The Forgotten Wish

Sylvera doesn't seem particularly concerned about the music, more... irritated. Thought that could just be lack of priorities after her failure to recall any history of the elves in the painting. She follows the party with a cold expression, though she is on the lookout for whatever could be causing the strange happenings around them. As the lanterns light up though, this peaks her interest... what would make them light themselves? Also, could there be some sort of mechanism that is causing the music to echo in a way that makes it sound like it's coming from everywhere? 

Perception: 17

She lets the peasants lead the way, as she is more interested in slowly looking at everything as they move along. 

(could I also get an arcana check from sylvera?) 

Oren sees others, or at least Slick, heading further in the other direction.  “Let us not get too far from each other.”  With one last look into the dining hall, he then heads across the room and begins following where he saw Rick go. 

arcana: 3

A shiver runs through Khond's withers, but unlike Nuria his reaction is not so much of fear, but excitement.  "Oh, now this is a performance.  Whoever set this up, they know the true magic of the arts, the power to draw us into the world of their performance.  I wouldn't be surprised if the furniture began to get up and dance."

The others' concerns over the origin of the music draws a shrug from the centaur, "Of course it would be coming from everywhere, Rick.  When any performance holds an audience across a large space, work must be done to ensure everyone, no matter where they are, can hear and see as if they were in the midst of the action.  Now, Pallen, would you care to sit on my back so that you can get about comfortably?"

Rick nods along with the ponyman's insights.

"Rick does want to go down now though, Khond will come? Who else?"

After the initial shock of everyone freezing up and being alert, when nothing seems to immediately happen the group begins to act as a whole. While Khond fawns over the performance that is being put up, offering Pallen to ride him, Sylvera moves closer to the walls with a hunch she wants to investigate. To Khond's inquiry, Pallen seems to respond somewhat affirmative. He's curious more than anything about what is happening now, and he does need to go deeper within the building to his destination still. He'd just need some help to actually somehow get on, or risk dragging the cart inside.

Sylvera meanwhile, thinks curiously about if there could be anything within the walls that would allow these lights, and the music, to work like this. And paying attention to that especially, she notices a faint sound of... Liquid? She's not too sure about the details, but applying some former knowledge, namely that these lamps can be activated with the help of some kind of oil, maybe there's just some kind of delivery system to activate them? And the very same internals in the wall allow sound to somehow transverse too? The sound in the basement may have been whatever activated this oil, or... Whatever it is she's hearing.

What is more exciting however is what happens with Oren and Rick. Oren, noticing Rick is intent to head in the other direction, is just about to turn around and join him, when he notices movement. What appears to be a female elf is slowly ascending the stairs, making clearly no intent to hide herself. She's got a halberd slung over her shoulder, but makes no notion of using it, cautiously raising a hand toward the dwarf.

And at the very same time, on the other side, Rick begins to cross the room... Only to likely immediately stop the moment he enters the room. Many more creepy statues of course, this time seemingly set in a sort of semi-theater setting, a place for presentation and performances to be given as most of the souls trapped are seated, facing the stage.

Where there is one thing most notably very alive. 

Playing on the organ set upon the stage on the far side, a strange figure sits, and is the apparent source of the music going through the halls. Starting from the top, the very first strange thing is what is on top of his head. From a mass of what seems to brown thick curly hair, a set of antlers stick out far above their head. Pointy, elven ears stick out behind them and to the sides. The outfit he wears is not really becoming of the situation either. Fine, expensive purple cloth, with accents of red and black... For a jester's outfit. Every part of his skin seems covered, except for where his shoes should be, where instead of shoes, one finds a set of hoofs.

Though the figure keeps playing. Either not having noticed Rick, or not caring.

Upon seeing the female elf, Oren decides to speak to her, (and therefore let the others know he sees something) "Hello fair elf."  He also raises his empty hand to greet her,  "We are helping our Elven friend, Pallen, on his journey here to find a resting place for him.  I am Oren.  Are you a caretaker of the building?"

Rick looks around the room a moment long before approaching the odd looking figure at the organ.

He'll move sneakily to come up beside the jester to get a good look at it's prosthetics while not interrupting the performance.

Stealth: 23

Investigation of the creature up close: 21

When the jester stops playing he'll clap politely and smile.

As two of the party each notice a different interloper upon these grounds, both have their own ways of dealing with them. Oren speaks loud, and clear, making sure everyone is aware that they are not alone.

And so, while most people's attention likely turns to that, Rick decides his best course of action is to silently sneak up toward the strange figure. The stage is raised, and it's likely that the proper entrance is somewhere in the back... But when has a little bit of scaling ever stopped a Tabaxi? 

As he comes closer however, the figure briefly raises a hand, as if indicating that it had already long seen him. Not that it stops him from getting closer, where the cat man gets a good look, and... If anything about what he is seeing in front of him is fake, it is a very convincing fake. In fact the strangest thing is its face, where he doesn't manage to catch a glimpse of skin. And he gets a proper look as the figure finally stops, and slowly gets up to turn around.

As curled legs stretch out in full, it becomes evident this thing is tall. Very tall- Even coming to hunch slightly over Rick, it must reach past two meters (or 6'6") in height. And there, where its face should be is instead a mask. No mouth or eye holes, just black painted on white; to resemble a wide, grinning face.

"Ahahaha, the tactical approach, to examine, to ponder, and then yet know the grace to act. Bravo, bravo! In another day, another age, I would have made you a knight, but alas."

The figure leans just ever so slightly closer, though it makes no hostile motions beside this.

"May I have your name?"

---

On the other side, just moments before the music would stop, Oren addresses the elf girl. To his question, she seems confused, her mouth opening before an apparent pained expression. Her expression seems to shift to one of frustration, before a few mangled words come out of her mouth to what seems like it may be elvish, that she eventually manages to recover from, and speak in plain common:

"Asimi," She replies plainly before shaking her head, "I'm no caretaker here, I'm..." The woman pauses, eyes narrowing, almost as if she was confused and frustrated about something; nevertheless she does eventually continue, "I was told to come here to handle an important task." The confused look on her face shifts back to the even expression from before.

Khond turns his head briefly in the direction Rick had gone when the music stops - the tabaxi must have done something - but then turns his attention trying to help Pallen onto his back, which is proving notably harder than doing so with another's assistance.  While he does, he calls out, "A pleasure to meet you, madam.  Was it perhaps yourself or a companion of yours who discovered the way to shed light upon these halls and spread music through the walls?"

Breldo regards the elven woman dubiously. She seems confused, but whether that is an act or not...

Insight: 13

“Asimi.  Nice to meet you.”   Tho then he pauses and frowns.   Almost as though he is unsure why he said that.  Oren lets out a sigh then continues.   “We are here on a mission, too.   Maybe our missions are …”.  He pauses seemingly searching for the correct words. “Not connected.. But maybe alike?   Are you here looking to help an elder Elf?”

Rick ignores the leaning in and answers the question while accepting the job.

"Slick Rick would love to be a knight!"

He then pauses and cocks his head,

"Rick actually isn't sure Rick would like to be knight, depends on the job. Rick wonders what Antlerman is doing in basement playing pretty songs?"

Rick leans in conspiratorially and whispers,

"Rick thinks Antlerman can play for a livelier audience. Antlerman man is nearly as good as Friend Khond, who is a ponyman, so is limited to strong stages."

While he talks he tries to place the stranger's accent. Anywhere Rick's been before?

Looking at the centaur she shook her head again, "Discovered? No. I was ordered to cast something into the furnace below," Asimi gestured back to the stairs behind her, "It seems that would have done it... Among other things," She adds upon hearing the music stop. Looking to Pallen curiously her attention turned back to Oren before she continued.

"Alike? I would think not. My lord told me he could help me with this... "wasting" should I come here." The elf maintained her neutral expression but from the tone of her voice it was clear she didn't understand what she was talking about, "I was awaiting his arrival but I suspect he's already here."

Sylvera rubs her chin thoughtfully, "Hmmm." She stares at the wall for a moment, then looks down the hallway again only to frown when she hears Breldo and Khond shouting greetings to someone. Giving one last look at the wall, she follows the sound of their voice, pausing only briefly when the music stops... maybe the greasy cat did something to it. A shame, she wanted to investigate the sound further. 

Regardless, she joins up with Khond, Pallen, and Breldo instead of following the tabaxi (partially because she can hear them... but mostly because she prefers to stay as far from Rick as possible). Upon seeing the stranger, she crosses her arms and lifts her chin. "Who is this?" Her eyes are fixed on Asimi, but her words seem directed at her companions. Her eyes narrow, "Who else is supposed to be here?" This time her words are directed at her fellow elf--apparently she walked in just in time to hear the last words said. 

Nuria stays completely silent as Breldo, Khond, Oren, and Pallen address the elven stranger. She looks as if she's trying to hide in her long dark hair as the others speak. This elf lady was sent to throw something into the fire? Why would she need to come all the way here to do that. Fire is fire.... She shivers.

She is clearly wary of the stranger, and she glances at Breldo when the woman mentions a 'lord' who is apparently waiting for her. However, when the music suddenly stops, she looks around fearfully.

Most people, unaware of Rick's antics in the other room, turn their attention toward Asimi, and engage in conversation. Breldo is the only one who regards her with some suspicion, and while she definitely looks confused, he's just not sure if it's an act or true. She's certainly saying some strange things, and Pallen is only getting more and more perplexed as time goes on. After a lot of trouble, he's decided to try and walk. Though clearly it's with a lot of difficulty, and if he stumbles he'd likely not be able to get up without help.

"Dealing with the wasting..? Are you suffering yourself? Or... Did you hope to find help here, as many believed..?"

Some of the questions may be answered even before Asimi could speak again, however. As rapturous laughter comes from the other room.

---

Rick, in the other room, enthusiastically responds to the strange figure. The mask stays unmoving, yet somehow he feels certain the being is very pleased to hear Rick speak his name plain, a willing gift. And then, as the Tabaxi wants to continue his usual mannerism of speech, he suddenly finds himself drawing a blank. There, were he knows he addresses himself always, there is nothing to be found. Unable to put his own name over his lips.

And there's rapturous laughter from the being as it straightens out for a moment.

"Oh, you walked right into that one! Now THAT'S funny!"

Laughter continues for a moment before it raises one of its gloved hands.

"Now as I already said, I'm afraid I am in no position to make knights no more! It would have been very funny indeed to have you as such, yes, yes. Now, where are your companions? You've all many questions, and I have but one for all of you!"

(Weird unnamed Tabaxi man, also give me a charisma saving throw.)