An expression of confusion forms upon his face as he watches the interaction between the two. They seem to be acting more like old bosom buddies rather than captor and prisoner. "Gwaelind, what's going on here? We were under the impression you were being held against your will, but the two of you look like a pair of old pals catching up on years past."

His eyes widen for a moment. "Wait... are you two... together?" He looks over to Ryland, more so to convey his condolences and as if to say 'That's some stiff competition'.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:48, Fri 22 Sept 2017.

Gwaelind flows over to the bed and sits next to Delunaur.  He takes her hand in his in a tender fashion.  His voice is kind with none of the joking tone from before.  "I am a prisoner here, but not Delunaur's."

Ryland doesnt flinch when Gwaelind appears before him, giving the suggestion it ins't his first time being stared down by another woman's man-panion. Seeing the larger picture, Ryland waves a hand in the air dismissively. "It would have never worked anyway. Celestial being, mortal stud. I don't suppose I'd have liked taking an arrow to the knee at such a young age either. Though, Gwaelind, you'll have to pardon my erm... candor. Had I known what I know now, I surely wouldn't have pressed my luck. It goes against my religious standards after all".

Bluff check on bolded print.
10:09, Today: Ryland Vance rolled 33 using 1d20+13.  bluff check

Gwaelind looks over at the bard with a frown, which quickly disappears.  He gives the bard a slight nod of conciliatory fashion.

Outside, there is a thunderous crash, followed by a second.  It shakes the whole tower.

Gwaelind seems unaffected.  He steadies Delunaur so that she does not slide off the bed.  Everyone else manages to keep their feet as well.

"He is here."

"Who is he?"

"Duath'gur, Dischord of Earth.  Gawelind's jailor."  Delunaur's eyes narrow in anger, but there is no hint of her power as when the group first met her below.

Toben's brow furrows at the mention of the name. "I remember him.", he states as he reaches for one of the 'Ceven' crystals from his bag.

"COME OUTSIDE LITTLE ADVENTURERS.  THE SONG OF WIND HAS BEEN STILLED AND CAN DO NOTHING FOR YOU.  COME, FACE YOUR DEATH LIKE MEN."  Though the word 'men' typically is used in this context to imply cowardice, Duath'gur uses the word to opposite effect.  His contempt for such puny adversaries is evident as each word shakes the tower with their power.

"He does not know that she is here.  I would like it to remain so."  Gwaelind looks about at the group, fearful for the first time.

"And why exactly is she here.  This is still all very confusing to me.  Why a song and a discord should be together is beyond me"

"Have you not seen it in the world?  Seen the change affecting those once dark and twisted?  Iluvatar's mercy extends to all, Dragon Master."

"You mean like the goblins and the orcs we meet who guarded Ceven? Ano turns to Gwaelind and asks "Is this true.  Do you trust her with your life?"

Gwaelind take Delunaur into his arms and embraces her from the side.  "With more than my life,  my friend.  I trust her with my soul."

"Gwaelind, he eludes to you be stilled, does that mean you will not be able to aid us in this confrontation?"

Gwaelind shakes his head.  "When Duath'gur trapped me as I fell, he trapped my power within this tower he created to imprison me.  I cannot leave and I cannot do anything with magic."

Toben nods. "I understand." He looks back at the door, contemplating what do to next. Finally, he speaks with as good of a plan as he can muster.

"I have an idea, but I don't know how effective it will be." He pulls out one of the crystals bestowed unto him by Ceven. "Ryland, you can talk the ears off even the most patient person. I'm going to need you, all of you, to stall him as best you can while I prepare. It's going to take several minutes before I know whether or not this is going to work."

He cleans off a spot on the floor, one where he'll have sufficient contact with the stone floor of the tower, and takes a seat. He grips the crystal firmly with both hands. "I will remain in here while working on this ritual. The less he knows about what I'm doing, the better."

"I apologize in advance if this causes any discomfort to either of you." In a quiet, deep tone, Toben begins to chant. "Ini wer mitne di Iluvatar vur wer Miirik di Ceven, si meage nomeno raviwrle ekess qe gethrisja", over and over.

Toben starts casting Purify Earthen Corruption
The ritual will take at least 1 minute to start taking effect, even longer to start building up its efficacy enough to cover the tower.

Klale says, as others are preparing Two things: That being outside said, "...men." Xarini, you're a woman. I t may be yo can strike a decisive blow. Now, Gwaelind Song of the Wind, trapped here and no magic. But I gather you have an affinity for air.The air his is thin, making it hard for me to fight long. Can you do anything about that?

Gwaelind shakes his head.  "No, I'm sorry.  All my power is imprisoned in the tower itself.  I am helpless, only protected as long as I stay within this room."

Ano turns to Ryland "Well,  you know what that means.  The longer you can get him to talk,  the less time we spend getting our asses handed to us."

Ryland nods, cracks his knuckles, and clears his throat in an overly dramatic and borderline obnoxious fashion. "Rest assured friend monk, no one will be manhandling our donkeys once the Vance Charm™ is activated. Now then, allow me to slip in to something a bit more... appropriate for the occasion".

Ryland clasps his hands together and begins muttering. First, his height grows by nearly a foot. His skin becomes aged and wrinkled, covered in liver spots. His hair turns to a dull shade of gray and a beard that extends down to his belt buckle springs forth. Long flowing grey robes appear on his person, and a wide brimmed hat that sweeps back in to a point now sits atop his head. With his next spell, his voice alters as he chants, and sounds aged as well.

"I say now my dear boy, could you lend an old man your walking stick?", pointing a gnarled finger at Toben's staff. Toben shrugs, and passes it to him. "Good, good. Now then, if you all will excuse me, this old hermit has a dischord to utterly confuse and enrage...".

With that, he shuffles off to the door, adopting an awkward gait and stooped over posture.

He quietly opens the door enough to pop three quarters of himself outside, and leans on his staff. Ryland peers out in to the foul weather and looks around, pretending not to notice the dischord. "Who said that? Who's there? Is that you Patsy? Back already from the cobbler?".

Outside is a terrible sight.  A monstrosity of black earth etched through with dark red and glowing lines of heat.  Two hands, blocky claws really, have gouged huge furrows into the platform.  Chunks of rock lie everywhere, making the platform a precarious place to move.  Atop a long, stout neck is a face resembling that of a man.  It is charcoal grey and etched through with the same fiery lines.  The whole creature is five time larger than the blue dragon encountered below, three times larger than the largest oliphaunt to have ever lived.

The eyes glower at the old man at the door, then flare up in anger as its rocky eyebrows rise up in surprise.  "WHAT IS THIS?!  WHO ARE YOU, OLD MAN?"  Duath'gur's voice shakes the tower and physically hurts [Fort Save vs. 15 or take 1 Sonic DMG and become Shaken].  His head leans in a little, a movement that is both rapid and seemingly ponderous because of the size.

[A Shaken character takes a -2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:40, Sat 23 Sept 2017.

Ryland quivers and leans heavily on the walking stick, wishing he'd have stuffed his ears with candle wax prior to the meeting. He does his best to feign as if the extreme volume doesn't phase him.

00:06, Today: Ryland Vance rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  fort save. [1 DMG]

"You don't have to shout Patsy, I'm right here you know! Did you get my shoes fixed? You know I can't have one sole flip flopping about while the other stays put. And for Purt's sake man, what IS that most atrocious smell?! You didn't knock over the sulfur at the apothecary again did you?". True to his word, gnarly feet with toenails discolored with foot fungus stick out from underneath the edges of the robe.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Sat 23 Sept 2017.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Toben finishes his spell.

Now that his anti-corruption spell is growing, Toben looks back to Gwaelind. "If your power is directly tied to this tower, then how would we go about unlocking it? How did he lock it away?"

He reaches into his bag and pulls out the book the retrieved from the cave and glances over to Delenuar. His attention appears to be half divided between the spell and the conversation. "I know you've been researching a ritual to break the ties that bind a Maiar to its master. If this can free Gwaelind, how do we go about it?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:46, Sat 23 Sept 2017.

Gwaelind frowns.  "I've already told you.  He locked it away in this tower.  Earth is stronger than air.  As I came down to Arda, The Enemy did something to me and my descent was not controlled any longer.  Duath'gur was ready.  As I fell, he created this tower from his power.  It rose up from the mountain before I could regain control of my descent like some great stone worm.  The top opened up and swallowed me and here I have remained.  My power was drawn into the tower the moment the mouth of the tower closed and the depictions you see all over appeared."  He grows ever more frustrated with the telling and even stands up and begins to pace during the story.

When he is done, he looks at the book and then back to Toben.  "The book is not for me.  Duath'gur is not my master.  He is just my jailor."  He looks back and Delunaur.  "The book is for her."

Toben nods as the Song of Wind speaks. "Yes, I recall seeing the carvings on the tower, but we were too focused on reaching you that we didn't inspect them too close. Is there some sort of story hidden in the images?"