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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rybaer" data-source="post: 2425115" data-attributes="member: 118">Refresher material, from previous (and now pretty old) posts:Iriana visibly pales as Pyior recites the contents of the hidden message. "Shaddeck," she says. "That arrogant bastard. He just doesn't see what securing the Keep means to the safety of this region."She leans heavily against the pedestal in the center of the room and sighs deeply. Her bearing has lost much of the strength and surety that it had when you had first met her."Shaddeck is an old acquaintance of mine," she says. "Fellow student, actually. We studied together at the Sharden Enclave. The guy always rubbed me the wrong way - arrogant, self-absorbed, and eager to prove himself smarter than everyone else. Might just have been a verrick thing, but still..."The town of Sharden is just north of the Floating Forest, in the foothills of the Bitter Peaks. Only a week by horse from here, I suppose. Anyway, not too far from Sharden in the Bitter Peaks is a long abandoned Akashic school - Kisthmetch. It is now a destination for thrill seekers or those eager to join the Brothers of Shadow. Those who enter Kisthmetch and conquer the Heart of Night, by overcoming their fears, are welcomed into the order."The Brothers of Shadow aren't much more than a loose affiliation of those who have made it through Kisthmetch. More a fraternity than an organization with any goal."Given the close proximity of Kisthmetch to Sharden, it is quite common for the students of the Enclave to test their mettle against the Heart of Night. Shaddeck and I went into the place together. He passed while I failed."Iriana is quiet for a moment, her eyes unfocused as she is lost in memory."I need the Ebonring if there is any hope of securing this keep and in turn this entire region," she says, strength returning to her voice. "Yet I cannot go to Kisthmetch to retrieve it myself. Were I to leave here for the two or three weeks it would take, the soldiers would likely abandon this endeavor."And I don't think I could face that place again," she adds in a hoarse whisper."Could you complete this quest you have started for me? I will triple your pay and provide horses for the journey. Please?"*****Pyior to Shaddeck:"Anyway, back to the matter at hand. We had hoped to convince you of the importance of returning the Ebonring to it's rightful place in the keep. The ring is the keystone in making the newly captured keep a new force for stability in the region!"Starting almost as an aside, Pyior continues talking past the point at which it would have been wise to stop. "Failing that, we had hoped to accept your challenge and face the Heart of Night in Iriana's stead."Indicating Ritsar... "To be more accurate I believe this Litorian, whom we just met yesterday, wishes to face the Heart of Night as some sort of personal test. But my companions and I would just as well skip that part and be on our way with the Ebonring if we have a choice in the matter."Shaddeck listens to Pyior with an even expression and no interjections."Well, I don't know what your true intentions or motivations are," he says. "Either you're in this because of some sense of duty to protecting that region, or you're in it for whatever payment Iriana has offered you. Frankly, I don't particularly care to know your reasons."I'm not surprised that Iriana would send someone in her stead. She is weak. I don't know exactly why she has undertaken this endeavor to reclaim the Keep and the ring, but I would caution you not to accept her intentions as entirely pure or noble. I suspect she's only in it for the ring, and her claims to use it to secure the region are either outright lies or only half-truths intended to get the help she needed to push out the rhodin."He pauses, studying each member of the group as if trying to read their souls."It was only by circumstance that I became aware of her activities. I had never had any intention of interfering, but when the ring practically fell into my possession I began to wonder just what she was up to. I have no personal interest in keeping the ring. Its magic, while powerful, is also tainted. I won't deny her the right to claim it, but as one old friendly rival to another, I decided to make her earn it without the help of her hired army. Hence, I placed it in the one place she most fears to go."The Ebonring is in Kisthmetch. If you still wish to claim it, then you need only prove yourselves worthy of that place's legacy. The resting place of the ring can only be found by those who have passed the test. What you do with it then is up to you - return it to Iriana, keep it for yourselves, or find some way to be rid of it. I just urge you to use your best judgement before handing it back over to a woman whose courage is at best left wanting."In response to questions of Iriana's motivations:"Oh, I don't kiss and tell on others," Shaddeck says with a wry grin. "You already know of her failure in Kisthmetch. It's not my place to give a one-sided account of my experiences with her...especially when she's not around to defend herself."I merely hope that you will use your own best judgement when dealing with her. Iriana's motivations may truly be noble this time. I cannot say for certain, though."More to come soon...</blockquote>

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