The Center Cannot Hold [Group B]

[Halna LeGavilk]

Gathon thinks for a second. "Well, if you did, I'd have to assume you are here hunting the heretic, based on your comments about letting us do your job for you. I'd also assume that you are either powerful, arrogant, or perhaps both, with your talking of asking if we are qualified to take on this heretic."
"And I'm also wondering about that bird on the ring on your hand. I don't recognize it, seeing as how I'm not the most knowledgable man around. Can you tell me where it's from?"

[Skjaldbakka]

"Oh, this?" the stranger lifts up his hand to let the light catch the jewel in the ring, making the image of the bird in the jewel almost seem to move. "It is just a pretty bauble I picked up in Caradhras. There is no special significance that I am aware of."

Yann:

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The ring this man is wearing is very similar to a ring one of your teachers always wore.

[Miraqariftsky]

A sudden chill races down Ydralianna's spine when they encounter the man. As he speaks, an unfathomable dread courses its way through her veins, chilling her to the marrow. Heretic... follower of the old gods... but... I believe in the Seldarine! I shall remain faithful, let fall what may the tempest of the times!

And then when the faint morning's light strikes the heraldry upon the blackrobe's ring, Yann's breath catches in her throat. Her emerald eyes suddenly widen in shock and outrage as memories nearly a century gone rush back to her in a flood of grief.

She sees herself back in the golden halls and alabaster towers of the Library of Larevyn, following and listening, enraptured to lesson after lesson, tale after tale from her masterful professors. The faces and the voices of her classmates and her teachers and even the sights, the smells, the textures of those forgotten tomes of lore fade away into a grey sea of sorrow and all the light in those memories seems to be drawn into the glinting of that one avian-engraved band of cast gold.

...the selfsame ring that glitters on the blackrobe's gaunt, skeletal hand. You bastard! That's Master Cairthwhein's ring! He was a devout follower of the Seldarine and he would never give it up to an unbeliever! I may believe in the power of knowledge, but there are some secrets that are too horrible for the world at large to know, too powerful to fall into the hands of the wicked!

...but then, what if I'm getting ahead of myself? What if I judged him without proper information? But still...

The head of the daughter of Kyr'n bows as she succumbs to the drain of these memories. Her golden bangs fall across her darkened brow and her glaring eyes. One hand darts into the folds of her cloak and makes ready to draw forth a rind of pork to use in a spell while her other hand tightens around the haft of her ashwood staff.

Consciously steadying her breathing, she asks, "Sirrah Jeremiah Blackrobe, do the names 'Cairthwhein' and 'Larevyn' mean anything to you?"

[Skjaldbakka]

"Based on you expression just now, and the nature of your question, I would say they are in some way related to this ring, which holds some a great significance to you. Aside from that, . . ." he shrugs.

[Halna LeGavilk]

"Well, do you want us to take care of that heretic for you, or not?"

[Skjaldbakka]

"Feel free. I certainly won't stand in your way."

[SoD]

Dvalr

''Well, is that it? No information on 'im? What do ye expect us to do, go aroun' the area askin' everyone we see if they're the heretic an' knock 'em on the head if they say yes? If we're doin' anything to help yer, we need to know more!'' says Dvalr, getting tired at the mans word games, and almost loosing his temper.

[Skjaldbakka]

"Are you lacking in information? I would hate to think that you would have come all the way out here without knowing what you are here for. You are here to dispose of the one responsible for this, yes? Presumably offered a sum of coin to do so?"

[SoD]

Dvalr

''Yeah, of course. But our orders were somewhat lackin'. Somethin' along the lines of 'there's a heretic in the area, we'll pay ye to sort 'im out'. Well, they said more than tha', but they speant a long time talkin' without sayin' that much. You seem to know more than ye let on, an' more information would be useful.''

Dvalr is feeling somewhat awkward at being put on the spot...

[Skjaldbakka]

"Very well then. A straight answer you want, and a straight answer I will give you." He points northward, where you can see a path. "Follow that path for less than a mile. You will find the diamond mine there. In this mine, there is a man who calls himself the servant of Obad-hai, and who has allied himself with several Xorn, and captured the mine."

He turns back to Dvalr. "Happy now? You've gone and spoiled my fun."

[J-H]

Adrian
"Fun? Fun is for things that don't involve life or death.

Will you come with us?"

[SoD]

Dvalr

Dvalr opens his mouth to object to the stranger joining them, but closes it again. Probably safer if I let them do the talking...

He gives a quick whistle, and Tawny flies from the nearby tree where she'd been hiding, before landing on Dvalrs shoulder.

[Skjaldbakka]

"I don't think that would be wise for either of us."

[Halna LeGavilk]

Gathon goes and walks toward the path. "Thanks, Jeremiah."

[J-H]

Adrian
Adrian follows, glancing back at "Jeremiah" repeatedly. He doesn't like leaving the odd man behind, but doesn't feel like he has a choice.

[SoD]

Dvalr

Dvalr also walks onwards, muttering to the others:
''Then onwards, and hopefully we've seen the last of him.''

[Halna LeGavilk]

Gathon glances back. "I think we'll see him again."

[Skjaldbakka]

You head down the path, until you see the diamond mine in the distance.

This is what you see:

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[Miraqariftsky]

When they come clear of Jeremiah's earshot, Yann releases a breath that she didn't know she was holding. She hisses in a whisper to her comrades, "That man, yon blackcloak is a thief or at least a fraud of some sort. I don't bloody trust him. That ring he's wearing--- it belonged to one of my teachers at Larevyn..."

[SoD]

Dvalr

As they approach the mine, Dvalr speaks again, for the first time since they left 'Jeramiah':''The mage back there claimed that 'is hereitic was controllin' the xorn. Ye said that it was an intelligent creature, would there be a way to release it without harmin' 'im? If so, we should sort out our plan now.''

[Skjaldbakka]

As you continue this conversation to plan your next action, make a spot check. I will make spot checks for anyone who hasn't yet by tomorrow night before I update. I would prefer for everyone to at least post to make a spot check, just to let me know that you are all still here.

[SoD]

Dvalr

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spot - (1d20+2)[15]

[J-H]

Adrian
Adrian gazes outward as the discussion continues.

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Spot - (1d20+12)[29]

[Miraqariftsky]

"Indeed, my deepdelving comrade..." Yann concurs.

Her hands pat down the pockets that line her dress, checking the pouches of spell components therein. The motion makes her suit of elven chain tinkle in the whispers of the breeze.

With deliberate actions, she loads her crossbow against her hip and speaks a word of the Draconic tongue, "Pyros", causing the bolt's head to blaze with a magical flame. Turning to Dvalr, she answers in Common, "If I am not mistaken, to break such an enchantment, we must strike at the enchanter or whoever mage is controlling the xorn. Through means fair or foul--- be he convinced or killed--- the spell that binds the xorn to his will shall then be broken... but honestly, I do so agree with you, dear Dvalr. Truth be told, I wouldn't want to harm any that intend harm to the Empire"

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(1d20+3)[11] Spot, yo.

[Halna LeGavilk]

Gathon smiles. "Perhaps we can make some sort of deal with him. Have him lie low for a while, maybe, or something of that sort. We can always use allies."

[SoD]

Dvalr

''I've got a feelin' it won't be that simple. It never is. I'll a gold peice each that it'll be more difficult than just 'talkin' it out'.''

[Halna LeGavilk]

Gathon shrugs. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Unless, of course, they are both my enemies. You may be right. We shall see."

[Skjaldbakka]

Unnoticed by the group, a pair of small winged creaures with dry, cracked, white skin and red bloodshot eyes approach, hidden, revealing themselves only by the spray of salt they both launch at the party, the glowing clinging particles sticking to them and getting in their eyes.

The save DC for the glitterdust-like effect is 14 Will. Between the two of them, they hit everyone in the party once with their repsective bursts.

I'm not going to bother with individual initiative for you guys, as you will all go before the salt mephits (DC 18 Knowledge Arcana to ID, DC 28 to know stats)

[Miraqariftsky]

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(1d20+6)[20] Will save

(1d20+12)[16] Bardic Lore
(1d20+6)[10] Knowledge Arcana

(1d20+8)[13] Attack roll
(1d20+8)[27] crit check
(1d8)[3] crossbow damage
(1d6)[5] flaming bolt damage

[J-H]

Adrian
Adrian closes his eyes for a second, and then leaps & lashes out at the nearest mephit.

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I am assuming the Heroism effect has worn off...
Will save - (1d20+8)[23]
Knowledge, Arcana - (1d20+3)[20]
Flurry Atk 1 - (1d20+6)[21]
Flurry Dmg 1 - (1d6+2)[5]
Flurry Atk 2 - (1d20+6)[19]
Flurry Dmg 2 - (1d6+2)[7]
Flurry Atk 3 - (1d20+6)[17]
Flurry Dmg 3 - (1d6+2)[7]