Vark squints his eyes as he takes in yet another of Matthew’s forms. “W-well... we just got to Khaz a Gungron and something came up. I thought I should talk to you immediately. Do you know about a ruby buried here? By Spangelhelm.”

Thurston literally jump on his heels and looks down to his friend and then back to the dwarven woman. He, slowly bends down and to Hurrig’s side and, trying to hide his mouth from her he mutters. 
“Smile my friend just smile...” 

Matthew chuckles and his jewelled eyes sparkle.

"Why, yes. Of course. It senses my awakening, Vark. It calls to me, and so to you."

Matthew pauses and regards Vark for a moment, looking his warlock up and down.

"Vark. When you agreed to enter into this arrangement, I told you that now and again I may want something in return. That time has come. You must delve beneath Khaz a Grungron and retrieve my Codex."

“C-c-c-codex? W-what is that? Is that the ruby? I... I don’t mind helping... your gifts have certainly helped me b-but... what is this all about?” his hands anxiously fidget with his spear, tossing it back and forth between them as he talks. The slightest breeze picks up around him as well, punctuating his nerves.

Matthew nods slowly.

"What the Rhunki call the 'ruby' is a runestone. This one is bound to my essence. It is a focus of my power. You must guard it carefully, Vark, although the task is not without its rewards. Both you and your friends can benefit from its unique gifts."

Vark calms a bit as Matthew explains more about this fabled item. His tone changes from anxiety to curiosity. “‘Guard it carefully?’ From what?” he pauses to think for a moment. “Why is it here in the first place?”

"...because it was TAKEN from me." Matthew snarls, his jewelled eyes flaring with red fire as his anger breaks through for a moment. The Dwarven avatar coughs and smooths his clothing as he composes himself.

"The Codex holds great power. It can be sensed by others who might seek to possess it for themselves."

The warlock tenses, a stronger gust whipping around him this time. But surprisingly, he holds his ground. His brow furrows as he tries to process the emotion he’s just seen his patron display, but he nods in understanding at his words. “You... you say ‘delve’. Will it be a dangerous task to get this codex?”

Matthew shrugs.

"Perhaps. The Codex is like a magnet for many who you might consider... undesirable, but it has lain dormant for over a millennium - until now. You channel my own power and your allies are skilled. You will prevail."

Vark nods with a small smile at the reassurance. He’s quiet for a moment, almost looking for another question to ask seeing as his most pertinent ones had been answered. Finally he thinks of something and looks back to Matthew’s inlaid eyes. “Where are you right now? Have you found your brother?”

Matthew scowls.

"He is warded from me. Specifically. I am pursuing alternative avenues, but the Imperial palace of the Sarameian empire is not easily infiltrated by mortal agents."

Vark taps a finger to his chin in thought. “Hmmmm... Jex is from Sarameia. And Seid is good with magic and wards... if it’s warded to you specifically, I wonder if it would also be warded to me...” he continues pondering for a moment. “What is your plan once you free him? Sarameia is far away but... maybe we could help somehow.”

Matthew seems a little amused by how readily Vark offers his assistance.

"We will travel to Necorath in search of our sister."

“Necorath?” he asks though he doesn’t seem too invested in receiving an answer, assuming it is some far away place. “Hmm... ok so, you are a devil, your brother is a dragon, and your sister is aaaa...?” 

"An elf," Matthew completes the sentence, folding his arms with a smirk as he watches the cogs turn in the half-orc's head. "Or a demon, depending on who you ask," he adds with a laugh.

Vark laughs along though he’s not quite sure where the joke was. “And... when all of your siblings are free. What then?”

Hurrig's normally outward demeanor takes a sheepish turn at the spirited greeting, "Hallo, mum. Been gone a while with th' Sheercleft mines, but we're called back this way."

Meanwhile, Bründir is working heartily into his second cup of ale and nearly done with his first plate. After days unconscious, his hunger awakened twice as much as his senses.

"'A while'?! It's been decades ye damn lump. Get out o' that ridiculous armour an' start talkin' some sense..."

Hurrig is dragged away by his mother while Thurston, Val and Jex arrange their rooms and gather for a meal with Bründir.

Matthew arches an eyebrow, still smiling at Vark's unending wellspring of questions.

"I see your thirst for knowledge is as desperate as ever. What do you know of your own father, Vark?"

Vark’s jaw drops open, clearly not expecting the curve ball. “Uhm I-I-I... uhm... well not much. My mother never really mentioned him. I know he was a human,” he says with a shrug. “But that’s about it. Why do you ask?”