As Falshen grasps the Stone and casts the spell, the rest of the party see him go rigid, his mouth slack, his eyes wide. He blinks once, slowly, and when his eyes open they are black pits, light-devouring holes in the universe. He speaks, but the voice is not his. It is inhumanly deep, slow, slurred, and echoing, and it seems to pierce not the ears but the mind.
"We are GOLORR." says the voice. "We awaken at your call. We speak through this vessel. Knowledge given, knowledge granted. Submit your offering. Submit your petition. We are listening. We are waiting."
"To know DESIRE is to know the HEART. To know the HEART is to have POWER. POWER has a PRICE. The supplicant must submit an OFFERING. Knowledge given, knowledge granted."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ian steps in and closes the door behind him, takes in the situation, and mutters under his breath,
"Well, this went about as well as I was expecting."
Looking at Golorr, Ian says,
"We have knowledge of many things. Many indeed. Knowledge that a number of parties seek the dragon hoard. Whether it is Xanathar, his gang, and his Illithid friend, Manshoon and his motley crew, the Blackstaff, the very patrons of the city, and others likely unknown to us yet. I believe that you encountered one such party before this and judged him undeserving."
Ian continues,
"As for knowledge, we have supplied some, but I think that you could learn a lot from us. Fate herself seems to bring us knowledge freely just as she brought you to us. Stay with us and aid us in our quest and knowledge is sure to burst forth and shall be freely given. That is our supplication. We will happily elaborate, but we only desire to know what knowledge piques your great curiosity. What say you, great Golorr? Will you aid us?"
Falshen's throat emits a strange sigh, a sound akin to the susurrus of a wave receding from the shore.
"Xanathar," says the voice. "Manshoon. Blackstaff. NAMES. We now KNOW these names. They were KNOWN to us before, but now we KNOW what they DESIRE. And we would know what you DESIRE. We DESIRE to know DESIRE. We seek to fill the VOID of WANT. We HUNGER for your HUNGER. Tell us your DESIRE."
Gregor considers this for a moment, "I want my father freed. I want my family's... particular brand of honor restored. For this to happen, I need coin and I need solid victories I can present to my superiors. And I very much need one of those superiors to not be Manshoon."
"I seek Neverember's hidden hoard of dragons, and a safe means of getting there. Dragons in this case being gold coins. If Neverember has a different, more literal hoard, I do not need to know that one's location."
Falshen's eyelids flicker, and a gleam appears in the twin voids.
"To hide his hoard, Neverember tread the boards in the Castle Ward, changed his clothes and went below. You who follow in his steps might choose to do the same."
"My business with you is done, and knowledge has been exchanged for knowledge. No more will I give to you, no more will I receive from you... for now." Gregor turns to his companions, "Does anyone else wish to make an exchange?"
The kobold pyromancer chimes in at this point. "Akai seeks wealth! Akai seeks power! Akai seeks glory! A kingdom beneath the earth, subjects to lead, and a lineage of unbroken greatness! This hoard is a stepping-stone toward his goals!"
With a determined gleam in his eyes, he continues. "Akai has shared his desires! What more can you share of hoard's location and dangers?"
Taken aback at this rebuke, Akai glowers for a moment. Growling in thought, he finally perks up. "Then answer this! Why would Neverember hide the hoard? Why not use it to crush enemies and set up a kingdom? Who could stop him?"
His eyes narrow. "What other foes seek out treasure?"
"Your question reveals a PRESUMPTION born of IGNORANCE. Neither FEAR nor ENMITY drove Dagult to this device. Neverember laid away his unlawful gains for the same reason that any man buries a pot of GOLD in the GROUND - because he cannot carry it with him, and does not want it TAKEN until he RETURNS for it."
As Falshen grasps the Stone and casts the spell, the rest of the party see him go rigid, his mouth slack, his eyes wide. He blinks once, slowly, and when his eyes open they are black pits, light-devouring holes in the universe. He speaks, but the voice is not his. It is inhumanly deep, slow, slurred, and echoing, and it seems to pierce not the ears but the mind.
"We are GOLORR." says the voice. "We awaken at your call. We speak through this vessel. Knowledge given, knowledge granted. Submit your offering. Submit your petition. We are listening. We are waiting."
"Great GOLORR, what knowledge would please you most?"
"To know DESIRE is to know the HEART. To know the HEART is to have POWER. POWER has a PRICE. The supplicant must submit an OFFERING. Knowledge given, knowledge granted."
Ian steps in and closes the door behind him, takes in the situation, and mutters under his breath,
"Well, this went about as well as I was expecting."
Looking at Golorr, Ian says,
"We have knowledge of many things. Many indeed. Knowledge that a number of parties seek the dragon hoard. Whether it is Xanathar, his gang, and his Illithid friend, Manshoon and his motley crew, the Blackstaff, the very patrons of the city, and others likely unknown to us yet. I believe that you encountered one such party before this and judged him undeserving."
Ian continues,
"As for knowledge, we have supplied some, but I think that you could learn a lot from us. Fate herself seems to bring us knowledge freely just as she brought you to us. Stay with us and aid us in our quest and knowledge is sure to burst forth and shall be freely given. That is our supplication. We will happily elaborate, but we only desire to know what knowledge piques your great curiosity. What say you, great Golorr? Will you aid us?"
Persuasion (if desired): 20
Falshen's throat emits a strange sigh, a sound akin to the susurrus of a wave receding from the shore.
"Xanathar," says the voice. "Manshoon. Blackstaff. NAMES. We now KNOW these names. They were KNOWN to us before, but now we KNOW what they DESIRE. And we would know what you DESIRE. We DESIRE to know DESIRE. We seek to fill the VOID of WANT. We HUNGER for your HUNGER. Tell us your DESIRE."
Gregor considers this for a moment, "I want my father freed. I want my family's... particular brand of honor restored. For this to happen, I need coin and I need solid victories I can present to my superiors. And I very much need one of those superiors to not be Manshoon."
Again, the subterranean sigh issues from Falshen's mouth.
"Your offering is ACCEPTED. Submit your PETITION. Knowledge given, knowledge granted."
"I seek Neverember's hidden hoard of dragons, and a safe means of getting there. Dragons in this case being gold coins. If Neverember has a different, more literal hoard, I do not need to know that one's location."
Falshen's eyelids flicker, and a gleam appears in the twin voids.
"To hide his hoard, Neverember tread the boards in the Castle Ward, changed his clothes and went below. You who follow in his steps might choose to do the same."
"My business with you is done, and knowledge has been exchanged for knowledge. No more will I give to you, no more will I receive from you... for now." Gregor turns to his companions, "Does anyone else wish to make an exchange?"
Irma shakes his head, "I have none to exchange."
”I have information to exchange” Ian says.
”I seek my heritage and its history. That is my desire. I ask in return what dangers or traps lie ahead of us on the path to and within the hoard?”
"The crossings CRUMBLE, the wall ENTHTRALLS, the hammer HEALS, the TRAP is a TRAP. No more will we tell in exchange for this offering."
The kobold pyromancer chimes in at this point. "Akai seeks wealth! Akai seeks power! Akai seeks glory! A kingdom beneath the earth, subjects to lead, and a lineage of unbroken greatness! This hoard is a stepping-stone toward his goals!"
With a determined gleam in his eyes, he continues. "Akai has shared his desires! What more can you share of hoard's location and dangers?"
"Knowledge GRANTED is knowledge GRANTED. Do not seek AGAIN to KNOW what is KNOWN."
Taken aback at this rebuke, Akai glowers for a moment. Growling in thought, he finally perks up. "Then answer this! Why would Neverember hide the hoard? Why not use it to crush enemies and set up a kingdom? Who could stop him?"
His eyes narrow. "What other foes seek out treasure?"
"In order to KNOW, a mind must be SINGLE of PURPOSE."
"Krrr... fine then!" Akai barks in frustration. "What foes did Neverember fear that made him hide treasure?"
"Your question reveals a PRESUMPTION born of IGNORANCE. Neither FEAR nor ENMITY drove Dagult to this device. Neverember laid away his unlawful gains for the same reason that any man buries a pot of GOLD in the GROUND - because he cannot carry it with him, and does not want it TAKEN until he RETURNS for it."
Gregor nods, "If there is nothing else, we thank you for the mutually beneficial exchange. May we have our friend back?"