Re: The Test of the Faithful - 1
In the room with the skeletons and fountain, Shae pokes at the fountain with her spear, pushing aside the moss growing on top. Nothing jumps out at her or seems amiss, but she sees that there are some shiny gems and coins that have settled at the bottom of the fountain.
In the secret room, no one has taken up Tahldar's request to inspect the box or chest for traps or locks.
A sound from the north (i.e., where you came from) brings your attention quickly around. Two figures have somewhat quietly entered from the north. Both appear to be human.
The first has two skinny blades sheathed at his side. He is garbed in fine leathers, jerkin, and other accoutrements that make him appear somewhat wealthy, well groomed, and with a fine military-like stance, though he is not in a uniform. Well over six feet tall, he has a wide, amicable smile, and is about thirty years old with blondish hair. He has the type of handsomeness that many women would swoon over, and the way he carries himself with confidence, he seems to know it.
His companion is starkly different. He is garbed in a plain priestly robe. His face is covered in tattoos, and though the hood is up, he appears bald headed. You take him for some sort of cleric or monk, in very good physical form, though quite a bit shorter than his companion. You cannot see what he may conceal beneath the robe, but he is looking at an ancient tome of some sort when he enters, almost as if not even noticing you are here.
The well groomed man says, in happy surprise, "Well, well, what do we have here? These men surely can't be those we were asked to meet. They look too battle worn and hungry." He smiles as if this is a joke, but when no one responds, he says, "Surely, that old wizard..." He turns to his companion, "What was his name? Ember? Cinder?"
The other man says, "Ashe."
"Yes," the first says with a snap of his fingers. "Surely Ashe told you we would be meeting you at some point? Fingas?" he says to you, as if you should recognize it. "Come on, you never heard of me? Fingas Hatt? Of the Rendathian Hatts?" He says to his companion, "Well, I guess not everyone can have heard of me."
He turns back to you. "My family also came from a Pocket. That's what Ashe calls it. A Pocket from the old -- or alternate -- or whatever -- Tienna, that got brought to this Allevia. But we were brought here 40 years ago, before I was born even. That time-space thing doesn't always work with exactness. Anyhow, I suppose you're here to kill the dragon? That's what we're here to do. I don't know if your ragtag group can deal with something that...formidable. But I thought we'd come up the back way through the cave. I see you've gotten here first. But I bet you a hundred Silver we'll get to the dragon first."
He spreads his arms, as if expecting some sort of response--in recognition, cooperation, or friendly gestures. He does not appear in any way to mean you any harm, and you do not get the feeling that he is not who he says he is -- whoever that is. If anything, he appears overconfident and harmless, used to living off his fame.
"You speak the Common tongue, yes? You are...what were the names?" he says to his companion.
The cleric says, names coming easily to mind, "Borimer, Kahan, Donovan, Tahldar, Shapfren, Shae, and there was a Leogold, Lukas, and Hatchman, if they are all here and alive still."
"We just slew something like thirty giants a couple hours ago," Fingas says to you. "Their bodies litter the ground below. Too bad the bridge was broken. We had to fly across." He looks at you like that might impress you. "So next, on to the dragon, right?"
OOC: To clarify one thing, please make a distinction in your mind between "brass" and "bronze." The former is much shinier and more valuable (back in those days anyway), whereas bronze is cheaper, older, and more fragile of a metal. I just want to clarify that because the "box" is brass and gold in appearance, whereas the urn and chest have bronze, which means they appear older, weaker, and far less shiny.