"Why don't ya just come on up, we can talk in peace here. We ain't looking for another scruff. Ya come up 'ere Caroline and we can eat, and drink and talk." Hurrig looks at the rest of the group to make sure the offer is agreeable, obviously understanding that the little gnome is the one at the disadvantage if things went south.

Caroline hesitates.

"Look, uh... I'll meet ye at the fence... Ye welcome t'keep ye distance... but ye all just came chargin' in 'ere and butchered Henry, Piers an' Ron without so much as an 'ello... Forgive me if I don't take ye at ye word."

Hurrig looks around at the others again, and gives a nod. "The fence is good. Thank ya dear. We do apologize about ya friends there... but let us continue this conversation by the fence face to face." Hurrig exits the cabin and waits along the fence for the others and Caroline. 

A minute or so later a small, masked forest gnome with straggly, straw-blonde hair appears out of the broad, shadowy entrance to the north-eastern cave. She is followed carefully by the basilisk matriarch. The other basilisks around the area immediately react to her presence, straightening their bodies and paying attention. She approaches the fence, but indicates to the matriarch to remain a little more than thirty feet behind her. She rests against the wood, drumming her fingers on it.

"Well, I'm 'ere and you're not shootin' at me. What d'ye want to know?"

"For starters my name is Hurrig." Hurrig takes a second to introduce everyone. "Again we are sorry about your friends. We were looking for a cure ta this disease that... Megren was it, released. First off, if ya know the answer, why did Megren release the disease. And what or who is Morrigan?"

Caroline chuckles and smirks.

"Ye ask complicated questions Hurrig - more complicated than ye know. The Morrigan is many things. T'some, she's a goddess, a divine force o' chaos an' destruction. T'others, it's a symbol o' t'freedom an' power t'take what ye want whenever ye want it. T' Megren, an' Sora, an' Korinn, they are the trinity o' The Morrigan, the embodiment o'tha' power walkin' as flesh on earth."

She shakes her head.

"Don' think about it too much. It'll make ye noggin' 'urt."

She runs a hand through her ragged locks and adjusts her mask.

"Was Korinn's idea t'unleash 'The Fury'. Suited Megren jus' fine though. Least tha's what Sora said. Been a good month o'more since I saw 'em me-self."

 Hurrig scratches his head as The Morrigan is explained to him trying to make sense of it all. "Sounds like Megren, Sora, an Korinn had it out for those elves. I think we got mixed up with the wrong bunch by 'elping out these elves. Who was the dragonborn that was 'ere when we got 'ere? And whose book might that be, seems to go in great detail about the Morrigan..."

“And d-do you know about the uhm... prison. And Rohgar-daar?” Vark chimes in.

Thurston let the dwarves lead the conversation. They seem to understand better the way of talking of the female gnome. Some thing of little people perhaps. But listening to them, he can't help to speak.

" We are meant to stop this.. "Fury" for it turns everyone into a mindless undead monster. Why, by Odin's missing eye would you help such an endeavour? How can you be so... passive about something like it? What will happen when it cames out of control, and it will, and all is consumed by this "Fury"? Even Morrigan's followers and your friends? I guess that even your pets abilities to turn to stone cannot petrify a whole city of undead elves charging your way. And then you, and your precious pets will be dead for good too." he negates with his head " Where do we can find this.. trinity?" 

Caroline starts to laugh dryly.

"Ye think ye 'ad a choice? Tha's what I'm tryin'a tell ye 'bout Archie! E's been leadin' ye all along on a bloody string! All the way down that damn mountain an' t'them elves tha' sent ye right into Korinn's jaws."

She spits on the ground.

"Ain't one o' us wit' a choice in this 'ole damn matter. Ain't one o' us is free - least o' all Archie. 'E's just naive enough t'think tha' if Kriv can get out then 'e can too."

The gnome shakes her head sadly.

"Tha' elf's as good as dead, an Archie too. They'll 'ave 'im over east in t'old fortress. Tha's where ye'll find The Morrigan too. I just do wha' I'm told an' try t'keep me and mine alive. Nothin' else f'r it wit' Sora breathin' down me neck. She's t'blue. It's 'er journal. Never 'eard o' any Rhogar-daar though."

“Wait- w-wait a minute y-you said... you said The Morrigan is at the fortress? Like.... she’s actually... there? I t-thought...” his words trail off in confusion and anxiety.

"'Ave ye not understood a word I've said boy?" Caroline snaps at Vark, her voice full of venom.

"Those three accursed sisters, they are The Morrigan. She is reborn, yet again, to plunge the land into chaos and destruction."

Anyone watching this exchange may roll insight.

"Oi, lass! What 'ave these three done ta ya to make ya snap like that? What do they 'ave?" Hurrig watches her reaction closely, intrigued at the amount of fear that these sisters have instilled such a fiesty and brave woman. She would have to be brave to want to raise and study basilisks. "The sisters will have to wait a little, we do have to return to Sheercleft, but I think we are invested in stopping these three at this point..." With that, Hurrig looks at the others and smirks, his new friends, and a rag tag band of adventurers. He thinks to himself What am I getting myself into....

Caroline shrugs hopelessly.

"Those who leave, die. Those who cross 'em, die. Those who betray 'em, suffer an' die. My stupid kid brother is prob'ly already dead, or wishin' 'e was, an' if Sora returns and finds me gone then I'm next. They're a goddess o' destruction made flesh. How d'ye fight somethin' like tha'?

She kicks tiredly at the grass.

"Y'done, or should I wait while y'make off with everythin' from my 'ome?"

Jex stands nearby, side on staring off into the distance. To anybody that didn't know him it would appear he was bored and uninterested, just waiting to move on. But he has managed to stand still the whole conversation, hasn't made a jibe, or fiddled with anything.

He almost grins when Hurrig mentions that they are committed to bringing down the Morrigan, it saved him persuading them himself. 

"You can leave now. We have given you the chance. I understand that fear to death could be powerful, but better dine in Valhalla that live on Hel. Your actions, even born from fear, will bring death and suffering to others. Think about it next time you had to make a decision. Can you live with that in your conscience? Your brother couldn't that's why he tried to do something about it. Leave this place if you want, but do not help them anymore. "

He looks towards the direction of the fortress and taps his hammer " We will see if that Morrigan sisters can stand Thor's might. If they are flesh, they can bleed. And they aren't the only ones whi can harness the power of a God in this world. But first... " he turns to Hurrig " we go to Sheercleft and help them. " he says firmly.

"Leave?" Caroline shrieks incredulously.

"This is my home. These are my friends. The Morrigan may be evil and cruel, but we 'ave an agreement an' it protects me. Better than anyone else can, tha's f'sure. I can't force ye out withou' riskin' the lives o' me friends - an' they trust me t'protect 'em - but you're the invaders 'ere. If ye gonna rob me, then just get it over wit' and be gone wit' ye, but I'm not leavin'!"

Thurston looks at Caroline with incredulity

"You first said that you had no choice. Now you say it protects you? You little woman are surely confused. I wonder if they hadn't bewitched you. If you truly belives that they are protecting you instead of using you, you are really a fool. They only keep you and your friends guarded so no one can make a cure for the Fury. Keep your friends here and, as soon as they don't need you anymore you will see how their protection turns into destruction. You said it yourself, they are avatars of destruction, not protection. If we were truly invaders you will be dead by now. Think about it... "Thurston looks with a mix of pity and desdain to her, turns and walks away ready to go out of there.  

"Were ye dropped on t'head as a babe, Norscan, or were ye just born wit' muscles f'r brains?" Caroline quips back, cocking her head to the side.

"My agreement wit' The Morrigan protects me from 'em. I 'ave no choice in the matter, b'cause it's a question o' collaboration or annihilation. I stay useful an' I stay alive. 'Course I don't trust 'em, but wha' else am I supposed t'do?"

Thurston rolls his eyes back, and stops before going away. 

"Acknowledge that your usefulness is coming to an end  and begone!! take your pets and flee. We are giving you that chance. You don't want to fight? fine! You could be useful providing materials for the cure and you will be protected by good people, people that had left you alone and free in the past and that the need you instead of use you. Perhaps your brain is as small as your body and can't see the diference. But if you don't want to do that just flee before is too late for you and your animals. Don't you see that if you wouldn't be allied with that people we would have ask you for your help instead of fighting? We could have provide healing and food for a speed recovery of the inevitable wound in your animal instead of fight against one. Don't you see the difference? We could be invaders as you said, but only because we had no other chance as we are fighting for defending others. You said you are cohercced into collaboration, it was helping them or be destroyed. Fine. Now you have other options. If you don't take them... " he shrugs " Valkiries will judge you and Odin will decide your fate based in your actions... "