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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cinerarium" data-source="post: 970348" data-attributes="member: 9349">A Barter with the Dead“Human,” the central ghost moaned, “we thank you for clearing the upper warrens, but you must leave these halls now, and leave behind the sword your companion carries.”  I thought quickly of the sword Toth carried that we had so recently recovered from the mold.“We would be glad to do as you wish, good spirit, and I hope that you may someday find warmth at the side of Moradin’s forge.”  I turned as if to leave, but then paused.  “Tell me, is there nothing we could do to put your souls at rest?  Why must you continue to haunt these halls after so long?”I began to realize as I was speaking that none of my companions could understand the dwarf’s words, that somehow he was speaking into my head.  And the entire time I worried that Fineon would scoff at them and leap to the attack, eager to take whatever treasure they guarded.“You have a good soul,” said the spirit.  “But you offer that which you cannot grant.”“That is a shame, for I would hope to give you rest.  You, and the other spirit we met in the lower levels.”“Do not speak of the betrayer!” I stepped back at the sudden fury.  “I apologize humbly, my lord.  I meant no offense, and did not realize he was the cause of your torment.  Please, is there nothing we could do to end your suffering?”“There once was… another time, when we were betrayed.  We were to guard these halls, and we failed in our duty.”  The dwarven spirit paused, and his incorporeal eyes lost some of their fire.  “Perhaps you could do what we could not.”I paused, and looked at my companions.  This would be a gamble.  “I believe we would be honored to try."“Wait a second!” Fineon interrupted, “What’re you volunteering us for, exactly?”“I would have us help put these spirits to rest.  They were betrayed in the past, and failed in their duties to defend this place.  They believe we could help to right what went wrong.”“Elf, I read your mercenary spirit,” the dwarf said, and I knew that the others could understand him now.  “We would grant each of you an item of your choosing, made from the forge here, if you accept this.  But we would not allow you to take any of Durgeddin’s other treasures from these halls.”I looked at my companions.  In Kazir and Fineon I could see their calculations at this offer.  “What would this entail?” asked Kazir.“We would embrace you, and take you… to another time and place.  There you would do battle with our enemies.  If at any time you wish to return to the here and now, you need simply return to the place where you appeared, and will it so.”“Come, brethren,” I said.  “Let us send these spirits to their rest.  They mean us no harm unless we try to steal that which they guard, and if the had meant us ill they could have done so already.  This bargain harms none, and stands to benefit us.”  Little did I know what the consequences of my words would be.</blockquote>

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