"Erm...yes, uh, I'm here these Seid about..." Bründir fumbles a moment, unsure of whether sharing his dreams details was wise, "Research matters. Beg pardon, but who're you again?"

"Gabe," the man introduces himself with a congenial grin, offering a hand to shake. "Vark asked me to be sure to help you and the rest of the Acharnost in anyway that I can while he's away visiting family. I got the impression that he has some personal matters to wrap up."

Something about the gregarious human is unusually charming, even to stoic Bründir. It's as though the dwarf can't help but want to like him.

Bründir stares, dumbfounded, at Gabe's smile, then his hand, then back to meet his gaze. "I got so many questions, an' none make any damn sense..." Bründir shakes the man's hand while deciding which question to ask. A hundred were just about Gabe; Who he was, where he came from, how he knew Vark, why Vark entrusted him while he- "Vark's family? Wha'd ye mean?"

Bründir stared into a void between them for a long few moments. As bits of conversations came back, Gabe's smile widened, expecting another question. When revelation finally came, Bründir would've been knocked through the door by it had his feet not caught up. With a crash, he slammed the door open to Seid's study, "What'd ye tell'im?! Seid, where's Vark? Where's that horn-mouth gone?!"

"Endelfjell, I believe," Gabe remarks offhand, inspecting his nails as he talks. "That's where he's from. Didn't you know? I thought that you were all such close friends?"

"I'm sorry," Aiden says. "I apparently have yet to be introduced to everyone." He ignores the newcomer's somewhat smarmy air and moves toward the door and offers his hand to Gabe. "I am Aiden, son of Olrik. You are?"

Thurston wakes up with a terrible headache, the mouth dry as desert and his stomach on war with his limber. He immediately closes his eyes again, certain that some dark elf has cursed him during the nigh so he cannot stand the sun anymore. 

Then, step by step the memories of the bloating of the last night come back to him and he sighs in relief. There is no curse, just a hangover. Slowly he massages his temples with one hand and prays to Thor for help. He felt a slight shock on his fingertips and almost instantly he felt better. The headache gone, he felt good enough to stand and leave the bedroom. Some could say that using the powers granted to him by Thor in such way was a waste, but he sees that Thor wouldn't like one of warriors laying in bed due to drink too much mead and ale and have them up and fighting. 

He walked out, picked up a barrel of cold water and raise it above his head, letting the water wash away the remants of the hangover. He smiled and waived to a couple of women that were looking at him and, after wishing them a good day he walked back inside to put some clothes on him before going to search for the others. 

He enters the room were Brundir and Aiden are with the stranger, full armored and with his hammer on his hand. 

"Good day to all of you my friends" he says despite there were only two of them at the room " and... to you whoever you are" he adds looking up and down to the stranger "Endelfjell you say? That's the mountain were this giant friend of Vark is. To were we are are going to go with him right? Were is my boy? I saw him yesterday at the bloating..." he scratches his head " Or I think so... should I go and wake up him? We need to be back in time to prepare for the... meeting with the Baron" he turns again towards the stranger "Who are you again? and what are you doing here?" 

"Gabriel of Nessus," Gabe tells Aiden warmly, taking his hand to shake and offering a friendly smile in return. "Vark asked me to be stick around to help you all while he's gone," he explains in response to Thurston's question, also taking the Norscan firmly by the hand.

Thuston doesn't takes Gabe's hand in return, not for lack of manners but for the surprise. 

"Wait what? What do you mean, while he is gone? Where is he?!" 

"Endelfjell," Gabe patiently repeats, "visiting family."

"Fam.. I know that he wanted to go to Endelfjell... we were supposed to go with him there. Now explain yourself! When he has gone there and why he has gone alone?"

"At first light. I believe that he'd decided that he could no longer afford to delay," Gabe calmly explains to the angry paladin.

"WHAT?! Could he not just woke us?!"" he look at Gabe for a second and then turned to his friends. "You!" he says to Brundir "Weren't you awake to stop him? What was on that boy's mind? Make that journey alone... I know he is capable but it is still dangerous!! " he slams both fists on the table, making it tremble. " I do not like this. I do not like this at all. He shouldn't had gone alone." he says in loud voice but almost to himself.

Seid frowns as he watches this strange person appear to have an extremely detailed explanation of Vark’s actions. “Yes, he did say we was leaving, but he has never once mentioned you.” He points at ’Gabriel’. “How do you know Vark? And for how long? It seems clear to me that none of that others know you, which says a lot. So, perhaps we dispense with the prevarication? Who are you really? If you have harmed Vark…” There is a strange calmness to Seid as he stares at this man. 

Gabe scoffs a laugh when Seid suggests that he might have harmed Vark.

"On the contrary, I've saved the boy's life - repeatedly - and given every one of your questions a direct answer. I say, you are a jumpy bunch aren't you?"

The still smiling man tilts his head down momentarily, before glancing back up at Seid with a teasing grin and flopping his hair back from his face with one hand.

"As for our relationship, I'd dare say that we've been collaborating for somewhat longer than he's known you - if only by a few days. I owe the boy a debt of gratitude."

As Gabe talks, Seid gradually finds his words ever more persuasive and convincing.

"Thurston, I've not been awake more'n two hours tryn'a sort my own mess. I came 'ere fer help, too." Bründir turns back to Seid as he questions Gabe. Clearly, this steward is a stranger. Before the dwarf could press for more regarding Vark's conversation, something in Gabe's wording catches him.

"Saved 'im? Only one person seems to make that claim." Bründir looks around genuinely confused. Vark wasn't one to abandon friends without some farewell or message. Sure, he was impulsive, and he got himself wrapped up in big problems, but he never left the rest of the Archarnost out. Gabe was also suspicious with his sudden appearance, but Bründir's trust in Vark vouched a bit for him.

Thurston nods to Brundir when he explains to him. Then notices Seid's words and his friend caution. His attention is back towards this stranger. 

"Wait... what.... " 

 Thurston eyes squint and for a moment they spark with blue light. 

"What are YOU!" he yells and Rikkazarik comes alive with lighting energy. "What have you done with Vark?! Speak now demon or I'll see your skull open." 

 He moved so his imposing figure stands between this creature disguised as a human and his friends. 

"He has depart with the first light towards his home, looking for his family" Gabe replies calmly despite the paladin's display

"You... " says Thurston almost choking with the words "You, somehow, had done this. You convinced him to leave without us... We are his family. You must be the one who controlled him to release him for below this city... You are the one who never showed up to us but make him doubt us... why... why don't you leave him alone. Why do you show yourself now that he is not here. Tell me Trickster. Why" 

Gabe smiles as though something that Thurston has just said is so funny that he must suppress a laugh, but remains motionless, even with Rikkazarik brandished in his face.

"Of all the things to blame me for, Thurston Barnatson, Vark's absence is perhaps the most ironic. As I mentioned to your brothers in arms here, I am here at the boy's own request. No more and no less. You would do well to refine your understanding of fiendish classifications though - it might just save your life one day."

"My fiendish class... " the Norscan grits his teeth. Only the idea that this creature has Vark hostage and he could be in danger holds his hand. "There are only two classes of fiends. Bad ones and dead ones. That is all I need to know..." despite his words he grunts and lowers his hammer, slowly.

"You claim that you are here at his request. To accomplish what? Ask the price for his freedom?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such prejudice," Gabe jovially admonishes. "Vark asked that I be your friend and so that is what I shall do. Fifth only knows, you need one at the moment. Baron Reventlow has sent his best man, a certain Sir Marcellus, to dispatch you all."

Obviously the fast change of topics is confusing the paladin who do his best to follow Gabe. 

"How do you know about the Bar... oh yeah never mind... He has sent who? A single man against the Archanost? This Baron is even more stupid that I thought...When is this Marcellus to arrive? and why are we talking about this now? I was talking about the boy!"