"See. That's why any sane person thinks you are crazy. Aside from the crazy antics and inability to remember names...and judging from looks you are pretty damn close to your goddess." Dhavyn huffs at Yazi.
"Can we leave this place already? It is clear that there's nothing here but death. Smash the pump and cut off the Gnoll water supply I say." He picks a pebble and flings it into water
|
"Aw, thank you Daisy." she says with complete sincerity before turning to Bartan "We need to have a talk." Judging the distance to the crystal to to be too much to walk through and not risk her non waterproof equipment she strips herself of everything she has on her save for her sword before swimming out the island in the center of the Oasis. Bartan would have already seen it but those who don't immediately avert their eyes notice a large tattoo covering most of her back, blending the Henna styles of the South with the plainer Avistani styles of the North. A shapely women in a solid red dress comprises most of it, with a Sun sitting behind her head, that of a lioness. The woman holds a bloody Battleaxe in her right hand and seven criss-crossing arrows in her left.
Arriving on the island Yazi will tentatively approach and tap on the crystal. "Uh, hello?"
Peering inside the crystal Yazi can see the form of a smallish creature. She speaks but her lips don't move, she's frozen in crystaline suspended animation...some dark magic at work no doubt! FLAVOR IMAGES UPDATED.
You are not Gnolls! Thank the water speakers. I am Paige, guardian of the waterfall. I can see you are all injured from your battle. Help me, please, and I will return the favor!
Frustrated at not being able to fire her crossbow at any of the gnolls, Anjali is tense, wary, still waiting for the next fight. Everyone's words are still a jumble to her. She does, however, recognize that there were those still in need of healing, particularly Khayal.
She closes her eyes and channels as much as she can, holding nothing of her energy back.
The creature trapped inside the stalagtite crystals whispers to Yazi (anyone nearby can now hear it too.) In my cave, behind the waterfall. A terrible being stole my cave, stole my waterfall, stole my pool! He was wished there by a genie who I thought was my friend. A great genie lord name is Kardswaan. We've known eachother for centuries, this wandering genie and I. He's never done me any harm and I always gave him precious water from my falls. Why he would wish that terrible stalagtite-lord into my cave I can never understand. But until he is gone I am trapped here!
Bartan gingerly gathers Yazi's equipment and clothing, ready to carry them over to her. "I hope we can deal with this before more reinforcements arrive. It would not do to have gnolls come in the cave from behind us, no?"
Kardswann trapped the creature in the pond? He would not.. Hajar trails off Let us see what has been done. Most Illuminated Vardishal, why would your friend do this?
We have at the very least another 20 minutes. Should be enough to check out the cave. Khayal swims across, the cool water feels good.
Vardishal has until now been somewhat standoffish. But he answers: Paladin, I do not know. It's hard for me to understand. All I can think is that the influence of this thing, Xulthos was it?, is more powerful than we realize. For my Brother Kardswaan would not easily be swayed. Perhaps it is not he, as they claim?
The calm water does feel good. And as you pass through the waterfall each of you feels the Nixie's voice in your head. feel the flow of the remaining power I have over these waters!
MAP UPDATED.
"Kardswaan? Stalagtite Lord? This sounds intriguing!" Dhavyn exclaims and wrings water from his clothes even as he appears from under the cascading waters.
"Dangerous too but I don't see anyone here!" he adds but is clearly in better mood thanks to rejuvenating power of waters. The pain forgotten.
פּרעסטידיגיטאַטיאָן he whispers and steam fills the air around him as the cantrip works its magic to dry his clothes. Once done he steps next to Anjali, repeating the drying trick on her clothes as a minor sign of gratitude.
As an afterthought he touches his necklace and whispers ליכט. A familiar glow appears, banishing the shadows of the cave.
"More light?" he asks.
Hajar moves forward searching for clues as to why Kardswann would do such a thing...
Bartan takes a few moments to parse out Yazi's sentence, as it contains even more confusing nicknames than normal. "A creature that could trap that nixie in crystal may be very powerful indeed. We should be cautious."
Detect magic,
Avenka growls while advancing with the others, not happy that someone talks in her head.
Khayal looks around, looking for anything out of the ordinary, after which he posts guard at the entrance Just behind the falls waiting for anything to step through.
MAP UPDATED. FLAVOR IMAGES UPDATED.
As you step further into the room you see stalactite crystals growing all around. And up ahead you see a medium sized humanoid, appartently made of such crystals. He sits atop a crystal thrown and grins with crystal teeth under a golden crown.
If you've come looking for the Nixie you won't find her in here, friends the old creature says.
If not here than where? says Khayal as he walks over to the talking rock. Kukris still in hand but resting down by his side.
We come seeking answers about Kardswann. Hajar says while scanning the creature for evil.
Dhavyn joins Khayal as he hears the exchange between him and the creature. "...and who might you be, sir?" he asks impressed by the luster around him but wary of the creature.
Oh, she is well hidden my friend says the being to Khayal. You need not fear for her being lost.She may leave any time so long as she does not stay here in this pond.
To Hajar: Kardwswaan the genie lord? Indeed. Did you know that most Janni cannot actually grant wishes? I was surprised when he wished me into this cavern. The being looks around at the crystals of the cave. It is a beautiful cavern, no?
To Dhavyn: Me? Why, I am Torag. Do you not recognize me, the mighty master of rock and earth?
As this being moves it's feet around on the rock floor they seem to melt into the stone. He, whatever it is, must be made of the stuff, and able to move through it as a fish moves through water.
Torag, forgive my impudence, but I too value Honor above all else and well honed steel in my hands. Kneeling Khayal presents his masterwork kukri. I humbly request your blessing on me or my blade that I may be as a rock against my enemies, stoic and strong.
Confused at Khayal's reaction Dhavyn gauges the options. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your being but perhaps you could indulge my curiosity? Am I to understand that this Janni brought you here against your will, and bound you to this place? For what purpose I wonder?"
Khayal, what are you doing? Don't you realize it's a...
...oh, never mind.
is this an Outsider of some type? Bartan isn't extremely well-trained in religion but it will take a lot to convince him that this creature is THE Torag, god of The Forge.
Dhavyn and Bartan recognize the creature as some kind of earth elemental, but cannot tell it's type.
to see if this Torag business has credence.
Why have you trapped the nixie? Why must she leave her waterfall?
The creature does not register as evil. However, the gold crown on his head gives faint aura of evil.
In my mercy I have seen fit to cooperate with the Genie Kardswaan, and provide life giving water to all the creatures and beasts in Kelmarane. Water this Nixie has denied sharing for too long. I, Torag, am merciful in this way...
on the gold crown. Is it controlling him somehow?
"I... see... That is most benevolent of you. So it is safe to assume you are the benevolent power keeping this Nixie at bay. Perhaps you would like to share with us how you are doing this, so we don't accidentally undo it... My, these truly are marvelous crystals..." he throws a quizzical look at Bartan, and makes some distance between himself and the creature.
Bartan can not tell if the being's crown is cursed in some way. At least not from this distance.
You like my crystals? I make them from the raw stuff of the world. The same minerals I used to ensnare that water creature outside. He proceeds to tell Dhavyn the inner workings of his mastery over crystalline earth materials.
Bartan moves forward, a bit cautiously, to get a better look at the creature. "Was it necessary to emprison the poor water creature? Was she combatting against you? I don't know why she would even attempt to face the wrath of the great Torag himself!"
Bartan will also attempt to surreptitiously use a Swift action, chanting under his breath to charge his deck of cards with energy and unsnap the pouch they're held in, all while talking to the creature to try to distract him from what he's really up to.
Avenka stands tall and approaches the creature, but not in the way of Bartan.
"You will release the nixie immediately !"
**
Anjali, a creature of emotion as well as sensation, lingered over the rushing waters of the waterfall, tilting her face up at the rushing waters. She shrugged sheepishly at Dhavyn when she emerged, completely soaked. Once he dried her clothes, she smiled and gave his arm a small squeeze of gratitude. An impromptu bath was better than no bath in her book.
Further inside the cave, she stands back, listening intently to the exchange between the crystalline being and the rest of her companions. She takes a moment to admire Dhavyn's light bouncing off the creature's facets. Distracted by the dazzling lights, Anjali closes her eyes, trying to sift fact from fiction in the creature's words.
Khayal was dubious that a god could be trapped by a wish, but with that sense motive vs bluff, he may kind of believe.
Anajli can't decern much more than normal intuition would allow. And although visibly shaken by Avenka's shouts, the rock monster remains on his throne. He apparently truly believes he is the god-being Torag.
He bellows: Do not dare to threaten me in my own domain! I am older than the oldest of things...where were you when I called forth the minerals I now command from the hot soup of creation?!
As it speaks new stalactite spikes rise up all around you, not fast enough to harm you, but swift enough to be alarming, and the cave shakes in a slight earthquake.
The monster does not respond to Yazi. Obviously unaware of what she is saying.
Pulling his Kukris into a much more threatening stance Khayal says, Speak plainly, the gods do not appreciate impersonators.
Release the nixie and we shall go. I would not wish to harm you. Hajar gives a final entreaty as his hands move towards Tempest's hilt
"This creature is obviously not Torag. Perhaps this will jog your memory of your identity!"
Bartan casts hydraulic push, targeting the crown on the creature's head directly. Since normally it would be a Bull Rush combat maneuver, I think calling it a Disarm maneuver in this case makes more sense.
vs. the creature's CMD.
While impressed by Bartan's talent Dhavyn still cringes at his brashness. He takes a few hasty steps backwards as the cave around them begins shaking.
"This either ends really well or really badly" he quips even as Bartan's watery wave strikes the "god".
He clasps his hands together preparing to rain arcane fire if things turn sour - and to run if "Torag" decides to bring down the cave on them.
Anjali opens her eyes, more alert now after Avenka's demanding words. As the cave floor jitters beneath them, the healer's gut twists with apprehension. With both the barbarian girl and Bartan far enough away from her that her healing might not reach them, she decides to make her way closer to the pair.
Even as Dhavyn retreats, she strides forward, giving the crystalline structures a wide berth. Ever cautious during these delicate negotiations, Anjali keeps her crossbow in hand in case the situation devolves rapidly.
Monster CMD 20 (22 vs. trip)
init: