Responding to Jossan, Valgar explains, "When faced with grave decisions, our elders will consult with our ancestors; though they only share their wisdom in times of dire need."
In response to Almery's query about weapons, "Oh, I'm no master, at least not yet. Still, I've spent my share of time at the forge--I'll gladly inspect these weapons you speak of."
"As for the fox...let's just say dwarves are not renowned for hunting. I'll do what I can, little though it may be."
"I am Valen," the elf says simply, "And my people are known for the woodscraft."
"Thank ye again, Master Almery, and thanks ta th' goddess for this feast.
"I'm no skilled hunter m'self, but I'll gladly help ta track y'r fox, or whate'er it be."
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Uliana replies that she doesn't really remember her father, nor does Jossan. Almery explains that he left them with a relative when Uliana was but a newborn and Jossan was barely 2. Almery took them in when that relative died soon thereafter. Their "uncle" Almery is the only family they remember, although they do still have the sketch of their father, Ras Wald.
Almery thanks the group for their promise to track the fox. He asks Valgar if he would come down to the cellar to take a look at the various weapons and bits of armor that farmers have found buried in Lessef.
"Certainly!" Taking a last hearty bite of turkey leg, he rises from the table and follows Almery downstairs.
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Almery shows you the way downstairs. He has a rather sizeable collection of ancient bits of armor, and bits of weaponry, most in very poor condition. The majority is average human craftsmanship, although you can tell that a few pieces here and there were made by truly great craftsmen. Only one or two pieces are of dwarven make, and unfortunately nothing is in usable condition. As he is returning some of the pieces, you notice a bit of writing on one of the stone plates in the floor, although it's a bit covered in dust.
"Hello! What's this?" Valen says with interest and goes to inspect the writing.
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Oh, yes, that writting. I discovered that a while back. I think it is probably a message from Freya. If only my old eyes weren't so dim these days. Maybe you can make it out? We can move some of this furniture and rugs out of the way if you'd like. I would like to know what it says.
Atticus's dreams begin to intensify:
Once again you see the battlefield. At the head of a dark army rides the death-priest, heralded by the banner of a skull mounted atop a femur. Behind him, the hordes chant: "...Aurikus...Aurikus...Aurikus..." A man comes to the death priest to deliver a message:
Lord Akruel...the battle turns against us. The enemy marches upon Al-Sifon.
...
a jumble of images
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Then the confusion of battle, first with the light driving back the darkness, then the darkness cutting a path through the light.
...
a jumble of images
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Once again you see the priest of the sun bearing the Scepter. You see he and the death-priest striding towards each other. And you know the battleground..save for the hill, it is Lessef!
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a jumble of images
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A tall, gorgeous woman appears before you. She has long golden hair, and wears robes and a cloak of winter wolf fur. At her right side is a giant wolf, at her left side a graceful stag, and on her shoulder a fierce falcon. In her presence you feel more at peace than you ever have in your life. She speaks:
Reforge the splinters.
Atticus awakens, certain that it must be morning, but it seems that only an hour or so has passed.
Narcisse stays with the children and teaches them a counting game she learned when she was youngster in the fey world.
"Of course! Let's have a look." Valen says with enthusiasm.
Tally is also remaining upstairs with Narcisse and the children, packing up leftovers for Atticus and otherwise cleaning up.
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The letters are packed with dirt, but between Valen and Valgar working to clean it out, you soon have it cleaned out enough to be legible. It is written in an archaic but understandable form of Common:
Take heed, for undying iniquity rests within these walls.
Upon this site the scepter of united faith fulfilled destiny.
The dread priest, Akruel, shall rule no longer.
We, the faiths of the world, place this stone
so none shall ever forget the bloodshed.
Take heed, lest evil awaken!
"My. That sounds ominous. Where'd you say you found this?"
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This? Oh, it's been since well before my time. Original floor of the church, I suppose. Mayhap even older.
Jossan! Uliana! Time for you kids to get to bed. I let you stay up late to visit with these travlers, but it's well past your bedtimes.
Well, my friends, perhaps we can look into this mystery more tomorrow. My old bones need a rest. Stop by tomorrow before you go off a huntin' the fox.
The elf attempts to puzzle out the writing.
"You are right, Valgar, it does indeed sound dire. This edifice seems to be a prison for this Akruel, confined by the priests of several religions. Not very comforting. Especially if it has been forgotten for so long."
"This stonework is old...older than anything I've seen, even in Anvil Plunge. That writing has been here for many centuries."
"It's past time we made our way back to the inn, we have a fox to hunt in the morning. Thank you for your hospitality, father; we shall return in the morning."
Returning upstairs, Valgar retrieves his axe from its place by the door and rejoins the others.
"Anythin' o' use ta us down there?"
Narcisse goes to find Valen after saying goodnight to the children and carefully remembering to thank Almery.
"What did you find, Valen?"
Valen explains and voices his concern.
"That's terrible! Who is Akruel? What's the sceptre? Why has everybody forgotten about this place?"
Talisek laughs, not unkindly. "We're not s' long-lived as th' elves or th' dwarves, and we go t' war fer any reason or no reason. So some bright ol' sage, she writes this all down in a book, that book goes in some library, the library's in a city, an' all of a sudden the king next door looks at the city 'n thinks to hisself, 'Oh, here's a fine place just yearnin' for my kindly rulin' hand!' So he sends over some grunts like me with swords an' torches, and there goes the book.
"It's no' fair, but tha's the way o' things. It's why folks like ye need ta hold tight to whate'er y' learn, pass it round, so things don't get fergot tha' maybe should be 'membered well."
He pauses, struck by a thought. "P'raps we should speak to young Atticus o' this. He's no scholar, but he knows more than he knows. Iffin' y' know what I mean."
"That's a good idea, Tally. It just worries me that something that important should have been forgotten I suppose. That and there are children there and ... well, it would be nice if nothing bad happened to them."
"Enough worryin', there'll be time enough in the morn'. We should not keep the good father any longer; I for one am ready for a good night's rest!" Valgar announces, perhaps a bit more loudly than necessary ().
Valgar spends about half an hour before going to sleep removing and caring for his armor, checking each piece to make sure it's completely dry and rust-free. Satisfied, he settles in for a good night's sleep, his feet weary from the road, but his belly satisfied.
Narcisse watches Valgar checking his armour through half-closed eyelids and makes a mental note to herself never to wear any.
Tally takes rather less time hanging up and caring for his armor, but makes sure to get his boots off and socks rinsed and hung up to dry. "I'd better check on Atticus, make sure he 'membered ta take care o' that too. Poor lad'd walk on blisters for miles...."
"Atticus,"
Narcisse leans over and taps him gently on the arm.
"What were you dreaming about? We saw an inscription last night that talked about Akruel and a sceptre. Well, I'm saying 'we', but I don't mean me... but the thing is I've never heard that name before and now I've heard it twice in two days."
Tally will make sure that the innkeeper knows to bring Atticus some food. "Rest easy, lad. Be sure y'r well 'nough ta patch us up, an' we come back wi' holes in us! Foxes be fierce, sometimes."
"Ready for some fox hunting? Almery wanted us to stop by...shall we be off?"
"It'll be different, certainly. I've never done that before either."