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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wraithdrit" data-source="post: 838008" data-attributes="member: 10820">Session Five (Part 3 of 3)Amador shook his head, "We should not go any further, we have been going for hours, and we need rest. Lets head back to the room where we have been resting and get some rest."Durgaden nodded, "Sounds good. I could certainly use some rest."Tanerus seemed to agree as well, so the companions turned to walk out of the room. They headed north past the pit trap they had avoided several times now. After heading north down the back hall for most of the way, they were surprised to see a single figure standing at the doorway, looking into their resting room. The figure was covered head to toe in flowing black and purple clothing. He held the haft a of a glaive in his right hand. He held it easily in one hand, thought it looked like fighting would require both hands. He turned toward them as heard them coming down the hall.Durgaden called ahead of them, "You best have an invitation to the mines handy!"The figure stood to its full height. Though its hood disguised its appearance at this distance it had the build of a tall well built human male. His voice called out congenially, "I was not aware that I needed an invitation to explore old ruins.""You do if its these ruins. These mines are mine! I claim them by the right of me forefathers!" Durgaden puffed up a bit.The figure seemed a bit taken aback at first. He took a step or two close, calling out across the fifty feet that still seperated them. "So you are a descendant of Tethyamar then?" Durgaden eased closer as well, so as not to yell as much. "No, but me father's father's father worked here filling the mug of every dwarf with the finest brew."Tanerus and Amador exchanged glances."And since no one else has come to claim them, I have.""I see, what is your name them Master Brewer?" asked the cloaked figure."Durgaden Alepounder. What be yours?""You can call me Clariburnus." The figure bowed, took another couple steps. The area around him seemed to darken as he moved."Thats close enough, drop the polearm and you can come closer.""Very well." He casually laid aside his weapon then took a few steps closer. "Where are you from?""West of here." He strode a bit closer. This close the adventurers could make out his dusky skin, almost black in some places. He was a Shadovar! One of the inhabitants of the City of Shade. The war with the City of Shade had ended with the City in near ruins, but still intact, anchored over the desert. The Shadovar had stayed within the desert's confines since then, sending only a few of their numbers out of the desert at any one time. They were none to be ruthless to non-Shadovar who dared enter their territory, with the single exception of the Bedine people.Durgaden gaped a moment then said, "What does a Shadovar want with me mines?""We have interest in anything that threatens our borders." It was true the mines were right on the border of the desert."We be no threat to the desert.""You aren't but others working here are."Tanerus called out, "You mean the Zhentarim.""No, the Zhentarim have not crossed the line yet. And when they have in the past, we have destroyed them. Bane's lackeys do not concern us much."Tanerus called out, "There are lines and then there are lines ."Clariburnus nodded, "Indeed." "So who are you after then? Someone else from within me mines?" Durgaden seemed perturbed that more people were using his mines."Not from within your mines, friend dwarf, but beyond. They have come through your mines though. My agents tell me there is a greater danger then these Zhentarim. The Zhentarim are working with someone, and I don't mean the pile of Thayans you left outside."Amador frowned, "Then who?"Clariburnus seemed to shrug a bit, "Someone is collecting things. The Axe that resided in the building outside for instance.""You can be guaranteed, anything that resided here will return here. We will see to that."Clariburnus nodded, "I see. Well you have your work cut out for you then.""Perhaps you be wishing to help us then? Help rid the mines of the Zhentarim." Durgaden grinned a bit.Clariburnus smiled, "As much as I would enjoy that, as I have said, the Zhentarim have not crossed the line yet. I can not aid you." Clariburnus kept looking over at Tanerus who was staring intently at him.Amador said, "We need to find out who this collector is." He was gripping his bow tightly, his knuckles turning white at the mention of this 'Collector'. Something was obviously bothering the normally stoic elven priest."I would suggest you ask the Zhents then, since they are the ones that sold the collector the Axe." Durgaden nodded, "Sounds good to me. Once the mines are in good dwarven hands again perhaps we can make some sort of arrangement with your people. Surely you know of the quality metals that used to flow from this mine."Clariburnus seemed intrigued. "Indeed. We would be interested in these metals, but not your worked items. We have no need for dwarven craftsmanship."Drugaden frowned, "You have a problem with dwarven craftsmanship?"Clariburnus held up his hands, "No, just no need for it. We are an ancient people with a long tradition of craftsmanship of our own. Even the best of your dwarven craft masters can not duplicate the Netherese arts. Your craftsmen are the best of their time, friend Alepounder. Our craftsmen just are not of this time. Shadows are eternal." Clariburnus grinned gently at the last statement.Durgaden seemed placated. "Well, there is plenty to do till then. We were about to have a bite to eat and get some rest. Join us?"Clariburnus tried to not seem disgusted by the thought, and only barely hid it. "No, thank you. I shall not keep you any longer. I am sure we will be seeing each other again."Clariburnus shifted his gaze back to Tanerus, held his gaze for a moment then glanced to Amador. Durgaden nodded, "Good day then." Clariburnus turned and walked toward one wall. He held his hand out toward his glaive, and the shadows flickering in the corridor seemed to become solid. They lifted his weapon into his grasp then cloaked themselves around him. By the time he walked into the wall he seemed nothing but a shadow himself, a shadow that dissappeared into the wall.</blockquote>

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