Six From Gate Pass - Chapter 2: The Indomitable Fire Forest of Innenotdar

[fromage67]

Lars rises and eats some dried nuts and water. He listens to Bannock jovially recount his dreams and he listens with pinched lips. He rubs at his eyes, clearly not refreshed after the night's sleep.

"I'll go along to see this Vuhl as well. I'll let you guys do the talking, but if he is not being cooperative, I'll try something that might help. It seems like he is death-obsessed, and he might not want to help us."

Lars goes to the lake and spends some time leaning over the water before returning. "I must say that I'm getting pretty sick of hearing that song over and over. I wouldn't want to suffer the Seela's fate. Can't blame them that they want to quit."

 

[Adjuntive]

Alric, and anyone else who accompanied him, learn the following after spending an hour or so chatting with members of the Seela village:

Vuhl lives in a cave near to where Papuvin resides and is easily pointed out to you. As far as anyone knows, Vuhl recently had a revelation that his life was meaningless. He wants the Seela to embrace death, to not fear it, and to stop singing so that it can come to them. He says that by freeing the fiery stag, their spirits will be free to die, along with the forest. He now leads a large group of Seela rebels who believe his words with religious-like fervor.

You also hear a few stories of Vuhl acting strangely for the past few weeks, taking longer to respond to questions than seems normal. You quickly chat with a Seela adept who is coming off of his singing shift in the tower. Apparently he was detecting magic and noticed Vuhl seemed to be affected by some familiar Transmutation effect, though the adept thought that he might just have been sleepy that day, and is misremembering.

"I have little knowledge or stomach for dealing with sorcery." Alric almost says this as if he has too much salt in his mouth. "I agree with you Hrimr, that we should consult Arnir or Kirio and have them with us when we see Vuhl."

Alric shares what he's learned with Kirio and Arnir. If they have not accompanied him, he seeks them out and informs them as well as expressing that it would be best if they were there to discern and foil any enchantments that might perturb dealings.

 

[funkmamagoat]

Alric shares what he's learned with Kirio and Arnir. If they have not accompanied him, he seeks them out and informs them as well as expressing that it would be best if they were there to discern and foil any enchantments that might perturb dealings.

Kirio listens attentively to Alric relay his tale... "Again with the transmutation magic, same school as in the shrine. Well, I certainly agree we need to know the source of that enchantment, but let's reserve judgement on whether or not it needs foiling." He looks at Arnir "We should go talk to this fellow, maybe under pretense of my wanting to know more about their song, which is not too far off from the truth. You and I should both cast detect magic just before entering, and see if we can learn more about whatever, if anything other than depression, is affecting this fellow."

Kirio walks over to his cave, and casts detect magic just before entering. "Hello cousin, my name is Kirio, the effusive to some. I was wondering if you would not mind talking to me about the seela's song of forms? I understand you think the seela should simply stop and allow themselves to perish. I can certainly understand the sentiment, your lot is a hard one. I am a bard by trade however, and I can tell you this would be a crime if for no other reason that your music would die with you. I am particularly interested in the source of your signing magic, have you always used musically based magic?"

OOC: diplomacy check, influence Vuhl to engage in conversation.

 

[digimattic]

Arnir suppresses a laugh "Yes, I've seen human women, so I see how you could make this mistake. Seems that you and your kind will look upon anything that hasn't got a head like block of stone and massive gut as a potential mate." Arnir runs his hand over the sparse stubble on his chin "Why, I've seen so-called human beauties with a thicker beard than you, Bannock...but you are scarcely more than a boy...."

Arnir has been fiddling with the necklace as he traded barbs with Bannock and suddenly drops it as he casts identify on it. "By Mystra..." he exclaims as he rubs his temple. "there is some powerful magic in this town...We should find the others."

 

[Gregor]

Kirio, and whoever has accompanied him, you stand in the threshold to Vuhl's barren cave as you begin to ramble on without reprieve. The black-winged fey lounges on a pallet surrounded by a number of tougher looking Seela armed with spears and light shields. With a wave of his hand, the others leave but eye you menacingly and take up positions outside the cave.

"Come in stranger, and make yourself comfortable," he says in a weak voice as he gestures you to sit down on a nearby pallet, "you certainly are aptly named. I'm afraid I did not catch all of what you said as I was conferring with those who see the true path. What is it that I can do for you? Something about that dreadful song of forms?"

[sblock="for Kirio"]Your detect magic registers an absolutely overwhelming amount of transmutation magic that is suffusing everything within the range of your spell. The air, the ground, furniture, the cave, the village, etc. are all covered in a powerful roiling aura of magic that grows more intense towards the direction of the tower and the singers atop it. This makes it difficult to notice anything specific on Vuhl. However, there is an aura active on him and with a spellcraft check, you can attempt to learn the school.[/sblock]

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio smiles at the winged man, and (if Arnir accompanies Kirio) looks over at Arnir inquisitively to see if the younger elf feels what he does "Thank you Vuhl... I am indeed aptly named as you say; particularly when my interest is peaked. I was saying that I am a bard; music is the one true theme in my life, and the tool through which I bring my conscious powers to bear. Given this, and forgive me, for I know you are tired of the Song of Forms, I was wondering if you could tell me of the Seela's use of music in magic? I have rarely seen such an organized display..."

 

[Gregor]

Vuhl gazes at you sleepily, and then furrows his brow ever so slightly before continuing to speak. "I would like to apologize for you coming all the way over to my cave to discuss the Song of Forms. It is something I detest and am in no real mood to chat about it. As a bard, I'm sure you are already well aware of how aural and vocal talent can be woven into the arcane arts. There is not much more I can tell you other than we Seela have the ability to use it in more advanced and complex ways. I'm sure you can learn more from Papuvin and his flock of deluded sheep."

[sblock="for Kirio"]While it was difficult to see due to the massive lingering aura of transmutation in the village, you distinctly noted a strong aura of divination magic centered on Vuhl. However, as soon as you identified it, the aura was suddenly snuffed out, leaving only a lingering effect that quickly dissipated. [/sblock]

"You know," says Vuhl after a few moments of pondering and staring at you "what I am truly interested in is ending this meddlesome song. We grow ever so weak here. All we do is sing and sing to keep some spirit caged in the lake. We cannot grow food, the forest and the first tree of our birth are barely alive and we grow emaciated and sickly. Animals go insane and our poor beloved Timbre burns as brightly as any tree. Alas I fear she too has gone mad with pain and heartbreak at the loss of Anyariel. If you were interested ... perhaps we could discuss your help in ending this song? I only wish for death to take us so that after the fires the forest might return anew."

 

[Adjuntive]

Alric, who had accompanied Kirio, was silent until now. Now his frustration for not having a handle on the situation and a possible way out being dangled before him, he leaves his silence behind and interjects the conversation.

"We're interested. The entity you imprison has imprisoned us in turn in this damnable forest. We promise nothing of agreement but we'll listen to your terms thoughtfully. Though I am curious, does your terms involve banishing or destroying the spirit-entity? Or simply freeing it?"

Alric is having a hard time figuring Vuhl's intentions. Somehow this Seela seeking suicide for himself and his entire culture is a bit hard to swallow for him, especially with talk of sorcery involved. He watches the Seela closely and scrutinizes his words as best as he is able. Is his professed goals truly his own?

 

[Gregor]

Vuhl ponders the words of the human warrior for a few seconds before responding: "My plan extends only to releasing the entity that calls itself Indomitability. We need only cease the Song of Forms for a few consecutive moments in order for it to stop working. Then it can be free of the stag it has inhabited for the last 40 or so years. We have no wish for a fight, for we have grown weak and tired these past decades. We must ... shock the non-believers into a cessation of the song. It is with this that I require your assistance."

[sblock="for Alric"]Your gut tells you nothing about this situation.[/sblock]

 

[fromage67]

Vuhl ponders the words of the human warrior for a few seconds before responding: "My plan extends only to releasing the entity that calls itself Indomitability. We need only cease the Song of Forms for a few consecutive moments in order for it to stop working. Then it can be free of the stag it has inhabited for the last 40 or so years. We have no wish for a fight, for we have grown weak and tired these past decades. We must ... shock the non-believers into a cessation of the song. It is with this that I require your assistance."

			It seems the stag-spirit has gotten control of this mind in some subtle way. Let's fight fire with fire.

Lars says, "Vuhl, we are your friends. We also want free from this Spirit. What we need is to work together." As Lars speaks, he starts to cast the spell Charm Person, working hard to make his gestures non-apparent, and part of his general mannerisms.

Lars completes his casting and adds, "Why don't you come with us to see Timbre? You can show us the way, and we can chat as we walk on how best to fix our problems. Are you ready?" Lars extends a hand and smiles warmly.