With all that is going and the excited Skritch, Rachus waits to see how Olak responds to the questions. 

"Apologies for the delay though the catacombs were illuminating to say the least. Just tell us where you need us to be"

Thanadol, can I use my magic hand to slap this annoying dwarf, Olak, or would that be considered rude?” Dealuri is trying to behave since the elf on the road had warned her that temple folks would not like her mark of Loki but the dwarf is a grump. “Say, did that come through only in your head or was that question out loud?” She had tried to use the Message cantrip. 

Olak grunts his acceptance of your words Vakas, "There is war coming from the south." he tells you with a dismissive shrug, Kobolds gathering. "Honestly, I dont see what all the fuss is about."

At your request Thanadol the Dwarf reverts to his familiar unpleasant tone, "Odins hairy arse, yes of course you can see the High Seer, that's why I came to find you isn't it."

(With a 14) Thanadol can sense that the bustling acolytes are very nervous and (with a 22) some of the braver amongst them are quite excited. Jemile in particular appears quite animated. Olak however, seems to be consumed with the inconvenience of the whole thing. You settle on one fact in that regard; Olak truly hates inconvenience. 

Several of the acolytes pause in their activities to watch your brave performance Skritch. One of them, a young elf female even starts to clap, that is until Jemile collars her sends her off to work with a bark. 

At your request for directions Rachus Olak simply says, "Follow me." and then turns and walks away grumbling under his breath. 

OOC: Dealuri, the wizard heard but will the wizard answer? Either way the slap is your choice. I will let you all walk and talk for a moment as you follow Olak through the temple and will update again shortly.

Skritch doesn't say much, he just trots along, listening to everyone. He lustens whenever he can. It helps him figure out what the right thing to do is on this strange, curious, turvy-topsy world. 

And, more than anything else, he does so want to be doing the right thing. 

Based on previous conversations with him, Dealuri decides that Thanadol would counsel against slapping a grumpy dwarf. But she smiles brightly that the Message cantrip went through, so she skips alongside Olak while singing a silly ditty about the honeymoon adventures of a female Goliath and a male gnome, perhaps not the best choice for the location but the first that jumped to her mind. 

Thanadol upon hearing Skritches question shakes his head slightly. A faint smile touches his face. 

"Lead on then to the High Seer. Do wish we could meet in happier times"

Vakas takes the grumpy dwarf in stride.  “Wake up on the wrong side of the bed of nails, Olak?  What are you grumpy about today?  That the sun had the audacity to rise again?  Lead on, to perhaps the Seer who can actually help us.”  He looses his patience with the grumpy dwarf as he always seems to act as if someone has pissed in his oatmeal.  He nods a “goodbye” to Jemile, with a smile, appreciative of her help and the true quest that they have been given by the shade.  

Rachus continues following though he is curious to see how great the High Seer can be to have Olak rushing about. 

Olak narrows his eyes but does not reply to your admonishment Vakas. His inaudible grumbling does become a little darker however, as he turns and leads the way.

Dealuri you see one of the acolytes stop their work to listen to your ditty, and leave them behind furiously blushing at the images your words invoke. Unexpectedly you note that Olak is actually humming along with you.

Olak leads you to the audience chamber at the rear of the temple. Two women stand guard, clad in heavy armor and hefting great axes. Their flinty eyes study your party as you approach, but a wave from Olak eases their suspicion and they step aside. The dwarf pushes the heavy double doors inward, and you find yourself in a wide, airy room with huge arches that offer a clear view of the hills and mountains beyond. The blue skies of yesterday have already begun to bleed back into that familiar shade of grey.

Before the arches sits a raised marble platform and atop it, a throne of silver and gold. The ornate seat remains empty. At its base, a human child sits cross-legged, his eyes closed. He wears a flowing outfit of blue silk, and a cascade of fiery red hair spills down to his shoulders. As you draw near, his eyes open, and for a moment, a blazing white light flashes from them, so bright you're almost blinded. The light dissipates, replaced by eyes of a startling blue that regard you all.

"Welcome." he says, "Olak you may leave us." The dwarf bows low and leaves without complaint.

There is a moment of silence before the High Seer speaks again; "I am the High Seer of this temple and you have requested an audience with me, before I answer your questions I would beg you first answer one of my own. I ask each of you in turn and I beg for your honesty. My question is this, what thing in all the world is most precious to you?"

Skritch thinks. What a question! What thing in all the world is most precious to him? 

Acorns. A warm patch of afternoon sunshine to curl up in. Sunhill, Sunhill is important. Definitely. His new friends. They matter to him more than anyone he's met in this odd, silly, wonderous world. Magic treasure? Who doesn't love magic treasure? A way back to his home plane and his hatchbrood, sure. But precious? Maybe. 

It's a hard question to answer, that's for sure. 

And also, he wonders, what's the... correct answer? There surely is one, right? For a hero, he means. What would be expected of heroes? What would a proper hero say? Skritch so wants to be a proper hero. 

Skritch decides to wait and see what his comrades say. He's confident one of them will know the right answer. 

...

(he hopes it's acorns!)  

Skritch you note the boy is looking at you with an amused smile. He cant read your thoughts can he? No of course not.