Elthana smiles at Vin as he offers her healing and nods. Taking a breather as the others discuss and then start to argue, she gets more and more agitated. She finally stands up and turning to Muir with no anger in her voice, "I'm assuming you let the others know you were communicating to Goodall through Hog's bag while I was asleep?"
Letting it go, she turns to Griff, "Honestly, I think me leaving this realm would be best for everyone. We would not leave you to Nivara and her minions, we would just be gone for some time if that is what we are going to do. Give us time to even raise an army there to bring here to help. Nivara isn't going to do anything until she has me, I am pretty certain of that. But if we want to convince at least one of the Dijiin's before we go to get things set in motion here?"
Muir answers matter of factly "Oh, no I did not tell anyone. I assumed they saw the note with the symbols, and me ask for it and the bag. Apologies for assuming....Yes I have communicated twice with Goodall through the bag writing in Druidic. I am happy to answer other questions."
Vin approaches and uses his ring of spell storing to heal Elthana, then retreats back towards Neferox, listening to the discussion between Muir, Griff and Sam. And then Elthana has her say as well.
What to do now is an interesting question, with no obvious or good answer that he can see. And the talk of secrets is a constant plague on the group. He knows that all too well after what happened when they were at Mireah's.
The thought of leaving Thaeir doesn't sit well with him, not after how much those in this realm have done for them. Well, some of those in this realm. But he cannot deny Elthana is too exposed to Nivara's influence whilst she is here. And it seemed foolish to deliver Elthana into her clutches, either directly or by being somewhere she expects.
And then there was the issue of the Clerics of Hermes at Hokum. He had no idea what that might mean.
He decides to listen a little more, and think more on the choices, rather than blurt something out that might make matters worse.
Action: Cast Cure Wounds at lvl 3 from ring of spell storing - Elthana heals 18 hit points
Sam has more or less moved on from Muir's continued selective disclosure and sense (or claim) that he is a lot more forthcoming than he is and has instead started thinking about "what next."
"We are most the way to Shenog," Sam points out. "Would be foolish to turn away now. We should at least make contact and discuss... They may want time to investigate for themself or to muster their forces. Next I was going to visit a couple of Giants and try to gain their support. It is likely netter to do that sooner than later so they can make preparations too, if need be..."
"But..." Sam continues but then pauses to sigh and look around a bit. "But I agree that keeping Elthana away from Nivara is a good idea. Though if she is able to hurt her through dreams it may not matter what realm or plane we are in..."
"But also... We are PeaceKeepers of Northmorrah. That is what we were formed form, that is our mandate and that is what we pledged to be. Helping here may be good for home as well but if home is in more immediate danger we have a certain responsibility to make that our priority, I would think."
"But..." Sam says again, even thinking himself that this is a lot of butts... "But end of day I am staying with Elthana and doing what I can to help and protect her."
"I am fearing" Griff begins, trying to get things straight in his head, "that now Nivara is knowing how close she is to be achieving whatever it is she is wanting, she maybe will be giving chase... Do not be forgetting, time is passing differently here, faster. The problem here may be becoming out of control before you are able to be returning... I am not meaning to try to persuade you to stay, you are saying this realm has been doing a lot for you, but I am thinking Thaeir is owing you a lot more, they are just not knowing it yet. If you are going to be deciding to leave I wil not be stopping you, but I will be continuing to fight here, we are knowing of the threat to our own realm now, and I will not be stopping until it is gone, I am hoping that the djinni will be feeling the same way"
Vin stays away from the group next to Neferox, and subtly points at Elthana and whispers words only she can hear, not wanting to interrupt everyone and cause further commotion.
"Hey, Elthana. You said Nivara heard us when you had your vision, right? You don't think she can read your mind? It is ok for you to hear our plans, right?".
"No," Gewyn says to Sam as he pulls himself out of his vision. "Whatever Nivara is doing, it is happening in this realm. She is not making use of other planes as far as I can tell. I think removing Elthana from Theair would indeed solve the problem, but... I may have something even better."
He turns to Elthana. "It would take a lot of trust though, and I won't do it without your permission. It will also take cooperation from everyone else."He looks to everyone else to ensure they are all listening. "Nivara is using you as her inside source of information. We have course of action available to us, and she knows what it is. But I could make it so that when you go to sleep next, your memory of this conversation is that we agreed to change plans and do something else entirely. If she gets in your head again, your mind will lead her in the wrong direction." Gewyn looks at her very seriously. "But if you agree to this, you won't remember that I manipulated your memory, or even that I can. You won't remember me explaining any of this to you. And we won't be able to talk about our plan around you outside this conversation. Anything after this conversation will still be in your memory for Nivara to read. You may be confused. You will be in the dark about our true plan. You may feel something is off, but not know why..."He trails off and looks to Elthana, and then to everyone else for their thoughts.
Griff nods at Gewyn's suggestion, but makes no moves to speak on it leaving the decision to Elthana of course, instead he takes Muir to one side and still within earshot of the group asks, "if you are being helping in this mission with Nivara, I am thinking the armies we are gathering will assist in your problem at home? With the time differenting is this not better?"
Muir nods "Indeed it would. This is why I hesitated to tell what I know because I didn't have all the details, but under the circumstances I found it prudent to explain what I know now with the situation at hand."
After the healing, Elthana breathes a little easier. She responds to Vin's message, "That is what she responded to, what she heard you all say and it sounded like it was the first she heard of it. But I don't know if she can read my mind as well?"
Her eyes widen a bit when Gewyn's suggestion is based on what Vin and she had just conversed about and it makes her wonder about him a bit more. She listens, a feeling in the pit of her stomach grows as she does and she doesn't like the feeling of it. When her changeling friend has finished, she hangs her head. "How will this stop me from thinking you all are conspiring against me when you talk about it when I'm not around and I walk in on you or catch little things here or there? I don't want to drive a wedge between us?"
You can see the fear in her eyes as she contemplates this. Thinking of the memories that were implanted for her childhood, not knowing what is real and what isn't and this would just compound that. "Do you... do you think it would work?"
Vin hears Elthana's whispered response and Gewyn's plan, and frowns, unable to remain out of the conversation.
"You know what, I am going to share my opinion. I know we all prefer to give options and leave the decision to someone else, or worse, the group. As if the group can make a decision without us giving our opinions as individuals. Anyway, these are my opinions", he says directly and matter of factly.
"Elthana doesn't know if Nivara can read her mind, which means for me messing with it however ingenious an idea should be kept in reserve, and done only when we know it is needed. I have had my memories messed with and it isn't nice. Evidence so far suggests Nivara can hear what Elthana hears when she sleeps. That we can work with. As for leaving this realm and going home. I don't want to leave the people here who have helped us so much. Without whom we wouldn't have a new lodestone. If Elthana needs to go to get away, I think someone needs to go with her. I am sure Sam would volunteer at least. But I would like to stay with Neferox and help put an end to Nivara. To make Elthana safe once and for all. I also understand we are Peacekeepers of Northmorrah, and if the council orders us back we have a big decision to make. But right now we have gone a little rogue anyway, right?".
"I also worry that Nivara will come for Elthana if she knows where she will be. That is especially true now as she might predict Elthana's leaving. But let's be honest, if Nivara needs Elthana to complete her plan, she will follow her. Do we want Nivara back home? I certainly don't".
He takes a deep breath.
"Those are my opinions. Listen or not, I have had my say and would like you all to make your opinions known. It doesn't help giving people information or making suggestions unless you say what you think we should do. And I know I haven't covered everything, like phylacteries and such, this is just where my mind is at right now. Oh, and I also think one of those giants that was mentioned might have some good insight into this predicament, and could be worth visiting sooner rather than later".
Elthana finally smiles as Vin speaks his mind. "I like hearing your opinion. You're right, we should do that more often. I don't know if Nivara can read my mind or not, I haven't had this kind of connection to her before and my nightmares didn't get real intense until we arrived at this plane. I do feel now that I am so close.. she wouldn't let me go without a fight, I do worry that she would follow me. And I definitely would rather fight than tuck my tail between my legs and run."
"Oh, I also told her I was planning on leaving, so that is already in her head. I was trying to deceive her that that was the reason we were going to Shenoh... she didn't buy it. Also, I don't think we need to make final decisions yet, but we can go to Shenoh and see what happens first. We still have to convince her, I mean, what do we do if we can't?"
“That’s easy, Gewyn just changes her memory to make her think we did convince her”, Vin replies to Elthana with a chuckle, happy she has taken him seriously.
Muir steps forward "My opinion....Well I....I will save you all from long winded explanation." Muir proceeds with a long winded explanation "I think Elthana should come back to our plane but not with Sam. Sam, your strength will be needed here to help Gewyn and Vin. I cannot provide that strength for them. Instead I would like to volunteer to go back with Elthana. We need to figure out things about the phylactery and insight into Nivarra. I believe Sergor can provide us with much we seek. Elthana has aided me with this and can continue to do so. We can also gather information about the clerics and report back. I don't feel comfortable messing with Elthana's brain and memories. It's a slippery slope. However, if none of this is acceptable to Elthana than my opinion is to change plans and seek out a different Djinn. Nivara knows we are going to Shenoh. There is nothing stopping her from detaining us through the word of "Vox Tronitor". I think to continue on with the original plan is folly."
After returning Vin's smile and listening to Muir's opinion, Elthana slips her hand into Sams. "I'm not leaving him." as she refers to the big oaf next to her, "And I really do not think we should split up. I think we could still communicate with our plane through the bag as needed. Speaking of, could I have it back please? Do you know who has it on the other side?"
She gives a sly smile, "I understand your worry about going to Shenoh, but at the same time, I would like to see what kind of reach she might have.. either she'll just let us do what we want, or we can see what she can do from her castle in the sky."
"we are knowing what she can be doing from her castle, she has been showing this with killing lumithor and shattering the shattered isle" Griff mumbles nervously.
Muir snorts out his nose offended since he's the only one who shares everything he knows "Less than the rest of you"
"Just the things that affect all of us, eh?" Sam responds, annoyed.
Elthana smiles at Vin as he offers her healing and nods. Taking a breather as the others discuss and then start to argue, she gets more and more agitated. She finally stands up and turning to Muir with no anger in her voice, "I'm assuming you let the others know you were communicating to Goodall through Hog's bag while I was asleep?"
Letting it go, she turns to Griff, "Honestly, I think me leaving this realm would be best for everyone. We would not leave you to Nivara and her minions, we would just be gone for some time if that is what we are going to do. Give us time to even raise an army there to bring here to help. Nivara isn't going to do anything until she has me, I am pretty certain of that. But if we want to convince at least one of the Dijiin's before we go to get things set in motion here?"
Muir answers matter of factly "Oh, no I did not tell anyone. I assumed they saw the note with the symbols, and me ask for it and the bag. Apologies for assuming....Yes I have communicated twice with Goodall through the bag writing in Druidic. I am happy to answer other questions."
Vin approaches and uses his ring of spell storing to heal Elthana, then retreats back towards Neferox, listening to the discussion between Muir, Griff and Sam. And then Elthana has her say as well.
What to do now is an interesting question, with no obvious or good answer that he can see. And the talk of secrets is a constant plague on the group. He knows that all too well after what happened when they were at Mireah's.
The thought of leaving Thaeir doesn't sit well with him, not after how much those in this realm have done for them. Well, some of those in this realm. But he cannot deny Elthana is too exposed to Nivara's influence whilst she is here. And it seemed foolish to deliver Elthana into her clutches, either directly or by being somewhere she expects.
And then there was the issue of the Clerics of Hermes at Hokum. He had no idea what that might mean.
He decides to listen a little more, and think more on the choices, rather than blurt something out that might make matters worse.
Action: Cast Cure Wounds at lvl 3 from ring of spell storing - Elthana heals 18 hit points
Sam has more or less moved on from Muir's continued selective disclosure and sense (or claim) that he is a lot more forthcoming than he is and has instead started thinking about "what next."
"We are most the way to Shenog," Sam points out. "Would be foolish to turn away now. We should at least make contact and discuss... They may want time to investigate for themself or to muster their forces. Next I was going to visit a couple of Giants and try to gain their support. It is likely netter to do that sooner than later so they can make preparations too, if need be..."
"But..." Sam continues but then pauses to sigh and look around a bit. "But I agree that keeping Elthana away from Nivara is a good idea. Though if she is able to hurt her through dreams it may not matter what realm or plane we are in..."
"But also... We are PeaceKeepers of Northmorrah. That is what we were formed form, that is our mandate and that is what we pledged to be. Helping here may be good for home as well but if home is in more immediate danger we have a certain responsibility to make that our priority, I would think."
"But..." Sam says again, even thinking himself that this is a lot of butts... "But end of day I am staying with Elthana and doing what I can to help and protect her."
"I am fearing" Griff begins, trying to get things straight in his head, "that now Nivara is knowing how close she is to be achieving whatever it is she is wanting, she maybe will be giving chase... Do not be forgetting, time is passing differently here, faster. The problem here may be becoming out of control before you are able to be returning... I am not meaning to try to persuade you to stay, you are saying this realm has been doing a lot for you, but I am thinking Thaeir is owing you a lot more, they are just not knowing it yet. If you are going to be deciding to leave I wil not be stopping you, but I will be continuing to fight here, we are knowing of the threat to our own realm now, and I will not be stopping until it is gone, I am hoping that the djinni will be feeling the same way"
Vin stays away from the group next to Neferox, and subtly points at Elthana and whispers words only she can hear, not wanting to interrupt everyone and cause further commotion.
"Hey, Elthana. You said Nivara heard us when you had your vision, right? You don't think she can read your mind? It is ok for you to hear our plans, right?".
"No," Gewyn says to Sam as he pulls himself out of his vision. "Whatever Nivara is doing, it is happening in this realm. She is not making use of other planes as far as I can tell. I think removing Elthana from Theair would indeed solve the problem, but... I may have something even better."
He turns to Elthana. "It would take a lot of trust though, and I won't do it without your permission. It will also take cooperation from everyone else." He looks to everyone else to ensure they are all listening. "Nivara is using you as her inside source of information. We have course of action available to us, and she knows what it is. But I could make it so that when you go to sleep next, your memory of this conversation is that we agreed to change plans and do something else entirely. If she gets in your head again, your mind will lead her in the wrong direction." Gewyn looks at her very seriously. "But if you agree to this, you won't remember that I manipulated your memory, or even that I can. You won't remember me explaining any of this to you. And we won't be able to talk about our plan around you outside this conversation. Anything after this conversation will still be in your memory for Nivara to read. You may be confused. You will be in the dark about our true plan. You may feel something is off, but not know why..." He trails off and looks to Elthana, and then to everyone else for their thoughts.
Griff nods at Gewyn's suggestion, but makes no moves to speak on it leaving the decision to Elthana of course, instead he takes Muir to one side and still within earshot of the group asks, "if you are being helping in this mission with Nivara, I am thinking the armies we are gathering will assist in your problem at home? With the time differenting is this not better?"
Muir nods "Indeed it would. This is why I hesitated to tell what I know because I didn't have all the details, but under the circumstances I found it prudent to explain what I know now with the situation at hand."
After the healing, Elthana breathes a little easier. She responds to Vin's message, "That is what she responded to, what she heard you all say and it sounded like it was the first she heard of it. But I don't know if she can read my mind as well?"
Her eyes widen a bit when Gewyn's suggestion is based on what Vin and she had just conversed about and it makes her wonder about him a bit more. She listens, a feeling in the pit of her stomach grows as she does and she doesn't like the feeling of it. When her changeling friend has finished, she hangs her head. "How will this stop me from thinking you all are conspiring against me when you talk about it when I'm not around and I walk in on you or catch little things here or there? I don't want to drive a wedge between us?"
You can see the fear in her eyes as she contemplates this. Thinking of the memories that were implanted for her childhood, not knowing what is real and what isn't and this would just compound that. "Do you... do you think it would work?"
Vin hears Elthana's whispered response and Gewyn's plan, and frowns, unable to remain out of the conversation.
"You know what, I am going to share my opinion. I know we all prefer to give options and leave the decision to someone else, or worse, the group. As if the group can make a decision without us giving our opinions as individuals. Anyway, these are my opinions", he says directly and matter of factly.
"Elthana doesn't know if Nivara can read her mind, which means for me messing with it however ingenious an idea should be kept in reserve, and done only when we know it is needed. I have had my memories messed with and it isn't nice. Evidence so far suggests Nivara can hear what Elthana hears when she sleeps. That we can work with. As for leaving this realm and going home. I don't want to leave the people here who have helped us so much. Without whom we wouldn't have a new lodestone. If Elthana needs to go to get away, I think someone needs to go with her. I am sure Sam would volunteer at least. But I would like to stay with Neferox and help put an end to Nivara. To make Elthana safe once and for all. I also understand we are Peacekeepers of Northmorrah, and if the council orders us back we have a big decision to make. But right now we have gone a little rogue anyway, right?".
"I also worry that Nivara will come for Elthana if she knows where she will be. That is especially true now as she might predict Elthana's leaving. But let's be honest, if Nivara needs Elthana to complete her plan, she will follow her. Do we want Nivara back home? I certainly don't".
He takes a deep breath.
"Those are my opinions. Listen or not, I have had my say and would like you all to make your opinions known. It doesn't help giving people information or making suggestions unless you say what you think we should do. And I know I haven't covered everything, like phylacteries and such, this is just where my mind is at right now. Oh, and I also think one of those giants that was mentioned might have some good insight into this predicament, and could be worth visiting sooner rather than later".
Elthana finally smiles as Vin speaks his mind. "I like hearing your opinion. You're right, we should do that more often. I don't know if Nivara can read my mind or not, I haven't had this kind of connection to her before and my nightmares didn't get real intense until we arrived at this plane. I do feel now that I am so close.. she wouldn't let me go without a fight, I do worry that she would follow me. And I definitely would rather fight than tuck my tail between my legs and run."
"Oh, I also told her I was planning on leaving, so that is already in her head. I was trying to deceive her that that was the reason we were going to Shenoh... she didn't buy it. Also, I don't think we need to make final decisions yet, but we can go to Shenoh and see what happens first. We still have to convince her, I mean, what do we do if we can't?"
“That’s easy, Gewyn just changes her memory to make her think we did convince her”, Vin replies to Elthana with a chuckle, happy she has taken him seriously.
Muir steps forward "My opinion....Well I....I will save you all from long winded explanation." Muir proceeds with a long winded explanation "I think Elthana should come back to our plane but not with Sam. Sam, your strength will be needed here to help Gewyn and Vin. I cannot provide that strength for them. Instead I would like to volunteer to go back with Elthana. We need to figure out things about the phylactery and insight into Nivarra. I believe Sergor can provide us with much we seek. Elthana has aided me with this and can continue to do so. We can also gather information about the clerics and report back. I don't feel comfortable messing with Elthana's brain and memories. It's a slippery slope. However, if none of this is acceptable to Elthana than my opinion is to change plans and seek out a different Djinn. Nivara knows we are going to Shenoh. There is nothing stopping her from detaining us through the word of "Vox Tronitor". I think to continue on with the original plan is folly."
“That was great, Muir. Don’t you feel better now?”, Vin says encouragingly.
"Well, I prefer to give options and think through plans already provided but this was fine...." Muir waits for the others to make their ideas known
After returning Vin's smile and listening to Muir's opinion, Elthana slips her hand into Sams. "I'm not leaving him." as she refers to the big oaf next to her, "And I really do not think we should split up. I think we could still communicate with our plane through the bag as needed. Speaking of, could I have it back please? Do you know who has it on the other side?"
She gives a sly smile, "I understand your worry about going to Shenoh, but at the same time, I would like to see what kind of reach she might have.. either she'll just let us do what we want, or we can see what she can do from her castle in the sky."
"we are knowing what she can be doing from her castle, she has been showing this with killing lumithor and shattering the shattered isle" Griff mumbles nervously.