Moments in the Sun

[Brian]

Astryd nods her agreement, as well.

He pricks his finger on the needle.  A bright drop of blood balances on the tip of it.  "I am Devin Stoneshaper, Lorekeeper of the Path of Earth.  I swear that I shall never henceforth speak any un-truth to those who share in this bond."  After that, the drop of blood spirals down the length of the pin, vanishing below the lip of the cube, and Devin hands it to Astryd.

She accepts his nervously, closing one eye and half looking away as she cups the box in one hand, and presses the tip of one finger against the needle, drawing a drop of blood.  "I am Astryd Moonweaver, Lorekeeper of the Path of Light.  I swear that I shall never henceforth speak any un-truth to those who share in this bond."  Her drop of blood spirals down, too, and she then turns and offers the box to you, a challenging expression on her face.

[Ginrai]

Accepting the box from Astryd, Ginrai presses his finger against the needle and draws blood.  "I am Parthipan, Lorekeeper of the Path of Wind.  I swear that I shall never henceforth speak any un-truth to those who share in this bond."  He watches the drop disappear into the cube.  'I *really* hope this doesn't screw me over.'

[Brian]

Devin takes the box from you, and puts it back in the trunk.  "Now, we shall each speak one truth, and one untruth," he says.  Clearing his throat, he says, "My family is from the lands west of Kith."

He looks between you and Astryd for a moment, and then says, "My father was great and respected."  You can feel that he's lying.  It's like an intense pressure in your head -- not painful, but very hard to miss.  Devin winces, and a drop of blood falls from his hand to the floor.

Astryd blinks, and nods nervously.  "My family is from the lands of Westings."  She blinks, and frowns slightly, but you don't feel a lie from her like you did from Devin.  "I am very close to my mother."  This time, you sense the lie, though not as strongly as from Devin.  Astryd hisses as a drop of blood wells up on her fingertip.

Both of them turn to look at you expectantly.

[Ginrai]

'Okay, just need to make sure it's something trivial....'

"I am currently longing for the day when I can return to my family."

Thinking over what his lie should be, Ginrai says, "Priestess Mirallia and I are best of friends."

[Brian]

For the first statement, nothing happens.  For the second, you feel like you just pricked yourself with the needle again, and another drop of blood appears.  Astryd smirks.

"Well, good," Devin says, nodding.  "In the future, the pinpricks will no longer bleed, but for the rest of this day, any un-truth will cause that same pain, and we will always know when hearing a lie from one-another.

"I'd like to start by saying I'm not a traitor, nor do I serve the Dreadmarch.'

Astryd frowns.  "I do not serve them, either."  Neither of them evoke the sense that the other is lying.

[Ginrai]

Ginrai responds without hesitation.  "As the two of you, I'm also not a traitor and do not serve the Dreadmarch."

[Brian]

"Well, that settles that," Devin says, sighing.  "So what shall we do now?"

[Ginrai]

Ginrai sighs.  "Well, it's obvious that we won't be able to have everyone take part in this.  I guess the first thing to find out is if there were any Lorekeepers that you guys seem suspicious of."

[Brian]

"No one," Devin says slowly.  "But I admit, I am an unsociable one.  I tend to avoid the other lorekeepers, preferring my studies.  It is odd for me to be thrust into such a situation."

"I get along with the other lorekeepers," Astryd says, which you know to be at least partially untrue.  "Well, I can keep an eye out, at least," she amends, rubbing at the finger she had pricked.

Devin raises his eyebrows briefly, then shakes his head.  "We'll all do what we must.  Parthipan, have you any ideas yourself?"

[Ginrai]

Ginrai is able to prevent himself from laughing at the result of Asytryd's small lie.

"Maybe we can have Lord Kevin gather everyone from the meeting we had and at least make sure no one there is a traitor."

[Brian]

"We won't sense lies in others though," Devin says, as Astryd glares at you.  "And I think we need to narrow our focus.  If we can see to it that we can ensure there are not traitors among the Lorekeepers, then that should be a good start."

[Ginrai]

"Though the others would in that case.  As for the other Lorekeepers, how would we be able to go about doing that?"

[Brian]

"That's a good question," Devin says, frowning.  "Walking about and randomly asking, 'Are you a traitor' isn't likely to help."

Astryd shakes her head thoughtfully.

[Ginrai]

"Maybe we should talk with Radagast about this?"

[Brian]

"We might as well," Devin agrees.  "If he can't be trusted, then who can?"