[[ OOC: OK, advancing the narrative... If Spira wants to continue the conversation with Mekkunod when she reconnects, of course we'll continue it - we can retro-play it. It shouldn't affect what happens now. ]]
After the rest, nine individuals come to meet the characters. They aren't people the party has seen before - but since the Lords from Below can shapeshift, that shouldn't be surprising. This time, it's a blond, ruddy halfling who seems to speak for everyone: "Well... We've decided to stick to our end of the bargain. It seems to us that you're determined to do the same. We hope you won't change your mind - for everyone's sake."
"You know I'm tied to both sides, Mekkunod..." Mival smiles reassuringly, recognizing the Ambassador even in his new features. "I, for one, will do my best to conceal your presence - and at least to ensure everyone lives together peacefully."
"Yes, Blossom, I know." Mekkunod looks at him in an... indefinable way. "You're one of us, and yet... unusual. It's as if the person who gave birth to you has imbued you with more of their nature than is usually the case with us. But perhaps that's precisely why I believe I can trust you" and he holds out an elegant, semi-transparent cloak to our heroes.
What should be Thetis' Cloak is being offered, ready to be taken... It seems all our heroes have to do is pick it up and return it to the Nereid receptionist, who should be just a corridor away...
Roxana nods to the halfling, apparently Mekkunod, as he describes his willingness to keep to their agreement. "I certainly agree to keep our end as well. This is Thetis' Cloak?"
As she asks, she studies the reaction primarily to see if there is anything dishonest about his actions. (Insight: 21)
"Of course! Go and give it to her," the Ambassador replies. "She'll surely feel it's hers."
"I've only seen the cloak once," Mival murmurs, "but it looks authentic to me."
Meanwhile, the cloak leaves Mekkunod's hand by itself, as if moved by an invisible hand, and begins to float before Anita. When anyone looks at her, she winks and just comments: "It's so light, there's no need for any of us to touch it... Shall we proceed with the delivery now?"
The group retraces the corridor that had led them to the heart of the Lords from Below's lair, reaching the room where the Nereid receptionist usually carries out her work.
Indeed, the exuberant young girl scantily clad in shells is there, passing the time by creating small, magical waves shaped like boats, which chase each other across the shallow waters of the flooded floor.
Seeing the cloak billowing, she widens her eyes in surprise, letting out an involuntary, stifled moan. The next moment, a sort of tentacle made of water emerges from beneath the cloak, grabs it, and brings it in a flash to the Nereid, who quickly puts it on.
"Now I feel like myself again!" she sighs, as if appreciating some delicious sensation that only she can feel. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she then launches into frantic acrobatics around the party (raising splashes that soak everyone's clothes).
Finally arriving in front of Mival, she gives a mischievous smile: "It's only right that you get what you deserve now!" and steps forward as if to kiss him.
The hero doppelganger seems frightened at first—but then relaxes and connects his lips with the little creature's.
"So, now I'm free!" Thetis beams. "I can't thank you enough! If I ever find you again, above or below the waves, I'll do anything to repay you!" and, after waving her hand, she seems ready to dive into the (albeit shallow) waters at any moment...
"If any of us wish to ask or say anything to her" Mival comments "I have the strong impression it's now or never..."
"Just take care of yourself and enjoy your freedom Thetis," Roxana says. "No need to repay us. Before you go though, do you even know where you're going?"
Tethis smiles: "I'll follow the water! Maybe I'll reach the sea or the ocean, with its boundless spaces..." her eyes turn dreamy. "Or a mysterious underground spring forgotten by all! Or perhaps a pleasant pond where deer come to drink! Or a swamp, with all those funny insects to play with..." she shrugs. "Water flows everywhere."
And the next moment, she dives into the shallow water and... disappears from sight with a final playful giggle, as if her body had instantly dissolved into the liquid.
"I still can't believe what we've accomplished together!" Mival looks at everyone in admiration. "We've freed Thetis and even made a deal with the Lords from Below, for their sake and for the sake of the people of Rassalantar! Is this what you heroes do all the time?" From his amazed and delighted expression, it's clear the young doppelganger is increasingly convinced that the life of an adventurer might be his true calling.
"And now?" he seems eager to get going again. "Shall we finish exploring the lower level? It shouldn't be long now!"
"Yes, I suppose water does flow everywhere," Roxana agrees. She doesn't even finish her comment before Tethis is gone. "Well, that was certainly quick." To Mival she says, "You did very well. I hope this truce with the Lords of Below will last." When he suggests resuming explorations, she nods. "Yes. Let's continue exploring below."
Determined to resume their exploration, our heroes will probably first have to return to Eldath's hrine to renew the blessing that allows them to breathe underwater...
Geados watches them impassively as they approach. Anita, however, raises a doubt: "We must have conducted an extensive cleanup operation down there... Would it be worth paying Geados for transportation again? Maybe we could just swim to the shrine... It's not far and there shouldn't be many monsters left lurking. What do you think, guys?"
"I suppose we know we're going to get wet no matter what we do," Roxana says. "If nobody else has objections, sure, let's just try it!" She would look around at the others to try to get consensus.
[[ OOC: I take control of Rash for a while while Mister_Whisker finishes handling some real-life matters—he'll take over again when he can return. ]]
Rash also embraces Roxana and Anita's vision, and the party is quickly convinced—and indeed, the swim goes off without a hitch. After a brief prayer at Eldath's Shrine, the characters are all "water friends" again and therefore perfectly able to breathe in this vital and welcoming element.
Once they've descended the spiral staircase back to the Permanent Teleportation Circle room, the choices seem essentially reduced to two: the northernmost exit, which seems to soon lead into a room, or the central one, which, at least initially, continues west.
The southernmost exit leads to the area the characters have already fully explored (leaving aside only the closed room where creatures the party preferred to avoid were lurking).
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[[ OOC: OK, advancing the narrative... If Spira wants to continue the conversation with Mekkunod when she reconnects, of course we'll continue it - we can retro-play it. It shouldn't affect what happens now. ]]
After the rest, nine individuals come to meet the characters. They aren't people the party has seen before - but since the Lords from Below can shapeshift, that shouldn't be surprising. This time, it's a blond, ruddy halfling who seems to speak for everyone: "Well... We've decided to stick to our end of the bargain. It seems to us that you're determined to do the same. We hope you won't change your mind - for everyone's sake."
"You know I'm tied to both sides, Mekkunod..." Mival smiles reassuringly, recognizing the Ambassador even in his new features. "I, for one, will do my best to conceal your presence - and at least to ensure everyone lives together peacefully."
"Yes, Blossom, I know." Mekkunod looks at him in an... indefinable way. "You're one of us, and yet... unusual. It's as if the person who gave birth to you has imbued you with more of their nature than is usually the case with us. But perhaps that's precisely why I believe I can trust you" and he holds out an elegant, semi-transparent cloak to our heroes.
What should be Thetis' Cloak is being offered, ready to be taken... It seems all our heroes have to do is pick it up and return it to the Nereid receptionist, who should be just a corridor away...
Roxana nods to the halfling, apparently Mekkunod, as he describes his willingness to keep to their agreement. "I certainly agree to keep our end as well. This is Thetis' Cloak?"
As she asks, she studies the reaction primarily to see if there is anything dishonest about his actions. (Insight: 21)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"Of course! Go and give it to her," the Ambassador replies. "She'll surely feel it's hers."
"I've only seen the cloak once," Mival murmurs, "but it looks authentic to me."
Meanwhile, the cloak leaves Mekkunod's hand by itself, as if moved by an invisible hand, and begins to float before Anita. When anyone looks at her, she winks and just comments: "It's so light, there's no need for any of us to touch it... Shall we proceed with the delivery now?"
"Excellent Anita," Roxana says. "Let's go meet with Thetis."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The group retraces the corridor that had led them to the heart of the Lords from Below's lair, reaching the room where the Nereid receptionist usually carries out her work.
Indeed, the exuberant young girl scantily clad in shells is there, passing the time by creating small, magical waves shaped like boats, which chase each other across the shallow waters of the flooded floor.
Seeing the cloak billowing, she widens her eyes in surprise, letting out an involuntary, stifled moan. The next moment, a sort of tentacle made of water emerges from beneath the cloak, grabs it, and brings it in a flash to the Nereid, who quickly puts it on.
"Now I feel like myself again!" she sighs, as if appreciating some delicious sensation that only she can feel. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she then launches into frantic acrobatics around the party (raising splashes that soak everyone's clothes).
Finally arriving in front of Mival, she gives a mischievous smile: "It's only right that you get what you deserve now!" and steps forward as if to kiss him.
The hero doppelganger seems frightened at first—but then relaxes and connects his lips with the little creature's.
"So, now I'm free!" Thetis beams. "I can't thank you enough! If I ever find you again, above or below the waves, I'll do anything to repay you!" and, after waving her hand, she seems ready to dive into the (albeit shallow) waters at any moment...
"If any of us wish to ask or say anything to her" Mival comments "I have the strong impression it's now or never..."
"Just take care of yourself and enjoy your freedom Thetis," Roxana says. "No need to repay us. Before you go though, do you even know where you're going?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Tethis smiles: "I'll follow the water! Maybe I'll reach the sea or the ocean, with its boundless spaces..." her eyes turn dreamy. "Or a mysterious underground spring forgotten by all! Or perhaps a pleasant pond where deer come to drink! Or a swamp, with all those funny insects to play with..." she shrugs. "Water flows everywhere."
And the next moment, she dives into the shallow water and... disappears from sight with a final playful giggle, as if her body had instantly dissolved into the liquid.
"I still can't believe what we've accomplished together!" Mival looks at everyone in admiration. "We've freed Thetis and even made a deal with the Lords from Below, for their sake and for the sake of the people of Rassalantar! Is this what you heroes do all the time?" From his amazed and delighted expression, it's clear the young doppelganger is increasingly convinced that the life of an adventurer might be his true calling.
"And now?" he seems eager to get going again. "Shall we finish exploring the lower level? It shouldn't be long now!"
"Yes, I suppose water does flow everywhere," Roxana agrees. She doesn't even finish her comment before Tethis is gone. "Well, that was certainly quick." To Mival she says, "You did very well. I hope this truce with the Lords of Below will last." When he suggests resuming explorations, she nods. "Yes. Let's continue exploring below."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Determined to resume their exploration, our heroes will probably first have to return to Eldath's hrine to renew the blessing that allows them to breathe underwater...
Geados watches them impassively as they approach. Anita, however, raises a doubt: "We must have conducted an extensive cleanup operation down there... Would it be worth paying Geados for transportation again? Maybe we could just swim to the shrine... It's not far and there shouldn't be many monsters left lurking. What do you think, guys?"
"I suppose we know we're going to get wet no matter what we do," Roxana says. "If nobody else has objections, sure, let's just try it!" She would look around at the others to try to get consensus.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
[[ OOC: I take control of Rash for a while while Mister_Whisker finishes handling some real-life matters—he'll take over again when he can return. ]]
Rash also embraces Roxana and Anita's vision, and the party is quickly convinced—and indeed, the swim goes off without a hitch. After a brief prayer at Eldath's Shrine, the characters are all "water friends" again and therefore perfectly able to breathe in this vital and welcoming element.
Once they've descended the spiral staircase back to the Permanent Teleportation Circle room, the choices seem essentially reduced to two: the northernmost exit, which seems to soon lead into a room, or the central one, which, at least initially, continues west.
The southernmost exit leads to the area the characters have already fully explored (leaving aside only the closed room where creatures the party preferred to avoid were lurking).