Shackled City - Chapter III

[Velmont]

The elven bookworn, as some think of him, take the book that is offered to him. He closely look at it, just a jeweler would inspect a diamond for any flaw. After a moment, Leanthas cast a cantrip that will allow him to read any magical symbols on the book. If he is sure there is no magical runes protecting the book, he will open it and quickly pass over the pages to see what it contain.

 

[hippocrachus]

"You spent close to fifty years scrutinizing the myths and lore of Dwarves. Certainly not a feat a savant loremaster would spit at. Whatever you choose to call yourself is your own business," Orpheus says in Elven, a bit tetchy with the pompous elf, but ultimately pleased that he knew the song.
Great. First Zeric, now him...
"I believe him," Orpheus says to the room in general.
Even if he is a bit full of himself.

[sblock]Have you finished yet?[/sblock]

 

[Velmont]

Leathas interrupt his lecture to answer Orpheus. "Yes, but the number of book was limited. It took less then five years to pass through a first lecture of all the book in the library. The remaining time I spend on analysis and I needed to extrapolate many things from the sources I had. The last, let's say forty years, havn't been much productive. I was reading the book to occupy myself. I've also seen more complete library than that one. It was, after all, the personal library of the Thane. All book was his own. City's libraries, temples and wizard's guild generally have a larger number of book, as they gather the ressources of many persons."

 

[Mimic]

Althron listened to what the priestess had to say about the possible upcoming floods and nodded as the others agreed to help with it, help rendered freely was always better then help that had to be coerced. Although Priestess Urikas looked none to pleased to see Zeric, Althron suspected that had a lot to do with the fact that he decided to stay below but it all came out for the best. For all his gruff exterior Zeric seemed like a good man, he knew his duty and he did it,he just wasn't subtle about it. If he didn't know any better he would bet there was some Dwarf blood flowing through him.

Althron's mind is brought back to the present as the Bard and the elven wizard continue to discuss dwarven lore. "What would those two know about dwaven lore?" He thinks to himself with a small snort. None the less Althron remains quite as Orpheus vouches for him.

 

[kirinke]

Alinis considered Leanthas' tale. "His story rings true. Most of the elven nations have secluded themselves from the rest of the world. The Nerenese empire is relatively new in elvish history. Our core city-states were formed mainly from refugees and as we grew, we opened up our boarders to other refugees. We have learned that only through adaptation can we thrive." she shrugged. "It's worked fairly well for the past five hundred or so years."

 

[Velmont]

Leanthas turns his attention back to the High Priestess. "For your wand problem, have you thought to ask the help of an order of wizards? Many members of such organization specialise in the craft of magical equipment. It is hard to devellop this art outside an order, as the ressources asked are great and a group can more easily share them.

And for who want to harm the city, I am not sure it is the question you should ask yourself. It is more who has the more to gain and the more to lose. If the flood hit again the Cauldron, the Cauldron would be damaged, but the city wouldn't be at his first flood. Before the first wand was created, the city was strike by this catastroph every year. Now that the four temple are suppose to protect the city, if they failed, the people may turn there back to them, you most of all, as the others would try to put back the blame on your temple, as you are the only one who has kept the effort. The others have left there responsabilities and the years that had follow all was correct. The problem could only come from your temple.

For who have the most to lose, I think it is your church, then the others temples, who could limit the damage by blaming you. Now I am not familiar with teh city's intrigue to tell who would gain the most."

 

[Verbatim]

Nodding his head with acceptance of Priestess Urikas' answer on the return of the true High Priest, Zeric knew the best thing he could do was to stay silent during the questioning of the one called Leanthas. As the elf explained the magic of the ring, Zeric cursed himself for not thinking of some sort of magical assistance earlier. The officers in Hextor's armies often carried similar items to prevent the need of marching with food, or had the junior priests summon rations by drawing an aspect of Hextor's power. The food was often little more than thin gruel and bread, but it kept his soldiers moving, and as always, that was all that Hextor required.

As High Priestess Urikas asked if any had seen the elf act in a dishonorable way, Zeric simply met her gaze and shook his head in the negative.

~The less I say the better...~

Zoning out as Orpheus tested his knowledge of dwarven music, something that perhaps the Cudgel could have been better at, Zeric tried to keep his mind focused but found the effort increasingly difficult. However, when Leanthas spoke of hiring wizards to craft wands and then of who would gain the most if they simply ignored the problem Zeric could not keep quiet any longer.

"While the others might have grown soft in the passing years, it would be a greater disservice to stand back just because there might be the risks of failure involved. Cuthbert watches over all those who can not watch over themselves, even if that includes other churches who simply can not see the forest for the trees. While I do think speaking to the other churches is in order, we must not allow their laziness to hinder our efforts."

Turning to face the dwarven priest, the look on Zeric's face was not a challanging one, but one of a man looking for support.

"Am I wrong in this thought Althron?"

 

[Velmont]

"I think every citizen would appreciate the effort of the followers of Cuthbert, but I am quite sure that the citizen aren't just aware of what is happening behind the scene with the wand. Even the high priestess told that the church have kept the information about the low level of wand, so the citizen wouldn't grow nervous. It is a nice solution if you can solve the problem and want to keep a civil order. But if someone want to strike a blow at the religious orders' power in the city, that information would be precious and could be just too easily turned against them.

I am not judging any of the temple's action, I am just pointing to a danger and the consequence of it. Now, who would have advantage of that? Does the Cuthbert's church have a rival in Cauldron?"

 

[Verbatim]

As the elf clarified his words, Zeric once again felt foolish for speaking his thoughts out loud.

~I knew I should have kept quiet...~

Trying to simply get this all over with, Zeric simply nodded his understanding and kept quiet.

 

[hippocrachus]

"Let us not concern ourselves with such mysteries; we are not detectives. If, while on duty protecting the Carriers, we see anything suspicious, we can investigate those happenings accordingly," Orpheus says to quiet the elf who, only a minute ago wished to speak only of his trial, has taken a vested interest in the party's plans and show Zeric an undeserved reprieve.
"It is safe to assume you will be accompanying us," he states more than asks Leanthas. "Let the politicians handle the politics. The adventurers will handle the real work."