The Beast

[Dracos]

~Possibly, but weren't we notified that there was one or two independants running around?  And I thought the pax agents couldn't make it.  Anyhow, reason to be careful.~

"Well, it does seem like it's a wizard's caravan.  So that might be sensible, though something just feels off about it to me."

Dracos

[Ginrai]

~Do you think we should inform Serril about this since he might have a way to determine whether or not they're Pax Arcana.~

[Bjorn]

I don't recall them saying they couldn't make it, Bjorn replies, just that they'd arrived in the South.  And I hadn't heard anything about independents.  You mean people other than Contest participants can enter this?

And Serril will find out at some point, but we can't tell him now.  Unless you have some fancy method to do so.

Out loud, Bjorn says, "Lord Ekim and Master Radagast sound like a reasonable choice."

[Brian]

Radagast nods.  "Very well," he says.  "Lord Boneforge, if you would do me the honor?" he asks, looking at the dwarf questioningly.

Ekim grunts.  "I see fine crafstmanship there," he murmurs to himself.  "Oh.  Hmm.  Let us greet our monster, then."

Without waiting for Radagast, he sticks the handle of his hammer through his belt-loop, and strides forward, Radagast scurrying to keep up.

When they break the perimeter of the Storm-riders, the machine-monster-thing stops pacing, turns to face Ekim and Radagast, and then crouches low to the ground, as though to present a more docile image.

The two men begin (slowly and deliberately) to climb down from the wagon, the one leaving his glass phial behind him on the wagon seat.

Phil:  The monster's change in movement pattern is preceeded by a strand of thought going from the man with the hat to the golem.

[Dracos]

~I could inform Serril.  But it'd be a stupid thing to do right this minute.  We can wait.  And yeah, independants can join.  Though it's complicated.~

Dracos watches, listening as best he can from here on what's being said.

Dracos

[Bjorn]

Bjorn does not reply to Philip's last remark.  Instead, he stands and watches as Radagast and Ekim approach the monster, muscles loose and ready to move in at the first sign of threat.

[Brian]

The monster sits to one side, Ekim standing between Radagast and it.  The two other wizardly-types approach, and nod to Radagast.  Radagast says something, and then you can all hear it as though you were at the scene, instead of watching from a distance.

"Greetings," Radagast says.  "I am Radagast, lorekeeper for this keep.  How may I be of service to you, masters?"

The man in the hat bows, and says, "My name is Derrick.  I come from Soth with my creation -- this golem -- to aid in the defense of Storm-wall keep."  The golem nods at this.

Radagast seems a bit stunned for a moment, and then says, "Ah.  And you, good master?"

"I am Quarll, an alechemist from Borneas.  I also have come to offer my services in this time of darkness," he says, bowing low.

"I see," Radagast says slowly, glancing at Ekim.  For his part, the dwarf seems absorbed in studying the golem, which returns the scrutiny.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn's eyebrow quirks at the mention of Soth, and he glances at Kevin and Nathan, before returning to his study of the meeting before him.

[Brian]

"I see," Radagast says quietly.  "Well, I'll ... take this news to the lord of the keep, then.  If ... you don't mind me asking, what is that creature?" he asks.

"It's a golem," Derreck repeats.  "It's ... a combination of magic and science.  It's quite powerful, but there was no practical use for it in my home.  So I thought to bring it here, and help to defend against the Dreadmarch."

[Ginrai]

~Whatever the case, think we should have a private conversation with them now or return to investigating the thread after this?~

[Bjorn]

Thread? Bjorn writes, still watching Radagast and Ekim.  What thread?

Letting that aside -- if we can get a chance to talk to them in private, we should take it, but I can't see that happening anytime soon.

[Ginrai]

~Drac and I were able to find one of the threads from Elric.  It lead towards the pedestal.~

[Rezantis]

'If I may please throw my two cents in here,' Rez comments over the mindboard, 'don't you think we should be a little more cautious about this? We know people can listen in, so can we leave the more sensitive matters until we've tested it a little more?'

[Dracos]

I'll explain later.  We'll get that finished quickly after this one way or another hopefully.

Dracos

[Brian]

Radagast and Ekim nod at the golem and the two young men, and withdraw back to the line.

"Your thoughts?" Radagast asks rather bluntly of Lord Kevin.

Kevin shakes his head.  "I ... don't know," he admits.  "I think it's oddly convenient.  Perhaps too much so.  Your thoughts, Lord Bloom?  Bjorn?"