Brix holds up a hand pausing the groups departure. " Excuse me, you said "except the dagger". What did you mean?"

Quote from MrJanuary812 >>

Brix holds up a hand pausing the groups departure. " Excuse me, you said "except the dagger". What did you mean?"

Carina stops and looks at Brix.  "Tulgi already told us that she gave all of Urgon's treasures that she stole from Pelc's to her sister other than a dagger.  I took that to imply that she still has it.  I see no particular need to take it from her - in fact, it may be safest with her as she already has the disease."

(post 72)

She looks to Tulgi for confirmation that she has understood the situation correctly.

Carina leaves it implicit that once Tulgi herself turns into a statue of ice, the dagger can be collected safely and quarantined.

"Yes of course. What I meant by that is may I see it? " Brix replies to Carina. Not quite ready to abandon this line inquiry, he turns to Tulgi and explains.  "Gnomes have long memories and often tell tales of magiks long past. Could be markings on there that reveal origin or even a cure if seen by s9mebody who can recognize it. So may I see it?

Carina nods once she comprehends Brix's purpose.

She steps back demurely, but ready, balancing on the balls of her feet.  Waiting to see how Tulgi will react to the gnome's request.

She takes a moment to look around the cabin but the smoke from the fires gets in her eyes and makes them water furiously.

(Perception:  4 - natural 1)

Taiga listens intently to Brix and there is a pause when he finishes asking for the dagger until she realises that he’s speaking to her. “I don’t have it… uhm.. sorry. It must be somewhere here still.” She looks inquisitively to Tulgi.

With a frown, Tulgi pulls on the hem of her shirt, which had been tucked underneath her belt and pants. Lifting the corner of the cloth, the Dwarven woman reveals a gilded sheath, into which an ornate dagger is encased. Tulgi slowly unsheathes the dagger, holding the wickedly sharp blade in front of her. The elaborately inlaid weapon is clearly ancient, and very beautiful. Most importantly, Brix Philbin recognizes its kind. The Artificer realizes, upon examining the dagger, that it is a relic of the fallen flying city of Aeor — the city of magic he spoke about earlier. The legends were true, then, that its ancient artifacts landed in the depths of Eiselcross. Despite the warming drink he'd given to her, the blade still trembles slightly in Tulgi's shivering hand.

Ragnus peers at the dagger, wondering if this could be the reason for the tragedy that has befallen this village. 

Brix' eyes grow wide as the dagger is revealed. The air gives off a low whistle as it is sucked back across his pursed lips, "oooooo....oh my, my, oh my. It's true. It's true!." he suddenly looks around at all the expectant faces. "Um, uh, oh, yes," he squares his shoulders a bit and straightens up slightly. He can barely contain his excitement as he explains. "Of course you don't know! How could you! Uh , hum, yes, ah So this dagger" he gestures insistently at the treasure in Thighs hand. "This dagger, is a genuine artifact of the fallen flying city of Aeor. That means that the legends are true and the ancient artifacts are indeed in Eiselcross! "

Rubbing her eyes to clear them of the smoky irritation and coughing once, Carina resettles herself and finally gets a glimpse of Tulgi's dagger.

Brix's words are enough to confirm what she had already suspected.  These are ancient and powerful relics.  And dangerous.  They cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands.  She tries to ignore the other part of her mind, her dwarven father's voice, that wryly continues:  ...as they already have...

She clears her throat.  "Thank you again, Tulgi.  Brix, do you have any test you can perform here to safely identify whether this dagger is the source of the disease?  Or does anyone else have a way?  If not, I think the dagger is best left in Tulgi's possession," (even if she were willing to part with it peacefully, Carina thinks), "while we check on Pelc's and then Hulil at Croaker's Cave.  And perhaps report back to Elro Aldataur along the way."

“But if all those artifacts kill people,” murmurs Taiga, “it is better they remain buried and hidden away. For all I’ve heard Eiselcross is its own frozen corpse of a landscape, perhaps the land itself is afflicted by the curse of this treasure.”

Brix rubs his chin and scrunches up his face as he tries to recall all that he can about Eiselcross and the artifacts. " Hmm... I don't have a specific test but,hmm..yes ...a..it seems to me that if the dagger is what has caused her affliction a logical test might be to separate her from the object. If she improves then it follows the object is the cause. However it is in unadvisable for obvious reasons. No, nooo, we're going to have to see the other items to he sure. I worry though that people, either out of fear, concern, or morbid curiosity, may come by and spoil our findings. Not to mention bothering this sweet woman."

Forgot the history roll.

14

Quote from cyreon >>

“But if all those artifacts kill people,” murmurs Taiga, “it is better they remain buried and hidden away. For all I’ve heard Eiselcross is its own frozen corpse of a landscape, perhaps the land itself is afflicted by the curse of this treasure.”

In one sense, Carina agrees with Taiga.  "These artifacts from ancient Aeor may indeed be dangerous.  Especially in the wrong hands."

And they are already in the wrong hands, her look seems to say.

"But if Urgon Wenth ventured to Eiselcross to find at least five treasures, so will others.  We must learn more. While it is possible that any artifact from Eiselcross is an agent of this disease or deadly in some other way, we do not know that.  Perhaps only one is.  For now, all we can do is contain them - by finding evidence at Pelc's of what Urgon sold, and then by visiting Hulil to warn her of the danger and retrieve the remaining relics safely."

(She does crack a smile, quickly hidden, at Brix describing Tulgi as a "sweet woman").

Quote from MrJanuary812 >>

Forgot the history roll.

12

 what are you rolling for?

(Sorry, thought I had posted. I was just checking for any other general history about Aeor or the artifacts.)

"Yes I believe time is of the essence here. We should go to Pelc's quickly." agrees Brix. He bows to Tulgi, then turns on his heel and makes for the door.

As the door opens, Elbert quickly puts away his wine skin and prepares to rejoin the others.

Taiga agrees, "Let's check Pelc's. With any luck he didn't sell any of those items yet."

At Brix's description of her as a 'sweet woman', Tulgi lets out a snort. Unable to find proof of the dagger being the source of the disease, it remains in the Dwarven woman's possession. She slides it back into its sheath at her hip, nodding at the party as you all begin to take your leave. Shutting the door behind you and leaving Tulgi in her smoky cabin, your characters step out into the snowy chill of the village once again. Pelc's Curiosities is not hard to find. A sign hangs above the door of this larger cabin, where the image of a curved dragon spells the P of the shop name. The windows are shuttered, and Pelc's Curiosities appears to be closed — but the front door stands slightly ajar. From within the cabin, your characters can hear whispers and footsteps. What will you do?