Saoirse knows that beholders aberrant energy slowly leeches into their surroundings, and is able to detect enough of that signature in the remaining stones of the bridge to conclude that the spectator has been on this bridge for a very long time. Several decades at least, perhaps as much as a century. The displacer beast she is less sure of, but the spectator would only have tolerated it if they were under common orders, so it's likely that it has been here for a long time as well. There's nothing else obvious that they would be guarding, other than the bridge crossing.
Then a voice appears in all of your minds: <I can understand common, you speciesist vulture. Ive been summoned to this realm long enough to have learnt it before you were an itch in your fathers' scrotums'. Now, you are not locals in the valley. Speak the password if you wish to cross, or prepare to die... I am only pretending to be too weak to hover, for my own amusement. Retreat, speak the phrase, or die!>
Passive or active Insight DC 12:
It is definitely almost dead, and that lie is it trying (at disadvantage) to keep guarding the bridge anyway.
Hemlock is busy contemplating what Saoirse had said, and wondering about reading the spectators thoughts, when he hears it in his mind and is a little shocked. Although, bearing in mind he is now a bit more used to telepathic conversations, he recovers quickly.
He uses his own telepathy to answer the request for the pass phrase, "Jeremy was here".
"I have given the pass phrase", he says out loud to his companions, so they wouldn't speak for eaves droppers to perhaps overhear.
He will also try to determine if it is faking injury or not.
Sha-gravis at first jolts upright ready to defend, but realizes almost immediately the bluff. He walks over to the spector kneels down, and assesses the physical condition of the creature (medicine 21). <You look like you need help> “This thing is no threat. Let’s find out what we can. Why is the river spirit so agitated?”
"I assume it didn't like the bridge being blown up, but I don't know for sure", Hemlock replies to Sha-Gravis, looking at the churning waters. "Perhaps they know more", he says pointing down at the creature Sha is examining. He is not as confident as the Tabaxi that it is totally harmless, and so stays a little way away.
The fire genasi lets out a surprised gasp when the spectator's voice resounds in her mind. And even if she is somewhat ashamed for having spoken so coldly of a creature in the brink of death, the rush of anger she feels after beeing adressed in such a manner - along with the survival instinct built after so many years of training at the Order - overcomes everything else. And so, contrary to Hemlock , who has walked away from the creature, Saoirsestands up, draws her rapier and points it towards the spectator.
- Well, you might have learned Common in all your years here, but your lies don't measure up - she says, staring at the creature's single eye. Then, exhaling and trying to calm herself a little, she continues - Listen, we have no quarrel with anyone charged to protect this Valley, and my companion has already given you the password anyway. But that doesn't mean I'm ready to trust you will not try to harm us. Not when my whole training and instincts are telling me to fear both your and your companion's kind. So how about this? Let him - she tilts her head slightly towards Sha-examine you. Answer our questions, prove that you are no threat to us nor to anyone trying to cross this bridge peacefully, and we could try to heal you. For your displacer companion it is already too late, I'm afraid. (ooc: guess this calls for an intimidation roll? Got a 14 (-1) and I'll add the Storyteller's boon for a total of 17)
The blood hunter pauses, and if the aberration seems willing to cooperate, she'll ask the following:
- We know an HMC caravan came through here. I assume they didn't know the password and forced their way across the bridge. Do you happen to know who was in command the caravan? Do the names Captain JonahorViconiaring any bell?
Saoirse also asks about the guardian's tasks and its summoner.
-Who summoned you? Why were you tasked to guard this particular bridge? Was it because it leads to the Grave Fort, perhaps?
There is a hint of sadness in the alien voice in your minds. <Yes, I though Bagheera was dead. She has been at my side for a long long time, and I will miss her.> Then the more authoritative tone returns to it <You have spoken true, and may cross the bridge... but if you want to help me gather the strength to get off of the ground, that'd be really nice. Sounds like your trainers were a little bigoted against higher life forms - typical of short-lived groundwalkers.>
The single remaining giant eye, slightly bloodshot and quite pained, fixes on Sha-Gravis as he carries out his examination. <Look furball, my eyes were blown off and my whole body bludgeoned by debris and explosives. Just infuse me with some healing magic, get me back up, and I'll regenerate what I've lost in a few months or years. Don't bother trying to understand my advanced physiology, just fire off a healing word or whatever little magic you've got. You do that, and I'll answer the hothead's questions, at least the ones I can.>
Lam had been watching the ring fall into the river- which he had dropped before Hemlock could impart wiser ways to dispose of it- and listening intently when Saoirse described the guardians’ powers, having not dealt extensively with either type of creature in the wild. He then stares at the corpse of the displacer beast, gears seemingly turning in his mind. He starts as the spectator’s voice appears in his mind and it clearly takes him a moment or two as he looks around to realize that it’s the spectator’s voice. He puts one hand on his greataxe as he struggles to remember the pass phrase, but Hemlock reports that it has already been said by the time Lam remembers it.
Lam is a bit startled by Saoirse’s sudden intensity towards the spectator, remembering only from her words that this might be the sort of creature Saoirse was trained to fight. Seeing that his friends have it handled though, his attention slowly turns back to the other creature. Sometimes he looks at it and thinks it’s in one place, and sometimes another. But it can’t have actually moved, right? It’s been dead this whole time? He turns back to the general conversation and tries to voice out loud his question. “How does… Bagheera… look like she is in different place?”He says, pointing rather tactlessly at the corpse. “She is still doing it. Does it always happen?”He doesn’t mention the other thought that has begun to form- that if this effect persisted past death, then it could perhaps be used.
Hemlock continues to keep an eye on the spectator, not overly enamoured with its attitude towards them, but hopeful that they might get some answers. He is impressed with Saoirse's knowledge of these strange creatures, and trusts her judgement whee it concerned.
Sha grabs a limp eyeless eyestalk and turns the Spector’s eye so they are looking directly at each other. <Actually I was thinking of ending your suffering. Unless you have answers to my friends questions, my help will be your end!>. “I’m not sure my divinely gifted spells will work on such a vile monster. I believe these tyrants are slavers and paranoid driven psychopaths!”
As she waits with her rapier still pointing to the spectator, Saoirselistens to Lam. Wait, is he suggesting...? Could they really use the displacer beast's pelt? The thought had never occurred to her, and gods, wouldn't those displacing abilities be useful in the perilous journey the group had ahead of them. She wondered how the spectator would react to this, but that line of thought is interrupted when Sha-Gravis speaks. The blood hunter looks at the tabaxi quite surprised, as she would have never expected to hear those words from the cleric. She stays put for the moment but a shadow of doubt crosses her mind. Did the aberration lie when it said he would answer after he's healed...? (ooc: Insight 11)
... But ... if the guardians were indeed dangerous, Cylence would have warned them, wouldn't he? Do they have any real motives to act this way, other than the fact that the guardians were a monstrosity and an aberration?
As she reflects on this the fire genasi remains silent and alert, finding once again how hard it is when the outside world confronts what she had been taught during her chloistered time at the Order.
Hemlock listens as Sha calls the spectator a vile monster, that his divine magic might refuse to heal. He can't help but wonder if Sha has some history of his own with something like the spectator.
Feeling out of his depth, he lets both Sha and Saoirse take the lead, and instead focusses on Lam's observation about the displacer beast. It was hard to focus on for sure.
As far as you can tell, the creature has been honest so far, though not particularly tactful. The spectator shifts suddenly, and for a moment it looks like it will lunge toward Sha-Gravis, but it does not have the strength to move off of the ground and doesn't get very close. <Vile monster? Slaver?! I have been a dutiful guard of this bridge for the good king for nearly 100 years! As for psycopathy - you're the one threatening to withhold medical care to extort information! If your divinity is one of those gods that refuses to help people based on species or plane of origin, then she can keep bloody gifts to her damned self! Meanwhile, your friends are standing there thinking about how to turn Bagheera's pelt into a tool for themselves. She was a displacer beast - the antennae displace light to split its image and project it in multiple locations. I don't appreciate you taking her power for yourself, at least not without knowing what you two-leggers would use it for.>
“If our roles were reversed, I would expect nothing from you. You said it yourself we are short lived inferior groundlings. I believe you would revel in your superiority. My goddess, is accepting and cruel at times, as am I. You have been bound to this bridge, just imagine if you had been free. I’ve heard horror stories of eye tyrants…”
All this time Sha has been tense, but as he admits to hearing stories he relaxes, what is real and what is exaggeration? He’s not sure this spectator is an eye tyrant even though it matches the description…
<Eye tyrant!? Those swollen messes of power and malice have no sense of decorum, and I detest being lumped in with them. That's like me calling you a rampaging gnoll just because you walk on two legs and are a stupid furball. If I needed to revel in it, I wouldn't really be superior.> The eye shifts to focus on Hemlock, pointedly turning from Sha. <So yes, please, toss me that healing potion. And yes, others have successfully repurposed displacer antennae to work for their own protection. Why are you somebody worth protecting?> You notice that it very intentionally does not respond to Hemlock's question about the king.
Hemlock looks from Sha to the Spectator, then to Saoire and Lam, not knowing what to do.
He takes out the potion of healing, but doesn't immediately hand it over, he first watches the spectator closely and tries to work out if the Spectator is being honest about what it had said.
The time it takes also gives the others a chance to give their opinions.
As Hemlock takes out the potion, Saoirse quickly walks up next to him and places her hand over his, covering the potion. She looks at the druid and shakes her head, indicating with his gesture that he shouldn't toss the potion just yet.
She then faces the spectator again and asks:
- Are you saying Gareth Dayne summoned you a hundred years ago to protect this bridge?
Saoirse knows that beholders aberrant energy slowly leeches into their surroundings, and is able to detect enough of that signature in the remaining stones of the bridge to conclude that the spectator has been on this bridge for a very long time. Several decades at least, perhaps as much as a century. The displacer beast she is less sure of, but the spectator would only have tolerated it if they were under common orders, so it's likely that it has been here for a long time as well. There's nothing else obvious that they would be guarding, other than the bridge crossing.
Then a voice appears in all of your minds: <I can understand common, you speciesist vulture. Ive been summoned to this realm long enough to have learnt it before you were an itch in your fathers' scrotums'. Now, you are not locals in the valley. Speak the password if you wish to cross, or prepare to die... I am only pretending to be too weak to hover, for my own amusement. Retreat, speak the phrase, or die!>
Passive or active Insight DC 12:
It is definitely almost dead, and that lie is it trying (at disadvantage) to keep guarding the bridge anyway.
DM: Heavy is the Head
(OOC: Damn! Insight 11. Will post later)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Hemlock is busy contemplating what Saoirse had said, and wondering about reading the spectators thoughts, when he hears it in his mind and is a little shocked. Although, bearing in mind he is now a bit more used to telepathic conversations, he recovers quickly.
He uses his own telepathy to answer the request for the pass phrase, "Jeremy was here".
"I have given the pass phrase", he says out loud to his companions, so they wouldn't speak for eaves droppers to perhaps overhear.
He will also try to determine if it is faking injury or not.
Insight: 19+6=25
(Your passive insight is enough to see through him)
DM: Heavy is the Head
Sha-gravis at first jolts upright ready to defend, but realizes almost immediately the bluff. He walks over to the spector kneels down, and assesses the physical condition of the creature (medicine 21). <You look like you need help> “This thing is no threat. Let’s find out what we can. Why is the river spirit so agitated?”
"I assume it didn't like the bridge being blown up, but I don't know for sure", Hemlock replies to Sha-Gravis, looking at the churning waters. "Perhaps they know more", he says pointing down at the creature Sha is examining. He is not as confident as the Tabaxi that it is totally harmless, and so stays a little way away.
The fire genasi lets out a surprised gasp when the spectator's voice resounds in her mind. And even if she is somewhat ashamed for having spoken so coldly of a creature in the brink of death, the rush of anger she feels after beeing adressed in such a manner - along with the survival instinct built after so many years of training at the Order - overcomes everything else. And so, contrary to Hemlock , who has walked away from the creature, Saoirse stands up, draws her rapier and points it towards the spectator.
- Well, you might have learned Common in all your years here, but your lies don't measure up - she says, staring at the creature's single eye. Then, exhaling and trying to calm herself a little, she continues - Listen, we have no quarrel with anyone charged to protect this Valley, and my companion has already given you the password anyway. But that doesn't mean I'm ready to trust you will not try to harm us. Not when my whole training and instincts are telling me to fear both your and your companion's kind. So how about this? Let him - she tilts her head slightly towards Sha - examine you. Answer our questions, prove that you are no threat to us nor to anyone trying to cross this bridge peacefully, and we could try to heal you. For your displacer companion it is already too late, I'm afraid. (ooc: guess this calls for an intimidation roll? Got a 14 (-1) and I'll add the Storyteller's boon for a total of 17)
The blood hunter pauses, and if the aberration seems willing to cooperate, she'll ask the following:
- We know an HMC caravan came through here. I assume they didn't know the password and forced their way across the bridge. Do you happen to know who was in command the caravan? Do the names Captain Jonah or Viconia ring any bell?
Saoirse also asks about the guardian's tasks and its summoner.
- Who summoned you? Why were you tasked to guard this particular bridge? Was it because it leads to the Grave Fort, perhaps?
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
There is a hint of sadness in the alien voice in your minds. <Yes, I though Bagheera was dead. She has been at my side for a long long time, and I will miss her.> Then the more authoritative tone returns to it <You have spoken true, and may cross the bridge... but if you want to help me gather the strength to get off of the ground, that'd be really nice. Sounds like your trainers were a little bigoted against higher life forms - typical of short-lived groundwalkers.>
The single remaining giant eye, slightly bloodshot and quite pained, fixes on Sha-Gravis as he carries out his examination. <Look furball, my eyes were blown off and my whole body bludgeoned by debris and explosives. Just infuse me with some healing magic, get me back up, and I'll regenerate what I've lost in a few months or years. Don't bother trying to understand my advanced physiology, just fire off a healing word or whatever little magic you've got. You do that, and I'll answer the hothead's questions, at least the ones I can.>
DM: Heavy is the Head
Furball. Hothead. Saoirse can't help but snort, but then reminds herself that the spectator is in extreme pain and has lost a dear companion.
- I am sorry for your loss - she says.
She won't put the rapier away just yet, but does move a couple of steps away to allow Sha-Gravis some space.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Lam had been watching the ring fall into the river- which he had dropped before Hemlock could impart wiser ways to dispose of it- and listening intently when Saoirse described the guardians’ powers, having not dealt extensively with either type of creature in the wild. He then stares at the corpse of the displacer beast, gears seemingly turning in his mind. He starts as the spectator’s voice appears in his mind and it clearly takes him a moment or two as he looks around to realize that it’s the spectator’s voice. He puts one hand on his greataxe as he struggles to remember the pass phrase, but Hemlock reports that it has already been said by the time Lam remembers it.
Lam is a bit startled by Saoirse’s sudden intensity towards the spectator, remembering only from her words that this might be the sort of creature Saoirse was trained to fight. Seeing that his friends have it handled though, his attention slowly turns back to the other creature. Sometimes he looks at it and thinks it’s in one place, and sometimes another. But it can’t have actually moved, right? It’s been dead this whole time? He turns back to the general conversation and tries to voice out loud his question. “How does… Bagheera… look like she is in different place?” He says, pointing rather tactlessly at the corpse. “She is still doing it. Does it always happen?” He doesn’t mention the other thought that has begun to form- that if this effect persisted past death, then it could perhaps be used.
Hemlock continues to keep an eye on the spectator, not overly enamoured with its attitude towards them, but hopeful that they might get some answers. He is impressed with Saoirse's knowledge of these strange creatures, and trusts her judgement whee it concerned.
Sha grabs a limp eyeless eyestalk and turns the Spector’s eye so they are looking directly at each other. <Actually I was thinking of ending your suffering. Unless you have answers to my friends questions, my help will be your end!>. “I’m not sure my divinely gifted spells will work on such a vile monster. I believe these tyrants are slavers and paranoid driven psychopaths!”
intimidation (using storytellers boon) 12
As she waits with her rapier still pointing to the spectator, Saoirse listens to Lam. Wait, is he suggesting...? Could they really use the displacer beast's pelt? The thought had never occurred to her, and gods, wouldn't those displacing abilities be useful in the perilous journey the group had ahead of them. She wondered how the spectator would react to this, but that line of thought is interrupted when Sha-Gravis speaks. The blood hunter looks at the tabaxi quite surprised, as she would have never expected to hear those words from the cleric. She stays put for the moment but a shadow of doubt crosses her mind. Did the aberration lie when it said he would answer after he's healed...? (ooc: Insight 11)
... But ... if the guardians were indeed dangerous, Cylence would have warned them, wouldn't he? Do they have any real motives to act this way, other than the fact that the guardians were a monstrosity and an aberration?
As she reflects on this the fire genasi remains silent and alert, finding once again how hard it is when the outside world confronts what she had been taught during her chloistered time at the Order.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Hemlock listens as Sha calls the spectator a vile monster, that his divine magic might refuse to heal. He can't help but wonder if Sha has some history of his own with something like the spectator.
Feeling out of his depth, he lets both Sha and Saoirse take the lead, and instead focusses on Lam's observation about the displacer beast. It was hard to focus on for sure.
"You are right Lam, I see the same. Intriguing".
As far as you can tell, the creature has been honest so far, though not particularly tactful. The spectator shifts suddenly, and for a moment it looks like it will lunge toward Sha-Gravis, but it does not have the strength to move off of the ground and doesn't get very close. <Vile monster? Slaver?! I have been a dutiful guard of this bridge for the good king for nearly 100 years! As for psycopathy - you're the one threatening to withhold medical care to extort information! If your divinity is one of those gods that refuses to help people based on species or plane of origin, then she can keep bloody gifts to her damned self! Meanwhile, your friends are standing there thinking about how to turn Bagheera's pelt into a tool for themselves. She was a displacer beast - the antennae displace light to split its image and project it in multiple locations. I don't appreciate you taking her power for yourself, at least not without knowing what you two-leggers would use it for.>
DM: Heavy is the Head
“Taking her power for ourselves? Is that even possible?”, Hemlock replies to the Spectator.
He looks to Sha, “I can offer a potion of healing if that is easier? I really would like answers. About this good king for starters”.
“If our roles were reversed, I would expect nothing from you. You said it yourself we are short lived inferior groundlings. I believe you would revel in your superiority. My goddess, is accepting and cruel at times, as am I. You have been bound to this bridge, just imagine if you had been free. I’ve heard horror stories of eye tyrants…”
All this time Sha has been tense, but as he admits to hearing stories he relaxes, what is real and what is exaggeration? He’s not sure this spectator is an eye tyrant even though it matches the description…
<Eye tyrant!? Those swollen messes of power and malice have no sense of decorum, and I detest being lumped in with them. That's like me calling you a rampaging gnoll just because you walk on two legs and are a stupid furball. If I needed to revel in it, I wouldn't really be superior.> The eye shifts to focus on Hemlock, pointedly turning from Sha. <So yes, please, toss me that healing potion. And yes, others have successfully repurposed displacer antennae to work for their own protection. Why are you somebody worth protecting?> You notice that it very intentionally does not respond to Hemlock's question about the king.
DM: Heavy is the Head
Hemlock looks from Sha to the Spectator, then to Saoire and Lam, not knowing what to do.
He takes out the potion of healing, but doesn't immediately hand it over, he first watches the spectator closely and tries to work out if the Spectator is being honest about what it had said.
The time it takes also gives the others a chance to give their opinions.
Insight (with Guidance): 8+6+3=17
As Hemlock takes out the potion, Saoirse quickly walks up next to him and places her hand over his, covering the potion. She looks at the druid and shakes her head, indicating with his gesture that he shouldn't toss the potion just yet.
She then faces the spectator again and asks:
- Are you saying Gareth Dayne summoned you a hundred years ago to protect this bridge?
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra