Raid Target/Defense: Ebon Moonstone Cerebrelith
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Eastern? That'll be uhh... 9am or something for West Coast folks.
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Time has been updated to noon tomorrow.
I will be on at 11:00 AM in case anyone wants to log in early to discuss and/or plan further.
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Increasingly frazzled, and frustrated by the inability to sit down with everyone to plan things out ahead of time, Laura cracks and slides the following page in under everyone's door, in her usual chicken-scratch scrawl:
"Plan A: spring captives from underneath Moongazing grounds. I doubt it knows we know, but also doubt that it left them without defences (probably contingencies galore). It'll react swiftly, but at least we'll have taken initiative in a way it likely didn't expect.
Plan B: stake-out at the Moongazing grounds and attempt to get the jump on it. Might have to wait for some time, might be discovered first.
Plan C : Legend Lore casting at Moongazing grounds, seemingly alone, with hidden back-up. Not my favourite as I'd have to be actually casting and actually vunerable. And we don't know if it would be that bothered with the bait, either.
Plan D : Insert brilliant idea here.
Mark your favourite and return to Laura's room. Also mark the following question below:
Should we prepare to bind the demon if need be:
Yes:
No:
-Laura"
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Laura, despite being obviously distracted by her many unfinished research projects, does still make time for Jax's breathing exercizes. She'll often flop down on the bedroll to linger there a while after, but it's evident that her mind's rarely still for very long and she'll soon scramble back to her feet and return to her room with this thought or that to add to the board.
Among those are points such as:
- Legend Lore: to be cast at the Moongazing Pool, utilizing the creature's own ichor for a focus. Might shed insight as to it's seemingly long-standing interest in this same spot. Need party back-up to be safe while casting.
- The five souls under the Moongazing Ground: is it advisable to attempt rescue before our arcane defence is completed? Might throw a spanner in the Cerebrelith's progress if it was robbed of them, but dangerous if we're not ready. No doubt there's contingencies set in place even in its absence.
- Legend Lore: to be cast on the Lesser Key of Sullivan. Do we have enough intel gathered on that to sort the more vague and fantastical legends from the solid ones though?
- Can the few fragments of bright gleaming moonstone we salvaged be used for anything concrete?
Most recently, and underlined several times, is the following:
"We need a PLAN. The next chapter must not be on the Cerebrelith's terms."
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Learning of the demon's vicinity to the Moongazing Grounds, 206 begins to avoid the place, as opposed to practicing his form in the bounds of the circle. Until recently an act of worship, a form of meditation and training all at once.
Instead, he spends a time he knows has been stressful for all his companions by offering them moments of respite.
Anyone willing to come, he teaches a routine to control their breathing. Sitting cross-legged, using various movements of their arms that open and close their lungs. Teaching them to breathe with their diaphragm, but also purposely against their diaphragm. The exercises are long, slow and purposeful, often comfortable, sometimes bordering on painful, designed to take their mind off everything but their breath. He even goes so far as to put out bedrolls for those of lower constitution that might get light headed from the forced breathing.Other times, when no one wishes to go through the breath training, he installs a small table on the walls that allows him to set tea, with a chair on each side.
Always limited to two people, the chairs are placed sideways from the table so that he and the participant do not sit face to face, but rather are allowed to stare off into the distance. He never starts the conversation. When the other wishes to talk, he talks. When they have questions, he considers their questions and answers. When they just want to sit and enjoy a moment of silence or shared solitude, he is just as pleased to remain silent with them.When alone, he can be observed finding a place in the Keep and sitting with his eyes closed for hours on end. When asked why he simply states he is "enjoying the sound of reality".
He does wander from the Keep occasionally, always down, and those who are inclined to find learn that he is attempting to explore the Abbey and below.
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Envelopes are slid under the doors of Patrik, Lokelani, Laura, Ashla, Jhael', Jaxon and Octavia.
Also Nerrez and Florian
((not sure when the next reset will be, I'll hand them out in game.))
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The current target date, subject to further coordination, is the 27th.
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I'm fairly flexible on Saturday vs Sunday so long as I know in advance and it isn't before 1 EDT. If something came up, you'd have my blessing to wrap up the Cerebrelith story without me because I've only been present for maybe two half-sessions.
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27th is like a day when all the stars align for me, I'll definitely be around.
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The 27th should be good for me!
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@flom Unknown. I already reserved the 20th with family
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Would Saturday the 27th work?
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((Sundays never work for me, unfortunately. Early Sunday mornings sometimes semi-work, but I always have to leave for the train for work around 11:30AM Pacific/2:30PM Eastern. ))
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((pending, for me. I know there's going to be a birthday party, but the day is not yet set))
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((How does Sunday look for everyone as an alternative? I've just been invited over to family on Saturday))
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Laura pins further notes to the board:
"Certain Cerebreliths are able to fully devour brains, rather than merely study them, in order to better absorb the abilities, skills, intellect and knowledge of the brain. They can do this only once per week or so, as they slowly absorb and digest the brain to add it to their spinal gray matter." [extracted from the mostly ruined Beastiary]
"Mind Blank attained! Lucky in stumbling over a page in my research into the Lesser Key of Sullivan - once activated, it should protect the entire party, but only temporarily. Cruelly I cannot yet learn the spell myself and after use, it will once more be a non-option."
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Lokelani shares that in her research she's learned an astrological arcane variant of Power Word: Stun that has an both has increased chance of success against demons and temporarily restricts the use of any mind-sourced abilities (e.g. telekinesis, domination, etc.). She will need to blessed moonstones to cast it and invoke the words and light of the constellation of the Preacher.
Her research suggests it can only be used once, and the caster must wait a full day before using it again, for the demon/target in question will resist subsequent casts.
Lokelani takes her collection of moonstones to the Moongazing Grounds and prays to Sehanine Moonbow, the Lady of Dreams to bless them.
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A letter is left attached to Laura's door in the middle of the night. No sound was heard, nor anyone seen when it was placed there. Though there is little doubt who left the letter when Laura reads it.
"My friends have found the food source for the Cerebrelith. Five people, deep underground, hidden in a cavern somewhere below the Moongazing Grounds. An elf, three humans, and an orc. They appear to be unconscious, possibly in some type of stasis. Awaiting their fate, as food for this monstrosity. Research is not my forte, however, the dark places of the world is where my new friends and I belong. If I can help more, do let me know."
The letter is signed..
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Next to the map is a larger piece of paper, containing a list in Laura's small, scribbly hand, with ample room for others to add theirs alongside hers:
"Mental Defence:
- Togetherness
- Serenity and focus - meditation practice with Jax recommended pre-showdown. Calming songs by Florian & Patrik while engaged.
- Spells - Empowered Owl's Wisdom, Empowered Fox's Cunning, Protection Vs Evil (circle and individual both), Clarity, Mind Blank (Lesser will likely be the best we can manage). Duration is an issue - possible to charge crystals with repeat uses, enchant items or otherwise extend duration? Circle casting?
- The missing element - fey magic, as of yet undetermined in nature. Could it be the glue that grants the other spells a temporary permanence? I'm certain it is a vital component for our defences. Hoping Loke finds a clue in Silverymoon.
To-Do's:
- Wake and interview Knight Mills (he may know more than his notes included)
- Check on Moongazing Pool and nearby chapel - fresh sightings there, repeatedly at pool
- Caldera / Kzagoth & Co / Mycelium - likely to be continuing with their parallell investigations, all collaboration advantageous. Their sightings to be added to map.
Questions yet unanswered:
- Vunerabilities (if any)? Bright light, divine damage?
- Is there a way to liberate the souls within the Cerebrelith's "living library"?
- Will slaying it send it back to the Abyss? If so, is there a workaround?
- Should we prepare for the eventuality of binding it? Risky with the lessons of the past, but we should admit the possibility that it may be too powerful to fight head on.
- What does it really want?
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Laura's decidedly happy to accept help in her research - enthused by Loke's offer, she decides to open her room up to the use of all of the Locus Operandi - pinning a large map to the wall for all to mark their sightings of interest upon, along with spaces for smaller notes to be fastened next to it. The second desk and the round table can also be used by the group, the piles of material no doubt growing larger by the day. Whomever wishes to spend their research and planning time in the comforts of L3 is welcomed, at the mild risk of becoming Nox's next cushion for a nap of course.
