Harald considered for a moment.  He had no idea what he should say.  Being a more forthright kind of dwarf he tended to go in, axe swinging, rather than use kind words.  Eventually, remembering all the times MArtha had been useful, he went with her suggestion.

"We are here to seek the spark of a soul."

(OOC: in dwarven)

The constructs stare blankly at him. They do not seem to understand.

Zog steps forward. "We seek to aid Moradin in his good work, in return for a soul-spark." He says this in Common, hoping this is good enough.

Agon reached out to the constructs with his mind, speaking the holy syllables of the language that the gods used to create the cosmos.

GRO UPA D'DA D'MIN AGON
SU DO LS AL

Divine knowledge of how the Forge worked flooded his mind.  He shuddered, as he comprehended the Infinite. Somewhere was the fact that the sought. He just had to find it before divine light obliterated the being who was Agon.

OOC: Religion +50. Sorry for the delay, guys

The constructs react to Zog's words. "Very good. We will..."

Their statement is interrupted by Agon's action, which snaps them right to attention. They nod and part. "You may proceed," they repeat to you, allowing you to pass meekly after Agon's very effective communication.

You are allowed past this area into a hallway that turns into something else--a bridge. Shimmering humanoid figures hang like stars in the sky, each a glowing light hovering over a yawning darkness. A white stone bridge crosses the chasm, but the angels seem ready to block any progress.

"State your business," the nearest angel says in a booming voice.

Martha repeats Zog's words, but her eyes narrow with distrust at the sight of this angel, and she tightens the grip on her blade.

"We seek to aid Moradin in his good work, in return for a soul-spark."

The angel nods solemnly. "A worthy reason. State your names."

Once you announce yourselves, the angels' eyes fall upon Harald. "A great warrior of the dwarves, favored of the gods. You are very welcome here with your companions."

The angels stand aside and let you past.

Brilliant flames roil and flare at the room’s far end. Before them stands a mighty anvil on which you see hammers, tongs, and other tools. A muscled, idealized dwarf dressed in full plate armor and gripping an enormous hammer in his fist turns from the anvil. The dwarf smoothes his singed beard and regards you with sad eyes while two hulking constructs step forward, brandishing spinning saw blades. Eight more dwarves stand before smaller anvils and forges.

The dwarf speaks, his voice the sound of mountains shifting on their foundations. “Your purpose is noble but selfish. Friendship demands loyalty, yet there are times when you must set aside your misgivings for the good of the world. Although you have violated my sanctum, I am willing to forgive your trespass if you return whence you came and give up this foolish mission.”

Those more astute among you recognize this as a simple Aspect of Moradin.

Zog advances. "Great one, may we beg your indulgence to explain our errand further? We come in the name of Bahamut, whom we wish to restore to life!"

As Zog advanced in front of the group, Darratheir decided to stay in position as it was clear that Zog was a better speaker than the Dragonborn. However, he stayed on his guard, the Dwarf standing before them clearly not happy with them being here.

The aspect of Moradin nods. "You have come to save the deva’s life, but you will not find her here. Dakranad has taken her to find her destiny. She houses Bahamut’s essence. The mithral dragon intends to unleash this essence so the Platinum Dragon can be reborn."

Zog explains that the platinum dragon Dakranad has betrayed Bahamut and has other plans for the creation spark. "We were hand-selected by Bahamut to aid him against Tiamat and now as his allies we would restore him to life. I wish it were true that Dakranad was planning to do what he says he will, but it is not. Please give us a spark so we may restore Bahamut as intended before Dakranad prevents him from rising."

'It's true - he went to the dark side' Martha avers.

Diplomacy check for Zog, Martha may assist.

Martha's salty humour and no-nonsense approach appears to win over the sceptical avatar of Moradin, a little bit at least.

Assist success! +2 to Zog's diplomacy roll.

16:15, Today: Martha rolled 29 using 1d20+17 with rolls of 12.  Diplomacy assist.

Will Benny if needed. 18:31, Today: Zog the Faceless rolled 39 using 1d20+28 with rolls of 11.  Diplomacy.

The aspect of Moradin cocks it's head. "Tell me more," he says simply.

Three others besides Zog can chime in to try to persuade him. Arcana, Diplomacy,  and Religion are good skills to apply with appropriate roleplay.

Specifically, Agon owes me an Arcana roll to open up a possibility for you.

In reply to EpicOne (msg # 635):

"For the Balance of the Cosmos itself, the Platinum dragon must be restored. For the five headed one to exist without a counterweight, all Moradin has forged is at risk. You have no choice but to help us..." Gromley points out.

OOC:
11:54, Today: Gromley Underhill rolled 44 using 1d20+28 with rolls of 16.  Diplomacy.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:56, Sun 15 Jan 2017.

Moradin looks at Gromley with clear disdain. "Repeating yourself will not work. I told you: Dakranad will restore Bahamut. You need do nothing else. But this one--" he says, pointing to Zog, "--says that Dakranad is lying. What proof can you give? Or do you wish just to babble?"

Martha steps forward. ‘Moradin, listen to me. My name is Martha Venger. You probably heard of me back when I was High Cleric of Tiamat. I’ve been retired for a while.'

'I more than anyone here know the seductive power of evil, and the madness that can fall over those who are sucked into it. I have been the traitor; and I have been betrayed. And I tell you now that Bahamut has most likely been betrayed by his greatest champion. Dakranad the Platinum Dragon appears to have been driven insane – we do not yet know the details – but we have every reason to believe that he does not intend to revive Bahamut.'

'Look at us here before you: One of your greatest drarf warriors; a champion of Ioun; a champion of Bahamut; the infamous Archmage Agon; Darratheir Burntbear; and a former cleric of Tiamat. We have nothing in common, save one thing: Bahamut called to us across the cosmos and asked for our help. The letter was on platinum-alloy residuum – see it here’. Martha shows him her letter. ‘You see the ink. This is no forgery.'

We would not be here, asking you to trust us, for any other reason. You can see who we are; see our differences; see that we are connected by this one quest. If there is even a chance that we are correct, you must understand that the damage Dakranad the Platinum Dragon could do with a soulspark would be … unfathomable to a mortal; terrible even to a god.'


21:01, Today: Martha rolled 27 using 1d20+23 with rolls of 4.  Religion Check.
21:02, Today: Martha rolled 39 using 1d20+23 with rolls of 16.  Bennie!

Zog nods, reinforcing Martha's excellent point wordlessly.

At the very moment Darratheir was going to explode, Martha found what he hoped would be the good word to persuade Moradin that they were right. So, instead of threatening the god, he waited a bit more to see what the Dragonborn would accept as a final answer to him.

The Aspect of Moradin seems rather surprisingly fuddled by this. One does not normally find the aspect of a god fuddled. Something is amiss.

Waiting for a response from Agon on something.

"You can see that there is a way to repair the damage that was done, to restore the cosmos!" Agon said.

15:05, Today: Agon rolled 51 using 1d20+34 with rolls of 17.  arcana.

Harald looked back and forward between the Aspect and his companions.  SOMETHING was going on but he hadn't yet worked it out.

Sonliin listened to the discussion. "The Dragon Queen will not stop once she has started. There is no place in the Planes she that will not torch in her quest for power. This is just the beginning. The time for diplomacy has past." He said in Dwarven adding in a tale of wraith from their religion

OOC: 39 Religion after spending a Benny.