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"Actually, there is no curse - this thing was left by the dwarves who used to live here many hundreds of years ago, to prove to your Guardian that we were allies. Stinkeye is alive - we put him back in his room, using his toy." He then winces, before ruefully admitting. "I have a feeling that we probably *are* looking for the guy who caused the collapse, but don't judge us based on what he did, please. Regarding the blindfolds, we had the permission of the kobolds outside to borrow them, so that we could get past Stinkeye. You can have them back; as I said, we were borrowing them."
Radagast then moves forward, and takes up a defensive position, attempting to knock the most dangerous-looking kobold nearest him out.
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Cathryn and Radagast seem to calm down the kobolds, but they demand more answers. "Where did you get this thing? Did you steal it? I bet you did!"
Tariq readies his crossbow while Radagast tries to knock out one of the kobolds. He hits, but apart from a very terrible headache the kobold is not injured and still standing.
One of the kobolds moves behind Cathryn with his crossbow loaded.
"Stop that fight!" the gargoyle shouts.
Naktok
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Tariq
Radagast
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Sniper pink
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Cathryn
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Kobold green
Kobold red
Bomber blue -11NL
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Irisus
Beorin
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Radagast's explanation, Irisus' agreement and the angry gargoyle are enough to calm the kobolds down, for now. One of the kobolds approaches you, staring at nothing particular. "My name is Naktok. It's ok, you may look for your missing comrade, but I'm afraid we don't have good news. We may help you with your mission, but first we have to check if our defenses are still in place." the blind leader says and the kobolds leave you alone with the gargoyle.
Naktok goes to check on Stinkeye, and his sulking comrades go to check if the traps near the entrance are still functional. The Golden Guardian is still suspicious of you because you look nothing like the dwarves it knew millennia ago.
"I want to test you, if it is true what you are telling. Please follow me up on top of the massive stone hammer." the gargoyle asks you to follow him and moves up the stairs to Tariq's position to view a series of murals on the wall.
"The bearers of the dwarven talisman would know the meaning of the murals, unless you acquired the talisman through dishonest means."
The first mural depicts a dwarf in a cave gazing up and shielding her eyes with a hand.
The mural depicts the ancient dwarven migration to the surface known as the Quest for Sky. According to legend, Torag gave the dwarves a prophecy that prompted them to leave their original homes in the Darklands realm of Nar-Voth.
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The Guardian nods and leads you to the next mural. The mural depicts a fireball with long, trailing streaks descending from the sky.
The mural depicts a historical event called the Rain of Stars. Before recorded history, a fireball fell from the heavens and crashed into the land now called Numeria. Modern scholars believe the fireball was a vessel of some sort.
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Aid another
"hum i remember there a astronimical event similiar to that... I can't remember the name."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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With Irisus's aid, Beorin manages to recall what happened.
"A historical event called the Rain of Stars. Before recorded history, a fireball fell from the heavens and crashed into the land they call Numeria. Some of those same scholars say that the fireball was in fact a vessal."
Turning to his companion.
"You have my thanks."
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The Guardian nods again and leads you to the third mural. The mural depicts two dwarves locked in battle. One of them has long, braided hair while the other is bald.
The bald dwarf in the mural is a duergar. According to legend, an outcast god turned their heads bald and their skin ashen gray. They are infamous slavers who believe that the surface dwarves are traitors of their race and that other creatures are fit only for service and torment.
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"I don't know, this was long before my time." the guardian answers to Cahtryn's question.
The next mural depicts four complex symbols arranged on the four points of a compass rose slanted slightly to the right.
The symbol set on the south point of the compass rose is a stylized version of the symbol engraved on the piece of metal that you found inside the dwarven talisman.
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The sixth mural depicts a map with many rooms, some crude, others skillfully carved and rich in detail.
This mural depicts a stylized version of Ashkurhall, the dwarven settlement whose ruins the PCs are exploring. The map quite accurately shows how the parts that were built later are architecturally more impressive.
The seventh mural depicts a dwarf with his eyes cast to the ground and his hand held against his chest.
The dwarf looks worried and has lost much weight. It is likely that the dwarf depicted has a terminal disease.
The eighth mural depicts a demonlike creature with horns and wings.
The creature is a monstrous humanoid called a gargoyle. Gargoyles are best known for their ability to freeze in place to look like a statue. They are also ageless beings, and over time, their appearance changes to match the surrounding architecture.
The ninth mural depicts a humanoid with bulbous eyes and bowed legs.
The creature is a grippli, a member of the same race of humanoids from whom you gained the dwarven talisman.
The last mural depicts a dwarf whose weapons and armor are made of wood and stone rather than metal. His skin bears numerous simple tattoos, and several bright feathers adorn his beard.
The dwarf in the mural is a Taralu. These jungle dwarves practice a version of ancestor worship alongside the worship of totems based on local creatures, particularly dragons and wyverns. These dwarves have a small but notable presence within the city of Kibwe.
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" I heard of them. The dwarf in the mural is a Taralu. These jungle dwarves practice a version of ancestor worship alongside the worship of totems based on local creatures, particularly dragons and wyverns. These dwarves have a small but notable presence within the city of Kibwe."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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After hearing your explanations the Golden Guardian nods approvingly. "You truly are the worthy bearers of the talisman, so I shall tell you a story that Sigrin of Ashkurhall, the founder of this place, once told me. Long ago, when Sigrin’s father ruled as king, the dwarves rose from the depths and built a citadel so mighty that even a titan would gaze upon it in awe. Centuries later, a shower of stars rained upon a land not far from the dwarven hold. The dwarves marched to investigate. They found many wonderful things, the greatest of which was the mysterious artifact they named the Sky Key. But dark times soon followed, for their cousins from the underworld fell upon the dwarven citadel. Caught unprepared, the dwarves knew they could not hold off against the siege. The king ordered all but his most trusted guards to leave, and stayed behind to buy his people timed to escape. Before Sigrin and her three siblings left to lead the dwarves to safety, the king gave each of them a piece of the Sky Key, and kept one for himself. The dwarves traveled far and wide, but the dangerous journey across the unknown land caused rifts in their clan. One by one, the king’s children went their separate ways, each taking a piece of the key and a part of the clan. Sigrin’s dwarves made their way to this continent, and though they found it quite inhospitable, they pressed on. After much searching, they found gold and started building this place. Their prosperity grew with each passing decade."
Grinning, the Guardian continues, "That’s when I entered the picture. We didn’t get along at first, but I came to realize they were decent people, who appreciated stone and gold as much as I did. Their luck did not last, however. A sickness came over the dwarves, and the survivors were too few in number to continue their lineage. Rather than slowly die out here, they chose to leave. However, they wanted someone to watch over this place. They chose me. Sigrin went to her grippli allies and gave them her piece of the key. Where the dwarves were going, they couldn’t hold onto their memories and traditions. I think Sigrin made up a monstrous story about me — I probably deserved it,"
the Guardian says with a grin, "but the story was to protect this place and the piece of the key."
The Guardian stares at the last mural for a long time. "The dwarves left to join their cousins who lived in the jungle to the east. They never came back."
Just as you finish speaking with the Golden Guardian, the group of kobolds returns, screaming "More intruders! They attacked us!"