Forum

[Medriev]

“Galaghard was the name born by Draxius’ father and grandfather,” said Vyrellis as the companions made ready to leave the library where they had rested to heal their wounds. They had made camp on the tops of the shelves above the chamber to better keep watch for enemies and there, Telkya had cured Erlmoor and Lavren of the disease that had assailed them since the battle with the werewolf. Vyrellis had expected to find a chard of her life force in the statue at the centre of the library, which she said depicted her in life, but she had not. She had become agitated for several hours after that and had only now really calmed down.

“Perhaps the man was Galaghard and he too is trapped here,” Dulvarna suggested.
“No!” Vyrellis shouted. “I know who I saw and who I sensed. That was Draxius, whoever he claimed to be.”
“Then why would he claim to be his own grandfather?” Lavren questioned. “It makes no sense.”
“I know not,” Vyrellis answered, speaking more calmly now as she always did with Lavren. “I only know that what I sensed was a fragment of Draxius and no one else.”

“It is a mystery for another time,” said Thorn sternly. “We must decide our onward path now that we have defeated at least a part of Draxius.”
“We are yet to recover the shards of Vyrellis’ life force,” said Lavren. “We know the way upward through the pyramid but there is more exploration to be done here before we move on.”
“Agreed,” said Telkya. “And we should journey back to face the plant creatures. I for one would avenge my brother and perhaps bring him forth for a proper funeral.”

“Though I sympathise,” Erlmoor rumbled. “We cannot. We must go on as quickly as we can to find a way out of here. Litiraan would have wanted that and you, Vyrellis, would surely seek your freedom above all else.”
“What use is freedom without a body and a life, dragonborn” Vyrellis snarled.
“That is as maybe,” Dulvarna said with her usual calm authority. “But Erlmoor is right. We cannot linger here any longer than we have to. We must go back to the stairs and make our way upwards.”

As usual, the others slowly nodded their agreement with Dulvarna and gathered up their belongings to make their way back to the stairway upwards. When they were ready to leave, Dulvarna paused and pulled out the adamantine key that they had found in the chest in Galaghard’s chamber. It bore draconic runes that Erlmoor had translated as first in hardness, not in place though Dulvarna did not understand the phrase’s meaning. Shrugging, she put the key back into the pouch at her belt and led the companions out of the room.