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Message: <blockquote data-quote="shilsen" data-source="post: 4123223" data-attributes="member: 198">Shocked by the dragon’s offer, Gareth replies, “To be honest, we came here thinking that if we were to get any assistance it would be minimal, and only possible help against the forces of Xoriat. Perhaps in our dreams we, or at least I, had thought of other things – allies, training in lore of the prophecy and other history and magic, access to powerful magic items – but I would never have dared to ask for such things as they are most assuredly beneath you and definitely not the reason why we are here.  Anything you are willing to provide would be accepted with great thanks and we would be indebted to you."Luna adds enthusiastically, “Yeah! Well, that is all we came seeking – the knowledge of how to make the seals – but we hadn’t thought that any of the other stuff was to be had. If we had powerful allies such as yourselves to fight with us, that would be so super awesome! And now that you mention it, treasure is always good if it can be got! It’s all very nice saving the world and stuff, but in the end, you still have to earn a living! And soon I’ll have kids to support!” The others roll their eyes and Korm almost stuffs his fist in his mouth to stop his laughter as Luna hits her stride, growing progressively more animated and excited. “Anyway, the quori made the warforged, huh? So how did that dragonmarked house come to be the makers? Do you think the warforged would make a good sea-faring free nation? ‘Cause I really do. I mean they don’t breathe or sleep, so I think they’d be great sailors. And super pirates! Oh, and how come shifters can’t have a nice dragonmark too and fly airships? Can anything be done about that?”As Luna asks her questions, the changes in the dragon’s expression are fascinating to watch. Even though it lacks eyebrows, his brows steeple and meet above the great eyes. After a silence of a few seconds, the huge jaws open, then close, and then open again. Finally, Bruntutalephion says only one word – “What?!” Apparently not even an millennia-old dragon is immune to Luna’s mind-affecting powers. Luckily for Bruntutalephion’s continued sanity, Six has some questions too. The warforged says, “All the things you have mentioned are quite attractive. Our major concern is to find ways of dealing with the coming daelkyr lords, so anything in that regard is appreciated. I am personally looking for the true history of my kind. A point of confusion for me is that major events in the past and involving dragons have blended together, so someone who could straighten out the stories would be helpful. Are the titans you spoke of the giants or someone else? Ultimately I would like to see a sovereign nation, away from most peoples, where my kind can develop their own sensibilities. I also want to free myself of the spell a powerful wizard, Mordain, put on us. I could go on about my various goals but I don’t want to bore you. But I am curious, why did you suspect we might lie or want to lie to you?”The dragon turns to him with an almost palpable sense of relief. “Yes, the titans are the giants of Xen’drik. I cannot tell you of your other issues, but as for the honesty, I have little experience with your people from beyond Argonnessen, and since you are here to obtain something, you might try to lie to achieve it.”Bruntutalephion continues, speaking just a little quickly to ensure that Luna doesn’t get a chance to ask anything else, “And I was not offering you magic or allies or anything else. I told you I would give you information. I simply wished to know what you wish, so that I can tell you where you might go.” The dragon extends a claw, pointing in various directions as he continues to speak. “If you fly southeast from here for three days, passing Fang Crater – a large pit hundreds of miles across and extending deep into the earth – you will come to a long thin gulf where the ocean extends into Argonnessen. Beyond that is the land of the Tapestry, the home base of the Chamber. You may obtain aid there. Or you might not. These are older dragons, who have learned the wisdom of dwelling here in Argonnessen rather than gallivanting abroad, but they are all more interested than most of us in working – or interfering – with the course of the Prophecy. So perhaps they will care for your problem.” He points in another direction. “If you fly directly south, all the way across the Vast, you will come to Io’lokar, the City of Knowledge. It is the only city in Argonnessen, where people of the lesser races dwell, and a font of great power and knowledge. I know little of the place, but I know that though they lack the knowledge and magic of dragonkind, the Io’lokari are great warriors and powerful spellcasters. They have fought off attacks by rogue dragons from the Vast many times. They are less likely to know of the type of magic you wish, but perhaps they will aid you since you are of their kind.”Bruntutalephion looks around at the Angels and his voice drops slightly, at least by draconic standards. “And there are other options, depending on what you dare. Also within the Vast lies Khesavuthir, the Black Well. It is a location that is legendary even in Argonnessen, and even our people have forgotten why it was first created. Rumor says that it is a great source for lost lore and great magic – and madness. Tales say it was created by a cult of dragons who interpreted and sought to shape the Prophecy in ways later forbidden by the Chamber, who died out but left their lore behind. And one tale says that Vvaraak visited Khesavuthir and took knowledge from there with her to your world. I do not know if that story is true, but one thing that I do know of Vvaraak is where what remains of her original flight is found. A thousand years after she left, her descendant Varstaryinax became one of the guardians of Tiamat’s prison.” His tone takes on a respectful tinge. “The guardians of the Pit of Five Sorrows, where Tiamat lies bound, are executed at the end of their duties, since her whispering eventually taints their minds. All who accept the duty know the end, but they do so nevertheless for the good of Argonnessen, and their deaths bring honor to their flights. Only Varstaryinax,” and here the tone changes swiftly to scorn, “Fled at the end of his term of duty, too afraid to face the death he should have accepted.”“Partly in shame and partly in solidarity, many members of his flight fled into exile as well, into an area of the Vast known as the Shadowland. There they built a tower, known as the Burning Tower, and what remains of them – as far as I know – still dwell there today. The children of Varstaryinax, I would think, are certain to be unfriendly, but they are also very likely to have the same lore that Vvaraak once knew. Of course, the Conclave of Argonnessen certainly has that knowledge, as do the loredrakes of the Light of Siberys, and some among those who dwell in the Tapestry. But whether any will share them with you is another matter.”The dragon smiles with an evident combination of amusement and superiority. “As I have said before, whatever you choose, I think you will die. But I give you this information nevertheless, to do with as you will. Do you have any questions?” The large eyes flicker quickly to Luna and back again. Six thinks, Hmm – Io’lokar. Maybe we could buy a house. It’s probably better that Sharn. He asks, “Are there any special requirements to enter and live in the city?”“Not that I know of. I believe they welcome all races, though dragons do not dwell there permanently. All races except yuan-ti and half-dragons.” Bruntutalephion’s tone when he says ‘half-dragon’ is that of someone using a particularly foul insult.Six nods. “Once we leave here, could we return without a major battle ensuing?”“Here? You mean to my dominion? I cannot say. Some members of my flight are young and impetuous, and they may attack you as trespassers. And I have many other things to do. I may have time for you on another visit, or I may not. But even if you come here again, do not enter my tower without my permission. If you do so, you will die.”“I suspected as much,” says Six. “Do you have attendants or household staff? If not, would you want to get some to handle the daily chores?”“Are you trying to set up a warforged maid service?” asks Korm.“Just an idea,” says Six, before Bruntutalephion replies, “I do not know what you mean, but – NO!”Gareth quickly puts in, “Thank you for all of the information you have provided us, and your protection while in your dominion. We will not forget your kindness, and if there is ever a chance that you need something of us, please do not hesitate to ask.” He pauses and then says, hesitantly, “If it is not too much to ask would you give us one last piece of information? Which of the areas do you recommend that we start at? Meaning, which area is most likely to present us with the least resistance? While all of these places may be dangerous, presumably they differ in their level of danger.”The dragon shrugs massively. “I make no recommendations. You might find what you seek at any of those places and you might find it at none. You might leave Argonnessen with what you want or you might die here. Only the Prophecy knows. So any recommendation, even if I cared to make one, would be meaningless.”He shrugs again. “But as for danger, that I can tell you. Io’lokar would be by far the least dangerous. After that, the safest would be the Tapestry. The other two would be the most dangerous. I know not what would be deadlier, but I suspect Khesavuthir would be. The children of Varstaryinax guard the Burning Tower aganst all interlopers and if you went there you would face many, perhaps dozens, of black dragon warriors. But even I know not what lies in the darkness of Khesavuthir. It could be that it is deserted, that all you would need to do is cross the Shadowland and locate the Black Well. But I think not. I know of dragons, mighty dragons – though admittedly none of my puissance – who disappeared into the Shadowland in search of Khesavuthir. Did the Shadowland claim them? Perhaps. But I think something lurks at the Black Well, guarding what lore and treasure is there and slaying whatever comes to despoil it." He smiles, just a little viciously. “If you find it, be sure to tell me.”Six asks, “We shall do so. If I may ask, Bruntutalephion, have you ever seen a god?”The dragon lifts its head a little further and looks at him for a moment, before replying, “You creatures ask the strangest of questions. The gods do not walk among us. The Progenitors make up the world beneath and the ring of Siberys that surrounds it, the Dragon Gods watch over us from the sky, and the Sovereigns … well, it is not something you will understand.” He stretches his neck, gazing out of the window at the darkening sky beyond.“Thank you,” says Six. “I was simply wondering, since your experience clearly far extends ours.” Then he adds carefully, not wanting to end the conversation before they have obtained as much information as they can, “We know something about dragons but not that much. For example, we have heard of the destruction of the giants of Xen’drik by your people. Our histories say that it was because they were going to use the same magic that they used against Dal Quor and it might have destroyed Eberron, but I was not sure if that’s accurate or not.”Bruntutalephion remains silent for a few seconds and then says, his tone heavy, “That is correct. And there is something you should know. The Conclave called the event kurash Ourelonastrix – Aureon’s Folly* – and forbade any flight from sharing the secrets of Argonnessen with lesser beings. There is a reason that Vvaraak’s action is called Vvaraak’s Betrayal. So I give you this warning – think carefully what you ask of my people. And assume nothing.”The dragon falls silent, the light in its huge eyes dimming for a few moments, and then emits a deep, rumbling breath. “I have told you enough. This has been amusing, but now you must leave. Is there anything else? Make it quick.”Nameless, who has remained silent for the most part, says, “We are indebted to you for your patience and all this information, Bruntutalephion. So that we do not have to bother you again, could you please provide us with a description of the places you mentioned? Then we could simply teleport there.”“Very well,” says the dragon. “I cannot describe either Khesavuthir or the Burning Tower, since I have seen neither, but I can describe locations close to them. Or show you. A description would take too long and be too imprecise. Do not resist.” He casts a spell and closes his eyes. Nameless’ promptly widen as he feels the dragon communicate with him telepathically, causing a number of images to flash through the alienist’s head. Then Bruntutalephion opens his eyes and speaks a couple of words, ending the contact. “And now you know what you need,” he says, before looking around at the Angels. His expression says clearly that he is waiting for them to depart. Six turns to the others, “We need to go to the city to establish a base camp. Our answer probably lies in the other areas, but some of you need sleep. Just getting a good look at the place should be sufficient, but having a safe location there we can travel in and out of would be better. Also we can find proper trees so Nameless isn’t the only one who can transport us there. From there we can teleport to other places.”Gareth nods and says, “Thank you for your help” to the dragon, before turning to Nameless. “Let’s teleport to…”“I know where,” says Nameless shortly, gesturing for the others to join him. When they do, he nods at Bruntutalephion, who is watching them expressionlessly, and then transports them away.* Aureon is the god of knowledge and magic</blockquote>

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