In the Hall of the Mountain King

[Brian]

"Hadrick," Radagast muses.  "That's something to consider, though.  Well, of more pressing concern, at the moment, is what to do about this," he says, gesturing towards the sealed door.

[Dracos]

"We'll have to get Lord Boneforge when he is ready to come down here and oversee checking the crystal out.  Maybe whatever is being done with it can be separated from the protective power of it safely."

Dracos

[Brian]

"Possibly," Radagast agreees.  "Either way, we must devise a plan to deal with the possibility of losing the crystal.  It would hurt our morale more than you would remember, since you weren't here when the Dreadmarch arrived."

[Dracos]

"I'd suggest, if we had to lose it, then it better not be known as much as possible.  Anyhow, let's start planning...  I think I have to go handle some stuff with my own men for now.  Do you need more of my help with anything?"

Dracos

[Ginrai]

Ginrai looks confused.  "Hmm?  Even if they didn't know that the crystal was gone, wouldn't they lose morale?"

[Brian]

"They would notice," Radagast agrees.  "Lord Bloom ... you weren't here, so you wouldn't remember.  But when the Dreadmarch attacks, the men lose will to so much as raise a spear in the face of the ... the raw dread which compells them to give up.  If the crystal is gone, or damaged, we lose that protection."

[Dracos]

"Then, it is clear.  In the worst case we need another crystal.  We need to see if we can acquire the third crystal.  It might require gating a force out there to take it by force, but in the worst case scenario, we may need to go to those lengths.  Who has the third crystal?  You've mentioned where one is.  We know the other is behind that door.  Where's the third?"

Dracos

[Brian]

Radagast looks at Phil like he's proposed something monstrous.  "We'd ... need to take it from the high church of Liene.  If we were to do that, though, we'd lose the blessings of the moon.  And then we'd have no protection between the days of the siege from the Dreadmarch."

[Dracos]

"If it's the fourteenth moonrise and Elric is about to charge down our throats, I think we'd have a more direct threat to worry about, no?  I'm not saying lets go charge down and steal it, but we have to keep our minds open even to that degree in order to consider scenarios that will work.  So, the crystal that was taken away, the one we are supposed to have.  Could we track it and recover it?  Are there any magics that would be able to, even temporarily, fake the power of the crystal?  Theoretically, the worst we have to plan for is the last night.  He could get impatient and come earlier, but I don't think that he will.  So we have to figure out what can be done."

Dracos

[Ginrai]

"Of course there's also the possibility that Elric's being powered by *all* three of the crystals."

[Brian]

"The crystals represent the essense of the gods themselves, there's nothing that I know of...."  Radagast trails off, and smacks one fist into the opposting palm.  "That's what I was looking for in my notes!  There's supposed to be a prayer that can accomplish one thing -- that one being to stave off the Dread.  But I don't believe I found any more information than the fact that it exists," he says, somewhat apologetically.

[Dracos]

"Well, then we have to find someone who does.  We have to research this quickly.  Parthipan, you should spend what time you have free helping Radagast look for that.  That will be our primary plan.  To figure that out.  Anyhow, is there any reason we can't retrieve the other crystal from the archanoe?  You've given a clear reason why we can't afford to do it with Lienne, but what about the other?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"Attacking the Archonae would be a risky proposition," Radagast warns.  "Admittedly, we stand to retrieve some Loremasters that are captured there ... but they are more powerful, and also most likely loyal to Solariat.  They are, after all, still working with the Archonae.  But to do that we would need to fight the Archonae.  They would not willingly part with that crystal."

[Dracos]

"Hmmm...We may not have to attack them.  There are other possibilities.  Pax, I believe, mentioned two of their number there.  Anyhow, that's secondary.  The question more directly is: If we got that crystal, could it be used to provide the same protection?  If not, there is no reason to waste time pondering possible ways to accomplish getting it."

Dracos

[Brian]

"It could, but Parthipan raised a valid point.  Elric's power may be tied to another -- or all of -- the crystals in the same manner."  Radagast sighs.  "I think it would be best to see if you can puzzle out his connection to the crystal more clearly before we proceed."