The Lamentation of Lolth - Chapter VI

[kirinke]

Thinly veiled arrogance. Teleri thought, studying the wood-elf with calculated calm. She is afraid. Otherwise, why this display of power?

[sblock]
Teleri is becoming quite paranoid. But then, it's only paranoia if there isn't an enemy behind every bush. Forgot that Drogo wasn't in the encounter. Edited to take into account. Sorry. [/sblock]

 

[hippocrachus]

Not being used to taking part in councils, even among his kin, having only been a part of one war council as a squire at Tangled Trees, Calenthang decides to keep his mouth shut this time and let the clerics do the talking. He tries to look at the leopards and avoid eye contact with the beautiful wood elf Doratar.

 

[Manzanita]

Drogo

Drogo is not in this encounter. No need to RL his wildshape. Just felt it is a major power, and needs to be experimented a bit on his part.

 

[Verbatim]

The Mellorn guards look the party up and down in silence, then one motions to another into the building, who strides quickly out of sight. Being gone for some time, finally the elf returns. "You may enter. The Doratar will hold an audience with you," he says, and turns quickly to re-enter the building, expecting you to follow. Those who do are led to a large chamber. A finely carved wooden chair sits atop a dais upon which sits a beautiful wood elf, long, silver hair, draped over crossed legs, plucking idly at a lute. Six leopards lounge around her, flanked by six guards posted at colannades arranged in a semi-circle around her on both sides.

The elf does not take notice of the party until well after everyone has been standing before her a few uncomfortable moments. She looks up and rises from her seat, placing the well-made lute across the arms of the chair. Lightly, she clears her throat before addressing you.

"I regret to inform you that you will not be speaking with the priestess of this village, noble patrons of the fair," she adds, almost as an afterthought. "I am Doratar Aeleth Terellia. It is my duty to oversee all official matters and going-ons of the Mellorn. I do not usually grant audiences to non-members of my village, but during the time of our festival it seems appropriate to allow such instances, granted they have a good reason... I assume you do have a good reason for disturbing me?"

Ayden was silent as Sarlis began talking to Doratar Terellia and her guards, but wondered how the musician would take the Morninglord's flattery.

~Now is not the time to see if Tymora is glancing our way...~

Once Sarlis finished his turn back to the center of the room, Ayden stepped forward slightly and knelt in front of the Doratar. While he did not know much of the wood elves, save from his time with Calenthang, he felt that that they often took one's stance as a measure of their intent and wanted there to be no doubt that he was here to parlay, not threaten.

While he knew his elvish would never be as polished as those he traveled with, Ayden felt it was still best to address the Doratar in her native tongue.

"Three days ago, we came to the festival while working for Master Therav, a glass merchant of no meager skill. Along the way, we rescued one of your hunters from the clutches of a spider who had snagged him, and we brought him to the temple to be healed. We sought only to enjoy the festival and to purchase supplies, but those plans changed when something attacked Master Therav in his slumber. We rescued him from a band of brutes known as grimlocks, a race of blind brutes that live in the land below the light. We tracked them to a cavern in the woods, just beyond a black obelisk that had become worn with time."

Ayden raised his head slightly until his eyes locked on those of Doratar Terellia before he continued.

"The cavern was full of grimlocks, as well as other dangers from the deep, and through Finder's grace and the skill of my companions, all save their leader was slain."

Ayden paused again as his eyes sought any recognition to his words reflected in her eyes, but his silence only lasted the span of a heartbeat before he once again resumed his tale.

"A creature from the Abyss led them, a night hag who could bend a person's will to her through dark magics, and although I fell prey to her spells, my companions resisted her and after a battle which cost her a limb, and nearly her life, she fled through a portal and back into the dark abyss that spawned her. However, once again the gods smiled upon our cause, as Master Broddy, a gnomish mage of considerable talent, was able to summon a spell that destroyed the portal and in the process has halted the hag's presence here on the Material Plane."

Ayden stood and finally raised his head up fully to address the Doratar.

"Master Calenthang is a cousin to your people and I would trust him with my life for as long as he will let me. He assures me that if you or your people would have known the true danger lurking in the cavern, you would have dealt with it. We do not seek accolades, nor do I wish to alarm the merchants of what was lurking just beyond the safety of your bows, as I understand all too well the superstitions that merchants believe in. All I ask, is that you assure me of your people's ignorance Doratar, say it but once and we will never speak of it again."

[sblock]Sense Motive and Diplomacy checks here also.[/sblock]

 

[hippocrachus]

Calenthang's shoulders sag and his face becomes a featureless mask at the mention of his name and stance on the issue.
"Not their 'ignorance,' revered Ayden," the elven warrior whispers without visibly moving.

 

[kirinke]

Teleri gazed at Dorator unflinchingly for a moment and bowed, taking Ayden's lead, but she did not kneel. "I am Teleri Shadow-Song, a priestess of Sehanine Moonbow," Teleri stated calmly, summoning all of the dignity she could in that simple statement, knowing that this noble-woman might think less of her, because of her age, but hoping that the instinctive respect most elves had for a Moonbow priestess would migate that somewhat.

"I will vouch for Finder's priest and my companions. Ayden spoke the truth, but not all of it, perhaps to put our best face forward, so to speak." She smiled at her human friend.

"What Ayden did not say is that the night-hag also charmed me, making me believe she was a friend. It worked, but for some reason, she released both Ayden and I from the enchantment, possibly believing that she could take us all on and win." she grimaced in remembered pain.

"In that, she was very nearly right. I nearly died during that fight. Only through the quick aid of one of my companions did I survive the battle, long enough for Ayden to fully heal me." she looked at the noble-woman.

"Had that fiend been a little less arrogant and more prepared, she would have won." She smiled, but it was grim. "The threat of that which dwells below is gone, if the verse on the oblisks refers to that. At least for now."

[sblock] Maj, I don't know, but even if she saved from that Night-hag's poisoned bite, she'd still feel some effect such as exhaustion that would go away when she had a good night's rest and hot mild food right? In any case, she'd probably feel incredibly tired, especially since she went into neg hitpoints. That's going to take it out of you, at least mentally if nothing else. Just making sure, before I play that angle. [/sblock]

 

[Majin]

The Doratar looks visibly pleased when Ayden mentions the rescue of one of the Mellorn guards, her features relaxing a bit until the revelation of the events with Malifustal are revealed. Her calm demeanor disappears nearly as fast as it came, but a bitter smile of triumph replaces it as she listens further.

"I will vouch for Finder's priest and my companions. Ayden spoke the truth, but not all of it, perhaps to put our best face forward, so to speak." She smiled at her human friend.

"What Ayden did not say is that the night-hag also charmed me, making me believe she was a friend. It worked, but for some reason, she released both Ayden and I from the enchantment, possibly believing that she could take us all on and win." she grimaced in remembered pain.

"In that, she was very nearly right. I nearly died during that fight. Only through the quick aid of one of my companions did I survive the battle, long enough for Ayden to fully heal me." she looked at the noble-woman.

"Had that fiend been a little less arrogant and more prepared, she would have won." She smiled, but it was grim. "The threat of that which dwells below is gone, if the verse on the oblisks refers to that. At least for now."

Aeleth turns her head slightly to regard Teleri as she adds her piece. Her eyes twitch. "Exactly what bearing does that have on the results you all have achieved, priestess?" she replies, haughtily, picking an imaginary speck of something off the pristine suit of elven chain she wears. "Are you somehow special in any way, that the result of you becoming charmed should matter more than any of the others, in addition or not? Does your goddess not appreciate humility in her worshippers, or does she prefer those full of self-importance?"

Not waiting for a reply she turns back to Ayden and continues, "The fact of the matter is that Malifustal has been stopped. Her portal sealed she will not bother us again. For sure she is searching hard for a way back, but chances are if she finds it, she will be seeking your party out instead of further plaguing the Mellorn. For that, you have our gratitude and our thanks. We would award you a sum of 200 platinum from our vault as a reward for making our fair safe again, if you would accept it."

 

[Verbatim]

Not waiting for a reply she turns back to Ayden and continues, "The fact of the matter is that Malifustal has been stopped. Her portal sealed she will not bother us again. For sure she is searching hard for a way back, but chances are if she finds it, she will be seeking your party out instead of further plaguing the Mellorn. For that, you have our gratitude and our thanks. We would award you a sum of 200 platinum from our vault as a reward for making our fair safe again, if you would accept it."

Ignoring Teleri's faux pas, Ayden's attention was focused solely once more on Doratar Terellia and when he spoke again, his voice was flat.

"How did you know the hag's name was Malifustal Doratar?"

~Uncle...what is going on here...~

 

[Majin]

"How did you know the hag's name was Malifustal Doratar?"

Silence pervades the chamber as a result of Ayden's prodding question. A slightly irritated expression crosses Aeleth's face, only noticeable for a split second by only those paying close attention before it is replaced with stately calm once more.

The Doratar sighs as she answers the priest's question. "The years of complacency seem to have dulled my edge it seems," in response to the slip. "It is true. We Mellorn know of Malifustal and her chaotic ways. I was the one that stopped her from wreaking havoc on our tribe... "Stopped" might not be the best word to use, but we were desperate. We struck a deal with the hag. That once she arrived once every seven years she would be allowed acquiescence for her deeds, as long as she did not take Mellorn, she was free to do as she wished. It just so happened that when she arrives we host our yearly Festival of Life. This may seem cruel to you, priest of Finder, but I assure you we exhausted every other option, and the lives of my tribe are of more value to me than outsiders."

 

[DarkMaster]

Sarlis happy that things are slightly warming up between the two groups listen carefully at the elven maiden.

"She just said Malifustal is a creature of chaos, then she said they reach an agreement with the creature. What incentive did they gave her, to tame down her chaotic ways. After all, if she is stronger then them she wouldn't deal with them, she would simply kill them"

"Your highness, I wonder what kind of agreement was strong enough for you to trust such a creature of Chaos. From what I know about these creature they can't be trusted even with the life of their mother.

Unless you are hidding something from us, I suspect your immunity to her wrath is temporary.

As he speaks Sarlis starts to understand "Darn I get it, their Festival of life brings outsiders to the region, so their deal is that they will bring her potential victims to appease her every seven years. They take those victims among the people of the Festival. If that's the case, I really wonder who's the most evil of the two."