Endless rise above

[Anastasia]

What did the Empty Knight offer you in tribute, exactly?

[Nephrite]

He should've thought of that one himself, really...

"What did The Empty Knight offer you in tribute, exactly?" Moore asks. Hopefully it doesn't offend him.

[Anastasia]

A pause before, "The Scabbard of Khin-Oin, as well as 300 rubies."

[Nephrite]

Take 10 on... I don't know, K:P? 118 for that, 121 for K:R if that's more applicable. What is that Scabbard?

[Anastasia]

The Scabbard of Khin-Oin is said to be a lost artifact made within the Wasting Tower of Khin-Oin during Anthraxus's reign as Oinoloth. Any bladed weapon sheathed in it would strike any foe wounded by that weapon with horrible, incurable diseases. A dreadful thing - but it's said it vanished by the 'loths themselves, when a healer who obtained it studied it and found the cure to several diseases from it. A bit of cleverness it's said that the 'loths couldn't tolerate.

It was said to be destroyed, but it wouldn't be the first time the daemons lied about something, or the last. How the Empty Knight got it is an open question.

[Nephrite]

Moore furrows his brow at that.

Perhaps The Empty Knight was this healer? It's possible...

Let's see what the spell has for our next question.

[Anastasia]

What did the Empty Knight tell you about the Scabbard?

[Nephrite]

Moore raises an eyebrow at that.

"What did the Empty Knight tell you about the Scabbard?" Moore asks.

Hm, maybe it's different now? It isn't like he has the Artifact in front of him to compare...

[Anastasia]

"I asked him the same thing," Is what the dragon says, "He says he won it from a daemon caravan, followers of the Oinoloth."

[Nephrite]

"Hm, I assume it was in some sort of battle..." Moore says.

Next question! 3/7

[Anastasia]

You thought he was lying, because the daemons wouldn't treat such an artifact so irresponsibly, right?

[Nephrite]

"...Ah." Moore nods. "You didn't believe he was telling the truth due to what this artifact represents, correct? I suppose my follow-up to your confirmation would be what did he do to prove his truthfulness?"

But where is this line of questioning leading...?

[Anastasia]

"I didn't question him," The dragon says, "Instead I did my own investigation. The Scabbard is trapped, the next one who uses it dies of a thousand diseases by the Oinoloth's hand." A grim smile, "I would think it an insult, but I believe the Empty Knight was the target. Somehow it failed and I've studied the diseases myself, and gained the knowledge and power over disease."

"It remains that the daemons and perhaps the Oinoloth wished the Empty Knight dead, and resorted to great measures to do so."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods along with the explanation. "Ah... so that's it. I'm glad that you've been able to turn something like that into an advantage." He says. "That sort of knowledge can go a long way in fighting the likes of the Abyss."

Next! 4/7

[Anastasia]

I know the Empty Knight had dealings with Mystra. Does that match anything you've found out?