No one offers any alternatives, so the party follows Mival's suggestion and sets up camp in the same spot as last time.
While our heroes rest, the constructs, who have no need of it, stand guard. And so, barely an hour into the party's rest, Rocksaucers's voice announces: "We have... visitors!"
"Of course, of course!" says a young sea elf with long, straight, seaweed-colored hair and a knowing look. "I'm just a visitor, not looking for trouble! The only thing I seek is arcane knowledge. Knowledge you seem to possess in abundance, I presume, considering the minions you surround yourselves with" he observes Rocksaucers and Khelbluen in admiration.
(( The following should be read in the voice of Rod Sterling as if introducing the latest Twilight Zone episode.))
Imagine if you will, a world woven with the threads of magic, where ancient forests hum with arcane energy and the long-lived elves find their rest not in sleep, but in a deep, conscious meditation known as a trance. While in a trance, an elf's spirit journeys through their past, reflecting on a lifetime of memories and gaining wisdom from experiences both joyful and sorrowful. This unique ability, bestowed by the elven deities, is a fundamental part of their being, allowing them to remain aware of their surroundings even as their mind travels inward.
However, not all trances are equal. An elf can deepen their trance to achieve a greater level of insight, focusing on a specific individual or situation to glean hidden truths or motives... say something similar to an Insight check in Dungeons & Dragons.
(( End narration - so, read on! ))
Tarysaa was just barely into the first hour of her trance state. Just as she was preparing to delve deeper, her semi-there consciousness 'heard' Rocksaucers' warning and an unfamiliar voice speaking. The trance was jarringly ended as she climbed back to full awareness.
Insight Check: 5 <<< yes, it was/is THAT bad.
Still coming out of her altered state, Tarysaa attempted to discern the true intentions of this newcomer. Still partly in trance as she swam up the internal levels in her mind, her eyes cracked open but unfocused, her mind searching through the echoes of her past to find similar instances of treachery and the subtle tells that betray a liar as her mind analyzed the voice she heard speaking. Mentally searching as she may, her memories fail to come to any conclusions. Instead of discerning any deceit, Tarysaa's mind latches onto a past memory of a seemingly trustworthy individual who had the same cadence and lilt in their voice; an individual who ultimately proved to be loyal.
Upon coming fully out of the trance state, Tarysaa felt a lingering sense of confidence concerning the voice and the 'honesty' of the tone. Getting to her feet, she raises a hand ingreeting and speaks in elven, "Êl síla erin lû e-govaned vîn. Im Tarysaa Sōlus. Man esselya ná?"
"I should have known there was an elf behind these feats of the Arcane Art," the newcomer bows courteously to Tarysaa. "I greet you too. My name is Eltrinor Glashenill and..."
"Hello, Wirincend," Mival exclaims, having arrived as well. "It's you, isn't it? Although I'm surprised... You don't often leave the lair."
"Blossom!?" The newcomer widens his eyes in surprise. "You've been missing for a while... We thought you were dead—or at least gone."
"I was with these new friends," the hero doppelganger explains. "We've been very busy! But you'll hear from us soon... we're finishing our rest, then we'll come to the Lair; there's something we'd like to negotiate..."
"Thetis's cloak!?" Wirincend is surprised again (he must have read Mival's mind). "It will be interesting to see you negotiate for that! But why rest here? You might have some nasty encounters... Come rest in the lair! You'll be safer."
Mival turns to the Harpells' envoy again: "What do you say, Tarysaa? Shall we follow Wirincend to the lair and rest there? After all, no monster ever comes to disturb us Lords from Below..."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
No one offers any alternatives, so the party follows Mival's suggestion and sets up camp in the same spot as last time.
While our heroes rest, the constructs, who have no need of it, stand guard. And so, barely an hour into the party's rest, Rocksaucers's voice announces: "We have... visitors!"
"Of course, of course!" says a young sea elf with long, straight, seaweed-colored hair and a knowing look. "I'm just a visitor, not looking for trouble! The only thing I seek is arcane knowledge. Knowledge you seem to possess in abundance, I presume, considering the minions you surround yourselves with" he observes Rocksaucers and Khelbluen in admiration.
(( The following should be read in the voice of Rod Sterling as if introducing the latest Twilight Zone episode. ))
Getting to her feet, she raises a hand ingreeting and speaks in elven, "Êl síla erin lû e-govaned vîn. Im Tarysaa Sōlus. Man esselya ná?"
"I should have known there was an elf behind these feats of the Arcane Art," the newcomer bows courteously to Tarysaa. "I greet you too. My name is Eltrinor Glashenill and..."
"Hello, Wirincend," Mival exclaims, having arrived as well. "It's you, isn't it? Although I'm surprised... You don't often leave the lair."
"Blossom!?" The newcomer widens his eyes in surprise. "You've been missing for a while... We thought you were dead—or at least gone."
"I was with these new friends," the hero doppelganger explains. "We've been very busy! But you'll hear from us soon... we're finishing our rest, then we'll come to the Lair; there's something we'd like to negotiate..."
"Thetis's cloak!?" Wirincend is surprised again (he must have read Mival's mind). "It will be interesting to see you negotiate for that! But why rest here? You might have some nasty encounters... Come rest in the lair! You'll be safer."
Mival turns to the Harpells' envoy again: "What do you say, Tarysaa? Shall we follow Wirincend to the lair and rest there? After all, no monster ever comes to disturb us Lords from Below..."