In Too Deep

[Ginrai]

"Yeah, sorry about that."  Ginrai grabs some food and something to drink.  "So, what did I miss?"

[Dracos]

"Paul's in jail.  We think an assassin king is wandering around using him as a decoy.  We're trying to figure out how to stop him and set paul free.  Everything else you were pretty much there for.  Anyhow, was there anything else we needed to trade notes on prior to figuring out the plan for the day?"

Dracos

[Ginrai]

"What was found in Dorian's room?  And did Radagast say we were going to check out the pedestal before or after tonight's battle?"

[Bjorn]

"Okay, wait one second," Bjorn says, raising a hand forestallingly.  "I meant to ask this earlier but -- there's something beneath the perch out in the courtyard?  What's down there?"

[Dracos]

"I didn't get a chance to investigate it, what with the interruptions and all but...  there's some magical line of power that runs from Elric over the wall and down below there.  We were trying to track it down with Radagast and Ekim before the whole caravan stuff happened."

Dracos

[Bjorn]

"No, what I mean is: there's something under there but rock and earth?  I didn't know that."

[Dracos]

"Well, Radagast mentioned some crystal down there, so I assume there are some basement rooms below the pedestal."

Dracos

[Bjorn]

Bjorn starts.  "The crystal is down there?" he asks, unbelieving, and then frowns.  "That could be bad.  And unfortunately, very plausible."

[Ginrai]

"It could also mean that the entire incident with Mirallia and the Archonae was just some act on their part since they would want us to use this crystal.  Bjorn, did we learn anything about the crystal when we found it?"

[Bjorn]

"Beyond the fact that people think it's the crystal of Aestock, no."  Bjorn shakes his head.  "I have a hard time believeing that the Dreadmarch planned for us to retrieve this crystal in particular, though.  We should have died in the first ambush, and even surviving that, there was little or no chance we'd make it through the pass -- or take the time to recover the crystal.  We almost didn't, remember?

"If this crystal is giving Elric power -- and right now that's still an if -- then most likely all the crystals could.  Most of the stories say they were made by the Archonae, which makes them suspect."

[Dracos]

"What other crystals are there then?  And where are they?"

Dracos

[Bjorn]

"One for each god," Bjorn replies.  "The crystal of Hammar is kept by the Archonae.  It's the one that was supposed to be use.  The crystal of Liena is in... some place in the Southlands.  Wells?  Something like that."

[Dracos]

"If this is the case...we could actually probably retrieve them.  It'd be dangerous, but as far as I know, there is nothing restricting the gates from transporting a small squad around.  Anyhow...what do these crystals do?"

Dracos

[Bjorn]

Bjorn shifts in his seat.  "The crystal keeps the magically protected fear and despair of the Dreadmarch from overwhelming us and rendering us unable to fight.  If Elric is really getting power from it, we're stuck between a rock and a hard place.  As for retrieving the other crystals -- well, no one fight a war on two fronts if they have a choice, and getting the crystal away from the Archonae is going to take about that much."

He shakes his head.  "We're getting ahead of ourselves here.  Let's make sure it's the crystal first, before we start panicking."

[Dracos]

"I'll see about checking that out after tonight's battle.  if you want, you can join us."

Dracos