[Blackthorn Canyon, Old Mine]
Lamplight dances across the rough cut stone walls of the former mine. Simple chairs and scattered pelts provide comfortable seating for a small assemblage of soldiers and scouts who speak as much in nods and gestures as words. Near the rear of the cave sits Brent, a particularly stout ranger working an ale keg.
You also see a weathered menu tacked to a wooden timber.
Also here: Ruea who is sitting and Hunter Hanryu who is sitting.
Obvious exits: out.

You see Hunter Hanryu Calibanor, Battle Ranger of Ilithi, a Kaldar.
Hanryu has a square-jawed face and leaf-green eyes. His dark brown hair is short and peppered, and is worn tied back. He has weathered skin and a stocky build.
He appears to be in his prime.
He has an elegantly trimmed mustache on his upper lip and an elegantly trimmed full beard.
He has a tattoo of a layered swathe of dark brown strokes rippling down his forearm, curving into inky black bear claws on his right knuckles.
Hanryu has unnaturally dark tiger stripes criss-crossing his skin.
He is in good shape.
He is holding a nut-brown ale in his right hand.
He is wearing a cured leather hair tie, a dull serpent earcuff, a dull serpent earcuff, a full-length bearskin cloak, a sleeveless white tunic belted with a forest green sash, a round sipar, a mistwood wedding band with intricate carvings, a multi-strapped carryall, a dark green suede weapons belt with a Rangers' Guild crest buckle, some brushed suede pants lined with brass rivets, a white silk herb pouch intricately embroidered with black thread and some bear-skin riding boots with silver spurs.

You see Ruea Drister, an Elf.
Ruea has a softly featured face with high cheekbones, delicately pointing ears, dark lashes framing prismatic silver eyes and a fine, straight nose. Her silky flaxen hair is hip length and marked with a frost-white streak over one temple, and is worn in a deceptively careless-looking arrangement of upswept locks held in place by a lifesculpted silverwillow tiara graced with a radiant molten-core diamond. She has sun-kissed skin and a svelte hourglass figure.
She is petite for an Elf.
She appears to be young.
She has a tattoo of seven small silver stars cascading from behind the point of her left ear down to the base of her jaw. The exquisite stars gradiate inward, the tone shifting from slate grey to a bright silver. The slight half-crescent arch follows the curve of her ear with a perfect symmetry, almost entirely hidden from view on her neck.
She is in good shape.
She is holding a nut-brown ale in her right hand.
She is wearing a pair of platinum filigree earrings set with a wealth of faceted diamonds, a silver filigreed daisy carcanet pave-set with sparkling diamonds, a refined gown of gold rosecloth with an artfully bustled skirt, a platinum wedding ring, a lifesculpted silverwillow anklet beset with ice-white diamonds and a pair of high heeled slippers with slender ankle straps.

You notice as a storm-grey cat with gold-flecked crystal blue eyes prances into the room.

Hanryu smiles.

Ruea says, "Ah, so just slightly dead then."

Ruea waves her hand distractedly.

Hanryu waves.

You smile.

You bow.

You say, "Apologies for being late."

Hanryu waves his hand distractedly.

You sit down.

Ruea says, "These things happen."

You say, "Thank you both for coming."

You scratch your cat, which purrs in contentment.

You notice a storm-grey cat with gold-flecked crystal blue eyes rub against Ruea for a moment.

Hanryu says, "No worries. We were just discussing Viggu and fashion."

You chuckle.

You nod.

Hanryu takes a sip of his ale.

You say, "Somehow feels like the perfect subjects to discuss with Ruea."

You get a steaming mug of coffee from inside your storyteller's bag.

Hanryu brightly says, "That's what I'm learning."

Hanryu grins.

Ruea chuckles.

Ruea says, "I've got varied interests."

Hanryu nods in agreement.

You say, "I was hoping to ask the two of you for help... a dangerous sort of help."

You frown.

You take a sip of the coffee.

Hanryu raises an eyebrow.

Ruea tilts her head inquisitively.

You ask Hanryu, "Did you hear anything about the crown or circlet we found recently?"

Hanryu asks, "Only the initial distribution of the ... book? notes?"

You nod to Hanryu.

Hanryu says, "Beyond that, I lost interest in Zoluren political shenanigans."

Hanryu chuckles.

(Tirost almost laughes.)

You nod to Hanryu.

You say, "Hard to blame you there."

You ask, "But if you're willing to help, it may be that more than Zoluren would benefit. May I give some brief background on what's happened?"

Hanryu asks, "Did you guys decipher the code?"

Hanryu nods.

You nod to Hanryu.

Hanryu says, "Sure, I'm all ears."

You say, "Navesi did, and others helped as well."

You say, "But... a necromancer named Nefis ambushed me when we met to discuss the crown itself."

Hanryu frowns.

You say, "He severed the tendons in my arm, and took the crown."

Hanryu says, "Oh! You guys found it? That I missed for sure."

You say, "I believe the crown may have belonged to Prince Vorclaf - the circlet he wore when he fell fighting Lyras."

You say, "But the evideince is... thin, at best."

You say, "But the crown had something else of interest, a gem."

Hanryu leans forward.

Ruea raises an eyebrow.

You say, "I found it with a note that suggested it had the ability to pierce the profane aegis - the ability that allows necromancers to rise again."

You say, "My guess is that it is the gem that is of the most interest to Nefis and the Perverse."

Hanryu asks, "Pierce? Like disable?"

You nod to Hanryu.

You say, "That's what I think, but I'm not certain."

Hanryu whistles loudly for a moment.

A full-grown wolf scrambles in.

A full-grown wolf begins to whimper.

The full-grown wolf suddenly catches a scent and heads to some nearby woods to hunt.

Ruea dryly says, "I suspect most of their ilk would be interested in that."

You nod at Ruea, in complete agreement with her views.

Hanryu says, "Yea that'd be something for sure."

You say, "I have more reasons for believing the gem may have the power to stop a necromancer from reviving, but I need to get it back... at all costs."

You say, "Pangovin, my familiar..."

You gesture at a storm-grey cat with gold-flecked crystal blue eyes.

You say, "Has been tracking Nefis for a while now."

Hanryu nods.

You say, "But he is very clever, and very quick."

You say, "He has caught glimpses, but he cannot pin down his whereabouts."

You respectfully say to Hanryu, "To be honest, I know of no better tracker than you, Hanryu."

You say, "I was hoping you might be able to help in the wildlands here in Ilithi."

Hanryu asks, "Where did you last catch sight of this Nefis?"

Hanryu asks, "Ah, headed down south was he?"

You say, "Near the Dragonspine Mountains, just south of the gondola."

You say, "But he moves quickly, and Pangs has not found a lair yet."

You say, "I was also hoping Ruea might help us search the cities by use of her contacts."

You glance at Ruea, a female Elf.

You softly say, "And, though I have no right to ask, I would appreciate the help more than I can say."

Ruea says, "He favors rat holes. I'll have to see what I can arrange."

You smile at Ruea.

You warmly say to Ruea, "Thank you, Ruea."

You gaze at Hanryu.

Hanryu says, "I wonder if he headed to Wyvern Mountain. I see several necromancers around those parts hunting often."

You ponder.

You say, "I seem to remember hearing the same, now that you mention it."

Hanryu says, "Plenty of evidence of their work there too between the telga oreks and the ice archons."

Hanryu mutters to himself.

You nod to Hanryu.

Hanryu says, "I can check it out. I'll look around the Dragonspine too."

You quietly say to Ruea, "I told you he knows these lands like the back of his hand."

You smile at Hanryu.

Hanryu grins.

Hanryu takes a sip of his ale.

You say to Hanryu, "Thank you. My hope is that between all of us, we can track him down, and find a time and place where we have a chance at getting the crown back."

Hanryu says, "I'm guessing there's no point in going after him if I do find him. Not alone at least."

Hanryu ponders.

Ruea says, "I have many friends, often they see things others miss. We maybe able to make it work."

You nod to Hanryu.

You say, "I am hoping to gather information only."

You say, "And, like a good hunter, find the perfect moment to strike."

Hanryu says, "That'll be the trick. To know when he's got the crown on him."

You nod at Hanryu, in complete agreement with his views.

You say, "My thoughts exactly."

You say, "But I am almost certain he will bring it out."

You say, "Necromancers are drawn to power above all else."

You say, "Perverting or destroying the gem will give him favor with the Islander, and with his own kind."

Ruea asks, "Can you give a specific description?"

You nod to Ruea.

Ruea asks, "Particularly of the gem, in case they have been seperated?"

You say, "The gem is a clear crystal, faceted and shaped like an oval."

You say, "If you can focus any magical senses on it..."

You frown.

You say, "It..."

(Tirost seems to be grasping for words.)

You say, "It seems to absorb them, rather than produce anything discernable."

Hanryu says, "Might check with Fatima at the gem shop. See if they tried to get her to look at it."

You say, "Like stepping from a loud room into utter silence."

You glance at Hanryu, a male Kaldar.

Ruea says, "A void, then."

You say, "If you should get posession of it, please be very, very careful whom you share it with."

Hanryu says, "That sounds quite interesting."

Hanryu nods.

You say, "Saragos warned me specifically, and I so deserpately wanted to share it with the public, that I ignored him."

Hanryu says, "Not something I'd be interested in hanging onto."

You nod to Hanryu.

You say, "Nor me, now that I've learned my lesson."

You frown.

Hanryu says, "Well worst case, I'll beat some bushes and make some stink about lookin' for this crown and Nefis. Maybe the heat will flush him out."

You nod to Hanryu.

You say, "There's something else I wanted to run by you two, just you know, since this will be dangerous..."

Ruea asks, "Are you aware of any known associates?"

You say, "The other necromancers, not aligned with Nefis, are interested in the gem as well."

Ruea raises an eyebrow in your direction.

You nod to Ruea.

You say, "Some, yes."

You say, "One is a necromancer named Talinel."

Hanryu gets a battered field guide with a worn leather cover from inside his watersilk bag.

Hanryu jots down some notes.

You say, "And there are others too, though I do not know their names."

Ruea nods.

You say, "But the Philosophers, those not directly aligned with Nefis have proposed a plan of their own."

You let out a long, contemplative breath.

Hanryu puts his guide in his watersilk bag.

You take a sip of the coffee, now that hits the spot.

Hanryu snorts, loudly.

Ruea asks, "And we're now cooperating with them?"

Ruea tilts her head inquisitively.

Hanryu says, "I'll bet."

You glance at Ruea, a female Elf.

You glance at Hanryu, a male Kaldar.

You fidget nervously.

Brent rubs a thick hand across his bristly white head and surveys the faces of those present in his domain.

You say, "I... have some friends that follow that path."

You say, "But we are not cooperating with them, no."

You ask, "But I would like you to know their plan all the same, if you would hear it?"

Ruea gives a slight nod.

You say, "They propose bargining with Nefis. We would offer to destroy the gem with blackfire, and he would return Vorclaf's circlet."

Ruea asks, "And your thoughts on that...?"

You say, "I can understand why they desire that outcome, but I will never agree to it. Nefis stole the crown from me, and killed many who were gathered to learn about it."

Hanryu says, "Let me know when someone starts casting blackfire. I need to get farther away."

You say, "I refuse to simply go begging him for it back."

You smile at Hanryu.

You ask, "I can demonstrate a controlled use of it right now, if you like?"

Hanryu curtly says, "No thanks."

You nod to Hanryu.

Ruea says, "You certainly do enjoy making messes, dear."

You say, "Most warrior mages can use it in a very limited way, and it will almost certainly destroy the gem."

You shake your head.

You say, "But I cannot let Nefis simply steal an artifact from a man who died fighting for all sentient beings in Kermoria."

Hanryu says, "Well early birds and worms and other ranger saying."

Hanryu snickers.

Hanryu rises to his feet fluidly, like a large, graceful cat.

Hanryu stretches his arms.

Hanryu guzzles down some of his ale and then smacks his lips and wipes them with his sleeve.

Hanryu nods.

You stand back up.

You bow to Hanryu.

Hanryu says, "Agreed. I'll see what I can find."

Hanryu shakes your hand.

You say, "Thank you, Han."

Hanryu leans on Ruea.

You shake Hanryu's hand.

Hanryu says, "Safe paths."

Ruea stands up.

Hanryu waves.

You say, "Take care out there."

Hunter Hanryu pads out.

You glance at Ruea, a female Elf.

Ruea chuckles.

You smile.

Ruea says, "Quite a situation we have here."

You let out a long, contemplative breath.

You nod in agreement.

You say, "But I think we have a chance to make all this right."

You say, "Maybe even recover something meaningful from our past."

You smile at Ruea.

Ruea says, "If he can be found, my people will find him. Beyond that I can make no promises."

Ruea says, "Your... reputation... is compromised."

You nod.

You say, "Yes, I know."

Ruea says, "It will make them reluctant to return things."

You say, "Any thing you can find out will be useful, and thank you for hearing me out."

Ruea smiles.

Ruea says, "Of course. I hope we are able to recover it."

You softly say, "Me too."

You ask, "I should get back to the Crossing. Let me know if anything turns up?"

Ruea says, "Of course."

Ruea smiles.

Ruea says, "Have a safe journey."

You say, "Thanks, Ruea."

You smile.

Ruea says, "My pleasure."

You bow to Ruea.

You drift out.