Byntrou, Keryth:
Ellayna replies, "I am afraid that is the likely story. I am also afraid that I lied to you earlier. The stories that you heard before coming to see me were in fact true. Ellayna hung herself when she discovered that her husband had begun to go insane. What she didn't realize is that Markie was the first miner to make contact with our people. He was killed by someone in the mining guild, we know not who. However, rather than allow Ellayna to suffer unnecessarily, one of our own came to the surface as Markie. He began to weave a tale about why nobody could know how he was still alive."
She looked to Markie with sympathy and resumed her story. "Unfortunately, a barrier was established, severing Markie from the Recipient. Markie began to lose his mind in the silence of his ownthoughts. Not having the guidance and direction of the collective drove him insane. When the priests came to visit us, a plan was devised. I was sent out to pretend I was a human and help our replacement Markie. As you know, the priests were slaughtered. I only escaped by transforming myself into a rock while nobody was looking. When I was left alone, I too found myself severed from the Recipient. But I was prepared, whereas Markie was not. Markie ahd also been suffering for much longer than I had been. Through a series of desperate shiftings, I was able to escape the mine area."
A simple tear formed in her eye. "I arrived just after Ellayna had hung herself from a tree. In Markie's insanity, he had begun to take up residence in the temple. When I came to realize what had happened, I decided that I could best help Markie if I allowed his insanity to keep other people out of the temple. Thus, I could be here in secret. It worked well, these are a superstitious people. You were the first to ever try and get past Markie's raving madness. Although I admit it has not been too long since the priests were killed."
Ellayna sighs heavily. "I am assuming that the priest who stayed behind was also slaughtered. The plan was for him to stay behind until I returned with Markie. If I did not come back within a week, he was to come after me. Since he did not come back, I can only assume that either the priest has turned against my people or that he was killed by the same ones who put up the force field. And I suppose that since the force field has been down since you have left the mines and it has not gone up, that the way is paved for us to return home. Once Markie can be trusted, we can infiltrate the mine and return home. That should not be difficult."
So when jkason is finished, feel free to push on to Hemlock the next morning.[/SBLOCK]
