Donovan enters the room quick behind Shae.  He gives the moss covered fountain a wide berth, and goes to inspect one of the skeletons.

Shae also looks for anything unusual or of value on the skeletons littering the room.

For some reason Borimer's hand itches to grasp the Godslayer and draw it, but he holds back and moves to take guard by the door.

Tahldar smiles at his discovery of the room.  "Interesting.  It would seem the dragon for all his intelligence has missed some things.  One would think this mountain would be picked clean by him by now." he says simply at the array of brass objects before them.

Turning to the others he adds "Can someone skilled with searching for traps have a look at the chest and box?  I cannot."

There is nothing of significance among the skeletons, and their clothing is long since worthless, but Donovan and Shae do notice one odd thing.  Not one, but two of the skeletal remains have their arms extended and are pointing toward the north wall, which is both in the direction of the stagnant fountain and the secret room.

In reply to DM Heath (msg # 22):

"See the pointing?  I wonder if it's a warning about the moss in that fountain," says Donovan.

"It is likely that they were trying to reach something in that direction. When people are dying they do not typically think to position their body in a way to warn others of impending doom." the priest states, giving the bodies a once over to see if they were trying to crawl away from something or reach something, or if it was obvious they had been moved postmortem.

"Still, can't hurt to check" said Didit while casually doing something to her mandoline

Shae says, "Or maybe someone changed their position after they were dead.  Anyway, I'll have a look."  Shae will investigate the fountain, moving aside the moss with the tip of her spear from a distance.

Borimer keeps watch over everything as best he can, knowing he can't.

In the room with the skeletons and fountain, Shae pokes at the fountain with her spear, pushing aside the moss growing on top.  Nothing jumps out at her or seems amiss, but she sees that there are some shiny gems and coins that have settled at the bottom of the fountain.


In the secret room, no one has taken up Tahldar's request to inspect the box or chest for traps or locks.


A sound from the north (i.e., where you came from) brings your attention quickly around.  Two figures have somewhat quietly entered from the north.  Both appear to be human.

The first has two skinny blades sheathed at his side.  He is garbed in fine leathers, jerkin, and other accoutrements that make him appear somewhat wealthy, well groomed, and with a fine military-like stance, though he is not in a uniform.  Well over six feet tall, he has a wide, amicable smile, and is about thirty years old with blondish hair.  He has the type of handsomeness that many women would swoon over, and the way he carries himself with confidence, he seems to know it.

His companion is starkly different.  He is garbed in a plain priestly robe.  His face is covered in tattoos, and though the hood is up, he appears bald headed.  You take him for some sort of cleric or monk, in very good physical form, though quite a bit shorter than his companion.  You cannot see what he may conceal beneath the robe, but he is looking at an ancient tome of some sort when he enters, almost as if not even noticing you are here.

The well groomed man says, in happy surprise, "Well, well, what do we have here?  These men surely can't be those we were asked to meet.  They look too battle worn and hungry."  He smiles as if this is a joke, but when no one responds, he says, "Surely, that old wizard..."  He turns to his companion, "What was his name?  Ember? Cinder?"

The other man says, "Ashe."

"Yes," the first says with a snap of his fingers.  "Surely Ashe told you we would be meeting you at some point?  Fingas?" he says to you, as if you should recognize it.  "Come on, you never heard of me?  Fingas Hatt?  Of the Rendathian Hatts?"  He says to his companion, "Well, I guess not everyone can have heard of me."

He turns back to you.  "My family also came from a Pocket.  That's what Ashe calls it.  A Pocket from the old -- or alternate -- or whatever -- Tienna, that got brought to this Allevia.  But we were brought here 40 years ago, before I was born even.  That time-space thing doesn't always work with exactness.  Anyhow, I suppose you're here to kill the dragon?  That's what we're here to do.  I don't know if your ragtag group can deal with something that...formidable.  But I thought we'd come up the back way through the cave.  I see you've gotten here first.  But I bet you a hundred Silver we'll get to the dragon first."

He spreads his arms, as if expecting some sort of response--in recognition, cooperation, or friendly gestures.  He does not appear in any way to mean you any harm, and you do not get the feeling that he is not who he says he is -- whoever that is.  If anything, he appears overconfident and harmless, used to living off his fame.

"You speak the Common tongue, yes?  You are...what were the names?" he says to his companion.

The cleric says, names coming easily to mind, "Borimer, Kahan, Donovan, Tahldar, Shapfren, Shae, and there was a Leogold, Lukas, and Hatchman, if they are all here and alive still."

"We just slew something like thirty giants a couple hours ago," Fingas says to you.  "Their bodies litter the ground below.  Too bad the bridge was broken.  We had to fly across."  He looks at you like that might impress you.  "So next, on to the dragon, right?"



OOC: To clarify one thing, please make a distinction in your mind between "brass" and "bronze."  The former is much shinier and more valuable (back in those days anyway), whereas bronze is cheaper, older, and more fragile of a metal.  I just want to clarify that because the "box" is brass and gold in appearance, whereas the urn and chest have bronze, which means they appear older, weaker, and far less shiny.

"Thirty giants? We had trouble slaying a small handful. You two must be rather powerful to do such a thing. I am Kahan, the holder of our world's version of the Deathbane. We could definitely use your help to slay the dragon, but it won't be quite as simple as a hack and slash job. He sits in a quicksilver pool which grants him invulnerability to basically all things. We need to somehow get him out of it or dry it up before we try to kill him. Any ideas?" Kahan asks, walking up and peering over the monk's shoulder to see what he is reading.

Fingas says, "I'm just going to cut its head off.  That's pretty hard to heal from, right?"

The monk closes the old tome as Kahan approaches.  The cover is not labeled, but is very old and worn.  It has a textured black leather cover.

The monk speaks up, his tone almost as light-hearted as his companion, "And my name is Batruss Moonshadow.  You have not heard of the Hatt and the Bat before?  Not even of the Seeking Herpes From the North incident?  That's pretty famous."

Fingas begins to redden in the face.  "That was an accident."

Batruss looks at him, and Fingas grows more red.  "I mean, it was a misprint.  A scrivener's error."

Fingas talks quickly, feeling the need to explain.  "We were gathering mercenaries to go on a short quest, and the sign said it was seeking heroes from the north.  They were to join us in the quest.  But there was this grain in the wood, and it aligned perfectly with the left side of the "o" in "heroes"..."

"Making it look like you were looking for herpes," Batruss says with a laugh.  Fingas does not laugh in return.

"We'll race you to the dragon," Fingas says instead.  "First one there gets slaying rights."  He seems to take no notice in the rooms you are in or anything else.

"That doesn't seem wise... Perhaps we should go together and save our strength for the real foe. I see no reason to race." Kahan responds, looking over the brass box to see if he can find out how to open it.

From the moment they entered the room Borimer positions himself casually behind them, within striking distance.  He smiles.  "The priest is wise, we are stronger fighting a dragon with new allies.  But if it's a competition for slaying dragons you want, you're better off lookin' for herpes..."

Tahldar looks round him with consternation as no one investigates the box and chest for traps.  "Look here, I don't mean to get cross, but I'm the mage around here and I'm not good with skullduggery.  Is there no one in our party capable of snooping out a trap?"

Leaving the matter for the moment, Tahldar watches the newcomers arrival with a quizzical look.  He folds his arms and watches them with interest, especially the tattooed monk or cleric as he peruses the leather tome.

Dismissing the braggart Fingas for the moment he says to Batruss "You have us at a loss, you seem to know much about us, but we know little about you, and what you are really capable of.  But you did get past the Giants and the fallen bridge, so you must have some skills.  But enough to kill an ancient, and likely spell weaving, dragon resting is a quicksilver pool on your own?  Are you so confident?  I for one am not of my own chances.  The dragon has killed every group that has tried to kill it.  I see little in the way to think any of us won't reach the same fate."

Shifting topics he continues "I don't know how much you know, but there is a sickness in this world.  We need the berries that grow near the dragon that with the Gnomes help, can provide a cure.  We are in a race against time until the sickness takes us, and when it does there is nothing you can do about it.  You will die in mere hours.  But I feel we need to take our time and approach the dragon carefully.  And once we can formulate some kind of plan to draw it from the healing pool, only then should we engage it.  Running full speed into it's arm with blades drawn seems to me to be certain death."

Didit just made a mental note on the irony of being good for setting up traps, but knowing nothing about how to find them, but the conversation started to heat, she walked to the fountain and started cleansing her face and hair on it and washing some of her outer clothes, which had taken most of the abuse in their short time on Tienna, she then spoke casually and with an almost regal tone and a smirk "There is no need to argue on who will slay the dragon. He is fated to die but it won't be by the sword." She looked to them and switched to a more melancholic tone "But you two, have acted in a disrespectful manner that doesn't befit a hero. If you know about us, you should then know who I am, and the tragedy of my people. Yet you chose to overlook it, and be cruel and uncaring. And that means that their lives and their legacy is all meaningless, unremarkable. Perhaps you think I'm selfish and unworthy, but it is not. It is just not fair I was the only one spared, and the only one who got to live. But if you are not going to listen for them, listen for the world, your world."

Fingas says, "Sorry, but I know nothing about you other than what Ashe told me, which isn't much.  I know even less about the elves.  We are in this for the glory.  And testing our mettle against a dragon like this, while racing your group to it, sounds like a lot of fun in my book.  These dragon rumors get overblown anyway.  It's probably a little lizard that got cranky with some local gnomes.  They just need to feel secure that the caves are cleared and safe.  The Hatt and the Bat can do that!"

Batruss points to the group of gnomes and whispers something to Fingas.

"Yes," Fingas says.  "It looks like you have a group of gnomes to escort back to their home, right?  Your group can try to get them safely home, and we'll worry about the dragon.  We don't do babysitting.  But by the time you get down to the dragon, which is still thousands of feet below you, we'll have him slain and cooked for dinner."

Borimer laughs out loud.  "As you wish, mighty dragon hunter."

Shae comes out of the far room after hearing the bravioso of this newcomer.  "My name is Shae Shadowglen.  We are all new to this world.  What can you tell us about it?  What is a Randathian?  And what do you know about this dragon and this cave?  I will gladly let you slay it, but I'd like to know what we are dealing with here."

"Well good luck to you.  I still say you'll have better odds if you are patient and travel with us and attack together, but do as you wish.  May the gods grant you good luck for your bravery." Tahdar says to the two men.

Turning his attention to the Gnomes he says as he makes his way to reexamine the chest, box and urn. [Language unknown: Toce ith pro n ilna k artioutic wahaek en asion saillo?  Blestrion i t thun, fi titeng liac un ate rengil ec stnolo wil moriwa winofo ar oer pondic loanitpl.  O int und ospl i me a rater ticeenoreven pl ng olat icouenlise p harind ei laesie.  Is Ad u tiowerest rocefi ss notlarati inma st fi liniv anera om erapr is ecck aless allkorati et moev nde t tiee any oun ithani El evestrore teha u manoic ch elstta alloerear.]

OOC: Tahldar will try to open the chest and box after the Gnomes (if they wish) have had a chance to examine the chest/box/urn.  Or any other character that has trap finding skills and wants a look.

The gnome leader replies: [Language unknown: "E een p ithtraest en ter ticstaess neie o la areshe-eretic tinio thahas-orerat p evweitheno.  P a ckpa Lessanich, ndbe reasetear ate ck Ovethethu ouat'maha.  Li filaet il stsiho st inove ro e a osndch neatntpl, isas to e, m oerti essartrea lered neriie pro unri sta m sheiontho.  Wa en le to reta butbutectncevor.  Itla al ndetta siuten ck e oun shestahat whto difini, icaenchou ur io.  E u ai bletiotra, nte asssat wheeek p ilstr pa pofi iona t ousseteve fihowhhaen ca es asbe dayonsome me, hani ro out hein utdinisi peou nc liil for tr hat contraureiou."]

Batruss Moonshadow replies to the gnome: [Language unknown: "Lino redillman tra ear tath?  Ch eve o uslili chdime ca siec saniro ica his peunun prsehe ich ristnd."]

To which the gnome replies: [Language unknown: "P areic voril era painll outersati ceoul outac, erfine wa p res dichis.  Ll p se al ain hatthowit te n Meanetwape, whhaecic ev Acropa, riou lamial p ion tho m menoulast ivelinratare. Diunpo Napodipr Artvenher wh ugh Som Romersoutset.]

The Bat nods in thanks.

Obviously not understanding the exchange, Fingas responds to the previous questions, "So you're new to this world, eh?  Randathia is only the largest city this side of...well, of the world.  It's roughly southwest from here, probably a few weeks travel by horse, past some boring farmlands and obnoxious hilly areas, mountains, and infested forests of some repute.  I don't know much about this dragon except that it's a burr in the side of the gnomes in these parts, and the gnomes -- being so far away from Randathia -- have not necessarily heard of my name.  So I need to do something heroic to get my glory to spread among them as well."

He taps his chin thoughtfully.  "But I bet you haven't heard of the Test of the Faithful either.  That's the riddle.  They say if you climb up here to this old crumbly temple or whatever it is, you must pass the test of the faithful to get down to the lower levels where the dragon is.  So we plan to sneak up on it this way.  If we can figure out the riddle.  Bat here will figure it out, I'm sure," he says, pointing a thumb at his monkish companion.

Tahldar listens to the Gnomes counsel and replies simply

Picking up the box he begins to examine it closely to see if you can figure out its unlocking mechanism.

OOC:  Tahldar will try to open the box first.  If that is successful he will try to open the chest by trying to remove a plank with a dagger.

PL:
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:18, Tue 15 July 2014.

Shae says, "What else do you know about this test of the faithful?"  She is looking more at Batruss than Fingas when she says this.