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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 3085731" data-attributes="member: 2323">[PLAIN][Realms #361] Grandfather Plaque's Tale[/PLAIN]"No, I don't suppose I do," it added quickly, its features settling into a benign smile. "I don't know much of anyone anymore. At least not anyone worth knowing."Shamalin glanced at the others, certain that she would find consternation on their faces. The stone image was speaking in elvish, and she knew that there were some within the group who did not speak that tongue. What she noticed instead, was that each of her companions wore a look of curious understanding. And in the next moment she realized that the face was tailoring its message to the ear of each listener. She made the sign of the goddess acknowledging once again the great magic at work in this place.Morier must have made the same deduction, for he began to explain in Common their intent to locate the four keys. The face confirmed that it was indeed guarding keys, and Shamalin felt a shiver of excitement course through her."Rake locked me up," it explained, a low emphasis on the name. Karak and Morier exchanged a glance and Shamalin looked back over her shoulder without really meaning to. In spite of Karak's loud work with his warhammer moments ago, they remained alone. "But that's not a problem any more since you're here.""Who's Rake?" Ayremac asked and the face gasped, its features flying up into a look of shock."You mean you haven't killed the blackguard yet?" it asked, studying each of the group in turn. "Well, then I can't let you passed, it's as simple as that. I'd be remiss in my duties!""So you're the only thing keeping us from getting the keys," Huzair interrupted, appraising the plaque as he took a thoughtful pull on his cigar."I am only the first guardian," the face continued, its tone wary as if suspecting what the mage was considering. "You must pass my test before you can advance. Beyond the door, there are more guardians, and more tests..."Karak stamped his axe once against the ground with a resounding thud, and Shamalin noticed with satisfaction that even the face stopped abruptly. "We be here for these tests, that be true. But we are not at full strength," Karak gestured at Lela, a sad smile splitting his beard. "Our sprite be stricken with the rot o' Aphyx. Can you heal her?"The group waited expectantly, but the face responded simply, "I cannot." Then it brightened. "I can heal doors though. And lock and unlock them. It's one of the things I do best, in fact." A proud expression played across the stoney features.There was a pause and Huzair stepped forward casually blowing his cigar smoke at the face. "You don't seem to be much help. What do we have to do to get passed you.""Well kill Rake for one," the face told him. "I can't have him just lurking around to wrest the keys away from you when... if ... you complete the tests. It would be too easy for him. The point of the tests is to keep the keys away from creatures like him.""What can you tell us about this Rake?" Morier asked. The eyes shifted from one to the next and finally came back to look upon the albino appraisingly."I will give you information about Rake if you make a promise," it said at last. Its voice sounded a little smaller than it had before."What promise is that?" Ayremac demanded."In exchange for information, you must promise to take me with you when you leave. If you should succeed, that is." The plaque looked a trifle guilty as it spoke. "I mean, if the keys are gone, there's no need for me to hang around here, right? I'll have fulfilled my duty. So I can go someplace more... interesting. With people to talk to. A-an-and a new door to guard!"The fact that the face was willing to negotiate with them seemed a good sign to Shamalin. If it could be trusted. They conferred for a few moments before reaching a decision. "We have a manor," Morier said. "It has many doors and many people training there to fight Aphyx.""That sounds lovely! It's a deal!" the face beamed. It closed its eyes momentarily and then told The Order what it knew."The last eight of nine Druids built this place as well as the tests beyond. Rake dwells here, guarding what is hidden. He is not a man. He worships the dark goddess and is truly evil. He is duplicitous, rotten, and smarter than he looks.""That's it?" Huzair scoffed."I'm afraid so," the plaque sighed. "As you can see, I don't get out much." Karak harrumphed at that."So we kill this Rake and you let us passed," Morier asked. "Is that the deal?""Not exactly," the face explained. "If you want to enter the tests, you'll first have to solve my riddle."</blockquote>

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