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

Elyria is rather certain that the creature was some sort of nature spirit.  (air or bird spirit most likely)  It is very unusual that it would show itself so clearly though. 

"Now we wait," confirms Aurelius.  "Yoë, we should keep watch so that no hostile forces can sneak up and surround us.  Is there an observation post within this tree, or something nearby?"

"Flynt, didn't you say there were actually several items in a set that you were seeking?  What can you tell us about the cloak?"

Yoë nods, "Yes, above the top bedroom is an observation spot. You can see out in most every direction." 

"So we take shifts then, keeping watch from that observation spot." Elyria says, looking at Aurelius and Flynt. "I could do with some meditation now, but I can take second shift."

"Nothing really, only that it's part of a set, and that I was tasked by M.E.T.A.L. to retrieve it." He says with a shrug. "But as for the task at hand we need information so while Elyria rests I'm going to go scout Leilathas fortress." 

Flynt will set out immediately following Aleric and the note as much as possible.

"All right, I guess I'll take first watch.  Bonne nuit, Yoë , I will see you tomorrow."

Aurelius then ascends to the observation spot to begin his vigil.

"Be careful Flynt!" Elyria says as the lawman leaves on his scouting mission.
She nods at Aurelius as he ascends to the obesrvation spot and finds herself a suitable place to meditate, the blind dogs resting closeby.

(Flynt - the hideout is probably still more than day's journey by foot from Leilatha's fortress. It is still going to be a day flying there and back. Were you still going to leave to scout?) 

Elyria completes her rest as Aurelius keeps watch, and then Elyria is up as he goes to sleep.  Yoë would come to join Elyria very early in the morning, offering to keep watch for a bit of she would like a break.  The rest time is uneventful.  

(How long did you want to wait? Was there anything else anyone wanted to do with their time?) 

(We would wait until Aelric and Flynt is back I think, or at least until they should be back.)

(Yeah I didn't realize now far away it was. So lets say Flynt is just doing a perimeter check to make sure Elaria wasn't followed.)

The next morning, Aurelius asks Elyria about her return trip to Sylmare's domain.

"If we have to wait a month to rescue Rahkeshi, would it be worth it to head back there and try to expose Sylmare?  What did you learn that made you think she was a hag, and her advisor an ogre mage?"

"We already heard about Lady Sylmare and her sisters not being what they seemed, but it was mostly what Sabynn told me when I visited Alvahollow. One time when she was waiting for Lady Sylmare to give her an assignment she instead caught a glimpse of a hulking, deformed woman in the throne room. I believe that to be the true form of Lady Sylmare. Apparently her advisor, the old man, comes and goes a lot. She had heard the two of them mention his 'disguises'. She had also seen a creature big as an ogre with bluish skin and small ivory horns and a fancy glaive turning into the old man. I believe that the old man and Frost are the same creature. I thought there was something familiar with the old man when we visited Lady Sylmare." Elyria says to Aurelius, sitting outside by a tree, having her morning meal as Yoë keeps watch.

"How does Sabynn feel about this? Do you think if we were to expose Sylmare's true nature that the Eladrin would rise up against her?"

"I think they will Aurelius, the the people of Alvahollow are of good nature, I am sure they won't willingly be lead by a monster like her." Elyria says and nods. "How to expose her, well that is another matter entirely. We should expect her to be very powerful, but perhaps we can use stealth and deception to our advantage."

(Flynt - make a Perception check for your scouting.)  

Yoë listens to the conversation between Aurelius and Elyria quietly. She finally asks, "Do you really think those Eladrin would rise up against Lady Sylmare?  I mean, I guess I just assumed they all liked her for some reason."

Perception: 22

Flynt watches Aelric fly off as he slowly circumnavigates the treehouse.

As Flynt makes a wide circuit around the tree hideout, he does not notice anything hostile.  There are a number of birds and he spots seem deer in the distance.  The area actually seems remarkably uninhabited.  You can just make out thin whisps of smoke on the distant horizon to the north.  You would guess the smoke marks some settlement of some sort.  

"When they learn what she is and that she is planning to bring them into a war against her sisters, a war which is not theirs, yes I would expect them to rise up against her." Elyria says plainly to Yoë. "I'm not at all sure how we could expose her though."

"We might not have to do it all by ourselves.  Surely Sabynn cannot have been the only one to catch a glimpse of something odd.  We can start rumors, perhaps a convenient illusion spell at just the right time.  Once we plant the idea, it will always be in the back of her subjects' minds, and they will observe her more closely for confirmation.  In the same way, we might be able to cause discord between Sylmare and the Betrayer by spreading gossip that he plans to supplant her, to betray her to one of her sisters."

Aurelius smiles.  "If we can drive a wedge between the two of them, that will greatly increase our chances of victory."

"If you say so Aurelius." Elyria says weakly. She was not good with deception and manipulation, always preferring straight truths herself. "I'm afraid I won't be of much help with that."