EarthDawn: A Brave New World - Act 1, Scene 1: The Great Escape

[Misthal Thorn]

Misthal was finding this distraction to be rather irritating, the matter at hand was the important one, not the various side matters that were of little importance to the matter at hand. It was like shooting at targets at random, no focus, no attempt to point to a target, just draw back and release, not even taking into account what you might hit.. it was undiciplined, in his view, and it was irritating him. "Can we focus on the matter at hand, leaving the Kaer and finding out what is happening above.. rather then these less important matters."

[SalmonMax]

"Hush," Arcata rebuked her wayward elf. "You look, but you do not SEE."

She shot Catslayer a secret grin, as if to say, 'see, I can mess wth mine too.'

"Besides we're waiting on the book. No harm in using these idle moments to dispense wisdom to those lacking."

[Gamrin]

Remembering his mother's instructions from his youth, Gamrin straightened his back, loosened the tension in his shoulders (but not too much, so as not to upset the insect--no, conscience?--perched there), and set his feet shoulder width apart to keep from tapping them. He paid rapt attention to the spirits, and attempted to set his face passive, so as not to show too much interest, and hoped he wasn't overdoing it.

[Stargaizer]

Shortly after Arcata's fount of wisdom stopped, the spirit returned. When Torcher noticed that it was only carrying a rolled up piece of parchment, his face contorted in puzzlement. The spirit floated right up to the barrier, then unrolled the parchment and began to read.

"We thank you for your inquiry into the making, warding and protection of Kaer Nilak that was put in place during its' destruction. However, we must inform you that all of these records have been destroyed. If we had not, our plans may have been thwarted by the return of the residents to the surface. As it stands, the wards, guards and traps that were designed to keep the Scourge out should be sufficient to keep the majority of the population confined. Any that seek fame, fortune, or glory outside the protection of the kaer will only find death. Those few that venture out anyway can be spared without effecting our plans.

Sincerely,

The Ruler and Master of Kaer Nilak"

Torcher's face drained of all color during the reading, and he looked as white as the spirit by the time it finished reading. "Is this all you require?" The spirit asked. Torcher offered no reply, too shocked to even stammer. "I will assume by your lack of a response that you are finished with my services." And with that, it floated silently back down the aisle.

Torcher was silent and motionless until the spirit faded out of sight, but then slowly turns to the group. He inhales deeply, as though about to deliver even graver news, but instead smiles. Not even Arcata's training is able to see through his disguise as he addresses the group.

"Well, at least not all is lost. I have knowledge that has been passed down outside of these tomes." He started walking, slightly unsteadily at first, but quickly recovering. He was leading them back out of the library, the exact same way they had come in. "Outside the gate is a small hall leading to the first of three circular staircases. Each flight is connected by a large hall. Each stairwell and hall is riddled with traps designed to keep the horrors from even reaching our gate. The traps should be most deadly closest to the gate, with the exception of the great hall. The great hall connects the first hall to the outside world, and as the first line of defense has the deadliest and most difficult trap." He paused to let that sink in before continuing. "But don't worry, those groups who went out before now must have surely disarmed the most dangerous of the traps... if they were even still working..."

Torcher forced a chuckle and continued leading the group out of the maze of the library's bookshelves.