging]

Raquinel is in pure horror, dumbfounded. How in the world has this happened....? Is it reversible? she ponders to herself. Now feeling nauseated she climbs to her feet, attempting to get a grasp on this new and very horrifying perspective. Uncertain, she tells the adventurers "I don't know if I want to climb into that pool again. What if my other arm gets switched with a leg? Perhaps one of the other pools actually holds the antidote to the various ailments these pools cause? If it turns out none of them do, I may have to go for another swim... She begins looking about at the different pools, stumbling drunkinly. "Perhaps the newly flowered dwarf would like to join me?

[tkrexx]

Whispering Flint, Illusionist

The confusion on Flint's fine features is exchanged with anger. I believe we have been fooled, he speaks in his customary low voice. The glow that surrounds our somewhat... Twisted Maiden, the swarm of flying vermin, the blast that stunned our Mage, now the sounds of approaching guards, which, I may add has ceased with the uprooting of that foul growth... Our spells have been stolen, and used against us, along with a day's memories! He sees the others looking at him as if he is the last to know. Andover, you were suggesting that we actually consume this filth? Will that restore us? I am naught without my spells, but that is... Well, that is disgusting!

[tkrexx]

Honnilee, Thief

Listening to the Illusionist's ramblings, Honnilee risks a quick glance down the south tunnel to confirm Flint's suspicions.

[FreebirdFootbagging]

After hearing the fellow magic user of sorts she finds herself once again, being so caught up in her present problems she completely forgot to solve the ones caused before. She redirects herself to the patch of moss, taking a piece off of the part they looks as though it may have been her replica at one point.

[Grognardsw]

As the group discusses the pros and cons of sampling the pools, Honnilee the thief checks the south corridor. The dim light from the fire pool illuminates 10’ down the corridor; beyond that the hobbit’s infravision determines the corridor continues another 30’ before his infravision becomes ineffective. He sees no attackers.

Andover the ranger moves to observe pool J. It is filled with greenish liquid of varying shades, swirling gently.

Following the ranger’s suggestion, Idwellin the druid tries a bite of Obliviax moss. Raquinel considers other pools then decides to follow Idwellin’s example. Raquinel seems able to chew and swallow with her newly positioned head; gods know what her insides must look like for such to happen.

They chew one mouthful of the tough moss. It does not taste good. A moment or two goes by and both feel their minds expanding with memories. It is a kaleidoscope of impressions and thoughts about the Palace, where they have been for the last 24 hours. Wonder, fear, anger, fighting, casting, walking, talking, eating, defecating, sleeping, dreaming. It all flashes by in a matter of seconds. Your mind still feels incomplete however, after just the one bite.

...a kaleidoscope of memories...


Andover's Pool List:
A - Pink liquid
B - Fizzing liquid with a pleasant odor
C - Murky gray thick liquid
D - Water weird
E - Sex change
F - Flames
G - Yellowish liquid (urinal?)
H - Hot (w/ moss)
I - Body part rotation
J - greenish liquid of varying shades, swirling gently
K - Fish. Paused, lined up and watched you.
L - Strange, small whitish rocks giving off eerie vapors
M - Submerged gold and jewels

Actions?

[greyarea]

Shen, monk

Shen investigates the next pool to the north, to see what the pink liquid might be. He will observe and smell but not touch at first.

[FreebirdFootbagging]

Memories flood back to her, memories of before this awful happening. Deciding it was about time to become proficient in her "new" body she hands the moss up to her right hand, which she continues to feed herself with. After finishing the moss she sits against a wall, not far from the mossy pool, pulling her spellbook from her backpack (all the while using her morphed hand when possible) and begins to study.

[Eulalios]

Idwillen finishes eating his symbiote colony homunculus.

[Zhym]

Andover will move toward pool M. "A pool full of gold and jewels," he observes. "Well, well. What are the odds that there are actually gold and jewels just waiting there for us to take them?"

He will nock one arrow and shoot it into the middle of the pile of gold in the water.

[Grognardsw]

Shen the monk moves north to investigate the pink pool (A). It is filled with brilliant magenta and pink liquid. It has no scent and is still.

With memory-deprived Flint watching attentively, Raquinel and Idwellin finish their Obliviax meal. It is difficult to get down, but as the memories return it makes the effort worth it. Each memory comes in a prismatic mini-burst of emotion, sense, and fact both objective and subjective. And something more: A foreign memory that neither of you can place. An impressionistic picture of someone drinking from a pink pool and feeling good. As memories are seen through the eyes, and not from a third-person perspective, you can’t see who this person is, except for a flash of a cloaked fore-arm reaching in for a palm-full of the liquid. The magic user and druid also realize that their spells are gone, cast by the evil moss against them. Thus Raquinel turns immediately to her spell book.

Andover the ranger examines the pool with submerged treasure (M) and fires an arrow into it. The treasure disappears, then reappears as the water becomes calm again.

Bjorn the cleric, after checking her new body parts, considers who may need divine healing. The other adventurers mill about, pondering next steps.

In this unique instance, regaining lost spells won't require as much time as usual. A few hours of study/prayer.

[Zhym]

Andover looks at the ceiling over pool M, and around the edges of the pool (without touching the liquid in the pool), trying to see if there's any pile of gold and gems the pool might be reflecting. If not, he'll leave it alone.

[greyarea]

Shen, monk

Shen throws caution to the wind and touches the pink stuff.

[Eulalios]

Idwillen struggles with his impulse to eat more of the moss. That seems ... somehow ... unBalanced.

"Andover, your words were wise," he says. "I have regained the lost parts of my self. Flint, Ianin, you should try some of this."

[NJWilliam]

Ianin

Ianin turns his nose up at the thought of eating that was part of the not long ago animated evil creature.
"No, I don't think there's enough to share, but thank you." He grimaces quite obviously.

[tkrexx]

Flint, Illusionist

Flint initially turns up his nose at the sticky moss as a meal, but seeing as others seem to have regained some of themselves after injesting it, he will also partake, gagging the loathesome feast down.

[tkrexx]

Honnilee, Thief

The Hobbit will continue keeping to the shadows as she stands watch at the south corridor. Occasionally she peeks back at her companions to check their progress.

[Grognardsw]

Andover looks up at the ceiling. Its stone reveals no treasure above. The ranger shrugs and dismisses the vexing pool.

Shen touches the pink liquid. It is thick and room temperature. If feels pleasant on the skin. Nothing adverse happens.

Ianin, who had not lost his memory, lacks the motivation to eat Obliviax. With Idwellin's recommendation, Whispering Flint gags down the moss. His memories of the last 24 hours return.

The south corridor remains empty as Honnilee watches. Bjorn considers healing Raquinel, who seems fairly injured (6 HP left), and herself (10 HP left). It is then that Bjorn realizes she cannot remember her spells. Poltux the half-orc fighter looks on.

The party has visually identified all the pools, though the effects of many remain a mystery. Besides the south corridor, there is the west wall corridor. It appears to continue for 30' and splits north and west.

[NJWilliam]

Ianin, magic-user

"Allow that moss-eating is not to my stomach, it would appear that some of these pools may be of help in our quest, if we could but discern their properties. They obviously possess strong magical qualities. One may even be a key to our quest in some way. Should we experiment more now, or return if the need arises?"