Eternal Beasts

A Dangerous Plan

"Honored Watcher!" Seth exclaimed with not a little surprise. For good reason; the last time he had that voice in his mind, Jared was about to be portaled back to Earth to recover from a terrible injury sustained in a defense of the Ketha Encampment. He had suspected that, thanks to their ill use of the golden feather, he wouldn't be blessed with any communication from the ancient entity any time soon.

"You grace us with your voice!"

- Considering your soldiers and huntsfolk will be the front line of Findias's defense, it was only a matter of time before I reached out to help you coordinate your efforts, Pathfinder, - the Watcher replied. - However, that is for another day. Today, you want to know where we'll be getting the griffons the flights will need to reform their battlegroups. And I wish the answer was a little more straightforward than it is. -

"What do you mean, honored Watcher?" Jeremiah asked. "Surely the last Lord of Griffons cached a number of eggs in a hidden location!"

- Almost correct, War Leader, - the entity replied. - In actuality, there was a hidden aerie where Kurtis hid almost a thousand griffons, hatchlings and juveniles for the most part. Seeing the last of his riders fly into battle against overwhelming odds and knowing they weren't returning, he chose to hide the remaining griffons instead of trying to recruit more riders. The covenant was made, the Ritual was cast, and that thousand were sent into stasis to await Jared's arrival and the reconstitution of the flights. -

"So we just need to know where this stasis cache is so we can release them and prepare the griffons for their new riders," Ezekiel said.

- Ah. That's where things get more challenging. You see, they needed a magically protected space that not only was fortified against attack, but was magically invisible. And one such place in the stone cities were the Master Libraries, the repository of the Tuatha's gathered knowledge from over ten thousand years of learning, seeking, and divining the truth about the nature of our universe. -

Almost simultaneously, the gathered leaders looked into Findias and sought out the towers and domes of Aaron's throne city.

"So we just need to persuade Aaron to let us into his Master Library," Enoch said.

- I appreciate the logic, Pathfinder Enoch, but no. Not that Master Library! -

"But the other cities have been destroyed, honored Watcher, some like Falias to the north, even had their stones scattered by the Legions to demonstrate their power!" Bithra pointed out.

- Destroyed above ground, yes, - the Watcher conceded. - But the Master Libraries were never on the surface. They were always underground. -

Seth blinked as he absorbed that. Wait. The Master Libraries were ... underground??

"So, all this time, even though their fortified valleys were obliterated by the enemy, the Stone Cities' greatest treasure has been hidden from discovery and harm underground?" he asked, incredulous.

"The knowledge they would contain!" Bithra breathed, her eyes wide. "The magic our wizards and clerics could learn from ten thousand years of elven learning and lore ..."

The others murmured in astonishment amongst themselves. All, except the dour Mordecai. As they talked excitedly, he folded his arms.

"And?" he said with a raised brow.

"And?" Zachariah frowned. "Can you not imagine the power of that lore, Mordecai?"

"Oh, I can, Zachariah," the big tuathan said. "I'm just waiting for the inevitable 'but' that has prevented us from locating and using this windfall up until now, even with the ruined cities spread out in front of us, free for the taking!"