Frontier City of Nunkreet

Another nods for Iskander and Froskan's words about rest. Listening to the sound of the pond flowing, she looks back at Froskan and then down to her weapon. "I had an idea of putting my weapon into the pond, but if I take out the scabbard, I am afraid to be succumb by the anger again even if I would try not to. The violence won't work in this place... or I can just pour this blessed water onto my weapon." A pause, she looks into the pond, trying to measure the depth.

Investigation - 10

(Edit: oh dear very low... )

Froskan looks back to their host.  "You seem to have some power over us in this place," he says, thinking back to their inability to enter before asking permission, "and have promised you can keep us safe while we are here.  Can you do something to help Reverie restrain her anger from the weapon if she unsheathes it to put int he water?"  Then after a moment, almost as an afterthought, "Or do you know if her idea of pouring the water over it would work?"

(OOC: That was what I had in mind... Since the party will be taking either a Short or Long rest, Iskander can use a spell slot to cast another Remove Curse, so Reverie doesn't have to worry about the curse rage if the scimitar is taken out of the scabbard.)

The surface of the water is level with the stone ledge surrounding it. Reverie sits on the ledge and looks into the water, and it seems to be a foot deep.

Reverie carefully takes out the scimitar and tries to place it on the bottom of the pond... and falls in. The pool was 3' deep, but was so clear that the optical effect made it look shallower. She wasn't expecting that (Investigation 4) and fell off balance. (The water is very cold, enough to make her gasp, but for some reason her body temperature is still normal.)

After climbing out (and splashing anyone who laughed at her falling in), she looks at her scimitar in the water. The blade was dented and tarnished, and no amount of maintenance (up to now) was able to repair the damage from the Shadowfell. It is very gradual, but the dents appear to be filling in, and the tarnish is dissolving in the waters. She suspects the repairs on the scimitar will be done about the same time as the party is done resting. (OOC: After you decide whether to make it a Long or Short rest, this event will be the same duration.)

(Ahh yah, I forgot about Remove Curse for that)

Froskan chuckles as Reverie falls into the water, then again, un-phased by the cold, as she splashes him with the chilly water.

Jack himself seems to be in a bit of a foul mood, but he still expresses cheer. “A rest would be great. I think we all got beat a little back there with the Dryad. Everyone needs some rest every now and then. But, There’s something I can’t figure out.” Jack looks at the Sea Elf across from them, and speaks quietly as to not alert him. “He said this was a place of worship, didn't he? For Eledath? But Elves are notorious for not staying in one place, traveling from area to area. They don’t tend to stay frequently. And Sea Elves usually prefer to stay in the waters, and not on land.”

Jack stops when Reverie falls into the water, a little surprised from the fall. His expression goes from shock to a grin, and he’s about to get up to help her out when Reverie crawls out herself. “Going for a swim, Rev? I bet ye that you’re cold now. Waters have a way of sucking the heat out of ye.”

Reverie couldn't feel anything but a bit of embarrassment (or a lot). Such a shame for herself not being careful about this! Even after she splashes at Froskan for chuckling at her falling into the pond, her cheeks are burning up (thanks to the cold water that subsides her embarrassment a little) and yet she chuckles back at Froskan when he halts by the cold water. "Now you do feel the cold that I had to endure for a moment," Reverie says with a giggle.

As she climbs out from the pond with Jack's help, Reverie tilts her head to the side and gives a glance at Jack as her eyes narrow down. But a small smile still stays on her feature. "I did not intended to swim in the holy water. I can't believe myself falling into the pond now, but it's all right." Then she sighs as she looks down on herself. "It is cold but I can sense my temperature is still normal. Anyhow, thank you for helping me out, Jack." After a moment, Reverie shifts her gaze towards the pond where her scimitar is gradually healing. "I think I need to rest as well. Being angry by my weapon is quite draining, and I need to dry up myself."

(Long rest sounds good to me. owo)

Froskan chuckles again at reverie’s comment and lifts lifts his hand, frost forming on his fingers for a moment. “The cold never bothered me, anyway,” he says (I couldn’t resist), then lets the frost vanish and uses prestidigitation to dry Reverie’s clothes for her. 

Trimyrai: (to the party) "if this is a place of healing, is it possible the curse will lessen or be removed all together just by being here?"

(OOC: im for a long rest as well.)

OoC - I'm fine with either short or long rest.

Isk notices Jack's demeanor and ask, "What's eating at you Jack?  You've been on edge since we arrived here."

Quote from BoboBoombang >>

Jack looks at the Sea Elf across from them, and speaks quietly as to not alert him. “He said this was a place of worship, didn't he? For Eledath? But Elves are notorious for not staying in one place, traveling from area to area. They don’t tend to stay frequently. And Sea Elves usually prefer to stay in the waters, and not on land.”

Geranthil: "A general trend does not apply to all. But your point is already proven, since you notice it is just me in a small shack protecting this place, and not a village of Sea Elves.

"I tend the grounds as Keeper, but my focus is on the blessed well-spring. Wouldn't you say devotion to the waters is a fit calling for a Sea Elf?"

(OOC: Party takes a long rest. Don't forget to click the button on your character sheet.)

After everyone has rested, Reverie has determined that her scimitar in the water hasn't changed in the last half hour, so whatever process going on has finished. She reaches in, and raises the scimitar for a moment before putting it back in the scabbard. The weapon gleams, without blemish like it was fresh forged. The writing on the blade is still obscured, but the design (subtle grooves and variations in the blue steel color) is like artwork of flowing water.

Reverie is pleased by the restoration, but that quickly becomes a frown. "There is still a seething rage inside, underneath the Remove Curse spell. That damage has not been healed. Egg Chen mentioned three tasks, so I hope our next (and final) mission can remove that curse."

Geranthil: "I was a bit dismayed when I first saw that you came here for a weapon, but the spirits of this place did not disprove of your restoration, so all is well. May your difficult voyages always include safe harbors along the way."

(OOC: Checking if there was anything else you wanted to do here. Otherwise, you can prepare to move to the last mission.)

Isk lets out a long whistle at the sight of Reverie's blade.  "Truely a fine work that weapon once was, will be again."

Reverie looks at Iskander and then nods. "Yes, I am quite honour to restore this weapon that was once had a purpose, and will find its purpose again." Then she shifts her gaze at Geranthil as she put a scimitar into a restored and protected scabbard. "We thank you for your kindness and also the way of your teaching. I pray the goddess, Eldath, blesses you everyday."

The party asks to take a small vial of the spring water, to bring back to Egg Chen. Geranthil agrees, as long as it is for academic purposes... When you hold the vial underwater, it remains dry and full of air. Then Geranthil lets out a small chuckle, and the air in the vial starts to be replaced by water. "Sorry about the practical joke."

After making sure the area outside the stone wall is free of beasts from the far forest, you are escorted outside the ring. The third side of the magic transport triangle is struck. (Jack holds it up, and Reverie taps it with the attached metal rod.) The note is like a hum that you can feel in your bones, which echos and builds slightly in intensity over several seconds.

Nothing seems to happen. But then you blink, and all of you are in another place. (Surely the five of you did not blink at the same time. But the experience was the same for all of you.)

It is still early morning in this new place. You are standing by a shallow creek that winds its way around some small hills. Further downstream (50'), you see a good sized village. The size refers to the number of houses, because the houses themselves are only big enough for Tiny and Small creatures. (Think of a mixture of tidy hobbit houses from the Shire, and birdcage-sized Keebler elf structures.) In the center of that village, you see dozens of demolished houses, and a crudely built wooden hall of great size (50' by 70', 20' in height).

Further downstream (another 100' beyond the village), you see the entrance to a cave in the side of a hill. That entrance is blocked by fences, sharp stakes pointing towards the cave, and thorny brambles piled on top of all that.  A number of guard huts circle that entrance.

Clarion's jaw drops. She looks around in dismay, then starts pushing the party towards a nearby secluded area behind some larger rocks. "Hurry, hurry, no one has seen us yet. Duck down after you are behind cover. Fortunately, no one has noticed yet."

Once the party is safely behind cover, she still remains nervous. "I said that I wasn't going to mention my quest. You had saved my life, and it was not befitting to add to your burdens. But your magic transport has brought you here, so maybe your needs and mine overlap." She is still fidgeting, looking very concerned. She stops speaking, absorbed in her thoughts. 

Froskan, though confused, ducks quickly down behind the rocks at Clarion's warning.  He's not sure what's going on, but the pixie has been helpful and trustworthy so far.  He notes her seeming discomfort at the talk of her quest.  "Perhaps they do.  Why don't you tell us more about this quest of yours?"

Clarion: "Let me explain... No, there is too much. Let me sum up... A fomorian and its goons need to be killed or driven from my village, without hurting any of my friends."

She is still consumed in her own thoughts, and nods her head to no one in particular. "That explains everything, right?" she mumbles.

Froskan peeks back around the rocks at the tiny buildings in the village.  "And this is your village?" he asks, though he already knows the answer.

"What? Oh, uh, yes, ah... I guess I should say more. I can tell you the problem, but I still haven't figured out how to solve it.

"My village is a mix of pixies, brownies, sprites, quicklings... what you mundane would think of as small Fey beings. We made jewelry from materials collected from that cave, further down the creek.

"A week ago, strangers came to our village, seeking our hospitality. We did not know it at the time, but it was the Rufus the Fomorian, and other evil fey, in disguise. (You wouldn't think a Huge being could disguise himself in a Small village, but that is the sort of wicked magic he possesses. He may not have the arcane means of Hags, but it was enough.) Through subtle magic and large amounts of wine, he convinced the people to be greedy, and how he could make them wealthy. I had warned that we had no need of what he offered, but the others seemed entranced by the idea of having more. No sooner than they had pledged to work under him, then he revealed his true form, and taken over the village. My people are virtually slaves in their own homes.

"I tried to free them, but the oath binds the others. When his minions came for me, I fled, seeking to find those strong enough to end the reign of Rufus. I went from spot to spot, but the people I encountered lacked either the strength or the will to do what I asked. And then I came to that dryad's grove... and you freed me.

"You would find it difficult to fight Rufus the Fomorian by himself, but with my village forced to defend him, it would be impossible. Many of my village would die, with Rufus laughing safely away from the battle...  I have tried to think how to end their promise to Rufus, so my people could fight with you and not against you, but my wits are not enough."

"What, exactly," Froskan asks, "Was the oath they swore to him?"

“If it were a curse, it may be possible for us to remove it. Or..” Jack smirks as he’s ducked down, seemingly in a much better mood now that they’re away from the Sea Elves Eldath Temple. He’s never been fond of religious areas. “We might not have to go in Swords Raised. Ye said he tricked you all into being slaves? Maybe we can trick him into freeing them, or do it subtlety so we can free them before we fight him, if we must fight him at all. It’s not smart to attack an army, but pick them off little by little and we can charge at the King.”

"I wasn't there to hear the actual promise, but basically they have to obey him. They were drunk and being manipulated, but yes, it was a stupid vow. (But I hear tales of mortals who promise  their first born or their most valued possessions in exchange for power and wealth, so there is plenty of stupid to go around.)

"Trick him into freeing him... an interesting idea... In your recent talk with Gerenthil, he reminded me of the punishment for oath-breakers. If you can get Rufus to make a promise to you, and then break it, that will allow my people to be free of their bond... It would be difficult for one of my people to do this, but as mortals from another realm, the rules are different for you.

"As the (current) leader of this village, if you ask him for hospitality, he can turn you down twice, but has to grant it on the 3rd request. The trick will be to keep him talking until that 3rd time. If you rush it, alert him to what you are trying, he may walk away or silence you... Once you get this promise from him, it will only be a matter of time until his greed or paranoia cause him to betray you."