In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 57):

Warwick shakes his head, absorbing all of this.  How far back did in history did this magic go?

He turns to the next book.

Celestron, "Mind, magic will be very important, especially in the Vault and can be useful in finding the Golem with the key.  Remember the complex surrounding the Vault is a type of maze."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 59):

Morteft nods. "I will keep that in mind."

In reply to Warwick (msg # 58):

The next book: Kings and Nobles

The beginning of the books starts with a brief intro about the dwarven kingdom is Stronghold and it's establishment sometime in the early Golden Age.  The first king was Gilgameck Golddust, he was chosen as the greatest of the lead clans at the time.  With Perod the Golden establishing relations with other races, the dwarves felt a single voice for them would be better.  Things went well in these formative years and Gilgameck reigned 40 years.  His son Chronk, reigned only 10 years, died in a cave in following an earthquake.  As Chronk had no heir the new king from a different clan, Rok, the stout, of the Steel clan became the next king.  It was under him that the first true treaty between men an dwarves was forged.  And so it goes.,
   Near the end of the book the Forgemakers are mentioned.  The first one mentioned is Jacob, the father of Firebeard.  He was the first warrior priest of the clan. It does note that Forgemakers had smiting in their far history; but much is unknown.  Again this mentions the deeds of Firebeard and that Troll Carver is in the Grand Hall of relics.  The book goes on to mention the other well known Forgemakers as a new one would rise up in the midst of new strife with trolls or dragons.  It finally mentions mentions Hemrick again with the Grand Army and thru his efforts the troll and dragon wars were completely finished.  Hemrick then asked for the family relic be returned, Troll Carver.  After hesitation and then much fanfare Troll carver was given to Hemrick.  The book has no information about what happened to the item after that and Hemrick went into secluded retirement."

At this time another book lands on the table near Warwick.  The book is titled:  'Of Darves and Men.'

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 61):

Warwick looks up from the book.  Addressing the librarians, "Do ye have anything on the history of me axe, Giant Cleaver?  And who do I speak to about fixing the spelling mistake on this latest book?"

In reply to Warwick (msg # 62):

A disembodied voice:  "That is all the books at the moment.  That is the spelling of dwarves in the ancient Perodian."   the book title is now 'Of Dwarves and Men'

--DM2

In reply to Morteft (msg # 60):

Celestron continues:  "The maze is broken up into 4 sections.  The door to the vault is in one of those sections.  It is unclear which one.  The end of each maze is either an entrance into another section or the doors to the Vault.  The Vault doors are an Adamantium alloy about 1 foot thick.  The golems freely roam the sections.  There are magical and mechanical traps of various nature.  They tend to be more of a hindrance than deadly.  There are teleportation traps too; but you will not be able to teleport yourself."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 63):

"Thank ye." responds Warwick chuckling at the spelling correction.  He opens the book and reads.

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 64):

"Lad, any chance we could subvert one of these teleportation traps for our own use?  Or at least dismantle it to determine how the trap can function when any spell or scroll we have fails?"

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 64):

Shorty sits and tries to absorb the information flying back and forth.  Finally he looks at the little dragon and asks, "Gots to go tru getting lost place?  Can't break down door, but maybe breaks wall n go tru?  Me like makin own holes.  Sometimes eben climes walls n walks on top.  Gettin loss be fer dummy."

Celestron:"Unlikely, these were created by Arch-mages, it would most likely backfire or worse."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 68):

"Could Dualis do it?"

In reply to Warwick (msg # 69):

Celestron: "Most likely, but he promised the Council he would not enter the complex."

--DM2

"The walls of the vault are as thick as the doors.  You cannot force your way in, you must use the key."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 70):

"I see.  Too bad, that.  Understanding why teleport doesn't work could save us a lot of grief."

In reply to Warwick (msg # 65):

The book details some of the dealings between dwarves and men.  The early encounters were filled with a bit of distrust as is to be expected; but in general things were peaceful.  Humans weren't as fairy like as the elves plus human would grow beards so there was a bit of kinship the dwarves could feel.
   Trade routes were established but nothing formal, more like between towns.  Nothing formal was put in place till Perod the golden and Rok the stout worked out formal relations.  Developing trade routes of various kinds as well as military help in time of need.
  Humans did come to the aid of dwarves during the troll and dragon wars and the reverse was also true.  Things went well between men and dwarves thru the golden years; but once they ended with the great cataclysm and the seat of power moved to the city of Delith things cooled off between the two races and they became somewhat isolated.  Relations now were similar prior to the great treaty of Perod and Rok.
   There were some notable contacts however.  There was Tugrok of the gold clan, a priest of Bes and the human warrior Lazar, who adventured together with several bands.  Both retired powerful and wealthy.  The highly unusual mix of Zolton the human wizard and the dwarf warrior Quagaar.  They formed the core of a group of adventurers called the Cruisers a renown group of their time.  Then there were some key partnerships of non-adventuring nature, Clive a human with several types of shops dealing in raw materials and farm items, teamed with Junger Ironbottom the dwarf who  had several mines and was Clives main supplier of raw materials, coal, iron, precious metals and gems.  While Clive would supply various foodstuffs back to dwarven settlements as well as other needed items.  One more partnership of interest was Nathan Polk, a man of science specializing in engineering, architecture and metallurgy, together with Hemrick the retired dwarf general studied the properties of high strength metals and alloys.  The also studied working with these advanced alloys.

--DM2

In reply to Warwick (msg # 72):

Celestron continues with more information on the vault.  "Most of your grief will be in the form of what dragons call the Abomination.  From what I have been able to find out the humans called it the Dracosaurn.  A beast the great mages created from mixing aspects of dragon, ancient beast called dinosaurs and even themselves.  These dracosaurn are supposed to be similar in size to dragons but not as bulky.  Highly intelligent, using magic perhaps beyond that of a Gold and even in some cases having psionic capability.  They also can fly as a dragon and have some type of breath weapon, but what kind is unknown.
   The mages created them to be guardians, although there were supposed cases of rebellion.  All in all a very formidable opponent."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 74):

Celestron: "Is there anything else anyone needs?"

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 75):

Morteft says, "Just time writing scrolls."

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 73):

Warwick closes the book and pushes himself back from the table.  "Hmm, no mention of me axe at all.  I suppose I'd better avoid mentioning it at the next family reunion."

"Library, thank ye for the books.  Ye can put them away, I'm done."

"If there are teleport traps but we cannot teleport ourselves, then we should at least have several scrolls of dimensional anchor or something similiar.  If we can't control where we go, then best if we all just stay put."

"However, if they are able to teleport us, then I will certainly be curious to take a look and see if I can't determine what method they are using to block one, but allow the other.

"I may not be an archmage, but when it comes to devices, I'm certainly of comparable skill and if the amulets still work and I can consult with Dualis, then that should be enough.

"As for the maze, aren't there several spells and items that can help find the true path to a choosen destination.  Shouldn't one of those sorts of spell work to pinpoint the direction to go?  Or, even a divination to ask which path is the best path to take?"

The books start flying back.

Celestron says to Warwick, "I will let you know when more books come in, they come in all the time."

--DM2

"You can use any of the study rooms.  Time dilation, factor of five."

--DM2

"You are correct" says Celestron "There are spells that should help."

Trinny:"Dualis will meet you all in the lab later when you want to move on from the library.  He finishing up the business that called him away."

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 80):

Morteft heads into the study room to work.