[1] The Lower Road

Alacandra nods approvingly at Verin. "Right as always, Ms. Moore. If there's someone who they understand and trust, it might help to ask about their myths or religious stories." She examines the sword along with Laaesh. "Yes. I can see why the Silver Flame would have wanted it. These are protection and banishment runes on the hilt. That magic is probably far too old to use ever again, but the Silver Flame is very taken with their good luck charms."

There's a good amount of muttering that washes through the gathered kobolds before one turns back to answer him. "There are some who believe that we were put here by a shadow people who once enslaved us, but that they died when the world was sundered and the great fire was lost. But why do you speak of the shadows?"

"Was it not left by you, oh Lord Dragon?" Their faith in their beliefs is strong, but you sense that if you say the wrong thing, their faith in you might falter. And when that happens, they'll have to figure out why you aren't who they think you said you were. There's probably no good outcome there.

Alacandra seems to feel it too. "We'd better figure something out. But I can't help you to much, or you'll invalidate your grade. What I can do, though, is to listen to your ideas and rule the worst of them out."

Laaesh recognizes the runes as being the same ones on the floor near the elemental back at the center of the kobold settlement. It doesn't take much to come to the conclusion that if the floor matches the switches, something will happen. Whatever that is, it is true that the kobolds don't want it to happen, but from talking to them, every kobold family has its own version of events.

While Laaesh and Rythorn are so engaged, S'sylin talks the matter over with the Professor. She agrees that the approach is solid from an anthropological standpoint, but they should be careful not to make the kobolds expect much until they know for sure what the results will be. "When the time comes, cooperation from the kobolds will be essential. But kobolds are flighty. If we begin to encourage them in the wrong direction, even unknowingly, it might be hard to get them back in line for something else."

All this time, Verin has been studying the text on the wall. Much of it is an ancient giantish dialect, but in one section, scrawled in between the larger runes, is something that looks like Elvish. The syntax is odd, but she manages to make out the greater part of it... or at least what seems to be the translation...

We develop elements by feeding to them the powerful crystals of energy. When they grow up, they escape it and bring itself to the river which opens upon them. The elements when mixed will be of the city center of destruction. We run away from chaos.

The reaction to S'sylin's speech is uncertain at first, but then a very ancient kobold steps forward, his head full of piercings and bangles. He nods at S'sylin's story. He speaks in a form of draconic. "What he says is true. It matches the old stories, the ones passed down by the priesthood. We will help you if we can. But how will you remove it without it awakening?"