Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Chapter 4- The Second Invasion)

[Fenris]

Dartis stares at the images.
"I don't think it was slavery Caramip. I think the Gnomes created the goblins and kobolds. Gave them life. That is why the Way came about. How to treat other sentient creatures. They created the goblins and kobolds, then our good friends the avariel came. It looks like the called them on it. Some gnomes were ashamed, maybe they developed the Way as penance. Others embraced their creations. This lead to a civil war. The avariel didn't like the gmomes creating life it seems. But that would explain the ancient sins they commited, the devotion to the Way, the hope thier children forget, the guardian goblin statues. Caramip, Phly, I think we have a very ancient and dark secret about your people here. But why have chains on the coffin. Obviously there were severla leaders, for each faction perhaps?"

Dartis shakes his head. "History is strange. But come we need to find one of those coffins, or we won't have much more of our own history"

 

[GlassEye]

Silas continues to examine the statues. He goes alternately from the well-carved gnomes at the top to the poorly carved gnomish figures at the bottom. Finally, he stops and stares at one of the lower gnome-figures. His fingers trail over the statuette, lingering over the features. "I thought at first these were poorly carved, done in a hurry, perhaps. And less detailed because it is further back in their history." He scowls and looks at another nearby statue.

"But that doesn't seem right. See here..." He points to a statue of a goblin next to one of the gnomish-figures. "The detail of this creature is much like the detail of the statues of those farther up the line. So it can't be that these are older and more weathered."

Silas turns, an excited look on his face. "They are carved in this fashion, with ill-defined features because that's what gnomes looked like then! We have no proof of the details, yet, but if the gnomes were originally creatures from the Elemental Plane of Earth, only roughly humanoid in form, and becoming more and more refined of feature as time passed...." He trails off to stare in wonder at the statues. "Astounding!" he murmurs.

Abruptly he walks over to one of the columns the gnomes seem to be worshipping. "These beings may have brought the gnomes here. Rulers, perhaps. And the Lord of the Mountain may have been their god, if they had such a concept then." He sighs and shrugs helplessly. "But I don't see how that helps us now unless you are correct, Lord Kalnian, and what we seek has been split and carried away in the coffins."

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Phly grimaces as each of his companions put their own theories forth, although he seems most troubled by the thought of goblin enslavement as he stares long at those particular statuettes. "How about we assume that we were teachers of the other races rather than enslavers, as I know what I'd rather believe. Or better yet, let's forget about this room and go find that sarcophagus. Besides, it seems more likely that those winged creatures are the real trouble-makers in this sculpted history. It seems they might have caused a civil war. You've seen these things before, I take it?" He studies the avariel for a moment and mumbles, "Besides, gnomes were created by the gods so that we might be collectors of knowledge and bringers of good humor. Everyone knows that."

 

[Nephtys]

Barok keeps out of the archaeological studies, leaving it to those who give a damn. He snorts a little at Phly's last concern about the winged elves, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions. There's nothing more dangerous than blind idealism. Not only did the flying little buggers damn themselves, but now it seems they dragged you lot down with them. Bloody Good work." he finishes sarcastically.

 

[GlassEye]

Silas smiles blandly and shrugs. "As interesting as I find this room and its contents, perhaps we should go check out the other chamber. Maybe it will lead us to that..." He waves one hand distractedly. "...thing the faeries say we need."

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The party leaves the room, re-enters the chamber at the T-intersection with the holes in the ground (while the amulets the gnomes are wearing seem to again give protection from whatever trap may be here) and takes the western corridor. This circular room is 30 feet in diameter with a dome-like ceiling that peaks at about 15 feet from the floor. The room looks as though it might have once possessed heavy furniture as there are deep indentations in the southern and western parts. A new corridor continues towards the north with a slight grade downwards that causes you to lose sight of what is 60 feet beyond.

 

[GlassEye]

Silas isn't quite convinced of the heavy furniture theory and examines the indentations thoroughly. If nothing unusual can be found he'll urge the group to continue down the northern corridor.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The indentations do not seem as if the furniture created them, but instead on closer examination appear as if they were carved with amazing expertise as they are still amazingly smooth to the touch. The set of each seem to both stretch until they reach the far wall to the south where they then end.

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Caramip Ashhearth

"Watcha got there Silas?" Asks Caramip.

 

[GlassEye]

Silas shrugs and looks back at his gnomish friend. "I'm not really sure, Caramip. I'm having a hard time visualizing what the purpose of these indentions would have been. If you have any ideas, any one of you," says Silas looking to each of his companions in turn, "then I'd like to hear them. Whatever the case, the workmanship is top notch."