A brief grin flashes across Aethen's face at Adryn's plight before being replaced with trepidation as he looks to the dais.  Taking a bold step forward, Aethen speaks aloud to the voice.  "What is your name?  What kind of being are you?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:49, Thu 03 Feb 2011.

Nothing happens.

[Private to Adryn Longmane; Aethen Ironroot:  "My name is Nariya Storm-mount.  I am...I was an Anthros Shaman.  I don't know how long ago for time does not seem to have much meaning for me in here."]

[Private to Adryn Longmane: Nariya is telling the truth.]

Before Adryn could finish wondering whether or not he was using Kahmauls belt correctly, his attention gets pulled directly towards the staff.

Briefly he glances over at Aethen just to confirm that he is hearing the voice as well, and nods to indicate that he believes her. "Nariya, my name is Adryn Longmane." Adryns pauses for a moment before continuing, "What happened to you? How did you come to be trapped inside the staff?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:27, Thu 03 Feb 2011.

Kahmual scratches his chin and speaks softly, "Hmm... I should have thought to ask. I suppose when we get out of this place I'll have to test this all out and know what I work with."

No response.

[Private to Adryn Longmane; Aethen Ironroot: "I was traveling through the forests of the southern Anthros jungles.  Addiyr had sent me a vision quest to explore the Evangiel's 'Message'.  At the edge of the jungle, near human lands, I was ambushed.  Whatever hit me was more powerful than I, which is to say very powerful.  When I woke, I was tethered before this dais, my staff anchored at the center.  For what must have been weeks I was brought and tortured by rituals, then I passed out from the pain and woke...in here.  I have been in here for a very long time.  Since almost right after the arrival of the Evangiel I imagine.  Others have joined me for a brief time, but they leave soon after and go, I don't know, into the Void?"]

After what seems like a long pause of silence to the others, Adryn leans over to Aethen and says, "Could you do me a favor, brother? You seem to be well versed in a wider range of languages than I, do you think you could relay what she is saying to the others? As far as I can tell, she seems to be speaking the truth."

"A truly horrible experience to endure, I'm sure. With all that has happened to you, how may we help?", Adryns says, addressing the staff.

[Private to GM: Would a druidic lore roll reveal anything about Nariya?]

[Private to GM: 20:41, Today: Secret Roll: Adryn Longmane rolled 8 using 1d20+2. Druidic lore. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Fri 04 Feb 2011.

Kahmaul stares at Aethen and nods, "Aye, if you can hear her, I wouldn't mind to know what it is your hearing."

   Aethen nods and relays the words spoken by the disembodied druid in Invar and Kraddok.

OOC: Aethen will do this for any future conversations, unless specifically noted otherwise.

OOC: Since the conversation with the staff has all been in private statements to me Aethen and I, I will copy it here for the rest of the group.

----
Response to "What is your name? What kind of being are you?"
"My name is Nariya Storm-mount.  I am...I was an Anthros Shaman.  I don't know how long ago for time does not seem to have much meaning for me in here."

Response to "What happened to you? How did you come to be trapped inside the staff?"
"I was traveling through the forests of the southern Anthros jungles.  Addiyr had sent me a vision quest to explore the Evangiel's 'Message'.  At the edge of the jungle, near human lands, I was ambushed.  Whatever hit me was more powerful than I, which is to say very powerful.  When I woke, I was tethered before this dais, my staff anchored at the center.  For what must have been weeks I was brought and tortured by rituals, then I passed out from the pain and woke...in here.  I have been in here for a very long time.  Since almost right after the arrival of the Evangiel I imagine.  Others have joined me for a brief time, but they leave soon after and go, I don't know, into the Void?"
----


As Aethen translates Nariya's story, memories of childhood old stories of a powerful Anthros shaman who suddenly went missing come flooding back to him. When Aethen finishes speaking, Adryn steps back toward the rest of the group in an attempt to shield his discovery from the voice in the staff.

"Does her story sound familiar to you at all? Where I came from, parents would tell tales of her disappearance to keep their children from wandering about the forest alone... I just thought they were old wives-tales. If this is really her, she's been trapped down here for close to 30 years! It may be prudent to keep that information to ourselves for now. Discovering you've been trapped in a staff for so long may be too traumatic."

Adryn steps towards the dias again, awaiting the staff's next response.

   Aethen speaks slowly, thinking back on what was said."Adryn, she is aware that she has been here for a long time.  She has seen other souls slip away, yet somehow she is anchored here.  She is also a powerful disciple of Addiyr, so I do not think that her knowing the exact amount of time that she has been imprisoned will do her much harm."

   Having spoken his mind, Aethen seems to grow more comfortable in his skin when he turns to Vertium.  "Have you found anything that might be useful?"

Vertium blinked a few times, his eyes returning to normal. "Removing the staff should dispel the portal. It may be dangerous for the person removing it... If you want to, I would recommend someone with a strong link to the staff attempt this... Aethen would be best. The staff radiates good magic... The portal is... dangerous... Just be careful."

"Do you think a combined effort between me and Aethen could possibly mitigate the effect of the dispelling?", Adryn replies to Vertium. "If not, then perhaps we should provide him with as many protective spells as we can."

"Whatever you are going to do, hurry.  This place is giving me the creeps.  A-and half of you don't look so well."

Adryn nods in agreement. "The sooner we break this spell, the better. What do you say Aethen, shall we give it a go?"

Kahmaul leans forward and speaks softly a prayer for his two companions before stepping back and letting them work their magic.
[Private to GM: Kahmual will cast bless on both Aethen and Adryn]

   Aethen begins to give his assent, then pauses.  "One more thing...." He says as he turns to the staff.

   "Nariya, since our actions may release you from your bonds to this Path, do you have any words that need to be carried to others?"

Vertium spoke, the concentration required visibly taking a lot out of him. " Could go either way. You may unnecessarily put an extra person at risk or it may dilute the power. Sorry, thinking is hard."

"Heed the Evangiel."  The words are translated and a chill sweeps through the grotto.

Then Aethen and Adryn firmly grasp the staff simultaneously.  There is a surge of energy through them, but Kahmaul's blessing turns aside any ill effects.  It's like uprooting an old-growth tree.  At first the staff does not budge.  The muscles of the two young Anthros bulge and do not faint or falter.  Slowly, ever so slowly the staff begins to move.  The glowing ball of energy above pulses as if angry.  Random bolts of energy strike out around the dais, but cannot touch the two druids.

With a final release that sends both young Anthros stumbling off the dais, the staff comes free.  The ball grows and lightning strikes even more fast and furious around the claws, arcing from tip to tip to floor and everywhere in between.  Then the ball shrinks down to an intense dot of energy before there is a silent WHUMP and everyone is thrown to the ground.  One of the claws of the dais cracks and chips fall to the stone floor.  The color leaves and only an ash grey remains.  It seems as if a strong wind might blow the claws apart.

Aethen is the one who comes up with the staff.

[Private to Aethen Ironroot: "Thank you," says a faint voice as if from very far away.  It sounds tired and yet relieved all at once.]

Shaken, Adryn stands up and pats himself down for a moment checking to make sure everything was in the right place. Once satisfied that nothing was amiss he searches the area for Aethen and the others.

"Aethen? Are you ok, brother?"

"Nariya... ?"

   Aethen groans as he gains his feet.  "I am...."  He checks himself and then continues.  "I am fine, brother.  Nariya has gained her release, I believe."

   He turns to Vertium.  "While proper thanks would take far too long, I am in your debt for helping one not of your own."

   To Kahmaul, Aethen bows in the fashion meant to impart debt and humility, as is the custom of Anthros.

   Realizing that he holds the deceased druid's staff, he takes a moment to look at it properly.  "Thank you," he says to himself as he unceremoniously places the long metal rod, that had served in a staffs capacity until now, on the floor.  "We should go now."

Before leaving the room, Adryn unclasps the belt from his waist and returns it to Kahmaul. "Thank you for trusting me with this, it was more than helpful."

He then turns to Vertium, recalling the physical strain he suffered during the dispelling, "How are you feeling, do you need a moment to rest before moving on?", and places a hand on his shoulder.

OOC: Casting cure minor wounds to heal any minor (1 point) damage and fatigue on Vertium.

Feeling less creeped out now that the light is gone.  Dathnaea lets her natural human curiosity take over.  She approaches the dais to take a look.  The moment her hand reaches out to touch one of the stone claw-like formations, the whole thing crumbles into dust.  The wind in the grotto swiftly stirs it to a blinding maelstrom and pushes it out through the upward tunnel.

"Oops."

Soon the dust is gone and the cave seems natural once more.  Moments pass and the trickle of a river washes itself clean leaving nothing but scoured stone beneath its surface.  The ill effects are completely gone and only the haunting feeling from the memory remains in those who have witnessed this place.

"Um...I think its time we returned to Cannial and the others."

Kahmaul nods. Aye... Lets be done with this evil wood and return to the fortress."

"Agreed, I would like to check in on Cannial and let him know what transpired here.", Adryn says nodding to Dathnaea and Kahmaul.

The party returns to the main part of the cave to find the other Anthros resting.  The night is spent recovering and preparing for the hard journey through the Koar.

Soon, however, the whole company is out and returned to Bargal Dulg.  There at the non-military boarding house, rooms are found and a hot meal.  The weather outside is not too terribly warm and the sun is shining.  There is even an outdoor sitting area in back where larger groups can share a meal and meet in relative private.

GM:  See XP thread for rewards.  Please post in the Bargal Dulg thread.