The mystery of Benfal (Moore, Tryll)

[Nephrite]

Moore blinks. Oh, this is...?

"Hello?" Moore calls out as he starts to dry himself off a bit. This mountain sure can be strange sometimes...

[Anastasia]

A hound archon approaches. He wears pants and is bare chested, a black-furred head. He brings over a cup with something steaming within, "Spiced cider," He offers it to you, "You caught a chill when you swam down here."

[Nephrite]

"Oh, thank you. ...But where exactly is... here?" Moore asks as he takes the cider. "I know the mountain led me here, but it's still ... um... Well, I'm not quite used to its subtleties just yet."

[Anastasia]

"My house," The hound archon says, "You're in Mercuria, though underground."

[Nephrite]

"Well, there must be some reason I was directed here. I suppose I should explain." Moore says, clearing his throat after some more cider. "I came here originally to go to Xiranthador, because I need to understand something that recently happened -- a prime my allies helped liberate from Hell was raised into Elysium for some reason, perhaps as a result of some miracle. There are... ...a lot of questions about that, though, so I'm here seeking the wisdom of answers. Oh, my name is Moore, by the way."

[Anastasia]

"I don't know much about that," The hound archon admits, "Rouday," he introduces himself. "What questions do you have?"

[Nephrite]

"Well, I guess the first is why it happened at all." Moore says. "Going beyond that, why it seems to be some sort of secret. I understand the concept of anathemic knowledge, but even with that... this seems like an extreme circumstance. There's something else going on and it seems like no one wants to admit it, I guess..." He shakes his head. "Someone up there..." He gestures upwards. "Has to know what happened."

[Anastasia]

"I see. I don't know anything about that," He admits, "I work down here as a miner. Give me some ore to mine or dwarves to argue with and I could help you. But if you're going on up, I know a good path for it."

[Nephrite]

"Oh! Well, if you're ever interested in work for Aurora, we can always use more materials. Ah, if you're allowed to, anyway." Moore says with a smile. "But yes, if you'd be willing to show me the path, I would greatly appreciate it."

[Anastasia]

"What sort of ores do you need?" Rousay asks, nose twitching.

[Nephrite]

"Hmm, anything that makes high quality arms and armors." Moore says with a nod. "We're always needing to outfit our soldiers and generals alike, so having access to good quality material would be a boon for us."

[Anastasia]

The archon merely nods and says, "Follow me."

[Nephrite]

"Of course. ...Also, it's always seemed funny to me that this place has... I don't know, regular people doing jobs like mining." Moore says as he finishes drying himself off with some magic. "I mean, when you think of Mount Celestia, I think everyone just imagines the fields of angels and eternal life and not... you know, people actually living and working here."

[Anastasia]

"Bah! Who wants to sit around doing nothing all day? Not I," The hound archon says, looking back at you. The door out leads into a cavern tunnel, lit by light that comes from the walls themselves. "Sloth is a sin. Besides, I like mining."

[Nephrite]

"My sentiments exactly." Moore says with a nod as he follows. "Although what kind of ore can you actually mine here? It must be precious if it comes from Celestia itself."