RQG 182 - The Garden of Yerlik

## Content Warnings

Ghosts, collective auditory hallucinations (including sound effects), past trauma and grief, malevolent intrusive telepathy. Discussions: death and afterlife. Mentions: mild language, pandemic and disease, human remains

## Summary

Join Alex, Helen, Bryn, Lydia, and Ben as they step into the shadows of the Garden. This week Cel plans a jog, Zolf has a strong spirit, Hamid keeps an eye on Wilde, and Azufeels compelled to look down and to the side...

## Synopsis

Heading into the garden, Sohra and Sumutnyerl still appear to be a little tense, but Sohra lets the party know that they will be waiting for them a little way outside the garden upon their return. Sumutnyerl says that the sun shining is a good sign for a smooth journey through the garden, and that though they may be tempted to wander off, they should not do so, and should support one another through emotional encounters. The floor covering of the garden is a bed of unlikely fresh blue petals. The root structures of the nearest saplings are incredibly reminiscent of the blue veins, giving Zolf and Wilde a visceral reaction. The roots go between the trees, connecting them. Sumutnyerl reassures the party that the blue roots here are perfectly normal and healthy, and runs her finger on one of the trunks, causing a small blue branch to sprout. The party follows Sumutnyerl further into the trees, and the forest feels more summery and contemplative, including normal wildlife. Hamid and Cel notice a very fresh sapling growing from hints of a corpse's form.

A few hours pass, and there appear to be paths of flattened petals between the trees. Zolf hears a pleasant voice on the wind, but cannot recognise the words. It sounds like a middle-aged woman's voice. Zolf queries Sumutnyerl, who tells him that the garden has recognised his presence, meaning he has a strong spirit and that it will recognise the others soon. Zolf isn't best pleased, and Sumutnyerl tells him that practicality isn't the best solution to the problems of the garden. Over the following hour, the party all start hearing the voices, meaning they have been recognised by the garden. Wilde wonders what it would mean if someone were not to hear voices, and Sumutnyerl replies that that means the garden doesn't want them there.

Sumutnyerl suggests a rest in the late morning, and says it is a little like being in a place of high altitude, where resting frequently to equilibrate is recommended. Cel babbles about depth, and being a dolphin. Zolf sees a figure made of petals walk past a tree in the distance but not emerge from the other side, and the others start to notice fleeting glimpses of possible distant figures too. Hamid notices that Wilde seems to be responding more to the garden more than the others, and is more distracted by the voices. Hamid makes sure Wilde doesn't get sidetracked too badly.

After another hour or so, there appear to be more petal figures, standing and observing the party, and as well as more numerous they appear to be increasing in variety- large and small creatures as well as humanoids. Sumutnyerl says this indicates that the Garden is now likely to present more direct spirit communications to the party, and that there is not much distance to the blighted area. They say that the party may recognise people, and that the garden means no harm and that this is a particularly clear day (good). They suggest another rest before pressing on along the final leg of the journey to the blight. Wilde is slightly unsatisfied, remarking that the garden doesn't currently feel much like the blue-vein infection, to which Zolf replies that it's probably because the blue veins are a corruption of whatever this is. Wilde is concerned that the blue veins always had the feeling of something invented by someone (Edison or Tesla, for example), and that they have an 'alien' quality to them along with a visceral response that the garden just doesn't have. Hamid agrees that there's no threat from the garden yet, to which Wilde is a little perturbed, implying that the garden is perhaps not entirely unthreatening to him. Cel points out that of the party, Hamid is the only one that hasn't experienced either actual death or the 'afterlife waiting-rooms'. Wilde informs the others that the Garden is affecting him differently, and that of them all, he is the most likely to be compromised by it. Zolf immediately gets out a rope and ties it around first Wilde's and then his own waist, using a 'devious knot'.

Wilde asks Hamid what the voices have been saying to him, and Hamid replies that it's mostly been background noise. For Wilde it turns out to have been actual distinguishable voices giving greetings and compliments that in a 'past life' (pardon the pun) might have been background noise to him. Hamid remarks that Wilde excusing a pun means maybe he isn't OK (more evidence of a post-resurrection change in temperament). Wilde also agrees to walk in the centre of the group, and Sumutnyerl adds that those that have 'passed through the veil before' tend to be recognised more as a friend than a visitor, and, upon hearing Cel's enthusiasm for turning into a bird or squirrel to appreciate the garden that way, cautions them against moving through the garden too fast, likening it to not diving too deep too quickly as a dolphin. Hamid asks whether this also applies to leaving the garden in a dangerous situation, and Sumutnyerl confirms that fleeing through the garden would result in a visitation. Cel wonders (hopefully) if they could have more visitations if they went fast (alluding to lost loves, misunderstandings, and blame), and Sumutnyerl recommends against it, saying that going fast increases the extremity of the experience. They also say that Cel's need for a visitation means the likelihood of one is very high.

Suddenly, Cel is overwhelmed by the sense, of the presence of their once husband (Yuuko), including his specific scent. They pivot, scanning the trees although doesn't see anyone, and Wilde has also noticed. Cel tells Yuuko that it would be lovely to talk, and that his boys are doing OK; both Wilde and Sumutnyerl smile. Cel returns to walking with the others, but continues to talk to Yuuko, in a much more measured, less fraught way than the party are used to. The rest of the party has a more muted and not-overwhelming version of Cel's experience. The presences are familiar, benevolent, and theoretically comforting, and feel like someone is walking beside them. Zolf feels his brother Feryn by his side, Hamid feels the presence of his sister Aziza, and Azu feels like Grizzop is sitting on her shoulder. Sumutnyerl is pleased, and says this collective experience is unusual. Zolf is 'ashen-faced', but Sumutnyerl doesn't notice and thinks he is as happy as the others. They also indicate that the blight is coming up and these will be the party's last pleasant experiences. Zolf, meanwhile, is mentally telling Feryn to go away, because he doesn't want a corrupted version of him haunting him in the blight.

**Break**

A cold breeze sweeps through, blowing away the floor petals and the spirits, and the birdsong falters. Gradually the branches start creaking, and the vivid blues give way to lighter pastel blues; fleeting figures are seen in the trees but they are neither humanoid not comforting. Some of the branches are bare now, and the pastel blues are closer to grey. Sumutnyerl warns the party that they believe certain creatures have taken residence at the centre of the blight, and that they are only able to directly harm the party during the night. The garden should not be attacked, and only harmed in self-defence. They also suggest that protective spells are a good idea. Hamid casts mage armor on himself and heroism on Skraak. Sumutnyerl remarks, concerned, that the blight seems to have spread further, and that if they are attacked by plants they should defend themselves- those plants are not of the garden but are something else. Wilde appears to be heavily affected: looking around, trembling, pale, disturbed. Cel takes a mutagen that gives them wings, better constitution, and better scenting abilities with a charisma penalty. The final petals are brown, the wind is cold, a horrible shape forms (too many limbs and torsos). Sumutnyerl and Wilde are the worst affected, and Wild starts trying to calm himself under his breath, before whispering to the others that they're being hunted. Zolf, next to Wilde, reaches up and squeezes his shoulder

The whole party then hears a horrifying voice intruding into their thoughts, just the repeated words 'all your fault'. The party members reassure each other, and Sumutnyerl tells them not to listen to the voice. Wilde has stopped shivering and appears to Hamid and Zolf to be beyond furious, incandescent with rage. He goes still, starts humming, and becomes outlined in gold, and the gold spreads to the other party members, inspiring them. *[Editor's note: Mechanically, this is the bard ability Bardic Performance - Inspire Courage, but the party consistently refer to it as a spell or bardic inspiration.]* His performance is sustained. The voice comes in again, blaming the party for death and pain, and again stating that everything is their fault. Sumutnyerl and Hamid are particularly affected, becoming Shaken. The party hears an approaching sound from all directions of what sounds a bit like sleigh bells, accompanied by a telepathically deafening "***ALL. YOUR. FAULT."*** The roots areound the party spring into the air in all directions as far as the party can see, throwing up a flurry of dessicated petals and snow.

## Quotes

"You can have a very very good health-inducing potion and just add one wrong ingredient and it turns to poison, so it's very possible that this has the same thing, but if you take it you will have an upset stomach for a significant length of time and you absolutely will not turn into a bird."
―**Cel, on why the party are experiencing different things from the Garden**

**Wilde**: "I think it's affecting me a little bit differently, and... I don't know. Put it this way, I feel like if anyone's going to be compromised, it might be me."
**Zolf**: "Right!" (*immediately gets out a rope and ties himself to Wilde*)
―on how the garden is affecting newly-resurrected Wilde (it's been 2 days); Zolf looks after him.

**Cel**: "What have they told you?"
**Wilde**: "Um.. greetings and compliments, mostly..."
**Azu**: "Aww, that's nice!"
**Wilde**: "I realise, erm, pardon the pun, in a past life that might've been a bit of background noise to me but... I don't know, it's odd..."
**Hamid**: "Oscar, you just said 'pardon the pun', I don't think you *are* OK!"
―Cel, Azu and Hamid on the voices Wilde's been hearing.

**Mystery horror voice**: "Your fault. All your fault. All your fault. All your fault all your fault... All. Your. Fault."
**Sumutnyerl**: "There is nothing of value to be learned from this. Do not seek lessons where there are none."
―Sumutnyerl cautions the party against listening to the telepathic message.

**Alex**: "You have rarely seen Wilde actually angry, cause he tends to keep a lid on it. Something seems to have happened and Wilde seems to have transmogrified from fear to incandescent rage."
**Helen**: "Excellent."
**Alex**: "He isn't yelling, he has gone very, very still and he is beyond furious."
**Ben**: "I will give him a calming but also supportive pat on the shoulder being like; Yeah, good job, solid response, same, same hat, big mood."
―Wilde is filled with rage.
## Dice rolls & mechanics

* Zolf and Wilde, Will save to withstand noticing the similarities between the root structures and the blue veins: 26 (Zolf)
* Hamid and Cel make a Knowledge (arcana) check to understand Sumutnyerl's druidcraft: 22 (Cel), 21 (Hamid)
* Perception check to notice a freshly-rooted tree with hints of a corpse's form: 15 (Zolf), 16 (Azu), 25 (Hamid), 30 (Cel)
* Perception check to hear spirit voices: Nat 20 (Zolf), Nat 1 (Azu), 26 (Cel), 28 (Hamid)
* Sense Motive on Wilde's response to the voices: 14 (Azu), 23 (Hamid),17 (Zolf), 9 (Cel)
* Cel, Will save for visitation: 8
* Cel, Perception check for noticing visitation: Nat 20; 34
* Will save for visitations: 33 (Zolf), 18 (Hamid), 29 (Azu), 18 (Skraak)
* Perception check for visitations: 29 (Zolf), 28 (Hamid), 26 (Azu), 29 (Skraak)
* Hamid casts mage armor on himself: +4 to AC
* Hamid casts heroism on Skraak: +2 to attack rolls, +2 to saving throws, +2 to skill checks
* Cel takes their beastform mutagen: -2 to charisma, +4 to constitution, +2 AC, wings, and Scent
* Will save against the terrifying voice: 21 (Cel), 24 (Zolf), 21 (Azu), 20 (Hamid), 23 (Skraak)
* Sense Motive for Wilde's mood: 14 (Azu), 22 (Hamid), 16 (Skraak), 21 (Zolf), 4 (Cel)
* Wilde starts a Bardic Performance and gives everyone +3 to will saves (against charm and fear effects), +3 to attack rolls, and +3 to damage rolls.
* Will save to not become shaken from the horrifying voice: 22 (Zolf), 31 (Azu), 24 (Cel), 20 (Skraak), Nat 1 (Hamid)
	+ Hamid and Sumutnyerl become shaken, getting a -2 to attack rolls, -2 to saving throws, -2 to skill checks, and -2 to ability checks (They would still have failed the Will save even including Azu's retrofitted aura of courage)
* Initiative rolls: Hamid (Nat 20; 26), Zolf (Nat 20; 25), Cel (23), 15 (Skraak), Azu (6)
* Azu's aura of courage means that the whole party gets a +4 on saving throws against fear effects.

## Trivia

* The horrifying voice is all Alex! To see him do it onscreen, check out this video(timestamp 3:16). Lydia even jokes about rolling a Will save as herself to withstand Alex's incredibly creepy voice.