Crop Circles
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@e02719515b=Speedy_Z_:
Instead trying to fight the slime ball by conventional means in the dream (which hasn't worked anyway), Z will try to convince everyone to fight as one, in the dream.
The Dreamfey do hold sway in the dream world, but they don't control it…not totally. Likewise, we can, to some extent, control our dreams, as well. It's a dream. If you focus, concentrate, and will it hard enough, you can control what happens in the dream world, as well.
Even if we don't succeed the first time or the second time or the tenth time, just by tryin' to fight back we'll be sendin' a strong message to them Dreamfey that we're on to them, we're organized, and we're ALL gonna fight back as hard as we can. And each time we try to fight back, we'll get that much better at controllin' our dreams and that much stronger. Maybe, in time, they'll just back off and move on to easier pickin's…maybe.
So, if the remove curse and the other ideas for stoppin' these nightmares don't work, then we're gonna have to come up with a simple plan of attack to use in our dreams. I'm not sure what it is, yet. But that's what I'll be workin' on.
In the meantime, this is what I want you to do when we meet in the dream world tonight…
In the dream we are going to remain as calm as possible - it's only a dream. Adults, the little ones'll be lookin' to you for protection, you need to show strength and courage for them. I've seen some bad things in my life and I've had my share of nightmares - this one takes the cake. But we MUST be strong.
Our mantra will be, "Have faith." Whenever you feel fear and panic grip your heart, focus on the mantra and repeat it to yourself. If you notice another one of our flock struggling with fear, boldly shout their name and the mantra to them and help bolster their spirit. Others will join you and together we will stand.
When the big slimy ball appears in our dream, we will have to act quickly and the directions will be simple so that we can act as one. We will join hands ((I'm not sure how many people are involved in the dream, but I was thinking around 100 NPCs and PCs were at the ritual - let me know)) and I will lead us in short prayer to the goddess Chauntea; the one who delivered us from the blight and the one who protects us.
Once everyone has joined hands, we will concentrate, as one, on the thought of floating upward to the clouds. That's it. Concentrate on floatin' up to the clouds and will it to happen.
They give us rain, they give us life. We will float high above the creature, which is very large, and the ocean of maggots that it will spill out of its mouth.
Once we reach the safety of the clouds, the creature will be nothing but a little dot and the horrible nightmare will become a pleasant dream of friends and family holding hands and floatin' in the clouds under the watchful eye of Chauntea.
This creature is very powerful, no doubt. However, it's no match for Chauntea; not even close. If your faith can win over your fear, we will win the battle and, maybe, the war. Have faith…
((I know I wrote a lot. So, to summarize…
The previous post talks about our first line of defense (the remove curse, the "mini-ritual", etc.) to stop the nightmares from happening in the first place. Please let me know if they work or not.
(Note: I added the "mini-ritual" idea after the original post - in bold print)
This "Dream Plan" is to keep people safe (and sane) while we figure out how to stop the nightmares and/or beat this thing. It will be implemented from the first night, as well. Regardless, of the outcome of the remove curse idea.))
_The dream plan shows little promise at first. The first couple nights quite discouraging even. The maggot-encrusted, slimy ball of flesh laughs at their first attempts, a sickening sound more akin to nails screeching across glass than mirth. The nightmare plays out as normal those first nights.
As their teamwork progresses, however, the slim ball of flesh is forced to add in gale force winds to whip the sea of maggots in a furious storm with waves and swells great enough to snare down the dreamers out of their nascent attempts to float together above the scene.
Each night after, they manage to float a little higher despite the buffeting winds, its a good two and half weeks of weathering these nightmares before they attain heights sufficient to be out of reach of the stormy maggot sea. each of those nights a few always end up unlucky and back in the sea to be swallowed in the draining vortex.
The night the dreamers attain their envisioned haven the the clouds, the nightmare changes true course. No longer does anyone disappear down into the vortex in the maggot sea each night. Instead macroscopic flies rise up out of the squirming, brown sea of maggots. The slimy monster drifts up after them into the clouds up at altitude it belches forth more macroscopic flies. Thick clouds of them come to black out the skies around the dreamers, the buzzing of the giant flies' wings deafening. They harry the group, picking off and carrying away anyone who can be isolated from the edges._
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@fb8a58e878=Speedy_Z_:
@fb8a58e878=acmefalls:
_By the end of the second ritual…the flies are gone. NO blight...no flies in any of the affected area. Nor does any of it return...non but a rich loamy soil left behind in its wake.
The battle is WON! Funny thing about wining single battles...the war still goes on.
In three nights time all involved from the Farmers on up to Z will be able to report remarkably similar recurring nightmares. In fact they may report seeing each in their dreams and eerily can recall what the other person did or said in one another's dreams.
In the beginning, the cleansing ritual plays itself out in reverie memory or dreams, with all the success and joy it's conclusion could bring. The very earth shaking beneath their feet, earth begins to rise up and then crumble away from a gargantuan slimy ball of flesh. Clouded in a miasma of flies, vermin of decay burrowing in, out and under its slimy flesh, the gigantic rotting fleshy sphere towers several stories tall over them all. Even as the guards and seasoned warriors among them bravely fell in line and form up ranks, launching spell, blessing, blade and arrow at the monstrosity, it opened its terrible need-teeth-lined maw and belched forth a flood of horridly noxious brown liquid.
The brown wave swept down and carried away all in its path In only a couple minutes under a sea of this noxious brown liquid. Those who fled on foot and sought the highest points, only delayed the inevitable. Soon all were afloat in the horid see, and by then it was clear to all the iquid was not a liquid at all, but countless countless writhing small maggots, so numerous per square inch that their very bodies flowed like water.
It was impossible not to feel them squirming...everywhere. Then as the group began to float back together in the great maggot sea. the great flood began to drain away in a vortex. At the bottom of the draining vortex was the fleshy orb's open maw of needle teeth.
One by one a few began to be swept away and down this mawed drain with the draining maggot sea The lucky found something to hang onto, the unlucky went straight down with the receding torrent.
In the waking world the previously affected fields remained unchanged from the ritual's success and no magic to detect within them. Those who dream of being swept down the monsters gullet have not disappeared.
Those who fall prey to sleep deprivation can feel the maggots squirming over every inch of their skin even awake or see the maggot flood rushing at them from the corner of their eye..sadly no one else but them sees such._
((…whoa... :omg: ))
*Immediately after the blight is cured, Z spends a significant amount of time praying and giving humble thanks Chauntea for her guidance and her blessings. Worried that the lights may come back for another try, he spends the first night out in the fields praying and keeping watch.
The next few days are spent helping with the clean-up, blessing the fields, sprinkling holy water, and preparing the fields for planting crops again ((in about a week)).
After a few days, Z sends word to his good friend Ginger B. Tealeaf that the blight in Norwick has been cured. He tells her that he would like to take his team and perform the ritual in the Silver Valley.*
((That night the nightmares begin…))
*The first night, Z just thinks it's a normal nightmare and shrugs it off.
A day or two later, when people start talking and it becomes clear that everyone is having the same nightmare, Z calls a community meeting where the adults can discuss what they remember about their dreams ((what's already posted)).*
I ain't quite sure what's going on, yet, but it's still them Dreamfey. I'm not sure why they decided to start messin' with us in the first place, but I'm gonna do all I can ta figure it out and, together, we kin put a stop to it.
In the meantime, I have a couple of ideas. I ain't sure if they'll work, but it won't hurt to try them.
((ACTIONS))
First, since we're all experiencing the same nightmare, I'm thinkin' it might be some sort of curse. I'd like to pray to Chauntea to remove this curse. If it works, I'll gather more priests and we'll remove the curse from all of ya - fer free.I'm gonna be startin' with the little ones first as they would be the ones most traumatized by these dreams.
Z casts remove curse on a few of the children (old enough to be able to tell us if they had the nightmare or not). When he runs out of remove curse blessings, he will cast a few dispel magic blessings (on other kids) - just to see if that works. On one child, in particular, Z will do a "mini-ritual" just like the crop circle ritual.
It also occurs to me that them Dreamfey have a lot more power at night than in the day. I'm thinkin' that we should try sleepin' during the day and see if that helps.
Some of us should visit Miss Tristina and see if she kin detect anything unusual. She'll do the detection for free, but if she detects somethin' she can cure, we'll have to figure out how we're gonna pay for it.
Finally, since we all seem to be havin' the same dream, I'm thinkin' we might be able to use that to our advantage. The next time we have that dream, forget pullin' out swords 'n pitchforks and such; that didn't work. Forget tryin' to run; that didn't work either. Instead, we're gonna have to use our minds to defeat the creature - all of us. ((See next post for the dream plan…))
But remember this…we beat the blight with faith and prayer and community. And that is how we're gonna beat whatever's causin' these nightmares. We gotta stick together, work together, and be strong.
Keep prayin' to Chauntea and thank her for everything she's done for us so far - our family, our friends, our health, getting' rid of the blight, protectin' our families and our crops, helpin' new crops grow, and so on. We owe her everything.
Keep workin' the fields and start plantin' new crops. It will show our gratitude to Chauntea and will take your minds off of the bad dreams.
*After the meeting, Z goes to the area where the crop circles were and, once again, sends an earth elemental straight down ((say, a mile+)) to search for this slimy ball of flesh - just to double check and confirm that the dreams are just dreams and not prophetic.
If it doesn't find anything, he goes home to pray and take a nap. He wants to see if sleeping during the day helps.*
((Edit: Added an idea for a "mini-ritual" above.))
_The crops will grow at normal speed and come int peak condition for some time to to come..as long as no other lights come…or worse.
When Tristina checks the dreamers out, nothing special sticks out. They all appear in in perfect , normal health. The only anomaly might be found is the dim remnants of magic in those who in the dream were swallowed down into the vortex in the dream. Tristina says there's no detectable school either. A few of the children Z casts Remove Curse on, who claim to have seen "the monster eat them" after going down the vortex in the shared nightmare, show no such dim remnants of magic.
Such remnants can be the result of anything though left behind by any exposure to MOST any magic (Even Z's cleansing spells)...some just linger around longer than others.
Sadly, none of the spells..even the mini-ritual have any effect on the communal nightmares. It returns nightly regardless.
Th earth elemental finds nothing unusual under the formerly infected area._
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Instead trying to fight the slime ball by conventional means in the dream (which hasn't worked anyway), Z will try to convince everyone to fight as one, in the dream.
The Dreamfey do hold sway in the dream world, but they don't control it…not totally. Likewise, we can, to some extent, control our dreams, as well. It's a dream. If you focus, concentrate, and will it hard enough, you can control what happens in the dream world, as well.
Even if we don't succeed the first time or the second time or the tenth time, just by tryin' to fight back we'll be sendin' a strong message to them Dreamfey that we're on to them, we're organized, and we're ALL gonna fight back as hard as we can. And each time we try to fight back, we'll get that much better at controllin' our dreams and that much stronger. Maybe, in time, they'll just back off and move on to easier pickin's…maybe.
So, if the remove curse and the other ideas for stoppin' these nightmares don't work, then we're gonna have to come up with a simple plan of attack to use in our dreams. I'm not sure what it is, yet. But that's what I'll be workin' on.
In the meantime, this is what I want you to do when we meet in the dream world tonight…
In the dream we are going to remain as calm as possible - it's only a dream. Adults, the little ones'll be lookin' to you for protection, you need to show strength and courage for them. I've seen some bad things in my life and I've had my share of nightmares - this one takes the cake. But we MUST be strong.
Our mantra will be, "Have faith." Whenever you feel fear and panic grip your heart, focus on the mantra and repeat it to yourself. If you notice another one of our flock struggling with fear, boldly shout their name and the mantra to them and help bolster their spirit. Others will join you and together we will stand.
When the big slimy ball appears in our dream, we will have to act quickly and the directions will be simple so that we can act as one. We will join hands ((I'm not sure how many people are involved in the dream, but I was thinking around 100 NPCs and PCs were at the ritual - let me know)) and I will lead us in short prayer to the goddess Chauntea; the one who delivered us from the blight and the one who protects us.
Once everyone has joined hands, we will concentrate, as one, on the thought of floating upward to the clouds. That's it. Concentrate on floatin' up to the clouds and will it to happen.
They give us rain, they give us life. We will float high above the creature, which is very large, and the ocean of maggots that it will spill out of its mouth.
Once we reach the safety of the clouds, the creature will be nothing but a little dot and the horrible nightmare will become a pleasant dream of friends and family holding hands and floatin' in the clouds under the watchful eye of Chauntea.
This creature is very powerful, no doubt. However, it's no match for Chauntea; not even close. If your faith can win over your fear, we will win the battle and, maybe, the war. Have faith…
((I know I wrote a lot. So, to summarize…
The previous post talks about our first line of defense (the remove curse, the "mini-ritual", etc.) to stop the nightmares from happening in the first place. Please let me know if they work or not.
(Note: I added the "mini-ritual" idea after the original post - in bold print)
This "Dream Plan" is to keep people safe (and sane) while we figure out how to stop the nightmares and/or beat this thing. It will be implemented from the first night, as well. Regardless, of the outcome of the remove curse idea.))
-
@1197e4b598=acmefalls:
_By the end of the second ritual…the flies are gone. NO blight...no flies in any of the affected area. Nor does any of it return...non but a rich loamy soil left behind in its wake.
The battle is WON! Funny thing about wining single battles...the war still goes on.
In three nights time all involved from the Farmers on up to Z will be able to report remarkably similar recurring nightmares. In fact they may report seeing each in their dreams and eerily can recall what the other person did or said in one another's dreams.
In the beginning, the cleansing ritual plays itself out in reverie memory or dreams, with all the success and joy it's conclusion could bring. The very earth shaking beneath their feet, earth begins to rise up and then crumble away from a gargantuan slimy ball of flesh. Clouded in a miasma of flies, vermin of decay burrowing in, out and under its slimy flesh, the gigantic rotting fleshy sphere towers several stories tall over them all. Even as the guards and seasoned warriors among them bravely fell in line and form up ranks, launching spell, blessing, blade and arrow at the monstrosity, it opened its terrible need-teeth-lined maw and belched forth a flood of horridly noxious brown liquid.
The brown wave swept down and carried away all in its path In only a couple minutes under a sea of this noxious brown liquid. Those who fled on foot and sought the highest points, only delayed the inevitable. Soon all were afloat in the horid see, and by then it was clear to all the iquid was not a liquid at all, but countless countless writhing small maggots, so numerous per square inch that their very bodies flowed like water.
It was impossible not to feel them squirming...everywhere. Then as the group began to float back together in the great maggot sea. the great flood began to drain away in a vortex. At the bottom of the draining vortex was the fleshy orb's open maw of needle teeth.
One by one a few began to be swept away and down this mawed drain with the draining maggot sea The lucky found something to hang onto, the unlucky went straight down with the receding torrent.
In the waking world the previously affected fields remained unchanged from the ritual's success and no magic to detect within them. Those who dream of being swept down the monsters gullet have not disappeared.
Those who fall prey to sleep deprivation can feel the maggots squirming over every inch of their skin even awake or see the maggot flood rushing at them from the corner of their eye..sadly no one else but them sees such._
((…whoa... :omg: ))
*Immediately after the blight is cured, Z spends a significant amount of time praying and giving humble thanks Chauntea for her guidance and her blessings. Worried that the lights may come back for another try, he spends the first night out in the fields praying and keeping watch.
The next few days are spent helping with the clean-up, blessing the fields, sprinkling holy water, and preparing the fields for planting crops again ((in about a week)).
After a few days, Z sends word to his good friend Ginger B. Tealeaf that the blight in Norwick has been cured. He tells her that he would like to take his team and perform the ritual in the Silver Valley.*
((That night the nightmares begin…))
*The first night, Z just thinks it's a normal nightmare and shrugs it off.
A day or two later, when people start talking and it becomes clear that everyone is having the same nightmare, Z calls a community meeting where the adults can discuss what they remember about their dreams ((what's already posted)).*
I ain't quite sure what's going on, yet, but it's still them Dreamfey. I'm not sure why they decided to start messin' with us in the first place, but I'm gonna do all I can ta figure it out and, together, we kin put a stop to it.
In the meantime, I have a couple of ideas. I ain't sure if they'll work, but it won't hurt to try them.
((ACTIONS))
First, since we're all experiencing the same nightmare, I'm thinkin' it might be some sort of curse. I'd like to pray to Chauntea to remove this curse. If it works, I'll gather more priests and we'll remove the curse from all of ya - fer free.I'm gonna be startin' with the little ones first as they would be the ones most traumatized by these dreams.
Z casts remove curse on a few of the children (old enough to be able to tell us if they had the nightmare or not). When he runs out of remove curse blessings, he will cast a few dispel magic blessings (on other kids) - just to see if that works. On one child, in particular, Z will do a "mini-ritual" just like the crop circle ritual.
It also occurs to me that them Dreamfey have a lot more power at night than in the day. I'm thinkin' that we should try sleepin' during the day and see if that helps.
Some of us should visit Miss Tristina and see if she kin detect anything unusual. She'll do the detection for free, but if she detects somethin' she can cure, we'll have to figure out how we're gonna pay for it.
Finally, since we all seem to be havin' the same dream, I'm thinkin' we might be able to use that to our advantage. The next time we have that dream, forget pullin' out swords 'n pitchforks and such; that didn't work. Forget tryin' to run; that didn't work either. Instead, we're gonna have to use our minds to defeat the creature - all of us. ((See next post for the dream plan…))
But remember this…we beat the blight with faith and prayer and community. And that is how we're gonna beat whatever's causin' these nightmares. We gotta stick together, work together, and be strong.
Keep prayin' to Chauntea and thank her for everything she's done for us so far - our family, our friends, our health, getting' rid of the blight, protectin' our families and our crops, helpin' new crops grow, and so on. We owe her everything.
Keep workin' the fields and start plantin' new crops. It will show our gratitude to Chauntea and will take your minds off of the bad dreams.
*After the meeting, Z goes to the area where the crop circles were and, once again, sends an earth elemental straight down ((say, a mile+)) to search for this slimy ball of flesh - just to double check and confirm that the dreams are just dreams and not prophetic.
If it doesn't find anything, he goes home to pray and take a nap. He wants to see if sleeping during the day helps.*
((Edit: Added an idea for a "mini-ritual" above.))
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Telli wanders around Norwick at night scratching her forearm with bags under her eyes. When confronted, she simply replies… "Can't sleep..."...Yawning she continues her scratching and misery well into the evening until her insomnia resides and she curls next to the Norwick fire drifting back to sleep. This routine plays out each night for the remainder of the week.
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_By the end of the second ritual…the flies are gone. NO blight...no flies in any of the affected area. Nor does any of it return...non but a rich loamy soil left behind in its wake.
The battle is WON! Funny thing about wining single battles...the war still goes on.
In three nights time all involved from the Farmers on up to Z will be able to report remarkably similar recurring nightmares. In fact they may report seeing each in their dreams and eerily can recall what the other person did or said in one another's dreams.
In the beginning, the cleansing ritual plays itself out in reverie memory or dreams, with all the success and joy it's conclusion could bring. The very earth shaking beneath their feet, earth begins to rise up and then crumble away from a gargantuan slimy ball of flesh. Clouded in a miasma of flies, vermin of decay burrowing in, out and under its slimy flesh, the gigantic rotting fleshy sphere towers several stories tall over them all. Even as the guards and seasoned warriors among them bravely fell in line and form up ranks, launching spell, blessing, blade and arrow at the monstrosity, it opened its terrible need-teeth-lined maw and belched forth a flood of horridly noxious brown liquid.
The brown wave swept down and carried away all in its path In only a couple minutes under a sea of this noxious brown liquid. Those who fled on foot and sought the highest points, only delayed the inevitable. Soon all were afloat in the horid see, and by then it was clear to all the iquid was not a liquid at all, but countless countless writhing small maggots, so numerous per square inch that their very bodies flowed like water.
It was impossible not to feel them squirming...everywhere. Then as the group began to float back together in the great maggot sea. the great flood began to drain away in a vortex. At the bottom of the draining vortex was the fleshy orb's open maw of needle teeth.
One by one a few began to be swept away and down this mawed drain with the draining maggot sea The lucky found something to hang onto, the unlucky went straight down with the receding torrent.
In the waking world the previously affected fields remained unchanged from the ritual's success and no magic to detect within them. Those who dream of being swept down the monsters gullet have not disappeared.
Those who fall prey to sleep deprivation can feel the maggots squirming over every inch of their skin even awake or see the maggot flood rushing at them from the corner of their eye..sadly no one else but them sees such._
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Z politely listens to Jerrick and his plan.
Not yet, Jerrick.
Like we talked about before, we need to stick to the original plan and finish the ritual on the second circle.
So far, everything is goin' well and I have faith that, by Chauntea's good grace, the problem will be solved once we've finished the ritual.
Gives him a slight smile and nod
Trust me…
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Miea Shifts back to normal and stands near Jerrick to provide assistance if necessary. Quietly praying to Lurue as she does.
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((Sorry been lacking in postage, busy at work and on weekends))
Jerrick has been weeding with the others, and praying in their circles, but asks a moment and takes aside anybody with druidic magic, or who follows a druid-related God or Goddess.
_With the blight in the east, several of us prayed to purge the taint, in a circle more or less, and the taint purged itself from the very soil, including horrible blighted creatures themselves, who sought to spring up and harry us. We've got the backup and strength of arms to fight these, so I would like to try it. I will lead from the center, with my staff as a focus.
I may need to be guarded, as sometimes this takes hold and I cannot properly defend myself, but most of the time I can pause, fight, and resume without interrupting the ritual of sorts.
I warn you, I will be invoking the furies here in addition to the "Goodly" Gods and Goddesses. You know I am not a follower, but let's just say if I leave them out, we'll have more than this to deal with! They are as much a part of balance as the rest, and especially if there is a work of chaos here, the very opposite of balance, then we'll need their power too._
Anybody who pushes back on Jerrick about this, is told that they can ask Z his opinion, as Jerrick is not in charge of this by any means, and he considers Z to know what Jerrick is doing is tantamount to his druidic ways, as he's explained it before.
Considering nobody physically bars Jerrick from doing so, he will clear out the folks digging once things are looking clear, and plants his staff directly in the center of where the trouble is, and begins chanting in a loud voice, outfitted in his Golden Runed breastplate, covered in barkskin, helm and cloak wrapped around him, the cloak smelling strongly of grass.
Starting with activating his pendant of Meilikki (Bless) he begins the prayer, petitioning the Gods of Nature and Fury to aid in restoring balance to this place, ridding this taint that refuses to leave, and using the power granted Jerrick to do so, as they see fit.
A certain crystal object is not to be seen, as it is not on his person as per Z's behest. He will wait for the telltale signs of the prayer working in join with all the other prayergivers, and look for the effects as before in the east Rawlins to see if there is any success.
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Telli plops down digging into her pack for some chocolate and cheese nibbling and conversing with farmers until Z's ready to initiate the second circles effort…
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**((Again, Telli, Calendel, Jerrick, please post. I'm writing about what needs to happen and what Z will do if no one else posts. Any of these steps can be done by any or all of you. Thanks for your help!
Other people (who are around) are encouraged to post, as well.
))**After the third phase of the ritual is completed, Z, once again, addresses the crowd.
We're almost finished with the first ritual and, by the grace of Chauntea, you kin see it's workin'. We thank you for your faith, your prayers, and your help so far. Once we complete the rituals, things will be back to normal.
*For the fourth phase of the ritual, Z, Telli, Calendel, and Jerrick will cast dispel magic over the area of the first crop circle - with a focus, as usual, on the center.
((I noticed that you put it in your post, but we hadn't done it yet.
Since you posted what's going to happen, I'll continue…))After the dispel magic is cast, we will cast detect magic and, more importantly, detect chaos. If all seems well, the ritual group will take a short rest to eat, pray, give thanks, etc. ((End of the ritual on the first crop circle)).*
At this point, Z is not overly concerned with the remaining bot flies. He explains that they're only half-way through the process. The flies, he reminds them, came after the second crop circle appeared.
We're now goin' to take care of that second circle and get rid of them pesky flies and this blight once and for all…
Once rested, the group will repeat the entire ritual on the second crop circle.
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_Once all the plants particularly those around the center where the crop circle started it all have been cleared and dispelled…the remaining thorny weeds decompose instantly into loamy dirt.
The good news...no magic is detected in the soil of the once affected area..except the center where the second circle that brought t. The glowing fungal blight itself and its vermin and wild plant invaders do not return.
The flies remain...and so the mage bot flies remain too, if at a distance from the casters who turned them.The bad news..the flies remain..._
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@7c874b2f60=Tigrelily:
((…I've been getting ready to teach the last couple of days... taught my first college level class as an intern today....yippiee...))
((Congratulations and welcome to the profession!! :w00t:
:dance: :boogie: ))RL Z teaches elementary school
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After leading her warpony to stable in Z's barn, a barkskinned, masked hin who sounds like Ginger joins the group and lends her voice in prayer to Chauntea for the cleansing ceremony. In between prayers, she dons heavy gloves and helps Dwin with weedpicking where needed.
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Telli with her idle child like curiosity and A.D.D. attitude seem to sparkle with this phase of the ritual… manual mindless labor seems to go over well with her attention span which is a welcome sight for those used to Telli's often skittish attention span and wanning looks. She digs her hands into the weeds without a care in the world ((her hands covered in gauntlets, bark and stone)) as Rocko ((earth elemental)) helps unearth some weeds as well.
Rocko: "Hrrrnnnnnghhhh..."
Telli: "Whats da matters Mr Rocko dis parts da FUN parts.... scans over the area picking up every last bit of weed... I betcha I gets every lass one a dems afore yuhs does....
Rocko simple picks at some of the weeds with lack luster enthusiasm compared to the stout dwarf. Telli instructs Rocko to hold the pile of weeds in his hands as she whispers greater dispelling at the weeds from a distance. As Rocko crumbles to the ground and out of sight Telli curses instructing farmers and the like to gather their weeds in a pile as she whispers another dispelling on their pile before burning.
Telli: "Hopes dats helps..."
*As Z begins to summon fire elementals, Telli's careful to summon equal strengthed water elementals to help keep the fire elementals from spreading their flames from past the point of the crop circle center.
looking down around her neck the wreath with a rose in the center is more wilted as each hour passes. A sign of the groups stubborn tenacity to stick out this ritual despite cuts, burns and scaring. As folks gather around gripping hands, Telli's faithful in restoring their vigor and countenance with circles of healing hoping to push this blight as far from Norwick as possible with Chauntea's help.
((Sorry, have no problem bouncing off peoples posts I've been waiting on Z to instigate the stages because you pretty much assembled the masses so to speak... I'm happy replying and adding rather then initiating the stages unless you'd like... IC wise Telli would follow Z's lead due to his having the dream though. I should post pretty often today was just hard because I've been getting ready to teach the last couple of days... taught my first college level class as an intern today....yippiee...))
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//sorry don't have a lot of time so I'm going to take a bit of the easy way out for now//
Calendel joins in with Z summoning Fire Elementals and the like to duplicate the work Z is doing and speed up the clearing of the blight. Calendel's elementals are powerful and work quickly.
//Huge Elemental able to be cast multiple times daily - 7th circle summons//
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Dwin pulls on a pair of heavy gloves from his pack and helps ( a bit ) with the weed and root pulling, being the benevolent, friendly, every-mans leader that he is.
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Nods to Cal
Have faith, old friend, we ain't done yet… gives him a bit of a smile
Addressing the farmers and their families ((Z wants the community to be, very much, a part of the ritual and the cure))
We thank you for your prayers and your help so far, you're doin' great. As you kin see, by workin' together and puttin' our faith and trust into Chauntea, we can overcome. But we ain't done and this next part is very important. We, once again, will need ta work together ta accomplish the task.
What we need to do now, is clear out all of these dead and dying plants. But it is very important that you get the whole plant, roots 'n all. You all know that, if you don't get the roots of a weed, it'll come back. These will too - quickly. So, it is critical that you get every last bit of the plant and its roots. Even if a little leaf falls off, you need to get that too. We need to get everything…every little bit. And be careful, please. Some of them thorns are razor sharp.
For those of you who din bring work gloves, I have several pair for you to borrow ((and he does)). And if you din bring your shovel, send some of your little ones ta go fetch it…we'll need 'em later. But for now, we're weedin' by hand. The rest of you, please continue your prayers as we work.
Z scans the crowd to find the woman who leads the church choir and addresses her directly with a smile Mrs. McDonald ((E-I-E-I-O
)), perhaps we kin also hear some of the choir's beautiful songs of praise ta inspire us and make the labor a little more pleasant.*While the men work at pulling up the dead, blighted plants (roots and all), the women and children pray and sing songs of thanks and praise to Chauntea for her love and protection.
Once everyone is confident we've gotten all of the plants and roots manually, Z, Telli, Cal, and Jerrick will do what they can magically.*
((Telli, Calendel, Jerrick, please post. I'm writing about what needs to happen and what Z will do if no one else posts. Any of these steps can be done by any or all of you. J, I'm not really sure what Jerrick's powers are, but anything he can do to help would be appreciated. Thanks Everyone.
))*Z will then, casually, go over to his gear and gear up. So as not to make it obvious that he just geared up, he will put his robes back on, over his armor (light chain). Of course, the shield on his back might be a giveaway.
Z will start by warning the families, especially the ones with small children. He assures them that Z's friend "Sparky" is scary looking, but he's only there to help and won't harm anyone. Z will then summons a fire elemental.
The pulled plants will be dispelled and then burned by the elemental ((or one that T, C, or J summons)). Once the fire burns itself out, holy water will be poured on the ashes to make sure they are out and to finish the cleansing.
Next, the elemental will be instructed to walk around and do a high heat burn over the entire crop circle (and slightly beyond). Leftover plants, roots, leaves, etc. need to be torched.
Z will then instruct everyone to use their shovels to turn the soil in the crop circle and an elemental (different one) will do another burn (repeat this if necessary).
((These are all the parts of the third phase of the ritual - unless it's interrupted.))
Z
((P.S. I specifically asked T, C, and J to post as part of the ritual but, of course, other people are welcome to post, as well.))
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Calendel sighs
We can only delay the spread of this blight. We'll need to determine and eliminate what's causing the blight if we want to put an end to this once and for all. Let's continue holding this back as long as we can and hope that the others searching for the source are successful.
Calendel resumes his prayer and divine casting with Z and Telli
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_A good many of the the flies covering them all especially the clerics turning, burst where they are. Splotches of juicy fly guts are left all over the clothing, in ears eyes, whatever, if anything is left uncovered. The surviving flies away and closer back toward the ground. They are left to occupy the ground around people's feet in the affected area furtherest from the turning cleric's, leaving the area around the first circle's cent entirely clear of the pests.
The thorny weeds around them finish out their hasted lifecycle and nothing grows to take its place. It looks all looks placid and cured. Yet it has looked often the same after the many attempts to be rid of the blight before. The blight has so often grown back from this apparently cleansed state._
