NPC: Arvormeigh the Nixie's page

From her concealed hiding place, Arvormeigh strikes up another mocking laughter at Jervaise's threats.

"So feisty! Look around you, half-elf. If it is death you seek, the spriggans will be happy to oblige you. You are welcome to my head, but you will have to come and find me first."

A quick look around reveals at least 30 visible spriggans on the cliffs all around the upper pool and down by the pool below. Movement in the bushes suggest additional threats. A group of 5-6 spriggans in giant form are slowly making their way up the ravine you climbed to reach the upper pool.

Just as the group is about to leave, a high, pearly laughter sounds from shrubs lining the rim of cliff edge on the opposite of the pool.

"Leaving so soon? And here I had so hoped you would stay a while to teach me the value of honor, trust and respect, noble heroes," the familiar voice of Arvormeigh calls out.

"I am certainly touched by your reluctance to rob me of my belongings, Taecuss dyn Bru. Rest assured, I couldn't care less about the worthless trinkets of some long-dead brigand. The wardstones, however, are another matter altogether. My queen would be very cross with me if I allowed you to simply stroll away with them. So I'm afraid I have to insist that you put them back."

She pauses for a moment, and you suddenly notice that the surrounding woods have gone deadly quiet.

"Now, I did give you my word that I planned nothing vile, nor mischievous. And as such, I would not dream of harming you, should you refuse to hand over the wardstones. After all, I would not want to betray the trust and respect you showed me," she continues, her melodic voice thick with mockery.

"Fortunately, while you were busy tinkering with that little box, I found some friends who would like nothing better than to be both vile and mischievous on my behalf.

At her words, dozens of small figures rise from the bushes all around the rim of the ravine. With a shout, each one quadruples in size and raises a wooden dart, poised to throw.

For a brief moment, you spot the bleachling gnome Tenzekil Braybittle among them. He raises a cudgel and gestures towards you, and the hum of thousands of bees punctuates Arvormeigh's warning as a rising swarm fills the sky.

"As you see, the first army of Queen Rhoswen has already arrived. She will claim this forest, and you can do nothing about it. Now, put the stones back, lay down your weapons and perhaps I will allow you to live. After all, it is not often I have such delightful and charming visitors. You will make the most amusing playthings - especially you, Taecuss. I could think of many...recreational...things we could do together," Arvormeigh calls, in a tone that promises equal measures pleasure and pain.

The nixie's eyes lose some of their naked hatered at Taecuss's words, but a mixture of scorn and pity replaces it. Attitude changed to unfriendly.

As Caelin removes the gag, she spits a mouthful of foamy blood, then sneers at Taecuss.

"I can't tell if you are simply dim-witted or trying to fool me, elf. Do you seriously think that a few soothing words are going to make the inhabitants of the Fellnight Realm forgive and forget being trapped for millenia by our sanctimonious brethren?

As we speak, the armies of Queen Rhoswen are flooding into these woods. Even if you manage to recover the wardstones, you are too late. You will never repair the faengard in time.

No, the only way you will know peace is if you jump over the edge and let the river carry you to an easy death. Because I promise you, you will find no mercy at the hands of my queen or any who serve her."