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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 7282959" data-attributes="member: 9255">THE HIDDEN: BEYOND NEW WATER08  EXPLORE THE HIDDENSEGMENT 153“MAP 46  15-20”11/14/17BARRAKAS   4, 1000The door is locked but Ayru picks it.   No one asks or says anything about it.  Tension is high enough between Tyson and Kyr.The door opens and thick webs are exposed.   Dead rats can be seen within the webs.  Feldrix goes to push the webs away and finds them incredibly thick and strong….. even for him.“Allow me.” Responds Zig and he opens his pack and pulls out his cooking pan.“What are you going to do with that?” asks the undead knight.“Burn it away.” The changeling cook rubs his thumb over a series of small gems on the handle and a flame opens up directly under the pan.  Instead of heating up the pan, the flames melt away the webs little by little.  With a smirk, he clears the area of the sword and it is free.  The knight nods a thanks and wonders about his student once more.Suddenly, two yellow and black spiders drop from the ceiling and Feldrix stops Zigland and kills both spiders.  “You didn’t need to protect me!” declares the cook.“No but you… lacked…. A proper weapon.” Answers the knight.“So this isn’t a weapon?!?” grumbles the changeling while waving his flaming pan about.Ayru begins to wonder if magic isn’t driving emotions at this point.  Everyone is fighting.Zig clears the last of the webs and they step into a small crypt.There are two sarcophagi and a stature of a fiendish frog-like creature.  The covers suggest hobgoblin warriors.Kyr checks out the statue.  “Nice puppy.   I once had a puppy.  He melted.” He whispers to the statue.  “Hi Daddy.” He adds.He finds inscriptions under the dust and thinner webs.   He knocks the webs and dirt aside.  There are inscriptions here written in two languages.  Kyr reads one and Tyson the other.  They look at each other then translate.  The translations match.“HERE LIES SAAZ AND HEDAAR GRUNGER, BELIEVERS OF THE MASTERS OF ALL KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING.” Tyson asks if that was Xoriat and Kyr asks if that was goblin.The fight is on.Ayru loses it first.  “Enough with this crazy crap.  What is your game Kyr?”He smiles and shrugs before giggling.“You are clearly insane and getting worse.   What are you about?” Demands Tyson thinking of a solution he didn’t want to use.“I am fine like sweet wine.” Kyr answers with a hurt face.“I can make you, everyone here, to speak the truth.  I had hoped to avoid this but it seems I cannot.” Begins Tyson, the Master Inquisitive Bard.  With a gentle whistle to steady himself and a few waves of his hands, he begins.  Kyr looks with a look of astonishment and the others look on in wary stance.“It is done.   Now-  Kyr….. ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OF XORIAT?”Kyr squirms.  He feels compelled to speak truthfully unless he plays dumb.  However, not to answer may mean they will not help him find ‘father’.     “NO.”This answer surprises the group.  Tyson realizes he needs to be more careful in the choice of words.“Are the creatures you summon from Xoriat?”“Well…. They are not from here anyway.  I call…. They come and help me.”  He makes a charade of his fingers waving then walking along.Kyr figures since this spell works both ways…. What does the inquisitive know?  “Who are the people of Xoriat?”“Very well Summoner, they are now known as the Dragon Below and also known by lesser names of smaller cults.  Many are aberrations.   Unnatural creatures.” Answers the inquisitive honestly. “I do not follow these.  Any of these.   I study them only.” Replies Kyr truthfully.Ayru speaks up now and asks the summoner a simple question.   “What language did you speak? What did you read aloud?”With his head bowed and slumped shoulders he answers.  “Xoriat.  I speak and read their language.”She follows this answer with the next obvious question.  “How did you learn this language?”Again, he looks to the ground then to each member.  He doesn’t want to answer but knows he does not he will never have their trust or aid again.  “I met a creature….. an aberrational humanoid…. (the spell works on him)  a Dolgaunt.  I met him in the Mad Woods in Karrnath.  He was friendly and kind to me.  He wished to share stories and adventures.  He did this with others, including a half-golem halfling (Morgrave Adventures) .    I learned the basics of his language.   I got better by studying texts written by them found in libraries across the continent of Khorvaire.”“What good do you hope to gain by studying these creatures and their makers?” asks the Inquisitive.“Just knowledge?” adds Ayru.“Yes.   I wish to gain knowledge.  I thirst for it.”There is a moment of silence as Ayru and Tyson digest what has been said thus far.  “You are aware of the dangers of this path Kyr.  People whom study the Realm of Madness will always suffer from madness.   It has begun for you.”Kyr shrugs and smirks.  He gives a goofy smile and giggles.  “So you say.”Ayru presents the question they all feared…. Especially Kyr.  “You have heard his defense.  Who believes he should no longer travel with us?  Should we send him through the very same portal he sent his aberrational  puppy?”  Tyson’s response…. “No one should be punished as such.”Zigland….  “No…. he is my friend.   There is good in him.”Feldrix follows the changeling’s lead.Ayru sees the group has accepted him and the dangers he presents.  She nods her consent.“One final question from me…. Would you leave us if you could?”Tyson wishes she worded that differently.“I have been a help.  Why would I just leave?” he says.  Then follows it with…. “As any of you, if the conditions were…. Well right-ite-ite….. you would.”“The spell effect will end at any moment….. any last questions?” asks Tyson.“Was my Gator Gumbo too spicey the other night?   I thought I used too much pepper but thought I should ask just the same.”Tyson rolls his eyes.</blockquote>

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