Brash roars with laughter at the exchange between Andolphas and Harrigan, clapping the dwarf on the shoulder. He feels far happier and healthier than he has in a while, danger seeming a distant possibility at the moment.
'Never mind about the women, will there be some decent ale at this celebration? It feels like a month since ive had a decent drink!'
The priest's features cloud over momentarily. "I can only hope that I am worthy of both the honour and burden... I have much to reflect on..."
Like Brashen, Boland is feeling particularly relaxed and happy, feeling danger free for the first time in what feels like weeks.
"Well, save your reflection for later, because tonight we celebrate". He follows the others to the bath rooms and takes his time relxing in the baths, washing the grime away.
That night’s party is ... not what some might have accepted.
It consists of a simple meal in the cult’s main hall, punctuated with lots of prayers and different priests standing to share anecdotes and parables. There is wine, but not in excess. Afterwards, the gathering moves to the temple, where more prayers and chanted and sung, and Amariss gives a long sermon (which comes across as somewhat rambling to non-worshippers of Wee Jas) praising Wee Jas, the Green Lady, the work of the Cult, and the recent deeds of Andolphas. There are also some vague warnings of a coming doom, and that all should be prepared.
In the middle of the ceremony, one of the priests cries out in amazement, and her cries are soon picked up by others; what appears to be a faintly glowing smudge of green smoke in the very vague shape of a person has appeared in a dark corner of the temple. “The Green Lady! The Green Lady!” cry the worshippers.
Non worshippers might not be so sure. The shape does not do anything, and slowly fades after a few moments. Apparently this is a rare but not unheard of occurrence.
After the celebration ends, Andolphas thanks the Lady Amariss for the event and for all the guidance and assistance she has provided him and his companions. He also bids farewell (for now) to the other priests and acolytes with which he was better acquainted.
He then rejoins Boland, Brashen and Harrigan as they make their way back to their quarters for the night. "I thank you for attending the celebration, gentlemen, it meant a great deal to me... even though it may not have been quite what you hoped for or were expecting. In the last few days, I have truly come to see you as friends... and friendship is something I have not really known since the untimely passing of my brothers in Smenk's mines, when my heart closed to the world..."
Looking towards the dwarf, Andolphas adds, "I am sorry that you found no one to roll in the hay with you, Harrigan. Did you know that the Dark-Eyed Lady is also viewed as a goddess of beauty, as well as death and magic? Indeed, the dying always speak of her beauty when she comes and brings them peace and eternal repose..."
The priest's eyes gloss over momentarily, and he appears to be staring into some unseen distance. A few moments later, he snaps out of his reverie. "Brashen, I would be grateful if you could help me find a good mace tomorrow... and then we can be off to see Allustan..."
Brashen eats quietly through dinner, somewhat uneasy around so many of the dour priests and priestesses. But he is on his best behaviour trying his best to adhere to the temples etiquette. He does grumble a little at the small quantity of wine, but only to his companions.
The sermon in the temple pushes Brash to his limit of patience, and he shifts and fidgets throughout, rolling his eyes several times at what is being said. He is quite happy to retire to bed when it is over.
After the celebration ends, Andolphas thanks the Lady Amariss for the event and for all the guidance and assistance she has provided him and his companions. He also bids farewell (for now) to the other priests and acolytes with which he was better acquainted.
He then rejoins Boland, Brashen and Harrigan as they make their way back to their quarters for the night. "I thank you for attending the celebration, gentlemen, it meant a great deal to me... even though it may not have been quite what you hoped for or were expecting. In the last few days, I have truly come to see you as friends... and friendship is something I have not really known since the untimely passing of my brothers in Smenk's mines, when my heart closed to the world..."
Looking towards the dwarf, Andolphas adds, "I am sorry that you found no one to roll in the hay with you, Harrigan. Did you know that the Dark-Eyed Lady is also viewed as a goddess of beauty, as well as death and magic? Indeed, the dying always speak of her beauty when she comes and brings them peace and eternal repose..."
The priest's eyes gloss over momentarily, and he appears to be staring into some unseen distance. A few moments later, he snaps out of his reverie. "Brashen, I would be grateful if you could help me find a good mace tomorrow... and then we can be off to see Allustan..."
Brash seems quite uncomfortable at this open display of Andolphas' feelings, and he speaks gruffly. 'Yeah... well... I guess your not as bad as I thought you would be... when your not preaching that is... and when im not having to save your hide. I'll find you a mace tomorrow. Im going to bed.
The following morning you are woken before dawn by several green robed acolytes, who lead you down to the lakeshore where the Cult’s boat waits at a small dock. Once everyone is aboard, the captain casts off and the crew row the boat across the quiet, mist covered surface of the lake. In the half-light before dawn, with the mist swirling about and the silence broken only by the splashing of oars, the lake seems mysterious and beautiful … one can almost imagine it as it was before the local mining and smelting industry turned the polluted, near barren body of water it is today.
The acolytes and boat crew quietly bid you farewell once the craft is tied up at Diamond Lake’s pier. By now the sun has risen – just – but the town is quiet. Most of the miners would have headed off to work an hour or more ago, and most of the other townsfolk would have little reason to rise as yet. As you make your way down the quiet Vein, you see a masked miner hurrying along, running late for his shift; a burly baker’s boy hauling a small cart of freshly baked loafs plods slowly down the street; a plainly featured and exhausted looking whore heads home after a hard night’s work; out from the front doors of the Emporium steps a creature that looks something like a man and something like a bear, covered in shaggy white fur but wearing a tattered, once fine jacket and a monocle in his eye – he dips his hat as he saunters past and down a side street on some errand. Beyond that, the place is quiet. A few businesses will be open soon, but it will be hours yet before the Vein’s taverns, drinking holes, gambling dens and whore houses once again open for business.
The tumult in the middle of the service managed to wake Harrigan up mid snore. He looks around grumpily then leans over to whisper to Brashen, "Soooo... let me get this straight. These holy rollers have taken up bowing down and ohhhing and awwwing over swamp gas? Tell me its at least hallucinogenic? My uncle Reefus passes more impressive clouds of gas than that on a regular basis."
When Andolphas apologizes for the lack of nubile priestess action, Harrigan waves it off. "Bah- don't worry about it. I'd a found someone if I put my mind to it. Too long laying low out in the sticks means I'm not a picky man. Not today. But hey, I get it. It's your day; these are your people. What's one more day? I got a nice bath out of the deal. It'll do for now."
Brash strides confidently down the Vein, figuring that Kullen and any of his associates would be hours from waking yet.
'Why don't Bowls and Harrigan head to Allustan's to get some more info on the loot we got, and maybe find out a good place to fence them. I need to check on something, and Andolphas needs a mace, so we can get that sorted and then meet you at Allustan's place - I figure you guys will probably take more time. If there's trouble, and we can't meet up with you by noon or so, lets make the old Lands farm an emergency meeting point for tonight. Sound good?'
Brash speaks quickly, and seems eager to get going. Placing a hand on Andolphas' shoulder, he starts to steer the priest away from Harrigan and Bowls almost as soon as his finished speaking.
Moth
Brash strides confidently down the Vein, figuring that Kullen and any of his associates would be hours from waking yet.
'Why don't Bowls and Harrigan head to Allustan's to get some more info on the loot we got, and maybe find out a good place to fence them. I need to check on something, and Andolphas needs a mace, so we can get that sorted and then meet you at Allustan's place - I figure you guys will probably take more time. If there's trouble, and we can't meet up with you by noon or so, lets make the old Lands farm an emergency meeting point for tonight. Sound good?'
Brash speaks quickly, and seems eager to get going. Placing a hand on Andolphas' shoulder, he starts to steer the priest away from Harrigan and Bowls almost as soon as his finished speaking.
Boland enjoys the sermon a little more than Brashen and Harrigan, being a follower of the lady himself. However, he is still a little disappointed there isn't a little more wine.
Alighting from the boat the next morning, he is a little taken aback at the apparent eagerness of Brashen to get going, and on the pairing. Despite their reconciliation at the temple, the warrior and the priest's history had been less than friendly. He nods at the plan, happy to go to see Allustan, but none-the-less eyes Brash curiously.
The tumult in the middle of the service managed to wake Harrigan up mid snore. He looks around grumpily then leans over to whisper to Brashen, "Soooo... let me get this straight. These holy rollers have taken up bowing down and ohhhing and awwwing over swamp gas? Tell me its at least hallucinogenic? My uncle Reefus passes more impressive clouds of gas than that on a regular basis."
Andolphas begins to protest when Brashen starts to steer him away. "Where are we going? I'd like to hear what Allustan has to say, too... And in case you didn't realize it, most of the treasures requiring Allustan's appraisal are in my pack! Why don't we all go see Allustan together... and go shopping afterward? After all, if the information we get from him sends us on another journey, we may have to buy more supplies... and we may as well as get it all done at once, don't you think?"
Brashen is clearly impatient.
In town, although a little bit away from the usual hustle and bustle of The Vein, near the outskirts.
'Fine then!' Brash almost snarls. 'Get your own damn mace then.' Brash releases Andolphas, glaring at him. 'Ill meet up with you later then, at the tower. And dont go giving away ony of our stuff for anything less than serious coin!'
Brash turns to leave again.
Bowls and Moth
'Fine then!' Brash almost snarls. 'Get your own damn mace then.' Brash releases Andolphas, glaring at him. 'Ill meet up with you later then, at the tower. And dont go giving away ony of our stuff for anything less than serious coin!'
Brash turns to leave again.Bowls and Moth
** spoiler omitted **
Andolphas raises an eyebrown in wonder, shocked by the warrior's odd behaviour. "What... What's eating at him?!"
Brashen prepares to stalk off down a nearby side street (and will presumably do so unless anyone wants to stop him).
Boland thinks that Allustan will probably be up and about already at this time of morning, if you wish to visit him.
If anyone wants to do any shopping, most of Diamond Lake’s shops will no doubt be opening soon. Taggin’s, the largest and best stocked general store in town is probably already open.
If you are after melee weapons, The Captain’s Blade is remarkably well stocked, with a wide range of blades, axes, spears, maces, daggers etc, including masterwork quality weapons. The Captain is also said to stock a few magical or rare weapons that he only shows to worthy customers.
For ranged weapons or armour, most people go to Venelle’s.
If you are looking to buy or sell gems or jewellery, Tidwoad’s is the place to try. The little gnome is cantankerous, but he knows his gems.
There is no magic shop in Diamond Lake. Low level clerical items may be able to be purchased from one of the temples or chapels around town, Allustan is known to (very occasionally) sell low level arcane items, and occasionally such items will turn up for sale at The Emporium, if you know the right people to ask.
"Shall we save the shopping 'til after we've visited Allustan?" asks Andolphas to Boland and Harrigan, still perplexed by Brashen's unexplained outburst.
"Does one of you know something I don't... about him?" murmurs the priest, clearly referring to the warrior. "Just when I thought we were starting to get along..."
"Sounds like a plan. After you talk with the old man we might have a better idea of how much coin we can split anyway. So you two get out of town to see Allustan. We'll meet you there later. I'm gonna see what's eating him. Watch your backs!"
Harrigan jogs after Brashen, "Hold up yer explosive-ness! I'm coming with you."
"Sounds like a plan. After you talk with the old man we might have a better idea of how much coin we can split anyway. So you two get out of town to see Allustan. We'll meet you there later. I'm gonna see what's eating him. Watch your backs!"
Harrigan jogs after Brashen, "Hold up yer explosive-ness! I'm coming with you."
Brash turns on the dwarf, his face still a mask on anger. He seems about to retort to Harrigans comment, but visibly stops himself, and takes a deep breath instead. After a moments pause, he nods his head in silent thanks, and hurries on down the side street, taking large quick strides.
Moth
Brash will head to his parents place, only slowing down his pace when his a few blocks away, where will start to be more cautious and look for signs of being watched etc.
Brashen is heading off down a side street – Harrigan can probably catch up to him easily enough unless Brash makes a concentrated effort to get away.
Andolphas and Boland meanwhile thread their way through Diamond Lake’s twisted and hilly streets and lanes, heading towards Allustan’s home near the outskirts of the town proper.
Andolphas and Boland
Allustan’s house is by no means as large as the mansion dwellings of some of the town’s mine managers, but it is of a generous size, and set apart from most of the other buildings in Diamond Lake by several things; firstly, rather than having walls of bare brick, stone or timber, or covered in whitewash, it is neatly and brightly painted in blue paint with red roof tiles. Secondly, it boasts a four story tower rising up from one corner of the building. Thirdly, it is one of the few buildings in town to be surrounded by a neat lawn of actual green grass (a ground cover that grows patchily at best in the local environs).
When the two adventurers step through the gate in the hedge around the property, Allustan is sitting on a stool in his front yard, the enormous tree stump before him acting as a very adequate table as he enjoys a breakfast of fresh loaves and tea in the (relatively, for Diamond Lake) fresh air.
He looks up expectantly, having heard the jiggle of Boland’s key in the lock of the gate. “Boland!” he calls with enthusiasm. “By Boccob’s blessed book, it is good to see you alive and well. I feared ... well, never mind that now. I see by your lack of bruises and cuts this time that this new adventuring life is treating you better than when I saw you a few morning’s back.” He seems about to say more, then stops and nods politely at Andolphas. “Good morning,” he says guardedly, glancing back at Boland as if to ensure that it is alright to speak freely.
Andolphas half-bows and returns the wizard's greetings, but waits for Boland to make the formal introductions before saying anything further.
"Shall we save the shopping 'til after we've visited Allustan?" asks Andolphas to Boland and Harrigan, still perplexed by Brashen's unexplained outburst.
"Does one of you know something I don't... about him?" murmurs the priest, clearly referring to the warrior. "Just when I thought we were starting to get along..."
Boland is about to call after Brashen, but seems to decide against and closes him mouth without making a sound. When Andolphas asks after the big man's odd behaviour, he shrugs, but wear's a slightly concerned expression on his face.
"I know probably as much about him as you do. But I get the feeling his abrupt behaviour was hiding something else; possibly fear, though I can't say for sure as I've never seen him scared before. It is good that Harrigan has gone with him."
He looks up expectantly, having heard the jiggle of Boland’s key in the lock of the gate. “Boland!” he calls with enthusiasm. “By Boccob’s blessed book, it is good to see you alive and well. I feared ... well, never mind that now. I see by your lack of bruises and cuts this time that this new adventuring life is treating you better than when I saw you a few morning’s back.” He seems about to say more, then stops and nods politely at Andolphas. “Good morning,” he says guardedly, glancing back at Boland as if to ensure that it is alright to speak freely.
"Allustan!" Boland greets the older man with enthusiasm. "Yes, we have come from the temple and the Lady Amariss was good enough to heal our wounds this time around. Three is much to tell..." The words spill out before he realises that Allustan has fallen quiet, waiting on an introduction.
"Oh, sorry," Boland says sheepishly. "This is my friend Andolphas, a priest of the Dark-Eyed Lady. He knows of the Cairn, for he was a member of the group that accompanied me there. Allustan, we have done it; we've found an un-touched tomb, that of Zosiel. He was a vassal to Icosiel, the great hero of the Wind Dukes. We have some items to show you! Show him Andolphas."
He motions to Andolphas' pack and then reaches into his own and pulls forth the items he carries, first the book and then the metal box.
"It is an honour to meet you, sir. We servants of the Dark-Eyed Lady hold those who master the magical arts in the highest esteem." Andolphas bows slightly as he speaks.
" I would, however, feel more comfortable showing your mentor our finds within the safety of his tower walls, Boland... if you would not object, sir?" The latter question is clearly directed at Allustan.
Brash continues to walk at a brisk pace through the towns streets, but not so fast as to outpace Harrigan. He walks with a determined scowl on his face, heading towards a fairly poor part of town.
Brashen and Harrigan:
This area is home to drunks and addicts, former miners who are too sick or injured to work, the widows and children of dead miners, whores well past their prime, and other folk too poor to afford anywhere better.
Brashen leads the way down a narrow, dusty street where children wearing rags play a game with sticks and rocks, towards a small, run down house where a man works to repair a broken front door between bouts of coughing.
The man turns as you approach. Harrigan may be struck by how much the man looks like an older version of Brashen; certainly he must once have been tall and strong like the younger man, but now he is stooped, his frame withered and chest sunken. There is a dark stain about his mouth, one of the signs of the blacklung that afflicts many miners. He also sports a newly blackened eye.
“Son,” he croaks, his voice a hoarse whisper, as he spies Brashen. “Someone’s lookin’ for you.”
Boland and Andolphas
“Zosiel’s tomb,” breathes Allustan in wonder. “I had guessed as much from the glyphs you showed me – now that I have deciphered them – though I suppose now you have done so as well. Untouched! This is astounding. But yes,” and here Allustan turns away from Boland and looks to Andolphas. “quite right young man. Some things are best discussed indoors. Come, I’ll make you a cup of tea and we shall talk.”
Allustan leads the way inside, through a hall decorated with old paintings and strange wooden and metal masks on the wall and to his study. This room contains a large, battered wooden desk, some comfortable chairs, two walls lined with shelves groaning with books, and a side table on which rests a dragonchess board, apparently set up in mid-game, although a fine layer of dust coats the whole assemblage. There is also a very familiar looking lantern, of archaic design and with panes of indigo glass, hanging from a hook in the ceiling.
Allustan takes a seat behind the desk and gestures for both of you to take chairs as well. “It seems that you have a lot to tell me, but it is only fair that I report first on what I have been looking into on Boland’s behalf – although it seems that you may already know some of it. The glyphs that you showed me Boland are Vaati name-glyphs. I won’t go too much into their history unless you want me to, as it seems you may have learnt as much about them as I know. The names are of course Zosiel – the one you found on the sarcophagus; Icosiol, the glyph carved into that strange, broken apparatus you found; and Nadroc, the glyph you found carved into the floor in one of the lower levels. Zosiel and Icosiol you know of; Nadroc, it seems, was a famous architect amongst the Wind Dukes, and it said that some of his works survive even till this day … on the Plane of Elemental Air. I suspect that those model buildings you showed me may be replicas of his work.”
The sage notices that your gaze keeps returning to the indigo lantern hanging near his desk, and he smiles. “There is a story behind that, though I guess that you may know some of it; a few days ago, the morning after you and I last spoke Boland, a man named Khellek called on me. He introduced himself as a wizard from the Free City, and immediately struck me as a rather unpleasant and arrogant man. He asked me what I knew of The Whispering Cairn. Well, I wasn’t about to lead him to a place that I knew you were exploring, so I tried to press him for what he knew already, which unfortunately seemed to be quite a lot. According to him, his apprentice, a man named Nikola, had stolen from him an old journal of a man named Ulavant – a member of that organization known as The Seekers – who had been preparing to mount an expedition to what he believed was an un-desecrated cairn in the vicinity of Diamond Lake some sixty years ago. It seems that Khellek had discovered some vague details of the expedition, but his apprentice stole the journal before he could discover the exact whereabouts and name of the cairn.
“He, Khellek, gathered some companions and came here anyway, hoping to either find Nikola or the cairn – or both. Somewhere along the way – and his story grew a little vague here – they gained the impression that the cairn they sought was the old Stirgenest Cairn across the lake to the south east. As you could expect, they found nothing of interest there after several days of exploring, but on returning to town they overheard some whispers or rumours that someone had in fact discovered what might be the cairn they were searching for, and came up with the name – The Whispering Cairn. Further enquiries led them to a man named Gest – I believe he was a friend of yours when you were younger Boland? One of the boys who you and that Brashen fellow used to play with out in the hills? Anway, Gest told them of a cairn that he had explored as a child, and told them where to find it. Khellek wanted me to confirm what he already knew, but I told him, honestly enough, that I believed the Whispering Cairn had already been found and explored, that I did not know its location at any rate, and sent him on his way.
“Yesterday morning Khellek returned. He told me that he and his companions had indeed discovered the Whispering Cairn … but admitted that it seemed to have been explored already. They did find a number of lamps like the one that hangs above me, and he wanted to know if they were Vaati artifacts, and if they had any magical properties. Now the design of the lamps seems archaic and alien, and they may indeed be Vaati by design – but they must be replicas if so. As I told Khellek, this lamp is decades old, maybe a century or two at most, and has no magical properties. The Vaati were here thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of years ago, and no ordinary lamp made of brass and glass would survive that long in such condition. I did offer to buy one though, as a curiosity. Rather dejected, Khellek left – I believe he and his companions set out to return to Greyhawk yesterday.”
Boland and Andolphas
“As for these relics,” Allustan adds, looking at the items you show him, “they appear fascinating. But, if a simple detect magic cantrip didn’t reveal all their properties,” he glances at Boland for confirmation, “then some research is in order. I’ll devote the day to it, and the night ahead if needs be. Leave them with me and with some hard work and a little luck, I will hopefully have some answers for you this time tomorrow morning. Now … tell me more about Zosiel’s tomb.”
Moth and Harrigan
He moves forwards and takes his fathers arm, leading him gently through the door and into the rundown house. 'Sorry pa, I should have been here. Wheres ma? What happened?'
He motions for Harrigan to follow them inside.
Brashen and Harrigan:
Mister Trell gestures for you to take seats. “I don’t judge the choices you’ve made in your life son. The gods know they’re no worse than mine. But I don’t like this trouble coming down on your ma. Can you deal with the albino, or do we need head to the hills for a bit?” He’s realistic enough about the way things work in this town that he doesn’t even suggest going to the authorities for help.
"Before we tell you more about the cairn, wise one, can you tell us something about the strange-looking worms contained in this jar? The necromancer Filge, who dwelled in a tower a few miles from town, was using them as part of his experiments... And whatever the necromancer may have been up to, it seems that swine Smenk has a hand in it..."
Andolphas holds up the jar of worms for Allustan to see.
“Hmmm. A vicious looking little thing isn’t it?” the sage muses, stroking his luxurious black beard. He points out the round, open mouth on one end of the worm, filled with several rows of tiny, shark-like teeth. “Well, necromancy is not really my area of expertise,” he admits after a moment, with a glance at Boland. “I’ll need to research this as well. This necromancer, Filge – what do you know of him and his experiments? Why do you think this worm is significant?”
Moth and Harrigan
Brash digests the information for a moment, before reaching into his coin belt and taking out some gold and silver (15 sp, 9 gp, already deducted off character sheet) He hands the coins to his father.
'I'll deal with this, I'll deal with that bastard Kullen. But it might not be tonight. To be on the safe side, stay somewhere else for a few nights, or until you hear from me. Maybe one of the nicer inns, somewhere Kullen and his friends wont find you. Go tonight, before the 9th bell. Stay there until you hear form me.'
Brash's features have slowly begun to harden into a look of simmering rage, though his voice remains calm as he talks to his father.
'In the meantime, I'll give you a hand with the door. Don't tell anyone where your going. It'll be ok.'
Brash will try to help fix the door, or at least prop it up so its not obviously broken.
“Hmmm. A vicious looking little thing isn’t it?” the sage muses, stroking his luxurious black beard. He points out the round, open mouth on one end of the worm, filled with several rows of tiny, shark-like teeth. “Well, necromancy is not really my area of expertise,” he admits after a moment, with a glance at Boland. “I’ll need to research this as well. This necromancer, Filge – what do you know of him and his experiments? Why do you think this worm is significant?”
"Boland recovered a letter written by Smenk and addressed to Filge, in the necromancer's tower. The letter said something about a "cult situation" worsening, and about someone studying, deep beneath Dourstone Mine, green worms and unkillable zombies brought in from the southern hills. Smenk had brought back a worm specimen for Filge to study. He said they infested some kind of rare undead called the Spawn of Kyuss--the unkillable zombies referred to in the letter, he believed. Filge said a live worm could turn someone into a Spawn of Kyuss in a few short moments. He suspected that the cult to which Smenk referred--a cult apparently known as the Ebon Triad--was trying to create Spawns of Kyuss. He also said that these spawn were self-replicating, like wights or ghouls... only more dangerous...
"Have you heard of either these Spawns of Kyuss, or of the Cult of the Ebon Triad before, Learned One? The Lady Amariss, head of my order, has had prophetic dreams of an impending time of darkness... are they all somehow connected?"
Brashen and Harrigan:
“Just be careful,” he says. “That Albino is bad news through and through. And strong enough to give even you a run for your money Brash.”
Harrigan, the lock is a very simple one, you can easily repair it. Meanwhile father and son manage to repair the broken hinge.
“As for these relics,” Allustan adds, looking at the items you show him, “they appear fascinating. But, if a simple detect magic cantrip didn’t reveal all their properties,” he glances at Boland for confirmation, “then some research is in order. I’ll devote the day to it, and the night ahead if needs be. Leave them with me and with some hard work and a little luck, I will hopefully have some answers for you this time tomorrow morning. Now … tell me more about Zosiel’s tomb.”
"Well, we may be able to find out their properties. In the excitement and exhaustion of the last few days, and immersing myself in Zosiel's history, I have not had a real chance to study them more closely. Lady Amariss revealed some of their properties, though this one left her a little stumped" he says, holding up the curious box.
"We are also potentially interested in selling some of these relics. I was hoping you would be able to help us find suitable buyers; those who will pay for what they are worth, but ensure they are made available to scholars who would seek to learn from them?"