All That Glitters

[Nephrite]

Moore laughs at that as he gently places the stone away in his bag. "I managed to walk the halls of Crystalle's abode without feeling the urge to take anything, I think I'll be fine. Regardless, you're more than welcome anywhere I go, of course."

[Anastasia]

Ahead is the ziggurat. As you approach, words echo in your mind. 'Come, all worthy, forever and for all time.' Amen.

[Nephrite]

That seems redundant -- if you're all the way up here, don't you have to be?

Moore shakes his doubt out of his mind as he approaches along with Cresiel. "I have to admit... I'm nervous, though I have no need to be." Moore says quietly.

[Anastasia]

"Be not afraid," Cresiel remarks, leading you within.

Gleaming halls, great citadels, vast places, wondrous sights, vast armies. Within are spaces than you can comprehend, yet your steps pass them quickly. Onward, deeper, higher. You pass through entire worlds of archons in a few footsteps, "Space is not important within this place. We will find the path to where we need to go, for we are welcome and expected. Any enemy who sought to enter would have to cross entire realities to reach deep within."

[Nephrite]

Tepen would be so jealous!

"I can't even imagine anyone making it this far with ill intent." Moore says as he continues forward, trusting in wisdom to lead him where he needs to go. "I like anywhere where I can't manage to get myself lost."

[Anastasia]

"I cannot imagine it, but I know that one day good and evil will have a final battle," Cresiel says, "On that day Barachiel shall sound his horn and it will be heard across all the realities and planes, a signal for Sealtiel to unlock the paths to Chronias and allow the light to come forth for all Creation. On that terrible, wonderful day, none can say what final battles will rage - or where."

[Nephrite]

"Hopefully that won't be for some time yet." Moore says. "I've got a lot I need to do before the final battle of Creation, I think."

[Anastasia]

"We all do," Cresiel smiles, "There is time yet." Time enough. The ________ ____ shall open when it is time.

Then with a step, you stand in endless forges. Here the clang of metal on metal is a constant symphony, archon smiths working away before the flames. Great muscled archons from mere hound archons to great tome archons. Before you armor and weapons of every type you can imagine are made, forged, cooled, finished. When done they vanish, off to points unknown to you. One in particular looks up - a hound archon, easily seven feet talla nd nothing but pure muscle, wearing only a pair of leather pants. He holds a smith's hammer, pounding a cherry-red slab of metal.

"Ho there!" The hound archon calls, "Cresiel and Moore?"

[Nephrite]

"Hello!" Moore calls out a greeting. "I'd say 'we made it', but that's not really much of an accomplishment when you're only going to end up where you're wanted." Moore says with a smile.

[Anastasia]

The hound archon laughs, a few rough barks joining in at it. "I like your turn of phrase, Duke. I understand that you need gear, Cresiel?"

"I do. I place myself in your hands, master smith," Cresiel replies bowing his head to him.

[Nephrite]

"I'm sure I get a few looks every now and again from the folks who are more used to people like Cresiel's way of thinking." Moore says with a smile. "Yes, whatever you and the wisdom of Celestia deems worthy for him." Moore nods in agreement. "I don't know if the wisdom of Celestia included me in anything, but Cresiel is who I'm here to help."

[Anastasia]

"It included a quest for the both of you," The archon greets, "Also, my name is Raliel," he says, then continues. "It has been revealed to me that you owe Crystalle of Mineral favors?"

[Nephrite]

"Aurora... and I, especially, owe him a debt that cannot be repaid in normal means." Moore agrees. "It doesn't surprise me that he'd call that in, though I am surprised it's come so soon, at least, for an Archomental of Earth, it seemed like it was going to be a while..." He shakes his head. "Yes, at any rate, your information is correct, Raliel." Moore nods an affirmation after that.

[Anastasia]

Meanwhile, archons come forth with Cresiel, talking to him softly. His armor, shield and weapon are handed over, taken to the forges.

"Crystalle is not yet aware of a threat, but we have become aware of it," Raliel says, "It is Erathaol's will that this threat be eliminated - a cult of Shar has made a temple in Mineral, where they make obscene sacrifices to the Lady of Loss. Your mission is to liaison with Crystalle, explain the situation, track down the temple and wipe it out.  The temple is lead by Duran Emptyeye,  a skilled warrior devoted to Shar. In addition to wiping out the temple, he must be stopped. Taken alive and brought to Celestia or at least Crystalle, or killed if that is impossible."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "That's simple enough to understand."

Seriously, though, Moore thinks -- Emptyeye? What kind of stupid name is that??

"Interesting times we live in, where deific quests are traded in such a manner. Or maybe it's just the interesting time *I* live in... Ah, my apologies, I get too lost in the 'why' sometimes." Moore admits. "I know it's because it's the will of the mountain, but thank you for helping him regardless. I'm still rather fresh at this 'being important' thing, so I apologize if I speak out of turn at all."