Quote from Quasimodal >>

Geranthil gives a tired sigh. "I guess that will be acceptable. Why so much effort, looking for excuses and conditions to avoid peace... Maybe I am expecting too much from visitors. Fifty years ago, the condition was to convert to a holy cause of peace. These sort of half-hearted vows would not have been enough back then. But times change."

Trimyrai: (to Geranthil) "Do you treat all strangers and guests with this amount of disrespect? We do not know where we are. You try to force upon us some rules which you haven't fully explained, and because we don't fully understand whats going on you give us a frustrated attitude. I now suspect the forced swearing to do no harm is from your experience of getting harmed from having such an antagonistic attitude towards guests and strangers who just happened to pass by. If our word is not enough for you, please explain where we are, why do we have to follow these rules, and for what purpose do these rules exist."

"We have also had experiences with violence and attacks against us where they were not expected," Froskan adds.

Considering the second challenge, Froskan eyes the archway for a moment, then shrugs and tries walking around the walkway and stepping up over the stone wall instead.

"I made an oath to keep the peace from violence. But I shall vow once more to keep the peace." After making a vow, Reverie looks back at Clarion, and shakes her head. "I did not mean to upset you, Miss Clarion. However, I wanted to make sure that everyone is safe, including you..." A pause. "Forgive me and my words that upset you, but we all are happy that you are here with us." Then she turns her gaze towards Trimyrai and then to Geranthil, nervously looking back and forth. However, she remains in silence.

Quote from EmperorKarino >>

Quote from Quasimodal >>

Geranthil gives a tired sigh. "I guess that will be acceptable. Why so much effort, looking for excuses and conditions to avoid peace... Maybe I am expecting too much from visitors. Fifty years ago, the condition was to convert to a holy cause of peace. These sort of half-hearted vows would not have been enough back then. But times change."

Trimyrai: (to Geranthil) "Do you treat all strangers and guests with this amount of disrespect? We do not know where we are. You try to force upon us some rules which you haven't fully explained, and because we don't fully understand whats going on you give us a frustrated attitude. I now suspect the forced swearing to do no harm is from your experience of getting harmed from having such an antagonistic attitude towards guests and strangers who just happened to pass by. If our word is not enough for you, please explain where we are, why do we have to follow these rules, and for what purpose do these rules exist."

Geranthil: "You don't know where you are? That is most unusual. Strangers don't just happen to "pass by" here. It takes great effort to avoid the dangerous creatures that dwell in the forest beyond those far trees. Visitors come here for a specific reason, by design, with deliberate planning.

"I was unaware that you had those questions, before you mentioned them now. This is a place of peace and recovery. It is a sacred place. Those "rules" are to preserve the sacred peace of these grounds. They are necessary given what is special about this place. The oath and challenge are a test if you are worthy to be pilgrims here, and for protection from those who would (whether unintentionally or deliberately) deconsecrate the waters.

"These rules are only for those who are inside the walls. If you "just happen to pass by" without entering, nothing is being forced on you. I only came out to issue the required challenge when there were repeated attempts to enter through the archway.

"It is alien to me why your group would expect to fight, and demand the right to fight, in a space of holy sanctuary. What you consider disrespect to you, in my view is common sense... My frustration, as you call it, was not about trusting your words, but with the reluctance to accept the peaceful design of this place. As other-worldly travelers unaware of the nature of the pond and the grounds, then what I consider disrespect, could be viewed as sensible by you, I suppose. So be it.

"You are correct that I have met many travelers who come here, and try to enter by bluster, by intimidation, by physical force. There have been many that claimed I was unreasonable since I didn't do as they desired. My reply was: I am the Keeper of this place. I have no obligation to admit anyone just because they demand it. Your expectations are your own concern."

(He has stayed even keeled this whole time. He is remaining calm in the face of the group's frustrations and suspicions.)

(OOC: Took a while to get this post worded right, so I just noticed Reverie's response.)

Clarion is mollified by Reverie's words, then bows to her. "I apologize for my outburst. I can only say that I haven't fully recovered from my captivity. I should not be so rude to those who rescued me."

Geranthil accepts Reverie's vow. And he waits to see how the party deals with the second part of the challenge. (The sea elf has shown he will talk with you, but he won't come out and say directly how to pass the 2nd part. Figuring it out is part of the test.)

Jack has been a tad silent during this whole thing- debating whether he should make a loophole, or establish his own rules for his own vow. Leroy May very well hate him for the former, so the 2nd was probably the best. But they may not accept the latter option. Of course, there was a 3rd option, to use a loophole of assumptions instead of actually swearing a vow. It was important to weigh ones options heavily in the Feywild. Strangely, however, Jack shows a bit of familiarity and hostility in his expressions and voice around the Sea Elf. Which is strange, considering how the party knows Jack himself is part Sea Elf- it’s not Personal Familiarity or Hostility towards the Man on a personal level, though.

”Trim. They’re accepting a Vow of Peace. When bringing up vows, one needs some confidence in their words!” Jack says, in response to Trims disdain about swearing off hostility. ”How about this, Geranthil. If I Vow to be and remain peaceful, ye must Vow the same, for you and people in there. That way, we can all be happy. No fighting is to be done if we all swear it, including you.”

(Sorry for my absence recently, I’ve been in a strange position for a little bit. Meanwhile, another Sea Elf, how fun!)

(What is important is that Jack is back. Spending time away to deal with other matters is understandable.)

Quote from BoboBoombang >>

”How about this, Geranthil. If I Vow to be and remain peaceful, ye must Vow the same, for you and people in there. That way, we can all be happy. No fighting is to be done if we all swear it, including you.”

For the first time, Geranthil looks genuinely confused. "That is not possible. I have said that my obligations as Keeper include protecting visitors from harm. When creatures from the outer forest intrude, I need to use force to make them return to their own home. That would be denied by an oath of absolute peace.

"I do not understand what you are concerned about. If you can enter this place, protection from harm would include any actions that I could take. Any attempt to fight with you while your vow is still valid would make me the Oath-Breaker, and permit you to use violence for yourself without the crime of breaking. (In the Fey, breaking your word is a serious offense. It would make me an outcast, unable to do my work for the goddess of this spring.) What contingency are you worried about that is not already covered by the existing conditions?"

Isk looks to Jack and says, "Aye Jack, I think we will be safe here and moreover, free to defend ourselves if need be. We should focus on how to get through the archway, without being able to do that, our vow of peace won't be needed anyway."

Trimyrai renews his vow Trimyrai: (to Geranthil) "I swear to not start a fight, and try to keep the peace, resorting to violence as a last option and only to protect myself or my friends." and then Trimyrai follows Froskan as he tries to go over the stonewall.

Hopping over the stone wall (rather than through the archway) has the same result. Everything looks fine at first, but when your feet hit the ground, you land outside of the ring (instead of the inside).

Jack sighs. He doubts that he’s going anywhere with him. Elves are known for being stubborn, and the religious makes it worse. But why would a Sea Elf even be here? They typically like to travel. “Alright then. How’s this? I swear to remain peaceful unless provoked. Is that a solid enough vow for ye? Because I don’t want to go in there without being able to attack back, that’s not how things should work.” (Let me know if I should roll Persuasion or something for that.)

If given the ok to go on, Jack’d shake his head. Walking up to the archway, he looked puzzled for a moment. Taking the drums that constantly hang at his side, Jack’d conjure up a Mage Hand, as a claw of Magic is summoned. With a rhythmic drumbeat following its every move, he’d try to send the Mage Hand through the archway, and see what happens. “Let’s see what ye can do, Hand.”

Geranthil says Jack does not need to add that qualifier. The Keeper obligation to prevent harm to visitors means that if the group is attacked inside the walls, that promise is broken, and again the party is not bound by your oath.

Jack's mage hand moves about freely through the archway.

(Second challenge is reaching the pond right?)

Quote from VanderLegion >>

"We have also had experiences with violence and attacks against us where they were not expected," Froskan adds.

Considering the second challenge, Froskan eyes the archway for a moment, then shrugs and tries walking around the walkway and stepping up over the stone wall instead.

(what hpapens from this?)

Quote from Quasimodal>>

Hopping over the stone wall (rather than through the archway) has the same result. Everything looks fine at first, but when your feet hit the ground, you land outside of the ring (instead of the inside).

(Same thing regardless of how high you jump, whether or not your eyes are closed, or what direction you are facing when going over the wall or through the archway. You end up where you started, outside the ring of the stone wall.)

(Huh, I totally missed that post)

Jack looked confused. The Mage Hand could go through, but not someone else. Strange. With a rhythmic drumbeat, Jack’d command his Mage Hand back towards him, resting upon his shoulder. “Froskan! Magic can go through the archway, but not people. What if we have someone go through the archway effected by Magic?” 

To try this out, Jack would try to walk through the Archway, with the Mage Hand nudging him forward. It wasn’t strong, but he hoped it’d work.

Jack gets more than halfway through, then falls on his backside outside the archway.

(Jack was leaning against the mage hand, but now it is in front of him, still in the archway, rather than pushing at his back.)

Trying to think of different options, Froskan tests to see what happens if he triest o reach over the stone wall to touch the ground on the other side (So feet stay outside, just seeing if he can touch the ground on the other side)

Quote from VanderLegion >>

Trying to think of different options, Froskan tests to see what happens if he triest o reach over the stone wall to touch the ground on the other side (So feet stay outside, just seeing if he can touch the ground on the other side)

(Well, the wall is 3' tall and 2' thick, so I'm not sure if Froskan is tall enough to keep his feet on the ground and still reach over to touch the inside ground. But let's keep things simpler.)

As soon as 3/4ers of Froskan is 3/4ers of the way inside the stone wall, he is teleported back outside the wall.

(Geranthil doesn't make any overt movements, but you can tell he is aware of what is going on, although it is unclear how active of a participant he is.)

Quote from Quasimodal >>

Quote from VanderLegion >>

Trying to think of different options, Froskan tests to see what happens if he triest o reach over the stone wall to touch the ground on the other side (So feet stay outside, just seeing if he can touch the ground on the other side)

(Well, the wall is 3' tall and 2' thick, so I'm not sure if Froskan is tall enough to keep his feet on the ground and still reach over to touch the inside ground. But let's keep things simpler.)

As soon as 3/4ers of Froskan is 3/4ers of the way inside the stone wall, he is teleported back outside the wall.

(Geranthil doesn't make any overt movements, but you can tell he is aware of what is going on, although it is unclear how active of a participant he is.)

 (I though you had said the wall was like a foot tall in the original description.  Must have misremembered)