Durkik's Speech

“Zithiruun has subjugated a number of Overlook’s priests and military officers. Most of them were kidnapped and subject to a difficult psychic ritual cast by githyanki. The result is that these poor people’s minds were destroyed, and they have been 'possessed' by githyanki, who are even capable of manifesting some of their normal powers (albeit in weakened form).”

“The possessing githyanki cannot access the host’s memories. So I have not been possessed. Rather, I was held captive and tortured for information, while a hired doppelganger took my place in public.”

“All of the questions have centered around the Mountainroot Temple.” See separate post on this temple.

“As you’ve doubtless guessed,” he says to you, his voice still weak, “the Stone Anvil contains a portal to the Mountainroot Temple. I don’t know why this General Zithiruun wants the temple, but it’s clearly what he’s after.”

“It’s funny, he’s had me tortured for days to make me describe the Mountainroot’s mystical defenses, but the truth is, I don’t know much about them. I know about the temple only because, as High Priest, I was told of it by my predecessor. I can tell you that the defenses are psychically linked to the ‘Caretaker’, allowing him to control them, but beyond that, I know little. But even had I told them that much, I doubt they’d have believed me.”

“I don’t know why he wants the temple,” he repeats, “but I know it cannot be good for us. I know not who else in this city might have been compromised—who can be trusted. That leaves only you.

“The entrance from the Stone Anvil is carefully hidden within an old sepulcher. The chamber is hidden behind a secret door; I can escort you to it, but no farther. What I cannot do is tell you how to access the portal, for I don’t know, and I am oathbound never to enter the sepulcher. But my hope is that, once you find it, you can figure out how to use it.”

“I must ask you one thing more,” he adds swiftly. “When the Mountainroot Temple was abandoned, the priesthood took most of our ancient religious relics with them. Most, but not all. Somewhere within the temple lies a tome entitled, when translated into Common, The Incunabulum Primeval. It is a book of great power for those who know how to use it. If you can find it and return it to us, I can promise you a reward of (upgrade Seregdur’s cloak), as well as legal right to any other treasure you find in, and can carry out of, the Mountainroot.”