[dice=Perception]1d20+8
[dice=Perception]1d20+8Lariel is a bit distracted by Aletha's small boat. Afterwards he does see the stalagmite and mentions "This basin was crafted" before looking in the direction Vasaam pointed.
He is a bit confused by there being someone there.
"We would be rude to not talk to them, and see what they say." Coraline seems positive about this information, and would go to speak to the person.
Lariel tries to sound wise and says "Maybe we should wait for Aletha to finish her work, Coraline."
Lariel tries to sound wise and says "Maybe we should wait for Aletha to finish her work, Coraline."
The team decides to wait for Aletha to complete her small makeshift raft.
By the time she is done, the humanoid figure in the far distance has left again.
You make your way over to the small island where oasis is located. The sounds of occasional drops of water, as you row across the silent water.
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You continue your travel to the northeastern shore, where you estimated the form gone off to. Where you land, it isn't smooth a landing for the rafts, as what looks like to be rough steps of a stairs go down underwater.
The way forward, which leads through a natural bend, ends you up in an area with 4 figures. One is a sahuagin, 3 are humans.
A giant oyster on a small dry area amidst water, opened up, displays the comforts of a bed. Some simple furniture adds a slight living room feel to the area.
Leona keeps aware or everything going on and around her as they go forward.
As she still considers herself in unfriendly territory.
As even a small subtle detail can say volumes of information.
The three humans wear casual clothing, like villagers would. The sahuagin bears a crossbow and spear, but like the three human men is busy sorting through a catch of items that lies within an ulfolded net.
You hear the clear sounds of metal, as if blades were dropped onto the other. Wet clothing lies discarded to the side, a bracelet gets pulled off from a boney arm.
Two of the humans and the sahuagin are too busy to properly hear you enter. One of the men, who wears leathers, hears your approach and looks over his shoulder.
"Who are you folk? Are you here to pay tribute to her too?"
We have been sent from the surface to investigate disappearance, in particular amongst those here to pay tribute, so that things may go on unimpeded
Aletha says diplomatically
The lights send me towards this place She adds
Aletha's words come across sincere, and what reservations the men had, is put aside.
Guy in leathers: "Disappearance? I hate to worry them, and we'd return eventually, but we've a task to do here. You can tell them we are fine."
The youngest of the bunch: "Yes, i have all i need down here. Her beauty and company. I can hardly leave before i make sure she is 100% happy."
3rd guy: "The light? Are you a cleric? Then you can give her a blessing, yes?"
It takes little to figure they are as the sahuagin you spoke with before. Infatuated dedication to The Lady.
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Lariel says "You have families and friends that would want your care back in the village too. Why don't you come back with us?" He thinks It looks like they've been magically enchanted, but I have no idea how to revert this.
He looks at Coraline and Leona hoping they have a great idea of how to deal with this.
" I am a cleric, but please tell us, what blessing does she need that I could give? What drives you to help her so? Perhaps we can help her out, and bring you all back home as well, as proper?"
Leona casts detect magic to see if any spells are active in the area.
Leona comments on one of the men's words "Her beauty and company, you need more then that to live.
And a good woman loves a manly man that is productive and can provide for his family,
not one that just waits around and gawks at her beauty.
My boyfriend is better man then all the these weak willed men here gawking over a lady in a clam shell."
Vasaam moves over by the oyster shell to take a look. "So. Where is the lady? Would she be upset by our being here?"
Lariel says "You have families and friends that would want your care back in the village too. Why don't you come back with us?" He thinks It looks like they've been magically enchanted, but I have no idea how to revert this.
He looks at Coraline and Leona hoping they have a great idea of how to deal with this.
The guy in leathers, he himself still a fairly young man in his early 20s, showing signs of being fit and athletic of build, slightly shakes his head.
"She needs whatever aid we can give her, the fishmen attacked before.", his eyes slightly hinting at the sahuagin. "And who knows if they do so again. We can't right leave her alone at their mercy."--------------------------------------------------
I am a cleric, but please tell us, what blessing does she need that I could give? What drives you to help her so? Perhaps we can help her out, and bring you all back home as well, as proper?
"A prayer for her fortune, be it to the gods, or the local spirit. Would you not want to feel safe in your own home?"
--------------------------------------------------Leona comments on one of the men's words "Her beauty and company, you need more then that to live.
And a good woman loves a manly man that is productive and can provide for his family,
not one that just waits around and gawks at her beauty.My boyfriend is better man then all the these weak willed men here gawking over a lady in a clam shell."
Leona's scanning detects no spells affecting these men and sahuagin.
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Vasaam moves over by the oyster shell to take a look. "So. Where is the lady? Would she be upset by our being here?"
The water is still between himself and the oyster. From the distance, about 15ft, he sees outlinings of a pillow, and a softly glowing moss covering the inner side of the upper half of the oyster's shell. The lower half is hidden behind the edges of the shell.
"I do not think she'd particularly mind, if your intentions are peaceful."
" To not speak ill, but it seems that you are here to protect her from an attack, in her own home is that correct? What manner of creature is she, that the fishmen have attacked her? Could we perhaps help to ensure that she is safe and then you return to the home you came from?"
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Unable to see what is in the shell Vasaam steps out in the water, then luckily doesn't drown on the way....
Vasaam gets across. The water is surprisingly luke warm. Getting across, he wrings out as much water from his clothes as he can before taking a better look at the oyster.
The youngest guy quickly points a finger towards him, with a surprised tone.
"Don't touch her things."
Vasaam sees a soft looking pillow, a luxury one obviously needs to get from the surface. Except this looks like a very very nice looking one.
A lantern, the size of a mug, has a few fireflies in it, shedding a gentle light, like a bedside candle. The bottom of the oyster, instead of a matrass, is lined with slightly moist looking seaweed, which oddly doesn't smell of brine water.
A shine hints at some metal object, but partially hidden under the pillow. The bit you see, it looks like a medallion.
Speaking of returning home again, there is another brief silence, as a blank stare briefly comes over their faces. As they snap to, seemingly unaware of otherwise, the guy asking for a blessing is first to speak.
"I can't go until i know she is fine and happy. We're special to her, and she's special to us."
A set of eyes and the tip of fins at both sides of the half-submerged face they are in, are peering at you all from the back of the watery area around the oyster bed. Listening intently.
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Lariel says "I understand the need to feel safe in your own home. I think this is very noble. But what you're saying is that you want to abandon your home to live in near slavery to someone. That I find hard to believe. I think you've been bewitched. You'd better come with us."
Lariel is focused on dust on the ground, it seems.
Coraline was to busy in the conversation to notice anything, not even the color of her own shoes. Was she wearing shoes? Who knew, because she didn't.
" We just need you home. We can help defend her home from outsiders. What equipment do you have to defend her with?"
Leona keeps detect magic on as she looks around.
"I didn't come out here to touch anything. I was just curious about this shell. I'll back off now."
When he accidentally submerges he tries to splash to the surface and call out, "Help!?!"
Lariel says "I understand the need to feel safe in your own home. I think this is very noble. But what you're saying is that you want to abandon your home to live in near slavery to someone. That I find hard to believe. I think you've been bewitched. You'd better come with us."
[dice=Perception]1d20+8
Lariel is focused on dust on the ground, it seems.
"Slavery? Not at all. And how can you even suggest she'd do anything to us?"
The youngest guy shakes his head. "You're not taking me anywhere."
But Leona, not currently conversing with the infatuated people, does spot that outlining of the partially emerged head observing the team. As soon as she does, it goes back underwater.
In response to Caroline, the guy in leathers points at the scavenged short swords, a dagger on his hip, and a fishing spear leaning against the wall.
"We can and will defend her against any threat."
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As he is going under water, which turns dark without a proper light, he feels a force jetting into his back, thrusting him out of the water, and he rolls 10 feet across the floor. From the water jumps a figure of a young woman with a fish tail that has shining blue-purplish scales, small fins on her flanks. She has beautiful long brown hair that turn purple towards the ends, and vibrant ocean-blue eyes, a pair of shiny fins are where normally a humanoid's ears would be. There is an undeniable alluring beauty to her overall appearance. The high-class citizens you may have seen in Yonford would meet their match in her. She lands onto the oyster, attentively looking, observing. In particular Lariel, whom was speaking of 'Come with us', before.
Leona quietly says to those in her party near her "we might have company in the water"
Vasaam hits the ground and rolls from the force that rescued him. The 'hit' didn't hurt him, and obviously saved him from possible drowning. It didn't take a genius....
He coughs, and slowly rolls to his hands and knees. "Ah. Thank you! I guess I really need to learn to swim if we're going to be doing this kind of stuff!"
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Lariel feels uneasy at the lady-fish looking at him. He is a bit self-conscious and doesn't stare, but he cannot help but wonder at the wonders of the world he hasn't seen.
He clears his throat and says "Greetings! We have no intention to intrude on your home. But it has come to my... our attention that these fine folk may be being magically charmed by you." Unsure of how to continue the accusation, he starts fumbling his words "Usually I'd have no problem with that, people do what they want, I mean who am I to tell others who they can enthrall and who they can't, except that it is wrong, but I'm not an arbiter."
He catches himself from continuing rambling and says "You have to let them go! They have families and loved ones!"
The siren stares at Lariel, as she leans on the edge of the oyster.
To the siren, Lariel's words come across unconvincingly. She turns her head to the youngest guy, who then swims over to her. As he hoists himself to sit on the oyster, she hooks her arm in his and holds it tight, leaning her head on his shoulder. She looks back at Lariel with a frown. But she says nothing.
By body language alone, she very much wants the company to stay. Maybe this one in particular?
Is she actually enthralling them? I mean, If I was a fetching you lad like him, I would absolutely enjoy this without any magical compulsion.
Aletha switches to a more flirtatious approach.
But perhaps a compromise can be made here?
His family relishes his company as much as you do, and his family was was made him such a strapping lad? Perhaps some more company will make him more... interesting? Would you not like it more, if he gains new experiences he can then share with you?
Without doing any threatening movement whatsorever, Aletha slowly steps forward a bit.
Or perhaps exchange his permanent company, which will only draw in more ire from the local village, for... how about he joins you on a weekend? And some of the others join you on different days? Perhaps bringing different gifts and different each day?
"There's an idea. A different lad every day of the week. I'm sure the village has at least that many good looking young men that could keep you company!"
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Leona has a bit of a look disgust, at Aletha and Vasaam's words.
As much as a harem sounds fun and I flirt some to get info from folks,
It is the worst idea ever for a small community, as one little disease or STD and boom everyone in the community would be infected. Furthermore imagine if a disease jumps species it would cause a pandemic. Also the bonds between married couples in the community would be strained and cause other issues leading to the collapse of the village.
"Wow, that idea is short sighted. A harem of men, sounds fun, but it'll cause a heap of other problems later."
"While I can understand a woman's desire to be next to one they love. As one with a boyfriend I at times can't stop thinking about, I understand it well.
But if you truly love them, you let them go and do the things they need to do, and to connect and interact with their family and friends.
Can a Man who is always next to you and protecting you bring you food, make you gifts from materials you like but are dangerous to get.
If you've taken other men's hearts and got them to do the grunt work, sooner or later jealous and envy will creep in and one of them will seek to take your beloved one's place, or the darkness in their hearts might go after you and they'll take you and them together in death as the darkness within the heart can become very dark in another if one is not careful with their influence, beauty and charm.
That is the reality of things, if you want them to live and provided for you, you must be able to let them go and do what they need to do."
Coraline understands the issues the young woman was having with the idea of being alone, and offers to her, in Aquan, "Look, we want many things in life but we can not take from others. We are both women of the sea, you as well as I know the land walkers will kill and hunt us if they feel we take unfairly from them, despite them taking all from us. We must let them go and live their own life, and choose us of their own will." She mentioned nothing of the saguhin, as they were creatures of the sea. She also would take a few steps closer to the woman, her own aquatic nature lending to her moving swiftly into the water, and her water sense making sure she is protected from any sneaking attacks coming towards her.
Not knowing what he 'should' say, Vasaam considers that he was just saved from breathing water.... "Ah. We just don't want anybody hurt."
But perhaps a compromise can be made here?
His family relishes his company as much as you do, and his family was was made him such a strapping lad? Perhaps some more company will make him more... interesting? Would you not like it more, if he gains new experiences he can then share with you?Without doing any threatening movement whatsorever, Aletha slowly steps forward a bit.
Or perhaps exchange his permanent company, which will only draw in more ire from the local village, for... how about he joins you on a weekend? And some of the others join you on different days? Perhaps bringing different gifts and different each day?
After Lariel's unfortunate not coming close to convincing her, the siren cautiously looks at you as you approach, the water still between the two of you. She shakes her head, rolling her eyes.
-----------------------------------------------------Comes Leona's speech
There are aspects certainly catching some attention, and by some frowning of hers, you see she sees some sense in your words. Though she outright hisses at suggestions of scheduling visits from strangers. That goes double so for Vasaam's comment about a different man every day. She slaps her tail firmly on the water, splashing some drops still towards him.
Lariel's 4 words don't seem to make an impact, however. She doesn't even pay the words any mind.
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Caroline speaks in aquan, but the siren looks at her confused, as if Caroline was speaking in an alien language.
Repeating the same words in common, and you get some sort of response.
"....," *annoyed frustrated grumbling*, she makes some wild fast gestures, "....!!!", not a single word comes out, as much as she seems to try, as much as she wants them to form. Pointing at each of them, makes a semi circle motion forward then back, she rolls her eyes, shakes her head, pinching the bridge of her nose, then sighs.
She holds the young man's arm tightly again, who leans against her in turn.
A small draft picks up, and the voice you previously heard giggle at the pranking of Lariel and Caroline, whispers faintly through it.
"Useless....futile.....seek my shrine.....offer magic....."
Vasaan considers the words and looks around at the group. "Not her. The shrine. Where is her shrine? We have to find her shrine and offer magic there."
Vasaan considers the words and looks around at the group. "Not her. The shrine. Where is her shrine? We have to find her shrine and offer magic there."
Vasaam smacks himself on the forehead and shakes his head. "At the entrance. I wasn't thinking. Let's go. What do we offer? Magic...."
One walk back, and rafting across towards the altar, fireflies are flying about near the offerings bowl.
They fly in an odd repeating pattern, that of a cluster that ripples outwards, like a pulsing energy source.
" Well, we should use some magic.... but I am unsure what kind? Maybe this?" Coraline would cast Guidance near the alter, unsure what exactly was being looked for here.
"Look at the fireflies. They're flying in a pattern. Rippling outward, like.... waves?"
"It's a shrine. Maybe we clean it? And then fill it with water? Can you cast create water?"
Caroline has the right hunch.
When she casts her magic, the energy of the spell becomes slightly visible as a puff of sparkling lights.
It slowly drifts towards the bowl.
Once there, your surroundings shift.
You find yourselves in a small cavern with a large body of water before you. Light coming through in the back, glowing moss, and a figure floating above the water, in a meditate sitting position. Her form is a transparent blue, with eyes that glow gently with a lighter shade of blue. Wings that seem like a butterfly, and silky blue-greenish hair in a ponytail.
"Ah, welcome.", it is the voice of before. "I am Niresse, patron spirit of the village, and these caverns are my home. I suspect you wonder why i asked for a donation of magical energy. It is both to hide you from prying eyes, and to establish communication. Be advised, that the stronger the donated energy, the longer you are hidden. Your spell just now will last you about 2 minutes, and then you will need do it again."
"Before i explain why i have called you here, i suspect you have some questions?"