[HQ Ignorance] Let sleeping dogs lie

[Nic Hughes]

OOC: Lev I am not sure how this one plays out in game mechanics so what 
I am going to do is to narrate it as a story and then I guess we can 
work out the mechanics afterwards.

I think everyone is in a suitable role, if not please shout now and we 
can change/adapt.

Also for some reason this episode is - in Sesame Street style - brought 
to us by the word Seduce. As I started to write this I realised that 
Baros might be a lot more interesting a character than the comic relief 
has has been up till now.

IC:

When Baros was happy that he was in tune with Icthya he stopped playing 
and stepped close to Aalmon. For a while they embraced, perhaps 
exchanging a few words, perhaps just becoming one with one-another in 
their own strange way. Each took out a similar amulet and as they 
whispered to the amulets they seemed to glisten in the starlight.

Baros walked back to Icthya's side and grinned while he took the silver 
amulet and bound it around his pipes by its chain. Whispering quiet 
words to the charm he waited until the pipes took on a slight glimmer, 
then satisfied he put the pipes to his lips and hesitated for just a 
moment "Lady of the woods, shall we seduce these wild wolves into the 
arms of Sleep?". Then he began to play, a soft melody that wrapped 
itself around the gentle song of the elf and seemed to go into the 
hearts of all who listened and call to the wild spark lying there, a 
call away from duty or habit, away from hunger or anger and into the 
gentle embrace of sleep. For his companions it was a tempting enough 
call but the wild spark within them was weak and the song was not 
directed at them, as the notes drifted on the breeze it gently found its 
true audience in the wild untamed hearts of the Telmori. As the song 
seemed to swell to its fullest power he began to dance towards the 
fortress, his hooves beating out the rhythm of the song which preceeded 
him.

Aalmon ceased the prayers he had been reciting and took Jareena by the 
elbow for a moment "We should follow him in, your task is to find our 
companion and bring her out. I will try to deal with any that do not 
succumb to my brothers gentle call." With that he began to follow in his 
brothers footsteps towards the forbidding fort.

As they entered the fort the brothers seemed to exchange a look and the 
timbre of the song changed. It became more urgent, the rhythm became 
that of a heartbeat and within the song was a new theme. Yet the theme 
seemed to pass over the listeners, as it directed at just one 
individual. For now they sought out the mystic to fill him with lust 
that would overcome his reason and sense and distract him so that he 
could not interfere with their plan. Aalmon muttered quietly to Jareena 
"There is risk in what we are doing, the mystic might seek out Kerala 
under this spell. While I am sure she is capable she may not be in the 
best position to deal with it, go with her spirit and Baros and see if 
she needs help getting free."

Then Aalmon looked around for signs of activity. For all his brother's 
power there would be some who resisted the siren call to sleep, well if 
they were awake all the better to hear his words. Calling on his inner 
peace he held his hands steady and open, away from his body in the 
universal gesture of peace, with his best winning smile he hoped for a 
peaceful way. He had not raised arms against the wolf-men before and he 
did not want to now, he had not come here to kill but to reveal a 
secret. Perhaps one that Talor had not even understood when he revealed 
it, for the Goddess was not risen when he revealed the ties between the 
Telmori and the moon and her secrets were hard to find. Now was the time 
for him to speak those secrets, to reveal that this was the inner truth 
of the Telmori that they could not fight or defeat with trickery or 
magic, yet which if they embraced they could realise was not a curse 
after all. The words of the goddess could be seductive, it was time to 
see if he could deliver them right.

OOC: I really am not sure on the game mechanics but a few 
notes/suggestions. Both Aalmon and Baros have fetishes with the power of 
seduction, both are releasing the lunes from their fetishes for what is 
to come - they won't be much use in the last part of the quest anyway. 
Baros also has the Captivate Crowd feat to help. Aalmon is calling on 
whatever support the group have and whatever blessing he might have been 
granted by his ritual, he thinks this is the crucial stage of the quest. 
I have not really filled out the details of him attempting to speak with 
whatever Telmori are awake yet, i think the details depend on how the 
scene plays out. In terms of the heroquest challenge I mentioned some 
time ago I think he is trying to challenge the Mystic's relationship 
with the Telmori with the seductive truths of Sedenyic Philosophy. Its 
not really about converting them, more about grabbing hold of the 
relationship which says they want to listen to him.

I hope that makes enough sense!

Nic