In reply to Aztar (msg # 159):

Dualis:"Yes, it is indeed in a cave and there will be no asking those who have collected them, they are long dead.  Let me fill in more of the story.  In the Golden Age mighty wizards and clerics started explorer the limits of magic and in a less than controlled way.  Perhaps is the prosperity that has people be less restrained as I have seen personally. The predecessor to the high mages guild was the University of High Magic in the city of Perod the Golden and there is where the cataclysm struck.
   Some uncontrolled magic sunk the city and much of the surrounding lands underground, destroying much.  The tower where the Orbs are located is in Perod the Golden, which is now in a giant cavern.  The Great Lake is another result of the cataclysm and sits above the caverns now.  Your scrying probably picked up multiple images merged together as there is still great magic there.  There have been some who have visited these ruins.  Shorty as a matter of fact, he was there a few years ago.  Do you remember Shorty?  I believe you were in a large library and there you met some one you called Bone Man .. his name is actually Gargaragoth."

--DM2

Warwick sputters as he's taking a long draw from his tankard.  Looking at Shorty he exclaims, "Ye saw Gargaragoth and survived, lad?  How is that possible?"

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 160):

Shorty looks a little unhappy.  "Not posed talk bout dat.  Dat me home.  Dat where baby be growin an learnin be good dragon.  Not likes new people find way to tower n city.  Me meber bone man.  Me has to breaks him cause him gets mean.  Tower n city be Shorty place n thief place n birdy n baby too.  Why we need go der.  Not wants baby be getting hurt."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:26, Mon 10 Dec 2012.

In reply to Shorty (msg # 162):

Dualis: "You go there to free Rigel, Aztar's dragon friend.  Don't worry the city is extremely large, no one will get near baby.  Don't be alarmed Shorty but Bone Man put himself back together."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 163):

Shorty stops his playing with the furniture and stands up.  "Gots go now.  Bone Man no where tower be.  Thief have magic book.  Bone Man want magic book.  Baby n thief be getting danger.  Me need be der smash gin.  Dullis take now.  Please."  Shorty begins to check his weapons and frowns at the broken glove.  "Me need dis workin.  Bone Man make spark dat hurt lots.  Eben Shorty."  Shorty looks carefully at the rest of group.  "Me not likes but all need comes.  Me needs help last time.  Me gonna needs gin me think.  But Baby be secret.  Lotta people scairt cause baby be wrong color.  But Baby be good.  Him know rule.  Always prtects people be smaller den youse."

Shorty looks expectantly at the group.

Shorty pulls out an amulet with an infinity sign on it and shows it to Dualis.  "Bone Man gonna want dis back too?  Him want it afore.  Me not know what do.  It bees magic but me not know what."

In reply to Shorty (msg # 164):

Warwick drains his tankard.  "Sure, lad, I'll go with ye.  And since I'm a lot smaller than Baby, I don't think I have to worry about being eaten."

In reply to Warwick (msg # 165):

SHorty just shakes his head at Warwick.  "Me teaches baby eat good food.  Baby eat horse.  Eatin Fuzz Face be like eatin mayor horse.  Bees all tough n stringy.  Not bery tasty."

In reply to Shorty (msg # 166):

Dualis looks and Shorty and gives him a small smile and his face softens.  Aztar would imagine that Dualis has never given such a look before, it may even be compassionate.

"Shorty, baby will be ok.  You have my promise on that.  Bone Man won't go after the book because he has to defend himself against the champions.  He will not come back to Delith ever again.
  And the amulet you hold is a gift from Knowman to you and I gave it to Knowman.  So you don't need to worry about that; but if you want to check on them I can show you them or take you to them."

--DM2

In reply to Shorty (msg # 166):

Shorty looks confused.  "You say Rigel be in Cave city n Bone Man be blame.  How him be der n not der."  Shorty shakes his head and pulls out the coin from No Man and lays it on the table beside the amulet.  "Dis be coin.  Dis be commin  big Red Momma Dragon.  Bone man want sword from Baby other Momma n Bone man want dis bad when sees it.  Me been keepin safe cause me think it be potent if Bone Man want.  It bees same as coin?  But hows come Momma Red Dragon gots in nest n hows come nobodys know it potent afore now ceptin Bone Man."

In reply to Shorty (msg # 168):

Dualis:"Sorry Shorty I misunderstood.  The coin and amulet are different; but Bone Man can't get them.  Rigel is in the same city but not because of Bone Man; Rigel is there because of king troll.  Rigel is in a different part of the city than library and baby.  The city is many miles wide; bigger than any city today."

--DM2

Aztar continues to sit silently and listen.  He had watched Dualis as Shorty spoke about the bone man and needing to go and had assumed the wizard would calm him down so hadn't stood up to leave.

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 169):

Shorty sighs and sits back down.  He obviously does not understand something and waits to see if it makes sense.  Shorty shakes his head and looks at Dualis again.  "Shorty no city be big.  Me go all ober make sure be safe fer friends.  No troll in city.  Me kill troll if find.  No troll smell.  How troll king put Rigel Dragon der den."  Shorty looks down at the table then he reaches out and pushes the coin and amulet around.  "Same picture but not same.  Dis one old.  Dragon have.Bone man want bad nug hurt peoples.  Hows come?  Why dis be potent?? "

In reply to Shorty (msg # 171):

Dualis listens to Shorty and nods.

"Ok, let me add some more so maybe it will all make sense, a bit of back story.  You all remember the battle on the Great Lake.  During the battle you had up to 3 dragons helping you.  That defeat did not sit well with him and he was determined to settle the score.  Since you had these allies he needed to find an equalizer.  He didn't trust any evil dragons but knew the legend of the Orbs and so he quested.  He found out where they were ensconced and made the trip with several elite trolls and the dark mage.  With the dark mage and Sets avatar of course the troll king was able to avoid the most deadly of the protections and seize the Orb.  This happened about 7 months ago and they went no where near baby.
    Now as to how the Orb got back .. once the spell completed the work and the troll king vanished from our time the Orb went back to the point of origin prior to the troll kings visit which is in that tower in the Golden City.  Since the Orb is an artifact it maintained it's hold on Rigel."

Dualis looks at the coin and amulet that Shorty has and shrugs.  "I am not sure about the one the dragon had but I can research it if you want?"

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 172):

Shorty pushes the amulet across the table.  "Nots do nuttin fer me.  Bestus know if Bone Man stills gonna want.  Ifn so, gonna has get rids of it."

In reply to Shorty (msg # 173):

Dualis will pick the amulet up and looks it over a little bit.  Then he cast a spell and continues to flip the coin on his fingers, moments later

"This amulet is made for a wizard not a fighter which is why it doesn't help you.  It is the Amulet of Arlon, a very ancient and mighty wizard who developed many spells and items.  The main powers of the amulet is to allow a wizard to cast 1 more spell level per level of the wizard so a 20th level wizard could cast 20 extra spell levels a day from any spells he knows; so 2 extra 7th and 1 6th for example.  It will also answer 1 question a week, similar to a Legend Lore spell.  It also has 1 strange effect, a chameleon power is the best I can describe.  Every week it provides a new random power, with a small chance that it won't be beneficial.
   It is something he would like to have, but not something he would come after now.  You could leave it here, it is quite safe from Bone Man in this place."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 174):

"Or Morteft could use it.  Or even ye, Dualis."

In reply to Warwick (msg # 175):

Shortry looks interested and asks.  "Only peoples ken use?  Ken dragon use too?  Birdy gonna teaches Baby some magics.  Make Baby stronger?  Dat be why momma dragon have?  If not helps Baby den me not need."

In reply to Shorty (msg # 176):

Dualis: "I don't really need it even though the benefit would be great.  A dragon could use it but it would be much better for a very old dragon as they could tap into it's power more than the youngsters.  The Legend Lore is nice; but the interesting thing is the random power.  I think chaos magic makes that work, not something for a beginner in magic to play with.  In saying that Shorty, this amulet may do more harm than good to baby at least for the next 400 years or so."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 177):

Shorty pushes the amulet across the table to Dualis.  "Me not live dat long keep baby safe.  Dullis keep.  But Dullis owe Baby not Shorty."

In reply to Shorty (msg # 178):

Dualis smiles: "Thank you Shorty but it would probably help one of your companions more than me.  But I will see what I can give to Baby."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 179):

Morteft says, "So, when should we head out? As for the amulet, what does that one do?"

In reply to Morteft (msg # 180):

Dualis: "You shall be leaving tomorrow morning to see Penny and from there you will prepare to begin your journey to the City of Perod.  As far as the amulet, you must have been heavily in thought since it was mentioned earlier."

See msg 174

"Oh, one more thing, it is customary to bring a gift when visiting a dragon.  Something else the timeline changed, it is more symbolic really to say you are not there to take their treasure."


--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 181):

OOC: Not sure how I missed that message! Great amulet.

Morteft coughs and says, "Well, I wouldn't mind examining one of those holding boxes. My understanding of dimensions is rather limited, but I can see the value in having such a retreat. Perhaps I could examine it tonight before our trip tomorrow?"

He looks to the amulet and says, "That is a mighty amulet indeed. I would be honored to carry it for you, Shorty, until our current adventure comes to an end."

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 181):

Oh, one more thing, it is customary to bring a gift when visiting a dragon.  Something else the timeline changed, it is more symbolic really to say you are not there to take their treasure."

Shorty looks a little concerned and then smiles.  "Ghost.  Gots horse someplaces in tower? Penny need present.  Dragon ken always use horsey fer dinner."

Aztar nodded, 'I have numerous spare items that no one has needed over the years.   If its just a symbolic gesture, then I should be easily able to help there..  Should it be of a certain power level?'

Looking at Dualis for a moment, the alchemist realized something that had been bothering him, 'How is it you are so aware of the changes that occured?  Is there a way to impart these changes to the rest of us so we can more easily function in this revised world?'