Phar places a long thin finger to chin as he considers Aureus' words. "Perhaps we should go to the Fort. Lorien and Aeron would be able to help us reach more possible allies. I do need to make contact with local wizards as well as the Arcane Order. That is unlikely to happen if we stay here. And as you say these Wolfheads should be alerted. I still have my doubts that the dragons will act, but I can see no disadvantage to informing them. Perhaps through the Druids?"
"I think so too," Aureus agrees with her friend.
"I'd hoped to have heard something from them by now. A rider. A magical message. We need to make sure Lorien is still alive. He was in a bad state the last time we saw him." She glances through the open doorway at Caerth who is sitting down to talk to the old gnome innkeeper.
"What if he died and Aeron has been afraid to tell us. Or something else could have happened to them."
Aureus sighs and shakes her head.
"I'm probably worrying too much." She drinks down the mug of water in her hand.
"Lorien is a better bard than me. I'm just learning and I don't know very many of the stories about this world yet. He might have some knowledge about Vok that we don't know."
"This Lorien is important to you," Qi says.
"How long since you've seen him and Caerth's father?"
"It's been several weeks, hasn't it?" She asks herself and Phar. Qi is in her other hand.
"It feels so long ago that we saw him last."
"He was dying the last time you saw him."
"Aeron wasn't sure what was wrong with him. He could have been poisoned or cursed in some way. There was also a guard who'd been poisoned by the blade of a wererat assassin. The wererat killed Sir Ghal father's but we dealt with him."
Phar watches as Aureus's eyes seem to peer inward. She and Qi seem to be speaking to each other mentally for nearly a minute. Then, Aureus blinks and looks at Phar.
"Sorry about that. Qi wanted to look back through my memories to see what happened to Lorien."
"It is a mystery," Qi also says as Aureus attaches the adamantine rod to an open loop in her belt.
"Even seeing it from your perspective, Lady Aureus, I saw no reason why your friend would have been so badly affected by the attacks of one giant centipede. I will have to think upon what you showed me. There might be something from the past... long ago... I must meditate."
Qi goes silent to mediate.
Quinn heads into the inn and sits down with Caerth and Mazz. He let's the half-orc druid do the talking while he fills a plate and listens quietly. The burly gladiator-knight and Cruel Justice don't seem to be communicating.
"CJ is being very stubborn," Aureus notes as she glances towards Quinn. She looks back to Phar.
"We need to go to the fort first, although we might need to convince the others. Caerth seems determined to head back to the island and hunt for Ta’kira’kerymor."
"You are obviously devout. Why would we ask you to betray your brotherhood?" Maur sits close to the man, not close enough to breach his personal space, but close enough they can talk comfortably.
"Look. If we were different bunch of people, we could just kill you. We could have left you or executed you as a cultist. Or affected you with charm magic. Or...Or...you get the idea. I'm not one for mincing words, this is as it is. You cannot do anything and your superiors would be stupid to hold it against you. But seeing you saw us work together and hearing what you heard, why not give us a benefit of a doubt. And you didn't hear Qi, she is a pacifist and philosopher among them. All except Cruel Justice are mere shadows, focused on their one purpose. Report what you have to report. Angus already said he is willing to trade his weapon away. Instead of hunting us and possibly helping demon lord get firmer hold on these lands, why not be open about it and talk or trade? If you send weaker members of your order and we have to defend ourselves there will be deaths. If you send elite soldiers you may defeat us or kill us and get your hands on Star arms...which will be once again together within single organization. Can you honestly say that no one will be tempted to wield them against your enemies? Can you say with any certainty that you can defend against orchestrated attack by a demon servants or soldiers?"
"There are different levels of betrayal. I depends on point of view. There are some in the brotherhood who would have stolen Azurak in the dead of the night back in Carnell and made a run for it. My elders might question why I didn't do so, but I'm not so stupid as to make that mistake. It would have been foolish, and they did not send a fool."
Aries glances towards Maur. "You are right, they are shadows. More so than I think you and your friends realize or are willing to admit. I don't doubt Qi's love for peace but if the one who wields her has a stronger mind, he or she could force Qi to act. Yes, you wouldn't do that and I don't think the others would force it to fight either. But, if someone less principled takes it from you, then Qi's imprinted morals won't stop that person from using it to cause chaos."
He sighs. "I have no problem with a trade, if Angus is wiling. But, don't underestimate Cruel Justice's influence over the other Star Arms... and Sir Quinn. The blade is highly militant and will try to force Quinn to fight for the law over all other concerns. Quinn managed to win the battle of wills, this time. But next time, you might have to subdue him."
Aries shakes his head. "As for my report, I am not powerful enough to magically send the elders a message, and I cannot risk sending a mundane letter back to Stonn. I must go myself. It would be different if you or Phar were familiar with my contact and could cast a
sending for me, but even then, she would not accept it from anyone else but me. No, I have to go back. I've already been gone too long. If I don't return soon, they
will send someone else to find out what what happened to me and to seek Azurak."
He glances back towards Maur. "I would hope that no Soldier of Iron would be so stupid as to try to wield the Star Arms in such a manner, but we are all mortal and temptation could sway anyone at any time. And while the elders might not be able to hold off a demon army, there are ways to keep such forces at bay. The easiest way would be to scatter the Arms to the four corners of the continent. It wouldn't be perfect but it might keep chaos from rising." He shakes his head again. "But I can see that's an option now. They are back in the world and we will all have to deal with what comes next."
Neurotic said:
"I will not force you to do anything...but I will appeal to your own sense of independence. Come with us, see what the weapons can and cannot do with us. Serve as our common sense...or at least Star arms sense since you lack common one. Har Har!"
Aries shakes his head again. "I cannot be your conscious, Maur Deepdelver. You and your friends will have to make your own choices and then live with your decisions. When I speak to the elders, I will
try to make them see your point of view, but I cannot promise clemency if they decide to bring about a hunt for all the Star Arms. I will tell them Angus is willing to trade Azurak. That might hold them off, but I have to get to them and tell them before they send others to hunt for me and it."
Neurotic said:
Maur stands up
"Let me know when you clear up the space, I need to commune with Moradin."
Aries nods. "I will soon be finished. Give me another hour. Then, I must do as I have promised Ivoron and Mazz and purify any of the gnome's stored food and water and fill as many containers as I can with water... and their well as well. But those chores can wait until after you have communed with your god. I'd like to be present... if it is allowed by your faith, of course?"
Aries waits for Maur's response and then goes back to his prayers -- his head bowed.