All this talk about the Raven Queen really interested Elthana. She knew that her family was from the Shadowfell and was connected to the Queen in some way. She also knew that her teleporting gift was also from her... true that gift was for Nivara, but that was neither here nor there.
Stolen. Her mind keeps coming back to that as the others talk, she shouldn't be surprised, but yet, she was. Not really that he stole it, but that he hadn't been upfront with her about it, especially after the last week she spent in Marblestead, at the Treasury. At Hector's response to it, "Don't worry, we have a strained? relationship. It is not one that can easily be described. But close would not be a word I would use." She smiles at Sam, "Yeah... that about sums it up for the Treasury."
She then gets Hector's attention beyond all the Raven Queen and portal talk, "Look, I can see your disdain for Sergor and honestly, most people who have met him feel the same way." she side-eyes Muir, "but you say you'll help us? Not let our people die due to some long ago theft? The clock is ticking as the floating island is rapidly descending. How can we help you? What do we need to do to get this Lodestone pronto? We have a way to get it where it needs to go as soon as our hands are on it, and then we can help you as we cannot go back as easily." She turns her head to the sound of birds, "Is something coming? Oh, and Sams words are not a threat, but we were told how to get here, that someone would be down here that might be able to help, your place isn't as clandestine as you thought and you really probably should think of finding a new spot."
Oh, and Sams words are not a threat, but we were told how to get here...
Sam does that little wishy-washy waddling of his hand thing to show that it wasn't but yet maybe it was... Though he doesn't make a big deal of it and perhaps nobody notices.
Hector's gaze turns a little solemn as Vin nods, admitting to have died before. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that, it can be... scary. From my limited knowledge on the subject I would say it is fairly common for people to meet the Raven Queen's aspects after death, though the natural way of things is to not return once dead. Necromancy invites Nectyran, we do not perform it."
At Sam's words on the knowledge of this hiding place Hector stifles a grin, "that is the beauty of Gojiin, the guards here are lazier than the Djiin himself, the bounty for our deaths is not upheld here and the locals are superstitious and untrusting. we move about here fairly freely to resupply that which we cannot grow or gather ourselves on the broken isle. but we still need to keep a distance, if this place is known to the other Djiin or to Vox Tontritor we would be slaughtered..."
At Elthana's words on the treasury, Hector nods, merely taking in the information, he touches her gently on the arm in an oddly awkward way, notably platonic but hesitant in a way where there is a perceived sibling relation here that has not been outrightly stated or communicated, "we will speak later on the treasury and your life, I am interested to hear the details and how much of Nivara's memories and mannerisms reside with you..."
The group round on what can be done in trade for the lodestone and conversation comes to a head. Hector thinks and sighs, "if it were up to me I would send you as messengers to Vox Tontritor, have you plead our case and the truth of Lumithor. but it is not my right to ask. We will travel to the broken isle that sound of birds is our transport. We can argue your case and hopefully save your city, but first we must send off our dead, they await the embrace of the queen of ravens."
Hector and the dragonborn move to collect the bodies of the fallen kobolds, two of which had been turned to a bloody pulp by Sam's mace and two of which lie still, as though sleeping, the poison of the Mornlyf having taken hold and left a perfectly preserved body.
The group watch as one of the dragon born cover these bodies in moss near the stalagmites, he begins performing a ritual, along woth a slow draconic prayer, Hector amd the second dragonborn join in, as a chorus of prayer begins to echo out from the shadows all around. Under the moss the bodies begin to glow and smoulder with a radiant light, after a half hour the ritual is done and nothing is left but a pile of ash and bone. "death is part of a cycle, it is the end of a life, but a beginning for what remains. None are truly gone when you accept the will of the Raven Queen, when you trust in cycle of life, for in the path of resistance lies greed, and the perversion of life, the perversion of nature." Hector says half in some sort of prayer and half toward the party.
Muir stands over the dead and listens to Hector's words and adds almost like a confession "The cycle of life is the same in nature....death is indeed part of a cycle that should rarely be broken....For most when they die it is their time to return to the ground and provide sustinance for new life to begin....However, there are times one's life is not finished ...to die in a realm not your own for example, when your journey is not fully complete is much like a tree in the fall. Have I made mistakes in the past with this spell and let my need for answers or emotions get in the way...yes....I am not perfect, but do not for one moment Vincent believe that you being brought back to life was in error or unnnatural. There are plenty of instances in nature where things die but return. Alas we will get to the bottom of how you are feeling young Vincent." Muir turns to Hector "You say our best bet is to plead our case right to the Vox Tontritor but you cannot ask that of us, so instead you will guide us to the broken isle to argue our case to whom?"
Vin is very silent as Hector makes his speech, or says his prayer, whichever it is. Muir had read exactly the same into the words as he had, that his presence here was a perversion and he should have been left to die.
"Greed, perversion of life and nature", he repeats even as Muir consoles him. "No offence, but Hector can kiss my ass. Nothing about my life has been easy, and I am damn sure not going to take my death lying down! If the Raven Queen had wanted me, Dec should have collected my body when he had the chance, just like he did to that wraith and those kobolds just now".
Elthana stares at the dead as Hector and Muir talk, apparently lost in thought as the words wash over her. Once that is complete, she turns to Hector, "I would love a chance to get to know you." her voice sounding thick as she says this.
She looks over at Vin, surprised by his outburst. But instead of getting engaged with the subject of his death, she asks, "Those kobolds just now? You saw Dec again?"
"I am sorry about that," Sam says as the dead are being retrieved. "But they did attac..." He trails off as if lost in though and his eyes focus on the kobolds. The whole, non-squished kobolds.
"Are you sure they're..." Sam asks distractedly, moving forward and up to the bodies. He reaches out slowly and touches one - putting his hand over it's hand and squeezing it gently. "That... err... That they're gone and not just..." He puts a hand against it's face and gently lifts an eyelid and then shuts it once more. "They still seem almost... Sleeping. Like... Like..." But Sam steps back and says no more. They are dead and gone and not a thing can be done about it. He knows death when he sees it. He's seen a lot of death in his years. Many ways, many kinds. Even this.
Sam is stoic through the ritual and the words said over the bodies. He watches but sees little. His mind is elsewhere. Elsetime.
"Aye, Death is a cold ***** that should be fought at every turn in every way. Cheated and scammed if one must," Sam eventually says, still half out of focus with the rest of the world but finally finding some contact in Vin's words. "If the Gods be such then they have their way no matter what we say or do. If you believe Gods to be worthy of worship then surely you believe them of being beyond our petty machinations or spells. If a God wants you dead and can't kill you right then they're no god at all and don't deserve the spoils they can't claim anyway..."
Gewyn looks around at the bodies, fuming inside, but keeping it from his face. "These elemental spies... Are there effective methods for detecting them or guarding against them. I do not much like being observed. At least not without charging for it."
Vin turns to Sam with a frown on his face, "I don't know Sam, it didn't feel like my memories were spoils to Morris. It was more like collecting them at the proper time was his purpose, rather than his will. He wasn't angry when Muir brought me back. If anything he was a little panicked about making sure my memories were returned in time".
He gives a bit of a shrug and glances at Hector, "He certainly didn't curse the fact I was returned to life or call it a perversion of nature. All this talk of necromancy being wrong, and yet is it not divine power that gives us the ability to bring people back? It is not like I was raised as a zombie after all".
His momentary anger at being called a perversion has subsided, as his more analytical mind takes over.
"you are right, though necromancy itself is a path which easily leads to the ways of greed and perversion I mentioned. There is a time for death I quite agree, sometimes it feels too soon, sometimes too late even... There is another way, a path that I believe you are on now Vin, it is a path of rebirth, something that the good witch teaches us is a natural part of the life death cycle." Hector says in reply to vin, whilst apparently ignoring Sam's half focussed insults toward specific gods, though not maliciously, ignoring in a way that hector either believes everyone is entitled to their own beliefs or simply doesn't want to start that argument.
Once everything is sorted the dragonborn leave to go and prepare the birds for departure, Hector stands to discuss things with you all, answering questions that you all may have.
To Gewyn's point, he furrows his brow, "the invisible stalkers are the summons of the Djiin, they either spy or kill, created for sole purposes and then once their task is done they dissipate, beings of evil. The only way to properly detect them is to see without seeing, the training that the dragonborn paladins undertake is one of shadows, at a certain mastery they are able to use a technique called blind sight though its range is not vast."
To Muir's question he answers, "the kobold elders will offer guidance, you will need to persuade them to be able to talk to he whom has the right to offer Lumithor's bones, the spirit of lumithor himself, it will be up to them to ask something of you in trade... I also would like for vin to see the good witch too, she may be able to guide him in his visions of death, she is not one of us but her wisdom is accepted by us, though this could probably wait until after your discussions and deals with the kobold elders..."
"He who has the right to offer Lumithor's bones? Who would that be? And do you have any advice on speaking with the elders? I mean.. nevermind, let's talk about that on the way. Can we get moving?" Elthana is getting a bit frustrated with the myriad of conversations when they have a mission to complete.
Distracted with his own thoughts, Sam more of less grunts agreement with Elthana and wanders off to Griff.
"I'm taking your gag off," Sam advises him. "Keep your head about you or it goes right back on." Sam then indeed undoes the gag.
"Seems like we may be moving soon. You will not fight this or complain. You have a wife to get back to. Kids. Them I do not want to upset... I will though if you do not cooperate."
Hector gives Elthana a look but does not answer, he instead brings the group over to the birds, back through the shrine room and over into the next room.
There are four large two-headed eagles big enough for two people to comfortably ride. They are stabled with dried mosses and some odd looking covered sleds are stood by the wall near their enclosure, they are currently skittish one head cawing and fighting with the other on each of these four odd looking animals, "these beasts are called Smeagles" Hector introduces, calming one down and bringing it closer to the group. "They are temperamental on account of being doubly sentient, two minds controlling one body. They are uniquely suited because they will travel in formation and fly directly home, they always have a sense for how to get home..."
He for then whispers something to Elthana as Griff's gag is taken out and Sam has a word.
It's obvious to Sam that this gag situation isn't really working for Griff and his beak, as he had begun dribbling all down the front of himself as he stood unable to move and with his beak forced open, but then gags were never meant to be a comfortable thing anyway, right? He stretches his jaw and spits blood onto the ground, "I am still needing healing" he replies bitter judgement in his voice as he doesn't even acknowledging Sam's warning. He glares all around, not only at Hector and the dragonborn, but now at the group, "you have all gone mad, but I do not wish to die here... Do what you will."
Muir walks over to Griff "I am truly sorry about this. We need help and they can provide it. They are a different breed of Kobold who follow the Raven Queen...She seems to be a god that transcends realms. What would you like to do Griff? I don't want your wife and children to lose you and you have been kind to all of us....most of us...We are in a difficult position in needing that lodestone....We can't just go to the other island and start slaughtering Kobolds. We have to somehow convince them to give it to us.....and your proclivity to kill them does not aid our mission....So we are at an impasse. What would you have us do?" Muir doesn't heal Griff.....yet
"We all need healing," Sam replies to Griff dismissively even as Muir approaches.
Sam allows Muir to have his say to Griff but not without some obvious impatience and rolling of his eyes. When Muir asks what Griff would have them do, however, Sam has had enough. "We're not doing anything til we get some answers," Sam interjects.
"The portal we came through, from the Treasury in our world to Akiin's office or whatever.... Who has access? Rather who would have had access nine or ten years ago? How much traffic was there back and forth and by who?" Sam asks urgently. "Everything you know if you want to see that family of your again..."
Muir not very surprised of Sam's outburst...points out to Sam "Sam, 9-10 years for us would be nearly 40 years for Griff....The sense of time is distroted for us in this plane. What are you wondering so I can help"
Sam growls and side-eyes Muir a moment. “Wha..? Well… whatever. Two or three years ago then? How much traffic through that portal and by who?” Sam insists.
“And who here has access to this Mornlyf garbage?”
Griff sighs, "they will not be letting me go yes? Then I am having no choice. They will be taking me and all of you to the broken isle and killing me there, amd if they do not, thwn Vox Tontritor will for disobeying the ruling that she passed down to the Djiini. You have been told about how the broken isle was becoming broken yes? You can see this hole striking down at the kobold's lair, who do you think was doing that? Vox Tontritor sees all and can kill at will from her cloud above all..." He looks to the ground hoping that satiates Muir's questions when Sam interrupts, "I am not being personally told about comings and goings for a closed portal overseen by Akiin, not ten years ago and certainly not forty years ago, I am being a general in his military, I am training the recruits, and overseeing political and combat operations. Mornlyf is expensive to produce, Akiin only gives it to those who can be getting results with it, be asking him!" if Griff had teeth to grit he would be, as anger seethes through him ay the state of this situation.
Vin walks silently through to the room with the smeagles, his mind processing what Hector said about him being on the path rebirth, and wanting him to consult a good witch about it.
When he does see the smeagles, he is then too distracted by them to take much notice of the conversation between Sam, Muir and Griff. Not that he would understand much of what they are talking about anyway.
"Um, please tell me that those sleds are not how we are going to travel? I mean, we can't all fit on the smeagles right?", he asks turning to Hector and Elthana.
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All this talk about the Raven Queen really interested Elthana. She knew that her family was from the Shadowfell and was connected to the Queen in some way. She also knew that her teleporting gift was also from her... true that gift was for Nivara, but that was neither here nor there.
Stolen. Her mind keeps coming back to that as the others talk, she shouldn't be surprised, but yet, she was. Not really that he stole it, but that he hadn't been upfront with her about it, especially after the last week she spent in Marblestead, at the Treasury. At Hector's response to it, "Don't worry, we have a strained? relationship. It is not one that can easily be described. But close would not be a word I would use." She smiles at Sam, "Yeah... that about sums it up for the Treasury."
She then gets Hector's attention beyond all the Raven Queen and portal talk, "Look, I can see your disdain for Sergor and honestly, most people who have met him feel the same way." she side-eyes Muir, "but you say you'll help us? Not let our people die due to some long ago theft? The clock is ticking as the floating island is rapidly descending. How can we help you? What do we need to do to get this Lodestone pronto? We have a way to get it where it needs to go as soon as our hands are on it, and then we can help you as we cannot go back as easily." She turns her head to the sound of birds, "Is something coming? Oh, and Sams words are not a threat, but we were told how to get here, that someone would be down here that might be able to help, your place isn't as clandestine as you thought and you really probably should think of finding a new spot."
Sam does that little wishy-washy waddling of his hand thing to show that it wasn't but yet maybe it was... Though he doesn't make a big deal of it and perhaps nobody notices.
Hector's gaze turns a little solemn as Vin nods, admitting to have died before. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that, it can be... scary. From my limited knowledge on the subject I would say it is fairly common for people to meet the Raven Queen's aspects after death, though the natural way of things is to not return once dead. Necromancy invites Nectyran, we do not perform it."
At Sam's words on the knowledge of this hiding place Hector stifles a grin, "that is the beauty of Gojiin, the guards here are lazier than the Djiin himself, the bounty for our deaths is not upheld here and the locals are superstitious and untrusting. we move about here fairly freely to resupply that which we cannot grow or gather ourselves on the broken isle. but we still need to keep a distance, if this place is known to the other Djiin or to Vox Tontritor we would be slaughtered..."
At Elthana's words on the treasury, Hector nods, merely taking in the information, he touches her gently on the arm in an oddly awkward way, notably platonic but hesitant in a way where there is a perceived sibling relation here that has not been outrightly stated or communicated, "we will speak later on the treasury and your life, I am interested to hear the details and how much of Nivara's memories and mannerisms reside with you..."
The group round on what can be done in trade for the lodestone and conversation comes to a head. Hector thinks and sighs, "if it were up to me I would send you as messengers to Vox Tontritor, have you plead our case and the truth of Lumithor. but it is not my right to ask. We will travel to the broken isle that sound of birds is our transport. We can argue your case and hopefully save your city, but first we must send off our dead, they await the embrace of the queen of ravens."
Hector and the dragonborn move to collect the bodies of the fallen kobolds, two of which had been turned to a bloody pulp by Sam's mace and two of which lie still, as though sleeping, the poison of the Mornlyf having taken hold and left a perfectly preserved body.
The group watch as one of the dragon born cover these bodies in moss near the stalagmites, he begins performing a ritual, along woth a slow draconic prayer, Hector amd the second dragonborn join in, as a chorus of prayer begins to echo out from the shadows all around. Under the moss the bodies begin to glow and smoulder with a radiant light, after a half hour the ritual is done and nothing is left but a pile of ash and bone. "death is part of a cycle, it is the end of a life, but a beginning for what remains. None are truly gone when you accept the will of the Raven Queen, when you trust in cycle of life, for in the path of resistance lies greed, and the perversion of life, the perversion of nature." Hector says half in some sort of prayer and half toward the party.
Muir stands over the dead and listens to Hector's words and adds almost like a confession "The cycle of life is the same in nature....death is indeed part of a cycle that should rarely be broken....For most when they die it is their time to return to the ground and provide sustinance for new life to begin....However, there are times one's life is not finished ...to die in a realm not your own for example, when your journey is not fully complete is much like a tree in the fall. Have I made mistakes in the past with this spell and let my need for answers or emotions get in the way...yes....I am not perfect, but do not for one moment Vincent believe that you being brought back to life was in error or unnnatural. There are plenty of instances in nature where things die but return. Alas we will get to the bottom of how you are feeling young Vincent." Muir turns to Hector "You say our best bet is to plead our case right to the Vox Tontritor but you cannot ask that of us, so instead you will guide us to the broken isle to argue our case to whom?"
Vin is very silent as Hector makes his speech, or says his prayer, whichever it is. Muir had read exactly the same into the words as he had, that his presence here was a perversion and he should have been left to die.
"Greed, perversion of life and nature", he repeats even as Muir consoles him. "No offence, but Hector can kiss my ass. Nothing about my life has been easy, and I am damn sure not going to take my death lying down! If the Raven Queen had wanted me, Dec should have collected my body when he had the chance, just like he did to that wraith and those kobolds just now".
Elthana stares at the dead as Hector and Muir talk, apparently lost in thought as the words wash over her. Once that is complete, she turns to Hector, "I would love a chance to get to know you." her voice sounding thick as she says this.
She looks over at Vin, surprised by his outburst. But instead of getting engaged with the subject of his death, she asks, "Those kobolds just now? You saw Dec again?"
Vin looks across at Elthana and gives her a nod, believing he has said enough for now.
Neferox moves between Hector and Vin, not threatening yet but watching Hector closely.
"I am sorry about that," Sam says as the dead are being retrieved. "But they did attac..." He trails off as if lost in though and his eyes focus on the kobolds. The whole, non-squished kobolds.
"Are you sure they're..." Sam asks distractedly, moving forward and up to the bodies. He reaches out slowly and touches one - putting his hand over it's hand and squeezing it gently. "That... err... That they're gone and not just..." He puts a hand against it's face and gently lifts an eyelid and then shuts it once more. "They still seem almost... Sleeping. Like... Like..." But Sam steps back and says no more. They are dead and gone and not a thing can be done about it. He knows death when he sees it. He's seen a lot of death in his years. Many ways, many kinds. Even this.
Sam is stoic through the ritual and the words said over the bodies. He watches but sees little. His mind is elsewhere. Elsetime.
"Aye, Death is a cold ***** that should be fought at every turn in every way. Cheated and scammed if one must," Sam eventually says, still half out of focus with the rest of the world but finally finding some contact in Vin's words. "If the Gods be such then they have their way no matter what we say or do. If you believe Gods to be worthy of worship then surely you believe them of being beyond our petty machinations or spells. If a God wants you dead and can't kill you right then they're no god at all and don't deserve the spoils they can't claim anyway..."
Gewyn looks around at the bodies, fuming inside, but keeping it from his face. "These elemental spies... Are there effective methods for detecting them or guarding against them. I do not much like being observed. At least not without charging for it."
Vin turns to Sam with a frown on his face, "I don't know Sam, it didn't feel like my memories were spoils to Morris. It was more like collecting them at the proper time was his purpose, rather than his will. He wasn't angry when Muir brought me back. If anything he was a little panicked about making sure my memories were returned in time".
He gives a bit of a shrug and glances at Hector, "He certainly didn't curse the fact I was returned to life or call it a perversion of nature. All this talk of necromancy being wrong, and yet is it not divine power that gives us the ability to bring people back? It is not like I was raised as a zombie after all".
His momentary anger at being called a perversion has subsided, as his more analytical mind takes over.
"you are right, though necromancy itself is a path which easily leads to the ways of greed and perversion I mentioned. There is a time for death I quite agree, sometimes it feels too soon, sometimes too late even... There is another way, a path that I believe you are on now Vin, it is a path of rebirth, something that the good witch teaches us is a natural part of the life death cycle." Hector says in reply to vin, whilst apparently ignoring Sam's half focussed insults toward specific gods, though not maliciously, ignoring in a way that hector either believes everyone is entitled to their own beliefs or simply doesn't want to start that argument.
Once everything is sorted the dragonborn leave to go and prepare the birds for departure, Hector stands to discuss things with you all, answering questions that you all may have.
To Gewyn's point, he furrows his brow, "the invisible stalkers are the summons of the Djiin, they either spy or kill, created for sole purposes and then once their task is done they dissipate, beings of evil. The only way to properly detect them is to see without seeing, the training that the dragonborn paladins undertake is one of shadows, at a certain mastery they are able to use a technique called blind sight though its range is not vast."
To Muir's question he answers, "the kobold elders will offer guidance, you will need to persuade them to be able to talk to he whom has the right to offer Lumithor's bones, the spirit of lumithor himself, it will be up to them to ask something of you in trade... I also would like for vin to see the good witch too, she may be able to guide him in his visions of death, she is not one of us but her wisdom is accepted by us, though this could probably wait until after your discussions and deals with the kobold elders..."
"He who has the right to offer Lumithor's bones? Who would that be? And do you have any advice on speaking with the elders? I mean.. nevermind, let's talk about that on the way. Can we get moving?" Elthana is getting a bit frustrated with the myriad of conversations when they have a mission to complete.
Distracted with his own thoughts, Sam more of less grunts agreement with Elthana and wanders off to Griff.
"I'm taking your gag off," Sam advises him. "Keep your head about you or it goes right back on." Sam then indeed undoes the gag.
"Seems like we may be moving soon. You will not fight this or complain. You have a wife to get back to. Kids. Them I do not want to upset... I will though if you do not cooperate."
Hector gives Elthana a look but does not answer, he instead brings the group over to the birds, back through the shrine room and over into the next room.
There are four large two-headed eagles big enough for two people to comfortably ride. They are stabled with dried mosses and some odd looking covered sleds are stood by the wall near their enclosure, they are currently skittish one head cawing and fighting with the other on each of these four odd looking animals, "these beasts are called Smeagles" Hector introduces, calming one down and bringing it closer to the group. "They are temperamental on account of being doubly sentient, two minds controlling one body. They are uniquely suited because they will travel in formation and fly directly home, they always have a sense for how to get home..."
He for then whispers something to Elthana as Griff's gag is taken out and Sam has a word.
It's obvious to Sam that this gag situation isn't really working for Griff and his beak, as he had begun dribbling all down the front of himself as he stood unable to move and with his beak forced open, but then gags were never meant to be a comfortable thing anyway, right? He stretches his jaw and spits blood onto the ground, "I am still needing healing" he replies bitter judgement in his voice as he doesn't even acknowledging Sam's warning. He glares all around, not only at Hector and the dragonborn, but now at the group, "you have all gone mad, but I do not wish to die here... Do what you will."
Muir walks over to Griff "I am truly sorry about this. We need help and they can provide it. They are a different breed of Kobold who follow the Raven Queen...She seems to be a god that transcends realms. What would you like to do Griff? I don't want your wife and children to lose you and you have been kind to all of us....most of us...We are in a difficult position in needing that lodestone....We can't just go to the other island and start slaughtering Kobolds. We have to somehow convince them to give it to us.....and your proclivity to kill them does not aid our mission....So we are at an impasse. What would you have us do?" Muir doesn't heal Griff.....yet
"We all need healing," Sam replies to Griff dismissively even as Muir approaches.
Sam allows Muir to have his say to Griff but not without some obvious impatience and rolling of his eyes. When Muir asks what Griff would have them do, however, Sam has had enough. "We're not doing anything til we get some answers," Sam interjects.
"The portal we came through, from the Treasury in our world to Akiin's office or whatever.... Who has access? Rather who would have had access nine or ten years ago? How much traffic was there back and forth and by who?" Sam asks urgently. "Everything you know if you want to see that family of your again..."
Muir not very surprised of Sam's outburst...points out to Sam "Sam, 9-10 years for us would be nearly 40 years for Griff....The sense of time is distroted for us in this plane. What are you wondering so I can help"
Sam growls and side-eyes Muir a moment. “Wha..? Well… whatever. Two or three years ago then? How much traffic through that portal and by who?” Sam insists.
“And who here has access to this Mornlyf garbage?”
Griff sighs, "they will not be letting me go yes? Then I am having no choice. They will be taking me and all of you to the broken isle and killing me there, amd if they do not, thwn Vox Tontritor will for disobeying the ruling that she passed down to the Djiini. You have been told about how the broken isle was becoming broken yes? You can see this hole striking down at the kobold's lair, who do you think was doing that? Vox Tontritor sees all and can kill at will from her cloud above all..." He looks to the ground hoping that satiates Muir's questions when Sam interrupts, "I am not being personally told about comings and goings for a closed portal overseen by Akiin, not ten years ago and certainly not forty years ago, I am being a general in his military, I am training the recruits, and overseeing political and combat operations. Mornlyf is expensive to produce, Akiin only gives it to those who can be getting results with it, be asking him!" if Griff had teeth to grit he would be, as anger seethes through him ay the state of this situation.
Vin walks silently through to the room with the smeagles, his mind processing what Hector said about him being on the path rebirth, and wanting him to consult a good witch about it.
When he does see the smeagles, he is then too distracted by them to take much notice of the conversation between Sam, Muir and Griff. Not that he would understand much of what they are talking about anyway.
"Um, please tell me that those sleds are not how we are going to travel? I mean, we can't all fit on the smeagles right?", he asks turning to Hector and Elthana.