Azzim considers what could reveal the powerful shapeshifter... The most authoritative texts (Willou's Survey Of Planar Oddies, etc) report that The Deceiver's assumption of a form is supernatural effect, like a doppleganger's and so not affected by either dispel magic or break enchantment. They could be revealed by true seeing ... but that wouldn't reveal it to the other spirits. Antimagic field would be effective but is outside Azzim's expertise. Plus it is would return the caster to their form and considering you need your plant forms here to breath, it could inconvenient...
Azzim's powerful mind does get an intuition of a sort of custom spell that might reveal this creature to all but such an ad-hoc effort like could only work if the creature was distracted and not maintaining it's full, powerful magical defenses...
Meanwhile, Monel steps to forward in sprout-form to face the diamond-belted spirit. "You must forgive my friends' reluctance to play. Our kind change slowly and seeks rewards slowly. That is our way. Still, I am curious to about this game you speak of and what it involves. Can explain it slowly so I can comprehend it fully. I may play if it offers interesting and satisfying rewards..." whereupon the spirit begins to explain several simple betting games of earth spirits, emphasizing their value as amusements... meanwhile Monel sends ::Well, my guess is drawing out and provoking this one is needed. I think I am qualified to do this. I have presented at the high, true Seelie Court and I doubt much can compare to that. I will move slowly. Tell where I should take things::
Before Monel goes, Azzim stops him and says, "Let me give you a quick blessing before you go, just a minor protective - I worry the diamond-belted spirit may become aggressive."
When Monel asks for advice on direction, Azzim responded over the link ::If you really want to put the fox among the chickens, you could ask some of the other elementals how they feel about Narvus being away for so long and coming back different...::
To the others close by Azzim suggested, "We'll need to be ready, unless I missed my mark, Monel will shortly need rescuing."
Well, ideally we'd get him to admit to something shocking enough to make these spirits he's duped realize how far they've sunk, but that may not be possible, Terexaltherin adds in to what Azzim said. But it might also work to just force him to reveal his true form. I'm not sure anything other than an antimagic field would do the trick, though, and given *we* are also depending on magic to be here, that would be hard to pull off.
To the others close by Azzim suggested, "We'll need to be ready, unless I missed my mark, Monel will shortly need rescuing."
::..say the shaman to the paladin.:: Arlo states over the mindlink. The shambling mounds stands defiantly next to Monel.
Over the link, Monel sends ::Oh, I don't think there's that much reason for worry:: Scanning the Deceiver again ::Well, maybe but risks must be taken..:: So Monel and BlackForge Diamondbelt, as he calls himself, begin to chat.
And indeed here, you witness the crossing of swords of two high level confidence tricksters, with Monel masterfully playing the "Fool for a fool" gambit; Appearing just naive enough to seem a tempting mark, just sophisticated enough to be believable. Seeming just greedy enough to be tempted... but require just a little more push. Still always also eager for assurances all this is honest and moral... "Naturally, we are all far too honest to use crude things like the zone of truth but I can certainly verify that, for example, my real and true name is Monel... and "Of course those diamonds on your belt don't denote life debts these fine fellows owe you, the similarity to slave belts is coincidental I'm sure, the winnings come to all equally..." while the deceiver himself responds with the carefully crafted half-truths one would expect from such a being, occasionally catching Monel as well in an embarrassing admission. The observing earth spirits alternate between curiosity, jocular sneers and uncertainty as Monel seeds doubts in their minds.
This continues for a bit but "BlackForge" seems to grow more hostile and you can sense him grasping for some insult or accusation to make against Monel and possibly aiming one of his boulder like fists as well. Monel, who's kept up a snarky telepathic commentary to the party while this has gone on, now sends the message ::Ah friends, now is the crucial moment, jibes from the peanut gallery, reach the point this creature's emotions overcome it and then Azzim and Terex have a shot at unmasking it. Or it's dupes may see through it. Or we will have to scatter for our lives...::
Terexaltherin briefly debates what he can do. He's never... quite felt comfortable turning his telepathy towards outright lying. And revealing his presence to 'BlackForge' seemed like something to hold off until the last possible moment if he could. Instead he tries to identify which of the other spirits seems most uncertain.
Once he's picked one, he carefully reaches out with his telepathy.
Quietly. Don't show any sign of something being wrong. You may be in terrible danger. As you might have guessed, this isn't a random encounter. We've been on the trail of some dangerous interplanar criminals.
Did you know the earth spirit who's supposedly making these crystals you're waiting on has, according to all records we've been able to access, been missing for more than a thousand standard years? At best you're being conned, but at worst... well, these criminals have been known to kill to keep their secrets.
Your best chance, if you asked me, is to casually start a conversation with one of the other spirits. The kind of thing that seems natural and you can draw away a little from the others during without seeming suspicious. Then you won't be in the crossfire.
Terex picks a sandy-brown spirit, one standing towards the back of the group with an air of half confusion, half skepticism... They send back ::That would resolve much, I shall heed your suggestion:: and then pull another spirit (brown-gray) back with the excuse of telling the other about crystal sharpening techniques... Monel's exchange with Natesh continues, the tension hidden but palpable...
Through the link, Monel says ::Hmm, do these things have true names, tells, funny shaped shadows, some kind of 'tell'? Perhaps if you told a specially raunchy joke... Just spit balling:: while he keeps his act going without any give-away himself...
Azzim pondered Money's question :: Everything has a true name, and there is much power in such knowledge. I have studied lists of such esoterica, let me see if I recognize any of these lesser spirits... Ah I think I do recognize a couple of them!::
Lyra waited, this was best done by others who had the know how and skills to get the info they needed. So she did her task and waited.
From his vantage point, seeing with root-vision from his plant form, Azzim considers Hithuol's rare text, An Account of Beings Below The Roots and Their Secrets, which he read in once and memorized in the Brown Library in Sigil long ago. The brown-gray figure may be Arbin, who's true name Hithuol gives as Mthume, a generally benevolent earth spirit of creation while a deep orange-and-tan figure may be Thill, the "brother" of Mthume, reputed to be rigidly lawful though perhaps less benevolent. Hithuol gives Thill's true name as Thalumeb
Meanwhile, Monel sends over the hive mind, ::A last minute thought - could anyone find a non-magical way for us to breath, move and perceive in this sand? Perhaps a technological device? Throwing Anti-magic shell is a possibility though a last resort::
Meanwhile, Monel continues his tense bluff with the Natash/"BlackForge Diamondbelt" and Arbin and the brown-gray spiritly whispers softly and excitedly (as excited as earth spirits get) in the very back. The other four spirits look with expressions of uncertainty, with Thill seeming skeptical and perhaps angry.
Azzim pondered the implications of using Anti-magic shell, would it change the nature of the medium they where in?
Honestly... if you three just started slowly getting into combat-ready positions--you know, spreading out to flank, that sort of thing--we might be able to push him into showing his true form. Combine it with an accusation and some evidence and we can probably tip things over the edge. If we want to do that, I could show myself just as he's getting near the edge.
Azzim consider anti-magic field. While not being a spell he casts, he recalls a note by his old comrade Rollo that an anti-magic field extends only ten feet from the caster. So at best Monel and the Deceiver would be in it. On mention of this, Monel send ::Goodness, an oversight of the mine. The King's library is not always the best tbh. Still, it may work in our favor. Only I will be at risk and I could survive a short time in this sand. The key is making the "reveal" count as Terex is suggesting. Perhaps some comments from the 'peanut gallery' and then I spring the trick:: (and the dual of words continues with earth-spirit observers split in their attitudes).
Arlo tries to swim onto position.
Terexaltherin waits for everyone to make their moves, then 'swims' forward just a little, getting just barely into perception range of the assembled earth spirits.
Deceiver! False one! We know the spirit you claim to serve perished centuries ago! The crystals you deliver carefully chosen to sow chaos! We will reveal you for who you really are!
"Yes, revealed!" says Monel, as if continuing to make a point, holds up a hand and steps into the "personal space" of BlackForge Diamondbelt while uttering a couple of words (from the scroll concealed in his sleave), whereupon Monel assumes his fairy form and "BlackForge" transforms into a strange, large creature, similar to gigantic Hyena but with a thinner neck, six-legs, more humanoid-like face and body, two-tongues, paws with more developed claws and opposable thumbs and wings like bags of leather... It screeches immediately "How you enchant me in this form... here pull me away and I will break this foul spell" (The creature clearly adept manipulating the conclusions one would draw from the situation). He then attempts to slowly dig two paws into Monel ... as both of them are now suddenly affected by the crushing weight of the sand around them and so it only pushes one into the suffering Monel...
The remaining earth spirits look initially stunned... though one seems possibly drawn to aid the Deceive, moving a bit closer...
Lrya transformed into her true form,
"Its about time"
She says,
She seeks to move.
The earth spirit are taken aback as Lyra switches from the plant form granted her by Runethia to her true form. The brown-gray spirit Azzim identified as Arbin, exclaims "The minerals of divinity, shinning before us. What I'd give to taste that" when a dark purple spirit exclaims to another spirit "Ay Nob, you gonna change us on us next?" and the rest of the spirits seem somewhat in awe of Lyra the shining metal angel.
At the same time, while Lyra barely notices the sudden weight of the sand, it's density immediately changes her perception - her sonar gives only a rough idea of terrain and shapes. She able to rely on the other characters can transmit their views of the scene but the opacity is palpable.
"Yes, revealed!" says Monel, as if continuing to make a point, holds up a hand and steps into the "personal space" of BlackForge Diamondbelt while uttering a couple of words (from the scroll concealed in his sleave), whereupon Monel assumes his fairy form and "BlackForge" transforms into a strange, large creature, similar to gigantic Hyena but with a thinner neck, six-legs, more humanoid-like face and body, two-tongues, paws with more developed claws and opposable thumbs and wings like bags of leather... It screeches immediately "How you enchant me in this form... here pull me away and I will break this foul spell" (The creature clearly adept manipulating the conclusions one would draw from the situation). He then attempts to slowly dig two paws into Monel ... as both of them are now suddenly affected by the crushing weight of the sand around them and so it only pushes one into the suffering Monel...
The remaining earth spirits look initially stunned... though one seems possibly drawn to aid the Deceive, moving a bit closer...
Hah! A transparent lie. The effect is an anti-magic sphere, as any of you could determine by getting close enough to my colleague. However, I would suggest you disperse, for once this deceiver realizes his game is up he will no doubt grow violent, and for all his lies he *is* dangerous in battle.
Liya activated her full references and linked their minds.
Gadgets
1:Froce sheild personal[Personal] +4AC 15mins
2:Nanite Armor I[Personal] NA+7 15mins
3:Battle HUD[Personal] 15mins
4:Ninite Armor II[Personal] 15mins DR 10/adamantine
5:Circuitry Light Flash[Personal] THD Pool 150/10hp
6:MIND Hacker[Personal] Will DC 23 15 hours
7:MAGIC/PSIONIC SHIELD SR28 15Mins
She points and says to the evil being.
With that she hefts off her back her massive weapon and the power starts to build for all to feel.
When Terex spokeup, Azzim backed him up with a magically augmented announcement, "He speaks true, this is clearly an anti-magic effect - you can test that for yourselves with any minor conjuration! But beware, the deceiver is dangerous! DO NOT GET CLOSE!"
The party's words seem to convince all but maybe one of the earth spirits and the entire group recoils at the loathsome sight of the Deceiver Natesh. The creature itself finally breaks away from Monel's anti-magic field and takes on a form that is a parody of an earth spirit (but still with earth sight, earth glide, etc apparently). It laughs as it shoots a ray of green light at Terex that burns him in an eerie fashion as it says "You rock heads are so dumb you needed trees to rescue you...". Meanwhile the spirit Arbin doesn't simply recoil but hurls a huge granite boulder that slams hard into Natesh's head (though only stops the creature for a second).
Monel dismisses the field once Natesh leaves and stands "panting" back in the form of a small bush, now rather torn up...
Lyra tracks him with her weapon but dose not fire, worried the blast my harm others.
The dwarf concentrates on moving and breathing through the earth, claustrophobia clawing at the edges of his mind.
Terexaltherin winces inwardly at the pain of the attack but focuses his mind on the enemy. In sand like this, his telekinesis has plenty to work with, if he just concentrates on say, just around its head...
Azzim considers what to do here, he wonders if Natesh has considerable spell resistance and if there's something he could do to negate that. Perhaps there was something he could summon that was anathema to the deceiver...
Natesh in twisted earth spirit form, barely registering Terex' attack, turns and leaps for Arbin, grabbing the Earth Spirit in something like a headlock. "Now you will find out what happens when you break the rules of my game" and he breathes some noxious substance toward the elemental spirit who seems to slightly wither though he fights the hold of the Deceiver...
Azzim considered the strange qualities of Deceiver spirit - they resist spells but not to the same extent as demons of equivalent power . Oddly, the spell true sight cast on them is reputed to instantly banish them... All spell enforcing truth damage them to an extent. Silver dragons are reputed able to inflict terrible wounds in them...
"Such hubris, he thinks HE sets the rules!" cried Azzim.
Over the link he sent ::Let's take him out:: and before anyone could react, Azzim made a strange cutting motion with his hands and suddenly a glowing portal appeared beneath Arbin who was instantly translocated through it away from Natesh!
Terexaltherin sees that his attack didn't do a lot... as he'd expected. What he really needs is for Arlo to get in there and hold the thing's attention... for now, he'll try a mental attack. Focusing his will, he tries to stun Natesh with a blast of psionic noise.
However, he's not able to penetrate his target's innate resistances.
Arlo struggles to get closer.
"If I fire at him, the area around will be hit by a shock wave, your all going to be harmed. Sorry I can't help here"
Natesh, now seething with frustration as Arbin vanishes, shouts, "See 'Molty' (Arbid's use-name it seems) is in with these deceivers and illusionists. But I will show them for the cowards they are." Whereupon the creature runs directly at Lyra, growing to her size as he runs and gives Lyra a mighty wallop with a stone fist, trying to knock her back The other Earth spirits move to the opposite edge of the clearing and one try to go running down the (light pumice) "path" leading away.
Arlo tries to move through the sand and earth to defend his wife.
[dice=Swim]1d20 + 7
Arlo tries to move through the sand and earth to defend his wife.
Terexaltherin trails behind Natesh, willing to be considered of no threat right now while Arlo and Lyra engage. With tremorsense stealth is practically impossible, but being ignored could be just as usable for a sneak attack...
The Arlo Sword glows but it clatters ineffectively against Natesh's stoney skin (but Natesh ends in a location Arlo could strike again from... The Arlo Sword seems to whisper softly for smite evil...)
Point blank fire,
Now that Lyra had opened fire, Azzim followed suit. He whispered a single holy word which resonated like distant thunder, suddenly there was a pressure drop followed by a sharp spike and a brilliant beam of power stabbed into Natesh!
The dwarf godling grips The Arlosword tightly as he designates Natesh as his smite evil target.
So, as Natesh charges Lyra, her rail gun fires nearly but not quite taking the Deceivers head off but still producing a significant crack at his neckline.
And, at the point Natesh pushes Lyra, Azzim's spell hits Natesh fall-on, rendering his stony flesh more porous, at which point Arlo attacks, again several blows bouncing off, 'till with a finally, with seemingly luck blow he hooks the crack on Natesh' neck and snaps the creature clean in half.
As the pieces of Natesh steams and seem to evaporate, the spirit Arbid steps forward and sends as a vibration; "Halt! Stop! What is this, explain who you are and what has happened here, now!" (he apparently something of a leader for the group also and trying to regain control of the situation).
Terexaltherin doesn't trust Natesh to truly be dead, so he thinks over whether or not what they'd done should have been enough to destroy him.
Stay wary, he may not be as down as he looks, he warns his friends, then turns his telepathic broadcast to include the earth spirits.
We represent a coalition of multiple camps from the Groves Of Ansthenia, he explains. We've been tracking a worrisome upward trend in the number of recently-created planes that fall to corruption, and came to suspect flaws were being introduced into their foundations somehow. As we investigated further, we discovered the Camp of Crystals was supposedly receiving shipments from Narvus... a spirit who was suspected dead for nearly ten thousand geodal years! Further investigation revealed subtle problems with the crystal deliveries, further cementing our suspicions. And when we detected this deceiver here... well, it's all but certain whoever is claiming to be Narvus is not who they seem.
Lyra rights herself slowly in the viscus like rock and earth, her freedom of movement life field helped her to some level. She uses her pour strength to lift her weapon and waits as it powers up once more.
Pointing it one more at the thing they had just taken down.
To Arlo she sends
"Thank you darlin that %(^&%()* hit hard, my head is still shaking. It took a full blast at point blank. Lucky you got to it before it got me again. I think I may have been in real trouble."
She dose sound a little shaken.
Far all her size Lyras new from was really just a walking tank. And even tanks could be hurt with enough power behind a punch.
Arlo makes his way over to Saint Lyra. he pushes through the dirt to touch the andriod godling's shoulder and casts cure moderate wounds.
Arbid says "I wouldn't have believed this until now... But it makes sense, Narvus recruited us new and drove us hard, so hard we barely kept track of what was happening... But now, what is to be done. He thinks for a second. "But Zoon, he left before the situation was clear, I'm not sure what he will say. He was the most credulous of all of us to BlackForge's claims, which I assume are all also lies...
Terex considers... the smoke coming from Natesh's broken body. Indeed, a deceive can lurk in such smoke and reform a body or possess the unwary. But any truth spell can now send to the creature back to the lower planes...
She feels better now some healing has come her way
"So kind, so what now my love?"
Azzim's eyes narrowed as he considered the smoking body. He didn't have a truth spell memorized but he could call on the abyssal winds, maybe that would suffice?
Anyone have some truth magic? I really need to expand my scroll stash. We need one quickly to make sure Natesh here doesn't come back, Terexaltherin 'says' to the group, including Monel.
To the earth spirits, he says, Did you meet with this imposter Narvus? We've clearly got to deal with the root problem here, even if we've succeeded in trimming this branch. We have an approximate location, but anything you can add would be helpful.
::Sorry. I don't know.:: Arlo says over the hivemind, pointedly at Terexalthherin and Lady Lyra.
Azzim's eyes narrowed as he considered the smoking body. He didn't have a truth spell memorized but he could call on the abyssal winds, maybe that would suffice?...
But as his sharp mind considers the options, the spell true seeing comes to mind. Ironically, giving the Deceive a true view of the world as it is reputed to have near fatal effects on them, banishing them at minimum, and this creatures' ability to resist this spell now is much reduced... (to be a deceiver, you must to an extent be deceived, it seems). Abyssal winds could have an effect but likely to leave the creature "lost" for a period of weeks but then able to reform...