The mystery of Benfal (Moore, Tryll)

[Anastasia]

"A kind soul and a gentleman," The knight says, "I see why you ended up here."

[Nephrite]

Moore laughs at that as well. "I think you're the first person I've met here who's normal. Uh..." He looks upwards. "No offense meant of course." He turns back to Malasgar. "Or at least that I don't have to try and decipher some deeper meaning from. I understand the Mountain is always teaching, but I really wish it'd be a little more direct with its wisdom sometimes."

[Anastasia]

"Sometimes you have to bash wisdom in until it sinks in." Malasgar says, a tired smile on his face as he slowly sits down on the cliffside. "Ronyn was like that. A natural paladin, called when he was barely past being a boy. He was brash and enthralling, a natural leader. Wisdom was never his blessing, charisma and force of will was."

[Nephrite]

"Subtlety is sometimes not my strong suit, either." Moore admits. "If you don't mind my asking, did he... ah... continue up the mountain, as it were?"

[Anastasia]

"No. He's...not here. It's a long story," Malasgar says, "I myself stay here, as I do not seem to be ready to proceed to Venya."

[Nephrite]

"Is he trapped?" Moore asks. "Ah... apologies, I don't mean to reopen wounds, but my comrades in Aurora are experts at this sort of thing."

[Anastasia]

"No. He is a thrall of Hell now," The old man bows his head, "All that is left is his dead husk, his soul trapped within. A plaything for a fiend." Age and sorrow wear at him, "I pray he will be saved one day, because I am too old to."

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles and flies over to be face-to-face. "Then for whatever it's worth to you, I make a promise on this day under the shining skies of Mount Celestia that I will find his soul and free it from Hell's grasp, one way or another. Like I said... Aurora is very good at devil extermination."

[Anastasia]

The old man looks on - and smiles, tears starting to fall. "Bless you. Others have tried, but know he is held by Leonar, Duke of Cania. Proceed with caution and wisdom."

[Nephrite]

"We recently got a soul back from Asmodeus himself." Moore says with a proud smile. "I think we can handle this guy. Come on, you don't need to go all the way up to Zaphkiel, but let's get you up to Venya. I'm on my way there anyway." Moore offers a small hand. "That is, of course, if you think you're ready."

[Anastasia]

"I'm not. Go." He pauses, taking off his gauntlets. "These look too big for you, but they'll fit. They may not be the best choice for a pixie, but they'll aid you or a friend."

[Nephrite]

Moore will take the gauntlets! "If you ever have need of me, feel free to reach out to us. The next time I see you I'm sure I'll have good news." He bows again. "Look to the future, don't dwell too much on the past." With that, he'll fly along and back up the path!

[Anastasia]

Loot post.

Roll 1d100-28.

[Nephrite]

[11:43] <Nephrite> roll 1d100-28
[11:43] <Serith> Nephrite roll for Serith < -9 > [d100=19]

[Anastasia]

You wander a time, until you at last come to an archway of stone. A simple lantern archon floats before it, blocking the path's way.