The Psionicle, Part VIII

[The Forsaken One]

Loossening her blade in its hilt on her back, Ruth dismounts her horse. The soft thump of two boots plunging onto the forest floor can be heard while the arcane scholar walks around the edge of the clearing. Ruth fixes her gaze on the surrounding trees but the darkness reveals nothing to her, not even an awkward feeling.

Then Desimus returns and his face is quite grim indeed. After explaining about his findings Ruth turns to face the trees once more. But nothing feels or sees different this time with the knowledge she just gained of what there is to see there. her eyes betray her nothing this night and neither do her ears but for the whispering of her compagnions.

Slowly she steps back and turns to face the group, her right hand twiddling with her arrows in her quiver at her hip betraying her nervous feelings.

These unseelie are evil right... and evil is supposed to be more powefull at night. Well that's ost of the time, it seems to have gotten some sort of affinity for the dark. So well.. is this true with these unseelie? Then I would expect them to attack this very night while their power is most potent. We could wait out till daybreak so we would be at our best against them.

Then she turns to the woods surrounding them again while letting her sight glide over the thirteen stones around them.

But if so, why would they wait?

 

[Zhure]

Osius

Seeing they group lost in indecision, Osius dismounts.

"We make the stand here, then. Maybe they're as afraid of this place as we are, or maybe it's holy ground and they're afraid to shed blood. Or maybe they don't even care. Either way, haring through the darkness will only get us all killed for certain."

Osius slings his cloak over his shoulder and readies his morningstar, trying to gain some cover advantage from his steed.

PP 9/12; Hit points: 28/28

 

[Jarval]

Jansson: Initiative: -, AC: 20, HP: 31/34, PP 3/8, Chrysalis DR 2/-

"You're right Osius." Jansson dismounts, drawing his sword. "Let's make a stand."

Jansson manifests chrysalis on himself, and readies an action to manifest vigor should the fey attack.

 

[GnomeWorks]

One of the shadows - which you can now barely make out against the darker background of the forest - slowly makes its way to the center of the stone ring, as you prepare for battle. It looks vaguely humanoid, but even in the dim moonlight of the two moons, it is difficult to see any features of any kind on it.

"Creatures of the mind!" It calls. "Denizens of the tentacled ones... we have summoned you here because you have trespassed upon our lands once again..."

"We warned you!" The creatures around the forest scream, in a disconcerting disharmony. "Six hundred years ago, we warned you to never enter here!"

"And now, you have come again!" The one in the circle cries. "We ran from you then, because we could not match your power... but the light of Rashida shines upon us, and she blesses us with her strength, and our magic can now meet your own..."

"Sacrilege!" Shardorn says sharply under her breath. "I do not sense the presence of the goddess here."

"What have you to say for yourselves!" The one in the center cries. "Enter the holy light of the moons, and stand in our circle of stones, and speak. Speak to us and tell us why we should let you live, before we torture you as you once tortured us..."

 

[Jarval]

Jansson looks startled at the words of the creature in the circle, and thoughtful at Shardorn's comment. He sheathes his sword, and steps forwards, into both the light of the moon and the stone circle.

"If by the tentacled ones you mean the illithid, we do not serve them. Indeed, we fight against their evil, and the aim of our current journey is to keep a source of their power out of their reach." Jansson looks into the face of the creature as he says this, doing his best to try for eye contact.

"I do use the power of the mind, psionics. But I use it to fight the illithid. And among my companions are wielders of the power of magic and the power granted by the gods. We do not wish to trespass on your lands, or harm you in any way. I apologise for those creatures we killed earlier, but we acted only in self-defence. If you grant us safe passage, we will leave your lands immediately, if you so wish."

 

[Darkwolf]

Narok sits on top of his panther keeping an eye out for any signs of an attack keeping 'entangle' at the ready.

 

[The Forsaken One]

He spreaks truth. But before we continue this conversation of which I shall not partake, how may we call you? I always rather seem to detest talking to someone or something nameless... But among my compagnions are indeed the practicers of all arts how impossible that may sound but a doom that the illithid may bring on us all brought us together and forged something thought impossible. We combine the strengths of all the ways so that they may enhance and complete eachother, the way they were ment to be in my opinions and beliefs.

Ruth steps back from the coversation to the edge of the circle while she clasps both hands together. Then she looks at the woods again and still sees nothing, although she knows... she knows what's lurking but her eyes... her eyes... they won't show it to her. Then she turns to face the thing once again and with the last words she steps back.

Our little force and expedition has traveled far and wide to defeat the illithids and have fought many a battle to obtain which they carry now. Items of great power and psionic force. Items that should never fall into the hands of the illithid! Once they would combine the items and reconstruct the Psionicle once again their is no telling what they might be able to do with it. But certain is... it shall not benefit us. But I cannot claim any of these credits for I just shortly joined this famous group of noble adventurers and their noble quest. I am but a simple smith and I have talked too much . More then befits a smith but I just had to do my say. I hope I have not offended you with my but simple words.

 

[Zhure]

Osius

Osius, too, steps into the light. "We have faced and fought the illithid-kin, defeated them, and we will again, no doubt. With this morningstar I have dealt them blows."

 

[GnomeWorks]

The creature in the stone circle cackles, a vicious and evil sound. Meanwhile, the sound of wind rushing through the trees once again meets your ears - but the air is still, and nothing moves in the cold night.

The wind sounds stop, and the creature's sickening laugh ends. "You expect us to believe your tales?" It asks. "They once said that they were our friends, that we would be their allies... and they lied! What makes you think that we shall believe you?"

The sound of the wind comes up again, and the creature ceases speaking. The sounds once again die, and the creature resumes it's tirade.

"The Voices have decided that your tale may have some truth, but that you must be tested to prove it's validity. If you pass our tests, of which there are three, then we will believe you, and give you safe passage through our forest. If you fail, then we will destroy you."

"Will you submit to our judgement?"

 

[Zhure]

Osius

"I am ready for your tests." Osius speaks with a finality, showing he needs no grandiose statements.