Bolkvar walked over to Marcus and nudged him. "What does your god see? Anything evil around here?"
"It's some sort of binding Art. As I said, all Copperdeath did was strange. When I try to depart, I feel myself struck with fear until I abandon the thought. The Art you see about me is a seeming to spare you the ways Copperdeath marked me as his."
Ariyana and Bolkvar are sure she's lying about the Art.
"I have not seen the sky in so long that I can't say; the water and this lifeless stone make every day feel a winter."
Ari keeps an arrow on her bow, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
Not really in the mood for subtlety, she says to 'Lady Amkathra,' "What kind of Art is really surrounding you? Yes, I know you're lying. If you really expect us to help you, you'll need to start being honest. What's really keeping you here, if anything? And what's your real connection to this 'Copperdeath'? Are you working for him?"
"I also feel I should mention that Earlann fell and was destroyed centuries ago - so long, in fact, that there is likely not an elf alive who remembers it. That's why I asked how long you'd been here - because you must be quite old to still be alive after that long. So, I ask again, how are you bound here, and for how long have you been here?"
Marcus frowned when Bolkvar asked if Torm saw anything. It was a good question, but something that might be considered rude by Lady Amkathra. Still his companions where becoming suspicious, he would do what was necessary, opening his senses he started by inspecting the surroundings.
"I told you the truth entire: I am bound to this place by Copperdeath's strange Art. I cloak myself in my own, modest Art, to spare myself more reminding of what he has made me into. If it is as you say, and Eaerlann is dust, then his binding is stranger and crueler than I thought."
Ariyana is sure that she's not particularly interested in Eaerlann.
Marcus senses evil in the area.
"You're not doing a very good job of convincing us to help you, you know," Ari says as she fidgets with her bow and arrow. "For an elf, it's kind of strange that you're not particularly interested in Eaerlann.
"Also, unless the illusion magic is to hide actual, physical bonds, I don't see why we shouldn't just drag you out of here with us to get the truth once we're safely away from this place."
Ari lets her words hang in the air, hoping they would convince the elf to be more forthcoming with her answers.
Marcus felt the taint of evil, he continued concentrating hoping to narrow down the source...
2nd Round: Number of evil auras (creatures, objects, or spells) in the area and the power of the most potent evil aura present.
If you are of good alignment, and the strongest evil aura’s power is overwhelming (see below), and the HD or level of the aura’s source is at least twice your character level, you are stunned for 1 round and the spell ends.
3rd Round: The power and location of each aura. If an aura is outside your line of sight, then you discern its direction but not its exact location.
"You're not doing a very good job of convincing us to help you, you know," Ari says as she fidgets with her bow and arrow. "For an elf, it's kind of strange that you're not particularly interested in Eaerlann.
"Also, unless the illusion magic is to hide actual, physical bonds, I don't see why we shouldn't just drag you out of here with us to get the truth once we're safely away from this place."
Ari lets her words hang in the air, hoping they would convince the elf to be more forthcoming with her answers.
"Are you threatening me?" the Lady Amkathra said. "I suppose I should expect no less from Not People. Copperdeath's Art disfigured me. You don't need to know more."
She's lying.
Marcus is sure the taint is there, but it's only the one and only a hint. Nothing on the order of what he would expect from a fiend or the undead.
Ari shakes her head at Lady Amkathra.
She beckons her companions to confer out of earshot from Lady Amkathra.
Ari whispers to her companions once they are away form Lady Amkathra, "As I see it, we have three options. We kill her and move on. The simplest option, but also probably the worst one.
"Or we leave her and continue onward. The longer we linger, the more likely the children are to slip through our fingers.
"Or, third, we take her with us to interrogate later. I'm personally inclined to two, since we don't know how much she'll protest. If she's in league with those who stole the children, it could also be quite dangerous to take her with us. She's been lying throughout our conversation so far, so I don't think we can safely trust anything she says.
"What about the rest of you? What do you think we should do?"
Thurvek grunts in deep contemplation, but does not commit to any one plan.
"I don't know; I'm pretty sure she's telling the truth - why else would she be down here, if she could leave? We should help her, if we can. She did say she knows where the kids are..."
Barra shifts his feet. "Plus her song is so very pretty."
”She is lying. But we have no evidence of her being overtly evil. Let’s leave her here and keep exploring. We’ve wasted enough time on her lies, especially when the children might get live.”
"I concur. Let's leave her here and continue on our way. If we have even a chance of finding the children, we can't waste time." Looking at Barra, he says, "Besides, regardless of whether or not her song is pretty, the children are our priority. If you insist, we can come back for her later."
Marcus' eyes narrowed as he sought to track down the source of evil. It was a lesser source, but one they may be called to deal with. Would it be Lady Amkathra? He wouldn't be surprised, but even so they didn't know the full circumstances of what happened here, he would reserve judgement. For now.
Marcus' eyes narrowed as he sought to track down the source of evil. It was a lesser source, but one they may be called to deal with. Would it be Lady Amkathra? He wouldn't be surprised, but even so they didn't know the full circumstances of what happened here, he would reserve judgement. For now.
The source of the taint was indeed Lady Amkathra. Marcus was sure of it.
Marcus fixed 'Lady' Amkathra with a steady glare, "A faint aura, but there none the less. It seems M'lady hasn't exactly lead an exemplary life. You say you where trapped here, maybe that's for good reason. Lets worry about her later, we have more important business to attend."
”Agreed. Let’s go.” Bolkvar began walking away...
Marcus fixed 'Lady' Amkathra with a steady glare, "A faint aura, but there none the less. It seems M'lady hasn't exactly lead an exemplary life. You say you where trapped here, maybe that's for good reason. Lets worry about her later, we have more important business to attend."
[dice=Sense Motive for any replies]1d20+6
"Your prying sees the binding that Copperdeath laid upon me," Akmathra said, affronted. Marcus believes she's telling the truth.
Ari begins walking away with Bolkvar and whispers to her companions when the elf speaks again, "Ignore her. We can come back later if we want to, but right now the children have to be our priority."
Hakon gauges the woman's words as well.
Well that's awkward thought Marcus. With a deep sigh he replied, "Hmmm, what if that's true? Puts us in a quandary... I suppose the children come first, but we shall have to do what we can."
Hakon gauges the woman's words as well.
[dice=sense motive]1d20+6
Hakon is sure that Amkathra is lying, but that she has a good reason and he should do all he can for her.
"We can trust her. Why would she try to hurt us?
”Because nothing she has said has made sense or given me reason to trust her. Might well be any manner of psiconic nasty. Let’s focus on the mission and deal with her later. She’s survived longer than an elven generation down here, apparently alone and without food, water, or light. She can handle a few more minutes.”
Marcus was torn, Hackon trusted her yet she had the taint of evil about her. She had an explanation for that, one that she believed at least. Marcus wasn't entirely sure what to make of that and Bolkvar was clearly having none of it. Coming to a decision Marcus replied, "Hmmph, I suppose that's true. By her own word she has been here for lifetimes. Pardon M-lady we must depart for now, but never fear we shall return."
He turned to leave.
Ari nods in agreement with Bolkvar and Marcus. "We can come back, Hakon. The children have to be the priority right now. We've wasted too much time as it is."
Ari moves to follow Marcus as he leaves.
Hakon nods. "Right.. the children." He turns to the lady and bows. "We shall return for you, my lady."
Hakon nods. "Right.. the children." He turns to the lady and bows. "We shall return for you, my lady."
"If I have your oath... Amkathra sighed. "Then I accept it. She let the company pass her oddly glowing pool and continue through the tunnel beyond. They walked through water up to their knees, and briefly to the waist, before coming up on the far side to tunnel that spiraled steeply upwards around the margins of the cascade. They could tell at an eyeblink that it would mean a difficult ascent, worn smooth by centuries of water, wet from the spray, and lined with slick, green growths. If any slipped, they might tumble far. With poor luck, they might strike Akmathra's pool and be taken in the current.
Looking up, Thurvek cursed. "Damn. I didn't bring any climbing gear. I wouldn't recommend anyone try climbing without some."
"Maybe we could summon a creautre that could make a rope? Or, act like one?"
"Perhaps the stronger among us should attempt the climb first then lower a rope down to make it easier for the others? As it happens, I have a rope we can use."
”If only I had any of my art left, I could just make some stairs.” Bolkvar said this clunky as he stared at the obstacle. He looked up when he heard Hakon. ”Can ye do that?”
"I... I'm not sure..."
That's a good question..and no. Hakon can't summon anything that can do that kind of thing.
No.. I cannot. But, I am strong. I could climb up and brace the rope for the others..
The dwarven cleric sighed, "Do we really think children were taken up this cliff to the other side? Let's check the immediate area for footprints. We might be fussing over this for nothing."
Ranek looked up and sighed. He privately agreed with Thurvek that the children hadn't been able to climb out themselves. There was still the matter of the other adventurers, as well. Where were they?
He joined Thurvek in looking for any signs that someone had passed this way.
Marcus craned his neck as he looked up, "Seems unlikely doesn't it Thurvek." He shook his head with worry before getting to work, looking for any sign that people might come come this way.
"Perhaps the stronger among us should attempt the climb first then lower a rope down to make it easier for the others? As it happens, I have a rope we can use."
Neither Thurvek nor Ranek could find any tracks. It seemed the constant mist and trickling water had washed them all way. Marcus had better luck, just spotting the nearly vanished traces of someone ascending the path. Someone with very large feet.
Perhaps we should climb?. Hakon carefully makes his way up the shaft
Ari nods in agreement with Hakon and begins making her way up the shaft as well.
"Well, let's see how this goes."
Ranek joins the others in climbing.
Heavy armor made climbing difficult, but difficult was no excuse, there where children to save. Scrambling on hand and foot Marcus picked his way up the steep slope.
"Er... I might need some help here." Barra's not the most skilled climber (little call for that in the city) and his feet slip and slide on the stone as he tries to make his way up.
At some length, and with much slipping of feet and a few close calls, the company ascends the winding tunnel around the waterfall. The torrent is nearly deafening and the damp soon gets everywhere. After about sixty feet up, and considerably more around, they come upon a thick web stretched clean through the water and sending up a tremendous spray where the two meet. A white spider the size of a very large dog sits amid it all, eating something that looked like a fish beneath all the webbing.
Ari braces herself against the wall as she stares at the giant spider.
Lest it hear her, she whispers to her companions (loudly enough to be heard over the waterfall), "We should probably kill that thing before it decides to make a meal of more than just fish."