Labalyn's memorial

[Nephrite]

Nope, Moore will meet him at the front just like Waukeen.

[Anastasia]

Ilmater comes in a stagger.

Face torn, back hunched and broken. Body burnt.

His entire form is ruined, yet he endures.

Cresiel is at your side, waiting with patience and respect.

[Nephrite]

"Lord Illmater." Moore says. "Thank you for coming."

He would take him somewhere else, but the grasses of the Mountain seem appropriate. Nonetheless, he ensures their privacy.

"I can explain the full situation if you would like me to."

[Anastasia]

"Tell me," Ilmater says, as blisters as big as a fist form on his neck, while his back straightens out before snapping again. "What events came to pass?"

[Nephrite]

"Before I go farther, and so as to not waste your time, do you know what was hidden there?" Moore asks. "Or, maybe I should ask, did you know what it was before recent events?"

[Anastasia]

There is a pause as Ilmater looks on at you, eyes empty and white, blind.

"It...may be that we thought one another knew more than we both knew." He says at last. "It came to be that long ago, we found a hole in Arcadia. It led to what is the space between planes, an emptiness unused but not the Beyond." His leg breaks with a bone cracking snap, as he sags to the other side. Hunks of flesh from his middle slough away, healing in moments. "We realized that mischief could be done there, and great harm but the malevolent and the foolish." A shudder as claw marks rend his back, blood oozing down his flesh. "The mountain chose you, Moore. I trust Celestia's wisdom...and your heroism so that whatever need you had to go there, it was a righteous one."

[Nephrite]

"You honor me." Moore says, his head bowed low.

"I will tell you what was there, then, to return both that honor and because Torm may know now." Moore says. "There was a Guardian, as we've come to call them, that was left by the Incarnation of Balance." He says. "They each guard divine seeds, which... well, I'm sure I need not explain. At any rate... when we were there, his avatar showed up. We were... not in a great position to fight him, so we retreated and were able to win the prize. Unfortunately, in doing so, the guardian saw fit to return all of us to our home planes, so... well, that's a different story."

A wave of his hand to change the subject. "Did Torm manage to sneak his avatar there without you or anyone else knowing, or did you know he had?" 

[Anastasia]

"We did not know," Ilmater says at last, as whip welts rise along his back by the dozens - a flash of a servant tied down and whipped, crying out for mercy that does not come until a column of fire from above immolates his tormentor as his wounds are gone. "We assigned celestials of great wisdom there and sequestered them in those depths, and gave them the means to contact any of us should they feel the need, or if anyone passes them by, for any reason."

[Nephrite]

"I... do not know what happened to them, but I met one of them. We were unable to contact anyone outside of that place due to the Guardian while I was taking the trial." Moore says. "If the Guardian was true to the word, they all should've returned to wherever their homes were, which I would assume was Arcadia. I think even if the avatar killed them they wouldn't have been trapped there. But... then I suppose the question becomes, how could he sneak anything to that place?"

[Anastasia]

"That..." Ilmater says slowly, "Is a more dire question. He would know it as well as as Tyr or I, and mad as he may be, Torm is also intelligent and wise. His mind is fearsome." As the welts heal, Ilmater's body becomes blackened, charred. Puncture wounds open over his hips and ribs, relentless.

[Nephrite]

"I wonder then, if he could only send one avatar to not be noticed?" Moore says. "Perhaps he had some artifact that shrouds him in some capacity, but it can only be carried by one like an avatar, or only has enough power to hide that strength, and if he had come himself it would've alerted you?"

[Anastasia]

"I do not know," Ilmater says, as his middle and legs are crushed, pulped, and yet he stands as they heal. "But this matter is dire, though Torm did not obtain this seed?"

[Nephrite]

"No. It was used by us and one from the Cauldron." Moore says, seeing no reason to hide it at this point. "I haven't returned to that place to see what's become of it, but I would be happy to do so if you'd like to go. Have you heard anything from any of the celestials that were there?"

[Anastasia]

"There is no need, Tyr goes as we talk," Ilmater says as his body boils and knees crack. "He will see to matters there."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "Of course. If there is anything I can do to aid in this matter, I would be honored to do so. I will see what I can do about researching, but... I think it best if we all operate that it may be possible that Torm may be able to sneak something in almost anywhere."