PAXLAIR - September 21, 1998 - Winfield

Late last night, I stirred restlessly in my sleep. Strange nightmares haunted my dreams. Darkness, cold darkness surrounded me. The only thing I heard was a heavy breathing sound, drawing closer...a claw reached out for me! I awoke with a scream, that almost overlaid the slow knocking on the door. Shuddering from the cold, I wrapped the blanket around me, as I opened the door. There was no one at the door, but only an inactive communication crystal on the steps.

"Hmmm. What might this mean?" I thought to myself. I picked it up, set it on the table, and activated it. I jumped away from it as it radiated a bright light and started to rise into the air! I was shocked, as I never witnessed such magic before. Then a strange voice called out to me.

Voice: "Ah, Mayor Winfield. A pleasure meeting you at last. *coughs* I just wanted to make my aquintance to you."
Winfield: "Who are you?"
Voice: "Lets just say, i am a...friend?-Yes, i guess you could say that. You may call me N. *evil laughter* It is popular of late to use one's initials..."
Winfield: "And...what is it that you want from me, Sir N.?"
Voice: "I have heard much of your fine city, and I have developed a certain... interest in it. There are many interesting things to learn from you and your sages. *cackles* Let me assure you, that the safety of you and your city is in my deepest interest...for now. Therefore, I will command my...helpers not to ...errr... hinder you *cackles madly*"
Winfield: "That is most welcome, as we are a city of peace. Who are your 'helpers'?"
Voice: "All and none. I have many with similar interests that obey me. *heavy sigh* Good servants are so hard to come by nowadays...just muscles and no brain. They don't understand the finer arts of diplomacy. Just kill, kill, kill. Not that I am against it *cackles* but there is a time for everything, don't you agree?"
Winfield: "What should I say to this? As I told you, we believe in peace and neutrality and Balance."
Voice: "*mumbles: Balance...* Anyway. I am a man of peace too, mind you. I like it when all is well structured and peaceful. And I like life...I love it. That is where we should work together, as we share the same opinion on this, I hope?"
Winfield: "*looks unsure* Aye, life is very nice..."
Voice: "Ah, you see, we have many things in common! And that is why I contact you, to offer my help and to request yours. You are aware that the Followers of Armageddon try to cast the spell of the same name? To "cleanse" the world...well, I don't like it to be cleansed for my part! That is why I ask you to guard the chests. And, maybe you could get hold of the blackrock... I need it for...err... experiments. So here is the deal: for helping you in your struggle to survive, you get me at least one of these stones. Agreed?"
Winfield: "Well, I cannot promise you anything. But we wanted to protect those chests anyway, as they truly threaten our very existence."
Voice: "Ha, you see. So think about it. A little piece of rock for the life of your people... a good deal in my eyes. *coughs* I have taken enough of your time for now. Farewell, Mayor. We will meet again. And remember that stone, old man!"

Suddenly, they crystal was consumed in cold fires, as his laughter faded away.
"...a new player has entered the game, it seems..."
Feeling mysterious nature of this contact, I immediately wrote down everything the crystal said and sent the message out on the ether for all of PaxLair to read. What is going to happen? Can we get the blackrock or will we perish?

NOTE: This is part of a continuing PaxLair Player Quest, not a Seer Quest.