Jhael's heart yearns at her statement, with a longing to be back home, but he remembers what Relveti said about returning, and sadly replies "Not sure I can go back. Too many familiar faces."
"Besides, who knows what my corpse has been up to in my absence." He continues dryly. Shaking his head he adds, "I'd really like to, it would mean protecting some friends, and avenging another. But it's not exactly a simple request."
Her brow raises in surprise. "You died in Argosal? That is a shame, but at the same time, a simple disguise is enough to keep you hidden." she says with a surprising amount of cockiness as she touches her mask. "It's as simple as wearing a mask, my dear." she states dryly.
Jhael strokes his chin, thinking for a few minutes, clearly torn between his desire to go and his worry of what could happen. It occurs to him that he has an opportunity that Relveti didn't, as it would be difficult for her to hide, given her height. The traitor would also be wary of her. But Jhael, he certainly could avoid suspicion. Still, he remembered too what Bagrin said about trusting her. "What's your stake in this?" He asks somewhat bluntly.
She stifles a laugh. "Jhael..." she says as she puts down her teacup and stands. "That lich... is probably our most significant threat. Hardly anyone knows anything about him, correct? Well, I know a little more than most..." She circles the table a bit, passing by Oswald, continuing. "He sees everything that goes on in Sanctuary, and is utterly obsessed with the fog, so much so that he wants fresh, living bodies to experiment with it." she says.
She laughs a bit, somewhat proud of herself, and pulls out a porcelain mask that seems like it would cover most of your face. "I know who it is, that supplies the lich with these bodies every raid... He got sloppy last time." She looks to you with a wide smile. "Priest Urnrad, after every raid, is the man that does the burial rights on the fortunate enough to die. Unfortunately, those graves are empty..."
She heads back to her seat, and holds it in her land while leaning on it. "My stake is that this man needs to be killed in any way possible... It will assist with the number of zombies that approach in the future. I need you to do this alone, without telling a soul." "I'll even give you this-" she says, tossing the mask to you - "Consider it a gift."
Jhael nodded through Mephisto's explanation, though froze at the mention of Priest Urnrad. 'Of course,' He thought, remembering some of the attacks he'd witnessed on the village, 'He must have been doing it for years.'
Anger rose in Jhael, boiling his blood as he thought of someone trusted within the village who was turning corpses over to the Lich. Friends, relatives. Relveti. Himself.
Picking up the mask, he turned it around in his hand, studying it, because it felt less uncomfortable than looking at either Mephisto or Oswald, and if it was going to be his face, at least for a time, than he should get used to it. "Alone it is. Sneak into the village, kill him, get out. Sounds simple enough. Anything else?"
His mind already whirring of the best way to accomplish it, he knows that he'll need to see about some supplies. Wouldn't be easy to kill the priest, but he'd do it.
She claps in happiness with a wide grin. "Oh dear boy, no need to be so hasty! Relax for a couple of days and get your things in order. Mule the idea over..." she states. Looking at the mask in your hands, she laughs giddily. "That mask..." She says as she touches her own. Her body changes, with her hair changing color to a deep red, as well as various facial features to a much taller woman. The Mask actually conforms to her face, and she stands proudly as a tall, dark-skinned maiden, on par with the height of Oswald. "Though you must choose the change, the mask will transform your overall look to another. It's more of a parlor trick, really..."
Jhael looks impressed with the change that has taken place. He stands up with a nod, intending to leave, and pauses. Gesturing to Sebastian and the hatted-man, Jhael asks "What are those two doing?"
He shakes his head. "I saw someone else too, a figure all in black. Yellow eyes."
She looks to the others, but seems more surprised that you've noticed a man in black. "Ah... You've seen the Elusive Oo." She says with somewhat of an interest. [b]"He's no doubt dead, but even I don't know who, or what, he is. Funny story to his name, however... Apparently whenever he was first noticed someone pointed at him and made that blasted monkey-like noise of a name he now has. It stuck, if only for comical reasons." she says with a bit of a laugh.
Turning her gaze towards the others, she smiles. "It's something we do in our down-time. This... Construction, is a magical device. An Artifact, though, not divinely made. People take a seat in their chair, mumble the name of the person they wish to gaze, and they become spirited away, at which point they can follow them. Sort of like scrying, only, more out-of-body..." she states. She casts a casual glance to Oswald, and then beckons he follow her.
"I will be leaving now. I've much to attend to. Perhaps you should look around and become more at ease till I seek you out? I imagine it will be a day or 2 before anything ground breaking takes place." she says with a bit of a giggle. "Who knows? You may just find something more to do while you wait."
Jhael looks at the magical device. "Creepy." He murmurs, suspecting not for the first time that Mephisto is playing a larger game than he realises. He wonders if she's watched him before.
Following Mephisto, Jhael gets up, and flashes a smile. "Oh I'm sure I can keep myself occupied." He pauses, and more seriously adds. "Still. Given the Priest is so dangerous, I'd rather not wait too long."
He gives them a bow, assuming that they'll know how to find him when the time comes, and walks a bit quickly away from the area, the entire place making him feel uncomfortable and nervous. 'Time to go somewhere I should be more comfortable.' He decided, heading towards the Library, both to drop off his remaining Dragon-'liberated' books and see how Relveti is doing.
As Oswald and Mephisto venture out of their respective portals you take a moment to look around, perhaps taking another glance to see if you can find this "Oo" character. Unfortunately you have no luck whatsoever and just make your way anxiously to the Sigil for the common area.
Walking in you're still somewhat baffled by the sheer size of the room, and it's strange oval shape. Not wasting much time worrying about it, and it's beautiful setup of red carpet and chairs, you make your way to the library.
Compared to the other rooms in the Nexus, this is probably the dullest one, to say the least. Fortunately nothing is that dull in the Nexus, and the Library is a veritable arena of knowledge. Literally. The room is a giant arena-like room with books that tower on high, and you're almost certain you walked into another dimension again.
Row upon row of tables align the center of the room, and you can make out only 3 people in this entire area. First and foremost, Relveti, in the far corner studying up on the papers that she took from the adventure as promised. She's removed herself of the furs entirely and her fox lies sleepily at her feet, it's perfect white all too obvious from such a distance.
The next person is somewhat masked by the sheer stack of books in front of him, but you see enough to understand exactly what he is. Raven-like feathers of pitch black, and the occasional squawk of excitement insinuate the man is no doubt a Tengu, a race you've only encountered a total of one time ever, and you didn't even get to know them. Multiple upon multiple books are open in front of him, and he gazes through each one with the agility of a hummingbirds' drinking up the knowledge infront of him.
A quaint, tiny little hat with a lapel is atop his head, and he wears red, silk robes that don't hide his taloned claws or hands.
The third man is just sort of standing against the wall, his head encased in an iron sort of coffer with 2 rectangles cut out for eye holes. He is a veritably large man with chains about his shoulders, which happen to be attached to rather strange manacles. A man-catcher is on his back as well, and furthermore, a bastard sword like sideways at his back. His armor seems somewhat thick, though barbaric. ... He actually seems to be nodding off.
Jhael looks in surprise and excitement at the Tengu, making a note that he must be sure to meet him at some point. He was also pleased to see the awe-inspiring size of the library. 'Suppose being dead's not all bad' He thought with a chuckle. Making a bee-line right for Relveti, he removed the remaining draconic religious texts from his bag, placing them on the table, before asking her how things were going, and revealing what Bagrin had told him about Zadrik.
Walking up to the woman, she casts you a glance, and then returns to reading. Seemingly realizing all at once who you were again, she looks back once more and tosses you a wave as you venture over. She watches idly as you place the books back on the table, taking cursory glances at them and pretty much knowing what they are, for the most part.
As you ask her how things have been in the last few minutes, she smiles. "Fruitful, though I've actually yet to learn anything from reading these..." she says. As you explain what Bagrin said, her brow rises in curiosity. "Zadrik was definitely a black dragon, as his disciple was... if we managed to ruffle his plans, no matter. I wouldn't worry about it too much."
She says as she looks at the various books you've placed down. "More importantly, those are religious texts dedicated to the dragon gods, Dahak, Apsu, and Tiamat. Lars might be interested in adding them to the library, if you want to gain some quick aether."
Jhael looks at Relveti. "May as well, they won't do anyone any good kept in my bag. Where might I find Lars?"
"One other thing I was curious about." He begins cautiously. "What do you remember about Priest Urnrad?"
She raised her brow at the mention of the old priest. "I am familiar with him, and he was indispensable in the fight against the undead. He healed many men, and stopped even more from turning... Such is the regularity of most priests." she says, not believing for an instant that the man is at any bit of fault.
To your first question, which she answers second, she nods her head towards the Tengu lost in an ocean of book. "The bird is over there." she states.
Jhael nods at Relveti, feeling rather uncertain about what to do with Urnrad. He wonders if he should try to use Mephisto's scrying device, but the notion of spying on him rubs Jhael the wrong way. 'Maybe I should talk to him.' The man thinks.
He thanks Relveti, and picks up the books, walking over to the Tengu. "Excuse me, Lars I presume? I have acquired some books that I wanted to add to the library."
You walk upon the raven-feathered tengu without properly alerting him to your presence, and, placing a hand on the desk beside him causes him to jump up out of his chair with a loud, obnoxious squawk, essentially flapping his way out of the chair and about 10 feet in the other direction as he leaps away in surprise. As the papers he'd been working on fall, he mumbles and grumbles to himself as you help him somewhat get the papers up.
Helping him put the papers back he finally speaks in a high pitched sort of yelp, much to the dismay of the others in the room. Despite being a library, he doesn't see much reason to be quiet. They're dead after all. "Yes, I am Lars! Yes! Oh, books? Books, then, yes. Feel free! Feel free!"
It would seem Lars is somewhat touched in the head, as even regular tengu don't speak anywhere near like that.
Jhael looks at the papers strewn everywhere in a mixture of disbelief and dismay. He looks at the Tengu. "My apologies, sir. Allow me to help." Wincing as Lars shrieks a response to the books, Jhael makes a mental note to keep conversations with him brief. He places the books on the table, and reaches over to help the Tengu clean up. While picking up the papers, Jhael notices several of them deal with Lichdom. Such a thing is not studied by many. "Are you working against the Lich Agosal, too?" He inquires, bracing himself for the surely irritating response.
The tengu looks at you sharply, beady eyes looking straight at you while the rest of his body lurches the stack of papers onto the platform while hie head doesn't move. Abruptly, and oddly, he replies.
"Yis."
"Uh, yes. Right. Anything I can do to help?"
"Yis."
With a bob of his head, he turns to his books and starts to rummage through the one's you've just brought along. You feel a slight bit of heat in your chest, but it is a lovely warmth.
Jhael scratches his head, wondering if the Tengu's gone brain dead from having died so many times. 'If this is what I have to look forward to, I'll walk straight into the damned mist.'
"Uh. How can I help?"
Continuously bobbing his head, he springs up, and begins to sift through the books while pulling out paper after paper after paper. Multiple upon multiple papers, all dealing with assumedly dark images and questionable procedures. "Ahah!" Lars boasts loudly, grasping at the final paper and walking up to you with yet another book in hand.
"The lich. The lich, yis, lich. Hmm..." he seems to go back to thinking before he realizes what he has in his hand. Placing it on the table it seems to be a long-winded document.
"This." he states, in much the same way he says "Yis."
Completion of this takes all of 1 minute to entirely read.
As you sift through the document and read it carefully, Lars tugs on your arm and takes the paper from you. "Fake. Not his handwriting. Coded! Coded! Interesting. Multiple moles in the hill..." he says with an agitated squint, looking off into the distance for an overly long time. He's not lost in thought either, he's just staring off for a moment, leering at a book.
Jhael stares hard at the paper, and then at the Tengu. "You may be right. Where did you get this?"
Without waiting for a reply, Jhael sits down at the table, pulling an ink vial, pen, and journal from his bag, preparing to see if he can discern anything about a hidden message.
He raises his whole head, cocking it to the side much like a normal bird. "A man brought it to me! Brought it to me. Found it on my desk, studied it, learned it." he says, stamping the paper to the table and pulling a paper out of another book. Many words on both papers have been sorted, and it seems like it took quite a long time.
"Not human hands. Not human hands at all! Pen's held all wrong! All wrong." he says abruptly, holding the pen over the paper awkwardly. "Hands far too skinny. Far too." Biting the pen, he thinks farther into the paper.
You're not capable of seeing what the bird is talking about, even if it does happen to be true.
"Undead... Undead... Someone not living wrote this! Wrote it poorly I might add! Poorly indeed..." he says as he underlines specific phrases.
Jhael scratches his head, realising that for all his apparent missing marbles and loose wiring, the Tengu may in fact be seeing things that he isn't. "Undead." he muttered, the word tasting of ash on his tongue. "Tell me, have you decoded the letter?"
"Yis!" he said, removing another bit of notes. "Frankly, indeed, someone has been stealing corpses and taken'em off to the stockade at night. At night!" he says, opening up a map of the area. From what you can tell of the small town of Sanctuary, and from what you recall, the Stockade was where the bodies are sent to be burned. "If I'm correct, and I'm correct, someone's sending off small amounts of dead bodies, eh, eh!?"
Jhael stared hard at the Tengu, feeling his mission becoming more complicated by the minute. "Do you know who?" he asked quietly. "If not, perhaps you know when?"
"Likely at night, sir. Likely at night! The wee hours, when the fog lowers. When it lowers!" He says. "Cahoots... Cahoots! But I'm busy, you see, see?" he says, flipping a page in his work. "Be off! Off!" The Tengu somewhat "Shoos" you off with his forearms, and then starts to go back into his reading. He seems absolutely consumed by it, really.
"Wait wait," he pushes, refusing to be shoo'd away without getting something he can use. "I didn't mean when as a time, I meant when as a day. Do you know how often? Or when the next time will be?"
Jhael noted that the last thing he wanted to do was walk around exposed while the Mist was at large. Hopefully the bird at least knew a way to minimise how often he was there. Jhael didn't mind dying again, not if it meant hindering the Lich, but he'd prefer to come back, and it didn't sound like the Mist permitted that.
Once the Tengu answers him, Jhael will move back over to Relveti, looking deep in though, and say to her. "The bodies that Argosal uses for his army. Did you ever wonder how he got them all?"
The bird's feathers ruffle in an obvious, upset manner. Shooing you still, he gawks; "When else, boy?! Boy? Whenever someone dies! A day or 2 after at most. Now be off! Off!" he uproariously states, with papers flying about.
Finally giving off, you walk toward Relveti with somewhat of a chip on your shoulder, really, but you won't easily give off that feeling. She's no reason to expect you know any of this, and you'll be damned if you're going to immediately show that off.
Finally getting up to her, she hears out the question. Oddly enough, the woman has placed upon herself sharp, thin glasses. A strange fact indeed, considering elves are practically known for their ridiculously keen eyesight. They look lovely on her, somehow, despite her outstanding height. Without much thought to the question she simply says, "His abominations carry off the dead villagers when they're able. That's always been pretty obvious. Why?"
Jhael made a mental note not to irritate the bird again as he walked back over to Relveti.
At her question he shakes his head. "Just been thinking about how you died. I figured the same you did, but now I'm not so sure. Seems to me that whoever betrayed you might also be smuggling bodies to the Lich. Not sure who, though."
He looked her in the eyes, and continued. "I know you aren't looking to go back any time soon, but I still have friends, family there. I can't just let them sit in a trap that's waiting to close on them at any time."
The woman sits idly for a moment, placing what she'd been reading on the ground. With a long sigh, and a concerned look she meets your gaze. "As do I... I am aware there are traitors in Argosal, but, I know not who they are. Regardless, I am incapable of returning..." Her eyes get misty as she recounts on old thoughts. "If I can assist you in any way from here, please let me know. Who do you believe it is?"
Jhael nods a thanks to Relveti as she mentions the idea of assistance. "Not sure." He replied with a sigh. He paused, before continuing "Lars has a message that was intended for Priest Urnard that seems to be encoded, but that doesn't really say anything. He thinks it was written by a Lich, but, well, you know, the bird's a bit of a loon." Jhael smiles at his own joke, not expecting Relveti to get it, and continues all the same. "I don't know who it could be, or who to trust, but I feel that I may have to go and ask around soon. Do you know anyone who may be interested in joining me?"
She shakes her head at the mention of Urnrad. "The priest? A traitor?... Surely you must be joking, as he was the one that..." Her eyes widen as a sudden look of clarity rolls across her face. Slowly, she says; "He... was the one that told us where to go..."
She stands tall, looking to you. "I know of many men in this hell that are good at gathering intelligence and spying. Perhaps a rogue could assist you? Conrad is a blubbering fool when it comes to silence, but..." she sighs. "Unfortunately all those good at gathering information are under Mephisto's thumb... except Oo, but he's impossible to keep track of."
Walking along the length of the table she looks back, thinking up possibilities. "What of Bagrin?" she asks, suddenly.
Jhael nodded to Relveti, both upset and pleased to see that the suspicions about Urnrad may not have been misplaced. "Conrad had crossed my mind," he explained, "Because he's someone I can trust. But there won't be any riches on this trip." He thought for a second before adding, "Just bittersweet nostalgia. Plus, as you said, he's not exactly quiet."
"What can you tell me about Oo? I think I saw him watching me, but it was very brief."
He thought for a second, seeming to consider Bagrin even though he knew that he couldn't lie to the little guy about it being Mephisto's plan, and Bagrin would absolutely not go along with it if he knew it was. "Bagrin. Hrm. Maybe." He considered for a moment before continuing. "Those that are under Mephisto's thumb. What ... hrm. That is to say... How bad would it be to recruit one of them? Mephisto must understand the need to stop the Lich, yeah?" He shook his head, "Bagrin told me not to trust her, but I haven't really heard any reasons why."
"Mephisto is... fickle. She's been known to drive those that withhold information to madness of some sort... An example would be Sebastian, the seeker. It's just advised that, if you find anything of dire importance, you inform her... but therein lies the problem." she said with an eye-roll. "In all honesty it would probably get you on her good side to take one of her more trustworthy people with you."
The tall woman takes a moment to think, before making a suggestion. "Rodrick is probably the only bearable one, but at the same time he's insufferably frustrating to work with. Very stealthy, however, and probably the only honest one of the bunch."
"Hrm. Alright." Jhael replied with a smile. "Thanks for the advise. I'll talk to Mephisto." He started to walk away, and then stopped and turned back. "Say," he asked. "There isn't a way for me to stay in contact with you while I'm out in the world, is there?"
Relveti shakes her head. "I can watch you through the scrying artifact, but I'm afraid that's all I can do." she says, waving you goodbye.
Exiting the room is as quick as it is shimmery. Walking past the rows of chairs you come to the tavern, which, strangely enough, is low on people at the moment. At the bar one prominent figure stands out, a middle aged man with short, white hair. On his back is a somewhat large contraption. A strange one, really, that seems to be a gun of sorts. There are a rather hefty amount of ornaments on it, and it seems to be a bit heavy from just looking at it.
The Bartender waves you over, pouring the drink he manifests as per usual, and presents it to you as you come near the chair. Sitting down, the man looks over, candles glinting in his round glasses. He's got nothing infront of him, save a small drink that's barely been touched. Presenting a hand, he says; "Haven't seen you around before. Name's Cid."
His presence is warm, but troubled, as if he's in somewhat deep thought. He isn't asking for a handshake, really, and that's all too apparent when he lets his arm fall to his side.
Jhael smiles warmly. "Pleasure. I'm Jhael, a fairly recent, ah, arrival." He nods to the man, "That's quite the device you have on your back. Your own design?"
He strokes his short bearded chin as he looks you over and takes a drink. "Sorry to hear it. Where did you come from? I'm from Gibraltar." he says, presenting a crest on the weapon. "As for this thing, well... Suffice to say I'm the only one that can use it. Just a regular old rifle, for the most part. Had a bit of tweaks, though. Hehe."
"I don't doubt that." Jhael replied, looking at the weapon. "Looks like quite the device. Provided that it works." He added, with a teasing smile.
"I'm from Argosal," He replied. "And soon to be back there, it seems. Problems at home." He said by way of an explanation. "Someone's stirring up trouble."
Taking a sip of his own drink, he peered at the older man. "Been here long?"
He takes a sip from his mug. "Far too long." he says as he turns in his seat to face you better. "Argosal, eh? Cold place. Awful living conditions, but I figure its better than being in gibraltar."
He stands up flicking a gold coin on the table. "Place is crawling with strange." he says, looking at you. "What about you? Man doesn't walk into the tavern to pitch figurative pennies. What business ya have?" he asks, giving you a knowing look.
Jhael smiles shyly in response, wondering how it is that everyone seems to know what he wants. 'Adventure must be par for the course in this place.' He muses. After idly wondering for a moment what Gibraltar is like, he meets the man's eye. "Investigation." He replies dryly. "No fame, probably little money. Lots of risk..." His voice trails off, but after pausing for a second, he clears his throat and adds. "But. It's the right thing to do. It'll save countless lives."
He laughs a gruff chuckle. "Admirable, I'll give you that." he says as he unhinges the straps on his shoulders, hoisting the massive rifle-esque contraption onto the bar, much to the tender's dismay. "Well. Whatever the reward, we'll split it even if you'll have me. Figure I'm a bit more level headed than the lot of these folk, eh?"
As he makes the suggestion he fishes through his duster, retrieving 3 strange looking vials, all of which have a soft glow, and even stranger, a fire within them. He seems to load them into the gun, 1 by 1, followed by more strange "Ammunition"
He smiles as he loads them up. Giving you a crass look. "Everyone around here seems to have some sort of issue, really. Relveti and her damnable height, Lars and his... mind. Oswald and his lust for women." He clears his throat. "If I were to list my problem, it'd be a lack of subtlety." With that, he clacks the gun together, loading the ammo all at once.
The weapon is a marvelous thing, obviously created by a master of their craft, whatever it is. Gold trim on carvings of soft fires.
Jhael stares with interest as Cid loads up his weapon, and grins in response to his statements. "Relveti wasn't great with subtlety either." He laughs, adding, "Nor Conrad for that matter."
His smile fades as he continues, dropping his voice somewhat. "Truth be told, I can do the sneaking around myself. But given that I died there recently, my ability to communicate with everyone I may need to is somewhat... limited. Hiding my feelings will likely be difficult at times, and I wouldn't want to give myself - or this place - away. What do you think?"
He reaches down into a pocket, fiddling around. From them, he pulls out a fanciful pair of glasses that glint faintly against the light of the room. "I don't load this so thoroughly for my health. Consider it a favor? One you'd pay back in the future. I've business I must attend to in some time. What say you?" he says, presenting a hand for a moment, before pulling it away slowly. "Never get used to this Aether thing..."
Jhael smiles. "You've got a deal. I have a few things to tend to as well, preparations and so forth. We can meet up later and I'll fill you in on the specifics." Jhael rises, gives Cid a nod, and heads for the exit, trying to decide what exactly he's going to ask Marco as he walks towards the Wizard's room.
Walking into the wizards situation, Arcus is hard at work as usual. Finelia seems absolutely engrossed in a moment of work involving a rather ornate crystal setting. She nods at you all the same, her hair glinting forward just slightly. The walk here is surprisingly Mephisto-free.
Oswald, however, is the elephant in the room. He's standing imposingly in the corner with his eyes closed, and if you didn't know better, you'd think he was napping.
Marco's eyes, as well as his Pseudodragon's, suddenly dart toward you as he leaves his potions be, as well as his books. "Oh, hello there. I trust everything is alright, Jhael?"
"As can be expected." He replies with a smile, though his eyes quickly move over to Oswald. He wonders for a moment if the man was meant to spy on him or the others. 'Yet another person for whom subtlety isn't their strong suit.' He thought, noting how he stood out like a sore thumb.
"I wanted to ask you about something. It looks as though I'm returning to Argosal to... investigate something - someone. I wondered if you might be able to tell me anything useful. Anything you've heard from there in the last... few weeks. Anything about the Lich. Rumours of bodies going missing. I figure you may have heard something."
He strokes his long white beard for quite a few seconds. Placing his famed pipe in his mouth, he clicks it between his teeth. "Argosal is... a strange wizard. A vicious, evil man long-dead at the pinnacle of necromantic power. Should he ever descend upon the town himself, the village would be doomed. It is fortunate that he doesn't, and instead concerns himself with deep study." Waltzing about the room, he whispers and mumbles to himself.
"I've heard of no one stealing away bodies in the night, but at the same time I can't contest the idea of it being a possibility." he says with a concerned look. He casts a glance at Oswald, and then throws you an eyebrow. "Undead don't neccessarily need bodies to be made. Fresh or not, he can make corpses, so it begs the question of why would he need recently deceased bodies? It's all very strange."
Sitting back down in his carved wooden chair, he flips through the pages of books as the lizard does the same. "Sanctuary is a good place, filled with good people. But despair like it has seen would drive even the most stalwart men to desperation. I've nothing I can help you with beyond wisdom... At least, not without payment." he says with a shrug and chuckle. "Truly I have many potions that could aid you on this journey. But my best advice would be to not go alone!"