Stormraider Keep (A M.E.T.A.L. Campaign)

"I think we might have reasoned earlier that having one person carry both the cloak and the feather was like putting all the eggs in one basket should the enemy try to get them from us but for my part I have no objections to you carrying them all now Rahkeshi." Elyria comments on the half-orcs question to Flynt. 

As some of the others leave Elyria listens to Rahkeshi, a smile slowly appearing on her face again. "I'm sorry but there was no time for anything but taking you out of Lady Leilatha's fortress. I suppose we could go back for your armor and herbalism kit. I'm sure we're all willing to deal with the hag Lady Sylmare now, but most of the Eladrin in Alvahollow are as innocent in this as Lady Leilatha's Satyrs. We could possibly get help from inside Alvahollow though. I have befriended an Eladrin called Sabynn who was the one who told me about Lady Sylmare's evil plans. She is gathering her strength, possibly to go to war, maybe not only against the Satyrs. We must stop this madness before more innocent lives are lost to the hags eviltry and power hunger." 

"You really think elves would help out our cause?" Rahkeshi says, sounding a bit skeptical.  "Well, if she is making to attack Lady Leilatha's fortress, perhaps now is the time to see what can be accomplished in Alvahollow.  I can see through the hags' disguises, but if the elves are anything like the satyrs, those hags really had done a good job of developing loyalty. Few would listen." 

"Yes, you are right Rahkeshi, that is my impression as well, but we could still have the assistance of Sabynn to help us into position where we can attack Lady Sylmare directly rather than fight through ranks of mislead Eladrin." Elyria responds with a nod. "We must rest now though, all of us. Question is whether we dare stay here or should move on into the wilds where Lady Sylmare won't find us."

"Does Sylmare have a way to track the location of the Raiments?"

"I don't think so Aurelius, if she did I'm sure she would have retrieved the cloak at least." Elyria says.

"Then I'm not sure how she would track us here, unless Niikag told her about this place before he was killed."

"Yes, that is what I'm afraid of, but as mentioned earlier I can't quite rule out Lady Sylmare can track this now." Elyria says, holding up her medallion again. "I don't think so but I'm just not sure. On the other hand she may have other means to find us just by using powerful scrying magic. We should be expecting an attack wherever we choose to go which mean we might as well stay here for to rest I guess."

"Yes enough debate. Since both have their merits and perils we'll just stay here. Now as you were making up your minds I recalled something. Supposedly the raiments were destroyed a couple thousand years ago. An evil druid had gotten a hold of it and had turned hundreds of miles of forest into a stronghold of black horrors. Now that gives me pause, since we can see the first part is obviously untrue perhaps the second part is slightly off as well. Perhaps the gear is cursed and turned the druid evil or at least intensified what was already inside.  Your obsession with the items indicates a possible unnatural control is being exerted by them. It should be a thing we consider especially with our limited knowledge of the items."

Flynt is going to use his own insight to see if he can detect if Rahkeshi has motives that are not her own.

18

Elyria is taken a bit aback by Flynt's brusque interjection about ending the discussion.

"We should take watches while we rest here, I can take any watch you want." She says trying to find somewhere secluded to rest.

"Say if the amulet was only meant to get us past the wards at Leilathas stronhold then it has no use for us any more. If we're concerned it can be tracked then get rid of it." Suggests Flynt.

Flynt insight does not seem to offer him any indication that Rahkeshi is not acting of her own accord. After his statement she does respond though, "It's hardly an obsession," she says with a hint of annoyance. "While admittedly the artifact forced my hand in coming to the Feywild, it has helped me in many ways since. I agreed, of my own will, to gather the pieces and protect them."  She then glances at the medallion Elyria holds up. "What is that? You used it to gain access to Lady Leilatha's fortress?"

Pausing a moment, she suddenly seems to realize something. "Wait! Is that how Lady Sylmare's forced got through the wards? Those pixie soldiers showed up well before you all got there. They all thought they were 'hiding' around the place for a couple days!" The half-orc again seems agitated. She looks at Elyria, looking as though she is struggling to keep her voice even. "Can you tell me what exactly that is?" 

"I don't know exactly what this is Rahkeshi! We retrieved the medallion in Gwyllinwald. We did it to save you! As far as I can tell the medallion helped us to bypass the Lady Leilatha's wards. I can't rule out it somehow helped Lady Sylmare's forces too." Elyria says in anger, taking the medallion and throwing it to the floor before the half-orc, then turning and marching out of the cottage, marching off into the woods, not looking back.

For a moment, Rahkeshi is a bit stunned by Elyria's sudden departure.  She looks at the others inside the hideout. "Where is she going?" She watches her, then again shakes her head. "I'll go get her."  Rushing out after she calls out, loud but trying to keep from yelling and drawing too much attention. "Elyria. Come back. Where are you going?" 

Aurelius looks around at the others and shrugs.  He will pick the amulet up off the floor and place it on a table.

"Flynt, your crossbow can detect threats at what range?  How close can an enemy get before it notifies you?"

After marching angrily a short bit Elyria breaks off in a run, tears streaming down her face, hurrying to find refuge under an old wrinkled oak, throwing herself on her knees, hiding her face in her hands, letting it all out.

"Well that was dramatic" Says Flynt dryly as Rahkeshi rushes off. "No Aurelius I don't know of a "range" for its alerts. Betsy only alerts me to danger. So if an enemy is simply passing by with no intention of attack there is no reason to alarm. But let's say I'm walking into an ambush. As soon or even just a bit before I get into their range of attack I get alerted. So I would say the distance varies." Flynt looks to the door the two women passed through. "It's not a stretch to think that if Sylmare had the ability to get one being through the wards then she should be able to get more through as well. Though I find it more likely that it was our elimination of Leilatha that affected the wards way more than any amulet."

"How interesting... the crossbow, er, 'Betsy' knows not only the location of the enemy, but the intentions of its heart?  So if for instance a tiger might be just passing through, minding its own business, and she would not wake you, but if it suddenly caught your scent when 15 feet away and prepared to attack, then you would be alerted?  That would seem to be a rather large loophole in your protection..."

"But the attack itself would not be a surprise. I would have been alerted in time to draw a weapon or even possibly generate a magical defense if one were available. I don't see how that is a loop hole. If the tiger had no intention of attacking and I get an alert that it is there how is that a benefit? I have no quarrel with that beast if it has no quarrel with me. All I do is lose sleep over something inconsequential. "

Rahkeshi keeps after Elyria, although the elf is a bit faster.  As she loses sight of her as she slips behind the oak tree, she slows.  Elyria can hear her speaking in Sylvan.

(Spoken in Sylvan:)

 A moment later the half-orc slips around the edge of the tree, seeing Elyria.  "Elyria," she says softly. "Please don't run off. Can we talk?" 

Rahkeshi can hear sobs as she enters the small glade with the old wrinkled oak before which Elyria is kneeling. The Elf doesn't say anything at first, only silent sobs can be heard. "We can talk." She says, trying to wipe her tears.