"Ah. Yes." He hands you food, a pouch of money, and some crude weapons. "Here you are. Good luck."
"Ah. You've heard. Yes. The Nepharim captured a half dozen of our troops in an ambush last week and took them to their fort by the lake to the north. If someone could rescue them and report back to me, I'd reward them generously."
"Are you sure you rescued them? I haven't heard from them yet. Come back when you have."
"You rescued our troops! They arrived earlier today!" He reaches into his desk and pulls out a pouch, which he hands to you. "Here is your reward. The people of Cotra owe you a great debt."
"I'm afraid we haven't had any people captured lately, but if any are, you'll be the first to know."
She looks at you dubiously. "Yes, my necklace was stolen, I suspect by the Nephilim in the big fort to the west. I see you don't have it. If you return it to me, I will reward you very generously. When you get it, if you get it, return to me."
Her face brightens! "My necklace!" She takes it and puts it on. She summons an assistant, who brings you a small pouch of jewels and a small token. "You may well be who King Micah is looking for. Go to the Castle. This token will get you in."
The necklace looks lovely on her. "Yes, thank you for this. It will be a great help. And you should go to the castle. That token will gain you audience with His Majesty. Exile needs people like you, now more than ever."
"I would love to work on a mighty blade! Now that would be a challenge! If you ever find something I could fix, let me know!"
He stares at the fragments of the greatsword in awe. "Now THIS is a challenge." He sets to work, with hammer, water, and lava. The sparks fly, and the flames bellow. Then, he brings the repaired sword to you. "Thanks! That was FUN!"
"I would love to fix your sword, but you couldn't carry it if I did."
You give him the money, and he fishes out of his tunic a grimy ebony brooch. "There. Take it. If it really is magic, its use is beyond me."
He smirks. "You don't have the money." You resist an urge to mug him.
"You already got it. You think I have two?"
"We have spies, but they've done little good. If you ever find any evidence of what the Slithzerikai are up to, bring it here. I'll reward you well."
He takes the plans from you, and looks them over. "Wonderful! This will save many a human life." He then gives you a decent sized bag. "Here's the reward - 500 gold. Be sure to bring me any other information you find."
"Us mages are supposed to teach Dispel Barrier to as few people as possible. Mage's secret and all. But I want that slith magic tome - it would be a great help to know their secrets. Bring it to me, and I will teach you the spell."
She reverently takes the book. "Thank you. Understanding slith magic will be a great aid." She spends several hours teaching all of you how to cast Dispel Barrier. "Out of gratitude, I will also teach the spell to anyone you may add to your group later."
"Ah, yes." She reviews for you the principles of the dispel barrier spell. "Now don't tell any other mages I did this. I could get in trouble!"
It roars, and belches flame. "Enough talk. I desire dinner, and more wealth. And you will provide it!"
"Ah, yes. The sliths are led by their mighty and wily chief - dread Sss-Thsss. There will be no peace or safety until his head is brought to me, and I think only a small, stealthy band can get it. Bring me his head, and your reward will be rich indeed."
"I see you have not yet slain Sss-Thsss. Do so. The potential gain far outstrips the risk."
The face of King Micah lights up. "Well done! Well done indeed!" He claps his hands, and bags of gold are brought to you. "I declare you good and favored friends of Exile, and may we never need to call upon your help again!"
"Fortunately, we have no need at the moment for you to risk your lives for our benefit."
"Fort Remote, to the west, has been attacked. Go there, find out who has done such a thing, return, and report. You will be rewarded."
"Go forth and send Grah-Hoth back to Hell. Do so, and power and wealth will be yours. You may choose your position in life, and I will make it happen, even to the point of replacing my idiot son as my heir."
He smiles. "There is nothing more required of you. Travel and learn, so that you may better fit into whatever position in this land you decide to occupy. Then return."
You tell King Micah of what you learned, and his expression turns bleak. "Friends, Exile needs your help. The old enemy has returned. Destroy this demon Grah-Hoth. If you do, you will be given power and wealth as only I can give it to you. This I swear."
He looks about, eyes unfocused, scrying the room. Then, satisfied, he turns to you. "Yes. We, almost accidentally, discovered a part of the password to the outer world. And, if you can cure my wife, I will tell it to you."
He smiles. "Yes. For the deed you have done for me, I will tell you. We never found where the exit was, but we did find the last syllable while scrying the surface. It was 'Kai.'"
(You take note of this.)
He shakes his head sadly. "My wife, Hathwisa, is ill. I don't know with what, one of the diseases of the caves, but she will probably die soon. The only thing untried is graymold salve. I would do anything for you if you could find some and cure her!"
He smiles. "Hathwisa is indeed well. I cannot thank you enough. You have saved that which I value above anything, above this tower, above magic, above myself. If there's anything I can help you with, just ask about it."
"We blasted it, then sealed Grah-Hoth's foul servants inside. If you ever want to get into it, you will need a certain key. And if you could heal my wife, I would tell you where you could find it."
"Ah. If you want to get into the fort, you will need the gold key, in the southwest corner of the castle. You will need a password to get to it. It's in the back cover of a blue notebook, in a hidden bookshelf near my quarters." (You take note of this.)
Bohman nods and provides a check-in book for you to sign. "Excellent. Now, when you return from the other side, you can get through. Without this book, we wouldn't know who can come back and who has to stay over there."
Bohman shakes his head. "Nah, it's all right. I've already checked you in. Go over in good conscience."
Zagat smiles. "I'm glad you decided to give it a whack. Go through the gate in the corner. If you can make it to the opposite exit, your reward will be 10 gold. Good luck."
Zagat nods. "I'm so glad you're trying again. You were very popular last time. Go through as before. The reward is 20 gold."
"Excellent. The reward is 50 gold this time. You go over very, very well!"
Zagat grins broadly. "Good for you! This battle doesn't look to be too challenging, but it will be very exciting for the rubes. The reward is 500 gold. Have fun!"
Zagat sighs. "Alas, as much as I would like to send you through again, we're out of monsters. Come back later, and maybe we'll have some in stock."
Scab smiles wearily. "I'd love to help you out. I'd love to see that arrogant bimbo get hers. But I only want to help you if you're competent enough to succeed. And there's a great way you could prove yourself." He turns and looks pointedly at the arena.
Scab shakes his head. "I'm still not convinced. You've only fought easy stuff. Keep going through."
"OK. I'm convinced. I was working with a thief named Asp. He can help you. Tell him my name, and ask about the circlet. Also, we got the key to its case. It's in a secret cave west of here." He tells you where in the cave the key is. You take note of it.
He shakes his head. "First go through the arena and talk to the nice ogre at the other end. Then I'll hire you again."
"Yeah, I hear ya." He turns a heavy wheel, and the portcullis at the entrance opens.
"Go away! It's open already!"
"Ah, yes. I've been told of you. You are being given a chance to join the Scimitar, secret defender of the people of Exile against the monsters who put us here. All you have to do to join our band of rebels is complete a simple little mission."
"We have our seers and masters of scrying, and we know you have not completed your mission. Don't come back until you have."
"You have succeeded in your mission. We will now consider you one of us. Go through the secret passage to the south and speak with Rogow. She's in charge here."
Khoth drags a claw across the ground. The sound makes your hair stand on end. "It's a very simple ritual, and one I will provide very cheaply. Return my scroll to its proper place, and I will teach it to you."
Khoth nods her huge head. "You have done well for me, humans. I am a creature of my word." He teaches you the motions to pass the wards. It is a simple ritual, and you take note of it.
"My plan is simple. I want to teleport you into the heart of the evil, into Hawthorne's throne room! The wards are powerful, but it is possible. To do this thing, I need several brooches."
Erika looks over your possessions. "You don't have enough brooches. Keep searching."
Erika looks at the brooches you have, and smiles coldly. "Four may be sufficient. I am not sure. Get a fifth if you can. If you can't, I can give you further instruction anyway."
She looks over your brooches. "Excellent. I have further instructions for you."
"There is a place, somewhere down here, well hidden, which is close to the surface and from which someone may be teleported. I don't know where it is, but I do know who you should talk to: A man named Aydin."
"The first great deed has been done. Congratulations. And thank you. I have little more to say to you."
He chuckles. "Denied. But, it can be earned. There are two items of interest to me: a silver circlet and an onyx scepter. Bring them, and I will give you permission."
"You have not the scepter. You have not even the circlet!" He rears up in a terrifying manner. "Waste not my time!"
"You have the circlet. Excellent. But the onyx scepter remains to be had."
"The scepter was well guarded. Well done. Now get the circlet."
The dragon waves you forward. Trembling, you present the items. He nods, and swoops them up with a mighty claw. "You may go east. It may not do you any good."
"You have my permission already. Waste not my time."
