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...
Lady Alya De Qill
