Griznuq Gaming

Larkin kneels in prayer to Azyrith.   Elizabeth and Flea join Quinton in removing various articles of clothing.  Elizabeth of course maintains her modesty.

As Quinton removes his armor, he feels as if a temporary weight is lifted from his shoulders.   His skin starts to tingle as the air from the cavern slowly circulates around his shoulders.  It feels good not to be wearing the heavy armor.  Even for just a few moments.

When the little people finish their prayer, all but Elsyra leave and head towards their dwellings.   Elsyra turns to the group and says, " Come.  Let's go to the pool.   You will be glad that you did."  She then strides through the columns and heads towards the steaming water.

[color=green:0378923c06]Does Quinton take Brendan's Sword in the water with him?[/color]

As Quinton wades into the water he discovers that it is quite hot, but pleasantly so.   He has never experienced a bath in hot water before.  The water has an effervescent feel to it.  The holy knight feels immediately relaxed.   There are ledges that run around the pool and are submerged under about 1 1/2 feet of water.   They are perfect to sit upon and enjoy the marvelous warmth of this wonder of nature.

Soon after Quinton enters the pool, Lur'hion, Flea, Elizabeth, and Larkin join him and Elsyra.   Everyone seems to soak up the warmth of the pool in a companionable silence.   The only sound to be heard is the bubbling of the water in the center of the pool.

As the adventurers sit in the heated water, their cares are momentarily lifted.   The grime that covers their bodies is lifted away and their aches are soothed.

After a while, Elsyra brakes the silence.  "You are sitting in the presence of Azyrith.   Although most of you do not revere him, he aids you on your quest.   You all fight with courage, as true warriors should....."
As Elsyra is speaking, she seems to go into a trance as she stares towards the steam in the center of the pool.

"Your quest is in great danger.   You will face much peril in the days to come.   The Shadan Knight will suffer much anguish, but his younger brethren will save his life.    Delthara has sent her minions to oppose you...Flaern's servant will be sorely tested...Beware the two faced rogue..."

Shortly after her last statement, Elsyra snaps back into reality.  She smiles at Quinton and says, " I hope I have foretold  favorable portents?"

After sitting in the pool and soaking in the warmth of Azyrith, Elsyra states,"Come.  We will break bread together."   She strides from the poll and grabs a robe that was placed there for her.   You notice that there are robes for the entire party awiting you.   Flea nudges Quinton and whispers, "Hey.   They took our clothes."

Elsyra leads the party out of the temple and up to the cavern wall, where she starts to ascend the steps.    The small village (for lack of a better word) is the most curious sight that anyone has ever seen.   It is a multitude of bright lights coming from every hearth and the muliple leveles of homes just seems so strange.    
 
Everyone is feeling much better for having the soak.   Azyrith's warmth has done much good.   Old scars and fresh cuts and bruises have been completely healed over.   Most people notice a spring in their steps that they haven't felt for quit a while.

Elsyra leads the party towards the top of the steps where there is a large fort like building...

Larkin stares in awe as well.  "It looks a little like the caves where the army is hiding.   That pink stone that you've got Feldyn mining glows like these homes."

Elsyra leads the party into the large structure on the highest level of the cavern.   The structure is obviuosly designed for defensive purposes.  The keep is easily large enough to protect the entire population of this underground dwelling.

As the party enters the keep, their eyes are drawn upwards towards a large flame with the symbol of Azyrith upon it.   Its breathtaking in its magnitude.   It covers the entire ceiling of the fortress.  As people move, their perspective of the holy symbol never changes.  The symbol rotates with the viewer.

"That is absolutely beautiful!"  Elizabeth stares wide eyed with her jaw dropped.  "I've never seen anything like this."

Larkin simply stares in awe and then kneels upon the floor in prayer.

"This is our temple.   We built it over two thousand years ago with the last of our people's magic.  Azyrith himself graced us with his presence.   His symbol is proof of his approval of us, his disciples."  Turning towards  Quinton, she says, "Come.  I have a gift for you.   We have been waiting for many years to give it to you."

"Our prophets spoke of a great calamity, during a kingless age.   The forces of the dark goddess would terrorize the land.   The people would suffer from a great sickness.   The wizards would be killed in great numbers.  

"A man of Shada would reawaken the line of kings and wield the firestones in battle.  He would be known to us by his sword.   He would wield the sword of the great king.   The son of Brendan would arrive in the temple at the full Hunter's Moon.  We have waited in the temple every year for thousands of years.   It is one of our most sacred holy days.   Not until this day has anyone entered the temple.

"We are to give you the last of our firestone and teach you the ways of it.   In doing so our curse will be lifted.  We will be free to follow you to the sun.

"We know little of your companions except that they represent the united houses of the Kingdom.    You have brought them together, ending decades of petty strife and civil war.  You are our savior.

"We have waited over two millenia for you..."

Elsyra stares directly into Quinton's eyes as if searching for the truth of her people's prophecy.

After a moment of intense scrutiny, she says, "Come I must give you the firestone."

Elsyra leads the group through the temple.   She heads towards a door to the side of an ornate altar devoted to Azyrith.   She whispers a word and waves her hand and the door opens at her command.   Inside Lur'hion and Quinton can see a small chamber that has many candles and incense burners.   There are seven cushions on the floor in a small circle.  

 Elsyra asks the group to stay at the door while she heads to an ornately carved box covered in gold and platinum leaf.  It is the most beautiful artifact that many in the group have ever seen.   The lid shows what must be Azyrith commanding Flaern to serve him.

Lur'hion can't help but become interested at seeing this scene depicted on top of the chest.  

Elsyra picks up the small chest and brings it to the center of the chamber.  She places it on the floor and then kneels in prayer.   After a few moments in silent devotion,  she looks at Quinton and says, "You and your companions may enter and sit on one of the cushions."

Once everyone is seated she looks at Quinton and says, "Inside this chest is my people's greatest treasure.  We have protected it for thousands of years from both the druids of Flaern and the wizards.   My ancestors were instructed by Azyrith to save it for you."

Elysra speaks a few words in an odd ancient sounding language and the lock of the chest opens.   Slowly, she lifts the cover of the chest.   Straining to see into the ornate box,   everyone sits up straighter and leans forward, craning their necks.  

As the cover is removed, the group sees that the interior of the chest is tightly packed with the stone that flea and Vecklyn so eloquently named the "pink stuff".   Later, Feldyn informed them that it was called Wizard's Stone.   Quinton, Flea, Elizabeth, and Larkin, remembering how volatile the stone can be, sit back as if they expected it to erupt in their faces.

"It is with great respect and reverence that I Elsyra, Great Mother of Zyrithia, give you Quinton, Son of Brendan, our sacred firestone.   I shall instruct you in its uses."   Elsyra looks at Quinton and wipes a tear from her eye.   Everyone noticed  that her voice was quavering while she spoke these last words.

"This is a great moment in my people's history.   We have been waiting very long for you to come.   Now that time is here.   Once we have completed our lesson, my people must begin a new path.   I shed a tear of joy for our sucsess in protecting the firestone and a tear of sorrow for all of those who died to defend it."

"Your heart is noble and good.   Don't ever forget yourself."  Elsyra fixes Quinton with a piercing gaze almost as if she is peering straight to his soul.

After a moment, she smiles and says "Let's get started.   First, I must respectfully ask that your compatriots leave the room.   I am sworn to give the secret only to the blood of Brendan."  She points her finger at Flea and says "He can stay."

Flea's eyes flash wide and he smiles a cocky grin.   He very confidently sits down next to Quinton.

The others simply stare with a look of astonishment upon their faces.

"The secret is yours to do with as you will.  They may stay if you wish it.   However, you must know that one of your companions will betray you."   Elsyra again fixes Quinton with a penetrating gaze as if she is trying to search his soul.

"You will be betrayed.   It has not been written down, because like you, we do not read.    We pass our history and prophecies from verbally from generation to generation.  All of my people know that you will be betrayed.  Just as you are Brendan's son."   Elsyra looks at Quinton with sympathy in her eyes and waits for his decision.

"Very well.   First, you must know that these stones must be handled with care.   They are quite volatile." To demonstrate this, she picks up a pebble sized bit of stone and throws it at the floor.   It explodes in a brilliant flash and makes a sharp, loud bang.   After the pink smoke clears from the room, she smiles and says, "It would be folly to drop the stones.   They could kill you."

"It is of no consequence, because we have mined the last of it."  Elsyra looks at Quinton with sorrow in her eyes.  "My people have fulfilled their destiny."

"That cannot be.   It has been foretold that we would mine the last of the mage stone in the world.   We have done that.   We fulfilled our destiny."   She looks to Elizabeth and Quinton as if she had just been told that she had a third eye that she never known about.

Flea steps forward, rummaging through his pack (of treasures) and produces a fistful of the "pink stuff".    "This is the stone that we discovered.    Aside from a slightly lighter color, its the same stuff."    Taking a small pebble, smaller than the one Elsyra threw, he throws it to the floor.   This time however, the explosion is far greater than when Elsyra threw hers a moment before.  

After the dust settled and the shock of the explosion wore off, its plain to everyone, that Flea actually put a small hole into the stone floor.