Cole finds a set of fairly unprepossessing steps leading down between two buildings. Instead of reaching a basement as might otherwise be expected they descend for some distance, switching back every so often and lit by flickering everburning torches in sconces. Eventually the stairs end at a long, narrow chamber which looks natural in origin. A stream runs along its length, burbling out of the rock wall and splashing down in a series of low waterfalls, criss-crossed by a raised stone walkway which runs alongside it. The stream flows into in a large pool and the path continues across it via a bridge. Beyond the bridge a masonry wall rises from floor to ceiling, pierced by a set of heavy metal double doors. Either side of the doors stand large statues of shulassakar, eyes closed and palms pressed together in prayer. Two flesh-and-blood shulassakar keep watch between.
Rehil motions for the others to stop short of the guards' line of sight.
"Now what?" The elf draws his sap from his belt and slaps it against his palm suggestively.
Cole shakes his head, his response a whisper. "I'd rather not take any aggressive actions against them. It's one thing to sneak down here without permission. It's another to attack their sentries." He nods towards the massive doors, "And something altogether reckless to deactivate the sentries those doors. I don't want to put this whole town at risk."
He shrugs, "Which cuts down on our options significantly. Can anyone think of a way to talk or bluff our way past?"
"I'm not particularly skilled, nor predisposed, towards lying to them. I can't even think of a reason they'd let us pass that would pass muster. And if you're planning to cosh them, count me out once again."
" The sap is all I've got. I was hoping the casters would have something for this situation. Cole, I'm not worried about putting the town at risk. Anything that comes through that gate would still have to go through us."
"There's something magical about asking for permission rather than wasting magic that you may need later on simple guards." Nalverren states in a half-comical(to him), half-motherly tone.
A deep rumbling sounds in Cole's chest, "I say we ask."
"Ask now." Rehil slips his sap back into his belt. He walks around the corner and straight toward the guards.
"My friends wanted to see the Draconic Prophecies. Can we go through here?"
"Then who should we ask about this?"
Nalverren approaches with Rehil, prepared to step in if they say no (though admittedly, unlikely to change their opinions).
The shulassakar looks a little surprised to see the adventurers but bow politely in greeting.
"Of course," says one of the guards, "Can you please show me your permit from the High Warden?"
"We have no permit. Should we ask the High Warden then? And where can we find him?"
"You will find the High Warden at the Warden's Redoubt. You can request permission there." The guard explains where the Warden's Redoubt is.
Cole—who had followed Rehil out—nods at the two guardsman. Unless teammate comes up wth a clever idea, the big warforged lumbers back the way they came.
"Let's see if we can get permission, then."
Rehil nods.
The group troop back up the stairs and find the Warden's Redoubt, a blocky grey building though more of an administrative centre than an actual fortress. They ask one of the guards on duty and are led to a reception area where they wait for about a quarter of an hour on comfortable leather armchairs. Finally they are taken from there to a large chamber where Eyalteph, the High Warden, is dealing with some paperwork the requisition supplies with two assistants. He greets them cordially.
"I understand you wish to visit the depths. For what reason?"
"Knowledge."
"Knowledge of what? Those tunnels are dangerous, we don't allow people down there on a whim." He looks vaguely irritated at Nalverren's blatant non-answer.
Cole cocks his head, "You heard the earlier discussion. You know what we face. What we learn down there could make a huge difference in the days to come. This is no whim, and we are not normal people."
At the door to Eyalteph's office, Rehil pauses. He does not go in himself, but waits sentry-like. If Wultram or Tal try to enter, he doesn't stop them but lays a light hand on their shoulder as they pass and whispers, "Remember, we want them to like us."
Eyalteph looks coldly at Wultram. "We protect our citizens and visitors from the dangers in the tunnels. As such, we restrict access for those who might not be able to face the rigours in the depths, either through ignorance, arrogance, delusion, or a combination of these. It is part of our religious duty to protect the weak and the innocent. Whatever your views on the rights or wrongs of that, you are in our city and you will need to accept our laws while you are here.
"As it happens, you are not being prevented from accessing anything regarding the Prophecy beneath the city. I perfectly understand your desire to see if it can provide any insight. You simply require, as all visitors do, a permit from me. I am prepared to grant that, although I have one stipulation and one suggestion. First, you will be accompanied by a warden who knows the tunnels. It is a maze down there. While skill at arms is necessary to survive, it would nevertheless count for little if you blundered into a gas pocket or lost your way. Secondly, I suggest you delay until you have been provided with your new equipment. I understand this will be in the next day or two."
Cole shrugs, "I wouldn't turn down a guide."
"As you wish," says Eyalteph to Wultram, "Permission denied. Goodbye."
Eyalteph replies as Wultram turns away. "In this city we obey laws. Those who transgress those laws are punished, sometimes severely depending on the nature of the crime. If you intend to wreak any harm or, indeed, spill any blood, understand that the consequences will be significant. Your boorish, arrogant behaviour has been tolerated so far as you are considered an asset by the Chamber, with whom we are allied. But if you disturb the peace here, that will count for precisely nothing. Consider that a warning.
"Now get out, all of you."
Cole's gaze sweeps to Wultram, then back to Eyalteph. "He doesn't speak for us all." The statement seems to be for both of their benefit, "and you know what is at stake. I ask you to reconsider."
At his post by the door Rehil stiffens, as Wultram passes through the elf says in a low growl, "And how did that move us, or even you, ahead? Isn't Tal a big enough target?"
"Considering you're likely to put the attention of the guard on us even more, might you consider it a scholarly favor to grant us permission? I don't mind an escort at all. And would it even matter to you if Mr. Grumpy Man there was killed in the tunnels? The metal man Cole speaks true, we have no issues following the rules. That's why we are here asking for permission, albeit the impression was ruined as the most irascible of our group spoke most loudly. You know not everyone can be as level-headed as the scholars among us. We will keep him from open hostilities and violence. His verbose outbursts on the other hand, are impossible to restrain. I don't know a spell for that." he laughs, disarmingly he hopes.
Tal watches all this go on, and then turns to Eyaltaph. "I have kept my silence up until now. My companions are not happy with how we have been treated. I am very much willing to obey laws, however, we were kidnapped against our will, and brought here. Expecting them to obey the laws when you have violated your own laws bringing us here is hypocritical in the extreme. I am certain that you have laws against kidnapping, yes? Now, I have been quiet until now, but, as a General in the Dragon Armies, it is my right to enter that area, with any companions I choose. That right pre-dates your city, your culture, even your species. It is unassailable, and any attempts to interfere will be you violating laws and tennets older than any in this city, including your special visitors. I would, however, like to avoid bloodshed, both our own and others. Starting a war over your stung pride will benefit no one, and result in the death of many of your people. As a Warden, it is your responsibility to protect your people, not put them in harms way over pride. Do not force us to hurt you and yours. Give us the paper, showing you recognize my claim to access. Not because Wultrum threatened you, but because the ancient laws require it. This is a city of law, obey the laws that predate it. Do not like Wultrum, but do respect his power, and find a way to follow the law and protect your people."
Replying to Nalverren, Eyalteph says, "Actually, I do care if he injures or kills himself down there, it is my station to do so as High Warden." However, given the reasonable tone from the artificer and the warforged, he looks about to relent. Then Tal begins speaking about ancient laws and rights, and war and bloodshed. As the monologue goes on, Eyalteph scowl deepens. However, his answer is short.
"Go back to your quarters, you will be given an answer shortly."
"Very well." Nalverren turns, waiting to accompany his conpanions out of the chamber.
"As I said I satisfied my sense of ethics. Normal people in this city are innocent. However the leadership forfeited their right to live when they brought me here, if I will collect upon that debt is something I have not decided, it won't be in the immediate future regardless. I have no intention shedding blood but I realize that a guard may wish to confront me and if they are not willing to stand down, well as I said that blood is not on my hands. It was not me nor Tal who decided to play to the tune of demons, but I will be finishing the dance. I will however admit that with this new knowledge that has come to light, your first instinct of cutting throats was a lot closer to the right decision than I initially thought." Wultram answers the elf as he is stuffing his pipe.
"Fine. They forfeited their right to live. If you mean that then sucker punch them. Don't flap your gums at them.
"I thought you and Nalverren and Tal wanted to see this prophecy. You talking like that just shot that plan in the foot. If you're an average Karrn, it's no wonder you lost the war. Zombie armies or not."
"What are you gonna do, kill him too? I don't think so." Nalverren states, inching closer to anger. Your dead comrades contributed a lot on the war, sure, but the war is over. They aren't here to help you grease the wheels of diplomacy. And that is fine, not everyone is a diplomat. But seriously, man, simply keeping quiet would have been better. And KNOWING that you could not do so, which is fine, you STILL chose to go in there. If it holds to interest to you, stay outside. Your mere presence f%!!ed everything up."
Nalverren takes a breathe, letting it out slowly. "What is so hard about keeping the two topics separate? The fact we want in the tunnels is one discussion. The fact of "boo hoo we were sorta kidnapped' is another. If the leaders of your nation behave like you in the political arena, Karnnath is in for some very tough times ahead."
Rehil replies hotly. "I don't think any of us are bending a knee or groveling. I'm not. Nor is Nalverren or Cole. We didn't want to come here, but we're here. And they are giving us gear and help. And we could have had more information that we wanted. Or at least that Nalverren and you and Tal wanted."
"But you had to shoot your mouth off. AGAIN. Same stuff you said before. It worked out the same as before. And it might have cost us that information."
"I am not the smartest one here, but at least I know when to keep my mouth shut for the good of the mission."
"We trained with the younger Wardens. They will take a blow, and come back for more. They're no push overs. They won't give if you demand entry, and if you try to force them, someone's going to get hurt. If you go back with that plan, count me out."
[B]"Talk of bending knee and groveling slaves speaks to professions to which none of us currently subscribe. What you see in your cold, arthritic ways as bending the knee, i see as merely remaining limber. Getting what i can until i get in a position to better choose my fate. If you choose your own death, go slap a guard. I won't stop you. But if i have a piece of armor, or an enchantment to repair, i look at what's f+%~ed up and then back up, follow the bends and tears until i get to something that still works. Find the pattern. Use that as a template to repair. Improve. We are in the f@#~ed up part of that armor. I'm backing up and looking at the bigger picture, you're moaning through the hole about your woes and your wounded ego. Plan ahead, instead of just trying to throw numbers at the enemy. You knew what you had to say would literally made nothing better in any possible way, yet you opened your mouth. When you are in a hole, do you ask for a shovel? When you're in a jail, do you confess that you've got a hidden lockpick? I wouldn't have believed I'd ever see someone dumb enough to do so, yet here i stand."
"Eh, if you think attacking people here is a good idea, do so without me. There is much more to be gained by being reasonable than fighting your way across Khorvaire at every perceived slight. There is knowledge we can gain here that few have had access to. I understand it is sad for you that they share a distaste for your art with most of the rest of the world. But for the rest of us, your childish outbursts are hindrance rather than help. I'm sure by now they understand your position, you were nothing if not clear."