Arvormeigh's page

Ironically enough, the lockbox is quite stubbornly locked.

It is also, apparently, quite heavy from whatever else it might hold.

1d20 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30

For those waiting by the pool's edge next to the waterfalls, a couple of fish splash lazily within the pool. Some of them are actually quite large for river trout, but nothing dangerous-looking. They might make for a good meal if the party makes camp later. And they also remind you of the wonderful fish fry back at Elyin's wedding festival.

DC 30 Perception check...

Goodluck follows Taecuss into the narrow cave opening. Periodically, a bright bluish light flares from somewhere up ahead, backlighting a number of small fish which dart between the swimmers. Some of them move further ahead, and others escape into the churning water of the pool Taecuss and Goodluck left behind. The passage itself is tight enough that the men can only go one at a time. And, the walls close in for what seems like an eternity before they finally emerge in a small, air-filled cave.

The cave itself appears to be less than 15 feet in diameter and the ceiling is only 4 feet high, forcing Taecuss and Goodluck to crouch as they pull themselves from the water. A pile of gray, rune-carved stones...perhaps two dozen in number...takes up most of the floor beyond the water's edge. A somewhat rusted, iron lockbox sits nearby, its dimensions large enough to have clearly made for some difficulty to whoever pulled it through the narrow underwater chute leading to this bolthole.

Periodically, the runes from the pile of stones flash with an eldritch blue energy...the source of the illumination seen in the water. But, the light itself seems tangible. It pulses and writhes from the stones, drifting across the air to mingle with the water and create a low-lying shroud of mist which conceals the first foot or so of the cavern floor.

Arvormeigh is nowhere to be seen.

1d20 + 19 ⇒ (8) + 19 = 27

I assume Goodluck follows along as well, since he too is capable of water breathing, but it's your call. He sees much the same thing as Taecuss. Both of you can make a Perception check at DC 27 to read the spoiler below...

DC 27 Perception check:

Her reply is both aggrieved and curt. "Indeed, I plan nothing vile, nor mischievous, Little Man."

No lies detected.

"Who are you to mistrust me so?"

Following Meycho's answer, she reaches for Taecuss' hand to lead him to the water's edge. Once there, she plucks a piece of reed from the plants growing along the bank. "You'll have to trust me," she tells him. Words of fey magic then roll off her tongue.

"Nar-lana soe vitra, hospana-dei...kosumen ot-stra."

Then, she places the reed between her lips and reaches forward to kiss the elven bard fully on the mouth, pushing the other end between his lips, as well. Pure air blows through the tube as she pulls him into the pool, falling into its depths with a mighty splash. The resulting sensation of both the cold water and her lips moving against his nearly overwhelm his mortal body, until...finally, Arvormeigh withdraws. The reed floats away between them and Taecuss finds he can breathe water as easily as if it were air.

"I always wanted to cast the spell that way," she laughs. Her words sound clear and strong in his mind, not at all like the warblings of someone trying to talk underwater.

"Your prize lies this way..." She turns and begins swimming for the bottom of the pool. Apparently, it's quite deep, the depression holding a great amount of water beyond just the surface area of the pool's surface. Taecuss loses sight of her for a moment, but his low-light vision magnifies just enough light to see a silvery flash ahead, presumably from her webbed feet kicking through the dark. Following in that direction eventually leads him to a man-sized opening along the rock wall. It goes further into the hillside, almost directly below the second waterfall. There's no sign of Arvormeigh when he finds it. Presumably, she went inside ahead of him.

"Very well. Show us what is hidden in the pool. Of course, if you betray our trust, I will see to it that you are killed, and your body burned..."

"How barbaric." Her eyes narrow in distaste and the air feels charged by her displeasure with such a threat. "Clearly, you take after your human side rather than the elven half." She hesitates, as if she's about to say something stronger, but seems to reconsider and sets aside her unease. "Well then, I'll see what I can do. Unfortunately, unless you can breathe water, I can only show one of you," Arvormeigh explains, "But I can lead you there and ensure you do not drown."

She looks to Taecuss since he's shown her the most compassion so far. "I would take you, if you so desire." There's a seductive quality which creeps into her voice, but nothing particularly sinister. Seemingly, it's just more fey playfulness as her mood changes more swiftly than the current behind her. "I assure you I'll let no harm come to you. Just as you've seen fit that none has come to me. Would you swim with a fey? It's an experience like no other. One certainly worthy of a hero such as yourself..."

She traces a single finger across his chest as she speaks. Then, she turns to face the pool, looking askance over her shoulder. Her touch, however brief, leaves a warm tingling sensation as a slight flush comes over Taecuss. Could it be some kind of fey magic? Surely not. He still feels in control of his own faculties, after all. But, there's no denying that proximity to Arvormeigh heightens one's senses...and emotions.

"We have nothin' to call her a liar for. She's acted as she has and we might as well accept her at face value. I say we honor her trust and treat her with respect."

"It is rare to see one of your kind display such characteristics. How forunate I am that you have crossed my path this day, rather than those who defile the water and the forest. I am most honored to know you. Although, I still don't know your name. May you also honor and trust me with that?"

Arvormeigh has limited knowledge of our world outside of her queen's realm. I agree with Goodluck and we show her what gives us our strength: trust and respect.

"Honor, trust, and respect," Arvormeigh nods, "These are certainly traits in short supply. But they are also the sustenance of heroes from every age. Perhaps you are such, as well?"

"I trust your judgement in all things"

"You do your people justice as a rare Elf of wisdom. And, truly, I am in your debt. Would you now also see these ropes undone that I might stand? We are all wounded, after all. Perhaps none moreso than I. And this air...it is difficult...to breathe it for very long."

GMJaceDK:

"True names have power. I am reluctant to give mine to a self-confessed 'reliable servant' of the Queen. Still...I am unwilling to murder you in cold blood."

"I am glad to hear it." She offers a tentative, hopeful smile. "And worry not in telling me your name. 'Tis but a simple thing and I'm no sorcerer capable of using it to do you harm."

"I only wish to know who you are," she explains, "Heroes of legend have come and gone from the lands of the First children. Some seeking aid and others simply raging against my kind. But we mark their names just the same. It makes the telling of their tales that much more interesting and entertaining. Otherwise, I'd only be able to claim that a man, a child-man, and three warriors of elven blood stood as champions against the waves of Arvormeigh. It doesn't really have a compelling ring to it, you know?"

"Nonetheless, this is not your pool; you said that you were hoping to make it yours, when the Queen claimed this area, and we intend to make sure that that does not happen."

"It is certainly mine at the moment. For, I claimed it as my own when I arrived. No one lived here before I made it my home. And so it is you who intrude here. Not the other way around."

She coughs and her voice seems more raspy and dry. "When my Queen arrives, she will simply take note of my claim here and acknowledge it so others of my kind do not try and wrest it from me. That is what I meant..."

"What do you think? Shall we take her back to the Fey? I fear that it is too dangerous to leave her here... alive, at least."

"The children of the Second World would not accept me," Arvormeigh shares, "I am cast out from their kind and their ancestors inflicted many injustices upon me before. That was a long time ago. It is why I sought the Fellnight Realm. Rhoswen accepted me there. And I accepted her as my utmost liege. That's why I can no more turn from her than go back to the First World. And the Second children wouldn't let me anyway. They hate me. Taking me before them would kill me as surely as if you did so by your own hand here. And better to die by my pool than under their harsh ridicule and naked ire."

"Please. I implore you once more," she asks, "Release me from these bindings. I must breathe again of the water. You have my word I shall not attack you. I am at your mercy. So please have mercy upon me. It is all I ask."

I don't have any interest in any treasure she can offer unless - he glances at her meaningfully it includes one or more of the ward stones?

"It certainly lies within my power to assist you in that regard," Arvormeigh offers, "But not before I have your assurances that you'll let me live."

I would be inclined let her return to her pool in exchange for information on the stones such as where they may be. There would be no reason for her to lie since she believes our attempts to recover and return them are utterly futile.

"That is certainly true." She nods. "It will do you little good, but apparently it will do me quite a bit of good if you'd be willing to exchange my life for them."

"Tell us of your Queen. What power does she wield?"

Making sure Jervaise is still in place with his merciful blade, Taecuss will reply to Goodluck, An excellent question, my friend."

"Perhaps it would be wiser if all of you were tell me more about yourselves first?" she counters, "For instance, I am Arvormeigh. And, as one of my Queen's more reliable servants, it's been quite sometime since I've suffered such a defeat from such capable adversaries. Who might you be? And how did your band find its way to my pool?"

"By the by, now that Avormeigh's elemental servants are returned safely to their rightful plane of existence, shall you and I go explore the pool? I believe your fine weapon still rests on the bottom of it.

"Indeed. I will retrieve it. One moment!

"Are our negotiations at an end then?" Arvormeigh interrupts before Goodluck departs, "I could retrieve it for you, if you wish. It lies, after all, at the bottom of my pool. And, since no one perished as a result of our conflict, I had hoped to at least preserve my life and the privacy of my own sanctuary. Let us speak as equals now. I shall play the part of your host and you can be visitors to my abode. In this way, I shall make amends for the misunderstanding which led us to battle one another."

She looks to Taecuss, sensing he may be the group's appointed spokesman. "Please? One of my kind was not meant to be bound so...or kept from the water for too long." She indicates the ropes tying her. "There is no need for these. I am still quite wounded. And I could never hope to outrun you here. I assure you, I will remain as docile as the breeze. And helpful, as well. You've earned that much with my defeat."

Why do you follow this Rhoswen? She seems not to have good intentions for this area that I assume is your home.

"You assume wrong, Little One," Arvormeigh sneers, "This area isn't my home. But it soon will be. When Rhoswen claims this forest, this delightful pool will be mine forever more..."

"As for why I follow Rhoswen..." the nixie clearly seems to falter for a moment, "I cannot do otherwise. I gave up that choice a long time ago."

Caelin tried to catch Taecuss's eye, mouthing the word "wardstones", hopefully out of sight of the bound nixie.

Perception check... 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

"Your weak attempts at duplicity do a discredit to your species, Elf," Arvormeigh notes, clearly catching the implied exchange between Caelin and Taecuss, "Or do you truly believe my fey eyes and ears are somehow less superior to your own?"

Are you sure you want to be on Rhoswen's side on this? We expect to be able to march right up there and just seize them. After all, her armies are all on the move now. And from our histories, she herself is not so formidable.

"It isn't a question of what I want," she explains, "It's who I am now. You really know nothing about us, do you? Have your people so forgotten their dealings with those of the First World that they cannot recognize the threat my Queen poses? 'Tis a pity. If your histories have marked her as 'not so formidable' you will surely be rudely awakened to the fallacy of that belief when she arrives."

"Her armies aren't 'on the move.' They are everywhere. And they are legion. Every creature, from the plants and animals and very elements themselves in this forest, will become her eyes and ears. Many already have. And they whisper to her. All who intrude upon her realm draw her attention. And it's a stern gaze, indeed, if you do not share her aims or show the proper reverence. All who defy her are given a place in her Hall of the Punished. If you wish to avoid such a fate, you would do well to release me and leave this place. Flee her wrath...before you become swallowed up in it. For there's no shadow where you can hide from her reach. Those of us from the Fellnight Realm know this to be true...as surely as we draw breath."

"Now, I have no wish to die," she continues, "Would you not treat with me for my release? There is treasure I can give you...to purchase my freedom, if you so desire. Or information I can provide, should you but ask. But I dare not betray my Queen. I cannot. Her will alone denies me in that."