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A disembodied voice: “You leave me to escape? I … I don’t know what to say. I’m touched … really. Or could it be that you are bound in some fashion? … As I suspected, yes? Hmm … perhaps you would indeed be interested in hearing my offer born out to its details. It could mean your freedom. Is this of value to you?”

The source-less voice continues its dialogue: “I am sorry if I offended you, guardian. But you can hardly blame me for doing all within my power to avoid becoming your latest meal. You see, I’ve grown somewhat partial to my skin. But above all, I am a pragmatist. If there is any way we can reach a … mutually beneficial agreement, I am open to it. Tell me – who has imprisoned you thus?”

“Ah … I understand, at last.” The voice grows still, as if considering deeply the guardian’s words.

After a lengthy pause, the tiefling speaks: “I offer you this then … as a means for you to return to your beloved home after many years of exemplary service, and – of course – as a means for my goals to also be achieved. I do, point in fact, have access to the magics of which you speak. They are not impossible for one such as myself to obtain. Ready coin would be all that would be required. Sadly, even though I am favorably disposed to help you, I lack the wealth. You, however, seem to have that wealth at your disposal – for you have gleaned it thru besting your previous adversaries …”

The tiefling nods and strokes his invisible chin thoughtfully. “The matter then would be that of trust … and I may even be able to rectify that.”

“Please, if you would, stay here. I will return shortly. A solution is at hand …”

Qayan returns to his comrades and draws them out of hiding. Invisibly, the tiefling’s voice emanates near each friend: “Come, let us speak near the portcullis – so all can hear.”

When everyone is assembled, and his invisibility has played-out, Qayan bows and greets the group.

“Well met, my friends. I return. I have very good evidence to suggest that the guardian cannot escape its servitude unaided, so we are relatively safe discussing our matters here.” Grinning unsettlingly, the tiefling continues. “Our way is still barred by the beast, but I have had opportunity to speak with it at length. It would seem that long ago, the guardian we have encountered was bound to the gate we seek by a dwarven priest … of a clan ‘Sarbreen’, I do believe. Suffice to say, it now longs to be freed and returned to its home in the shadowplane. It cannot venture beyond the length of the hallway jutting south of the rocky chamber that lies just before the stone arch. Therefore … it cannot be lured to this place.”

Staunching a bit of bloodflow from his back shoulder and casting an eye to Zanas, Qayan continues. “Your previous comment regarding ‘dismissal’ or ‘banishment’ of the beast has turned out to be quite topical, m’lady. For indeed, that is exactly what the guardian desires. This effort, of course, does not come with out a price – but the beast has collected some wealth over the ages and I believe we may use this to achieve our desired end.

“Our foe is still just that however – a foe. It has not lasted as long as it has down here thru great leaps of faith and trust in others. It will not relinquish its wealth – nor our fallen comrade – upon mere promises of aid.”

The crimson-eyed tiefling stares intensely at the group. “I believe the only way we will get the wealth and the body of our fallen Gron’rindul … will be to offer the beast an assurance of our return and insurance of our commitment to the task. I would ask that one of you accompany me back to the beast’s lair to offer it a trade: the body of our comrade and the wealth it has acquired … for me.”

“I would stay in its custody thus assuring that you would tend to the task swiftly and purposefully. You would need to withdraw from this place and obtain the help we need from the temple. Our mimicking friend will also need to be relocated as per our arrangement …”

Craning his neck to view the mimic, Qayan continues: “ … but that, of course, would have to delayed until the issue with the guardian is resolved. I'm sure you understand."

“What say you all?”

Qayan nods to Khasar and raises a black-nailed finger. Opening his mouth, the tiefling promptly closes it and turns to Valarion.

"Valarion, would you please explain the concepts behind 'banishment' to our good friend Khasar?"

"That is its native habitat, my friend. That is where it belongs. It is a wholly different place than here. Just as on this plane we have natural predators: giants, werecreatures, dire beasts, etc., so does the shadow realm. Just as we deal with our natural predators, so must the denizens of the shadow realm.

“The point is: who is more able to handle the threat associated with this kind of predator? The dwellers of our world who have little knowledge of such a beast, or the dwellers of the shadow realm – where this type of creature is far more commonplace?

“Lastly, it is a killer, Khasar. That is what it does. Is the wolf evil for devouring the lamb? The Ghirrash slew anything that it could get its hands on. The real evil here were the illithid who used the younglings as shields to allow safe passage thru the gate.”