Chapter Six: The Muster of Caltlikrath

Anyone else is free to step in and converse with Steam Gorham, Domarc isn't locked in or anything.

"Apocalypse? Rumio, have you been telling them we desire to bring about apocalypse? I fear you have been misled. The apocalypse has already happened, and if you open your eyes and look about, I think you will see the evidence of that everywhere. Bload has never known peace. The races most connected to the life and spirit of the land -- the elves, the dwarves, even the little halflings -- they abjure this island. Did you never stop to wonder why? There is a stagnation here that will spread to corrupt the entirety of the Werld if it is not reversed. Across the sea, they call Bload 'the evil land.' They are not wrong. But I have no wish to destroy Bload. I only want what little remains of this land's lifeblood to circulate again."

Zangua doesn't see any signs of an ambush, and neither Domarc or Felor can perceive any hidden meaning or motivations behind Gorham's words.

"The devilkin speaks! You know, Martjan and I, we have debated whether you and Zora were lovers or not. Don't tell me -- I prefer the mystery. But you ask an excellent question. I tell you in the hopes that you will stop turning over rocks and chasing shadows to find believers in the Six-Pronged Crown to kill. While I like to think I have an enlightened attitude toward mortality and death, it yet grieves me to see those who follow my teachings struck down for their beliefs. And while we no longer need to play keep-away games with the Iron Sphere, there is work yet to be done...you are capable men, all of you, and I am an optimist. I like to think that there may yet be roles for you to play in the revivification of Bload."

The devilkin speaks! You know, Martjan and I, we have debated whether you and Zora were lovers or not. Don't tell me -- I prefer the mystery.

This guy's a real peach. Can I kill someone over icefirephone?

"We've tried killing you, with little success. Now that the Iron Sphere is found, I've decided to try a different approach. But we can only speak together in this manner for so long. Seventeen miles up the Stonecutter's Road is a village called Alband. In the holy house there you will find an old priest of my acquaintance who can arrange for us to meet under circumstances more pleasant and less constrained."

The steam is starting to thin out, but you can still see the face, faint and ghostly.

"I expect you to give me nothing. I have only gifts to offer you, gifts of knowledge and of friendship. You may reject them if you like, and continue to wander this land. You will know the day when the Crown comes to rest upon the head it was destined for."

The last of the steam hisses out of the fire, and the face vanishes.

You can see fear in Rumio's face, but he stands with a stoic bearing. "My duty is done. I will answer truthfully any question you put to me, but I will not betray the secrets I have sworn to keep. If you let me go, I will return to my clade in Hazard, and you will receive no trouble from me."

Rumio hesitates for a moment before answering. "Master Gorham is highly skilled in divinatory magic."