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

The satyr looks at Elyria. "Oh yes, of course, Elyria Greenleaf, the message.  Well, Rahkeshi wanted me to relay to you that she is fine for the moment."  She suddenly looks over at Aurelius. "Oh! That was one of your questions! She has not been harmed. Well, not physically. I mean, not that they did anything to her. She is completely protected under the proper rules of hospitality.  So Leilatha simply cannot do anything to harm her."  

She turns back to Elyria. "Anyway, she is doing well right now. She of course has had moments - once or twice - when she kind of lost track of things. But she always seems to recover. It's evidently a side effect of the spirits. You know she can see spirits? All of them! All the time! How amazing is that? She goes out to the garden every day and talks to them."  She lowers her voice, almost talking to herself now. "Well, I suppose she's talking to the spirits. I mean, I can't see them. But I'm sure they're there."  

She stops, giving you all a shy smile. "Did that answer your question? I...  kind of forgot what it was. I'm just a little excited and nervous."  

"So you came all this way to tell you that our friend is alright? That is kind of you." Elyria says, now relaxing, walking up to the satyr and offering her a smile. "You seem a little nervous if I may say so. If you are a friend of Rahkeshi's you are a friend of ours." She says, laying a friendly hand on the satyr's shoulder. "You are welcome to stay the night with us, but at first light we will continue our journey. I will have to visit Lady Sylmare briefly but then we will all make our way to Leylatha's castle. Your assistance with finding it would be most welcome."

The woman looks a little warily at Elyria. "Oh, you are very kind. I... well, I suppose Rahkeshi said you were nice." She seems to hesitate, studying Elyria for a moment longer.  She then takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself a bit. "Rahkeshi wanted to warn you about directly approaching Leilatha. She has powerful wards that would stop you.  But..."  Here she takes a look at all three of you. "Are you all working with Sylmare?  Neither she nor Leilatha are really to be trusted.  Rahkeshi keeps saying 'they are not what they seem'.  She won't explain what that means though. But she seems to think it's important.  But you should know, Sylmare and Leilatha are fierce rivals.  They will stop at nothing to get advantage over the other."  

She then nods her head slowly, "I can lead you back to Leilatha's castle if you wish. But I don't know how you will get in. And Rahkeshi can't really leave."   

"We...I have made an arrangement with Lady Sylmare according to which I am to deliver some things we've acquired for her in exchange for her helping us into Leylatha's castle. I am aware Lady Sylmare is not to be trusted but I believe that the amulet we've recovered will be able to help us pass those wards you mentioned. We will of course try to stay out of their conflict but I will do what it takes to free Rahkeshi." Elyria says with clear determination, returning to set up the camp but still listening. "You still haven't told us your name you know." She says, looking up again at the satyr with a warm smile.

"Oh!" she says, covering up her mouth. She glances briefly at Aurelius. "You were asking me about that too, weren't you? Not just if I remembered..."  She shakes her head, "How silly of me.  My name is Yoë." 

Elyria laughs softly at the cute satyr. "It's okay Yoë, try to relax now." Elyria says smiling to the satyr while she goes about to prepare the campsite.
Survival if needed for a suitable campsite: 19
Perception for first watch: 22
Aelric perception: 18
(I guess by now we would have a standard watch schedule, like earlier, with Elyria taking first watch four hours and then she meditates for four)

Aurelius relaxes somewhat, satisfied that the satyr poses no threat. "What do you know of a fairy named Frost Greysky?" he asks Yoë.

"Frost Greysky..." Yoë repeats the name. "I don't know anyone... Oh! That's the fellow Rahkeshi mentioned. Last year, he lured you to the crossing and tried to trick her to get her over here."

She quickly looks over at Elyria. "But you were there! It was when you were nearly dead, and Rahkeshi broke free of his charm to save you with her healing."

She gets a dreamy smile as she recounts this story. "It was so romantic! Rahkeshi's love overcoming the evil spell..."  It takes her a moment to continue, her voice dropping a bit. "Alas, the reunion was brief and that was when the Voice spoke to Rahkeshi and made her flee through the portal."  

She sighs,  "Out of one trap and into another."

Elyria turns away and blushes deeply as Yoë talks about Rahkeshi's love, seemingly finding a very interesting rock a bit away from the others, but then she turns to the young satyr again. "How do you mean into another trap? What voice are you talking about Yoë?" Elyria says clearly eager to know more about their teammate and her fate.

"Then this Greysky, the Betrayer, he is not a minion of Leilatha?"  Aurelius furrows his brow.  "This is convoluted.  How did Rahkeshi end up captive to your mistress?"

"I... I do not know all of what was going on. But Leilatha had her soldiers waiting on this side of the crossing."  Yoë replies. "Rahkeshi tried to fight them at first, from what I hear. But there were so many satyrs. But she invoked the proper protocols to invoke her rights to hospitality. She did have to offer restitution though for the... harm she inflicted."

"I had heard the plan to capture Rahkeshi was originally Sylmare's."  Yoë continues. "But Leilatha learned of it and outwitted her." 

Elyria continues her barrage of questions. "What was the restitution Rahkeshi had to offer? And what would Sylmare want with Rahkeshi? And what about that voice you mentioned?"

Yoë looks at Elyria, trying to process all the questions. "Well, Rahkeshi is Potion Maker to Lady Leilatha. I said that didn't I? For one year - so for just another month." She sounds a little sad about the time ending. "I'm her assistant."

"Two. Sylmare. Hmm..."  Yoë looks very thoughtful for a moment. "I think she and Leilatha both want the same thing - the item Rahkeshi was carrying. Oh! You should have seen the rage Lady Leilatha was in when Rahkeshi invoked her rights to hospitality and said everything to the letter exactly as Fey custom requires. It meant she couldn't take anything from her! Boy was she mad!"

"Three. Well, Rahkeshi told me the Voice is the magical item she carries.  It speaks to her. I guess sometimes it controls her."

Yoë says. "Though she said the first time was when it made her cross into the Feywild. She claims they have 'an understanding' now."  She laughs.  "I don't always get everything she says."

Elyria stands a listens to the satyr, trying to comprehend her story. "So...how did you find us Yoë? Are you sure you weren't followed by Leilathas minions?" She then says, quickly scanning the surroundings for threats.
Perception: 17
Aelric perception: 9

(Note - you already made rolls for Elyria and Aelric.)  The group is getting a campsite set up as the conversation with Yoë continues. 

"Well, I'm not going to have been missed yet.  The satyrs like me that work for her are granted leave to come and go to our homes in the surrounding area. But probably tomorrow she'll be wondering where I've gone." Yoë explains. "As far as finding you, I was actually headed for where the crossing is located.  Guess I just got lucky."

Elyria does not see anything in the surrounding area.  And Aelric's scouting does not reveal anything either. 

(Heh, sorry, just a habit I guess)

Relaxing again Elyria nods to to Yoë, ready to take the first shift.

"So the message you were sent to deliver was: 'Do not approach Leilatha directly' due to the magicks guarding her fortress?  Was there anything else?" Aurelius asks Yoë.

To Elyria he says, "Do we even need Sylmare's help anymore, now that we have the amulet?  It seems she is as treacherous as we suspected.  I wonder what Rahkeshi means by 'They are not what they seem'.  Are they not truly Eladrin?  Perhaps some more sinister creature masquerading as such?  I have heard that dragons and other powerful creatures can take humanoid form from time to time."

After pondering a bit, Aurelius adds, "I suggest that you go ahead and make the bond with the amulet now, Elyria.  We may not have time later.  And perhaps do not reveal that we found it to Sylmare. Also, should we have Yoë smuggle a portion of the mushroom back to Rahkeshi, so that she may also work on preparing an antidote?"

To Yoë, "A few more questions, I apologize.  First, by what manner do  village satyrs bypass the wards of the fortress?  Could we disguise ourselves as your people and thus gain entry?

"Second, a prior message from Rahkeshi mentioned 'Leilatha and her sisters' indicating that Sylmare is not the only sibling.  Are you aware of any other family members nearby?

"Lastly, this magic item you speak of, is it a bracelet of some sort that she found in our world?"

Turning to Flynt, the paladin asks, "Lawman, the artifact you seek, could it be the bracelet that our friend carries, and that these two warring sisters kidnapped her for?

"I admit I'm not sure Aurelius." Elyria says coming closer to the paladin. "But I'm fairly certain we will need the power of the amulet to get inside, and I will not gamble on trying to do that without the instructions from Lady Sylmare on how to use it properly. I fully expect her to try to get a revenge on Leylatha in some way, but maybe us taking Rahkeshi from her will at least get her some revenge. Either way, I'm not risking the freeing of Rahkeshi because we have reason to be wary of the game Lady Aylmare and Leylatha is playing. And I'm not sure how it would matter if they both were dragons, I have no plan to fight either of them if I can avoid it." Elyria says plainly. "I promise I will be cautious with any deals I strike with Lady Sylmare, but at least the amulet we need is recovered where she said we could find it." She finshes with a smile.

"Alright Aurelius, I'm not even sure how to do bond with the amulet, but I will make an attempt tonight." Elyria says, later using a drop of her own blood to do this as she goes into her trance. Elyria hesitates for a moment but then she also offers a mushroom to Yoë to bring back to Rahkeshi.