"Look, we don't want trouble. And if you just want to ask some questions, I have already volunteered to accompany you", Vin replies making no aggressive movement. He is not lying either, he would happily go and answer questions if they let the others go. "And you didn't trick us to come, unless of course it is not Shenoh you are taking us to see?", he adds, a little less sure of himself.
He floats in the air in front of Vinghov, waiting for his response.
"the trick was making you think we didn't want to talk, you came more willingly with my resistance. How would you have felt if we detained you the second you landed. Hm?
But alas, this is no longer a negotiation. I could have soldiers here at a moments notice to out number you a thousand to one. If you want no trouble, come willingly. The dysfunctional ones you left behind will be joining you soon. After making their own choice. So, what will it be, in chains or unconscious?" Vinghov extends the manacles to Vin, in offer.
Elthana is visibly shaking. Terror is in her eyes for those that know her well, with the all black eyes, those that do not cannot tell. She looks down, over the land that they are flying and wishes that just taking a swan dive off of Omertyr and ending her life would just be the end of it. But she knows, its not that simple. Her soul, her piece anyways, would just rejoin Nivara's most likely and make it too easy.
Turning to the cursed pegasus, she finally finds her voice. "Who are you taking us to? I don't think it is Shenoh. Also, you mention Mori, can you tell me in what context you speak this name?"
Even in this she gently squeezes the big giant's shoulder, trying to show him she knows he wants to help them but cannot.
"I am taking you to shenoh, she was expecting your arrival, was told you were dangerous, hence my ploy... Mori is the one who brought our attention to your band. She is one of the other advisors to shenoh along with myself and sol. Mori is a very powerful and callous shadar-kai, I was not lying when I said it was lucky I found you instead of her. Now come along, I tire of these games, you have a choice and one that I do not need to offer but am out of kindness and curiosity. You wanted Shenoh's ear, I will see that you have it, but for now you are my prisoners, willingly or not." The entire group feels the seconds ticking away, this offer could expire at any point. Griff is tense, the beating of his wings slow and his hand hovers over his bow waiting to see what happens.
In that moment of back and forth sensory confusion Gewyn starts to speak, resuming his scale. "But wasn't it just recently that you had another conversation with your superiors where you were given a command that we've actually been determined to be individually harmless? So you were instructed to be imposing and intimidating, flashing in the cuffs if need be, but then to ultimately concede to whatever reasonable requests we make just so long as you can get one or two of us alone. One is really all you need after all, isn't it. Ideally me, and ideally without my pet dragon. Easiest to get answers from, and I could be a bargaining chip against the others if needed. And in the same way that denying us entry made us more willing to come in, demanding we all stay together is a sure way to encourage us to split up."Gewyn strokes Spyro's tale and wordlessly bids him fly over to Elthana. "That is how you remember that conversation going down, no? Although, there was something... odd, contradictory, possibly suspect, in the the words and orders you received. It's probably nothing. But it did plant a small seed of doubt, right?"
Vinghov's eyes lose all life in them for a moment, his head bows and his arms hang loose, only just managing to keep hold of the manacles. His wings beat a slow rhythm but as soon as gewyn stops speaking the pegataur snaps back to consciousness and clears his throat casting an eye over to gewyn, "I'm sorry were you saying something? I um.." he looks down to the manacles in his hand a stows them away. His eyes land on vin once more. "You, if you desperately feel the need to return to your dysfunctional members then go, take Ira and Griffith with you, she seems to be in distress... You, horned one, with me Ömertyr can carry you, thank you, and no, this time it is not a choice" he then says something in giant to Ömertyr and the giantkin turns his head to look at Gewyn muttering something but ultimately nods to Vinghov's request and extends his arm so that Elthana can climb over to mount Bry'ze.
Gewyn turns and gives Elthana and Vin a grave look and an ironic salute before turning it to a cheery smile. "You go sort out our friends, yeah? I'll be fine. Probably better this way. An overall higher average lingual dexterity among the testimony givers if I go it alone. Find me when you can."With that, he sits back down on the giant's shoulder and returns to strumming his cittern, though with a more formed melody this time, pausing for only a moment to pat the giant's back reassuringly.
Vin looks across to Gewyn trying to follow his logic, and totally failing. And when Vinghov stumbles his words a bit and tells him to skedaddle even though he still holds the manacles of de-powering, he doesn't take long to decide to fly across to Elthana.
The whole point was to get her out of here, and get back to check on Muir after all. If Gewyn had decided to be the sacrificial lamb, so be it.
He nods at Gewyn as he approaches, and then steadies Bry'ze for Elthana to climb aboard. Then without a word they fly off as quickly as Bry'ze can go.
He does however point a finger back towards Gewyn and whisper, "Good luck. I hope you know what you are doing. There might be no escape without Ömertyr remember".
Elthana is stunned at the quick turn of events and Gewyn's brilliant mind. She gratefully accepts Spyro as the beautiful dragon flies over to her, wrapping himself around her shoulders. Then, assuming Vin is ready for her, she gingerly walks down Omertyr's arm to climb onto Bry'Zee.
She whispers to the dragon, "Are you able to communicate with him? Is Gewyn going to be alright? I feel awful leaving him like this. Tell him... tell him I feel Nivara there, where we were going. Whether it is a trick or not, I don't know, but please make sure he is aware." She looks to her tiefling friend, her body tinged with worry. Everything was falling apart....
Gewyn leaves, accompanied by ömertyr and vinghov. His ploy successful, the rest of the group can only watch as he head toward the shining core and out of their sight.
The roughly twenty guards who were flying at a distance behind you are confused by the display, but trust in vinghov and having no other orders continue following Griff, Elthana and vin, back toward the pack. Now that gewyn took threats off the table, they appear to be a non hostile escort... For now.
"What in the ******* is happening!?" Griff asks you both, visibly nervous but relieved it did not come to blows.
Vin keeps Bry'ze flying close to Griff, "Let's be calm and keep our voices low. There is a lot going on, both here and back at the pack".
He takes a deep calming breath, but it does not alter his pale complexion. He still looks like he has seen a ghost or something.
"I may not have this totally right, as some of it is second hand through Neferox. But I need to say it. I now more is going on, but have to say it to someone. As I said, Sam and Muir went mad whilst left together. Sam was completely paranoid about Muir not being himself, and set his pet rat to eating Muir if he didn't leave. Muir basically decided he couldn't resist and let it happen. I saw and spoke through Neferox and tried to reason with them both, but they are both so stubborn. Seeing someone half eaten by a rat is...", he starts but can't continue.
"I think that undead amulet might have affected Sam more than we realised. Watching that happen and doing nothing to stop it is not sane. And Muir, why did he not...", he has to stop again, he is so upset.
"Anyway, then the guards came. Neferox remained out of sight, Muir is missing, and Sam resisted. She says he was taken captive not killed, thankfully", he finishes.
He looks to Elthana, "But you already wanted to turn back before I suggested it. What happened? And that Mori knew we were coming. Do you think Mori could be...you know who?".
Struggling to keep hold of Bry'Zee as all this was new to her, she listens to Vin and can't believe the situation they have found themselves in. She really worries for Gewyn and looks to his dragon to see if he got her message.
Turning to Vin she sighs, "So I don't think I told you as I didn't understand it at the time, but when we first entered this plane, I felt a pull... one deep down inside me that drew me towards the Thundercloud, where Vox supposedly was. We now know that is where Nivara is and that's most likely the pull I feel. Well... I now feel that pull coming from where we were headed, where Gewyn is headed now. I don't know if Nivara herself is here or what, but it scares the shit out of me. I shouldn't be here." Tears start coming to her eyes as her thoughts keep racing from one friend to the next, seeing it all fall apart. "As for Mori? Hog said he had tea with her two days ago, and the way Vinghov talks, it is like this Mori has been here awhile. She is also Shadar-Kai like my mother. Maybe it is a common name? I don't see my mother being involved in all this... but then again, I apparently don't see a lot of things." she hangs her head at this, sorrow consuming her.
Vin is a little confused, "Mori is your mother's name as well? Sorry, must have slipped away with my other memories. I just thought if there was a shadar kai here who knew we were coming, it could be Nivara playing a role. You know, playing both sides. What better than having an undead kobold army than having a second army to back it up".
He sighs.
"If there was any one of us I would say could survive Gewyn's path, it is Gewyn. I mean, he could disappear amongst the population and never be found, right?", he says hopefully.
"if you were being Nivara and wanting to remain unknown, you would be using a different name when meeting with the other side yes? If nivara is being like a different you, is her mother also being called Mori?" Griff asks still visibly shaken and not really able to do anything to try to comfort Elthana.
Spyro coils around Elthana so his upper body comes into view, and with one gnarled claw, he silently taps his head where a human ear would be and nods his head before completing his loop to return to his original perch across her shoulders.
It was all so confusing, and she was aching to get back to Muir and Sam.. though what were they going to find? Muir was lost and Sam was captured? None of this was good. "Yes Griff, Mori is also Nivara's mother. Who knows what is awaiting Gewyn, I just hope he knows how to handle it." She absently reaches up and pets the dragon.
"Well the good news is that if Nivara is there in disguise, acting as one of Shenoh's advisors, then she does not have complete control over the Djinn. That gives Gewyn a chance", Vin replies, hoping to give Elthana some hope.
"We do have our own problems though. Vinghov may have been persuaded to release us, but that might not be the same with Shenoh or particularly Mori. The order may well come again to detain us. We need to decide what we are going to do", he muses, not at all convinced Gewyn's solution is a long term one.
He looks to Elthana, "If you don't feel you can to confront Nivara, you should not allow yourself to be taken if the guards try. Do not worry about the me and Griff, just get away, right?".
Another 15 minutes of following the same route back, vin finds the spire that the group had descended down and begins his ascent once more, the soldiers that pass notice the escorting platoon following Vin, Ira, and Griff and merely nod on response letting the group pass.
As you rise through the spire, the pack comes into view. You all see a veritable garrison of troops on left patroling the spire and landing platforms, with at least twenty soldiers guarding the pack.
Elthana nods solemnly at Vin. She knows her friend is doing what he can to cheer her up, but things just weren't looking that way. Not only that, she couldn't imagine ditching her friends when things got dicey.
She gulps when she sees all the guards by the pack, she's also afraid of what she is going to find with Muir and Sam. Perception: 10
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"Look, we don't want trouble. And if you just want to ask some questions, I have already volunteered to accompany you", Vin replies making no aggressive movement. He is not lying either, he would happily go and answer questions if they let the others go. "And you didn't trick us to come, unless of course it is not Shenoh you are taking us to see?", he adds, a little less sure of himself.
He floats in the air in front of Vinghov, waiting for his response.
"the trick was making you think we didn't want to talk, you came more willingly with my resistance. How would you have felt if we detained you the second you landed. Hm?
But alas, this is no longer a negotiation. I could have soldiers here at a moments notice to out number you a thousand to one. If you want no trouble, come willingly. The dysfunctional ones you left behind will be joining you soon. After making their own choice. So, what will it be, in chains or unconscious?" Vinghov extends the manacles to Vin, in offer.
Elthana is visibly shaking. Terror is in her eyes for those that know her well, with the all black eyes, those that do not cannot tell. She looks down, over the land that they are flying and wishes that just taking a swan dive off of Omertyr and ending her life would just be the end of it. But she knows, its not that simple. Her soul, her piece anyways, would just rejoin Nivara's most likely and make it too easy.
Turning to the cursed pegasus, she finally finds her voice. "Who are you taking us to? I don't think it is Shenoh. Also, you mention Mori, can you tell me in what context you speak this name?"
Even in this she gently squeezes the big giant's shoulder, trying to show him she knows he wants to help them but cannot.
"I am taking you to shenoh, she was expecting your arrival, was told you were dangerous, hence my ploy... Mori is the one who brought our attention to your band. She is one of the other advisors to shenoh along with myself and sol. Mori is a very powerful and callous shadar-kai, I was not lying when I said it was lucky I found you instead of her. Now come along, I tire of these games, you have a choice and one that I do not need to offer but am out of kindness and curiosity. You wanted Shenoh's ear, I will see that you have it, but for now you are my prisoners, willingly or not." The entire group feels the seconds ticking away, this offer could expire at any point. Griff is tense, the beating of his wings slow and his hand hovers over his bow waiting to see what happens.
Vin reaches out and takes the manacles turning them over, looking for any runes or arcane symbols or such like.
"Shenoh knows of us anyway, so I have no idea what game this Mori of yours is playing. But you do have us at quite the disadvantage, it is true".
He looks to Gewyn and Elthana, shrugging. He knows a battle they can't win when he sees it.
Investigation: 6+3=9 (Passive: 13)
Gewyn leans back calmly against the side of Omertyr's head as he unslings his cittern. He starts strumming out a simple major scale with a mesmerizing, almost metronomic quality to it. He carefully watches Vinghov out of the side of his eye, waiting for a moment of weakness. But Vinghov seems to hold strong against whatever it is Gewyn is looking for. So he tries a gambit. He clears his throat. In the moment that Vingov looks his way, Gewyn scrunches his eyebrows and looks over the pegataur's shoulder. Then the moment Vinghov's attention starts to turn towards whatever Gewyn was looking at, he snaps his fingers, magically amplifying the sound.
In that moment of back and forth sensory confusion Gewyn starts to speak, resuming his scale. "But wasn't it just recently that you had another conversation with your superiors where you were given a command that we've actually been determined to be individually harmless? So you were instructed to be imposing and intimidating, flashing in the cuffs if need be, but then to ultimately concede to whatever reasonable requests we make just so long as you can get one or two of us alone. One is really all you need after all, isn't it. Ideally me, and ideally without my pet dragon. Easiest to get answers from, and I could be a bargaining chip against the others if needed. And in the same way that denying us entry made us more willing to come in, demanding we all stay together is a sure way to encourage us to split up." Gewyn strokes Spyro's tale and wordlessly bids him fly over to Elthana. "That is how you remember that conversation going down, no? Although, there was something... odd, contradictory, possibly suspect, in the the words and orders you received. It's probably nothing. But it did plant a small seed of doubt, right?"
Vinghov's eyes lose all life in them for a moment, his head bows and his arms hang loose, only just managing to keep hold of the manacles. His wings beat a slow rhythm but as soon as gewyn stops speaking the pegataur snaps back to consciousness and clears his throat casting an eye over to gewyn, "I'm sorry were you saying something? I um.." he looks down to the manacles in his hand a stows them away. His eyes land on vin once more. "You, if you desperately feel the need to return to your dysfunctional members then go, take Ira and Griffith with you, she seems to be in distress... You, horned one, with me Ömertyr can carry you, thank you, and no, this time it is not a choice" he then says something in giant to Ömertyr and the giantkin turns his head to look at Gewyn muttering something but ultimately nods to Vinghov's request and extends his arm so that Elthana can climb over to mount Bry'ze.
Gewyn turns and gives Elthana and Vin a grave look and an ironic salute before turning it to a cheery smile. "You go sort out our friends, yeah? I'll be fine. Probably better this way. An overall higher average lingual dexterity among the testimony givers if I go it alone. Find me when you can." With that, he sits back down on the giant's shoulder and returns to strumming his cittern, though with a more formed melody this time, pausing for only a moment to pat the giant's back reassuringly.
Vin looks across to Gewyn trying to follow his logic, and totally failing. And when Vinghov stumbles his words a bit and tells him to skedaddle even though he still holds the manacles of de-powering, he doesn't take long to decide to fly across to Elthana.
The whole point was to get her out of here, and get back to check on Muir after all. If Gewyn had decided to be the sacrificial lamb, so be it.
He nods at Gewyn as he approaches, and then steadies Bry'ze for Elthana to climb aboard. Then without a word they fly off as quickly as Bry'ze can go.
He does however point a finger back towards Gewyn and whisper, "Good luck. I hope you know what you are doing. There might be no escape without Ömertyr remember".
Elthana is stunned at the quick turn of events and Gewyn's brilliant mind. She gratefully accepts Spyro as the beautiful dragon flies over to her, wrapping himself around her shoulders. Then, assuming Vin is ready for her, she gingerly walks down Omertyr's arm to climb onto Bry'Zee.
She whispers to the dragon, "Are you able to communicate with him? Is Gewyn going to be alright? I feel awful leaving him like this. Tell him... tell him I feel Nivara there, where we were going. Whether it is a trick or not, I don't know, but please make sure he is aware." She looks to her tiefling friend, her body tinged with worry. Everything was falling apart....
Gewyn leaves, accompanied by ömertyr and vinghov. His ploy successful, the rest of the group can only watch as he head toward the shining core and out of their sight.
The roughly twenty guards who were flying at a distance behind you are confused by the display, but trust in vinghov and having no other orders continue following Griff, Elthana and vin, back toward the pack. Now that gewyn took threats off the table, they appear to be a non hostile escort... For now.
"What in the ******* is happening!?" Griff asks you both, visibly nervous but relieved it did not come to blows.
Vin keeps Bry'ze flying close to Griff, "Let's be calm and keep our voices low. There is a lot going on, both here and back at the pack".
He takes a deep calming breath, but it does not alter his pale complexion. He still looks like he has seen a ghost or something.
"I may not have this totally right, as some of it is second hand through Neferox. But I need to say it. I now more is going on, but have to say it to someone. As I said, Sam and Muir went mad whilst left together. Sam was completely paranoid about Muir not being himself, and set his pet rat to eating Muir if he didn't leave. Muir basically decided he couldn't resist and let it happen. I saw and spoke through Neferox and tried to reason with them both, but they are both so stubborn. Seeing someone half eaten by a rat is...", he starts but can't continue.
"I think that undead amulet might have affected Sam more than we realised. Watching that happen and doing nothing to stop it is not sane. And Muir, why did he not...", he has to stop again, he is so upset.
"Anyway, then the guards came. Neferox remained out of sight, Muir is missing, and Sam resisted. She says he was taken captive not killed, thankfully", he finishes.
He looks to Elthana, "But you already wanted to turn back before I suggested it. What happened? And that Mori knew we were coming. Do you think Mori could be...you know who?".
Struggling to keep hold of Bry'Zee as all this was new to her, she listens to Vin and can't believe the situation they have found themselves in. She really worries for Gewyn and looks to his dragon to see if he got her message.
Turning to Vin she sighs, "So I don't think I told you as I didn't understand it at the time, but when we first entered this plane, I felt a pull... one deep down inside me that drew me towards the Thundercloud, where Vox supposedly was. We now know that is where Nivara is and that's most likely the pull I feel. Well... I now feel that pull coming from where we were headed, where Gewyn is headed now. I don't know if Nivara herself is here or what, but it scares the shit out of me. I shouldn't be here." Tears start coming to her eyes as her thoughts keep racing from one friend to the next, seeing it all fall apart. "As for Mori? Hog said he had tea with her two days ago, and the way Vinghov talks, it is like this Mori has been here awhile. She is also Shadar-Kai like my mother. Maybe it is a common name? I don't see my mother being involved in all this... but then again, I apparently don't see a lot of things." she hangs her head at this, sorrow consuming her.
Vin is a little confused, "Mori is your mother's name as well? Sorry, must have slipped away with my other memories. I just thought if there was a shadar kai here who knew we were coming, it could be Nivara playing a role. You know, playing both sides. What better than having an undead kobold army than having a second army to back it up".
He sighs.
"If there was any one of us I would say could survive Gewyn's path, it is Gewyn. I mean, he could disappear amongst the population and never be found, right?", he says hopefully.
"if you were being Nivara and wanting to remain unknown, you would be using a different name when meeting with the other side yes? If nivara is being like a different you, is her mother also being called Mori?" Griff asks still visibly shaken and not really able to do anything to try to comfort Elthana.
Spyro coils around Elthana so his upper body comes into view, and with one gnarled claw, he silently taps his head where a human ear would be and nods his head before completing his loop to return to his original perch across her shoulders.
It was all so confusing, and she was aching to get back to Muir and Sam.. though what were they going to find? Muir was lost and Sam was captured? None of this was good. "Yes Griff, Mori is also Nivara's mother. Who knows what is awaiting Gewyn, I just hope he knows how to handle it." She absently reaches up and pets the dragon.
"Well the good news is that if Nivara is there in disguise, acting as one of Shenoh's advisors, then she does not have complete control over the Djinn. That gives Gewyn a chance", Vin replies, hoping to give Elthana some hope.
"We do have our own problems though. Vinghov may have been persuaded to release us, but that might not be the same with Shenoh or particularly Mori. The order may well come again to detain us. We need to decide what we are going to do", he muses, not at all convinced Gewyn's solution is a long term one.
He looks to Elthana, "If you don't feel you can to confront Nivara, you should not allow yourself to be taken if the guards try. Do not worry about the me and Griff, just get away, right?".
Another 15 minutes of following the same route back, vin finds the spire that the group had descended down and begins his ascent once more, the soldiers that pass notice the escorting platoon following Vin, Ira, and Griff and merely nod on response letting the group pass.
As you rise through the spire, the pack comes into view. You all see a veritable garrison of troops on left patroling the spire and landing platforms, with at least twenty soldiers guarding the pack.
(Roll perception)
Elthana nods solemnly at Vin. She knows her friend is doing what he can to cheer her up, but things just weren't looking that way. Not only that, she couldn't imagine ditching her friends when things got dicey.
She gulps when she sees all the guards by the pack, she's also afraid of what she is going to find with Muir and Sam. Perception: 10