Porto jumped in surprise at the distorted face that looked at Ilsa, but he stays by Stan and waits for Ilsa to resolve the issue.

Stan and Porto stand by the door in the antechamber, patiently watching and listening as the situation unfolds.  Many questions now come to bear as the party discovers the boy and his dog, the former seemingly able to understand the common language, as well as possess knowledge of obscure rites.  Shirok wracks his brain as he watches on, trying to draw some connection between the ruined shrine of Obad-Hai and the strange statue and ritual.  Finally the druid shrugs, dismissing the matter momentarily; until he can uncover more pieces to this puzzle.
Ilsa shouts at the boy, and it seems to catch the stranger off-guard.  Many emotions can be seen vividly as they swirl about in his facial expressions.  Roth seems to disarm the intense situation by posing his inquiry into the whereabouts of the silvered urn; and the boy seems to recognize the Stone Keeper symbol adorning the rogue’s hand.
“The… the urn…” the boy mumbles, his voice now higher pitched and more feminine than it was just a few seconds ago.  “Yes, I recall the urn,” s/he says at length.  “It’s… it is gone now.  But it served in its purpose splendidly,” s/he quickly adds.  “Isn’t it a grand thing?” s/he asks rhetorically as s/he regards the statue.  “If only I could finish its reconstruction…  Hey!  Maybe you can help me?” s/he says offering the party a flirtatious smile.

At the sound of the boy/girl's voice Stan forgot all thoughts of personal wellfare and ran into the room.

"The urn, what does it do?"

As an afterthought, he added,

"Who are you?"

“The urn’s purpose was never important,” the boy/girl replies to Stan.  “It was harvested for its magical properties, not their function.  I was able to use the strong Divination impression it had to locate and secure a crucial piece to my statue here,” s/he says sweeping her hand out to present to Stan the odd stature.  “If it really means that much to you, I believe the vessel is still around here somewhere—maybe outside in that pile of refuse?”
A moment passes as the boy/girl absorbs your questions, and s/he finally thinks to introduce him/her self.  “My name is Hiledgard, and I am a scholar.  It has been my sole purpose, and for some time, to discover the reasons behind the Glass Tower’s fall.  I believe it has something to do—.”
Suddenly, as the boy/girl is speaking, his/her expressions and demeanor change again.  He looks around, as if noticing everyone in the room for the first time.
“AHH!” he screams, his voice sounding like a child’s.  He backs away from the group, the blink dog, and the statue.  “Aiuto! Qualcuno please help me!  Tenere lontano!”
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:17, Tue 01 Dec 2009.

Roth remains silent for a moment, visibly confused, before speaking aloud to the others, "The glass tower fell ... hours ago?  The urn was stolen before that, right?  But he's been researching the fall 'for some time?'  Am I missing something?"

"Yeah, 4 semesters of wizard school. Spacio-temporal distortions are uncommon but not unheard of when dealing with Aetherical effects. The paradox of causality in non-linear models of existence has yet to be resolved."

Stan's eyes glazed over as he recalled the arcane thesis, now one of the only things surviving from Arcanus-Tirith.

The wizard regarded the boy and the statue with piqued interest. There was something here he was just missing, some little clue keeping him from solving the whole mystery. Stan just hoped he wouldn't bleed to death before he had the chance to figure it out.

"The fallen Raver in Silvervine claimed they were led by the wisdom of the past," Shirok said slowly. "The skeleton dogs we fought earlier were gaining flesh before our eyes, and we have only seen live dogs since. And now we seem to have a child within the inner sanctum, claiming to have ordered the seizure of the urn.

"Calming the child should be our immediate concern; it seems likely one of the child's minds will be able to answer our questions." Neya stepped off to the side as Shirok spoke, wagging her tail slightly in an attempt to look like a friendly dog.

Porto steps to the front of the group and starts talking in the same language that the boy was just speaking.  "Calmarsi è alright. Stiamo per aiutarvi."
08:49, Today: Dungeon Master, on behalf of Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck, rolled 13 using 1d20+11 with rolls of 2. Diplomacy check.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:49, Wed 02 Dec 2009.

"Four semesters of wizard school and all you got were fancy words?"  Roth shakes his head and adds, "I'd ask for a refund."  The young elf then turns his attention to Porto and the child, trying to recognize what language they're speaking.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Wed 02 Dec 2009.

"Or, I could beat the answers out of it," Ilsa said. She wasn't going to, not unless Shirok approved, but she thought she'd mention the option.

Roth listens to the two speak, and is positive they are speaking the halfling’s native language.  Having never picked up the language fully, the rogue isn’t sure exactly what is being said, but he is sure Porto is attempting to calm the child down.
“Mia madre! Mia madre!  Voglio andare a casa,” the boy cries out as frantically tries to put as much distance between himself and the party.  As Porto speaks however, the boy stops and focuses on the portly halfling.  “Sei un amico?” he asks, his face still a jumble of extreme expressions.
The dog lying beside the statue rises and stretches.  It stalks lazily toward its master and issues a short bark; but is obviously looking more for its master’s attention than giving any sort of warning.  The dog’s approach seems to unnerve the boy all the more, causing him to press himself against the nearest statue, utterly horrified.

"Fancy words and a girlfriend!"

Porto continues to talk in halfling and ignores Ilsa's comment.  "Sì, sono un amico. Qual è l'ultima cosa che si può ricordare?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:47, Thu 03 Dec 2009.

"I know a place where all it takes to get a nice girlfriend is a few drinks.  I can take you there later." Roth jokes with a grin as they watch Porto speak to the boy.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:48, Thu 03 Dec 2009.

“Il fiume,” the boy replies after a brief pause, as if trying very hard to remember something.  “Stavo giocando nel fiume, vicino alla grosse pietre. Ho sentito un rumore da sotto l'acqua. Ho appena visto un volto, ma poi—.”
Suddenly, the boy’s facial expressions and demeanor change once again.  He stands a little straighter and looks each of the party members over.  The dog closes and nudges the boy, who responds with a gentle pat on the canine’s head.  He regards the group with a smile that boarders on mania, but also holds hints of embarrassment and rage.
“Please forgive me,” he says after clearing his throat, his voice having changed yet again.  This time, his tone and articulation resembles that of an educated nobleman.  “My name is Junius, leader of this temple—our legitimacy is protected by law under Lord Gathorne d’Krüpe, First Citizen and Lord of Skyway City.  With all due respect, I demand an explanation as to this interruption posthaste.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:21, Thu 03 Dec 2009.

Ilsa sidled over to Shirok. She said something out of the corner of her mouth to her friend.  She then briefly laughed in low, guttural tones.

Roth looks around at the others--all new to Skyway--before informing the unstable child and abandoning his Stone Keeper ruse, "It is the year 1051, Mathius the Second is the First Citizen, and your 'temple' only just fell on Godsgate.  But we aren't here for puzzles, we have been sent to recover the silvered urn stolen from Lady Kaele of the Ivy Tower."

“Is that so?” the boy replies, eyeing Roth feverously, his mouth forming a sharp frown.  After a brief and intense moment, he breaks his stare with Roth and looks at each of the others once more.   “I am in the midst of a religious service, and do not appreciate these interruptions—though, now it no longer matters,” he quickly adds with a shrug, his voice dripping sorrow.  “My flock has been scattered, those you haven’t already killed.  You say you come for an urn; but does such a quest really demand the blood you have spilt today?  My mission was to spread hope to the fallen of Godsgate—a feat you have all undermined in the few swift, yet decisive, strokes of your weapons!  Hadn’t the woman already told you were to find your ill-gotten prize?  Be gone then, unless you wish peace and salvation through my Word!”
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:00, Fri 04 Dec 2009.

"It was your 'flock' that attacked us in the streets, ambushed us, and killed Abigail!"  Roth accused with a strong helping of anger in his voice, "Their blood deserved to be spilt, and you're lucky I don't have the big one break you in two!"  The young elf gestures at Ilsa as he finishes his threat.  He takes a slow breath to calm himself before continuing, "Now tell us what you know about what caused the plate to fall, why time seems out of sync here, and why you seem to be three people in one.  Or I'll do just that to be sure nothing else gets stolen."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Sat 05 Dec 2009.

Stan watched carefully, trying to determine whether this boy/girl/man was really a threat or just hopelessly insane.

He wished she were here. She was an excellent judge of character. Then again, it was in her nature wasn't it?

"A few drinks with this one, good librarian, and you'd be lucky to leave with your soul."

The poor wizard would just have to make do with his own judgement. Hopefully he wouldn't have to watch the building burn down around him.

Again.

"Ugh!" Ilsa groaned in frustration. "The urn isn't here. But its safe here, now. We can rest. And you," she said tersely to Porto, "quit bothering her." The half-orc seemed ready to shove the halfling back should he not move fast enough.

“This is a violent area,” Junius replies to Roth’s accusations of attack, as he slumps his shoulders and places one hand on a nearby statue for support.  “And I can understand how an outsider would be unable to distinguish the differences between the many tribes that roam the forgotten avenues of Godsgate.  Although it appears you belong with us,” he continues as he gestures to Roth’s fraudulent tattoo.  As he speaks, he pulls up his sleeve and shows the party his own tattoo, which almost exactly matches Roth’s and the slain thief's from before.  “It appears you’ve joined with the roughest and most dangerous of all—perhaps that fact alone provoked such an attack?  I assure you, the Ravers you’ve undoubtedly dispatched were not associated with the Stone Keepers’ tribe—Blood Drinkers or Shadow Stalkers, perhaps.  We are loyal to the last,” he cants, his voice teeming with pride.
“In time, good master,” he promises Roth regarding the elf’s other questions, “although I’ve never heard of anything called a 'sync' before.  Your friend has the right idea!” he says as he nods at Ilsa.  “Come and rest!  You all look very tired.  Listen to The Word!”
He then turns around and moves back toward the statue with the missing eye.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:14, Mon 07 Dec 2009.

Shirok had heard enough. He spoke a single word, and Neya leaped forward towards the child, her jaws seeking to sntrap the child's arm.

"I do not know what your Word is, but I suspect that none of us would live long after hearing it."

Neya makes a grapple attack against the kid, provoking attack of opportunity if the kid is able to react in time. Her touch attack is at 27, with grapple check of 16. Grappling deals dmg as unarmed strike, and I choose to roll a 1 on dmg. (Because we're not trying to kill the kid.) (Yet.)

12:20, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 27,16 using 1d20+9,1d20+13. Neya - Touch attack, grapple check.

"Bad Neya!" Ilsa chastised the wolf, backed by a solid thump on the head from the pommel of her sword.

09:27, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 24 using 1d20+4. Thump, non-lethal.
09:27, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 13 using 2d6+6. Damage.

09:28, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 16 using 1d20+4. Crit Check.
09:28, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 12 using 2d6+6. Crit Damage?.

Neya lunges forward and issues a quick, attention-grabbing bark.  Junuis spins around as if to see what the commotion is all about, when the large she-wolf easily bites down on his forearm!  Neya doesn’t begin to shake, but appears content in simply holding the boy for now.

Almost instantly, the boy’s dog springs up as if to seek retaliation; but not before Ilsa launches herself at Neya’s backside.  The half-orc barbarian delivers a mighty swing into the wolf’s side; but she turns her blade to the flat end just before the impact.  Neya cries out in pain, her high-pitched whine containing more than a little surprise.

Immediately the boy begins to speak once again in a strange language, and his dog appears to understand.  “Omlaag!  Omlaag jongen!  Houden!” he shouts, his voice (and expressions) warped in pain; and the dog stops its advance.  “Hold everyone!  There will be no bloodshed here!  This is a hallowed place—a place of worship!”

Initiatives please, just in case...