Crop Circles
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_One night, Telli falls out of the circle and is carried off toward the maggot sea below and yet… she disappears from the shared dream when the fly carrying her bursts into a black powdery cloud..She never got anywhere near the open waiting maw the fly was headed toward.
The stalemate remains for everyone else,,,the flies hit by the lighhtnes directly spray a smoldering smoky spray of bug guts over the circle. The glow may protect them from the touch of guts but not the acrid smell._
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@5f1ee8fbd8=acmefalls:
_Jerrick will the first to find solace of sorts from the dream..in an unsettling dreamless sleep beneath a certain vine and bush.
Protected from fear and perfecting their control of their floating circle within the collective dream, the macroscopic flies explode against the almost blinding holy aura that permeates the circle of dreamers.
Those that do not explode in gore and guts bond off and hover at bay through and among the surrounding clouds. Down below the giant, slimy ball of maggot-ridden flesh belows anrgily below them eachnight unable to touch them._
Z seems satisfied, almost pleased, with the stalemate…for now.
My first priority was with y'all in the community and keepin' you safe. And, by us workin' together and the grace of the Earthmother, we been able to do that. I realize we're still havin' the bad dreams, but they end on a much more positive note and I know we're all sleepin' a little better each night.
They brought the blight to our crops and we stood together and beat 'em.
They invaded our dreams and we stood together and beat 'em.
It's only a matter of time before we figure out how to beat this thing, once and for all. Until then, continue to pray, plant your crops, help each other, and stand together as a community. But most of all...have faith.
@5f1ee8fbd8=acmefalls:
_It is then that Z's farm one night is visited by the aurroa of color maelstrom. A swirling tornado of the dazzling lights leaving behind one, two three crop circles….one extra...bringing the glowing fungal blight to Z's crops along with the mag bot flies...and barren wooden vines, resembling leafless kudzu or wild morning glory vines. Harmless seeming enough until anyone tries to trudge past them amidst the flies and usual resulting thorny hedge of wild weeds and slimy, creeping vermin. The additional wooden vines literally jump from the plants they seem to be growing around and attack the would be interlopers, feeding woody tendrils into an orifice it find or create to apparently feed on the blood of its victim. They can rescued by hacking the attacking vine to bits and pieces, however, it seems in teh end this only produces heavier growth of the predatory wooden vines around the a newly afflicted fields as ANY piece whatsoever that finds warm flesh or wet soil grows into a whole new plant.
Meanwihle the communal dream continues, the dreamer still having to gather together to keep from being plucked away._
Upon arriving home, Z nods his head slowly and lets out a long, deep sigh followed, unexpectedly, by a very slight chuckle.
Heh, 'twas to be expected…
*He whispers a silent prayer and then turns towards the house.
"Have faith," he is heard saying to himself as he heads inside to rest and prepare for, yet another, ritual...*
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Miea Floating in the middle of said circle not only concentrates on floating but calling lightning as per the spell, but does not need to cast it using the power of dreams alone, to cause flashes of lightning to attack the slimy thing and it’s minions, also is very careful not to strike the circle or disrupt it in anyway.
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_Jerrick will the first to find solace of sorts from the dream..in an unsettling dreamless sleep beneath a certain vine and bush.
Protected from fear and perfecting their control of their floating circle within the collective dream, the macroscopic flies explode against the almost blinding holy aura that permeates the circle of dreamers.
Those that do not explode in gore and guts bond off and hover at bay through and among the surrounding clouds. Down below the giant, slimy ball of maggot-ridden flesh belows anrgily below them eachnight unable to touch them.
It is then that Z's farm one night is visited by the aurroa of color maelstrom. A swirling tornado of the dazzling lights leaving behind one, two three crop circles….one extra...bringing the glowing fungal blight to Z's crops along with the mag bot flies...and barren wooden vines, resembling leafless kudzu or wild morning glory vines. Harmless seeming enough until anyone tries to trudge past them amidst the flies and usual resulting thorny hedge of wild weeds and slimy, creeping vermin. The additional wooden vines literally jump from the plants they seem to be growing around and attack the would be interlopers, feeding woody tendrils into an orifice it find or create to apparently feed on the blood of its victim. They can rescued by hacking the attacking vine to bits and pieces, however, it seems in teh end this only produces heavier growth of the predatory wooden vines around the a newly afflicted fields as ANY piece whatsoever that finds warm flesh or wet soil grows into a whole new plant.
Meanwihle the communal dream continues, the dreamer still having to gather together to keep from being plucked away._
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@d3223d7d88=Tigrelily:
After a week when the dreams start to shift slightly Telli's encouraged by Z's actions and she offers one little bit of counsel.
"Mr Z… mebbe we can choose ones a dese nights ta gaders as a group....and wid Chauntea's helps... we asks her ta removes all da fear in ALL a us ((Group blessing Remove Fear))... and den we joins dis big pile a puss fer one lasts nights worth a dreams... Cause I nots knows abouts yuhs buh Telli's getting purdy pissed fighting sometings she can't puts a blade inta."
Aye, I like the remove fear idea. Let's do that.
Yes, I understand that you are frustrated about not bein' able to just pick up a blade and deal with this problem in a simple, direct manner. It's always worked for you and it's your way.
However, we ain't just dealin' with a big gobbo here. This is somethin' different and we gotta solve the problem in a different way.
The Earthmother teaches us patience and, just like growin' crops, it will take time.
Have faith.
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@e70ddfc2e0=acmefalls:
The night the dreamers attain their envisioned haven the the clouds, the nightmare changes true course.
*As Z looks around to the others, it is obvious that the lack of sound sleep is taking its toll on everyone. He, himself, is constantly yawning and rubbing his tired, blood-shot eyes.
That said, he is encouraged by the progress he has seen and he uses that to motivate the others and help them keep the faith.*
We can, control these dreams and we're gettin' better at it. We can and we will fight back…
Right now we're still takin' baby steps in controlin' the dreams, but we will get better the more we do it, if we keep it simple, and if we work together.
@e70ddfc2e0=acmefalls:
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.
In the next dream, Z too, will make some changes.
First, we're gonna hold hands and form a circle ((actually, this was kind of how I was picturing it in the first place, but didn't specify. :()). That way, when the flies come, they will not be able to pick off the people on the edges.
Second, as you begin to float up, I want you to concentrate on the holy light of Chauntea that burns deep within all of our hearts. I want you to let it shine out of your body in all directions. This bright, holy light will surround you and those close to you. As you float up, it will protect you and it will destroy the flies (or any other vermin the beast sends at us). By the Earthmother's grace, it will keep us safe from harm.
Now, the Beast will probably try to blot out our light with some sort of magical darkness or something, but it won't work. The beast is no match for the Earthmother and nothin' can blot out our holy light, nothin'. It come from within and it's brighter and more powerful than even the sun.
Once we reach the safety of clouds we will sing, pray, give thanks, and praise to the Earthmother. We will continue to concentrate on the light comin' from our hearts and souls and it will increase in brightness and expand. This bright, holy light will shoot out in all directions and keep the beast and all its vermin far away from us. Not only will the light keep it away, but the sound of our singing and prayer will also serve to keep the beast at bay. ((Basically, a giant sphere of protective, holy light to keep the Slime Lord and all his vermin away.))
During the dream, Z will be giving instructions and encouragement all along to keep people focused on the plan and strong. The mantra "Have faith" is still an important part of this ritual.
((If they choose (it's their dream after all), non-Chauntea followers (Norwick Militia, Dwin, Mord, etc. - even the Banite if he wants ;)) who were part of the blight ritual and having these dreams will be in the center of the protective light. Thus, giving the followers even more strength and determination by serving as protectors of the protectors. For many of people, their strength and courage is multiplied tenfold (or more) when they are protecting someone or something that cannot defend itself. That's the plan anyway. :)))
((PM will be sent with a few more details that are not known to the general public…
))
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@7a867daf17=acmefalls:
_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._
*To be safe, anyone going down the vortex in the dream gets a remove curse and a dispel magic the next morning.
Z will discuss the experience with any adults that go down the vortex and ask if they remember anything after the vortex.*
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Jerrick listens to the ideas, and one night, decides to sleep under a certain bush and vine in the glen, to see what happens.
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Miea has been ignoring the iching easily having slept in trees most of her life, and waking up with bugs or ichy bites all over her, the dreams however annoy her no end though she hasn't been loseing as much sleep as the others, she still is.
@b33ae68085:
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.
clouds give us lightning too sleepy grin consentrating on floating and calling a few bolts shouldn't be hard. Lets see if it likes getting a shock
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*Telli's countenance becomes an irritable demeanor over the next week as sleep crawls to non-existent. With war plans, and now fighting in her dreams, the girls facial features look more tattered and worn with each day. She tries to bolster spirits as well as she can, but for once its certain she's the one needing encouraging. With constant itching she now has scratch marks encompassing her body. Daily she's often seen spending an extra hour devoted to prayer and some keen observers might even note the stout warrior sniffle every now and again, the constant battle not only physical but mental now seems to parallel tempered steel about to break. The question on everyones mind is just how close Telli is to snapping.
After a week when the dreams start to shift slightly Telli's encouraged by Z's actions and she offers one little bit of counsel.*
"Mr Z… mebbe we can choose ones a dese nights ta gaders as a group....and wid Chauntea's helps... we asks her ta removes all da fear in ALL a us ((Group blessing Remove Fear))... and den we joins dis big pile a puss fer one lasts nights worth a dreams... Cause I nots knows abouts yuhs buh Telli's getting purdy pissed fighting sometings she can't puts a blade inta."
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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._
-
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…
