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. ))

"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..."

Zev kept it simple the whole way: after they had found the ring he took rear watch on the walk back, gave the room a last sweep for stragglers, and stood off to the side while Rephis passed on—quiet, hat in hand. Back at the shrine he helped drag junk into a little barricade, checked choke points, and split the night with the tin lads on watch. Blade cleaned, gear checked, eyes on the dark. That’s him. (I would have liked to explore the staircase that went up where was the merrow fight but I couldn't post at the time. I guess we can just skip it, no worries.)

When Rocksaucers called “visitors,” Zev’s hand was already on the hilt. He slid to the doorway, gave the sea-elf a once-over, then glanced at Mival. (Insight 8)

“no trouble meant,” he says, calm but firm. “we’re bedded here. if we pack up now, we waste time—need more prayers, risk more teeth between here and there. we’ll finish our rest, then come to your lair polite and awake. promise.”

He tips his chin toward Wirincend. “you can tell your folk we come in peace. we cleared merrow and a big crab by the breach. bought everyone a quieter night.”

Then to the group, low: “same watches. metal friends circle. i’ll take the door. we move after we’re fresh.”

Wirincend winks: "Fine, I'll let you rest now and put in a good word for you with the others, but... after your 'negotiations,' you will explain to me more about these wonderful magical constructs, won't you?"

His gaze is truly intense; he seems unable to take his eyes off Rocksaucers and Khelbluen...

However, whatever the party's response to his last request, the sea elf quickly heads back the way he came, and from that point on, rest proceeds smoothly.

[[ OOC: Gratz! Long Rest taken! ]]

"We can go meet the Lords from Below!" Mival seems in good spirits. "I'd suggest swimming down the main corridor where the floor collapsed, rather than calling Geados... If no one bothered us the whole time we've been camped, I hope there are no predators left in the depths of the waters we'll be crossing. What do you think?"

The party decides to simply swim down the corridor, and indeed, the journey goes smoothly. Once they reach the end, Geados's glowing eyes fixate on the group, but he, inscrutable, doesn't utter a word.

Thetis, however, speaks a lot when she sees our heroes again: "Hey, what took you so long to come back to see me?!" The young girl in skimpy shell outfit feigns indignation. "You've been such bad guys! I was bored not being able to talk to you!" and enjoys splashing you with her kicks in the shallow water.

As she does so, however, she also notices Paqen, Zevriel, Rocksaucers and Khelbluen, whom she sees for the first time: "Ooooppps! Sorry, I shouldn't have splashed you too... I hadn't met you yet, so you didn't have to come back to me. Anyway, nice to meet you now! My name is Thetis, and as the others have surely told you, I'm the 'forced receptionist' of the Lords from Below. Should I announce you to them? Wirincend had said you would come..."

Zev shifts his weight, giving Geados a wide berth and letting the others fan out. One hand rests easy on the hilt, not drawing—just there. He nods to Thetis, take-measures eyes flicking to exits and back, “I’m Zevriel. Knight, not fancy. Just here to keep folks safe and get answers.”

“You said ‘forced receptionist.’” His voice stays low, plain. “I don’t see chains. who holds you here—and how?” He taps two fingers against his temple and then his sternum, just to be clear. “Oath? Spell? Thing you wear? Word you can’t break?” He eases a half step aside so she’s not boxed in, blade still down. “Tell us what binds you—or tell me. I'm not sure I understand.”