GM Rat Sass's Age of Worms

Game Master Governayle

Seeing his friends also lift from their despair, Mortimer bounds over to Solrisa and helps her to the group side of the tree. "There, there -- killing trees is uh, not what people really come out here to do you know, but sometimes -- well, sometimes it just has to be done. Now, let's go to the Pub!" As if in adamant agreement, Mortimer's stomach growls loudly.

He searches the area before they leave for interesting things...

Perception: 1d20 + 24 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 24 + 1 = 26 Prayer

... but a nagging hunger provides too much competition for attention, and he jogs back toward the gnome.

"I actually think that I have a taste for fried potatoes!"

Eidi's tears disappear as the sad log falls down chopped and his usual red colored fluffy cheeks come back along with his wide smile and rounded eyes "Wow! That was incredible. You two seem lumberjacks more than miners"

The elder in fact opens up his pot and offers some cinnamon cookies to Solrisa to help her time while Ascaria works in the scroll. When it turns out more is needed Eidi frowns "A curse you say? Do you know if it is the effect of an evil source?"

"Anyway I will need to have a rest before there is anything I can do... time to go back to the pub?" Eidi looks back at Ascaria with a smile "It seems we managed 3 of the trials today"
Perception to help Mortimer (low-light vision see invisibility ): 1d20 + 27 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 27 + 1 = 40

The elder in fact opens up his pot and offers some cinnamon cookies to Solrisa to help her time while Ascaria works in the scroll. When it turns out more is needed Eidi frowns "A curse you say? Do you know if it is the effect of an evil source?"

"Anyway I will need to have a rest before there is anything I can do... time to go back to the pub?" Eidi looks back at Ascaria with a smile "It seems we managed 3 of the trials today"

"I assume it came from the tree, but I dunno if it was evil or just, you know, nature." Ascaria is uncertain about the curse, but the timing seemed to be suggestive.

Nevertheless he nods, "Yes, let's take a rest." he looks about for any watchers briefly before taking out a very special tuning fork and casting Plane Shift to the Pub!

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Ascaria nods with the confidence of someone who can only see sixty feet ahead and behind, before whisking the Outcasts away from the Doomshroud's now Silenced Song.

Welcome to Ascaria's Pub.

Ascaria walks up to the door and pulls the bell-pull, and ringing would be heard deep within the house, if magics did not block such things. He then opens the door easily and heads on inside, "Cedric, we're back! I think, though it's late, a light supper may be in order. We're tired, but after a battle it's hard to lie down you know?"

Ascaria makes his way into his bedroom where he drops his pack before heading up to the second floor lounge and a deeply comfortable chair.

"Eidi, do you need a short rest, or will Sol have to wait until morning?" he wonders worriedly over an ale, freshly poured. Curses are nasty things, and it's hard to know just how nasty as each one seems different from the last.

”Ah, Welcome back my lords and ladies.” Cedric greets the weary travelers as he comes out of the little library where he had been passing a pleasant evening reading. ”You look tired, though whole, which is something. Was it a successful day?” He inquires as he prepares drinks at the bar.

When drinks, and a few crackers and cheese are dispersed, Cedric disappears into the kitchen to prepare some supper for the tired team.

Mortimer watches worriedly over Solrisa as she makes her way into the pub. Cursed?! What is that like? Is that to be our 'proof'?! Despite feeling famished, he lets Sol and the others help themselves to the cookies, cheese, ham, assorted other cold cuts and crackers.

He tries not to drool as Cedric toasts chipped beef and mushrooms in phyllo with a light yogurt thyme dressing.

As he eats, he silently ponders, I really hope those Storm Gang guys aren't going to be angry that we opened a demi-plane inside their demi-plane....

Mortimer's brow furrows in worry.

1d20 + 16 + 2 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 16 + 2 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 29 Will (and +2 more if enchantment)

Solrisa thinks really hard about something she regrets not doing, but then decides to do it because that's what she thinks she should do, so she does.

* * *

"Oh hello Cedric! Do you know any happy songs? Do you sing or play music? I can't remember if you do or not. I've never asked. Today has been a sad day and happy music might be nice," Solrisa tries to seem cheerful as she speaks to the smiling throatcrooner.

"Thanks Cedric, it was a considerable success of a day. At least we still have hopes to find the knowledge about the phylactery we are seeking. This Darl Quethos and his band are still in the run too though..." Eidi is more than happy to take sit and eat some cheese with a bottle of fresh water.

"I feel more tired than I have been in a while. Some powerful magic remains but none of the one that might be useful to fix Solrisa's destiny with a short rest. I will need to rest for the whole night" the elder peeks at the half-elf worried "She is tough, isn't she?"

"According to its story maybe the curse points towards the nature of the tree itself, or its binding to the island" Eidi would like to know more about the curse, but besides his knowledge the only divination left for him are augury and ancestral communion. Anything we can do to know more about this particular curse?

"Oh hello Cedric! Do you know any happy songs? Do you sing or play music? I can't remember if you do or not. I've never asked. Today has been a sad day and happy music might be nice," Solrisa tries to seem cheerful as she speaks to the smiling throatcrooner.

"Oh! That reminds me! Excuse me!" Mortimer abruptly stands, quickly and purposefully approaches Cedric.

"Cedric, I think it's time..." Mortimer takes a position on the stage in the south east corner of the room.

"Thanks Cedric, it was a considerable success of a day. At least we still have hopes to find the knowledge about the phylactery we are seeking. This Darl Quethos and his band are still in the run too though..." Eidi is more than happy to take sit and eat some cheese with a bottle of fresh water.

Cedric seems happy to hear it, and in fact thoroughly enjoys hearing about the parties exploits, often asking questions for more details or if there’s confusion on his part.

"Cedric, I think it's time..." Mortimer takes a position on the stage in the south east corner of the room.

Cedric nods to Mort, and quickly takes out a very fine well-used recorder casts a quick spell, and begins to play.

The room slowly darkens a bit while the light seems to pool around Cedric as he plays. The light dances too, little motes with light smoke trails as they fly around the room, playing with the notes. The entire effect is quite exhilarating, even if the playing is a little uneven - he at least keeps the beat.
Perform Wind: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 2 = 14 (heroism)

As Mort begins his part, Cedric’s lights shine on the big man most brightly, outlining his features and setting him apart.

Something like this, but almost more articulate and definitely baritone...

Perform: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

Ascaria laughs and claps his hands to the beat, thoroughly enjoying the impromptu show. He has another swig of ale when it’s all over and suggests, ”Let’s sleep in tomorrow, we’ve had a very long day.” He’ll thank Cedric and Mort for an excellent song and dance, ”Tomorrow night maybe you can tell us a story Cedric, or maybe we should tell you one, if we’re successful, about how this all turns out!”

And with that, he stands and heads to his bedroom. He unpacks his things to let them air out a bit, and hits the sack.

True to his word, he rises late, and after some truly wonderful Chellish Coffee prepared by Cedric, he’ll ensorcel the party (once they’re up). Ascaria ensorcels the shields of the party (Magic Vestment (+4 on Ascaria, Mort, and Sol)). He'll then watch over his friends (Status (Eidi, Mort, & Sol)) and refresh everyones Life Link just in case. He’ll also cast Wind Walk on the group out of general paranoia and top it all off with the Brightest Light on his hatband.

In the morning, he’ll spend some time with Cedric, making sure he has everything he needs, and making a list of what he lacks. He’ll also fill him in on all the details of the last portion of the parties activities, feeling it’s his obligation to tell Cedric everything.

When everyone is ready, and they’ve all eaten Eidi’s lovely Heroes' Feast, he’ll see what Eidi can do for Sol. He’ll cast Guidance on Eidi and Sol, so they can take advantage of a little boost for what’s to come.

Anything we can do to know more about this particular curse?

Aside from a deep understanding of its natural origins (Knowledge(Nature) DC 40), you may understand more of the Curse as it progresses, or you find time to research Night Twists through your myriad of means.

The Outcasts retreat to their respective rooms of the Pub, and seek out sleep to prepare for what should be another eventful day in Last Resort.

...

The next morning arrives, the only sound outside of the Outcasts the preparations of Cedric the halfling, sweeping the floors of the common space which will host the elderly half-elf's magically conjured table and chairs, service and food and drinks.

Solrisa wakes up cranky, which is very unusual for her because usually she's very excited about breakfast, and breakfast ham and cheese.

"Eidi, I don't feel so good. My dreams weren't of The Dragon, but I dreamt that Mort ate all the cookies and Ascaria didn't have any blueberries for breakfast and Eidi your cookies had cranberries it was awful," Solrisa barely has the energy to explain.

"Ascaria, do you have something that can stop my complaining?"

Eidi creates a heroic breakfeast for the group to enjoy during the morning. Temporal hp: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

"Cranberries can be evil truthfully" the half-elf smiles soothingly to Solrisa "I will stock an extra pack to make sure we don't run out of them during our trip"

Once all the preparations are done, Eidi kneels in front of the Maiden and puts his hand on her belly while raising a prayer to remove the curse from her.
CL: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

"That did not work good enough, did it?" the half-elf asks for a recess an prays for more of the same spell.
CL: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
CL: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

When that did not work either he frowns "Be patient, I can do it better" praying for another quart of an hour Eidi comes back and delivers the same spell with a bit of exasperation "Please listen my plea!"
CL: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23 <- that only matches Ascaria's roll
CL: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29 <- maybe that works?

The tenacity of the elderly is a sight to behold, especially when they strive to unburden those for whom they care. Eidi tries as he might to lift the Night Twist's Curse, but Ascaria can confirm that Solrisa is still illuminated in burnt umber.

The elderly half-elf learns that the Curse is Ancient, and will require special circumstances under which it might be lifted. For his deep knowledge of a great many things, Eidi knows that most, if not all, Curses should have responded to his very last spell casting. And still, burnt umber.

Eidi frowns "It seems the curse will reject to be lifted by conventional means... I can only hope that finding the Fountain of Dreams might help heal the forest and lift the curse. In any case we will probably have to discover more about it before we can do better attempts"

The elder half-closes his eyes clearly angry at himself but unwilling to recognize failure "You are strong Solrisa, I am pretty sure you will endure it, and we all will help you on that"

”Maybe the druids can dispel it. Or maybe it doesn’t go away until we’re done here.” He eyes Sol again to see if there are any other issues. Finding a bit of fatigue, Ascaria will cast a Lesser Restoration on the maiden to at least dispel that much of the curse. He wonders how else it might manifest.

”Shall we head out? I think the next step will be to head south, to the keep or castle, and claim Krathanos’s Golden Belt. Unless we want to find the Fountain of Dreams and play with that first.”

Group effects
Air Walk Communal (everyone)
Heroes' Feast (+1 att & will saves, +4 vs poison & fear (morale); 17 temp hp) (everyone)
Wind Walk (everyone)

"You are strong Solrisa, I am pretty sure you will endure it, and we all will help you on that"

Poor Eidi. He tried so hard to lift that curse. "Yea, maybe the Fountain can help cure it, or maybe the Storm Gang," Mortimer offers in between bites of prime rib, potatoes and eggs.

Upon finishing, he states "I'm thinking the Belt next. I don't think the Fountain is findable until the trials are complete?"

He prepares to travel back into the Last Resort.

"You are strong Solrisa, I am pretty sure you will endure it, and we all will help you on that"

"Uhm, ok...but my tummy still hurts. Not sure I'm going to have seconds of blueberries or ham. Just extra scones and eggs today, I guess," Solrisa sounds downright miserable, but also tries hard to buck up, like a buttercup.

She will lay hands on herself (to cure the fatigue), but is clearly worried about her doom and gloom. She does her best to be ready to go when the party is, a forced smile upon her face.

"Yes, of course it is south that we travel, the worst direction. It is so much less good than going north. As if this day could get worse."

Eidi uses a pearl of power during the remove curse process to still have a slot where to prepare dispel magic.

"Yes, let's find out about the belt!" the half-elf tries to cheer up Solrisa with an enthusiastic shout.

Assuming there is no enemies once they go back to the dark forest, Eidi points towards where he thinks is the south and exclaims "So... wind walk?"

The Outcasts become overcast for the second day in Last Resort, taking to the air, and swiftly drifting towards the southern aspect of the island. With your white vestiges in place, you become little more than cloud cover on a cloudy day, allowing you to depart from the Doomshroud in peace.

The skies are brisk of wind, nudging you about in syncopated intervals. You leave the Doomshroud's vicinity within the first twenty minutes of Wind Walking, and from height, you begin to sight the southern regions of Tilagos as it Once Was.

With roughly 80 miles of southern coastline, how do you proceed?

Roll20 Map has been slightly updated.

"Did someone say something about freedom in trade for a belt? Maybe we should look down the highest bluff on the coast?"

Mortimer borrows some blue chalk from Ascaria and marks an X on the map to indicate where he means.

Ascaria nods along with Mort, "Sure, and if it's not there, we can follow along the coast one way or 'nother until we do find it!"

He puts on his white toga, turns to mist, and carefully follows the others lest he get lost.

With several points about the island to gain your positioning, the Overcasts make their way towards the general area suggested by Mortimer. Another half hour of travel, and you start to see your destination.

The broken remains of a keep lie on the southern ridge of Tilagos Island, overlooking the tumultuous sea below. The keep is little more than an empty walled compound. The walls themselves are 20 feet thick, 30 feet high, and made of solid stone, but show signs of considerable damage. Four partially collapsed towers surround the central compound.

What is readily visible to three of the four little clouds are two little forms, flying in lazy circles above the keep and the coast. Leathery wings, grayish skin, and bows across their backs, they appear to be stony horned demons.

They don't seem to have spotted you, either. The distance between you and them is roughly 1500 feet, and closing...

How do you proceed?

PerceptionDC30: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (4) + 24 = 28

"Oh, a Keep! Maybe Krathanos is imprisoned there!" Mortimer exclaims, pointing toward the castle remains.

He begins to descend towards it.

Perception (low light, see invis): 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (14) + 27 = 41

Eidi separates from the group and flies down to behind some rocks in the coast, preferably if they have an advantageous sight of the ruins.

There he recovers form, and assuming the others come by he says "Have you seen the little horned demons paroling the ruins sky?"

"Maybe they are guarding Krathanos. I think Mortimer has it right. What I have seen also is the portcullis is now nothing more than a heap of twisted black metal lying on the ground near the entrance..." the elder frowns "I am worried maybe we are late and Dark Quethos already passed the Trial. Anyway the demons are still there... so... who knows... I say we try to sneak in and face the demons if they spot us"

"Yes, let's find out about the belt!"

”Yes,” Solrisa agrees less wholeheartedly than she usually might. It’s not just that she has an upset stomach, but also she already really likes the belt she has from winning the fighting thing. She likes winning and so that belt is very important to her.

* * *

”Oh no! Looks like someone has ruined these ruins! I bet they were nice once,” Solrisa looks on. ’Well, if Krathanos is there, then we should do. Do we want to be unseen again? That seemed to be helpful. I’m *very* good at sneaking,” Solrisa says, though she is really not good at sneaking at all, but she tries hard.

"Hey Mort, wait!" Ascaria cries out to the man as Eidi veers off.

"Demons!" he replies to Eidi. "We can take demons, surely. There's likely more too, but they'll be tough all flying about."

He'll re-solidify on solid ground, put his toga away, and, assuming the party is together, he'll refresh the Air Walk Communal (40 minutes) as they close due to the first one expiring shortly.

Mortimer veers off with the others, lands, stuffs his white bathrobe into the haversack and crouches in close with the group in order to hear Eidi as he speaks.

""Have you seen the little horned demons patroling the ruins sky?"

Mortimer grunts. "Patroling? Is that what they were doing? I thought they were sleeping."

When the Elder mentions the heap of twisted black metal, Mortimer pokes his head up to glance at the castle.

"Nah, Eidi -- you can't think that way! I mean, that looks like something a large battering ram or trebuchet thing did all that, and I don't think Quethos and his friends had time to build anything like that."

He looks around for heavy siege equipment tracks.

Percept: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (1) + 24 = 25
... and looses track of where the bluff ends and the open air begins.

Must be the wind still in my ears...

After a few moments he shakes his head and sighs. He says, "Uh, nevermind. I'm fine trundling in all invisible, though you might want to lead."

"How to put this... mmm... regretfully I did not thought to prepare the sphere of invisibility once more" Eidi offers a smile and then takes into the air walking, but trying to find cover from the coast rocks.

Turning his head back, he looks if others are following and if so, he tries to sneak closer to the ruins.
Stealth (take 10): 10 + 1 = 11

Solrisa stays with Mort, as she watches Eidi sneak closer.

”Mortie-poo? Should we also sneak closer? I like sneaking!”

Without the bald courage to approach under cloak of invisibility, and without your wispy bits covering your now solidified forms, it's only a matter of time before you are seen crossing the rubbled southern land of Last Resort. The two circling demons approach you.

Upon closer inspection, you determine that they are not demons, rather stony winged guardians very similar in appearance to demonkind.

One of them stops, mid-air, wielding a composite longbow, while the other closes the distance, weapon slung over its shoulder.

"Krathanos the Conqueror, exiled by the gods for his designs to rule all of creation, and shackled by the treacherous druids of Tilagos demands a meeting with stalwarts such as yourselves. There is food, there is rest, at the Keep. You will come with us now.”

”Food?” Solrisa interest piques, but her stomach still roils with unhappiness. ”What do you guys think? Can we stop for second breakfast?” Solrisa asks the party, but is initially okay with the idea.

Eidi averts his eyes trying to hide behind a rock when he sees the demons approaching.

K. nature: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33 special defenses, bad saves

"Oh! Uuuh... my stomach is still full, but I could certainly have a drink, thanks" Eidi smiles, happy to see the creatures are not openly hostile.

The elder whispers to the others "They are not demons, they are gargoyles... usually chaotic evil flying creatures. I wonder if they are bond guardians of Krathanos..."

Eidi also mentions that their stony hides provide them Damage Reduction against anything non-magical, and of their strengths, Will is the weakest.

The Outcasts take the gargoyles at their word, and follow them back to the Keep of the Shackled Conqueror. The weathered walls of the keep are torn and ragged. They appear to have been battered down on more than one occasion, their chipped stone blocks rebuilt haphazardly into makeshift structures with little integrity. The archway providing entrance into the compound looms empty, its iron portcullis now nothing more than a heap of twisted black metal lying on the ground nearby. Walls are 20' thick, and 30' tall.

Approaching the southern face of the Keep, which overlooks the cliff and the surrounding waters of Tilagos, you start to count gargoyles. A couple here, another there, your tally reaches eight. Up close, these gargoyles all sport composite longbows, and quivers stuffed to the gills.

In the shadow of the Keep, you lay eyes on Krathanos, the Shackled Conqueror. He is currently slumped along the east wall of his Keep, a very large finger drawing lazy circles in the dirt floor to his side. There are also three makeshift cages along the western wall, standing as tall as the walls themselves, with a large stone lid across the top. Within the cages, several girallon behemoths. Six total, uncomfortably cramped.

The speaker gargoyle lands on the wall above his head, and announces you. It brings Krathanos to regard you from where you stand, just outside of his bashed abode.

Roll20 Map has been updated.

"Krathanos the Conqueror, exiled by the gods for his designs to rule all of creation, and shackled by the treacherous druids of Tilagos demands a meeting with stalwarts such as yourselves. There is food, there is rest, at the Keep. You will come with us now.”

Ascaria raises an eyebrow at ‘demands’, but shrugs. After all, they were there for a belt. No need to kill everyone if they don’t have to. Best not to in fact, if truth be told.

He joins the others as they approach the entrance. He stops and whispers to the group, ”Is he there? Can he see us? This place is huge! I can’t see anything.”

Assuming someone lets Ascaria know they are under the watchful eye of Krathanos, he’ll take a drink from the tankard at his belt (Heroism) and step forward, smiling, and announce the party, more or less in the direction of their host.

”Honored Lord!”

”Thank you for allowing us entry to your sacred home. My name is Ascaira, and that is Eidi,” he points to the individuals as he names them, ”Mort, and Sol. It is because of the druids of Tilagos in fact that we have come. They have sent us to claim Krathanos’s Golden Belt - Your good belt as it happens.”

”I suppose you find the object to be dear to you, and so you may be unwilling to part with it. I understand that completely. I have a belt as well to which I’m quite attached. I won it in a contest of strength and skill. Nevertheless perhaps there is something that can be done? Some way for us to find an agreeable arrangement?”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 30 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 30 + 2 = 42 (heroism) (pretty much just trying to open an honest dialogue)

Krathanos stirs, and it is a mighty sight. Like a lazy bear brushing his back up the rough tree bark of a mighty redwood, the titan stands to his full height. He reaches for his great hammer, and drags it with him, as he comes into a more central position in his Keep. Should he decide to wield it, the gnome would find himself unable to escape the hammerhead's shadow...

"That's a good opening, little gnome. I won't snap your head off, like I did with the last intruder. He wanted to buy the belt. Can you believe that? The nerve. I'm not a merchant, little gnome. And you are no thief, are you? You are honorable. As am I. Consider yourselves guests, under my protection."

Krathanos considers the ones coming up behind Ascaria, but he seems more interested in the little gnome.

"I rot. I languish. I yearn, little gnome. I yearn to escape this hellish existence, on this island of no fun. Gorum be praised, but He doesn't hear me in this mock land. I want to roam countrysides again. Who wants to wander black forests, who wants to toss gorillas over peaks? I've done all that. I know what you want." He pats his belly, where the golden Belt bejeweled with fist-sized emeralds rests.

"Now hear what it is that I want. I want out. Bring me to another plane. Set me free. When I walk new lands, only then will I grant you my Belt. What do you say, little gnome? You must be able to do that, since you traveled here."

Krathanos looks over the others. "I suppose I could trade you the Belt for your woman. I'd rather be freed, but I can be reasonable. How bad do you want this Belt? I am very fond of it."

Roll20 map has been updated.

Solrisa moves up to address Krathanos, so she is not yelling on an upset stomach.

"Uhm, why can't you leave here on your own? You seem very strong and angry and you remind me of my sister Rae and nothing would keep her in place, not even the threat of a very strong spanking from Mum," Solrisa asks, trying to figure out a good solution to things.

"Also, we don't really want your belt?" Solrisa asks in continuing confusion over their task. "No offense, but our belts were fairly won in a big fight with much dying and so maybe you don't get that, but mostly we want to make sure others don't get your belt because they are bad people. Do you know any bad people?" Solrisa asks.

1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22 Diplomacy

"I know many bad people. They're probably all dead by now. Your little gnome says he wants the Belt to give to those who imprisoned me. I've been stripped of my ability to open Gates. That's the only way they could even think to keep me here, shackled on an island. Don't worry your little head. Unless you're bad people, I'm sure my Belt won't find its way into the possession of bad people. Unless they have something I want."

"I suppose I could trade you the Belt for your woman. I'd rather be freed, but I can be reasonable. How bad do you want this Belt? I am very fond of it."

Mortimer growls ferally. Sol for the belt? How would that be a fair trade? Mortimer shakes his head, as if trying to clear a thought. He stops Sol from going too far ahead alone.

Something about this guy...

He tries to wrap his head around the "thing for a belt". What's so special about it?

"Ooh-ho, I get it... like my Headband of the LizardHood, right? To most people, it's just a headband or a belt. But to you, it's your headband or belt. You spend years training it. It just won't do to sell it or trade it -- it's only ever going to look good on you, because it's yours -- is that it?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Eidi advances so he can have a better sight of Krathanos "Good to meet your might finally Krathanos. You were well hidden here" the elder soothes his beard pensive then speaks up "Look, you want your freedom, and your belt is all that is needed in fact to free yourself. By keeping the belt you have kept yourself prisoner all this time. The truth is the nature of your prison is that passing the Four Trials the path to the Fountain of Dreams will be revealed and with it all the creatures in this demiplane will be released. If you wanted to free yourself of this prison plane the only thing you needed was to give your belt to someone to reach the Fountain of Dreams"

"Now it happens we have already passed the other three Trials" the half-elf passes to describe all their three adventures in succession "Now, if you give us the belt, we will reach the Fountain of Dreams and we will be unable to avoid releasing you while pursuing our own goals"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

"Yes m'Lord, Eidi here has got the right of it. We need the belt to complete the trials, and the druids said at the completion of the trials, everyone would be released. You're one of those who would be released I assume, as they did say everyone."

"So while it might not make much sense to you now, you must trust us. Giving us your belt now, means your freedom soon. Very soon I should think, as we're in a hurry and it is yet morning. It could be today!" cries the little man in his excitement.

Auto-succeed at Diplomacy to aid Eidi.

"You make it sound easy. You take the belt, and I'm free to go, is it? I don't think so. Your little big man is right, you know. This Belt is very dear to me. I can't have you just walk off with it, on promises. All you have to do is teleport me off the island, I hand you the Belt as my ticket, and you come back here for your reward, after I have mine. Which one of you is going to do it? Let's be done with this, and part as friends. You are friends, aren't you? Yes, I feel it in my bones. Trust me. You see the Belt, but I don't see my ticket. Take me off the island, and the Belt is yours."

"Ascaria, are you sure that's what will happen? Maybe I'll stay with the big shouty man as insurance for the belt. Maybe that will work. We can play hide and findsies, or tag, or fun word games while we wait for you all to complete the job! Wouldn't that be nice?" Solrisa ponders aloud.

"What do you think, Eidi? Is this likely to work?"

"I think if Krathanos gives us his belt, Rae can be his. You said you wanted a woman Krathanos. She is the best wife you could ever have" Eidi looks at the others and nods trying to make the misleading promise understood by the others "And Rae truly deserves someone like Krathanos in her life"
Bluff: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9

Ascaria sighs, ”You’re already betrothed to a dragon, Sol. You can’t marry two people. And as for Rae…” he looks at Eidi uncomfortably, ”Let’s wait on that idea a moment.”

”Yes, well, Plane Shift is a little tricky - if it’ll work at all. I rather suspect it won’t as your jailers are powerful people. I doubt that any old spell-chucker could just walk in here and whisk you away. But, let’s assume, for the moment, that it works.”

He holds up his hand, pointing to his index finger, ”First, I could just send you away - to another plane, where you could perhaps find your own way to wherever you wish to go. But you’d still have your belt, and I doubt you’d come back here just to give it up. So that won’t work too well.”

He points to his middle finger, ”Second, we could go with you so as to collect the belt when we arrive. That’s a lot of trust on our part, for once free, you might not want to give up the belt and might flee or attack us. Further, we can’t get back in any reasonable way as I do not have the key to this plane - the tuning fork. We might be able to get back to the island outside this one, and re-enter via that portal. However that is not certain by any means, and obtaining your belt without being able to re-enter this realm does us no good whatsoever.”

He points to his ring finger, and takes a moment to scrape some dirt from under the nail, ”But I have another suggestion. Frankly, I don’t think my powers will be sufficient to send you away. But if they are, I want the belt for my trouble. So to that end, I suggest you give the belt to an associate to hold, just temporarily. I’ll then try to Plane Shift you out of here - send you far far away so you can go about your business. If it works, well, you won’t be here, and your associate will give us the belt. If, as I suspect, it doesn’t work, you can simply take it back and we can continue our conversation.”

He checks his nails once more before putting his hand down. ”You can’t get any fairer than that. We’re each risking little, and each have much to gain if it works…”

He briefly considers a fourth option, but dismisses it without further thought. After all, who wants a pinky-plan. He smiles warmly, if only to himself, confident it’s a good plan… and fair… and likely won’t work. But he's willing to try.

"Maybe I'll stay with the big shouty man as insurance for the belt."

"No, no," Mortimer shakes his head adamantly. "He's got different games in mind. It'd be like leaving a pit viper to guard a bunch of chicken eggs... Er -- no offence Sol. I don't really think of you as a pit viper."

"And Rae truly deserves someone like Krathanos in her life"

Mortimer starts shaking his head adamantly again, but when Eidi looks at the group and nods Mortimer starts starts nodding, albeit with an intensely baffled look on his face.

How is that gonna work?

" [ Complicated spell coming and going Spell stuffs that could present with huge problems when attempted ] "

"Or, maybe he could just come with us to see the Storm Gang. Wouldn't that be like we brought them the belt?" Mort mutters, uncomfortable with the experiment proposed by Ascaria, but having no better idea.

"Oh, I wasn't going to marry him! I can't do that! I'm already betrothed to The Dragon, silly!" Solrisa laughs as if something was ridiculous.

"No, it's just like that time Rae delicious big cookies that Mum had made that were really really big. And Rae said that she would hold time for safety if I gave her all my silver, which was fine because I only had 2 silvers left after I had given her all my coppers for her allowing me to eat breakfast with a fork, you know? So I gave her my silvers and went to play outside and then I came back, she noted that she ate both big delicious cookies and then bought fudge with my silver, and then she gave me a nice hug, thanking me for buying her the fudge. And that was a really good day because Rae got lots of fudge," Solrisa explains.

"So yeah, I could stay here with the loud big shouty man while you go finish the quest. I can't think of anything that would go wrong."