If a visual helps, on the left is the area as described. The party is just south of the archway.

The images on the right (while not a perfect match) are to give you an idea of what I had in mind.

Reverie blinks her eyes once she noticed about Clarion's voice around her and her friends. Now that she is curious about Clarion's quest, she gives a long glance at the pixie. She mentioned she had a quest but it's a secret... Taking a deep breathe, she turns to face Froskan when he asks a question. A question that now pops up in her mind. "I do not see anyone but us and this strange pond. But I see there is a wooden shack..." That's when she looks back at the entrance. "... Let us checking on that shack... Maybe someone could be inside." Then she walks towards a wooden shack with cutting the ivy...

Reverie walks to the archway, aiming for a path to the shack staying clear of the tree/ivy of the archway. She is almost through, but on the next step the party is in front of her.

She was magically turned around and placed on the outside edge of the archway.

Just to be certain, she turns around to face the inside (towards the shack and pond), and takes several steps forward. Once again, she is turned around and stepping out of the archway to the outside.

Isk takes a deep breath of the fresh air and looks around.  "This doesn't seem too bad, a nice change of pace from the last place."

OoC - was the party moved to where Rev is or was Rev moved back to where the party was?

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

OoC - was the party moved to where Rev is or was Rev moved back to where the party was?

(OOC: I assumed Reverie stepped ahead of everyone else, so the party is outside the archway, seeing this happen. In a blink of an eye, Reverie is almost though, then she has been teleported turned around and almost on top of the party.)

Seeing what happens to Reverie when she tries to walk through the Archway, Froskan motions for her to move back out of the way and tries walking through himself.

Same thing happens to Froskan: walks in the archway, stays in a straight line, but exits the same way he came in.

At this point, you can hear the door of the shack open. A sea elf emerges, clad in burlap robes typical of the common acolyte. However, there is a strength in his steps, and an intensity of his eyes (like Froskan has when spell-casting), that hint of a far greater power. The elf carries out a staff (tapping it on the ground casually as he moves), closes the door to the shack, and walks to the middle of the archway.

"Greetings, and welcome to the blessed Spring. My name is Geranthil, the keeper. That includes groundskeeper, and doorkeeper.

"Your group looks like it is accustomed to violence, and armed for it. This is a place of peace and recovery. If you wish to be admitted, you must swear an oath that you will abstain from hostility during your visit.

"And you must be able to enter the grounds inside the stone wall. I may use the magic of this place to keep you out."

He smiles, but kindly (not like a sneer). He then steps to the side of the archway, leaning with his back against the tree, waiting to see what you will do (or say) next.

Trimyrai: (whispering to the group) "Should we trust this guy?"

(Welcome to try Insight rolls. Anything more than 2 rolls, and it becomes a group check.)

Clarion: "Well, if you think your errand requires you to go to that pond, I'm not sure how much of a choice you have about trusting him. He is the bouncer at the door of the bar you want to visit, so to speak.

"If you are concerned about making an oath of no hostility, then press him on the details that worry you. Then if he breaks his word, that will void your obligation as well. That is the way of the Feywild."

Isk steps up, his glaive vanishing in a puff of smoke, and says, "We are as accustomed to violence as we are weary of it.  If you say this place is safe, we look forward to the respite from our travels.  I am happy to swear an oath to not start any fights, but if violence is acted upon us, we must be able to defend ourselves.  Is that a satisfactory compromise?"

Persuasion roll if needed:

(Are there bars in the Feywild? :P)

Quote from VanderLegion >>

(Are there bars in the Feywild? :P)

(Pretend that, instead of "bouncer at the bar", I used the phrase "doorman of the bacchanal".)

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Isk steps up, his glaive vanishing in a puff of smoke, and says, "We are as accustomed to violence as we are weary of it.  If you say this place is safe, we look forward to the respite from our travels.  I am happy to swear an oath to not start any fights, but if violence is acted upon us, we must be able to defend ourselves.  Is that a satisfactory compromise?"

 

"If you make the oath, and are able to enter, no harm will come to you. I will defend those inside with my life. That is part of my duty as keeper of this place. If that proves to be inadequate, at that time you are free to defend yourselves. But while I live, that sort of action will be unnecessary."

(Froskan will insight check: 8

Reverie looks at Trimyrai when he whispers to the group, and then she starts to wonder if she should trust this man also. But Clarion's words were also correct: they do not have a choice but to trust this man. This Feywild is quite... an interesting place for her now. After a glance at Iskander, she steps out carefully as she gazes the man for a moment.  "I am Reverie Forestgleam, a paladin of Eldath, the goddess of peace. I made an oath to defend the peace against the violence." Then she asks, "how could we trust your promise that you will keep us safe after we made an oath? If that offends you, I am truly sorry. But we just went through the unexpected case before we arrived here."

Insight - 20

(edit: NATURAL 20!)

Clarion: "I just told you. If he lies or breaks his word, you are not beholden to an oath you've made it him.

"Or is it that you don't trust what I said either... Tell me if that is how you feel, and I won't be a bother to your group anymore."

Geranthil: "It is as the pixie says. Oaths of this kind bind both the speaker and the listener. If I fail in what I say, you are no longer bound by what you say.

"You in particular may find this place of interest. The water of the pond was blessed long ago by a powerful water spirit. I am not sure which one (I was not there for the event), but in some versions of the stories, it was Eldath. If you can reach the pond, you will be able to touch a trace of the grace of that goddess (or at least, one of her kin)."

(Reverie thinks both of them are on the level. But unlike to-hit rolls, a natural 20 doesn't guarantee success for a skill check. If he had a 25 Deception, Reverie would still believe him despite her Insight roll.)

Isk is satisfied and nods, "I promise to keep my blade sheathed."

Trimyrai: (to Geranthil) "I swear to not break the peace."

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Isk is satisfied and nods, "I promise to keep my blade sheathed."

"As a spell-caster, you can do considerable damage without your blade... I worry that you are working to create pedantic loopholes to do violence, rather than embrace the meaning of this place."

Quote from EmperorKarino >>

Trimyrai: (to Geranthil) "I swear to not break the peace."

Geranthil nods at this. "That was the first requirement. The second is another matter... You must be able to enter inside the stone wall ring. I can use my magic and the power of this place to keep you out... Two of you have already experienced that, when you tried to pass through the archway a short time ago. The solution for that is simple, but I am disheartened how many were unable to realize it."

Froskan says, "I vow to do no violence as long as we remain safe."

Quote from VanderLegion >>

Froskan says, "I vow to do no violence as long as we remain safe."

Geranthil gives a tired sigh. "I guess that will be acceptable. Why so much effort, looking for excuses and conditions to avoid peace... Maybe I am expecting too much from visitors. Fifty years ago, the condition was to convert to a holy cause of peace. These sort of half-hearted vows would not have been enough back then. But times change."

(If everyone makes similar sort of promises, the first condition will be met. But the second challenge still has to be solved.)