Feeling better now that the area was secure, Humus walked down the corridor to investigate the room. "Jardel, I have a feeling that maybe you should come along too. It seems that you are currently more god-favored in this horrible place and maybe Hemidall meant this for you. Can you sense anything?" Belgrius let the heat metal spell fizzle and called out to those going into the glowing room. "I urge extreme caution, my friends. A room that glows may indicate some sort of portal device. I caution you about entering the room. It may be a gate or portal into evil." Belgrius stood outside of the room. "My god, Protect us." Kethas cautiously entered the blue room, surveying all that lay within. "Perhaps the glow will prohibit us from casting spells, or some such thing. In any way, I do not like it. We should use absolute caution when progressing, but we all knew that, didn't we." Kethas smiled. "I will prepare my servant, if nobody objects, and I will have it try to break down one of the walls in the blue room, to enter one of the other rooms." Seeing the blue light from the the far room, Jardel advanced past the others to the front of the ranks, where Humus was standing. "Humus, I heed your words value. Perhaps this does have something to do with Heimdall and godly powers, though I am as much baffeled as the rest here." Caliburn still drawn in his left hand, the barrel rocked casually on his right shoulder. "Then it is time to bite the cheese and spring the trap. No use in waiting here like rats in the corners. We are here for a purpose and this it must be. I will advance and enter the room after Kethas, who was brave enough to have entered first." Moving along at a normal pace, Jardel entered the room with eyes darting to find the whereabouts of Kethas. His heart searched for good ... and evil, hoping to perhaps find a solution to the problem that was resting on his right shoulder. Speaking at a normal volume "Heimdall, art thou here, dost thou power reign protection within these walls ? Hear me now, for I am Jardel Jar’axel - Slayer to Balazaar, wielder of Caliburn and devout follower to thou religion. I possibly have what you - what we - seek and I need a sign from you to tell me what to do with it - how to release it so you can once again regain the balance of the scales. Heimdall, grant me this sign, as time for prayers has naught yet come." Assuming that Jardel wasn't instantly anhiliated, Da Ghiri moved into the room after him and had a look around. "At least some of us should remain without", he counseled, "in case something does happen ..." Caladan looked at the room. "I don't like the look of this." Caladan waited outside the room.
As the sounds of Jardel’s speech still echoed in the halls, words suddenly were etched into the south wall. The words flared bright red flames as they appeared, as if being written by an invisible hand ... "The Breath can be released by Honor's Face" Jardel's very being was rushed with an overpowering sense of goodness as the letters appeared. This must be the sigh he called for. The words dissapeared within moments as the blue glow emanated once again, now appearing to be throbbing from the center of the room. In the center of the room, unnoticed until now, was a ball of blue light floating in the air. The sphere was around 5' in diameter, the blue light seeming to come from within the sphere as it throbbed like a heartbeat. Kethas ordered his servant to break down one of the walls within the room, but to no avail.
Kethas was very unhappy that his spell servant didn't work to his avail. Obviously unnerved by the words appearing on the wall, he merely sat in the corner, hoping that whatever deity did that would not harm him in anyway. Belgrius moved forward, dropping his heat metal spell, and circling the sphere, looking at it for any details or information he might find. He cautiously and hesitantly stuck out a hand, palm toward the sphere and moved within about two inches of the object, trying to get any feeling of electricity or power, some emotional sense. The party might suspect his next move was to touch the sphere if nothing harsh happend from his current actions. "I have lived an honorable life. Perhaps touching the sphere will reveal something." He stood, watching but not moving, hoping for comments from the group. He was not wild in his actions, having a wide eyed, almost hyperventelating appearance, obviously scared but feeling he was doing what must be done. Culdat watched as Belgrius unabashedly tampered with the orb. Obviously something not to be trifled with, the halfling moved back towards the entrance, half thinking the orb may explode right before his eyes and half thinking he'd rather be somewhere other than here. Kethas spoke to Belgrius, "Belgrius, your life may or may not be in danger. You are a valued member of our party and I do not want to lose your companionship. I think that it would be most wise if you didn't touch the sphere until we know for sure that it is not harmful to anybody. Please wait before acting rashly." Kethas then addressed the group, "People, I believe that I have enough time to memorize a spell, so I shall learn an Identify. Please do not bother me, as I shall be in meditation for a while."
Seeing the words appear and disappear, Humus felt more sure that this was the work of the gods and not man or demon. Seeing Belgrius about to touch the sphere and hearing Kethas' warning, Humus warned Belgrius, "I would agree that it might be hasty to touch the sphere. I don't think that doing so would harm any of us though - unless that person had evil - or possibly impure - intentions. I still believe that this is meant for Jardel. "Jardel, do you have any idea as to what those words on the wall meant ?" Belgrius complied. "I appreciate your concern but I do not feel my life is in danger. The message referred to is probably being of good faith or good heart. I feel I would be protected if I reach out to the sphere. But, I shall wait for your spell." Da Ghiri considered, then nodded slowly. "There does not seeem to be ill intent here, thooough there may indeed be danger. And the mention of 'the Breath' almost certainly refers to Jardel's quest. I believe he is the key here."
Jardel walked up to the centre of the room and set the barrel down on the ground. Hefting a foot on it he sheathed ‘Caliburn’ and pondered the ‘sign’. "Friends, you have seen the sign. Heimdall has answered my augury, but what actually does it mean ? The Breath can be released by Honor's Face. I am at a loss for answers presently, but perhaps with your help we can resolvethe situation quickly. I believe that in this barrel here remains the breath of a god. To release it we possibly must find Honor’s face. Could this be a live person or hero, or is it perhaps a statue or monument. Do we then toss the barrel into the object, like this glowing sphere here, or do we open like a keg of ale and let the substance within flow freely into our Honor’s face. I do not know. Perhaps I should take a careful lok at this sphere, for it seems to be of a good force. I still am hesitant to just smash the barrel right now and right here. One mistake and the balance of the realm could forever be shaken. Da Ghiri, hopefully your figure of speech of me being the key was not meant literally, you know - unlock and toss the key away ..." Jardel walked up to the sphere and opened his mind and spirit to the object, sensing any feelings from within. When Jardel approached the sphere Belgrius backed away about half afoot. He watched and when he saw the hand reach out to touch the sphere, he prepared to grab Jardel should he appear to be grabbed and pulled into the sphere. After hopefully no harmful thoughts Jardel brushed his gauntlet hand across the surface.
Caladan finally entered the room as the letters disappeared "This is very interesting, Belgrius I don't think you should touch that sphere! In my opinion it will only accept the touch of Jardel. Furthermore Kethas if Í remember the identify spell correct, it has been quite awhile since I mastered that spell, I didn't cast that spell very often when I was a mage of power and since my accident I have made no attempt to learn any spells other than the ones still left in my mind. I forgot what I was saying. Oh yes, the identify spell requires a lot of time I believe it is around 8-9 hours. I don't think we got enough time to stay here 8 hours just to find the purpose of the sphere. Unless anyone else has a better idea perhaps Jardel should try to place his face in the sphere or perhaps he should place the barrel in the glow." Caladan moved towards the door and guarded the doorway. "I don't think I would place my face anywhere near the orb, if it were me, which it is not. However, if placing your face into the orb will get us out of here any sooner, then place away." Culdat fidgited with uncertainty at the entire scene before him. Kethas pulled forth his spellbook and began flipping through the pages, looking for the page that held the instructions on harnessing the energies of the identify spell. Upon finding the spell, his finger began tracing the words and formulae that taught the mage the necessary control which was required. Pacing about the room, he occasionally stopped and looked to the ceiling of the blue room as though the answers lay on the rough, rocky surface.
Da Ghiri smiled slightly, "One does not throoow away a faithful and well-loved toool Jardel. I'm sure yooour position is safe. Still", he continued, "even if the matter rests on yooou, perhaps there are things we can do to help yooour decision. I think Kethas has the right idea. I too know of some magic by which I might be able to gather some information. I was loathe to use it before for fear of what sort of spirit I might contact, but here I think it may be safe." The little priest moved off to one side, seating himself in lotus position, and was soon deep in meditation.
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