Rosche+-+The+powerful+wizard+and+lecherous+pervert

"Where are we going again?" Amynta shyly asked her best friend Yuki, as she pulled her lavender mantle more tightly around her shapely shoulders. Yuki had asked her to join Wren and herself on a trip out into the city to see Lady Samira's mentor, but she wasn't sure how she could help. And why did she have to wear her more revealing outfit! She had wanted Dominic to be the first to see her in this daring dress she had bought, which left little to the imagination. But, she trusted her best friend, there had to be some reason, and she would always be ready to help Yuki in her most dire hour of need.

"To see Samira's mentor...she said he'd be staying at the House of Wonders." Yuki replied brightly, as they stepped off the gondola. The poor gondola driver, an older man, had not been able to keep his eyes off the trio since they'd boarded. He was still blushing faintly as they giggled and waved goodbye.

"Such a nice older man...." Amynta smiled, linking her arm with Yuki's.

They travelled through the merchant’s district until they came to the House of Wonders, and hesitantly stepped into the alley next to it, looking for the door that Samira had mentioned. Sure enough, there were a set of rickety looking wooden steps leading up to a non-descript wooden door on the second floor of the building.

"I...guess...this is the place?" Yuki said, hesitantly stepping on to the first old wooden board of the steps, which creaked ominously...

Wren gazed up the rickety wooden stairs, where she could feel a magical presence, and glanced to Yuki with the creak of the board, "An interesting entrance choice... but yes, this must be it." She nodded. She adjusted her short, low-cut bodice... it was black and stitched to look like feathers, held together with a couple of widely spaced laces that were tied in a little bow at the bottom about 6 inches above her waistline. A wide black band with multiple long black raven feathers made her skirt... it draped loosely over her hips. She had on knee-hi, black suede boots that laced up the sides. Her hooded-cloak was clasped around her neck with a silvery clasp that looked like a great tree that formed a circle with the silhouette of a raven overlying it.

She followed Yuki up the stairs with Inali lying across her shoulders.

"Did either of you think Miss Samira was the type of person to...er...play pranks?" Yuki took another creaky step up the rickety staircase. She couldn't help but think that if this Rosche guy was as powerful a mentor as Samira suggested, shouldn't he have a more...impressive front entrance? The girls behind her shook their heads. "Mm. I didn't think so either." She adjusted her new white mantle, embroidered with cute, innocent rosebuds, over her nearly diaphanous priestess robes. "Riiiiight!" Yuki said with a great deal more bravado than she felt, "Here goes nothing!"

With that she raised her pretty hand and knocked on the door.

A resounding silence came from behind the door, and Yuki knocked again. After several moments more of silence Amynta tugged on Yuki's mantle. "Maybe he's....not home?"

Suddenly the door swung open, revealing blackness within. Deep, impenetrable blackness, it seemed as if the day's light was swallowed whole. An amused, elderly voice whispered from the darkness. "Questions you have...answers I give....enter if you have the courage!"

Wren smiled a wicked smile as her eyes shifted to a mischievous sparkle. She laid a soft hand on Yuki's shoulder and nodded to her as she stepped past her friend into the beckoning darkness, letting her elven eyes and ears lead her in. She spoke in elven, slow and alluring, "Master Rosche? My name is Wren Dreamspinner..."

Wren paused...in a timeless moment. The darkness clearly was not...normal as none of her elven senses could see even the faintest of outlines of...well...anything. She wasn't even sure what she was standing on.

Yuki and Amynta looked at each other. Were they going to let their friend be swallowed up by the darkness alone...Trembling, the two of them followed behind as they too lost their sight.

Suddenly the darkness faded as light seeped into their vision....turning black slowly into grey...and then back into color. They were in a large room, with marble walls and floors and a vaulted ceiling. A giant mirror hung on the wall at one end, with 3 exquisite vases, one adorned with diamonds, one with rubies, and one with sapphires. The three could see their reflections in the giant mirror, and noticed, there was no longer a door behind them.

Wren slowly looked around the room, taking it in as it faded in around her. She turned to look at Yuki and Amynta, and glanced behind them. Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard the voice start to speak again...

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The same, dryly humorous voice spoke from the air around them. "Welcome...Wren Dreamspinner of Deception, Daughter of Raven of Wisdom. And welcome Yuki Ashdown, Daughter of Avidon and Elisabetta, Beloved of Sune and Shar. And finally, greetings Amynta Hawkwinter, Daughter of Earth...of the Elemental Sisters, also beloved of Sune. Answers you seek, answers you must earn."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren looked at Yuki and Amynta with a raised eyebrow.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"A simple start...it shall be..." The voice intoned "Place the vases on the correct pedestals to reveal the door. But beware trial and error, lest you face consequences most fire...err...dire!" The voice chuckles and fades. Scattered about the room the trio notices simple, unadorned pedestals rising from the floor...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren's eyes widened. She glanced at her companions, "Have either of you played this game before?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She took a careful step forward, determined. She took a closer look at the vases and pedestals... she touched each with her hands and looked them over carefully... she tried to feel out any physical difference... she closed her eyes as she touched each and tried to feel any magical pull from the other.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...yuki...?" Squeaked Amynta, taking her best friend's hand. Yuki squeezed Amynta's hand tightly and looked to Wren, "Wren? ...this... Is this some kind of...game? What...does he mean 'consequences'? He wouldn't...hurt us, would he?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Hurt us? ... hmm maybe... kill us... less likely." Wren hugged them both and moved toward the challenge of the puzzle.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Right!" Yuki nodded, pulling up her sleeves. Not for the first time, she missed Rue and Rue's clever mind for puzzles. But she would try her best! Following Wren's lead, she began to touch the vases then eye the pedestals, "Rubies...are associated with love and beauty and Sune! So...it would figure the most beautiful pedestal would suit her best? Wouldn't it?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren thought about it and nodded to Yuki, "That's true... if they represent gods... who would be blue for sapphires and who would be clear or prism to enclose all colors maybe? ... if they're supposed to represent the magical elements... then the rubies would be fire, the sapphires water... the diamonds air... and perhaps the pedestals would be earth?... but I'm not sure how they match up that way... unless the pedestals were warm, wet, and breezy." Wren giggled. "And there are three of us... and three vases... so, they could represent us." She tried to look at them more openly.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She absently brushed her fingers over the white dragon scaled necklace around her neck as she looked at them... //if they represent us, which one speaks to me?// she thought to herself.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I love...rubies...so maybe this one is mine...." Yuki said…picking up the vase with the rubies. It was lovely....and delicate, and Yuki set it down on one of many pedestals near to her. While there were only three vases, there were perhaps a dozen pedestals. Once the vase was set down, flames belched out of it....engulfing the hapless priestess.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Owww! Hot HOT!" Yuki jumped back, her hair singed and her skin warm. She put out tiny fires smoldering on her clothes...and now she smelled of smoke. Her clothes were now a mess.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stared wide eyed at Yuki, then quickly stepped forward and helped her put out the little flames. "Ahhh Yuki! Are you alright?!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She froze and listened as the voice came again...

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The voice chuckled..."A hint then..."

//<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Whatever I see, I swallow immediately, // //<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike, // //<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I am not cruel, only truthful... //

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She looked back at Yuki and Amynta, "What do you suppose THAT means?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...riddles...why did it have to be...riddles..." Yuki patted down her clothing, noticing that certain areas seemed to be more burned away than others, and pondered the inscrutable words... "...Flame or Fire would be too obvious. Time... Death... All those things take or consume regardless of love or dislike..." She looked at the vase in her hand...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Any ideas? Myn? Wren?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren sat down and thought about the strange riddle...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She muttered out loud to herself as she looked around the room for the answers....

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"whatever i see... just as it is... not cruel, truthful..." a dozen pedestals... 3 vases... marbled floor and walls... tall ceiling... and a mirror.... Wren stood up and walked to the mirror, looking at her reflection...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">she started to repeat the riddle again, "Whatever I see... I swallow immediately. Just as it is... unmisted by love or dislike. I am not cruel, only truthful..." Wren studied the mirror itself for a moment, she reached out and touched the mirror and again looked at her reflection and looked at the vases and the room around her in the reflection of the mirror...

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren, Yuki, and Amynta looked into the mirror to see their reflections, with Yuki's reflection still looking singed and burnt, the delicate silks blackened and smudge marks on her normally flawless face. But more revealingly, they saw each of the three vases on three of the pedestals,

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ahah...look...in the mirror! That must be where we have to put the vases!" Amynta exclaimed happily, as each of them picked up and vase, and using the mirror as guidance, moved over to the correct pedestal and set them down. Yuki closed her eyes, hoping that their guess was correct and she would get burnt again, or worse.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But all they heard was the sound of sliding marble as wall opposite the mirror slowly rose, revealing a marble staircase ascending higher into...well, wherever they were now....

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh! Well done, Wren!!!" Yuki clapped her hands together, clearly relieved she hadn't been engulfed in flames again! "And look! There are stairs. Do you think he's...up there...somewhere?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki tried to rub away some of the cinder off her face then smiled suddenly, "OH! I almost forgot!" Whipping out her beautiful scarlet ribbon, she fluttered it gently around her, "...Let me just... Real quick! HEART. POWER. MAAAAAAKE....UP!!!!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Light exploded from her, lifting her up into the air and turning her around just so. Her clothes disintegrated into motes of silvery, rose-colored light, carefully obscuring her naked body from view... A moment later, Yuki and the ribbon settled gently to the ground... She opened her eyes, looked down and then smiled, "Ah...Well... It is a bit...more than I was going for but...?" Standing before them, she wore a tight vibrant pink midriff baring desert dress, one imagined worn by the concubines of a desert prince. The top was a short, tight-fitting camisole as smooth as the softest silk... Silver brocade traced the edging, emphasizing the fullness of her breasts... The bottom hugged low on her hips and fell to the floor in shimmering, flowing skirts - a vibrant pink with tiny silver embroidery to match the silver edging brocade. She twirled around and the skirts flared just a little, revealing a great deal of alabaster leg... All the ash and singe from her face were gone... Only the smell of roses remained...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She draped the ribbon over her shoulder, so that it flowed both down the front and back of her body to the floor... Somehow, it seemed more...pink than red in the light, matching the dress perfectly...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Much better. I'm ready! Let's go!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(the picture of what I was going for - @http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jpbQlwz26ZY/TaJiCD4wVmI/AAAAAAAAAIs/ioBNcTr7ZXE/s1600/katrina_pink_saree_01.jpg)

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Oh, nice link. Very pretty! :-) )

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren blinked at Yuki, "Well that is very handy! ... and a lovely choice." She admired Yuki’s new outfit and nodded.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren gazed up the stairs cautiously, "well something is up there..." she tapped the stairs carefully with her hand."Use caution going up." She whispered the words to the dancing lights spell as she wove her fingers to create three little wisps around them.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She stepped on the stairs carefully, and moved up slowly, taking the lead and keeping an eye on her friends behind her.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren continued up the stairs, followed hesitantly by a now sparkling newly dressed Yuki and Amyta. The stairs led to another magnificent marbled room, but instead of a mirror and pedestals, this one was filled with all kinds of creatures, seemingly frozen in time. Incredibly lifelike...all sorts of weird and fantastical creatures. Beholders...Dragons...and golems towered over the trio as they gazed around in wonder. Giants of frost and fire, and giants with two heads stared down at them. Beast of all sorts...with tentacles...a mishmash of animals seemingly merged together by a wizard’s mad mind. A wolf with three heads...and hungry looking jaws. A many headed serpent...all....seemingly so real and yet unmoving.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren looked around the room at all the beasts and her thoughts drifted to the creatures coming at them from the portals in the tower... the bearded devil that brought her so close to death, dropping her in a puddle of her own blood... she stumbled a moment just with the memory of the pain even after healing... she shivered.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The stairs...vanished behind them and the voice spoke again...

//<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">"Man has but one, //

//<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> an ettin has two, //

//<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Cerberus has three, //

//<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> the Lernean Hydra has four." //

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"HEAD!" exclaimed an excited Yuki, before immediately slapping her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide in panic. Too late.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A giant tentacle oozing mucus and slime snapped out, wrapping itself around the priestess's body, slobbering her in its slimy mucus from head to toe. "KYYYYYYYYAHHHHHH!!!!!!! WRRRRRRREEEEEEN!!!!! MYNTAAAAA!!! GET IT OFF! GET IT....!!!!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As quickly as it snapped out, it snapped back, frozen in time again, along with a good portion of hot...pink....fabric.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">...a trembling Yuki collapsed to the floor in tears, "...Oh! I don't like this.... I don't like this AT ALL!!!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She froze to listen to the next riddle and turned at the sound of yuki's voice answering it. Her eyes grew wide at the site of the tentacle grabbing Yuki... "Yuki!" She rushed to help her... and crouched down to console her trembling friend in her arms.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"It's going to be okay... we'll get through this. You can do it! Stay with me... I need you here. Rue and Ori and Loch... they need us." She tried to comfort her and give her reasons to find her courage. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Amynta... come hold Yuki... she'll be okay. Stay together and i'll look around," Wren nodded to Amynta and stood up.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She thought to herself as she looked carefully around the room. If Yuki was right... and the answer was a head... how did it work in the room... that one has one head, that one two, three, multi... is there just a head in need of a matching body? What am I supposed to do with the heads? ... she looked it over carefully...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki rose unsteadily to her feet, "I'm...al...right...!" She shuddered. "All right." Her hands smoothed the remnants of a once beautiful dress down... The very little that was left. "...that...was...AWFUL!" She hugged herself and looked away, "...but...I've been touched...by worse..." Thoughts of Malice...it seemed, were never far from her mind.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren noticed that one of creatures had a plaque underneath it called "Lernean Hydra". It had...nine heads.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stopped and stared at the hydra with the plaque... she recounted the clue again... man has one, an ettin has two... Cerberus had three... and the lernean hydra had four...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">she looked at the plaque for a long moment and then looked back up at the hydra... nine... but the riddle said four... she recalled the old tales and stories of the lernean hydra who regrew its head by two when one was cut off... if it started with four... Surely I’m not supposed to cut one off?! okay, wren think ... it would have to have a head cut off five times to eventually get nine... she looked carefully at each of the nine heads, looking to see where one neck branched to two... if there was one never struck... and if any stood out… she tentatively reaching up to touch one…

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">... As she reached out, she recalled from her lessons that lernean hydras had nine heads, the statue was right… so the answer couldn’t be heads...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali stamped her little paw on the shoulder of Wren's outstretched hand, "Don't touch that!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren jerked her hand back and looked up at Inali, "Are you crazy?! Don't scare me like that... I'm nervous enough as it is.... either help or be quiet."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh .. umm you're welcome?" Inali snorted at her, "Just trying to save you from certain doom... of course what does the fox know..." she leapt down off of Wren's shoulders and sauntered over near Amynta and sat down.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Aww Inali don't be like that... I'm sorry. You're always right. Thank you for helping..." Wren batted her eyes at Inali sweetly.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali snorted at her. "Who do you think I am... Kale? your mother?" she snorted again, "so ungrateful..."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren sighed. She took out some tasty treats and put them on the floor by her feet. She then went back to looking at the hydra and the rest of the room... thinking about the riddle over and over again in her head... what else does man have one of, an ettin two, Cerberus three, and a hydra four... she looked over the hydra... feet? no... lifetimes? hmm no... i have to know this, i have to be looking at it all wrong... she walked and looked around the room to see if she could see what she was missing.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki walked around the pieces with her, arriving back before the Hydra, "...so if not heads, what does it have four...of?" She started counting body parts, recalling everything she'd heard of beasties like ettins and Cerberus and...hydras... Which, admittedly, wasn't a whole lot!

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Amynta scratched the little fox under her chin "She is so cuuuuute. I love her! I wish I were better at riddles. They are all so tricky and stuff, they seem so tricky and the answers always simple."

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"See....someone here appreciates me!" Inali snuggled up against the buxom priestess.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Wait! WAIT!" Yuki stopped, eyes wide. "We're... The problem is we're not looking at this the right way at all! Because... Well... Because that clever old...er...SPOKE it. Myn? Wren? Do you have a piece of charcoal? Or...anything! Something to write with?!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Mynta rummaged around inside her cute little purse and produced a piece of white chalk. Yuki, clothes still in tatters, took gratefully and dropped to her knees on an open piece of floor. She began to write the riddle out on the stone cold marble. "Do you see! I'm not wrong, right? Look!"

//<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">"Man has but one, //

//<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> an ettin has two, //

//<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Cerberus has three, //

//<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> the Lernean Hydra has four." //

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Right?" She glanced back and forth between Wren and Amynta. "Vowels! VOWELS! Right?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren came up behind Yuki and watched over her shoulder as she wrote it down on the marble floor... <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She beamed and nodded to Yuki, "You're absolutely right! Good work, Yuki! That was very clever!" She looked up to see what would happen next.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As the trio of girls wandered up the steps, they noticed that the white marble stone beneath their feet became darker and more rough hewn, until it appeared to be simple....greyish rock. The stairs emptied into a vast cavern and each of the girls gasped. It was...beautiful...large crystal stalagtites, and stalagmites jutted out of the floor and ceiling of the cavern, all of different colors and sizes. Some were alight with a strange, inner glow which provided enough light for them to see the wonders of this earthen grotto. Veins of silver and gold and other metals in the walls of the caverns glistened from the reflected light, yellows...greens...blues...and reds.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In the back of the cavern was a raised area with a massive portal of stone, circular with no immediate obvious way to open. In front of the portal was a giant...man of stone. A golem...at least 12 feet tall, with more of the crystals jutting out of its body. Dirt and dust fall off of it as it stirs to life.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The old man's voice cackles with glee...

//<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"This one's easy! Survive!" //<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> The voice then says in a commanding tone "//Stone golem : Attack"//

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The giant golem raises its arms and lumbered towards the girls...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren looked over the colorful lighted crystals and then shifted her gaze to the great stone golem in the room. She blinked when she heard the next challenge. Wait.. Did he just say Survive? She started to back up as she seen the golem start to move and the dust trickle off it. Her eyes grew wide.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki's eyes flew open, "W...WrrrreeeennNNNNNNNN....?!!" Her hands falling away from her tattered dress, surely...this wasn't happening! "THIS is JUST...JUST....MEAN!!!! I...thought 'she' said he was a PERVERT! NOT A... SADIST! ....KYAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!" A huge stone arm struck out barely missing her head, sending her hair dancing into the hair, a few strands flying up into the air...and then down, floating to the ground. When she opened her eyes, Yuki looked irked!

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"FIRST my BEAUTIFUL DRESS. THEN the THE...TENTACLE THINGIE!" She shook at fist at the ceiling or whatever Rosche's voice seemed to be coming from, "AND...NOW YOU THROW THIS...STONEY MONSTER AT US that JUST MESSED UP MY HAIR!!!!!! We're GIRLS, Darn it all!!!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki seemed to push up non-existing sleeves, narrow her eyes at the ceiling and cast...Sanctuary! "Bad Mage! NO MORE OF THAT!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren moved quickly backward, trying to stay out of the way of the golem while she looked around the room for the way to turn on the portal or solve whatever puzzle this must be... surely they weren't supposed to overpower it... She looked over to Yuki and moved to go help her and stopped abruptly when Yuki started yelling at... apparently Rosche. Her eyes grew wide in shock and she stared at the little human priestess. She blinked. She laughed softly. Such courage... she was impressed. This sweet girl surprised her more and more all the time.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It dawned on her what was going to happen next since the golem wouldn't attack Yuki anymore.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Umm Amynta... he called you the daughter of the earth... if you'd like to surprise us with something amazing... Now would be a great time," Wren said hurriedly as she moved to the other side of the golem. "Yuki... look into those crystals... the ones with the colorful lights... see if you can find something to control the golem or open the portal while I keep it busy over here." She moved quickly to anticipate the movements of the stone giant. It should be slower than me ...right? she hoped.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The creature of stone and earth, golem or elemental the young priestess didn't know continued on towards here. Yuki gulped as the creature rumbled closer. Was this it...was this to be Yuki's end. She'd never see the other priestesses again. Goodbye...Rue...Oriel! She'd never seen her best friend Hana again! Farewell Hana! She'd never ever see Axton again! GO BALD AXTON! But the creature swerved past her, the rush of air from its passing further tangling her disheveled hair. Her spell had worked!

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Unfortunately, this left Wren, and Amynta now as its sole targets, at least for a time. Wren ran away from it, it was slow and lumbering, and she used the crystals to hide behind as it lumbered after her. Its arms though, were very long and Wren felt one of the crystals she was hiding behind shatter into a million pieces as the creature destroyed it. She ran again, Inali following behind.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Amynta said "I have no idea what he meant! Daughter of Earth! What should I do?!" She looked around at the crystals, but didn't see any kind of controls....

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren dashed around the cavern, weaving in and out of crystals, trying to keep the golem focused on her, while still trying to stay out of the way enough not to die!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I don't know what it meant either... it sounded important... if it's not something you know about... then maybe it’s just a power within you. Sometimes powers from the unknown just choose us. ... Eeep!" she barely dodged an arm as it crashed into the crystal she was just about to duck behind... she quickly turned in the other direction.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Try feeling the earth... close your eyes... ignore what’s going on around... Inali! Look out!" Wren dropped to the ground and covered Inali beneath her and held still for a second to go under the golem's feet as he stepped over her in his stride, "Feel the rock beneath your feet... touch the crystals... try to feel the earth around you... let it empower you... and when you feel you have it... try either commanding the golem like he belongs to you... know that you're a powerful priestess with a great presence of earth.... tell him too.... Eep!... I don't know... tell him to sleep... or sit... or stop... or ... try to touch that portal and command it to open. Just try!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She gasped as it hit her with the ends of its fingers, pushing her forward into the crystals... she scrambled to get out of the way of its lumbering arms coming ever closer.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren tried to think about the introduction again... to piece it together... it can't be a coincidence to be in this earthy place now, could it? ... elemental sisters... her thoughts drifted to The House of Wonders when she first met Samira... there were three of them... fire, air, and water... they were missing earth... she looked back at Amynta as she dodged about... could Amynta be a sorceress of earth and just not know it? Is she the one to complete the circle? Wren didn't know, but she hoped the strange title he gave her might somehow get them out of this mess... she hoped Yuki was working on a plan B just in case, while Amynta concentrated and she kept this lumbering stone busy... but she couldn't keep it up forever.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As Wren continued to dodge and weave in between the crystals, Amynta looked panicky but tried to intercept the golem chasing after her. Unfortunately, as Yuki knew, being prone to such bouts of clumsiness herself, Amynta wasn’t the most graceful priestess. She caught her toe on one of the protruding crystals, and tumbled rather fetchingly to the ground...in a somewhat compromising position. Yuki was glad that Thorn wasn't here!

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I have to save my friend!" Yuki thought running up behind the golem that was about to smash her into a flat priestess pancake. "STOP!" Yuki commanded it, throwing the full force of her will behind the magic and willfully voiding her sanctuary spell. The creature skidded to a stop, looming over her, held in place momentarily by her magic. But she knew...it wouldn't last long.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Amynta turned herself over, blushing at her clumsiness. "Y...yeah! Stop!" Her ample bosom was heaving as she struggled for breath. But at her words...the golem just...stopped and straightened up, almost like a puppet. Yuki relaxed as her command faded, but the golem still remained motionless.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I think...we did it?" Amynta said hopefully, trying to stand back up...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Mynta! You're...You're amazing! Look! Wren! Come see. Mynta's controlling it...!" The three girls stopped and eyed the unmoving golem speculatively, "It's like..." Yuki spoke in hushed tones, "...it's just waiting there...for a command... Myn...? Make it do something. You know... Like kneel or a cartwheel!" She glanced up at the ceiling at all the low hanging stalagtites growing down from the ceiling and made a wry face, "Er... Maybe not a cartwheel! How about...'sleep' or 'return to the earth'?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"That's wonderful, Amynta! Look at you! You girls are full of surprises," Wren grinned.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki grinned back at her!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"And way to go, holding it, Yuki!" she nodded at both of them, still walking around it with cautious steps. She looked everyone over quickly to make sure they were all okay, and petted Inali soothingly.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki came over and gave her a big hug. "Thank the goddess you kept out of reach! Phew! That was..." She looked up at the ceiling again, "...just...Mean!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Maybe you can try telling it to open the portal and let us pass?" Wren glanced back over to the portal and walked closer to it with curiosity, now that she wasn't being chased all over the cavern.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oooh! I like that idea. Try that, Myn!"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Um...ok....I can try!" Amynta steadied herself and spoke in a louder voice "Golem...thingy...Open that portal for us!" She waited with held breath, half expecting the golem to try to smash them again. But obediently, almost like a big puppy, the creature lumbered over to the massive stone portal. There, it bent down to grasp the bottom of the slab of stone in the doorway and lifted. With a slow scrape of stone on stone the slab lifted, revealing another stone staircase leading up. The trio sighed in relief, they had no idea how they would have raised such a weight on their own.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren beamed at Amynta as the golem lumbered forward and did her bidding, "Nice work, Amynta!" <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She grinned at Yuki, "I'm sure glad she came with us..." She hugged them both, and stepped through the doorway to go up the stairs cautiously.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Um...thank you Mr. Golem!" Amynta said politely as the three slipped by and headed up the stairs. This time though...nothing grandiose awaited them...just a simple room, with simple furnishings. A table, some chairs, flickering candles for lights. Stepping out of the darkness was a tall old man with a long white beard, dressed in simple brown robes. His eyes twinkled merrily as he approached the girls. Stopping in front of them he laughed "Finally...you've made it...more or less in one piece!"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He looked down, taking in each of their cleavages unabashedly "Very well met indeed! So you have come all this way to see me. 3 challenges conquered...so I suppose 3 questions I will answer." So young...so firm....he thought. "Apiece!" That should keep them around a little while longer...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"A pleasure to finally meet you, Master Rosche," Wren bowed with grace, her breasts barely contained behind the laces in her snug little bodice, "thank you for seeing us... that's quite the interesting entrance you have there." She smiled charmingly.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You seem to know so much about us already... so I would venture a guess that you know why we are here... we've lost friends somewhere, we're guessing on another plane at possibly a different place in time... we're told you are wise with experience and powerful... and well educated on the plane of air..." <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"3 questions each..." Wren paused and tried to think carefully, a hundred questions running through her mind, "I guess my first has to be... How do we get to the plane of air?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh...that is a lengthy answer...how do you know you’re not already there? The doors through which you travelled to reach this place are not within the House of Wonders, as you've probably guessed. But...I suppose the easiest answer is you find a powerful wizard or priest, and have them send you there via a planar shift spell. And hope he sends you where you actually want to go...Miss Dreamspinner. There are natural gates too...but they are rare, and usually guarded." He leans forward slightly to get a better view...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki pulled the tattered remains of her dress back together as best she could and cleared her throat. She was still a little ticked off, having felt the brunt of this old pervert's merry games! But...three answers each...was...golden. And bought dear as they were, she had no intention of wasting them! Plus this old guy seemed to know what he was talking about... "Where do I find Rue and Ori, the priestesses of Sune tossed from the great Ship Destiny on the day Magnus Dayus and Lynneth Moonstar were married?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The old man seems a little disappointed that the young priestess was working so hard to pull such scraps of fabric around her. "You know, you could just use your little ribbon again, to restore your clothing. Just let me put on my "Magic Sparklie" filtering goggles on again!" He reaches for a table where there's a pair of dark lensed goggles.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"A...again?" Yuki stuttered....had the old pervert been watching the whole time?!

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> He continued "And no need to be so formal Miss Ashdown, I know of whom you speak. I'm not a mad djinn who will pervert your questions or be over literal. But I'm afraid I cannot answer that particular question other than to say...they are no longer of this sphere...and my knowledge only extends to this sphere. But since that isn't much of an answer, I won't charge you for it. Especially if you use the ribbon!" He grins unapologetically!

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Sphere? Is that like a Plane?" Amynta spoke up, seemingly oblivious to the way the old man was looking down into the valley of her bosom. "I...don't remember...the lessons in the Church on that stuff was...pretty...well...boring!" She smiled brightly.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The old man grimaced "B…boring! Hmph!" He seemed faintly offended somehow, but she was so...pert he cheered up quickly. "No young priestess...they aren't the same at all! A Sphere is a...well...collection of Planes I suppose. A cosmology. Toril...the world you come from, and the planes that surround it, such as the elemental planes, the outer planes where the gods dwell, and lower planes where the evils dwell all form a 'sphere'. Your friends... fell into another sphere...which may have its own Planes… or it may not. Every sphere is different. Normally...there is only one way...to travel between spheres...that...boat is now...a second. Incredibly powerful. Incredibly… dangerous. It cannot remain here...for much longer."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren consoled Yuki with a pat on her shoulder, and turned to listen as Amynta spoke up a question, she didn't think to ask...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She covered her mouth loosely to disguise the smile that she couldn't hold in with his reaction to "boring"...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Her eyes widened in horror as the information he gave them sank in... another sphere with possibly other planes? ... the daunting task ahead seemed to grow much heavier on her shoulders... they were just now learning about this sphere's planes... how were they going to find out about another one?? Were all of their friends on different spheres??... was all of the information on the plane of air for nothing? ... and what did he mean the boat was incredibly dangerous and couldn't remain here much longer?!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She stood there shaking, with only one question wanting to leave her lips, where is loch?.... she breathed in and out and closed her eyes. It was the biggest question... how could she not ask it... there's so many questions we need answers to... so much information he could provide... I ... I shouldn't... I can't ask... for just her... she swallowed hard and breathed again, regaining her composure.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Before we waste our time trying to get somewhere that we don't need to go... I... don’t want to waste a question... but it seems important... If you're able to see all of the planes of this sphere... and if you didn't mean that ALL of our friends have vanished off of this sphere...On what plane or planes are our friends? The ones lost aside from Ori and Rue."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I can tell you for certain that none of your companions, or any of those lost on the ship are on this sphere's Plane of Air. I've looked into that. So you can breathe easily that they aren't being...bothered by the Sultan of which my apprentice spoke of. However...they could very well be on whatever sphere they are on 'Plane of Air'. From the description it sounds like that to me. Many of the spheres do have their version of the elemental planes, with similar properties and appearance, so Samira's information may...be helpful."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stood there stunned for a moment, and then nodded to Rosche.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She took Yuki's hands in hers. "So... they might all still be together..." She smiled hopefully, "... just on a different plane of air... not like we knew much about this one anyway."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She leaned down and picked up Inali, the feathers of her skirt sliding up to barely expose the curve at the top of her thigh. She stood up and held Inali, stroking her along her muzzle and the top of her head. Inali laid her head on one of Wren's pillowy breasts.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She looked at Yuki, "So... you still have three questions left... what do you think is important to ask?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"And what do you want to know Amynta?" Wren leaned against her, and Inali leaned over and licked Amynta's cheek.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Hmm, are either of those questions for me...?" The old man gestured, and a bottle of wine appeared, along with several sparkling crystal glasses. He poured out the wine into the glasses, a deep rich red. Setting them out on the table before the three. He took a sip of the one he poured for himself, still a bit mesmerized by Wren's display.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki spoke up again, "Is the...reason //Destiny// can't stay in this...er...cosmology much longer because Lyrabar is...an area where the barriers or walls are weak and the cultists break through more easily?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Yes, although no place in the Realms would be safe for long, Lyrabar is particularly bad because of its prior history. But it's not just Lyrabar. That ship...the Destiny...is not meant to stay in one sphere. Now that it's been...awakened...or activated, however you look at it, its planar energies appear to be harmful to the sphere it's...residing in. It's only a matter of time before that young whippersnapper Salience figures out how bad it could be, if he doesn't already suspect. And if he determines it's a threat to Lyrabar, no doubt he...and the paladins...would see the ship destroyed."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"As I said...that ship...is dangerous. The spheres are separate for a reason. Many spheres are worlds like this one, but others are so different, so filled with unimaginable horrors that you definitely wouldn't want them unleashed on other spheres..."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">At the words, "unimaginable horrors", Yuki began trembling, her mind filled with the touch...of Malice... "...believe me..." She murmured, "We've already met...One."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She shook her head and stilled the tremble, "To destroy it though... They can't!... What would happen...to Mr. Hero or Sir Whitestrake... "She shook her head, then glanced up quickly, "AND That's NOT my 2nd question!!!! It was...er...rhetorical. And...anyway, they can't destroy it because it's the only way we have of finding our friends and bringing them home...if, it is as you say, they are no longer in this...sphere."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki's brow furrowed slightly, as if pondering the next question she needed to ask...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">“So then..." Yuki tapped her fingers against her side, a scrap or two of hot pink fabric slipping from her hands, "...maybe if Mr. Hero and Sir Whitestrake just keep moving the ship from one...sphere to another...it'll be fine and won't affect one sphere too much or too...hurtfully so that the ship can...well...not be destroyed! But...that doesn't really help us find Miss Loch or Rue or Ori or Miss Shri. Azarius, our friend, he's a sorcerer! He's been...er figuring out how to run and steer the ship with all its crystals and stuff. What advice could you give us that might help him help us find all our friends?”

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Advice...that's not precisely a question, Miss Ashdown, Shame for trying to wheedle information out of a poor, old man." The old man's face looked tragically put upon. And yet, somehow he'd slid himself up next to Yuki where he put his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her against him. "But, since I like you three, I'll give you the advice." He blushed faintly from the feel of her young, nubile body pressing against his.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"First...you need to figure out how to get the ship to shift again...hopefully in a more controlled manner than the last time. Preferably before the Paladins destroy it. Then....you'll need to sail the void between the spheres to find the sphere you suspect your friends are on. For this...you'll need a navigator, and a person skilled in scrying...and people, or things with a strong bond to those whom you seek. Once you find the correct sphere, enter it...and scry again...and hopefully find your companions. Now the precise...'hows' or 'whos' to do all of that...I cannot say. I have not studied this ship personally.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki thought, he was a bit...perverted but not really all that different than some of the patrons to the Temple of Sune... And really, he wasn't so bad, was he? Like a kind old, impish, grandfatherly type! And he seemed to like helping people so...that made him nice, right?!

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...a navigator. Well that's Mr. Gregori. And...er someone good with scrying. That would be Azarius. And people with strong bonds to our lost friends! That's easy enough. Miss Wren has strong bonds to Miss Loch." She beamed at Wren. "And Erevin is in love with Miss Shri so...there's that. Azarius to his sister. Maly to Esme. Thorn to...his sister and grandpa. And...well, me and Amynta to Rue and Ori! So we have everything we need!" She beamed at Wren and Amynta and the old man with his arm draped kindly (?) around her shoulders. "So! We just sail it into the void between spheres or whatever and feel...er....scry for our beloved friends who are, in their own ways, calling out to us! Easy!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Myn? Your turn! I need to think carefully about my last question..."

Inali climbed onto Wren’s shoulders. Her hands now free, Wren took one of the glasses from the table, and nodded to Rosche. She placed it against her lips, and slowly let it roll over her lips and drip a few drops into her mouth. She tasted it, slow and sensual, exploring it for both flavor and any extra alchemical or herbal ingredients… satisfied, she took another sip.

She listened carefully to Yuki’s questions and Rosche’s answers. She looked at Inali on her shoulder. Inali tilted her head at Wren, “Ask him how to stabilize the ship… to temporarily deactivate it and activate it, so we don’t have to worry about where it is and what kind of problems it’s going to produce… It was put to sleep somehow because it’s been inactive for the last year.”

Wren stared at the little fox on her shoulder who was chattering away to her, “I’m not going to ask him that… he already said he hasn’t studied the ship, so he probably doesn’t know… if he did know, he probably would’ve done it by now so that it wasn’t a danger… and I only have one question left.” “Well then ask if he’ll come study it… help us find a way to stabilize it and control its spherical shift,” Inali offered her another suggestion.

“Inali… I’m sure he’s busy or he would’ve studied it personally by now… I mean it’s been sitting out there in the harbor for a year… just waiting, so I’m not wasting my question on that,” Wren smiled sweetly at everyone else as she chatted back and forth with Inali.

“Well why wouldn’t he have studied it… a great magical ship like that… just sitting within reach… surely he was curious… so why? Why didn’t he study it… the paladins’ protection over it? Surely he can come and go unnoticed easily enough… invite him to study it… see what he says…” Inali nudged wren with her paw as she chattered to her, “And don’t you tell me its wasting YOUR question… this is MY question. He said three apiece. I get my three… I was there through the challenges… I’m here in my female presence… I’m pretty… and I’m dressed less than all of you.”

Wren broke out into a laugh and nodded to the little fox on her shoulder, “Yes… yes you were… and you are. You’re right, of course.” She took another sip of the deep red wine.

She turned to Rosche, “Inali would like to ask one of her questions… she wants to know if you’d like to come study the ship personally… help us figure out how to control the planar shifts and perhaps how to activate and deactivate it, to keep it stable and keep everyone safe… I know it’s more of an invitation than a question… but it still requires an answer.” Wren smiled at the old man, draping his arm around Yuki.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The old wizard cocked an eyebrow "I suppose I did say 'apiece' didn't I. Very clever, apprentice of Leira, and you as well, little fox...Mmm...I supposed my answer would be 'Yes', I would like to study such a ship. Its ability to pass between spheres is well, unheard of. The only other way to do that is to pass through Sigil...and the Lady of Pain does not make such passage easy…or without cost."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">He held up his hand as if to forestall another question, a hand that looked surprisingly...unwrinkled for his apparent age. "But no...I'm afraid I must decline your kind offer, as tempting as it may be..." The way he watched Wren drink the wine made the girls wonder if it was the ship that was tempting, or its lovely lady occupants. "I am needed...elsewhere. I know that your companions seem the mostly important thing to you...and they should. But there are other dreadful plots...evil tyrants, and sleeping-powers-best-not awaked in the Realms. I'm a very...busy wizard...however much it costs me." The old wizard sighed, he'd never forget the look...his pink haired apprentice had given him. "There are other...wizards here in Lyrabar, while of lesser talent, can aid you. Who knows though, maybe I'll stop by! Especially if there are more lovely girls!"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh, and to add...now that I think about it...beware other powerful wizards who may not wait…for gracious invitations. You might expect such...as tales of the ship spreads."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren set down her glass, and bowed low and gracefully, swinging her left leg out behind her, the feathers of her skirt barely framing her exposed hip, as she bent her right knee and raised her right arm in front of her, hand open and palm up, “As you wish… I’m certain a great many things require your attention…” She stood up and smiled, “Thank you for the warning… And if you decide to stop by… you will be an honored guest, of course.”

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She leaned against his other side casually, softly sandwiching him between herself and Yuki, “Of course we have more… though a couple of them are a little short. And we have several more lovely girls to go rescue…” she winked at him, and casually walked back to the table to pick her up her glass, taking another long sip, letting the deep red wine spill over her lips slowly.

“And I’m an apprentice of Raven… but you know my mother’s name… and you seem to know so much… who is this… Leira… of whom you speak?” She looked at him curiously.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ah...an interesting question young Miss Dreamspinner...Curious about your patron are you?" She really did have nice legs, Rosche thought, and seemed very flexible, and had a ton of sex appeal. The poor Kale fellow really didn't have a chance, did he… Still, he'd surprise her once or twice, he was sure.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Leira...is...or was...the goddess of illusion and lies. Slain by Cyric during the Time of Troubles...he subsumed her position and most of her worshippers. But...gods…and powers are difficult to entirely....get rid of…many come up with...contingencies....plans to avoid their own undoing. Like Bane hiding his essence in his 'son'. Some gods...hang on as powerful spirits of the world...always hoping...that they can regain what they have lost and ascend again. I would tell you to beware... but...I think you’re quite aware about the dangers of putting your faith in deception...young Miss Dreamspinner, aren't you?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki slipped out from beneath Rosche's arm and stepped back a little, glancing back and forth between the tall, virile, old man and the young, temptress-witch. It was a different kind of "game" from the one Wren had played with Axton but...the similarities were not lost on the priestess. So...Wren studied deception...illusion and lies. Yuki's beautiful brow furrowed as a look of concern passed through her eyes... Such a path... Wasn't it...difficult? She hoped... She hoped to be a person Wren would never have to lie to.

Wren looked up at him innocently, “Aware of the dangers of putting my faith in deception? … No, I don’t believe that I am… I hope to use my craft to help see the deceit and dangerous lies of others… but I may have to learn how to perform it, and use it to understand it, so that I can see it more clearly.” She smiled sweetly. She finished the last sip of her wine, and set the glass down on the table. She sauntered closer to him, her eyes growing more sultry. “ But if there’s some sort of danger… that I should be aware of… Surely you wouldn’t deny me all of the dirty…” she undid the clasp around her neck as she got closer, “little…” she removed the open clasp from the cloak, “secrets …” and she let the cloak drop to the floor behind her, and stood in front of him, a mere arms-length away, and smiled sweetly.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki's eyes widened...as the energy in the room shifted...upwards, growing warmer, hotter... Much like the late evenings during the Feast of Love...back in the Temple of Waterdeep... Much later than her bedtime... She was about to clear her throat and make a suggestion but...

Rosche reached out to embrace the lovely elven woman, but before he got his arms around her, he was distracted by the quiet priestess.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Amynta...encouraged by Wren's boldness, glances at Yuki and blushes, then grabs the old wizards arms, sliding up against him much like he did Yuki earlier, pressing her body against his. Ohh....this was so...embarrassing...she thought...I'm glad Dominic can't see me! But...but...for Yuki I can do this!

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">MYNTA!!! What in the goddess' name was she thinking?! Had she completely lost her mind. It was one thing for Wren to take that path but...Myn was...well...Myn! AND Rosche was a pervert! A PERVERT!!! Why was she encouraging him!? And anyway...she had a boyfriend! Yuki made a step forward to pull Amynta away but her friend's voice stopped her.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Mr....Wizard...." She looked up at him with what she hoped was a seductive gaze, but really looked more like puppy-dog eyes. "What did you mean that Yuki was beloved by both Sune and Shar? Shar's icky! All dark...and sadness...and loss. That's totally not like Yuki!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">FOR HER?! She was asking....FOR HER?! Yuki shook her head slightly, clearly touched and unhappy at the same time. She had one question left! One question... Why had Myn...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren sat down on of the chairs by the table and grinned as she watched Amynta.. Inali looked at Wren, “Now look what you’ve done… She’s copying you, you know… You have corrupted that poor, innocent, child.” Wren giggled at Inali. She looked at Amynta again and really considered it…

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hearing Wren giggle, Yuki looked over, her concern for Mynta all over her face. Clearly, she wasn't as amused as Wren.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rosche blinked...feeling his temperature rise as the young girl clung fetchingly to him. "Perhaps not...but to instill great passion...great love...also opens the door to great loss. For the answer to that question, Miss Ashdown should look to her past...look to some of the couples she's...plied her talents upon..."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"That's not a real answer!" Yuki blurted out, clearly the day was beginning to wear on her patience. Flame...and tentacle and mucous and tricks and games and vague, unhelpful answers that made her feel no closer to rescuing her beloved friends...were all...wearing on her, "Not really, anyway. Just...a vague suggestion..." She walked over, pulled her friend away from the side of the old pervert and hugged her tight, "...don't use your questions for me, Silly... And don't...be anyone other than yourself... You...made me worry."

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She looked at the old wizard over Mynta's shoulder, "...At least you can give 'her' a real answer. My last question. You called Amynta a daughter of Earth of the Elemental Sisters... Clearly she has some pull with earthen...magics since that golem you attacked us with answered her like a puppet... But..." Yuki tried to regain her composure, "...Sir. Who are the elemental sisters and how is my good friend Mynta a daughter of one of them?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Old man Rosche raised an eyebrow, certainly this young priestess had spunk! She probably even thought he was a bully, so he supposed turning her into a kitten wouldn't improve her opinion of him at all. Still, he had to admire her courage, and the way she stuck up for her friend. To say nothing about how...provocative they looked clinging together like that. Mmm....his mind wandered for a moment and just for a second Yuki thought she saw a chibi miniature silver dragon appear and smack him in the head with her tail.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Uh…yes...sorry...Daughter of Earth. Well...that's a long story and I promised answers, not explanations. Suffice it to say that long ago...Mystryl, the goddess of magic before Mystra, had 4 daughters...or 4 servants, these things aren't too clear. She was a young goddess then and these daughters helped her control the magical elementals of earth, air, fire, and water, as they were much less...tamed at the time. But as Mystryl passed...so did they...but their essences survived. Much like Leira it is difficult for powerful spirits to move on. The essences found their way to four young women, years ago. One of those women was your mother...Amynta. The daughter of earth. And so some of that power has passed down to you.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Good enough, Miss Ashdown?" The old wizard smiled.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"How interesting..." Wren nodded to Rosche. "I wondered briefly if she was the fourth to complete your apprentice circle with Samira... but that's a much more interesting version of the story." She pondered to herself.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali went and got Wren's cloak that was still lying on the floor, and leapt up into Wren's lap. Wren raised an eyebrow at the little fox as she swung it out over her shoulders and clasped it around her neck. She nodded to Inali.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Apparently we've gotten off topic and Inali has another question... she wants to know more about the spheres... she says she understands that you only know about this sphere, but do you know the relation of the spheres... and if you have the knowledge... could you possibly draw us a map or explain how it works?"

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ah...an interesting question...indeed, Lady Inali. But really, if you are to be answering questions, I think it's only fair that you’re in the same situation that they are, don't you?" The old wizard released his grip on the cup of wine he'd been sipping, which hung motionless, floating in the air as he gestured almost nonchalantly. Wren barely felt...anything but suddenly Inali's body began to glow...and then...grow. Leaping off of her lap hastily Inali made frantic little fox sounds that turned into a very human sounding cry until Inali stood up...now...transformed into the cutest fox girl that any of them had ever seen...not that they'd seen a fox girl before. She was still...shorter than any of the three girls there, but obviously now...a girl like them., except with raven-black fox ears and a tail. She had the barest scraps of fabric which had appeared on her new body to give her a touch of modesty. But only a touch. The fox girl was vaguely disappointed that she seemed a little flat...chested.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali stood there looking at herself...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren's mouth dropped open as she stared at Inali, "INALI! You're... You're adorable!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali turned her gaze toward Wren slowly and shot her a plain look of disdain, "You... don't encourage him." She paused for a moment, the sound of her own voice speaking common words so foreign to her... and then she turned to look at Rosche, "and you... very clever... how dare you take my fur... it's f-f-freezing in here.... AND you didn't answer my question." She folded her arms and looked at him stubbornly.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren giggled and removed her cloak, passing it to Inali. She petted Inali on her head, unable to resist. Inali wrapped the cloak over her shoulders, and leaned on Wren, not noticing the pet as abnormal.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Well… Lady Inali...more precisely, you asked a question, and then made a request." He admired her new form rather closely...a masterwork if he did say so himself. Pert...young...the stuff of fantasy. He wondered if she'd lick Wren like she'd done before, that would be something to see! "So to answer the question...No...I don't understand the relation between the spheres other than they are separate and district...and separated by...something...I would assume. Even that I don't know. When I came to this sphere...it was through Sigil and a portal and thus...fairly...instant."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The assembled girls did feel the temperature in the room raise slightly though. "But since I can't answer the question, you can ask another Miss...Inali..." Rosche said suggestively.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lady Inali? No one had called her a lady before... she looked at Rosche curiously as he looked her over. She put her hands together and played with them. Wren raised an eyebrow at her.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali tilted her head up at Wren, her adorable fox ears twitching, "My paws feel strange." Wren could barely contain herself... she placed a hand loosely over her smile while she tried to make a more serious face. She's SO cute, Wren thought to herself. She nodded to Inali and reached out with both hands and rubbed Inali's big ears.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If by chance, Wren were to glance over at the two priestesses, she would see them practically melting into each other. Their shimmering eyes were on the cute little fox girl and they were whispering back and forth. "OH! She's....just the cutest thing I've ever seen!" Gushed Yuki to Amynta.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Oh Yuki!" Amynta squirmed enthusiastically, "I want to rub her ears too!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki nodded, whispering back, "...me too!! Me too!!! Did you see her cute tail! It's all black with a white streak JUST like her little fox tail! So long and bushy!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"And that cute little flat chested figure!" sighed Mynta, enviously.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...so....ADORABLE!!! I wish she could stay like that FOREVER!" Yuki whispered back.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Your ears feel different too," Wren grinned at her. Inali leaned in, enjoying the rubs. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You still have two questions, Inali, since that one didn't count... what else should we ask? We're still without so much information," Wren looked down at the little fox girl still standing near her. Inali looked up at Wren's shoulders and sighed. Wren giggled.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I need your body heat," Inali looked up at her, "Sit on the floor, so I can sit in your lap." Wren couldn't help it, she burst out laughing. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"It wouldn't be the same," Wren shook her head at her, "Come here." She pulled Inali close to her and pulled the cloak to hug her in it, pressing the two of them together. Inali wrapped her arms around Wren and sighed contently. After a few moments, she looked up at Rosche.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"We have a list of books that we need to help us learn more about the ship and its navigation... Can you tell us where any of those books are currently located? ... or even better, provide any of them from a collection you might have here?" Inali tilted her head at the old wizard staring at the two of them.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki beamed at Inali's excellent question! THAT would at least get them closer to what they needed to get their friends. If Mr. Rosche was as powerful as he seemed to be then a few books should be nothing to him! She turned to hear his answer with great interest!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren glanced at Yuki and Amynta and grinned. She glanced back at Rosche and winked.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "Would you girls mind coming to help me keep her warm?" Wren grinned as she pulled Yuki and Amynta close to her in a group hug... with Inali in between them. Inali let out a little fox purr and closed her eyes, content with all of the cuddling affection.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali gave them each a dainty little lick on their cheeks as they fussed over her and rubbed her adorable ears. Is this really what it was like to be a "person"... like Wren was? She had seen her and Loch fuss over one another and lick each other often. She was fussed over on occasion with petting and combing, but this was different. What a strange feel this body had.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren giggled and kissed Inali on the forehead... she glanced up at Rosche and winked, "We can wait if you'd like to check your library."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Books you say...if there's anything an old wizard knows about it’s books!" He sat down on the chair, patting his lap "Why doesn't one of you come over here and tell me the names of the books you’re looking for. Whisper them in my ear...you know...the hearings not so good...at my age..." He grins lecherously.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali pondered the request for just a second... she was kind of choosy about who's lap she would sit in other than Wren's... but she supposed she could hop into his lap to give him the list... she started to squeeze her way out of the girls' group hug to accommodate him. Wren put her hand on Inali's shoulder and slid her over to Yuki and Amynta. She leaned in to Inali and whispered, "I want you to look at yourself again and re-think that request." She stood and looked at the three of them. "I've got this one..." she nodded to them. Inali thought about it again... it wasn't such a horrible request, was it... she looked at herself. Her eyes widened. H-hey! She scowled and stayed close to Yuki and Amynta.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren turned from the girls and sauntered toward Rosche, "Let me see if I can remember them all... We found the book by Ilmara, the former Queen of Impiltur..." She walked slowly along the side of his chair, dragging her hand along his arm ever so softly, and pausing to lean in closer, "The Boundary Between Worlds, A Tome on the Planes and Portals..." she walked gracefully behind him, and leaned in close to his other ear, a hand placed softly on each of his shoulders, "We're currently looking for a book by The Stormmaster of Bloodstone...Delving into the Unknown, A Tome on Powerful Artifacts." She continued around to his other side, gently sliding her one hand from one shoulder to the next as she walked, "let me think..." she paused for a moment, standing next to him with her hand lingering on his shoulder before gracefully moving forward along the side of his chair and continuing, "Oh yes... there's also a book by The Blackstaff of Waterdeep...Etymologies Astral… A Tome on the Astral Plane." She paused standing at the front of his chair, and took both of his hands into hers and sat daintily on his lap, she squeezed his hands in hers and gazed into his eyes, "and then... there's the scariest one of all...the one by Zulkir Lauzoril of Thay... The Fragile Thread of Life, A Tome on the Bonds Formed Between Living Creators."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"And..." she kept his one hand in hers and casually pulled his arm over her head to drape it around her shoulders, while still holding his hand in hers on her shoulder. She gracefully crossed one leg over the other and leaned in closer. She kept his other hand in her other hand laying against her knee, "speaking of the wizards of Thay..." she shuddered briefly, "We recently met a specter in faded red Thay robes at The House of Tomes... very interesting... but you probably already knew that... probably like you already knew the list..." she winked at him.

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The old man grinned....such a delightful young woman....to what lengths would she go, he wondered...how far would she take the game? He held the young witch easily in his arms, which were surprisingly...strong for his age. "Probably one of Tam's boys...left behind to cause mischief, there's not a shortage of crazy, ambitious young wizards willing to bootlick for a little taste of power. You'd think they'd learn...since almost all of his bootlickers end up dead."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Let's see...of the books you mentioned, you've already gotten Ilmara's book. Fine woman, by all accounts. Blackstaff's book...I would imagine, is in his tower or library. He's a reasonable man, present your case well and he may allow you to borrow it. He may test you though, a little more earnestly than I am now. Lauzoril's....well...his will be the most tricky. He was an ambitious young zulkir some years ago...and smarter than the average power mad despot that the zulkirs breed. Wanted to try diplomacy rather than conquest… Imagine that. Didn't go over so well with Szass Tam, and so he disappeared. I suspect...his book, would be in Tam's stronghold now, not a place I'd want to visit. But if you must, I'd do it soon, before old bone face reconstitutes himself."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"As to Delving into the Unknown, A Tome on Artifacts" The old wizard smiled, snapping his fingers, causing a large book to appear on the table next to him. "That one...I wrote a long time ago...one of the few books I wrote. Takes too long...writing. Still...it holds a place in my heart. What can you...offer me for it hmm? Miss...Dreamspinner? Miss Ashdown?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki's mouth fell open, "Y...You're 'The Storm Master of Bloodstone'?!!" This...pervert was...THAT powerful.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stared at him, a little paler, and echoed his words his words in a smaller voice, "reconstitutes himself?" she shuddered.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She looked at the old wizard a little surprised, letting her fears ease back down with the presence of the book in his hand. He wrote it?! How fortuitous! but... what can i possibly offer a great powerful wizard that he'd want? He'd already seen Yuki naked with his perverted little glasses... so what could he possibly want... she thought hard. She looked at his face to read him... Her eyes widened. Oh dear god... he wants something of heart value... she swallowed and got off of his lap, her seductive charm wiped clean like a slate, and looked at him more seriously.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"How about..." she swallowed again as she removed something from the pocket of the cloak Inali was now wearing, her voice getting a little shakier, "we just borrow your book... and we'll trade for collateral for its return... as a promise to take care of something... of personal value to each of us?" she swallowed again, her eyes a little glassy, and she held out her trembling hand open and palm up... a little wooden whistle on a string sat there, with a single word etched on it "Eland". Wren stood there trembling, waiting for him to take her very prized possession... Loch's whistle to call her familiar. "...and we'll trade back when I return your book... does that sound fair?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali stared at her, her mouth open...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"NO!" Yuki, taking in the scene in an instant, threw herself between the StormMaster and the witch. She clasped her hands around Wren's trembling ones, pushing the whistle back into the palms of her hands firmly. She shook her lovely head and whispered fiercely, "No. No, dear Wren...your heart is your own. No one...else's! And never... Never for barter." She shook her head and took a deep breath, "I...I'll pay." She squeezed Wren's trembling hands around her precious one's whistle and smiled reassuringly, "...k?!"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stood there blinking back tears, still trembling. She pressed her lips together and nodded to Yuki. She threw her arms around her and hugged her close, managing a tiny broken thank you in her ear as she fought hard to bring herself under control. but... what could the little priestess have to barter with the old wizard??

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The young priestess of love, smiled one more time at her precious friend and turned to face Rosche. Dropping into a deep curtsey before the Stormmaster of Bloodstone, she addressed him, "What can one such as I...have...that One such as You could desire? Tell me. And I will give it...for your precious book."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren looked questioningly up at Rosche with Yuki's offer...

<span style="color: #500050; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">" <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You have a book of your own...do you not...young priestess? A book, for a book?" The old wizard smiled.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren blinked. A book? what book? Her eyes widened as she recalled the precious leather bound red book that the priestess was always writing in... it was her link to her friend back home... and to her strange anonymous quill that she spoke of... Yuki couldn't possibly give that up!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"No, no, her book is very precious... please don't take it from her... It’s all she has left of her dear friend back home. There must be something else that you want..." Wren looked at him, still all teary eyed. "Take the whistle. I'll find Loch and get her back... please don't take Hana away from Yuki." Tears started to slip down her cheeks.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"My book? Oh! From the Tower of Tomes?" Yuki asked, wondering why a wizard as powerful as Rosche would need more...wisdom...

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rosche raises an eyebrow "You know what book I mean Miss Ashdown!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"WHAAAAAT?!" Yuki shot upright, the hot pink tatters of her dress forgotten, and looked at the old wizard as if he'd sunk to a WHOLE NEW LOW! (Which, given how he'd treated her up til now, her current opinion of him, was pretty darn low!)

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"You...YOU? YOU....!" She gasped, "Y...You...WANT TO READ A Y...YOUNG GIRL'S PRE...PRECIOUS DIARY FILLED WITH ALL HER SECRET LOVES AND LONGINGS AND CONFIDENCES!?!!!!! JUST WHAT KIND OF NOSEY PERVERTED MEANY ARE YOU?!?!"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She seems utterly offended! As if the old wizard had broken some sort of...sacrosanct code!

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"And if I did...Miss Ashdown? Is that worth....a better chance...of rescuing your friends?" Rosche asked calmly...he hadn't even considering actually reading it...until she'd brought it up. He wondered what juicy secrets it held!

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki thought of her leather bound diary... It was the only means she had of talking to her precious Hana...and Ori and Rue... Her family... Though none of them had responded in ever so long... That left...Quill... Her precious...Quill. Kind, sweet Quill... When had the thought of not being able to talk to him become...so painful...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...yes..." She said, her voice...the barest of whispers...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rosche leaned in, "What was that Missy?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"...rescuing them...means...everything." She looked up, her teary eyes meeting the old Stormmaster's, "...Everything. So..." She reached into the barely singed satchel hanging by her side and pulled out a beautiful, red leather bound book, "You...can have it. But. I must write in it first. H..." She cleared her throat, "They...might worry...if they don't hear from me...again....this way."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren stood there, tears running down her face. No... Yuki couldn't give up the book. It felt like they were back on the boat... losing more precious loved ones. Was this just another bad dream? She'd had so many lately... wake up, Wren, wake up! ... but waking didn't seem to come. It felt like a jagged knife was in her heart ... and a piece was ripped out with Yuki's great sacrifice. Tears continued to run down her cheeks as she stared at the old wizard with a vacant look.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inali stood next to Amynta, watching the bartering between the three... she felt Wren's sorrow and little tears filled her own eyes. She hugged onto Amynta, suddenly very sad and lonely... and howled a keening little fox cry <span style="color: #00b0f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. @http://www.angelfire.com/ar2/thefoxden/farcry.wav

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It broke Wren back to reality. As she blinked a few times... she looked around to see where the cry was coming from. When she seen Inali crying, she turned with a wickedly dark glare back toward Rosche, and practically growled at him, "MONSTER!" She walked over and picked up the little fox girl and cuddled her in her arms to comfort her. She walked over to Yuki and tried to comfort her, "Yuki... you don't have to do this... we'll find another copy of his book somewhere... don't give up more of your loved ones... Let's just go back to the ship."

<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Monster? Aye, that I am. I've been called much worse, by friend and enemy!" Rosche rolled his eyes "And I've had enough young, female apprentices to be rendered immune to tears, and pouting, and rage. Thy offer of thine whistle has been accepted, Miss Dreamspinner. Miss Yuki interrupted before I could properly accept. Dost thou offer thine book as part of the bargain, or not, Miss Ashdown? And what of thee, Lady Amynta, and Lady Inali?" He looks to each in turn, his voice strangely grave.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The great wizard's tone startled Yuki. Gone was the perverted, lecherous man from moments before. ...now she really could believe 'this'...was the Stormmaster of Bloodstone...and he seemed...exasperated. It made her regret her outburst from moments ago...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Yes." Yuki murmured. "I offer you my diary in...in exchange for the precious book we need. But... I thought..." She hesitated. Hadn't he said a book for a book... Why had it suddenly become like this...? Requiring something...from each of them? She didn't understand what was happening at all.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren blinked at him, her face bewildered, "Y-you want my whistle?" She clutched it close to her chest. "AND Yuki's book? W-Wait! You want something from everyone?! After all that you just..." She stood there in shock, her mouth open. Why that greedy... after all the heart break and tears she just shed in this room... it takes a lot to break her like that. What could he possibly be up to?! What does he want?! More games... more riddles. Another test. After all of that... could she still find a way to trust him... She breathed in deep to find her calm.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She looked sadly at the whistle still clutched in her hand. She glanced at Yuki with her red book in hand. Wren sighed. No one dies. Her friends remain on this plane, it will be okay. This will help her find Loch. She placed a kiss on her whistle and clutched it again.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She turned to look at him, "Perhaps I can wear masks as a deceitful witch, but I assure you my tears are not part of the games that I play... so don't go thinking they're a plot from me. This has value... REAL value to me. I expect that you understand this... which is why you've accepted it. Please... just take good care of it." She breathed in deeply one more time and quickly placed it in his hand before she could change her mind. "...and leave Inali be... you've upset her enough today."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The little fox girl stood next to Wren, quieted now, "You have already stolen that which is most important to me... my protection over Wren... you hurt her. You hurt her so much that I cried in sorrow for her. To be honest, I'm surprised you don't have a black feathered arrow sticking out of your body somewhere... she must see an awful lot of good in you somewhere to trust you with that whistle... especially after that display... and you already have my fur!" she snorted at him, "I don't know what else you could possibly ask from me... Well... I might have a secret... a valuable, precious secret... but what interest would you have in the secrets of foxes?" she folded her arms stubbornly and leaned against Wren, raising an eyebrow in his direction. Wren kissed her on the top of her head.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"A secret...mmm...a fox secret. A valuable precious secret then...let's hear it!" Rosche seemed pleased at Inali's quick wit, as the young fox girl padded over to him and stood on her tip-toes to whisper in his ear. Rosche nodded, then laughed, looking directly into Wren's eyes. "I...I thought that might be the case...how interesting. I accept your offer, Lady Inali." His eyes again roamed over her lithe girl's body.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren raised an eyebrow as Rosche looked into her eyes. What could Inali possibly have told him that she wouldn't have said out loud? …probably some bauble or treat hidden away somewhere... still, why had Rosche looked at her like that? She looked quizzically at Inali as she returned to her side. Inali just smiled innocently. Wren glanced back toward Rosche. Crafty... both of them.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I...guess...if Yuki will give up...hers...I'll give up mine...if it's for Rue...and Oriel...and the others..." Amynta stepped forward...holding on to her book so tightly that Yuki wasn't sure how she'd ever let it go. Her hopes were dashed that she'd be able to use...her friend’s book to remain in contact with Quill. Was this....this...dreadful old man going to take everything she had left. She never wished that anyone went bald so badly in her life, not even that...demon Axton!

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren's heart went out to both of the girls. She knew they were giving up very precious items. They could still write to their friends back home the old fashioned way though, right? She sighed. This is for Loch. This is going to help bring her home. The book was <span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">important. She simply had to stand here and put her heart in a box. It was going to be okay... wasn't it?

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Excellent...we have a bargain then!" The book Rosche had offered floated over to Wren...then dropped into her arms, nestling comfortable under her bosom as if happy to be there. A doorway appeared beside him, a shimmering rectangle of light out of the nothingness. "I bid you fine young ladies...a good day...Monster or not I have manners." He bows

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren blushed at him. ...but he had made Inali cry... and the price for his book had been high, causing a lot of sadness and pain... but he really wasn't a monster. She was sorry she had been so mad at him... but she couldn't help but protect her dear little fox. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren returned his bow, "Thank you for your time, Master Rosche. We have learned much from this visit, and the experience was ... interesting. I'm sure I'll remember it for a long time." She smiled and took Inali's hand, leading them toward the door.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Good luck in rescuing your friends...and remember… you'll likely have to make much...harder choices in future. Sometimes not...everything...or everyone can be saved."

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren started to turn around and smile, but as he finished his sentence, her head whipped around a little faster, her eyes wide. What had he seen? She shuddered. Her eyes sad, she nodded to him, "Thank you again." She bowed.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">With those solemn words the girls walked through the doorway and found themselves back out on the street in the alley outside the House of Wonders. There was no longer a doorway on the side, just an empty wall. Wren looked down to see Inali, once again back to normal, a fox. She nimbly climbed back up on the witch’s shoulder.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren smiled at Inali and rubbed her little fox ears, happy to have her back on her shoulders. ... she really was adorable.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"I guess we should get back to the ship then..." Wren turned to leave...her hand...longingly going to the pocket close to her heart that had held the whistle so dear to her. "What...the..." Her hand closed on something and she pulled it out...the whistle. She turned it over in her hands...she'd sworn she left it on the table, hadn't she. But it was...her whistle...her eyes began to tear.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Is that..." Yuki said happily...then with a cry reached into her bag to pull out her journal, hugging it to her chest, seeing Amynta do the same...

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren slipped the necklace around her neck, and looked at the blank brick wall, tears in her eyes. She bowed low and held it for a long moment. She nodded and whispered one more, "Thank you!" <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">She glanced at the priestesses clutching their leather bound books, and smiled at them.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki threw her arms around Amynta and the two girls sagged against each other, "....oh thank the goddess!" Yuki exclaimed, relief flooding her, "...thank Sune..." Now she wouldn't have to say good-bye. ...She could still talk to Hana. Send messages to her parents, Ori, Rue... And she could still talk to Quill...

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki sighed, then laughed suddenly,"...I don't know whether to feel...bullied or grateful... Or both! AAAAAH!" She hugged Mynta a little tighter, "I wonder...if all his students felt this...convoluted after his 'lessons'....?"

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wren looked up at Inali on her shoulder, who was taking it all in. Inali looked at Wren, "Crafty old coot!" Wren laughed softly. Still... his final words hung like a weight on her... the pain and anguish over giving up small trinkets.... though they held such powerful personal value... wouldn't compare to losing Loch. She kissed Inali on the nose.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"So what secret did you tell him?" Wren asked her as they walked toward the ship, Rosche's book held protectively in her arms.

<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">"Ohhh... nothing... it was more of a thanks." Inali sighed and smiled at her. Wren raised an eyebrow at her. A thanks... what could Inali have thanked him for then, she wondered. Wren continued walking toward the docks, and Inali looked back at the shop behind them... and smiled.

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">At Wren's suggestion that they all head back to the ship, Yuki nodded and smiled over at her, relieved to see her talking quietly to her little fox friend. All was as it should be. She was just about to tell Amynta what she saw written in her journal...in the moment before she handed it to Rosche but...Amynta nudged her with a more pressing concern, "Yuki...shouldn't you...use your ribbon...?"

<span style="color: #8064a2; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Yuki looked down at her tattered dress and blushed. Had it always been so scandalously shredded? Slipping out her ribbon, she flicked it around her body and cried, "HEART. POWER. MAKE UP" She was so tired and her head was still trying to understand what had happened to them all. On a whim she added the word, "PRIESTESS!!" ...Perhaps...she should have paid closer attention to what she was doing...but she wasn't exactly feeling like herself after riddles and tatters and singe-ings and sacrifices.