Silent Slough

[Lianaila of the Wood]

Tarvis gives the rat a look, then tosses it a piece of cheese.

Looking toward Daleah he speaks.

Lady Daleah I want the Lich to believe you are leader. This for two reasons. Should she attack you are best equipped to defend from that attack, the other is if she expects a leader to have power. I have skills but no power. She would consider the party weaker if she thought I lead it. As guards and servants we would be expected to be weaker, hiding some of our strength should we need to use it against her.

With a slight tilt of her head and giving a slow, thoughtful smile. Daleah replies to Tarvis.

Well now, I reckon I see what you’re gettin’ at, Sir Tarvis. You want ol’ girl to believe I’m the boss so she underestimates us, thinkin’ we’re just a bunch of folks hidin’ our real grit. That’s a clever trick, plain and simple. Ain’t no need to be showin’ all our cards upfront, especially if it keeps us safe when the time comes to lay our cards on the table.

Daleah grins with a wink of her eye.

You can sure count on me. We’ll keep our powder dry and our true strength under wraps, ready to surprise the lich if she gets too bold. I’ll play the part, just like you ordered, and make sure that Lich believes she’s dealin’ with just a run-of-the-mill party. That’s how we’ll come out on top, yessiree.

Daleah strides forward to meet Llelanni.

[Ssin'urn Streea]

Tarvis gives the rat a look, then tosses it a piece of cheese.

The rat takes the cheese and scurries off through the corridors to the right hand tunnel where the faint sounds of water dripping can be heard by orcs and dark elf.

takes out a roll and a pouch. He takes some sulphur from the pouch and inserts the some amount into the roll. Tosses the roll to the cube.

The gelatinous cube's tendrils suck up the soft roll right into its core. (sloop) The sulfer gives it more strength to errode its meals and hold the lich more firmly.

Lady Daleah is our leader. She seeks to heal this underground city. The rift might be part of the problem, a concern for us. Also, we seek to find the defender, a spellcaster who previously attacked us.

Lysara's glowing eyes dim then return to brightness as if she were taking in this information.
So there is someone else here? Hmm. I should have known.
And this healer? A paladin, I presume? Well, healing this city might be qiite the challenge considering the quantity of magic I sence among these walls.

For now, Lysara, we must avoid dangerous planer, dimensional, or cosmic incursions. Will you help us to understand more about this rift, how to stabilize it, or is there any other aid we can provide?

Her voice, though through telepathic link, is slightly audible now through the cube’s semi-permeable membrane. It carries a tone of measured bemusement and a hint of sardonic patience.

She responds.

Fascinating. Your concern for planar stability is commendable. Though, I suspect it’s more a matter of self-preservation than altruism. As for aiding you, my current predicament limits my capacity for direct intervention. However, I can offer insight into the nature of this rupture, if you’re willing to listen. Be warned, Druid, my knowledge is as shrouded in darkness as my current confinement. Perhaps, with your help in understanding, I might find a way to extricate myself, or at least provide valuable information to prevent further chaos.

Her personality seems to waver, alternatively, she begins to display a more pragmatic, wary attitude.

Help? Perhaps. But I am not one to give aid freely, especially when trapped in such an... unorthodox prison. If you seek to understand this rift, I...suppose you have given me assurances or at least an offer of assistance that might free me from this gelatinous imprisonment.

The lich, her form pressed against the semi-transparent wall of the Gelatinous Cube, considers the druid’s reassurance of Daleah's ancient scroll previously mentioned. With a measured, calculating gaze, her voice emerges as a dry, resonant whisper, tinged with the weight of centuries of arcane knowledge.

Very well. Since you seek understanding, I shall share what I perceive of this rift, though I warn you, the truth is complex and dangerous.

She pauses, her spectral eyes flickering with faint light.

This is no ordinary tear between worlds. It appears to be a nexus, a point where planar energies converge and destabilize. Something, perhaps an experiment, a curse, or a deliberate act has torn the fabric of reality here. The rift fluctuates, expanding and contracting like a living wound, sucking in energies from multiple planes: the Material Plane, the Ethereal, perhaps even the Outer Planes.

Bludgeon grunts in agreement. With curiosity, her green eyes turn to examine the inside of the alcove Elron discovered before he closes it. Once the wall closes, she flips the torch switch again to open it herself.

Another alcove is revealed, this one double the size, able to hold about 4 people, but this one also has spikes, like an iron maiden.

(All these transactions of course have been translated to each party member so no need to express them again.)

[Bhaern Quel]

Tarvis considers what little is learned.

Bludgeon I am hoping the rat might be a scout for us. To find trap and die first. However however might need to kill it if it comes at us.
We are not making progress and we really do not have enough people to handle a city. The lich is not telling much, just claims danger if we disrupt her control or we try to deal with riff by ourselves. Has no idea about any other in city. Maybe direct question of how did she end up in cube, might give a simple answer. As a clue as to how we might free her.
I am beginning to think we can not trust and should not free, however she still might earn it.

Slog and Bludgeon search the wall with Elron to see if more rooms are hidden here.

Lady Daleah take over speaking with the Lady Lich. You better know how you can help her, so might better be able to get information from her. Also you might better be able to determine if we can trust her or can safely fight her. The riff does sound like a large problee that we do not want to get worst.

Elron takes a look into the second room with the spikes in it.

This room looks like it is a trap room. When the door closes it is likely the spikes peice though any standing in front of them. More spikes might also appear.. The magic search indicated there are traps in many places. So when we search for more rooms remember they are likely traps. We might find something of value, but also might find a trap bait that looks like treasure. Be very careful

[Drathiranon]

Her hands aching and her mind a bit numb from the constant telepathic link, Llelanni looks to Daleah. The dark elf's face appears hopeful for a quick solution so the group might move forward in their search.

With a few drow signs, she indicates she is ready to relay Daleah's messages and if something were to go wrong, she must lure the lich and cube into a place where there is water or plant life so maybe Llelanni can hold them by environmental manipulation.

Bludgeon and Slog look to each other, then back to Tarvis.

Slog, feeling a little frustrated at the mention of freeing the lich from the cube reacts with red eyes wide and serious expression on his green face.

Slog not trust her. No, not good.

Red eyes look to Elron.

Many traps? Slog find if so.

Bludgeon can't believe her ears. She sets the spires of her pitchfork on the cave floor, her hand still firmly on the handle.

Leader Tarvis, sure that wise? Dangerous magic. Must search cave first. Lich wait. No time for this.

The orc woman takes up her pitchfork again, looks to Elron.

Right, we search.