{"id":12548,"date":"2022-01-03T05:01:46","date_gmt":"2022-01-03T10:01:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/?p=12548"},"modified":"2022-01-03T05:02:30","modified_gmt":"2022-01-03T10:02:30","slug":"the-stone-dragon-series-book-1-chapter-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/the-stone-dragon-series-book-1-chapter-6\/","title":{"rendered":"The Stone Dragon Series &#8211; Book 1, Chapter 6"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_8742\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-12548-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3\">http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/?powerpress_pinw=12548-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3\">Download<\/a> (Duration: 35:01 &#8212; 51.3MB) | <a href=\"#\" class=\"powerpress_link_e\" title=\"Embed\" onclick=\"return powerpress_show_embed('12548-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Embed<\/a><\/p><p class=\"powerpress_embed_box\" id=\"powerpress_embed_12548-podcast\" style=\"display: none;\"><input id=\"powerpress_embed_12548-podcast_t\" type=\"text\" value=\"&lt;iframe width=&quot;320&quot; height=&quot;30&quot; src=&quot;https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/?powerpress_embed=12548-podcast&amp;amp;powerpress_player=mediaelement-audio&quot; title=&quot;Blubrry Podcast Player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; scrolling=&quot;no&quot;&gt;&lt;\/iframe&gt;\" onclick=\"javascript: this.select();\" onfocus=\"javascript: this.select();\" style=\"width: 70%;\" readOnly><\/p><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_subscribe_links\">Subscribe: <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/echoes-from-the-cavern\/id857267086?mt=2&amp;ls=1#episodeGuid=https%3A%2F%2Fthecaverns.net%2FPodcasts%2F%3Fp%3D12548\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_itunes\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Subscribe on Apple Podcasts\" rel=\"nofollow\">Apple Podcasts<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/subscribebyemail.com\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/feed\/podcast\/\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_email\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Subscribe by Email\" rel=\"nofollow\">Email<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/feed\/podcast\/\" class=\"powerpress_link_subscribe powerpress_link_subscribe_rss\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Subscribe via RSS\" rel=\"nofollow\">RSS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Chapter Six. Dear Jon.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Read by Asclepius<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Early in the morning after packing their bags for the day, three of the companions sat around dainty maple tables in their inn sipping hot beverages and enjoying their breakfasts. Crisp blue skies in the early autumn light bolstered Lucy, Zyrina, and Phlebus who had spent much the night tossing and turning. Torgin slept like a log. The cook had outdone himself this morning. Phlebus was nowhere to be seen.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The chef delivered yet another platter (this time cut fruit) to the table, smiling at Zyrina as he did so.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s sweet on ya,\u201d Lucy mumbled between mouthfuls of the most delicious egg dish she had ever tasted.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think you exaggerate, Lucy.\u201d Zyrina sipped at her mug of hot spiced tea and nibbled the fresh morning roll she had slathered with local honey.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWould splain the personal delivery of our meals by the chef.\u201d Torgin reasoned as he chewed his third round of sausage with fried sweet onions. He winked at Zyrina.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPerhaps it\u2019s Torgin who the cook prefers.\u201d Zyrina argued.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Torgin\u2019s booming laugh nearly drowned out Plebus who had heard the last bit of banter and he walked in the front door of the inn.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLeave Rina alone, you both know he\u2019s a happily married man. Don\u2019t start rumours.\u201d Phlebus was not smiling. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to think about repercussions to the chef.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s got your goat, Phle?\u201d Torgin wanted to know, not in the least circumspect.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI met with Jon earlier this morning down by the dock where he was booking the transport into one of the ships of several stone statues that had been removed from the mine. The statues are being sent to the schools of learning around New Brittania to try and find an antidote to the magic used.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Phlebus stopped to thank the server and take a sip of the tea he had just been given. \u201cJon is just as elusive as Ivan has been, but he has agreed to talk with all of us this afternoon at the Raven the Dragon and the Stewpot about what he knows and saw that night.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He added, \u201cAfter he went back to work, I wanted to get some more information about the history of the valley. I just came from the Hall of Enquiry and Learning. The librarian didn\u2019t have many records. Her collection methods are sporadic and not very well organized but what she has was helpful. She\u2019s an Outlander too. Her memory is long but has gaps and she only has things that she has collected in her own travels. Certainly not a full history of the valley, even. She has no recollection of when that dragon was slain as it was before she came to the valley, but she had a record of most of the keepers of the dragon bones, back over a hundred years. Jenny was listed as the very last one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy did they stop having a keeper of the bones?\u201d Lucy asked perplexed then added, \u201cWhy did they have a keeper of the bones?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Phlebus set his empty teacup down and helped himself to a plate with a large colourful omelet and some toasted bread. He tucked into the plate with gusto while Torgin filled his teacup from the pot.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Between bites he explained \u201cLet\u2019s see, at first it was to make sure no one took the dragon bones. People being people, they wanted souvenirs of the battle. After the dragon meat was divvied up between the people of Jade Valley, the keeper kept the bones from being taken from where they fell. That way, everyone could come see the size of it and remember how much damage it did before it was finally killed. The dragon skeleton was mentioned in one of the first records as a trophy from one of the many valiant deeds of Calan Caitlin. He slew the dragon all by himself a hundred years ago or so. Dragons have been seen flying over the valley ever since. Sometimes they attack, and that is why the valley has lookout towers surrounding it. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve noticed them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Zyrina acknowledged, \u201cI had wondered when I saw the towers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Lucy and Torgin nodded in respect for the warrior who killed the dragon.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Then, Lucy asked, \u201cDo you think the stone dragon in the middle of the markets has anything to do with what is happening here?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think so, Lucy.\u201d Phlebus shook his head then considered it for a moment before going on, \u201cI don\u2019t know. Maybe, but we have no information on that statue, it could be just a statue. Next time I\u2019m at the Hall of Learning I will ask about it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes a statue is just a statue.\u201d Torgin added but he too started thinking about the massive stone dragon in the middle of the markets.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd sometimes a stone is a dragon.\u201d Lucy was not willing to give up so easily and stuck her tongue out at her brother.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Before the pair broke into a more serious argument Phlebus went on, \u201cThe keeper of the bones was tasked with preserving the skeleton so that everyone could see it, and also so thieves didn\u2019t run off with bits of it. Shortly after it was killed rumours about it coming alive in the dark started circulating. So, the keeper was tasked with watching the bones for any strange behaviour. By the time Ivan\u2019s granny Jenny was keeper, hardly no one remembered the story of the dragon fight and several bones had been dragged away over the decades.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Phlebus looked over at Lucy to add, \u201cMaybe the missing bones affect the spell and that might be why it didn\u2019t finish forming last night. Anyway, the council decided that when Jenny died, they would not reassign the Keeper of the Bones. So, she was the last official with that title. However, her family kept up the tradition informally, and Ivan is the current Keeper of the Bones. They stop thieves. Mostly the rumours of attacks at night do the job for them and no bones have gone missing from the skeleton for at least a couple decades.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Seeing Zyrina\u2019s eyebrows go up, Phlebus turned to her and addressed the question he was sure she was going to ask. \u201cShe had no record of when bones went missing.\u201d Plebus stated, \u201cNone of the Keepers have tried dispelling those rumours; they help to keep thieves at bay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Zyrina grunted acknowledgement to the answer for her unspoken question.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you find anything out about whether or not dragon bones have come alive before?\u201d Lucy asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Nodding, Phlebus answered \u201cLily Byrd said there were rumours, but no one would admit to going to the graveyard after dark and that\u2019s supposed to be the only time it has occurred. Though some folks talk if they think no one will know who they are so she had a list of some of those dates when people were rumoured to have turned to stone in the past. It\u2019s in her draft notes for a book she\u2019s compiling called the folk tales of the valley series. Compelling work. She has noticed the stone statues have been appearing in the area for nearly 3 decades. This is not new here, but it has never been this frequent in the past, that anyone can remember.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Zyrina raised her eyebrows, \u201cThe librarian is a fount of information, I see. I\u2019ll have to take time to chat with her again myself before we leave Jade Valley.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst, it\u2019s time to go find Jon again and hear what he has to say on the subject.\u201d Torgin grunted, then he argued, \u201cIf those dragon bones have something to do with turning people to stone and it\u2019s getting more frequent, we are going to have to find the cause.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRight. Meet back here in an hour and we will head over, alright?\u201d Phlebus made the decision they were all waiting for.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zyrina hurried over to the vendors to fetch the few things Lucy asked her to find, and a few things she wanted for her own pack. Jade Valley market was bustling that morning and the cries of dock workers, vendors, seabirds, and children playing gave a sense of contentment and safety to the morning that none of the companions shared. Looking around, Zyrina was heartened to see the signs of humanity carrying on even with such a burden of sadness and loss in the community. She had noted this morning that more stone statues had been found and were moved to the side of the docks, for future transport after the bustle of the markets slowed. Zyrina had watched the process the morning before as well. The sounds of commerce and village life lay like a thin protection for the peace of mind of these villagers. She knew that like her, they could smell the fires still dotted the countryside and could just faintly catch a whiff of the carcasses burning in pits just outside the town itself. She stopped to ask at the guild house for directions to the Raven the Dragon and the Stewpot before returning to the River Rider Inn.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFollow the road north, then round the bend, you\u2019ll come to it soon \u2018nuff.\u201d Jeeves confirmed, pointed past the inn where she was staying. \u201cFrojenta Lane.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you, Jeeves.\u201d Zyrina left for her inn to meet the others.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>After gathering outside their accommodation to organize their bags, the companions shouldered their packs and headed north along the road. It was only a short walk after all and as the fresh sea air picked up speed it soon blew away the burning smells from the morning pits. Then at midday, as they rounded a bend in the dirt path, something delicious spiced the air. They followed the scent all the way to the Raven the Dragon and the Stewpot at the next corner. The restaurant was on the main floor of what looked like a four-story wooden inn with a lovely front porch just meant for resting on.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHallo!! Anybody here?\u201d Torgin\u2019s voice boomed out in the silence inside the Stewpot.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There was a piano in one corner and what looked to be a pipe organ along another wall.\u00a0 The bar looked sort of clean, mostly well-stocked, and there was a distinct odor of dragon stew simmering somewhere in a kitchen that made their mouths water. There were tables and long benches for travellers to use scattered throughout the room as well as a few small wood round tables with chairs, and stools at the bar.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI smell the dragon and the stewpot, but I don\u2019t see a raven,\u201d Torgin spoke tongue in cheek.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Lucy giggled at her brothers attempt at a joke. \u201cTis too early for that, brother. Ravens don\u2019t show themselves to strangers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the back door opened, and a lovely young woman came through carrying a keg over her shoulder as if it were a feather pillow. In her other hand she held a pamphlet called the Sticky Beak Flyer and was engrossed in her reading as she walked. She didn\u2019t look strong enough to pick up a heavy cloak let alone a keg but there she was doing it right in front of them, one armed with a full keg. After setting it nonchalantly on the counter she continued to read, her nose nearly touching the page.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs your name Raven?\u201d Torgin asked while dodging the elbow to his ribs from his giggling sister.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The sound of Torgins\u2019s voice cut through her reading and gave the barmaid a start. She dropped her pamphlet, then became flustered.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI did not see you zere,\u201d she stammered. \u201cH H Hello zere an\u2019 welcome to ze Raven ze Dragon and ze Stewpot. I am called Liz, Henry\u2019s daughter.\u201d She indicated over her shoulder at the figure sweeping the back door stoop, \u201cWhat can I bring you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAle, stew and bread, with thanks.\u201d Torgin took a step toward her as she started pulling the ale they requested from a spout on the open keg behind the counter into a large pewter jug and asked, \u201cIs Ivan\u2019s Uncle Jon around somewhere?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJon? Old Jon?\u201d She asked while keeping a careful eye on the stream of ale. \u201cZee caretaker down ze mine?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d Torgin nodded. \u201cHe was going to meet us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, ee\u2019s usually around the Stewpot every day \u2018bout this time, but I\u2019ve not seen \u2018im since early zis mornin\u2019 talking with your frien\u2019 zere.\u201d She indicated Phlebus with a nod of her head. \u201cI bet trouble down the mine, has caused thees delay. Zis is usually ze delay zat keeps \u2018im from comin\u2019 for \u2018is soup.\u201d She bustled around them setting down two jugs of ale and a basket of sliced bread. \u201cIf you ask me zere\u2019s somezing amiss zere. Ee told me zee kobolds were on zee verge of rioting over somezing zey dug up. Ee had a meetin\u2019 with zee minin\u2019 boss zis mornin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat do you think it is?\u201d Lucy asked while setting her pile of bags on the floor near the table. When she finished, she started filling mugs from the fresh pitcher of ale Liz had set on the table.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As she walked to their chosen table with the large pitcher of ale and several mugs she shrugged, \u201cI dunno. Eet has been a long while since zee tours shut down so I doubt it\u2019s more killing or disappearing. An\u2019 zen Merrik Dougan went missing a couple months ago, too. Zere \u2019as been search crews looking for \u2018im in ze tunnels.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho is Merrik Dougan?\u201d Zyrina asked after thanking Lucy for her mugful.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat would be Elaine\u2019s son. I believe she has daughters too. Jenny\u2019s friend married into the Dougan family of Frojenta Lane.\u201d Phlebus answered the question before the barmaid could.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d Liz nodded. \u201cEe\u2019s usually around the place causing trouble with \u2018is friends and making stew with \u2018is sister.\u201d She went on sadly, \u201cToday we had to do it without \u2018im again. \u2018ee is not zee same since returning to us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Phlebus grinned at her and turned to ask, \u201cIf Old Jon is down in the mine how do we find him?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, you may go into zee mine and find \u2018im yourself. Zere\u2019s only one way into ze mine after ze fire and cave in.\u201d The barmaid indicated the small door at the back of the Inn, \u201cThrough zat way around ze back, an\u2019 you will see a crypt for Charlotte tucked in by ze greenhouses there. Remember to watch your step in ze dark. We don\u2019t want anyone else dying down zere. It\u2019s too sad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat fire?\u201d Zyrina asked quickly.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs that Charlotte the spider?\u201d Lucy asked before Liz could answer Zyrina\u2019s question.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElse?\u201d Torgin inquired at the same time as Zyrina.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Liz stood with her hands on her hips at the side of the table and tried to answer all their questions, \u201cWell, yes Jon can tell you all zis, but after ze cave in, there was a passageway that opened up between the crypt and the mine. The miners \u2018ave been using zis entrance in ze crypt ever since zen. I don\u2019t know when eet might be fixed.\u201d She looked around conspiratorially, \u201cI \u2018eard zere are family spirits \u2018ere in ze mines and zey have been attacking anyone zey come across. You aren\u2019t goin\u2019 to see me goin\u2019 down ze crypt, no way, even eef Jon has sworn some sections are completely free of danger, like zee fishing grottos.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFishing grottos in a family tomb?\u201d Torgin was more and more confused but willing to believe almost anything about the area at this point. He chuckled.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell yes, ze mine has mostly dried up some time ago, an\u2019 ze Dougans started givin\u2019 mine tours and fishing tours in some of ze back damp caves where zeey didn\u2019t find ore to mine. It kept the business going when zere was no more silver. Zat\u2019s when zey built ze food court.\u201d She started wiped the table next to them with a rag while continuing, \u201cIt was after all zat when ze cave in happened, it opened a passage to ze family crypt an\u2019 some of ze ghosts killed many tourists.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Liz stopped speaking when Lucy gasped, then nodded her head emphatically, she continued to explain, \u201cYes zis is true. That\u2019s when ze family hired ze Kobolds to dig a new entrance to ze mine further away, and to fill in ze gap zat opens zee family crypt to ze mine itself. Zey are not finished yet.\u201d She stopped scrubbing at the table to say, \u201cZat old mine entrance iz covered over by ee green\u2019ouses now. You would never know zere had been a mine here if you didn\u2019t ask me.\u201d She paused before adding, \u201cZis hardly seems right, ze spirits wandering around a mine like zat.\u201d Liz shuddered then shook her head and sighed with real loss. She added, \u201cInside, to find your way around, zere is an information booth just inside ze entrance wiz map on ze bulletin board to ze left. Eet will give you some guidance to find zee Food Court and the other areas of ze mine. Stay out of the ones marked danger and you will be fine.\u201d She smiled unconvincingly, \u201cZat is where Jon usually does \u2018is business, I believe, at ze food court counter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Both Zyrina and Lucy followed Liz into the kitchen and asked more questions about the history of the mine and the barmaid answered as she dished up their bowls of dragon stew. Torgin was sitting at the bar with the bowl that Liz had handed him before filling the rest of the bowls. Kitty was at his feet eating a bowl of dragon kibble that Liz had placed on the ground for her. Torgin and Kitty were both shovelling food as fast as they could and weren\u2019t paying any attention to the talk around them.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Still at the long table, Phlebus took out a parchment and ink from one of his packs. With quill in hand, he swiftly scrawled a couple of letters:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Damieth Nara, Lycaeum Center of Learning, Brittany, Novia<\/p>\n<p>Sir, stopping whoever is controlling the dragon bones from continuing with their plan to use magic of the ancient Obsidians in this manner is moving forward. I believe we have a solid lead to follow here finally.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You have my full report sent earlier today.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We have not discovered the source of the magic yet but have decided to question a witness of one of the times that this magic was used.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We go to interview him today inside a mine that people have been disappearing from regularly and also getting killed in as well. I know we are getting close to finding an answer, I can feel the magic afterglow strongly here. I will write again when I have some more concrete knowledge and not just rumours.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0This dragon, whether or not under the control of mages using Obsidian magic, will destroy the whole valley (not just the farm animals) if we can\u2019t stop it from fully forming. I have not yet found the shard that you suspect is involved.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>With respect, Phlebus<\/p>\n<p>And one other:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Trida Moonwalker, Lycaeum Center of Learning, Brittany, Novia<\/p>\n<p>Ma&#8217;am, my group have discovered that there may be some Obsidian shard magic in use here in Jade Valley.\u00a0 I spoke privately with the caretaker of a local mine who is quite concerned with the Kobold miners who are skittish at best working near humans but seem to be holding some secret back from him, also with unprovoked attacks by liches, and with the disappearance of residents and the subsequent reappearance as stone statues of themselves.<\/p>\n<p>The governor was correct, there is some malign of spirit here. I can&#8217;t place the source yet, but we are getting closer. You have my report from last night. The dragon bones turning were not the first attempt at this magic. Turning Novians to stone with magic is not something I\u2019ve heard about before. I don\u2019t know the reason for that yet either. I am having several of the stones shipped to you. Please see if the magic that binds the is reversable. Are they truly lost?<\/p>\n<p>I had a restless sleep and I&#8217;m sure the others did too. I left them at the inn early today to go search out more history at the Hall of Enquiry and Learning.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Now we are meeting Jon and I will learn more about what he suspects, then report back. I don&#8217;t think Jon is as forthright as he could be about what he knows, but he does know something, and I\u2019ll find out what. We are going to go ahead into the Dougan Family Crypt and Silver Mine where he is the caretaker.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This magic uses shards. It smells different and feels different in the middle of my body somewhere. Greasy oily, and somehow warped in some way. I have informed Damieth Nara.<\/p>\n<p>See if anyone at the library has heard of old magic being revived anywhere else in Novia using shards, and send what they find to me here, please, care of the inn.<\/p>\n<p>With respect, Phlebus<\/p>\n<p>PS you were right, travelling is harder than I remember from my youth.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWill you take these to the mail for me?\u201d Phlebus held out the sealed parchments and a few coins to Liz when she brought his stew over to him.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes certainly, sir.\u201d She placed the bowl of stew in front of him, then tucked the money into her apron pocket and took the empty pitchers off the table. \u201cI\u2019ll get zose papers after I\u2019ve had a wash. No need to get gravy on your letters. Would you like more ale?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, please.\u201d Phlebus nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Later after they\u2019d eaten, she still seemed adamant about not going into the mine but did take the time to lead them over to the very strange entrance to a mine, the crypt.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Liz kissed each of them once on each cheek before sending them off, \u201cGive Jon an \u2018ello from me, an\u2019 tell him \u2018is seat is kept warm for \u2018im when ee\u2019s back topside.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This stone tomb which served as the entrance to the Dougan family Silver Mine on the south side of the Raven the Dragon and the Stewpot Inn was sandwiched between the inn and the inn\u2019s full greenhouses. There were no indications that it was anything other than the resting place of Charlotte the Spider.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy on earth would they build a mine near a family crypt.\u201d Torgin was still confused. \u201cThe ancestors would be disturbed by this activity, wouldn\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He was truly perplexed and barely understood the concept of keeping dead bodies in the first place, as the customs he was familiar with involved a pyre and flame for the dead, to help them on their way to the other side. But he was ready. His axe was out. The opening was a tight fit for him, but he wiggled through the lid after Zyrina followed Phlebus inside. Kitty leapt into to the crypt right behind him.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe they had no choice, maybe the ancestors wanted this.\u201d\u00a0 Zyrina shrugged while she reasoned while she studied the map on the bulletin board, \u201cand that\u2019s why the silver was discovered.\u201d She had become accustomed to the various ways someone in Novia could fall into an entrance to some other location, and not all of them friendly or safe. Her first experience was looking too deeply into a beautiful old mirror that led to a night of battle she would not ever forget. By now this should seem normal, but it never did.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDead ancestors guiding the living to find silver?\u201d Phlebus joined in. \u201cThat hardly seems likely. I thought she said digging the tunnels for that spider led to the discovery. That seems far more probable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere\u2019s Lucy?\u201d Zyrina asked Torgin.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe was fixing something in her bag, she\u2019ll find us soon enough.\u201d Torgin indicated back over his shoulder to the exit. \u201cLet\u2019s get over to the food court and find Jon the Caretaker.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Still outside the inn, Lucy had accidently dropped several packages of herbs out of a hole that spilled from one of her bulging small bags. She had been scooping up the small packets and then stuffing them back into a different bag, all the while enjoying peering through the windows of the full greenhouses nearby. When she finally looked up from her perusal of the plants there, she found her friends had gone into the crypt without her.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Fifteen minutes later Lucy was the last to catch up to the group. After a quick glance at the bulletin board to get her bearings, she jogged over to the food court and found the others arranged in comfortable positions around a wooden small table in the middle of a large room. She was a little out of breath when she scooted in.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>She lifted a chair from a neighboring table, set it down and plopped into it. Then she looked around the mining cafeteria where they sat, as each of her companions stared quietly into their unknown futures while they waited. There was a story telling corner that had colourful cushions to sit on while listening to stories the miners told. Further along she could see a shop set up with mining souvenirs and clothing for sale, and a long wooden counter dividing the kitchen from the eating areas with many small table and chairs combinations where they sat now.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere\u2019s Jon?\u201d She asked looking around the empty room.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Phlebus gave Lucy a moment to compose herself before he began to speak. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t here when we arrived, but there was part of a letter left on the bar.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It began mid-sentence:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018\u2026the dead got up and started killing the tourists. Ain\u2019t seen nothin like it afore that, Owain. The spirits of the Dougin Family got up outta their caskets and followed some kind of lich or sumptin inta the mines. They killed a bunch o\u2019 people who were down for a tour too. Was carnage and took a long time to clean up and find em all without runnin\u2019 inta one o\u2019 them liches while doin\u2019 it, too.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0They ain\u2019t came back to their restin\u2019 spots yet neither and that\u2019s why the family crypt is still empty. Gotta round em up somehows and get em back into that family crypt. The family decided to close the mine to the public. That\u2019s when Merrik disappeared again, you\u2019ll remember him. Gone for months, he was.\u00a0 That Kobold miner Or\u2019tuk found him wandering round an old unused tunnel deeper than kobolds usually dig. He was gone for so long that the family was just thinkin\u2019 on settin\u2019 up a memorial.<\/p>\n<p>They were all relieved ta ha\u2019 Merrik back, though he\u2019s not said much about wha\u2019 happened to him and don\u2019t seem to have memory of any part of his life before making his way out of the depths of the mine where he\u2019d bin.\u00a0 He ain\u2019t the same neither. He bin changed by them tunnels doing who knows what to stay alive. We\u2019d give up on seein him agin and then he popped right out of the mine like he were jus\u2019 gone down this mornin\u2019. Stinky though, smelled like an old dragon fart.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The page ended and there was no more writing on the back either. She looked up, confused.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe think he was partway through writing that\u201d Phlebus explained holding up lemons found near the writings then he shrugged, \u201cor possibly it\u2019s disappearing ink. Can\u2019t tell. Maybe both.\u201d He held up 2 other blank pages that had been found with the partial letter to Owain.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere was this., too.\u201d Zyrina handed Lucy the other paper they had found. \u201cLook.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Jon,<\/p>\n<p>Dis note for you only.<\/p>\n<p>I gotta talk in your ear.<\/p>\n<p>Come on over to the mining office in the Kobold Quarters.<\/p>\n<p>Now.<\/p>\n<p>Or\u2019tuk,<\/p>\n<p>Captain, Kobold Mining Company<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After reading she handed the letters back to Phlebus. Then Lucy took a moment to think about what she had read and finally asked, \u201cWhat now? Still find Jon? Think he\u2019s still over at the Kobold quarters mining office?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes,\u201d Phlebus nodded several times, \u201cwhatever is going on down here we need to find Jon. There is far too much coincidence in the lich attacks here on the innocent right when stone statues and dead animals started becoming more common, let alone dragon skeletons coming alive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Phlebus found himself searching deeply into the faces of those dear to him around the table. He sought a connection with each of them. After he had their full attention, he smiled. It was time to give a rousing talk to inspire the group. Trida Moonwalker had warned him of this moment in any group\u2019s adventure. They looked ragged and anxious.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He began, \u201cWe need to find a way to stop whoever is trying to form a dragon from those bones. You know this. We all know the dangers of a full-grown dragon attack upon a small village like this. Not one of us looked away when the mist dragon formed in the graveyard last night. You were all ready to battle and not one of you tried to flee.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Wryly grinning he continued, \u201cAnd I know you are each just as dedicated to finding answers as I am. Thank you, my friends, for that support.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u201cI know the townspeople are all preparing as best they can for whatever is facing them, but they have no way to fight something as overwhelming as magic that makes dragon bones fly or something that can turn villagers to stone.\u201d Phlebus paused for a moment before going on.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He finished carefully, \u201cWe can only hope their preparations will keep them safe. Whomever is behind this must be stopped before they manage to succeed. I know none of us are looking for a battle, and I will do my best to avoid any further confrontation, let alone whatever else it is we are getting ourselves into here in this underground lair while we search for Jon the illusive Caretaker. There won\u2019t be reinforcements. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No one moved.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Zyrina snorted \u201cthat was the WORST pep talk I\u2019ve ever heard. We are alone. We might die. And we might fail. No one is coming to help us. Come on, say something a little more encouraging, won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Phlebus looked at Torgin, who looked at Lucy. Phlebus turned to Lucy and raised his eyebrows as if to say, \u2018your turn\u2019. Lucy shifted, uncomfortable all of a sudden.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>After clearing her throat, the quiet woman gathered her thoughts and then spoke clearly and with passion, \u201cI see before me the smartest, strongest, most caring people that I know. With our combined skills we can manage anything we find. I am absolutely certain of it. There isn\u2019t much reason to wait is there? I mean, we know why we do what we do, we are the best at what we do, and it\u2019s time to go do it! We stand together. We do not flinch. We find the truth of the matter.\u201d She finished with a grimace, \u201cLet\u2019s go stomp these liches!!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Gracefully she rose from her chair to turn and point her sturdy arm out of the food court and across the mine\u2019s entrance to where she had seen the Kobold Miner\u2019s Quarters on the map earlier, before striding boldly out of the cafeteria.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Torgin muttered, \u201cGet \u2018em sis,\u201d as he petted Kitty behind her ear.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh!\u201d Looking up into the silence after Lucy\u2019s speech, Phlebus hastily collected his bags and stepped into the mining entrance behind Lucy. Then quickly out of the way of an empty mining cart that came barreling by on its track. The mining cart was a relic from the Public Tours the Silver Mine. It had been used to give to the locals and occasional outlander tours of the area before ghosts and liches started attacking everyone.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSee? Now, THAT is a pep talk\u201d Zyrina nodded finding herself raring to go tear into the unknown. She finished by saying to Torgin, \u201cSometimes action is the best pep talk of all. Let\u2019s go find some answers,\u201d and with that strode out behind Lucy and Phlebus.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Torgin bringing up the rear, hesitated only a short time. \u201cKitty stay here,\u201d he quietly ordered before gathering his supplies back up and stepping out behind his group of friends. Kitty didn\u2019t hesitate and made her way to the cushions on the floor of the reading corner. Circling once or twice, she had herself curled up in a comfortable napping spot within seconds. Torgin could hear her purring as he walked out of the room.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Directly across from where he stood was an entrance to the Kobold Quarter and mining office located somewhere down a dark tunnel behind a large wooden statue of a Kobold. It had a barrier that said keep out blocking the passage, but Lucy and the others had moved some of it out of the way by the time he caught up.<\/p>\n<div class=\"clammr-player\" data-title=\"The Stone Dragon Series &#8211; Book 1, Chapter 6\" data-imageUrl=\"\"><audio id=\"audio-12548-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%; visibility: hidden;\" src=\"http:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3\"><\/audio><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_11497\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/45-Record-Album.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-11497\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11497\" src=\"http:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/45-Record-Album-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Echoes From the Caverns\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/45-Record-Album-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/45-Record-Album-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/45-Record-Album-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/45-Record-Album-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/45-Record-Album-144x144.jpg 144w, https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/45-Record-Album-230x230.jpg 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-11497\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Echoes From the Caverns<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_8744\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-12548-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3\">http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/?powerpress_pinw=12548-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3\">Download<\/a> (Duration: 35:01 &#8212; 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51.3MB) | Embed Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS \u00a0 Chapter Six. Dear Jon. Read by Asclepius \u00a0 Early in the morning after packing their bags for the day, three of the companions sat around dainty maple tables in their inn sipping hot [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Stone Dragon Series - Book 1, Chapter 6 - Echoes from the Caverns<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/the-stone-dragon-series-book-1-chapter-6\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Stone Dragon Series - Book 1, Chapter 6 - Echoes from the Caverns\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"http:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/cdb\/thecaverns.net\/Podcasts\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Stone-Dragon-1.6.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:01 &#8212; 51.3MB) | Embed Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS \u00a0 Chapter Six. 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