Blue Team:
The group from Three Oaks heads west towards Dunshale and the cave where the Archive is hidden. On the way, they overtake a group of monks from the Wellhouse, transporting Heyward Ironhead. The dwarf is currently being carried on a litter. His legs twisted and broken from the unkindly ministrations of Varrus' allies. His arms must still have some strength to them, judging by the pair of crutches that rests on the litter beside him.
With the party's help, the journey to the cave is a bit easier. You arrive to find the entrance hidden by brush and a net strung across the opening of the cave. Master Heyward is helped up and takes to his crutches to enter.
You are met at the entrance by a pair of acolytes, who escort you to the room the nocturne had used as a common area. Here you are met by Gendo, who introduces you to the pair he says are part of a group that informed the monastery about the Archive. Before you are a gnome...and a dwarven cleric of Baal.
Red Team: A few days pass. In that time Magnus spends a lot of time playing cards with Terranus. He doesn't get much more information out of the strange, earthy man, who seems about as scattered as before. He does not that despite his apparent confusion, he's a quick learner at cards and begins winning more hands than he loses.
Then one afternoon a group is led into the large cave near the entrance. A group of monks in similar garb to the group here lead a crippled dwarf on crutches, closely followed by a group of apparent commoners. A broad-shouldered human with a smith's hammer on his belt and a bundle of firewood over his shoulder leads the quartet. A tall, skinny fellow with thinning hair is next, smelling faintly of herbs. Next to him stands an alluring looking woman with an owl perched upon her shoulder, its wide eyes reflecting the torchlight. Finally, a handsome fellow carrying a spear and net, the unmistakable odor of smoked fish about him.
Magnus rises to his full height and steps forward, looking each of the newcomers over before greeting the group. "Hello, I am Magnus, and this is my friend, Tuboo." The gnome gestures to a small weasel near his feet, then clicks his tongue wildly and spouts gibberish. The weasel bows its head and then goes up to each of the people in turn and touches its paws to their feet. "He's a bit lacking for a proper handshake, you see. And who are you?"
Kalaya steps forward, gracing the gnome with a smile. As the Owl on her shoulder stares at the weasel intently she chuckles slightly.
"No Whisperwing, he's a friend not prey."
She extends a hand to Magnus.
"I'm Kalaya, nice to meet you Magnus.
Finally, a handsome fellow carrying a spear and net, the unmistakable odor of smoked fish about him.
Recognising the dwarf's holy symbol, Liam scowls as he enters. He shoots a look at Auric. "So what's this all about then," he growls, hands tightening on his spear. His voice raises in intensity as he speaks on. "We sleeping with the enemy now? If I liked dwarven followers of Baal, I woulda stayed in Three Oaks me whole life - plenty o' bearded tyrants passin' through there all the time. Have you lot been playin' me for a fool all along? Well?" His last word very nearly a shout, he spits loudly on the ground in front of him, which is certainly in the general direction of the dwarf. Liam casts his eyes around the room, looking like a trapped animal.
"Liam!", the broad-shouldered man says sternly,"Watch your tone and mind your words! I don't know either of these men, but Jon and I know Gendo quite well and you won't find a more devoted servant to Mimir or our cause. If these fellows have aided Gendo and his brothers, then they deserve the benefit of the doubt at the very least. You didn't exactly take to me at first either, if you'll recall, but here we are."
Auric steps forward.
"Forgive him. Liam's a good sort, even if he leaps to conclusions. My name's Auric- good to meet the both of you."
"It's quite all right," Stilgar says in a gruff yet polite tone. He shakes his head somberly as he does so, all but sighing at his predicament. "Your friend is perhaps wise to be wary of me - especially in times like these. But I am not here to cause trouble." The dwarf hazards a glance at Liam before continuing. "I am Stilgar Fulgrum, and I am indeed a servant of Baal. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Liam backs down slightly at Auric's stern tone - obviously he puts great stock in the other young man's opinion - though he still appears on edge. Stilgar's humble words and manner, however, cause Liam to lower his weapon, and a faint blush suffuses his features. Still, traces of his anger, worry and stress remain obvious in his expression. In a somewhat more restrained tone, he asks, "Then tell me what, in the name of Kurnan, this... dwarf... is doing here."
At this point, the monk Auric and Jon greeted as Gendo--a rather taciturn looking fellow, with a slim, muscular build and close-cropped black hair--speaks.
"They claim to be companions of a dwarf that wintered with us at the Wellhouse. He was an outcast and claimed that he and his company had discovered a magical Archive, and that Master Heyward was a descendant of its original caretakers. Having been here before, I took it upon myself to come and prepare the place for the master's arrival."
"These two arrived a few days ago. They've been..." Gendo trails off, flicking a glance at Magnus a moment before continuing. "...helping us further explore the complex. There have been some developments."
"Developments indeed! A most curious question and a puzzle all wrapped inside an ancient secret. Truly it is a great gift. Do come with me and I will show you my discovery!"
Magnus gestures for the group to follow him down a series of short tunnels. Upon coming to the correct door, Magnus casts his light spell on a sign that has been put up in recent days to emphasize it. The sign reads "DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING"
Magnus then casts the open spell to leverage the door to Terranus' room open. There are cards scattered over the floor in front of a stone statue in the centre of a tall lit chamber. Magnus goes in first and begins to speak loudly to the statue in the centre.
"He can be rather... forward, at times," Stilgar says to the others sheepishly. Along the way, he elaborates on Gendo's words some. "Brother Brodgar is a longtime friend. He was with us when we drove the nocturne out of the cavern. Of course, it was some time before we happened upon the sanctum itself. Unfortunately, we have had to part ways since then."
Gendo hastily instructs the other monks to escort Master Heyward to prepared quarters. Then he takes the time to welcome the others properly.
Liam follows the odd little gnome into the statue chamber, staying near the rear of the group so as to keep Stilgar in front of him and in his field of vision. There remains n air of anger about him, evidenced by the scowl that mars his otherwise attractive features.
As they enter, he gestures with his shortspear. "What're these for?"
Magnus pauses for a moment and looks at the different statues in turn. "Put simply, they are all guardians. These around the outside guard the centre from escaping. The centre guards information, knowledge, and an ancient powerful entity, amongst other things." Magnus notes Liam's shortspear. "No need for that, it wouldn't do you too much good fighting stone as is."
As the conversation goes on, the "statue" in the middle of the room--apparently that of an old grizzled man seated on a stone,carved of the rock and of fine detail except where the carving ends, leaving unworked tone where the feet should be--suddenly shifts position, turning its head to Magnus as he speaks, a fine dusting of dirt and grit falling from his hair as he does.
As the "statue" moves, Auric gasps a little.
"HO-ly jeez!", he exclaims before clearing his throat. "So I guess you're the prisoner, then."
Liam is likewise a little startled, taking a half-step backwards. "Oh! I see!"
Kalaya starts, hands raising in a hexing guesture as Whiperwing takes to the air flying a protective circle around her.
"This is Terranus," Stilgar says, gesturing towards the statuesque man. "He has been here for... quite some time now. We have yet to learn exactly why he was imprisoned here, asides from his claim that he somehow offended his deity - Erda, the Earth Mother."
At Stilgar's pronouncement the figure nods, sending another light rain of grit down. He looks up at the group with eyes that glitter like agates.
"Yes...brought offense to the Mother. Chained here...near Her. Restrained...but sustained."
Liam steps forward, the lure of this fantastic story drawing him in. "Yes, so, restrained, sustained... And then what? Surely the Mother has a plan for you, a means of redemption, a way to finally atone for... What?
"What did you do do? If you don't mind me asking, of course." His voice quickens, raising in intensity as he continues. "But that's the way these things work. The key to your tale is what you did wrong, and how you can fix it. And I'm sure we can help you figure it out, once you tell us how you came to be here. Unless you know already..."
Liam pauses as he muses - then realises he has been rambling somewhat, and that this statue could likely snap him in twain with a flick of its wrist. His eyes widen a little, and his voice assumes a more respectful tone. "So, uh, mighty statue - will you tell us your story? Please?"
The strange fellow gives a great shrug of his shoulders. "Don't know...been here alone so long. Tried to help the Mother, to heal her...but I was wrong. Wrong and punished. Just want to help...she hurts, so much." His eyes wander away from Liam, their gaze wandering around the room but not seeming to take in much. Then he murmurs something, low and soft.
Perception:
Auric keeps quiet, his arms crossed.
kn. Planes:
Kalaya lowers her arms, intently studying the unisual man.
Liam leans forward. "What was that?" he ask the stony figure regarding his last words.
Jon, his face blank as usual, listens carefully to the earthman's tale.
"What exactly is crescentmarch?"
Magnus nudges Stilgar and pulls him aside while the others speak to Terranus.
Magnus returns to the other group as they discuss the Crescentmarch.
Knowledge History
Knowledge- untrained:
"Crescentmarch?"
"Crescent March? It used to be part of the Iron Marches," rumbles a deep voice from the doorway. Turning, the group sees that Master Ironhead has hobbled his way in to take a look at the prisoner. "It was the southwest border of dwarven lands. It was overrun centuries ago and abandoned by dwarves and men alike. A bit before my time, I'm afraid."
Auric scratches the back of his head, looking perplexed.
"Well. That's something. But what does it have to do with our new acquaintance here? Anything you want to let us know about it, Terranus? We are in a position to help, after all, especially if it can give us a fuller picture of the land's history... and what it might mean for our future and yours."
Diplomacy:
Liam steps forth with a troubled mien. "I've heard of Crescentmarsh. Many times over, I have. 'Tis a place of darkness, of brooding horror. Even the most evil dwarf fears its name, and the curséd short ones patrol it most heavily. If this stone man says it is the cause, or the effect, of his ruin, I doubt it not. I could tell you twelve different tales of its darkness."
Liam shivers as he contemplates the tales that spring to mind. "Having said all that, 'tis probably the place we need to seek out, if we wish to solve the riddle of the stone man."
Terranus raises his head, glittering eyes fixing on Auric. "Yes...the future. I can help you. I can help us all...finish what I started. The Lens, it is still in the Crescent March...hid it. If I were free and had the Lens, I could heal the Mother."
Master Ironhead interrupts, clearing his throat. "Before we go any further with this discussion, perhaps the rest of us can take a meal together and have a chat. Gendo, please see your friends to the common room." Then he turns about on his crutches and hobbles away.
Gendo watches him go, his brow furrowed. Then he turns to the others. "We should leave the prisoner for the time being," he says, flicking a pointed glance at Magnus. He looks back at his former traveling companions, face softening a bit and an apologetic tone in his voice. "The Master may have further insight to share."
Auric nods, his expression momentarily more suited to someone that accidentally stepped on a stranger's foot.
"Sure. Please excuse us.", he says to the stone man before turning to follow Gendo's mentor.
Jon hangs back, staring at the stone man, clearly bothered. "This is folly, dealing with gods. Folly." he mutters, then heads after Auric.
"Well... We didn't agree to anything yet. That rare disease I have which makes me really helpful started acting up and I had to press him for more information. His aura isn't evil, if that helps at all..."
"Come along, Magnus," Stilgar says, wary of leaving the gnome alone with Terranus, "Let us hear what Master Ironhead has to say."
Along the way, he overhears Auric's words, and raises a brow. "His aura?"
"Very well then, I'm coming. Terranus, do call if you need anything." Magnus turns to leave the room, but before he does, he casts prestidigitation once more to gather the cards.
Magnus is along immediately behind the group, and listens eagerly to their input during the next conversation. His attention drifts from time to time, he seems to stare off into space, or into himself.