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Morin soon removes some of Beryn’s levity by bringing him up to speed with recent events – particularly the Hawker bag and loss of the lightning gem, as well as the High Dwarves. Beryn's sits quietly, encouraging details out every now and then, his face first dropping into a grey promise of thunder before lightening with an almost accepting look and a shrug of the shoulders.

"I suppose the good thing is there are more players: as long as the item is not assembled, we are still winning," he says with a casual dismissiveness.

"It's annoying about that pouch, though."

It turns out that the pouch was purchased as it was meant to protect an object within it from scrying - it will do that, but was also a Hawker bag, as you had discovered. This was Beryn hoodwinked and he seems to think that Azal Magrothir (the curiously effete, hermaphrodite and no longer entirely human leader of the House of Magrothir) was the person who hoodwinked him, realising what he was looking for.

Beryn's main irritation is that you didn't mention the ring that Jiriki wears when you came out of the vampire's crypt - he would have been forewarned then as to who was involved. But it would seem that the House of Magrothir were themselves duped and one of their sons left for dead. Feuds are erupting and leading deadly characters to become interested in the Sword of Names - whether they yet know that is what they are interested in or not.

One good thing however, is that he is fairly sure that the odd effects on the water are linked to the ring - somebody in the House of Magrothir has strong elemental powers, particularly over water. They were undoubtedly able to follow your progress over the river by virtue of Jiriki having the ring; it should be alright to wear again now. This was the reason that Calrhuvianne travelled over land from Rin Duras when carrying the brooch he had. At some point, you will take the gem back that Azal has, he is happy that this will be a success.

The invisible creature could be anything - from Galent, from the ogre stronghold (were you followed from there?) from anywhere, really. Keep the Illuminatus to hand, but don't worry overly - whoever it is is unlikely to bother you for a little while.

Hawksmoor and Ghull are worrying, and although Beryn says little of them, his avoidance of the subject leaves the greatest chill of any comment he makes. He's afraid of Hawksmoor.

It also changes his plans: he must go back to Galent to talk with H'ronmeer, the mayor - he was happy to loan his labyrinthine device but now he might need to be persuaded to take a more direct role in things. And Beryn will need to look at the bag left with him.

This place is old and magical and you need to search it out: Karnak will keep watch out here, awaiting two of his friends who are due soon whilst Beryn and Hogun head back to Galent. The Search for the Sword of Names is still paramount but there is a worry that political or related events may get in the way of everything and the prime mover in the search for the Sword is still unknown.

Beryn changes the topic finally:

"This is the place where Baltharak the Munificent first built a great building. It is an unusual place for dwarves but the magic in this strange area that allows this wonderful flora and fauna," he gestures about him, "frightened many of the beasts that lived here previously; it gave Baltharak a foothold for some time before falling into disrepair when the rich veins of ore in the mountains could no longer be ignored. I am one of few who have known of this place for a long time but have been unable to enter it until goodly Hogun acquired the Greenstone for me," he waves behind him and there is an absurdly small stone circle, centre point of which is a glowing green rock, the size of a small pebble.

Just beyond that, there is a very sudden drop as a harsh stairway heads into the earth, almost invisible until it was pointed out.

"Although as it turns out, I'm a bit stuck on the next step anyway......but I have faith in you all, you haven't failed yet! Well, not really."

Apparently, down the stairs, there is a heavily locked and magically trapped door and an alcove: the alcove has a sandstone half-column above which six keys hover lightly. They appear identical apart from the heads. And one thing Beryn's research has shown - if any key is touched, it is chosen. If chosen, the others will disappear and no second chance will be available until the light of the full moon has passed overhead again.

"Do you mind if I take the rowing boat?"

Morin warns the old man that Azal Magrothir was quite dismissive of him but Beryn is not cowed – he is more concerned that if Hawksmoor and the Ghull realise what was momentarily in their possession, they could cause much trouble.

He looks gloomy for a second and then stands and stretches, cracking his fingers against the back of his staff.

"At least if you can get the hilt, I can begin to make plans to recover the lightning gem and then we are doing rather well, wouldn't you say!"

His sometimes irksome cheery glibness seems to have reasserted itself and he prepares to break camp with Hogun as the party prepare to head into Dhunok Grael.