The Maltrop Strip

**The Maltrop Strip** is the forty second episode of *Another Bad Side Quest*. The party make a second attempt to connect with Grey and head off into the wilds beyond Eveed.

## The Maltrop 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
* Check out the VOD with Darrin's new handing work - animated scene transitions and the ability to isolate two characters at a time! It looks really cool, and he's done a great job

### **Part One**

The party gathered together the next morning in the lounge area of the Hunters’ Guild Lodge, where Tali had taken to serving them a breakfast of fruits, pastries and coffee. Quincy, while sluggishly grabbing the greasiest items on the table and a big thing of coffee to combat their hangover, asked Tali if she had any liquor to help ease them out of it. Yashani interrupted to tell Quincy no, but also placed a hand on their shoulder and activated *Hand of Healing* to cure their poison, relieving the hangover with a wave of warmth and warned them not to make them do that again. Sterling educated them on the details of what a hangover actually was to the body as Yashani did the same for Alaerith as well, who seemed even worse for wear as anyone with a room near Alaerith’s knew he woke up screaming from a nightmare the day before. Sterling also waved down Tali to ask if she knew of anyone with more information on the “Unknown” bounty that had been up on the bounty board, perhaps someone who had gone out and returned empty-handed and Tali told him all she knew was it was near the *Dusterburyan Lighthouse* and the bounty was posted by someone who had a friend brutally killed by the beast. Tali added it was wanted alive or with a head as proof, with likely alive being worth more as the person who posted the bounty noted they wanted to deal with it themselves. The party discussed the logistics of bringing back a head with Tali and Boreal recalling creatures they had seen without heads in the past.

Tali explained the *Maltrop Strip* did odd things to you the longer you stayed which prompted Quincy to ask how long Tali had been here. Tali replied she had been there her entire life and when Quincy noted the lack of more than one head Tali explained the changes tended to happen to creatures deeper in the *Maltrop Strip,* especially near the *Dusterburyan Lighthouse,* where the effects of magic were stronger. Sterling noted for their task he may need to take a different approach than usual for combat, due to the strange effects on magic used, and that he could also use a knife. Quincy suggested he should just stay far back as he usually did and Sterling agreed, but explained he would be able to hit with his knife, with a bit more oomph than others might, if the group were nearby to distract the target. Tali asked if Bo was concerned about Sterling having a magical mishap and when Bo said yes told the group about Sister Xenia, who Quincy recognized as possibly another friend of Kylan’s, and her incident with her hand. Tali explained that she, along with Sync and Tank, worked on something to help prevent such things from happening, then went behind the bar, pulled out a ring, explained it would allow them one spell to be cast guaranteed without mishaps and would refresh at dawn. She added she had enough for every party member to take one and in the end Quincy, Bo, Alaerith and Yashani, who took one to wear just because she thought it looked nice, took one ring and Sterling took two as RX forfeited his own, citing he did not need it,

Sterling asked for clarity on items that contained latent magic, referencing Quincy’s spell bullets as a point of concern and Tali said enchanted items, like Bo’s sword *Passus*, were safe to use. Quincy noted they probably shouldn’t try to make any new bullets while they were there and when Sterling tried to say it made for an interesting experiment Quincy noted gunpowder and magic were already volatile. Seeing Tali was concerned Quincy pulled out a previously made *Witchbolt* bullet to show Tali, pointed out the runes on the bullet casing, though did not ask how they knew what runes to inscribe and explained they simply cast the spell they wanted on the gunpowder before packing it inside. Tali asked for the explanation again and, after being repeated, hurried off down the hall to a small library that Bo was aware of. Tali returned with a book, slammed it down in front of Quincy, exclaimed that she knew she recognized the concept from an old fairy tale, how they were from the first person perspective, with many of the tales from the *Maltrop Strip* were orally passed down before being recorded, and one talked about someone who made magic bullets. Quincy wondered if it was a Magma Genasi, along with Sterling asking if the name rhymed with “Colton” and RX asking if the name started with "B" and Tali confirmed they were correct and the story was called *The Ballad of Bahemerial Bolton*. Quincy asked if Tali could either tell them the story or possibly let them borrow the book and Tali passed on the book and explained it was written in a specific dialect of Primordial, Ignan particularly and was written from the first perspective of someone in a higher position, likely an Efreet. Quincy noted they were sure they could work through it and Sterling reminded them he was quite adept at languages. Sterling asked Tali if her library was open to browse, as many of them were well-read and enjoyed stories, and Tali agreed they could take a few as long as they promised to bring them back. Sterling requested any that were about magic and was handed two first edition tomes in Ancient Aetian that were found in the *Maltrop Strip.* Meanwhile RX requested anything about Elder Tempests, but the best Tali could offer was a textbook on elementals which he accepted. Quincy assured Tali that, they at least, had more respect for books than their own life, assured her they would bring the books back and Sterling offered that they had plenty of extra-dimensional spaces to keep them safe in. Tali warned if the books didn't come back she would take fingers, which Sterling commented was a bigger threat to Quincy who had already lost a fingertip.

Quincy then invited Tali to sit with the group, citing she spent her morning cooking and serving them, but Tali said she was used to it and that it was nothing compared to when visitors from the Skorian Empire came to play at being big hunters, explaining they could be quite dickish. Sterling said his dad would do the same, noting the Mylehearts were from the Puhan Trading Company, and the pair agreed those of the Skorian Empire weren’t paid enough to be nice, although the PTC visitors had a nasty streak as well. Quincy made a pointed comment it was easy to be paid more when you relied on slave labor, causing Sterling to clam up a bit, calling it a “touchy” subject. Sterling, returning the topic back to the bounty, asked if there was a ledger of those who had already attempted the job and come back and Tali told him only two people had been dumb enough to try and neither of them came back alive. Yashani inquired if the two were two hunting parties or two individuals and Tali confirmed it was two individuals before noting on being wary of taking jobs too big for them, citing others who had done so and had not returned. Sterling said he was glad they had Bo and Tali pointed out Bo was one of *Eveed’s* most prolific hunters and was well aware of the dangers of the *Maltrop Strip* including the toxic gas, psychic resonance, bouts of darkness and the mana storms. Tali especially warned against getting into a mana storm and Bo noted Sync and Tank nearly died trying to get Bo out of the one he arrived with.

Tali asked if there was anything she could help them with and RX asked about any oils she has available. Tali said she only had vegetable oil, as she really only cooked, and RX noted he hoped to try something new. The party discussed the possibility of cooking down some animal fat into oil for RX to try on their hunt, which dissolved further into wondering if the “Unknown” bounty even had fat to cook. Alaerith eventually asked Tali how far away the quarry was from there and Tali said it should only be a day from the *Dusterburyan* *Lighthouse*, though the *Dusterburyan* *Lighthouse* was roughly three days from *Eveed* if they didn't get caught into too many issues along the way. Bo said they may have to sleep on the *Maltrop Strip* and would teach them how to and Yashani asked if there was a special way to sleep there. Bo noted if they were normally heavy sleepers to not be and Tali recommended a shorter rotation of people keeping watch while they slept, to make sure whoever was awake only had to be up for a short time and could be the most alert. At the repeated mention of sleep Alaerith grew agitated before he hurried out of the lodge. Sterling noted that was maybe their que to leave, but Quincy told them to stay and would check on them before they followed in concern.

Quincy started by acknowledging it was unreasonable to ask if he was okay, but wanted to know what was upsetting him at that moment. Alaerith eventually admitted he was not good when it came to the topic of sleep and Quincy replied they had noticed. Quincy said they understood what it was like to be plagued by nightmares and recalled when they were first flung from their ship, washed up on the shores of the PTC and were taken captive in a labor camp. They added while they were they had nightmares of the night the ship was attacked and went through it over and over again knowing what would happen. Seeing Alaerith tremble slightly as they talked Quincy admitted they wished Seren were there as he was the best with things like this, but Alaerith said he had his own way of fixing it, which was to never sleep and added to never drink anything that strong again. Alaerith admitted he used a few "watery" tricks in their last night of *Krak* to appear to be drinking more than he was so he could maintain his control over himself enough to *Trance* that night, which Quincy said was clever. Alaerith apologized, that he would be fine and would wait out for a little bit and Quincy told him no one in the group like seeing him like this, that they wanted to help him, noting they knew he wasn't fond of sharing, but would be there when he was ready. Quincy told him not to linger outside for too long before they returned inside to the others.

Quincy returned to the party discussing the logistics of turning whatever it was they were hunting into a chicken with the *Ring of Rooster*, with Bo think it was unlikely their prey would have fingers, while Tali thought maybe even a talon could work. Bo reminded them they haven’t tried the ring on anyone but Sterling, that it might *only* work on Sterling, with RX adding seemed dangerous effort to try without knowing if it worked and Tali conceded to it, noting the ring only worked for an hour. Bo said maybe, if they could get the ring onto the creature, they could stuff it in the *Bag of Holding* where it could revert in an hour but Sterling was worried it would mean the bag would just burst. At Quincy’s request, Tali told the group that a *Bag of Holding* could hold up to 500 pounds and roughly the same amount in volume, but once it reached the limit one way was then full. Quincy quietly asked Sterling if that was Transmutation magic and Sterling explained it was Transmutation and Conjuration, as the *Bag* *of Holding* worked as a sort of teleportation and Quincy filled in it was an “extradimensional space” like *Ob's* *Magnificent Mansion*. Alaerith returned to the room and sat at the table as Tali and Sterling explained the dangers of overfilling extra-dimensional spaces, which included being ripped into the Astral Plane. Tali eventually excused herself to go to Cheeks and stop him from making a moat outside. Quincy thanked her for her help and Tali told them they were welcome, but warned if Bo didn't return she was coming for one of them. Sterling noted not to worry because if Bo didn't return it would mean they had all died, which Tali agreed was a valid point. The party discussed what to do next and agreed to try and talk to Grey again.

As the party headed to *Tank’s Place* Yashani asked if they were sure they wanted to do this again and the party agreed they didn't think they should be the ones to try to talk to her. Alaerith wondered what all they missed yesterday and when Bo explained Sterling and RX’s mishap with the teenage girl confirmed it was the "pancake thief" he remembered. Quincy told the group they recalled reaching out to Grey while the others were out of the room and that Flamecannon was at the Docks as he was the one who told Quincy about Abigail in *Krapjess*. Quincy added that Flamecannon had been a sort of pseudo-parental figure to Grey as she grew up in *Krapjess* and seemed pleased by that so Quincy wondered if they might hand off the responsibility of talking to Grey to him. Sterling agreed that as the one who seems to know her best, Flamecannon should do the talking, but they shouldn't forget several of the party personally knew Tabernacle, that the offer should be extended to tell her about him from their time together and that Quincy might be able to present an image, knowing that he would do anything to see his mother again. Yashani pointed out he already knew his mother and when Sterling admitted he did Quincy firmly corrected that he *knew* her, in the present tense. Sterling reiterated that she might not want to, but should still offer that choice to her and when Quincy agreed Flamecannon could offer as much the group decided to give Grey a week to decide if she wanted to talk to them on the matter. With that decided the party arrived to *Tank’s Place* just as Lewis flew down from his eye in the sky on to Alaerith’s shoulder and said hello. Sterling translated his words to Quincy who excitedly noted they didn’t know the pseudodragon could speak. Alaerith and RX admitted they had been talking to him in Draconic for some time and Louis noted he could also understand Common and Sylvan as well. Still outside the building, Bo suggested he and Quincy head inside as the best way to handle Grey and asked someone to go to Sync and retrieve his sword. RX proceeded to do so and after being given his unmodified sword, Bo's remaining *200 gold* and a small fist sized black glass orb, along with Sync's apology that he couldn't affix it to *Passus*, returned to the group.

Bo and Quincy headed inside *Tank’s Place* and found Tank working at the front of the shop while Grey lingered around the back doing a whole lot of nothing in particular. Tank greeted them, asked what brought them in and Quincy admitted they were hoping for a second chance to talk to Grey as they had heard it had not gone well. Bo explained they had sailed into port with a friend that Grey may be interested in seeing and Tank filled in it was Flamecannon, referencing them as “Leslie” which seemed to throw off Quincy. Quincy agreed to the name and Tank noted Quincy seemed to know what he was talking about. Quincy agreed before Tank revealed he used to be on Flamecannon’s crew before they came to *Eveed,* which was why Flamecannon sent Grey to him as he knew he could trust him. Quincy introduced themself as Quincy Desmar with a left handed shake, which Tank took, connected the name to Kylan and said he hadn't seen the man in a long time, but heard he had done well for himself, which Quincy confirmed. Tank then said if they wanted a do-over with Grey they can try, but if Flamecannon was there then he needed to go see him, while threatening to break his kneecaps. By explaining the party’s need of people who knew how to sail Quincy and Bo talked Tank down from the breaking of kneecaps to taking fingers or toes and Tank agreed to take Grey with him so she and him could talk. Quincy warned that the ship may not be docked as a precaution, but Tank waved this off and said he was willing to swim out to get a hold of the man. Quincy made a note to themself not to piss Tank off and Tank and Bo agreed, and recalled a time Tank smacked a velociraptor into red mist. Tank affirmed he wouldn't break Flamecannon but he would pay for sending Tank a teenager without warning. Tank wandered off to prepare for his meeting as Quincy noted they had missed the chaos of sailors as their brand of chaos was one they knew and understood.

Bo and Quincy headed to the back of the shop where Bo and Grey exchanged hellos before Bo unceremoniously put the conversation in Quincy’s hands. Quincy started by saying they did remember some from last night and smiled when Grey recalled their pinky promise. Quincy said they intended to keep it and extended an apology for the group’s arrival yesterday as the party has not been known to make good first impressions and Grey noted whoever mentioned her father didn't understand subtlety. Quincy retorted that RX had only been technically alive for less than a month and compared him as a more complicated and living version of the mechanical body replacements Tank built which Grey seemed to grasp, though not altogether understood, and agreed to take Quincy’s word on it. Quincy called the group a collection of oddities, but Grey countered that none of them were nearly as odd as her, that people had been set on fire when she was angry and wasn't a good quality, which was why only Sync, Tank and Bo associated with her. She added that she cast *Darkness* on herself when she was upset, glowed when she is happy and that she was real odd compared to what they called oddities. Quincy said they couldn't pretend to know what that was like, that they only stumbled recently into magic and Grey replied they wouldn't have asked for it it, but was stuck with it and it was hard. Bo said they had that in common and Grey recalled Bo’s early days in *Eveed,* like when he was stuck in the ground for a whole day and how he couldn't hold utensils before he learned how to control being corporeal.

Grey rounded the conversation back to Flamecannon and Quincy said, after having just talked to Tank, it seemed the pair were going to see him sooner rather than later. Grey said Tank hadn't shut up about him since Grey had been there and when Quincy noted he was an interesting man and she knew that herself admitted he was one of the most honest people she had met, was fueled by rage and yet very caring. Grey added that Tank had said Flamecannon screwed him by sending Grey here and assumed Tank would fulfill his promise to slap him the next time he saw him. Quincy noted that Tank shouldn’t break Flamecannon’s knees and Grey made no promises just before Tank called out to Grey to see if she was ready to go. Quincy stopped Grey to tell her the party came because they cared, that if she had any questions, even if not about her father, they would be happy to talk to her about magic or their travels. Grey agreed, noted she should probably make more friends, told them she didn't necessarily go by Grey, even if that’s what everyone called her, that her name was Abigail and could call her Abby. Abby hugged Quincy and Bo before she ran to Tank and asked if there was anything else she should tell Flamecannon while they were there. Quincy suggested the tried and true advice of “don’t die” and Bo suggested warning him the party would be gone, at least a week while hunting. Tank and Abby left passing by the remaining group who noted that she had the same unflinching determined, grey-greenish eyes Tabernacle had.

RX activated *Telekinetic Movement* to juggle a few of Bo’s gold coins and when Bo asked for them back handed over what he received from Sync including his apology. Bo, knowing Sync as long as he had, assumed he would need to throw the orb at a target, decided to try it on Sterling without warning him and Sterling deftly dodged the incoming attack as the party saw the orb reshaped into what looked like a slinky before it attempted to wrap around Sterling and reformed into a ball as it landed on the ground with a solid thunk. In response Sterling lifted the ball with his foot, kicked it back at Bo to restrain him and Bo likewise dodged it and snatched the orb out of the air. Bo quickly ran to Sync and thanked him while Sync apologized for not being able to attach it. The party made their way out of *Eveed* and into the wilds of the *Maltrop Strip* as Alaerith asked how Grey's meeting went.

### **Break!**

* Haven’t done this in a while but this means the episode may run a little longer than usual!

### **Part Two**

Within their first hour of travel the party noticed a steep increase in humidity and while the majority lamented the sticky weather Alaerith found it refreshing to thrive in it while Bo wasn’t corporeal enough for it weather to affect him. They saw the forest around them was dense, while alight with a range of wild colors in the flora around them, from red and black trees to bright purple flowers on shimmering green plants and the terrain kept them busy as they went from hard packed dirt, to several inches of deep mud and snow that eventually melted back into dirt. As they continued Bo and Quincy noticed a shift in the air as a green vapor appeared around them, which Bo recognized was expansive toxic gas. Bo quickly warned everyone to hold their breath and everyone managed to hold their breath in time to let the noxious gas pass except for Alaerith who confusedly asked why and inhaled a lungful that felt it burn as it goes through him, even as he resisted the brunt of the poison. When the gas fully passed Sterling asked if everyone was OK and Alaerith coughed as he asked what that was. Bo explained what the gas was and when Quincy asked if it was normal noted it was likely the most normal thing within the *Maltrop Strip*. Bo cast *Cure Wounds* on Alaerith and resisted an odd tugging within in him as he noted to be more careful about magic usage.

A little while later Bo felt a ripple in the *Maltrop Strip* and being aware a psychic resonance was coming and told the group to be on the lookout. Sterling asked if it was bad for intelligent people and on confirmation from Bo cast *Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere* on himself while activating one of his two rings. As the resonance passed Bo, Alaerith and Louis found their minds assaulted by psychic energy, Sterling and Quincy found their minds were able to resist the effects altogether, Yashani was able to hear Quincy's thoughts, Nubbi was able to hear Sterling's thoughts and RX found himself excessively compassionate to everyone as he was left *Charmed*. Lewis dropped down from the sky onto Alaerith's shoulder, looking worse for wear and Alaerith activated *Life Drain* using his Ruined Moon mark to heal him. Yashani asked Quincy if they said something over *Ob’s Charm* and when Quincy said no discovered she could hear Quincy’s thoughts. Quincy panicked and accidentally thought how they had found Yashani attractive upon their first meeting before they began to steadfastly sing sea shanties in their mind. Nubbi also started barking at Sterling gave him an odd look when he purposefully thought of lewd for a fox and realized she could likely read his thoughts as well. Meanwhile RX told the group they looked ravishing to the groups confusion. As they tried to figure out what was happening everyone, but Alaerith, noticed more expansive toxic gas and held their breaths, while Alaerith unaware inhaled it once more and coughed harder then before as he took the full brunt of poison. Bo warned he needed to be on the lookout for the poison and RX added if he didn't they would lose his "beautiful aesthetics" to this world to the groups confusion again. Bo encouraged them onward noting there was a safe house nearby that could protect them from the effects of the *Maltrop* *Strip* to rest. Seeing Alaerith was in a bad state Yashani activated *Hand of Healing* on Alaerith to heal him before Bo led the group to the outpost.

Less than an hour later the party arrived at a small cabin that had been heavily engraved with various protection sigils and runes that made the space safe from the magic of the land. The party rested inside, took the time to heal and prepare for the next leg of the journey, with Sterling activating *Arcane Recovery* before he and Quincy both cast *Mage Armor* on themselves and waited for the psychic resonance effects to wear off.

The party ventured back out into the *Maltrop Strip* and found the previously flat land changed to a steep hill and reverted back to flat land when they nearly reached the top. As they moved Sterling partially summoned Tollanessa, to avoid too much risk to her, asked if she knew what what exactly they were hunting but did not know and let her return back into the safety of the spellbook. A little while later the party sensed something different nearby, with some who smelled the sharp metallic scent of a storm, while others spotted the clouds, sparking and volatile in the distance which Bo recognized as a mana storm. Seeing the storm was close Bo told them what was coming and to hold on tight as best they could.

The party braced themselves as dark black and blue clouds rolled from between the trees and consumed them, with sparks of red and orange lightning sporadically lighting it from the inside, and everyone found themselves rocked to the core by the thunderous energy within them, while Yashani and Sterling were additionally left *Deafened.* Alaerith, thinking he only had something to help the others, moved to the rear of the group, activated *Metamagic : Quickened Spell* to cast *Polymorph* into a red furred Giant Ape and leaned over the party to cover them as much as he could. Quincy cast *Bless* causing the familiar ripple of electricity to settle over Yashani, Sterling and Bo before they pulling out *Peril & Pain,* even while at a loss as to how to combat a storm. Yashani activated *Hand of Healing* on herself to cure her deafness, then activated *Patient Defense*.

The mana storm swirled around them, covering the area in an acid rain and pelted Alaerith alone, as the party was currently covered by his giant ape body. Bo unsure what to do just held still as Sterling cast *Web* over Alaerith and the party causing them to be anchored to the nearby trees so they couldn't be separated. RX pulled out his shield and equipped it, while Alaerith continued to cover the party. Quincy, not entirely aware it would have no effect on a storm, failed to cast *Cause Fear* on the storm itself and found the tremors from stomping their foot were ignorable compared to the chaos of the storm, while Yashani decided to watch out for projectiles from the storm. The party continued to hold as red sparks started to pick up around them and struck them erratically, with Yashani who managed to avoid the lightning entirely, while the rest, along with RX who used his reaction to cast *Absorb Elements* to deflect some of it, took the full lightning energy, in part due to Sterling's *Web* which, while kept them from blowing away, made it harder for them to dodge.

Bo cast *Moment to Think,* looked to the top of the storm to gauge how high the storm was, and with that information then cast *Speak with Animals* and asked Alaerith to throw him up as far as he could as he had an idea and moved to one of Alaerith's ape hands. Sterling activated *Metamagic : Twinned Spell* to try and tried to cast *Enhance Ability : Bull's Strength,* which also dropped his prior cast *Web,* but found that the mana storm held off on the *Maltrop Strip’s* strange effects on magic inconsistently and instead was instantly *Polymorphed* into a sheep with gold blond wool. RX readied himself to *Dodge* while Alaerith, understanding Bo’s request, held the party tighter with one arm, hurled Bo upward with the other one and attempted to move into a better position to both protect the party and create a cushion for Bo to land when he came back down. Quincy and Yashani waited the storm out while keeping an eye out for projectiles. The mana storm covered the area in giant rock sized hail stones and again pelted Alaerith alone as the rest were covered.

Bo, after being thrown, just barely crested over the 200 foot mana storm by about 10 feet, took *Passus* out and, as he began to descend, slashed at the storm, while activating his *Anti-Magic Strike,* and caused the storm to ripple out, halting whatever the storm's next magical barrage would have been. Sterling, even as a sheep, miraculously saw Bo as he came down, jumped out of Alaerith’s arms to try and become a landing pad for him, while RX readied himself to activated *Telekinetic Movement* to slow Bo’s fall when he comes into range. Alaerith reached his free arm around Sterling and readied himself to pull him and Bo back when he finished, while Quincy activated *Deeds : Bite the Bullet* to regain some health. Yashani continued to hold her ground. The mana storm's freezing rain was fizzled out due to Bo's earlier attack just as he returned to the ground safely, thanks to RX, Sterling and Alaerith, asked Alaerith to throw him again when the time came and readied himself on his hand again.

Sterling, who also understood Bo's words as a sheep, attempted to inspire Alaerith animal to animal, while RX again readied himself to activated *Telekinetic Movement* to slow Bo’s fall again. Alaerith hurled Bo up again and continued his attempts to cover the group, while Bo slashed at the against the storm with another *Anti-Magic Strike*, but found it was ineffective as he was still within it and needed to be above the storm. Quincy looked to Sterling in an attempt to see if he really wanted to be a sheep and, deciding he would be more helpful as a sentient creature, pulled out *Panache,* only remembering *Soul Piece* was attached to it after firing once, burning both with radiant energy but not enough to revert Sterling back, then fired again and burning him Sterling as he reverted back. Yashani looked to the storm, saw there was an end in sight within 20 seconds, then activated *Hand of Healing* on Sterling to heal him. The mana storm sent out an Æther flare, a *Counterspell* like power, that washed over everyone causing

* Alaerith to drop his *Polymorph* reverting back to normal and his shield he bought from Ember in *Nij’a,* lost it's magical properties
* Quincy's *Peril & Pain* lost their magical properties
* Yashani *Necrotic Wraps* from Masq and her *Radiant Wraps* from the Skein Witch lost their magical properties
* RX's *Error 409*, his revamped sword from Ember, lost it's magical properties

As Bo descended once more he took out his hand crossbow, fired into the storm while activating his *Anti-Magic Strike,* and caused the storm to ripple out, halting whatever the storm's next magical barrage would have been once again. Sterling told the group not to worry about Bo and readied himself to cast *Vortex Warp* to teleport Bo safely back to ground when he was within range. RX prepared to *Dodge* since Bo was handled, while Alaerith positioned himself on the ground and readied himself to cast *Polymorph* when Bo was brought back into the fold. Quincy, seeing Sterling was looking rough after being shot, reaches out with both hands and apologized profusely while activating *Life Drain* using her Ruined Moon mark to help heal him twice. Sterling told them it was alright, asked for help to aim his spell on Bo and Quincy used their grip to adjust Sterling’s aim. Yashani looked to the storm to figure out what was coming next and noticed a black and green wave approaching. The mana storm sent the black and green wave out, now diminished due to Bo's attack instead of completely nullified, with everyone but Quincy who avoided the necrotic energy.

Bo appeared safely on the ground once he was within within range of Sterling’s *Vortex Warp,* but when Alaerith tried to cast *Polymorph* found himself unchanged as the magic of the storm intervened, with seemingly no other effect. Bo, seeing Alaerith was struggling, cast *Moment to Think*, looked around the storm, decided now was the time and, when his frozen time was up, readied himself to activate *Vi Armis,* his faintly glowly cloak, and protect the party. Sterling, seeing Quincy was looking rough, told them not on their watch as he grabbed their forearm forcefully and cast *Life Transference* to heal them as the necrotic energy damaged himself. RX looked to the storm to see how much more remained, saw it would end within the next dozen or so seconds and told the group. Alaerith activated *Flexible Casting* to give up six *sorcery points* and regain a fourth level spell slot as his mind recalled the last time his powers failed and what he lost, pounded the ground in frustration and begged his magic to work as he cast *Polymorph* and successfully transformed back into the Giant Ape again and covered the group again.

Quincy stood uselessly while Yashani activated *Hand of Healing* to heal Sterling. As the mana storm started to cause the ground around the party to cracks and quake and Bo shouted for everyone to huddle together, activated *Vi Armis* causing one of it's three rings to disconnect and float to the ground in a circle that encompassed the group and created a purple dome, lined with clock imagery, that left the party unscathed from the force of the storm's fissure. As the dome dropped Bo prepared to activate *Vi Armis* again as he saw the end of the storm was near. Sterling, seeing Bo looked like he might need help, pointed it out to Yashani and cast *Haste* on her. RX saw the storm would be over them another seven seconds and pointed it out the group, while Alaerith, unable to understand what was being said, resumed his earlier position as a makeshift dome. Quincy held her ground, while Yashani activated *Hand of Healing* on Bo to heal him, then activated *Step of the Wind*, dashed from the group the storm to the very end of the storm and waited for the others.

The mana storm caused disruptive ways, an even stronger *Counterspell* like power as Bo activated *Vi Armis* and, though the purple dome warded off the storm, the colliding magics hit those who remained with force energy. Bo dashed after Yashani, though not as far as she did, but managed to reach the end of the storm. Sterling attempted to cast *Haste* on himself to follow the others, but instead was instantly *Banished* to the Astral Plane as the spell was altered by the *Maltrip's Strip's* effect on magic, though he and Tollanessa noted the effect had the same outcome they hoped for. RX dashed out of the storm and managed to reach where Bo was outside the storm. Alaerith continued to hold his ground around Quincy while making panicked ape sounds at Sterling's disappearance. Quincy held firm as Sterling resisted his banishment and reappeared a moment later. Yashani, seeing the mana storm had now passed over Bo and RX, activated *Hand of Healing* to heal Bo. The mana storm caused the remaining trio to scatter in opposite directions and were left *Prone* flung in opposite directions, though thankfully tossed out of the storm, as the roiling black and blue clouds carried across the *Maltrop Strip.*

1. ↑ Darrin invents *Gileshian Toast* as a parody of French toast and several types of bread found in *Palamoa*, find his description here
2. ↑ Referring to his one level in Rogue
3. ↑ Referring to *Shape Water*
4. ↑ Sterling's attempt at his once per day question for Tollanessa
5. ↑ Quincy using their new *Bewitcher* feature allowing them to cast an Enchantment or Illusion, that *normally* requires concentration, and cast it without needing to concentrate on the spell
6. ↑ Jessa makes the amazing joke that Sterling is now a one man farm
7. ↑ Darrin's words specifically were a 6th level *Counterspell*
8. ↑ as all dnd players know "nothing happens" doesn't always mean nothing happens, it might just mean you didn't see what happened instead haha!
9. ↑ Darrin's words specifically were a 5th level *Counterspell*