A Discovery in The Strip

**A Discovery in The Strip** is the forty third episode of *Another Bad Side Quest*. Having weathered the mana storm, the party continues deeper into the *Maltrop Strip* and make interesting discoveries.

## A Discovery in the Strip

### **Synopsis**

**Pre-Show Shenanigans**

* Reminder, that advertisements going as a pre- and post roll. Darrin isn’t quite finished with that, though, so it will be premiering soon

### **Summary**

As the mana storm passed the party regrouped with Alaerith, Sterling and Quincy who had been flung in various directions as the last of the storm lashed out. Boreal and Yashani decided to head to Alaerith, still currently in his Giant Ape form, as Quincy and Sterling also converge on the group. Once close enough Quincy punched Sterling across the jaw and admonished him for using a spell that drained his own life, but insisted they could discuss this later. As Quincy fumed on his comment Bo patted Alaerith’s large arm while activating *Anti-Magic Strike* and helped Alaerith drop *Polymorph*. Bo checked on how Alaerith was doing before Sterling commented that his magic was incredibly helpful during the storm and that they should try to work together more as he had some ideas. Quincy told Sterling he needed to stop having ideas that would get him killed and RX said they should keep moving.

Bo leads them to the next outpost he knew of, helping them dodge bouts of darkness and clouds of noxious gas that appeared across the *Maltrop* *Strip* for another hour or so. Noting the quickly fading daylight the party decided to stay the night in the outpost where they would be protected from the *Maltrop Strip’s* worst effects and safely cast magic as they needed to. As they settled down Yashani, seeing Alaerith flailing his left arm around, asked what was wrong and Alaerith said that he hadn't noticed that his shield felt heavier and more clunky for some reason. Quincy said they noticed during the storm *Peril & Pain* powered down and wondered if it was something similar to what Ember had made for Alaerith. Yashani looked down at the various enchanted hand wraps she had collected and noticing the enchanted shine of the obsidian wraps Masq made for her were now lackluster and said as such. RX commented on the trio's loss of their items before confidently saying nothing had happened to his, but on pulling out *Error 409* found it had also been disrupted by the storm. Bo asked Quincy if the pistols worked as firearms without the magic and Quincy commented that they were unsure before they opened the front door of the outpost, attempted to fire out into the wilderness, saw nothing happened and realized the pistols had no place to load bullets as the projectiles were formed by pure magic. Sterling ritually cast *Identify* on *Error 409,* found it was only a regular long sword and informed RX of it's current state.

Yashani pointed out they were told that the *Maltrop* *Strip* would not affect magical items, but Bo reminded them mana storms were their own beast and often threw the rules out the window. Alaerith asked if this was a known effect of mana storms and Bo noted he hadn't experienced it himself, that he had heard of people who left with magic items and returned with mundane items, but also heard people come back with items made magic by the storm as well. The party, while finding that interesting, agreed weathering another storm on purpose for the sake of their items was not worth it. Bo held out the *Handy Haversack* to Alaerith and Quincy and offered to carry the items since they were no longer of use. Alaerith muttered a silent apology to Ember before handing off his shield, while Quincy holstered the pistols, said they were Bolton’s and they would fix them.

Sterling gathered some firewood and spare metal pieces around the hut, cast *Fabricate* on his collected supplies and crafted a roughly made shield with an almost child-like rendition of a monkey face on it. Sterling handed it to Alaerith, noting he did exceptionally well in the storm and hoped to give him something to replace what was lost, and Alaerith accepted the gift, put it on and recognizing it felt as clunky and awkward as Ember’s shield had without it's magic thanked Sterling for it. Sterling then settled down to cast Tiny Hut as an added comfort to the outpost. As the rest of the group went to sleep Bo took a little time to read the journals of Ostence Bronte, while Quincy opened the book Tali had given them about Bolton, but struggled to understand it as they were not well versed in Ignan, Quincy then activated *Ob’s Charm*, told Bolton they found a fairy tale about him and, while there wasn’t a spoken response, felt the air around them grow warm as though they had been heard before they went to bed.

The next morning Sterling woke bright and early, ignored the already awake Alaerith, asked Tollanessa to teach him the magic that sent them into another plane the previous day before, but while Tollanessa recognized the *Banishment* spell knew it wasn't something she could teach him so informally that day. Sterling noted her knowledge was more fluid as it came and went and agreed they could try it another time. Sterling then cast *Minor Illusion* sounding the unfortunately familiar trumpet call to wake the remaining party and earned him a swift kick with a heeled boot from Quincy, while RX’s arm had reached out already sparking as he prepared to cast *Shocking Grasp* thought better of. Sterling commented that he’s known Bo the shortest amount of time and was starting to like him the most and RX countered that while he had only recently discovered the wonders of sleep Sterling was ruining it. Bo said it was probably best to get going sooner rather than later anyways so they could head back to *Eveed* and Quincy pointed out that meant the sooner they faced whatever horrors Bo signed them all up for. The party packed up their things and Sterling and Quincy cast *Mage Armor* within the outpost before they headed out into the wilds once more.

Bo led the party for several hours through the morning fogs and between dense clusters of trees, though they were coming quickly to a point where even Bo had not ventured within the *Maltrop Strip*. The party soon came across a large circular clearing, nearly 500 feet in diameter, sprinkled with a few trees and stone outcroppings and what looked to be an outpost at the far other end. The party cautiously entered the clearing, moved to investigate the outpost and found it was heavily dilapidated and abandoned for many years. Bo started to cast *Detect Magic* but as he did the magic of the *Maltrop Strip* left him *Unconscious*. Quincy and Alaerith hurried forward to shake him awake as Quincy admonished Bo for using magic. Alaerith tried to point out that was all some of them were good at and Quincy told them they should get a hobby like cross stitch. Bo stood up and looked around the outpost as Sterling examined the source of the damage and determined the outpost had been lost to time and the elements. Bo suggested they look inside and when Yashani wondered if that was a good idea Bo said a hunter might have left some supplies or magic items inside which could make up for the magic items lost. Sterling agreed there might be something of value and Bo reassured that he hadn't seen anything about. RX agreed and pointed out Sterling shouldn't use magic before leaving with Bo, followed by Alaerith and Sterling.

The boys found the outpost was similar to the ones they saw before outfitted with the same small stove and fireplace and protective runes, but Sterling and Bo found in the small closet to hang coats the doors had been broken off, revealing a small shrine, with a symbol of a humanoid skull with stitched iron teeth and eyes. Sterling recognized it as the symbol of Sezrin the Exiled, one of the Rakhind Forefathers and told the others who he was. Sterling also noticed a small lever at the bottom of the shrine which, on being pulled, dropped a trap door nearby.

Meanwhile outside Quincy noted as much as they didn't necessarily identify as a woman they were especially glad they didn't identify as a boy seeing how they were clearly stupid and Yashani suggested it wasn't necessarily stupidity and more a morbid curiosity. Yashani also pointed out when she asked Bo about the outpost she was more concerned how it became like this than, not why he wanted to investigate it. As they kept a look out to their surroundings both Yashani and Quincy, who activated *Earcuff of the Vampire Bat* to enhance her hearing, heard cracking of tree branches in the distance. Quincy asked if Yashani could hear also it and and Yashani noted she could and as they kept an eye on where the sound moved to Yashani activated *Ob’s Charm* to warn the boys.

The four back in the outpost travelled into the basement from the trapdoor and found a space 15 x 15 feet, better maintained than what was above, with a cot, a wash basin and a mirror covered by a cloth in the farthest corner. Sterling wondered if they should simply rip off the cloth or wait for him to cast *Identify* and RX said, that while he was not versed in magic, wondered if the mirror was covered to stop the looker from becoming a mana storm or possibly just dying. The group decided to stand in a far corner, out of direct line with the mirror, while RX activated *Telekinetic Movement* to move the cover with his mind. *Telekinesis.* As RX did so both Alaerith and Bo, despite the previous agreement, saw the mirror, saw as it became black and twisted in their minds and heard a voice say

*"We the two of one Aameul and Hethradiah bring madness to your mind, poor sentient"*

and were instantly left with *Paranoid Madness**.* Seeing their reactions RX and Sterling high fived as their assumption the mirror would do something was confirmed. As RX activated *Telekinetic Movement* to cover it again Bo and Alaerith hurriedly left the basement and out of the outpost.

RX and Sterling continued to investigate the room and when their search came with nothing of note Sterling activated *Ob's Charm* and told Yashani what they found and that he had an idea. Quincy questioned this, along with RX, on what he planned to do and Sterling explained his hope to use an ability he had to reshape part of the the mirror to make it smaller and portable and use it to scare enemies as a weapon. As Alaerith and Bo regrouped with Quincy and Yashani Quincy worried Bo was paler than before, which seemed impossible when he was semi-incorporeal. Yashani, hearing enough between Sterling’s message and Bo and Alaerith’s stuttering's, sped down to the basement and loomed threateningly behind Sterling and RX.

Quincy tried to keep Bo and Alaerith in the area as they tried to run away from anything that even slightly startled them, when Bo noticed movement in the trees behind the hut and fired his hand crossbow in that direction while activating *Anti-Magic Strike* Quincy admonished Bo for being insane, but as the three looked to where Bo shot saw a ripple of magic as a scaled, reptilian head revealed itself followed by another, and then another, and another, and another till seven appeared.

Quincy ran backwards until they had an appropriate distance, then pulled out *Reputation* from their back, dropped to the ground and readied themselve to fire. Bo moved to the outpost, missed with his hand crossbow up twice at the Chameleon Hydra, then activated *Temporal Points Points* to boost his AC. Sterling, hearing the commotion above, made his way out of the basement, saw Bo in the doorway as one of the Chameleon Hydra's heads looked down and toward Sterling and attempted to cast *Slow* but was instantly *Polymorphed* into a sheep once more. RX followed Sterling, took in the situation, slashed Sterling with one of his his two sword strikes, causing Sterling to revert back as the excess damage carried over, then equipped his shield seeing the danger of the situation. Alaerith activated *Ob's Charm* to ask if this was what they were sent to find and on confirmation cast *Firebolt,* but found his magic fizzled out and was left confused why it wasn't working.

Yashani ran from the basement, annoyed that no one seemed to listen to her when she warned there was something in the trees earlier, pulled out her *Discordant Thunder Stave*, activated *Rage* and struck the Chameleon Hydra's nearby head with one of her two swings. The Chameleon Hydra roared from above and lashed out with each of its seven heads and bit Yashani twice, RX once Bo and Sterling, as RX used his reaction to activate *Protective Field* to lessen the blow on him, then failed to activate *Reel* on Sterling as he activated *Ob’s Wraps* to teleported 30 feet out of it's range and near Alaerith. Quincy loaded a *Cause Fear* bullet into *Reputation,* fired it at the Chameleon Hydra and the thunderous blast causes it to scream as it was also left *Frightened*. Bo pulled out *Passus*, slashed against one of it's heads twice, while activating *Torment* on one slash to add necrotic energy, then activated *Passus*. Sterling muttered a quick prayer to not be a sheep again, cast *Slow* on the Chameleon Hydra and then tried to understand why Alaerith's magic wasn't working.

RX slashed at the Chameleon Hydra once with his two strikes, while activating *Psionic Strike* to empower his blow, then waved his arms to get it's attention on himself.  Alaerith, eventually realizing Sterling's gifted shield was impeding his magic, apologized to Sterling as he placed it on the ground, cast *Firebolt* on the Chameleon Hydra and as it hissed at him activated *Metamagic : Quickened Spell* to cast *Mirror Image,* but was instantly *Polymorphed* into a blue sheep and immediately bolted away from the looming creature. Yashani, still in the outpost, struck the Chameleon Hydra twice with her *Discordant Thunder Stave*, then activated *Flurry of Blows* to punch it twice while activating *Bloody Smite* to shove a spike of blood red energy into the creature. The slowed Chameleon Hydra lashed out out at Yashani as RX used his reaction to activate *Protective Field* to lessen the blow on her.

Quincy loaded *Reputation,* fired at the Chameleon Hydra, then activated *Deed : Covering Fire* to negatively penalize it's next attack. Bo slashed at the Chameleon Hydra twice with *Passus*, while activating *Anti-Magic Strike* to empower one and *Torment* to add necrotic energy to the other. Sterling activated *Ob’s Charm* to ask if they should maneuver the Chameleon Hydra to make it easier to capture and when Bo agreed cast *Negative Image,* while activating one of his two rings, causing him to swap places with it and fall through the buildings roof. RX, seeing the Chameleon Hydra was no longer slowed as it was no longer in the radius, ran to where it now was in the clearing and continued to shout for its attention while he readied himself to *Dodge* it's attacks. Alaerith, seeing the creature was now much closer, ran past the nearby Nubbi and ducked behind some trees far off.

Yashani rushed to the Chameleon Hydra, struck it twice with her *Discordant Thunder Stave,* then activated *Flurry of Blows* and struck it with one of her two punches. The Chameleon Hydra also unleashed a number of attacks, managing to bite RX and Yashani each twice. Quincy, knowing they were much too close for *Reputation* to be any good, stood up, slung the rifle over their shoulder, pulled out *Panache* and fired at it twice in a rain of heavenly fire. Bo, no longer in range for *Passus,* pulled out his hand crossbow and fired on the creature twice while activating *Sharpshooter* and *Anti-Magic Strike* to empower each shot. Sterling cast *Slow,* while using his remaining ring, and used his reaction to cast *Silvery Barbs* to ensure it couldn't resist leaving it slowed, then retreated back into the outpost for cover. RX ripped into the newly slowed Chameleon Hydra with two big slashes, while activating *Psionic Strike* to empower one of his blows and continued to call for it's attention. Alaerith attempted to run into the outpost Sterling as Sterling used his reaction to slash the scared sheep with a dagger, causing Alaerith to painfully revert back as the excess damage carried over, then cast *Polymorph* onto the Chameleon Hydra, while using his ring, and transformed it into a scaled sheep to Sterling's surprise, who noted he didn’t know Alaerith could do that to other creatures as he had only seen him use it on himself and Alaerith admitted he didn’t know he could either.

Yashani asked Bo if he had a plan to contain it and Bo held up the new orb he got from Sync*.* Quincy said they could put it in the *Bag of Holding* to suffocate, but Sterling reminded them doing that may rip the it when the creature was no longer a sheep. Yashani in light of that, prepares to strike the sheep if it became the hydra again. The sheep missed as it attempted to headbutt Bo. Quincy checked if they weren’t supposed to shoot it and on confirmation prepared to shoot it while the others discussed their options. Bo threw *Captura* at the sheep and ensnared it in bands of metal that kept it from moving or attacking again. Sterling dropped his *Slow* spell as he dropped to sit on the stoop of the outpost and caught his breath.

The party recalled that the Chameleon Hydra was not looking good prior to being changed and Sterling offered they could all get ready to attack when it comes back to its original form, attack down until it was *Unconsciousness* and trap it. Quincy pointed out that there was still a reward if it came back dead and when Bo added trying to travel a day and a half with it would not be recommended the group agreed killing it was their best choice. RX proceeded to ready himself to strike while Alaerith asked to be told what they wanted him to do. Yashani struck the sheep twice with her *Discordant Thunder Stave*, with the first blow reverting back into it's original form, just as *Captura* returned to Bo’s hand magically, then activated *Flurry of Blows* to strike it with one of her two punches. Quincy and RX both missed as they attacked it with *Panache's Soul Piece* and his sword as they had readied before. The Chameleon Hydra bit Yashani once, as RX used his reaction to activate *Psionic Shield* to reduce the blow, missed Bo and RX, then activated *Reel* on Yashani and even as Bo used his reaction to cast *Auspicious Warning* creating a spectral form to aid her was left *Grappled* in it's mouth. Quincy, attempting to hit the neck of the mouth holding Yashani, fired at it one of her two shots with *Panache* while activating Sharpshooter to empower the shot, but blasted off a different head that got in the way. Bo pulled out *Passus,* slashed twice while activating *Anti-Magic Strike* to empower one and *Torment* to add necrotic energy to the other and as he sunk *Passus* into the scales caused a spectral clock to appear around the wound that ticked backwards before it finally stopping as the Chameleon Hydra fell dead. As Yashani was released from the mouth she activated *Slow Fall* to land gently on to the ground.

Bo, Sterling and RX harvested some scales and a few teeth from the slayed creature, as a way to prove the kill when they returned to *Eveed,* while the rest of the party noted the heads were much too large to put in any of their extra-dimensional containers. Alaerith suggested he could Polymorph into the giant ape to carry it over a repeated stretch but the party agreed it would be too dangerous with the risk of mana storms and that they hadn't been to the *Dusterburyan Lighthouse* yet. RX cut off it's tail as Quincy asked him if he could get some of it's bones. Sterling asked Bo on the possibility the creature might have swallowed anything interesting and, without hesitation, Bo went incorporeal to poke his head into the creature’s stomach, took a look, and pulled out of it coughing and a little singed from the stomach acid as he reported nothing of interest. Yashani asked why he wanted to know and Sterling shrugged it off that he was curious and the group had lost a lot of magical items. Yashani said that curiosity got Bo and Alaerith in their twitchy state and Sterling countered that curiosity got him everywhere. RX added that curiosity got him into a war with devil worshippers and when Sterling countered that it got him Tollanessa’s spellbook Yashani said she needed peace and quiet and headed back to the outpost. Alaerith headed back to where he dropped Sterling's shield, near to where the Chameleon's Hydra's body was, and seeing that it had been crushed under it apologized to Sterling for his broken gift. Sterling brushed it off, helped RX harvest from the creature and also scooped out all *14 eyeballs*. Sterling asked to put them in the *Handy* *Haversack* but Quincy said no, citing they were keeping one clean and learned that lesson before. Sterling asked RX if his bag had room, threw the eyeballs to him and RX missed as he attempted to smack him in retribution.

The rest of the group proceeded to rest as they sat around the outpost and tended to their wounds, while RX collected roughly *two pounds of* *hydra* *scales* in total. Alaerith commented that being a sheep and being a scared sheep that was stabbed was not a fun experience and Quincy commented that he was a cute sheep and blue. While Alaerith showed confusion on his color as a sheep, Quincy started to write in her journal, asked Bo what the creature was and when Bo said it was a hydra of sorts copied it into their journal.

As the party rested Bo started to pace before saying leaving the area would be great. RX interrupted to ask if Sterling still wanted to go about his mirror idea. Sterling decided to return to the basement alone and found the large mirror has been uncovered in the ruckus of the fight, though he resisted the affect it had on Alaerith and Bo prior. Sterling then cast *Fabricate* to attempt to reshape the mirror into something smaller and handheld, but when the spell hit it the mirror shattered and created a vacuum sensation that forcefully pulled him into the mirror. The party heard the commotion from above and Quincy and Bo hurried inside without caution, but were forcefully pulled into the mirror as well. Alaerith called out to them as Yashani activated *Ob’s Charm* to ask what was going on, but none of the remaining group received a response from those who had disappeared.

RX, covered with hydra blood, approached and asked if they were ready to go and Yashani asked him to explain what they found downstairs. RX, now hearing the vacuum sound, mentioned mentioned the mirror, noting Bo's description of it being spooky and Alaerith added that it was scary. Yashani asked what he meant by the mirror being spooky and scary and Alaerith fumbled to describe what happened and what he heard before he broke into shivering at the memory. Yashani asked if the vacuum sound was no happening and the two confirmed that it wasn't. Yashani called out for the three and Alaerith joined to ask why they weren't responding with no response. RX looked over the hatch, picked up a piece of wood, dropped it down into the hole, watched it get sucked away and announced to the others Sterling had created a vacuum in the room below. Yashani asked what Sterling's plan was and RX noted he wasn't sure, that at most it related to making the mirror portable, but confessed that it now seemed to be a bad idea. Yashani sarcastically retorted that he didn't say before adding that she didn't have any “vacuum nullifying” powers and was unsure what to do and RX noted he didn't either.

Alaerith said he could try something, stepped near to RX and the hatch, looked down to it, cast *Counterspell* as he asked for whatever was happening to “please stop” to no result, but the magic of the *Maltrop Strip* caused Alaerith’s clothes to disappear, leaving only *Vile's Fang* adorned on him. Alaerith immediately folded in on himself in a mix of embarrassment and fear as RX asked why his clothes were missing and pointed out the scales that he and Yashani could see covered, not only Alaerith's arm and face, but also his shoulder, most of his upper back and thinned down at his hip. As Yashani turned around for his privacy Alaerith, in a panic, cast *Disguise Self* to create illusionary clothes to cover himself with, but the magic of the *Maltrop Strip* caused it to fail and was instantly *Banished*. Yashani, hearing the sound of him disappearing, turned and seeing he was gone screamed in frustration.

Alaerith returned a minute later, with the sounds of sniffling, as he dropped down and curled himself into a ball as RX. Yashani reached into her bag, pulled out a second set of clothes, handed it to Alaerith and Alaerith held it around him as he started to cry. RX noted that unclothed humanoids appreciated privacy and when Yashani agreed shepherded her out of the room so Alaerith could change. Yashani reiterated to RX the situation within the basement, how they were missing three of the members of their group, that Alaerith was distressed and had no clothes, and she didn't have anything she could do. RX assures her he didn't either, that they were the only remaining adults in the group, noting he didn't think he qualified for that title. Yashani asked if there were any books Sterling placed in the *Bag of Holding* that might help but RX noted the only book they had was the locked devil book. RX asked Alaerith to join them when he was done so they could do something and Alaerith activated *Ob’s Charm* to ask softly if they were sure they still wanted him. Yashani replied that everyone's magic had been weird, but when she and RX heard the deep level of fear in his voice and his fragile state Yashani told him to come outside and assured him nothing would make her want to lose any member of their party, citing they had already lost too many as it was.

Alaerith eventually stood, put on Yashani's spare clothes, though they hung loosely on his much narrower frame, wrapped his rope around his waist to tie it off, and stepped outside. As the trio noted Nubbi was still outside and Lewis was flying overhead Yashani pointed out Alaerith could speak with Nubbi with *Galatea's Gift*. Alaerith reached to his pocket to retrieve it, but on remembering that his pants no longer were there, went back to the house, retrieved everything that dropped from his pockets, including the stone and the dagger from his friend. Alaerith returned with the stone and Yashani suggested Nubbi might have seen something like that. Alaerith called for Lewis to join them before he asked Nubbi if she could still understand him and asked her to come to them. As Nubbi joined them Alaerith activated *Galatea's Gift* to cast *Speak With Animals* and Nubbi commented that he looked terrible. Alaerith confirmed he felt that way before asking if Nubbi knew anything about magic items or the Rakhind Forefathers and Nubbi noted she was not aware of it. Alaerith asked if she knew about "vacuum mirrors", on RX's suggestion, and Nubbi only commented anything involving vacuums sounded dangerous. Alaerith told her how the others disappeared through one in the house and Nubbi immediately bounded off into the house and didn't return.

Yashani said since they didn't know how to fix the situation from outside the mirror, noting she hated how much like Sterling she would sound to say it, but they may have to consider going in as well. RX noted he understood, but that he disagreed and Yashani asked what his idea was. Alaerith activated *Ob's Charm* to ask Bolton, in a panic, if he knew anything about funny mirrors but didn't get a response back. RX said they either would have to let their ideas formulate over time instead of in a split second or to ask the help of somebody and when Yashani asked who they should ask said there was a town of somebodies to ask a day and a half from them. Yashani asked what made him think any of them would know about it and when RX noted the place was very magical Yashani added that they no longer had Bo to guide them. Yashani insisted she couldn't just leave them where they were, that she couldn't save them outside of where they were and didn't even know if she could save them there, but couldn't just leave them. Alaerith eventually untied some of his rope, handed it to Yashani, asked her to tie it around her middle and then to give the rest to RX so he could do the same. RX said they should see if they could look inside it before just going and Yashani asked who wanted to look. RX turned to Alaerith and Alaerith begrudgingly admitted he would be the easiest to pull back if needed. Alaerith took a moment to tell Lewis if anything happened and they didn't return, to not go inside and to find his way back to Flamecannon and Lewis agreed to do before he took off from his arm.

The trio made their way inside the outpost and Alaerith slowly made his way, a step at a time, into the basement while Yashani and RX held the rope secure. As Alaerith descended into the basement he immediately felt the pull and warned that even a step was enough to pull him in. He stepped out, curled his head inside the basement for a better view and as his hair started to fly towards it saw black expanse in the mirror as it drew in more air and nothing past it. Alaerith relayed this to the others and RX suggested Alaerith may have to partially go into the mirror to really see anything and reassured him they had his back. Alaerith stood up, slowly lowered himself further into the basement, but after three steps he had no hope to resist the pull of the vacuum and was taken into the mirror with a yell, and even as RX was caught off guard and lost his own grip for a moment Yashani was able to hold the rope in a tight grip. Despite her effort, her strength alone still caused them to dip slightly and as the rope began to tense while it rubbed through the hatch in the floor started to fray. Meanwhile Alaerith found himself in a space of pure black nothingness and immediately called out to anyone but received no reply, not even hearing sound travel past him, whimpered in fear at the place and situation.

Yashani tried to pull back on the rope with RX to hopefully pull Alaerith back from of the mirror, but the rope didn't give and the tugging match caused the rope to fray more. Alaerith attempted to pull himself on the rope to return, but with no sense of gravity couldn't find purchase to do so and caused the rope to fray faster. RX, seeing that, told Yashani it was now or never and asked what her call was. Yashani said she could feel Alaerith slipping away and that she couldn't lose anymore people, that she didn't want to and they were likely to die out there anyway. Yashani started to make her way to the hatch stairs and lowered herself into the basement where she was able to keep her footing for most of the way. Meanwhile, Alaerith felt the rope shifted back on him and activated *Flexible Casting* to give up six sorcery points and regain a fourth level spell slot. Yashani made her way in and when RX saw she disappeared he gave a brief sigh, commented he was getting too old for this and jumped in with her as he let himself be pulled in as well.

1. ↑ Using the spellbook’s ability to perfectly and accurately answer any question if Zach is able to roll under his level doubled on a d100
2. ↑ Having *Paranoid Madness* mechanically meant the two now had disadvantage on any roll that relied on their Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma for six hours.
3. ↑ Bo also activated *Torment* to add necrotic energy to the attack, but undid it as it can't be used on ranged attacks
4. ↑ Bo named the orb *Captura*