Session+35


 * 12-14-13** **The Solstice Ball in Lyrabar and Father Winter brings presents!**

Strangely the air turns colder in the city and giant snow flakes start to fall from the sky to the amazement of everyone! "It never snows in Lyrabar!" is a common phrase all around town. Mari frolics playfully in the snow and Erevin futilely tries to get her to go back in. He goes to Anna for her advice on the best dressmaker in Lyrabar. "Snow in Lyrabar AND you're asking my opinion?" Annaisuru stared at him in disbelief, "Is the apocalypse coming?" Erevin smirks, "Perhaps the underdark has frozen over... if only we could be so lucky." She directs him to Lino and Lane, a renowned noble tailor shop... Large windows display some of their clothing with magical illumination. A beautiful shop with a special lingerie selection in a back room. Erevin has a custom dress made for Shri... scandalously cut, sheer white lace, and form fitted. One of the girls models it for him to his approval. He grins in passing at a nobleman hiding his face as he goes to the back and buys half a dozen different lingerie items.

The elven embassy is bustling. Shri greets Erevin brushing the snow out of his hair gently, "You've been gone all morning..." "I don't get the chance to see snow very often..." He returns her smile as they walk to a private room. She gifts him a mahogany box with a moonstone bracelet inside woven with strands of her own white hair. "I hope that you will wear it and always have a part of me with you..." Shri leans in and kisses him. "It's beautiful! Thank you! ...as it so happens, I have something for you as well..." He returns her kiss and hands her a box. "Is this for private viewing or public?" She smiles at him. "Yes." He grins at her, "I would like for you to join me at the solstice ball... I hope it is to your liking." "I would love to. I think all of the attention will be on me and that is to my liking." She grinned at him, holding up the scandalous dress in front of her.

Outside of the embassy, Wren is pirouetting in bare feet with her arms held up to the falling snow. Kale walks out to greet her, "Are you enjoying the snow?" She nods up at him, obvious delight in her eyes, "Yes!" He laughs and takes her hand, "Would you accompany me to the solstice ball tonight?" "I would love to!" She leans up and kisses his lips, "I thought you'd never ask..." "Mmm I was biding my time..." He teased her. "Were you?" She looked up at him grinning, "Have your eye on someone else?" He laughed, "I wouldn't want to wake up with spiders in my bed..." Wren laughed, "Would I do that to you?" "Yes..." he turned and smiled at her, "I think you would." She laughed with amusement, "At least you're honest." "Have you gone shopping yet for your dress?" He raised an eyebrow at her. She shook her head softly, "No... not yet." "I suppose I'll need a suit as well..." "Would you like to go shopping then?" He frowned for a moment, but then smiled with feigned cheerfulness, "Yes! Of course." Wren laughed, "Lies and deceit..." He smiled at her, "First I have something for you..." "You do?" She tilted her head up to him, snowflakes clinging to her lashes. He nodded, handing her a wrapped package... clearly wrapping was not one of his talents... She beamed sweetly, "Aww! You wrapped it yourself! It's perfect! Such a great job!" He waved his hand dismissively with a smile, "Oh lies and deceit!" She giggled and opened it to find a fine gold bracelet carved into little dragon scales and had little charms attached to it She traced her fingers along it, "Kale, it's beautiful!" and as she pulled it out of the box, she noticed the charm of a baby green dragon dangling from it, "Awww! It's sooo cute!" He grinned at her mirth, "I had this made in the magic shop...Since you tend to get into trouble a lot..." She laughed and nudged him as he continued, "I was told that if you yank this little dragon charm off of the bracelet... it will summon me to you." "Really?!" Her eyes widened and she grinned up at him mischievously. "Yes..." he nodded, "But we have to get it recharged after you use it... you can't just summon me over and over again." "Aww... that's a shame..." "I'm not sure I agree with that..." he raised an eyebrow at her and she giggled. He put the bracelet around her wrist, "I hope that you will wear it always." "I love it! Thank you!" She hugged him warmly and kissed his lips. "Now we can go shopping..." he slipped an arm around her shoulders and headed off to the shops.

Thorn sat in a big comfy chair by the fire with a basset hound licking his feet when the butler came in, setting a tray down beside him, "Another brandy, sir? The servants have made those scones that you so like." Thorn looked over the new tray of scones, wearing his luxurious silk robe, "These are delicious! Have you had one?" "Of course not, sir, it wouldn't be proper." "Oh tch!" Thorn scoffed, "No one is around. Have one. You'll find them delicious." "If you insist, sir." The butler selected one of the scones and ate it, "Indeed, quite delicious." Thorn nodded, satisfied that the butler didn't die from it and took one of the scones from the platter, eating it happily. The butler looked down at him, "Will you be going out today, sir? I believe it is ... snowing." Thorn sighed heavily, "I so hate snow... it's not supposed to snow here." The butler nodded to him, "It is most unusual. I believe Lady Carus and Lord Reegan are preparing for the solstice ball... Do you require any assistance? Perhaps a suit tailored for you? Of course as a friend of Azarius Chaat and the Vastels you were invited." Thorn nodded, "I must put on a good appearance. Yes. I'll need a suit." The butler nodded, "Excellent. One of the servants will be up to take your measurements, sir." "Thank you," Thorn nodded, "Have another scone." The butler nodded his thanks, taking one from the plate before leaving the room.

After finishing up with his measurements, Thorn heads towards Odds and Ends and notices he's being followed by someone. Finding the snow thick and slowing, he skitches on the back of a nearby carriage. A chime jingles from a bell on the door as he goes in and he can hear the parrot in the back, "Close the door, fucker! You're letting the cold in!" The shop is neat and clean again with a few new renovations. Seri has a bench behind the counter that she walks on so she can see over the counter, "Master Thorn! So good to see you!" "It's good to see you too," he nodded, "I like what you've done with the place." "Oh, it needed some renovation anyway... and thanks to that little unpleasant episode... I've had a chance to do that," she nodded down to him, "I'm very grateful that I'm not on a boat on my way to Raven's Bluff." Thorn smiled, "And the coin we lifted on the way out didn't hurt either... Did it cover everything you had to do here?" She nodded with a laugh, "Oh, it more than covered it." He nodded and slid her green mask across the counter to her. She looked from the mask up to him and smiled, "Ahh, I was wondering what had happened to this. It was the first thing I looked for when I got back. I'm glad to see that you were the one that found it and not Marco." Thorn nodded, "It looked important enough to not just leave here." Seri smiled, "This is the Viridian Mask." "I thought it might be something along that line..." he nodded. "Not that it's a "take it to the grave" sort of secret or anything... but some of the members of the Masks keep their personal lives private. My specialty is acrobatics. I'm very limber." "Oh, so you're actually a member of the troupe?" She smiled and nodded, "Yes... I'm the Viridian Mask. The lead acrobat." "Your secret is safe with me." "I appreciate it... Let's say that my career on the high seas, climbing the riggings and such translated well into a position with the Masks. I expect to perform a little at the Solstice Ball... I hope that you will be there." "Well you did ask if I would attend with you..." She raised an eyebrow at him, "I don't recall you actually accepting though... did you?" "No..." he shook his head. "I definitely recall asking... but I just can't remember a yes..." The parrot in the background squawked, "That's because he didn't say it, the fucker!" Seri turned around, "Shhh! Polly!" Thorn mumbled under his breath, "Damn bird... I hate that bird... I'm going to skin it and eat it like a little pheasant." Polly squawked again, "A real lady's man." Thorn turned back to Seri, "No, I didn't give you a yes at the time... but if you still need someone to accompany you... I need someone to accompany me as well... so what do you say we go together?" She smiled over the counter, "I would be... delighted! I'll make sure to put on a most splendid show!" "I look forward to that." She put her arms on the counter and leaned over with a smile as Thorn perused her inviting cleavage, "How are you liking the Vastel estate?" Thorn laughed, "It's been very titillating." "I was pretty surprised to hear that Lord Azarius Chaat had a halfling man servant... so... I can expect a carriage and everything?" Thorn ponders for a second and then nods quickly, "Yes. Yes you can." "Oooo," she smiled intrigued, "I'll have to dress up."

They make their arrangements and Thorn exits the shop, noticing immediately that someone is right behind him. He whirls around to see Knives... all dressed in black and sticking out in the snow. Thorn looked him over for a moment, "I would say to get something white... but this really shouldn't be happening." Knives nodded, "I know. It's cold. It sucks." Thorn nodded, "It's easy to follow tracks... gotta stay on the street." Knives nodded, "They made me come out. Here." He handed a box to Thorn. Thorn smiled, "Thank you! and tell them thank you for me as well." Knives nodded and "vanished" back to the wall... still sticking out in the snow. Thorn opened the box to find a rather... hideous... hand made scarf... that looks like Boots knitted one half and Salem knitted the other half... two completely different patterns and colors... their names have been woven in on the half that they made... little heart designs on Boot's side. Thorn sighed heavily as he looked it over, "Oh... it's ... lovely." but he noticed there was something magical about it... putting it around his neck, he immediately felt warm. As he walked along the street, he discovered that the scarf didn't get wet, even when it dragged in the snow... and it had tiny little pockets... and worked like his haversack, except the items had to be small. He wrapped it around himself a couple of times to keep from tripping on it... a few people giving him a strange look, but he puffed up defensively over his very thoughtful gift, "What? Jealous much? This is a LOVELY scarf. ...At least I'm warm!" He returns to the Vastel estate.

Posy and Mali are with the barbarian clan in the inn on the docks. A big area outside the back of the inn has broken into a full out snowball fight! Barbarians dressed in loin cloths with broad, bare chests... glistening with sweat and steam coming off of them as they breathe heavily in the cold air! Pelting each other with snowballs while the snow falls around them. Posy and Mali walk out and Mali deftly steps to the side as a snowball comes whizzing by her to smack Posy right in the face! All of the barbarians cheer, "Got her!" Uther raises his hands, cheering. Posy bull rushes across the yard tackling him into giant pile of snow that the barbarians had crudely shaped into a bear, spraying snow chunks everywhere. Posy and Uther fully covered in snow! Ursus dodged out of her way and slipped an arm casually around Mali, "It's about time you woke up sleepy head! What have you been doing?" "Sleeping... I guess I was tired." Mali shrugged and nodded. "Oh... well perhaps this will help wake you up," Ursus grinned at her as he dropped a hand full snow down the back of her shirt! "Not nice!" Mali quickly pelted him in the face with a snowball! As it dripped off of Ursus's face, Mali falls backward into the snow and makes a snow angel. Melloran flopped down beside her, and rolled around in the snow, covering his little body in white with little icicles forming along his whiskers. Uthgart sat up high watching over the field of everyone having fun in the snow. Mali threw a snowball at him and he glanced over at her, "Don't make me come down there and give you a whoopin." She grinned impishly and threw another one! He smirked at her, "Looks like the young Mali needs a little lesson..." He leapt down into the fray and joined in the fun of throwing snow.

After awhile most of the clan exhausted from playing in the snow... Uthgart nodded to his sons, "Alright boys, time to man up." Uther and Ursus shook off the snow from their wet red skin and knelt on one knee in front of Posy and Mali almost in unison. The girls looked at each other wide eyed and the boys smiled, "Would you ladies accompany us to the Solstice ball?" "Oh! Yeah, yeah!" Mali nodded quickly, almost with relief. Posy nodded, "Oh if that's all, yeah!" Uthgart laughed from behind the boys, "I know what you two were thinking... when they punch ya... that's when you gotta worry about that." Uther and Ursus look relieved as the girls accept their offer and present them each with a package wrapped in animal fur. Inside are beautiful and adorable white fur dresses complete with matching fur hats, boots, and little hand warmers. Toasty and warm as they put them on. The barbarians cheer and Uther and Ursus blush.

Yuki, trying on her beautiful deep blue and sparkling silver silk dress for the ball, was interrupted by a knock on the door, followed by Axton's voice. Yuki frantically pulled the dress off and shoved it into a cabinet, "No no no! Don't come in!" "Don't come in?" Axton asked surprised on the other side of the door, "How am I supposed to give you my presents?" "Presents?!" Yuki quickly whirled her ribbon around her into her priestess robes, "Okay!" "It's safe? You're decent?" He asked uncertainly, slowly opening the door. He came in with a series of packages and set them on the table next to her, "I promise no scrub brushes are in those packages." She raised a skeptical eyebrow at him, "Or mops?" "They're too small for mops..." he shook his head. "Gloves?" Yuki looked up at him, "Cleaning supplies?" "What must you think of me, Miss Ashdown?" Axton tilted his head at her. "Well there was that time... and then when you made me... oh! and you had me washing dishes at that festival of love until my hands were all wrinkled!" "Good times..." Axton sighed happily. "H-Hey!" Yuki flicked her ribbon at him. He shook his head with a smile and nudged her to the packages, "Open open open..." "All these are for me?" Yuki looked up at him after browsing the assorted pretty packages on the table. Axton laughed, "Well I didn't buy them for Amynta, Rue, and Ori... though I'm sure that Dominic fellow is taking care of Amynta." "She never tells me anything!" Yuki sighed and flopped into the chair beside the table, selecting one of the boxes to open. Inside the box was an assortment of exotic inks and quills... Yuki looked disappointed, "Umm... Inks...and quills..." she tried to sound cheerful. "Yes," Axton nodded to her, "So you can write scrolls and in your book." "Right. Scrolls. Lots...and lots of scrolls... and in my book," Yuki nodded looking over them with feigned interest, "They're beautiful... Thank you sooo... much." Axton nodded to her, laughing, "You're welcome." She opened the second box to find fine sheets of vellum, "Vellum! ... how... lovely!" She feigned an excited smile, "...Now I can use my...'inks and quills' to write on the 'vellum'." Axton smiled and pointed at the papers, "Oh... but what's that 'under' the vellum?" "More vellum?" Yuki asked as she lifted the papers out of the box. Spying a magnificent sapphire and platinum necklace laid over velvet beneath the vellum, Yuki gasped excitedly and flung the vellum up into the air behind her to pick up the necklace! Looking up at him with big, sweet eyes, she held it out to him eagerly, already gathering her hair out of the way, "Put it on? Please!" He smiled, taking the necklace from her and carefully clasped it around her neck. She bounced over to the mirror to admire it, "It's amazing! I'm liking vellum more and more!" Axton laughed as he collected the expensive papers from the floor, "I bet!" He stacked it all back up neatly on the table with her oblivious to his efforts. She bounced back over to him, "How does it look?! How does it look?" It hung low enough to draw plenty of attention to her barely concealed bosom. "They're magnificent... I - I mean..." Axton brought his eyes from her chest back up to her face. Yuki nodded happily, "They are, aren't they?" Axton smiled, "I was hoping you might wear that to the ball with me tomorrow night?" Yuki nodded, "It's beautiful! How did you know the color of my dress?" He grinned, "Spy... I have my sources." Yuki looked aghast! But Axton held up a hand, "Don't worry, I'll be surprised... I only know the color. I look forward to seeing you in it though." She smiled at him bouncing about with excitement, "I'm very happy! So we're really going to go together? Even after... everything?" "Of course," he nodded, "Especially after everything. I want to spend the evening with you." "Me too! I mean with you! Dancing... and being boyfriend and girlfriend... 'cause we are... aren't we? Erevin still doesn't think we..." Axton interrupted her, "We are most definitely boyfriend girlfriend." He leaned in and kissed her lips just as Amynta cleared her throat from the doorway, "Ahem." "H-hey!" Yuki spun around and shushed her, "D...Didn't you see the sock on the door?!" "Yes! It was very cute," Amynta nodded, "There is someone here to see you." "What?" Yuki looked at her confused, "Who?" "Lord Harbinger, you invited him for tea..." Amynta looked at Yuki like she should know this. "You did?" Axton turned and looked at Yuki. "Well... yeah, I had to..." Yuki nodded, "Because of that whole 'thing'... I... I mean how else am I going to get answers? ... Don't worry! I've got everything under control! Thank you, Axton!" She kissed him quickly on the cheek, "I've gotta go! I've gotta go! Before he runs away!" Axton looked at her concerned, "Be careful." "Tch..." Yuki laughed, "Like he's going to hurt me... Don't worry! Everything is fine! Thank you! I love it!" She dashed out the door!

Yuki ran out to the front gate to see Harbinger dressed in black and smiling while talking to a couple of the priestesses. "Yuki," he turned to greet her with his usual courteous smile, "You've been gone for such a long time... I was surprised to see your invitation to tea." "Mr. Harbinger," she smiled and bowed in greeting. "That's a lovely necklace you're wearing." He nodded to her. "Thank you!" Yuki beamed! "I...I just got it! It was a gift... I'm going to wear it to the ball." "To the ball..." Harbinger nodded. "Do you have time for tea?" She took his arm in hers as he nodded. "Certainly. I have a little bit of time. Why don't we go somewhere private? I heard you wanted to ask me some questions?" She nodded and led him over to one of the private alcoves on the temple grounds where cake and tea had been brought, "How've you been? It's been so long!" "Still very busy... consoling those poor lost souls here in Lyrabar that need my services as a priest of Shar. Things have been much quieter since you and your companions have been gone." "Quieter? Wh...What do you mean?" "You bring a certain amount of...chaos wherever you go..." "I don't think that's a compliment is it?" Yuki laughed. "It keeps life interesting, doesn't it?" "Interesting..." she nodded and stepped into the alcove, sweeping into a sudden bow, "I believe I owe you an apology Mr. Harbinger." "An apology?" He turned to her, "Whatever for?" "I believe when I seen you last we were on the street... and I wasn't myself... and I may have said some things that were a little... rude. I'm sorry." Harbinger raised an eyebrow at her, "I don't recall you saying anything rude... You merely asked if we were friends and I said that we were." "Good," she nodded. "Good." She gestured toward the cake and began to cut it, babbling happily about how she had just baked it this morning using Maly's cherries and how she'd hoped he'd like it. He smiled at her, trying it, "You always could make a delicious cake." "But I..." She looked up at him a little confused, "Did you eat it when I was younger? You must be talking about my mother's cakes... I didn't really start to make them til I came to Lyrabar since she wasn't here anymore." "Mmm perhaps that's it... Your mother's cakes." Leaning back, he agreed that she could ask him anything but... "Secrets are secrets."

"Mr Harbinger, How long have you known me?" she tilted her head at him. "I've known you since you were a young girl... in Waterdeep," he nodded. "You don't turn into a dragon, do you?" she blurted out suddenly, "I mean.. uh..." He raised an eyebrow, "What would make you think that, Miss Ashdown?" His voice growing darker. Yuki handed him some cream for his tea, fussing for him to drink it as she gathered her thoughts. He sipped it slowly as she continued. "I'm a little confused about some things... and I think you might know something that I don't." He laughed slightly, "I'm sure I know 'many' things that you don't... and I'm sure there are things that you know that I don't." "Hey wait a minute!" she protested. "I'm not saying you're stupid or anything..." He shrugged. Yuki raised an eyebrow. "I'm just saying that we have different life experiences... I'm a priest of the goddess of Loss... and you're a priestess of the goddess of Sune..." He nodded, "But that's not really the question you want to ask, is it?" "No..." she shook her head slowly, "But I'm afraid to ask what I really want to ask... Promise you won't run away?" "Why would I run away?" He raised an eyebrow. "Because... you might... because...they're big questions." "Ask your questions... I can't promise that I will answer them... but we are... friends... so I will do my best." "D...Did you know my twin sister? ...Mayu." His fork came to a halt in mid-air, "How do you know of this?" "Isn't the more interesting question ... 'Why do I NOT know of this?' ... Mr. Harbinger... Things are happening around me that I do not understand." "What sort of things?" "A man named Tyrian... an elven prince from Evermeet... found me in the courtyard yesterday and kissed me... and he called me the name of that woman in the portrait you showed to me. Do you remember? When you took me to that museum. You were the first person who showed me Arabelle Valentine... and 'he' thought 'I' was her." "He did, did he?" his teacup rattled just a little. "What does that mean? ... I'm not Arabelle Valentine... I'm just... Yuki. I ... had these visions of fighting a black dragon... on top of snow capped mountains... In one I was helping her, watching her. And in the other I WAS her... but I wasn't 'HER' ... I was me. Yuki... And the dragon was named Harbinger... What does that mean? Are there more Harbingers?" Harbinger laughed, "So many questions..." She interrupted before he could continue, "But you're the only one who knows about Arabelle Valentine! Nobody else can help me... but you." He speaks aloud more to himself, "She's never remembered before...This is new." "What does that mean?" Yuki tilted her head at him, "Who are you talking to?" He turned to her, "I shall tell you a story, Miss Ashdown..." He sipped his tea. "But..." She looks...vaguely disappointed, "I asked you questions." "Perhaps this story will answer some questions... although I'm sure it will beget others." "But I don't need more questions, Mr Harbinger!"

He smiled and continued, "A long time ago... so long ago that it really doesn't matter..." "Of course it matters!" "Thousands of years... in the heaven of Elysium there was a goddess of love and beauty." "Sune." Yuki nodded. "Sune... as you may have heard from the temple of Lythander has had many lovers in her time being the goddess of love and beauty. Thus she's had a multitude of sons and daughters... One of her daughters, a lovely young demi-goddess... very romantic... yearned for epic love. Countless dalliances with gods and demi-gods in Elysium for thousands of years... and yet she never captured that love she was searching for. Something lacked in the 'perfect' heavens with her 'perfect' suitors. Her 'perfect' romances lacked something ... She went to her mother, the goddess Sune, who consoled her and told her to appreciate the happiness she had. They loved her... but it was not enough for her daughter. She sought elsewhere for the love that she craved... and it was there that she met with the Lady Shar who told her that she would never find the love that she sought where everything is perfect in heaven... The foolish young woman made a bargain with my lady..." "Foolish?" Yuki questioned, pointedly looking at Harbinger. "I would think so..." Harbinger nodded, "She chose to give up her divinity and be born to the world as a mortal so that she might find the match for her soul and love as a mortal." "But... that's beautiful isn't it?" Yuki looked at him, "To pursue love so determinedly... To pay any cost." "Ah, but with my mistress there is always a price." "Is there, Mr Harbinger?" Wondering what...his price was... "Mmm more than you know..." He nodded, "And so she was reborn as a mortal... and has lived countless lives searching for her epic love. Finding great love with every lifetime, but never the one that she sought. Dying and being reborn again. Forgetting her previous life to be born again and again to find a new love." "But that's...not possible... is it?" Yuki looked confused, remembering her doctrine. "Normally when one dies...one passes on to be with their god. But because of the bargain she struck with Shar... this is not the case. She's born anew with a new life." "So...she's found 'great love'... but not... 'THE' love?" Yuki peered at him, "How do you know? I don't understand why you're telling me all this..." He stood up and walked around the table, taking her hand and pulling her up out of her chair. "Mr...Harbinger?" His voice becoming darker and more menacing, "I was the first, Anauria... The first of your loves... and you don't remember me, do you? Still... Even now."

Yuki tried to take a step back, but his grip was like iron, "Mr. Harbinger...you're hurting me..." He laughed, "I'M hurting YOU?" "Mr Harbinger, I don't know that name..." Yuki spoke quietly. '...Anauria...' "Of course you don't... You never do." Yuki's voice barely above a whisper, "Mr. Harbinger... I'm sorry. I'm just...Yuki. I'm not...who you think I am." "Yes... So you've told me... my 'FRIEND'... Just...my friend," his voice ever darker. Yuki felt herself sinking...melting into the blackness of his body as she whispered his name again... Then there was an explosion of pink light and Harbinger stood with a hole in the darkness of his chest... Yuki's eyes widened! Harbinger turned around to see Axton standing there with his hand out. Yuki raised her hands out and threw herself between them, "Stop! Stop!" Axton looked back at her, "Get away from him!" Harbinger turned back to her darkly, "Oh is this your current little toy, Anauria? Not even as impressive as the elven prince... Just an ordinary priest... How...disappointing..." And he slowly faded into shadows, disappearing from sight. Yuki sank to her knees with Axton rushing over to her, "Are you alright?" She stared up at him a bit blankly and confused, "I... I don't understand." Axton pulled her into his arms and hugged her, holding her close, trying to comfort her.

The city was blanketed in white and the snow was finally slowing to a few drifting flakes and everyone was getting ready for the ball. Erevin draped a luxuriously soft fur shawl over Shri's shoulders as they walked through the snow out to the magnificent elven carriages that gave a soft blue illumination to the snow around them. The fog of warm breath came from the horses against the frosty chill in the air. Wren was dressed like frost with a sheer glittering cloak over a sensuous gown of white that faded down to a pale blue. Kale reached out with lightning reflexes to catch an icicle dropping toward her head almost as though her strange curse with water (always ending up wet) tried to follow her in it's frozen form. Wren looked up to see the icicle inches from her before Kale tossed it aside, guiding her softly with his other arm to the carriages. She smiled at him and kissed his lips, "My hero." The carriages are warm on the inside. Tyrian travels with Anna and the elves, "I hope to see her there..." Wren nodded to him, "I'm sure Yuki will be there." "Excellent! I have a gift prepared for her." He nodded back to her. The elven witch leaned softly against Kale wondering how her beautiful priestess friend was handling this new suitor. Yuki always seemed to fall for the elven princes...

Thorn travels in the luxurious carriages from the Vastel estate with Tylianna, Carus, and Reegan. Tyli looked up at Thorn, "When I'm older... you'll take me to the ball wont you, Mr Thorn?" "Absolutely," He nodded to her, smiling, and helping her into the carriage. "Yay!" She cheered as she climbed onto one of the silk covered cushions, "And you'll buy me lots of presents?" "Of course! It's the season!" He nodded to her cheerfully as he climbed in behind her. "Yay!" She cheered again! Carus and Reegan got into a second carriage with Azarius and Trieste. Thorn stepped out as they stopped to pick up Seri. She looked like a beautiful noble halfling woman... nothing pirate-like or thief about her. She showed him her carefully hidden mask within the folds of her gown. "Well..." He grinned at her, "I didn't expect to see that hiding spot." She laughed with delight, "Oh I have lots of hiding spots..." He helped her into the carriage and she looked around, taking a seat beside him, "Very nice... You know you ought to invite me to come visit at the Vastel estate." He nodded to her, "Perhaps I'll see if arrangements can be made... Of course, I'll have to check with Azarius." She smiled knowingly at him, "Oh, I'm sure... you're man... or whatever." The horses clip clopped through the snow, pulling the carriage.

Over on the docks, Posy and Mali stepped out to see a sleigh decorated in mistletoe and being drawn by Mali's big black moose that the barbarians have decorated with bells and a wreath around his neck. As the girls climb in, the boys cut a string that spring up a sprig of mistletoe over their heads. Posy laughed and kissed Uther and Ursus pointed up excitedly. Mali nodded to him, "I see it." He leaned in and kissed her and she giggled.

Amynta came in wearing a low-cut pink dress, "Yuki! What's taking you? The carriage is here and Axton and Dominic are waiting." "Of course, Of course..." Yuki seemed to stir. She had been sitting in front of the mirror...her thoughts a thousand miles away. "Ah... Myn? Can you help me with this?" She handed her the necklace Axton had given her. Amynta nodded, clasping it around her neck, "You look beautiful tonight! But... Are you alright? You're acting a bit distracted. You don't have a fever, do you?" She placed a hand on Yuki's forehead. "Uh... I'm... alright! I can go!" Yuki nodded to her with a half-hearted smile, "Am I not smiling?" "No, you're not..." Amynta shook her head, "This is your first real date with your first real boyfriend!" Yuki slumped forward and laid her head on Amynta's shoulder, "Just... just for a minute." "What happened?" Amynta patted her consolingly, "Did he make you mop something again?" Yuki laughed and lifted her head with a smile, "Thank you... I needed that, Amynta." She hugged her close. Amynta took Yuki's arm and headed out of the door, "Let's go get our boyfriends! I'm planning on getting lots of kisses tonight!" Yuki laughed, "I'm just a little... nervous. I can do this, right?" "You can do this! Boyfriends! Finally! Just think of all the double dates we'll be able to go on!" Yuki looked at her, asking skeptically, "With Dominic? ...I mean!" Yuki smiled cheerfully, "With Dominic!" "Stop that!" Amynta protested, "He's a great guy!" "He's 'such' a player..." "I don't know what you mean!" "Okay, Okay... Well he better spoil you rotten tonight that's all I'm saying." They sweep out through the snow dusted rose garden to meet up with the boys. Axton took her arm as she beamed up at him, "You look beautiful tonight!" and he helped her into the carriage. She whispered to Amynta, "Is he really going to wear that thing?" She glanced at Dominic masked. Amynta nodded to her, whispering, "It's fun taking it off." Helena and Alain got into another carriage to travel to the ball together as well.

Carriages arrive by the bay all decorated in holly and berries and everyone travels on barges across to the fortress where beautiful music is playing. Everyone meets Seri with pleasant surprise to see Thorn with a beautiful and graceful halfling woman. Seri shook her head, "I haven't really heard much about any of you..." "Likewise. Any friend of Thorn's is a friend of mine," Erevin nodded and smiled, moving his coin pouch from his belt to his inside jacket pocket. She smiled, "I'm on vacation tonight." Icicles hung off of the portcullis and the inside of the fortress was decorated beautifully and long tables of food had been put off. Nobles everywhere dressed in their finest... some we recognize and greet. Renata and Bishop, The Shard of Selune, Vivian and Rhianna, Magnus and Lynneth. Annaisuru walks with elven eye candy on her arm. Murmurs echo out as Helena and Alain enter together as well as Yuki and Axton. Magnus clasps Erevin's arm, "Welcome Lord Lionspaw and entourage back to the city of Lyrabar. Lyrabar always needs those with a stout arm and strong blade so that celebrations such as this are possible." Erevin nods to him, "We are pleased to make our return and to be counted as those amongst yourself." Introductions to a few people who haven't been made very public yet... like Shri and the barbarians. Yuki turns and smiles to see Tyrian's eyes upon her. Tyrian and Axton cross eyes with a bit of cold against each other. Yuki retreats to Wren's open arms who's excited to see her, "We have to talk!" Yuki looks a little teary and Wren leads her to the table getting her some wine and adds a little extra to it trying to pull her out of her sadness for the ball. Erevin and Vivian dance. She smiles at him, "Such a wicked young elf you are, Erevin, casting me into hell like that." "You were such a bad girl... I thought the punishment was necessary. Was he a fitting prosecutor?" "Mmm he was... such a delightful man. I look forward to figuring out who he is." Erevin nodded, "Then the game is afoot. I wish you the best of luck." "It is always the way of that place... trying to figure out who is behind the mask." "Your secret is safe with me." "I appreciate that," she nodded, "Never kiss and tell." "Ever." He shook his head, "We must know our place." Erevin and Dominic meet up with Bishop getting punch. Renata doesn't look well and excuses herself. Erevin looks her over briefly as she walks away and he turns to Bishop, "Anything I can do?" Bishop nods to Erevin appreciatively, "Just don't mention it to her... it's the safest." Erevin introduces Dominic and Bishop and talks about the cold trail of Crucible and Bishop's antiserum. Bishop nods, "I, my wife, and some companions found one of his old laboratories in an outpost where the magic was still strong. There was an imprisoned creature there that we had to kill. It was mad. After finding some of his notes and herbs that had exposed to some of his magic on the island." "Ahh," Erevin nodded, "So that's it. Dominic has been missing the last part to recreate the serum." Bishop nodded, "A magical radiation from a tower there effected the plants... Unfortunately some strange storms have sprung up over the island making it too dangerous to get there with any normal ship... so we've lost access to the herb we need, but we haven't seen any more disappearances so there hasn't been much of a strong need to get there." "Perhaps he has returned to the island and is using the storms to protect himself there..." Erevin pondered. Bishop nodded, "That is possible. The tower there could do many things. It wouldn't surprise me if it could create storms." "Then perhaps I need to pay this island a visit," Erevin nodded recalling the island surrounded by storms that the pirates avoided on the way to Thay. Bishop nodded, "I'll be sure to share my formula." He wrote some things down a paper and hands it off to Dominic. They say their goodbyes and for a moment Bishop turns back toward Dominic, "You know, the mask isn't really necessary." and he continues on his way.

Uther and Posy along with Ursus and Mali dance to their own style having a good time and not really caring what anyone else thinks. Wren and Kale glided across the dance floor in perfect harmony together in a graceful elven dance. Yuki and Axton along with Erevin and Shri dance very beautifully. Thorn and Seri dance very well together. Wren keeps an eye on Yuki, occasionally handing her another glass of wine and hugging her. Katarina Brightwood approached Wren asking to dance with Kale and the young witch managed to push down the automatic possessive response in her head and instead smiled at her, "Of course. There's no harm in one dance... if he wants to." She glanced over to Kale who looked back at her a little worried, but Wren smiled and nodded, assuring him it wasn't some sort of trap. Kale took Katarina to the dance floor and Katarina blushed and giggled a lot. Her brother, Alexander, strong and exuding that pure paladin aura escorted Wren to the floor in a graceful dance... after a moment there was a tap on his shoulder and the handsome young nobleman, Jerrandis smiled at her, "Lady Dreamspinner, it's been so long..." Wren gave him a deep curtsy and smiled, "Jerrandis Mercer... where have you been?" "In Lyrabar," He took her hand and led her into a dance, "It's been quite a boring town without you and your companions about. Things have almost settled down to normal." "Wellll," she smiled playfully at him, "We'll just have to do something about that then, wont we?" Jerrandis laughed, "Such a wicked woman..." Wren blinked at him with feigned innocence, "Me?" She laughed. They dance and she's very warm and sweet. Kale watched the two of them dance, his eyes boring into Jerrandis.

Uther walked over to the tables where he got punch and spiked it for him and Posy. A young nobleman approached Posy while she was alone. Handsome with a sword on his waist, "Posy? I'm Simon... Simon Dulsaer. I'm Rhianna and Vivian's brother... I'm a bounty hunter. I was at The Hunt this year... do you remember? We all went out." Posy shook her head, "Doesn't ring a bell, sorry." "I regret that I did not make an impression on you, Miss Posy, but you certainly made an impression on me... would you care to dance?" She shrugged and giggled, "Okay..." He led her out on the floor and swept her gracefully, knowing how to lead her easily. Uther came back to find the two of them dancing and he growled a little bit. Simon glided her over to return her, "Is this who you were with? Uther is it? It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Simon offered his hand and Uther took it, crushing it in his own with an irongripped hand shake. Simon walked away rubbing his hand gently. Posy looked up at Uther, "We met him at The Hunt." "Oh yeah..." Uther nodded, "He was the one with the little baby deer."

Mali danced with Ursus, taking Melloran out from under her dress so she could dance better. He wandered off, looking cute and adorable and convincing people to give him scraps. A young silver-haired Argent came over squeezing him into her large bosom, "Oh he's so adorable! Cute little mane and oh! Little sharpy teeth... How have you been, Miss Maliumpkin?" Melloran purred and roared with an adorable tiny lion roar. Mali nodded up to her, smiling, "I'm good! How are you?" "I'm doing fine thanks to the efforts of you and your companions... averting apocolyspes and things like that." Mali nodded and smiled. "Well..." Argent smiled, "I know that this shindig is rather hoity toity... but I thought maybe afterwards you and your friends might care to stop by at the Sokolov bakery. I've heard..." she motioned for Mali to come closer and she whispered quietly to her, "I've heard that Father Winter is going to be there... I hope you can come. He's generous. And..." Argent leaned even closer to whisper into Mali's ear, "And I hear he gives better presents if you sit on his lap." She disappears into the crowd and Mali spreads the word to the group about getting presents if you sit on some strange man's lap. Yuki is very excited to learn that she gets to meet Father Winter!

Axton slow dances with Yuki, very warm and cozy. As they go by a couple of spilled cups, she keeps waiting for him to make her clean something, but he just dances with her and treats her like a REAL girlfriend. She looks wonderingly...at him, "This is strange... You really are a spy. It's like you're not even you... How many yous are there?" He smiles and shrugs, leading her by her hand up the stairs to a very private setting where they can see the sparkling lights of the city. Yuki looked around a little nervously, hopefully, "But there's no one up here..." Axton shook his head, "Just us...Are you alright? You're very distracted tonight," He put his arm around her, "What did he say to you?" She looked up into his eyes, "Are you sure you want to know? I don't really understand it. It seems a little...impossible. And I don't know who to ask to check it." He pinches her cheek a little and cups her face to him, "I want to hear all about it... but tonight is for us." "Ohh," Yuki melted in his arms, sighing happily. Amynta smiles up at the balcony at the two priests silhouetted against the moonlight, pointing them out to Dominic. Erevin notices Tyrian's gaze on Axton and Yuki as well and does his best to distract the prince, getting him some fine elven wine and sending him the other way.

Erevin took a glass of wine to Annaisuru wishing a merry solstice, "It's been a long time since we got to spend the holiday together." She nodded, "I know! and nothing has happened yet... I even brought my sword and everything." He leaned against the wall beside her, "So..." "Yes?" "This may not be my place..." Erevin started a little tentatively. "And when has that ever stopped you before?" Anna raised an eyebrow. "Never... but I'm probably the only one who you probably wont kill on sight for saying this." "Not on sight." "My dearest sister... you have to let him go." "Let who go?" "You know who... you have to let him go." Anna glanced over at Bishop and sighs, "I know..." Erevin laid a soft hand on her shoulder, "I understand the pain... but for all of us, you have to let him go." "I'm... yes... I should." she nodded. "You are a powerful... and dare I say it, beautiful woman." "Bury the hatchet ... so to speak." "I'm sure there are many here who would appreciate your company." "Very well. I will make an offer of peace to her. I will invite her and Bishop..." Erevin interrupted her gently, "I understand she isn't feeling well directly." "Really? I hadn't heard... I was planning on inviting them to The Hunt next month." "She... give it some more time. A month might be enough. I appreciate the olive branch, but not quite yet... by all means, dance with someone, would you?" "Very well."

After awhile, Yuki and Axton come slowly down and Helena and Alain go over to greet them... Helena dances with Axton and Alain dances with Yuki... Tyrian taps Alain to cut in and Yuki's eyes widen, looking to Alain for what to do, and Alain just smiled and turned to nod to him, "I had heard that the Prince of Evermeet had come to our fair city with his presence. Have you been introduced? This is Priestess Yuki Ashdown." Yuki bowed formally, uncertain as to why Alain was introducing them when she had already told him what had happened in the courtyard, but she followed his lead. Tyrian took her hand, "Would you dance with me, Miss Ashdown?" "Yes, Tyrian... I mean Prince... I mean uh..." she sighed, clearly flustered. "Just Tyrian is fine. You never called me a prince." "Uh okay... Tyrian." she nodded, "You'll lead right?" He nodded, "Preferably." "Good," she smiled up at him, "Are you having fun?" "Lyrabar is a very interesting city... unlike what I've been used to for several years." He gracefully led her about the dance floor and she faltered a few times, stepping on his toes, "S-sorry!" "Some things never change..." He laughed warmly, dancing with her. "So tell me about her... your Arabelle... how did you meet and what was she like?" He goes on to tell her about his love with hope in his voice that by telling her the story it might somehow trigger a memory within her as he dances with a century of experience and elven grace. Axton interrupts them with a tap. "My date..." Yuki nods and smiles up at Tyrian excusing herself, "Thank you. That was wonderful."

Erevin was there with more distractions...welcoming Tyrian back to the table with more elven wine, trying to keep the peace. Axton took Yuki's hand and led her off as she murmurs, "What am I supposed to do... I don't understand. I'm just Yuki. I don't know what I'm supposed to do." Axton consoled her, "When we go back to the temple tonight...tell me everything and I'll try to help you." "I don't know everything." "Then tell me what you do know... and we'll work it out." He gave her a reassuring smile. She smiled at him and nodded, "Okay. I can do that."

There is a grand performance of acrobatics dressed in a Father Winter theme, telling a story as they dance and flip. Thorn watches Seri dance among them and admires her great skill as he imagined using those moves slipping in a window and thieving. Yuki made her way around to dance with Erevin, Kale, and Thorn as well. Erevin kept her out of the punch bowl and noticed she was a little extra distracted and clumsy tonight. Thorn dances her around the room, ending their dance strategically under a sprig of mistletoe! He glances up, "You know the rules..." "You devil!" Yuki laughed and gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek.

The sky outside is crystal clear with bright stars in the sky. Thorn grins, "Like the jewels on Yuki's breasts..." "Thorn! Stop that!" Yuki scolded him, "Wren has jewels too! and Posy! and..." "Who said I wasn't looking at Wren's jewels all night too?" "Really?" Kale's deep voice came from behind Thorn, "Tell me about Wren's jewels." "Would you like me to?" "Maybe in this alley back here..." Yuki turned to Axton, "You see, Axton! That's how it's done!" Wren laughed and looped her arm into Kale's, leading him off quickly to one of the barges to cross the bay.

Mali crawled into Ursus's lap and patted her seat, "Want to ride in the sleigh with us, Yuki?" Yuki looked over the mistletoe decorated sleigh with the large obsidian moose and smiled back at Axton, "Want to ride in the sleigh?!" He smiled and nodded to her, climbing in. Everyone gets to the Sokolov Bakery where it smells like fresh warm cinnamon buns, cakes, and gingerbread men... decorations and lights are hung everywhere. Samira smiled, "Welcome! It seems you got Argent's message. Please have some cookies!" The door bursts open with a swirl of wind and Argent glides in with her silver hair tucked into a cute little hat with a fluffy ball and dressed in a provocative green elf costume, "Here ye Here ye! Father Winter has arrived!" We applaud and cheer. An old man stepped in behind her, dressed in a bright festive ornate suit with a long green fur hat that ran down his back and a long white beard with holly woven into it. He carried two large sacks, trimmed in fluffy fur, "I bid you all winter's greetings. Heroes, adventurers, and ne'er do wells." He glanced briefly at Thorn, "Father Winter has arrived with presents." "Presents?" Yuki bounced excitedly, "Presents!" "Ah, Miss Ashdown..." The old man smiled, "You have been a good girl this year." Yuki nodded happily, "Yes I have!" "I get all of your letters, you know." "Every single one?! I've written since I was two! Every single one!" "I know." He nodded. "I believe in you! I haven't stopped believing in you! I almost caught you like 5 times!" She chattered on excitedly. He smiled, trying to hold back a laugh, "You are a very good girl... perhaps you'd like to go first then." He sat down in one of the chairs, "and sit in Father Winter's lap." Without any hesitation, Yuki leapt into his lap and threw her arms around his neck, snuggling in. Clueless and trusting. "Father Winter thank you so much for the pretty pretty princess dress that you gave me when I was five! And that brush and mirror set you left when I was eight!" He put his arm around her, "Yes, yes there's a good girl... tell old father winter all about it." She hugged onto him, bouncing on his lap, so excited! Thorn watched, taking notes as to how this gig works... Father Winter rummaged around in his sack, "Lets see what we have for you this year... Aha, here we go." He handed her a beautiful pair of pink fine leather knee-high go-go boots. Yuki hugged onto them happily, "Oh pink! Thank you, Father Winter!" She hugged him again and kissed his cheek. "Now you should be careful with those..." he told her as she slipped them on her feet. They fit perfectly. As she goes to walk back to everyone, she zooms quickly across the floor! Not quite ready for it, she tumbles into Axton's arms, "Sorry!" She glanced back across the room, "Thank you, Father Winter!"

He grinned, "Who's next?" Mali raised her hand. He patted his lap, "Miss Maliumpkin, Come sit with Father Winter." She climbed slowly onto his lap. "Have you been a good druidess this year?" "...sometimes." Mali looked up at him with a timid smile, "mostly." She nodded, "There was that one time..." "Mmm... You should tell Old Man Winter about it." He nodded to her. "Well we took care of it... Thorn helped me." "Alright..." He nodded to her and rooted around in his bag, "I think I have something for a mostly good druidess." He pulled out a square sheet of mithril chain. Mali stared at it, confused, "Thank you?" "Father Winter has heard that it's been a rough time for your cute and fuzzy friend... why don't you put that on him?" He nodded to her. She pulled out Melloran, sitting him on her lap and it wraps around him in an adorable kitty outfit of mithril chain. She takes his collar off and he grows into a lion with the chain expanding to armor! "Thank you, Father Winter!" "You're welcome," he nods to her and scratches Melloran's ear, "and you're welcome too, Mr Melloran."

"Which of you lovely ladies is next?" He smiled. Wren sat on his lap, putting an arm around him. "Miss Dreamspinner, I know you've been a good girl this year." She giggled and whispered to him, "I've been very naughty." "Why don't you whisper to me all about it..." he laughed. She leaned in whispering into his ear, and as he listened he said, "Oh! ...Ho! Ho! Whore!" He said the last word with a bit of a cough, and Wren nudged him, giggling, "Hey!" "Hmm well that's alright, Father Winter doesn't discriminate," he smiled at her, "Father Winter makes no judgments." He pulled out a lovely silver tea-kettle and a book, handing them to her. "Oh! A tea-kettle! and a book!" she smiled at him, accepting them. "I heard you make a fine tea..." She nodded, "I do. You should come sit around my fire sometime. I'd love to make some tea for you." "I've heard about your fires..." Wren laughed. "Well now you can make your teas in this tea pot that does not require a fire." "Really?" She looked at the kettle in her hands with even more interest. "And this book contains recipes for some rather special teas..." "Oh! SPECIAL tea...." she grinned at him. "I think you and your companions will enjoy it." "Thank you very much!" She kissed him on the cheek and walked back over to Kale already reading over the recipes and pointing things out to him.

Father Winter looked over at Posy, "And how about you?" he patted his lap. Posy looked over at him, muttering quietly, "...okay." She went up and got in his lap. "Posy, Miss bloodletter, fur slayer, Earth-shaker... have you been a good gnome this year?" "I suppose I've been good if you don't count breaking the furniture?" "Nothing wrong with breaking a little furniture," he laughed. He reached into his sack, rummaging around. (A red-rider bb gun! No... you'll shoot your eye out... or Thorn's eye out... or both his eyes out! Stop putting it in his eye and pulling the trigger! LOL!) He pulled out a pair of fine fingerless gloves and handed them to her, "You should be careful with these... they're very dangerous, but then most everything about you is... so it fits." Posy slipped them onto her hands over near Thorn, they glow a bit green and blue and a strange acidic smell... her hands drip with a greenish acid. She grins at Thorn who moves away quickly. Fingerless so her claws can extend. Posy blew Father Winter a kiss in thanks.

He looked over to Erevin, "And you, lord elf... you don't have to get in my lap." "I appreciate that." "You could send that lovely young drow to sit in my lap though and I can give her your present to deliver it to you if you like." Erevin turned back to the dark-skinned priestess beside him, "Shri... show the old man what he's been missing." "Alright..." She handed Erevin her fur shawl and sauntered over to Father Winter, straddling over him slowly, and lowering her voice to a sultry purr, "What do you got for me, Father Winter? Give it to me. I want it." "Erevin is a lucky man..." and he reached into his bag pulling out a pair of gloves. "You've no idea, Father Winter," Erevin smiled. He handed a gift to Shri for her as well and she sauntered back to Erevin handing him his gloves. He shook his head at her, "You are too much." "You owe me," She looked up at him, "and I'm going to collect." He winked at her, "Don't you worry... we'll go back to the embassy and play a little Father Winter of ourr own." He slipped the gloves on, barely able to feel them on. A different colored gem on each knuckle. Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, and Diamond. "Each of the gems does a little trick... I'll show you one and you can figure out the others," Father Winter smiled. "Oh, well it's more fun that way." Erevin nodded. "Take one of your arrows and run the finger of your glove over it with the diamond on it and fire the arrow." The diamond glowed as Erevin did so and he fired it. Light followed the arrow into the wall and then faded into a rope. "That's unique! Thank you very much, Father Winter." "You're welcome. I hope you find it useful... be careful with the other ones."

Father Winter patted his lap and looked to Thorn who hopped onto his lap. "And ha... I'm not even going to ask you because I know that you've been a bad bad halfling... but you use your talent for the betterment of the world... and your pocketbook." He rummaged around in his sack, moving aside a big hunk of gold and pulls out two small cat's eye spherical gems. "Let me guess... toss one across the room and you can look through the other?" "Very good, Mr Thorn! Except you can also attach one of them to the hilt of your dagger. I'm sure you can come up with all kinds of uses for an item like this." Thorn grinned at him, "I'm already coming up with a list... Ahh Thank you, Father Winter!"

Yuki looked over at Thorn, "Don't you dare use that to..." "Oh I have to," Thorn nodded, "It's a gift from Father Winter... it would be disrespectful not to use it... it would go against him and everything he stands for." "Exactly," Father Winter chimed in, "Everything I stand for." Yuki shook her head, "Surely Father Winter didn't realize what a perverted gift that could be..." "Oh I bet he does," Thorn nodded, "He probably has the third one." "Thorn! Don't say that about Father Winter! He's a good man!" she admonished him and turned her smiling face to the old man, "Aren't you Father Winter?" "I am. You're such a good girl," Father Winter put his arm around her. Yuki kissed him on the cheek, "Next year I want rubies and emeralds... I'm a big girl now!" "Alright," he laughed, "Father Winter will keep that in mind. You be good this year though... and write me lots." "I will! Always!"

Everyone gets something. Father Winter stood up and bowed, "You all enjoy your Winter Solstice and your presents." We all chime in with extra thank yous. The door opens, winds come in and swirl around him and he disappears. Argent sits, eating a gingerbread man, "Oh I guess I'm going to stay..." She took her hat off, letting her silver hair fall back down. We say our good byes and thank yous and return to our various places. Everyone has a delightful evening.

The next day... at the crack of noon... Gregori Vastel materializes in Erevin's room. "Master Vastel... welcome to the elven embassy." "Oh!" He glances about noticing that Shri is still asleep, sprawled over Erevin, "We have returned. You will have to speak with Destiny. She is where you normally leave her while in Lyrabar." "Excellent. It is good to have you back." "I can not stay... it's a good distance away. We've been back for about a day, but I wanted to let you know we returned." (the ship arrived about the same time as the gate opening when the white dragon came to claim Lumani for his bride.) Gregori departs back to the ship. Erevin sends messages to everyone to let them know that Destiny is back.

LEVEL 9!! Woot! Merry Christmas everyone!