Stuck in the Middle With You

[Brian]

"How should I know how Solariat is able to ken such?" Mattias asks, somewhat peevishly.  "But he did.  And then carved my bones to bring Radagast to justice."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn is quiet, thinking, for some time.  "All right, Mattias," he says finally.  "Shall we make a bargain?  I need to know about Solariat's plans -- if there are other Lorekeepers in his service in the Keep, if he made bargains with the Dreadman.  And in return, I will pledge two things.  One is that I will watch Radagast carefully, for any signs of the threat you say he poses.  And the second is that I will swear to do my best to find a way to free you.

"Solariat might be the strongest Lorekeeper," he continues, meeting Mattias' gaze with even eyes, "but the Lore is not the end of things.  I carry swords forged by Gods; Sir Shuker has a blade forged by Archonae; and Lord Ekim is a master of a race of master smiths."

[Brian]

"No power in this world will surpass these wards," he says, shaking his head.

[Bjorn]

"But from what you've said," Bjorn says, with a small, grim smile, "we aren't limited to this world, are we?"

[Brian]

He looks at you skeptically.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn sighs.  "Your options," he points out, "are rather simple.  You can cooperate with me, and hope that I can somehow find you the freedom you crave -- or you can stay in this cell for the remainder of your existence, to be released only if the Dreadmarch triumphs, or if Solariat comes to punish you for you failures, I imagine.  However faint it is, I'm offering you hope."

[Brian]

He grunts.  "Show me proof that it can be done, and I'll help you," he finally says.  "I have doubts."

[Bjorn]

"Very well," Bjorn says coolly.  "When we have a lead, I'll be back.  In the meantime, if you'll excuse me, there's a war going on, and you've occupied quite enough of my time already."

Turning his back, he makes his way to the cell door, pulling it open and stepping out.

[Brian]

Bjorn returns to the execution chamber, everyone now looking at him expectantly.

[Bjorn]

"He has agreed to talk," Bjorn reports calmly, "when we can break the wards carved on his bones.  Until such time, he will remain in this cell, bound as he is."

[Dracos]

"Hmm...troublesome.  What's the plan to do so?"

~Then if that's the case, I'll stick out of his mind.~

Dracos

[Bjorn]

If you can break his mind, Bjorn writes, then do it.  I'm not holding my breath about being able to meet his demands.

"I have no plan," Bjorn replies, tersely.  "I am no Loremaster, and I don't know how to undo wards that protect themselves.  Unless you have access to some power from another world, I'm at a bit of a loss."

[Dracos]

~I can try, but he'd know, and any chance of him being helpful along this plan will disappear.  Your plan though.  He doesn't have any mental wards, just his own natural skills in that area.  If he's drugged, it'd make it easier.~

"Hmm...Perhaps we should consult Ekim?  He might find it an interesting task to create a weapon that could cut through the wards."

Dracos

[Bjorn]

"You can speak with Lord Ekim, of course," Bjorn says shortly, "as I plan to do so, eventually.  But Mattias is not the beginning or end of the problems we face, and frankly, we can likely accomplish more on our own in the time it would take to get him speaking, since no one knowledgeable seems optimistic about breaking these wards."

Mattias is not helpful, and any way to make him so runs a good chance of killing him before he can help us.  He already has dangerous secrets about Radagast, and probably Parthipan at least.  If people start listening to his accusations, we're all up shit creek.  

With the wards he's got on him, I doubt that drugging him would get you anywhere.  From what he's said, he's dead.  If you think you can read his mind, just go ahead and do it.

[Dracos]

~Understood.  I'll give it my best try.  Keep people out of there while I do it please.~

"Hum...May I have a try at convincing him to talk, Bjorn?  Privately?"

Dracos