Nearos has had many unfortunate encounters within his lifetime. This one was probably the worst one, the grifter eyed his feminine quarry not with lust, not with horror, but what appeared to be boredom. An expression equal to the phrase<i>oh is that it?</i>Her cold finger pressed under his chin forcing his head to push uncomfortably up. Letting out a groan she made an inquiry. A part of him wanted the Dwarf to say something but he was too preoccupied with the futile effort of fighting those rough skeletal digits. The minstrel knew he could dig deep within his reserves, within that dark furnace that burned within him. The source of power had a name but it also sat in his belly as an affliction. The vault of shadows was a demanding power source to tap and it required constant acts of deceit to build power.<br/><br/>Letting out a yawn he met her eyes with that same level of detachment.<br/><br/><b>"I made sure my voice was loud but I guess you're hard of hearing. We mean you no harm this is a scholarly visit, the University in Lar'thula has very little scholarly information about Lich's. They pressganged me by force to acquire such information. I mean the research would put them on the map since your kind is all too quite mysterious. I can tell by your act of hospitality you get those ignorant adventurers.... I'm not here to steal your treasures, artifacts, or even kill you to elevate my own status. I'm a vagabond and do not need such things, I just want to pick your brain. The faster you help us out the faster the master Dwarf and I will be out of your hair," </b>the confidence man didn't like digging into his inner power anymore than he had to. Each effect he tried to pull from the vault the more he lost a piece of himself.<br/><br/>Yet deep within his being he could feel the reinforced gate that held the vault shut quiver. That familiar rush he craved when he first made a compact with that power source was trying to tempt him. It was itching in his gums, itching at his finger tips, one little pull and he could stand in her shadow. Reason took over, if he decided to pull himself it would do little to parlay with the immortal being. This was the closest thing to a god he has ever been in a proximity to.<br/><br/><b>"Is this common protocol for how un-threatening guests approach your realm? If that's a case I guess that makes sense that living things don't bother to visit. May I suggest implementing some economic measures to allow for free trade. The roads leading up to your holdings are dying for some much needed repairs."<br/>
</b><br/><i>I wonder if she could smell it within me. Not the vault of shadows but that curse that will turn me to stone. Bugger it all! I would be a terrible statue, whoever inherited me would probably put ass-ears on me. </i>