The Changing Hunt

It says it a docent. A ball of knowledge that warforgeds can connect to. It is trying to keep track of the planes around Eberron. I think that is like other worlds like where the creatures came from.
I can only hear it now, Kevin takes off his gloves. It has something to show us, I'll try to make sense of it. Then he places his hand on the orb

"Spending time with Gatekeepers in the Shadow Marches taught me more than I wanted to know about what can go wrong with portals to other planes... much less when certain planes're coterminous with ours."

Gunnar hasn't the faintest idea about what was going on with the pretty talking stone. That's fine by him - let the fancy-talkers sort it out.

In the meantime, everyone seems a little distracted so he decides to inspect the door to make sure it's properly sealed behind them, and then scout out a ways down the tunnel to see what's ahead. He'll light a torch to do so - darkvision is fine in a pinch and great for not being noticed, but it's easy to miss a detail in the dark. Besides, the fancy-talkers are making enough racket to exclude the notion of stealth, and he still has these 10 bloody torches!

He had acquired these torches back in the war years ago- it was a standard issue pack - but had yet to crack 'em open. Just about every single mission they had gone on required cover of darkness, making the fire sticks pretty much useless.

He reflected that every single member of the Howlers were alive when he was given these torches, but now he was the only one. Each of the Howlers burned bright against the dark and extinguished in a blaze of glory. All except Gunnar. He'd like to say it was he was the biggest or toughest or smartest of the Howlers, but it wasn't true. Luckiest? Maybe.

He unwrapped the bundle and smelled the pine wood, felled from the forests of his homeland. Deciding he was being entirely too sentimental, he blamed the mushroom beer with a curse under his breath, lit a torch, and wandered into the dark tunnel, alone.

Well Krinn, where are you going to take us? Kevin speaks out loud, just as much for the group's benefit. I can see that you have a good grasp of these tunnels.

Do any of you understand the terms wechselbalg and schalthebel? The terms seem to refer to myself and Kevin. This sphere was left here by someone to connect to other planes, and it appears to be a bit surprised it worked. It wants to report the success back to someone or something named Cul’sir. It also seems to be concerned about comething called the Quori.

"Where has Gunnar gone to?"

Gunnar looks at the ladder. So many ladders he's been up and down in his life. This one looked pretty safe. He returns to the group and informs the folks of the results of his reconnoitring: He invites anyone who would like to join him to take a peak up the ladder, and then leads the way up the ladder (even if it's just him that goes).

Mrak shrugs and follows Gunnar.

Okey people - I think I have figured this out. Some of it anyway. Krinn can guide us out, to almost anywhere in Stormreach as he has a full map of the tunnels here. Where do we wanna go? Where was it our lost friend was lost? He might have been lost in these tunnels

Alin relinquishes the sphere to Kevin and moves next to their changeling companion. "Let us get back on mission shall we? Raelyn, we were sent to rescue you, but also to recover the artifact you were to deliver to the Storm Lord Varen Lassite. Can you tell us what had become of the artifact? Honestly we do not even know what it is. " Alin looks at Raylen with intentional face of sympathy "Of course, we would like to assist you to wherever you wish to go, be it to complete the delivery of the artifact or to leave this wretched city and get back to Korryn in Sharn."

At the mention of the artifact to be retrieved, the wise druid eyed the seemingly sentient orb.

Gunnar makes conversation with Mrak as they explore.

"So... Demon Wastes, eh? Must be some ugly things to kill there. Why ever did you leave?"

"My tribe was slaughtered. I am the last of them. I... failed them." Mrak pulls a small flask from his belt and takes a long swig.

Ghillie wanted to say that dead friends and lost family would not want any loved one to blame himself. Grieve for them, yes, but not blame himself. Ghillie kept silent, however, due to not knowing the specifics and not wanting to potentially anger an emotional orc.

"I'll get you a refill and lend you an ear when we get out of this," Ghillie said then added with a smile, "but I'll need the ear back."

"May they rest in peace, and may you find your revenge."

Guys guys... I can respect the ones that was and those who did not. But that is in the past. We are in the present, underground, in unknown tunnels, with a mission, and with extra-dimensional monsters and silverflame fanatics wanting a piece of our hides.

Raelyn, what happened to the artifact?