Near the end of the time the group spends resting, studying, and practicing, Ezrin catches the groups attention,
“Now that we know where the Well-Trained Pony is How are we going to get past those Green Shirts, with enough time to deal with The Ruins…
“And are we really going to do it while Pool-issumus Light Foot is watching us?”
After a few minutes of confused looks, Ezrin sighs and clarifies:
“The sword we want, it’s been broken twice, like a well trained Westlander… ‘s pony.”
He looks expectantly at the others, clearly wondering if they are on to his cant or need more explanation.
Alexis looks confused at Ezrin’s confusion. Then looks at Gus and back to Ezrin.
“Well, regardless, this has also been on my mind. With the fort being so packed, our ‘pony’-search might be easier or harder. But to be honest, I’ve been thinking more about trying to find Gilber, and see how he fared up North.”
“Gilber?”
Ezrin is a bit puzzled.
“Oh, the officer you first fought the Giant with. Gilber.”
Gus looks confused.
“Well trained pony? Gilber? I do not know what you two are talking about. Alexis, you looked at me, did you have a question for me?”
“Do we really think we can take the Sword We Seek from King Adelfired’s Honor Guard while our sworn enemy is using scrying magic to watch us?”
“Alternately, should we do something about our sworn enemy and Barra’s Scrying Pool before we try to take control of the sword we seek?”
Alexis laughs. “I doubt very much that he can do any such thing. But I hope he’s in good health and I look forward to seeing him again.”
Ezrin looks confusedly at Aelxis.
“What do you think Earycka meant when she said the Light Foot would want the sword once they knew we were looking for it? You don’t think the Very Narrow Isthmus can use the Pool?”
“Why wouldn’t he be able to use the pool. It seems like that’s exactly what Earyka meant.”
“I fear I have confused myself. More simply put, is there not good cause to address the Pool and it’s use against us, before we proceed in further pursuit of the sword?”
“If we are on on the path of the Peace Makers we should stay on the path. There will always be something we could do. If we leave the fort again it will only lead to more delays. More possibilities to get further distracted. We know where the swords is. We have a path in front of us to actually get it.
Are the obstacles? Yes. We knew there would be complication. There always are. Let’s not delay. Let’s move forward.”
Ezrin nods in the way one nods when they’ve heard something before and it still doesn’t answer their question.
“I admire your focus Ethelred, I truly do, and I don’t disagree with it. I am not clear on what the path in front of us to actually get the sword is exactly. And it seems it would be good if that path also keeps us from needing to flee to Gahnil, and keeps the Dark Hand from taking it from us as soon as we leave the Fort with the sword. I have heard little regarding how we overcome these obstacles and mitigate these complications.
Ezrin sighs sadly.
“Gahnil is not known for it’s libraries… “
“I agree fully that the path in front of us not know. There is one clear way through, but it has much peril. Perhaps there are other paths that lead to the sword.
“But would it not be best to focus on the task at hand, rather than following up on other unknown risks?”
Alexis looks between the two as they talk. Nodding occasionally.
“We know very little about the object we seek. True. We know it can be broken. We know it’s very general location. We know our enemy will find it once we do because of the pool.
There are ways we can scout this unknown territory. We could try to take the pool. True. Although I worry about our ability to sneak up on it. But there are many knowns with that route. And several possible ways we can get more information about the object.
I have been thinking about how we might be able to remain concealed, but I would need the assistance of the Collegium to try and unlock those mysteries. Going to Sutheron has other possible advantages as well. The libraries. The sages.
Speaking of, don’t we know that the heroes-turned-traitors at the Greyfax estate fought the goblins in the cave? Perhaps they told stories about the pool. Perhaps they sent records to friends or family.”
Alexis doesn’t seem to have a lot of hope in this line of thinking.
“It seems unclear how we might get more, real, information about the object here. Other than holding of it. But we’re also very ignorant of the fort. There are many dynamics at play that elude us. We’ve talked about some, and there are still others we haven’t talked about. I would like to explore some of those avenues before we leave the fort.”
Ezrin perks up at the mention of Sutheron, libraries and sages.
Ezrin nods in agreement at Alexis conclusion.