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

[Gregor]

Hrimr, you see neither the devil nor any other creature.

 

[funkmamagoat]

Do you want it?

"Thank you no. You hang on to it..."

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

Kirio takes a careful look around "Yes well... I see little alternative, would that the water were cool and refreshing eh? Let's" Kirio wades slowly into the water and across the pool towards the cave...

 

[Gregor]

Kirio, after a few steps, you find yourself waist deep in the hot murky pool. Globs of wet ash cling to your clothes and armor and your cape drags a scummy line behind you. As you slowly wade through the water toward the island, you see a small splash amongst the flaming reeds and a humanoid head peeks up above the surface. Its features are almost completely covered by strands of slimy hair.

"Who are you Elf?" it says through a sad whiny voice, "Why have you and your friends come to my pool? There is nothing here for you. Leave!"

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio pauses and looks at the newcomer and graces her with what he hopes is his friendliest smile "Ahhh, Gwenvere I presume? A pleasure. I am Kirio, the effusive to some. Please accept my sincere apologies for our intrusion, but we have come here specifically to speak with you. You see, we find ourselves trapped here and thrown in the middle of the tragedy that is this forest, and well... to put it mildly, we wish to leave, post haste. To do this however, we need to understand what is happening here, and if you are willing, we would like to ask you some questions?"

OOC: diplomacy check coming...

 

[Gregor]

The humanoid stays almost completely submerged in the water, but continues to converse.

"Yes ... I am Gwenvere. Ask what you will and then leave. Do not come any closer. I ... I am ... hideous."

 

[funkmamagoat]

"Hideous??? Dear lady let me assure you, you are by no means hideous..., quite the opposite in fact. Fear not, I will remain where I am, but would consider myself lucky if you were to show yourself entirely to us. I apologies if some of these questions are painful to you. Know that we are outsiders in this saga, and our knowledge is incomplete, hampering our ability to be tactful. We seek to end the burning of this forest, one way or another. We can either aid the entity called the Indomitability by finding a way to end the Seela's song of forms; or find a way to destroy the entity, thereby ending the curse on this forest. You yourself must be tired of the damage this curse is causing your home, do you have any insight as to how we could accomplish one or the other?"

 

[Gregor]

Gwenvere raises her trembling hands out of the murky water to touch at her hair and face hidden underneath. You can see that her hands are greyish-green, mottled and covered in sores and pock marks.

"You speak kind words Elf, but my beauty has long since left me. I have spent too long alone in pain and sadness. It has warped my very being. Once I was rival for the beautiful Anyariel's heart ... but ... she chose her." Her voice grows deeper and meaner and she ends with a sneer as she says the last word. "I only wish to be beautiful again and to see my pond renewed. Then, when I die, I can come before Anyariel in all my radiance. Alas, there is nothing I can do to assist you. I have nothing and no words of advice. This place is doomed. Go speak with ... her ... maybe she will help you."

 

[Bannock]

Bannock has accompanied the party through the meeting with Vuhl and the trek to see Gwenvere, though has been strangely silent, letting himself be distracted by the constant, distant song.

"Go see who? Wait, the old angry Seela bloke mentioned something like this but I wasn't really listening. Oh yeah! There was another one, a nymph. And one of you took something from a shrine. Was it you? Ah, I can't remember. Was it that shrine we were in back in the village? Clear case of theft, there."

 

[Gregor]

Gwenvere raises her voice in annoyance at Bannock's words. "I stole nothing that was not rightfully mine! I warned that fool of a priest not to keep me from all that was left of Anyariel. I loved her more than anyone and its all I have to remember her. He ... he should not have gotten in my way."

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio sighs deeply as he casts a glance at Bannock, he looks back to the nymph "Indeed, it was wrong of him to get in your way, foolish really; he seems to have paid the price for his insolence however no? I agree with you that speaking to "her" is likely our next step, and we will attempt to do this. Two more questions and then we will leave you in peace. Can you shed any light on the enchantment that is keeping the Shahalesti soldier in your love's shrine alive in a suspended state?" He sighs again and gives Gwenvere his most sympathetic look "Finally, we have a great favor to ask of you, one you will find hard to acquiesce to - could you lend us the lock of your love's hair, or see fit to part with at least some of it? A few strands should suffice; the dryad is not as strong as you, and has lost her mind. We need something to focus her thoughts in order to converse with her in a useful manner... If we can end this curse you will be able to heal and eventually go to your love in all your glory, no?"