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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Archon Basileus" data-source="post: 7282368" data-attributes="member: 6855545">SHAYURI"True. I asked him myself why he'd hire people to do the Braves job. No offence, but up until you know who you'd be working with, everyone is a liability. I often found him careless... Until I realized the many prices the Tideruler would demand. In the end, his Braves are not the ones being hunted by former users of the blade, now, are they?""Grontar gave you just as much as you needed to keep moving. You have my name, and you have the dagger. If you happen to get caught, I am the next natural target." - he smiles at the contours of Grontar's choices. "And even so I truly believe Grontar Ironsight wouldn't put you in risk, if he could have helped it."MORGRYM"You are an honest man, master dwarf" - Dram smiles as he courts Morgrym - "and such a quality is a rare gift. Still, it turns men into poor liars. You do have the dagger. You and your fair companions are far too concerned with its fate to leave it behind, and it can't be destroyed by regular means. Even the exquisite dwarven forges of the Old Kingdom would be defeated, should this be their purpose. Besides" - he looks around the room, towards the many portraits that crowd the walls - "I understand you hold with you a collection of magically-imbued items, one of particular power among them. Worry not, I would never try to force you to relinquish the dagger. I wouldn't be so low... Or so foolish." - he smiles as he acknowledges the travelers' skills."No... I intend to fully respect your decisions on the matter. I do not find myself in a wise man's position, and most of my decisions might be considered... hasty, at the very least. Your combined efforts might offer a better resolution to this dilemma... Or so I hope."MARIUS Klutha is stingy with details, just as Marius imagined. She seems to consider the relationship an alliance, though, and emphasizes that Hagadark would have it no other way. She rambles on about the very few sages that are powerful enough to receive an orc's praise in Gaelia - such as Dram and the Seeres of Bood, both good allies, not like the Red Mage of Harbard, an accursed and elitist elf that would hunt greenskins for pleasure. Marius is far more lucky with the group's resident powerful sorcerer, Shayuri. She manages to read the sword with ease, uncovering its secrets. It wasn't forged by any means known, and it holds powerful spells that drain life from those it cuts. Also, it's lighter and swifter, concentrating the blows and facilitating the wielders skill. Lastly, the sword increases the damage a person suffers by focusing negative energy towards the victim, reaching into the very tapestry of life. A perfectly functional vampire blade, that's what it is.[Sword offers +2 on attack and parry rolls, as well as +2 damage. An extra 1d8 is rolled for negative(death) damage. Half the damage delivered turns into life for the wielder.]"I do, indeed, want to see Maran safe. If not for a sense of humanity - which I understand all of us in this room share, to some extent - at least for Grontar's sake" - once more, he glances at the walls, as if confirming some kind of occult info. I owe him too much to ignore his plights. But still, there are things I myself could not set aside, for in my own heart they are set in stone." "You put me in a delicate position, serene monk. But still, I understand your concern." - he pauses for a moment, his eyes distant in thought. A small hint of concern and sadness crosses him, until he finally speaks."Very well.... I will indulge you. First, my reasons: as I said, I wish Grontar and his people to be safe, no doubt about it. Grontar found me stranded, many years ago, as I quested through the Pillars of Gaelia. The dwarf and his companions saved me, and I've been indebted to them ever since. Grontar feels for Maran, and so I feel for Maran as well. I will see this through, one way or another. Still... I've come to lose my innocence during the last few years, and the remedy Ironsight discovered might be worse than the disease, I fear.""As for my own reasons..." - he sighs heavily, as if trying to convince himself to go on - "When I first came to Gaelia, I was lost. I traveled with my companion and my child. And then... unforeseen circumstances set us apart. I haven't seen them since. Not even the most potent spells available could help me find them." - he pauses, considering his words to be enough. "This is why I need the dagger. One use, no more. And later on I can find a way to rid myself of its curse. Maybe even destroy it." - he lowers his eyes for a second, as if his feelings were about to overtake him, but before long his focused countenance appears before the companions once more."I will not hold back on what I know on account of this. Grontar sent you to me because he knew the Tideruler would be useless without my knowledge. The origins of the artifact are confusing, to say the least. It is said that the dragons that first came to Gaelia forged it in the now forgotten Wyrmsforge, for a purpose mostly unknown. It had something to do with the war they waged against the Willing and their heritage, as far as I've uncovered" - he deliberately looks at Shayuri as he tells the story. "Perhaps our discoveries combined can shed light on the matter as we talk, but this was the first lead that led me to believe the Tideruler to be more than was advertised by the Braves.""As the story goes, the dragons forged the Tideruler after they cleansed the continent of Willing influence. Creating their own children to stand watch and eliminate any possible threats that might have survived their purge, they drew the Tideruler to maintain balance and peace among their brethren." - he drinks copiously from the goblet, quenching his considerable thirst."And here's the trick: they've chosen a few bloodlines that would wield the Tideruler's power. Only them could use the artifact. And this truth hasn't changed. Grontar knew it when he hired you. He probably tried his luck, attempting to find heirs of dragon bloodlines. But even among dragons access to the Tideruler was preserved only to two lineages. One of them, I believe, gave birth to the myth that erected the Temple of the Dragon" - he points out to Marius. "The other one belongs to the black serpent whose armies now roam the deserts." - he pours more wine into his goblet, drinking avidly from it once more."Of course, I might be wrong. My research is still lacking. Who's to know if there weren't other lineages involved in the confection and employment of the Tideruler? In fact" - he grabs a few grapes - "I bet Grontar was suspitious that Mazda the Red could claim it as well" - he motions towards Shayuri - "or that the Green Advent, the skin Gozreh once used while blessing the dragons with his presence" - he points towards Morgrym - "would want it for himself." @<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=24380" target="_blank">Neurotic</a> @<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=4936" target="_blank">Shayuri</a> @<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=87106" target="_blank">MetaVoid</a> @<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=6801311" target="_blank">KahlessNestor</a></blockquote>

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