Session 14: Defeating Paranoia, Rebuilding, Report

General Summary

Defeating Paranoia

Having been attached to Hysteria since the Spiritual Travelers had first entered The Gates, Paranoia had, at long last, been expunged from their elven frame and cast back into the world. The spirit had become visible to Namina, Frode, DAN and Agave as they were met with the incessant gaze of this eyeball-filled darkness. Namina had just managed to pierce the creature with a bolt of radiant energy allowing for easier strikes from her comrades, however, this spirit had other ideas as it vanished, dispersing itself into the environment around you. Thankfully, the shining energy was still vaguely visible and allowed for those nearby to still be able to make out its approximate location.

While it had apparently vanished for most of the group, those that were less able to shake off its mental influence were more paranoid, and therefore more likely to see the thing that is supposedly watching them. DAN saw the spirit reappear at the center of camp before it again vanished for him as well appearing behind Frode. Frode looked to see what he sensed had appeared behind him, but saw nothing there. How paranoid.
Frode took this opportunity to shout at the creature, demanding that it immediately remove itself from the group's presence and leave them in peace. Agave, suspecting that these voices were more physical than mental, decided to cast the area into silence with hopes of preventing more dastardly whispers. DAN was able to attack the spirit, and Namina blessed the group with hope as the campfire turned a soft aquamarine. The spirit vanished again, before reappearing some distance away as if it were actually intimidated by Frode's challenge.
Meanwhile, Kaswink and Hysteria encountered each other on the way back to camp. Their paranoia increasing as they moved in that direction, and the soft steps and hard-to-detect nature of Hysteria only causing more paranoid feelings in Kaswink.

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The spirit, which seemed to try and run away after Frode's attempt at intimidation, vanished once again only to appear at the center of camp and cause everyone nearby to experience some level of confusion. Thankfully most of you resisted, but the creature spent its turn moving into DAN's personal space and causing them to inadvertently attack Frode while thinking they were hitting their intended target. Frode and Agave saw the spirit vanish into DAN, but from DAN's perspective it was standing in front of them still.
Having taken damage from a frazzled DAN, Frode struck back hoping to remove the spirit from their body like a forceful and even more invasive exorcism. Agave also tried to grapple DAN, but was unsuccessful.
Kaswink and Hysteria had managed to make it back to camp, their wanderings and such through the woods evidently not leading them very far away. Any screaming that was attempted on Kaswink's part was unheard at the camp as the entire area was still in silence, but Kaswink did also throw her electrified weapon directly between an apparent conflict between DAN and Frode. Hysteria readied a shot from their bow for the moment that the spirit re-appeared.

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Paranoia again appeared before you all, the campfire that was still burning at the center of camp now extinguished as its form grew and you found yourselves in darkness once more. DAN was still being struck by an illusion form of the spirit, and Kaswink had returned to camp full of madness.
The spirit's most recent appearance caused a great deal of mental anguish for many of you, and even caused Agave to collapse as he entered an unconscious state. DAN, thinking quickly, re-lit the campfire to provide some light for everyone, but it was only half as luminescent as it would normally be as it was being hindered by Paranoia still hovering around it. Namina attempted to heal Agave, but the spooky magical powers of your enemy caused her to damage him instead...this distrust runs deep, however, Namina was still able to stabilize Agave after this and keep him slightly further from death.
Kaswink, transformed beyond easy recognition, had entered camp and collected her butcher's tools which had been similarly electrified by a rather expertly thrown weapon before. She utilized this to begin brutally attacking her friends starting with Namina and Hysteria. The two of them were nearly butchered, but with some help from Hysteria's rapier Kaswink was able to shake off the paranoia filling her mind long enough for Namina to heal her and the rest of you.
Meanwhile, DAN and Frode were each protecting Agave's body and attempting to locate the re-invisibled spirit through magical means. DAN's use of growing vines did help reveal an approximate location, though they quickly started burning, and as Frode dragged Agave to safety DAN was also still being attacked by the smaller spirit which was revealed to simply be an illusion in his mind thanks to their spell not attempting to grab hold of it.

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The spirit again revealed itself. Its larger size and frightening eyes staring at each of you as it again filled your ears with whispered lies hoping to twist you against each other. Namina's attempt to heal everyone was more successful this time around and Agave was able to return to the fight. Hysteria threw a bottle of poison they had recently crafted at the creature with such precision, ferocity and gumption that it changed the alchemical nature of the vial so that it became alcohol based and combusted. Paranoia was on fire, its swirling smoke-like body now engulfed in flames it began to be assaulted ferociously by DAN and Frode.
It was on its last legs and attempted to flee between your turns only to be met with more attacks and not making it very far. Agave managed to finish the creature off with an explosive eruption from the ground which destroyed not only the spirit but Frode's tent and some of his work on the perimeter as well.
The spirit began dissipating, its body seeping throughout the cracked ground and spreading out as it faded from existence. Namina, however, was able to harvest an Eye of Paranoia from it. The negative feelings began to subside, and things returned to normal...mostly.

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Rebuilding

With a portion of the camp destroyed, Agave began the tedious process of redigging the perimeter and setting Frode's tent back up after the ground was leveled. This didn't take very long, but other activities were also occurring during and after this.
Namina began praying in order to heal the party over the course of 10 minutes, and, immediately after this, Kaswink went into the woods to be alone. Hysteria went after her.
The two of them had a lengthy conversation about trust and what might happen if Kaswink went out of control and couldn't be stopped with conventional means. She was aware of this and even revealed that her fate was hereditary as other members of her family had also been consumed by the transformation before being "dealt with". Hysteria offered to do the deed should it need to be done and the two of them returned to camp where Kaswink planned and help set up a net to hopefully rain-proof the base. Utilizing some rope, tall poles, and waterproof leaves this is easily doable. Though it'll likely take about an hour or two to finish, meaning that it'll be about 1 AM when it is done.
Kaswink also began running tests on her recently crafted Slingshot after the base had a bit less rain dampening people's spirits.
That's about where we left off, I think? We'll be picking up next time with more crafting, exploring, sleeping? and much more. Eager to see whatever that ends up being.

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Report/Quince's Responses

It's been about 13 hours since a report was last sent to Quince at noon that day. Nurend 05, 308 has been a long day, but the radio powers on and awaits the usual input from DAN as they attempt to reach out to Quince with an update. Namina also helps out with this particular report.
Good to hear from you! - It's been (lengthy pause, background chatter) several days! My assistant is telling me that it's been 3 days since you last called, but that can't be right, can it? Anyways, time discrepencies aside, it's good to hear from you. Looking forward to your report.
Underground Gardens/Farms - A fascinating idea! It should help protect against anything that might want to take your valuable crops or other botany experiments. Well, surface dwelling ones anyways... you might need to find a way to protect against any subterranean threats that might burrow in. Perhaps reinforcing the ground with protective magic, or making walls somehow or something. I'm sure you'll think of something cool!
Regarding the wisps idea... if you need to store them and use their light, why not just find a way to make large glass bulbs and place them on top of poles/towers? If Namina can trap them in glass jars then maybe the same magic could be used to trap them inside larger glass and make spheres of light that keep your crops healthy? You'd just need a source of sand, and a way to make a nice hot furnace to make that sand into glass. Otherwise the idea of finding ways to just keep them happy and nearby sounds exciting!
Paranoia - Oh great, more emotional manipulation! Terrifying. I'm sorry you all had to go through that, but I am glad that you endured. Being forced to not trust anything, even your allies or the world around you can be awful. We never really do know what other people are thinking all the time, and at any given moment we could be talking to someone that secretly hates us. That shouldn't matter though, as long as you all work together and survive, learn what you can. I'm hoping that the eye you collected can be put to good use. Enhancing weaponry, armor, or perhaps even something completely different.
If the eye came from a spirit that manipulates emotions like this, maybe it can also be used to protect against them? Though some sort of hyperobservant helm or something is quite enticing.

In-game Date:
Nurend 05, 308

Report Date

24 Jan 2022

Primary Location

Home Base

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Defeated Creatures - Harvested Components
Paranoia - Yellow Eye