To Infinity... and Beyond: Aurland, Irene
Firing off another blast of magic at the creature there was a wet tearing sound and the thing staggered a few more steps, then collapsed into a heap. It seemed they certainly could be killed.
The shimmering air had grown more insistent, then with a sound of ripping a bladed limb stabbed through the air, further over a misshapen head pulled through as another two of the beasts tore through the veil and into the world in physical form. The pair of mages were facing the possibility of a harrowing run back to the tower while being harried by other worldly monstrosities in the night, a chilling prospect, but then the two emerged creatures set upon their fallen counterpart. With wet sounds of tearing and gnashing, they set themselves to devouring the fallen beast.
With that distraction, Aurland and Irene were able to slip back up the narrow canyon path and away from the enigmatic clearing. They had not discovered what had happened to the navigators, but they had certainly uncovered secrets of this new land. And in the process found new questions.
Lore Uncovered
-Humans have visited this plane before
-Alien spirits inhabit this plane
-The spirits seem to use statues as some sort of receptacle
-These spirits are capable of crossing from an astral plane to the physical plane of their own volition
The trip back was decidedly more somber than the trip out. With hardly a wink of rest to share between the two of them, their exhaustion was compounded. But they had plenty to consider during the long walk back.
Spoils of the Brush with Spirits
OOC: Choose one reward from below. These rewards are not exclusive and you can both select the same one if you so choose.
Don't Break the Circle: Protective magic is some of the oldest of any arcane school. It made sense that one couldn't tinker with impossibilities without some semblance of protection. This brush with the otherworldly reinforced the need for fundamentals. It was time to recall the most basic tenents of your craft for your own safety.
New Spell: Ritual of Protection - You spend time to create a circle of protection. Using materials and creating an intricate pattern you're safe inside. (This Ritual of Protection lasts twice as long as you spend preparing it. If you spend 1 minute, it lasts for 2 minutes, 1 hour and it lasts for 2 hours)
Hale and Hearty: There was nothing so bracing as a walk to rejuvenate oneself. While the long hike had left your feet blistered and aching, it had cleared away a fog. Your lungs feel more open, your body a little lighter. Not to mention you found a few curious knickknacks along the way!
Stat Increase: Add +1 to Physicality and gain 1 Material.
Stowaway: Leaving the spirit clearing, you found you're not entirely alone. A slithering and creeping... thing has followed you. Long and sinuous like a snake, yet lumpy and undefined, this spirit is like some sort of distended slug. Its face is made up of several large eyes and a huge toothy maw. Still it is not overtly hostile towards you, though its several degrees removed from friendly, and seems decidedly more hostile towards other things.
Entity Obtained: Spirit Familiar - An unsettling slug-snake of a spirit, it will fight other entities that are hostile towards you, though it'll require training to make it anything more than a blunt attack beast.
Shard of the Veil: Whenever something violently penetrates the veil between worlds it does damage. Monsters chewing and clawing through are no exception. This has left some shards of ephemeral substance available. A unique substance, it has value in separation and protection.
Enchantment: Veil Shard - You can bring up your shard of the Veil to block a single spiritual attack or a effect once per adventure. You also gain 2 Material.