OOC: Ready to advance once someone has responded or an action has been taken.

Harmony then saw the Nekomata and the three Agamar, hearing them as she put her hands up defensively. "I'm Harmony! This is Aisha and Garu. We needed to use the circle because we have to get to Arketh in order to stop an evil god and save all of our worlds." she quickly told them

"Are you the Order of Astar?," Garu asks, removing any aggression from her tone and puts her hands in a non-threatening stance. "We are here to help."   

The Nekomata shares a look with the Agamar next to her. "Adventurerssss," the Agamar hisses. The tension dissipates somewhat as he motions to his companion to stow their weapons, though the Nekomata woman maintains her concentration.

"You may call me Spring. And yes, this is the cellar of the Order of Astar manor that you stand in. Now, please submit to this spell so that we may ascertain whether your intentions are true. You will be unable to speak a lie under this effect, but it will last only as long as you stand before us here. This is standard operating procedure, as we have had a number of...unfortunate incidents as of late," she says.

She halts her concentration, starting the motions and verbiage of a new spell. You feel the effects of a magical compulsion fall over you.

OOC: Is everyone willingly submitting to the effects of this spell (i.e., intentionally failing the saving throw)? If not, you can make a Charisma saving throw.

Dropping any resistance, Garu says, “I do mind but I understand your position”

Aisha no longer really trusts what people outside the party say, over-much. As well as anyone can say 'I'm casting this' but actually cast something else.... so Aisha atleast attempts to resist.

Cha: 3

OOC: Ready to advance once it is determined whether Harmony is submitting to the spell.

Harmony listens as she nods back, smiling. "That's a nice name. Oh, yeah that is fine. I don't like to lie." she then said back, not resisting it.

Spring frowns, sighing and aggressively scratching the back of her head in apparent frustration. "There's always one..." she mutters. "Very well. Two of you seem to understand hospitality. You will answer my questions truthfully, and if I find your answers sufficient, you may enter the city of Arketh freely. If I believe you to be a threat to the safety of our order or of the city, you may not. If I do not find your answers sufficient regarding your more stubborn companion, then she will remain here until the dawn, when I can utilize this spell once more, and repeat this process. Are we understood?"

Provided that both Garu and Harmony agree to answer her questions, she asks the following of Garu, pausing to allow time for each answer. She then repeats the questions verbatim toward Harmony.

"Who are you, and where is your city of origin?"

"What business do you have in Arketh?"

"Why have you arrived through the portal to Skogyr, and do you have any inkling as to why you are the first to use the portal in such a long time?"

"Do you have any awareness of the events transpiring in Arketh at this time?"

"Do you believe your companion Aisha to be a danger to the citizens of Arketh in any way?"

"Who is this panther, and is it a danger to the citizens of Arketh in any way?"

"What abilities do you possess that could harm or endanger the citizens of Arketh?"

"What abilities does your companion Aisha possess that could harm or endanger the citizens of Arketh?"

OOC: Under the effects of Spring's spell, Garu and Harmony are unable to speak a deliberate lie. You are obviously aware of the spell and can thus avoid answering questions to which you would normally respond with a lie. You can be evasive in your answers as long as they remain within the boundaries of the truth.

Aisha keeps her face static, but in her mind she's thinking If they try to hold any of us here, they will die. A few killed to keep the rest of the worrrld alive is a grain of sand on the beach.

"Who are you, and where is your city of origin?"
Garu: I am Garu, Paladin of Tylyn and was raised in Ruskivek.

"What business do you have in Arketh?"
Garu: We are here to save the universe but that seems to be a grand order so I can say we are here to help.

"Why have you arrived through the portal to Skogyr, and do you have any inkling as to why you are the first to use the portal in such a long time?"
Garu: Because it was the portal we were instructed to use. No idea beyond apparently sprites and other fey taking over the other side of the portal.

"Do you have any awareness of the events transpiring in Arketh at this time?"
Garu: Pretty bad stuff if I am accurate.

"Do you believe your companion Aisha to be a danger to the citizens of Arketh in any way?"
Garu: She is my companion that poses a threat only to those who align with the evil gods trying to destroy most of the known universe.

"Who is this panther, and is it a danger to the citizens of Arketh in any way?"
Garu: I refer back to my statement regarding Aisha. The panther is allied with us and is safe to good people.

"What abilities do you possess that could harm or endanger the citizens of Arketh?"
Garu: I bring the beauty of Tylyn to the world. I have skills that make me a threat to those who might seek to subvert nature. I think the citizens are outside that scope.

"What abilities does your companion Aisha possess that could harm or endanger the citizens of Arketh?"
Garu: I travel with her and trust her with my back. I know not everything of which she is capable but I believe her heart and mind to be good.

Harmony nods back in agreement before hearing the questions, thinking.

"Who are you, and where is your city of origin?"

"I'm Anilith Domarien, but call me Harmony! I'm from a secluded city in Toril."

"What business do you have in Arketh?"

"We're here to help in order to save the worlds."

"Why have you arrived through the portal to Skogyr, and do you have any inkling as to why you are the first to use the portal in such a long time?"

"They told us to take this portal in order to get to Arketh. It might be because of those sprites scaring people away from it."

"Do you have any awareness of the events transpiring in Arketh at this time?"

"Yes, terrible things that we hope to stop."

"Do you believe your companion Aisha to be a danger to the citizens of Arketh in any way?"

"No way! She would never hurt anyone that is good!"

"Who is this panther, and is it a danger to the citizens of Arketh in any way?"

"That is Aisha's companion T'savi! Of course not, she's sweet as can be!"

"What abilities do you possess that could harm or endanger the citizens of Arketh?"

"I do have spells and abilities that can make people want to listen to me and do what I say, but I would never use them like that on innocent people."

"What abilities does your companion Aisha possess that could harm or endanger the citizens of Arketh?"

"She's good with a bow and very sneaky with her attacks, but she would never harm innocent people."

Spring's brow furrows in confusion at the mention of Toril, and then raises in surprise at Harmony's curious pluralization of "worlds". She shares a look with one of the Agamar next to her, then turns back.

"We are in sore need of your help. Follow me, please."

She turns on her heels and marches away, leading you through a fairly complex network of underground hallways. Her Agamar companions struggle to keep up with her pace. Eventually, you emerge from a stairway into the central foyer of a mansion. The once-grand entryway seems to have been converted into a hectic laboratory, with implements and devices scattered across benches, most being studied by keen observers with magnifying tools. Along the way, Spring explains her situation.

"I apologize for the severity of my interrogation. As secluded as Arketh is, we cannot take chances, especially in the current environment we find ourselves in--ghouls tearing through bison in the valley, shadows coming to life and attacking trade caravans, the dead rising once more in our very own city--it has been a trying time.

I was not exaggerating earlier. You are unable to speak falsely under the effects of my spell. Clearly then, you believe yourselves to be some sort of figureheads in an attempt to save the planet? Are you aware of what is causing the undead to rise? And can you fill me in on what else you have learned. What are you saving the world...worlds...from, exactly?"

OOC: Ready to advance once something has been said or an action has been taken.

Aisha's mood had soured again. Mainly for the delay. Aisha didn't think herself or even her group as 'special' or 'elite' or 'better' as some might - But this person was like a shopkeeper begging for help against bandits, but demanding payment for the use of their wares to do it. We'rrre sure you arrre. Had Harrrmony not rrrevealed me to you, Aisha doubts you would have known she, or T'savi were ever there. 

And no, we do nyot 'believe' shite. It is a fact. It was forrrced on us against our wills. We come from a different.... place. One you could never go to, as far as we know. We were forcefully teleported to Rikrrrta, told by beings claimign to be dieties and who have enough power to make you atleast believe it possible. They gave us a bulshite storry about how Oh, we cannyot interfere with the evil dieties! So you mortals we kidnapped must do it in our stead! she said, pantomiming her legitimate frustration. And we have done so twice... or was it three times? Who ******* cares, we have to do it atleast once more, and thus we arre here, being interrogated by you. What is causing it? The thing we are supposed to defeat or prrrevent from coming into being.

We had one of those 'undead' with us for  while, claiming to have been 'called back' with fuzzy memorries, but he disssappeared not long after appearing.

Then she locked eyes with the one who'd halted their progress, even if only breifly, as she said in a flat, matter-of-fact tone, with a face to match her apathy. Aisha does nyot speak for the other two. But if nyot for the fact that she was forrced to do this... if nyot for the fact that if Aisha and the other two failing would also mean the end of OUR worrrld, Aisha would leave you, and the other places we've been to die for wasting our time, and forcing such a heavy ... job, on ourr shoulderrs. that was probably the coldest Aisha had ever been to anyone, but her expression showed she was deadly serious.

Pathetic that you dare say we are a threat to you, then all but trrrip over yourself asking for help. Show us where it is happening, and we will trry to figure it out from there. As we go there, tell us everything you know.

There has been a subversion of the natural way. The dead are rising with memories that steer them. What we learned is they are called the Returned. That have been dangerous in other areas with one we met that came back more intact mentally.

The being behind this is thought to be Kayel and we work to upend his plots.

Harmony followed, nodding and then listening to Spring as she heard what was happening in their city. That is awful, understanding now how wary they are of others. She was about to say something when she had heard Aisha, surprised by how harsh she was being even though it shouldn't be a surprise at this point. Then she heard Garu, agreeing with a nod. "Yes, it's exactly like they said. Good-aligned deities brought us from our worlds to this one to stop the other deities like Kayel who only want destruction of all the worlds. So far we've managed to stop their plots and now what is happening is yet another one of Kayel's that we must stop. So please, we need all the information that can possibly help us and where it is happening." Harmony then said back to Spring calmly, trying to put it more nicely.

Spring's hair visibly bristles during Aisha's tirade. She whirls on the tabaxi and states flatly, "Explain that to the dozens of colleagues I will never see again, because we opened our doors to one returned. I'm sure they would find our precautions...trivial."

The procession ends in a small, cluttered office, where Spring sits down to frantically organize some papers. She nods to the Agamar accompanying her, and they bow and step outside of the room. The Nekomata sets the papers down and looks up, fatigue showing on her face.

"You believe what you are saying about Kayel, so even as farfetched as it sounds, I will assume its truth for now; but Kayel is the god of strength and battle, not necromancy. You're sure that the undead are his doing? His followers follow edicts of fair combat, 'the strongest will survive', and such epithets. It certainly strikes me as odd that they would be behind this."

"As for information, I'm afraid I have little more than I've told you. The city has been chaos, and all we can do is stem the tide. Adventurers worth their salt are in short supply, and thus far the only strike forces we have sent to investigate have not yet returned. We fear the worst."

Aisha scoffs at the rebuttal, thinking to herself All of which will be pointless if we fail, you all die anyway. 

Then where did this starrt if you know. What were the most .... known events happening before it all began. As for it beign true or not, AIsha doesn't care. We were told to foil a plot that would allow something evil to appear. It's name is irrrrrrrelevant to this one. As for whether Kayel is or could be behind this... Aisha would say this situation is definately a 'the strrrrongest will survive' situation.

Unless Aisha's memory is wrrrong, Was it Kayel who betrrayed the ones we were with out of impatience? Or is she mixing up names?

"Where are you sending them to investigate?", Garu asks. "With a small group such as ourselves, we might be able to get in somewhat unnoticed."