Shackled City - Chapter II

[Verbatim]

The morningstar was in Zeric's hand before his mind registered the fact he had drawn the weapon and instantly the fatigue that had been slowly creeping into Zeric's bones disappeared.

Knowing there was no way the elf would not notice them standing there, Zeric took a step forward towards the elf and called out to him.

"The slaver Kazmojen has been slain, his guards fled and those who remain are hiding from Cuthbert's gaze. I will offer you once chance to surrender to face judgement by High Priestess Urikas, but if you wish to face judgement sooner then that can be arranged as well."

While Zeric knew that he and Raven were not at their best, he knew too well of the fire the half-orc possessed and felt confident that the two of them could handle one man, especially one elf, easily.

 

[Velmont]

The elf take a moment before reacting. He slowly close the book. "I generally don't like being interrupt while I read, but as it is the 34th time I read that book, I will pass for now." He turns at Zeric and takes a look at him. "Slaver Kazmojen you says? I dunnot know him. It would explain why the dwarven guards havn't answered me when I wanted to quit this room. I suppose you don't know what happen to the dwarven king who was living here. You look too young for that."

 

[Verbatim]

Keeping his guard up, Zeric took another step closer to the elf.

"While I do not know the history of this place, nor of the dwarves who lived here before the slaver took it over, I do know that no person can exist in a room without food, beverage, and a means to relieve themselves of both."

Motioning towards the stranger to Raven, Zeric approached him slowly, looking around the room as he did so.

"Do you know of Cauldron? Or of the gnomish city Jzaridune?"

While Zeric had no doubt the elf was in league with the slaver, he would play the stranger's game until he slipped up and then justice would be swift and final.

 

[Velmont]

"It is not because you ignore something that it isn't possible." replies the elf, without emotion. Or this world would surely be some wasteland. He adds in his head. "You'll die from old age before I die from thirst. I've seen the gnomish city when I came to help the dwarves, but I didn't take most attention to it. I was more interested by the dwarven king's book collection and the construction of this room. For the city of Cauldron. I've heard of it, but I've never been there yet. Do you want to know anything else?"

 

[Verbatim]

"If you knew the dwarves, but say you know nothing of the Slaver Kazmojen, how long have you been in this room? And who are you?"

Trying to figure out what the elf could mean of not needing to drink, Zeric wondered what would take an elf so far away from the forests and into a room.

~What are in these books that would make someone lock themselves up over?

 

[Velmont]

"My name is Leanthas. And don't know precisely how much time I've been here. As you see, there is no windows in this room, and I lose the track of time when I read. But you can count the time I've been here in decades I would says, at least five would be realistic." replies the elf, with the same emotionless voice. He stay still on his seat while he talk, staring at his visitor.

 

[Verbatim]

"You say you have been here for five decades, and at no time this door opened? The animal who shared a room not ten paces from here never once pulled the lever I did to see what it did? Surely you do not expect me to believe he left you here surrounded by the books while he lived his life."

Turning to Raven, Zeric could not tell if the elf truely believed what he said or if he was simply hoping Zeric was nothing more than a simpleton.

"Until we can have the Cudgels verify his story, he comes with us."

Turning back to face the elf, Zeric looked around the room once more and saw more books here then he had ever seen anywhere outside of a temple.

"I am sure High Priestess Urikas will be more than happy to verify your story once we return to the temple of St. Cuthbert. However, I will tell you that if you speak falsely to her, you will regret each of the few seconds you will have left. Until then, I will escort you to her, as well as the city of Cauldron itself."

 

[Velmont]

"I won't oppose any force. I've wanted to leave this room for a few decades now, but there is no way to open the door from the inside. Let me gather my things before leaving."

The elf stands up and peacefully grabs a bag that is resting on the floor. He take a book that was on his work table. He puts it in his bag. He also take a few books on a shelf and put them in his bag. He grabs his source light, that was looking like a torch, but as he grabs it, it become obvious it is a dagger with a burning blade. He put it in his sheet at his belt, and the light dissapear.

Once he have finish to gather all, he looks at Zeric and asks him "You might prefer to carry my things, if you are taking me as a prisoner?"

OOC: To Majin
[SBLOCK]Leanthas have taken a few books that talk about the dwarven artifact that he has been studying on for the last decades. Things that will help him to create his amulet. [/SBLOCK]

 

[Manzanita]

Raven stands dumbfounded. First more treasure than her wildest dreams. Now a room of books with a long-stranded elf. Or so he says. Getting nervous, she agrees with Zeric that returning to the rest of the party is the best option.

"You can carry your bags yourself, elf. That should keep your hands off your weapon. I'll be walking behind you. Don't try anything funny."

 

[Verbatim]

Nodding his head in approval with Raven's stance, and for not questioning his decisions in front of the stranger as the dandy would have surely done, Zeric waits until they are all out of the room before throwing the switch back into the down position.

"And you still say that all this time, none thought to do something as simple as this?"

Setting a brisk pace, as surely the others would have navigated through the corridors by now, Zeric headed towards the lift, towards the Cudgel, and sadly towards the dandy.