Phelan gave a slight chuckle at Jubei's statement, having expressed sincere gratitude at the broth from Kalanc. "Very difficult, yes." He put in before Amare spoke. "It's impressive, the amount of detail that goes into it though. You wouldn't expect it."


"Regarding your earlier concerns Jubei, blowing a hole is the last resort from what I got when speaking with them. Structural damage and all." He got up as he finished, looking around for Willa with a slightly resigned expression. As he spotted her dark form in the snow, he trotted off to her.

"Willa, want to go over the Darken puzzles again together?" He asked once he eventually got in earshot of the Umbrean.

Willa looked up at Phelan from her squat position, a number of stones scattered around her.  She held two in her hands, but swept as many more up into her her arms as she could carry.  She smiled and nodded enthusiastically at her friend.  She bounced all the way back to the igloo.  An occasional stone falling from the pile.

Inside she carefully put them aside for future reference and sat down to help with the deciphering once again.

Willa will only help for as long as Phelan works too.  Afterwards she'll go back to reading the stones.  I'll make the maximum three rolls for the decoding, to keep things flowing, but only take as many as Phelan makes (in case he has other things he'd also like to do today, or we  get interrupted).

18:33, Today: Willa rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Work Work Work.
18:33, Today: Willa rolled 13 using 1d20+7.  Work Work.
18:32, Today: Willa rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  Arcana - Work.

Not the greatest rolls :/

Phelan smiled slightly at Willa's eagerness to help out as the two of them began to work together on deciphering. Despite both of them being distracted, it seemed that between Phelan's knowledge and Willa's enthusiasm, they made good progress.

As they finished, Phelan pointed out a few places where some of her stones had fallen for her to pick up.

20:26, Today: Phelan Drixos rolled 15 using 1d20+11.  Arcana Take 1.
20:26, Today: Phelan Drixos rolled 13 using 1d20+11.  Arcana take 2.
20:27, Today: Phelan Drixos rolled 14 using 1d20+11.  Arcana take 3.

And you thought your rolls were bad. Apparently my need for oneupmanship includes rolling poorly.

Drex was absent the whole morning. When you saw him he looked worse for wear. He mentioned something about being infected with black boils, and if anyone has anything to cure it that it would be most helpful.

    Drex had to make do with his illness for the meantime as Phelan was engage in deciphering the umbrean text.  Besides it wasn’t as if the Black Boils could kill you on its own he explained to Drex.
  Jubei and Amare spent some time talking to one another and when not doing that Jubei spent some time in practice and meditation.  Preparing himself for the troubles that lay ahead.  Regardless there was a noticeable spring in his step.

  While in the hut Willa and Phelan spent hours upon hours, with little breaks in between of course, working on deciphering and decoding the umbrean texts.  As they did more of the story of those who wrote it began to emerge.
  About half of the writing was a historical account written by umbreans about their forced exodus from this particular weyr several centuries ago and the rest was a complex equation which Phelan scratched his head over until the very end when the last line was finally decoded everything snapped into place.  Most of the big words Phelan used went right over Willa’s head but what he drew furiously in the moments afterwards was a set of symbols and numbers.  Symbols which matched the engravings upon the weyr door.  Phelan believed quiet firmly that they now had the password to open to doorway.

  The story the text told was significantly abbreviated but there was enough there to understand something of what happened.  A large community of umbreans, part of which had called this weyr home for millennia, had become split over something the authors had considered taboo.  The word they used translated best as “reclaiming.”  Some conflict broke out and the community broke apart with the “reclaimers” trapped somewhere far from here.  The name, “Chakpam”, translated roughly as “the city above the womb.”  A strange concept Phelan found umbreans to have, as these creatures themselves did not have such organs.
  The other umbreans made use of other intact weyrs they had colonized, such as this one, to form the pillars of a seal which kept the “reclaimers” trapped.  The other umbreans were clearly very frightened of the “reclaimers” and refused to fight them directly instead seeking to find some way to calm them or reason with them.  An objective the text often referred to as “the End of Strife.”  Something which had gained something of a religious significance amongst the umbreans.
  The last bit of history described the umbreans leaving the Dragon Maw cave a few years ago because an enraged and hungry voice had come to stalk the ether of these lands and it was unlike anything the colony had ever seen.  So voracious and terrible in its appetite and wrath that all the umbreans could see fit to do was flee to lands beyond its reach.  They left the text in the cave was a memory for other umbreans to know of them without the aid of a gathering and to warn them to flee before they themselves were swallowed by the voice in the darkness.

Drex seems relived that the disease was not life threatening. But something else seems to be  bothering as well. The whole interaction with Drex, he seems irritated even more than he usually is. He was about to say something, but doesn't as a not so distant memory flares up from the reassess of his mind. He mumbles something about not being the right time. He then takes up a position close by, silently observes both Phelan and Willa working, occasionally coughing and scratching an itch.

With the sudden excitement that followed the completion of the deciphering. Drex moves closer to listen to what Phelan and Willa has found. "I'll go and fetch Jubei and Amare seeing as you have finished. But there is something we need to discus, before we processed inside. IN privet..." With that Drex turns to go and find the others, all the while scratching one of his cheeks.

Willa flopped.  Interest in her stones forgotten.  "Willa dumb!  Is helping all time to open weigher!  First to find then to make to read. Whether want or no.  Pfft!"

With whether or not she was going to open the Weyr decided, unwittingly, by herself of all people, the little oozeling started to run over the history in her little mind.  Wondering if any of it sounded familiar.

21:29, Today: Willa rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  History: End of Strife.
21:28, Today: Willa rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  History: Reclaimers.
21:28, Today: Willa rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  History: City above the womb.

Jubei seemed rather bewildered after the talk he had with Amare, even though they apparently had mostly been talking about the language of the giants. Or more accurately, Amare had buried Jubei under an avalanche of information on that topic. Still he followed Drex without reluctance, he was eager to hear what the others had found out.

    Willa pondered the questions the text raised, she had heard of something like the “End of Strife” before.  It was the same idea but under many different names in different languages.  It was an old dragon ideal.  What exactly it originally meant or was however was up for debate.  Some thought it was the ultimate weapon, others a philosophy to combat conflict either before or after it arose.  Or even a spiritual goal.

  Amare and Jubei popped inside with Amare apparently quite pleased with himself as he entered he remarked dryly ”Took you both long enough I think I’ve worn through my ability to sit down for a while.” he stretched out his back while he “ohed and ahed.”

Phelan threw a scowl in Amare's direction, then proceeded to ignore the faux-human "wizard". "Well before Drex explains what he originally gathered us for, I have some information. As Amare has alluded to." He paused for a moment, before pressing on.

"I'll get to the relevant portions. If Willa wishes to divulge further about why the Umbreans were here, that's up to her. But the important thing is this Weyr was sealed as a pillar of some sorts to help keep something else sealed. Something they feared." He paused again, frowning.

 "I don't think merely opening the Weyr alone will be enough to 'destroy' this pillar. But there's something inside. And the other thing we found in here is how exactly to open it. And at the very least I'm fairly sure we want to make sure that lynchpin reminds intact."

Jubei nodded slowly as he stroked over his chin and gave a low grunt. "Alright... I see. That is good then. So as long as we're careful about the things we touch and interact with, everything should be fine. No? That is however something that we should tell the expedition then too.", he spoke after considering what he had heard for a bit. "Otherwise they might unleash it anyway when they go poking around with no idea."

Drex payed little attention to Amare. Jubie had a good point and this is why in Drex's opinion he had to do this again... "Well yes there is something that is bothering me, secrets. They are fine but if they can help us to avoid danger or puts us in danger because of silence..." he bites his lip. "Willa I know this is hard for you, I understand your position on this matter of your language and the secrets your race have hidden. You don't wish to betray them, but you still compromised to help us. And I commend you for this." Drex's gaze moves from party member to party member.

"It would still seem that some of us, also struggle with this sharing of information."

"If trust is an issue, I think we need to disband this group and go on our marry ways! But I might have read to mush in it, and maybe this information is not seen as important. Which is possible."

"If the latter is the case, I think we need to sit and have a discussion about this Weyr and its history before the Umbreans and what was left behind..." His gaze comes to rest on Phelan.

Jubei's brows furrowed and he nodded slowly. "Indeed. We are not exactly... forthcoming in sharing. As far as I recall, we haven't exactly talked about what happened to each of us back at the Conduit either. As it stands though... I'd rather not disband our group. All of us have secrets and unless keeping them is lifethreatening, I would say that we are entitled to let them remain secret."

Phelan raised his eyebrows. "This is not a trust issue. Regarding other information, it was a mix of irrelevant and confusing. The former is not our concern, and the latter I'd need more time to figure out before I could make judgement. Try not to be so quick to jump to conclusions."

He crossed his arms and looked slightly distracted at Drex's other statement. "As for before the Umbreans... Well there is only so much I can tell. Remember, it's been a long time since my people walked here again. I can't say for sure what may have happened in our absence. As for before then..." He trailed off. "... It's also not really relevant. I will say it wasn't used for the cage of anything dangerous."

Willa sat up in haste - an urgent thought having just occurred to her.

"Are poor creatures!" As those gathered looked at her confused, she clarified. "Stupid Narayah rituals kill creatures in experiments on weigher!  If go to open weigher later, better to do sooner!  Save most creatures!"

"It wasn't back then anyway.", Jubei rumbled and shrugged as he shook his head. "Well then. What do we know about how to open it then? I suppose this cipher thing revealed how to do that?", he asked, his upper torso leaning a little back on his tauric body.

"Yes it did. We have the passcode to the door and Willa should be able to enter it in order to allow entrance." Phelan paused. "I would rather that the team not resort to extensive rituals to open the wards when we already have the answer. Willa's concerns aside, partially justified as they are, some rituals can be dangerous for everyone involved."

He grimaced. "Plus you heard my friend that they had indeed considered blowing it up. Though that's a last resort. I would like to open it through Willa's method as that will allow the easiest method of re-sealing it... If it comes to that."

"Okay, if that is what you feel... I'll accept your judgment Phelan, but if doesn't mean I should like your decision." Drex said with some frustration. He seems to push the thought out of his mind. 'Standing back' so that Phelan can continue.

They have come here to help Jubei investigate the Weyr, just to find out the Narayah are trying to retake there prevision home, which seems to have been turned into a prison by the Umbreans. Well it seems that this is going to get very "interesting" or very difficult quit soon especially if we are intending to do everything that everyone is planing.

"Two things are important. First is what happened between the time the Narayah left and when the Umbreans settled the Weyr. But that will take time to address and isn't a good idea at this point." He looked at Amare briefly, a slightly exasperated expression on his face before he continued.

"More important is that we potentially have a safer way in through the ward. If we are done here, I will attempt to speak with the leader of the Narayah currently here and communicate our findings with them."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:03, Thu 05 Jan 2017.

    Kalnc listened intently to the conversation, he seemed a bit starry-eyed at the prospect of seeing the weyr opened.
  Amare spoke up then ”Might I suggest that when we go to the doorway to open it we do so prepared for a potential ambush?  Given the hour I also suspect that you’d like to open the weyr in the morning so I think you’ll find Soinr without much trouble if you explain yourself to someone in the camp.  That’s unless you remember exactly which of the buildings she lives in?”

Willa shrugged at Amare and without thinking pointed off in a direction: "Maybe is near end of gloos.  That way?"  She wasn't sure but it seemed right to her at least.

18:03, Today: Willa rolled 16 using 1d20+10.  Streetwise - Soinr Somewhere?

Jubei had listened and eventually gave a slow nod. "Aye, I agree. Whatever... intelligence may be behind that wall probably knows by now that we're standing at its door and is ready to welcome us once that thing opens. Drex we should get those boils looked at before we open the door. We don't want that to get any worse. I'm sure we can find something around here that helps... or pay the Narayah, they no doubt have healing supplies with them."

At that moment Drex was absentmindedly scratching a boil on his neck. He'll releases and stops. "I am feeling a little sick and that does sound like a good idea. Phellan?"

  Willa could recall where the building had been where the party had first met with Soinr and her aid.

    Meeting with Soinr took almost an hour just to reach her though before long she, her aid and a few others met with Phelan and company in a snowy building just big enough to fit everyone who would be attending.
  Phelan presented the information he and Willa had finished decoding earlier that evening and though a few questions were raised about the authenticity of the information source.  Soinr was more concerned with the ramifications of this ’spell array’ and more importantly the passcode to the doorway.
  ”I make plans to send a detachment of our guards with you to secure the doorway. I’ll also send with you one of our finest scouts to assist you in exploring the weyr.” Soinr said before the meeting drew to a close.
  So an hour after the sunrise the next morning you would gather at the gateway and unlock it to reveal whatever lay within.

[Those who can may make heal checks to help cure diseases for the evening, I’ll be rolling the endurance checks for you to see if your patients actually improve.]