Re: IC8-1
"Garanon knows nothing more than we tell him," the pipesmoking wizard says. He smiles. "Totem spirits? Your totem spirits do not give such gifts to every worshipper, correct? Think about it. Righteous kings are sometimes blessed of the gods. Your ancestors were such blessed people, given a gift to help them escape the evil men with unrighteous ambition. The gift to transform oneself."
"Although it manifests differently among the heirs," Ashe adds.
Gathbael says, "It is said that the evolution of our kind--men, elves, dwarves and the like--is not made in a slow progression, but in a giant leap. Your kin were given the gift of such a leap. An evolution of the species. Alboron had the key to unlock the next giant leap."
"Only his research will give us the hope to overcome the Gathering," the pipesmoking wizard says. "Otherwise, we will be doomed. The Brotherhood grows in strength. They will add the strength of dragons to their allies."
"Death, destruction," Ashe says. "If they got ahold of Alboron's research or my research. Or my dragon or my artifacts. What I did was necessary. The traps. The location."
The pipesmoking wizard addresses Shae. "Would you have us sacrifice the world to save a few trees? Or a few lives?" He looks to Floradine. "Is it better to let evil reign, young knight, than to stomp it out at the cost of a few lives?"
Gathbael says, "If the Brotherhood succeeds, the entire forest will be gone. Our cities and civilization will fall to anarchy. The elves, dwarves, humans, even the peaceful halflings, will all be wiped out of existence. Innocents will be killed." He pauses. "And the world we know as Allevia will be destroyed, along with all its life, its people, its societies."
Ashe says, "We must bring back Alboron. He alone understands his research. I could not decipher his codes. The leap must be made." He begins to mumble under his breath.
Gathbael steps closer. "We must have the Symbols of Life and Death to bring back Alboron. Will you give them to us?" He holds out his hand.