Nights on the two week journey are peaceful under the open sky, prompting open talk among the members.

   A question that had bubbled to mind on several occasions finally seems appropriate to ask as the group travels.

   "I had received a particularly....powerful parting word from the druid that had been trapped in that vile place. She said for me to heed the message of the Evangiel.  I take it seriously, because she used her dying breath to speak of it, so what exactly is the message of the Evangiel?"

   Aethen looks sheepish as he asks the question, but very interested in any answers that are given.

The question pauses the Anthros knight. He shifts in his mount and looks mournfully at the distance. Kahmaul grimly voices his worries, "Aye... The Evengial Amats'el came to me within the cave. He spoke of the fall of Loartec, overrun by a blight that is spreading across the land. That there will be the rise of those who will seem to come to aid but give false council and bring aid to the enemy. That this one," A large shaggy hand points at the Invar wizard and the Kradok,"Veritum must be aided on a quest to find 7 tomes for the sake of all our futures. And that Kiro's Golem and my armor are relics of a similar nature that might aid us in our quest. And that these humans, His hand shifts towards the others. "Tyler, Danathea, and Genovia must be protected at all cost... That they must discover the past to know their futures."

The Knight looks towards Grondor, "The Evangiel didn't dislike you my friend, but I think that you have been doing good deeds, and can continue to do so with profit if you still are willing to brave these endeavors."

"They have brought a similar message of a hidden enemy to come.  They will bring with them great power and wonder, deceiving many, and eventually enslaving them.  The Evangiel who came to my town said that this enemy would be known by their hatred of us, that they would seek to do far worse than simply eradicate us."  Dathnaea looks off in the distance, back toward the land of her people.

Adryn nods to himself as the conversation unfolds, absorbing as much information as he can. "It would seem the woods have sheltered me in much the same way as they did Aethen. I know very little of the Evangiels message, however, what I know of them thus far leads me to believe we are on the right path to heed them."

As Dathnaea an Kahmaul relay their message to the group, Adryn shifts his eyes toward Thit to observe his reaction of their description of false council from a 'hidden' enemy. "I have a question for you Thit. What do you, or your employer, know of the Evangiels message?"

[Private to GM: This may be total paranoia, but in an attempt to rule out Thit as being a negative influence, Adryn is going to watch his reactions and responses during the travel. Any sort of sense motive rolls you want me to make?]

Flynn perks up. He was surprised that Kahmaul hadn't said anything about this to him earlier, nor mentioned him at all, but tried not to show it. He thought carefully about the message. Obviously there was a force looking to exterminate humans. It was not unusual in most lands for that to be the case, but who would profit, and to what ends? He looks towards Danathea, "How much do you remember about those slavers you ran into? If what he says is true, its groups like that who would be closest to this evil you speak of."

Thit chews on a long grass stalk he picked along the way as he thinks.  "I think their warnings are dire.  But I don't know much about them.  I've only ever seen one.  If their Message is a warning against those who seem to do great good but will later turn out to show themselves as evil...isn't that a possible description of the Evangiel themselves?"  He shakes his head, "I just don't know.  Never put much stock in prophecy myself.  The gods can be fickle, serving their own ends to the detriment of us mortals.  These high-powered bird-men are nothing but demi-gods at best.  The fulfillment of their own proclaimed doom upon the kinds of Loartec at worst."

[Private to Adryn Longmane: You can take 20 on anything like that out of stressful situations.  So far, Thit seems genuine, but hard to read.  One thing that does strike you is that he acts like none of the kobolds that were your captors for so many days.  They were crude, cruel, and barely held in check from vicious behavior against you by their masters.  Thit is intelligent, refined, pleasant, and you know of no instance where he has not acted in the best interest of the group.  He answers any questions to the best of his ability as far as you know, providing specific details (rather than vague generalities as if he is trying to hide something or pretend at what he claims to be).  He is definitely a puzzle, but does not give you a bad vibe.]

   A blink of confusion flashes through Aethen's face as he listens to Kahmaul speak of his portent.  Humans?  Humans would be the key?  They had been here only for the blink of an eye, what grand role could they possibly have in the affairs of this world?

   "Kahmaul, what about these three set them apart from others of their kind?  Why are they destined to be protected?"  It was a curious thought that, above other lives, theirs should be protected and, if need be, sacrificed for. A bold one too. What proof, of their value over another, was there?

   Aethen decided that, if presented with the opportunity, he would certainly want to speak with one of these "winged" ones.

Kahmaul shrugs replying to Aethen and then Thit, "Actually I don't know. I asked but he was reluctant to say why... Though I will take his word as truth. There was no reason for him to mislead me, nor to aid us when we were in our most dire hour. You would do well to remember that the Evangial gifted Grondor and myself with relics that helped your mission as well. Your lack of faith means little, but do not ignore the warning they provide."

   "Kahmaul, do no take my questions as doubt or denial.  I have no faith other than to Addiyr, however, Nariya's words were unmistakable.  I simply seek information."  Aethen percieved that Kahmaul might be seeing his questioning as an attack and wanted to ensure that he knew that was far from the case.  Rather, he wanted to know as much as Kahmaul knew, but Kahmaul was citing dreams and visions.  Was there nothing more?

   Aethen then turns to Vertium.  "So these tomes, you discovered one in the study of Midrath?"

Kahmaul chuckles, "I meant that part for Thit, brother Aethen, I apologize if I come off a bit too strong. I wish I got more concrete answers myself, to tell the truth. Fighting an enemy I can see and hear is one thing, fighting in the dark another, and I'm afraid this is more the later."

Vertium had been silently taking notes on a parchment. He was slightly surprised that the Evangiels had mentioned him. When he was asked about the tome, he became hesitant wondering whether it was safe to share this information in an unprotected place. On the other hand, it was probably too late to hide his quest anyway. "I have received a vision that imparted the importance of finding these tomes. I did indeed find the first tome in the caves, it contains information on the nature and creation of magical spells. Part of the text is still shrouded by magical means. I believe it will take me a while before I am able to gain access to those portions of the book."