The Genasi Siblings (Also, a recap, summary, and explanation
As everyone raided the alchemist's admixtures, the Genasi siblings were deep in telepathic conversation. It had started with Terrus, who was again contacted by Chomylla. Having noticed him in psychic communication, his siblings had joined in through their familial bond. The fact wasn't entirely understood, but it seemed to Pyrus that the Diamond Staff had long ago been imprinted with the psychic memories of a long-dead Uvarenni (elf) arcanist. This was the artefact that the group had been hired to liberate from the clutches of the Dracolich.
To make matters more problematic, the Staff was only the second-most powerful source of magic in the area (excluding, perhaps, the undead dragon): The entire mountain surrounded a powerful elemental Earth Node. Terrus had felt it on arrival, but he was only now beginning to understand the nature of what he'd been sensing all along. Ages ago, it had crashed from the heavens and it had destroyed the Elves of Uvaren. These elves possessed knowledge beyond current understanding. Knowledge enough, perhaps, to unlock and control the vast power of the elemental node. Knowledge held by Chomylla and contained in the staff, and the Dracolich was slowly forcing her to reveal it's secrets.
"Your actions have distracted the foul Dretchroyaster," the voice of Chomylla spoke telepathically (in secret) to the genasis,
"But have also made him desperate. Even now he forces me to unlock more of the node's power - power he is using to create yet another, more powerful, simulacrum to deal with you while he finishes his work. My battle with him has kept him in a sleep-like stasis, unable to leave his deepest lair, where lies the heart of the node. However, he is able to use the power of the node to create weak versions of himself to keep his followers in check."
She sent a positive feeling of triumph, followed by a dire warning,
"You have defeated two of these! He is pouring more earth-magic into the next one to defeat what he sees as a simple distraction (in spite of your success, you have not fully gained his attention, due to his desire to not lose a moment in his battle with me.) I estimate that he will complete his latest simulacrum within the hour."
The warning given, she continued to encourage,
"You must hurry and retrieve the final key to his inner lair. The last Bhaalite Idol. I cannot sense it's presence, but from what you have told me, I expect it to be where they all were once kept - the Treasure Vault. It is the most important key as it unlocks the outermost ward. I will hold out as long as I can but you must retrieve me soon, or the Dracolich will unlock the powerful Elemental magic of the Node. May the gods be with you!"
