Ingram notices Elthana's humming but chooses to uncomfortably not mention it, it not being his place. "I uhhh. You guys seem weird, talkative.. well more than usual I suppose in your case Muir. I think we chat with the giants there and get ourselves back to Duun as quick as possible."
Ömertyr's voice booms across the dark stone clearing as he says something in joyful giant, and is then followed by uproarious laughter by both the giant siblings, Muir watches as his rocs are somewhat subdued only to be released and they double down on the attack once more. But the whole group sees that the rocs are pulling punches and seem to be enjoying the activity in a playful manner.
"I don't know why you're looking at mmm-mm,"Gewyn finds he cannot finish his sentence as is, so he pivots to a question. "Why are you looking at me? I agree with Ingram. Let's get out of here. Elthana... are you o- do you want to talk, or just move on?" Gewyn asks, ready to trust whatever answer she gives.
Muir chuckles at the birds and asks "Are you two having fun?"
Gewyn dodges 2 questions which causes Muir to look at Elthana and Vin in a see I told you so manner. He takes out his notes and then answers Vin
"I believe I have told you everything....Let me recount what I know to be sure. Nivara is a lich who found a shrine to Nectyran in our realm that I assume led her here all because her brother died at a young age. She and her family turned to vampirism to prolong their lives, which was not good enough for her, which led to the shrine and this realm. We know about Lumithor and Vox and assume she became a Lich when Elthana woke the first time before this iteration of her. She had the djinn's build her an army through the use of Mornlyf killing kobolds and anyone else assumed a traitor to Vox and a follower of Lumithor. She lives on Vox's beast island and put the Phylactery in Vox's head because Vox is needed to hold this world together. In order to defeat her, we need to destroy the phylactery with a magical weapon. I don't know the ritual per se only that it needed a vessel or phylactery and a unique form of suicide.the mornlyf.... If you have a question I could better direct my answer as I believe I have told you everything"
"Ooh, one holding back, one being open. We have a tie right now. What about you Elthana?", Vin says giving Muir the thumbs up and waiting on Elthana to answer before they leave.
Elthana raises an eyebrow, finally drawing her attention away from what was occupying it, "When I awoke the first time? This is my second time? This is news to me... (and if it isn't I'm sorry!)." She stands up and brushes herself off. "I'm not holding anything back, honestly I'm itching to get moving. I am not afraid to die, the only fright I have is that if I die before Nivara.. that spells doom for us all."
She turns to Gewyn, "What are you holding back? You got us in to this mess, spill it."
"And the open and honest win, by two to one", Vin says with a slight humour to his tone, but the undertone is more serious.
He turns his eyes to Gewyn, seeing if he will acquiesce and spill the beans having been called out by Elthana.
Neferox moves up by his side, her gaze also on the bard.
"Won't be long, Ingram. Just finishing some business", he says to Ingram without looking away from Gewyn, pre-empting any interruption that might be a distraction.
His expression is that of curiosity rather than annoyance as he looks at Gewyn.
Ingram gives a nod letting the group speak and plan, he begins walking towards the giants and calling out to them in their tongue, organising something and before long Ömertyr wanders off and comes back with his pack. Ingram approaches Muir, "apparently in times of old Rocs were used as mounts for giants, Daudi says that it was the case in yor realm too, Either way they've formed a bit of a connection and she wants to ask if Ömertyr and her can ride the Rocs into battle, they're kitted out for it now I suppose... anyway, if you agree, then big Ö will take you all back to Duun in his pack and the Rocs can stay here with Daudi until it is time, Ö will return later... though now that I think of it, Daudi should be at the meeting right? should we all just go together?"
As Vin is waiting to see what Gewyn says a voice crackles to life in the back of his mind, though this one is not Neferox's, Nef sensing it does cock her head visibly at Vin concerned.
"Is this the boy? hello? Been trying to reach you for days, fighters trained, need update, where can we meet? whats the plan? have you-" and abruptly the message cuts out, though Vin knows he can send a telepathic message of 25 words back to the familiar voice of kohso the Elder kobold from the shattered isle.
Muir feels a rustling from the pack as it becomes rather heavy suddenly.
inside the pack, Muir finds five stones of varying colours, and a small pouch which looks to be woven from moss and is in the shape of an upturned mushroom. these items come with two notes,
the first note is from hog and is messily scrawled, it reads, "Did what I could with the mushrooms and moss, they are great for absorbing arcanum but are not very good at deciding to stay specifically one thing, I hope they help, only draw three spore clumps a day though other wise the bag is likely to denature and wither. The stones took a lot longer than I thought, fine tuning a rune like a web is something I had to research a lot, luckily theres an eccentric librarian at the Cavalcade who pointed me right, the stones act like sending stones to each other stone but because the web is so intricate i hd to reduce it's power, I hope itll reach about 50,000 ft but definitely not across a whole continent or realm. I dunno what you guys need this for but you asked and I hope this works. anyway I'm counting up what you owe me and reducing that by what I owe you in rent, don't die out there or I'll be broke! bye!"
The second note is from Goodall and reads, "Elthana, no news on my end, the council grow restless but I have kept your secret about mister Hamilton, best we dont discuss it here, I was able to speak with Muir in his sanctuary yesterday, thank you for getting him to visit, please ask him to follow up on the things I asked of him, It is three days until the parlay at trundlesten, I will update you when I know more, also please tell Muir that I have been able to recruit the help of those at the Cavalcade to gain access to a scrying orb, I have been watching Gore and am pleased to say that even given his condition he seems to be safe for now. many thnks, Master Goodall."
Vin startles slightly as his mind is invaded by the unfamiliar voice. Anyone watching him sees him start to count on his fingers.
He is a little flustered as he replies, "Yes, it's Vin. Djinn accept truth about Vox and Lumithor and Shattered Isle folk. Mornlyf has been destroyed. Trying to arrange meeting between you and...oh bother".
Gewyn looks like he is starting to sweat under the pressure, unable for once to lie his way out, and with every chance to dodge being brushed aside. He flips through options in his head. He looks at Muir, then and Vin, and lastly at Elthana. "This really doesn't seem important right now, but... The truth is, I li-" He swallows, considers again. "I lied back during the Hokum debacle. I knew a bit about the fruit. Not a lot, mind you. I didn't know what it was doing to people, but I knew it was being imported to Marblestead, and I was tasked to keep that a secret. Which meant doing something I'd never done before, to silence the man, Favian, who we found already dead at the site of the ritual where we fought Rynwell. I didn't want to, and I didn't end up needing to, but there you go. My last secr- my last lie. I lied to you, and was covering the tracks of my employer."
Gewyn looks on the verge of being ill, and is no longer making eye contact.
Knowing all too well the burden of carrying out orders.. and knowing hers have been much worse than what Gewyn has admitted to, Elthana walks over to her changeling friend and wraps her arms around him. Holding him in a hug if he allows it, hoping he realizes he should be feeling relief with unburdening himself with this truth.
Vin looks at Gewyn, and then at Elthana and Muir to see how they are reacting to his revelation. He genuinely couldn't remember what Gewyn is talking about, not after his death and revival. But that is not what is concerning him now.
"Obviously owning up to that lie was difficult. But it wasn't exactly relevant you are right. The fact is you were asked what you were holding back about the Nivara situation first. You even seemed to struggle to tell us it was your last secret and couldn't do it. A lie is different to a secret, as you well know. So how many secrets are you holding onto, and how many of them relate to Nivara?", he asks, feeling sure that he only revealed the least important piece of information he was holding back.
Gewyn accepts the arms around him. Holding on to her arm lightly if and when Elthana pulls away. "I am not holding back anything regarding Nivara,"he says, his voice coming out like a sigh of relief. "But you all knew I was holding something back, and I knew I wouldn't be able to make it go away. I'm getting tired of hiding. At least with you all. I used to obscure truth because it would call danger down upon my life. I was afraid and weak. But now secrets are the things that are getting in my way. So I will say again, I know nothing about the Nivara situation that I have withheld or been deceitful about to any of you."
Muir looks at Elthana hug Gewyn and tries to hide his.....dismay.....If they were back home and not facing possible death he would tut tut them loud and hard but instead he takes deep breath.
"Vin the fruit were when we saved Hokum. They were being used to brain wash people in Hokum. We found a crate of them with Gewyn's factions symbol on it. He acted as if he had no idea what they were. Even after seeing the effects on people he kept this to himself. You are correct it has no relvancy to this plane but if his faction is using them on ours and Master Gore is under it's sway I need more information than "oh uhhh yeh I didn't tell you the truth (17 perf Muir sounds pretty close to Gewyn's voice)". If you know how to cure these effects, I need to know now to help Master Gore."
"I know not. But I know it is connected to my realm," Gewyn says, referring to the Faewyld as his realm rather than the mortal plane. "I was hoping to study the fruits further when next we are home. If there is a cure, I may be able to discover it."
“Thank you and I apologize for my mocking tone. The fruit may be a part of a much larger problem by the time we get home. Is there anything else before I share the contents of the bag and message that came through?”
Vin nods to Muir, thankful for the explanation about the fruit.
When Gewyn asserts he is not keeping anything back about Nivara, he looks at him closely, not sure if the change in his demeanour is because he finally didn't have to lie or if the effects of the drink had worn off.
Either way, he knows he won't get anything further out of Gewyn, and with time not on their side it is time to drop the interrogation.
"Ok, I'm glad that is out of the way", he says. "I also have some news, but you go ahead Muir. What did you find in the bag?".
Muir excited reads Hog’s note and takes out the stones.
”Did what I could with the mushrooms and moss, they are great for absorbing arcanum but are not very good at deciding to stay specifically one thing, I hope they help, only draw three spore clumps a day though other wise the bag is likely to denature and wither. The stones took a lot longer than I thought, fine tuning a rune like a web is something I had to research a lot, luckily theres an eccentric librarian at the Cavalcade who pointed me right, the stones act like sending stones to each other stone but because the web is so intricate i hd to reduce it's power, I hope itll reach about 50,000 ft but definitely not across a whole continent or realm. I dunno what you guys need this for but you asked and I hope this works. anyway I'm counting up what you owe me and reducing that by what I owe you in rent, don't die out there or I'll be broke! bye!"”
“I can’t say I remember who requested the stones or if I knew. With everything going on in this realm it’s hard to keep everything straight. Here is a note for Elthana. And hog mad me something from the moss and mushrooms I had been collecting from this realm.”
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Ingram notices Elthana's humming but chooses to uncomfortably not mention it, it not being his place. "I uhhh. You guys seem weird, talkative.. well more than usual I suppose in your case Muir. I think we chat with the giants there and get ourselves back to Duun as quick as possible."
Ömertyr's voice booms across the dark stone clearing as he says something in joyful giant, and is then followed by uproarious laughter by both the giant siblings, Muir watches as his rocs are somewhat subdued only to be released and they double down on the attack once more. But the whole group sees that the rocs are pulling punches and seem to be enjoying the activity in a playful manner.
"I don't know why you're looking at mmm-mm," Gewyn finds he cannot finish his sentence as is, so he pivots to a question. "Why are you looking at me? I agree with Ingram. Let's get out of here. Elthana... are you o- do you want to talk, or just move on?" Gewyn asks, ready to trust whatever answer she gives.
Vin looks to Gewyn and smiles, "So that is one holding back and not wanting to be honest about the fact. Next?". He looks to Elthana and Muir.
Muir chuckles at the birds and asks "Are you two having fun?"
Gewyn dodges 2 questions which causes Muir to look at Elthana and Vin in a see I told you so manner. He takes out his notes and then answers Vin
"I believe I have told you everything....Let me recount what I know to be sure. Nivara is a lich who found a shrine to Nectyran in our realm that I assume led her here all because her brother died at a young age. She and her family turned to vampirism to prolong their lives, which was not good enough for her, which led to the shrine and this realm. We know about Lumithor and Vox and assume she became a Lich when Elthana woke the first time before this iteration of her. She had the djinn's build her an army through the use of Mornlyf killing kobolds and anyone else assumed a traitor to Vox and a follower of Lumithor. She lives on Vox's beast island and put the Phylactery in Vox's head because Vox is needed to hold this world together. In order to defeat her, we need to destroy the phylactery with a magical weapon. I don't know the ritual per se only that it needed a vessel or phylactery and a unique form of suicide.the mornlyf.... If you have a question I could better direct my answer as I believe I have told you everything"
"Ooh, one holding back, one being open. We have a tie right now. What about you Elthana?", Vin says giving Muir the thumbs up and waiting on Elthana to answer before they leave.
Elthana raises an eyebrow, finally drawing her attention away from what was occupying it, "When I awoke the first time? This is my second time? This is news to me... (and if it isn't I'm sorry!)." She stands up and brushes herself off. "I'm not holding anything back, honestly I'm itching to get moving. I am not afraid to die, the only fright I have is that if I die before Nivara.. that spells doom for us all."
She turns to Gewyn, "What are you holding back? You got us in to this mess, spill it."
"And the open and honest win, by two to one", Vin says with a slight humour to his tone, but the undertone is more serious.
He turns his eyes to Gewyn, seeing if he will acquiesce and spill the beans having been called out by Elthana.
Neferox moves up by his side, her gaze also on the bard.
"Won't be long, Ingram. Just finishing some business", he says to Ingram without looking away from Gewyn, pre-empting any interruption that might be a distraction.
His expression is that of curiosity rather than annoyance as he looks at Gewyn.
Ingram gives a nod letting the group speak and plan, he begins walking towards the giants and calling out to them in their tongue, organising something and before long Ömertyr wanders off and comes back with his pack.
Ingram approaches Muir, "apparently in times of old Rocs were used as mounts for giants, Daudi says that it was the case in yor realm too, Either way they've formed a bit of a connection and she wants to ask if Ömertyr and her can ride the Rocs into battle, they're kitted out for it now I suppose... anyway, if you agree, then big Ö will take you all back to Duun in his pack and the Rocs can stay here with Daudi until it is time, Ö will return later... though now that I think of it, Daudi should be at the meeting right? should we all just go together?"
As Vin is waiting to see what Gewyn says a voice crackles to life in the back of his mind, though this one is not Neferox's, Nef sensing it does cock her head visibly at Vin concerned.
"Is this the boy? hello? Been trying to reach you for days, fighters trained, need update, where can we meet? whats the plan? have you-" and abruptly the message cuts out, though Vin knows he can send a telepathic message of 25 words back to the familiar voice of kohso the Elder kobold from the shattered isle.
Muir feels a rustling from the pack as it becomes rather heavy suddenly.
inside the pack, Muir finds five stones of varying colours, and a small pouch which looks to be woven from moss and is in the shape of an upturned mushroom. these items come with two notes,
the first note is from hog and is messily scrawled, it reads, "Did what I could with the mushrooms and moss, they are great for absorbing arcanum but are not very good at deciding to stay specifically one thing, I hope they help, only draw three spore clumps a day though other wise the bag is likely to denature and wither. The stones took a lot longer than I thought, fine tuning a rune like a web is something I had to research a lot, luckily theres an eccentric librarian at the Cavalcade who pointed me right, the stones act like sending stones to each other stone but because the web is so intricate i hd to reduce it's power, I hope itll reach about 50,000 ft but definitely not across a whole continent or realm. I dunno what you guys need this for but you asked and I hope this works. anyway I'm counting up what you owe me and reducing that by what I owe you in rent, don't die out there or I'll be broke! bye!"
The second note is from Goodall and reads, "Elthana, no news on my end, the council grow restless but I have kept your secret about mister Hamilton, best we dont discuss it here, I was able to speak with Muir in his sanctuary yesterday, thank you for getting him to visit, please ask him to follow up on the things I asked of him, It is three days until the parlay at trundlesten, I will update you when I know more, also please tell Muir that I have been able to recruit the help of those at the Cavalcade to gain access to a scrying orb, I have been watching Gore and am pleased to say that even given his condition he seems to be safe for now. many thnks, Master Goodall."
Vin startles slightly as his mind is invaded by the unfamiliar voice. Anyone watching him sees him start to count on his fingers.
He is a little flustered as he replies, "Yes, it's Vin. Djinn accept truth about Vox and Lumithor and Shattered Isle folk. Mornlyf has been destroyed. Trying to arrange meeting between you and...oh bother".
Muir takes a look in the bag and see the items. He waits for Gewyn to answer Elthana before interrupting the flow with the items in the bag.
"Oh! And one more thing...please tell me all you know about the fruit that brainwashed people in Hokum. It may have been used on Gore"
Gewyn looks like he is starting to sweat under the pressure, unable for once to lie his way out, and with every chance to dodge being brushed aside. He flips through options in his head. He looks at Muir, then and Vin, and lastly at Elthana. "This really doesn't seem important right now, but... The truth is, I li-" He swallows, considers again. "I lied back during the Hokum debacle. I knew a bit about the fruit. Not a lot, mind you. I didn't know what it was doing to people, but I knew it was being imported to Marblestead, and I was tasked to keep that a secret. Which meant doing something I'd never done before, to silence the man, Favian, who we found already dead at the site of the ritual where we fought Rynwell. I didn't want to, and I didn't end up needing to, but there you go. My last secr- my last lie. I lied to you, and was covering the tracks of my employer."
Gewyn looks on the verge of being ill, and is no longer making eye contact.
Knowing all too well the burden of carrying out orders.. and knowing hers have been much worse than what Gewyn has admitted to, Elthana walks over to her changeling friend and wraps her arms around him. Holding him in a hug if he allows it, hoping he realizes he should be feeling relief with unburdening himself with this truth.
Vin looks at Gewyn, and then at Elthana and Muir to see how they are reacting to his revelation. He genuinely couldn't remember what Gewyn is talking about, not after his death and revival. But that is not what is concerning him now.
"Obviously owning up to that lie was difficult. But it wasn't exactly relevant you are right. The fact is you were asked what you were holding back about the Nivara situation first. You even seemed to struggle to tell us it was your last secret and couldn't do it. A lie is different to a secret, as you well know. So how many secrets are you holding onto, and how many of them relate to Nivara?", he asks, feeling sure that he only revealed the least important piece of information he was holding back.
Gewyn accepts the arms around him. Holding on to her arm lightly if and when Elthana pulls away. "I am not holding back anything regarding Nivara," he says, his voice coming out like a sigh of relief. "But you all knew I was holding something back, and I knew I wouldn't be able to make it go away. I'm getting tired of hiding. At least with you all. I used to obscure truth because it would call danger down upon my life. I was afraid and weak. But now secrets are the things that are getting in my way. So I will say again, I know nothing about the Nivara situation that I have withheld or been deceitful about to any of you."
Muir looks at Elthana hug Gewyn and tries to hide his.....dismay.....If they were back home and not facing possible death he would tut tut them loud and hard but instead he takes deep breath.
"Vin the fruit were when we saved Hokum. They were being used to brain wash people in Hokum. We found a crate of them with Gewyn's factions symbol on it. He acted as if he had no idea what they were. Even after seeing the effects on people he kept this to himself. You are correct it has no relvancy to this plane but if his faction is using them on ours and Master Gore is under it's sway I need more information than "oh uhhh yeh I didn't tell you the truth (17 perf Muir sounds pretty close to Gewyn's voice)". If you know how to cure these effects, I need to know now to help Master Gore."
"I know not. But I know it is connected to my realm," Gewyn says, referring to the Faewyld as his realm rather than the mortal plane. "I was hoping to study the fruits further when next we are home. If there is a cure, I may be able to discover it."
“Thank you and I apologize for my mocking tone. The fruit may be a part of a much larger problem by the time we get home. Is there anything else before I share the contents of the bag and message that came through?”
Vin nods to Muir, thankful for the explanation about the fruit.
When Gewyn asserts he is not keeping anything back about Nivara, he looks at him closely, not sure if the change in his demeanour is because he finally didn't have to lie or if the effects of the drink had worn off.
Either way, he knows he won't get anything further out of Gewyn, and with time not on their side it is time to drop the interrogation.
"Ok, I'm glad that is out of the way", he says. "I also have some news, but you go ahead Muir. What did you find in the bag?".
Muir excited reads Hog’s note and takes out the stones.
”Did what I could with the mushrooms and moss, they are great for absorbing arcanum but are not very good at deciding to stay specifically one thing, I hope they help, only draw three spore clumps a day though other wise the bag is likely to denature and wither. The stones took a lot longer than I thought, fine tuning a rune like a web is something I had to research a lot, luckily theres an eccentric librarian at the Cavalcade who pointed me right, the stones act like sending stones to each other stone but because the web is so intricate i hd to reduce it's power, I hope itll reach about 50,000 ft but definitely not across a whole continent or realm. I dunno what you guys need this for but you asked and I hope this works. anyway I'm counting up what you owe me and reducing that by what I owe you in rent, don't die out there or I'll be broke! bye!"”
“I can’t say I remember who requested the stones or if I knew. With everything going on in this realm it’s hard to keep everything straight. Here is a note for Elthana. And hog mad me something from the moss and mushrooms I had been collecting from this realm.”