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

[Gregor]

Lars, you seem to fool Vuhl with your act of legerdemain, and your limbs are able to move unhindered in your armor. Thus, your spell casts on the dark-winged fey.

However, as you stand there with your hand extended, and you hear Vuhl's lengthy response, you note that your spell was clearly ineffective.

[sblock="for Lars"]As you stand there with your hand extended, a strange feeling comes over you. You stare into Vuhl's eyes and you feel as if you're blacking out. It only lasts a few seconds and you're able to keep your footing, but you're sure that you felt two hands resting on your shoulder. Just like your dream last night.[/sblock]

"Ah yes, I am glad you brought up the community's beloved dryad. She is central to my plan." says Vuhl as he smiles and shakes Lars' hand. He rises on weak shaky legs and continues: "But alas, she has been driven insane and will not accept visitors. Her grief for her lost love is too great and the fires burn her relentlessly. But, perhaps she will listen to you? I know a way that would allow you to reach her and have her listen to you. Before the fires began, just after Anyariel's death, the dryad Timbre donated her only possession that reminded her of her Elven love. Before the battle with the stag, Anyariel left Dryad a lock of her hair as a sign of her unending love. After the Elven warrior fell, Timbre donated the lock of hair to the priests who manned her shrine in the village up the river. However, not only Timbre loved Anyariel. The water nymph, Gwenvere was a rival for the elf's heart. Anyariel chose Timbre and the nymph fell into ruin and sadness. Soon after the lock of hair was donated to the Shrine, Gwenvere snuck in and stole it. She holds the relic now, safely ensconced in her home along the shore of the lake. Perhaps if you were to acquire the lock of hair, Timbre would speak to you?"

He paces the room for a few moments before adding: "What I say next, I say out of love for putting us and the forest out of pain. If you can convince Timbre to come into the village ... I could ... put her out of her misery. Not only would it allow poor Timbre to finally be with her lost love, the shock of seeing their beloved dryad dead would surely cease the Seela from singing the song. What do you think?"

GM: Lars, hiding a spell in plain sight is pretty tricky stuff, since you need feats such as still and silent spell to avoid having to do your somatic and verbal components. Thus, you're facing penalty on the bluff roll (-5 for being unlikely). Generally, I would suggest that you use the sleight of hand skill if you want to do stuff like this. Lets go with your Bluff for now, and I'll oppose with Vuhl's Sense Motive to be consistent. Also, if you're going to cast spells in your studded leather armor, you need to pass your 15% arcane spell failure check. I've rolled it for you below.

 

[Adjuntive]

			One way or the other we need to speak with the Dryad. What fun it will be to speak to another mad-person! Though possibly better than this homicidal/suicidal maniac.

"We will seek the Dryad. Is the nymph's lair difficult to miss? Could you give us comprehensive directions?"

 

[Gregor]

"No, Gwenvere's home is not hard to miss at all. Just follow the lake's edge for about 3 or 4 miles to the south west. You'll come upon what was once a beautiful lagoon with a small island in the middle. You will also see a small cave set into the nearby cliffside on the other side of the pool. That is where she makes her home. Beware though, for she has been twisted by her sadness and hatred."

 

[digimattic]

Arnir taps his foot slightly impatiently. He doesn't really care about these people one way or another, though he is a bit put off by the incredible strength of the transmutation magic emanating from the tower. Waiting until they leave the cave, Arnir asks Kirio "What in the name of the Weave is going on here? I would like to leave this place as soon as we can. Let's get the others and get moving."

 

[funkmamagoat]

Once they leave, Kirio looks at the younger elf and smiles wryly "Oh I agree with you friend Arnir, I also do not really care one way or another. I do care about living though, and I don't know what is happening here. As I'm sure you felt, there is a monumental amount of transmutation magic emanating from the tower, but there was also a strong aura of divination magic centered on Vuhl. As soon as I discerned it, it snuffed out, almost as if it's source did not want me to see. Regardless, we should, as you say, seek out the others and make our next move." He looks at Arnir again and sneers "my vote is for the Nymph"

"What did you learn about the necklace by the way?"

 

[digimattic]

Fine fine, let's get on with it then...To the Nymph. Oh the necklace? it's of limited use. It lets the wearer speak and understand Sylvan...and only Sylvan. Do you want it?

 

[Gregor]

Arnir, Kirio, Torrent and whoever else follows, head off from Vuhl's cave and move through the small village. Tiljann waves at you from up in the tower where she is serving her singing shift, and Papuvin nods his head in polite greeting as the party follows the shore of the lake to the south west.

Within minutes you are gone from the village, trudging down the sandy beach. Burning trees and brush from the forest hug the shore to your right and the ash-covered lake dominates the left. The Song of Forms carries across the surface of the water with an eerie echo and given the size of the lake, you can now see a break in the omnipresent ceiling of ash and smoke. Its an overcast day and a light rain is falling in the world beyond the flames. Rain turns to mist and steam above you when it nears the intense heat of the fires. You realize, after about two hours of walking along the coast of the water, that the lake is immense. You can see the tower of the Seela in the far distance and you can still faintly hear their song.

Finally, you come across a small inlet to your right. The area is surrounded by craggy granite cliffs and a pool of water sits in the middle. The pool, in days before the fires, was likely one of the most beautiful places in forest. The once clear water is filled with scattered patches of burning reeds. Crimson flowers crackle atop an island in the center of the pool, their embers drifting lazily in a slow breeze. Tree branches sway above the water, their heat almost hypnotic. However, the water itself is flat gray, coated in ash, and scattered along the shore are bits of animal bones. Across the pool and to the right of the island is a dark cave cut into the cliffs.

GM: If you have chosen not to come along, then you are still back at Vuhl's cave. Or perhaps you've gone somewhere else. Just indicate your location in your post. To help provide more info on the lay of the land, the pool sits off to the right of the lake, in a bit of a grotto surrounded by rocky cliffs. You can walk on the shore of the lake between it and the pool. There is a small island in the middle of the pool. You will have to get into the water to reach the cave. Burning foliage all along the tops of the cliffs will likely make climbing around an extremely painful experience.

 

[Adjuntive]

Alric accompanies Kirio and Arnir, believing they are following the most prudent and expedient course of action.

Alric walks up to the pool and peers into it trying to discern its depth (despite the fact it is coated in ash) and if anything is within it. He also tries to see how hot it is by dipping a finger into it.

"What say the rest of you of crossing this pool to get to the cave?"

 

[Gregor]

Alric, the water is quite hot, but no more dangerous to the touch than a mildly scalding bath.

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr is with the party that went to go see the Nymph. As Alric looks into the pool Hrimr has a look around the area to see if he notices as bearded Devils or other potentially hostile creatures.