Aimonn's Exposition

"Please, make yourselves comfortable," he said. "I will have my servants bring us golden hrishnam tea and shmeerpcakes, until the true feast is prepared. Our village owes you a great debt of gratitude. A dragon is much more than your average monster, and without your help I am not certain we could have subdued it."

"We are glad to be of service, Elder," Fred said, nodding diplomatically.

"Arent the girls back yet?" Billy said. "This Three-Billy is tired of such a sausage-fest."

Fred fought back an urge to strangle his subordinate and instead asked. "Elder, you had been telling us about the four true elemental races. It seems that they are at war with humanity, am I correct?"

"At... war?" Aimonn blinked. "Forgive me, I am not familiar with this term. Is it..."

"A war is when a bunch of guys run out into a field and start killing each other. Well, more or less," Billy said, sounding pleased to have contributed to the conversation somehow.

"Humans killing other humans?" Aimonn said. "Such a thing is not unheard of, I suppose - but in a world where such enemies as the dragons abound, it would be sheer folly for us to slay each other so. To kill another human is the greatest sacrilege, punishable by immediate exile."

"So you just let murderers go?!" Billy said, startled.

"Enough, Billy," Fred said. "Elder, so you do fight the dragons and the other races. That is like a war, though I guess our definitions of it differ. I need to know more about this conflict - who the enemy is, where they are coming from, what their troop strengths and dispositions are. Perhaps we could help you, and find out how to get back to our own world in the process."

Outside the tent, a bard began to strum a haunting melody upon some sort of lute. Aimonn sat deep in thought for a few seconds, and then said. "It is difficult for us to think in the ways you describe. Our people have no capacity for strategy and planning ahead - we live life from day to day, dealing with events as they occur. And the nature of the 'war' as you call it, is difficult to explain under the best of circumstances. It is one of vague borders, no declarations or treaties and constantly changing alliances. The True races and their offspring fight not only us, but each other as well, and enemies of today become close allies of tomorrow. One thing is certain - of all the races, the dragons, born of Earth and Fire, hate us the most, and seek our destruction without cease. Their numbers have been increasing as of late, and the frequency of their attacks too - as if some evil force was driving them to ever greater atrocities."

"Who?" Fred asked impatiently. "Who leads the dragons?"

"Alas, I do not know," Aimonn said, and sat silent for another moment before resuming. "All we have are the Prophecies, and they are vague and confusing at best. But... there is one you could talk to - the monk, Daedarius, who dwells high atop Mount Orzhov. It is said that he knows all and sees all - though I have my doubts on that score - but his understanding of the scripture and this world could certainly help you in your quest for knowledge. And you may be interested to know, some say he comes from another world, just as you claim to."

"How can we find this... Daedarius?" Fred asked as Billy's snoring cut through the air like a buzzsaw.

"Mount Orzhov is but a day's travel to the north, though ascending it to find Daedarius is the hard part. Likely he will find you himself, if he is interested in speaking with you. I myself sought him out once, to inquire of a matter, and find communicating with him... difficult, to say the least. But perhaps you will have better luck. In any case, surely you're not thinking of leaving without spending the night here and joining in the festivities?"

They heard joyful sounds outside, and the laughter of women. Billy snapped awake instantly. "Allright!! Is it time for the good part yet?"

"Hmm..." Fred said.

1. Fred decides it can't do any harm to spend the night and try some of the native cooking, while making sure Billy stays out of trouble.
2. Fred decides to drive on immediately, north to the forbidding Mount Orzhov, where the monk, Daedarius resides. Billy starts to seriously consider fragging him.

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