"It is good you have returned.  Ceven does not have long against this foe.  He loses ground each day and will succumb soon."

Ok stays behind Klale attempting to avoid being seen by Amath.  He peeks out, curiosity and fear warring within him.

The Gonhirrim, having been forewarned about Amath and the light orcs, do not draw weapons upon meeting Amath.  Yet their nervousness is palpable, their instincts an almost unbearable pressure.

For the first time since leaving his prison, Kornari looks on edge.  His voice is silent and he looks about as if certain of an ambush.  His tongue flicks in and out of his mouth rapidly and his eyes roll up into his skull from time to time, an animal response to something hostile and potentially more powerful.

For the first time in weeks, Toben finally looks at ease. He smiles at Amath, and breaths a sigh of relief. "I have to say, you're a sight for sore eyes, Amath."

He walks forward and extends his hand in friendship. "I believe you'll find we were successful in our task. We have some new faces I should introduce you to."

Toben motions to each new party member in turn. "The master craftsman, Telchar. Fori, the expert guide who helped us navigate the valaraukar infested tunnels under the mountain. Saris, a talented healer who kept us alive throughout our various trials. Xar, a skilled warrior who helped keep all the nasty denizens at bay. Kornari, son of the mighty Smaug. Finally, Ok, the most courageous warthyrch I have ever seen."

He looks back to the group and notices the tension among the gonhirrim. "No need to worry. This is Amath. He is one of the good guys, and helping us to push back the valaraukar."

Klale looks around. Kornari, what is you you sense?

Kornari peers into the distance where the cave of Ceven lies.  "I feel my...jailer."

Amath clasps Toben's hand heartily.  "It is good to see you, too, Toben Ironsprings.  It is good to see all of you.  Come.  We haven't much time."

Toben looks back to Kornari. "It's likely the same force that imprisoned you, also imprisons Ceven." He turns to face the cave. "All the more reason to break its hold."

He takes a step towards the cave, but stops short. "Master Telchar, I follow your lead."

The Gonhirrim eyes Amath one last time, then follows him to the cave.

Inside, the dwarves and the drake slow in awe of the cavern.  The reflection in their eyes is perhaps slightly more than the light can account for.  Telchar shakes it off in a moment and presses on.  The others wake when the humans move past them to follow.

In Ceven's area, the whole group pulls up short.  The crystal has taken on an ominous sheen.  All over the place, a dark, porous rock very much like Kornari's pillar protrudes from the crystal.  It's not that it broke through from one side and is shattering the crystal.  The dark rock looks more like a disease corrupting the crystal and growing from it.

Over at once was the table, there is a faint glow.  The table has sunk in except for the edges and looks more like a shallow pit, or possibly some kind of altar.  Heat and a faint, dark red glow pulse out of it like the stone there is being heated from below, trying to melt it.  Ceven, or what is most likely Ceven, is a huge pillar of the dark rock.  There is very little crystal left.  At Klale's height there is what might be a face made out of the crystal.  It is twisted and frozen in agony.

Telchar drops his weapon and moves quickly to the pillar to inspect.  He scratches his beard, mumbles to himself, then nods.  "Aye.  We've arrived in time.  A day or two more, though..."

Without further explanation he pulls a host of equipment from his pouches.  Vials of liquid, parchment, powders, small hammers and chisels and any number of other contraptions that aren't readily understandable.  Of all the people in the room, Saris is the one Telchar calls on to help him.

With deft hands she grabs whatever he asks for and hands it to him.

"What do ya see?"  He asks to no one in particular as he works.

Klale nods. Then perhaps you were jailed unjustly. Whether or not, I'm glad you're hee to help correct what's wrong...or to defend those who will do so.

Once in the cavern, the on-guard Klale says Gonhirrim, command, and I shall obey.

Ano is relieved when they make it back to the mountain and when they enter the cave he feels a deep sense of satisfaction.  When they finally see Ceven Ano feels sick at the amount of corruption that has entered into this once wondrous place.

While Telchar works Ano turns to Amath and talks quietly "The landscape on the way towards the mountain looked a bit rough as we approached.  Have there been attacks?"

Phineas sticks close, ready to help should it be needed. Still not trusting the drake completely, and alerted by his change in behavior, he also keeps a discreet eye on the creature.

Toben, face wrought with concern, walks over to the crystal most likely to be Ceven. He stares at it for a moment, then just shakes his head. "We'll find a way to get you out of this", he whispers.

He looks over at Telchar. "If there is any way I can be of assistance, just say the word."

He walks over to the table and holds his hand over it, remembering the radiance it once exuded. He stands there, out of the way, while Telchar gets to work.

When Telchar poses his question, Toben looks over to him with his head cocked to the side, unsure of who he is talking to.

"Do ya no' see th' corruption o' th' dark heart under th' Misty Mountains?  Th' pillar tha' held our drake friend?  What does it tell ya bein' so far from there t' see it here?"

Toben scratches his head. "It's either spreading faster than we expected, or there are multiple source of this evil with the same intent striking out simultaneously." He shakes his head, "It's hard to tell which though."

Toben eyes Ceven's pillar with caution. "I could ask it, but I fear the consequences will be more severe than last time."

Telchar nods and gets to work, not really answering.  His work is precise and tedious, but he does seem to make headway.  Every now and again he applies a powder to the ugly growth.  When he does, the rock seems to catch fire and fizz and spark as it burns down to the crystal.  Every last bit of the infection is gone when he does this, but he only uses the powder on the remains of a growth.  His pouch does not seem to have much of the powder in it, a fact he constantly mumbles about.

On occasion, he asks Klale if he will take Telchar's hammer and break off a large chunk of the growth.  He warns to take care not to strike the crystal or you might damage Ceven, sending him further into his delirium and perhaps lose the battle against the invasion.  [Roll for a precise strike: d20 + BA + Dex Mod ... no taking 10 or 20.  Telchar will ask you to roll 10 times, but you may stop and say no more after any roll as you wish.]

"Phineas, Ano.  Be good lads and pile this stuff up outside at th' base o' th' largest plant you can find.  It'll kill th' plant, but in so doin', th' plant 'll draw th' corruption out o' th' rock and render it inert."

Toben watches as the sparks fly and corruption burns. For the most part, he stands aside until called upon. He tries to catch a glimpse at the powder Telchar so sparingly uses. "Anything I can do to help replenish your supply of that powder?"

Klale is reluctant...for, probably...good reason. Nevertheless....

20:47, Today: Klale Tsolo rolled 11 using 1d20+5. Here Goes...

Ano pulls a winter blanket out of his pack, lays ot flat on the ground, and starts to pile the stones on it.  He makes sure he has his mithril gloves on, hoping the lether parts will keep his skin from the stone.  Then says We can carry together Phin.  Make the job a bit quicker".

"Easy, lad," Telchar says when Klale barely glances off the corruption.  Thankfully his caution prevents him from doing any harm.  "Try again?  You'll have to put a little something behind it."

He turns to Toben.  "I dunno, Toben.  This stuff takes days t' make in any significant quantity.  I'm doing wha' I can t' be spare with it, but I just don't know if ah have enough."

Phineas, uncharacteristically, is silent, but gets to work piling the corrupted stones onto the blanket with Ano.

Toben shrugs. "I understand, but doing something is better than nothing. Any amount that I could create would be helpful, I think."

He takes off his travel pack and starts to rummage through it, looking for anything useful. Taking stock of all his components, he just shakes his head. He opens the pouch with all the gems and examines them once more, thinking maybe they could inspire a solution.

Thus encouraged, Klale tries again; and, when nothing terrible seems to happen, essays two more strikes. He pauses to see the effect.

10:43, Today: Klale Tsolo rolled 17 using 1d20+5. DDR3.

10:42, Today: Klale Tsolo rolled 15 using 1d20+5. DDR2.

10:42, Today: Klale Tsolo rolled 18 using 1d20+5. DDR.

The strikes knock off goodly portions of the corruption, enough that Telchar nods and believe he can work with.  He leaves it to Klale whether he continues or not.