Adventure: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Multiverse
The ritual was coming to a head. Between the whipping winds and the press of the hungry spirits, the caustic energy rolling out from the grove, the tension in the air was palpable. Malleus was bleeding after one of the spirits had grown bold and set upon him, Steorra had flashed like a beacon for a moment and then was covered in burns. Aurland held aloft his crystal maintaining the charge. All the while those spectral monstrosities pushed in closer, growing bolder.
"Enough!" Taebor called out, clapping his hands together with a boom and dismissing the magic he'd been calling upon. A wave of power rushed out from the grove and the winds immediately ceased and the ghosts dissipated into mist. The planar explorer looked pale and his brow was beaded with sweat, but it did not look like the result of exertion. The man looked profoundly shaken.
"This was wrong. All wrong," Taebor muttered to him. Taking a deep breath the planar specialist visibly composed himself and he tried to put on a chipper face, with limited success. "When it comes to the planes, this spell is much like looking into the heavens. Every plane is a star in the sky, some closer, some further, but all of them making up a glittering constellation of the multiverse. This spell is the equivalent of setting up a telescope to peer into those heavens. However, when I looked into this telescope... it was looking into a sky without stars. Or more like a wall." Just stating it aloud clearly left Taebor shaken again. Wiping a handkerchief across his bow, he continued, "Or perhaps not precisely a wall, but rather a hole in the ground, because I did see something. But it was all wrong."
Walking over to where Malleus had diligently captured the results on the spell, Taebor ran a finger down the runes, giving appreciative nods as he went. "These are thorough, you did good work," he commented offhandedly, "And maybe there was more than just one result. I missed it with how strange the readings were. It looks like there were three planes? Imagine that, three stars in an entire night sky... But it's something."
"Also, what do we want to do with our access point? I can stabilize the opening, it would allow us to more easily access whatever it was we found, but it's a two way street and there seems to be dangerous beasts that call this place home. I could also seal it up too and ensure nothing is springing up right at the Elucidate's doorstep."
Decision Point:
Stabilize the Planar Rift: It will allow for planar spelunking, but provides a two way street.
Seal the Rift: It mend the planar tear caused by the hordes breach and ensure that other worldly entities have a less direct route to the Spellspire.
Note: We'll go with whatever the majority opinion is.
Ritual Results: Three successes have revealed three planar destinations that can be unlocked via projects.
Spoils of the Ritual
Note: These are non-exclusive rewards!
Hold the Door!: Points of transition are a staple of arcane theory and practical magic. While travel across worlds and planes is dangerous and unpredictable, opening a doorway which has already been created is a far safer and reliable form of magic. It still requires proper effort and preparation however.
New Spell: Ritual of Gates - You open an arcane gateway which has been previously used if it was opened recently or was not properly sealed. (Amount of time is variable based on conditions, but takes between 12 to 60 hours to perform.)
Marking the Minutes: When it comes to ritual time is always a factor. Ritual are not fast. They require precision and time for the mystic forces to congregation and stabilize. That doesn't mean there aren't ways to expedite the process though. Proper preparation, a steady execution and steady hand can cut down the time it takes.
Passive: Master of Rituals - You half whatever time it takes to cast a ritual that you're involved with.
I Prepared For That: While rituals are a matter of following careful and precise instructions, making it much like the arcane equivalent of baking, that isn't to say they aren't without surprises. The ability to maintain ones composure and continue to conduct the ritual while also dealing with these complications can be the difference between success and reality warping failure.
Passive: Master of Ceremonies - If any complications arise in relation to a ritual you're involved with, you're treated as an expert and gain a boon to handling those complications.
I Gaze Into My Crystal Ball: Peering into the cosmos and peering into the ether are not so dissimilar. Both involved sifting through a sea of chaotic energies and possibilities. In doing so, you can gain glimpses into secrets lost to time or thought to be scrubbed away.
New Spell: Ritual of Scrying - With an object to serve as a focus, you can ask a single question pertaining to the object. (Spell takes 2-8 hours to casts depending on the nature of the object.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:49, Fri 10 May.