"No, that's not it," Aiden says, shaking his head. "Jex, it can't be about control. Matteo is part of you. You shouldn't be separated. We need to find a way to reunite him with you."

“Of course,” Vark shakes his hands, earnestly trying to dismiss any concern, “I’m sorry about all that, it’s just… well Matteo wasn’t just gonna let us put the mask on him willingly. But I thought you should have a say… but also Matteo is so different from you, I thought maybe there was a chance he was right and when we gave you back your body you would try and… I don’t know, stab us.” he admits. “I promise it won’t happen again. Unless you do try to stab us.” He adds the last bit with a smile for levity. “And I agree with Aiden. I’m not sure whether it was the mask that made you split or if you splitting broke the mask, but we need to find a way to put you back together. I… really have no idea how to do that. It seems like some sort of restoration magic might be able to fix it but that’s far from my specialty.” he looks to the cleric and the paladin of the party with a shrug. “Do you think Thor could help? I mean… hammers break things but they also put things back together, right?”

Jex paces around the group so their heads have to turn to focus on him as he speaks.

"So you wanted my say, yet you don't want to go along with my wishes? And in fact, Matteo and I both agree that we do not want to be reunited, and yet you have all decided that it is better for us anyway? And despite our feelings, this is what you intend to impose on us? Is that the sum of it?"

Thurston looks confused to all as they speak and puts his fingers on his temple to clear his mind as they all speak about splits, spears and masks. 

"Well... let me get this straight... that thing " he points to the mask " made us forget seeing you... has made your mind split into two very different individuals. And, of course, neither of you want to be reunited with the other. That's why you got separated in the first place I guess.. but... you are too way different right? But I am with the others... you do need to be together again. It's not that you need each other, it's that without the other part you are no longer Jex... and I predict that you will die... allow me to put it this way without that part of yourelf  you will be a better assassin without a conscience? without direction, without a moral compass you will no longer be the precise blade in the night that saves lifes... you would be just another monster like the ones we fight against, moving from one target to another without criteria or real purpouse... and allow me to be honest, I cannot truly understand this Matteo guy but this version of you is kind of a jerk Jex. You think you have nothing to do with him? If you would be that cold hearted assasin you think you are, you would have kill these two, or all of us once we were here together... and that Matteo? All his babbling about not killing and no violence... and he was asking us for destroying you?? you are more closer than you think! So now quit the whinning about what you want and your desires and trust us, and help us getting our real friend back!" he leaves Jex to ponder his words while he replies to Brundir's suggetion   " I do not know how to create magical items. I guess that I could try to mend the mask.. see if that makes him whole again... or it could do nothing or destroying it... I do not know... maybe it's too risky if that affects Jex. There is no way to know this for sure better?"

Jex shakes his head.

"You of all people Thurston." There is a quiet sadness to his voice. "You I thought would support me in this. But it seems not. Should any of you remember this conversation, remember this. Goodbye. I will gain no joy from what must come next, but I will do what I must to remain myself."

With that, he makes for the window once more, dagger in hand as he pulls his arm back to throw as he leaps for it.

Vark looks utterly flabbergasted by the conversation. Is this how obstinate he comes off when trying to push away the group’s recommendations? No, he’s not quite so melodramatic but still, he does empathize with Jex’s position.

”Jex, wait!” he calls out, stepping forward. “We’re not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do.” he flashes a glance at Thurston and Aiden. “We have to trust him.” Turning back to Jex he continues, “We just want what’s best for you. If… if putting you back together isn’t what you want, then maybe there’s another way. Maybe we can pull Matteo into another body or something.” he shrugs. “I really don’t know, but if we’ve learned anything during our travels it’s that anything is possible. And I know someone who might know how to help! That’s also a part of why I called everyone here. We’ve been invited to Wydrioth, for a dinner party! I talked to Morben, the Marquise’s son, this morning and asked if he might have a access to a teleportation circle close to Beschadik. That way we can get there and find the Sigil of Earth without having to call Matthew for help or waste a bunch of time traveling. And he said he knows a guy, and he said we can all go and meet him together. I bet either him or his friend will have some idea of how we can help Jex.”

"I would not have us make decisions for you, Jex," Aiden says, patting the air in a placating gesture. "I simply want you to consider that Matteo was always a part of you before you split. You never wished to be rid of him then. Why now?"

"You of all people" says Thurston trying to imitate Jex's somber tone "As I said... you are kind of a jerk. Do not try to make me feel bad with that crap Jex. I've only said that you should cut the teenager crap and listen. Nobody is forcing you to do anything don't be a child! Listen to Aiden he is smarter and wiser than both of us... and Vark here has a good idea! Do whatever you want but do not come back crying when Matteo regains control of your body and do not drink, or eat a good steak or **** anymore... " he turns ignoring the dagger at Jex's hand and sits at the table putting his hand on his head. " Gods... what a migraine"

Jex holds as Vark speaks and turns back from the window ledge at Aidan's remarks. The cleric remembered seeing Jex in the mask, and as much as he tries to obviously ignore Thurston, his words make him suspect that he may have underestimated the man.

"I want your word. All of you. Nobody puts us back together, or even tries, without my agreement."

He climbs down from the ledge.

"Imagine Aiden. A part of you that you despise, suddenly manifests as a second person, would you take them back with open arms. Matteo is the part of me that feels bad about what I've done, the voice that screamed at me that I'm a terrible monster. I can't work if a part of me tells me to stay my hand when I need to strike in defence of myself or any of you. So no. I don't want him back, and neither should any of you, especially if we are going to Saramei. You need me in control, perhaps this contact can help me to be free of reliance on the mask for control though."

He pulls out some parchment from his pocket.

"Now write this down, along with your pledge not to reunite me with my whining alter-ego. I prefer not to have to repeat this conversation every time we re-enter a room."

Vark glances to the others with slight trepidation before turning back and moving to pledge his word. Whatever they face in Saramei, Jex is right. They need him in control.

Thurston takes the parchment looking at Jex's eyes. And puts a hand over his shoulder. 

"You are not a monster my friend. You are part of us. We need you. But as I said before I do fear that you could become one. I... do not truly understand why a part of your mind would yell at you calling yourself monster for doing what a warrior should do. But... before I pledge my word to you... ask me a question... Have you ever heard of the Red Smoke? It comes from as far as Xingong..." after Jex's cautious reply Thurston continues "yeah... it is a drug that numbs the mind and cripples the spirit of those who take it. And for some reason they keep smoking it... over and over, until they piss themselves and forget to drink or eat.Fortunately their minds die before they succum to famine... now... let' imagine for a minute that I start taking it, day after day, and I tell you all that it is my deciion and to leave me alone... that I need that in order to be ok... but you see me languish and turning into a pathetic shadow of the warrior I once be... what would you do? Would you leave me alone or try to help me as families are supposed to do?" The norscan let his words sink for a moment. "I will resepct your whishes Jex, but if you turn into a pathetic shadow of what you truly are... do not expect me to stand idle. " He squeezes Jex's shoulder slighty "I care about you my friend. I really do, "

Jex eyes Thurston back.

"Do I look like a pathetic shadow? The pathetic shadow is the one you want to reunite me with and have me held back by. Giving me control is giving me freedom."

"You don't... yet... how many times I have to say that I think that you should be in control of your body? Agh... one trait you two share, you are stubborn! he with his non violence chatter and you with your control. Just.. be careful my friend... No one can be broken too much time... " and he walks to a chair and let his body fall on it, apparently exhausted by the exchange. 

Aiden looks at the parchment. He reaches for the quill, and then draws his hand back. He looks up at Jex, eyes hard as arctic ice. "You sign away your conscience," he says. Looking back down, he begins to write. 

I, Aiden Olrikson, give my word that I will not force Jex to reunite with Matteo at his request. I write this pledge so that I may remember if I forget.

He steps back from the paper, wrinkling his nose at the oath he had made. It felt wrong to leave the two split, but what was he to do? If neither of them wanted it, he doubted that he could force them together. Even if they did, he had no idea where to begin. He could only hope that Jex would come to the realization himself. It didn't seem likely.

Brundir had placed himself to the side until now, not wanting to be on the receiving end of an angry assassin's retribution. Even with the small interaction, Vark had a much clearer understanding of what was happening to Jex, even if only in how to describe it. When pressed for a written oath, the dwarf scoffed. "Ye won't get any respectful dwarf 'ere in Sheercleft t'sign like that. I'll 'ave yer answer by two days from now." Brundir scribbled a symbol of a circle with a single line, then wrote below it, Tha var answrumm Nir unrol (I will answer in stone).

Jex shrugs. "I just want you to acknowledge the conversation was had and the conclusion was reached so that when you don't remember in 5 minutes, I can save this whole conversation." He holds the pen out for Val to scrawl her name. "Now, one of you should take it, perhaps Aiden? So that you don't accuse me of forging your marks." He leans over and adds a brief description of the conversation, including that they would seek advice from Vark's contact and then rolls the parchment up and holds it out.

Aiden sighs, and takes the rolled parchment from Jex. He tucks it into a pocket of his coat. 

"So what now?" Aiden asks. "When is this meeting of yours, Vark?"

“Uhm, I’m not sure yet. Morben said he would let me know a time after he talks to his friend.” 

Vark looks in thought for a moment before he glances down at himself, pulling at his clothes to inspect them. His rough hewn wool tunic and trousers are functional and warm but lacking in any sort of aesthetic taste. His father’s cloak is a fine piece of tailoring, but other than that and his armor Vark realizes that he really doesn’t have much else in terms of clothing, certainly nothing to wear to a fancy dinner with elven nobility.

”I might need to get something to wear…”

Thurston turns to Vark.

"Hmm? To wear where?" 

“To… to dinner… with Morben… the Marquise’s son.” he responds, somehow still surprised any time the Norscan misses important information. “We… we should all dress our best I think. We want to make a good impression, and we’re representing Sheercleft,” he says this with a pointed glance to Bründir. “We can’t show up in our dirty armor, right?” he throws this question to Seid, clearly the most experienced with such matters.