"Fantastic," he states with absolutely no enthusiasm. Turning to Mireza, "Madam Mireza, I highly suggest leaving if we are not back within a reasonable time. I fear this music has taken control of them in some way and now they are more than likely walking straight into Pharasma's realm. Which means it might do the same to me. If it does, I will not be able to respond to anything you wish of me if you were to call out as you've just witnessed with Mr. Thetra. As much as I feel one get's what one deserves when one places oneself in danger for no apparent reason, I cannot stand idly by and let them walk into death's realm without at least attempting to help them." Sighing, he proceeds to place cloth in his ears in hopes to help muffle the sound. "NOT SURE IF THIS WILL WORK BUT I MIGHT AS WELL TRY," he speaks far louder than normal as he's not use to having his ears plugged up. "REMEMBER, IF WE DO NOT RETURN WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, MADAM MIREZA... LEAVE." Iozef then does his usual routine of making himself look presentable and then makes his way toward the tower.
"Perhaps you'd catch the Young Priest after all," she murmurs to her spider as she watches him go after the others, "if you caught enough of his companions first."
Soooo beautiful
Tapping his fingers on his bow in time to the music, Windle follows the other two in and down.
Valiard wonders if he can climb the strands to get closer to the music...
As Iozef makes his way toward the others as quickly as he possibly can, he's unable to completely keep the music from hitting his ears. "I have to say, this music is nothing more than a great deal of infernal racket. I've heard far better," he tells himself in a matter of fact tone.
Iozef is about a hundred feet behind the others. He nods to Mireza and disappears in the woods surrounding the base of the tower.
Inside, you can discern long, taut strands of shimmering silk filling the ruined tower’s interior, forming an intricate pattern running from floor to ceiling.
Mushy Brains:
Casting light upon the end of his staff, he moves quickly in hopes to catch the herbalist. Seeing the webbing, he attempts to avoid it as much as possible.
He can easily make his way inside and gets to the wide tunnel opening. From there, he hears a soft raspy voice: "Brave Adventurers, to come and explore a forgotten tower, what brings you to these parts, and what can you offer me as a present?"
Valiard's voice is heard: "I can offer a magic ring. It keeps you safe if you happen to fall off a tall place. You float to the ground safe and sound."
Then Grigor's: "I... have some coin... will this do?"
Then Windle's: "I have a ring, too. It will keep you fed without having to eat."
The soft raspy voice answers them: "Those are fine gifts! My thanks! Please toss them near me."
Iozef removes the cloth from his ears, figuring it probably didn't help anyway, and attempts to catch sight of who or what is speaking.
Finding the sensation intrusive, Iozef grabs his staff with both hands, "Forgive me, Mr. Thetra, but this is for your own good," and attempts to smack Windle with it in hopes of waking him of his reverie.
You are interrupted by noise coming from behind. As you turn, you see Iozef approaching fast, staff in hand, and he swings at Windle's head!
Windle easily bends below the swing, getting his sense back.
You reach Grigor, Valiard and Windle. They turn as you come at them, and Windle easily slips below your clumsy swing. He blinks at you, confused.
Missing as usual, "Well that didn't work. Very well." Turning to the creature, "Who are you, Creature of the Tower, and why do you enthrall my companions? I would very much appreciate it if you were to remove them from under your control and return their items to them, thank you."
Windle blinks and looks around as he comes back to his senses. "What? Where--" Pulling himself back together, he scrutinizes the creature before them.
Iozef looks to Windle curiously, "Mr. Thetra?"
"The music filled my head, and I couldn't think of anything else. Your attack removed the compulsion. Hmmm."
Windle turns to Grigor and throws a punch at him.
"Hm, yes, I knew it would. Well that's not entirely true; it was mostly just a theory." Seeing Windle take a swing at Grigor, Iozef proceeds to attack Valiard as well.
As he misses once again, "Fortunately for Mr. Tessar, and yourself Mr. Thetra, I am not so well versed in combat."
The music stops as the wormlike gigantic woman tilts her head looking at you. With what could be best described as a smile, she waits to see what you'll do next.
Mireza, you end up signing by yourself as the music stops abruptly.
Valiard blinks then looks around rapidly, wheeling in place as he comes out of his daze. Then he turns and looks up at the worm hanging in the web.
"Ah. Wow. You don't look anything like what I was imagining." Valiard says to the creature. "You are certainly more impressive than I was imagining."
Keeping his hands in plain sight, Valiard backs up a pace or two so he can watch the creature and his comrades without turning around.
"So, ma'am, I imagine that we should be on our way and leave you to your music, which was very nice, I might add."
"You mentioned a gift. Aren't you gonna leave me a suitable present? Those two rings will do..."
Mireza perks up her ears at the sudden silence. "Something's happened," she tells her spider. "Should we go and see?" She hooks the reins around the seat of the wagon, climbs down, approaches the heads of the horses, and tells them very firmly, "Stay," before setting off in the direction the rest of the party had gone.
Valiard's eyes flick briefly over the hanging cocoons before returning to the creature's face, but the smile never leaves his lips.
"Ma'am, I believe that we might have started out on the wrong feet." Valiard gathers himself up and bows slightly, "A pleasure to make your aquaintance, I am Valiard Tessar, a humble merchant of spices and herbs. I would be most honored if you would grace us with your name."
Iozef raises an eyebrow to the herbalist before he slightly turns his attention to the creature, wondering her reaction with such words. Honored? Is he serious? Well at least they have yet to give the creature their items. Let's see if it decides to take them by force.
"A pleasure! I am known as Lyisillinyia. I have been around these woods for hundreds of years, knitting artfully, playing music!"
hmmmmm
"Lyisillinyia, what a marvelous name, it practically rolls off the tongue. And you have been in these woods for hundreds of years you say? I hate to say ma'am, that I find that amazing, I would never have guessed seeing how young you look! Your music and art must keep you young." Valiard said, still smiling.
"Honestly though, if you have been living here for such a long time, you must know everything and everyone who has passed through these parts. We are looking for an individual by the name of Baveshk. We think he traveled past your tower on his way to the Ascanor Lodge. I was wondering if he stopped in to give his greeting to you as he passed by?" Valiard asks cautiously.
The creature's pale ivory skin blushes purple at the kind words: "Ahahahahahahahah!!! You surely exagerate Valiard, but thank you nonetheless. I do build my silk craft with great care... Baveshk you say? I recall hearing a small group going through the forest a few days prior, but not everyone appreciates music... They didn't pay a visit."
Mireza, on the edge of the tunnel, hears the conversation, but she can't see any of them unless she moves closer and down the tunnel.
The meeting sounds cordial enough, with no noise of drawn steel, so Mireza is loath to reveal herself and perhaps change the tenor of the conversation. She is curious, though, as to who or what Valiard is talking to, so she sends her spider just far enough down the corridor to get a glimpse of the group and then calls it back again via her empathic link.
The spider sees the group and comes back. Seemingly unnoticed.
Presuming the spider communicates to her that the party aren't in immediate physical danger, Mireza will wait and eavesdrop to see if she's needed.
Valiard politely covers his mouth and coughs. Then whispers under his breath,[/ooc]"Well, what now?"
The pale enormous wormwoman tilts her head sideways, smiling, waiting for her gifts.
Grigor steps forward somewhat glassy eyed and tugging the coin from his purse.
I have no ring but here is my coin...
Valiard politely covers his mouth and coughs. Then whispers under his breath, "Well, what now?"
Iozef quickly glances over at the creature before responding to Valiard, "In a situation such as this, Mr. Tessar, I would recommend a methodical, and possibly hasty, form of retreat." His states as a matter of fact, yet, a sense of urgency is obvious within his words.
Knowledge Dungeoneering